I am embarking on a high protein diet but staying away from all starchy carbs (breads) and eating no sugars/ fruits or dairy products. I am trying to consume at least 60 grams of protein a day in the form of soy and whey shakes. I am a vegetarian so I do not eat meat products. Is it possible for me to still gain muscle this way as I am strength training 4 days a week and I will be doing cardio 4 - 5 days as well? I have done it in the past but it has been a while so I'm hoping I can do it again. Any thoughts? All the reading I have done claims that low-carb diets promote muscle loss but I'm not sure if this is only because most of these diets don't take into consideration people who up their protein intake and those who also weight train..
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Low carb/ high protein diet: can I still gain muscle?
- Thread starter Karma
- Start date
Well, if there aren't carbs present, the body only has 2 sources for energy:
Fats, Proteins.
Both of these sources are very slow-to-release, so when your body requires more energy than it can liberate from fat, it will destroy muscle in order to get at the three energy-producing amino acids.
The best way to make protein bio-available without having to gorge on protein (you'd need to supplement WAY more than 60 grams a day, which is only 240 calories from protein) is to take an amino acid supplement which provides the energy-producing amino acids (which are normally extracted from your muscle's proteins) without requiring your body to break down the protein first.
You'll also need to eat a TON of calories from protein to stave off catabolism. You're looking at 1g - 1.5g per lbs of lean muscle mass per day.
Fats, Proteins.
Both of these sources are very slow-to-release, so when your body requires more energy than it can liberate from fat, it will destroy muscle in order to get at the three energy-producing amino acids.
The best way to make protein bio-available without having to gorge on protein (you'd need to supplement WAY more than 60 grams a day, which is only 240 calories from protein) is to take an amino acid supplement which provides the energy-producing amino acids (which are normally extracted from your muscle's proteins) without requiring your body to break down the protein first.
You'll also need to eat a TON of calories from protein to stave off catabolism. You're looking at 1g - 1.5g per lbs of lean muscle mass per day.
As Fil said, you'll need much more than 60 grams of protein a day.
And w/o sufficient carbs post-work-out and enough protein, I don't think you'll make significant muscle gains.
And w/o sufficient carbs post-work-out and enough protein, I don't think you'll make significant muscle gains.
I guess I really didn't think about what I wrote. I am only doing the no fruit/bread/dairy thing for two weeks only, following the ultimate new york body plan. Just trying to lose weight fast (low carb works for me). I am getting my carbs from vegetables. After that I will start eating fruit again but I usually eat whole grain swedish crackers (I can't think of what they are called right now but they don't contain sugars) instead of bread. I am big on veggies too. But in general I don't eat pastas or rice or any starchy carbs so I consider my diet pretty low carb.