20g Carbs a day max diet

**drivium** · 06-02-2006, 10:44 PM

My body builder buddy advised me that during the summer he goes by the 20g carbs a day max diet. He said something along these lines would be good mixing in protein shakes between meals:
http://lowcarblisa.tripod.com/thesca...diet/id50.html

I'm 26, 5'10" and 195lbs.
Trying to get lean (i have 25% BF!)

It seems that the most difficult thing about this whole thing is the diet! What foods to eat and when, which foods to eat together, which ones are low carb but too fatty... ay ay ay...

Any advise on this? Is this diet harmful?

**SwoleCat** · 06-02-2006, 10:47 PM

If you are lifting weights, carbs are a needed component for recovery/repair/energy. I would not encourage a low-carb approach for any long-term period of time.

~SC~

**kyjelly** · 06-02-2006, 10:56 PM

Yeah, thats hella low.

I take in about 350g CArbs ED, and still increasing.

**chest6** · 06-02-2006, 11:31 PM

enjoy the LBM now cuz it will flee quickly

**Jakt** · 06-03-2006, 07:32 AM

20 a day? i can't even see that being healthy.... yikes... idk about that dude, hope your taking tons of juice to keep muscle

**Kakashi...!** · 06-03-2006, 07:54 AM

thats not even 1/2 cup of oats(Uncooked :P)

**IBdmfkr** · 06-03-2006, 07:59 AM

20g's? Wow, I may fall over and die.

**WEBB** · 06-03-2006, 08:35 AM

if when completely depleting for a show you dont go that low...on my 3 day depletion i have like 50g in the mornig and 50g at 1pm...then for my last depletion day i just have 40 in the am...then i start loading, that night or the next morning....

**SwoleCat** · 06-03-2006, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by WEBB

if when completely depleting for a show you dont go that low...on my 3 day depletion i have like 50g in the mornig and 50g at 1pm...then for my last depletion day i just have 40 in the am...then i start loading, that night or the next morning....

Me as well brutha!

~SC~

**WEBB** · 06-03-2006, 09:42 AM

hey swole can you look at my last 14 day thread in comp q&a forum...just give it a quick look i posted some qestions also...i will have pics to help better judge how my carbs will be but i am right on...like 3-4 pounds left maybe....Thanks a lot man...

**drivium** · 06-03-2006, 09:43 AM

What sort of balance should I have?
I'm so confused - I viewed the "how to cut" diet and there even seemed to be some discrepency there between members of the forum. The diet I WAS on consisted of a lot of low fat yogurt, fruits, whole grain oats (kashi go-lean) - and my buddy said that was WAY too many carbs. And it DID appear that I was only getting fatter using this approach although I was lifting 3 times a week and running 7 days a week for an hour. He said I was just "spinning my wheels."

I want to burn the fat while continuing to build muscle mass - or at least maintaining the muscle while I burn. It seems like there is so much science involved with this stuff. I'm no scientist... I end up just listening to what everyone else (that appears to have results of their own) tells me to do. Meanwhlie I can tell I'm rock hard under this layer of fat - I just dont want to burn it AND my muscle - i've worked TOO hard my brotha!

I need a full proof meal plan - with everything a bodybuilder needs while at the same time allowing me to burn burn burn! Trying to get somewhat lean for summer (although I'm allowing myself till NEXT summer to be realistic). I need a shopping list! : ) And what exacly should I be eating PWO!?

THX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**kyjelly** · 06-03-2006, 09:48 AM

You gotta remember separation of carbs and fats. Timing is a key factor in it all also.

**drivium** · 06-03-2006, 09:50 AM

yea - my buddy (i shouldnt even say "my buddy", just this dude I know) said something like that. But he is SO kryptic - I think he is trying to keep it a secret - he definitely has results. I have no idea what foods to combine -

Does anyone here have a sample of what the eat throughout the day?
I'd be SO grateful at this point man...haha

**kyjelly** · 06-03-2006, 09:56 AM

Read the "cutting diet sticky"

It plans out meal for meal.

**drivium** · 06-03-2006, 10:01 AM

I did read that but there was a lot of discrepency - but I suppose there will never be a diet that EVERYONE agrees with.

