When is the best time to eat carbs?

Unless you are going for a keto diet, no need to cut carbs, just calories. I like to make sure I have some carbs before strength training but it may help mentally more than physically.
Here's a good study on nutrient timing:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3577439/
For the goal of maximizing rates of muscle gain, these findings support the broader objective of meeting total daily carbohydrate need instead of specifically timing its constituent doses. Collectively, these data indicate an increased potential for dietary flexibility while maintaining the pursuit of optimal timing.

Carbs are a great high octane fuel.

I eat a spike before a challenging workout.

They are not a bad food or anything for most people.

Some, like me are a bit more insulin resistant. But I can still eat them and burn them up.

I just manage them more closely to actual high energy needs.

To your question.., I think it does not matter for most people. Just don't over do your calories and exercise a bit

Sometimes it seems people think fitness needs to be more complicated than it is.

Your mileage may vary

I try to focus my carbs to a few hours before workouts. While I always start my day with an "easy" workout on an empty stomach, I try to fit in a far-more intense workout a few times a week. A few hours before these sessions, I'll try to get 75% or so of the carbs I've planned for that day (to fuel me through the workout, but early enough beforehand that I don't feel that they're "just sloshing around my stomach") into me.

Post workout, as close to "immediately" after these more-intense workouts as possible, high protein with minimal carbs.

johnbatzer wrote: »

I try to focus my carbs to a few hours before workouts. While I always start my day with an "easy" workout on an empty stomach, I try to fit in a far-more intense workout a few times a week. A few hours before these sessions, I'll try to get 75% or so of the carbs I've planned for that day (to fuel me through the workout, but early enough beforehand that I don't feel that they're "just sloshing around my stomach") into me.

Post workout, as close to "immediately" after these more-intense workouts as possible, high protein with minimal carbs.

Majoring in the minors. If you diet consists of enough protein in a 24 hour period, timing of intake will have very little impact. If you are looking at gaining that extra edge and you are already elite it may be the difference between finishing first or second.

Again if it is for performance, trial and error to see what works for you.

NEVER! Just kidding! I usually do my carbs in the morning...then gradually decrease throughout the day!

Allllllllllways!!! Half of my macros are carbs on most days. I love my fruit, veggies, yoghurt, and chocolate I eat six meals a day for around 1400 cal total that get me to bed full and happy. *Shrug* I don't care about carbs (or sugar for that matter). I care about calories in, in relation to my expenditure. That's what is getting my weight down with leaps and bounds.

whenever you want #carbsafterdark

If they are good quality carbs (fruit veg, wholegrain, and not just junk or white bread) and in a good balance with fats and protein, it doens't matter when you eat them. Carbs are for energy which is why people say around your work out times but if you were entering a big race or sporting event, you'd want to load your carbs the night before so that your muscles are full of glycogen. But for us who are trying to lose weight, unless you are doing a lot of exercise, you do not need to load up so much. You want to make sure that you are going to have low carb levels overnight when its easier to lose weight in your sleep. I do this by going to bed just a little bit hungry. But during the day, i want to make sure i can get from one meal to the next without starving.

All day, err'day.

But seriously... I think it really just depends on your needs and what makes you feel best. I generally prefer to eat most of my carbs in the afternoon and evening, because if I eat a lot of carbs in the morning, I end up feeling hungrier throughout the day. But not everyone is that way, so something different might work better for you.

Love these threads. So much broscience.