Anecdotal--actually it's not. This guy took part in a study which will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. He's just a case study from it and he is probably a freak--probably the best-case scenario that you could hope from a diet adaptation.
But here are some of the preliminary data from the study:
30 overweight men consumed a very-low carb diet for 12 weeks. Half consumed a fiber supplement (glucomannan) before each meal.
Results:
Mean weight loss: 18 pounds in both groups.
Reductions in TG, Total and LDL cholesterol in BOTH groups.
Increases in HDL cholesterol in both groups.
The fiber supplement didn't make a difference apparently, although that doesn't account for long-term health benefits, etc. Basically, it may show that a very-low carb diet is so good that you don't need to add fiber to it to improve the effects, although again, that's for fat loss and satiety only. I think it's still smart to recommend it for the health benefits.
Here's the most interesting part:
One 57-year old male in the very-low carb diet only group had some amazing results. You should know what he's an "obsessive" aerobic exerciser who literally exercises 3 to 4 hours a day (he competes in ultra-endurance events). He doesn't lift weights.
He lost 23 pounds of fat.
He gained 6.5 pounds of muscle.
Keep in mind this was measured with DEXA both times.
This is especially incredible since there wasn't a stimulus to promote signficant muscle growth, he was doing excessive aerobic exercise, and he was hypocaloric. Not to mention he's 57. For a guy that age to gain six pounds of muscle mass in 12 weeks is damn impressive even if he's on a "bulking" diet.
The guy was doing the same exercise program before he started the study (as per study instructions). He was also eating a high carb diet and had a gut (about 23% BF). By 180-ing his diet, he 180-ed his body. In addition, he said his performance in the events improved as when others hit a wall at the 2-3 hour mark, he didn't. (Probably a product of improved fat oxidation.)
The guy above was obviously not the norm, but there has been a trend when you look at individual's who exercise in studies like this (the data hasn't been run but it will be) to have this nutrient repartitioning effect. It's all hard to believe or even understand so it'll be interesting to see future results. Unfortunately, no one is funding low-carb diet and exercise studies yet. That should be the next big thing.
The bottom line is that this goes against virtually everything most of us have ever learned. Could it just be bad study data? It's possible, but DEXA is as accurate as it gets right now for body comp and the researchers know the guy was in ketosis the duration of the study. Plus, the results were visible as well. He could just be a freak, but that doesn't explain why he was 23% fat as an ultra-endurance athlete eating a high-carb diet, and the low-carb diet literally transformed his body in a matter of 12 weeks.
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