Losing vascularity in legs during carb up

[uvawahoowa]

I've noticed during my refeeds that I lose vascularity in areas that normally have decent vascularity, namely my legs (arms/chest/abs are still great, just not my legs). After a couple of days of near keto dieting they come back. Normally I wouldn't really care, but for my last competition I had little to no vascularity in my legs competition day after my carb up. Any ideas as to the cause of this? I would really like to fix this for my next comp if possible (<4 weeks out). I am natty if that matters.

[AustrianOakJr]

I've noticed during my refeeds that I lose vascularity in areas that normally have decent vascularity, namely my legs (arms/chest/abs are still great, just not my legs). After a couple of days of near keto dieting they come back. Normally I wouldn't really care, but for my last competition I had little to no vascularity in my legs competition day after my carb up. Any ideas as to the cause of this? I would really like to fix this for my next comp if possible (<4 weeks out). I am natty if that matters.

Sounds like you could be spilling over. Do you lose muscle definition or just vascularity? IF its simply a vascularity issue, then I might try upping your sodium and water intake (and perhaps a good shot of fat prior to pump up). IF you are losing definitiion, then you are probably spilling.....or perhaps not loading well due to long term ketogenic dieting. The carbs and water are hanging outside of the cell. IF thats the case, you can either try to reaclimate your body to the carbs (if you have enough time) or simply compete without loading.

[uvawahoowa]

Sounds like you could be spilling over. Do you lose muscle definition or just vascularity? IF its simply a vascularity issue, then I might try upping your sodium and water intake (and perhaps a good shot of fat prior to pump up). IF you are losing definitiion, then you are probably spilling.....or perhaps not loading well due to long term ketogenic dieting. The carbs and water are hanging outside of the cell. IF thats the case, you can either try to reaclimate your body to the carbs (if you have enough time) or simply compete without loading.

It's vascularity, at my last show and during carb ups I still have solid definition. It could possibly be a sodium issue as last contest I had sodium too low on show day, I will see if that helps...but on carb up days I keep sodium up and it seems the same thing happens. I carb up on saturdays, so this saturday I will give it a test run and see what happens if I add a little sodium.

[AustrianOakJr]

It's vascularity, at my last show and during carb ups I still have solid definition. It could possibly be a sodium issue as last contest I had sodium too low on show day, I will see if that helps...but on carb up days I keep sodium up and it seems the same thing happens. I carb up on saturdays, so this saturday I will give it a test run and see what happens if I add a little sodium.

Yea, I really need that sodium to drive the blood pressure up. It really does help load the muscle too. Keeping sodium low is a sure fire way to lose vascularity and come in flat.