My Experience On the Anabolic Diet Part II

Nutrition
381

I thought I’d just chime in, having just read my newly acquired versions of the Anabolic Diet (4 versions total, I think).

Weekday ideals,
C/CFP: 30g; 5-8%, 55-60%, 30-35%

Weekend ideals,
C/CFP: no limit; 45-60%, 30-40%, 10-15%

He’s really sticking to the 30g, which is something I oppose in favor of vegetable intake. I’m so torn on this diet. It seems as if the manipulations take the physiological effects of food to such extremes that without careful monitoring, they can take you down the wrong path. He’s basically entrusting the readers to ‘know when to stop’ with the carb loads, otherwise you’ll be gaining fat. It’s beginning to seem a bit too ridiculous for me.

Diet is something I’ve struggled to understand ever since my junior year of high school when I suspected it played a big role in lifting weights. The AD is preaching this one way, while I just read Chad Waterbury’s recommendations on eating during his mass program which includes eating slightly more carbs than I normally do on a carb load, a relatively low amount of fat with regards to AD, and a typical amount of protein. Basically a lot of food, and a lot of carbs.

The question comes up now and then in this thread about how good the AD REALLY is for building the body as opposed to polishing it. It seems to me from all the input we’ve received, it’s only use should be for polishing the body, OR if you’re not a hardcore bodybuilder, the AD looks very suitable for a maintenance sort of lifestyle.

Thoughts?

382

[quote]pumped340 wrote:
el sonido are you trying to gain or lose weight right now? Not sure cause you said your leaner but getting bigger so what is your main goal right now?[/quote]

Simply put, I’m trying to lose at the moment.

When I initially started the AD I intended to go straight to bulking after the induction but then did a U-turn and decided to cut instead.

Without giving too much needless info, since I was a child I was always a fat fucker until I began losing weight a couple of years ago - I went from obese to pretty damn overweight and then settled around somewhat overweight. This year though I’ve managed to really cut it down as I began near-obsessively running and doing HIIT a few times a week.

I actually only fairly recently started lifting and I’ve been performing bodyweight workouts for over a year which really helped to give me an initial degree of strength. I’ve actually neglected my bodyweight routines recently - I was training for the planche push up and front lever (one day!).

But anyway, I’m sure I’m not gaining as much LBM as I would be if I upped my calories but I’m still gaining noticable muscle mass for sure.
Either way it’s a great feeling to have gone from looking like a pregnant woman to actually being able to see your abdominals - even my face looks very different, I often find myself doing a double-take when I look in the mirror hehe.

I was definitely stuck on a plateau until I started the AD and it seems to have really revved up my metabolism (and all that jazz).

[quote]nz6stringaxe wrote:
He’s basically entrusting the readers to ‘know when to stop’ with the carb loads, otherwise you’ll be gaining fat.[/quote]

It was the first time I’d experienced this (my 4th or 5th load I think) but I definitely knew when to stop on yesterday’s load.
I know everyone’s different (no shit…) and I’m certainly glad if my body allows me to know when I’ve had my fill.

Thing is, I can’t even describe the feeling/sensation - it wasn’t even really a feeling or sensation, kind of an instinctual (instinctive?) ‘knowing’.
Though an interesting fact is that the raisins started to taste less sweet once this ‘knowing’ kicked in.

383

[quote]nz6stringaxe wrote:
I thought I’d just chime in, having just read my newly acquired versions of the Anabolic Diet (4 versions total, I think).

Weekday ideals,
C/CFP: 30g; 5-8%, 55-60%, 30-35%

Weekend ideals,
C/CFP: no limit; 45-60%, 30-40%, 10-15%

He’s really sticking to the 30g, which is something I oppose in favor of vegetable intake. I’m so torn on this diet. It seems as if the manipulations take the physiological effects of food to such extremes that without careful monitoring, they can take you down the wrong path. He’s basically entrusting the readers to ‘know when to stop’ with the carb loads, otherwise you’ll be gaining fat. It’s beginning to seem a bit too ridiculous for me.

