Carb-up before a PFT? Bad idea?

[GoutDeMiel]

So Saturday morning I have to take the Marine Corps PFT and CFT (includes arm hang, crunches, 3 mile run, sprints, ammo can lifts, etc) so I'll need my strength. Problem is, I've been doing keto and seeing awesome results with no carb-ups. Carb-ups make me feel like **** and I'm afraid it might even hinder my performance.

Question: Should I have a clean carb-up meal on friday night and then eat keto on saturday morning before the test? Or should I eat a carby dinner and then a carb breakfast? Will that meal on Friday night make a big difference in my performance?

I'm not in the Marine Corps yet but my recruiter has me take the PFT now and again to monitor my progress. Just want to see what you all thought.

[Atavis]

IMHO:

A balanced meal for both dinner Friday night and breakfast Saturday morning. Both simple and complex carbs on Friday and then keep the carbs concentrated on complex carbs on Saturday morning to support your activities.

[GoutDeMiel]

thanks so much!

[LastSet]

I would take just the amount of carbs that you think you may need for a slight energy boost, if they indeed give you energy.

At this point on keto carbs have the opposite effect for me. Sounds like from what you described they may have that effect on you as well.

Too many carbs and you're sure to be in the duldrums. If you're feeling good I wouldn't carb up at all but if you're sluggish I'd down some complex carbs like the other person recommended Friday night and Saturday morning.

Good luck!

[GoutDeMiel]

At this point on keto carbs have the opposite effect for me. Sounds like from what you described they may have that effect on you as well.

That's what I'm afriad of - I'm a keto noob (relatively) so I'm not sure exactly how my body responds to the ketones just yet. I've been feeling really good lately, but need the extra energy boost since my lifts and workouts have been suffering since starting keto (obviously).

I'll eat some complex and simple carbs on friday night and see how I feel. If I'm feeling ok then I'll have some more for breakfast. After that - back to keto and no carb-ups until the next PFT hahah I hate the idea of coming out of ketosis now - it's working so freaking well!

[Black_Spit]

IMHO:

A balanced meal for both dinner Friday night and breakfast Saturday morning. Both simple and complex carbs on Friday and then keep the carbs concentrated on complex carbs on Saturday morning to support your activities.

^^^ Very good advice here.

Maybe a very mild gatorade mix for during.

Personally, I would suggest some Xtend by Scivation for such events. I use it during training anyway... but, it has Citrulline Malate which is great for endurance. If I had any performance events I had to compete in or show progres in, I would do exactly what Atavis suggested + Xtend/Small amounts of Gatorade in water during.

[devildogJMS]

The Night before the PFT I always had a big ass bowl of plain oat meal. In the morning id have some waxy maze and xtend drink bout an hour before it started. It seemed to give me all the energy I needed. A SGT in my unit would eat a large meat lovers pizza, sayin all the carbs and fat gave him energy. Im not bold enough to try such a thing, but he does have a 300 PFT.... Good luck and Semper Fi

[RandallH19891]

The Night before the PFT I always had a big ass bowl of plain oat meal. In the morning id have some waxy maze and xtend drink bout an hour before it started. It seemed to give me all the energy I needed. A SGT in my unit would eat a large meat lovers pizza, sayin all the carbs and fat gave him energy. Im not bold enough to try such a thing, but he does have a 300 PFT.... Good luck and Semper Fi

Don't you hate it how the guys who smoke and eat pizza are the 300 PFT'ers? >=(

[Purecert]

I would personally do a normal carb up 2 or 3 days before the PFT, and then go back to keto as per normal, that 2-4 day period post carb-up is generally the period I get my best workouts in

[devildogJMS]

Yeah I train may ass off for like a 275 and you got some marines who just eat pizza and drink a mountain dew before a PFT. And to make it worse he ran the 3 mile in 17:37 with a fat dip in his lip.

[GoutDeMiel]

Don't you hate it how the guys who smoke and eat pizza are the 300 PFT'ers? >=(

Yeah I hate that ****! Pisses me off...

Anyways thanks for your help guys! I had my PFT and CFT back to back this morning (what a bitch) and did fairly well. My 3 mile run went up almost a minute (but it was 24 degrees and a 20 mph wind was in my face the whole time) but all of the other events I dropped a lot of time or increased my numbers substantially since the beginning of December so I am elated!

Had me a big ass protein shake when I got home. You know it was a good day when you're caked in frozen mud, tore your underarmour, and can barely walk up the stairs!

Thanks again guys - this really is one of the most helpful sections of this site.

[Skunk]

I always ate a Double Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese on the day before the PFT. For some reason I always did better, haha.