Carb Cycling - Oh the joy.

The last three weeks of Livefit Trainer involves carb cycling. 

Carb cycling takes the macronutrients (the proteins, fats and carbs) of your meals and manipulates them to reduce body fat to very low levels, with as little muscle cannibalization as possible. 

Here's the theory: Because carbs are the body's preferred source of fuel, cycling those carbs - eating lower amounts some days, higher amounts other days - confuses the body by not giving it a constant and dependable fuel source. When we reduce the intake of carbs on lower carb days, we'll replace those calories with protein and healthy fats. That way you'll have an adequate number of calories and maintain as much muscle as possible as you continue to exercise. 

So I've been doing my best. On low carb days I'm suppose to eat 80 grams of carbs, 43 grams of fat, and 224 grams of protein o_O. I have yet to eat that much protein. It's not easy at all. For the most part my carbs have been between 80 -85 grams. Fat between 43 - 50 and Protein 160 - 200. 

On high carb days I'm suppose to eat 200 grams of carbs, 27 grams of fat, and 140 grams of protein. I've only had 1 high carb day (2 if you include today) and the hardest part is keeping my fat intake low but boy do I love being able to eat an apple or two.

Here are some of my carb cycling eats. 

Low carb days 

Jamie Eason Italian Turkey Burgers

Italian Turkey burger & sweet potato fries

Turkey breast & egg whites

Apple Cinnamon Protein Bars

Tilapia, cucumbers with salt&vinegar, & avocado

  

Plain steel cut oatmeal and 2 boil eggs

High carb day 

Not much things but my two favs from that day!

Egg white oatmeal pancakes with pineapple chobani and bananas

Pink Lady Apple

Do you carb cycle? 

Do you pay close attention to your carb intake?

xoxo, Preshii