Diets are everywhere, they’re just in disguise now.
It used to be low fat yogurts and ryvita. The rules were simple, buy anything that had “low fat” on the packet and go on your merry way.
Now they have fancy names like “intermittent fasting” and “ketogenic”
medical sounding names for a set of rules designed for fast weight loss.
So where does “Carb Cycling” come in…?
Carb cycling at it’s basic is regulating your intake of carbohydrates to specific periods of the day or week.
This can mean eating carbohydrates in the meals surrounding your workouts or having different intakes during the week for example:
Monday: low carb
Tuesday: high carb
Wednesday: low carb
Thursday: moderate carb
Friday: low carb
Saturday: high carb
Sunday: low carb
Proteins and fats typically remain similar and so each day fluctuates in calories as well as carbohydrate content.
Only on a high carb day?
Why do people do this?
Carb cycling is an advanced strategy for weight loss, typically used for those who are entering body building competitions and need extra calories for muscle building but also need to stay lean and not gain fat.
Staying low carb or low calorie for long periods of time can lead to negative changes within the body, including:
- Slower metabolism
- Reduced thyroid output
- Lower activity levels due to the body trying to conserve energy
- Reduced hormone output
This approach gives you the benefits of lower calories, with the regular re-feeds that allow your body to have a break and reduce the risk of these potential side effects.
Carb cycling can also be better for women, we are more sensitive to carbohydrate changes in the body, particularly when paired with intense training. The regular high carb days can negate the negative hormonal changes that occur from long term low calorie diets.
Should I do it?
Honestly? Probably not.
For a start, my blog is not dedicated to high training individuals, if you find yourself here you’re likely looking for some nutrition education along with an effective workout to help you look the way you want to look.
Does that include micro management of your food intake every day?
Bottom line
If you are consistently following basic rules of nutrition:
Eating mostly whole foods
Drinking mostly water
Sleeping 8 hours each night
Eating a variety of vegetables and fruits
Know the difference between a carb, fat and protein
Have been successful in your weight loss attempts to date
Have a healthy relationship with food – no history of binging, restricting or obsessions
Then perhaps.
However, it will be much easier and ultimately more effective to nail down the basics first.
Do them everyday. CONSISTENTLY.
If you can say, hand on heart, that you have tried all of that and you are still stuck, then perhaps.
Until then, do the scary thing and stick with the basics.
Ainzlie xx
p.s If you’re ready to learn more about nutrition but were too scared to ask, now is the time. I have spaces opening up over Summer, get in touch for private coaching.
