[finnegan]

I forwent exercise last night to read through "The Paleo Diet for Athletes". I don't like it. It is basically Berardi only are more incovenient and expensive. It had some good tips and excellent tables (gycemic impact, trace mineral/ nutrient content of "paleo" foods vs other foods, calories expended doing stuff in the wilderness, etc) and some good recipes.

However, it wants me to drink a 800-900 calorie "recovery drink" immediately after workout, which would include something ludicrous like 45-50 protein about 200 carbs, then another 400-500 calorie meal an hour and a half later.

The book is geared toward the endurance athlete, esp marathon runners, cyclists, Ironman competitors, etc; and not the combat athlete. The focus of the diet in on glycogen store regulation and maintenance. Ph levels of the body are also discussed, and acidity tables included.

It makes concessions for athletes to use sports drinks, protein powders, glucose tablets (6 recommended for me pre-workout, as well as 50 simple carbs) and very clearly states that it is not a weight loss diet, although one could reasonably expect fat loss to occur. Everything else is, basically, fresh fruits, veggies, lean meats, and fish.

I'll use this book to refer back to glycemic loads of various foods, some of the recipes (vinegarless mayo, for instance). Overall, I'd say the combat athlete can safely pass this one up.

[Fight_Song]

Originally Posted by finnegan

Everything else is, basically, fresh fruits, veggies, lean meats, and fish.

Stance on fats? Nut, olive, flax, etc?

[finnegan]

Recommended oils: Flaxseed, avacado, canola, walnut, and olive.
Nuts are to be used sparingly, but are fair game
Most fats should come from fish (preferably) and lean meats.
The book specifically gives periodization tables for endurance athletes to follow as far as macronutrient consumption, and as such has a huge range of how much fat should be taken in. (28-47% of total daily calories).

[Monger]

Did they give an explanation as to why the post drink is so ridiculous? Were they suggesting the standard whey+malt/dex? I'm having a hard time believing that the human body can utilize all of those carbs before it shoves them into fat storage. I mean, there are limits to glycogen recovery no matter how low it is... at least I thought there was...

EDIT: Not that it changes my opinion, but was that recovery drink meant to be used after an event such as a marathon or something like that? Or did they really suggest that for every workout? Did they even give examples of workouts that they would use the drink for? Sorry for all the questions, dude... I'm curious

[MikeMartial]

Good review, thanks Fin.

[finnegan]

Originally Posted by Monger

Did they give an explanation as to why the post drink is so ridiculous? Were they suggesting the standard whey+malt/dex? I'm having a hard time believing that the human body can utilize all of those carbs before it shoves them into fat storage. I mean, there are limits to glycogen recovery no matter how low it is... at least I thought there was...

EDIT: Not that it changes my opinion, but was that recovery drink meant to be used after an event such as a marathon or something like that? Or did they really suggest that for every workout? Did they even give examples of workouts that they would use the drink for? Sorry for all the questions, dude... I'm curious

This recovery drink was for a 210 lbs man after 60-90 minutes "intense" exercise. It gets crazier as the time goes up. Their head is in the right spot as far as maintaining a 4-5:1 ratio of carbs to protein, but in doing so; they recommend an astronomical amount of carbohydrate intake. solid fruit + 24 oz fruit juice + 6 glucose tablets + 50 protein immediately post workout for a 210 lber.

[Monger]

Cool, thanks for the feedback!

[finnegan]

bump for Bama.

[GOAHEADSWING]

I've read this book also and I must say plain and simple it sucks. Do you think "cavemen" cared if they had a certain amount of carbs PWO or post hunting? Or even better relation wise do you think fighters/warriors carried a GNC shaker bottle with 3 scoops of Endurox, 5 grams of creatine, and 10 grams of glutamine for after battle? I highly doubt it and also doubt Cordain put much effort into his book for "all" athletes.

I personally follow a "modefied" paleo diet(meat, eggs, veggies, coconuts, cream, butter, etc.), but not according to Loren Cordain's guidelines of lean meat and feel my recovery and performance is better with a high-fat/high-protein meal PWO such as lamb or steak and veggies, but that's just me. Basically I don't feel it's essential to follow Cordain's guidelines, because everybody trains for different goals, at different intensities, and recover differently. Find out what works for you and stick with it, because most authors with PHD's, CSCS', MS', etc. are not thinking about YOU when writing their books.