6 replies to this topic

[OpaqueMind]

I recently started up the paleolithic diet and I feel healthier, more emotionally stable and generally more energetic.
I also practice mixed martial arts and am a follower of Ross Enamait's infinite intensity training program. This program is very anaerobically focused, and I am concerned about whether I will be able to reach peak (or near peak) performance an a very carb restricted diet, and if not, is there any way I could augment my current intake in order to be able to work on and improve my anaerobic systems without fatigue whilst still getting the health benefits from the paleo diet? First hand accounts/studies are preferable to arm-chair theorising, but any advice is appreciated of course

[OpaqueMind]

Rephrased;

Is a dietary intake of carbohydrates necessary for anaerobic conditioning? For example while weight lifting or high intensity interval training?

I find it hard to believe that no-one here has attempted this.

The reason I don't yet know myself is because I have been out of action recently from a back accident, sledgehammer to the spine no less! Probably escaped paralysis by just a few newtons of force. Anyway now that I'm back in action I can test this out myself. I'm not a professional or anything so I'm not looking to push the boundaries of human physical achievement with this diet, just for it to adequately sustain me in the long-run.

If anyone's interested I'll let you know how it goes.

[Shepard]

I have experience with Enamait's programming and ran through the Never Gymless routine many years back. I could not fathom doing this on a low-carb diet. It just wouldn't happen.

You can find plenty of anecdotal reports of combining low-carb paleo with heavy conditioning work in the Crossfit arena. By and large, the consensus is that it's not a good idea. This is fairly obvious when you look at the energy system demands of this type of conditioning. Can you jog for a long time on low carb? Sure. Can you squat 600 pounds low carb? Probably so. Can you maximize performance on 200m repeats with low glycogen? Never.

[Marios Kyriazis]

See Erwan Le Corre's 'www.MovNat.com' ideas for advice on both diet and exercise, in Paleolithic terms

[OpaqueMind]

I feared that it wouldn't be possible.

Would it be feasible to consume glucose just before an anaerobic-centric workout, say on a strength training day or one of the warrior challenges? Is glucose able to undergo glycolysis directly from the stomach contents or does it have to be stored in cells first? Would it be better to consume sugar or some other carbs? Would it be possible to give a ballpark estimate of how much one would use on an average workout (or considering the amount of variables is there a way I can work this out for myself)?

[Joe Cairo]

May I recommend using Honey, raw preferably, as a way to quickly boost your glycogen levels when doing anaerobic, interval training. I use it for our mens college basketball team and we were the 3rd highest scoring college team, at any level, in the U.S. in 2011-2012 at 103.7 ppg.

It works.

Slug down a couple of gulps from the plastic bear, or what have you, to Boost your preworkout levels 30 minutes prior, then use a honey/water combo to rehydrate during your workout.

Better, cheaper than gatorade or whatever else you use.

Honey, banana and peanut butter on high quality whole wheat bread right after your workout wil put you back on the map, so to speak.

This is absolutely Paleolithic. Oldest cave drawings in spain show honey gatherers 8,000 years ago.

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Edited by Joe Cairo, 21 May 2012 - 11:08 PM.

[niner]

I'm not a professional or anything so I'm not looking to push the boundaries of human physical achievement with this diet, just for it to adequately sustain me in the long-run.

I can't argue with Joe's experience using honey in a competition situation, but in light of what you're saying here, I might do it a little different. The prime objective of this site is life extension, so if you are thinking about the real long run, then you don't want to see huge blood sugar spikes of the type that you might get from eating pure sugar or the next closest thing. We also have a lot of concern about excessive fructose. Rather than sugar, I'd give some consideration to carbs that degrade more slowly, i.e. carbs with a lower glycemic index. My usual breakfast is oatmeal with coconut oil and blueberries. This sustains me at the gym and once when I measured my blood sugar an hour and a quarter after eating, it was only 95, so it's lasting a long time. (The coconut oil is probably slowing absorption.) After a workout I eat a high protein meal. I'm thinking about adding some BCAAs to the mix at some point. Anyway, that's what I do. Don't worry about whether something is strictly paleo or not. Slow carbs are going to be better for you than fast carbs, regardless of which one is technically paleo.