When is carbohydrate loading recommended

Casual gym-goers and high-intensity sports teams should avoid too many carbohydrates, as such a meal plan can lead to water retention and weight gain. Not only will this affect physical performance, but it may have long-lasting health implications.

Carb-loading can also cause digestive problems such as bloating. Many foods that are rich in carbohydrates also contain dietary fiber which, while beneficial in small amounts, can lead to constipation and diarrhea in large doses.

Eating an excess of carbohydrates only increases stamina for those who are competing in long-distance or endurance events. For daily workouts and most popular sports, carb-loading can actually detract from performance and lead to weight gain and digestive issues.

But when you engage in long, intense athletic events, your body needs extra energy to keep going. The purpose of carbohydrate loading is to give you the energy you need to complete an endurance event with less fatigue, improving your athletic performance. Carbohydrate loading may be most beneficial if you're an endurance athlete — such as a marathon runner, swimmer, cyclist or all three — preparing for an event that will last 90 minutes or more.

Other athletes generally don't need carbohydrate loading. It's usually enough to get about half of your calories from carbohydrates. Carbohydrates, also known as starches and sugars, are your body's main energy source.

Complex carbohydrates include legumes, grains and starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, peas and corn. Simple carbohydrates are found mainly in fruits and milk, as well as in foods made with sugar, such as candy and other sweets.

During digestion, your body breaks down carbohydrates into sugar. The sugar enters your bloodstream, where it's then transferred to individual cells to provide energy. Sugar is stored in your liver and muscles as glycogen — your energy source. Your muscles normally store only small amounts of glycogen — enough to support you during recreational exercise activities. If you exercise intensely for more than 90 minutes, your muscles may run out of glycogen.

At that point, fatigue might set in, and your performance may suffer. But with carbohydrate loading, you may be able to store more energy in your muscles. This may give you the stamina to make it through longer endurance events. But, you'll still need to consume some energy sources during your event. Carbohydrate loading is done the week before a high-endurance activity. One to three days before the event, increase your carbohydrate intake to about 8 to 12 grams of carbohydrate per kilogram of body weight.

Cut back on foods higher in fat to compensate for the extra carbohydrate-rich foods. Also scale back your training for three to four days before the event.

The combination of eating more carbohydrates and tapering activity appear to boost muscle glycogen stores. How many carbs you need depends on your total calorie goal as well as your sport. For most athletes, 5 to 7 grams of carbohydrate per kilogram of body weight daily is right for general training. Note that 1 kilogram equals 2.

Endurance athletes may need up to 12 grams per kilogram. Here's a sample carbohydrate-loading meal plan for an athlete who weighs pounds 77 kilograms. It's based on 4. You can tweak this sample carbohydrate-loading meal plan to suit your own tastes and nutritional needs.

Carbohydrate loading may give you more energy during an endurance event. You may feel less fatigued and see an improvement in your performance after carbohydrate loading. But carbohydrate loading isn't effective for everyone. During this time, you should probably also avoid high-fiber foods like beans. Overall, it may be best to choose lower-fiber carbohydrate sources to avoid the possibility of fullness or stomach discomfort during exercise.

Another possible mistake is not knowing if you are eating the right amount of carbohydrates. Without recording what you eat, you may be eating too much or too little.

Experts often recommend that people who are carb loading eat 2. Recording your food intake can help you make sure you are eating the right amount 3. However, if you eat more carbs than necessary, you may have changed your diet too much or simply eaten too many calories.

As your experience grows, you may not need to do this anymore. However, it is a good idea for beginners. The days before your event or competition are important, and having an upset stomach due to unfamiliar foods can spoil your experience and exercise performance.

Because of this, you should choose foods that are familiar to you — in addition to being high-carb, low-fat and low-fiber. If you are considering using carb loading before an upcoming competition or athletic event, there are a few things you should think about.

Before you launch into carb loading, consider whether the type and duration of exercise you are doing requires it. If you will be performing exercise lasting more than 90 minutes without breaks, such as running or cycling, you may benefit from this nutrition strategy.

If your exercise is shorter or involves many breaks, such as weight training, carb loading is probably not necessary. If you record all the food you eat for several days using a food-tracking app or the nutrition labels on your food, you can calculate your current daily carbohydrate intake. Then you can divide the grams of carbs you eat each day by your weight to compare your current intake to carb loading recommendations. For example, if you weigh pounds 70 kg and you normally eat grams of carbs per day, then you are consuming 1.

People who are carb loading may eat 2. That said, experts often recommend a more limited range of 3. Based on these recommendations, you would need to eat approximately double the amount of carbs you would normally.

Avoid choosing foods that are high in both carbs and fats, such as desserts, pasta with creamy sauce, pastries and similar items. As discussed, carb loading programs can last from one to six days. It may be a good idea to start with a simple program lasting between one and three days. For example, you could simply increase your carb intake to around 3. You could also practice several different types of carb loading during training and keep notes to decide which helped you feel and perform your best.

Generally, it is best to experiment during your training rather than right before a real competition. That way, you can decide what will work best before your big event. Lastly, it may be best to focus on familiar foods during carb loading. Unusual foods could upset your stomach and impair your performance.

Commonly recommended foods include pasta, bread, fruits and fruit juices, smoothies, cereals and other high-carb, low-fat foods.

Once you have your nutrition plan set, you need to remember to taper your exercise in the days leading up to your event or competition. Of course, it is also important to have protein to support your muscles.

Try to focus on lean protein sources, such as fish, lean cuts of meat or poultry and fat-free dairy. Try to find the best compromise between the recommendations and foods you enjoy. Many people eat high-carb foods that are high-fat too. It is best to avoid these during carb loading. Below are some examples of foods that may seem high-carb but are also high-fat and therefore inappropriate for carb loading. Also, many foods that are a great part of your normal diet may be high in fiber.

You should limit or remove these foods from your diet during carb loading. These lists are not comprehensive. To find the best high-carb options for your diet, check the nutrition information for the foods you normally eat. Carb loading involves two major components: increasing the carbs you eat and decreasing the amount you exercise. Carb intake can range from 2. This strategy may not be useful for you if you are recreationally active but not an athlete or competitor in long-duration events.

When you carb load, it may be best to choose familiar foods that are high-carb and low-fat. You may also need to limit your fiber intake during these days.