Bodybuilding Forums

Are there any kind of exercises which you are recommended (and are dissuaded from doing) when on the MANS diet?
For example, cardio exercises, anaerobics, plyometric exercises, heavy weights. Of these, are any recommended when on this diet? And are there any which we should avoid?

Thank you, and happy new year.

Mark recommends using his THT program.

http://www.musclehack.com/total-anabolism-20-is-here/

Sorry maybe I should have rephrased my question this way:

What happens if you do these types of exercises on the MANS diet? Surely the effect (and what you experience) cannot be the same on a low/no carb diet! I would like a little more focus on cardio, anaerobic as well as plyometrics. Dont really have much information on this area.

THT is designed to be done with MANS or GLAD as both are mass building diets. If you want to add in other activities then by all means go ahead just ensure you up your calories to compensate for the extra energy as you need a surplus of calories in order to add muscle. If MANS does not suit your needs then don't do it. I don't use MANS or GLAD to build muscle but I love TSPA for cutting. Wish I could give you more info on the other areas your wanting but I have no more information then you do.

I think the question we need to ask you is, are you trying to build Muscle? If they answer is yes, then why all the cardio? If it is just a case that you like doing a lot of cardio then i would suggst that MANS is not the diet for you. A lot of cardio can really get in the way of building muscle. So if you are looking to build muscle and also want to do a lot of cardio then i would sugget a diet much higher in carbs. Without the carbs the cardio will eat the muscle from your body.

Good point Aaron!

Hmmm.. what happens then if the person goes on such a diet (MANS) but then does not undergo exercise at all, or very minimal exercise? Of course operating within the daily calorie requirement? This is interesting! Thank you!

Well 1300, if a person was to go on the MANS diet, which is a building diet and therfore envolves taking in more calories than the person is burning up, and that person was not to do any exercise, the extra calories would be stored as fat. In order for these extra calories not to be stored as fat the person would need to hit the gym and use the extra calories to build more muscle.

Okay, I’m going to put my science hat on to explain this in more detail. The main problem with Cardio and the MANS diet is the production of ATP, (the only fuel that the body uses). The body only has about 15 to 20 seconds worth of ATP in the muscle at any one time. When we lift heavy weights, this ATP is quickly used and the body, in this anaerobic environment, makes more ATP between sets from Creatine. However during Aerobic exercise (anything lasting longer than 15 min without stopping) the body enters an Aerobic state which creates ATP at much enhanced levels, using oxygen and glucose (supplied by carbs) and fatty acids in the blood. This is a very economically way of making ATP. The problem is that in order for this Aerobic process to work the body needs the carbs. If no carbs are available the body will start taking amino acids from the muscles, and the MANS diet does not offer the carbs required. MANS is designed to provide the body with what it needs to develop muscle and the necessary ATP in an Anaerobic environment while helping to keep the fat stored in the body low. High cardio training needs high carbs to create the ATP needed in an aerobic environment. Interestingly this is why Marathon runners hit “the wall”, it is the point when their bodies run out of glucose and start breaking down muscle to help make the ATP their bodies need to fuel the extra long aerobic session.

Wow some great stuff there Aaron! I knew there was a reason I hate cardio!