how long till carbs turn into fat?

[bozlet]

carb question
anyone know how long it takes for carbs to be turned into fat if u dont burn the energy off?

[FireGuy]

Where did you learn carbs not used for immediate energy are stored as bodyfat?

[bozlet]

they do dont they???..........

[FireGuy]

Carbs not used for immediate energy will more than likely be used to refill glycogen and ATP stores. Once those are refilled excess carbs may begin to be stored as bodyfat. Lots of other factors to consider, insulin levels, GI of said carbs, GL of said carbs etc..

[tbody66]

The keto/power protein/etc.... diets are all based upon a belief that simple sugars are more easiliy stored as bodyfat than fat sources (not sure how this conclusion was drawn), but never remember reading any information on time frame that it occurs. I'm also curious as to why it matters, unless of course you are binge eating and purging??? Meaning that if you are eating too many carbs for your body to use and you are of the belief that doing so will result in added fat why would it matter how long it takes for that to occur? If you don't want to add fat to your physique then eat fewer calories then you expend or maintenance calories, use your best source available to you for each of the macronutrients for better health and results. Unless of course your body is in a position to benefit from limited carb manipulation for a photo shoot/bb contest/reunion of some sort.

I'm sure that some desired end result prompted this question, so maybe you'd be better served by posting your stats and your desired end result.

[bozlet]

dont really have a end result, just wanna know for my self and future training.... who wants to be fat, when u can avoid it..?? and i heard metaformin / phenformin are good supplements or watever they are , to help with carbs or something?

[Sgt. Hartman]

I'd leave Metformin and Phenformin alone. They're medications for people who are insulin resistant or are not producing enough insulin and are used to lower dangerously high blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Phenformin hasn't even been on the market for years after being banned by the FDA for having dangerous side effects. Who told you they were a good idea for someone with healthy glucose levels?

If you don't want to get fat then don't eat at such a high caloric surplus.

Read this about carbs and fat storage by Lyle McDonald.




1. Carbs are rarely converted to fat and stored as such
2. When you eat more carbs you burn more carbs and less fat; eat less carbs and you burn less carbs and more fat
3. Protein is basically never going to be converted to fat and stored as such
4. When you eat more protein, you burn more protein (and by extension, less carbs and less fat); eat less protein and you burn less protein (and by extension, more carbs and more fat)
5. Ingested dietary fat is primarily stored, eating more of it doesn’t impact on fat oxidation to a significant degree

Let’s work through this backwards. When you eat dietary fat, it’s primary fate is storage as its intake has very little impact on fat oxidation (and don’t ask me a bunch of questions about “But people say you have to eat fat to burn fat?” in the comments. That idea is fundamentally wrong but would take an entire article to address). It also doesn’t impact greatly on the oxidation of the protein or carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates are rarely converted to fat (a process called de novo lipogenesis) under normal dietary conditions. There are exceptions when this occurs. One is with massive chronic overfeeding of carbs. I’m talking 700-900 grams of carbs per day for multiple days. Under those conditions, carbs max out glycogen stores, are in excess of total daily energy requirements and you see the conversion of carbohydrate to fat for storage. But this is not a normal dietary situation for most people.
A few very stupid studies have shown that glucose INFUSION at levels of 1.5 total daily energy expenditure can cause DNL to occur but this is equally non-physiological. There is also some evidence that DNL may be increased in individuals with hyperinsulinemia (often secondary to obesity). There’s one final exception that I’ll use to finish this piece.
But when you eat more carbs, you burn more carbs and burn less fat. And that’s why even if carbs aren’t directly converted to fat and stored as such, excess carbs can STILL MAKE YOU FAT. Basically, by inhibiting fat oxidation, excess carbs cause you to store all the fat you’re eating without burning any of it off. Did you get that? Let me repeat it again.
Carbs don’t make you fat via direct conversion and storage to fat; but excess carbs can still make you fat by blunting out the normal daily fat oxidation so that all of the fat you’re eating is stored. Which is why a 500 cal surplus of fat and a 500 cal surplus of carbs can both make you fat; they just do it for different reasons through different mechanisms. The 500 calories of excess fat is simply stored; the excess 500 calories of carbs ensure that all the fat you’re eating is stored because carb oxidation goes up and fat oxidation goes down. Got it? If not, re-read this paragraph until it sinks in.
Oh yeah, the same holds for protein. Protein isn’t going to be converted to and stored as fat. But eat excess protein and the body will burn more protein for energy (and less carbs and fat). Which means that the other nutrients have to get stored. Which means that excess protein can still make you fat, just not by direct conversion. Rather, it does it by ensuring that the fat you’re eating gets stored.
Of course protein also has the highest thermic effect, more of the incoming calories are burned off. So excess protein tends to have the least odds of making you fat under any conditions; but excess protein can make you fat. Just not by direct conversion to fat; rather it’s indirectly by decreasing the oxidation of other nutrients.
Ok, is the above clear enough? Because I can’t really explain it any simpler but will try one last time using bullet points and an example. Let’s assume someone is eating at exactly maintenance calories. Neither gaining nor losing fat. Here’s what happens with excess calories. Assume that all three conditions represent identical increases in caloric intake, just from each of the different macros. Here’s what happens mechanistically and why all three still make you fat:
* Excess dietary fat is directly stored as fat
* Excess dietary carbs increases carb oxidation, impairing fat oxidation; more of your daily fat intake is stored as fat
* Excess dietary protein increases protein oxidation, impairing fat oxidation; more of your daily fat intake is stored as fat

