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I have an acid reflux problem (heartburn) and a low-carb diet seems to be helping (it's actually a known thing that low-carbs diet help control acid reflux). I don't really want to go on any medication. So, can I still gain weight without loading myself with carbs? I am planning on eating only 40-60 grams of carbs a day.
Any specific adjustments I need to make?
Thank you in advance for your help!
Mike
I would suggest that you do what makes you feel better.
Would carb cycling be an option?
IMO, you eat above maintenance, you will gain, low carb, high carb, or no carb.
If you need to eat low carb for your digestive tract, just eat low carb above maintnenance level.
Yes you can make gains on a low carb diet. They will likely be at a slower pace than if you were eating a more balanced diet, but they will still be noticable.
I made some newbie gains early on with a very low carb diet. But I kind of hit a wall eventually, but I hit my fat loss goal and was able to add carbs back into my diet.
I can eat a lot more now since my current workload and metabolism supports it.
If I cut back carbs too much now I tend to gas out quickly in my workouts.
Could just be me, but I dont seem to have a chance in hell of actually bulking while on a low carb diet, however maintaining strength & muscle is possible....
Carb loading on the other hand (along with sufficient protein), seems keep my muscles much fuller and I can bulk succesfully!
[QUOTE=gopnik;364540501]I have an acid reflux problem (heartburn) and a low-carb diet seems to be helping (it's actually a known thing that low-carbs diet help control acid reflux). I don't really want to go on any medication. So, can I still gain weight without loading myself with carbs? I am planning on eating only 40-60 grams of carbs a day.
Any specific adjustments I need to make?
Thank you in advance for your help!
Mike[/QUOTE]
Of course...as long as your caloric intake is in excess of what you burn...
[QUOTE=EMISGOD;364636331]Of course...as long as your caloric intake is in excess of what you burn...[/QUOTE]
This. Your gains will be slower on a low carb diet and you will not have the same intensity/strength during workouts, but you will build.
Yes. But you'll have to be extra careful to not overtrain when you are on low carbs. Overtraining on low carbs = muscle loss.
Also factoring in is your body type. If you are an ecto, it will take longer.
[url]http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/comparing-the-diets-part-1.html[/url]
It's a long read, but pretty informative and all-inclusive.
You can also pose the question on the Keto forum [url]http://forum.bodybuilding.com/forumdisplay.php?f=61[/url]
A few people have done bulks on keto, which is ultra low carb.
[QUOTE=gopnik;364540501]I have an acid reflux problem (heartburn) and a low-carb diet seems to be helping (it's actually a known thing that low-carbs diet help control acid reflux). I don't really want to go on any medication. So, can I still gain weight without loading myself with carbs? I am planning on eating only 40-60 grams of carbs a day.
Any specific adjustments I need to make?
Thank you in advance for your help!
Mike[/QUOTE]
Wont' comment directly to your question of whether or not you can gain on low-carb but since you mentioned acid reflux I figured I would address that. This past winter I did the 'anabolic diet' where you eat less than 30g carbs/day during week and 'reload' on teh weekend. I noticed during the week that my gas and acid reflux were completely gone which was the first time in my life I'd make the connection to carbs.
Over teh course of the 4 months I was on that diet I played with various combinations of carbs during the weekends and it turns out that some whole grains like steel cut oats were the worst offenders for me. Things like sweet potatos had no real affect on acid reflux.
Bottom line, I think if you want to continue with a balanced diet and include carbs, then take a week or 2 at a time and focus on different kinds of carbs to see which ones affect you. It can even get so tricky as to be certain types of beans -- like split peas would give me wicked gas but black beans no problems. Oats - heartburn but spaghettie = no problems.
[QUOTE=gopnik;364540501]I have an acid reflux problem (heartburn) and a low-carb diet seems to be helping (it's actually a known thing that low-carbs diet help control acid reflux). I don't really want to go on any medication. So, can I still gain weight without loading myself with carbs? I am planning on eating only 40-60 grams of carbs a day.
Any specific adjustments I need to make?
Thank you in advance for your help!
Mike[/QUOTE]
Your stomach is not producing enough stomach acid (serious). Try taking two capsules of Vital Nutrients 'Betain HCL Pepsin & Gentian Root'.
[QUOTE=MrNismo;364867641]Wont' comment directly to your question of whether or not you can gain on low-carb but since you mentioned acid reflux I figured I would address that. This past winter I did the 'anabolic diet' where you eat less than 30g carbs/day during week and 'reload' on teh weekend. I noticed during the week that my gas and acid reflux were completely gone which was the first time in my life I'd make the connection to carbs.
Over teh course of the 4 months I was on that diet I played with various combinations of carbs during the weekends and it turns out that some whole grains like steel cut oats were the worst offenders for me. Things like sweet potatos had no real affect on acid reflux.
Bottom line, I think if you want to continue with a balanced diet and include carbs, then take a week or 2 at a time and focus on different kinds of carbs to see which ones affect you. It can even get so tricky as to be certain types of beans -- like split peas would give me wicked gas but black beans no problems. Oats - heartburn but spaghettie = no problems.[/QUOTE]
Thank you for a VERY informative reply. In the last two days I started noticing exactly the same thing: not all carbs are created equal. Some give me more hearburn than others. I will experiment and see what works and what doesn't.
Thanks!
Mike