Research shows that purposefully manipulating carbohydrate intake before, during or after specific training sessions can promote training adaptations in the muscle and subsequently improve exercise capacity.
If not planned properly, training ‘low’ ie; – in a muscle glycogen depleted state can impair immunity, training quality, break down muscle mass and reduce your ability to use carbohydrate in races when it matters most!
Training low doesn’t have to be as awful as it sounds – to yield off hunger pains or help the perceived effort feel easier, caffeine, carbohydrate mouth rinses and a nice hit of protein can do the trick.
A variety of athletes may use this philosophy for a number of reasons. To target this area of sports nutrition properly, speak to your sports dietitian to find out if it’s appropriate for your performance goals.