So, this challenge is the build muscle while low carb challenge. It means I will have to remain below 130 grams of carb a day. According to this Q&A with a registered dietitian a person under 130 grams of carbohydrate a day will catabolize muscle.
"Both 30 and 55 grams of carbohydrate per day are less than the minimum 130 grams necessary to prevent loss of lean tissue (muscles and organs). I would not recommend either for weight loss as you are likely to regain this weight once you stop dieting. Read the questions and answers below for more information."
"The problem with these diets is that after the first few days, body stores of glucose (glycogen) are depleted and the body turns to the only other source of glucose which is lean muscle tissue (organs and muscles). Metabolic rate decreases because the body thinks it is starving and because the muscles that burn calories are cannibalized to provide glucose."So, I am making it MY mission to show that it isn't as cut and dried as that. We shall see what happens to my poor widdle muscles when I consume under 130 grams of carbs per day.
This thread is the impetus for my thoughts. The fallacies and lack of true understanding is so frustrating. It is especially difficult to read from the 'professional.
Anyone willing to join me? 30 Days of lower carb, you can go even lower than 130 if you want to.
I will include my normal workouts, and try to add an extra 'lift heavy things' day. I am very much wanting to get to 20 push-ups ASAP. Real ones, on the floor not the stairs. I am down to the 3rd stair now, will move to the second hopefully this week. I really want to get my back more muscular. I am hoping that this 30 days of lower carb will lead to seeing better definition in my back since it should lead to less back fat...shudder.
Will take 'before' pictures and measurements on Tuesday. This is the day I can use the BF monitor at the gym, so it makes sense. Let's see what 30 days can do when you REALLY stick to it.
4 comments:
I did a low carb thing when I lost over 100 lbs. I went off it but didnt splurge with my pregnancy and gained 15 lbs just in the first 9 weeks. That was with reasonable eating too! just by adding back in bread, fruit, and crackers. So I do agree with the woman that you will gain weight back if you go back off low-carb. If you plan on staying this way for the rest of your life then it wouldnt be an issue
Did you continue to eat more carbs? How much did you gain over the long term? That initial re-gain of 10-15 pounds is the 'stored glycogen' mentioned in the article. It isn't fat, just water weight.
I am going to add some more information to this blog post. Including how I eat now and why carbs lead to weight gain.
As long as you keep your protein intake around 1 gram per lb of body weight you shouldn't have to worry about your body eating its own muscles. Your body will turn to gluconeogenesis before it lets your glucose level fall below a certain level.
Yeah, I have been eating lower carb for over a year now with no problem. This is just going to be a stricter version by keeping the carbs below 130 grams everyday, as opposed to going up to 150 on occasion.
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