no Carbo diet?

[SWScorch]

a friend of mine is a really awesome runner, but has never gone to States for Cross Country due the injuries the past few years. This year, as he is a Senior, he was getting really pumped for Sectionals so he could qualify for States. However, his biology teacher/ trainer told him to go on a "no-Carbohydrates" diet for 2 weeks prior to running in Sectionals. Supposedly this is because in a run, there is a "transition period" when you burn all your available carbohydrates in your body and start to burn fats instead. Supposedly this period tires you out. So, my friend ate nothing with carbohydrates in it for 2 weeks prior to the race. He ate stuff like eggs, cheese, chicken, etc.

Now, I'm no biology teacher, but my mother is, and I know quite a bit. I have always been under the impression that carbos are the best thing you can have for exertion, since they usually last a long time and give you long-lasting energy. This is why the Cross Country team has spaghetti dinners before every invitational.

Anyway, on the day of the race, my friend ran horribly. He came in 15th place, when he is usually 1st, 3rd at the worst. He ran a whole minute slower than his previous time on the course. He was devastated, and has been depressed for days. I mean, this was his year. He had never gone to states before, and being a Senior, he really really wanted to this year.

Now, my thoughts are is that the reason he did so badly is becuase of this "no-carbs" diet. But, like I said, I'm not a biology teacher or a nurtitionist. Do you think the diet helped or hindered his performance?

 

[punkrawket]

i feel he hindered his performance, if anything he should've tried it the other way, more carbs and have more to burn

 

[N8Magic]

The diet would have hindered him considerably.

The "no-carb" diet is for lazy people who have no time to work out. Seeing as your friend is an athlete, he has no need to go on this diet. He was simply robbing himself of energy and nutrients which he needed to perform.

 

[DuffmanOhYeah]

So this diet was for the IMMEDIATE 2 weeks prior to the race?? If so that is just dumb. If he did this like 4 weeks out and then went carb heavy for the 2 weeks prior, it can be argued that the glycogen depletiona and subsequent restore could have a positivwe effect, but it's not something I would personally recommend. I think in a case like this, it is best to just maintain a healthy diet and train as normal. Heavy transition diets are usually only employed by extreme athletes, and sometimes with very negative effects.

And yes, if he had almost 0 carbs before the race, his glycogen stores were almost definitely depleted and could very much account for his poor performance. Ask him if he felt like he was running "heavy" or if he felt like he hit a wall. A yes to either of these would indicate it was the no carbs that did him in. I suspect he will answer yes.

 

[Mister T]

So this diet was for the IMMEDIATE 2 weeks prior to the race?? If so that is just dumb. If he did this like 4 weeks out and then went carb heavy for the 2 weeks prior, it can be argued that the glycogen depletiona and subsequent restore could have a positivwe effect, but it's not something I would personally recommend. I think in a case like this, it is best to just maintain a healthy diet and train as normal. Heavy transition diets are usually only employed by extreme athletes, and sometimes with very negative effects.



Agreed.

 

[SWScorch]

See? now that is what I thought.... This just brings my opinion of the biology teacher down even more.... Ugh. I can't believe he told him to do that...

And I was talking to my friend yesterday about the race, and he said he "couldn't get into the race; it was like I was going through the motions but I wasn't really racing"

 

[DuffmanOhYeah]

So yes, that is unfortunate, and Im sorry that your friend got bum advice. That bio teacher is a jerk, its really not fair to give advice or do something that you don't know about even though it is in or related to your field. For example, I wouldn't go to a podiatrist and ask him to remove my appendix. He is a doctor, but nowhere near qualified for what Im talking about.
I suggest your friend load up on the carbs, and give that professor a rectal massage with his foot for a good hour or so.

 

[jacklutz]

That was a very stupid thing for your friend to do. That diet's a bad idea at any time, but especially when he's tapering. Aren't carbohydrates the easiest food type for your body to burn?

 

[Thegonagle]

That's sad. I feel sorry for your friend. From what I know (which is actually very little, except for personal experience), that's got to be the worst advice I've ever heard. I feel bad for your friend.

I agree that the low-no carb diet is for lazy people who don?t exercise. Too bad the professor doesn?t realize that.

 

[SWScorch]

man, now I'm wondering I should tell him or not. The day before the race I told him I thought the advice was bad, and said "Well, lets just hope you dont do badly tomorrow." So if I tell him, I'm basically saying "I told ya so!" Also, he seems to revere this guy. I always wondered why, because I never liked him myself. He has given me advice that I knew was wrong before. (As I said, my mother is a biology teacher, so I know a bit.) Man I'm really angry right now.....

 

[777php]

I believe your friend went on what is called the Atkins diet where carbo's are highly restricted.

The goal of the Atkins diet is to go into what is called "ketosis". When you go on a low carb diet you don't take in any carbohydrates for your body to burn and therefore cannot create any glycogen(blood sugar). When you use up your store or gycogen you go into fat burining mode, this is when you start burning up your own body fat.

The fat that your body burns is then broken down into ketone bodies.

Ketones are then used as fuel for your body or discarded via your breath or urination.

This may seem like a quick fix but it has many side effects as as nausea, and being lightheaded.

Your friend should have researched this diet before he went on it. It was the worst possible thing to do to his body, especially if he is an athlete. It depletes all stored energy from your body(fat), all your friend was running on probably was fumes.

 

[Thegonagle]

<< . . . all your friend was running on probably was fumes. >>

Exactly! Like I said, I don't know a lot about the subject, but in my experience, when I?m doing heavy physical recreation, like skiing and especially biking, I literally crave a big plate of spaghetti. I feel a lot better and more energetic with a load of carbohydrates in me.

I don?t know exactly how you should broach the subject with your friend, but just be supportive. He may eventually confide in you that you were right all along. It could take awhile. It could be never. At any rate, do watch him and make sure that he doesn?t become too depressed. I?m 26, so I can say this: It?s only high school. It won?t even matter in even one-two years.