I am in a hardenening phasr right now so calories and carbs are low. in between my carb up meals I get really flat and depleted. Should I increase water (already 2 -3 gallons) or sodium. Or maybe even increase my carb meals from every third then fourth day, strictly to every third day. If it helps I'm working out 4on-1off, no cardio, 155 @ 8% trying for 5%. Thanks everyonr look forward to the advice.
Posts: 148 | Location: Long Beach, Ca | Registered: Fri January 23 2004
If you are trying to harden you wont want to move the carb meals any closer than 3 days. Every night would not allow your glycogen to deplete enough. You want to deplete to the edge and just before going over replenish the body. Being so flat may mean you need to move it to every three days. If not preparing for show you could always add a bit of carbs at this meal and see what happens. Adding more water may help a bit so too will sodium, but not to the same extent carbs will. Its just part of dieting down naturally.
When I flatten out I first try to add some sodium and water to help fill out. This workd for some, like the more endomorphic types and most women. Now others flatten out and need glycogen to fill back out, and the only way to do that is carbs. If the first does not work try to add 20% more carbs to your carb up meal and see how you feel the next day. 20% more will not effect fat burning and should give you a slightly fuller physique. After that just tinker with the carb ammounts until you find the fine line where you feel fuller, but do not compromise fat burning. I also agree with keeping at least 3 days between carb ups, and I have gone as far as 10 (but I am a extream endomorph and my body can tolerate this) I am also less concerned with a flat physique and more concerned with my rate of fat loss, until the final two weeks. Try fluid/sodium first and see what happens.