carbohydrate loading

car·bo·hy·drate load·ing

a procedure, popular with long-distance runners and other athletes, of filling muscles with a large glycogen pool before competing in an athletic event; often, the athlete consumes few carbohydrates for 3 days, followed by a largely carbohydrate diet for the last 3 days before the event.

carbohydrate loading

n.

A dietary practice often adopted by endurance athletes, such as marathon runners, prior to competition that increases carbohydrate reserves in muscle tissue through the consumption of extra quantities of high-starch foods.

The ingestion of a low-fat, low-protein, low-fiber, carbohydrate-rich meal—after prior depletion of the hepatic stores of glycogen—with the intent of maximizing glycogen storage in muscle

carbohydrate loading

Pasta loading Sports medicine The ingestion of a low-fat, low-protein, low-fiber, carbohydrate-rich meal–after previous depletion of the hepatic stores of glycogen, with the intent of maximizing glycogen storage in muscle. Cf Bicarbonate loading, Phosphate loading.

car·bo·hy·drate load·ing

(kahr-bō-hī'drāt lōd'ing)

Manipulation of diet and exercise to significantly increase muscle and liver glycogen content. Frequently used by enduranceathletes to enhance performance.
Synonym(s): glycogen loading, glycogen supercompensation.