Keto diet?
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Keto diet?
Anyone here on the keto diet while training? I'm new to cycling/biking but was wondering if anyone has experience being on keto and endurance training.
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You won't be able to perform at high intensity. You'll develop bad breath. The highlight of your day will be putting a stick of butter in your coffee for flavor.
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While there seems to be a pretty big attitude about keto diets around here, I have found it to be quite convenient for long rides. Not needing to refuel for 100+ mile rides means I only have to make sure I stay hydrated.
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#5
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I don't mind hiking or even jogging in full keto, but for me cycling is not fun when fully bonked. Cycling demands brief moments of high intensity that can be pretty taxing without some glycogen power. Some examples would be going over a little hill, taking off from a dead stop, or crossing the steep part of a switchback.
That said I'm not on a keto diet. I have done it on occasion though mostly to shake things up a bit. Obviously if you are completely used to it everything will be easier, but even then you will not be as fast as you would be on carbs.
That said I'm not on a keto diet. I have done it on occasion though mostly to shake things up a bit. Obviously if you are completely used to it everything will be easier, but even then you will not be as fast as you would be on carbs.
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I was eating mainly Keto prior to the cycling season, (less than 20g carb) but after starting to ride had to start including carbs, at about 20% of daily cals. I found flat riding at low intensities no problem, but I'd be a complete wreck on any sort of climb. Even small climbs were slow going and exhausting.
From my experience, if you can keep your heartrate below I'd say 70-75% at all times, keto is easily manageable. Above this, your performance will be crap, and you'll exhaust quickly which you'll feel for the rest of the day..recovery seems slow.
I read base building for cyclists last week, and in the book he recommends going to 45% daily calories from carbs, so I've been trying this. Although great for performance (87km ride 2 days into diet, avg 26.8km/hr but kept it low-ish intensity) it doesn't appear to have done much for weight/body composition over the last week, and in fact I'm up 3lbs. I'm also noticing I'm sweating and am tired a lot...I feel very full/bloated, and frankly, dumb...like my brain isn't turning on. But at the same time muscle fatigue seems to be much less, I can definitely ride longer than at 20% carbs.
I'm going to dial back the carbs to maybe 25-35% and see how that goes.
Matt
From my experience, if you can keep your heartrate below I'd say 70-75% at all times, keto is easily manageable. Above this, your performance will be crap, and you'll exhaust quickly which you'll feel for the rest of the day..recovery seems slow.
I read base building for cyclists last week, and in the book he recommends going to 45% daily calories from carbs, so I've been trying this. Although great for performance (87km ride 2 days into diet, avg 26.8km/hr but kept it low-ish intensity) it doesn't appear to have done much for weight/body composition over the last week, and in fact I'm up 3lbs. I'm also noticing I'm sweating and am tired a lot...I feel very full/bloated, and frankly, dumb...like my brain isn't turning on. But at the same time muscle fatigue seems to be much less, I can definitely ride longer than at 20% carbs.
I'm going to dial back the carbs to maybe 25-35% and see how that goes.
Matt
Last edited by awesomeame; 06-19-17 at 07:21 AM.
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I never did full keto but was on low carb, I found I was not as fast, and I like to ride fast.
Now I try to eat low carb on rest days and more carb on days I ride
Remember to get more salt, on low carb you retain less sodium
Now I try to eat low carb on rest days and more carb on days I ride
Remember to get more salt, on low carb you retain less sodium
#8
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That's more or less what I do, though perhaps to a lesser degree. Less carbs on rest days, more carbs on the day before and the day of rides. A good plan IME for an adult with a job trying to stay fit. When I used to race as a teen and trained everyday, I was a carb eating machine, as was and still is typical.
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I did keto for a year and a half it worked well for me while weight lifting till i hit a plateau. Then i switched to a targeted keto diet which you take some extra carbs before and after training time. After a while with that i got where i needed to be and resumed keto. I dont really keto now, cuz beer.
Last edited by BigLdet; 06-22-17 at 10:45 AM. Reason: targeted not cyclical.
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I think in the beginning you will struggle with energy. But overtime your body should adapt and start using fat like it would glucose. It may take a few months, or maybe sooner depending on your body.
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I was eating mainly Keto prior to the cycling season, (less than 20g carb) but after starting to ride had to start including carbs, at about 20% of daily cals. I found flat riding at low intensities no problem, but I'd be a complete wreck on any sort of climb. Even small climbs were slow going and exhausting.
From my experience, if you can keep your heartrate below I'd say 70-75% at all times, keto is easily manageable. Above this, your performance will be crap, and you'll exhaust quickly which you'll feel for the rest of the day..recovery seems slow.
