Carbohydrate Cycling For Weight Loss: Does It Work?

The carb cycle is a diet program where you combine high-carb days with low-carb days and sometimes no-carb days to burn fat and promote weight loss. In this way, the dieter does not suffer some of the negative consequences of a purely low-carbohydrate diet plan, such as depriving the body of macro-nutrients (which are carbohydrates, fats, and proteins). Most of the diet programs out there generally limit your food choices; however, the carbohydrate cycle upholds a number of general principles of healthy eating, as well as moderate carbohydrate intake. The carbohydrate cycle diet forces the body to metabolize fat and protein to generate a substance called ketone. Ketones are the result of the body burning fat for energy.

In general, you can go for 3 low carb days followed by 1 high carb day, then go back to low carb days. Alternatively, you can go for 2 low carb days followed by 1 high carb day and then 1 no carb day. Your total calorie intake on low carb days should also be less. When starting the diet, you need to calculate your required daily calorie intake and calculate the required amount of carbohydrates that you should eat. If your goal is a healthy weight loss of one to three pounds per week, try to make sure your calorie intake on low carb days is low enough to help you achieve this goal. It’s a great idea to participate in hard workouts on a high carb day.

The carb cycle focuses more on carbohydrates (and not protein or fat) because carbohydrates seem to have the most influential effect on body composition and your appearance. The easiest way to get started on the carb cycle is to stick with the plan and then adjust from there. Once you have mastered a particular carbohydrate cycling strategy of your choice and are ready to fine-tune your nutrition, the next step would be to adjust your carbohydrate intake for each individual meal to suit your body and your goals. At this point, it may be wise to hire a coach to help you make these adjustments.

Aside from variable carbohydrate intake, most carbohydrate cycle or rotation diet programs also promote a diet of healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, high-fiber carbohydrates, low saturated fat, and a moderate intake of healthy unsaturated fats. Many also recommend avoiding any form of refined sugar and refined carbohydrates, except natural sugar from fruits.

Let me give you some important advice here, keep in mind that a high carb day should not be a day to eat all the junk food available. However, don’t be afraid to indulge yourself with different types of high-calorie foods, as long as total carbohydrates are accounted for.

Most people find the carb cycling procedure much more convenient due to the fact that high carb days are comfortably accommodated. Thus, common unwanted side effects such as reduced ability to burn fat, great desire to eat, and lack of proper exercise due to weakness are exempted. This is because high carb days replenish muscle glycogen levels and make you feel good and energetic.

If your goal really is to gain as much muscle as possible while keeping fat gain to a minimum, then the carb cycle is an ideal strategy. Ultimately, it is possible to use this approach to gain long-term lean muscle. So, Carbohydrate Cycle For Weight Loss – Does It Work? The judgment is yours and a test will certainly prove the suitability of this diet method.