if you don't eat carbs before a workout....

[sadworld]

if you don't eat carbs before a workout, what will your body use for fuel? fat or muscle?

[thepainter5]

if you don't eat carbs before a workout, what will your body use for fuel? fat or muscle?

Your body burns fat as a fuel source unless it thinks your body is starving. If your body thinks it is starving it will consume what is available to survive while storing fat as a last resort. If you don't have enough of the proteins needed for your exercise, it will cannabalize muscle to get those proteins.

[ironwill2008]

Too many variables involved to give a definitive answer. Best advice is to eat a small balanced meal about an hour before training.

[puciorek]

man! I really have to understand all these rules...there is so much to learn...
it'll be nice for those of us who are slowly getting into it to kind of summarize what to eat before, what to eat after, how much time, etc.
I have been reading about it so much from all these different sources, now I have one big mess in my mind...

[thepainter5]

man! I really have to understand all these rules...there is so much to learn...
it'll be nice for those of us who are slowly getting into it to kind of summarize what to eat before, what to eat after, how much time, etc.
I have been reading about it so much from all these different sources, now I have one big mess in mi mind...

To make it really simple have a good whey isolate protein shake an hour prior to exercise and take some BCAA's 20-30 minutes prior. That way you will more than enough protein in your system so your muscles will not be used as fuel. Of course this does not mean do not eat properly on a regular basis every day.

[yakabebe]

Without wanting to sound like I have a degree in "Broscience"....my understanding is that for that sort of workout...the glycogen stores both inter-muscularly and in the liver would be far far more than you would require for the energy demands of such a workout.

Happily stand corrected as it would show up what would be clearly a gap in my grasp of what I thought I knew.....

[puciorek]

To make it really simple have a good whey isolate protein shake an hour prior to exercise and take some BCAA's 20-30 minutes prior. That way you will more than enough protein in your system so your muscles will not be used as fuel. Of course this does not mean do not eat properly on a regular basis every day.

sweet!!!, see, that's a kind of info that we need!!!, in plain English...thank you!...if you have any additional input, please let us know...

[sadworld]

i just got cought in a pinch tonight and was very hungry and i'm on a cut (attempting) and i also wanted to get my workout in before heading out for the evening.... i ate a massive chicken breast and about 15spears of asparagus. pretty much filled me up, that's why i was asking. i usually eat carbs prior, but didn't want to this late and on a cut....

[*STEVE*]

To make it really simple have a good whey isolate protein shake an hour prior to exercise and take some BCAA's 20-30 minutes prior. That way you will more than enough protein in your system so your muscles will not be used as fuel. Of course this does not mean do not eat properly on a regular basis every day.

This ^


My diet has me only eating carbs for my pwo meals after I workout with all other meals being p/f !!!

[OutOfStep]

Without wanting to sound like I have a degree in "Broscience"....my understanding is that for that sort of workout...the glycogen stores both inter-muscularly and in the liver would be far far more than you would require for the energy demands of such a workout.

This.

[freebirdmac]

man! I really have to understand all these rules...there is so much to learn...
it'll be nice for those of us who are slowly getting into it to kind of summarize what to eat before, what to eat after, how much time, etc.
I have been reading about it so much from all these different sources, now I have one big mess in my mind...

Here ya go http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=272067

[kimm4]

I eat a healthy balance of foods all day long. I don't worry about pre, post, meal timing, blah, blah, blah...

People need to focus on getting in the right amount of daily calories (most people can't even do this right) and less on the little stuff that really doesn't make enough of a difference.

[juliacheh]

I eat a healthy balance of foods all day long. I don't worry about pre, post, meal timing, blah, blah, blah...

People need to focus on getting in the right amount of daily calories (most people can't even do this right) and less on the little stuff that really doesn't make a difference seriously...

I do the same stuff.
Alan Aragon is of the similar opinion .

[kimm4]

I do the same stuff.
Alan Aragon is of the similar opinion .

Alan Aragon is a smart man indeed...

[Fifty+]

A normal healthy human body processes glucose and fats at the same time. A small fat molecule is attached to a very large glucose molecule and both are used as fuel. As we change the demand for fuel our bodies use the fuel that solves the need the quickest. What ever sugar your body has when you start lifting weights (intensity is a factor) is going to be used first. If your workout consisted of squats, leg press, lunges, leg curls and LLC, your body will turn to fats to keep it going. The largest muscle groups at work for 45-55 minutes will need more then sugar to keep them going. I'm not sure at what point muscle breakdown becomes the bodies best choice.

