Carbs At Night.

[EL GAUCHO]

How many of you subscribe to the theory of "no carbs at night" for fatloss?
I've been trying this for the last 8 months with good results. I originally heard of the theory from Doggcrap, famous for his DC training regime.
The problem is I still crave carbs after my dinner, and end up having to eat some Jelly or a large protein shake to shut my stomach up.
I also think its been affecting the quality of my sleep.
My workouts are in the morning. Having depleted my glycogen stores overnight, I feel pretty drained the following day. This is despite my carb loaded breakfast.
Now that winter is coming, I'm not cutting any more, although I don't want to put on too much fat.

Any thoughts or ideas?
EG

 

[ZKaudio]

well if you must have them, keep them low gi. Jelly is def not the greatest idea. Low gi carbs are your best bet. They will maintain steady glucose levels throughout rem sleep and in turn lead to maximum sleep quality and nutrient delivery

 

[ffknight84]

i get bad sugar cravings at night and can't go to bed till i eat some sugar...

 

[AleaveR]

Try peanut butter. When I get that late night crave for carbs, 1 tbsp of peanut butter does it for me.

 

[ffknight84]

ye ive been eating a lot of pb at night

 

[EL GAUCHO]

ZKaudio: Its sugar-free jello bro.

So do we agree it does help with cutting?

 

[Stryc-9]

Don't know if you saw this or not:

Night-time Carbs Myth Thread

 

[EL GAUCHO]

No I hadn't seen that thread. I still don't know if to start re-introducing carbs at night.
Just wondering if any others have experienced good results from avoiding carbs at night?
There's a magzine called Ultra-Fit which is doing a special on the Night-time carbs myth next month. We'll see what they say?!?

 

[Babyfaced Assassin]

i get bad sugar cravings at night and can't go to bed till i eat some sugar...

exact same t hing happens to me

A protein shake usually helps or if i've trained in the evenings a bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon and splenda

 

[ffknight84]

exact same t hing happens to me

A protein shake usually helps or if i've trained in the evenings a bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon and splenda

i think ill have to try the oatmeal idea, i need something solid in my stomach before i go to bed, maybe ill do both.

 

[Babyfaced Assassin]

ffknight84

i have not found any fat gains by doing so by the way, as long as im training and not over doing the carbs or calories im pretty much the same weight and BF%

 

[juve]

I posted this in another thread but if you get sugar cravings that keep you awake (then that means your diet is whack wrong ) try drinking unsweetened tea: green tea or Bigelow Sweet Dreams Blend of Teas (helps fall asleep too)...knocks it right off. Also i found that supplementing on ALCar and Taurine not only helps with recovery and endurance, but now I actually have to THINK about food to remember it's time for a meal.

Drinking protein shake with Extra Virgin Olive Oil is also great way to knock of craving, plus it's an excellent late night meal.

Also you could try Kava Kava, Melatonin, 5-HTP (if your levels are low) and P-Seven to put yo ass to sleep.

But really, if you get cravings, it's not healthy - a psychological reaction to physical change in diet, meaning there's something wrong with the diet. You need to balance it out, most likely you get craving due to lack of serotonin reuptake, sugars help with that, as insulin wipes out most aminoacids from the blood stream leaving only tryptophan(serotonin precursor), but they mess up a diet.

 

[ffknight84]

But really, if you get cravings, it's not healthy - a psychological reaction to physical change in diet, meaning there's something wrong with the diet. You need to balance it out, most likely you get craving due to lack of serotonin reuptake, sugars help with that, as insulin wipes out most aminoacids from the blood stream leaving only tryptophan(serotonin precursor), but they mess up a diet.

hey could you send me a link or any info in some more detail on this??? thanks

 

[ProteinFiend]

carbs at night are great on training days... you need as much food as possible then...

just one question though elgaucho, why are your glycogen store depleted overnight? are you doing reps in your sleep?