EDIT: I just read some more. He makes big points about not dropping fat and having no-fat weekends. He also made a point about eating when you’re hungry, not by scheduled meal ‘appointments.’

Diet is something I’ve struggled to understand ever since my junior year of high school when I suspected it played a big role in lifting weights. The AD is preaching this one way, while I just read Chad Waterbury’s recommendations on eating during his mass program which includes eating slightly more carbs than I normally do on a carb load, a relatively low amount of fat with regards to AD, and a typical amount of protein. Basically a lot of food, and a lot of carbs.

The question comes up now and then in this thread about how good the AD REALLY is for building the body as opposed to polishing it. It seems to me from all the input we’ve received, it’s only use should be for polishing the body, OR if you’re not a hardcore bodybuilder, the AD looks very suitable for a maintenance sort of lifestyle.

Thoughts?[/quote]

Was CW’s recommendations for a refeed or he suggested you eat that much all the time? Link?

As far as your thoughts on the subject I agree with you. I see the AD as an easy lifestyle but it’s not like just by switching to that someone is going to get great results without paying attention to calories. I still disagree with having high fat on carb up days as does almost any other coach for the majority of people and expecting people to just eat and know when to stop likely won’t be optimal for most. Obviously results will generally be better if you monitor progress and gauge how certain amounts affect you.

El sonido your comment about you being really fat at a young age and now getting really lean comforts me haha, cause I’ve always wondered how much of a disadvantage I’m at with metabolism cause I gain fat from everything!

as far as your most recent carb up, well you’ve basically switched to clean foods with low fat so thats not even really the true AD anymore and is more like the typical “carb load” day now

384

Alas, Ive gained 2 lbs…hmm deciding whether or not I should be upset…well I suppose 3000 isnt my maintenance. Starting next week Ill be waving my cals to make it easier as I noticed I get quite hungry thursday and friday but dont have much of an appetite at all monday and tuesday. Gonna keep my carb load at 900 max though. Or unless I feel that ‘click’, cough El Sonido

385

No man, it was regular eating!

I weigh 153.4 as of a couple hours ago and the macros were CFP: 420g, 105g, 210g, totalling 3465 cal. This is based on my weight as 150.

386

[quote]nz6stringaxe wrote:
No man, it was regular eating!

I weigh 153.4 as of a couple hours ago and the macros were CFP: 420g, 105g, 210g, totalling 3465 cal. This is based on my weight as 150.

I think it’s ridiculous to assign that to EVERYONE as the absolute minimum. What if they’re just coming off a cut? What if they don’t handle carbs well? Just not optimal IMO for someone not looking to gain at least as much fat as muscle…

387

[quote]pumped340 wrote:
El sonido your comment about you being really fat at a young age and now getting really lean comforts me haha, cause I’ve always wondered how much of a disadvantage I’m at with metabolism cause I gain fat from everything!

as far as your most recent carb up, well you’ve basically switched to clean foods with low fat so thats not even really the true AD anymore and is more like the typical “carb load” day now
[/quote]

Yeah I’m the only person in my family that isn’t overweight/obese. It’s certainly a trait of my father’s family and his genes are certainly way more dominant than my mother’s.
It’s slow, hard work but as long as you have the discipline (which certainly doesn’t come all at once) then you’re sure to succeed.

To begin with I was adamant that I’d adhere to the ‘rules’ of the AD but after the erm… incident with my carb-load the other day I decided to largely go by my own feeling. Of course that doesn’t mean go by my APPETITE.
Past two weeks I’ve actually done 4 days F/P to 1 day carbs (apart from that 2-day ‘incident’).

I just make sure I do a whole lot of depletion workouts, sprints and aerobics beforehand and I definitely feel ready (cravings aside!).

