Fat & carb cycling while bulking?

[matthewjhempy]

I have recently been playing around with an idea that could be applied to the current bulking cycle that I am starting. This will be my first true "bulk" cycle since I've started bodybuilding/strength training (almost 3 years now), and I would like input on wether or not this would be a good idea to try.

I am currently weighing in at 172lbs, height at 5'9, and body fat percentage is most likely in between 11% - 16% (I cannot be certain as I have no resources to tell). I am training on average 5 times a week, around 1 - 2 hours each session, focusing on standard splits. My weight resistance is going up, as are my reps with these new pr's, but my aesthetics have remained the same (maybe some slight mass gain in my triceps and traps.)

According to the IIFYM online macro calculator, my maintane caloric intake is 2760, so I will be projecting my surplus to be around 3100 daily. Now this is where my idea comes into play....

What if I were to introduce carb cycling and fasting into my bulking routine (prolonged)? As in:

• one week I focus my macros on heavy carb intake
•moderate protein (1.5g per bodyweight intake)
•little to no fat intake

Followed up by one day where I fast to allow my body to truly process these macros, and allow it to regulate and digest/metabolize my meals from thst prior week. I would then start the following week from my fast as so:

•the second week I focus macros on heavy fat intake
• again, moderate protein as stated above
•little to no carbs (besides a small serving of dextrose intra work out to allow glycogen cycling and contributing to a pump)

Followed by me fasting a whole day again, and then continuing this cycle for a solid 6-8 months. So I would be doing a carb/fat cycle each week, followed by the last day of each week (sundays) with prolonged fasting.

I am currently not doing this, but figured it would be interesting to try, as I have not seen many others try this cycle while doing my studies online. I will also continue the same work out routine while doing this, focusing on clean, slow executed reps while pushing my weight up each set till im hitting a 1 rep max.

Any input, wether positive or negative, is much appreciated!

[Heisman2]

Not trying to be mean, but the reason you haven't seen many others try this is because it will serve no positive benefit and will likely be harmful. Your body processes nutrients much more quickly than 1 week.

You will be much better served reading the stickies, hitting your protein and fat minimums each day as well as your target calories, tracking your weight daily and waist circumference at least weekly, and adjusting your daily calorie goal as indicated.

You can post pics of yourself on your bodyspace and people can give you a bodyfat percentage estimate.

[rhadam]

A good idea would be to engage in rational dietary habits while lifting heavy and often.

[AdamWW]

A good idea would be to engage in rational dietary habits while lifting heavy and often.

Made me think of:

[Mrpb]

I am currently weighing in at 172lbs, height at 5'9, and body fat percentage is most likely in between 11% - 16% (I cannot be certain as I have no resources to tell). I am training on average 5 times a week, around 1 - 2 hours each session, focusing on standard splits. My weight resistance is going up, as are my reps with these new pr's, but my aesthetics have remained the same (maybe some slight mass gain in my triceps and traps.)

You're on the wrong lifting program. Choose a good program. Focus on progressive overload.

Your diet plan is inefficient. Keep eating your carbs and eat a minimum of 0.7 gram protein per lb and 0.4 gram fat.

Also upload a picture. If your body fat is over ~16-17% you should be cutting, not bulking.

slow executed reps while pushing my weight up each set till im hitting a 1 rep max.

Slow reps? Why?

Also why are you training for a 1rm if your goal is aesthetics?

[SuffolkPunch]

Both carbs and fats are relatively insensitive to day-to-day fluctuations. If you are going to worry about the timing of something, make it protein.

Think about it - we have very large stores of fats, fairly large stores of glycogen which buffer out any short term changes in intake very effectively. However, circulating amino acids (and skeletal muscle) are the only stores of protein in the body - and we don't want to dip into skeletal muscle in times of a deficit...

[matthewjhempy]

Not trying to be mean, but the reason you haven't seen many others try this is because it will serve no positive benefit and will likely be harmful. Your body processes nutrients much more quickly than 1 week.

You will be much better served reading the stickies, hitting your protein and fat minimums each day as well as your target calories, tracking your weight daily and waist circumference at least weekly, and adjusting your daily calorie goal as indicated.

You can post pics of yourself on your bodyspace and people can give you a bodyfat percentage estimate.

Much appreciated on the input! I've been finding time to read them and will continue to study from them.

[matthewjhempy]

You're on the wrong lifting program. Choose a good program. Focus on progressive overload.

Your diet plan is inefficient. Keep eating your carbs and eat a minimum of 0.7 gram protein per lb and 0.4 gram fat.

Also upload a picture. If your body fat is over ~16-17% you should be cutting, not bulking.



Slow reps? Why?

Also why are you training for a 1rm if your goal is aesthetics?

I am currently bulking because I need to gain size in my arms and chest. I estimated that I am at a 11-16% body fat ratio just based of examples I've seen though I can upload a photo later on after work to get an accurate assumption.

And while I am going for aesthetics I also would like to increase the amount of weight I am doing over time, but this does not mean that every set I do is for a 1 rep max, only on certain exercises I feel I limit myself on.

Again, appreciaite your input! As I said above, this was just an idea thst sparked in my head, and wanted advice from others who have more knowledge and expierence than I. Appreciaite ya!