cinnamon rolls featured image

Cinnamon Rolls Make You Look Leaner [Kind Of]

Written by: Momo[Muscle]

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Time to read 1 min

Pretzels. Cinnamon Rolls. Cereals.

Okay fine—maybe those aren’t exactly the kind of carbs I’m about to hype up.
But you know what they all have in common?
They’re carbs. And carbs get a bad rap.


Somewhere along the way, people started treating them like the villain.

“I’m bloated.” Must be carbs.

“I’m not shredded.” Definitely carbs.


Stop.


Because here’s what no one tells you:
When I’m dialed in with my training and nutrition, I look tight.
But when I have a week of more carbs—good ones, not frosting-drenched pastries— I look bigger. Fuller. More defined.

That’s not a coincidence. That’s science.

What’s Actually Going On When You “Fill Out” After Carbs

Morgan doing an elevated plank

Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes—especially if you’ve been training:


  • Your body breaks carbs down into glucose

  • Glucose gets stored as glycogen in your muscles

  • Glycogen pulls water into the muscle tissue

  • That equals → a fuller, more muscular, less “deflated” look



Carbs also help regulate key hormones like leptin and thyroid hormone , which support your metabolism and recovery—especially when you’re in a calorie deficit.

What "Filling Out" Really Means

When you’re low-carb, you may look flat or feel foggy. Add carbs strategically—and boom:


  • Muscles look tighter

  • You feel stronger

  • Energy improves

  • Recovery speeds up

  • Confidence goes up [because who doesn’t love a good post-carb pump?]



This isn’t bloat. It’s basic physiology.

The Catch: Don’t Turn Every Carb Into a Cheat Meal

This isn’t about face-planting into a cinnamon roll stack because it’s Tuesday.
Strategic carbs help—random binges don’t.


Overeating processed foods can still lead to inflammation, digestive stress, and hormone disruption. The trick? Eat carbs with intention, not emotion.

Here’s What I Do [and What I Teach My Clients]

  • I eat carbs before and after training [fuel + replenish]

  • I prioritize whole-food sources that support digestion

  • I don’t panic if the scale goes up—it’s likely glycogen and water

  • I cycle carbs depending on training intensity, not my emotions

  • I use refeed days to restore metabolism—not as cheat meals
Morgan

This is about support, not sabotage. Structure, not stress.

You don’t have to go low-carb to see results.
You just need a system that actually works with your body—not against it.

Final Take

Carbs aren’t the enemy.
Stress, burnout, and guesswork are.

You can build muscle and feel leaner—without cutting everything you love.


If you're stuck feeling foggy, soft, or stalled after lifting…
This might be your body's way of asking for better fuel—not less of it.

Want My Protocol?

I break it down inside my Body Type Training Programs .


Carb cycling plans, real-world meals, and science-based training.


→ Try the Body Type Programs


Let’s find your blueprint so you can train smarter—and still eat the cookies. ;]

Morgan doing the battle rope workout
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