Thread: carbs

Originally Posted by cider303

i was at the gym lifting while a trainer was talking to another trainer about this class he just took. the class was related to carbs and carb cycling (from what i could hear). He talked about how your body will actively break down muscle when you are carb depleted because your brain needs glucose and it can more easily break it down from muscle tissue. Is this true? I was always under the assumption that both fat and muscle were being broken down but mostly fat as long as your cals didnt drop too low.

i have tried carb cycling diets in the past and they seemed to work... in your opinion would i be better off just limiting my total cals and not worrying about limiting my cals with just carbs? and what type of nutritional split has worked for you for minimal muscle loss with maximum fat loss protein/carb/fat %

This is correct. Fatty acids cannot be used to create glucose.

They can be used to create ketones which can be used by muscle tissue and cells, but not glucose.

The significance of this is that glucose is the only energy source that can be used by your brain and nervous tissues.

So, if you have fat available, your body will produce ketones, but it must also have glucose. To produce it in the absence of food sources, the body must resort to a process called gluconeogenesis, which is the conversion of amino acids into glucose.

It will use dietary protein if available, but resort to catabolism of muscle tissue if necessary.

Do this:

*Limit total calories
*Get enough protein (1-1.5 grams per pound)
*Get enough, but not too much fat (poly/monounsaturated, .3-.5grams per pund)
*Eat the right amount of carbs to reach but not exceed your calorie goal for the day

IMO, macronutrient ratios are not that important. Total calories and adequate nutrients are what matters.


VanessaNicole

True Story, I'm starting carb cycling diet. Today is no carb day.

thanks a lot vanessanicole, great feedback

Sure, Cider. Good luck with your plan.

BigDyl, that's why I don't carb cycle. I can't cencentrate on no carb days.

VanessaNicole

i love carb cycling. If you can't handle weight and some mild appearance fluctuations, it isn't the best diet though. You'll feel like crap sometimes and feel awsome on other days. I don't have a problem with no carb days because the high carb day ahead does a good job getting me through them, but yes...they suck in the opinion of most and I'll admit they are uncomfortable.

Edit: BTW, I pumped to see mention of carb cycling. I got started with the diet just this last year. When TP's plan first came out I saw all the journals and threads about it and I loved reading those old ones. There isn't much more of it anymore though.

Carb cycling seems like a painful way to lose weight, but if it works for you then go for it. The diet I do is easier for me, because I can eat the same meals each day.

When I'm being strict I try to get 1/3 of my calories from each source. Remember that 1g of fat = 9 calories, and 1g of protein or carbs = 4 calories. As bodyfat goes down, I tend to increase protein intake a little bit. Just try to balance it out. Balance is key.