low carb diet question

so i have been on the low carb diet (30 carbs or less) for about going on 3 weeks now, i was wondering do i need to have a carb up day? so far i haven't yet because im loving the results

my goals right now is
1) to get shredded
2)maintain muscle
3)gain muscle

in order of number one being the most important

update! 8/3/09

maxes and goals
bench - need to remax
goal bench - 405

squat - need to remax
goal squat - 500

deadlift - need to remax
goal deadlift - 500
weight -174.8 8%bf 

Well, insofar as it involves cutting out PROCESSED, SIMPLE carbs, I don't see any problem with a carb reduction diet in the short term.  However, the debate over the long-term efficacy of low carb dieting has pretty much run its course.  Any diet that drastically slashes one of the three macronutrients is going to net you some weight loss for a while, but I still hold that low carb is not a sustainable option.

Two of your three stated goals are fundamentally incompatible with low carb.  To build and maintain muscle, you need to work it heavily and periodically, and that means maintaining an adequate supply of glycogen.  The primary source of muscle and liver glycogen is glucose, derived from carbohydrates in your diet.  Don't deprive your muscles of the one fuel they are physiologically predisposed to prefer.

[Edit]
Just my opinion here, but you look pretty shredded already, if that avatar is current   If I were in your shoes, I'd be looking strictly for a mass increase right now -but that's just me.

Size and strength will be victims in the low carb stategy.  There are areas of the world where a low/no carb diet works, they eat seafood that is extremely high in all of the things we eat our fruits, veggies, and grains for.  We in industious areas do not have the same nutrient dense meat products and need to get our carbs and nutrients from more variety of foods.  When you cut carbs, you cut the ability of your body to hold glycogen because you are not getting enough glycogen for the body to store in the muscles, only enough to restock your liver for brain protection.  When the glycogen is gone from the muscles, the water leaves too, now size is diminished, and strength tends to suffer.  I would recommend that at least once a week on a plan like this you would carb up, perhaps on a Wednesday or Sunday.

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yeah dude, carb up weekly.  just don't go crazy with it, or you'll gain that fat right back.

If you are going to do a low carb read up on a ckd. You have regular carbups. I personally recomend ultimate diet 2.0. It is tought to fallow because you starve yourself for about 3 1/2 days then stuff yourself 1 1/2 and maintain for 2 days and repeat. There is science behind the diet and you can easily lose bodyfat without sacrificing and muscle mass.

how much carbs should i eat on carb up day? ill just make today my carb up day and do it once a week

also, since summer basketball league is starting, i have been lifting maybe once or twice a week, 1st day being weights(monday) 2nd day bodyweight excercises(friday?), and then 4 days of basketball for about 3 hours at a time(monday-thursday), does that effect my carb up?

update! 8/3/09

maxes and goals
bench - need to remax
goal bench - 405

squat - need to remax
goal squat - 500

deadlift - need to remax
goal deadlift - 500
weight -174.8 8%bf 

jonb112303


how much carbs should i eat on carb up day? ill just make today my carb up day and do it once a week

also, since summer basketball league is starting, i have been lifting maybe once or twice a week, 1st day being weights(monday) 2nd day bodyweight excercises(friday?), and then 4 days of basketball for about 3 hours at a time(monday-thursday), does that effect my carb up?

u should have 10-12 grams of carbs per kilogram of lean mass. so take ur weight in lean mass, divide that by 2.2, then multiply by 10 or 12 ad thats how many grams of carbs u should shoot for

Current: 19, 5'11", 190@7%

bench:305 squat:370(atg) deadlift:475
Goals: 4plate squat, 5plate dead

"obsessed is a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated"