Sport Anabolic Diets and Carb Loading

Sport Fitness
i_love_muscle

i_love_muscle

2
Does anybody know why I would be losing bodyfat while on a carb load? I'm eating over 200gms of carbs every 3 days (on the other two I'm eating around 125gms of carbs) and I'm definitely losing bodyfat because I can see my RAs much better than I could a month ago.

So is it normal to lose bodyfat after being on an anabolic diet and then loading up on carbs because that's what is happening to me.
 
i_love_muscle said:
Does anybody know why I would be losing bodyfat while on a carb load? I'm eating over 200gms of carbs every 3 days (on the other two I'm eating around 125gms of carbs) and I'm definitely losing bodyfat because I can see my RAs much better than I could a month ago.

So is it normal to lose bodyfat after being on an anabolic diet and then loading up on carbs because that's what is happening to me.
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In a word: yes.

It can be common occurrence with some people, and I am one of them as well. And, IMO, can reduce the amount of muscle loss in the process, (for some).

When I diet down, one of the things I do (among many) is carb down (deplete glucose stores) for a trend; I don't change the work out (per se), just the energy/intensity goes up (such as decreasing rest time, etc, etc) and then carb-up afterwards for another trend period: going from catabolic to anabolic. There are many (well-known) persons who have written (pdf books about this method), and it can work for some---extremely well.

Maybe you found your crown jewel? :)

Oh.......you are already walking in it ;)


I don't have time to write any more, or I would (yes, I am not windy this time ;)).

Again, its not really uncommon with the right type of persons.

Best wishes


Chilllen
 
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i_love_muscle said:
Does anybody know why I would be losing bodyfat while on a carb load? I'm eating over 200gms of carbs every 3 days (on the other two I'm eating around 125gms of carbs) and I'm definitely losing bodyfat because I can see my RAs much better than I could a month ago.

So is it normal to lose bodyfat after being on an anabolic diet and then loading up on carbs because that's what is happening to me.
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As far as I know, eating in a calorie deficit and eating low carbs slows down your metabolism a bit. So when you carb load; you essentially spark your metabolism and get it running again. Its like putting more gas in a SUV ;) For some this works great; for others it can spike the insulin and cause fat storage. (All of this again applies to the calories in vs calories out rule)
 
just because you carb up doesn't mean you're not losing body fat, your glycogen stores are just replenishing. I bet you could even get away with eating at a surplus without putting on body fat when your glycogen stores are low. You'd use the normal amount of Kcals for a day, and eat the same, then add some carbs in with it, most of the carbs would probably go to the glycogen stores, some to make energy, but I bet very little to fat. Now if you carb load while in a deficit I see no reason why you wouldn't lose fat.
 
jman, my insulin levels can't spike because my pancreas doesn't produce insulin :)

Chillen, I think I have found the Holy Grail of lowering my BF. I never in a million years would have thought this would work for me.

But the catch is how long can I continue to do this ;)

Karky, you're right, as usual :D
 
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Karky said:
just because you carb up doesn't mean you're not losing body fat, your glycogen stores are just replenishing. I bet you could even get away with eating at a surplus without putting on body fat when your glycogen stores are low. You'd use the normal amount of Kcals for a day, and eat the same, then add some carbs in with it, most of the carbs would probably go to the glycogen stores, some to make energy, but I bet very little to fat. Now if you carb load while in a deficit I see no reason why you wouldn't lose fat.
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Yep, (what I have in bold) is true for me (trying not to speak for another).

Sometimes, I can eat as much as 1,000 calories over, and feel just as lean, mean, and nasty :))), as ever--after (for the first 24-48 hours). And, look great, when the water comes back.

Completely agree. I will dig up one of my old posts, and post it here, later today, that is applicable to the topic at hand.


Edit: After an "appropriate" carb-low period, and glucose stores diminish (or empty), one can have a "window" to eat a little more (to refill carb stores, and other tissue), and can eat a tad more than normal, but it generally does not last long (something like 24 to 48 hours, dependent on many factors).

Best wishes


Chillen
 
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I've never done carb cycling because I'm diabetic. This is the first time I've actually increased my carbs intake past 150gms/day. Ever.

Can you tell me more about this carb cycling, Mreik?
 
Mreik, when you carb cycle, what do you do? I mean, I get the basic concept, but how do you approach it? Also, do you use it both when cutting and bulking? and is there any difference.
 
This method can be powerful---in many different applications in ones fitness plans, if they just "think out of the box" (thanks Mreik..:)...I stole your sentence, ;) from the COL), within your Personal fitness plans, and "complications with food"--as an example.

IMO, one "type of" application could be:

"Joe-blow", with a the problem weekend "binge eating problem".

"Joe-blow" fitness "wanna-be" is dieting to lose "quality tissue", is weight training during the week, but has trouble with eating problems on the weekends--that "seemingly" sabotage his quality tissue loss plans.

On Sunday through Friday, this "hypothetical-joe-blow", starts an appropriate low carb diet (6 days), and is of course weight training during this period. We assume his glucose storage places are depleted or extremely low.

Well, Joe-blow fitness "wanna-be" just set himself up during the week, about 5 to 6 days "in advance" to the potential problem weekend.

Keeping things equal, "joe-blow---will be allowed to eat more (with reason, within a small window of about 24/48 hours--->"dependent"), and will hardly receive a blow to his fitness plans (assuming a biological healthy joe-blow).

If the food consumed is largely carbohydrates (which is likely, keeping things equal), a large majority is going to spent refilling his glucose storage places.

Some water returns (not to be misinterpreted as fat gain--again keep things equal in this hypothetical). Joe-blow gets past the weekend, and again restarts a low-carb period (coming fresh off a high carb period), and starts the process again, and (hypothetically) stays on track with fat loss plans.

Thus displaying the ultimate power of the diet, and knowing ones body.

Carb Cycling is a rather powerful approach, IMO.


Best wishes

Chillen
 
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Mreik, I read the article, and the problem is there are no carb days, and I can't do that. I'm assuming I can still derive enough benefit from the high carb/low carb cycling, though.

Would that work, or do you absolutely have to have no carb days for carb cycling to be effective? A cursory glance tells me it looks like a person needs to have at least one day a week of no carbs for this to work properly.
 
It's not required, but maybe you could alter it some more. Perhaps high, low low, high, low, low, low, repeat. Or something to that extent? Another good rule to accompany this diet is avoiding fats and carbs in the same meal, or within an hour or so of each other.

Basically if you follow only the foods he lists, stick to your numbers, and keep fats and carbs away from each other I would almost guarantee this would work for people. I really find it that effective. Now it might be better for some, but it should work in many.
 
mreik - I read both articles but there is something that I think I may be missing. It may be me but I didn't see anywhere where he says what meals you are to consume fats.

For instance, on a high carb day he says 4 meals should contain protein with carbs and the other 2 should contain protein only? I would think that these 2 meals would be a good time to incoporate some EFA's?
 
mreik said:
It's not required, but maybe you could alter it some more. Perhaps high, low low, high, low, low, low, repeat. Or something to that extent? Another good rule to accompany this diet is avoiding fats and carbs in the same meal, or within an hour or so of each other.

Basically if you follow only the foods he lists, stick to your numbers, and keep fats and carbs away from each other I would almost guarantee this would work for people. I really find it that effective. Now it might be better for some, but it should work in many.
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That definitely sounds do-able. I'm going to try it.

Thanks again, Mreik :)
 
~LV~ said:
mreik - I read both articles but there is something that I think I may be missing. It may be me but I didn't see anywhere where he says what meals you are to consume fats.

For instance, on a high carb day he says 4 meals should contain protein with carbs and the other 2 should contain protein only? I would think that these 2 meals would be a good time to incoporate some EFA's?
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Good point. I didn't see that, either but assumed EFAs would be OK. However, Mreik mentioned in his last post about not eating fats with carbs, which is something I normally do all the time.

I've obviously got a lot to learn about this.
 
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