Low-Carbing for precontest- Is it really and truly necessary?

[Ivan25]

I am a big enthusiast on doing things the right way and getting real life true to the heart results that make any person feel good about achieving a goal naturally and correctly... My question is, can a body-builder stay high carb and low fat and succeed?

My body IMO right now is looking very defined... Only problem area is the abs relaxed... Still am doing cardio and eating wisely... However, I am planning on low carbing 1-2 weeks out from the show.... My premise is to water-deplete... However, other ppl low-carb as long as 12-20 weeks.... This to me is just silly and absurd.... If one can provide scientific data to support such a practice OR very logical and coherent reasoning, then I all ears to hearing... The logic that these long term low carbers think is that it will place the body in a fat-burning mode.... But what I struggle to understand is where are the calories coming from to replace the low-carb intake? 2 ways I see this working:

1) Up protein and fat intake....

2) Low-caloric intake (thus the term "dieting down")...

But if fat intake is increased, then the body is burning more fat but isn't that used up fat just being replaced by the fat being consumed? Almost like a never-ending battle...

Also, with a low-caloric intake, this would seem to sacrifice lean muscle mass.... Sure the body will burn fat, but not fat only.... I don't care if a person is loading on protein, glutamine, and BCAA's.... The body will still breakdown protein since it is in a gluconeogenic state....

So my question is, can I low-carb in zig-zag style 1-2 weeks out in addition to sodium depleting and suceed? I am using myself as an experiment in hopes of proving that body-building can be done properly and correctly without the hassel of the mood-swings and low-energy levels..... I believe in balance, the whole essence of our existence summed up in one physiological term (Homeostasis).... So why the all-or-nothing approach in bulking up then cutting down? Why not be do both at the same time, BUT place more emphasis on one or the other depending on timing of training.....

Also, what are some recommendations for food and water intake on contest day?

I really am hoping to not just get </- 5 replies to this post.... I am truly hoping it gets 1,000 or more!!!! If not, I will be truly surprised since I couldn't have been more blunt and scientific about this matter as in this post...

Sincerely,
Ivan

[Most Muscular]

Most people use some sort of low carb diet at least near the end to harden up and lose that last bit of fat. For my last show I used a basic 45-40-15 diet and switched up to a 45-35-20 diet as the show got closer... however for the last few weeks I did cycle my carbs down and noticed considerable improvement in leaning out.

For previous shows I always used a carb cycled diet but as you mentioned, I did lose muscle mass in the process. I think the secret is using a standard calorie restrictive diet until the last month or so (depending upon how lean you are and how lean you want to be) and then switch to a carb cycled diet.

I up my fat intake as I get leaner as I find my body becomes much more efficient at fat burning during this stage. Giving it some "good" fat in the form of nuts, fish, etc. really starts the fat burning machine into high gear. This holds true for low carb diets also. Along with increased fat intake, protein is increased and can be used for energy through a complex system the body uses to convert it to glucose. Perhaps this also uses more energy and you burn more calories in the process?

I use a carb depletion/carb load process for the last week and wouldn't thing of subjecting my body to something that new during the last week... you'll never know how it'll respond so I like to do several practice runs for the last month to tune my body and find out what works and what doesn't. I also do the same for any clients I help in show prep. What works for some doesn't work for everyone. By carefully monitoring their body I can assist in dialing them in right... a process that can be very difficult to master, especially for the first time competitor.

I also have had great success with fat loading... but that's another story.

nuff said...

[cph]

I've been following a similar cycle to mostmuscular. I have by carb cycling for the last 4 weeks of my prep, and increasing my fat intake on lower carb days. I've made my best progress since switching to this method.

[BigJoe15]

I too use carb cycling to cut
I am 5'10 180lb meso cutting at around 9% bf
I like to run my carb intake as follows
mon (low carb/non training) 50g
Tue (training) 170g
Wed (training) 170g
Thurs (training/carb up) 200g
Fri (lowered carbs/non training) 100g
Sat (low carb/non training) 50g
Sun (training) 170g

This is working great for my first real cut so far. 50g days are a challenge but I use coffee and sugar free jello to get by. I find counting cals on fitday and being anal about food intake is benificial and keeps me on track.
Anyones diet similar to this?
Ivan I think for an ecto or someone who is naturally lean a moderate carb diet could definitly work. I was also under the general impression that many people cut carbs drastically in the last week (and flatten but lean out) then **** load before the contest whilst restricting water.

BigJoe

[Ivan25]

Awesome replies guys.... Only 3, but enough to convince me to give it a shot... I will low-carb cycle... BigJoe15, I like you strategy... It makes sense to low carb on non-training days... I will do this and see if it works... I will definitely keep yall posted and probably take some pictures... As for getting by, I have been eating some low-carb foods that taste like they have carbs, but they actually have 1-2 grams tops... Pretty awesome how nutritional science is getting to the point where one can reach their bodybuilding specific goals without the hassel of being totally depleted of energy...

Ivan

[Ivan25]

I have been counting calories strictly for the last month.... I decided to begin my dieting down cycle about 2 months out... I have definitely noticed a change in my muscles becoming more defined and striated... However, my stubborn abdomen is lagging.. So I will low-carb cycle next week and see what will happen... I have been counting calories by figuring out total caloric intake and then documenting my fat and protein intake in grams... Then I simply multiply fat grams by 9 and protein grams by 4 to convert to calories... As for carbs, which I have not been documenting, I actually have been but unintentionally... I can simply figure out carb grams by subtracting the difference from fat and protein... But for this next week, I will count carbs to prevent any errors in my cycling intake goals (30-50 g every other day or so).....

Ivan

[Most Muscular]

As an added note I forgot to mention that I also cycle my heavy training days with my carb cycling... that is, while I'm on higher carbs I'll do my heavier lifting (like legs and back) and as my carbs go down so does the amount of weight I can lift, therefore I'll work on smaller body parts. At the end of the week when I'm at my zero days (yes, I go to zero or as close as possible) I'll just be doing shoulders, arms, abs, and calves. You don't need as much energy to work them as a heavy squat or deadlift day.

nuff said...

[BigJoe15]

As an added note I forgot to mention that I also cycle my heavy training days with my carb cycling... that is, while I'm on higher carbs I'll do my heavier lifting (like legs and back) and as my carbs go down so does the amount of weight I can lift, therefore I'll work on smaller body parts. At the end of the week when I'm at my zero days (yes, I go to zero or as close as possible) I'll just be doing shoulders, arms, abs, and calves. You don't need as much energy to work them as a heavy squat or deadlift day.

nuff said...

Good post Most Muscular, I find that also. Somedays I just dont feel I need as much carbs when I am only training the small bodyparts, therefore I cut them down unless I am having hunger pangs.

BigJoe