When is the best time to eat carbs?

sspscott
sspscott Posts: 66 Member
edited 5:42AM in Food and Nutrition
I have tried to cut my carb intake. But is there a better time of day to eat carbs?
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Replies

  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    The only credible advice I've heard for carb timing, is "around your workouts". It's still rather vague and likely not to make much difference
  • _benjammin
    _benjammin Posts: 1,224 Member
    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.
  • s2mikey
    s2mikey Posts: 146 Member
    edited July 2015
    IMO - and this isnt based on science: I have my biggest carb intake in the morning. I eat pancakes almost every day for breakfast. Then, as the day goes on, I reduce the carb intake. My total carb intake is around 200g-225g. Im active and this works for me. In my own experience, cutting carbs too much does NOT work and is detrimental to your overall weight loss goals and health.

    I do weights 3 times a week and some form of rigorous cardio 2-3 times a week as well. I NEED the carbs for energy!

    Short answer? Carb it up earlier in the day. Thats my take on it.
  • professionalHobbyist
    professionalHobbyist Posts: 1,316 Member
    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
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    It really doesn't matter for weight loss.

    For performance and hunger it may, though that can differ for everyone so you will have to do trial and error.
  • johnbatzer
    johnbatzer Posts: 17 Member
    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.
  • sspscott
    sspscott Posts: 66 Member
    "Thank you!" to everyone that commented!
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    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.
  • Lunawatuna
    Lunawatuna Posts: 24 Member
    Best restricted to a glass of red wine and green veg. Big amounts of refined carbs probably cause weight gain. And stimulate appetite.
  • shelybean1
    shelybean1 Posts: 53 Member
    NEVER! Just kidding! :) I usually do my carbs in the morning...then gradually decrease throughout the day! :smile:
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Lunawatuna wrote: »
    Best restricted to a glass of red wine and green veg. Big amounts of refined carbs probably cause weight gain. And stimulate appetite.

    What??? large amounts of carbs don't cause weight gain, excess calories do. If you carbs put you over your maintenance calories, then weight gain would happen.
  • Faithful_Chosen
    Faithful_Chosen Posts: 401 Member
    Allllllllllways!!! Half of my macros are carbs on most days. I love my fruit, veggies, yoghurt, and chocolate :love: 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.
  • JoAnnRyan123
    JoAnnRyan123 Posts: 110 Member
    Anytime I can fit it into my cal deficit n carb macros :)
  • bellaa_x0
    bellaa_x0 Posts: 1,062 Member
    whenever you want :) #carbsafterdark
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    edited July 2015
    It's always a good time for carbs.

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  • Patttience
    Patttience Posts: 975 Member
    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.
  • KeairaSedai
    KeairaSedai Posts: 138 Member
    I find that when I slowly cut carbs (but not too restrictive) I had less blood sugar spikes and I do feel better and less tired. For me that means eating between 90-150 grams of carbs a day (but mostly from fruit and vegetables).

    However, I have no specific time of eating that, I just do throughout the day.

    As for weight loss? There's a) no reason to cut carbs and b) it doesn't matter when you eat. Only the equation calories in < calories out matters.

    But besides weight loss, you may feel better if you eat less carbs, but you'll have to find out what works for you.
  • bajoyba
    bajoyba Posts: 1,153 Member
    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. :)
  • KeairaSedai
    KeairaSedai Posts: 138 Member
    erickirb wrote: »
    It really doesn't matter for weight loss.

    For performance and hunger it may, though that can differ for everyone so you will have to do trial and error.

    Oh.. this. I realized I said the same.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Love these threads. So much broscience.
  • Lola142012
    Lola142012 Posts: 20 Member
    Patttience wrote: »
    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.


    :)
  • NicoleK31
    NicoleK31 Posts: 26 Member
    s2mikey wrote: »
    IMO - and this isnt based on science: I have my biggest carb intake in the morning. I eat pancakes almost every day for breakfast. Then, as the day goes on, I reduce the carb intake. My total carb intake is around 200g-225g. Im active and this works for me. In my own experience, cutting carbs too much does NOT work and is detrimental to your overall weight loss goals and health.

    I do weights 3 times a week and some form of rigorous cardio 2-3 times a week as well. I NEED the carbs for energy!

    Short answer? Carb it up earlier in the day. Thats my take on it.

    totally agree! Have the bulk of your carbs early in the day so they can power you through and aren't sitting in your stomach come evening time.

  • soccerkon26
    soccerkon26 Posts: 596 Member
    All of the time
  • sandiegomommy
    sandiegomommy Posts: 16 Member
    I try and eat any carbs prior to noon, nothing after 6pm. Unless starving for some reason, I stick to a protein.
  • Love2Rappel
    Love2Rappel Posts: 449 Member
    Why deprive yourself of one of the essentials? Like the lady above, @soccerkon26 I fuel up when my body tells me... I don't carb load, but I do start every day with a dose of complex carbs... and keep at it through the day. Instead of focusing on carbs, just eat clean.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    soccerkon26 wrote: »
    All of the time

    So much of this... overall, timing of nutrient is pretty irrelevant to weight loss. In some recent studies I have seen, it would be suggested to have some carbs and protein around 2 hours before and/or after a workout to help maximize protein synthesis.

    So eat them whenever you feel like it. I eat them throughout the whole day.

  • Unknown
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  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    For function, before or during a long duration workout. Other than that, whenever you the meal you wish to eat happens to be high in carbs - timing doesn't matter much.
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,002 Member
    Patttience wrote: »
    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.
    The 2 bolded sentences make no sense.

    OP, eat your carbs in a manner that allows you the best ADHERENCE (the most important factor) to reach your goals. At the same time, monitor you calorie intake and be sure you are consuming adequate protein (.8 - 1.6 grams per kg of total bodyweight), adequate fat (.45 grams per lb of total bodyweight and get plenty of exercise. IMO, one should strive to exercise every day (with varied intensities) but that is up for debate and many think it's not absolutely necessary.

    The rest is just majoring in the minor...
  • DataSeven
    DataSeven Posts: 245 Member
    All times is carb times! I seriously don't think it matters in the least, because calories are calories.
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