All about timing

[cbortelny]

A couple of questions about timing.
Im gonna try(try is the key word) to wake up before school at 5:45 to go running, my goal being a 4.5 mile nonstop run, no matter what the pace.
Im also trying to break 135 on bench so im weight lifting in the afternoons (after school).
These are my goals. It would also be nice to shed some fat, by ive heard it is nearly immpossible to do both gain muscle and drop fat at the same time. How does nutrition help? Ive heard that eating carbs after 6 is a problem b/c it causes raised glycogen levels in the morning.
A.) What in the crap is glycogen?
B.) Is this true?
C.) And how hard is it going to be to try and gain/ and lose weight?
D.) Will this adversly effect my strength gains ive made thus far?
Thanks

[Maxx]

1: Glycogen is the form in which blood sugar (AKA Glucose) is stored in the liver and in the muscle tissue.

2: Generally blood sugar will only remain elevated for about 3 hours after a meal. Blood sugar will drop and the body will begin to use stored glycogen as a fuel sorce. It is estimated that the body can only store about 2000 calories in glycogen at any time. I wouldn't worry about it though. Overall, if you are trying to cut fat the thing to watch is calories in vs calories out. Burn more than you take in... you'll cut the fat as long as you aren't on a drastic low calorie diet.

3: For most people gaining and losing weight is a simple matter of calorie management. Sometimes genetic factors or medications play a role but over all it's all about calorie management.

4: The answer to that is a hard one and very individual specific. Some suggestions are to make sure that you are getting enough good carbhydrates. Don't rely on the low carb fads as the body requires some sugars to convert proteins into new muscle tissue. Second, do not go on a drastic calorie restriction. Taking in too few calories will lower your metabolic rate and your body will be more likely to burn your muscle tissue as opposed to body fat.

[treelizard]

Studies show that high carb and high glycemic load causes fat gain and muscle loss as opposed to low carb diets.

Hormonal status is much more important in losing weight than calories is. Someone on a Paleo diet (low glycemic) is going to show better hormonal control and body composition than someone on a high-carb diet.