Low carb diet for bodybuilding?

[Josh]

Hi all, I've been doing some reading (not much yet) on low carb dieting. From these readings I got an impression that low carb diet is effective for fat (weight) loss, but not effective at all for maintaining or adding muscles (lbm). What I understand as low carb diet is where the carb is between 20-60 grams per day, and the rest of the cals come from protein and fat. I got an impression that this kind of diet will reduce both fat and also muscles, which is certainly not desirable in bodybuilding; also this diet is not effective if we are trying to add muscles.

My questions are:
1. Is the above understanding correct? Is low carb diet really sacrifice both fat and muscles, and we cannot build muscles with this kind of diet? If it is correct, what kind of reasoning is behind it?
2. What is the minimum amount of carbs per day is necessary to maintain muscles (with possibility to loose a bit of fat as well)?
3. What is the minimum amount of carbs per day is necessary to add muscles?

- Josh

 

[Jodi]

My questions are:
1. Is the above understanding correct? Is low carb diet really sacrifice both fat and muscles, and we cannot build muscles with this kind of diet? If it is correct, what kind of reasoning is behind it?
Not true. You can actually gain muscle while cutting on a low carb diet. Its not the best approach to gaining muscle, nor the quickest by far but is still possible.
2. What is the minimum amount of carbs per day is necessary to maintain muscles (with possibility to loose a bit of fat as well)?
Low carb, meaning 30G or less does require a carb-up or refeed twice a week to replenish glycogen and give energy so you don't stay on a 30G or less diet everyday. Also low carb is usually under 120G C which someone (especially a newbie) can certainly see increased fat loss and muscle gain at this amount

3. What is the minimum amount of carbs per day is necessary to add muscles?
It depends on the person

There is nothing wrong with low carb diets. I do them many people do them and have great gains in both fat loss and muscle increase. Keep in mind low carb diets do require carb ups or refeeds

- Josh