Do you always have to drop carbs to get into killer shape?

[Mr.Bones]

Mods:This is the only section that will get some answers.

I've been dieting with carbs in every meal damn near and I can't seem to get down to 7 % no matter what I do.

Now before you say drop more carbs ... I feel like I loose size, and fullness and am not able to get it back till after the diet is after each time.

I get stronger, and leaner but very slowly and I don't want to take a year to hit 7% bf.

What is the ultimate way to diet down for bodybuilding???

Thoughts?

[lartinos]

Run Dave's diet. It works great. If you are really worried about losing muscle then
run an anabolic with it.

[sassy69]

I don't think there is one "ultimate" way to diet down for BB. You have to discover what your body responds to the best. And then when you're talking about bodybuilding, you're also talking about water manipulation. You look flat and small when you're carb depleted, but then carbs or fats are used to fill out, in conjunction w/ a water drop / manipulation.

Also remember that BB is about a LOOK, not strength. When you're dieted down, you're not going to be stronger because you've dumped all the stuff that you'd use to grow muscle & provide energy. Its a trade-off that maybe you have to pick which is more important to you. If you have a fast metabolism, you're going to have a hard time putting on size, even if you are able to get lean & ripped. If you have a slower metabolism, you'll be able to put on size but have a hard time cutting up.

[shredstack]

I think you should drop the carbs and add some steak into the diet. Lots of red meat will help you maintain and gain strength, much more than carbs will IMO. This has been true for me.

[bigchamp89]

u ever done daves diet? couldnt hurt to give it a try
for me ive stuck with it for every cut so far, little to no strength/mass loss, good energy, good concentration and seein good results, not sure what else you can ask for in a diet.

[Mr.Bones]

Yes I have done keto, and I feel like I loose fullness I can not get back when I use it because I go without carbs for so damn long.

[Suzanne]

No you don't

I am 2.5 weeks out from Nationals at 225 g complex carbs every day

[The Big Sexy]

Sure you can keep carbs... just do several hours of cardio a day. boom, carbs stay in. oh and don't get fat in the off-season.

There isn't an ultimate way to get in shape for a show - Sassy is correct. It's about how far you are willing to push yourself and sacrifice to get there... pick a method that works best for you and then take that path all the way to hell and back.

[shredstack]

No you don't

I am 2.5 weeks out from Nationals at 225 g complex carbs every day

If I ate that many carbs, I wouldn't burn a drop of fat.

[The Big Sexy]

If I ate that many carbs, I wouldn't burn a drop of fat.

What if you were taking 125mcg of t3 and 100mcg of t4 with 6 clen tabs a day?

[ArabMuscle]

Mods:This is the only section that will get some answers.

I've been dieting with carbs in every meal damn near and I can't seem to get down to 7 % no matter what I do.

Now before you say drop more carbs ... I feel like I loose size, and fullness and am not able to get it back till after the diet is after each time.

I get stronger, and leaner but very slowly and I don't want to take a year to hit 7% bf.

What is the ultimate way to diet down for bodybuilding???

Thoughts?

1) When you diet you risk losing fullness and fullness does not dictate muscle mass, nor the lack of it dictates muscle loss. It's called "work in progress". You regain that fullness once you reach your intended goal by adding in carbs slowly, cruising until you decide to bulk again.

2) Carb cycling's best of both worlds. I go on extremely low carb for 5 days, cheat on the night of the 6th (a rest day), workout on the morning of the 7th and cheat again after that workout, followed by another workout 2 hours later, then a low carb rest day.

The above's my unique version of "carb-cycling", designed to keep my sanity in check and my muscles full for the weekend, yet not full enough to disrupt fat-burning once I get back on track.

Conclusively, there isn't "the" ultimate way to diet. Everyone responds differently to macronutrient content.

[lartinos]

No you don't

I am 2.5 weeks out from Nationals at 225 g complex carbs every day

Agreed that not all people need to cut them out. But... I will also add that the type of carb you are eating can make a big difference as well. Whatever carbs he is taking is not working for him or carbs in general are not working. What is your essential fat intake like? Protein? This thread could get very long with advice.

[shredstack]

What if you were taking 125mcg of t3 and 100mcg of t4 with 6 clen tabs a day?

But what's the purpose of that? Unless one is competing, there is no need. Why not just drop the carbs totally, to compensate, and add in more red meat? I don't like stims and don't want to feel like my heart is jumping out of my chest.

[The Big Sexy]

But what's the purpose of that? Unless one is competing, there is no need. Why not just drop the carbs totally, to compensate, and add in more red meat? I don't like stims and don't want to feel like my heart is jumping out of my chest.

Suzanne is competing... and she's on 250 (or 225) g of carbs per day and 2.5 weeks out from nationals. I'm not saying that SHE is using all that - I have no idea what she's taking. but if someone told me they were eating 225g of complex carbs a day and getting leaner and leaner for a national level show - I'm going to automatically think t3 and clen.

[~gymdiva~]

What if you were taking 125mcg of t3 and 100mcg of t4 with 6 clen tabs a day?

I would be skinny and shaking like a crackhead...but damn I'd look hot in my jeans