002: Carbo-loading vs. Fat-adapted training: What's the right way and should you try it?

So, what’s the deal with carbo loading?  Is it what we should be doing as runners?  If so, what’s the best (and worst way to do it?)  

Then there’s the new buzz in the running community about fat-adapted training, ketogenic diets, and becoming a “fat-adapted” athlete (or person in general).  What’s that all about?

There are a lot of runners out there that have the mindset, “I run a bunch, so I can eat whatever I want.”  Is that really the right mindset to have or could you really boost your performance and feel better while running by making some changes to your eating habits?  

Listen to today’s episode to hear all of this and more.  Overall, the key is what kind of running you are doing and what your goals are.  Elite marathoners trying to win the race will have different fueling needs than someone who has a goal of finishing the race.  We will give you the general guidelines and best practices to determine if you even need to carbo load at all.  If you decide to carbo-load for a race, make sure you do it correctly and start a week in advance.  We give you a detailed plan in today’s episode to first, deplete your carb reserve then rebuild it to prep you for race day.  

You will also learn:

• What are the different varieties of carbs that are good for carbo loading
• Specific carb recommendations, including different kinds of grains, fruits, and vegetable to experiment with to see what works best for you
• The best way to carbo load, including the schedule for the week leading up to your race
• Why the standard American diet is not the best for us as runners or just healthy people in general

Links and Resources:

• The New Rules of Marathon and Half-Marathon Nutrition: A Cutting Edge Plan to Fuel Your Body Beyond “The Wall”  by Matt Fitzgerald
• Snack Ideas for Runners
• What is processed food and why is it not the best choice for us?
   

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 Check out our other episodes here:

Episode 1: Quality vs. Quantity

Episode 3: Strength training for runners

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