Some people take it to extremes and eat little or no carbohydrates, but instead of focusing on being dogmatic about it, one can simply aim to keep fat intake high and carbohydrate intake low (less than 200 grams) and mostly from low-glycemic sources like sweet potatoes, vegetables, and fruits. The gist is that fat is longer burning fuel for the body, which keeps blood sugar levels and energy stable. Mark Sisson of Mark’s Daily Apple describes it best in his post on why fat is the preferred fuel for the human metabolism. In addition, adopting a high-fat, low carbohydrate approach to eating helps convert the body to burn fat as it’s primary source of fuel. Training primarily aerobically trains the body to increase it’s capability to burn fat. Maffetone points out, the body is becoming more efficient, which in the long term translates into speed. Going slower to become faster seems counter-intuitive, but as Dr. In theory, when one trains aerobically, they will increase their efficiency (aka go faster) at these lower heart rates. Training this way requires a heart rate monitor to ensure one is staying below their aerobic threshold.
For example, a 30 year old would have an MAF heart rate of 150 (180 – 30 = 150). The Maximum Aerobic Function (MAF) formula of 180 minus your age provides an individual with a heart rate not to exceed in order to stay aerobic. As opposed to more intense anaerobic training, where the body burns sugars, aerobic training does not require an athlete to constantly consume Gatorade or Powerbars every 20 minutes to maintain energy. Using the Maffetone Method, athletes focus on developing the aerobic system by training below a certain heart rate to ensure they are training in their aerobic zone, where the body burns primarily fat. Phil Maffetone developed this approach in the 1970’s, but it has only recently come back into the spotlight after the “no pain, no gain” and high-carbohydrate diet approach has been called into question.
From Sprints to Olympics, and now Half Ironman triathlons, the goal has been to complete a full Ironman. Over the past two years I have been training for and competing in triathlons.