While the Easy Cycle is the easiest cycle, the Classic Cycle is the simplest carb cycle. It offers a quick and easy introduction to carb cycling and results in fast and steady weight loss.
Unlike the Easy Cycle, which has a reward meal incorporated into every high carb day, the Classic Cycle has an entire reward day every week. Imagine that—a whole day to satisfy those cravings for your favorite foods! And you’ll still lose weight.
Here’s what a Classic Cycle week looks like:
- Monday: Low carb day
- Tuesday: High carb day
- Wednesday: Low carb day
- Thursday: High carb day
- Friday: Low carb day
- Saturday: High carb day
- Sunday: Reward day
Every breakfast—on both low and high carb days—will consist of a portion each of protein, carb, and fat. For the next three meals of the day, eat either low or high carb meals (depending on which day you’re on). Your last meal of every day will ALWAYS be a low carb meal. Follow the portion size guide to put all of your meals together.
With the Classic Cycle, besides losing weight at a quick and constant pace, you’ll also be able to tune into what is happening in your body during this carb cycle process. You’ll learn and actually feel how food affects your body, and while you may experience some brief periods of nausea, headaches, low energy, and other symptoms as you change the way you fuel your body, these will be temporary. In the end, you’ll have a whole new appreciation for this marvelous body you have! And you can stick with the Classic Cycle throughout your weight loss journey or move onto another cycle. You are in control!
For more information on the Classic Cycle, check out our book, Choose More, Lose More for Life. Interested in learning about the new Extreme Cycle? You can get all the info in our new book, Extreme Transformation.
And if you’d like some help creating your own meals, there’s a handy “Create Your Own Meals” chart in this post!
Note: If you’ve been carb cycling using our book, Choose Lose More, Lose More for Life, you’ll notice that we’ve changed a couple of things since that book was published: You now include a fat for breakfast, and every final meal of the day is a low carb meal. Like with a lot of things in life, the more you do them, the more you learn about how to do them even better!
275 Responses
I am on day 2 of carb cycling and while I’m excited, I’m also a little nervous. I’ve gone from 240 to 165 lbs thanks to low carb (Atkins), but I’ve reached a point where restricting carbs just isn’t sustainable for me. I go so long with cutting out certain carbs I enjoy that I would binge. And when I binge, I binge lol. Low carb every other day I can do knowing the next day I’ll be able to eat carbs. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of results I achieve. Today I was at a little less than 150g of carbs and I was amazed at the energy I felt. Low carb always gave me more energy, but today was just wow. 🙂
Hi Heidi,
I am mentally preparing for the carb cycle. Can you tell me if in your book it has in depth about the carb cycle, breakdowns, recipes and etc. I’m a visual learner so I have to read it to understand how this carb cycling works. I will wait for the response so I can go buy the book today
Yes! Make sure you get “Choose More, Lose More for Life,” and everything’s outlined for you. Good luck!
I am trying to do the classic carb cycle but I am extremely confused on some food which I thought were not carbs. Like for a snack with my veggies can I have a hard boiled egg. I’m having a hard time having alternate protein means other than meat at every meal
Hi Heather: 4 egg whites = 1 portion of protein, and 2 egg yolks = 1 portion of fat. As far as carbs go, fruits, startchy/root veggies, whole grains, legumes, cereals, and pasta are all considered carbs in carb cycling. Non-root/non-starchy veggies, while still technically carbs, are separated into their own group and you can have 2 fist fulls with every meal in carb cycling – both low and high carb. Hope that helps!
Hi Heidi!
My sister Ellie and I started carb cycling and we love the program! However, we are kind of running out of recipes for low carb days. I was wondering if you had any ideas for snacks and meals on low carb days?!
Thanks!
There’s an extensive list of foods in “Choose More, Lose More for Life,” so for low carb meals, you can simply choose a protein, choose a fat, choose a veggie (the non-root/non-starchy type), and you’re good to go! You can also use other recipes using protein sources, fats, and veggies, just keep an eye on the serving sizes. Happy carb cycling!
Bought the book last night and ready to get started. Ready to head out and stock up on the right food tonight. You guys are awesome for how you are able to impact peoples lives.
I do have a question if you can answer. I know I’m going to struggle coming off soda. Any advice?
Thank you!
Yes! Make and keep a small simple promise related to going off soda. There’s a section about promises in the book, but here’s a blog post for some quick info: https://heidipowell.net/8679/it-really-is-all-about-promises-2/. Happy carb cycling! 🙂
Trying to find the classic carb cycling but every time I click the link its broken, it states page is not found. I want to start this asap so please help me or point me to the right link.
Thanks so much.
God bless
Jerome =)
Hi Jerome: Thank you for letting us know about this! The information you’re looking for has been added to the post. Happy carb cycling!
Hi Heidi, I am really interested in starting the carb cycle. I do have a few questions before I start. Does your book or program incorporate vegetarian options? I am currently pregnant and was wondering if this is something I should start while pregnant or wait until after?
Great questions! Yes, there are some vegetarian options in Chris and Heidi’s program, and there’s a complete list of foods in the book. And here’s a post that outlines Heidi’s pregnancy nutrition program: https://heidipowell.net/2275/q-a-carb-cycling-while-prego/. And congratulations! 🙂
The carb cycling sounds great. I am looking to help my sister with her weight loss. I was wondering if there is a boot camp type of program that is available. I know there is the Powell Metabolic Program but I can’t tell if a fitness plan is part of this program.
Yes, there is a fitness component in the Powell Metabolics program. And unfortunately, there is not a boot camp for carb cycling. We wish you both the best!
Hi! I am doing carb cycling in conjunction with xyngular products. I have noticed that on high carb days I feel very lethargic, unmotivated, and I even get headaches. On my LC days I have energy and motivation and I feel good. I am seeing success and want to continue, but it is hard to want to do the HC days because of this. On HC days, aside from veggies, my carbs are whole grain. Things like Wasa crisps, whole grain pasta, brown rice… Any advice would be so much appreciated! I have only been carb cycling for a couple of weeks and am down 11.8 lbs so I want to keep this up!
Also, I am trying hard to drink a gallon of water a day.
Hi Liz: I do have one suggestion, on your high carb days, vary the types of carbs you’re eating. If you’re only eating whole grains, you’re missing out on the nutrients from other carbs such as legumes, fruits, and starchy/root-type veggies. It’s so important that your diet includes all these things, in addition to your proteins, veggies (the non-root/non-starchy type), and healthy fats. Here’s a post about carbs that might help: https://heidipowell.net/4514/carb-confusion/. You might also double check and make sure you’re hitting your calorie allotment every day (1200 on low carb days and 1500 on high carb days). As far as your water goes, drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces daily (200 lbs = 100 ounces). I’m not familiar with the Xyngular products, so I’m not sure if they would play a part in how you’re feeling. And congrats on those 11.8 pounds gone – that’s awesome!
Can you tell me which carb cycle is best for a type 2 diabetes. Or are they all ok?
Great question! Check out this post about carb cycling and diabetes: https://heidipowell.net/5078/ask-heidi-anything-im-diabetic-which-plan-should-i-follow/. Happy carb cycling!