“The AD seems to address both these issues, but you will all admit that the diet is “unconventional” and was designed for BB and PL. I was simply asking if it was as effective for more stamina/speed based sports in your collective opinions. Cause I’ve gotten the idea that energy levels go through the roof, but lately the thread has posts about energy drops at the end of the week, mid week carb spikes etc.”
I can only give you my experience…like I’ve said, I play football, both sides of the ball. I’ve been on the diet for…well, ever. I do not carb up before the game, though I usually go out the night after the game and eat a carb meal.
Rugby is a little more non-stop…so the only thing I can reccomend is to try it out, and see how it effects you at practice or just playing some rugby with your friends.
The AD seems to address both these issues, but you will all admit that the diet is “unconventional” and was designed for BB and PL. I was simply asking if it was as effective for more stamina/speed based sports in your collective opinions. Cause I’ve gotten the idea that energy levels go through the roof, but lately the thread has posts about energy drops at the end of the week, mid week carb spikes etc.
[/quote]
Not sure how well it would work for you; you’d have to try it out. I do my low carb days from Sunday to Thursday and use Friday and Saturday as my carb load days. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, quite frankly I usually feel like dogshit.
This might also have something to do with the fact that I’m clinically depressed and already have seratonin problems, a problem exacerbated by the low carbs. I’ll inevitably end up telling someone on Wed. and Thurs. “I’m sad. My body ran out of carbs!”
I guess things would really depend on your schedule.
[quote]PublickStews wrote:
RuggerSean wrote:
This might also have something to do with the fact that I’m clinically depressed and already have seratonin problems, a problem exacerbated by the low carbs. I’ll inevitably end up telling someone on Wed. and Thurs. “I’m sad. My body ran out of carbs!”
I guess things would really depend on your schedule. [/quote]
This feeling ameliorates after a few weeks on the diet. I too, though not clinically depressed, experienced that “need carbs” feeling for the first week or two. To be honest, you really have to focus on getting in enough calories in this diet. I think a lot of people dismiss it because they jump into the diet and start eating like they normally would, but because there are no carbs to overeat, come in at 500 - 1000kcal below maintenance.
Also, I find if lethargy is an issue, or workout efficacy seems to be compromised, bump your protein intake. This will provide enough gluconeogenesis to keep your muscle bellies full and primed.
The AD seems to address both these issues, but you will all admit that the diet is “unconventional” and was designed for BB and PL. I was simply asking if it was as effective for more stamina/speed based sports in your collective opinions. Cause I’ve gotten the idea that energy levels go through the roof, but lately the thread has posts about energy drops at the end of the week, mid week carb spikes etc.
Not sure how well it would work for you; you’d have to try it out. I do my low carb days from Sunday to Thursday and use Friday and Saturday as my carb load days. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, quite frankly I usually feel like dogshit.
This might also have something to do with the fact that I’m clinically depressed and already have seratonin problems, a problem exacerbated by the low carbs. I’ll inevitably end up telling someone on Wed. and Thurs. “I’m sad. My body ran out of carbs!”
I guess things would really depend on your schedule. [/quote]
Wouldn’t the exacty opposite be true? Too many carbs = shitty seratonin levels…I could’ve sworn that was one of the theories in “Lights Out.” I’ll go re-read that and get back to you.
Wouldn’t the exacty opposite be true? Too many carbs = shitty seratonin levels…I could’ve sworn that was one of the theories in “Lights Out.” I’ll go re-read that and get back to you.
[/quote]
Nah, in the AD book (the original one, that’s the one I have), Dr. D says that carbs trigger seratonin production and he says on the carb days, it will be high causing you to be happy or loopy, but also lethargic and sleepy.
[quote]zdrax wrote:
PublickStews wrote:
RuggerSean wrote:
This might also have something to do with the fact that I’m clinically depressed and already have seratonin problems, a problem exacerbated by the low carbs. I’ll inevitably end up telling someone on Wed. and Thurs. “I’m sad. My body ran out of carbs!”
