Silly question re: muscle definition...

[aplbtm]

1st week into keto, muscles are looking less defined than when I started. Will they "fill back up" after my first carb up? TIA.

[Mainframe]

Yes they will.

You eating enough calories though apple?

If so, then yes they will. Fill up nice and firm.

[curly-top318]

yeah, you will feel and see a difference after your carb up. when do you plan on having one?

[Azuras]

how often should we "Carb up"? im not getting enough callories in my diet (i find 2000 cals to be alot of food and i need another 1500 :S) should i have a cheat meal weekly so i actually get some decient calories one day a week? i was thinking pizza its my absolute favourite food

as for adding more calories during the week i was thinking that i add more meal replacement shakes, which brings me to my next question, how many carbs can i have in a day. i have looked at some shakes online and the lowest carb i have found per 100g is 3g carbs

[Eileen]

Sorry, no cheat meals. And you only get to carb-up if you are lifting hard in the gym. Basically, when you've thrashed every major muscle group, and are so depleted you can't lift a spoon to your mouth, then you carb-up.

Don't force yourself to eat. Without knowing your bodyfat, I think you may be working off too high a maintenance level of calories. Sadly, those on-line calculators are not that accurate.

[curly-top318]

Originally Posted by Azuras

how often should we "Carb up"? im not getting enough callories in my diet (i find 2000 cals to be alot of food and i need another 1500 :S) should i have a cheat meal weekly so i actually get some decient calories one day a week? i was thinking pizza its my absolute favourite food

as for adding more calories during the week i was thinking that i add more meal replacement shakes, which brings me to my next question, how many carbs can i have in a day. i have looked at some shakes online and the lowest carb i have found per 100g is 3g carbs

the easiest way for me to get more calories was to add coconut oil to whatever I was eating/drinking. for instance, I have a problem eating breakfast during the week, so in my coffee I add 2 tbsp of heavy cream (100 cals) and 1tbsp on coconut oil (125 cals). 225 cals right there. you can add the oil to a protein shake too. Just don't add it right after your workout.

[curly-top318]

i have looked at some shakes online and the lowest carb i have found per 100g is 3g carbs

vpx zerocarb protein. very delish, no carbs, no fat.

[aplbtm]

Thanks Curlytop and Mainframe for your responses. MF, I am finally getting enough calories. Hard to get in the fat though. I had to have 4 tablespoons of olive oil, 4 large eggs, slice of cheese, 2 pieces of bacon, 1 tsp flaxseed oil. I felt my arteries clogging :-) Fitday wasn't giving the appropriate calorie counts so I bought a calorie/protein/fiber count book and am customizing most of my fitday entries.

Glad to hear they will fill back up this Saturday...

[Mainframe]

Originally Posted by aplbtm

Thanks Curlytop and Mainframe for your responses. MF, I am finally getting enough calories. Hard to get in the fat though. I had to have 4 tablespoons of olive oil, 4 large eggs, slice of cheese, 2 pieces of bacon, 1 tsp flaxseed oil. I felt my arteries clogging :-) Fitday wasn't giving the appropriate calorie counts so I bought a calorie/protein/fiber count book and am customizing most of my fitday entries.

Glad to hear they will fill back up this Saturday...

Customizing fitday is the way to go for me.

When's your first carb-up? You muscle will feel plenty full afterwards.

[aplbtm]

My very first carb up is this Saturday. I am carb sensitive so I am only going to carb up for 18 hours. Already made a list of what I am going to eat :-) Cream puffs, pizza, more cream puffs :-)

[ronz0r]

Originally Posted by Eileen

Sorry, no cheat meals. And you only get to carb-up if you are lifting hard in the gym. Basically, when you've thrashed every major muscle group, and are so depleted you can't lift a spoon to your mouth, then you carb-up.

Don't force yourself to eat. Without knowing your bodyfat, I think you may be working off too high a maintenance level of calories. Sadly, those on-line calculators are not that accurate.

Yea that sounds about right. I used the online calculators, they told me 2800 calories, I didnt start losing till about 2000-2100. For reference, I'm about 5'8" 200 ~20%. I'm pretty sure those are only meant for extremely lean individuals, or people who workout for hours and hours a day.

