Superior Athletic Performance – NO Carbs Required

(Photo by Oskarm’s Flickr Stream)

Let me just re-state that. Contrary to popular belief, you do NOT need to consume carbs to compete in athletics. In fact, you will not only be able to compete, but you can excel as well.

The whole “high-carb diet is needed for proper training & sports performance” myth is one of the biggest misconceptions out there about. I hear it so much, that I usually don’t even bother to discuss it with people anymore. They’ve been so brainwashed by the “experts”, that they can’t even fathom that it might not be the only way (or even the “right” way).

Lets face it, we live in a world of “sugar-fueled sports”. So it shouldn’t be any surprise that most so-called “Sports drinks” are LOADED with the stuff. I’m sure that everyone from marathon runners to bodybuilders would not hesitate to tell you that sugar and carbs are a “necessary part” of their training and recovery routine. The funny thing is, they’re dead wrong.

Case in point #1: Charles Washington.

Charles is a 41 year old distance runner who has been living (and competing in races) on a Zero Carbohydrate diet since January 2007. Now if there is ANY sport that is deeply committed to carbohydrates – its distance runners. While other runners are feasting on heaps of pasta before a race, Charles is eating a nice big juicy steak (or two).

Check out Charles progress and story at his blog and zero carb forum.

Case in point #2: Stephen McCain.

Here’s a nice NBC Sports article regarding low-carb catching on with Olympic Gymnasts – specifically Stephen McCain.

“With rock-hard biceps and abs that would make a bodybuilder jealous, Stephen McCain doesn’t need to lose weight. Yet count him as a devotee of the increasingly popular low-carbohydrate diet.”

The nutritional info in the article is pretty lame and weak (hey, it was written by a “Sports Writer” after all), but the message is sound. I wonder how Steve is doing these days.. Any gymnast fans out there know?

Case in point #3: Jonas Colting.

Jonas Colting is a Swedish triathlete who won the Ultraman World Championships in 2004 and 2007. He credits his low-carb, high-fat diet for not only making him a healthy as he can be – but giving him a performance boost that helps him edge out his high-carb competition.

Jimmy Moore also did a podcast interview with Jonas not too long ago.

The best and most efficient fuel for your body is FAT, not carbs. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about a pair of love handles or a T-bone steak. Don’t listen to the carb hype – and don’t drink “the haterade”. ;)

Does anyone have any examples of low-carb athletes they’d like to share?

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