Carb Cycling -what's the science behind it?

[gabster21]

I know it's supposed to be high, low, no in rotation.. but why does it work and is it better than a regular 40/40/20 diet for cutting?

[00200293]

I know it's supposed to be high, low, no in rotation.. but why does it work and is it better than a regular 40/40/20 diet for cutting?

Here is a good article.

http://www.podarco.com/fitness/content/view/59/84/

[legenbass25]

In general, it doesn't allow your body to adapt. Carb cycling helps in some situations to give your body a constant change and can help keep the metabolism revved up. I start to use it during a tail end of a cut, when my metabolism has slowed due to extended periods of lower carb intake.

[J.X]

Here is a good article.

http://www.podarco.com/fitness/content/view/59/84/

Great article. Opened my eyes to a fact: I think I am a starchy-carb-addict............. Posting this to my frig so I select from the fiborous side.

ty!!

[bojanglesk8]

Some days you take low carbs, other days you take high carbs.

[gabster21]

Some days you take low carbs, other days you take high carbs.

Ooh, your powers of deduction are exceptional. I simply can't allow you to waste them here when there are so many crimes going unsolved at this very moment. Go, go, for the good of the city.

Seriously, did you even read the topic?

[Goonerman007]

That is a very nice article, and it explains a lot of confusion I have had over the last few weeks. Thanks for posting it.

I may be wrong, but from what I understand...on Low carb days, is when you want to hit the treadmill, so that your body will burn FAT. and on high carb days, is when you want to hit the weights, so that you have the energy and ability to absorb all the protein you consume to build muscle.

I'm not sure if that is entirely correct, and of course there is probably much more to it.

I just wonder how popular Carbohydrate cycling actually is among the bodybuilding community. And also, whether Carbohydrate cycling is exclusively designed for advanced bodybuilders, or if anybody can benefit drastically from it.

Thanks again for posting the link, its a fantastic read!

[RealMenDeadLift]

I have yet to see clinical evidence of it being superior to any other isocaloric/nitrogenic diet, but it has its benefits. One being carb ups are fun as hell, and the couple workouts after the carb up are banging due to your glycogen saturation.

[KurtyJ99]

You know how when you start a diet and you loose a ton of weight? Well carb cycling attempts to mimic this in a nutshell.

It takes a good while before your body catches on to what you are doing, probably a solid week if not more. So by carb cycling you actually tell your metabolism to speed up by eating more, because it has to do something with the food in your stomach.

[kudostojen]

I know it's supposed to be high, low, no in rotation.. but why does it work and is it better than a regular 40/40/20 diet for cutting?

I don't think it's better, but i have an easier time sticking to it due to the carb ups and high fat content. (Keto, CKD).

On the CKD you get your body into ketosis (liver producing ketones, a FFA) which switches your body to using fat for fuel instead of carbs. BTW, i have more energy on this diet than i did a balanced cut.

Train like you normally would throughout the week and after 5 or 6 days of under 30g of carbs per day a depletion w/o is done. This is to ensure your muscles are completely depleted of glycogen.

The carb ups is started after the depletion w/o for 24 to 48hrs (the recommended time). This is to supercompensate your muscles with with glycogen and get you ready for next weeks training.
Some people have reported making slight muscle gains on this diet but for most people this is a muscle sparing 'cut' diet.

So is it better? That's really a matter of opinion.

This diet will also help to increase your insulin sensitivity which will help with fat loss.
Of course this type of diet will keep your body guessing and your metabolism revved.

If i was at home right now i could give you a little more of a scientific outlook but this is all i have right now.

I don't know much about the link 00200293 posted but that one looks a lot like Lyle McDonalds UD2.

[BladeRun]

I've done a varation of carb cycling (3 days low, 1 day high) with great success & have just recently started back on it. I tried it on a whim based on a post from a mid 30's competitor in these forums without any real idea why it worked.

I just finished reading 'Championship Bodybuiling' by Chris Aceto (a well known pro trainer) and he's a huge proponent of carb cycling for endomorphs, which I am. He basically explains the science like this (paraphrasing):

Some body builders that easily retain fat do so because their body has a "dulled" insulin response to carbs. As a result the body processes carbs at a much lower rate, which means that a large spike in carbs slows fat burning dramatically. The theory behind carb cycling is that the low carb days keep your insulin levels low and even allowing excellerated fat loss for a short period of time until your body adjusts. The high carb days then spike your metabolism by elevating your levels of several specific chemicals in your body. So basically it keeps your ability to burn fat elevated pretty consistently.

I appologize for that lame summary, I don't have the book in front of me. When I get home tonight I'll quote him word for word.

Anyhow, I can atest to being a carb sensative endomorph and to the results of this diet. The last time I did it I cut from about 18%bf to under 10% in about 4 months (note my weight if that duration seems long.)

[alemus]

That is a very nice article, and it explains a lot of confusion I have had over the last few weeks. Thanks for posting it.

I may be wrong, but from what I understand...on Low carb days, is when you want to hit the treadmill, so that your body will burn FAT. and on high carb days, is when you want to hit the weights, so that you have the energy and ability to absorb all the protein you consume to build muscle.

I'm not sure if that is entirely correct, and of course there is probably much more to it.

I just wonder how popular Carbohydrate cycling actually is among the bodybuilding community. And also, whether Carbohydrate cycling is exclusively designed for advanced bodybuilders, or if anybody can benefit drastically from it.

Thanks again for posting the link, its a fantastic read!

I read a really great Bodybuilding article that carb cycling is really meant for those who are already satisfied with their level of fitness, weight, etc. But if your someone trying to lose weight its not for you...yet.

[ggreenwa]

I've started a carb cycling approach of my own the last few weeks after a 13week cut, and have really liked the results. I do 5 days low carbs (<50g) 6th day is high carbs, moderate fat, protein, low sugar (175+g carbs) 7th day is moderate carbs (<100g). It's riding a wave of glycogen! It has been working very well, and was much needed after 13 weeks of low carbs and 6-7 days a week at the gym. My body is liking me again.....

[alemus]

I've started a carb cycling approach of my own the last few weeks after a 13week cut, and have really liked the results. I do 5 days low carbs (<50g) 6th day is high carbs, moderate fat, protein, low sugar (175+g carbs) 7th day is moderate carbs (<100g). It's riding a wave of glycogen! It has been working very well, and was much needed after 13 weeks of low carbs and 6-7 days a week at the gym. My body is liking me again.....

Thanks for posting this cause Ive been really wanting to try this whole carb cycling approach! Only because I gain weight very easily I still havent been able to get my mind out of the "carbs make me fat!" kinda thinking, I plan on starting it this Monday so I can coordinate high low and no carbs days correctly for the week and based on my workouts too.