energy

[chrisbel]

Hi
I have a pre-grading for my sport tomorrow and although not very long it will be quite intensive both physically and mentally.
In the past I have eaten a load of carbs for the release of energy, is this something I should do now that I am on a low-carb diet or is there something else I should try or just stick with my low-carb eating. :?

 

[hanadr]

Check in with Fergus, he's the expert on this one

 

[chrisbel]

Sort of answered my own question really, stayed with the low carbs and had a breakfast of sausage egg and bacon, took some brazil, pecan and almonds and drank plenty of water.
Did the pre-grading at 2 and came out hot, tired and very sweaty but with no ill affects my readings after 2hrs were 5.7

 

[inwales]

So do Athletes need lots of Carbs?

 

[hanadr]

Congratulations Chrisbel!
Hana

 

[chrisbel]

Hi inwales
Wouldn't exactly call myself an athlete, :lol: , but since I started low-carbing I haven't felt any ill effects from not taking carbs before exercising, if anything there seems to be a marked improvement in my stamina.
I train at least for one hour four times a week at Taekwon-do and often do at least an hour every other day in the gym at work either weights or some sort of cardiovascular exercise e.g. rowing, cross-trainer, rowing machine.
If anyone can give me any info on what they do before training, sport etc. it would be much appreciated

 

[chrisbel]

Thanks Hana

 

[IanD]

Re: carbs for energy

In my experience carbs for energy is a myth. I started reduced carbing, as advised by many on this forum, in May last year, after I suffered crippling peripheral neuropathy.

Yesterday I played 3½ hours of tennis. Lunch before was 3 rashers of bacon, an egg, & mixed veg with no added carbs. After the first set, my BS was 6.8 & I admit to a Kipling slice with my cup of tea. An hour & a set later BS was 7.7. The last 3 sets were with youngsters, & I did not run out of energy. My BS finished up at 7.3. I drank about a litre during the afternoon.

I am 70, & I don't expect any concessions for age.

 

[Sid Bonkers]

Re: carbs for energy

In my experience carbs for energy is a myth.

Not according to Sir Steve Redgrave. The link below tells of his training regime for the Sydney Olympics after his diabetes diagnosis. I found it a very interesting read. He now adopts a low Gi diet but needed to revert to his old ways of 6000 calories a day when in training.

Quote:
"So it was back to the four Weetabix for breakfast, the sugar-frosted cereals, the jam doughnuts - but with much lower quantities of injected insulin." :shock:

Follow this link for the whole story [Sticking his oar in]

 

[timo2]

Not so much a myth, Ian, more a failure to fully understand the alternatives. After all, we burn calories rather than carbs per se.

Now that you mention it, I'm actually struggling to think of a single biological process which would allow us to deem dietary carbohydrate essential. :?

 

[hanadr]

timo
I'm sure I read a piece addressing medical students and reminding them that in their first course of lectures on nutrition, they were told that carbs are not essential. I forget who he professor was, but it was in one of David Mendosa's newsletters I think

 

[ally5555]

Hi guys

I have worked with many elite athletes and some have huge calorie requirements, so trying to provide 6000+ calories by low carbing would be impossible. One of the major problems during intense exercise is the stomach motility slows down so absorption decreases. Hence the need to use fast acting carbs, preferably with a little sodium added and in a solution. Sports drinks and gels are often used during exercise. Manty athletes also find snacks like nuts and seeds make them sick too! Just out of interest do you really think it would be practical fueling on cheese or meat etc - at least you can tie bananas to a bike (yes they do! ) or shove sports gels in your speedo pockets.

Many of these athletes , even those competing at lower levels are training 4-5 hours a day !

I usually adopt the low gi foods for meals, with protein and use higher gi foods for quick fuel. We very nearly lost a few medals last year in Bejing because of a lack of carbs.

I have also found that some athletes who have high protein intakes , based on their own personal requirements do not increase muscle mass without enough carbs. So for athletes they are essential .

For the rest of us we are not athletes and an hour in the gym does not require extra carbs but what is needed is adequate intakes pre exercise - about 2 hours before. Plus plenty of water!

I await the barrage of comments but I would like to say I have worked in sport for many years and if you are an athlete you need carbs! You really would struggle witha low carb diet.

allx

 

[timo2]

Can I put Weetabix on my list of essential carbohydrates?

I bet that if Sir Steve Redgrave had been in ketosis, that boat would have been jumping out of
the water, Ally.

 

[IanD]

Hi guys

Ally, this is a diabetes forum, & everybody here (except you) has come with problems & questions.

I have worked with many elite athletes and some have huge calorie requirements, so trying to provide 6000+ calories by low carbing would be impossible. One of the major problems during intense exercise is the stomach motility slows down so absorption decreases. Hence the need to use fast acting carbs, preferably with a little sodium added and in a solution. Sports drinks and gels are often used during exercise. Manty athletes also find snacks like nuts and seeds make them sick too! Just out of interest do you really think it would be practical fueling on cheese or meat etc - at least you can tie bananas to a bike (yes they do! ) or shove sports gels in your speedo pockets.

Many of these athletes , even those competing at lower levels are training 4-5 hours a day !

I usually adopt the low gi foods for meals, with protein and use higher gi foods for quick fuel. We very nearly lost a few medals last year in Bejing because of a lack of carbs.

I have also found that some athletes who have high protein intakes , based on their own personal requirements do not increase muscle mass without enough carbs. So for athletes they are essential .

