To carb or not to carb?

The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing by Dr. Phil Maffetone suggests that many people are intolerant to carbohydrates without even knowing it.  The author recommends that athletes take a break from carbohydrates, as well as many other things, for two weeks. No, it doesn’t matter if the athlete is training hours every day for a major event. 

Before this hiatus the athlete is supposed to write down all of the symptoms that he or she is having.  If those symptoms are improved by refraining from carbs than the reader is most likely intolerant of carbohydrates.  I decided to try this two week test, but what were my symptoms?  Is dry skin a symptom?  I think that my skin might be because of the dry weather, but I’ll write that down.  How about that popping shoulder?  I just assumed that it popped because of the way I swam.  Is it popping because I eat carbohydrates?  I’ll write that down just in case.  The same for shin splints.

Almost immediately my back started hurting me (see last post for details). Three days into the test I began feeling tired, REALLY tired, like I’ll never make it through the workday and might fall asleep driving home tired. That stayed with me throughout the test.  Five days into it, and after a major correction to my swim stroke, my shoulder miraculously stopped popping.  What do I credit for this wonder?  Maybe it was the carbs all along.  I’m sure that my stroke was never the problem.  OH!  I do hope that the shin splints can be cured!  But the opposite started happening.  On day six my legs started aching.  Not just while I was working out, but around the house too.   I did do a heavy workout that morning, but don’t I do a heavy workout every Saturday?  Why are they suddenly aching now? 

Yesterday was day nine.  I decided to give the two week test its biggest challenge yet: the shin splints. Also, my coach told me to get my butt off the elliptical and get onto the treadmill.  I did go on the treadmill but before my shins could think about bothering me my foot started cramping.  It was a painful, can’t continue, not sure I can ever move my toes again, kind of cramping: the kind of cramping that comes from a lack of potassium, sodium and nutrients.   I got off of the tread mill, left the gym and went straight out for frozen yogurt. I added all of the fixings, especially the sugary ones.  Tonight I will buy some lotion for my dry skin.

I’m just going to assume that I am not intolerant to carbs but, on second thought, abstaining from them did cure my shoulder. Hummm…..