Carb tapering

[Klinger]

The idea being to decrease your carb intake as the day wears on, eliminating them altogether after a certain time (say 5 p.m. for example).

A trainer at my gym who also competes in BB contests swears this is the key to shedding the last 5-10 pounds when cutting.

My issue is this: I work out at night, so going carb-free in the evenings seems dubious. Any thoughts on whether carb-free post-workout meals would be a bad thing. I'd still take my post-WO shake, of course.

[jimmyv]

I'd still want the PWO carbs, though I'd cut down on them significantly on any subsequent meals.

[el_diablo0]

if you work out at night, the PWO shake should be really the last meal with carbs in it.

I wouldn't worry about it otherwise, just make sure you're eating something between PWO and sleep.

[SNPiccolo5]

Ideally, working out in the morning would solve this problem, but working out at night is definitely fine. Just consume most of your carbs surrounding your workout, and don't consume too many carbs after that. Cursor has some good illustrations, but here's what I'd do. Let's say workout is inbetween meals 3 and 4

Meal 1- medium carb (even high if you want- it's morning and your body will need the carbs) (moderate fat)

Meal 2- low/no carb (fibrous veggies etc....) (moderate fat)

Meal 3- high carb (low fat)

Meal 4- high carb (low fat)

Meal 5- low/no carb (fibrous veggies etc...) (moderate-higher fat)


-Tim

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by SNPiccolo5

Meal 1- medium carb (even high if you want- it's morning and your body will need the carbs) (moderate fat)

Meal 2- low/no carb (fibrous veggies etc....) (moderate fat)

Meal 3- high carb (low fat)

Meal 4- high carb (low fat)

Meal 5- low/no carb (fibrous veggies etc...) (moderate-higher fat)

This is misleading to a beginner. I think what Tim was trying to say is NO STARCHY carbs when he says no carbs because ALL VEGGIES ARE COMPLEX CARBS. :confused: Eating most of your carbs in veggies and you cannot go wrong anytime.

Starchy carbs are pasta, potatoes, whole grains, (oatmeal or cereals), rice and any form of crackers and breads.

[Gilogy]

Sorry guys, sometimes I need things spelled out for me.
SNPiccolo5's example allows for two meals after a workout so his breakdown makes sense. But what if your workout is between meal 4 & 5.

I'm in the same situation -- workout is late, PWO shake and then my last meal of the day about 45 minutes later. If my last meal was grilled chicken breast & mixed veggies, on a weight training day I would add a portion of sweet potato, or brown rice, or WW Pasta.

Now like Klinger, I am also in a cutting phase -- so it sounds like the recommendation is to skip the starch in the last meal.

But now back to the original question -- what effect will that have on the muscles? Are the complex carbs in veggies sufficient PWO? We're already limiting muscle growth by not taking in sufficient calories daily, are we sabotaging our efforts/muscles by removing the starchy carbs from the EOD PWO meal? :confused:

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by Gilogy

Are the complex carbs in veggies sufficient PWO? We're already limiting muscle growth by not taking in sufficient calories daily, are we sabotaging our efforts/muscles by removing the starchy carbs from the EOD PWO meal? :confused:

No, post-workout you NEED starchy carbs, regardless of time of day. You will be sacrificing your gains by just eating veggies. Look at these for more info
workout timing
meal planning & workout timing
more meal planning & workout timing

[Gilogy]

OK, good -- that is what I always understood -- but for some reason I was interpreting the above posts differently. Thanks for the clarification Lady C!

[Klinger]

Thanks, everyone. I'll draw up a meal plan based on your advice and see if I can make this work w/o sacrificing gains.

[Gilogy]

Originally Posted by Lady C

No, post-workout you NEED starchy carbs, regardless of time of day. You will be sacrificing your gains by just eating veggies. Look at these for more info
workout timing
meal planning & workout timing
more meal planning & workout timing

Oh--Mannn! I remember reading those threads about seven months ago and my main reaction was... Huh?
Now reading through them again, my reaction is ... ahhh! So that's what they meant!

And I see what we were discussing listed in the middle of this thread:
http://www.discussfitness.com/showth...?t=2578&page=2

Good deal! I think I need to take a closer look at my meal plan.

[SNPiccolo5]

Sorry if my post was slightly confusing... If your workout was inbetween your last two meals, have as many carbs post workout as you usually would, is what I think. All this stuff can be confusing, but the basic rule is, eat as much as your body will need when it needs it. No matter when your workout is, the meal before and after it should probably be your largest meals.

-Tim

[cursor]

Focusing the bulk of your carbohydrate intake around your workout is key ... regardless of what the clock says. The only clock that you should be concerned with is your metabolic clock.