I came across carb cycling a few years ago. I know I am a bit behind talking about it but I recently started again along with I.F. aka intermittent fasting (the latest fitness trend that’s buzzing) & I am loving the results!! If you’re looking to shed the extra stubborn 5-10 pounds then maybe you can start implementing carb cycling with intermittent fasting & hopefully see results before the summer is over lol

So here is how it works: (I will talk about IF in detail another time… for now let’s focus on carb cycling)

Carb Cycling might sound super fancy or even intimating to look into at first and most fitness gurus make it sound complicated but it’s really simple once you understand the basics of it & remember to adjust everything according to your liking & YOUR body.

What?

Carb Cycling is nothing more than just eating more carbohydrates on some days (high carb days) to promote muscle growth & eating fewer carbohydrates on other days (low carb days) to promote fat loss. It’s that simple.

How?

High carb makes your body stimulate an insulin response that shuttles nutrients in your muscle cells to grow. It also helps replenishes glycogen that fuel your muscles & make you feel good and energized. Low carb promotes fat loss by tricking your body into burning fat for fuel & keeps your body more receptive to insulin which improves your body’s muscle building response.

What’s next? After a ton of research, lots of reading & a few thousand trials & errors, I put together my own version of Carb Cycling Meal Plan (see image). Please note, I didn’t take into consideration macro-nutrient or anything else fitness-y people tell us to do, I just applied the basic rules of high/low carb cycling & tried to implement the most simple & convenient plan into my daily routine.

 Eat:

* Good nutrient carbs such as: quinoa, sweet potatoes, fruits, whole grains, oats, and brown rice.

* High carb day consists of carbs, veggies, and healthy fats.

* Do not eat junky carbs such as: white bread, croissants, cakes, and sugary desserts.

* Low carb day consists of no/low carbs, veggies, and healthy fats.

Workout:

* High carb days- Lift weights

* Low carb days- Cardio or no gym

Don’t forget to calculate your carb calorie intake & adjust the plan according to your body. Snap a picture of the meal plan & give it a try for a few weeks. It’s simple to follow & I left some tips that can hopefully be useful.

Laters,

xo

ph