You Don't Need Carbs Pre Workout - do this instead...

Will you lose muscle if you don't eat carbs before you workout? The answer is NO. Muscle is not that fragile and nutrition is not that simple...

When it comes to pre-workout nutrition a lot of guys believe that they need to eat protein and carbs before they go to the gym in order to have energy for working out... And if they don't, they are going to "lose muscle".

Well it doesn't really work that way. Full digestion takes much longer than you may realize (i.e. several hours). So when you consume food before you go to the gym, that food isn't really providing you with energy for your workout. It's just sitting in your stomach.

What ends up fueling your workout is the food that's been stored in your body from the meals eaten previously - either previously that day, or even food that was eaten in the days leading up to your workout - that's been stored as glycogen in your muscle cells and liver.

The protein and carbs that you consume "pre-workout" isn't really doing anything to provide you with energy for your actual workout. In fact, most people find that they can actually have a better quality workout by exercising on an empty stomach. You'll feel lighter, more energetic, and agile, rather than feeling heavy, sluggish, and bloated like you often do after eating.

The only time that pre-workout or intra-workout nutrition really comes into play is when you are doing a pro-longed exercise session. Long duration events like running a marathon, a day long hiking or biking trip, or a day long sporting event will require consumption of food in order to keep your energy levels up.

But for an hour long gym workout, you don't need any pre-workout nutrition to get through that.

However, one thing that will help your workouts is consuming sodium before you go to the gym. As crazy as this may seem, it really does work and I have a video about it at:

[paulhurst]

Great advice- I workout better on an empty stomach

[nestorfontalvo]

Been waiting 12 years to hear this. Finally it was said. Great video lee

[KillaCommieFerMommie]

Strong black coffee is my favorite pre workout drink.... On an empty stomach too.

[DGat-rdkb]

Salt, Caffeine in coffee, Citrulline on an empty stomach possibly on an IF. Helps burn the fat. My main concern atm...look lean and like I take care of myself.

[r.e.]

Take a molecular carbohydrate called KARBOLYN, pre workout. Those kinds of carbs are loaded within 15 to 30 min. They absorbed faster without digestion like solid carbohydrate foods.

[boboman]

My workout sessions last at least for 1 1/2 hour, i do sipp on my intra workout bottle during this entire session, i have great results with hydrolised kassein (instant obtainable protein ) and cluster dextrine (fast obtainable carbs that dosent even spike my insulin level )
This combo advised by John Meadows (the mountain dog ) surely prevent me from crashing and the soreness after is lower as usual, preworkout i use the combo malate /Taurine /Betaine / EAA’s (not only the 3 essential Acids, but all 9 )
And at the monent during cutting i add white heat (this stuff makes me run at the walls )

[computergrant]

I'd like to add to this. I, must have some sort of carbs before a workout, otherwise, I become dizzy and light-headed. I researched it, and carbs are a must for the low sugar before a workout. It works for me, because then I don't feel so lightheaded, weak, and shitty.

[mcgaggero]

Finally someone who has the courage to speak out the truth! Save your money and push that iron.

[brunobracnaro]

Yes, your're right Lee. Not having pre-workout carbs won't cause you to lose muscle. But it will affect your strength level during high-intensity, high-volume resistance workouts. At least it does me.

[kurbasas]

I usually eat some carbs and protein 2 and half hours before gym, and have a black coffe to get me working hard
And im trying lean bulk is it good or i should change it?

[Andy]

Am I losing fat if I'm sweating through my workouts

[TheBoomshine]

I have several friends who are so anal about the timing of their meals, whereas I just eat whenever (time-restricted and calorie/macro conscious, albeit), yet I'm not making any less progress than any of them.

[yousefalkhudair]

If what you're saying is right, then why do we feel tired when we workout on an empty stomach but we don't on full stomach?

[simbobcrafts]

I seem to be bedridden with flu symptoms after every hard work out. Do I have some sort of disease?

[naveeenx]

Great advice.

I’m intermittent fasting. I go to the gym before I break my fast. A pre workout of caffeine, beta alanine, citrilline malete, and an intra workout of 10g BCAA and jellybeans helps me power through a 90 min weight session including cardio. Eating before makes me bloated and lethargic.

[JeffWantsMoreMC]

What if I actually do shrivel up when I don't have carbs? Like if I go a few hours without them, I literally look about half as muscular and feel small af even tho I would have had a few meal fulls the day before. I think my body may disagree with your answer.

[Andy]

Carbs are just for energy so you'd lift good and heavy well not really, it's the calories

[R.Anthony]

You may not lose muscle, but depending on how you ate prior to your workout, your glycogen levels could drop, thereby, leaving you without energy and making you feel shaky. This has happened to me more than once. I prefer at least a small piece of fruit before I work out.

[esmelee]

So. Can we train without eating nothing? I mean with an empty stomach ?

[r.e.]

Take KARBOLYN, 30 min before workout. About 10 grams. with HUMAPRO.