Simply put - no! Carbs are a vital part of recovery and provide our bodies with what we need when working out. Here’s the science behind it. 

Carbohydrates are our body’s preferred source of energy. This means that even when we have eaten carbohydrates, protein and fat, that our body prefers to generate energy for our cells from carbohydrate sources. They are an important part of the diet for everyone, from elite athletes to people who do relatively little movement. Having said this, the quantity of carbohydrates consumed should decrease as activity levels also decrease. This is because someone who is more active will need more readily available fuel that someone who remains sitting all day. 

If you are new to weight training making sure you have carbohydrates with lunch - if you are training after work - should be enough. Maybe a banana before your workout, if you are low on energy, can be useful.  Having a protein shake and some simple carbs such as sugary sweets can be useful if you are an advanced lifter.  But if you are just starting out this may be unnecessary, just make sure you have some complex carbs with dinner. (See below)

Carbohydrates can be largely broken down into two categories: complex and simple. Complex carbohydrates are made of long-chain molecules that require a longer time for your body to break down. In this way, they are slowly absorbed into the bloodstream and keep you feeling fuller for longer. Simple carbohydrates are those of sugars and other low fibre foods. They are short-chain molecules and because of this are readily absorbed into the blood stream. They can cause spikes and troughs in our energy levels, especially if our primary source of carbohydrates is simples ones. 

Our dietary carbohydrate should be comprised of mainly the complex form in order for us to have slow-burning energy throughout the day and to avoid the dips in energy level and mood that can come from eating an abundance of simple carbohydrates. Below are some examples of the two types: