80-Year-Old Bodybuilding Veteran Frank Zane Reveals the Ideal Amount of Carbs Needed to Stay Healthy and Agile
Veteran bodybuilder and 3X Mr. Olympia winner Frank Zane has achieved some of the greatest feats in bodybuilding thanks to his insane workout routine and good diet plan. One of the pioneers of shifting the focus to shape and symmetry, Zane has always advocated a healthy lifestyle to build muscle. With a vast experience spanning more than five decades, Frank Zane knows a thing or two about getting the right nutrition required for a bodybuilder. Now an 80-year-old man, Zane is sharing some of his deepest insights into the number of carbs needed to live a healthy and fit life.
On his website, Frank Zane wrote a blog explaining the number of carbohydrates needed to lead a healthy lifestyle. The blog covers every detail and has enough information to help anyone in need.
Frank Zane emphasizes the importance of adequate carbohydrate intake
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“How many carbs?” writes Frank Zane on his blog frankzane.com. This seemingly normal question is often the biggest question asked by people looking to live a healthy lifestyle. Zane begins his blog by writing, “The amount of carbs you eat each day has everything to do with how you look and feel. Do you want to lose body fat? Eat less carbohydrates. What do you feel better? Eat more carbohydrates. What should we do?” He was addressing the most common question himself to further intrigue his readers.
Zane defines a balanced diet as consisting of an equal amount of calories from carbohydrates, proteins and fats. However, intake varies proportionally with the amount of exercise one does regularly. According to his definition of a balanced diet, a 170-pound male would require 170 grams of protein, 170 grams of carbohydrates, and 75 grams of fat.
He further wrote on his blog, “It’s important to eat enough carbohydrates to make yourself feel good with enough energy to exercise and think straight. Severe carb cutting should only be done when necessary to shed body fat.” In an interesting twist, he showed how there should always be a steady intake of carbohydrates on a daily basis. Otherwise, the body converts some of the protein supply into carbohydrates to be used as energy.
Therefore, healthy carbohydrate consumption is of utmost importance, contrary to what some fitness fanatics may believe. It is what promotes protein intake.
The importance of pre- and post-workout carbs, according to Zane
Zane continued, “Not eating enough carbohydrates means you’re not getting enough dietary fiber, and this can lead to constipation when combined with a high-protein (especially meat) diet.” He also mentioned how carbohydrate intake becomes very important just before each training session. After training, it is again imperative to consume an equal amount of carbohydrates. However, one should not rush into it. Instead, relax, let your stomach settle, and then move on to a meal.
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In general, Zane believes that protein, carbohydrates and fats are all equally important for growth, energy and repair. Eliminating one or reducing the amount of its consumption will cause the body to compensate for it with the others. Therefore, to maintain a balanced and healthy physique, a consistent intake of all three is required.
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Zane, who consumed up to 30 amino acid tablets at his peak, has come a long way in teaching and sharing the true benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
