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