[tbody66]

interesting

[bozlet]

so if u went 40 % carbs 40% protein 20% fat. u cant go wrong?

[Sgt. Hartman]

You're still missing the point. Eating too high of a caloric surplus of any macro nutrient is capable of making you gain body fat.

40 - 40 - 20 works fine for a lot of people but too many calories is what makes you fat.

[tbody66]

How about we start from scratch with helping you specifically for you immediate goals. Having information for some un-specified future time doesn't mean the same information will apply for any or every situation. Post up your stats, ht/wt/age/bf%/training experience, along with your current diet, listing all the macros. Post up pics of you currently. Post your workout routine with exact exercises/sets/reps/poundages and split and we can make suggestions on helping you get or stay lean while adding or keeping quality muscle.

[FireGuy]

You're still missing the point. Eating too high of a caloric surplus of any macro nutrient is capable of making you gain body fat.
40 - 40 - 20 works fine for a lot of people but too many calories is what makes you fat.

I sure wish more people grasped and understood this concept.

[tbody66]

I sure wish more people grasped and understood this concept.

I thought it was more factual than conceptual.

[gbrice75]

I'd leave Metformin and Phenformin alone. They're medications for people who are insulin resistant or are not producing enough insulin and are used to lower dangerously high blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Phenformin hasn't even been on the market for years after being banned by the FDA for having dangerous side effects. Who told you they were a good idea for someone with healthy glucose levels?

If you don't want to get fat then don't eat at such a high caloric surplus.

Read this about carbs and fat storage by Lyle McDonald.




1. Carbs are rarely converted to fat and stored as such
2. When you eat more carbs you burn more carbs and less fat; eat less carbs and you burn less carbs and more fat
3. Protein is basically never going to be converted to fat and stored as such
4. When you eat more protein, you burn more protein (and by extension, less carbs and less fat); eat less protein and you burn less protein (and by extension, more carbs and more fat)
5. Ingested dietary fat is primarily stored, eating more of it doesn’t impact on fat oxidation to a significant degree