How many of these are diabetics, & what level of control are they achieving?

We aren't elite athletes, just diabetics who both want to enjoy active life & want to follow the general advice that activity aids BS control.

Perhaps you could give the typical medication, diet & BS control achieved by your diabetic athletes consuming 6000 cals per day mainly with carbs?

Perhaps also you tell us how they get on when their brief athletic career is over?


For the rest of us we are not athletes and an hour in the gym does not require extra carbs but what is needed is adequate intakes pre exercise - about 2 hours before. Plus plenty of water!

So you agree that for normal exercise & sport we "do not require extra carbs." I can assure you from my experience that reduced carb gives me more energy & less tiredness.

I await the barrage of comments but I would like to say I have worked in sport for many years and if you are an athlete you need carbs! You really would struggle witha low carb diet.

It really would help if you kept your advice here to the ordinary diabetic, especially as you really answer follow up questions.


allx

 

[graham64]

I'm afraid Steve Redgrave is hardly a shining example of a well controlled T2 diabetic.

I start the day with tea, no sugar, porridge and a slice of toast with Flora pro active.
Alas, because all the sweets I ate as a boy - fairground candy floss, honeycomb, Mars bars, Milky Ways - I have lots of fillings. Even as an adult I find it difficult to fill up the car with petrol without buying a bag of wine gums. I just step up the insulin accordingly.

Sweet-toothed and hungry, he can't open a packet of biscuits in the middle of the afternoon without finishing them - old habits die hard - but he will make amends with a simple pasta supper.

And what did Sir Steve have for breakfast this morning? Porridge without sugar? All Bran, perhaps? A low-fat yogurt decorated with five strawberries? "Sugar Puffs," he says with a grin

Graham

 

[Sid Bonkers]

Ian, is that any way to answer someone's post, your so aggressive, Chillax


Graham, its Sir Steve Redgrave and I don't think his fitness has ever been in question, but for the record, how many Olympic Gold medals have you won?


As always, if anyone's views differ from the vocal minority here, they are either ridiculed, verbally attacked or both.

Minds are like parachutes, they only work when there open. Think about it

 

[graham64]

Sid,
Gold medals or not he needs to get a grip on his Diabetes “just step up the insulin accordingly.” is not the way forward especially for a T2. If he wants to live a life free of complications that is.

No I've not won any gold medals but I am in control of my Diabetes, my health means far more to me.

Graham

 

[ally5555]

sid - my views are not in the minority - no athletes who compete at a good standard will survive!
i was at a conference on fri watching somevideos of triatletes running out of fuel - was very scary.

When Sir Steve was competing he was very tightly controlled with multiple injections and a very controlled diet. He was manged by ian gallen who I think is one of the best diabetic consultants in the UK. I have no idea how well controlled he is now but he manages to run marathons!

When athletes stop competing they generally start to taper down training and food ! That is important - elite athletes are trained for the day they stop!

You are not athletes , neither am I now but I also work with recreational diabetic runners who also have tight control by eating carbs. I note that even some low carbers on here have admitted to taking dextrosol when running. Carbs are absorped quickly and you can actually fuel up on them. The vasy majority of people cannot exercise on alot of fat and protein - it is good for making you sick.
Ian I think you eat porridge and that cake you ate did not push your bs up - might have been hypo. Soit sounds like you are doing similar!

Ian I also posted about this ages ago - I havent been on here much recently because of all the nonsense and my very good friends are not on here either.

Graham - I think steve Redgrave is an inspiration to all diabetics - he could have given up when he became diabetic but he didnt and 5 gold medals - awesome. Just remember you cannot believe all you read on the internet.

 

[IanD]

Ian I think you eat porridge and that cake you ate did not push your bs up - might have been hypo. So it sounds like you are doing similar!

My "porridge" is based on ground almonds & soya protein, with oat & wheat bran & wheat germ, mixed with soya milk. About 20 g carb. Kipling slice - about 20-30 g carb. My about 100 g carb per day is a long way short of your recommended 6,000, but then I am not a professional athlete. I've never had a hypo. If I expect to play so much, I take a few dried apricots (4 g carb each) & eat one if I go below 6 between sets.


Ian I also posted about this ages ago - I havent been on here much recently because of all the nonsense and my very good friends are not on here either

Yes. That is why I challenged you again. See this thread.

Your recommendation there was for a maximum of 40 g carb per hour. That does not seem too controversial.

My experience is limited. On the NHS/DUK diet I was eating over 300 g carbs per day. And became crippled with peripheral neuropathy. On a reduced carb diet (about 100 g per day), I am fully active. My average BS is down from 7 to 6. That is not nonsense. It is a simple statement of fact.

 

[Sid Bonkers]

sid - my views are not in the minority - no athletes who compete at a good standard will survive!

Ally5555 I was not including you in the vocal minority, in fact It was you I was defending

Graham - I think steve Redgrave is an inspiration to all diabetics - he could have given up when he became diabetic but he didnt and 5 gold medals - awesome. Just remember you cannot believe all you read on the internet.

I agree 100%

Gold medals or not he needs to get a grip on his Diabetes “just step up the insulin accordingly.” is not the way forward especially for a T2. If he wants to live a life free of complications that is.

Whether Sir Steve is a type 1 or a type 2 is irrelevant as increased Insulin is the only way a diabetic could increases their carb intake, without which he would never have been able to achieve the stamina he needed to win in Sydney. The point I was trying to make was that comments like "In my experience carbs for energy is a myth" is totally incorect.