I also agree about the carb up. I actually upped the intensity of my workouts a little, to make sure I was depleted, and the carb ups were much much more productive...and my lifts are exploding =)

[aplbtm]

Azuras-

Since we are talking about your caloric intake now, I was just wondering since you weigh almost 400 pounds, why aren't you doing Atkins or South Beach to lower your body fat and then switch to Keto for maintenance or to lose those last few pecentages? Keto weight loss is alot slower than Atkins or South Beach.

Update: Also, Azura, please make sure that you get your heart and cholesterol checked before starting a high fat diet. Would hate to have anything happen to you.

[curly-top318]

Originally Posted by aplbtm

My very first carb up is this Saturday. I am carb sensitive so I am only going to carb up for 18 hours. Already made a list of what I am going to eat :-) Cream puffs, pizza, more cream puffs :-)

I bet after your first carb-up you will feel extra lean the day after. Its a great feeling. make sure you rock the hell out of your depletion workout....good luck

[aplbtm]

Thanks CT. Those are the foods that I am dreaming of eating. I will probably get full after my first carb meal :-)

[Azuras]

Originally Posted by aplbtm

Azuras-

Since we are talking about your caloric intake now, I was just wondering since you weigh almost 400 pounds, why aren't you doing Atkins or South Beach to lower your body fat and then switch to Keto for maintenance or to lose those last few pecentages? Keto weight loss is alot slower than Atkins or South Beach.

Update: Also, Azura, please make sure that you get your heart and cholesterol checked before starting a high fat diet. Would hate to have anything happen to you.

i am on atkins (isnt this a ketogenic diet??)
i trust my heart. its always been strong and so have i. you should see my legs 359lbs and i have definition on my calves that you would be proud of and i even have some definition on my outer thighs both are rock solid muscle

[Mainframe]

Originally Posted by Azuras

i am on atkins (isnt this a ketogenic diet??)
i trust my heart. its always been strong and so have i. you should see my legs 359lbs and i have definition on my calves that you would be proud of and i even have some definition on my outer thighs both are rock solid muscle

Why do you say your on Atkin's and not CKD if you are speking of carbing up. Also, you mentioned meal replacement shake earlier. This concerns me a bit. Could you PM me with your diet please? I'd love to look at it and help if I can.

[devire1]

Originally Posted by aplbtm

Azuras-

Since we are talking about your caloric intake now, I was just wondering since you weigh almost 400 pounds, why aren't you doing Atkins or South Beach to lower your body fat and then switch to Keto for maintenance or to lose those last few pecentages? Keto weight loss is alot slower than Atkins or South Beach.

Update: Also, Azura, please make sure that you get your heart and cholesterol checked before starting a high fat diet. Would hate to have anything happen to you.

every study done on atkins has shown that most people's cholesterol improves on a high fat and low carb diet such as atkins.

[Mainframe]

Originally Posted by devire1

every study done on atkins has shown that most people's cholesterol improves on a high fat and low carb diet such as atkins.

You didn't post this to me but I just wanted to mention this. I don;t mean to be rude or highjack the statement.

Your abosolutely correct that studies sow your health overall gets better on keto diets but I do agree that everyone should get check out by a doctor before starting ANY diet including keto.

Everyone is different and while keto is wonderful for the mass majority you never know what's going on exactly inside you until you get it checked out. Lots of people have health problems that they don't know with out closer inspection.

Plus, getting blood work taken before keto and then during keto is fun because you get to see first hand how it can improve your stats and how so many doctors have been wrong about fat all along.

[aplbtm]

Hi Devire-

None of the studies have shown conclusive results. For every study that you bring forth that supports low carb/ hi fat diets, I can find one that disputes it. Additionally, there are anomalies that can exist in any findings. There was a post here last week regarding a lady that has had her cholesterol increase while doing a ketogenic diet. I just wanted to bring it up as a precaution since having a large % of body fat puts a significant strain on the heart to begin with and makes one prone to Type II diabetes.

Good luck with your lifestyle change :-0

[GuitarWeights]

Your body could have not entered a keto state for a bunch of days, therefore your body might have been still using carbs as energy and packing on the fat (excess fat if your eating 60+% a day).. but im not completly sure

[aplbtm]

Thanks, Guitar :-) I don't think I was completely into keto yet. I am hoping that this week's "carb up" will fill my muscles back up.