Skipping Carbohydrates Before Training
The most common mistake Indian amateur athletes make is treating carbohydrates as the enemy. A 2018 study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition confirmed that muscle glycogen depletion directly impairs endurance performance, and yet many athletes show up to morning runs or evening football sessions having eaten nothing since lunch, or worse, having deliberately cut rice and roti in the name of weight management. Carbohydrates are the primary fuel for high-intensity effort. Without them, the body catabolises muscle tissue for energy. Eating a small carbohydrate-rich meal, a banana, a bowl of poha, two rotis with dal, 60 to 90 minutes before training is not indulgence. It is basic sports physiology.
