Strategies to maximize glycogen storage |
Start consuming carbohydrate soon after a training session finishes. |
Aim for a recovery snack or meal providing carbohydrate equal to approximately 1 g/kg body weight (eg, about 50 g for 50 kg female, 80 g for 80 kg male). |
Consume additional snacks, drinks, or meals to achieve a carbohydrate target of 1 g/kg body weight per hour for the first 4 hours of recovery, then resume an eating pattern that meets overall energy and nutritional goals. |
Total carbohydrate requirements can range from 3 to 12 g/kg body weight per day. |
When should proactive refueling be practiced? |
After races or fuel-depleting training sessions when the next session begins in 8 hours or less. |
When total fuel needs are high (eg, high-volume training, demanding competition schedule). |
When is proactive refueling unnecessary? |
When training sessions are light or low in intensity and muscle glycogen is not likely to become depleted or limit performance. |
When available eating choices are low in nutritional value, it makes better sense to wait a brief time until more nutritious food is available. |
When following a low-carbohydrate ("train low") program, a delay in refueling may be needed to promote the desired adaptation to the session just completed or to start the next session with depleted glycogen stores. |
Suitable choices for proactive refuelling |
Carbohydrate-rich selections include: - Breads
- Cereals (eg, breakfast cereals, oatmeal)
- Grains (eg, rice, pasta, quinoa, couscous)
- Sweetened dairy (eg, flavored milk, flavored yogurt, custard)
- Fruits, starchy vegetables (eg, potatoes), legumes (eg, beans, lentils)
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Carbohydrate may be mixed in meals: - Cereal with fruit
- Baked beans on toast
- Sandwiches/rolls/focaccia/wraps/pizza with thick portions of bread
- Fruit smoothies (blend fruit with milk, yogurt, or ice cream)
- Meals with grains (eg, rice with curry, pasta with sauce, noodle stir fry) or grain is a major ingredient (eg, pasta bake, risotto, paella)
- Desserts (eg, cake, pudding with custard, fruit with yogurt, crumble with ice cream)
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Compact forms of carbohydrate are useful when appetite is low, gut is full/uncomfortable, or it is impractical to prepare/eat real foods. Examples include: - Sports drinks, liquid meals, gels and bars
- Candy (ie, confectionary)
- Jam, honey, other sugary toppings
- Juices and soft drinks
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Benefits |
Maximizes muscle fuel for next demanding workout or event. |
Possible downsides |
May encourage consumption of more calories than are needed (eg, may lead to unwanted weight gain). |
May encourage selection of nutrient-poor foods, as these may be more accessible or easier to eat immediately after exercise. |
May shorten period of enhanced adaptation after exercise (delaying glycogen repletion may allow muscles to stay in an active adaptation state for a longer period). |