Carbless muscle building by Iron Addict:
At the time I write this, I have about 10% of my training clients doing carbless (keto) massing. Why? Well, I can tell you it wasn't my idea. I still believe that the fastest mass gains happen when the trainee is taking in the most carbs THEY can consume without adding fat at a fast pace.
So why are they doing this? It was their idea. They had run a keto diet for fat loss and like pretty much anyone that runs a keto diet, they came to the realization that:
- They feel MUCH, MUCH better without carbs. If someone has never done it they simply will not understand this, and most will insist they need carbs to feel good--they are WRONG.
- Body fat gets low very fast, and performance is pretty much unaffected as long as you are not a volume trainer, or do a lot of high intensity cardio.
After awhile of doing a keto, they simply did not want to go back to the mood and energy swings that occur on a carb based diet. They asked me if they could mass this way, I told them they would do better with carbs, and they asked if they actually COULD do it, and I told them sure, it works. So......they basically do trace carbs 5-6 days a week, and have 1-2 days, sometimes less of carb-refeeds.
Go look at pictures on this forum of XX, and Boostnmuscle. They are both carbless massing. I do not train XX but we talk a lot. I do train Boost, and these are not guys that just lift weights, these are guys that compete in bodybuilding and weigh 240-250 off-season leaner than most guys are at anytime of the year. They are both very successfully carbless massing, as are the other trainees I work with.
Is it optimal for mass gains? No IMO. Does it allow good gym performance without carbs? YES, as long as you have went 4-6 weeks without carbs to allow the body to fully adapt to using carbs as fuel. Do you need carb refeeds doing this? YES, but they can be as little as 1/2 days of carbs. Will you stay leaner and feel better doing this. Well, yes, that is why people choose to do this. They understand that they may gain a bit more muscle with carbs in the diet, but they won't stay nearly as lean. Performance is simply not an issue despite what the unknowing may tell you. This assumes you are NOT a 20 set a bodypart pump artist.
If you are under 21 I would NOT recommend you doing this. Please don't ask me why. Take my word for it.
Having said that I do not think it is optimal for mass gains I will be using a similar lean mass approach when I am done with the fat loss portion of my diet, but it will be more like a TCD with a keto slant. At age 46 I really don't care to weigh 240 anymore, in fact, I just am looking for a more refined 210 lb body, at about 8% bodyfat year round. And this is doable for ME. Feeling good, and having great energy is more important that a few extra pounds on the scale and if you have never done a keto, or TCD with very limited carbs, you have no idea how good you end up feeling. Every week I get calls from training clients that are doing their first TCD or keto diet and are simply amazed at how good they feel without the carb blood sugar roller coaster taking them for a ride
IA