Low carb diet

[Zeal]

I'm following a diet to build some lean muscle with an absolute minimum of fat, and looking at tweaking my plan to consisting of just over 2g/lb in protein, roughly 100g carbs per day (mostly from oats and blueberries), and a ****load of fat including a pound of 80/20 beef every day, about six tablespoons of olive oil, and 10g of fish oil. Is this going to work or am I just going to die? Works out to about 3700 calories for a 170 lb. guy. Cardio and green tea and all that good stuff will be in place.

 

[Warboss Alex]

Try it and see.. personally with so much fat I'd do some things differently, but first see how it works for you. I'd make the fish oil 30g at least though.

 

[Zeal]

I'd make the fish oil 30g at least though.

What would you do differently? I don't understand what you mean.

 

[Warboss Alex]

You need a much higher fish oil dose to balance out the omega6's and other fats you're getting. Fish oil is your only source of omega3 (and EPA/DHA) in the diet you outlined.

I have my own version of an extreme low carb bulking up plan but since I haven't tested it it's all theory, and could fail miserably if you're an ectomorph (as would your approach). But I don't want to say "do this, it'll work" because I don't know whether it would or not. if I ever get back to working out again, I will try it and let you all know.

edit: I can tell you it if you want to try it. I'm sure it'll keep you lean, but it will have to be modified depending on how well you gain with low carbs

 

[BluEyes]

if I ever get back to working out again

What's this supposed to mean?

 

[Zeal]

edit: I can tell you it if you want to try it. I'm sure it'll keep you lean, but it will have to be modified depending on how well you gain with low carbs

I'm definitely an ectomorph; I have almost no muscle on my frame. The worst part is that I have some fat to get rid of as well which comes from 24 years of a sedentary lifestyle.

I haven't been at this long, so I'm trying to figure out what works for me. Goal #1 is to build some semblence of a muscular frame. Due to my genetics, I really don't expect that I'll be able to recomp at a reasonable rate - don't get me wrong, I'm not impatient and believe that recomposition can be done, I just really don't think that I'm genetically capable of it. If your low-carb "bulk" thing could work for someone of that background, I'd love to hear it. Otherwise, I think I may actually have to scrap my idea and go a higher-carb route. I tend to overanalyze and need to find some sort of program I can believe in. Once I find that, I'll be as consistent as can be.

To put things in perspective:

I bench about 80 lbs. Squat 120lb. Deadlift 160lb. while still holding some fat, probably 15%+. Arms like 12" flexed

 

[shaunuk]

I'd be interested in hearing the low carb bulking diet as well please, if you wouldn't mind posting it up? Cheers,

-shaun

 

[Warboss Alex]

BluEyes - it means the only squat variation I've done this year involved my wife and no clothes. I haven't actually worked out in 2007, I've had other priorities and training/eating were not at the top of the list. When/if I start again I'll be doing a powerlifting program, just strength. I find bodybuilding very boring to do. I also have the advantage of keeping/gaining size easily (more so than strength) so hypertrophy really isn't an issue. Powerlifting is damn fun though.

Zeal - given this new information I'd probably say that a higher carb approach would be better for you. That's not to say you wouldn't gain on low carbs, you'd just need to take in a LOT of calories to do so. If you like, I'll train you for the next couple of months (for free). We'll try to ascertain what's best for you. PM if interested.

Shaun - (briefly) you go the oldschool route of meat, eggs, cream, cheese, vegetables etc, add some berries in for minerals and antioxidants, and no carbs (~40-50g a day max) except for a carb day every 4-5 days, and only take in certain carbs that day. Fruit can be had on the low carb days depending on the individual. Calories will be sky high, and protein should be a MINIMUM 2g per lb. That's the vague outline of it. Much like the anabolic diet but without the 48hr carbup, which I think can mess with your insulin sensitivity too much. also, the anabolic diet lets you cheat on the carb days - I think this is foolish given how many calories you're taking in. I honestly think it's the best way of gaining muscle while keeping or reducing bodyfat, but it depends on how well you handle low carbs.. some people simply don't.

