| Papa Murphy's has a new low-carb pizza. Burger | | | | November, 2002 NPC Mid States Muscle Classic |
| King has a low-carb hamburger. Applebee's has | | | | 1st Place Women's Middleweight Overall Title & |
| rolled out a new low-carb menu, as have dozens | | | | Best Abs Champion. |
| of other national restaurant chains. There are | | | | While there are literally hundreds of other |
| low-carb tortillas, breakfast cereals, breads, and | | | | examples of bodybuilding diets, these three are |
| just about anything else you'd care to eat! No | | | | sufficient for our purposes: how do bodybuilders |
| doubt about it.....low-carb dieting is the biggest | | | | eat to get them so lean? |
| trend since deep-fryed turkeys! | | | | The consistent theme you'll find when examining |
| But as we've discussed in the last few articles, | | | | the diets of all bodybuilders is that they do not |
| low-carbing may not be right for everyone. While | | | | ever completely eliminate carbs from their diet. |
| the evidence does support the claim that a | | | | That's because not all carbs are bad. On the |
| reduction in carbohydrates will help you lose | | | | contrary, some carbohydrate in your diet helps |
| weight, conclusive evidence on the long-term | | | | you maintain a balanced diet. |
| impact of low-carbing remains elusive. | | | | Although most bodybuilders do not completely |
| In this article we're going to take a look at some | | | | eliminate carbs from their diet, it is important to |
| professional bodybuilders. With single-digit bodyfat | | | | note that they do restrict carbohydrate intake. |
| and loads of muscle, bodybuilders are arguably | | | | Rarely, if ever, will you see a professional |
| among the most fit people on the planet. After all, | | | | bodybuilder eating the 'garbage carbs' that are so |
| professional bodybuilders are paid to exercise! | | | | popular today: french fries, cake, cookies, |
| Jay Cutler, the IFFB 2002 and 2003 Arnold Classic | | | | crackers, white bread, etc. |
| Champion, includes brown rice in his diet when | | | | Bodybuilders are also very careful to get their |
| preparing for a contest. The sample menu shown | | | | carbohydrates from quality sources like brown |
| on his website, jaycutler.com, states that Jay eats | | | | rice, vegetables, and whole grains. So although |
| brown rice at least twice per day. With 32 grams | | | | they are not eliminating carbs altogether, they are |
| of carbs per serving, brown rice certainly would | | | | eliminating 'garbage carbs'. |
| not make the grade with some low-carb diets. | | | | So what's the bottom line? Can we learn more |
| Garry Holmen, who among other things gives | | | | about low-carbing from bodybuilders? After all, |
| nutritional advice to bodybuilders, advises his | | | | they're paid to be healthy! Most of them employ |
| clients to 'carb cycle' when preparing for a | | | | a personal doctor, trainer and nutrition expert! |
| competition. Without going into a long explanation, | | | | Here are the low-carb lessons from professional |
| carb cycling is simply reducing carbohydrate intake | | | | bodybuilders: 1) Most people should not remove all |
| for 3 days and then replenishing carbohydrates | | | | carbs from their diet. 2) Get your carbs from |
| stores on day 4. On carb depletion days, Garry | | | | high-quality sources. 3) Don't consume 'garbage |
| recommends that bodybuilders still get 20% of | | | | carbs' which are those high in fat and/or have no |
| their calories from carbohydrates. | | | | other nutritional value. 4) If you do follow a |
| Female competitor Debbie Patton | | | | restricted-carb diet, consider cycling in some |
| (debbiepatton.com), on her FAQ page, says: "I eat | | | | moderate-carb days. 5) Talk with your doctor |
| a diet high in protein, with moderate carbs. Lots | | | | before starting a low-carb diet. 6) Don't forget to |
| of chicken breasts, egg whites, tuna, protein | | | | exercise! |
| shakes, brown rice and potatoes." Debbie is the | | | | |