DJ Delorie wrote:
:: I'm adding this to my web site for future reference:
:: http://www.delorie.com/health/muscle-glycogen.html
::
:: "Jim Bard" writes:
::: What is 'muscle glycogen'?
::
:: Glycogen stored in muscle. For LCers, this is "good" glycogen,
:: compared to liver glycogen which effects hormone levels relating to
:: ketosis and fat metabolism.
::
::: How is it different from glycogen in general?
::
:: It's not. It's the same type of glycogen as liver glycogen, for
:: example, just stored in muscles. Once in the muscle, though, it can
:: only be used for muscle activity, unlike livery glycogen which can be
:: released back into the bloodstream for use elsewhere.
::
:: The term "partitioning" is common among body builders, it means
:: deciding where nutrients go inside the body. Mostly, it's genetic -
:: a certain percent goes to muscle, a certain percent goes to fat
:: stores, a certain percent goes to metabolism, etc. Changing
:: partitioning is a common pursuit, using techniques ranging from
:: exercise and diet to prescription performance drugs.
::
::: Why would muscles be more sensitive to insulin than the rest of your
::: body?
::
:: Mostly that's genetic - each component of your body (it even varies
:: between muscles) has a certain sensitivity threshold. Most of the
:: effort "we" put into insulin sensitivity is to move the balance point
:: as much as we can towards muscle and away from fat.
::
:: There are a few factors that can influence partitioning by changing
:: insulin sensitivity for muscles, fat, and liver in different
:: (i.e. unequal) ways. Just the fact that muscle glycogen stores are
:: low will make muscles more insulin sensitive. That's why long-term
:: LCers will "bloat" by many pounds if they eat carbs - most of it goes
:: to muscle stores, and the water required to store it can add 5-10 lbs
:: very quickly. Liver storage alone can only account for about 1 lb.
::
:: Exercise can also make muscles more sensitive, both by depleting
:: glycogen stores even more, and by enzyme changes due to the exercise
:: itself causing cell stress (i.e. strength training does this more
:: than cardio).
::
:: Fish oil is a common dietary aid that increases muscle sensitivity
:: and reduces fat cell sensitivity. Various performance drugs also do
:: this, but with much more "interesting" side effects.
::
:: So, in a cyclic diet, you commonly two two phases: First, you LC and
:: low calorie diet, while doing high-rep medium-weight workouts to
:: fully deplete muscle glycogen, and stay there for a few days to
:: really boost insulin sensitivity. Then, one more workout to get the
:: enzymes going so muscles are REALLY sensitive and the liver is way
:: into ketosis, then WHAM eat a big load of carbs and the muscles just
:: suck them up so fast the liver and fat cells don't have time to
:: react.
::

Don't forget the protein!!!!

:: For more information, google for "CKD", "bodyopus", or "UD2", or see
:: http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/ for the "The Ketogenic Diet" and
:: "Ultimate Diet 2.0" books.