So I guess I should be banished from this thread!

waits by the door

388

Eh no don’t go Sonido for I have sinned as well lol…nah jk…this diet was made to be tweaked! Ive decided that since I never get full from carbs, and my body never says when, I just eat all the healthy carbs under the sun for one day starting PWO. Now PWO is when Ill treat myself, I go out every Saturday for lunch with my family and then Ill down a 4 serv. container of dairy free dessert. Then I just go nuts on beans, rice, oatmeal, WW pasta. Oh and I dont really drink much at all. I tried drinking last night, after my load, as i was quite parched and then all of a sudden my stomach just bloated out like no ones business and it hurt to sit; until I vanquished the gas of course :wink:

389

[quote]nz6stringaxe wrote:
I thought I’d just chime in, having just read my newly acquired versions of the Anabolic Diet (4 versions total, I think).

Weekday ideals,
C/CFP: 30g; 5-8%, 55-60%, 30-35%

Weekend ideals,
C/CFP: no limit; 45-60%, 30-40%, 10-15%

He’s really sticking to the 30g, which is something I oppose in favor of vegetable intake. I’m so torn on this diet. It seems as if the manipulations take the physiological effects of food to such extremes that without careful monitoring, they can take you down the wrong path. He’s basically entrusting the readers to ‘know when to stop’ with the carb loads, otherwise you’ll be gaining fat. It’s beginning to seem a bit too ridiculous for me.

EDIT: I just read some more. He makes big points about not dropping fat and having no-fat weekends. He also made a point about eating when you’re hungry, not by scheduled meal ‘appointments.’

Diet is something I’ve struggled to understand ever since my junior year of high school when I suspected it played a big role in lifting weights. The AD is preaching this one way, while I just read Chad Waterbury’s recommendations on eating during his mass program which includes eating slightly more carbs than I normally do on a carb load, a relatively low amount of fat with regards to AD, and a typical amount of protein. Basically a lot of food, and a lot of carbs.

The question comes up now and then in this thread about how good the AD REALLY is for building the body as opposed to polishing it. It seems to me from all the input we’ve received, it’s only use should be for polishing the body, OR if you’re not a hardcore bodybuilder, the AD looks very suitable for a maintenance sort of lifestyle.

Thoughts?[/quote]

Now as for the 30 grams, he doesn’t say anything about not counting veggies after adaption? because all I eat , carbs wise, is a TBS p-nutty, serving or two of flax, and 2 servings of veggies with each meal, and of course 1 serving max of Metabolic Drive PWO. Correct me if Im wrong

390

Are diets like this even worth it? Will eating better, and exercising with limited carbs 7 days a week not make you lose weight?

391

[quote]bkmacky9288 wrote:
Eh no don’t go Sonido for I have sinned as well lol…nah jk…this diet was made to be tweaked! Ive decided that since I never get full from carbs, and my body never says when, I just eat all the healthy carbs under the sun for one day starting PWO. Now PWO is when Ill treat myself, I go out every Saturday for lunch with my family and then Ill down a 4 serv. container of dairy free dessert. Then I just go nuts on beans, rice, oatmeal, WW pasta. Oh and I dont really drink much at all. I tried drinking last night, after my load, as i was quite parched and then all of a sudden my stomach just bloated out like no ones business and it hurt to sit; until I vanquished the gas of course ;)[/quote]

Yeah I’ve felt so much better since I reduced my water intake on carb days.

I woke up early on the last carb load and wasn’t really fully awake so I ended up realising what I was doing half way through a big cup of green tea and glass of water and slammed on the brakes. What little bloating I did get from that seemed to subside within an hour or so

392

[quote]weight junky wrote:
Are diets like this even worth it? Will eating better, and exercising with limited carbs 7 days a week not make you lose weight? [/quote]

In my experience I would have to argue that YES it is definitely worth it.
The 12-day induction phase can be a real challenge at times but it’s worth it just for that first carb-load!

