i didn't think the day would ever come

[gareth]

Over the last 2-3 years I have been following a diet high in protein and low in carbs -- in fact I reject carbs as often as possible, eating only half the potatoes/pasta/rice I get with my meal, eating peanut butter without the bread etc. Although I looked a bit more 'ripped' now my belly remains.

Anyway now I am doing a strength routine (Brute Strength) which advises guys to up their carbs so the carb-protein ratio is 2:1. So what should I do?
Follow my diet plan and eat twice as much rice/pasta/bread? Will the increase in carbs cause my b/f % to rise? I lift 3 times a week and cardio 6 times a week? Please advise

 

[BulkMeUp]

Over the last 2-3 years I have been following a diet high in protein and low in carbs -- in fact I reject carbs as often as possible,

You NEED carbs. They are not evil... well, at least not all. Just as there are good fats and bad fats, similarly for carbs. BTW, you need fats as well. Have you checked out the sticky 'guide to...'?

Follow my diet plan and eat twice as much rice/pasta/bread? Will the increase in carbs cause my b/f % to rise?

Post your diet, meal by meal WITH all cals and macros for a critique. and your stats.

 

[Dante]

keep an eye on your cals. if you are eating clean, you wont have much fat.

 

[Emma-Leigh]

Over the last 2-3 years I have been following a diet high in protein and low in carbs -- in fact I reject carbs as often as possible, eating only half the potatoes/pasta/rice I get with my meal, eating peanut butter without the bread etc. Although I looked a bit more 'ripped' now my belly remains.

Anyway now I am doing a strength routine (Brute Strength) which advises guys to up their carbs so the carb-protein ratio is 2:1. So what should I do?
Follow my diet plan and eat twice as much rice/pasta/bread? Will the increase in carbs cause my b/f % to rise? I lift 3 times a week and cardio 6 times a week? Please advise

As it was said - you keep your calories in-check and you will be ok. Carbs will not "make you fat". Excess calories will make you fat.

So just keep your protein intake sufficient, get in your EFAs and then focus your meals on natural, whole, high fibre, low GI carbs (fruits, legumes, whole grains, vegetables) and you stick to your required calorie level then, unless you are insanely insulin resistant, you will not gain huge amounts of BF. Especially if those 6 cardio sessions are intense.

I do suggest you increase carbs slowly though (as you decrease your fats to compensate for the calories) - and monitor your body to watch your progress. You can always 'pull back' if things start going down-hill.



If you are no/low carb now and you increase then you will probably gain some water weight as your glycogen stores recover and replenish.