i'm off all supplements and back on carbohydrates- WOW!

[dyna mo]

other than drugs & alcohol, i think the 2 biggest health mistakes i've made were using supplements and going low-carb.

in fact, i think low carb diets will prolly be shown to be one of the worst diet plans ever.

my energy levels are significantly higher than they were before, i wake up more refreshed and also think my thinking is more clear.

re: supplements, i now realize i was using them thinking they would be a significant factor in my exercise/shape-up program but i stopped all creatine, NO, pre-w/o, intra-w/o, and post-w/o sups and my lifts have not gone down in weight and i am actually working out harder and showing better results than i ever have with supplementation.

anyone else here experienced this?

[bronco67]

I never understood the low carb thing.

Carbs are your fuel.

[CarlosTheGaucho]

I would even guess it makes zero sense to use Creatine or other hi fi supplements if you don't stuff yourself with carbs and proteine, those are supplements where you have to go for a high protein high carb diet and your goal has to be to gain mass as far as I understand.

I'm using liquid amino acids and a proteine drink one hour after a weights work out and before I go to sleep, that's it - helps regeneration.

I gotta try to play with my diet now - try to add more vegetables, more variety as I'm also feeling a little bit tired time from time.

[beerptrol]

I always eat just enough carbs to keep my body fueled through the day when trying to cut or maintain. when trying to gain I eat a shit load of carbs and protein

[Wizzo]

Sounds like you might be hypoglycemic, glad to hear your feeling better!

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by CarlosTheGaucho

I'm also feeling a little bit tired time from time.

that's what was happening to me, pretty severe. i added 2-3 servings of complex carbs to my diet throughout the day and wow, the change in energy was virtually overnight.

i'm even eating complex carbs right before i go to bed, my bodyfat is still dropping and i wake up much more energetic.

[Amputate Your Head]

Originally Posted by Jesus H Christ

Good for you. I eat all natural carbs and all is normal, but what people need to understand is when you go for long periods of no carbs you're setting yourself up for a lot of pain in your near future.

It's called gout and once you have your first attack you'll think someone crept in your bed one night and smashed your toes with a baseball bat. When I had my first gout attack I actually thought I broke my toe and it lasted weeks. When the second attack hit, It was more painful then a double ear infection (diving and flying on the same day) and went to the doctor thinking some how I broke both big toes this time.

The first thing the doctor ask me was......how long have you been on a no carb diet?

Jesus, I think this might be what's wrong with me. My toes feel exactly like that right now and I haven't smashed them lately.
If I just start loading carbs will it go away, or....?

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by Jesus H Christ

Good for you. I eat all natural carbs and all is normal, but what people need to understand is when you go for long periods of no carbs you're setting yourself up for a lot of pain in your near future.

It's called gout and once you had your first attack you'll think someone crept in your bed one night and smashed your toes with a baseball bat. When I had my first gout attack I actually thought I broke my toe and it lasted weeks. When the second attack hit, It was more painful then a double ear infection (diving and flying on the same day) and went to the doctor thinking some how I broke both big toes this time.

The first thing the doctor ask me was......how long have you been on a no carb diet?

wow, that's crazy. had no idea. i wonder if peeps on ketogenic diets have that problem.

Originally Posted by Wizzo

Sounds like you might be hypoglycemic, glad to hear your feeling better!

well, i am actually diabetic- 26 year insulin junkie. the docs way back then told me (as they have since then even) that i should cut carbs to help lower my blood sugars. but the crazy thing is my insulin requirements have not changed since i went back on carbs ~1 month ago.

[riddler]

the problem with low carb and body building is you was probably still in a calorie defict, its hard to eat 3000+ calories a day in strictly meats, that's ALOT of fucking meat.

low carb diets work because people simply dont eat the amount calories they would on a normal diet, they eat 5-6 times a day and have a huge portion of some meats and they maybe only tipped 1300 calories for the day.

[The Demon]

Originally Posted by CarlosTheGaucho

I would even guess it makes zero sense to use Creatine or other hi fi supplements if you don't stuff yourself with carbs and proteine, those are supplements where you have to go for a high protein high carb diet and your goal has to be to gain mass as far as I understand.

I'm using liquid amino acids and a proteine drink one hour after a weights work out and before I go to sleep, that's it - helps regeneration.

I gotta try to play with my diet now - try to add more vegetables, more variety as I'm also feeling a little bit tired time from time.

Most people have no idea how vital 1 gram of protein/1lb of LBM is. I've went up 110 pounds on my bench in 6 weeks.

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by The Demon

I've went up 110 pounds on my bench in 6 weeks.

you have got to be shitting me! what % increase was this?

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by riddler

the problem with low carb and body building is you was probably still in a calorie defict, its hard to eat 3000+ calories a day in strictly meats, that's ALOT of fucking meat.

low carb diets work because people simply dont eat the amount calories they would on a normal diet, they eat 5-6 times a day and have a huge portion of some meats and they maybe only tipped 1300 calories for the day.

this is exactly my experience and conclusion. low-carb diets work because they simply cut overall calories. but what a cost eh.

[CaptainHowdy]

I'm on high carbs and no exercise...

