Hoping that some of the lifters on Atkins can give me some advice. While on atkins, while I was way overweight for my size, I was lifting a decent amount of weight. During induction, I must've lost a lot of muscle, since I couldn't even lift the weight that I used to.

During workouts (while on atkins) I'd feel nauseous, dizzy, generally sick. So I upped my amount of carbs (from anywhere to 40-70) and finally I can actually lift without feeling like s**t. Problem is, I'm not losing anymore fat and have actually gained about 4 pounds.

Also taking Met-Rx protein shakes, which are about 23 grams of carbs.

I'm wondering how the weightlifters figured out their daily carb amounts. Atkins doesn't address heavy lifting (high weights, low reps)w which is what i do. I was really impossible for me to follow Atkins strictly, since i'd collapse at teh gym.

I'd appreciate any tips/advice. Thanks.

Try taking glutamine instead of carbs for glycogen replenishment.

I agree, there is no fundamental advice geared for us weightlifters on carb needs. Another option is to consume 20-30 grams of carbs TOTAL right after the workout (preferrably dextrose or maltodextrin--a great cheap source is smarties candy) while consuming 10-15 grams of glutamine during the workout.

The problem with the Atkins diet and heavy lifting is an interesting one. Without going into too much detail I think it means that intensity of the workout should be slightly less than normal. Basically, take more rest in between sets. However, if you do the glutamine/smarties trick see if that doesn't fix things. It may temporarily knock you out of ketosis, but ketosis should return shortly in a couple of hours. Sounds like your not losing pounds is a matter of having good muscle memory, and you're adding more weight via body composition improvement. Can't get any better than that!

See if any of that helps and happy lifting.

Hi there Frets. Sounds like you experienced the Induction blues I doubt you lost muscle when you LCed, this is normally a muscle sparing way of eating (as long as you're eating adequate protein and calories). What happens when you LC is your body gets rid of a lot of water initially, including muscle glycogen - this effects how much you can lift. Until you adapt to LC lifting as heavy is just not feasible, but it's not because of muscle wasting!

That sick feeling you had accompanies LCing if you do not use supplements, in particular potassium, calcium and magnesium. The potassium will help with the 'bonking' - feeling tired, dizzy and 'blah'. Cal / Mag help with muscle cramping and tingling - when you lose that water I mentioned above you lose elctrolytes, salts and minerals as well. Replacing them makes all the difference in the world.

You might want to have a look through the CKD forum here - CKD is a diet used by bodybuilders to lose fat while maintaining muscle and working out hard. You carb up on weekends and do a ketogenic diet during the week. Alternately there is the TKD, a targeted ketogenic diet, wherein you have carbs pre / post workout but eat LC the rest of the time. Both would probably suit your purposes.

HTH
-Nat

Thanks for the replies. The problem with what you've described above, is that if I don't have any carbs before I lift, I completely run out of gas and can't do anything.

i've been out of ketosis for a while. been lifting and running, but can't lose a pound.

I'm not so sure, because I was taking supplements: Basic #3 and Essential Oils, which have everything you've listed. To this day, I can barely lift anything.

Then if you're taking in enough of the supplements (I'm not sure what the numbers on those supplements are) the problem could be fuel - are you getting enough. Yes, carbs can and will make you stronger, but if you're not eating enough calories to fuel your body then you would be feeling this way as well - and you wouldn't be losing weight because there's just not enough energy for your body to allow for this to happen.

BTW, these are the RDA's for LCers in general:

Calcium: 1000mg minimum (chelated mineral from malate or citrate and NOT carbonate)
Magnesium: 500mg
Potassium: 400mg while actively losing, during hot weather and when exercising intensely

-Nat