Hey Friend, It's Lee Hayward here and over the past 20+ years that I've been involved in the Iron Game I've had the opportunity to surround myself with a lot of top level bodybuilders, powerlifters, fitness competitors, coaches, etc. And one thing that I've noticed in particular that everyone of these competitors have in common is...
They all use carbohydrate "manipulation" to get and STAY lean.
Carb manipulation simply means cycling carbs strategically on a daily or weekly basis. Whether it's a bodybuilder of fitness competitor dieting for a show, or a powerlifter trying to make a desired weight class, they all use carb cycling as part of their nutritional strategy.
And there's absolutely no reason you can't do the exact same thing too.
But first, you need to realize that carbs are not necessarily the enemy all the time. In fact, they can actually be your best fat burning friends
...IF you use them strategically. So if you really want to control fat loss once and for all and learn how it's possible for you to "mimic" the pros who sport a six pack abs and ripped muscle definition...
It's crucial for you to understand the PROS & CONS of carb intake. Trust me, it can be a love-hate relationship.
The PROS of Carbs:
1. Carbs are muscle sparing. In other words, they preserve and prevent the breakdown of lean calorie burning muscle tissue.
2. They provide energy to the brain and the body.
3. They help spark our metabolism and keep it elevated to prevent metabolic slowdown and keep fat-burning hormones at optimal levels.
4. They fuel vitally important metabolic processes in the body that can help us exercise harder and recover faster.
5. They stimulate insulin, which leads to a very anabolic / muscle building environment (this is kind of a catch 22 as you'll read in a second).
The CONS of Carbs:
1. Carbs spike insulin levels and elevate blood sugar. It's almost impossible to burn body fat in the presence of high insulin levels. (hence - the catch 22 above)
2. Consuming too many carbs over lengthy periods of time can lead to a lot of fat spillover (see chart below), which leads to excess fat storage. Think obesity, heart disease, diabetes, etc.
3. Carbs (especially processed carbs) are the most abused nutrient from both a health and fat loss perspective.
4. Excess carb intake creates a lot of water retention, which leads to a soft look so it makes you look and feel bloated.
5. Processed carbs hide nasty fillers and chemicals that can potentially lead to severe health challenges. We call these obesity additives.
Additionally, grain-based processed carbs such as cereals, breads, and most pastas contain "anti-nutrients" and gluten that can block fat-loss and potentially lead to various types of autoimmune diseases and internal inflammation. |