Low-Carb And Exercise? How?

[emily_0192010 168]

Hey everyone

So I chose to follow a low-carb diet while I'm in "losing mode". It was what my surgeon and his team expected and it seems to work well for me, as the weeks that I am "high-er" carbs I don't lose as well. I have recently decided to up my exercise though, and I am not sure how to adapt my diet to accommodate the extra fitness. Everywhere online says carbs, carbs, carbs. Is there a way to eat properly while exercising (or before/after) that won't completely blow my diet? I have nothing against carbs, but I still struggle to get my Protein in so I really don't want to use up any space with food that is lacking in Protein. I wanted to follow the low-carb until I hit my goal weight (about 28 lbs away) or my year mark, whichever comes first.

Thanks for any advice!

[Lissa 2,631]

I either have a Premier Protein bar or a banana on my way to the gym. If I ate a banana on the way there, I make sure I put something high Protein into me asap after working out to prevent muscle loss.

[something2think 5]

if you eat carbs before you work out, then that is what you body is burning off--the carbs you just ate. If you don't then it is burning fat. Why eat something to just work on burning it off? I don't often eat before I work out, but when I do, it's Protein, like a string cheese and I will have some caffeine to give me an extra boost. It works for me and I put in about 70 min of cardio a day.

After the workout I try to follow up with protein (like Protein Shake or solid protein).

Just my experience--I am not a doctor!

[KingOxNyc 22]

if you eat carbs before you work out' date=' then that is what you body is burning off--the carbs you just ate. If you don't then it is burning fat. Why eat something to just work on burning it off? I don't often eat before I work out, but when I do, it's Protein, like a string cheese and I will have some caffeine to give me an extra boost. It works for me and I put in about 70 min of cardio a day.

After the workout I try to follow up with Protein (like protein shake or solid protein).

Just my experience--I am not a doctor! <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

Your 100% correct...I always have protein before and after my workout. Always a preworkout supplement instead of the coffee

[TheNewSusie 471]

Quinoa is an excellent source of carbs and it has Protein too! You can dice up a small cucumber, a small Tomato and 1/4 cup cooked quinoa and add a tbsp of olive oil and a pinch of salt and some fresh lemon juice and u have some tasty quinoa tabouli. To cook the quinoa take 1/4 dry quinoa and cook it in 1/2 cup low sodium chk or veg broth. I add in two tbsl of FF feta. Yumm! (let the quinoa cool for ten minutes or so before adding in the veggies.) store in a container and refrigerate .

[Catracks 865]

This is all fine for a normal workout. Do not go without the carbs when performing extra, high endurance exercise like long distance hiking, mountain climbing or very strenuous hikes. I learned my lesson. Without the glycogen stores that we don't have a lot of on a high Protein, low carb diet, muscles become fatigued and will actually fail to work properly or start to spasm. You will also start to shiver.

Fat just is not converted fast enough for this type of exercise.

I think WLS patients are especially susceptible due to our diets. Under the extreme stress, your body will burn through everything and ask for more.

[MKambalimath 92]

I don't know, I asked my PT about this last week, because I was feeling very weak after my work out. She said that I should have some carbs along with my Protein BEFORE working out. Usually I had a Sargento cheese stick before, but she said to add in a few multi grain crackers with it. Then when I am done I should have some protein soon after, like a Protein Bar or something. She said that the carbs stick with you a little longer and give you extra energy since I'm not really eating enough being 6 weeks out. Obviously you wouldn't have a handful of Cookies or something though.

[Catracks 865]

No, Cookies would not be the best choice although to be quite honest, the severe pain that I was experiencing in my muscle (this was not soreness) didn't quiet down until I had a few spoonfuls of my daughters frozen yogurt mixed with Oreo cookie topping.

What I needed at the time was simple sugar. A few multigrain crackers would not have sustained that workout. What I needed was a carb load for a couple days before and throughout the day.

This is a great article on the subject:

The Science Behind Bonking

When your body stalls mid-run, it's called bonking. When scientists debate the causes, it's called a food fight. Here's everything you need to know.

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-242-301--6263-0,00.html