Carb Cycling Diet....opinions and pointers, please

[Summerset]

I want to carb cycle and clean bulk. Here's what I've come up with so far. Any suggestions would be great since I'm not really sure the best way to place my carbs.

Diet Goals:
1357 calories (to lose a little fat, but have enough energy to lift heavy...just a starting point so I may have to adjust)

No Carb Days:
50g carbs
153g protein
60g fat

Low Carb Days:
102g carbs
153g protein
38g fat

High Carb Days:
153g carbs
135g protein
23g fat

Diet/Training Schedule:
Monday: Lower Body workout; Low Carb
Tuesday: Upper Body workout; Cardio (mod intensity, inclines @ 30 min); High Carb
Wednesday: Cardio only; No Carb
Thursday: Lower Body; Cardio (low-mod intensity, 30 min); Low Carb
Friday: Upper Bodya; Cardio (30 min); High Carb or Cheat meal (if a cheat meal it will probably include some red wine, off season)
Saturday: Cardio only (if I didn't get enough in during the week or if I just feel like it), probably a run/jog outside; No carbs, could end up being a low carb day
Sunday: No exercise; No carbs

If I time my carbs, how would you suggest I do that? I normally have about 15g complex pre workout and 15g simple carbs pwo. I may end up switching all my carbs pwo due to my schedule with clients.

Also, if I feel like a cheat meal is messing me up I won't do that except on occassion.

Have at it....

summerset

[justagirl]

you want to bulk with 1300 cals?

[twinnett]

That's what I was thinking. With all that cardio, low carbs, and such low calories, that doesn't look like a bulk. It looks like a cutting program. I'm trying to bulk and not gaining much eating 2000 calories a day and lots of carbs.

[Summerset]

Hhmmm...I could maybe go to 1500 calories a day, but I seriously doubt I could do more than that. If I do a cheat meal, I'm pretty sure I'd gain weight on 1500/day. I need to increase slowly and play with this. I've been eating 1100 cal. for cutting and that worked well. I still want to lose about 8lbs and maintain that weight loss. Do you think 3 days of cardio would be better? I gain weight very easily. Do you need stats to better help me figure this out?

[justagirl]

stats would help you should also decide on a main goal. it is possible to lose fat and gain some muscle at the same time but bulking is specifically to gain mass, which is what confused me. if you were eating 1100 for cutting, 1500 calories still sounds like less than maintenance to me, and you can't bulk without being on a calorie surplus

[Summerset]

I feel like my bodyfat is too high for what I want to maintain. I couldn't quit eating after my competition. My bodyfat is probaby 22% now, but I'd rather maintain around 17-20%. That is goal number one. Then for my next competition I really need to add mass. I want to do it right and I want to stay lean/fit and bulk up with a clean diet. Maybe you can guide me from here. Just about the time I think I have it all figured out, I get confused again. I know I'm not training right or my diet is off because of how I feel and look.

Stats:
5' 4.5"
40 yo
141 lbs/22% body fat (I'm guessing at that...I don't have a bodpod, a Tanita scale measures me at 30% no matter what, and I don't trust the handheld gadget which measures 25%, a pinch measures me at 20%)
3-5g creatine daily (didnt' load, just a steady dose)
whey protein
glutamine (5-10g)
vitamins
flax oil
have sesathin on order

Goal Weight:
131-135 lbs/17-20% body fat
Add muscle mass with shoulders being the priority. I WANT BIG DELTS!

I ate 1500 calories last summer and my body fat didn't budge nor did my weight. I'm guessing that's more maintenance for me. I think I took a cheat meal, too. I have been told I have a sluggish metabolism based on an electroimpedence thing that measured body composition years ago.

As for workouts, I have been doing a 4 day split with reps at 15, 2x10-12, 4-8
Cardio 3-4 x/week at 30 min. Usually I walk 15% incline at 3.5mph sometimes I run or do interval training. I've been training heavy, but my wrists are really bothering me and it's affecting my grip. I'm ready to change up my routine as I'm not seeing growth right now. I also just came off a week of rest so I should be ready to go.

Is there anything else you need?

Thanks so much!

[Luvdogs]

Perhaps you are eating too few calories and that's why your body won't budge?? We are similar in stats. I'm 5'5", 44 years old and 123 lbs. I lost weight through Weight Watchers, but now eat about 1800-2000 calories a day and maintain just fine. I am aslo trying to build and am having good progress on a 4 day upper/lower split. I lift in the 6-8 rep range. I do 3-4 days of 30 min. cardio sessions (up from 2 days). I think my bf is about 17%. It's hard to say even with the Omron I have But measurements and weight I think are good ways to track it.