Fast Track Your Diet With Carb Cycling

Do you feel like you’ve hit a plateau in your weight loss journey and just can’t seem to lose another pound? Carb cycling is a great way to lose fat and break through plateaus. This approach allows you to enjoy a variety of foods and shed extra pounds. If you’ve hit a weight loss plateau or want greater strength gains, carb cycling is worth a try.

How Does It Work?

This eating plan alternates low-carb and high-carb days. In general, dieters increase their fat intake on low-carb days, and keep it to a minimum on high-carb days. Low-carb days make your body burn stored fat instead of the sugar from food. High-carb days replenish your muscle and liver glycogen stores, giving you energy for the next few days.

There are various ways to incorporate carb cycling into your diet. Some people go low-carb for three days followed by a high-carb day. Others eat low-carb for five days and increase their carb intake during the weekend. In general a low-carb day will call for 0.5 grams of carbs per pound of body weight, while a high-carb day requires up to 2.5 grams of carbs per pound of body weight.

The Benefits of Carb Cycling

Most diets out there either limit entire food groups or have strict rules that may interfere with your daily life. Carb cycling does exactly the opposite. First of all, it doesn’t restrict any nutrient. You can eat anything you want as long as it fits your macros. However, you still need to eat clean. It’s fine to have a cheat meal once in awhile as long as it doesn’t become a habit. With a little planning, you can make that cheat meal fit your macros for the day.

Another aspect that makes carb cycling so popular is its effectiveness. If you stick to your diet, you’ll lose fat and excess water in a short time. What’s even better is that you’ll keep your hard earned muscles. This approach also improves insulin sensitivity, boosts metabolism, and supports muscle growth.