Patience is a virtue when it comes to achieving your dream body. Apart from having loads of patience, good research and understanding of diet techniques also count.
Methods such as low-carb diets and carb cycling can provide better results to your body only if you plan and execute them properly. Both sound good but it’s hard to tell which one is better unless you’ve tried one of these choices.
For the meantime, let me try to give you more details about the low-carb diet and carb cycling and the difference between these two techniques.
This article will help you weigh your options and make a better choice.
Defining Terms
Carbohydrates are energy-building nutrients found in fruits, vegetables and many other food sources. High intake of carbs is usually linked to weight gain and obesity, therefore, establishing the need for moderate to low carb consumption.
A low-carb diet means consuming lesser carbohydrates from food and drinks. This diet also means eating higher proportions of food with low carbs, high-protein or high-fat content.
A low-carb diet usually consists of lean meats, fish, eggs, nuts, fruits and leafy vegetables. Meanwhile, carb cycling means alternating between low-carb and high-carb days on a weekly or monthly basis.
Usually, carb cycling lets you switch between three low-carb days, two moderate-carb and two high-carb days.
Carb cycling is reportedly more effective when combined with workout programs and it is also popular among athletes and bodybuilders.
The Key Differences
In essence, both techniques are geared towards one main goal and that is to promote fitness and help you maintain a balanced carb intake.
Each technique has its own number of risks and benefits and even similarities and differences.
What these two strategies have in common is the inconsistency of their benefits when used for a longer amount of time.
Their difference is that low-carb diets are easier to execute compared to carb cycling which takes strategic day-to-day planning and monitoring.
Low-carb diets are also more established than carb cycling. On the other hand, you will feel less deprived and well-adjusted in carb cycling as compared to the consistently low amount you consume in a low-carb diet.
There are also claims that carb cycling helps prevent weight plateau, promotes fat loss and helps build muscle mass more effectively than low-carb diets.
Which Should You Choose?
The choice will depend on you and your body’s capabilities for each diet strategy should be tailored to your needs.
Low-carb diets have existed for a longer time compared to carb cycling. There are several conflicting studies and claims related to these two techniques especially on the relatively new method of cycling carb intake.
Carb cycling sounds like your best bet if you plan to lose fat and build muscle while low-carb diets may seem more appropriate for those who aim to shed off excess pounds only.
Whichever you choose, the important thing is to have a deep understanding and proper usage of both methods.
You will not achieve good results if you do not follow a proper diet chart and combine your chosen technique with proper workout and health habits.