I guess things would really depend on your schedule.
This feeling ameliorates after a few weeks on the diet. I too, though not clinically depressed, experienced that “need carbs” feeling for the first week or two. To be honest, you really have to focus on getting in enough calories in this diet. I think a lot of people dismiss it because they jump into the diet and start eating like they normally would, but because there are no carbs to overeat, come in at 500 - 1000kcal below maintenance. [/quote]
Oh, I’m fully adapted. I’ve been on it for about 10 weeks now and had been low carb (sub 100 per day at least) even before I started. I don’t have a “carb” craving per se on Wednesday and Thursday; it manifests itself in my brain, not in my stomach LOL.
The only other thing that could be playing a factor here is my 3-day split. I actually take Wednesdays and Thursdays off because at the outset I figured my performance would be worst on those days. However, since I get extremely excited to lift and feel great afterwards, lifting is actually an anti-depressant for me.
I’m switching to a Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday 4 -day split starting next week. Maybe that will give me different results.
Wouldn’t the exacty opposite be true? Too many carbs = shitty seratonin levels…I could’ve sworn that was one of the theories in “Lights Out.” I’ll go re-read that and get back to you.
Nah, in the AD book (the original one, that’s the one I have), Dr. D says that carbs trigger seratonin production and he says on the carb days, it will be high causing you to be happy or loopy, but also lethargic and sleepy.[/quote]
True.Lots of carbs=lots of serotonin.For some ime.
Rob Faigin mentions this in NHE,page 103 for those of you who has the book.For those of you that don’t,you’re lucky yesterday was carb-up day and that I’ve just had a great workout.Here:
‘Whereas a protein meal supplies the raw materials to make neurotransmitters,a carbohydrate meal does not.ather,a high-carbohydrate meal artificially boosts serotonin by means of inducing a temporary hormonal imbalance that forces a disproportionate amount of tryptophan ito the brain.this raises the question whether chronic high-carbohydrate loe-protein eating can,over tme,reduce serotonin levels.It is indisputable that a diet high in refined carbohydrates is unnatural from an evolutionary perspective,and that a meal rich in refined carbohydrates profoundly impacts upon brain chemistry.I suspect that chronic high-refined-carbohydrate eating does,indeed,have a long-term adverse effect on brain function by means of impairing serotonin synthesis.’
And
‘We know that obese individuals exhibit a merkedly lower rate of serotonin synthesis,and we know low serotonin can cause carbohydrate cravings,which,in turn,promotes obesity.’
Lots of good fats+lots of protein+low carbohydrate+periodically high carbohydrate=Happy.
I’m reading all the materials now and plan on “easing in” next week as in the “Eat like a man” article.
Quick question. Do I need to tweak the carb days for a Westside style a la Dave Tate split? Heavy monday Weds dynamic Fri and !!Sunday!!? Or just follow the 5/2. guess I really won’t have to know for 2 weeks eh.
hey RuggerSean. You have the same stats as me for height, weight, and bf. Just finished my 1st carb loading weekend and have had no troubles w/ energy levels at all. Played a game yesterday and was fine, I never really crashed like some ppl did. As far as strength levels, I am on CW’s TBT and I am just adding the weight in my gym. I do get the occasional craving, but I have yet to work out all my food choices. I think variety in what you eat will go a long way. GL on the diet man, I like it and plan to stick with it over the summer and re-evaluate myself at the start of the fall season.
I started carbing up Friday night at 8:00pm. I carbed pretty hard (lots of cals) until around midnight, when I crapped out.
Woke up at 9am on Saturday morning, and kept up the gluttony until around midnight again.
Sunday came morning and I had my usual sausage and egg omlette. Unfortunately, whether it was the stress from the god awful time I’ve been having at work or just plain emotion, I ended up consuming a bunch of low-GI carbs (Metabolic Drive bars, grapes, apples, etc.). I probably had around 250-300g at the end of the day (~ 10:30pm).
