Time for me to chime in here.
I embarked on the T-Dawg 2.0 on 7/5 and it was first foray into low carb dieting of any sort. Hell, it was my first real effort to reduce some bodyfat in over five years.
Anyway, I assumed I’d need the full 100 recommended grams of CHO to maximize my recovery and training efforts (I race BMX bikes - an ATP/CP sport).
For the first week, I adhered to the 70/100gm CHO guidelines of the diet and felt GREAT on the reduced carbs. Just winged it for a carb up day over the weekend - had a pizza and ice cream meal and that was it.
During week two, I noticed I was having to almost force myself to eat carbs and started experimenting with my intake - got most days down to <60gms CHO and noticed I felt better and better - both general disposition as well as in training and recovery. Yet again, half assed the carb/cheat day and even had a few beers.
Sometime during week three I knuckled down and read this ENTIRE thread in one sitting (geek alert) and was immediately convinced that I needed to make the move over to the full-blown AD. For the third and final time, I winged a carb meal/day on Saturday, 7/23 and decided to commit to the AD on 7/24.
This past week I stayed at 20-40gms CHO daily from Sunday through Friday (after reading that in lieu of the 12 day induction you can complete a few 5/2 cycles to get to the metabolic shift, I decided to opt for the latter since I have a major race coming up Labor Day weekend and didn’t want to possibly lose a full week of training if I crashed as some posters have). All week I felt great and by last night, my skin was saran-wrap thin and tight. I’m not concerned about bodybuilding ends but I just had to hit a few shots in the mirror I was so damn psyched at how much body comp change I’d experienced in 3.5 weeks (rough stats below).
Today, I committed to a true AD carb up and hit LOTS of clean carbs all day long - flax waffles, oatmeal, fruit, a clif bar and some Barilla pasta. Funny thing is, for several days I thought the waffles would be a taste of heaven but half way through them, I was wishing for an omelet or piece of meat.
Anyway, as to be expected, I feel somewhat bloated and crappy (sounds like I’m still in DH’s self-described “metabolic purgatory”, as to be expected for a few more 5/2 cycles since I didn’t do the full 12 days).
I hit an upper body workout which did go fine, but I didn’t get anything special as far as a pump (if anything, the perception is the opposite since the saran wrap skin of the work week disappeared after the first meal). I’m not complaining - just noting my experience today. Like I said, after another few 5/2s I should be kicking ass.
Random stuff:
-I’m 6’1" and started out at about 208-210 with a guesstimated 12-14ish % BF. As of last night, I was 201.5 on the same scale and then 203 a few minutes ago after a full day of carbs. I didn’t take any caliper or tape measurements and in hindsight, wish I had.
All I can say is I’ve lost BF judging by both clothes and mirror. I posted some semi-before shots last Friday in the pics forum and will take another round next Friday and post a link here. Once I egt down to 8-9ish % BF, I’m going to look to add back on five or so pounds of muscle but primarily focus on strength.
-Eating 2,500-3,000 cals a day Supps include multis, fish caps, MSM and since last week, HOT-ROX.
-On a normal carb diet, I was the toxic avenger that nobody dared challenege to a fart war. Damn if this diet hasn’t cleaned up my act - I’ve got nada, zip, zilch in the way of gas during the week. HOWEVER, after a day of carbs, my old self is back. Needless to say, Mrs. Deinabolic is looking forward to me going back to meat, cheese and eggs almost as much as I am.
-That’s about it. Just want to thank DH, Barry, MDragon, IC and countless others for their input on this awesome thread. I’ve been training for 15 years and know how to push the iron in and out but have never really gotten into the minuteae of dieting until now. Needless to say, I’m going to be an ADer for life.
DNBLC
Maybe some of you more experienced ADer’s could chime in and give your opinion on using this diet while cycling anabolics. I am proud to be a part of the best thread ever on the greatest website for all things heavy.