Q:  I'm curious, if I were to train on an empty stomach - as sometimes it seems I do - can supplements be a good buffer for a lack of food?

 

A:  We're not sure if, by supplements, you include whey protein, but you should. But let's say you didn't mean that... We always recommend you eat something prior, because you need the fuel. True, you work off of the glycogen that directly feeds the muscles, but you need to feed your blood sugar/ energy levels too, and that's where immediate food comes into play. If you "hit the wall" during a workout, no matter how amped you are for your training session, you won't be able to do it. Any kind of pick-me-up will do - a small piece of fruit, or some slower releasing carbs such as a yam.  But supplementation can take you into a great place for training if you don't have access to solid food or haven't packed any. We suggest taking some Whey Protein (Designer Protein or another), a carb supplement, such as "Carbo Gain (NOW), some nitric oxide (NO Xplode), creatine (try the new CEE), and drinking it about 30 minutes prior to training.