Carb-cycling is a relatively new concept in the world of nutrition, and involves the idea that you get very rapid fat loss when you follow a low diet for a period of time, followed high-carb diet, in order to speed up your body’s metabolism. This method is so effective because it drops body fat quickly without sacrificing muscle mass or many of the other drawbacks that often accompany low-carb diets.

Before deciding that you’d like to try carb-cycling, remember that this plan involves dedication and should only be followed by those that already have low body fat, have no known health issues, and need no “cheat meals” thanks to their strong willpower.

Carb-cycling is ideal for those with low body fat as it often enables you to lose body fat when if you’re already fairly lean. The advantage of carb-cycling is that it never completely deprives your body of carbohydrates. This ensures that your body is running with a metabolism at 100% all the time.

How does carb-cycling work? This plan starts with three days in a row of law carb foods. During these three days, you almost entirely eliminate carbs from your diet. This means your meals must mostly consist of lean proteins, low-carb fruits, and vegetables that aren’t too starchy. Your body needs these kinds of foods anyway, as they promote healthy muscle building and keep you feeling full longer. You will struggle with this at first, as the body often feels sluggish after a few days with almost no carbs. Your body’s metabolism continues to run steadily during this period as it first burns your carb reserves for energy, and then begins burning fat once the carb supply has run out.

On the fourth day, you completely abandon the eating philosophy you’ve had for the past three days and eat a diet that’s high in carbs. This kick starts your metabolism just when it’s really started to seek out carbs as fuel. Your diet on this day should focus on complex carbs gotten from foods like whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, and whole-wheat breads.

You then begin the cycle all over again. This diet will result in fat loss, especially if you’ve been struggling to lose fat, as you’re already very lean. Remember, this is a short-term tool that shouldn’t be followed for more than 8 weeks at a time. Once you’ve achieved your goal, cycle out of this eating plan and switch back to your normal, healthy lifestyle.