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Nutrition

What Is Carb Cycling & How Does It Work?

What Is Carb Cycling & How Does It Work?
Claire Muszalski
Writer and expert3 years ago
View Claire Muszalski's profile

If you are someone who likes a planned routine and doesn’t want to constantly cut all carbs from your diet, carb cycling might be the right eating pattern for you.  

Carb cycling factors in your workouts when calculating your meal plan, matching up your diet to the days that your muscles need more fuel. Read on to learn about the potential benefits of carb cycling. 

wholemeal bread

 

What is carb cycling? 

Carb cycling is a diet pattern that takes advantage of the benefits of low carb diets, but also considers the fuel you need for your workouts.  

Its typically followed for a few weeks or months at a time but not full time like a ketogenic diet. Carb cycling simply means eating a higher carbohydrate diet on some days and lower carbs on other days.  

Depending on your goals (building muscle, weight loss, etc.) you might plan your carb cycling diet for weeks at a time or just take it day by day. 

 

How does it work? 

Carb cycling works by acknowledging that most people don’t follow exactly the same activity pattern every single day.  

Even if you work out 6 days per week — maybe 2 days are HIIT cardio and 4 days are weight lifting  you’d need less carbs with weight training than intense cardio, and even fewer on a rest day.  

On the weekends you might be outside all day and never stop moving, but be chained to your desk on weekdaysmaking your carb needs lower. 

 

Who is carb cycling suitable for? 

Carb cycling is suitable for anyone whos working towards changing their physique or performance. If you’re trying to gain muscle, maintain muscle, lose fat, all of these are manipulated by the amount of carbs (and protein and fat) that you eat.  

If you find that measuring and tracking your intake doesn’t make you comfortable, it might be best to adapt carb cycling to a less structured routine. 

 

Carb cycling for muscle and sports performance 

Carb cycling is a popular approach for athletes who want to improve their body composition and performance. Most athletes know they need extra protein to add muscle, but the rest of your diet matters, too.  

Muscles need fuel  and that fuel comes in the form of carbs. The key with carb cycling is to plan carb intake based on the intensity of your workouts. They provide the energy you need to perform at your best.  

Recovering with the right amounts of protein and carbs primes your muscles for your next workout. The amount of carbs and protein you need depend on your workout  weightlifting, HIIT training, and endurance cardio all call on your muscles to work in different ways. 

 

Can it be used for weight loss? 

We know that cutting back total calories can lead to weight loss, however, we often see carbs as the enemy in the way of achieving our goals.  

With carb cycling, you plan ahead and make thoughtful choices about what carbs to eat, and when, without feeling restricted by cutting them out completely.  

Although there are many diets that can lead to successful weight loss, the appeal of carb cycling is knowing that no food groups are entirely off-limits. 

 

Is carb cycling the same as keto? 

Keto and carb cycling are the same eating pattern. A ketogenic diet, or keto, forces your body to burn fat for energy by greatly restricting your carb intake. Keto is only successful when you keep your carbs very low for a consistent period of time.  

Carb cycling varies the amount of carbs in your diet without cutting them out completely which can make this approach more sustainable for the long term. 

 

Does carb cycling have any other benefits? 

Carb cycling relies on the theory of nutrient timing  giving your body the nutrients it needs at the right time. Planning to eat more carbs on the days when youre more active can actually help your body’s blood sugar control and insulin levels.  

Eating lots of carbohydrates without much exercise makes the body work to release insulin and turn that energy into storage (body fat). 

Another potential benefit of carb cycling is the predictability. For people who like structure and very detailed meal plan, this approach can limit ambiguity and take away cravings when you know you can fit most foods into your diet. This makes it potentially more sustainable for the long term. 

 

How to do carb cycling 

To do carb cycling, first you want to have a good idea of your calorie needs and macro breakdown (use this handy macro calculator to get started). Next, plan out a typical week of workouts, deciding when you will have high intensity workouts, HIIT vs endurance workouts, and when you’ll take rest days.  

Based on your workout plan, you’ll want to choose which days you’ll follow a higher carb diet (between 50-60% of your calories coming from carbs) and which days you’ll stick to low carb (between 30-40% of your calories from carbs).  

Consider alternating these days if possible, knowing that your lower carb days will include higher amounts of protein and healthy fats. If you vary your rest days (i.e. sitting on the couch one day vs talking a long walk), you might also want to incorporate moderate-level carb days. 

Make Sure You’re Eating Enough 

Undereating can really slow down progress towards your goals. Whether youre trying to build muscle or lose weight, not consuming enough calories can lead to burning muscle and slowing down your metabolism long term.  

