Carbs and Muscle

I have been adding in more (Paleo) carbs to help with the muscle-building, and it has definitely made a difference.  I don't count carbs or anything, so I don't know the before-and-after differences.  But whatever my previous carb intake was, it was hard to even maintain weight even though I was eating a ton more fat.

Just by adding more carbs via additional potatoes and sweet potatoes, it has made the difference in terms of weight maintenance/weight gain.  Apparently, I'm not the only this has happened to.  Here's a quote by low-carb researcher Jeff Volek:

"If you are trying to gain weight," writes Volek in the November 2001 issue of Muscular Development magazine, "my experience is that it is very difficult to prevent weight loss, let alone gain weight, on a strict ketogenic diet."

My simple way of thinking about this is that glucose storage is a higher priority for the body than is amino acid storage (muscle).  If you have insufficient glucose available, the body is less likely to build muscle.  If glucose stores are full, then the body can move on to building muscle.  I've seen bodybuilders refer to this as carbs being "protein-sparing". 

Comments

[Hammad]

I also have noticed this observation. I am still hesitant to add too many carbs though. I typically eat a banana after my workout and don't hesitate eating lots of nuts throughout the day. Is there a specific time you eat your carbs? About how much would you say you eat on a typical day?

[Matt Metzgar]

I don't know the exact count, but I have also been trying to get carbs in post-workout

I have noticed that eating more carbs increases hunger in general.