Carbohydrates are like the controversial celebrities of the nutritional world- everyone’s got an opinion. But if you want to unleash your inner savage and dominate your workouts, guess what? You’re going to need carbs. These babies are the high-octane fuel for your exercise engine, but don’t think you can just waltz in and snag’em. Nope, you gotta earn those carbs.
Carb 411
Now, let’s break this down. Carbs are those sneaky little molecules made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They come in different forms like sugars, starches, and fiber. Eventually, they all morph into glucose, and that’s the magical stuff stored in your muscles as glycogen. Guess what? It’s your golden ticket to high-intensity exercise domination.
The Balance Game
Maintaining a physique that even Greek gods would envy involves a little something called the calorie balance game. If your daily routine involves more seat-warming than weight-banging or humping a ruck through the mountains, well, congrats, you don’t need as many carbs as a workout savage.
But hey, if you’re out there slinging iron, working, and throwing in some extra fitness like walking or Zone 2 cardio, you’re in for a treat. You get more delicious carbs! It’s like your muscles have a shopping list, and you’re the personal shopper. They’re burning through those glycogen stores, so you’ve to restock’em.
Carb Up Like a Boss
Here’s the deal: carbs aren’t just a random smorgasbord. They’re strategic. Chow down on some carbs before your workout; consider it the NOS fuel-up. During your workout, those carbs get torched. Post-workout, it’s time for the grand finale- more carbs! Add in some protein for a shirt splitting muscle protein synthesis.
Mindful Eating and Balance
Now, let’s not go all crazy town. It’s easy to fall into the trap of extremes- either you’re chaining yourself to strict food rules, destined for a foodie rebellion, or you’re racking up insane workouts to justify devouring an entire 18-inch pizza because you “earned it.”
Newsflash: your workout might not be the calorie inferno you think it is. So, pay attention to your stomach’s wisdom. Mindful eating is the name of the game.
So, there you have it. Earning your carbs isn’t just about devouring pasta like you’re in an eating contest. It’s about a beautiful dance between your workouts and your food. If you’re sweating it out, go ahead, load up on those carbs. If you’re chilling, maybe take it easy on the pasta tower. Balance is key, and when you’ve mastered the art of earning your carbs, you’ll be the certified BAMF you were born to be. Time to carb up and conquer. And to get there faster go to https://powerathletehq.com/nutrition-coaching/?coach=rob to hire a coach to help you melt faces.
Related Content
Coaching: Power Athlete Nutrition Coaching
Podcast: PA Radio Episode 719- Sleep Unraveled: Myths and Science
Education: Power Athlete Academy
Tagged: coaching / Destroy Mediocracy / Eat the Weak / empower your performance / Mindset / Nutrition / Nutrition Coaching / Serves One
AUTHOR
Rob Exline
Rob has been in the fitness/strength and conditioning industry for 21+ years. For the last 12 years, he has owned and operated CrossFit West Houston. Through CrossFit, Rob found Power Athlete the methodology course and earning his Block One. Nutrition is a passion which lead him to currently pursuing a Masters program in Nutrition at Lamar University and Power Athlete Nutrition coach.
RECOMMENDED READING
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Never miss out on an epic blog post or podcast, drop your email below and we’ll stay in-touch.