Hello - I used to come here often for insight and support and I am now a pound and a half away from goal and I couldn't be happier. I want to continue this for the rest of my life but I have a problem.

I started running seriously about three months ago and I have gotten up to a level that I can't seem to sustain from the amount of carbs I'm taking in, but I don't want to give up my WOE. Where I could previously run my 6k easily, I now hit the wall at 2k, which is very annoying and depressing for me, as I love running so much and REALLY do not want to stop.

I don't know if it would be wise to eat maybe a slice of whole grain bread or maybe a quarter cup of brown rice an hour before a run or if that would even make a difference. I guess I just feel like I have to choose either the Atkins WOE or the exercise that I truly love and enjoy on so many levels. There must be a middle ground!

Does anyone have any suggestions?

137/119.5/118 maybe 115 now ...

Due to your activity level, you should be able eat an increased amount of carbs. Are you on pre-maintenance now, and how many grams of carbs per day are you currently eating?


"Do, or do not. There is no 'try'."
- Yoda ('The Empire Strikes Back')
Start Atkins 9.1.03
225/198/130ish
Valentine's Day Goal: 180

I agree, you need to up those carbs to sustain that level. Dr. Atkin's books provides good feedback on the topic of adding carbs based on exercise level and intensity. But, the amount is different for each individual.

Mort

I exercise for 2-3 hours 5 days a week and had to up my carbs to 40-60 on those days and I am still losing!!

To get to the rainbow you must first pass through the rain!

Capshner, I would venture to guess that you could up your carbs with whole grains and nuts before running. I may be barking up the wrong tree, since I am not a runner, but that makes sense to me.

What level of carbs are you at now?

Mort!!!!!!! How the heck are ya???? How's it going for you and DW??? We miss you!!!!!

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

Capshner:

I suggest you repost this in the "low carb jumpstart" forum, and hopefully Graeme Street will take a moment to answer it. As a personal trainer, and as someone who is big into cycling as well as weight lifting, I know he will have a first hand perspective on it. or, you might try emailing him at fsfmedia @ earthlink dot net (i typed it like that so the spam bots maybe don't get it!) and asking him his advice. And please post the answer here - I know this is on the minds of other people.

Capshner, you definitely should not have to choose one or the other. I agree with the others - we need to know what your carb intake is now and whether you've been upping it according to plan. I'm really suspecting that something else is going on - you may have some low-grade illness that's sapping your energy. Has the onset of this trouble been sudden or gradual?

I've been running regularly for the last year and completely understand how addictive it is. A lot of the people on my running sites are vehemently opposed to low-carb eating plans, and 99% of them believe that Atkins=butter and bacon. I've given up discussing it there, as most of them have their minds firmly made up and never mind the evidence.

Laurelyn

LC Links

[This message was edited by Laurelyn on 01-11-04 at 01:15 PM.]

Just my .02

Since you are within 1.5 pounds of goal you should be in pre-maintenance mode. Meaning ketosis is no longer happening and your carb allowance is pretty high. Here's a link to an article about pre-maintenance:

http://www.lowcarbing.com/llc/atkins/premain.htm

Rob
310/234.5/180

Me, a skeptic? I trust you have proof.