Monday Update 12/22-Why Cutting Carbs Can Quietly Kill Your Performance

Monday Update 12/22-Why Cutting Carbs Can Quietly Kill Your Performance

From Double Edge Fitness by Derek and Jacob Wellock

December 22, 2025 · 16 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the impact of high-carb versus ketogenic diets on athletic performance, particularly in elite race walkers, and offers actionable insights for high-intensity training.

Ready to train harder, recover faster, and actually feel better doing it? We take a clear-eyed look at new research on elite race walkers comparing high-carb and ketogenic diets under caffeine, then translate the findings into simple, actionable steps for your own high-intensity training. The early bump from caffeine shows up in both groups, but by week two the high-carb athletes surge ahead with stronger VO2 max, quicker paces, and lower heart rates. That’s not just a lab win—it’s a blueprin...

Topics covered

  • nutrition
  • exercise
  • performance
  • diet
  • research

Keywords

  • high-carb diet
  • ketogenic diet
  • caffeine
  • VO2 max
  • heart rates
  • training
  • recovery
  • performance

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