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28-04.-2005, 05:31 PM
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#1 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 31
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Atkins Diet and Cycling endurance
Has anyone experience of cycling on the Atkins diet? I am told "the bonk" is not an issues as those on Atkins are already in fat burning mode - carb load would only impait their performance.
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29-04.-2005, 12:18 AM
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#2 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: AZ
Posts: 863
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Re: Atkins Diet and Cycling endurance
Quote:
I did Atkins 4 years ago when i didn't know better. i was mtn biking at the time and did a 17 mile loop 5 times a week. 2 days on Atkins and i could hardly complete the ride. i got a bonk like i never felt before. |
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29-04.-2005, 01:00 AM
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#3 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 31
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Re: Atkins Diet and Cycling endurance
Quote:
After two days your metabolism would not have switched from carb burning to fat burning, so I am not surprised you bonked. For those well established on Atkins it is claimed they have a higher endurance http://atkins-uk.com/Archive/2002/6/17-496610.html http://atkins-uk.com/Archive/2002/1/11-488629.html and see this thread on the independent Atkins Bulleting Board http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard....1406&highlight= I just wondered if there were established Atkins Dieters on this forum |
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29-04.-2005, 01:03 AM
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#4 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 19
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Re: Atkins Diet and Cycling endurance
Carbs are your friend for biking. Just read Chris Carmichael's book 'Food for Fitness', "The idea of a low-carb diet is to force the body to rely on fat for energy, thereby burning away stored adipose tissue. Athletes can't rely on fat for the majority of their energy because their activity level demands energy aster than it can be supplied by fat. Although fat is a contributor to all exercise intensitites, it only supplies the majority of your energy for low-intensity ( < 50 % of maxiimum intensity) exercise.....Full stores of glycogen are needed to support the intensity levels that recreational and moderately trained athletes regularly experience druing their workouts and athletic activities." Hence the "Bonk". I've noticed that just by eating a powerbar while riding has an immediate effect on my performance while riding. I wouldn't advise the atkins diet to anyone, let alone someone who is riding. This fad too shall pass. If you exercise then just keep track of calories in vs. calories burned. Your body NEEDS carbs to operate your nervous system and brain alone. So I suggest not falling for this Atkins fellow cause in was 'designed' to help obese people lose weight not people who already exercise on a daily basis. I of course am not an expert on this subject just passing along information I just read 2 days ago.
Peace, Dz |
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29-04.-2005, 03:14 AM
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#5 | |
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Community Team
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Newport, South Wales
Posts: 3,831
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Re: Atkins Diet and Cycling endurance
Quote:
you have been told completely and utterly wrong. You'll ride like a sack of bricks on Atkins and similar diets ric
__________________
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29-04.-2005, 03:35 AM
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#6 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 622
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Re: Atkins Diet and Cycling endurance
Man no kidding. The smartest thing that I ever did was to get Carmichael's book and learn how to eat. I couldn't believe how significantly my diet was holding me back until I started to eat right.
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29-04.-2005, 05:34 AM
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#7 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: AZ
Posts: 863
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Re: Atkins Diet and Cycling endurance
[QUOTE=Labarum]After two days your metabolism would not have switched from carb burning to fat burning, so I am not surprised you bonked.
That's funny, i melted 40lbs of fat off my body eating plenty of good carbs. my body burns fat because i eat(every3-4hours) and ride 13-16 hours a week.just try the high fat high protien diet for yourself. |
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29-04.-2005, 05:37 AM
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#8 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: AZ
Posts: 863
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Re: Atkins Diet and Cycling endurance
[QUOTE=rule62]Man no kidding. The smartest thing that I ever did was to get Carmichael's book and learn how to eat. I couldn't believe how significantly my diet was holding me back until I started to eat right.[/QUOTE
I 2nd that, best book i ever read for endurance nutrition. |
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02-05.-2005, 12:33 AM
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#9 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,226
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Re: Atkins Diet and Cycling endurance
Quote:
You don't have to go on an Atkins diet to lose weight. I went from 205 lbs to 152 just by eating anything - even cookies, cakes, and high calorie pecan pie. Just try to eat what maintains your weight without weight gain, then exercise the weight off by riding. Do at least 100 miles per weight and don't increase your food intake. I've done weeks were I did 130 miles and lost 2.5 lbs, and a week where I did 166 miles and lost only .4 lbs because I ate more. |
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02-05.-2005, 04:10 AM
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#10 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: ex of santa cruz, california, usa
Posts: 798
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Re: Atkins Diet and Cycling endurance
you WILL bonk big time without carbs. excess is the problem in most cases. the need is felt to carb up for a ride that includes less than a couple hours exertion, or gulping sweet hydration additives in excess of what you are depleting.
