During high-intensity phases, a lower volume of training means less
energy expended. It’s important to reduce calories at this time or
you’ll end up storing them as body fat. This is accomplished by reducing
carbohydrate intake, particularly after your workout. In fact, if body
composition is an issue, you can go with zero carbs post-workout and use
amino acids instead (see page 17 of Mass Explosion).
According to Dr. Mauro DiPasquale, author of The Metabolic Diet
and founder of the MD+ nutritional supplement line, if no carbohydrates
are given post-exercise, the muscle will maintain a capacity to fully
compensate or supercompensate glycogen stores until enough glucose
(sugar) is available either through the diet or by gluconeogenesis. By
keeping carbs low and protein high with amino acids, you can increase
protein synthesis over a prolonged period and get a long-term anabolic
effect.
If you’re interested in gaining muscle size and strength but you’re
not interested in gaining body fat, then give this approach a shot and
see how it works for you.
