Carb Loading with Sports Dietitian Meghann Featherstun
Oct 26, 2023
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Sports dietitian and runner Meghann Featherstun discusses the importance of carb loading for endurance athletes, covering topics such as when to carb load, why it's beneficial, and common challenges. Personal stories of marathon experiences and nutrition insights are shared, highlighting the role of carbohydrates in optimizing performance. Strategies for effective carb intake, hydration practices, and balancing nutrition with personal life are also discussed.
Start carb loading 2-3 days before endurance events lasting over 90 minutes with 8g/kg body weight.
Monitor and adjust carb intake based on individual preferences to optimize performance and prevent discomfort.
Select easily digestible high-carb sources during carb loading to avoid GI issues and maintain performance.
Deep dives
Carb Loading: Key Preparation for Endurance Events
Carb loading is a crucial strategy to optimize glycogen stores for endurance events lasting over 90 minutes. The podcast emphasizes the importance of starting a two to three-day carb load with 8 grams of carbs per kilogram of body weight. Megan Featherston's discussion highlights the significance of choosing familiar carb sources to avoid digestive issues and encourages practicing carb loading strategies to assess individual needs and preferences.
Overcoming Carb Loading Challenges: Strategies for Success
Addressing appetite challenges during carb loading, the podcast suggests monitoring carb intake and prioritizing high-carb foods that individuals are comfortable consuming. Megan recommends focusing on easily digestible and well-tolerated carbohydrates that align with personal preferences to support successful carb loading. Emphasizing the need to go beyond one's usual intake levels, she advocates gradual adjustments in carb consumption for effective readiness on race day.
Common Mistakes and Practical Tips for Smooth Carb Loading
One of the key errors highlighted in the discussion is neglecting to pay attention to the types of carbs consumed during the carb loading process. The podcast underscores the importance of selecting easily digestible and high-carb options to prevent discomfort and ensure optimal performance. Megan's guidance emphasizes maintaining a balance between carb sources to align with individual familiarity and suggests tracking carb intake to ensure meeting recommended levels effectively.
Strategies for Carb Loading While Traveling
When traveling, especially internationally, consider bringing familiar foods that work for you to ensure you have options that won't upset your system. Researching local food options, ability to cook, and planning ahead can help maintain a consistent diet. Tailoring your carb loading process based on sensitivities and preferences, like adjusting fiber intake or incorporating specific food items that work for you, can help prevent GI issues during race preparation and carb loading.
Fluid and Carb Management for Carb Loading
Manage fluid intake to accommodate increased carb loading, aiming for an extra 30 ounces of fluid daily to support glycogen storage. Understanding that carb loading can lead to temporary weight gain due to glycogen retention and that hydration is essential in maintaining performance. Prioritize performance over aesthetics, accepting temporary bloating as a sign of proper carb loading and fuel readiness for endurance events.
Welcome to Episode76 of the Eat for Endurance Podcast, featuring fellow sports dietitian and runner Meghann Featherstun (MS RD CSSD) of Featherstone Nutrition.
I’ve had carb loading on my list of topics for awhile now, and I couldn’t think of a better dietitian to tackle this one with me than Meghann. She is known for her love of graham crackers, and she literally sells a shirt hat says “carb monster” on it, so I knew she would be down to chat about carbs with me!
We touch on Meghann’s background as a clinical turned sports dietitian, as well as her journey to becoming a 2:49 marathoner (we recorded the week after she clocked her PR in Berlin!). Then we dive into ALL things carb loading.
This episode will teach you WHY carb loading is beneficial, WHEN carb loading is appropriate (SPOILER - for any race over 90 minutes!), and HOW to do it properly. We will also address many of the common issues that we see as Sports RDs and questions that we frequently get from our athletes.
I hope you enjoy this one and find it useful as you prep for the NYC Marathon, or any other endurance events you have coming up in the future!
Disclaimer – all information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is in no way meant to replace individual medical and nutrition recommendations