Carb cycling

fitplundy
fitplundy Posts: 47 Member
edited November 25 in Health and Weight Loss
I’m not sure if I could carb cycle judging I am active at least 5 days a week. However does it actually work? Or should I just try to hit my macro goals and just stick to that?

Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    What are you hoping to gain from carb cycling?
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  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    fitplundy wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    What are you hoping to gain from carb cycling?

    Fat loss but I’m about 21% body fat (not ripped obviously) but I just wanna she’s a couple pounds to reach my goal weight

    Carb cycling doesn't improve fat loss. It's really designed to improve compliance and/or support a lifting routine. Below is some good information on carb cycling.

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

    https://www.muscleforlife.com/carb-cycling-podcast/
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    fitplundy wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    What are you hoping to gain from carb cycling?

    Fat loss but I’m about 21% body fat (not ripped obviously) but I just wanna she’s a couple pounds to reach my goal weight

    Carb/calorie cycling can help with adherence and perhaps gym performance. But it is not magic or anything. What kind of results are you hoping for, do you want to lower your bodyfat and retain muscle (I would assume?)...eat in a small deficit since you are already lean and close to goal, get adequate macros (especially protein) and follow a progressive lifting program. You don't have to complicate it with the cycling, I would say unless you have more experience with calories and macros, master those basics first.
  • fb47
    fb47 Posts: 1,058 Member
    fitplundy wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    What are you hoping to gain from carb cycling?

    Fat loss but I’m about 21% body fat (not ripped obviously) but I just wanna she’s a couple pounds to reach my goal weight

    Carb cycling doesn't matter for body composition. It has no advantage and there is no evidence that it's superior to eating the same calories every day for body composition. Where it can help is if you're someone who is usually hungry on workout days, then carb/cycling makes more sense or if your someone who enjoys having high carbs on workout days to fuel your workouts.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    fitplundy wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    What are you hoping to gain from carb cycling?

    Fat loss but I’m about 21% body fat (not ripped obviously) but I just wanna she’s a couple pounds to reach my goal weight

    I wouldn't bother with carb cycling for this. It doesn't have any particular advantage for your goals.
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  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    what is your current ratio? i'm slowly recomping - but mine is 55% carbs, protein fixed at 130g (roughly 20-22%) and fat the rest. I carb cycle and my high day is 439g and a low of 339g (lower carb day is a higher fat day)
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    fitplundy wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    fitplundy wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    What are you hoping to gain from carb cycling?

    Fat loss but I’m about 21% body fat (not ripped obviously) but I just wanna she’s a couple pounds to reach my goal weight

    Carb/calorie cycling can help with adherence and perhaps gym performance. But it is not magic or anything. What kind of results are you hoping for, do you want to lower your bodyfat and retain muscle (I would assume?)...eat in a small deficit since you are already lean and close to goal, get adequate macros (especially protein) and follow a progressive lifting program. You don't have to complicate it with the cycling, I would say unless you have more experience with calories and macros, master those basics first.


    Do you have any recommendations of how/where would be an accurate place to calculate macros/ macro percents I can put so my log wil adjust to it :)


    I prefer to use g vs %, you just chose the closest % in MFP that matches your goal. These are the recommendations I use for macros by grams per lean body mass (or per goal weight):
    Protein: 0.8 to 1g
    Fats: 0.35 to 0.6g
    Carbs: The rest

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