Let’s work through this backwards. When you eat dietary fat, it’s primary fate is storage as its intake has very little impact on fat oxidation (and don’t ask me a bunch of questions about “But people say you have to eat fat to burn fat?” in the comments. That idea is fundamentally wrong but would take an entire article to address). It also doesn’t impact greatly on the oxidation of the protein or carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates are rarely converted to fat (a process called de novo lipogenesis) under normal dietary conditions. There are exceptions when this occurs. One is with massive chronic overfeeding of carbs. I’m talking 700-900 grams of carbs per day for multiple days. Under those conditions, carbs max out glycogen stores, are in excess of total daily energy requirements and you see the conversion of carbohydrate to fat for storage. But this is not a normal dietary situation for most people.
A few very stupid studies have shown that glucose INFUSION at levels of 1.5 total daily energy expenditure can cause DNL to occur but this is equally non-physiological. There is also some evidence that DNL may be increased in individuals with hyperinsulinemia (often secondary to obesity). There’s one final exception that I’ll use to finish this piece.
But when you eat more carbs, you burn more carbs and burn less fat. And that’s why even if carbs aren’t directly converted to fat and stored as such, excess carbs can STILL MAKE YOU FAT. Basically, by inhibiting fat oxidation, excess carbs cause you to store all the fat you’re eating without burning any of it off. Did you get that? Let me repeat it again.
Carbs don’t make you fat via direct conversion and storage to fat; but excess carbs can still make you fat by blunting out the normal daily fat oxidation so that all of the fat you’re eating is stored. Which is why a 500 cal surplus of fat and a 500 cal surplus of carbs can both make you fat; they just do it for different reasons through different mechanisms. The 500 calories of excess fat is simply stored; the excess 500 calories of carbs ensure that all the fat you’re eating is stored because carb oxidation goes up and fat oxidation goes down. Got it? If not, re-read this paragraph until it sinks in.
Oh yeah, the same holds for protein. Protein isn’t going to be converted to and stored as fat. But eat excess protein and the body will burn more protein for energy (and less carbs and fat). Which means that the other nutrients have to get stored. Which means that excess protein can still make you fat, just not by direct conversion. Rather, it does it by ensuring that the fat you’re eating gets stored.
Of course protein also has the highest thermic effect, more of the incoming calories are burned off. So excess protein tends to have the least odds of making you fat under any conditions; but excess protein can make you fat. Just not by direct conversion to fat; rather it’s indirectly by decreasing the oxidation of other nutrients.
Ok, is the above clear enough? Because I can’t really explain it any simpler but will try one last time using bullet points and an example. Let’s assume someone is eating at exactly maintenance calories. Neither gaining nor losing fat. Here’s what happens with excess calories. Assume that all three conditions represent identical increases in caloric intake, just from each of the different macros. Here’s what happens mechanistically and why all three still make you fat:
* Excess dietary fat is directly stored as fat
* Excess dietary carbs increases carb oxidation, impairing fat oxidation; more of your daily fat intake is stored as fat
* Excess dietary protein increases protein oxidation, impairing fat oxidation; more of your daily fat intake is stored as fat

I remember reading this somewhere as well. Another great article from Lyle McDonald. This should be sticky'd IMO.

[FireGuy]

I thought it was more factual than conceptual.

Good point.

[Twist]

I opened this thread with the thought that I would have to explain the whole carb fat thing all over again. I am so pleased with what I have been seeing on the diet forum lately. Great job guys you all really know your shit. I would take a diet set up by any body (except the OP) who answered in this thread. Quality posts I see now. Just thought I should share.

[bozlet]

You're still missing the point. Eating too high of a caloric surplus of any macro nutrient is capable of making you gain body fat.

40 - 40 - 20 works fine for a lot of people but too many calories is what makes you fat.

not sure wat u mean.. by too high of a caloric surplus of any macro nutrient. can u be more clearer i dont understand these words yet lol

[tbody66]

not sure wat u mean.. by too high of a caloric surplus of any macro nutrient. can u be more clearer i dont understand these words yet lol

fats, carbs and proteins are your macro-nutrients. If you read the above related lengthy post written by Lyle McDonald and posted by Sgt. Hartman it explains it. If you eat too much of anything, carbs, fats or proteins, you keep your body from burning current bodyfat stores.

[Sgt. Hartman]

fats, carbs and proteins are your macro-nutrients. If you read the above related lengthy post written by Lyle McDonald and posted by Sgt. Hartman it explains it. If you eat too much of anything, carbs, fats or proteins, you keep your body from burning current bodyfat stores.

^^^That sums it up and is about as simple as it can be explained. If you're worried about gaining body fat, the most important thing you need to monitor, is total calories, and the breakdown of your macros secondary. This is assuming of course, you're making smart choices regarding your food sources and timing.

[gbrice75]

^^^That sums it up and is about as simple as it can be explained. If you're worried about gaining body fat, the most important thing you need to monitor, is total calories, and the breakdown of your macros secondary. This is assuming of course, you're making smart choices regarding your food sources and timing.

^ ^ THIS has been my new mantra lately. Thanks for reinforcing!