Carbs for Muscle Gain......How Important?

[Miss Muscle]

How important is carbs for muscle gain? If you are eating excess calories of mostly protein and fat, do you need to worry about carb intake? The only time I have carbs is usually after a workout. The rest is mostly fat, protein, and fibrous veggies. Should I increase my carbs and lower my fat?

 

[outlawtas]

Well with more carbs comes more strength and clearly more weight = more muscles. Also, and I may be mistaken here, you body may be attempting to use protein for some energy not allowing it to be fully used for synthesis (muscle growth essentially). I see no reason why you shouldn't have some low-gi carbs for breakfast (oatmeal) along with something higher gi PWO.

There is also the issues with being in a constant state of ketosis (you have to check that for yourself), which is not healthy for extended periods of time.

 

[DirkMoneyshot]

I think they are very important. Just like anything there can be to little and to much of anything though-

 

[lonewing]

Carbs=Energy,You need energy to get a good intense work out.Your body needs energy to repair it's self.

You need cards to gain/grow.You should be eating carbs before and after a work out.The only time you need to cut the carbs is when you are cutting up/trying to lose the fat.

 

[Eze]

There are people on IM who are having success bulking with 40P/20gC/40F ratio's with their carb consumption coming pre and post workout.

Everyone reacts differently.... see what works for you

 

[DirkMoneyshot]

There are people on IM who are having success bulking with 40P/20gC/40F ratio's with their carb consumption coming pre and post workout.

Everyone reacts differently.... see what works for you

To me 40% Fat is to much-- I wouldn't be apposed to say 30% but that is just me.

 

[Jacked!!!]

Dirk do you prefer your clients to stay low fat through there off season and growing phase, or do u allow them to have more freedom with their diet and carb intake?

 

[Eze]

To me 40% Fat is to much-- I wouldn't be apposed to say 30% but that is just me.

I would have a hard time eating that much fat without a large amount of saturated fat. You can only eat so much EVOO, Fish Oil, and Natty PB.

 

[adidamps2]

i am running a 60/10/30 macro intake fat/carbs/pro and am having no difficulties with keeping my energy levels up or moving my wts up from work out to work out. i avoid most carb sources except for veggies(heavy on romain lettuce and brocoli) and fruit (lots of berries and avocados) oh and almonds and hazelnuts around used for carb/fatr souce as well.

my post work out shake looks like this:
2 scoops whey pro
1 med banana
2 oz blue berries (or strawberries)
1 tbls honey
1/2 cup pasterized egg whites
1 tbls coconut oil (sometimes)

comes out to
fat 2 (16 w/coconut oil)
carbs: ~70
fiber 4-6
protien 58

the key thing to remember when on a diet high in fat and low in carbs is too GET ENOUGH FAT IN.
on work out days i consume roughly 3500cals
fat 200+
carbs >100
fiber 20+
pro ~225 -250

on non work out days i try to eat around 2500 cals
fat 167
carbs 35
pro 215

 

[Jacked!!!]

ineteresting...how has weight gain been with these ratios?

Im hesistate on lowering my carbs like this cos i no as soon as i change diets ill ramp the carbs up and experience substantial fat gain

 

[Miss Muscle]

I tried the same thing as you Adidas......but I've been eating more rice cakes as of a new workout program. I find I eat too much fat, but I may go back to trying it again.

 

[DirkMoneyshot]

Dirk do you prefer your clients to stay low fat through there off season and growing phase, or do u allow them to have more freedom with their diet and carb intake?

Offseason just depends on how fast of a metabolism the individual has. For most I just give them a basic diet and then every day to every 3rd day they are allowed to stuff thier face at one meal. And I mean stuff their face.

I'm experimenting a little with a new diet that i hope i can bring to the table this summer and let everyone know how its working.

 

[DirkMoneyshot]

I would have a hard time eating that much fat without a large amount of saturated fat. You can only eat so much EVOO, Fish Oil, and Natty PB.

I agree-

 

[adidamps2]

I tried the same thing as you Adidas......but I've been eating more rice cakes as of a new workout program. I find I eat too much fat, but I may go back to trying it again.

do you keep a log book or note book handy? i write everything down that i eat so i can manage my macro intake. i have numbers for each catagorie i aim for. i try to get w/in +/-10g of ea of them. this way you can see how close/far away you are from hitting your cals w/out accidently over eatting in an area. (like you had been with fat)

 

[adidamps2]

ineteresting...how has weight gain been with these ratios?

Im hesistate on lowering my carbs like this cos i no as soon as i change diets ill ramp the carbs up and experience substantial fat gain

my wt has actually dropped (mostly water i am sure) over all. i started off at ~220lbs i'm now around 206'sh last time i wt my self OFF CYCLE.

also by ramping carbs up after a carb reduced diet its not really fat you'll gain back but more of water wt gain.

 

[Jacked!!!]

definately water for sure. Does high fat make u feel satisified though...or is that just a mental thing

 

[adidamps2]

yes you feel full and satisified. well asl long as your meal is high in fat.