The start of Carb Cylcling

Carb cycling is an eating plan where you switch between high-carb and low-carb days. What’s even more perfect is you can incorporate a reward meal every day and even have a reward day! The idea behind it is that by alternating high and low carb days it trains your body to become a major calorie burner. On High carb days you are storing your body with fuel and on low carb days your body burns the stocked fuel.

As of this week I’ve started carb cycling. Honestly, I feel like it’s kind of what I’ve been doing all along, but in a different order so I’m going to tweek a few things to get more organized and see how it goes! I’ve read a lot of really good things about carb cycling including its benefits for PCOS sufferers with insulin resistance.

If you have ever watched the amazing transformation that happens on TV’s “Extreme Makeover Weight loss edition” then you have already seen what carb cycling can do. Chris and Heidi Powell love carb cycling and it is what they choose to do for the contestant’s body transformations. The results are amazing and I am so excited to try it out.

I have always said I don’t believe in diets or adding a bunch of fake supplements to help aid in weight loss. From the beginning, I have went into my weight loss journey with a natural approach. I feel that it has helped me educate myself about my body and what nutrients I need more or less of. Once I started tracking my macros I could feel my body changing and could tell how my body felt with not enough carbs or fats. One of the things that I will always take away from my weight loss journey most is the connection I have between my body and mind.

The thing that I found so interesting with carb cycling is that you get to cater it to your personal lifestyle. I checked out Chris Powell’s website www.chrispowell.com and read up on his approach to carb cycling. He has different options to choose from Easy, Classic, Turbo, and Fit. I would highly suggest going to this site and reading up on it for great, detailed information.

I guess I’m a bit of a rebel, so I’ve decided to try my own Carb cycling routine. Again, the reason I like the idea of carb cycling is because of the personalization you do for your own goals. I have a set fitness routine and I feel it’s important to have my high-carb days on my intense work out days such as leg day, so I’ve catered the plan to that. Here is what I will be doing:

Sunday- Low-Carb Cardio

Monday- High-Carb Shoulders/ Full cardio

Tuesday- Low-Carb Arms/Less cardio

Wednesday- Low-Carb Rest day

Thursday- High-Carb Legs/Full cardio

Friday- Low-Carb Cheat meal Rest day

Saturday- Free day! Extra 1000 calories Back/Full cardio

With this plan on your low carb days your calorie goal should be around 1200-1400 and 1500-1900 on high carb days. Your total calorie per day should be based on your weight and activity level. It won’t be the same for everyone. On High-Carb days you’ll want to aim for 1 gram per body weight. So a women weighing 165 pounds would need 165 grams of carbs. On Low-Carb days you will aim for .2-.5 grams per body weight. The best way to track these numbers is with a calorie tracker app like myfitnesspal.

I get that new plans can be a bit overwhelming. I remember feeling like this with macro counting. It takes time, discipline, and a bit of extra work but it pays off in the end. It’s all about finding a routine with meals and how and when you’ll enter your data. Some like to wait until the end of the day to enter in your daily meals others like to enter it throughout the day as you consume the food.

I’ll keep you all updated on my progress throughout the carb-cycling process. I hope to see some good results and get even more in tune with my body!