early morning pre-workout nutrition

[PsychedelicEagle]

IMO daily macros and nutrient source trump macronutrient timing (focusing on the fundamentals).

Thus, I'd only optimize timing after making sure total daily intake is appropriate.

On 1/26/2026 at 2:57 PM, Judy2 said:

it's advised to consume around 30g of carbs (preferably simple rather than complex) to fuel the workout

I guess it depends on how fueled your glycogen stores (liver + muscles) are: if you had enough carbs after your last workout and your fasting window since your last meal(s) is not extremely long.

Quote

Liver glycogen decreases overnight, but muscle glycogen is largely preserved. Most people do not need to eat before training unless the workout is long, very intense, or performance-focused.

If your workout is low-intensity (Zone 2 cardio, moderate lifting, <60min), you'll be oxidizing mostly fat.

Protein takes longer to digest so I'd push it after the workout. Not sure there are big benefits from taking it before vs just after.

[Judy2]

@PsychedelicEagle ok:)

i think when i want to push till failure, it makes sense for me to have some carbs in my system. on some days when i thought i still had enough in my stores from the night before, i miscalculated and couldn't really perform as well as i had hoped. 

this week i went to the gym at 7am (that's when it opens) and then straight to work and waited 6 hours before my next meal. idk if that's ideal, probably not cause the post-workout meal is more important than pre-workout. but sometimes with things in my schedule, it's hard to time things differently.

Edited March 8 by Judy2

[Carl-Richard]

On 28.1.2026 at 2:36 AM, Natasha Tori Maru said:

I have adhered to a similar method years, it hasn't failed me yet.

Sometimes, prior to a 20k + run, or 50/60km ride, I will eat a huge pile of potatoes the evening before, with my meal. 

If I eat that same volume of carbohydrates the morning of, I am sluggish and there is much less power available to me.

I experience this as the oft spoken of 'bonk', where you just run out of steam.

The overnight digestion saturates my muscle glycogen stores (my theory) better than morning fuelling. I used to take meticulous notes on a little pad regarding meal times, types, feeling during training, times etc and work out from scratch best practice. Now its all stored on the Garmin and phone. Technology is great, when used properly  

10:54

 

[Natasha Tori Maru]

13 minutes ago, Carl-Richard said:

10:54

 

Furious Rich Piana energy.

The mental is most of it, I do agree. 

'Oh my God, I am just WRECKED from sleeping. I need then thousand bananas to recoup' LOL

[Carl-Richard]

3 hours ago, Natasha Tori Maru said:

Furious Rich Piana energy.

The mental is most of it, I do agree. 

'Oh my God, I am just WRECKED from sleeping. I need then thousand bananas to recoup' LOL

Holy BUCKETS!

Edited 5 hours ago by Carl-Richard

[Ramasta9]

I thought he was gonna have a heart attack... that's why i stopped all of those supplements/powders and chemical-shitstorms. Remember to breathe...

[Carl-Richard]

2 hours ago, Ramasta9 said:

I thought he was gonna have a heart attack... that's why i stopped all of those supplements/powders and chemical-shitstorms. Remember to breathe...

It's a CUP OF JOE (and testosterone). The guy has always been like that though, he's just an explosive individual, pro wrestler, powerlifter. Actually ADHD.

Btw, this is the guy I recommend watching for lifting advice. Take advice from somebody who actually loves lifting and does it for fun and has an intuitive understanding for what works and doesn't fill his head with a bunch of crap (and he's not exactly a dumbass either, he has a degree in kinesiology, which is about as relevant of a degree you can have, unlike more physiology-focused exercise science degrees a la Mr. Mike Israetel and the loads upon loads of academic delusional rabbit holes those guys dig themselves down in).

All the "science-based lifters" are the Looksmaxxing of lifting. Completely soulless, lifeless, body dysmorphia-driven and skewed priorities and probably even wrong most of the time. Any lifting "coach" that makes lifting into something depression-inducing and life-draining should be fired immediately.

Edited 2 hours ago by Carl-Richard

[Ramasta9]

39 minutes ago, Carl-Richard said:

It's a CUP OF JOE (and testosterone). The guy has always been like that though, he's just an explosive individual, pro wrestler, powerlifter. Actually ADHD.

I can guarantee put any man in a natural environment long enough without stimulating technology and artificial foods he will calm down significantly and most of these modern "disorders" all of a sudden dissolve. I am a highly charged individual, no one I know can talk and express and stay awake and be as active as alert as i am but put me in nature long enough and i no longer speak, think, breathe, feel the same at all. I turn into a tortoise or something. 

Edited 2 hours ago by Ramasta9

[Carl-Richard]

2 minutes ago, Ramasta9 said:

I can guarantee put any man in a natural environment long enough without stimulating technology and artificial foods he will calm down significantly and most of these modern "disorders" all of a sudden dissolve. I am a highly charged individual, no one I know can talk and express and stay awake and be as active as alert as i am but put me in nature long enough and i no longer speak, think, breathe, feel the same at all. I turn into a tortoise or something.

You have natural on your mind a lot.

[Ramasta9]

Just now, Carl-Richard said:

You have natural on your mind a lot.

I know, Its probably time i retreat back to nature, as from my experience it works better than anything else to return the mind, body and soul back to its original and natural function and balance. Its both a reminder for others and myself that there is a way out

 

[Carl-Richard]

5 minutes ago, Ramasta9 said:

I know, Its probably time i retreat back to nature, as from my experience it works better than anything else to return the mind, body and soul back to its original and natural function and balance. Its both a reminder for others and myself that there is a way out

 

Closing your eyes in silence for 50-60 minutes works too. But of course living in an environment for the next 23 hours of the day has an impact. I want to go out in nature more too a lot of the time. Sometimes I get stuck merely scrolling through Google Images of natural environments often near me.

[Ramasta9]

51 minutes ago, Carl-Richard said:

Closing your eyes in silence for 50-60 minutes works too. But of course living in an environment for the next 23 hours of the day has an impact. I want to go out in nature more too a lot of the time. Sometimes I get stuck merely scrolling through Google Images of natural environments often near me.

Ahh yes, I do meditation, chanting, movement, playing musical instruments, and other things intuitively throughout the day and evening, otherwise I'd go insane here. I don't have much of a structure or routine these days, I found more peace, presence and flow living intuitively. Before i felt more like an activated monkey, now i feel more like a zen cat, which has its pros and cons, its all about the middle way i guess.

The thing that seems most effective is going camping for a few days to a week in the mountains and totally disconnecting from everything else from whence i came, but the effect only lasts a few weeks to a month at most, and needs to be done more consistently. The only challenge is the long drive and preparation, and sometimes coming back here all the time can feel disheartening and slightly depressing, so i prefer longer preps and longer stays, but i must carry on doing what i can until i can live closer to nature full time so i can feel more supported, especially spiritually.

I try to go mountains at least once a month, as my energy / nature often clashes with a city environment. As much as i try to blend in, my system is like "what the fuck are you doing here?" when its tasted better, richer, and far more online and connected / unified environments. I am still learning to navigate better ways around money and travel.

In my experience after being (mostly in nature) for 6 months straight, it seems to have a good effect for 3 - 6 months in the city before it starts gradually destabilizing again. Its kinda like a battery or cell, if no longer getting energy, it gradually loses its charge and starts to run out. Meditation and all the other stuff helps, but direct exposure to unfiltered / untouched soil seems to reign supreme in how profoundly and effortlessly it can shift our entire body of consciousness. Simply by being in nature, transformations occur.

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Ramasta9