WW allows extra points for activity. I'm wondering if I survive an especially challenging workout can I increase my carbs for the day. Has anyone experimented with this and if so, what were your results?

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"I'm a great beliver in luck, and I find the harder I work, the luckier I get. " Thomas Jefferson

Well absolutely, if you workout hard and intense you must increase your carbs. I tried working out (strength training\cardio) for 5 days on 30g of carbs and i must tell you i think my body almost crashed on me. I immediately went up 20g, now i am having 50-70g a day most days, sometimes i intentionally go over that, but thats another whole subject. And now i find im able to complete my workouts and have lots of energy afterwards.

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Started LC 1-10-04

302/199/160, 103lbs down, 39 to go, simply remarkable.

Restart- 8-19-07
242/226/160


405 points to date ( HOLIDAY CHALLENGE )

Thanks for your input. I noticed my muscles quivering today after riding 16+ miles on the recumbant bike and doing upper body workout, so I think I eat more carbs before working out.

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"I'm a great beliver in luck, and I find the harder I work, the luckier I get. " Thomas Jefferson

That's what the Atkins Pyramid is all about!

try to eat an hour or 2 before your workout and it is imperative that you eat something immediately after your workout also, its called recovery, especially with strength training. you should eat within an hour of finishing your workout. I always plan my eating and workouts to coincide. If you can get this routine down pat, your rewards will be great. I too used to be weak and shaky after my workouts until i started increasing my carbs. Also you maybe working out too intensely, its important that you not overexert yourself either, that will have a negative as well. The best tools you can use when working out is your exertion level and your target heart beat range. When you learn how to make those 2 work to your advantage, you will do great.
When i started working out almost 4 months ago, my resting heart rate was 174, now im down to 162, so this also tells me that my routine is working to my advantage.
Also, not sure if youve done so or not, but there is a great section on this site that gives wonderful advice on the most effective workout routine for low carb dieters. i really do recommend reading that site.

__________________
Started LC 1-10-04

302/199/160, 103lbs down, 39 to go, simply remarkable.

Restart- 8-19-07
242/226/160


405 points to date ( HOLIDAY CHALLENGE )

i'm with celest -- when i was hitting the weights hard, and working out 6 days a week for months.. i became physically drained only after a few weeks.

upping my carbs for my post-exericse meal, and possibly one after that did the trick for me.

since i workout in the morning (so always on an empty stomach) - i'd have my shake at 9-10am then my lunch meal 12-1pm-ish would have a bit more carbs... then i'd go back to my veggies and protein for mid-afternoon snack and dinner.

celest wrote <<my resting heart rate was 174, now im down to 162,

wow, that must be a typo. 74 to 62 possibly?

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My LC web site
LCE Member since 2000

omg, lol, you are correct it is 74 to 62. I am dying here laughing at myself.

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Started LC 1-10-04

302/199/160, 103lbs down, 39 to go, simply remarkable.

Restart- 8-19-07
242/226/160


405 points to date ( HOLIDAY CHALLENGE )

I was gonna say "WOW what is your max?" cuz 175-183 is about my max

I'm trying to get my resting back into the low 50's
since i've put some weight back on (and aged) it's about 60 now.
I think exercising 5-6 days a week again will help too.. i've really slacked off the past 8-9 months.....

When I started hitting the gym 6 days a week, I had some real adjusting to do to my carb count. I am doing between 50 and 70 a day. It felt kind of weird adding in that much, but when I am at the gym every day, I have to eat that much or I will crater, and my body will stall....

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http://www.youravon.com/cnorulak
carolyn in texas
started 8/11/03 327/268/177
5/20/08/ - 348
onward thru the fog

My best friend competitively lifts, and she has explained to me that cardio - if you want the max benefit you should have something hi - quality protein with aminos... such as a protein shake... and that is "conversational" cardio - meaning a steady easy pace in which you can talk without losing your breath... such as a brisk walk... etc... but for any strenuous exercise, such as weight training, eliptical, step machines...etc... you should eat at least 1 cup of high quality carbs like sweet potato, or oatmeal and 1 cup high quality fruit about 1/2 hour to 1 hour before your workout because your muscle uses these carbs during the workout...

I have been afraid to add these in because of the Atkins induction, but I too have felt weak, and tired during my toning days, and wondered if putting these in before weight training would throw me out of Ketosis...

Thanks for bringing this subject up... I think that when I go for my weight training I will up my carbs... see if I can get back my motivation and energy!

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Julie

Start - 5/15/04 - 268.5
current - 260
Goal - 150(?) or size 10
height - 5'3

This is a very interesting subject that I have been working through for years. When I joined a large fitness club a couple years ago the trainer there recommended a high carb diet. I cant be sure of the exact percentages he recommended. But I think it was 40/30/30 protein/fat/carbs. Since I was LC'ing at the time this seemed like quite a lot of carbs to me. But I followed the recommendation. And although I think I felt a bit more energy, I awoke the evil carb cravings. So for me, I'll add a half of a banana if I'm in a long tennnis match. But I still stick to the basic Atkins program the rest of the time. No need to mess with what works.
I think this may be another of the many YMMV things.

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keep on keepin on

As of 1-3-2009
213/213/180

Hi Gregg... that's exactly what I am afraid of doing... waking up that demon that takes over and eats any carb in sight...

Are you having great success with just the banana? If so perhaps I should just add that... and see how my energy is? The last thing I want is to see my cravings return. I have never felt so FREE, since I began LCing and my cravings disappeared

Thanks!!!


julie

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Julie

Start - 5/15/04 - 268.5
current - 260
Goal - 150(?) or size 10
height - 5'3

Julie,

I think I wait too long to eat it. I wait til after a couple hours of tennis and eat a half of a banana for the last hour or so. I'm usually pretty exhausted by then, so it's hard to say. But I think I do get a little boost from it. It could just be psychological though. I once saw a pro tennis player do this.
I would rather err on the side of too few carbs leaving me a little sapped of energy than to have too many and wake up the demon.

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keep on keepin on

As of 1-3-2009
213/213/180