On Thu, 22 Apr 2004 06:40:51 -0400, Hannah Gruen
wrote:

Chad C. wrote:

My
probably wrong and grotesquely-simplified theory is thus: I know glycogen
can provide a very quick release of energy for physical exertion. Can
lipolysis-ketosis come very close? Will it attempt to keep up to the body's
needs of energy by burning more fat, or will it resort to supplementing with
burning protein as well? Will this protein come from dietary sources, or
muscle tissue, or both? Can this effect be ameliorated in a ketogenic diet,
or is it even a problem? Etc.

From what I've read, training while eating a low-carbohydrate diet will
generally result in enhanced ability to burn fat - dietary and/or body
fat - for energy while exercising. Note that this doesn't happen
automatically, but that you need to train for it over a periof of time,
many weeks to months. Like any other training. But for most people, in
time efficiency will increase, and that has certainly been my
experience. It makes sense, after all, that humans would be adapted
through evolution to be able to run long distances in order to pursue
game even on a (ketogenic) paleolithic winter diet of mostly meat and fat.

I particularly liked reading "Slow Burn" by Stu Mittleman, one of the
world's all-time best ultra-long-distance runners. Mittleman's claim is
that you need to train your body to run primarily on fat, because you
generally have a substantial store of that, compared to limited
glycogen/carb stores. He doesn't eat an extremely low carbohydrate diet,
nor would he be expected to, given his level of activity, but definitely
emphasizes olive oil, nuts, protein foods as well as low-starch
vegetables. Definitely lower-carb than the SAD. It's a good read for
anyone interested in endurance athletic performance activites, such as
life

HG

Working out aerobically while in calorie deficit is going to burn body
fat and dietary protein. There is a limit to the number of calories
you can expend per minute though. When I was first starting out with
low carb it was real tough to burn any faster than about .04 calories
per pound of body weight per minute without feeling stale and tired.

If you search for information about fasting and muscle catabolism you
will find some good explanations about the problems of keeping muscle
while in calorie deficit.

Although tearing yourself up sprinting or weight lifting to excess is
not going to be very productive without cycling carbs you can tone and
do less energetic cardio workouts to rebuild some of the lost muscle.

Trying to build muscle while in calorie deficit is always going to be
a compromising venture. Having a carb up every few weeks and ripping
yourself out at full effort may give you a psychological boost that is
worth a week of weight gain though. You get a nice pump from the
extra glycogen in the muscles and some people say it resets metabolism
at a higher rate.