[96ukssob]

Originally Posted by bronco67

I never understood the low carb thing.

Carbs are your fuel.

low carb to most people is the normal amount you should take in.

there is no need to eat as much carbs as most people do. ive watched people at restaurants put down the equivalent of 2 loafs of bread eating their meal... and thats just one meal.

[The Demon]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

you have got to be shitting me! what % increase was this?

Well there are many reasons for this.

1. I haven't bench pressed in over a year so I started at a difficult 185.

2. I've never consumed 1 gram of protein per 1 lb of LBM, so the past 8 years I've been working out, I believe I've been selling myself short.

3. Every week i'm increasing and my NFL trainer is worried I might catch up to him lol.

4. This week on the flat bench I did 12 reps of 225, 10 reps of 265, 8 reps of 275, 6 reps of 295. On the incline I did 10 reps of 225, 8 reps of 235, and 6 reps of 245.

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by The Demon

Well there are many reasons for this.

1. I haven't bench pressed in over a year so I started at a difficult 185.

2. I've never consumed 1 gram of protein per 1 lb of LBM, so the past 8 years I've been working out, I believe I've been selling myself short.

3. Every week i'm increasing and my NFL trainer is worried I might catch up to him lol.

4. This week on the flat bench I did 12 reps of 225, 10 reps of 265, 8 reps of 275, 6 reps of 295. On the incline I did 10 reps of 225, 8 reps of 235, and 6 reps of 245.

impressive.

i wonder what i can bench. i do push ups. i was SEVERELY out of shape 6 months ago and could only do <10 pushups at a time and maxed out at ~30 total. i am now up to 200+ on my chest days. not at once, in sets of ~25-27. all types, wide, close, decline, etc.

i am still getting results from them so i will continue but i will need to move to bench presses at some point.

[The Demon]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

impressive.

i wonder what i can bench. i do push ups. i was SEVERELY out of shape 6 months ago and could only do <10 pushups at a time and maxed out at ~30 total. i am now up to 200+ on my chest days. not at once, in sets of ~25-27. all types, wide, close, decline, etc.

Yea, I often finish up chest workouts with 150-200 pushups.

i am still getting results from them so i will continue but i will need to move to bench presses at some point.

Yea, the problem with calisthenics is that they're a great complement to weight lifting, but they're not superior by themselves.

[RachelPanda]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

other than drugs & alcohol, i think the 2 biggest health mistakes i've made were using supplements and going low-carb.

in fact, i think low carb diets will prolly be shown to be one of the worst diet plans ever.

my energy levels are significantly higher than they were before, i wake up more refreshed and also think my thinking is more clear.

re: supplements, i now realize i was using them thinking they would be a significant factor in my exercise/shape-up program but i stopped all creatine, NO, pre-w/o, intra-w/o, and post-w/o sups and my lifts have not gone down in weight and i am actually working out harder and showing better results than i ever have with supplementation.

anyone else here experienced this?

Eeep, yes. I have gone on SO many crazy eating plans (raw-vegan was the worst) to try and get my body in shape for various activities (ie, different diets for winter, going on long backpacking trips, races) and I have found that I feel best when I just eat what my body tells me to.

After stopping my pop habit back in '06, I don't crave anything that unhealthy and find that I have ridiculous energy now.

[RachelPanda]

Originally Posted by bronco67

I never understood the low carb thing.

Carbs are your fuel.

And fat. At least from what I've experienced, I need a bit of fat along with the carbs to really make me feel energized.

[quiet]

i could never drop carbs. i love them. then again, i bike or snowboard every single day.

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by The Demon

Yea, I often finish up chest workouts with 150-200 pushups.



Yea, the problem with calisthenics is that they're a great complement to weight lifting, but they're not superior by themselves.

i am actually in the best shape/health i have ever been in and my resistance training is primarily push ups and pull ups. i've had personal trainers and done the bb thing but never got as dialed in as i am now. but my goals are not to *get big* more like *get healthy*

Originally Posted by RachelPanda

And fat. At least from what I've experienced, I need a bit of fat along with the carbs to really make me feel energized.

could you elaborate on this? my fat intake is ~10-12% of cals. so my c-p-f split is ~ 45-45-10

Originally Posted by quiet

i could never drop carbs. i love them. then again, i bike or snowboard every single day.

activity- yes! consistent hard work allows for a more balanced diet.

[Amputate Your Head]

Thanks for the advice Jesus, I really appreciate it.

[The Demon]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

i am actually in the best shape/health i have ever been in and my resistance training is primarily push ups and pull ups. i've had personal trainers and done the bb thing but never got as dialed in as i am now. but my goals are not to *get big* more like *get healthy*

Yea I hear you. Unfortunately when you're on a cut, you need the heavy weight training to maintain and gain muscle while simultaneously losing fat.

could you elaborate on this? my fat intake is ~10-12% of cals. so my c-p-f split is ~ 45-45-10

This is just fine, but it all depends on what you need. For instance, my P-C-F is 55-30-15. Having more than half of your daily calorie intake being protein is great if you're cutting heavily. My maintenance intake is about 2900 a day, and I eat about 1800.