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Low carb and weight training....

tim2000s

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...are not always good bedfellows, I fear. I am normally low carb, but this week have been very low carb, and fully depleted my glycogen reserves. Tonight's weight training session was a killer. I was unable to fully lift all sets at my usual weights. I guess this is in line with how bodybuilders deplete before a competition.

I don't know what others experiences are, but it seems the fats don't provide the right type of energy when you want to be strong! Looks like a carb loading day is required.


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Same hear I've been weight training for about 3 years love it have been doing really well, until this week I decided to go low carb to see if I can cut some fat and it seems to have losted a lot of power in the gym but I'm only on day 6 so I hope it gets better I'm on like carbs 10 % pro50 % fat 40%
So I think I'm in the same boat I'm type 1 btw
Peter
 
Been weight training for seventeen years now and never has it been this difficult. Almost two weeks in to this LCHF diet and I'm slowly getting my strength and my reps back up during this food transition, it's the cardiovascular side of it that has been hit hardest for me.
 
You got to have enough protein and fat...
 
When you are doing this, you are pretty careful about what you eat. Each meal I know exact macronutrient breakdown and calorie content. It gets very sad and is simply taking carb counting a step further.
 
...are not always good bedfellows, I fear. I am normally low carb, but this week have been very low carb, and fully depleted my glycogen reserves. Tonight's weight training session was a killer. I was unable to fully lift all sets at my usual weights. I guess this is in line with how bodybuilders deplete before a competition.

I don't know what others experiences are, but it seems the fats don't provide the right type of energy when you want to be strong! Looks like a carb loading day is required.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Could you be slipping in and out of ketogenic? When going into ketogenics many get weak and feel ill for a few days. To be ketogenic you need to be very low carb and low protein.
 
If you are fully keto adapted, then you don't draw on glycogen reserves - because they are already depleted.
 
I know, and when there are no glycogen reserves I find the higher rep intermediate weight work incredibly difficult. The strength only piece is easier, but the bulking work is remarkably exhausting with no glycogen!
 
But maybe if you took the time (weeks/months) to get properly keto adapted, you would find it easier...

(This is speculation, cos I'm nowhere near that level of athletic performance!)

Have you seen the youtube lectures by the guy who has been working with low carb athletes for about 20 yrs? I've seen a couple. I'll try and find his name.

Edited to add:
Scratch that. From memory, I think he works with endurance, not strength athletes...
 
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