training on low carbs (particularly leg day)

[figgs]

I just finished my quad workout and it was a huge disappointment. The workout began ok because I expected it to be just like any other workout. I did my 310 for 7 reps. I was happy. So then I took off 15 pounds hoping to get 8-10 reps. Got 7 and was disappointed. I took off another 10 pounds and got 7 and on the 8th i lost the weight. After a long rest I did my 4th set and lost the weight on my 6th rep. This was 10 pounds less than I usually go and I'd usually go as low as 285 for 8 after a few sets. But 275 for 5 is horrible for me. After that I felt soooooo drained. I was really pissed for losing that weight again. No amount of effort could get it up. I did the rest of my workout, working around my lowered strength and energy levels. I finished with a good pump and glad that I tried my best but this low carb stuff is killing me.

What do I do for the energy for a good leg workout? or any intense workout?

[SLYY]

caffeine pills....

[SD_Adonis]

I would recommend that you cycle your carbs throughout the week.  Doing so will boost your dieting efforts and supply you with more energy on the days you need it like leg day.

Here is what I do:

Sunday: Legs (high-carb)
Monday: Off (really low-carb)
Tuesday: Chest/Biceps/Abs (low-carb)
Wedneday: Off (really low-carb)
Thursday: Back/Calves/Abs (moderate-carb)
Friday: Off (really low-carb)
Saturday: Delts/Triceps/Abs (low-carb)

[Cold]

up your flaxseed or fish oil intake. when i cut carbs, i use up to 6 tablespoons of flax or 6000mg fish oil a day. they keep u going strong in the gym u wont even notice the lack of carbs.

[figgs]

Quality advice. Thanks folks and good training.

[WhiteHulk4]

SD_Adonis offered some good advice there.  Another alternative to that, which I've used on many occasions and is actually quite enjoyable is, doing low carb all week, and they eating high-carb (basically pigging out) on the weekends.  It's pretty much the protocol of the Metabolic Diet by Dr. diPasquale.

You don't even workout on the weekends.  However, you'd want to do your toughest workout on Monday, coming off all the carbs from the weekend.  Your strength will be through the roof.  But as the week progresses, it will drop quickly.

I followed this type of program for about 9-10 months last year and dropped about 30 lbs of fat with very minimal muscle loss.

[MidniteRambo]

SD_Adonis offered some good advice there.  Another alternative to that, which I've used on many occasions and is actually quite enjoyable is, doing low carb all week, and they eating high-carb (basically pigging out) on the weekends.  It's pretty much the protocol of the Metabolic Diet by Dr. diPasquale.

You don't even workout on the weekends.  However, you'd want to do your toughest workout on Monday, coming off all the carbs from the weekend.  Your strength will be through the roof.  But as the week progresses, it will drop quickly.

I followed this type of program for about 9-10 months last year and dropped about 30 lbs of fat with very minimal muscle loss.

Everybody uses the term "low carb," but it means different things to different people.  During the week, I intake about 180-200 carbs per day.  Is that what you consider low carb? 

[Cold]

nobody in their right mind would stay low -carb all the times. every few days u need to go high-carbs even if ur trying to shed the last few lbs of fat for a contest. end of discussion. 

[kicker]

SD_Adonis offered some good advice there.  Another alternative to that, which I've used on many occasions and is actually quite enjoyable is, doing low carb all week, and they eating high-carb (basically pigging out) on the weekends.  It's pretty much the protocol of the Metabolic Diet by Dr. diPasquale.

You don't even workout on the weekends.  However, you'd want to do your toughest workout on Monday, coming off all the carbs from the weekend.  Your strength will be through the roof.  But as the week progresses, it will drop quickly.

I followed this type of program for about 9-10 months last year and dropped about 30 lbs of fat with very minimal muscle loss.

Did you increase your EFA intake during this period?  Someone above mentioned it helps preserve muscle and suppress appetite.

[FREAKgeek]

low carb diets never worked for me. Tried the keto cycling shit and all the rest too - felt like shit regardless. Reasonable servings of healthy, complex carbs never got me fat.

[WhiteHulk4]

Did you increase your EFA intake during this period?  Someone above mentioned it helps preserve muscle and suppress appetite.

I was supplementing with 2-3 tablespoons of Udo's Choice on each low-carb day...  And to answer Rambo's question, to me "low-carb" is the level at which you can enter ketosis.  When you're working out hard, that's around 50-75grams all day.