Two Questions on Carb Cycling [Forum Archive]

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Two Questions on Carb Cycling

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Posted by: CanaDan

I talked about this in my journal but since I read it more than anyone else and I don't have the answers I thought I'd post the questions here.

If I switch to a push/pull/legs split then which carb days should be matched with which exercise days?

Should I not be concerned with calories? I mean, if you're allowed to eat more protein on no-carb days and more carbs on hi-carb days then how exactly can I shed fat if I go over in calories? I would never gorge myself though..

In regards to the second question perhaps I should be planning my meals for that day with a specific calorie limit in mind and then not torture myself if I eat a little more protein or carbs on those days...

Posted by: Twin Peak

As to your split, it would depend on when you took days off.

As to your question, this diet maximizes the body's sense of self-regulation, even for those who normally have a broken thermostate (like me).

So no, do not count calories. Trust me, it is quite hard to overeat plain chicken breast or tuna.

Posted by: Akateros

Huh. Well, I'm carb-cycling right now (a sorta bastard child of Venuto, Berardi and DP/w8). Third day of what (for me) is "insanely low-carb" (carbs tomorrow thank the powers). And I will say this: "don't put a heavy leg day on a low-carb day." Thought I'd die in my basement last night and no one would ever know.

I was getting best results (at least as far as workouts go) with this: low/moderate carb (usually under 100g net subtracting fibre) to higher carb (about double bodyweight in g), 3:1 split. On lifting days, I'd have a starchy carb with my first and sometimes second meals; on rest and cardio days I'd stick with fibrous carbs. (Downside is that my cardio, done either first thing on some lifting days, or anytime on a very low day, always sucks.)

I was in fact "recompositing" on this, and dropped nearly 2% BF without any weight in a bit more than a month. It just wasn't quite meeting my immediate needs of "drop fat like right now dammit!" so I've shifted it around some to something even suckier.

As far as calories, in the Original Version of my bastard plan, I usually ended up (despite increased protein on low-carb) about 200 cals less on the "low" days. This might also be because on high-carb days I try to eat as low-fat as humanly possible, even kicking out the EFA supplements. I wasn't fretting about exact counts, nor over precision to the gram of P/C/F (I think I've about burned out on that game), just aiming for general amounts and target percentages at the end of the day.

In Son of Bastard, I'm (trying) to ramp down a bit harder on a calorie limit as well as general grams and percentages. Thus far, I feel like death; it's too early to know whether the results will be worth it.

Posted by: CanaDan

Geez Akateros, you're making me question whether I should do this at all...

I'm sure it gets easier and if it gets me closer to my goal then it's worth it.

Thanks for all the advice. I'll post my progress in my journal and put up some pics in a week or so as that's when I'll be able to start the cycling.

Posted by: Premo55

I think you'd be just fine if you followed TP's Carb Cycling. Don't be paranoid. I tried it for two weeks for a mini cut and felt it working even then. I'm gonna jump into the diet for 12 full weeks in two weeks.

Peace.

Posted by: Monolith

Quote:

Originally posted by CanaDan
Geez Akateros, you're making me question whether I should do this at all...

Try it for a month and see how you like it. It's a very solid plan that even newbs like me can butcher to hell and still see results.

Posted by: jaim91

Is the moral of the story you SHOULD or SHOULDN'T do lifting on no/ low carb days?

Posted by: Akateros

Shouldn't, if you can avoid it. Or at least do a lighter, less taxing segment of your workout (arms, say, rather than trying to set a PR on squats).

However, sometimes needs must, you know.

CanaDan, no worries. I'm pretty sure that you won't need to take things anything like to the stage I'm at to see results! (And even at that, I am not really suffering that much considering.)

Posted by: Monolith

I used to train on no carb days, but ive currently got my diet scheduled so my rest days aline with the the no carbs. I must say, i like it a lot better. Goes something like this:

High/Low/No/High/Low/Low/No

There's nothing wrong with lifting on no carb days, just that you'll have trouble maintaining much intensity. Especially with higher volume work.

Posted by: DeadBolt

I find I lift better on no carb days. If I have equal days and the only factor that changes is my carbs, I lift better with no/low carbs then with higher carbs. But then again I also find I lift better on an empty stomach. I just despise lifting with a heavy meal in my gut!

Quote:

Originally posted by Twin Peak
Trust me, it is quite hard to overeat plain chicken breast or tuna.

Watch me, hehe I love that stuff. I have to be carefull in how much I eat or I tend to eat to much.

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