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Keto diets (not CKD's) are pretty good at preserving muscle. This means that, during this time, provided the body is at rest, muscles will use nearly 100% fats for their fuels.
However, we are talking about two different things here. Preserving muscle and and anabolic response to hormones are two different things. Keto diets (again, NOT CKD's) preserve muscle by not using aminos for fuel. This takes a few days once the diet has started. Beforehand, you will lose lots of aminos in your decent into ketosis.
Preserving muscle the way keto diets do is not the same as an anabolic response from hormones. Keto diets are lousy at providing an anabolic environment for hormones. The reason is because of the lack of insulin. Insulin is needed to drive aminos and glucose into muscles. Your body simply will not respond well to exergeneous hormones while on a keto diet because of this. Are AAS a waste on keto diets? Absolutely. Are they better than nothing? Probably.. But remember, straight keto diets are already good at preserving muscle... But not so good at building it. And androgens are anabolic not anti-catabolic (there are instances where androgens are anti-catabolic. but they are not significant here).
My opinion? For the natural BBer, keto diets might be an OK choice.. But if you are a chemically enhanced BBer, you will see better results from 33.33.33. Again, this will vary depending on your goal. I realize that keto diets provide an initial metabolic advantage that is indeed quantifiable. So if you goal is pure fat loss, then you may very well go this route. But I still think that a guy on AAS should choose to lose fat (perhaps more slowly) with a diet that is at least 1/3 carbohydrate. Here you will still lose body fat but the anabolic environment needed for growth response from exergeneous hormones is still present. Will you grow as much as you would on high calories? Of course not.. But there WILL be an anabolic response nonetheless.
Lastly, on a diet that is at least 1/3 carbohydrate, the increased metabolism from protein synthesis may very well make up for the marginal advantage keto diets provide for fat loss. So, it is my opinion that the benefits in terms of fat loss and muscle preservation/gain on a regular diet out-weigh the (fat loss only) benefits from a keto diet.
Andy
However, we are talking about two different things here. Preserving muscle and and anabolic response to hormones are two different things. Keto diets (again, NOT CKD's) preserve muscle by not using aminos for fuel. This takes a few days once the diet has started. Beforehand, you will lose lots of aminos in your decent into ketosis.
Preserving muscle the way keto diets do is not the same as an anabolic response from hormones. Keto diets are lousy at providing an anabolic environment for hormones. The reason is because of the lack of insulin. Insulin is needed to drive aminos and glucose into muscles. Your body simply will not respond well to exergeneous hormones while on a keto diet because of this. Are AAS a waste on keto diets? Absolutely. Are they better than nothing? Probably.. But remember, straight keto diets are already good at preserving muscle... But not so good at building it. And androgens are anabolic not anti-catabolic (there are instances where androgens are anti-catabolic. but they are not significant here).
My opinion? For the natural BBer, keto diets might be an OK choice.. But if you are a chemically enhanced BBer, you will see better results from 33.33.33. Again, this will vary depending on your goal. I realize that keto diets provide an initial metabolic advantage that is indeed quantifiable. So if you goal is pure fat loss, then you may very well go this route. But I still think that a guy on AAS should choose to lose fat (perhaps more slowly) with a diet that is at least 1/3 carbohydrate. Here you will still lose body fat but the anabolic environment needed for growth response from exergeneous hormones is still present. Will you grow as much as you would on high calories? Of course not.. But there WILL be an anabolic response nonetheless.
Lastly, on a diet that is at least 1/3 carbohydrate, the increased metabolism from protein synthesis may very well make up for the marginal advantage keto diets provide for fat loss. So, it is my opinion that the benefits in terms of fat loss and muscle preservation/gain on a regular diet out-weigh the (fat loss only) benefits from a keto diet.
Andy
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