carb loading for figure..........

[D.Mac]

Hi guys,
What would be a good carb load for figure competing??? I am 5'7 will be 120-130lbs on stage at approx 8-9% bodyfat. I'm scared of spill over but I need to be full.
thanks
Deb

[ripitupbaby]

Hi
I tend to stick with the same foods as my diet and ramp up the carbs for 3-4 days before the show. Oats, sweet potatoes (raw or cooked), corn/peas. Also fruits like bananas (greener ones) and avocados, if you eat those on your diet. I add in the potatoes and increase the amounts of these carbs that I eat for the 3-4 days leading up to the show, also decreasing my protein at the same time.

Everyone does it different, though.

[Becky]

I don't do anything drastic with my diet but I do add extra oats (dry) and some sweet potato. Cream of Rice works best for me though. And I have to go easy on the yams...they make me bloated :P Luckily my coach and I figured this out very early on so I do not have to eat much of them ;)

I would do a trial run if you can...and pay attention to your "spill over time". I have watched what I look like after cheat meals and such and I have about a 24 hour window with most foods before I have any negative effects (even sugar is ok for me). But yams, no way...that's about a 2 hour window!! Notice how you react to things and you can adjust as you learn more about your specific tolerances :)

[femalemusclefan]

I must admit, that I don't have a clue about what an athlete eats, and this all seems extremely complicated!
I always thought it was just a matter of staying away from fatty foods, jeez how wrong could I be!
Do you have to eat like this all year round, or are you allowed to let it slip for Christmas?
You probably get asked stupid questions like this everyday, but I find it all so completely fascinating! :)