Since our beginnings SFuels and EndureIQ have consistently advocated against ketogenic diets for endurance athletes.
At the same time, we continue to lead the RIGHT FUEL at the RIGHT TIME principles (WATCH Bob Babbitt chat about RIGHT FUEL RIGHT TIME) for maximal fat oxidation – which is a key predictor of endurance sport performance outcomes.
New Study – Jan 2025. Top 3 Takeaways.
A research group from Innsbruck conducted an 8-week random controlled study (LINK HERE) on the effect of intermittent fasting and the use of carbohydrate pre-exercise on fat oxidation exercise training. The top three takeaways included -
1) Aerobic training and lifestyle factors can increase maximal fat-oxidation rates,
2) Training in a fasted state – had no additional benefit (to maximal fat oxidation).
3) Eating carbohydrates (snacks) before the training session blunted the improvements in exercise fat oxidation
Comments
SFuels has published significant documentation and research references on this study's first and second takeaways. However, the third takeaway is frequently missed as a highly functional approach to maximizing fat oxidation in Zone 2 training. SFuels wrote a detailed blog on this some years back - take a read here.
