You’ve probably tried a variety of diet programs already with varying degrees of success. Let’s face it, some of us can’t seem to get a good head start with our desire to lose weight because we just can’t seem to find a diet plan that we can actually stick to. This is quite frustrating to say the least especially when you want to keep your weight down as much as possible. But have you tried carb cycling yet?

Carb cycling is basically the middle ground between following a no-carb diet and still having space for carbs to help with your metabolism. This diet program is actually used by body builders so they will be able to cut down in terms of weight but develop more muscles in the process. Is this really a good idea for you? Well, nutritionists are using carb cycling to help jumpstart their client’s metabolism so they can start with their weight loss goals.

Don’t know where to start with your carb-cycling? This 5-day plan can be used as guide if you want to jumpstart your body’s ability to metabolize quickly.

Day 1

This is called the low-carb day where you only need to eat 75 grams of carbohydrates only. If you can go lower than 50 then that would be great. You’re probably wondering how much carbs you are eating so here’s a rule of thumb. Learn to read the nutrition facts on the labels of food that you have bought to determine how much carbs they contain. As much as possible, go with healthy greens as they tend to have less carbs compared to others.

Day 2

Day 2 is your high-calorie day or, as some would say, “Feast Day”. However, just because it is said that you can have a feast on this day, this doesn’t mean that you can eat anything under the sun. There are still certain types of foods that you need to avoid such as gluten, soy, dairy, as well as alcohol because they do contain carbohydrates. The good news though is that you can actually eat larger meals on this day including snacks so you will be able to fill your belly up.

Day 3

No-carb fast day usually falls on the third day of the diet where it means that you won’t eat anything except fluids at a certain amount only. This means water, infusions, or even herbal teas for the entire day. On no-carb days, your goal is to eat lower than 25 grams of total carbohydrates with emphasis on lean proteins, high-fiber vegetables, as well as healthy fats. It is also possible to fast for just a few hours such as from morning until dinner and not the entire 24 hours. You can adjust this as you see fit based on your current health condition.

Day 4

Since you are done with the no-carb day, today will be your regular day or where you will be eating normal amounts of food. Again, this is not your free for all type of day but rather putting more focus on foods that contain healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and even lean proteins. Think wild caught fish, vegetables, and fruits as they are loaded with all the nutrients that your body needs to stay energized.

Day 5

The fifth day is referred to as the low-calorie day where you need to reduce your calorie intake for the day. This isn’t about focusing on a specific nutrient ratio but rather trying to minimize the amount of calories you consume for the day. 

If you are still at a loss as to how you can lose weight or at least jumpstart your diet, the carb cycling diet plan may just be the one that you need.