Arnold Schwarzenegger, the legendary?bodybuilder?and fitness icon, continues to provide valuable insights and advice on health and exercise through his daily newsletter,?Arnold’s Pump Club. In a recent edition, Schwarzenegger discussed the relationship between high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and carbohydrate consumption before workouts.
Contrary to popular belief, he revealed that HIIT enthusiasts may not require a substantial intake of carbs prior to their training sessions. Let’s take a deeper look at what Arnold said about carb-loading before a workout.
Arnold Schwarzenegger explains the role of carbohydrates in pre-workout nutrition
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Traditionally, it has been recommended to consume a carbohydrate-rich meal or snack before engaging in any strenuous physical activity, including HIIT. The rationale behind this advice is that carbohydrates provide a readily available source of energy for the body during exercise, helping to optimize performance and prevent fatigue. However, Schwarzenegger’s recent insights challenge this long-held belief.
“Your body?s primary fuel source is something called glycogen, which is stored carbohydrates. When training at a high intensity for more than an hour, your body taps into glycogen to keep you going. But when you need less time, the role of glycogen isn’t as important,”?explained Arnold.?
Continuing further, Schwarzenegger revealed,?“Research suggests that having more carbs in your system does not improve performance on high-intensity, shorter-duration workouts…if you had carbs the night before and train in the morning, you don?t need pre-workout carbs.”?He suggested the readers to carb-load within a few hours before working out as a general rule of thumb. Concluding his statement, ‘Arnie’ disclosed,?“At the end of the day, personal preference is part of maximizing potential performance.”
However, a while ago, during a Zoom interview with The Insider,?Schwarzenegger revealed that he relied on a now-illegal method to pump protein into his body.
Schwarzenegger used ways to pump protein into his body, which are now illegal
Schwarzenegger recently revealed in a Zoom interview that he used to?mix?alcohol into his protein smoothies back when he first started bodybuilding. This unorthodox practice challenges conventional wisdom surrounding post-workout nutrition. Scientific data suggests that combining alcohol and protein may hinder muscle growth. Additionally, it is an illegal method for ingesting protein.
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Arnold revealed,??I add a little bit of schnapps or tequila ? tequila is also good.??When questioned why he was putting alcohol in the protein drink, he responded that it might?speed up the protein absorption into the bloodstream. Arnold used to mix?tequila or the Austrian spirit?schnapps in his protein shakes.?
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It is important to reiterate that this practice is not supported by current nutrition guidelines or fitness experts. While alcohol consumption may have different effects on individuals, it is generally recognized as counterproductive to muscle recovery and overall health.