 

[ZKaudio]

bottom line, I don't aim to drop into ketosis, and as a result, don't watch my carb intake to that point. As long as you aren't oversaturating muscular glycogen stores, you won't be converting carbs directly to fat. I prefer to have my muscles adequately loaded with glycogen to ensure a positive feeling and steady energy levels throughout the day (due to proper glucose regulation)

 

[EL GAUCHO]

ProteinFiend: I mean the natural depletion that occurs overnight. Although I have been known to rep a few out at around 4am.

juve: you're assuming cravings occur exclusively because of a physical change in diet. This is not always so. People often crave carbs because they are used to eating them regularly, not because their blood sugar is low. There is the psychological element too.

 

[kentucky]

just one question though elgaucho, why are your glycogen store depleted overnight? are you doing reps in your sleep?

His glycogen must be depleted from jacking off before bed, and several wet dreams during the night

 

[EL GAUCHO]

Intelligent contribution to the thread kentucky.

 

[kentucky]

I do my best, with what I've got

 

[ProteinFiend]

ProteinFiend: I mean the natural depletion that occurs overnight. Although I have been known to rep a few out at around 4am.

There is no natural depletion in that case. Physical exertion is what causes muscle glycogen depletion. Your blood glucose levels is what is depleted overnight.

 

[Moderate_THIS]

Carbs at night, adipocytes delight.
Carbs in the morning, adipocytes still delight.

 

[EL GAUCHO]

chaos mage: So you believe in the myth? If so why?

If one absolutely HAD to have carbs in the evening. What would be the best choice, i.e one with the lowest G.I?

 

[ZKaudio]

There is no natural depletion in that case. Physical exertion is what causes muscle glycogen depletion. Your blood glucose levels is what is depleted overnight.

Blood glucose level is regulated via glycogen... glucagon is secreted to release glycogen into the bloodstream to regulate BG levels when needed. Remember, your body uses glucose even when dormant, albeit at a much lower rate.

 

[ProteinFiend]

chaos mage: So you believe in the myth? If so why?

If one absolutely HAD to have carbs in the evening. What would be the best choice, i.e one with the lowest G.I?

no hes saying that carbs make you fat no matter what.

 

[ProteinFiend]

Blood glucose level is regulated via glycogen... glucagon is secreted to release glycogen into the bloodstream to regulate BG levels when needed. Remember, your body uses glucose even when dormant, albeit at a much lower rate.

but his muscles DEFINITELY would not be depleted of glycogen over night. they may deplete while inert, but not in the time it takes one to sleep.

 

[EL GAUCHO]

YES, I read your post earlier. My bad on the glyco/gluco confusion. So how long would you say it takes for glycogen stores to begin to drop?
More to the point what is your take on the carbs at night myth ProteinFiend?

 

[Moderate_THIS]

no hes saying that carbs make you fat no matter what.

No, I was just being a hair facetious. Adding more carbs to my pre/post workout nutrition, regardless of the time of day, caused profound growth. When cutting however, carbs can limit progress and it's really difficult to find one's saturation point. I find 50g/day sufficient to not be "flat" nor bloated.

 

[ProteinFiend]

YES, I read your post earlier. My bad on the glyco/gluco confusion. So how long would you say it takes for glycogen stores to begin to drop?
More to the point what is your take on the carbs at night myth ProteinFiend?

i think its fine if they are low gi... i usually do something like tuna w/ mayo and milk... or cheese and triscuits, or pb sandwhich or something.... i try to get some cals from each macronutrient without overdoing it.

just avoid high gi for you don't want an insulin spike as it interferes with crucial hormones being released while you sleep.

 

[EL GAUCHO]

Seems very few believe in the no carbs in the evening theory.

 

[ProteinFiend]

Seems very few believe in the no carbs in the evening theory.

Yes, and karma is welcome.

 

[ZKaudio]

either way, you're not going to burn a significant amt of fat via ketosis either, so just keep the carbs low gi and don't worry about it.