Protein Cycling

littlemoron
littlemoron Posts: 36 Member
edited September 27 in Food and Nutrition
Heyo - I've been reading about protein cycling, wherein one eats a low protein diet for something like four weeks (20g-40g per day), and then goes for four to eight weeks on a high protein diet (and then back to low protein, etc). It's supposed to enhance protein storage and use in your body, and ultimately make you really cut.

Has anyone tried this? Does it work?

Thanks!

lm

Replies

  • poustotah
    poustotah Posts: 1,121 Member
    I've never heard of this but I'm curious about it. I keep my protein over 125g a day - if I don't, I start to lose my muscle mass and my lifting suffers.
  • AbysmalFitness
    AbysmalFitness Posts: 32 Member
    like wise sounds like the low carbs diet but a protein version i guess the idea is supposed to do with protein synthesis is it?not too sure about i mean i have done 4 weeks on a strict pure protein diet and that wasn't too healthy so hmm
  • getfitdiva
    getfitdiva Posts: 1,148 Member
    Is this the same as Carb Cycling? I just read about this today http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/wescott4.htm.

    I am testing out a high protein/low carb 3 days (today is day 3). I'll post my results afterwards :wink:

    The past two days I have eaten more than my body weight (in #s) in protein.
  • jseavers
    jseavers Posts: 2 Member
    I just went thru a big protein class and long story short... you need to protein. You are better off keeping your carbs low at all times. Protein cycles thru the liver and produces glucose to feed your body. Therefore, if you dont have protein, its not going to fuel your body properly. If you are Od'ng on carbs, all you are doing is giving your body extra glucose that it cant process properly. protein is the way! Of course stick to lean proteins... I guess if you want to cut out "meat" for a while, sub some of the main meats with vegetarian meats or tofu in order to feel like you arent eating meat but you are still getting protein. But you really do need it.
  • stanvoodoo
    stanvoodoo Posts: 1,023 Member
    As my nutritionist and doctor say: PROTEIN FIRST! I do 80-100 grams a day. Had good results, started 10/5/10!
  • redfletch
    redfletch Posts: 8
    This depends on what your goals are...In my opinion it is never good to reduce protein to sub optimal levels as that would force your body to canabilize Lean Body Mass for energy. I don't believe you will get the same results as carb cycling since your body can use carbs, protein, or fat for energy but only protein is used for recovery/rebuilding of body tissue. If you aren't getting enough protein to rebuild what you breakdown during your workouts then you in fact are going backwards. You might look more cut but I believe that would be just an effect of less caloric intake...JMO...At 185lbs and 8% bodyfat my goal would be to retain as much muscle as possible during the cut. Which I beleive cut is your goal. Muscle burns fat. Less muscle, less fat is burned. I believe it will work against your metabolim too.

    Carb Cycling has been extremely effective for me. High carbs on heavy lift days and low carbs the rest of the week. Reccomended reading is Flexible Diet Handbook by Lyle MCDonald at www.bodyrecomposition.com
  • parvati
    parvati Posts: 432 Member
    I just went thru a big protein class and long story short... you need to protein. You are better off keeping your carbs low at all times. Protein cycles thru the liver and produces glucose to feed your body. Therefore, if you dont have protein, its not going to fuel your body properly. If you are Od'ng on carbs, all you are doing is giving your body extra glucose that it cant process properly. protein is the way! Of course stick to lean proteins... I guess if you want to cut out "meat" for a while, sub some of the main meats with vegetarian meats or tofu in order to feel like you arent eating meat but you are still getting protein. But you really do need it.

    Protein is very important for you body you are right....however carbs are equally as important!!! Carbs are what fuel are energy systems, we need carbs immediately after a workout....we need them for our brains to function properly. The human body is amazing but it needs a combination of things in order to operate & function ideally.
    The problem with carbs is that too many people consume the wrong kinds of carbs! Too many refined processed carbs are definetly bad for you & should be consumed rarely. But the body cannot thrive on protein alone!
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    I've never heard of it, but surely if it made you really cut then all the bodybuilders would be doing it (they might do I don't know, but I know quite a few bodybuilders and they're all on really high protein all the time) Most of the time, it's the fat content that gets monitored. Personally I would rather keep my protein high at all times, from experience I never used to have loads of protein but since I've upped it to about 140g, it still took a few weeks of this on a regular basis to see proper improvements
  • JMun
    JMun Posts: 409
    My hubby is doing this right now! He's building some serious muscle.. When he goes back to low protein he wants to do intense cardio to kill what's left of his total body fat. The plan is to focus on nutrition and muscle development. Then take a scheduled break, lower protein intake and then cardio off what's left of his fat.

    He's all about whey powder and glutamines. crazy guy.

    But he's looking like a hard body. His muscle development is absurd! He's lost over 80lbs. :love: hubba hubba
    He said he's going for the body of Brad Pitt in his Fight Club days. I say OMFG YES!!!

    If he gets wicked results I may end up giving it a go. I've still got far too much body fat to see serious results.

    But I think you should be my guinea pig and do it...
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