[yakabebe]

Again FWIW - I rekon that unless you are really really carb depleted and hence your glycogen stores are way down - resistance training is unlikely to go after the protein store (your muscles).

I've read fairly extensively on this and again I could and may be really wrong. But recently an article I read again supported this view

http://www.thinkmuscle.com/ARTICLES/...genic-diet.htm

"Glycogen Levels and Depletion"

To understand how to optimize training for a CKD, a discussion of glycogen levels under a variety of conditions are necessary. As well, some estimations must be made in terms of the amount of training which can and should be done as well as how much carbohydrate should be consumed at a given time.

Muscle glycogen is measured in millimoles per kilogram of muscle (mmol/kg). An individual following a normal mixed diet will maintain glycogen levels around 80-100 mmol/kg. Athletes following a mixed diet have higher levels, around 110-130 mmol/kg (37). On a standard ketogenic diet, with aerobic exercise only, muscle glycogen levels maintain around 70 mmol/kg with about 50 mmol/kg of that in the Type II muscle fibers (38,39).

Fat oxidation increases, both at rest and during aerobic exercise around 70 mmol/kg. Below 40 mmol/kg, exercise performance is generally impaired. Total exhaustion during exercise occurs at 15-25 mmol/kg. Additionally when glycogen levels fall too low (about 40 mmol/kg), protein can be used as a fuel source during exercise to a greater degree (14)."

[Marius_Ursus]

Without wanting to sound like I have a degree in "Broscience"....my understanding is that for that sort of workout...the glycogen stores both inter-muscularly and in the liver would be far far more than you would require for the energy demands of such a workout.

Happily stand corrected as it would show up what would be clearly a gap in my grasp of what I thought I knew.....

That's my understanding, too. There's always glycogen before you start training, and glucose to replenish those glycogen stores...I think as long as you don't go beyond exhaustion in your training. (Like trying to perform two hours of full-speed wind sprints. LOL)

[Fifty+]

Again FWIW - I rekon that unless you are really really carb depleted and hence your glycogen stores are way down - resistance training is unlikely to go after the protein store (your muscles).

I've read fairly extensively on this and again I could and may be really wrong. But recently an article I read again supported this view

http://www.thinkmuscle.com/ARTICLES/...genic-diet.htm

"Glycogen Levels and Depletion"

To understand how to optimize training for a CKD, a discussion of glycogen levels under a variety of conditions are necessary. As well, some estimations must be made in terms of the amount of training which can and should be done as well as how much carbohydrate should be consumed at a given time.

Muscle glycogen is measured in millimoles per kilogram of muscle (mmol/kg). An individual following a normal mixed diet will maintain glycogen levels around 80-100 mmol/kg. Athletes following a mixed diet have higher levels, around 110-130 mmol/kg (37). On a standard ketogenic diet, with aerobic exercise only, muscle glycogen levels maintain around 70 mmol/kg with about 50 mmol/kg of that in the Type II muscle fibers (38,39).

Fat oxidation increases, both at rest and during aerobic exercise around 70 mmol/kg. Below 40 mmol/kg, exercise performance is generally impaired. Total exhaustion during exercise occurs at 15-25 mmol/kg. Additionally when glycogen levels fall too low (about 40 mmol/kg), protein can be used as a fuel source during exercise to a greater degree (14)."

Good post and link. I'm a thinker and I can't help to wonder why these questions are asked. In this relm of things, either your goal is to drop weight or increase muscle size. If you're eating on a planned schedule, the OPs question has already been factored in.

[Skullaway]

I eat a healthy balance of foods all day long. I don't worry about pre, post, meal timing, blah, blah, blah...

People need to focus on getting in the right amount of daily calories (most people can't even do this right) and less on the little stuff that really doesn't make enough of a difference.

yep

[puciorek]

I eat a healthy balance of foods all day long. I don't worry about pre, post, meal timing, blah, blah, blah...

People need to focus on getting in the right amount of daily calories (most people can't even do this right) and less on the little stuff that really doesn't make enough of a difference.

I eat healthy food too, but my problem is that I can't gain any more weight.
Within last six months, I have gained about 20lbs, most of it was muscle, because my waist is still 32, same as 6 months ago.
Unfortunately, for me, this is it!...my body refuses to gain any more.....I thought, perhaps during Thanksgiving and Christmas I will be able to break the 200lbs barrier..hell no!
For a last three months, I have been supplementing my diet with protein, usually right after my workout...it still doesn't help much...
This is why I am curious and anxious to find out what do you guys to gain more weight? Not only that, but this bodybuilding hobby draws me in more and more.
It's funny how you get pulled into this thing...first you do push ups, then you buy weights, then you join a gym...While it's still not enough, you begin to supplement your diet with protein and creatine...what comes next?...stereoids? anything to gain more muscle mass...
Anyways..this forum is a good place for learning this science, and you people are very knowledgeable and helpful.

