Tag: Carb periodization

Your muscles can store enough glycogen for about 90 minutes of moderate-to-high intensity exercise, a limited supply that must be managed carefully. This guide will help you understand how to match your carbohydrate intake to your training demands for peak performance and optimal recovery.

While low-carb diets are popular for weight management in the general population, studies show that for high-intensity exercise, a low-carb diet can significantly impair performance due to depleted glycogen stores. The question of should athletes eat low carbs is complex, depending heavily on the athlete's specific sport, training phase, and performance goals.

According to sports nutrition experts, the average Olympic athlete's diet consists of about 55-60% carbohydrates, 15-25% lean proteins, and 20-30% healthy fats. This precise macronutrient balance heavily influences what professional athletes have for breakfast, which is meticulously planned to fuel high-intensity training, optimize recovery, and ensure peak performance.

According to sports nutrition guidelines, even for the lightest training days, athletes need a minimum of 3-5 grams of carbohydrates per kilogram of body weight, making the idea of an extremely low amount of carbs for an athlete highly contextual and often ill-advised for peak performance.