An endurance athlete who stops exercising gets fat on carbs. It's all about insulin sensitivity.
I was a competitive cyclist for years- and sub 8% body fat as measured by a local university. When I stopped racing I started getting fat. My diet didn't change but my energy requirements did. But I finally dropped the carbs and went full keto when i realized I didn't like looking like the Michelin Man. My fat levels dropped to where I was when racing regularly. I don't do keto anymore though because of the uric acid issues it created for me. Now i have 40% carbs but have to limit them in total calories.
I have never seen a person on keto stay fat. it is practically impossible to over eat on fats and protein. But the moment you add carbs the sky is the limit. Your insulin starts spiking non stop. These weekend warriors that you describe are shoveling down starches and sugars when no on is looking, lol
I did track, some road and now downhill mtb but I'm not convinced at all that carbs make you fat as when the discussion gets further into details I discover that person was adding in fat over the top. I smash carbs today and it's how I keep my weight under control, adding in the usual western foods with high fat makes my weight blow up.
The roadies caught onto sugar and smash sugar bottles. Non-stop, low protein, sub 20g/day fat to control their weight year round. You used to hear about pros battling with weight, don't hear any of that now. My last trip to prove a point to my riding mate I ran maybe 3k cals/day on sugar then. Normal meal at night, he ran normal food likely less cals than me. I dropped 4kg in a week, he was flat. And I was smashing lolly snakes and softdrink like a champion.
I'm basically inverse keto lol.
