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This is a discussion on Low Carb or Carb Cyling - Thoughts on this? within the Food forums,----- Would love to hear about your experiences in how either of these eating methods helped you to lean out. Right ...
Would love to hear about your experiences in how either of these eating methods helped you to lean out. Right now, I am following Precision Nutrition (been doing this for about 4 weeks). Basically, tons of veggies and protein (plus good fats) but only been eating starchy carbs (rice, quinoa, sweet potato, oats) right after lifting (3 days a week) or maybe once a week for breakfast.
The results have been good but I feel like being this low carb for too long might be detrimental and plus I do miss some of my favorite healthy carbs like the ones listed above.
Right now, I am at about 18% bf looking to get down to about 16%. Do you think I might be better served trying some carb cycling to mix it up a bit?
I like carb cycling...mine isnt a super strict cycle. I have high carb days when I train legs and back, moderate carbs on other training days and low carb on rest days...this seems to work well for my body.
I like carb cycling...mine isnt a super strict cycle. I have high carb days when I train legs and back, moderate carbs on other training days and low carb on rest days...this seems to work well for my body.
Ok, Nic, now short of couting macro grams (which would drive me over the edge!) can you tell me what foods would be consumed and how many times throughout the day on a high carb and a moderate carb day?
How many times a week do you lift? What do you do on days when you might just be doing HIIT/cardio? Is that a low carb day?
Personally, Ive had incredible results following DiPasquale's Anabolic Diet.
Low-No Carb, Moderate protein, high fat 5-6days per week and low-mod protein, moderate fat, high carb the other.
You need to experiment around and see what your body likes best.
I went through two months of this pretty skeptical. I finally started cutting and Im LOVING this now. I never thought Id say that honestly, but after a few months, you really notice consistant results.
Ok, Nic, now short of couting macro grams (which would drive me over the edge!) can you tell me what foods would be consumed and how many times throughout the day on a high carb and a moderate carb day?
How many times a week do you lift? What do you do on days when you might just be doing HIIT/cardio? Is that a low carb day?
Well I always count my macros...I dont see how you can cycle without counting. I keep most of my carbs (oats, brown rice) at breakfast and pre/post workout. As far as cardio goes...if its HIIT than it would be a moderate day, if its steady state cardio than its a low carb day.
Personally, Ive had incredible results following DiPasquale's Anabolic Diet.
Low-No Carb, Moderate protein, high fat 5-6days per week and low-mod protein, moderate fat, high carb the other.
You need to experiment around and see what your body likes best.
I went through two months of this pretty skeptical. I finally started cutting and Im LOVING this now. I never thought Id say that honestly, but after a few months, you really notice consistant results.
That is a lot of days of low-no carb and high fat. I am always concerned about ketosis and energy levels when I see diets like that.
Well I always count my macros...I dont see how you can cycle without counting.
Well, I guess I was thinking that if you tend to eat a lot of the same types of food (which most "clean eaters" do), you get a pretty good idea of what constitutes a high carb day (rice with lunch, oats at breakfast, sweet potato at dinner...) and what consitutes a moderate (maybe just oats at breakfast) and low (fruits/veggies and protein and healthy fats all day).
On high or moderate days, I'll have carbs for my first 4 meals...oats and brown rice are my staples.
On my low days, its usually my first 2 or 3 meals.
I do carb/pro and fat/pro meals ex: oats/whites or salad w. chicken EEVO or almonds.
Well, if you are still able to have some starchy carbs on low days, in the form of brown rice and oats at least once, that seems easy! Right now, I have been doing no starchy carbs unless it is a lifting day and on those days, I only eat starchy carbs right after my workout.
Every other meal is protein, fruits/veggies, and good fats. I have been really strict with this!I like the results so far, but feel like it would be too hard to maintain long term. Your plan sounds very doable! Heck, at this point, I don't even think I could comfortably consume starchy carbs at 3-4 meals!
My low carb days are 50-60g and on those days I manage to fit oats and brown rice into a few meals...I would die without starches!
Wow! I wonder if this is similar to what others have done when carb cycling? Honestly, after the diet I have been following for the last 4 weeks, yours seems like heaven! Although, I will say, I am starting to get used to it, not having starchy carbs at most meals. And I have definitely leaned out, but not sure how realistic this is in the long term.
