Carbohydrate loading or Carb Loading is the practice used by endurance-type athletes to help increase the carbohydrate (glycogen) levels in their muscles and liver. They typically start 24-48 hours before the competition and "load up" with low glycemic index carbohydrates such as potatoes, rice, carbohydrate powders etc. to increase the glycogen content in their bodies.
Bodybuilders use carbohydrate loading allows the muscles of a bodybuilder who has been on a strict diet program to fill the muscles back up.
There are a few different ways that bodybuilders will carb load:
The first way is the gradual carbohydrate loading regime and this is the most effective and preferred means of preparing for a competition.
The second is the 2-3 day carbohydrate depletion and load technique. Although the three-day competition preparation regime is widely used it is quite physically and mentally taxing.
1-2 weeks prior to the competition & before beginning the gradual loading program, the bodybuilder must reach their desired body fat percentage through a series of very low carbohydrate / calorie dieting and cardiovascular training.
At this point, the athlete's carbohydrate and glycogen levels will be at their lowest levels. Maintaining this schedule allows for a slow caloric increase prior to the contest.
The slow method is the
safer carbohydrate loading method and is equally effective in terms conditioning for contest day. the slower method provides the bodybuilder with the greatest possible amount of energy for competition day.
You've probably heard a bodybuilder say, "I looked much better the day after the show". This observation is often accurate and it generally holds true for up to a week following the contest. This is because the bodybuilder probably had too low of levels of carbohydrates in their system or dieted for too long. This causes their muscles to look flat or deflated.
06-26-2008, 09:14 AM
Carb Loading 
Bodybuilding dieting 
