Carb cycling

sisu1975 wrote: »

Anyone have experience with carb cycling nutrition plans? What are your thoughts? Is it a sustainable nutrition plan? I’m just starting to investigate this and would appreciate any info you have come across that is helpful.

Also, I’m new to MFP, so feel free to add me as a friend!

I did it for a short time where I did very high carb (330g) on lifting days and low carb on non lifting days (120g). And man did those low carb days suck.

In the end, if you like that strategy, it's fine, but outside of that, it won't provide much of a benefit. So if you want, give it a try for a few months and see how you like it.

sisu1975 wrote: »

The reason I’m asking about carb cycling is that I currently follow a low carb/high fat plan. I have a limited amount of carbs at supper and sometimes have some as a snack (cashews) but not very often. I was finally able to lose the last five pounds I wanted to lose after 7 years of trying other methods. And I didn’t feel hungry either. However, I’ve since come across carb cycling and now I feel a little confused as to what is best for my body. They say restricting carbs can slow your metabolism. Thus not burning fat as well. But carb cycling has to be done right and I’m not sure how to do it. I’m looking to maintain my weight or swap my body composition to more lean muscle and less body fat. Any help is appreciated.

Restricting carbs shouldn't have an impact on metabolism, but depending on the person it could effect generally energy out put. The thing that supports metabolism is protein.

If your goal is body recomposition, than the thing that matters is your training and adequate protein. Some people do find high carbs on lifting days provides them with greater energy which indirectly allows them to push harder.

There are a variety of ways to carb cycle but the way i did it was high carb lifting 2x bw) days, low carb (.8g/ bw) on non lifting days. Protein was 1g/lb of bw regardless. Some people also do a keto day on non exercise days if they work out 6 days a week.

Regardless of your method, nothing is more important to recomp than training. I cannoy emphasize that enough.


Below is a great thread on lifting programs: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1

fit_chickx wrote: »

sisu1975 wrote: »

The reason I’m asking about carb cycling is that I currently follow a low carb/high fat plan. I have a limited amount of carbs at supper and sometimes have some as a snack (cashews) but not very often. I was finally able to lose the last five pounds I wanted to lose after 7 years of trying other methods. And I didn’t feel hungry either. However, I’ve since come across carb cycling and now I feel a little confused as to what is best for my body. They say restricting carbs can slow your metabolism. Thus not burning fat as well. But carb cycling has to be done right and I’m not sure how to do it. I’m looking to maintain my weight or swap my body composition to more lean muscle and less body fat. Any help is appreciated.

I was burning muscle and started holding on to my weight doing low carb for an extended period of time. I'm two weeks into carb cycling and my energy is up and I am losing weight. Almost to my goal...

I have a few links..Not sure if they will help

https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/par30.htm

https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=336012

https://youtube.com/watch?v=glDuxoy_RcQ&t=1652s

You wouldn't be burning through muscle on a low carb diet unless you were on a very low calorie diet or a very low protein diet with no training. This is even more so, considering you were maintaining your weight. If anything you lost lean body mass (not the same as muscle) through glycogen depletion.


Also, please do not look at the bb.com links. They are terrible. Below is a good guide though.

https://www.muscleforlife.com/the-definitive-guide-to-carb-cycling/