[oldsuperman]

Your body burns fat as a fuel source unless it thinks your body is starving. If your body thinks it is starving it will consume what is available to survive while storing fat as a last resort. If you don't have enough of the proteins needed for your exercise, it will cannabalize muscle to get those proteins.

To make it really simple have a good whey isolate protein shake an hour prior to exercise and take some BCAA's 20-30 minutes prior. That way you will more than enough protein in your system so your muscles will not be used as fuel. Of course this does not mean do not eat properly on a regular basis every day.

Without wanting to sound like I have a degree in "Broscience"....my understanding is that for that sort of workout...the glycogen stores both inter-muscularly and in the liver would be far far more than you would require for the energy demands of such a workout.

Happily stand corrected as it would show up what would be clearly a gap in my grasp of what I thought I knew.....

A normal healthy human body processes glucose and fats at the same time. A small fat molecule is attached to a very large glucose molecule and both are used as fuel. As we change the demand for fuel our bodies use the fuel that solves the need the quickest. What ever sugar your body has when you start lifting weights (intensity is a factor) is going to be used first. If your workout consisted of squats, leg press, lunges, leg curls and LLC, your body will turn to fats to keep it going. The largest muscle groups at work for 45-55 minutes will need more then sugar to keep them going. I'm not sure at what point muscle breakdown becomes the bodies best choice.

Again FWIW - I rekon that unless you are really really carb depleted and hence your glycogen stores are way down - resistance training is unlikely to go after the protein store (your muscles).

I've read fairly extensively on this and again I could and may be really wrong. But recently an article I read again supported this view

http://www.thinkmuscle.com/ARTICLES/...genic-diet.htm

"Glycogen Levels and Depletion"

To understand how to optimize training for a CKD, a discussion of glycogen levels under a variety of conditions are necessary. As well, some estimations must be made in terms of the amount of training which can and should be done as well as how much carbohydrate should be consumed at a given time.

Muscle glycogen is measured in millimoles per kilogram of muscle (mmol/kg). An individual following a normal mixed diet will maintain glycogen levels around 80-100 mmol/kg. Athletes following a mixed diet have higher levels, around 110-130 mmol/kg (37). On a standard ketogenic diet, with aerobic exercise only, muscle glycogen levels maintain around 70 mmol/kg with about 50 mmol/kg of that in the Type II muscle fibers (38,39).

Fat oxidation increases, both at rest and during aerobic exercise around 70 mmol/kg. Below 40 mmol/kg, exercise performance is generally impaired. Total exhaustion during exercise occurs at 15-25 mmol/kg. Additionally when glycogen levels fall too low (about 40 mmol/kg), protein can be used as a fuel source during exercise to a greater degree (14)."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Lots and lots of great stuff!

[HeismanWatch]

Your body burns fat as a fuel source unless it thinks your body is starving. If your body thinks it is starving it will consume what is available to survive while storing fat as a last resort. If you don't have enough of the proteins needed for your exercise, it will cannabalize muscle to get those proteins.

^^^^This is the common thought process, but genetics plays a major role, so trial and error has become the best route with carbs and protein and its effects on your body. But, nobody should be starving their body at any time even on a cut.

[HeismanWatch]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Lots and lots of great stuff!

I agree!!!

[jdtemple]

I eat a healthy balance of foods all day long. I don't worry about pre, post, meal timing, blah, blah, blah...

People need to focus on getting in the right amount of daily calories (most people can't even do this right) and less on the little stuff that really doesn't make enough of a difference.

Same here. I'm eating every 3 hours as it is. Chances are, when I'm training, it hasn't been all that long since I've eaten.

[rob440]

Your question brings up another question. WHY? Why deprive your body of its preffered fuel especially before a workout? Make yourself feel like crap which will make you work out less intensely which will make you loose muscle which will make you weaker ect ect. Everyone is becoming carbophobic these days due to the popularity of a fad style of dieting. Eat a balanced diet including plenty of carbs to get you through the day. Remember carbs are protein sparing and that includes your bodies protien (your muscle tissue).

[yankeemarko1]

I eat healthy food too, but my problem is that I can't gain any more weight.

I'm no expert but whenever I hear this the first thing that comes to mind is "You aren't eating enough." If you want to get big, you need to eat big.