there is a whole industry based on this. just look at all the people stocking up on gatorade to mow the lawn and watch the game... consider some carbs the spark to burn the fat. that being said, if you ride for a half hour or so on an empty stomach, you will lose fat as well. just avoid overcompensating by eating big and fast upon return, and realize you are flirting with depletion. Quote:
Last edited by Hypnospin : 02-05.-2005 at 04:10 AM. Reason: burning calories just sitting here |
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02-05.-2005, 04:47 AM
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#11 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 35
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Re: Atkins Diet and Cycling endurance
Quote:
Isn't it interesting that all of these "facts" are posted at the atkins website. I would be interested to hear of any independent study that reported the same findings |
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02-05.-2005, 01:19 PM
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#12 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2
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Re: Atkins Diet and Cycling endurance
while on atkins i did not get the bonk. most of my riding was between 1hr 30 and up to 3hrs. felt great after the first few days, first three days had a headache. then all good. 40 lbs later, i'm now doing 5 and 6 hour rides. try it.
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02-05.-2005, 02:09 PM
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#13 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 31
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Re: Atkins Diet and Cycling endurance
Quote:
Greetings, Weldingfellow. This is what other Atkineers have told me, though they are runners rather than cyclists. Are you still doing Atkins? What is your daily carb intake? And do you increase it while on a long ride, or does it make no difference? Like you, on day two of Atkins I was absolutely awful, after that marvelous. Much more energy, but then I would have after losing 50+ lbs. There is so much misinformation about low carb because it tramples over orthodoxy. For the others: Dr Atkins did not say calories don't count: he said "Don't count calories", and even that has to be qualified "In the beginning, don't count calories." As you approach target you certainly must count both. I counted both from the start using www.fitday.com And Dr Atkins was also very clear about the need to excercise - it is not optional. But I digress. I will just enjoy the country lanes, try to improve my fitness and endurance, and not get fussed about the orthodox telling me to get some carbs down my neck. And if you can offer me any more advice, Weldingfellow, I would be grateful. |
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02-05.-2005, 04:46 PM
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#14 | |
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Community Team
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Newport, South Wales
Posts: 3,831
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Re: Atkins Diet and Cycling endurance
Quote:
In my professional capacity i would seriously advise anyone to NOT try Atkins, especially if they wanted to combine it with exercise. There is *no* physiological reason to expect you to perform well while on such a diet, and indeed many reasons to underperform while on such a diet. ric
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02-05.-2005, 06:00 PM
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#15 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 31
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Re: Atkins Diet and Cycling endurance
Quote:
Thanks for your contribution, Ric. May I ask in what professional capacity you offer the advice? As a 55 year old senior officer in the British Army I was directed by a Senior Medical Officer of the Royal Army Medical Corps: "Do Atkins," he said, "it works." He has offered the same advice to others I know - where they have done Atkins "by the book" it has been very effective. One of the nursing staff expressed concern to me about long term high protein intake and stress on the kidneys. The SMO dismissed the nurses concerns. I am Male 6 ft 3in. 55 years Married 23 years. 208 lb now, down from 260 lb since March 04 Blood Pressure Mar 04 147/94 . Jun 04 121/74 . Dec 04 119/72 All blood measurements now impressively healthy. Chlorestoral marginally down on a 65% fat diet - though it was not an issue at the start, - and many find it falls dramtically. The Atkins/low fat/carb controversy will continue. The medical and other professions are divided on the issue, but shouting louder (as many do) in defence of orthodoxy really does not contriute to a healthy debate. I am not suggesting that you have done that, Ric, and I would like to see an intelligent and gracious exchange of informed opinion. I am picking up that there may be an ultimate performance issue for those on a low carb diet. Some have said to me that while in ketosis you can plod along for hours at a moderate pace, but could run into difficulties when attempting to sprint too long or too often. That's fine by me - at 55 I have no ambitions to be a boy racer. On the other hand the Atkins handbook is very clear that ketosis can be maintained at much higher levels of carb input for those who are very active. Snacking on fruit, dried fruit, or topping up with modest quantities of liquid carb is (I believe) a practice adopted by some low carb sportsmen. I am truly trying to find a reasonable and practical way forward to enable me to lose that final 15 lbs, get fit and enjoy cycling the lovely lanes around where I live. Any contribution to the debate would be welcome. So, Ric, are you against the low carb philosophy in any circumstances, or are you simple saying those who live that way will be denied the best performance measured in both endurance and speed? Upon what evidence do you base your claims, and with what professional authority? |
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