Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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Is anybody else doing what I am doing (or similar) and experiencing favorable results? I train 6 days a week in martial arts and lift HEAVY twice a week. I always train in the morning, fasted. I do NOT eat PWO for at least 2-6+ hours....basically when hungry. Then I eat a HUGE high fat/protein meal and it will be the only meal I eat that day. If I eat a sweet potato, its once every 7-10 days and no more than roughly 185g and NEVER PWO....and I am gaining muscle/strength weekly. Gluconeogenesis....if I am properly understanding its definition? I am looking to maximize HGH and minimalize insulin release, obviously. Anyone else seeing similar results using what some might consider, a slightly unorthodox method?

flag	asked Apr 29 2011 at 1:43 L. Peltier

	Hi Tactical Savage, good to see you back. I find this question interesting but want to make sure I understand -- can you clarify what you mean about gluconeogenesis? Do you just mean that it's odd that you're gaining muscle even though you're not taking your carbs PWO? – Paul Apr 29 2011 at 5:11
	Thanks. Trust me, its begrudgingly. I eat no carbs at all to speak of. I may consume spinach, kale, or chard every 1-3 days. I eat seasonally, and asparagus is the only thing "in" now. Even then, if I consume berries once month, I'm lucky.As I understood it, the body can replenish glucose in the muscles by converting protein to glucose and using (stored?) fat to do it. It just seems like I've read and been told what I am doing cannot be done. Esp given my low BF%. People are starting to ask if I'm "juicing"! – L. Peltier Apr 29 2011 at 9:57
	How are you measuring your gains? Muscle size? Increase in poundage? What kind of strength training are you doing? Powerlifting? Oly lifts? Other? – Thomas Seay Apr 29 2011 at 17:16
	I am seeing gains in size and strength weekly. Granted, nothing compared to 15 years ago on a 3:1 carb/protein ratio and creatine. I have been tracking BMI and weight increases on the bar. I seem to have put on 6 lbs of muscle in about 8 weeks while maintaining 6%-8% BF in ketosis. My weights have increased on average 5 lbs a week in Bench Press and Military and 10 lbs a week in Squats and Deadlifts. Even my Oly lifts have improved. I do mess around with sleds, tire flips, sledgehammers n maces, hurdles, climbing ropes, Mov Nat, etc but nothing I keep track of. – L. Peltier Apr 29 2011 at 17:29

James · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-29 20:11:23Z UTC

Yes you can grow in size and strength without carbs. Carbs aren't used to build the muscles directly after all. Carbs/glycogen allow you to work out harder/longer to put more stress/microdamage on the muscles. Insulin from the carbs helps shuttle more amino's into the cells for repair. However, it's not "required".

Yes the body can replenish it's glycogen through gluconeogenesis and to a fairly small extent via fat. Takes roughly 24-48 hours.

Is it "optimal" according to what the bodybuilders do, no. But obviously working fine for you for your needs for now (assuming you're tracking all these gains to really quantify it). At some point you will plateau though, at which point you'll want to switch things up if you want to progress further.

Harfatum · Answer 2 · 2011-04-30 05:51:11Z UTC

Although I'm still a beginner, I had no gains in my lifts for a period of two months on low-carb postworkout. When I switched to moderate-carb PWO I instantly started gaining back the ground I had lost, and the process continues and I am losing fat as well, on a leangains-style program. For at least some people, carbs are crucial. I'd say that overall I eat 10-20% carbs now, and feel great.

Are any of you gaining muscle eating this way?

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