Plus, without my oats, I feel like all I ever eat for breakfast is eggs and egg whites!!!!1
I love carb cycling, its mentally easy on me, plus low carb diets I don't do to well on
what happens to you on low carb diets, that you don't do well on them?
I have been doing low carb (Precision Nutrition) for about 2 months now and while I thought I would absolutely die without carbs, I have done pretty well on it. I only eat starchy carbs post workout or during a cheat meal (I allow myself 3 per week). Otherwise, fruits and veggies with lean protein.
I am not sure that I will want to do this forever, and now that my priorities have changed and my goal is to pack on some muslce, I am wondering if I should add some more carbs in to accomplish that?
I don't have alot of energy on low carb, I get cranky, horrible headaches, get very forgetful usually, and my enegy is pretty much zapped. With carb cycling I can basically keep some carbs in when I need them have a couple moderate, and low days and a high once a week. I feel so much better
I don't have alot of energy on low carb, I get cranky, horrible headaches, get very forgetful usually, and my enegy is pretty much zapped. With carb cycling I can basically keep some carbs in when I need them have a couple moderate, and low days and a high once a week. I feel so much better
Funny, I felt a bit "off" when I started low carb but within about a week, I felt a lot better and even had more energy. Now, I think I can slowly add back in a bit more carbs but I will never go back to eating as many carbs as I did before. I think I felt way too bloated in the belly a lot and have not felt this way since decreasing my carbs significantly.
I def felt the same with the whole bloat when eating alot of carbs dnt like it to much either. if ur looking to add muscle ur going to need a surplus of calories and def carbs. ive never really achieved muscle gain without them
I def felt the same with the whole bloat when eating alot of carbs dnt like it to much either. if ur looking to add muscle ur going to need a surplus of calories and def carbs. ive never really achieved muscle gain without them
So if right now, I am only eating starchy carbs after my workouts, and I am now looking to gain muscle, how much more carbs would I need to throw in? I would hate to start bloating up again on carbs just because I am looking to add some muscle!
How many carbs are you taking in now on a daily basis roughly? Im sure some of the girls will be able to help you with this. I shoot for 200 grams when building muscle a day, but I'm really carb tolerant, it takes alot for me to get bloated.
If your doing a carb cycle you could always throw in a couple more high days, and moderate days for muscles groups ur not so concerned with building up and low days when ever u have an off day and just do cardio then.
Heres a good article for you [url=http://figureathlete.tmuscle.com/free_online_article/training/10_keys_to_the_lean_amp_sexy_look_part_ii]Figure Athlete - 10 Keys to the Lean & Sexy Look, Part II[/url]
I hope it helps. Its hard to give advice, when you only know what generally works for yourself
How many carbs are you taking in now on a daily basis roughly? Im sure some of the girls will be able to help you with this. I shoot for 200 grams when building muscle a day, but I'm really carb tolerant, it takes alot for me to get bloated.
If your doing a carb cycle you could always throw in a couple more high days, and moderate days for muscles groups ur not so concerned with building up and low days when ever u have an off day and just do cardio then.
Heres a good article for you [url=http://figureathlete.tmuscle.com/free_online_article/training/10_keys_to_the_lean_amp_sexy_look_part_ii]Figure Athlete - 10 Keys to the Lean & Sexy Look, Part II[/url]
I hope it helps. Its hard to give advice, when you only know what generally works for yourself
Honestly, I don't know how many grams, as I do not measure. I can tell you that I am eating lean protein and fruits and veggies and good fats at every meal, with no starchy carbs other than right after my workouts. After my workouts, I have a protein shake and I include about 3og of starchy carbs. That is it. Sounds like I might want to add more, esp. on days when I am working legs/delts/tris, which are my priority muscle groups.
Can you double check that link you included? I would love to check it out but it did not work.
Im not sure how to insert a link, but go to Figureathlete.com and in the search bar type in "Ten keys to lean and sexy look part 2" you should be able to find the article. It should help you alot .
On another note, carbs from fruit aren't directly used by the muscles because they don't raise insulin the same way, it doesn't turn to glucose in the body it must go through the liver first. Def add more carbs in when your working the body parts you would like to build up more
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