Carb-Hating Bodybuilders Are Killing Their Gains: Mike Mentzer’s Brutal Truth Will Slap You Awake!
April 11, 2025Alright, meatheads, listen up! If you’re one of those gym rats who’s been brainwashed into thinking that slashing carbs is the golden ticket to getting shredded, you’re in for a rude awakening. Bodybuilding legend Mike Mentzer dropped a truth bomb that’s been echoing through the iron game for decades, and it’s time you paid attention. In a quote that’s been making the rounds, Mentzer said:
“Remember, muscle is not mostly protein — it’s mostly water. Now, look at the word carbohydrate. The suffix -hydrate means water. As you probably all know, the carbohydrate stores in the muscle become a chain of sugar molecules called glycogen, and every gram of glycogen stored in the muscle chemically bonds with — and holds — 3 grams of water. When you go lower than 60% carbohydrates on a high-intensity program, you’re going to burn the glycogen out of the muscle.”
Let that sink in. You’re not just cutting carbs—you’re draining your muscles of the very thing that makes them pop: water. And without glycogen, your muscles are flatter than a pancake at a vegan diner. You’re not burning fat; you’re burning your own damn gains. Let’s break this down and expose the low-carb myths that are sabotaging your progress, and why you need to stop being a carb-phobic idiot if you want to pack on serious muscle.
The Low-Carb Lie: You’re Not Burning Fat, You’re Burning Muscle
Here’s the deal: carbs are your body’s primary fuel source for high-intensity training. When you’re hitting those heavy squats, deadlifts, or bench presses, your muscles are screaming for glycogen to power through. If you’ve been on a low-carb diet, guess what? Your glycogen stores are depleted, and your body starts breaking down muscle tissue for energy instead. That’s right—you’re literally eating your own biceps for breakfast. Mentzer knew this, and he’s calling you out from beyond the grave. Muscle is 70-75% water, and glycogen is what keeps that water locked in. Drop your carbs below 60%, and you’re not just losing water weight—you’re losing size, strength, and any hope of looking like a jacked freak on stage.
The fitness industry has been peddling this low-carb nonsense for years, convincing you that carbs are the enemy and that ketosis is the holy grail of fat loss. Sure, you might drop a few pounds on the scale, but most of that is water weight from depleted glycogen stores. Your muscles look flat, your pumps are nonexistent, and your strength is in the toilet. You’re not shredded—you’re just a smaller, weaker version of your former self. Congrats, you played yourself.
Tom Platz Knew Better: Carbs Fueled the Quadfather’s Legendary Gains
If you need more proof that carbs are your friend, let’s talk about the Quadfather himself, Tom Platz. Known for his absolutely insane leg development, Platz was a beast who dominated the bodybuilding scene in the ‘70s and ‘80s. In interviews, Platz has mentioned that his gains skyrocketed when he started upping his carb intake. He realized that to fuel his brutal, high-volume leg workouts—those infamous 600-pound squats for 20+ reps—he needed carbs to keep his energy levels high and his muscles full. Platz would reportedly load up on complex carbs like oats, rice, and potatoes, ensuring his glycogen stores were topped off for every grueling session. The result? Quads so massive they looked like they were carved from granite, and a physique that’s still the gold standard for leg development.
Platz didn’t buy into the low-carb hype, and neither should you. He knew that carbs weren’t just about energy—they were about maximizing muscle fullness and recovery. When you’re training with the intensity of a bodybuilding legend, you can’t afford to run on empty. Carbs give you the power to push harder, lift heavier, and grow bigger. If the Quadfather says carbs are king, you better listen.
The Science Backs It Up: Carbs Are Anabolic as Hell
Let’s get nerdy for a second. Carbs don’t just fuel your workouts—they’re anabolic in their own right. When you eat carbs, your body breaks them down into glucose, which gets stored as glycogen in your muscles and liver. This process also spikes insulin, a hormone that shuttles nutrients like amino acids into your muscle cells, promoting growth and repair. Low carbs mean low insulin, which means your muscles are starving for the building blocks they need to grow. On top of that, glycogen depletion from low-carb diets can increase cortisol levels—a stress hormone that breaks down muscle tissue. So, while you’re busy trying to “burn fat” with your keto diet, you’re actually setting yourself up for muscle loss and a slower metabolism. Smooth move, genius.
Mentzer’s point about water is critical here. Every gram of glycogen in your muscles holds onto 3 grams of water. That’s why you look so damn flat when you cut carbs—your muscles are literally dehydrated. Want to look full, pumped, and vascular? You need carbs to fill out those muscle cells and make your skin look like it’s about to burst. Ditch the low-carb dogma and watch your physique transform.
Stop Sabotaging Yourself: How to Fix Your Diet and Start Growing
If you’re ready to stop screwing yourself over, here’s what you need to do. First, get your carb intake up to at least 60% of your total calories, especially if you’re training with high intensity like Mentzer recommends. Focus on complex carbs like oats, brown rice, sweet potatoes, and whole grains—they’ll give you a steady release of energy and keep your glycogen stores topped off. Around your workouts, throw in some faster-digesting carbs like white rice or fruit to spike insulin and drive nutrients into your muscles when they need it most.
Don’t skimp on protein either—aim for 1.6-2.2 grams per kilogram of body weight to support muscle repair. And yes, you still need fats for hormone production, but don’t go overboard; 20-30% of your calories from healthy fats like avocados, nuts, and olive oil is plenty. The key is balance, not elimination. Low-carb diets might have their place for sedentary folks or specific medical conditions, but if you’re a bodybuilder trying to pack on slabs of muscle, they’re a one-way ticket to Gains Graveyard.
The Bottom Line: Carbs Are Your Ally, Not Your Enemy
Mike Mentzer and Tom Platz didn’t become legends by following trendy diets—they did it by understanding what their bodies needed to grow. Carbs aren’t the devil; they’re the fuel that powers your gains. Stop buying into the low-carb myths that are keeping you small, weak, and miserable. Load up your plate, hit the gym, and train like a beast. Your muscles will thank you, and so will the mirror.
So, the next time some bro at the gym tells you to cut carbs to get shredded, tell him to shut up and read Mentzer’s quote. Then go squat 600 pounds for reps like Platz and show him what real gains look like. No carbs, no muscles—end of story.