whats the right diet for swimmers,i've recently tried the controversial Atkins Diet and lost a few inches but gained muscle mass..?
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Former Member
Good point.
The most credible sources recommend eating three smallish meals, with little snacks in between. Try to include a little protein in each. This keeps your insulin/glucagon levels fairly balanced, so that you do not experience deep cravings, or the drowsiness that comes from a starch-heavy meal.
If you eat a large, starchy meal, the insulin rise tends to overshoot, so that you are hungry again sooner. And in the mean time, it is converting the excess calories into body fat.
Also -- eating a high protein diet does not promote muscle growth. Muscles will grow in response to physical loading (and anabolic steroids, but that's another thing). The typical American diet includes much more protein than necessary -- even for weightlifters. There are free websites for estimating your protein requirement.
Good point.
The most credible sources recommend eating three smallish meals, with little snacks in between. Try to include a little protein in each. This keeps your insulin/glucagon levels fairly balanced, so that you do not experience deep cravings, or the drowsiness that comes from a starch-heavy meal.
If you eat a large, starchy meal, the insulin rise tends to overshoot, so that you are hungry again sooner. And in the mean time, it is converting the excess calories into body fat.
Also -- eating a high protein diet does not promote muscle growth. Muscles will grow in response to physical loading (and anabolic steroids, but that's another thing). The typical American diet includes much more protein than necessary -- even for weightlifters. There are free websites for estimating your protein requirement.
