What are your experiences with carb cycling?

[JayGrxxn]

I'm 6ft 184.8lbs at around 12% body fat cutting down to 10%. I've been working out 5 days a week and eating 2100 calories a day using the keto diet. I figured it would be best for me since I'd keep the protein high to preserve muscle, and keep fats high to maintain libido and hormones.

I've used this diet for about three weeks and now I'm starting to lose strength, my libido is dropping, I have low energy, and all around feel like crap. I'm looking to start carb cycling today and plan to add another workout day.


I was wondering what were some of your experiences using a carb cycle while in a caloric deficit.

[Vandeman17]

Haven't done it but my question is, Why? You are moving from one restrictive diet to another. You can have a successful cut by keeping things simple, getting enough protein and fats and staying in a deficit.

[JayGrxxn]

Haven't done it but my question is, Why? You are moving from one restrictive diet to another. You can have a successful cut by keeping things simple, getting enough protein and fats and staying in a deficit.

To answer that question, all you had to do was read the second paragraph. If I feel like crap regardless of diet, so be it. I doubt that to be true. That's why I'm asking for people experience with this carb cycle diet, to see if it's worth moving over to.
I eat at least 230g protein/120g fats btw. Plenty of protein and fats.

[TheUnderdog83]

Start eating about 160g protein, 75g of fat, and 195g of carbs everyday. You will lose exactly the same amount of fat as you would on the 2,100 calorie keto diet (although you will gain a few pounds of water weight at the beginning).

[Vandeman17]

To answer that question, all you had to do was read the second paragraph. If I feel like crap regardless of diet, so be it. I doubt that to be true. That's why I'm asking for people experience with this carb cycle diet, to see if it's worth moving over to.
I eat at least 230g protein/120g fats btw. Plenty of protein and fats.

So you feel like crap yet you want to get on another restrictive diet, got it. Way more protein than you need, got it. Enjoy carb cycling and trying manage that instead of listening to underdog's or my advice to keep it simple

[JayGrxxn]

So you feel like crap yet you want to get on another restrictive diet, got it. Way more protein than you need, got it. Enjoy carb cycling and trying manage that instead of listening to underdog's or my advice to keep it simple

If you have nothing educational to offer, I recommend not posting. You could type, "just keep it simple, no need to carb cycle." Instead of adding your feelings into your post along with sarcasm. You are 36 years old and act younger than a 22 year old.

[illpinoise]

If you really wanna stay keto while working out....why don't you do a targeted keto diet?

google it man...but I read somewhere you can stay in ketosis while working out but eating 25-50 "free" grams carbs preworkout so you have enough energy for your workout.

[JayGrxxn]

That's kinda what I did. I only ate about 25g carbs per day(12g net carbs) and ate that around my workout. My workouts still suffered.
Thank you all for the comments, I will start carb cycling this week. If anything, it will help my leptin levels. I will post results after a month which is how long the rest of my cut is, if I remember this thread.

[illpinoise]

Still not enough...it would be on top of your limit. So about 100g total. Tbh i need at least 40 g for weight session...i eat about 150g carbd total a day on my cut

[Vandeman17]

If you have nothing educational to offer, I recommend not posting. You could type, "just keep it simple, no need to carb cycle." Instead of adding your feelings into your post along with sarcasm. You are 36 years old and act younger than a 22 year old.

Keep it simple was educational and plainly stated in my first post along with a question of why you chose the plans you did. The sarcasm was to your original response to that post where you implied I didn’t read your “second paragraph” about you feeling like crap on one restrictive diet so you want to switch to another restrictive diet. Don’t get your diapers in a bunch.

[Tommy W.]

Carb cycling and KETO offer no fatloss benefit over a traditional carb inclusive diet so don't complicate an extremely simple process.

[Nedo]

Nevermind carb cycling and keto which have no special benefit. Add in DAILY carbs as part of a cal deficit, especially prior to workouts and see how you respond. Pay attention to how your strength sustains. I found when I was gassed early, I simply needed more carbs pre workout. Everyone is different so experiment and do what allows you to perform best.

[HotDogManB]

I've done it before, no extra results.

[TheProfIsIn]

I figured it would be best for me since I'd keep the protein high

I'm personally a fan of the ketogenic diet (i.e., it works for ME). With that said, (a) it is normal to experience low energy during the first few weeks of the ketogenic diet but more importantly, (b) the ketogenic diet is a low-to-moderate protein diet. If you are keeping your protein high, you are not following a ketogenic diet, will not get into ketosis, and this can likely explain your poor energy. If you want to try out a ketogenic diet, try it out properly (no more than 5% cals from net carbs, no less than 70% cals from fat, remainder protein) and see what you think. Otherwise, eat a normal, balanced, calorie controlled diet.

[Tommy W.]

I'm personally a fan of the ketogenic diet (i.e., it works for ME). With that said, (a) it is normal to experience low energy during the first few weeks of the ketogenic diet but more importantly, (b) the ketogenic diet is a low-to-moderate protein diet. If you are keeping your protein high, you are not following a ketogenic diet, will not get into ketosis, and this can likely explain your poor energy. If you want to try out a ketogenic diet, try it out properly (no more than 5% cals from net carbs, no less than 70% cals from fat, remainder protein) and see what you think. Otherwise, eat a normal, balanced, calorie controlled diet.

It works for some people especially those who don't count calories as the added fat for some people is more satiating however when weekly calories of a carb inclusive diet are equal there is no benefit.

One of the problems is KETO is generally non sustainable for the long term. When someone goes off KETO there is an overwhelming chance that the weight goes back on fairly quickly. The best diet is one you can stick to long term and KETO is usually not one of those. not to mention that non optimal protein is also a negative however there is research showing that protein won't kick you out of ketosis.

A high protein diet will be as satiating as a high fat diet so that is one factor that will be more valuable in regards to body composition both in a muscle building phase and a dieting down phase.

[latverian41]

I didn't read all of your post just the carb cycling. No reason to cycle ..not daily. I always kept my carbs under 80 through the week sometimes LEDs than that then carbes up on Sunday.

Everyone's body is different. So what works for one night not work for another

Just stay in a deficit and make your carbs good complex carbs


If you are training or something then this advice not be good for you buy if yiu just want to lose weight and get health just do the work.it willl work