Lose weight, get faster and race
faster.
Lose weight in the wrong way and
at the wrong time; then be prepared to risk having a suppressed immune system, nutritional
deficiency, brittle bones and adverse hormonal changes, which will most likely lead
to a worse race.
Ergo, you were better off fatter!
Depending on the race distance, mostly
training peaks at about 1-3 months before the race. Cutting food calories (at
the amateur level) during the peaking phase of training is not a sane idea
since the lower calorie intake combined with extra fatigue in the peaking phase
will lead to the issues mentioned above.
Moreover, cutting calories in the
incorrect way may even lead to muscle loss and not just fat reduction.
An easier solution for cutting
weight, and especially target fat reduction is the consumption of Apple Cider Vinegar
(ACV).
ACV is simply diluted Acetic Acid
(AcOH). It is understood that the Acetate in ACV inhibits lipogenesis and most
likely stimulates fatty acid oxidation. (lipogenesis is the process by which our
bodies create fatty acids)
In a 2014 (publishing year) Japanese
double blind study, researchers found that vinegar intake reduced body mass by
about 5 pounds after a 12 week period of vinegar consumption, and there was
localized reduction in abdominal fat. The additional advantage of ACV intake is
that it reduces the risk of heart attacks. But one month after ceasing vinegar consumption the lost weight returnedin the subjects. This means that perpetual consumption of ACV is necessary to sustain its benefits. (Tomoo
KONDO, Mikiya KISHI, Takashi FUSHIMI, Shinobu UGAJIN & Takayuki KAGA (2009)
Vinegar Intake Reduces Body Weight, Body Fat Mass, and Serum Triglyceride
Levels in Obese Japanese Subjects, Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry,
73:8, 1837-1843, DOI: 10.1271/bbb.90231).
In the aforesaid study, no
abnormalities of liver and kidney functions nor adverse effects were observed
when 90ml of vinegar was ingested daily for 4 weeks. In fact, intake of 15 ml
of vinegar per day was found to be sufficient to achieve the fat and body mass reduction,
and also reduction of strokes.
But due to the taste of vinegar,
and also because it is hard to ensure a disciplined daily intake – it would be
prudent to schedule the intake of ACV in your training program in such a manner
that you reap the maximum benefits on the race day.
 |
| Like me, if this is your normal routine then, don't waste money on ACV. |
A suggested protocol would be -- 2
tablespoons of ACV per day, which is diluted in at least 250 ml of water, for 4 weeks before race day.
(do not ingest ACV without diluting it; it’s basically AcOH and may cause
damage)
Other than for cosmetic reasons, consuming ACV every day for its weight loss
benefits would not be the best strategy to train for a race. This is because
the weight loss and peak training would not coincide to deliver maximum
results. Instead you would be training the entire time on your ACV based peak
body weight.
A fermented apple a day, keeps the fat away?
