Instead of relying on crash diets or fasting, which can have negative effects on metabolism and body fat retention, a ketogenic diet is ultimately attempting to “trick” your body into believing it’s in ketosis — a state where your body releases stored fat to fuel your activity. The trouble is that when you drastically slash carbs from your diet your body turns to muscle tissue as its next source of fuel. Not good for athletes and weightlifters who want to continue to build muscle and make strength gains. In other words, following this diet means you need to be on point with your meal plan in order to avoid your body cannibalizing muscle tissue.
So why do it? Some endurance athletes have started to rely on a ketogenic diet because it reportedly allows them to continue their activity without “crashing” as they might from consuming carbs. To date, according to a blog post from New York Times, no study has been performed that proves a high-fat ketogenic diet helps sports performance. However, the weight and fat lost by following them can translate to better overall performance.
Related: WARNING! Avoid These Diet Traps!
Two upsides to a ketogenic diet is that you can consume as many calories as you normally would and your food selections are fairly restricted (it’s even suggested to cut out fruits and veggies at first to get used to it); this might make it easier to shop and avoid confusion as to what you can or cannot consume. Which brings us to the next point — what can you eat on a ketogenic diet? Bacon, eggs, salmon, whey protein, creatine, BCAAs, steak, spinach … the list goes on. So it’s not like you have slim pickings.
The cons? No carbs. That means P4’s workout supplements Energy Formula and Recovery Push Formula would need to be avoided because they contain a carb loader. Here is the important thing —CARBS ARE NOT BAD. Sorry for yelling. Carbs should only be avoided if you’re following a ketogenic diet or your doctor tells you to avoid them; otherwise, carbohydrates are crucial for sustained energy and recovery. That being said, if you were following a ketogenic diet you could still rely on P4’s Pre Game Formula as your go-to pre-game or pre-workout energy booster. It has creatine, tyrosine, and beta-alanine — all of which are okay to consume on this diet. All you have to do is take a scoop of Pre Game Formula and add it to 8 ounces of water, shake it up, and you’ll be ready to blast through your workout.
Related: The Principals of High-Intensity Training
At Proven4 we believe that proper nutrition, a strict training regimen, and our NSF Certified for Sport workout supplements —Pre Game Formula, Energy Formula, and Recovery Push Formula — can help you achieve optimal results in the gym and on the field.