Carb Cycling, is it worth it?

Highvoltage146

Opinions on carb cycling?

brettjtucker

Speaking from experience, carb cycling is a great tool for cutting up, but is not essential. In my personal opinion, as long as you hit your daily macro nutrients in protein/fats/carbohydrates and are eating in a caloric deficit; (below your BMR) you will lose weight just as efficiently without sacrificing muscle mass.

Camo_xxx

It has its place and there are also different ways of doing it to fit specific training goals.
To be in a calorie deficit I cut most of my calories from carbs, on training days I replenish my glycogen by increasing carbs. When I am not training I just eat a balanced diet. I'd suggest doing some further research and then try it if you think it will help you reach your goal. If not , nothing lost.

ana3067

Never tried it, way too regimented. If I found eating only 3 meals a day of equal caloric value to be a suck-fest, forcing low-carb x times a week and not just eating however much I please every day would just make me hate cutting.

keithcw_the_first

brettjtucker wrote: »

Speaking from experience, carb cycling is a great tool for cutting up, but is not essential. In my personal opinion, as long as you hit your daily macro nutrients in protein/fats/carbohydrates and are eating in a caloric deficit; (below your BMR) you will lose weight just as efficiently without sacrificing muscle mass.

Quoted for truth. It helps give you extra juice on workout days.

Camo_xxx

ana3067 wrote: »

Never tried it, way too regimented. If I found eating only 3 meals a day of equal caloric value to be a suck-fest, forcing low-carb x times a week and not just eating however much I please every day would just make me hate cutting.

Doesn't sound like you would enjoy a 100 mile bicycle race with 7000 feet of climbing much then. But those days are the reward, the real suck fest is the training to achieve that. But we have a saying, do what sucks, it makes you stronger.

slaite1

I used to just cycle calories instead. When I was cutting for a show my calories kept getting lower. Mentally, it really helped me to go up and down with my calories. (I did 1900, 1700,1700, 2000,repeat). Over the course of a week I was in the desired calorie deficit, but didn't want to chew my arm off.

ana3067

Camo_xxx wrote: »

ana3067 wrote: »

Never tried it, way too regimented. If I found eating only 3 meals a day of equal caloric value to be a suck-fest, forcing low-carb x times a week and not just eating however much I please every day would just make me hate cutting.

Doesn't sound like you would enjoy a 100 mile bicycle race with 7000 feet of climbing much then. But those days are the reward, the real suck fest is the training to achieve that. But we have a saying, do what sucks, it makes you stronger.

Why? If I enjoyed bike riding and desired to do a bicycle race then I would enjoy this. Wouldn't require carb cycling either.

I'm lifting weights, none of that sucks, I've gotten stronger. So.. I'll stick to practicing eating habits that don't feel excessively controlled, regimented, and that are better suited for me?

Camo_xxx

ana3067 wrote: »

Camo_xxx wrote: »

ana3067 wrote: »

Never tried it, way too regimented. If I found eating only 3 meals a day of equal caloric value to be a suck-fest, forcing low-carb x times a week and not just eating however much I please every day would just make me hate cutting.

Doesn't sound like you would enjoy a 100 mile bicycle race with 7000 feet of climbing much then. But those days are the reward, the real suck fest is the training to achieve that. But we have a saying, do what sucks, it makes you stronger.

Why? If I enjoyed bike riding and desired to do a bicycle race then I would enjoy this. Wouldn't require carb cycling either.

I'm lifting weights, none of that sucks, I've gotten stronger. So.. I'll stick to practicing eating habits that don't feel excessively controlled, regimented, and that are better suited for me?

Sweet, Sounds like Ya have it all figured out.

angelexperiment

I carb cycle and I love it. It has been the easiest thing to stick with and have success.