carb cycling vs low carb diet

**G-Force** · 07-24-2005, 03:17 PM

which is better for reducing fat while maintaining/increasing LBM (directly after a bulker)?

**Kärnfysikern** · 07-24-2005, 03:49 PM

I think carb free rest day and a medium carb workout day is the best since it then automaticly mini cycles carb intake each week while giving the body all it needs.

So I guess imo carb cycling is the best.

**decadbal** · 07-24-2005, 04:06 PM

johan is correct... cycle your carbs

**fritz2435** · 07-24-2005, 08:43 PM

I'm one week into a carb cycling diet right now and have been seeing pretty good results thus far.

here's a link:
My Carb Cycling Cutter

**G-Force** · 07-25-2005, 05:18 AM

i'm not too keen on carb free days i have to say

i only had 45g carbs yesterday and man i felt like sh!t

i will take everyones advice and cycle them, i doubt i'll be doing many 0carb days though - maybe once a week

i alway thought 0 carbs would cause muscle loss?

**IronFreakX** · 07-25-2005, 06:17 AM

I wouldnt.....but if they its ok...and it worked then try it......

I would use maybe 2 carb meals on non training day....

meal 1 and 3 or 4

but only very very low GI and load
like lentils , chick peas , soy beans , i think white beans too

**G-Force** · 07-25-2005, 06:39 AM

i will prob have around 45g - 90g carbs on non workout days
190g on workout days

Like fritz i was thinking of adding one very high carb day (500g) ,probably on leg or back day

where would my cheat meal fit into this?
on my very high carb day?

**IronFreakX** · 07-25-2005, 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by G-Force

i will prob have around 45g - 90g carbs on non workout days
190g on workout days

Like fritz i was thinking of adding one very high carb day (500g) ,probably on leg or back day

where would my cheat meal fit into this?
on my very high carb day?

I only do clean cheats...adding more protein and mod-HIGH GI and load carbs along with more vitamins and minerals....

I always feel like shit..physically....after a crap cheat...like im weak and shit.....

but do wutever feels best for ya...

if ur gonna do crap...then add more carbs , protein and try to minimize fat intake...dont sweat it tho its ur cheat day....

**bor** · 07-25-2005, 07:43 AM

I agree with Johan

**Lozgod** · 07-25-2005, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by G-Force

i alway thought 0 carbs would cause muscle loss?

It is muscle sparing because in ketosis the body uses fat for fuel and has no reason to turn protein in to glucose for fuel. That's why I am against carb cycling. The absence of carbs then adding it back throws you out of ketosis. So while you are waiting to get back to ketosis you are burning muscle. This is probably something 99% of people are going to say is wrong but I can find plenty of research that suggests otherwise. People used to think that anyone that thought the world was round was crazy a long time ago so I say get different points of veiw and then do some research to make up your own mind.

**Kärnfysikern** · 07-25-2005, 07:55 AM

play it by your body bro. I can handle carb free days without a problem. Heck some workout days I still only get 100g carbs(inpwo and ppwo). If you feel you need more then toy around with it. If weightloss stalls then begin by cutting down carbs on rest days.

I would do the cheat meal at the high carb day. Or just do a full out cheat day

**fritz2435** · 07-25-2005, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by G-Force

i will prob have around 45g - 90g carbs on non workout days
190g on workout days

Like fritz i was thinking of adding one very high carb day (500g) ,probably on leg or back day

where would my cheat meal fit into this?
on my very high carb day?

Yes, you can add in a cheat meal on your high carb day. I plan on doing this as I settle into my diet. Also, I prefer to carb up on a nonworkout day after AM cardio, as I find myself stuffed after eating all those carbs... But the workout the day after is INSANE! (as is the post-carb-day crap... Had to flush 3 times to get it all down

)

**fritz2435** · 07-25-2005, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by Lozgod

It is muscle sparing because in ketosis the body uses fat for fuel and has no reason to turn protein in to glucose for fuel. That's why I am against carb cycling. The absence of carbs then adding it back throws you out of ketosis. So while you are waiting to get back to ketosis you are burning muscle. This is probably something 99% of people are going to say is wrong but I can find plenty of research that suggests otherwise. People used to think that anyone that thought the world was round was crazy a long time ago so I say get different points of veiw and then do some research to make up your own mind.

Wouldn't doing AM cardio on an empty stomach the morning of a 0-carb day help to put you into ketosis? (each of my last 3 meals the day before are pro/fat, so I will have been without carbs for about 16 hours before the AM cardio)

**yannick32** · 07-25-2005, 10:40 AM

You need some adaptation too, low carb dieting is real hard at first, you will feel really weird but if you stick to it you will really get amazing results.

**decadbal** · 07-25-2005, 12:48 PM

ive never read anywhere that ketosis is muscle sparing....

**Kärnfysikern** · 07-25-2005, 12:57 PM

IMO muscle protein catabolism is way overblown. The body doesnt want to use protein as a fuel source. Its just not a effective source of energy so its more inclined to go after fat and carbs before protein. Thats what I think atleast.

**G-Force** · 07-25-2005, 05:26 PM

i'm keen on trying carb cycling as i have never tried it before
i've been on low carbs for 2 weeks and am fed up of it, am having a high carb day, with a cheat meal tomorrow (deadlift day) and cant wait

here is what i have drawn up so far

mon: 190g (wo day)
tue: 500g + cheat meal (wo day)
wed: 0 carbs (cardio)
Thur: 190g (wo day)
Fri: 190g (wo day)
Sat: 45g (cardio)
Sun: 45g (cardio)

each day protein will be 350 - 400g
Fat: 50 - 80g

**G-Force** · 07-26-2005, 02:15 PM

i just had my high carb day and it felt good
had 2 cheat meals too

need to behave myslef tomorrow

i am going to be using ECA/Clen and was wandering was there actually any point taking my ECA stack on my high carb day?

**G-Force** · 07-27-2005, 03:40 AM

bump

ECA on high carb days#?

any suggestions?

**IronFreakX** · 07-27-2005, 03:46 AM

are u gonna do 2weeks on/off eca &clen ???

???

**G-Force** · 07-27-2005, 05:54 AM

yeah dude

**G-Force** · 07-27-2005, 05:55 AM

i'm also on prop/tren and will be adding var in 3 or 4 weeks

**IronFreakX** · 07-27-2005, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by G-Force

yeah dude

well run either the clen or the Eca...dont run them both together..and check hooker's profile on how to properly run clen....

**G-Force** · 07-27-2005, 06:49 AM

oh sorry i misread what u typed

i am not doing them both together - 2 weeks of one then 2 weeks of the other

i have used them both before i know how to run them

but is there any point running them on my high carb days thats all i need to know

**Kärnfysikern** · 07-27-2005, 06:54 AM

yeah run them on high carb days

**G-Force** · 07-27-2005, 07:00 AM

right thats what i'll do then

it just seems weird though, eating all that extra food to shock the metabalism only to have the effects reversed with the fat burners

**Kärnfysikern** · 07-27-2005, 07:02 AM

ohh you mean on your mega high carb day. Well if this is like a cheat day then using it or not using it wont make a difference. I usualy never use any fat burners on my cheat day to give the body a break from them mostly. They wont make a difference anyway if the food intake is enormous.

But if you stay fairly within kcal limits then go with the eca.