I read base building for cyclists last week, and in the book he recommends going to 45% daily calories from carbs, so I've been trying this. Although great for performance (87km ride 2 days into diet, avg 26.8km/hr but kept it low-ish intensity) it doesn't appear to have done much for weight/body composition over the last week, and in fact I'm up 3lbs. I'm also noticing I'm sweating and am tired a lot...I feel very full/bloated, and frankly, dumb...like my brain isn't turning on. But at the same time muscle fatigue seems to be much less, I can definitely ride longer than at 20% carbs.
I'm going to dial back the carbs to maybe 25-35% and see how that goes.
Matt
From my experience, if you can keep your heartrate below I'd say 70-75% at all times, keto is easily manageable. Above this, your performance will be crap, and you'll exhaust quickly which you'll feel for the rest of the day..recovery seems slow.
I read base building for cyclists last week, and in the book he recommends going to 45% daily calories from carbs, so I've been trying this. Although great for performance (87km ride 2 days into diet, avg 26.8km/hr but kept it low-ish intensity) it doesn't appear to have done much for weight/body composition over the last week, and in fact I'm up 3lbs. I'm also noticing I'm sweating and am tired a lot...I feel very full/bloated, and frankly, dumb...like my brain isn't turning on. But at the same time muscle fatigue seems to be much less, I can definitely ride longer than at 20% carbs.
I'm going to dial back the carbs to maybe 25-35% and see how that goes.
Matt
I notice my diet is continually getting poorer, like lower quality. Craving carbs, & eating junk. Doesn't help we have easy access to junk food here at work for free! Like, I'll plan to eat 30% carbs, but then will binge on junk so it'll up the carb %%, but then also go overboard on calories.
Eating keto (less than 20g carb/day) easily let me control food intake, and calories didn't matter so much. Didn't have cravings, always felt alert. Eating carbs seems to eff me up, I can't control intake at all, constantly craving crap, and I am becoming increasingly unhappy mentally.
I'm going to go back to keto for now. During my bodybuilding days (which is a LONG time ago, lol) I ate a targeted ketogenic diet which gave me good results, but I wasn't doing much besides lifting at that time. It was basically drink sugar water with a preworkout powder 30mins prior to working out, and those would be the only carbs consumed...I had a formula for amount of carbs required per minute of work done...it's around here somewhere.
Matt
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I'm new to the forum but I'll give my 2 cents, since I'm a Keto eater.
Our bodies started out as Keto burners, Before there was bread and other grain / processed foods that's the only way there was to be. Fruit and vegetables were eaten when in season but we eventually converted our society to Sugar burners. I don't think they were passing out while hunting food or not eating for a few days.
I use keto with intermittent fasting. I eat from 11 Am to 5 pm. I get all of my 2500 calories (or more depending on activities) from things like chicken, beef, broccoli, cheese, cottage cheese, almond milk (dairy is rough on an adult digestive system), and almonds. After about 2 months of doing this I had more energy than I ever had before and I focus better on tasks. I've been on it for well over a year. I was a sugar addict. When I quit sugar my body was upset, I was drinking soda in excess of 2 liters a day. It was a good month before I felt "normal' but you have to stick through it to detox off the sugar.
I don't think its for everyone, its too easy to be distracted by all the places to eat, but my body functions better. I have more energy, never have the ups and downs, and none of the bloating I had before from carb overload. I won't go back and have no need to.
Our bodies started out as Keto burners, Before there was bread and other grain / processed foods that's the only way there was to be. Fruit and vegetables were eaten when in season but we eventually converted our society to Sugar burners. I don't think they were passing out while hunting food or not eating for a few days.
I use keto with intermittent fasting. I eat from 11 Am to 5 pm. I get all of my 2500 calories (or more depending on activities) from things like chicken, beef, broccoli, cheese, cottage cheese, almond milk (dairy is rough on an adult digestive system), and almonds. After about 2 months of doing this I had more energy than I ever had before and I focus better on tasks. I've been on it for well over a year. I was a sugar addict. When I quit sugar my body was upset, I was drinking soda in excess of 2 liters a day. It was a good month before I felt "normal' but you have to stick through it to detox off the sugar.
I don't think its for everyone, its too easy to be distracted by all the places to eat, but my body functions better. I have more energy, never have the ups and downs, and none of the bloating I had before from carb overload. I won't go back and have no need to.
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I've lost 35lbs eating a cyclical ketogenic diet and staying in Ketosis 5 out of 7 days a week. I love the way I feel on the diet and I pretty much have a love/hate relationship with the weekly carbups. Love then, because I can to go nuts with bread, pasta, pizza....but hate the horrible bloat.
