How to Eat Carbs for More Muscle and Less Fat
If you’re one of those avid bodybuilders whose goal is to gain as much muscle mass as possible while shedding their excess fat at the same time, this is the article for you.
Bodybuilders typically take an extremist approach to both gaining muscle and losing fat.
While bulking, they eat a ridiculous amount of food to feed their growing
muscles, but during the cutting phase, they eat like birds in the hope of
achieving a lean and chiseled look.
This process can be very exhausting and frustrating, and many fail to
keep up with the tempo.
However, thanks to science, we’re becoming increasingly aware that there’s another way to the perfect physique.
However, thanks to science, we’re becoming increasingly aware that there’s another way to the perfect physique.
Namely, if we apply our advanced understanding of how the various
systems of the body function, as well as our knowledge about the optimal
nutritional timing, we can embark on a successful journey of
simultaneous bulking and cutting.
With a bit of hard work and dedication, you can take advantage of
certain nutrients and use them wisely to achieve this goal.
And naturally, since muscles love carbs, they are first on the list of nutrients that can be used to optimize your gains.
And naturally, since muscles love carbs, they are first on the list of nutrients that can be used to optimize your gains.
In the text below, we’ll uncover a way to consume carbs in a way
that will keep you lean while you continue to pack on insane amounts of
mass.
No more complex and confusing diet plans and confusing expert tips.
No more complex and confusing diet plans and confusing expert tips.
This is all you need to know in order to properly load your body with
carbs and build slabs of lean muscle.
#1. Mass Building: Follow The 2-3 Rule
This is a fairly simple guideline for building mass, according to which you need to consume 2-3 grams of carbs per pound of bodyweight each day, more or less evenly spread over five to six meals.
Applying this rule while you’re bulking will give you the best
results minus the risk of gaining unwanted body fat.
#2. Leaning Out: Follow The 3-2-1 Rule
Forget about the extreme low-carb approach to cutting because it will only leave you drained and deflated.
After you complete your mass-building phase, move on to a cutting
phase by simply adjusting the aforementioned ratio to
3-2-1.
In other words, you’ll consume 3 grams of carbs per pound of
bodyweight on the first day, 2 grams per pound of bodyweight on the
second day and 1 gram per pound of bodyweight on the third day, after
which you’ll repeat the same cycle as long as it takes to get the
wanted results.
#3. The right time for high-glycemic carbs
When choosing your mass-building carbs, opt for soft-textured, fast-digesting carbs such as Cream of Rice, Cream of Wheat, white pasta and the classic mashed potatoes.
The softer the texture, the faster the digestion, which in turn
translated to higher levels of insulin.
In case you didn’t know, insulin plays a crucial in muscle growth by
helping prevent muscle breakdown and driving amino acids into muscle
cells.
#4. The right time for low-glycemic carbs
Contrary to high-glycemic (fast-digesting) carbs, slow-digesting
carbs such as yams, corn and whole-wheat bread have a low negligible
effect on your insulin levels, which is very beneficial when you’re
cutting.
#4. The right time for low-glycemic carbs
Contrary to high-glycemic (fast-digesting) carbs, slow-digesting
carbs such as yams, corn and whole-wheat bread have a low negligible
effect on your insulin levels, which is very beneficial when you’re
cutting.
These nutrients will allow you to maintain and even upgrade your mass
gains by keeping your caloric intake high enough, while also managing
your insulin levels in the most favorable way for a smoother leaning
out.
Consume a generous amount of fast-digesting carbs within an hour after you drop that barbell in order to spike your insulin levels and keep muscle breakdown at bay.
#5. The post-workout meal
Consume a generous amount of fast-digesting carbs within an hour after you drop that barbell in order to spike your insulin levels and keep muscle breakdown at bay.
A good rule of thumb for the bulking phase is to consume .7 to .9
grams of carbs per pound of bodyweight, with a 50:50 ratio of
high-glycemic to low-glycemic carb sources.
While cutting, lower the numbers to .5 grams per pound of
bodyweight.
In addition, stick to the staples (potatoes, pasta, yams, rice, etc.)
and don’t replace them with nutritionally poorer choices such as
fruits, which pack far lower amounts of fiber and carbs and offer less
benefits for your bodybuilding goals.