Bodybuilding Forums

I have been following the MANS diet for about 5 months now and hitting the gym often. I have gained about 4 lbs and can now see the outline of my abs, like a 2 pack . It has been going well, but I think I might benefit from some more carbs. I want to try and gain some weight. I am pretty much an ecto, 6 ft 165. I have read a lot that ectos benefit from more carbs and I get the feeling I am not very carb sensitive. When I do my carb up I usually eat between 700-1000 carbs, but by the next morning my weight is what it is when I am completely depleted. Just curious if you all think I should start to reintroduce some good carbs and lower the fats.

I wouldn’t up the carbs because you will be defeating the whole idea of the anabolic or m.a.n.s. diet. Sounds you need to up your calories by fats and protein keeping carbs roughly 30 grams. You might want to go on a bulking diet, below is some ideas to bulking & cutting on this diet or if you want to bulk up maybe just increase cals by 300 to 500 cals a day see if that helps. May be someone can help on this matter as I have only been on this diet for 10 days at maintenance phase but might go on a bulking phase after 4 weeks so interested in other views.

Bulking on the Anabolic Diet. Use this formula to calculate your daily calorie intake for bulking:
• ( goal weight in lbs + (goal weight in lbs x 15%) ) x 25
Example: you weigh 70kg & set a goal weight of 75kg:
• (154lbs + (154lbs x 15%) ) x 25 = 4400 kcal

Compare with the maintenance phase at 70kg:
• bodyweight in lbs x 18 = 2800 kcal
Weigh yourself each week the day before loading carbs. Once you have your goal weight, go back to maintenance.

Cutting on the Anabolic Diet. Formula for calculating your daily calorie intake when cutting:
• Maintenance calories - 500 kcal

Example: you weigh 90kg & want to lose weight:
• (bodyweight in lbs x 18 ) - 500 kcal = 3000 kcal
Check the balance weekly the day before the carb loading. Aim for 0,5kg - 1kg 2lbs - 1lbs weight loss a week.
If weight loss is lower:
• Cut another 500 kcal from your daily calorie intake the next week
• Repeat until you’re at your goal weight

Get back to maintenance when you’re satisfied with the results.

I understand adding carbs would be defeating the purpose of the anabolic diet or MANS. I am thinking about changing diets all together. I know I need more calories to grow, but honestly eating more fat does not appeal to me and being an ecto I think carbs may help me gain some weight. Also if I am not carb sensitive I think it will just be easier to eat something like 300g carbs, 250g protein, and like 75-85g of fat. So something similar to GLAD, but with a little more carbs, being ecto. I am going to keep doing MANS until I decide but just trying to get some feedback on this.

I hear you it does take time to get your head around to eating high fat & protein while low carbs. But the diet was put together in adding weight while keeping fat off and increase in muscle mass which I think we all want in the end. You say you have been on the diet for 5 months so you have determination but I take it you haven't tried being on the bulking phase on this diet?

I think I have my head around it, I have stuck to it for 5 months almost never going above 30 net carbs. I have probably put on 8 lbs on lean muscle and lost 4 lbs of fat since January. I just think I can gain muscle quicker with a more balanced approach. I have only been lifting seriously since I have been on this diet and would sort of like to try out something else. They all say as a beginner you can make huge gains and I think I may be missing out some on this diet.

to me it sounds like you have already made up your mind on what you want to do you just want someone to back you up. like you said youve only been lifting seriously for 5 months, so my question to you is will it really hurt if you spend another 5 months on a higher carb style diet? i dont think so. so i think you should try it. or maybe try modifying the diet to suit you a bit more like having a mid week carb day aswell or having 60grams a day instead of 30. 30 grams is not set in stone. i have only recently started the mans style diet, but i have had personal experience on other diets. i used a lower carb(not anywhere near as low as 50-60g) with slightly higher protein fat to cut it worked. and then i went to a personal trainer to help me build muscle and for the beggining i was on the same diet just higher cals and then on his advice i went on a high carb diet (as i am a skinny fat guy) i find it hard to put on muscle and to be honest i got strong but i also just got fat. so i think if you want to try something else go for it, it cant hurt and keep to the balance diet like you said.

harryt43 wrote:I think I have my head around it, I have stuck to it for 5 months almost never going above 30 net carbs. I have probably put on 8 lbs on lean muscle and lost 4 lbs of fat since January. I just think I can gain muscle quicker with a more balanced approach. I have only been lifting seriously since I have been on this diet and would sort of like to try out something else. They all say as a beginner you can make huge gains and I think I may be missing out some on this diet.

Harry, don't worry what you're asking has been asked by a lot of people. People want to know if you can put on muscle with high fat and high protein. The research I have seen is leaning towards yes, but you're going to have consume high amounts of calories which in turn means high amounts of fat and protein.

Ya, I think I was just struggling to eat enough calories with no carbs. I have switched for the last week and a half or so and like it better. I am not just eating crap, trying to keep it around 275 g carbs, 275g protein, and 85g of fat. It has gone really well and I have gained 3 or 4 lbs with no visible fat gain. I am sure a little has been fat, but I think this diet works better for me. I just need to pay attention to my body and I think low carb is not the way to go for me.

harryt43 wrote:Ya, I think I was just struggling to eat enough calories with no carbs. I have switched for the last week and a half or so and like it better. I am not just eating crap, trying to keep it around 275 g carbs, 275g protein, and 85g of fat. It has gone really well and I have gained 3 or 4 lbs with no visible fat gain. I am sure a little has been fat, but I think this diet works better for me. I just need to pay attention to my body and I think low carb is not the way to go for me.

As a general rule there isn't any one size fits all way of food consumption pattern but I think people are short sighted when it comes to the high fat/low carb downcycle and high carb/low fat upcycle. Diet implies a transient way of eating. This is a lifestyle. Your choice to change follows a Zone type food consumption pattern. There is too much sound scientific evidence for the health benefits of a low carb way. Weight loss is associated with it but it is not the only benefit.
I would have a blood test perform to monitor your blood panels during your switch to higher carbs and see what differences you may have compared to the low carb way.
Anyway good luck and hope you find what works best for you but make sure you're in it for the long haul.