Do I think Keto the a fantastic way to lose a ton of weight if you are fat? Yup.
But is it a great diet for endurance athletes (cyclists) who are already down around 10% body fat or less? Nope.
Avoiding the bonk sounds great, but if your performance is already nerfed, then it's up to you to decide. I'm a diehard advocate of ketogenic eating, but that's cause I have body fat to lose and burning off body fat for fuel just makes sense. If you're training hard for long distance racing, and are already low body fat...carbs are gonna fuel you easier.
Also, bacon.
Do I think Keto the a fantastic way to lose a ton of weight if you are fat? Yup.
But is it a great diet for endurance athletes (cyclists) who are already down around 10% body fat or less? Nope.
Avoiding the bonk sounds great, but if your performance is already nerfed, then it's up to you to decide. I'm a diehard advocate of ketogenic eating, but that's cause I have body fat to lose and burning off body fat for fuel just makes sense. If you're training hard for long distance racing, and are already low body fat...carbs are gonna fuel you easier.
Also, bacon.
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Interesting new VeloNews podcast with Dr. John Hawley, one of the forefront researchers in "train low" and what he thinks of ketogenic diets for performance Fast Talk podcast, ep. 23: How periodization works... for your nutrition | VeloNews.com
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My wife tried the keto diet, but struggled with it, she's a carboholic! with that said, she started using Keto OS it puts your body in ketos about 60 minutes after you drink it, you can get Keto strips and test it, she has lost 13 lbs in 1 1/2 months and lost her cravings for carbs. She feels great and is excited, she has finally started losing weight, she's 56 years young. She is now involved in Pruvit (the company that sells Keto OS), providing Keto OS for other people. If interested PM me and she can get you a 5 day experience pack to try. Cost about 35.00
Pete
Pete
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Yeah...eat NOTHING for 3 days while working out...and guess what...you're in Ketosis.
Or...eat a high fat, moderate protein, and low carb (under 30-50gram) diet, for 3 days and you are already there.
You and your wife are selling horse piss. You receive no benefit whatsoever from simply "hitting ketosis".
It's a lifestyle. It means NOT eating carbs...because when they mix with fat...it forces your body to store fat.
But the athletes who do live in Ketosis regularly carb-up either on the weekends or before a workout. CKD or TKD.
Amazingly, those Vegan bros our there are right...they eat 95 percent carbs and 1 percent fat, so yeah. They have something going there, but they are all mostly starved of protein and can't hold onto muscle.
The solution you are presenting here is garbage and I hate you and you should die.
The cycling world already hates the ketogenic diet and your bull**** advert. is not helping the thousands of fatties out there and could easily lose weight by going low carb and exercising, then switching to a higher carb diet if they actually wanted to be competitive. **** man....
Jesus, open a book and leave your wife
Last edited by PocketGroove; 08-01-17 at 07:32 PM.
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Wow...imagine if I could get you into Ketosis for FREE?!?
Yeah...eat NOTHING for 3 days while working out...and guess what...you're in Ketosis.
Or...eat a high fat, moderate protein, and low carb (under 30-50gram) diet, for 3 days and you are already there.
You and your wife are selling horse piss. You receive no benefit whatsoever from simply "hitting ketosis".
It's a lifestyle. It means NOT eating carbs...because when they mix with fat...it forces your body to store fat.
But the athletes who do live in Ketosis regularly carb-up either on the weekends or before a workout. CKD or TKD.
Amazingly, those Vegan bros our there are right...they eat 95 percent carbs and 1 percent fat, so yeah. They have something going there, but they are all mostly starved of protein and can't hold onto muscle.
The solution you are presenting here is garbage and I hate you and you should die.
The cycling world already hates the ketogenic diet and your bull**** advert. is not helping the thousands of fatties out there and could easily lose weight by going low carb and exercising, then switching to a higher carb diet if they actually wanted to be competitive. **** man....
Jesus, open a book and leave your wife
Yeah...eat NOTHING for 3 days while working out...and guess what...you're in Ketosis.
Or...eat a high fat, moderate protein, and low carb (under 30-50gram) diet, for 3 days and you are already there.
You and your wife are selling horse piss. You receive no benefit whatsoever from simply "hitting ketosis".
It's a lifestyle. It means NOT eating carbs...because when they mix with fat...it forces your body to store fat.
But the athletes who do live in Ketosis regularly carb-up either on the weekends or before a workout. CKD or TKD.
Amazingly, those Vegan bros our there are right...they eat 95 percent carbs and 1 percent fat, so yeah. They have something going there, but they are all mostly starved of protein and can't hold onto muscle.
