If you want to shed those extra pounds extra fast, the Turbo Cycle is for you. Of the four original carb cycles (Easy, Classic, Turbo, and Fit), this cycle takes off weight the fastest. Unlike the Easy and Classic cycles, which alternate low and high carb days, the Turbo Cycle pits two low carb days against every high carb day. That means you’ll burn fat two days in a row before your body’s furnace (metabolism) is re-stoked on your high carb day, and you’ll lose weight really, really fast!
Even though the Turbo Cycle has an extra low carb day as compared to the Easy and Classic cycles, it is not a severely calorie-restricted cycle that will crash your metabolism. And since you’ll have two low carb days in a row, you may feel less energetic on the second low carb day. But this is okay. These low carb days are powerful weight loss accelerators!
Here’s what a Turbo Cycle week looks like:
- Monday: Low carb day
- Tuesday: Low carb day
- Wednesday: High carb day
- Thursday: Low 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, you’ll eat either a high carb or low carb meal (depending on which day you’re on). Your final of the day will ALWAYS be a low carb meal. Follow the portion size guide to put all your meals together. And as with the other cycles, you can stay with the Turbo Cycle as long as you want, or you can change cycles at any time. This program is tailor-made to you and you alone!
Learn more about the Turbo Cycle in our book, Choose More, Lose More for Life. And if you’re interested in learning about the Extreme Cycle, check out our 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!
950 Responses
Hi Heidi! I finally got the book, but I still have a couple questions! 1. How many pounds do you expect to lose on the Turbo Cycle for that full month and 2. Do you need to add Veggies for your snack meals to or just for the core meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)?
Let’s get you some answers to your questions: 1. Your rate of weight loss depends on your starting weight (the more pounds you have to lose usually results in a faster rate of weight loss), your bone and muscle structure, and how well you stick to the program. And remember, sometimes it takes our bodies a bit of time to adjust to a new way of doing things, so be patient, and you’ll see results. 2. Yes, add veggies to all 5 meals. On high carb meals you can skip them if you’re full. Good luck!
I was reading responses to other questions and noticed you said in a question about shakes for breakfast that every breakfast has carbs even low carb days. Sooo my question is could I use my AdvoCare meal replacement shakes for breakfast everyday, even on the turbo cycle?
From looking at an AdvoCare shake label (not sure if it’s the one you drink or not), this would be the protein and carb portions of a high carb meal. And yes, no matter which cycle you’re following, every breakfast is a high carb breakfast (protein+carb+non-root/non-starchy veggies).
Heya powell pack from across the pond 🙂 quick question for you heidi if you dont mind re carb cycling… I’ve got just about a stone to loose and need to, erm… Tighten up certain loose bits!! Ha. I am vegetarian and dont eat seafood. I al also shift worker (7-17 days, 15-01 lates and 22-07 nights). I really want to give turbo carb cycling a try however is it suitable for vegetarians and adaptable for shift workers before i invest? Many thanks and hope to meet you in the uk sometime 🙂 keep on keeping on, the support you give people is phenomenal. Xx
Yes, there are some vegan options in carb cycling (all cycles eat the same foods, they just follow a different arrangement of low and high carb days), and the eating plan can be adapted to shift workers. You’ll need to be a bit more “creative” since you do work some crazy hours, but it can be done! Happy carb cycling!
I just wanted to take a second to thank you for putting all this info on a website for FREE! You and the hubby could easily just make this info available in your books for purchase. I watch you guys and have wondered what these guys and gals are using for their nutrition guide so I am watching Pearls right now and thought to myself, I am going to look up their plans and just see what’s available online and how much the books are. And here you are with all the basic info for free and no hook with a hard push to buy a book or subscribe to a plan. I really appreciate that. I am looking forward to starting this and having as much success as Pearls. Thanks again!
Hello 🙂
I’m aware that the Powell’s train using the carb cycling technique and I have a copy of the “Choose More, Lose More for Life” book but I don’t understand how to use carb cycling myself. Help please. I’m interested in Turbo Cycling.
Thanks+
Hi Rhonda: The first step in carb cycling is to choose a cycle, which you’ve done. For nutrition, follow the weekly outline of high and low carb days – today would be a low carb day. Check out the graphic in this post (there’s some other awesome info too), and it will be a quick reference on how to put together low and high carb meals. There’s also an approved foods list that begins on page 192. For each low carb meal, choose a protein, healthy fat, and veggie (the non-root/non-starchy type). For each high carb meal, choose a protein and carb, and you can have a veggie (the non-root/non-starchy type) too if you’re still hungry. We go by portion sizes, so that makes it even easier. You can also count calories if you’d like to, and on low carb days you’ll eat 1200 calories, and on high carb days you’ll eat 1500 calories. You’ll eat your first meal within 30 minutes of waking up, and then you’ll eat every 3 hours for a total of 5 meals a day. For exercise, you’ll do your 9-Minute Mission (strength training) first thing in the morning Monday-Friday, followed by up to 60 minutes of Shredders (cardio) sometime during the day. You’ll have a Reward Day every Sunday, where you can eat any foods you like for a total of up to 2500 for the day (1,000 extra calories), and you’ll do a Slinghot Week every 4th week, which is a whole week of high carb days. You’ll weight yourself every Saturday. Hope that helps – you can do this!
Hey Heidi you’re such an inspiration to me… I was walking 20 miles a week on treadmill at gym and stationary bike 20 miles a week and doing low carb meals and not seeing results… What should I do?
Hey guys! Love your show and your approach towards health and fitness. I have about 23lbs to lose until my potential goal weight. Maybe 33, just depends on how I feel and how my muscle mass compares.
So for a caloric intake of 1200-1500 daily, what is considered high carb, and what’s considered low carb? Thanks!
P.S. I’ll be in Colorado in August and can’t wait to get a pic in front of the Anschutz Health & Wellness Center!
You’ll consume 1200 calories on low carb days and 1500 calories on high carb days. Good luck!
I am in desperate need of help! I am beyond frustrated with the lack of weight loss I am having and I am busting my butt! My wedding is in 3.5 months and my dress does not fit. I have been trying to lose weight for 6 months and I keep gaining and losing the same 10 lbs. I’m following the weight watchers plan because it has worked for me in the past (i lost 65 lbs after my sons birth) but I don’t think it’s working for me now. I’m hoping the carb cycling turbo will work- just found this today after watching the show this week and i’m just in desperate need of seeing some results to keep me motivated. I haven’t quit- i just need something that;s really going to work for me.
Hi Caitlin: Congrats on your upcoming wedding – that’s so exciting! Yes – give the turbo cycle a try. You can do this!
checkout FITTEAMGlobal.com and also the Facebook page. Email me if you are interested. I have lost 23.8 lbs in 13 weeks. It’s not a miracle it takes work like anything but a great program. I’m an x-weight watcher point calculator and honestly I’ve never had so much success as I have with Fit.
I just read “Choose more lose more for life” and I’m really excited to start carb cycling! I would rather focus on meal prepping lunch and dinners and just wanted to do a shake for breakfast. I use shakeology currently. Would that be considered a low or high carb breakfast or could I drink it everyday ? It has 17 g of carbs. Thanks!
Your Shakeology drink would count as both the protein and carb part of any high carb meal, including breakfast since every breakfast in carb cycling is a high carb meal. You could also add some veggies (the non-root/non-starchy type). Happy carb cycling!
Question pertaining the books. I want to get one but should I get the first one then move on to the second? Choose to lose or the latest Choose more lose more?
Thanks Ya’ll
Get “Choose More, Lose More for Life.” It’s an update from “Choose to Lose.” Enjoy!