It was pretty vague though
it says things like :

Meal 4: PWO

- well, what does PWO consist of?

And as far as the foods like the oatmeal - which brand? do flavors make a difference?
& veggies - which veggies?

Also it says:
A: Obviously on non workout days you will be without a shake, so you will be auto-cycling. It works well that way.

Am I not supposed to be drinking a shake on days I dont lift? I've been doing it every day without fail - every 3 hours.

**kyjelly** · 06-03-2006, 10:07 AM

PWO is Post Work Out

It consist of a carb to protein ratio as 2:1 Usualy a nice shake will do, as I use Cytogainer. Chug it down within 15 minutes of your workout.

As for as Oatmeal goes, brand doesnt matter, at least not that much. As long as you got the good complex carbs, which is basically any oat for that matter.

For veggies, well Im not to big on them, but They are all good for your anti-oxidants.

And yes, that Meal plan is not in concrete. Throw your meals into it, and mix and match, move around some meals if you want.

**drivium** · 06-03-2006, 10:10 AM

so no shake on days I dont workout?
That's what the Q&A says.

**kyjelly** · 06-03-2006, 10:12 AM

well all your protein/carbs/fats are better from whole foods.

I use,and know people who use, shakes on non workout days.

if you have like 4 shakes in 1 day, lol, yeah, thats over doing it.

I keep it to max 2 a day, 1 being my PWO.

**drivium** · 06-03-2006, 10:14 AM

Interesting
So how much protein do you rely on your shakes for?

**kyjelly** · 06-03-2006, 10:16 AM

I usually have between 40-50g of protein with each meal. So, it goes with my shakes the same.

But you have to be aware and dont forget to count the milk you use with it, as more protein right there.

**drivium** · 06-03-2006, 10:24 AM

I always mix it with water.
But I get what you're saying.

Thx so much for your help dude.
I have a LONG way to go but i think I have some good knowledge now.

**drivium** · 06-03-2006, 10:25 AM

OH! one more thing - so how many carbs SHOULD I have in one day?!

**steve0** · 06-03-2006, 10:36 AM

that diet was providing like 900 cals a day !!!!!! i eat 900 cals in my first 2 meals.

**drivium** · 06-03-2006, 11:07 AM

not calories - carbs

**drivium** · 06-04-2006, 05:37 PM

so how many carbs should I be taking in daily to get lean and still maintain my muscle?

**ODC0717** · 06-04-2006, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by drivium

My body builder buddy advised me that during the summer he goes by the 20g carbs a day max diet. He said something along these lines would be good mixing in protein shakes between meals:
http://lowcarblisa.tripod.com/thesca...diet/id50.html

I'm 26, 5'10" and 195lbs.
Trying to get lean (i have 25% BF!)

It seems that the most difficult thing about this whole thing is the diet! What foods to eat and when, which foods to eat together, which ones are low carb but too fatty... ay ay ay...

Any advise on this? Is this diet harmful?

That's way too low on the carbs bruh. What about PWO? I take in 4x that amount just in my PWO shake. Yes, no shake on days you don't lift. As for the carbs that's more dependent on you. I would start out in the are of 1-1.5g.carbs/lb. and 2g. protein/lb. adjust the carbs up and down from there as you see fit. You might also want to try cycling your carb intake as well. Limit your carbs in the PM, unless you workout in the PM. If that's the case includ carbs in your PPWO also, then limit them thereafter.

**drivium** · 06-05-2006, 09:26 AM

You are saying that the carbs in my diet are too low for cutting or too low for bulking?

So far on this diet I'm losing about 1 pound a day, some days two, which is good - but I fear that I might be sacrificing muscle. If I am taking in too few carbs per day like you said - how many carbs should I take in a day? And in what forms?

I read the "How to cut" sticky and there it is mostly protein - seems pretty low carb except for the oatmeal / rice. It says the daily total is 130 carbs based on the meal plan they posted - is that what I should be taking in dailyi? And will I continue to lose fat taking in that many carbs? SO many questions - haha - thx for the time mate..

d