So, even though you’re limiting carbs, be sure to replace those missing calories with high-quality sources of protein and healthy fats. 

Balance your macros 

Using the macro calculator referenced above, get your ideal macros, then use the various activity levels to get an idea of how to change up your carb intake based on your planned workouts.  

Another approach is to calculate your macros once, then determine what percentage of your calories are coming from carbs  and use that to target 50-60% on high carb days and 30-40% on low carb days. If you’re still not sure where to start, reach out to a registered dietitian for help. 

Choose high quality carbs 

So, now that you know you can use carbs to your advantage, don’t forget that you need to choose the best kinds of carbs for optimal results.  

Focus on carbs that provide other nutrition  like fibre (fruits and veggies), calcium (dairy products), and whole grains (vitamins and minerals).  

While chocolate cake and whole grain bread are both primary sources of carbohydrate, the first isn’t giving you much benefit while the second is packed with good-for-you nutrients. 

Hydrate 

Don’t forget you need to properly hydrate no matter what your carb levels are for the day. When you’re on a higher carb day and your muscles need carbs for fuel, water is a key part of the reaction that frees the energy from the carbs you eat.  

If you’re working out extra hard and sweating a lot, you might choose to use a sports drink with electrolytes - but don’t forget to add in any carbs that those drinks might contain.  

Plan your meals 

The key to successful carb cycling is planning your meals (including macros and carbs) ahead of time.  

This way you know exactly what to eat to meet your goals and can reduce the temptation to stray from your plan. The chart below is based on a 2000 calorie goal.  

This plan is for someone who plans on intense workouts Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, with an active rest day on Wednesday and low activity Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. 

  Carb Intake  Breakfast  Lunch  Optional Snack  Dinner  Totals 
Monday  High carb  Egg, veggie, and cheese sandwich on whole grain bread with fruit  Egg salad with whole grain crackers  Baby carrots and hummus  Brown rice stir fry with chicken and broccoli  270 grams carbs, 55 grams fat, 103 grams protein 
Tuesday  Low carb  Egg whites with spinach, salsa, cheese, avocado  Lettuce wrapped chicken tenders with buffalo sauce and sliced bell pepper  Celery & peanut butter  Strip steak and asparagus with lentils  175 grams carbs, 65 grams fat, 172 grams protein 
Wednesday  Moderate carb  Protein shake with fat free milk  Grilled salmon and sweet potato  Greek yogurt  Bean and cheese quesadilla with corn salsa  222 grams carbs, 65 grams fat, 127 grams protein 
Thursday  High carb  Oatmeal with fresh berries and almond butter  Salad with grilled chicken, strawberries, and goat cheese  Protein shake with milk  Fish sandwich and green beans  260 grams carbs, 57 grams fat, 102 grams protein 
Friday  Low carb  Protein pancakes and turkey bacon  Vegetable soup with hard boiled eggs and an apple  Trail mix (nuts and dried fruit)  Turkey burger with cheese, tomato, avocado (no bun), cauliflower rice  179 grams carbs, 62 grams fat, 180 grams protein 
Saturday  High carb  Toast with peanut butter and banana slices  Whole grain pizza (2 slices) and cucumbers  Cottage cheese with berries  Grilled chicken and vegetable skewers with quinoa  265 grams carbs, 57 grams fat, 99 grams protein 
Sunday  Low carb  Scrambled eggs with sausage and tomato slices  Tuna-salad stuffed celery stalks, side of blueberries    2 rice cakes with cheese spread  Zucchini noodles with meat sauce and mozzarella  180 grams carbs, 64 grams fat, 160 grams protein 

Take Home Message 

Carb cycling can be a flexible dieting option, but it still requires some planning and calculation to be successful. Because it doesnt cut out carbs completely, it can feel more achievable than a very low carb diet.  

Matching up your activity habits with your meal plan is a key to seeing the results you want with carb cycling. 

Our articles should be used for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be taken as medical advice. If you're concerned, consult a health professional before taking dietary supplements or introducing any major changes to your diet.

Claire Muszalski
Writer and expert
View Claire Muszalski's profile

Claire is a Registered Dietitian through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a board-certified Health and Wellness Coach through the International Consortium for Health and Wellness Coaching. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master’s degree in Clinical Dietetics and Nutrition from the University of Pittsburgh.

Talking and writing about food and fitness is at the heart of Claire’s ethos as she loves to use her experience to help others meet their health and wellness goals.

Claire is also a certified indoor cycling instructor and loves the mental and physical boost she gets from regular runs and yoga classes. When she’s not keeping fit herself, she’s cheering on her hometown’s sports teams in Pittsburgh, or cooking for her family in the kitchen.

Find out more about Claire’s experience here.

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