Why is carbohydrate timing around training important for performance?

• A. Carbohydrates replenish glycogen and support fuel availability; pre- and post-workout fueling aids performance and recovery
• B. Carbohydrates should be avoided around training
• C. Timing doesn't affect performance
• D. Protein timing is more important than carbohydrates

Answer: (A)

Carbohydrate timing around training matters because it directly affects fuel availability and how quickly your muscles restore their stored energy. Before a workout, having carbs ensures glucose is readily available in the bloodstream and muscle, helping you sustain higher intensity and delay fatigue. After a workout, consuming carbohydrates speeds up glycogen replenishment, so your muscles recover faster and are ready for the next session. This combination—fueling up before exercise and refueling after—supports both performance during training and quicker recovery afterward. The ideas that you should avoid carbs around training, that timing doesn’t matter, or that protein timing alone is more important miss the central role of glycogen and glucose in fueling and recovery. In practice, including carbs around workouts helps you perform better and bounce back faster between sessions.