This is how ketoadaptation works (when it works), chronologically, on physical performance (I think):
Dark grey line: the gradual increase in performance for someone training on a regular diet.
Red line: performance declines on keto initially, but is back to baseline (light blue line) by week 3.
Light grey line: as long as ketoadaptation doesn’t impair performance, similar gradual increase in performance for someone training on a regular diet. Parallel to the dark grey line. May even catch up to the dark grey line. I don’t know, but probably not as per FASTER – long-term LC athletes were not superior to their LF counterparts.
if you’re hell bent on LC + training, gotta compensate by increasing protein… and even then, it doesn’t always work
New study: impact of a 6-week non-energy-restricted ketogenic diet on physical fitness, body composition, and biochemical parameters in healthy adults (Urbain et al., 2017)
They increased protein by THIRTY GRAMS per day and it still wasn’t enough to combat keto-induced loss of lean mass :/
they should’ve done some resistance exercise
This study doesn’t really support the light grey line theory, as performance didn’t quite increase from week 3 to week 6, probably because they weren’t exercising. Duh. (I think).
As mentioned many times, keto is: 1) good for fat loss in obese IR; 2) should be at least neutral on physical performance if combined with high protein and exercise (as per the Elite Ketogenic Gymnasts and FASTER); and 3) not good for muscle gainz.
The elite ketogenic gymnasts increased protein from 84 to TWO HUNDRED GRAMS daily:
They were exercising regularly and barely maintained their muscle mass… but physical performance was exactly as expected in a month-long study: back to baseline (supports the grey-line theory).
I’d say we know enough about ketoadaptation to predict how these studies will pan out. I’m thinking: combined with high protein and resistance exercise, the 3-week ketoadaptation grey-line theory.
That said, if you’re skinny and want muscle gainz: carbs > dietary fat. This is not keto’s strong suit.
#context
If you like what I do and want to support it, check out my Patreon campaign!
UPDATED Affiliate links: still looking for a pair of hot blue blockers? Carbonshade is offering 15% off with the coupon code LAGAKOS and Spectra479 is offering 15% off HERE.
If you have no idea what I’m talking about, read this then this.
20% off some delish stocks and broths from Kettle and Fire HERE.
If you want the benefits of ‘shrooms but don’t like eating them, Real Mushrooms makes great extracts. 10% off with coupon code LAGAKOS. I recommend Lion’s Mane for the brain and Reishi for everything else.
Join Earn.com with this link. Get free magical internet money!