I’m right back on the horse, so to speak. Would you guys recommend doing a reintro. I had a “true” 50 hour carb up (8pm Friday night to 10:30pm Sunday night). Was that too long?
I am by no means an expert here, but I do believe in listening to what my body is telling me. If you body was telling you it needed more carbs during the carb up, eat, baby, eat!
I’ve been on this eating program (I try not to think of it as a “diet”) for 6 weeks now and have been carbing starting on Saturday morning and ending on Sunday night, with one excepting where I attacked some carbs on a Friday night. That week, looking back, had been extremely tough in the gym and very stressful at home and the office. I guess the body needs a little extra CHO to make it through those times.
Keep your chin up!
EGC
[quote]zdrax wrote:
Doh! I cheated for the first time on the diet.
I started carbing up Friday night at 8:00pm. I carbed pretty hard (lots of cals) until around midnight, when I crapped out.
Woke up at 9am on Saturday morning, and kept up the gluttony until around midnight again.
Sunday came morning and I had my usual sausage and egg omlette. Unfortunately, whether it was the stress from the god awful time I’ve been having at work or just plain emotion, I ended up consuming a bunch of low-GI carbs (Metabolic Drive bars, grapes, apples, etc.). I probably had around 250-300g at the end of the day (~ 10:30pm).
I’m right back on the horse, so to speak. Would you guys recommend doing a reintro. I had a “true” 50 hour carb up (8pm Friday night to 10:30pm Sunday night). Was that too long? [/quote]
hey guys
i just got back my chol. results. i was lucky as before i started the anabolic i had to get tested for life insurance so i have a before and after comparison which is helpful.
ok been on anabolic for about six weeks now
cholesteral pre diet 185 , now 184
trigl. pre diet 135, now 24
hdl pre diet 61 , now 56
this one needs to down not up,so im not happy about that result ,though normal is 35-55
ldl pre diet 97, now 123
and this was a bad one too.so two were good and two were bad.but all tests even the bad ones still fall within normal range.
all liver tests came back fine as well.
I’ve found that I really need my sleep on this program – much more so than on a carb method where you can pop some CHO for quick energy.
[quote]zdrax wrote:
Thanks for the support! Now I need to figure out how to recover better between workouts. I start really struggling toward week’s end.[/quote]
Thanks Ren, I’m hoping for similar results. I’m basically lazy and don’t wanna tweak the diet too much although in reading the book I was suprised at how much you can customize it.
Starting assesment phase Monday and have a 7’s tournement in Florida on the 19-21st so I’m a little nervous but its just 7’s. But at least I’ll get to drink mas cervasas after the last match Sat afternoon!!!
[quote]mikemazz wrote:
hey guys
i just got back my chol. results. i was lucky as before i started the anabolic i had to get tested for life insurance so i have a before and after comparison which is helpful.
ok been on anabolic for about six weeks now
cholesteral pre diet 185 , now 184
trigl. pre diet 135, now 24
hdl pre diet 61 , now 56
this one needs to down not up,so im not happy about that result ,though normal is 35-55
ldl pre diet 97, now 123
and this was a bad one too.so two were good and two were bad.but all tests even the bad ones still fall within normal range.
all liver tests came back fine as well.[/quote]
Interesting…your trigs came down a ton. But, 6 weeks is a short time…the next test would prob. be the real key. You can at least sigh in relief, because most people expect thier lDl to jump 100pts and have their trigs shoot thru the roof. lol
yea i ve been very anxious for these results to be honest. i may evolve to a tcd diet in a few weeks.but,that being said i cant say enough things good about the anabolic diet. in conversation with my dad who said there has to be another way. i said to him well where else can you eat fat and meat all day? gorge on carbs all weekend,enjoy some guilt free beer. and the kicker is my body fat was 24% when i started ,weight was 155 now weight is 150 and body fat is 17.5% at last test friday morning.