Biking and Atkins

[Skippie]

Hi All,

I am well on my way to losing the weight I want to thanks to Atkins and my road bike. I do have a question about how much biking I can do while on Atkins. I was biking before starting Atkins but now that I am cutting out most carbs from my diet I find that I do not have the energy to bike like I used to. If I bike over an hour I really have problems. Also I think that I have significantly less energy when climbing hills.

Is this normal? I am guessing that because I am on a low carb diet that my body takes longer to convert it's stores to energy then when I ate more carbs.

I find rides of 10-12 miles are fine - except for having less energy for the hills. should I limit my rides to this distance. I would really appreciate to hear from someone that understands what is going on here.

[Desertthorn]

I don't think it's normal at all, as most folks get an energy boost when doing low-carb. How long have you been on Atkins?

[Greeneggs&ham]

When I am sticking to low-carb, I have similar results to Skippie. I too have wondered how long the body takes to produce energy (ketones? glucose?) from non-carbohydrate sources? It does seem that when using more than an average amount of energy over a relatively short period of time (20+ miles on a bike, or 10+ miles hiking for example) the body could conceivably "bonk" from a depletion of renewable energy.

Seems to me that an old copy of DANDR suggested that this diet works better for more sedentary people as opposed to marathon runners and extreme athletes who use larger numbers of calories on a daily basis. My guess is that the diet needs to be modified for those who expend larger number of calories during exercise to include larger quantities of "good" carbs (OWL foods) prior to and during exercise.

Unfortunately, I have never taken the time to approach this rationally, and therefore can't say with any certainty if adding carbs would wind up doing more harm than good. Can anyone else relate to Skippie and I?

[msanjelpie]

Are either of you taking multivitamins or other supplements?

[Elizellen]

I don't cycle except for an exercise bike but many of our members do so I am sure a post in the Exercise forum will get some advice from experienced members.

[Skippie]

I am starting my third week on Atkins and I am taking vitamin supplements. Please, if you have no experience with long distance bike riding or running, do not post. I am really not looking for anyone theory or guesses, I want factual information. Long distance running or biking is far different from sitting on an exercise bike for 20-30 min and peddling at a slow pace.

I will post in the exercise forum also. thank you for the suggestion.

[SunnySmile501]

Originally Posted by Skippie

I am starting my third week on Atkins and I am taking vitamin supplements. Please, if you have no experience with long distance bike riding or running, do not post. I am really not looking for anyone theory or guesses, I want factual information. Long distance running or biking is far different from sitting on an exercise bike for 20-30 min and peddling at a slow pace.

I will post in the exercise forum also. thank you for the suggestion.

Well, okay, but you won't get as many answers. Saves me a lot of typing.

[arcticsp2003]

I by no means consider myself a "long distance rider" (or a roadie for that matter), but I try to average about 10-15 miles per day on the street (on a heavy mountain bike). I've done 20+ several times.

Anyways depending on your height, you're in pretty much the same boat as me. (same weight / same time on plan) I found that at first I was eating too little trying to lose weight too fast. I upped my portions a little and I was no longer tired. I'm still losing weight, just a fuzz slower, but I'm also able to exercise more which I feel is a beneficial tradeoff.

Do you ride before or after supper? I found if I ate supper then went out riding, I was much better off as well. Also eggs help too.

Hope that helps,

Arctic

[ThinSoon]

I do long distance cycling. I find that I need to eat about 30 minutes before going as my energy levels fail me...

Tracey

[neutronnorman]

Originally Posted by Skippie

I am starting my third week on Atkins and I am taking vitamin supplements. Please, if you have no experience with long distance bike riding or running, do not post. I am really not looking for anyone theory or guesses, I want factual information. Long distance running or biking is far different from sitting on an exercise bike for 20-30 min and peddling at a slow pace.

I will post in the exercise forum also. thank you for the suggestion.

carb spiking, every 5-6 days for marathon runners, extreme power lifters / bodybuilders: "just the facts, mam...J.Friday..."

Lavoie JM, Helie R, Peronnet F, et al. Effects of muscle CHO-loading
manipulations on hormonal responses during prolonged exercise. Int J Sports Med
1985; 6(2):95-9.

Flatt JP. Use and storage of carbohydrate and fat. American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition 1995; 61(4 Suppl):952S-959S.

Dela F, Handberg A, Mikines KJ, et al. GLUT 4 and insulin receptor binding and kinase activity in trained human muscle. J Physiol 1993; 469:615-24.

Schurch PM, Reinke A, Hollmann W. [Carbohydrate-reduced diet and
metabolism: about the influence of a 4-week isocaloric, fat-rich, carbohydrate-reduced
diet on body weight and metabolism]. Medizinische Klinik-Muich 1979; 74(36):1279-85.

Galbo H, Holst JJ, Christensen NJ. The effect of different diets and of insulin on
the hormonal response to prolonged exercise. Acta Physiol Scand 1979; 107(1):19-32.

Johannessen A, Hagen C, Galbo H. Prolactin, growth hormone, thyrotropin,
3,5,3'-triiodothyronine, and thyroxine responses to exercise after fat- and
carbohydrate-enriched diet. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1981; 52(1):56-61.

Sidery MB, Gallen IW, Macdonald IA. The initial physiological responses to glucose ingestion in normal subjects are modified w2 a 3 d high-fat diet. Br J Nutr 1990; 64(3):705-13.

Conlee RK, Hammer RL, Winder WW, et al. Glycogen repletion and exercise endurance in rats adapted to a high fat diet. Metabolism 1990; 39(3):289-94.

1. Body composition and nutrition for sport. In: Wilmore JH, et al. Physiology of Sport and Exercise. 4th ed. Champaign, Ill.: Human Kinetics; 2008:316-353.
2. Sedlock DA. The latest on carbohydrate loading: A practical approach. Current Sports Medicine Reports. 2008;7(4):209-213.

The list goes on. Carb loading from 12-48 hours, depending on an individuals metabolism and exercise intensity works wonders. If you do not work out like an athlete do not consider carbohydrate loading, Stick to DANDR.