Many people take up distance running in order to lose weight. But to run well, you must eat well, the body only performs as well as its fuel allows.
Here is a link to a fact sheet on low carb diets, produced by SportsDieticians Australia. In future I will say more on weight loss and fitness, but for now, here are some of the points the fact sheet contains.
- Low carbohydrate diets are not ideal for active people who train regularly as they tend to be high in fat and restrict the very fuel that muscles need.
- Inadequate carbohydrate in the diet means less glycogen available for muscle work. This causes poor sports performance and slow recovery from training.
- Following a diet which includes moderate amounts of low fat/lean protein sources and low glycaemic index carbohydrates is suitable for recreational athletes who are trying to lose weight, provided they include adequate carbohydrate to match the intensity and volume of exercise they participate in. Maintaining a sense of fullness from nutritious foods is vital to avoid snacking on high kilojoule snack foods.
- Drink plenty of fluid to stay well hydrated and keep fatigue at bay.
When you are running long distances at a good pace, as most of my readers do, you must have a high carbohydrate intake, to renew glycogen stores, promote recovery, and make it possible to attain the next level of fitness.