The solution you are presenting here is garbage and I hate you and you should die.
The cycling world already hates the ketogenic diet and your bull**** advert. is not helping the thousands of fatties out there and could easily lose weight by going low carb and exercising, then switching to a higher carb diet if they actually wanted to be competitive. **** man....
Jesus, open a book and leave your wife
You must have mommy issues, with that being said you should understand what ketos does for you before you just start blabbing. It does alot more that just help lose weight. MAYBE go do your homework and see what some of the top Doctors are saying. DUH idiot.
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either that or you are riding really, really slowly.
Anyhow, anyone who has hunted vs. gathered can tell you what a total bunch of hooey the "we started out exclusively carnivorous" theory is anyhow. Its much, much, much more tiring and inefficient to hunt than to gather fruits, nuts and grains. Our bodies didn't start off any way or evolve any way except omnivorous. Not only that, but there is no evidence of it. Zero. Somebody made it up to sell books and products and for some reason people believed it.
Look at your teeth. Do they look like shark teeth? Nope. Heck, they don't even look like wolf or bear teeth (both of which are omnivorous anyhow) and that's not because we've grown durum for 10k years.
#22
The Left Coast, USA
I was eating mainly Keto prior to the cycling season, (less than 20g carb) but after starting to ride had to start including carbs, at about 20% of daily cals. I found flat riding at low intensities no problem, but I'd be a complete wreck on any sort of climb. Even small climbs were slow going and exhausting.
From my experience, if you can keep your heartrate below I'd say 70-75% at all times, keto is easily manageable. Above this, your performance will be crap, and you'll exhaust quickly which you'll feel for the rest of the day..recovery seems slow.
I read base building for cyclists last week, and in the book he recommends going to 45% daily calories from carbs, so I've been trying this. Although great for performance (87km ride 2 days into diet, avg 26.8km/hr but kept it low-ish intensity) it doesn't appear to have done much for weight/body composition over the last week, and in fact I'm up 3lbs. I'm also noticing I'm sweating and am tired a lot...I feel very full/bloated, and frankly, dumb...like my brain isn't turning on. But at the same time muscle fatigue seems to be much less, I can definitely ride longer than at 20% carbs.
I'm going to dial back the carbs to maybe 25-35% and see how that goes.
Matt
From my experience, if you can keep your heartrate below I'd say 70-75% at all times, keto is easily manageable. Above this, your performance will be crap, and you'll exhaust quickly which you'll feel for the rest of the day..recovery seems slow.
I read base building for cyclists last week, and in the book he recommends going to 45% daily calories from carbs, so I've been trying this. Although great for performance (87km ride 2 days into diet, avg 26.8km/hr but kept it low-ish intensity) it doesn't appear to have done much for weight/body composition over the last week, and in fact I'm up 3lbs. I'm also noticing I'm sweating and am tired a lot...I feel very full/bloated, and frankly, dumb...like my brain isn't turning on. But at the same time muscle fatigue seems to be much less, I can definitely ride longer than at 20% carbs.
I'm going to dial back the carbs to maybe 25-35% and see how that goes.
Matt
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I don't see where I claimed to be fast, just not needing to eat while doing long bike rides. I enjoy my rides and can go for long stretches any only hydrate.
Anyhow, anyone who has hunted vs. gathered can tell you what a total bunch of hooey the "we started out exclusively carnivorous" theory is anyhow. Its much, much, much more tiring and inefficient to hunt than to gather fruits, nuts and grains. Our bodies didn't start off any way or evolve any way except omnivorous. Not only that, but there is no evidence of it. Zero. Somebody made it up to sell books and products and for some reason people believed it.
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As for not eating, even if you're sitting on the couch watching TV, 6-10 hours is a long time to eat nothing. To do that on the bike seems completely pointless. What does that serve you? What else do you have to do while riding 100 miles?
It just seems so strange that it makes me wonder if there is any truth to it, hence my joke about it.
Last edited by fantom1; 08-09-17 at 06:48 PM.
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While 6-10 hours is a long time to eat nothing, one of the interesting side effects of a keto diet is you can go long stretches without being hungry. Oddly enough, I find that putting out effort actually decreases my appetite for a while. This tends to result in the first day or two of a tour having me eat very little.
When my appetite does kick in, I may end up putting away quite a bit of food, but without feeling like if I don't eat, I won't be able to keep going.
It's certainly true for me. It was not something I was looking to do, just something I discovered. In fact, I did not set out to go keto, my goal was to control blood sugars. After settling on a diet that worked, I later learned that I was in ketosis and this was a "thing" people did. In the same way, I learned from experience that I could go a long time without eating or being very hungry.