Carbohydrates - Are They Good Or Bad For Bodybuilding?

When it comes to bodybuilding nutrition, protein gets#1 - One hour before a workout session. Carbs are
the most nods from bodybuilders -- it's the nutrientvery easily absorbed and should provide your muscles
that's responsible for muscle growth, after all. But howwith enough energy for the workout. When your
come carbohydrates seem to be stuck betweenmuscles are well-supplied with energy, you can exert
lovers and haters in the bodybuilding scene? After all,as much effort as you can throughout your motions --
carbohydrates give our bodies a quick, sustained boostwhich will net you the best results you can hope for.
of energy -- isn't that good for workouts?#2 - During your after-workout meal. After a tough
The reason why many bodybuilders avoid taking tooworkout, your muscles will be starved for energy --
much carbohydrates is because unused carbs tend toand taking in a good dose of carbs during this window
turn to fat -- and fat only makes achieving fitnessof opportunity will help your muscles repair and grow,
goals much more difficult. So does that make carbsabsorbing more protein as you rest and sleep during
bad for bodybuilding?your off day.
Not necessarily -- the key to making carbs work forTo sum things up, it's best to eat carbs on workout
you instead of against you is simply knowing WHEN todays, and avoid them during your rest days. Now it
eat carbs. In other words, you'll want to eat carbsshould be easier to optimize your nutrition to reward
exactly when they're most likely to help youryour bodybuilding efforts even more -- and you'll get to
bodybuilding efforts and least likely to be stored awayenjoy pasta guiltlessly for the first time in a long while!
as flab. These are the two best times to eat carbs: