CARB-CYCLING

I’ve been getting inboxed alot again regarding carb-cycling, and this is my most common response: Any diet which cycles a keto-type phase with a carb-up phase can be labeled “carb-cycling”, and yes, for many people it is a great way to keep up the gains of a keto-diet without the negative effects to carb metabolism. For me, that means keeping my total carb intake at about 15 – 20 grams per day, which is less than 5% of total caloric intake. One day I week, I “carb-up”, aiming to eat 4 meals at about 30 grams of carbs each, for a total intake of 120 g. This is what we’ve worked out for me based on how I am looking, how I’ve responded in the past to a keto-type diet with a one-day carb-up, and how I want to look onstage as a Fitness Model on the 27th. Everyone is different, so you want to really keep a food log and take regular photos to see what works best for you!

On the other hand, it is not the only way to keep a lean year-round physique, and not one that I would personally recommed, either. Though I personally do really well on this type of diet, and my energy levels stay pretty high, and my skin stays glowing, (I think because of the high fat intake), long-term, I woudn’t want to stay with it because I truly believe that food is your medicine, and most of the great micro-nutrients as well as fiber are found in pulses, grains, vegetables and fruit. Vegetables just add so much depth and texture elements to dishes as well as keeping things interesting for the palette. I also do really well on dairy, (the organic, raw kind) and would miss out on that if I stuck to a ketogenic-style diet beyond my show date. A glass of whole milk has equal parts protein to carbohydrate, something most of us forget about when we think of milk. When I get ready for a show, I have to take it out. But let me tell you, I can’t wait to put it back in. I just love how a small bit of milk added to my bolognese recipe rounds out the flavor, or how a nice thick dollop of yogurt on top of a bowl full of seasonal fruit tastes like a piece of heaven before a work-out. I think one of the main reasons people struggle with “healthy” eating long-term is lack of variety. After a while, you just can’t face another boring green salad with balsamic dressing or boiled chicken and broccoli, ughh! No wonder the siren call of a pint of Ben&Jerry’s becomes irresistible. You have to keep messing around in the kitchen and have fun inventing new ways to get your nutrition. Taking better care of your health should be fun and pleasurable, otherwise, why are you doing it? We’re only on this planet for a short time, so use your creativity and make the most of it my friends!