Carb Loading OT sort of

Hey Folks,
I need to ask a question about "Carb Loading" for Athletics. A doctor who
spoke at a recent football camp my son attended recommended carb loading 2
hours before practice. This goes so much against what I believe (LC WOE)
one should do that I thought I would come here and get some opinions.

She said avoid bad carbs...junk food, caffeine because of its diuretic
effect and even went to the extent of saying most sport drinks are bad.
Recommending plain water instead.

So if you buy into this theory of carb loading...then you should load with
what kind of carbs? Fruits?

Yes I did a internet search and found a variety of answers and opinions. I
have been visiting this newsgroup for years and I respect the opinion of
many of the posters here...this is why I ask.

Thanks,

Rick

Rick King wrote:
:: Hey Folks,
:: I need to ask a question about "Carb Loading" for Athletics. A
:: doctor who spoke at a recent football camp my son attended
:: recommended carb loading 2 hours before practice. This goes so much
:: against what I believe (LC WOE) one should do that I thought I would
:: come here and get some opinions.

Is your son on LC? Is this question in regards to LC or in general? If the
latter, I don't see a real need for carb loading. On LC, it may well be
necessary for optimal performance in intense situations, but not for
everyday typical stuff that most people do.

::
:: She said avoid bad carbs...junk food, caffeine because of its
:: diuretic effect and even went to the extent of saying most sport
:: drinks are bad. Recommending plain water instead.

Well, water is fine if you like it. But any liquid is fine, too. Caffeine
gives a kick would can be useful, IMO.

::
:: So if you buy into this theory of carb loading...then you should
:: load with what kind of carbs?

Glucose is best as it is directly used by the muscles. Hence, bread is good
or anything that becomes glucose quickly.

:: Fruits?
::
:: Yes I did a internet search and found a variety of answers and
:: opinions. I have been visiting this newsgroup for years and I
:: respect the opinion of many of the posters here...this is why I ask.

I'm not sure in what context you're asking. If your son is on LC and
regularly engages in hard practices sessions, then he may need additional
carbs to perform well. If he's bonking out or feeling really sluggish and
thinking he can't get through the sessions, then he may need some extra
carbs, assuming his problem isn't that he's just not used to hard training
sessions. If this is an activity that he knows he can get through due to
experience, but he finds himself having trouble during sessions, then carb
loading may help. Of course, an increased carb level may be the best thing
if he regularly trains this way.

::
:: Thanks,
::
:: Rick

Hey Folks,
I need to ask a question about "Carb Loading" for Athletics. A doctor who
spoke at a recent football camp my son attended recommended carb loading 2
hours before practice. This goes so much against what I believe (LC WOE)
one should do that I thought I would come here and get some opinions.

A couple of years ago, I started the Atkins diet in June. Well, the Hotter
'n' Hell Hundred comes up every year in late August, and I decided to ride
my bicycle in that. So, what to do? There were stories of people having
spaghetti binges and telling other people to "load up" on carbs for 3 days
prior to the ride. I didn't do anything different from my regular Atkins
Diet. The day of the ride, I stopped at rest stop #2 and #4 and then every
rest stop thereafter. I ate the fruit, the potato chips, the "Goldfish"
crackers and drank the Gatorade like everyone else. I even had 2 of the hot
links at the middle rest stop (people had told me it would upset my stomach
but it didn't). I didn't have any problems relating to nutrition (heat and
wind are another matter).

Before that, I would go out for 3-4 hour rides without carb loading. I
carried a couple of sticks of individually wrapped cheese for the rest break
snacks. I didn't ever have any problems with bonking or any other distress.
In a related matter, I started drinking CycloMax on long rides this summer
and it promptly caused stomach cramping. Now, I only drink it after the
rides are over.

Pat in TX