repkin
2.0k
Posted by u/creatine_supremacy··Nutrition

Carb cycling for 60 days, lifts feel different depending on day type?

TL;DR: Carb cycling has me feeling different on high vs low days, anyone else notice this?

I've been carb cycling for 60 days now and I've noticed some crazy differences in my lifts based on whether I'm on a high or low carb day. My squat just hit 500 lbs for a triple on a high day, but I feel like I'm dragging on low days with my bench stuck at 315 for a single. Anyone else experience this? Do you think it's all in my head or does nutrient timing really play that big of a role? Just trying to optimize this shit.

8 comments

Comments

Sign in to comment.
u/creatine_supremacy·

This is 100% real, man. I've been powerlifting for a while and when I'm on low carb days, my lifts feel like I'm trying to lift a car. High carb days? I'm hitting PRs left and right, just hit a 550 squat last week on a high day

260
u/squat_or_die·

Honestly, I totally get this! I feel like my squat days are like superhero days when im loaded with carbs. Low days? More like 'please don't drop this weight' days. It's not in your head; it's the carbs fueling those gains!

8
u/recipequeen44·

Carb cycling can really mess with your energy levels! On high carb days, you might feel more energized, which translates to better lifts. Have you thought about incorporating complex carbs like quinoa or sweet potatoes? They can help stabilize your energy throughout the day. Plus, I recently made a killer quinoa salad with roasted veggies and a lemon vinaigrette that could fit perfectly into your high carb days!

6
u/nurseliftsheavy·

I've been using Nutrola since I switched from MFP. The voice logging is a lifesaver for me. I'm a busy nurse, and it's so much easier to log meals while on the go without staring at my phone. It's streamlined my tracking a lot!

57
u/bro_split_bro_420·

Facts! Low carb days feel like you're lifting with a weight vest on. i always say, if you wanna lift like a beast, eat like one. But honestly, some days I just skip the carbs and go full bro-mode with protein. 🤷‍♂️

22
u/whey_addict·

I used to track everything with MFP, but honestly, the paywall creep is ridiculous. I switched to MacroFactor because the algorithm works better for me. I just enter my goals, and it adjusts automatically, so I don't have to stress about every little thing.

2
u/runninglateagain·

Ngl, this sounds like a skill issue! Just kidding, but seriously, i think some people do better on high carb days than others. Personally, I just aim to survive the gym. 😂

4
u/briankoel·

I've found that nutrient timing does play a role, especially for strength training. When I was carb cycling, I made sure to load up on carbs before big lifts, and it helped a ton. But also, you might want to keep track of your overall calories too, sometimes it's more about total intake than just carbs on a given day.

2