By Gabe Sanders Ph.D., NSCA-CSCS Carbohydrates often get a bad reputation in the news as they can be associated with weight gain, which is not entirely true and is very misleading. If you are an athlete, at any age, or if you engage in a lot of exercise and physical activity, consuming carbohydrates is essential to provide you with energy and help you maintain the muscle mass you have worked so hard to attain.