WarriorFX

Carbohydrate cycling is an effective method for bodybuilders who want to lose fat while preserving a lot of muscle. Two dietary periods are used: glycogen depletion and carbohydrate loading. During carbohydrate restriction, a state of ketosis develops as stored glycogen in liver and muscle tissue depletes. This accelerates fat as a source of energy – consumed through the diet or stored within adipose tissue. I recently finished a 14-day cyclic-ketogenic diet to illustrate how this works. Prior to beginning, I did a seven-day CKD variation for a few weeks, then detrained (no training) for one week. I started at 248 pounds; target weight was 228, glycogen loaded. I ended at a hard 227, glycogen loaded and drug free. Read more

A lot of dieting strategies over recent years place less stress on fat and more on carbohydrate. Nutritional outlines by medical professionals have revealed the affect carbohydrates have on body composition and health; such as: The Zone, The Paleo Diet - the Atkin’s Diet set out to completely avoid them. Nutritional experts everywhere adopted a way to determine the quality of any carbohydrate-containing food using a Glycemic Index. The GI was introduced in 1981 to provide a ranking system for carbohydrates based on how they affect blood glucose levels. To this day, the GI usually compares, gram-for-gram, the impact of 50 grams of carbohydrate between varying foods. This is where critics rang in to dispute the usefulness of such data - introducing the Glycemic Load, comparing GI to actual portion sizes. Read more

It’s amazing when you think about it. A culture that once perished in the face of famine, is now ailing amidst overindulgence. Thousands of years ago, humans endured through a strong connection between food procurement and physical exertion. Today, physical activity is often an optional part of daily living. Modern medicine and technology has helped prolong mortality despite growing health concerns and metabolic disorders – but at what cost? Two basic variables have been neglected: balanced energy consumption and frequent physical exertion. We have become too lazy, too over-fed and frequently malnourished. Read more

There is a generalized statement floating around mainstream fitness enthusiasts regarding how many calories it takes to burn off one pound of bodyweight. Many are led to believe a loss of 3,500 calories is required to lose one pound of weight. According to recent research, it’s possible to lose much more at the same energy deficit. Although haste makes waste when it comes to muscle preservation. Read more

For bodybuilders, a layer of unnecessary body fat hides a proper visual representation of their consistency and dedication to training, nutrition and a general muscle-building lifestyle. Furthermore, excess body fat can lead to metabolic disruptions and improper calorie partitioning. A modest fat gain is a tolerable condition after a period of overeating to support heavy weightlifting for maximum gains in muscle mass. However, before a soft physique turns obese, it’s time to apply a calorie-cutting diet with a fat-loss training routine. It’s important to remain consistent enough to reveal off season muscle-building efforts. Many bodybuilders reverse a soft-body trend before the summer – a season where more favorable outdoor temperatures can increase social relations. But can increasing social ties cause a disruption in a fat-burning period? Read more

People in great physical conditioning are often asked about the steps toward a successful change in body composition. Bodybuilders and competitive athletes typically spend years in a strong physical condition. They are often solicited for advice about increasing muscle mass and lowering body fat. Formerly obese people learned to gain control of their body composition and become walking success stories. They are often a great source for general weight loss support. No matter who is asked, there is no disputing the impact obesity has on health and general comfort - no matter how many times “big is beautiful” is repeated. People suffering from unhealthy levels of fat mass generally seek out advice asking the same routine questions. The path is frequently dropped right in front of them; they have to choose to walk it. Read more

Cyclic ketogenic diets have been used for decades by endurance athletes and bodybuilders - but generally for different reasons. Endurance athletes typically draw on the benefits of a CKD to super compensate glycogen levels for increased athletic potential; beginning three days prior to an event. Bodybuilders, athletes depending on defined muscle presentation, employ carbohydrate cycles to maintain musculature while losing fat mass.

Carbohydrate cycling provides results for greater performance or more detailed exhibition using two dietary periods: glycogen depletion and carbohydrate loading. Bodybuilders must fully understand the stages - and the numerous numbers involved - for obtaining significant results. Read more

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore,” said Andre Paul Guillaume Gide (1869-1951), a French writer and critic. Many years passed, but Gide’s wisdom is timeless and applies to those seeking changes in physical construction.

“I just want to get toned up. I don’t want to get huge!”This widespread statement is heard in fitness facilities everywhere. The “toned up” mantra is frequently a limiter beginning fitness enthusiasts employ. They tend to enter a gym at the crest of a new year but leave only a few weeks later, dissatisfied with their efforts. So, what went wrong? Read more