If you are someone who likes a planned routine and doesn’t want to constantly cut all carbs from your diet, carb cycling might be the right eating pattern for you.  

Carb cycling factors in your workouts when calculating your meal plan, matching up your diet to the days that your muscles need more fuel. Read on to learn about the potential benefits of carb cycling. 

What is carb cycling? 

Carb cycling is a diet pattern that takes advantage of the benefits of low carb diets, but also considers the fuel you need for your workouts.  

It’s typically followed for a few weeks or months at a time but not full time like a ketogenic diet. Carb cycling simply means eating a higher carbohydrate diet on some days and lower carbs on other days.  

Depending on your goals (building muscle, weight loss, etc.) you might plan your carb cycling diet for weeks at a time or just take it day by day. 

How does it work? 

Carb cycling works by acknowledging that most people don’t follow exactly the same activity pattern every single day.  

Even if you work out 6 days per week — maybe 2 days are HIIT cardio and 4 days are weight lifting — you’d need less carbs with weight training than intense cardio, and even fewer on a rest day.  

On the weekends you might be outside all day and never stop moving, but be chained to your desk on weekdays, making your carb needs lower.