Carbs aren’t the enemy! Here’s how to use them to build muscle, not fat—even during summer splurges.
Holidays like the Fourth of July are packed with food, fun, and festive indulgences. But those extra treats don’t have to ruin your fitness goals. In fact, if you play it right, they can actually help you build muscle instead of fat. It’s all about using a trick called “carb partitioning.”
What’s that? It just means helping your body send the carbs you eat to your muscles (where they’re useful) instead of to fat storage (where they’re not).
Here’s how to make it work for you this summer.
Fuel Your Progress with Food
When you eat carbs, your body either:
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Uses them for energy
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Stores them in your muscles to help with recovery
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Stores them as fat (usually when you’ve eaten too much or aren’t active)
To keep carbs going to the right places, you want your body to stay “insulin sensitive.” That’s a fancy way of saying your muscles are ready and willing to soak up the carbs and use them for good.
Let’s break down some easy ways to help make that happen.
1. Don’t Stop Lifting—Even on Holidays
Working out regularly, especially with weights, is the best way to improve insulin sensitivity. Right after a workout—within about 2–4 hours—is the perfect time to eat carbs. That’s when your muscles are like sponges, ready to suck up fuel and recover fast.
That’s why some people like to plan their toughest workouts on the same day as a big meal. But even if you skip the gym on the Fourth, you can still support your results with smart supplements…
2. Keep Stress in Check with Ashwagandha
When you’re stressed, your body makes more of a hormone called cortisol. Too much cortisol can mess with your metabolism and lead to more fat storage—especially around your belly.
To keep stress from wrecking your gains, try:
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Getting regular sleep
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Taking short walks or doing yoga
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Practicing mindfulness or deep breathing
You can also take an herb called ashwagandha, which has been shown to lower cortisol, help you recover better, and support overall balance.
Not all supplements are created equal, though. Steel Core® gives you a full 300 mg dose of top-quality KM-66® Ashwagandha—the kind backed by real research.
3. Make Fats Work for You
You’ve probably heard of omega-3s—but did you know that alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is another powerful healthy fat that helps your body handle carbs better?
ALA acts a bit like insulin, helping shuttle carbs into muscle instead of letting them sit in your bloodstream or get stored as fat. It also helps keep your blood sugar stable, especially if you’re trying to lose fat.
When paired with a solid diet and regular lifting, the research-backed 300mg dose of ALA in Steel Core can help you build lean muscle while minimizing fat gain.
How to Use Steel Core for Smarter Carbs
Even if you enjoy a few indulgent meals this summer, they don’t have to derail your goals. A daily dose of Steel Core® can support carb partitioning, reduce bloating, and help your body burn fat more efficiently.
Just remember: consistency is key. The ingredients in Steel Core work best when you take them every day for at least a month. Start now, and you’ll be in a great spot by your next big event or trip!
