Why Low Carb Diets Fail For The Anaerobic Athlete

A great article by nutritionist & Pure Barre student Alex M. Fioroni:

What does the word “Anaerobic” mean and how does this affect the way I eat?

Well let’s look at the basic science of what this means and really get to the bottom of the way we look at a carbohydrate in regards to an active anaerobic exerciser Anaerobic basically means exercise without oxygen as the main source of energy. Guess what the number one source of fuel/energy is for an anaerobic exerciser? “Glycogen”…meaning glucose..meaning carbohydrates.

Now that we know that sugar (carbohydrate), (obviously the right kind and the right amount) is the number one fuel for an exerciser that trains like an anaerobic athlete, lets really define what kind of exerciser that is.

Basically if you are working out or playing a sport that consists of quick energy burst that last under 2 minutes and have periodic rests in between, you are classified as an anaerobic exerciser.

Example: Pure Barre workouts, weight training, lacrosse, football, hockey, golf, baseball, boxing, martial arts, etc. As you can see these are not only sports or recreational sports that individuals use to get in shape or to keep in shape but are some of the most common professional sports.

Now if carbohydrates are the number one fuel for an anaerobic exerciser then you can see why, when it comes to nutrition, sugar is so important. I keep saying the word sugar because I want you to realize that is what a carbohydrate is. Here in our society the wrong types of sugars and LARGE amounts of sugars per servings that we tend to eat have caused many illnesses. At the end of the day, sugar used in moderation and balanced with the correct ratios is more powerful for our body than the illnesses that are being created from unhealthy use of sugar.

If one does a low carb diet and trains like an anaerobic athlete the only loss of weight that will happen will be YOUR MUSCLE and the only gain will be irritability and low energy!!
The key is learning what types of carbohydrates are powerful enough to generate a high metabolism and ingesting the correct amount of grams every 2-3 hours. Sugar is what feeds the muscle. Sugar also feeds the brain. The average person needs at least 20 grams of sugar just for the brain to function for a couple of hours.

We get caught up in the “hype” of these fade diets not because they work but because we get caught in the quick fix approach due to the fact that we have bad habits that we do not know how to change.

The great thing is that you can and you will. You just need the right tools and the right coach and you will be in better shape and feel better than you could ever dream of.

Be smart, take your time, and enjoy what nutrition and proper science can do for your health and your future!