-I have more energy than I’ve ever had.
-I’ve been able to reduce the number of hours I sleep each night by at least 2 (to 6-7 hours a night).
-I’m stronger, faster and have more stamina than ever.
-I’m leaner than ever with more muscle mass than ever.
-My meals satiate more than ever.
-I never get cravings. (except on my carb-loads)
-I feel more alert and generally more at ease but with that RAWR-factor still there.

And on a potentially-less-appropriate side note:

Regarding the hormonal side of things:
-My flaccid penis size has actually increased.
-I feel sexually more hmm… shall we say levelled out? As in I won’t feel horny as fuck one day and then withdrawn and generally sluggish the next.
-I seem to wake up with morning wood way more often nowadays which actually stopped for a long time, I’m assuming that’s a ‘positive’ sign.

I’ve been as celibate as a… well, a celibate person since my long-term girlfriend/fiancee left me in December so I’m yet to actually take my new hormonal ‘kit’ out for a test spin.

I’m sure others can vouch for the things I’ve listed here.

393

I agree…not afraid to say it but I feel like a sex hungry wolf…Ill see a nice busty girl at school and wanna pounce

394

I read earlier in the thread that when on the AD you should avoid fat loss pills(like Hydroxycut) and when counting carbs that you shouldn’t count dietary fibers, is that true, and why should I be avoiding my hydroxycut?

395

[quote]bkmacky9288 wrote:
I agree…not afraid to say it but I feel like a sex hungry wolf…Ill see a nice busty girl at school and wanna pounce[/quote]

Haha well I don’t really have that problem where I’m living at the moment (rural Quebec) - most of the females round here are either half my size (children) or four times my size (any woman over the age of about 18) - if you catch my drift.

The only issue is that on the rare occasion I do happen to encounter a relatively-attractive female, my whole system goes haywire. I think my standards must have dropped ten notches just being out here in the sticks.

sigh… I do miss female company!

Anyway - yeah, lipolysis and aminos and count them damn carbs and MD said this and DH mentioned in the original thread and so on and so forth… haha

396

That made no sense

397

am I supposed to count dietary fiber in my carbs? And is a supp like hydroxycut ok to use while on the AD?

398

[quote]weight junky wrote:
am I supposed to count dietary fiber in my carbs? And is a supp like hydroxycut ok to use while on the AD?[/quote]

Typically, fibre doesn’t affect insulin levels but if you are being very thorough you might want to check the soluble/insoluble fibre levels in what you consume as I remember reading that approximately half of solubles are absorbed. Although I don’t know what the insulin response is for the relatively small amount of fibre that is absorbed.

(I don’t know about the hydroxycut.)

399

[quote]weight junky wrote:
Are diets like this even worth it? Will eating better, and exercising with limited carbs 7 days a week not make you lose weight? [/quote]

I know this is the AD thread but I prefer carb-cycling as oppose to something like that AD. Why? simply because once you want to introduce carbs back into your diet on an everyday basis it becomes a pain in the ass to taper off the AD without gaining some fat.

400

Ronaldo makes a point that’s been on my mind recently. His point also is directly related to why I’m stopping in.

I just got back from the gym, and according to the mirror, I’m fatter. I had roughly 4,000cals yesterday (GVT quads and shoulders for training) with the caloric ratios being pretty close. My carb intake was about 400g.

I don’t understand.

The AD is really starting to push me away. The whole argument MD makes as to why this is a superior physique/performance athlete’s diet is because it manages bodyfat levels better than a typical high-carb diet.

This brings up another question, what exactly is this typical diet he refers to?? The North American diet? The rigid following of the common RDA guidelines??

As nutritionally conscious athletes, I think the standard referred to as the AD’s inferior alternative is much lower than that which we live and train by!

Carb-cycling sounds better and better…

By the way…the point ronaldo made was one that I thought about with Berardi’s Getting Unshredded. He stresses reintroducing carbs lightly and over a long period of time. Doesn’t this contradict the carb fests of the AD weekends? See what I’m getting at? After such restriction, wouldn’t you be so overly sensitive to carbs that it just ruins the effect?