 

[simon]

Low-carb diet has worked very well for me because I get fat on high-carbs. Like Alex said: lots and lots of meat, eggs, butter and cream (for calories) with some low-carb fruit and vegetables plus some olive oil. Though I do a TCD so I keep my carbs at around 100g/day with 50-60g maltodextrin in my PWO drink. Carb-ups send me into a sugar coma.

 

[EFFORT]

the anabolic diet fun ****

I have some different low carb bulking diets as well, most of them worked great depending on the person others not so good and a few more to experiment with.

I was thinking of putting you on one of them shaun but since your gains are so steady i'm positive things will still move forward with the tweaks we made and your body fat will come down as well without having to go real low carb.

Zeal you better take advantage of that offer

 

[Warboss Alex]

the anabolic diet fun ****

best thing about is how great your food tastes. I mean, you could have bacon and eggs, and raspberries and cream (with a scoop of protein powder mixed in) for breakfast. The only issue is balancing the fats for health purposes (which is my gripe with the Atkins diet as well), but 20-40g of fish oil every day should ensure the omega ratio isn't sent out of whack. This can probably be scaled back at some point in theory but I see no reason to in practice.

Zeal you better take advantage of that offer

Thanks bro. Since I've recently been accused of having a 'personal stake' in my ideas, I'm now doing training for nothing - money was never the issue from the start. And if my advice didn't work for them, they didn't lose any money, and learned a lesson in what NOT works for them.

 

[shaunuk]

EFFORT - yeah, I think my bf will start coming down soon now, and btw, I got it measured and I'm not 15%, lol. It's 12-13% I'm not sure if low carb would work so well for me. As an example, I'll tell you about the little eff up I made today. I went to the gym straight after school today with fvck all carbs in me, laid down on the bench, started warming up then just got up and went home. I had no energy in me, trying to train would've been stupid and non-productive. Might've just been the fact I was trying to train on a lack of calories, but probably carbs was the issue.

Went for my hour long walk this morning, taking my sesathin, I'll do my high intensity cardio tomorrow, it's all good

Effort, I'm at about 144lbs up from 115lbs btw. I'll train Monday's session on Wednesday, and Thursday's session on saturday, what do you think?

BluEyes - it means the only squat variation I've done this year involved my wife and no clothes. I haven't actually worked out in 2007, I've had other priorities and training/eating were not at the top of the list. When/if I start again I'll be doing a powerlifting program, just strength. I find bodybuilding very boring to do. I also have the advantage of keeping/gaining size easily (more so than strength) so hypertrophy really isn't an issue. Powerlifting is damn fun though.

lol Are you wanting to get into pro powerlifting mate?


-shaun

 

[Warboss Alex]

lol Are you wanting to get into pro powerlifting mate?-shaun

professionally? no. but competitively, yes, maybe sometime.. I just find powerlifting a hell of a lot more fun than bodybuilding.

 

[Scought]

Shaun,

I am a bit confused. Did you go to the gym while "high" on carbs...or were you suggesting that you hadn't had any.

I am along the lines with a few others in here. Carbs just don't help me out. I feel better eating less than 100 a day.

Anything more and I am sluggish and slow.

 

[stronglifts]

I'm following a diet to build some lean muscle with an absolute minimum of fat, and looking at tweaking my plan to consisting of just over 2g/lb in protein, roughly 100g carbs per day (mostly from oats and blueberries), and a ****load of fat including a pound of 80/20 beef every day, about six tablespoons of olive oil, and 10g of fish oil. Is this going to work or am I just going to die? Works out to about 3700 calories for a 170 lb. guy. Cardio and green tea and all that good stuff will be in place.

I like your plan. High fat/High protein/low carb is eating like a man.

You could go zero carbs too: check out the anabolic diet (anabolic solution).

-Mehdi.