do you really need carbs to grow??

[PatBateman]

I am embarking on my first cycle (besides 8 weeks of ox in nov/dec). I am 5'9, 190, 12%bf and want to grow but stay at or even lose a point in bodyfat. I am on day 10 of 400mg cyp/wk and arimidex at .25mg ed(may up it to .5mg ed cuz I have a scrip). I have been around gear and learning for 3 years, and for me I feel Dbol if I add it will come at the end when cyp is waning in effect.


Anyway, if I wanted to get to say just over 200 or so this cycle, DO i REALLY NEED A LOT OF CARBS??, or what if I just focused around 300g protein a day and any carbs I had were just excess(as in the bread on a big roast beef sub).

I eat 85% clean (cube steaks, hamburgers, no fast food, only water/milk, little alcohol if any, no hot dogs, no junk food like twinkies)


Please help me!!!!!, I feel small with my body dsymorphic disorder and need to start growing towards my goal of 220 and 7-8%!! Thanks!

 

[JG1]

For me, I can grow on a low carb diet. On non-training days I only eat carbs (1c oatmeal) for my first meal. The rest of the day is protein/fat (Udo's & Fish oil). On my training days I eat 1c oats for my first meal, and my second meal is my PW shake which is 50g whey, 75g dextrose. The rest of the day is protein/fat.


I grow fine off this amount of carbs.

 

[solidspine]

You can't certainly grow, add muscle, lean out and eat like crazy on a great cycle and have almost not carbs.

Carbs, simple sugars are totally not necessary at all,

protein 300 grams a day
green veggies


If you take in enough clean calories and protein you can grow on zero carbs.

Good luck

post your results

 

[PatBateman]

thanks fellas!! excellent input!


btw, solidspine, you're first line should say "you can"

 

[PatBateman]

^

 

[Lift Chief]

You'd get much better gains by incorporating carbs IMO... if you're worried maybe you should try a moderate amount. I would not eliminate them entirely. Carbs are just as essential to muscle growth as protein is from what i've read and in my own experience.

 

[deppnade]

If you take in enough clean calories and protein you can grow on zero carbs.

the way i see it is this, i may be wrong, let me know what you think

your body needs more protein when you want to gain size to add muscle, but if you dont have a high enough amount of carbs the proteins will be utilized as fuel and therefore negating the raised levels of proteins for muscle growth, that may be laymens terms but i believe its true, therefore i disagree with this statement my friend

 

[bigp3]

You have to do your training and diet in cycles in order to maximize your gains. I.E. Set your goal before you start your cycle. If it is to gain you are going to need the carbs and a ton of protein. Don't eat like shit by any means but eat plenty of wholesome foods. If you goal is to cut then by all means cut the carbs increase your cardio but dont expect a lot of gains. Believe me the pros do not stay cut all year round and slack on their diets in the offseason. I had the chance to eat dinner with Lou Ferigno (spelling??) about 10 years ago when he made his comeback. We ate dinner at the golden corral and this MF'er ate everything he could get his hands on. I was in shock. I thought these guys ate golden year round.

 

[Him1]

quote:
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Originally posted by solidspine
If you take in enough clean calories and protein you can grow on zero carbs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I couldn't Disagree more, from my experience anyway. I like to take in at LEAST as much carbs as protein. I eat 300g protein and 400+ carbs when trying to grow, I don't eat any simple sugar or much "bad fat" when I do this though. I put on some bodyfat, but,not too much, thats the way to grow imo.

 

[Him1]

BTW, I used to take in evcen less protein and more carbs, like 225-250p and 500 carbs, and I grew off that too, but, when I went to 300g protein, I bumped my bodyweight over 200 lb's at 5'9.

 

[deppnade]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by solidspine
If you take in enough clean calories and protein you can grow on zero carbs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I couldn't Disagree more, from my experience anyway. I like to take in at LEAST as much carbs as protein. I eat 300g protein and 400+ carbs when trying to grow, I don't eat any simple sugar or much "bad fat" when I do this though. I put on some bodyfat, but,not too much, thats the way to grow imo.

agreed mr. Him

 

[Ceebs]

Insulin is an incredibly anabolic force. Insulin levels will be low in the absence of carbs, and you won't be able grow as efficiently as you would have otherwise.

Also, you need glycogen in your muscles to lift heavy to stimulate growth in the first place. You can get it from ingested protein via gluconeogenesis, but that's an expensive and (again) inefficient way to do it...

 

[Young_blooded]

Um....

Anyway, if I wanted to get to say just over 200 or so this cycle, DO i REALLY NEED A LOT OF CARBS??, or what if I just focused around 300g protein a day and any carbs I had were just excess(as in the bread on a big roast beef sub).

It seems you already sorta, kinda, maybe know the answer to "DO I REALLY NEED A LOT OF CARBS??"...im sure your asking this because you have seen it everywhere.....You WILL and i can Gurantee you will have much better results espcially while on a cycle if you eat plenty of carbs...

this is my .02 on what kind of carbs you should eat as this has worked great for me....

any whole wheat product such as:

wheat toast
shredded wheat
home made wheat biscuits (thanks grandma)
whole wheat pasta
" " raviolit
" " featchini (spell?)
" " noodles
brown rice

vegies include:
Brocoli
sweet potatoes
Some white potatoes (this could be argued)


Alot of stuff can be said about growth diets and etc...but if you want another source check out this site ( which has a few contest diets from pros close to your own weight and those over 250 lbs)

http://www.animalpak.com/

--just IMO take it or leave it.
-peace

 

[FLmuscles]

Well, you're gonna get tons of opinions on this, but YES, you do need carbs to maximize your growth. THey help the muscle replenish glycogen, they provide you energy to get through our workout, they play a role inmuscle function, etc. etc., etc. WHen bulking, I eat high-protein, high-carb, and pretty low fat, stressing the "good" fats.

ANd simple sugars ARE important, in the post-workout recovery phase. DOn't shun a gainer shake that has lots of sugar, it's actually desigend that way intentionally, for post workout recovery--quick glycogen replacement. If you're a hard gainer you culd have more sugars other times too. Most importatnty, experiment and SEE WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!

 

[PatBateman]

wow, these replies are f*ing awesome!!! OK, I will go with carbs like mac and cheese, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat bread, any bread I have a sandwich on. Potatoes, etc.

One roll of Sweetarts after any kind of workout, be it lifting or running.


You guys ROCK!!!

 

[thate]

wow, these replies are f*ing awesome!!! OK, I will go with carbs like mac and cheese, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat bread, any bread I have a sandwich on. Potatoes, etc.

One roll of Sweetarts after any kind of workout, be it lifting or running.


You guys ROCK!!!

Brown rice, oatmeal, & yams are the 3 best complex carbs you can consume. Eat lots of them.