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I have a question for the Adkins folks. I'm 42, 5'10 and 2 years ago weighed 195. I returned to cycling and now weigh 150. Obviously, I put in a lot of miles on the bike each week, but I do so being fueled with a diet that's 60% carb, 25% protein and 15% fat. That's pretty generic for endurance sports. Here's the point...on the Adkins diet, can you sustain a vigorous exercise regime? Does the lack of carbs restrict your glygogen production/stores?

No, you can't store glycogen, if I understood the book correctly. That is the whole point of the diet.

Your diet seems to be working for you, probably because you burn up all the carbs with your daily exercise. I would hesitate to recommend a change because you have something that is working.

I cannot do much more exercise than walking, because I have a bad knee. Also, I had found it increasingly difficult to drop weight, which is why I am trying this. I need to get my weight down because of blood pressure and because of my bad knee.

Here's the point...on the Adkins diet, can you sustain a vigorous exercise regime? Does the lack of carbs restrict your glygogen production/stores?

BTW, it Atkins, not Adkins (that common mispelling of his name puzzles me).

First of all, if you are 150 pounds, you are perfect for your height and need not worry that your diet is 60% carb, especially since you are physically active.

Speaking as an overweight person who went to a low-carb diet, I can tell you that I have had no difficult with a vigorous exercise regime while on it. In fact, I think the low-carb diet has actually given me the energy to sustain it. On traditional low-fat diets, I just never had the energy.

Now maybe when I get to my target weight and remain physically active (I currently walk at least 7-10 miles a day), I can handle as many carbs as you.

on the Adkins diet, can you sustain a vigorous exercise regime? Does the lack of carbs restrict your glygogen production/stores?

Lots of us haven't the time, the joints or the inclination to exercize vigerously for a dozen hours a week, that is the whole point.

So9

...can you sustain a vigorous exercise regime?

I am physically unable to exercise which is one reason why I have gained so much weight and I get around with the use of a little scooter. I am diabetic but, since I have been on Atkins diet I have not had to take any insulin one time. Another problem I had was acid reflux and take prilosec at $100.00 for a month supply. I have only taken about two capsules in the last 2 months, and none in the last 3 weeks.

I am 5'11" and topped out at 296 lb. I contienciously dieted and began a swimming regimen. I swam every day at lunch time instead of eating, ate miniscule portions of "healthy" foods, no fat, high carbs. When I started swimming, I struggled to swim 200 yards. After six months, I struggled to swim 400 yards. I wore size 42 pants and XXL or XXL shirts. After six months of this effort, I gained one pound.

I was despondent. It seemed hopeless. This phenomenal effort on my part had yielded - nothing.

Then I tried Atkins. What the heck, at least I can eat food I like without the guilt trip. I started on Feb. 11. On March 15, I weighed in at 268. On May 2 I weighed in at 234 and my doctor decided his office scale was broken. By mid July I weighed 214, 208 by the end of August. My swimming went from struggling to swim 400 yards in February, to struggling to swim 2,000 yards by May. I developed (for me) incredible stamina, such that, at 45 years old I am much stronger and have much more enduarance than I did at 21.

Count me as an Atkins fanatic.

When I was active duty we did a little shuffle every morning of 6 miles in addition to our 2 hours of PT. I too used a bike for local transport pretty much. If you maintain an agressive endurance exercise regime and life style then your high carb diet is burned off . If you become sedate because of illness or injury then the carbs will go straight to yer ass. Back off to low carb intake as much as possible. Each individual will react differently to differing diets thus I recommend you have a close relationship with a flobotomist and doctor who'll keep track of yer chemistry for ya !

Just sharing what works for me after some very bad back injuries that put too many pounds on me when I had to quit running .

Stay Safe !

I am 51 and 5'9". I was on a low fat diet for about 3.5 years. I lost about 70 lbs. From 250 to 180. After I reached 180 lbs I started to increase my carbs. I ate what I thought was healthy. Most of the carbs were whole grain stuff. I don't think I have had a piece of white bread for 3 yrs. Anyway I was and still running 25 miles per week and doing about 4hrs per week of strength training. But over time I gained back to 205. I am now back to around 187 as of this morning. I started on the Atkins Diet about 6 to 7 weeks ago and lost almost 20 lbs. Now for your question. The first couple of days I was on the Diet I seemed to not have the endurance I had before I started the diet. But after that I guess my body adjusted and I was back to normal if not better. I am able to run faster longer now. But that could be because of the weight loss.
I have also notice I am able to lift heavier than I was before I started the Atkins Diet. Which means I haven't lost any muscle mass and have most likely gain muscle mass.

Here's the point...on the Adkins diet, can you sustain a vigorous exercise regime? Does the lack of carbs restrict your glygogen production/stores?

No, I don't think you can sustain a vigorous, long-distance aerobic exercise regime on an extremely low carbohydrate diet. Atkins is for nomrally sedentary people who don't care about the long-term effects on their kidneys and bones. However, you might want to experiment with increasing the percentage of protein and unsaturated fat in your diet. I lift heavy weights for three sessions per week (squats, bench, deadlifts, dips, etc.) and run about 10-15 miles per week (fast for my size; 7-8 minute miles for 3-4 miles). My eating habits approximate the "zone" diet. I have about 10 percent b.f. and weigh 195lbs. I'm 6 feet tall and will turn 37 in October. You might try the zone diet or somethin very similar.

Your 60% carb, 25% protein and 15% fat is just about right for an endurance athlete. Personally I'm a little higher on the carbs but I'm doing big big miles swimming, biking, and running. Keep doing what you are doing. You need to replenish your glycogen asap before your next training session.