Cirangle Diet and Heavy Exercise

 So the eating plan for my Dr. stinks so I'm planning on following Cirangles.  Now I have to problem with any of it until I'll hit 6-8 weeks when I hope to get back to exercising even more than I do now.  I'm already entered in a race in the fall, which is a 3.5 mile obstacle course race and I also plan on doing the Army 10 miler in October.  My plan is to be running 15+ miles a week plus strength exercises (with a personal trainer).  So my question is this; Is the super low carb diet of Cirangle going to be ok with that much exercise?  How much should I push my carbs up if it isn't?

 I'm curious why you don't trust your surgeon's plan?

 There is little to no guidance, it's written completely for RNY, and it allows real food much to soon in my estimation.  I like Cirangle's much more conservative aproach and his result speak for themselves.

 Gotcha!

 Protein is what you need to be concerned with here. Yes, carbs are good for fast burning energy when doing cardio-based sports, but if you are doing ANY sort of weight lifting, you need to up your protein. Once you are fully capable of eating regular amounts of food (2-3 ounces of dense protein per meal), you need to make it a point to only be eating high protein foods. Meals should be carefully planned to pack as much protein as possible into that small portion. Snacks should be things like greek yogurt, protein shakes, etc. It's difficult to stay around 800 calories when pushing more protein, especially since it's damn near impossible without shake supplements, but you have to do it. Your body will choose to eat your muscles if you're destroying more muscle (via weights)than you're replenishing (via food consumption). 

Carbs really aren't going to do a heck of  a lot for you, honestly. They're going to up your calorie count way above where you ought to be for a losing phase, and make getting in the protein calories that much harder. Take your multivitamin and make sure it has plenty of b-12. That's going to give you a LOT of energy to burn.

 Thanks.  I understand the protein thing and how I really need it.  Shakes don't bother me (at least now and I hope that doesn't change after) and with 100 calories of a Nectar shake I can get 24g of protein.  Even this two weeks I've been getting over 80 grams of protein staying at 800 calories a day.

But when you get into 4+ miles of running you need carbs are you aren't going longer.  maybe once but not continually, your body needs those carbs to get you through the run.  Which mean at least on my days of 4+ miles of running I really do think I'm going to need more carbs than the 50 I'm allowed with Cirangle.  I mean if you look at what "normal" people are told it is around 200g a day.  I know I'm not normal and I know I don't need that many but I'm thinking that the low low carbs are going to make running long distances very difficult.  I just wanted to see what other people did with that.

 I'm going to be honest here-- I do not follow any plan. My NUT gave me guidelines to follow as far as how much water and protein I need to get per day, but once I reach those goals I pretty much do whatever I want. Can't say it has failed me at 5 months out and 100 pounds lost. ;) Now, everyone is different in how they react to things like sugar, carbs, fat, etc. Some people swear they can't go over 40g of carbs without stalling out. Only you are going to be able to determine that. What I CAN tell you, though, is I can go a few days in a row of eating nothing but carbs carbs carbs between my protein meals, and as long as I stay in my calorie range, it doesn't make a difference. Shoot, I probably edged close to 100g a day this last week and still lost 4 pounds. So, take that as you will. I am a high intensity workout kind of person, so that may have something to do with it. Who knows.

What I can say, without knowing your body, is that it will not hurt you to test/fudge around. Go week by week. Start out at 60g, if that doesn't hurt your loss, try 70. If you see some loss in progress, reel it back in. Take it down to 40g, see how you do. You may have to go really high on the carbs on those running days to make it work. What you have to do is entirely what is healthy. Not necessarily what is going to get you to a goal weight fastest, but what will get you to your GOAL. In this case, you want to run certain events. Help give your body what it needs to obtain that goal. If it causes you to lose at a slower rate, well, who cares? You're going to get there by making these positive life changes. What matters is that you do it healthy. 

 Almost forgot, your target protein amount for a high intensity workout lifestyle is 80-100g. Good luck with the 100! I struggle at 5 months out to stay between 600-800 calories and 80g of protein.

 I really do thank you for your input.  I know what conventional wisdom is for people training for races and I just don't know how that is going to pertain to me.  Trying to figure it all out.  I'm a worrier and a planner so that probably doesn't help.

Hello there.  I work out 6-7 hours per week and most days only take in around 40 carbs without any issues. 

My suggestion would be to contact MacMadame.  Same doc and she's a big time athlete.

Good luck.

Jennifer