Suggestions for your old pal? Extreme low carb side effects

Kat you need carbs with the amount of exercise you do.  Just pick good carbs as much as you can.  I'm training for triathlons and I must must must have carbs to fuel my workouts.  I like to drink a recovery drink called Fluid throughout my workouts and just after.  It's not too heavy and has a good mix of protein to carbs to fuel exercise.  Check it out; www.livefluid.com/Products/Recovery

I'll weigh in with the athletes who say more carbs are a must ......

I personally couldn't DREAM of running 4 miles never mind 8 or swimming a mile or rollerblading 24 miles without lotsa fat free high fiber carbs before and after .

I really just don't know how all these low carb people do it frankly because without carbs I am a cranky , listless carb craving and self pitying MONSTER .    Give me  a potful of air popped popcorn or a mini  sugar free fat free yogurt  and I'll turn into a lamb.......

And frankly , I MUCH prefer the way i look and feel post workout than dieting - though the scale may say slightly less in the latter . 

I'm going to go with most of the other responses and say that when you are going ot work out heavily your body needs the carb fuel.  Luckily as long as the intake isn't excessive you are going to burn them off immediately during your workout anyhow.  ATP is a picky beast and it needs that initial burst of glucose to get you going.  I'd either add in a moderately carbed protein drink or a pre-workout supplement in the 15-30 minutes before you hit the gym.    I know that to prevent DOMS I also have to add in a good amount of protein after my workout.  Usually a 100Cal muscle milk for me!

Kari