If you are looking for a diet tactic that promotes fat loss, isn’t too overwhelming or stressful, and allows you to still enjoy your favorite foods…carb cycling may be your secret weapon!
Carb cycling is varying your carb intake throughout the week or day – which is a powerful way to lose weight and break through plateaus.
It can be a great option for:
- those who want the benefits of a low-carb lifestyle while enjoying their favorite high-carb treats now and then.
- if you want to change overall body composition, trim fat in the mid-section, and have energy throughout the day.
- serious athletes and bodybuilders who want to drop body fat, get more muscle mass, or store more carbs for long-haul exercise like a marathon (but we will not dive into that here).
Note: Carb cycling may not be right for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, underweight, or managing an eating disorder.
What’s the 101 on carb cycling?
Carb cycling strategically uses carbs to fuel your body, improve your overall metabolism, and keep hormones functioning optimally.
It is used by those who want to drop body fat, get more muscle mass, or store more carbs for long-haul exercise like a marathon. It’s becoming more popular with people who want to kick-start weight loss.
How does carb cycling work?
Carb cycling typically involves going back and forth between high-carb and low-carb days OR high-carb post-workout meals and low-carb meals.
Carb cycling schedule
A typical carb cycling schedule might look like this:
- Non-workout days: low carb, low calorie
- Workout days: high carb, high calorie
What carbs are recommended to eat
- Vegetables: Have different vitamin and mineral content.
- Fruits: Such as berries with high antioxidant content and low glycemic load.
- Legumes: Slow digesting carbohydrates full of fiber and minerals.
Want more information?
We have only just tapped the surface with this post…if you are interested in learning more about carb cycling and how to program it to fit YOUR life and goals, grab my Carb Cycling Quick Guide.
