Witchblade

Carb cycling has always been an interesting approach to dieting in my opinion and therefore I'm currently implementing a similar approach in my (first) cut. I can't implement true daily carb cycling, because my life schedule doesn't allow it (really, it doesn't, my diet is clean and in check though!) Therefore, I have a few questions I'm sure the experts can answer.

1. What do think about cutting carbs at breakfast and post-workout meals?
Is cardio an exception?

2. What do you think about carbing up before every workout?
Is cardio an exception?

And a related question.

3. How vigorous can you alternate between high- and low calories days?
Could you implement one week of bulking in a cut, or do you need to build up your daily caloric intake progressively? Could you cut all carbs, and thus lower calories, from one day when bulking to lose fat?

Edit: I just read http://www.ironmagazine.com/article166.html about cycling through cutting and bulking phases every 5 days. Sounds great, but does it work?

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SamEaston

I have been using the idea contained in article 166, and i find it works really well! I have adapted it to a 5 day muscle build and a 7 day "fat burning", which ensures a gradual weight loss for me over a course of months.

I can recommend giving it a try and see what it does for you!

Witchblade

Thanks for the reply! I really like the idea behind that program. Helps you keep your sanity too since in just 5 days you can bulk up again.

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Cardinal

My tendency is to think the cyclical approaches work and work well. How you structure the plan will depend on what your primary focus is.

I do think the rather extreme caloric shifts (rather than gradual shifts) play a big roll in making these diets more effective (using glycogen supercompensation coming off a diet via carb load and using faster depletion by jumping right back into the diet. results tend to be faster). Just remember that once you make the shift, stay in muscle building or fat burning mode long enough for it to have its effect.

For muscle building, you stand a better chance of actually accruing lasting muscle by giving yourself a longer timeframe (for example, bulk for maybe 2 weeks at a moderate surplus rather than bulking for say 3-4 days). Follow it by a dieting phase. You could do it a la UD 2.0 and make it 3.5-4 days of verys strict dieting + depletion, or you could extend it longer if you feel you need more time to lose the fat you invariably gain bulking.

For dieting, use something like UD 2.0 at low bodyfat levels. At higher bodyfat levels you may not need that approach to spare muscle tissue. You could do something like diet for 2 weeks (or more if you don't stall) followed by a shorter refeed (like 24-72 hours for example).

Witchblade

Good, good. I'll start cycling bulking and cutting phases then.

And how about question 1 and 2?

Thanks for the help so far.

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