Simple or Complex

halljo

halljo

Member
Is there a need to have any simple carbohydrates in your diet? I used to believe that fast carbs where good after a workout for increased repair and building. I have no kind of had a change of heart of that belief... I now think any Complex carbs only would be the best to ensure lean body mass, repair and building (and of course glycogen refilling).

Just curious what your thoughts are or if any one is strictly on a complex carb only diet.

Thanks in advance
 
The argument for simple carbs is to quickly replenish glycogen stores. Unless one is an endurance athlete or is a low carb dieter, they are probably not going to empty their glycogen stores in a typical training session. Simple carbs are not always needed, but they do have their place.
 
To be 100% honest they are not needed. HOWEVER, they are useful in some cases in bodybuilding. For example, if you are coming off of an extremely low carb day while cutting and going into a refeed high carb day. Post workout "simple" carbs could come in handy (like Gatorade) since your glycogen stores will inevitably be on the low side from depletion. In saying that, it's all about how your body handles them as well. I feel hypoglycemic as sh** when I take simple carbs pre workout like dextrose. I hate it. Some people can handle them very well. Its all about how your body reacts at the end of the day. Every body is different.

As a general rule of thumb though I would always stick with complex>simple.
 
halljo said:
Is there a need to have any simple carbohydrates in your diet? I used to believe that fast carbs where good after a workout for increased repair and building. I have no kind of had a change of heart of that belief... I now think any Complex carbs only would be the best to ensure lean body mass, repair and building (and of course glycogen refilling).

Just curious what your thoughts are or if any one is strictly on a complex carb only diet.

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

This back and fourth has been talked about for quite a while. In the grand scheme of things, a varied diet will always be superior and that's mainly due to sanity/health balance. To eat all complex would probably lead to WAY too much fiber imo and very little if any performance gain. I would rather see a flexible dieting approach used instead of a "this or that" approach.
 
I don't believe in simple/complex carbs in a diet.. I eat what I need to eat in order to achieve my micro and macro nutrient goals. Seems to have worked pretty well so far imo
 
I have normally do simple, I would keep them before and after workout only. I have done it and it worked well for me if I am eating a lot of carbs. I usually ate them 30 minutes or so before a lifting session and then again directly after. However, if its i'm trying to gain and sometimes my training session can be a little long and intense. If I am trying to lose fat, I don't do any simple carbs.
 
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