HOW MANY CARBS?

[liftathomeguy]

Ok - this has to be one of the more rudimentary, age old bodybuilding questions: I am 5'9 77kg, 34 y/o, have a pretty good upper body, and working hard to bring the legs up. While I'm not sure of my bf% let's just say I cant really see my abs, but I don't hang over my belt buckle either.

I have trained on and off for years, and whenever I get back into it after a break, my strongest areas (arms and chest, basically) seem to ping back into shape quickly, but I find it hard to make significant improvements. I'd love to get to around 85kg (for starters) with a lower bf% than I have now.

Now to the question: I'm aiming for 5 meals a day, which typically end up being a decent breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a couple of protein shakes in between. I have bee avoiding carbs in the hope that my body would end up burning fat instead for energy. I guess this is kinda working, but I'm not making the gains I want. Should I forget the low carb thing? I really don't want to get that blobby 'off season' look (although as a natural bber I know that's probably less of an issue anyway) but on the other hand if it's gonna make the gains come faster I don't mind scoffing down the odd pizza or pasta (yum!) Mainly my carbs at the moment are just kumara with lunch, and/or sometimes rice, and always oatmeal for breakfast. Lately I've been eating tuna/pasta salad immediately after workouts. Good idea? Bad idea?

Advice anyone?

Cheers