if you're not carb cycling should you still eat more carbs on/after workout days?

[nadirmg]

right now i'm on a bulk. i'm 5'5" and weigh about 135lbs. i'd like to get up to 145-150 and then reevaluate. i'm not doing in carb cycling thing with my diet and i'm not really interested in try it out at this point yet.

so here's the question: should i be eating more or less carbs based on whether it's a w/o day or not? OR should i just be eating a constant steady level regardless of whether or not i worked out the day before?

thanks!

 

[HOOPIE]

EAT EAT EAT and when you are done eating, EAT some more. Your bulking. Remember keep it CLEAN. Minimal junk carbs..

 

[Biggly]

If you're bulking you need extra calories and presuming you're getting sufficient protein there is little need to increase your protein levels. Increasing your fat levels is not really necessary either, again presuming you're getting enough and including EFAs. As such it makes sense that as your calories increase carbs will increase as a percentage. So yes, in that sense you need more carbs on a regular basis.

However you need to ensure you're covering the basics, regular meals, protein availability etc. You deffo need plenty of carbs after your workout and if bulking by all means add a little extra or faster-burning carbs at that point. In short yes, you should eat more carbs on workout days, both before and after but deffo after. Eat that many extra all the time and you'll certainly bulk but not necessarily in a good way.

You mention carb cycling but unless you're going extreme (anabolic bursting) then carb cycling is really for fat loss rather than muscle gain.



B.

 

[nadirmg]

thanks a lot guys. ok then, let me change the question on you then.

EFA's.

every day i take at least 4 fish pills, olive oil with my egg whites, flax seed (1 or 2 tbsp) with my oats, almonds (1/4c) and/or peanut butter (2 tbsp).
i eat chicken (at least half a cup), fish (at least half a can of tuna or a whole tilapia filet), and eggs (1 whole, 3 or 4 whites) every single day. on non work out days i'll have some extra lean ground beef (1/2cup) or round chuck steak (5oz) oh and sometimes i'll have half an avocado too.

do you think i'm getting enough EFA's? am i missing something important there? i could post an example of a day's diet if that would be more helpful.

 

[Biggly]

You're getting plenty by the sound of it! The fish tablets alone would probably be enough.


B.

 

[BigDyl]

Why not become fat adapted and have your body use fat as a primary fuel instead of carbs?

Eat 30 or less grams of carbs a day, and have 1 refeed day a week where you eat your bodyweight X 4 in carbs.

 

[Biggly]

Hi BigDyl - people keep thinking I'm you, so nice to see you post and prove otherwise



B.

 

[nadirmg]

Why not become fat adapted and have your body use fat as a primary fuel instead of carbs?

Eat 30 or less grams of carbs a day, and have 1 refeed day a week where you eat your bodyweight X 4 in carbs.

can you do that on a bulk?

 

[tucker01]

Sure you could. Just as long as you are in a caloric surplus.

 

[nadirmg]

Sure you could. Just as long as you are in a caloric surplus.

see, that's the kicker being in a caloric surplus on mostly fats/protein is expensive. really easy to get in a surplus if you can pad it out with clean carbs everyday

 

[tucker01]

I would rather a balanced diet, including carbs. Do what suits you.

I am not a big fan of all these "fad" diets.

 

[nadirmg]

I would rather a balanced diet, including carbs. Do what suits you.

I am not a big fan of all these "fad" diets.

yeah, the refeed idea sounds interesting, but i love my carbs too much to give them up.

alright well i'm going to try the slightly higher carb days on my workout days and otherwise go for a regular balanced diet on non-workout days. we'll see how it works.

 

[DaMayor]

I'm with Biggly...Carb cycling is usually more suited for those who are trying to lose fat. From your pics, I don't see fat being too much of an issue. I assume that you have a good metabolism, no?

And like Ian D said, fad diets will only get you in the weeds.

Oh yeah, where's the armpit of N.C.?

 

[nadirmg]

I'm with Biggly...Carb cycling is usually more suited for those who are trying to lose fat. From your pics, I don't see fat being too much of an issue. I assume that you have a good metabolism, no?

And like Ian D said, fad diets will only get you in the weeds.

Oh yeah, where's the armpit of N.C.?

i've always had good metabolism... assuming i'm eating healthy food. start eating crap and i can tell pretty quickly though. must be because i'm getting old.

the armpit of N.C. is Hickory, North Carolina. i hate it. NO GOLDS GYM??!