first my general stats are 6'1" 238 around 10% body fat. I'm trying to get to about 7%.
I get 81g. carbs from oatmeal and about 25g. from green vegtables. Total calorie intake is 3000 with about 360 calories from fat and the rest from protein.

Anyway, about 3 days ago I lost all vascularity and haven't seen it since. Is it my carbs?
Thanks for any suggestions.

Could be the carbs if you just drastically decreased them from previous levels. 106 g carbs if fairly low for someone your size, but many bodybuilders are at that level during the last phases of dieting. I'm at about the same calorie/carb levels as you right now, and my vasuclarity comes and goes at different times in the day. A lot of times it has to do with how much subcutaneous water you are holding.

I find that it also has to do a lot with my body temperature and the temperature of the environment that I am in. For example, if I am working outside in the summer I will always be vascular, simialrly in the gym if it is a normal temp. But this time of year, when most buildings are kept cold your body will naturally try to conserve it's heat and when it is doing that you will not look vascular. Part of what causes prominent vascularity is the bodies effort to cool itself.

I tend to be a visual lifter - I don't like to wear long sleeves or long pants in the gym as I like to get the feedback from the mirror regarding exercise form and effect. My gym owner has been cheaping out the past month or so and normally has the heat turned down to about 65 which I think is cold. It has been a lot harder to see any vascularity even when working out now that the gym is cold.

Carbs will also affect vascularity. After an insulin spike that comes from ingesting a lot of fast acting carbs most people will be more vascular. Anyone who has carb depleted the last few days before a contest will know that they appear flat and usually without much vascularity during that period even though their bf is low. Start carb loding and your vascularity comes back. Hydration also is a factor. If you are dehydrated, you will be less vascular. Obviously bf levels also impact vascularity, but that will not change from day to day. An interesting subject.

VA MadDog

Dcandy- I also was thinking it would be water weight, but I've been focusing on that since day two and still nothing. Where do you think my carbs should be at?
MadDog- I hope it is the cold weather, because I just drank a glass of orange juice as an experiment and I saw very little vascularity for a very short period of time.

Genetics, bodyfat, carbs/sugars, hydration, heat all go into the levels of vascularity. Ultimately if your goal is fat loss, right now, which Im assuming with so low carbs, I wouldnt worry about vascularity. WHen you get to where you are going, and add back in the carbs I think youll be very excited by what you see I know this happens with me on show day. Anyways...I dont think its something to focus on when dieting.

Jason Theobald

www.geocities.com/chezburger10/JASONTHEOBALDBIO.html

And lets not forget sodium as well. When low on carbs increase sodium and water to fill out otherwise your vascularity will go down. I am sure fitdoc could cover it better, but its about blood volume. Add some sodium (don't go crazy) and increase fluid intake and see what happens.

Sully

Yep - I forgot about the sodium.

I also agree with JT's suggestion of not to worry too much about vascularity in the off season, and especially in winter. It would be another issue if your bf levels were going up enough to "cover" your vascularity, but that does not sound like your issue.

I can relate to the fact, however, that many of us do use vascularity as a relative measure of leanness and conditioning. It is one of those things that is easy to see and a commonly accepted measure of being in decent condition.

VA MadDog

I found when dieting for my contest that body temp. changed my vascularity dramatically. If I would wear sweatpants and a sweatshirt and drink a cup of hot coffee and then train some abs or do a quick warmup on the bike or treadmill I would look like spider man (veins popping everywhere) But If I was at work and the building is cold my veins would completely disapear..

lifter

The temperature will have a lot to do with it. I am really vascular in the summer and it seems to disappear a bit when it turns cold.

I am sure there are other factors but the temp is one for sure. My vascularity can change in the matter of a half hour if I came in from the cold and was sitting in the heat. the veins will begin to show.

Kevin