What is a good pre- workout meal for energy?

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What would be a good pre-workout meal to boost my energy for lifting?

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Michael Collins: Your focus with your pre- workout meal is to optimize energy during the workout, and have the nutrients ready to feed the muscle.

I'm a fan of a balanced meal about 1.5 hours- 2 hours before the workout. Sometimes I'll have a piece of salmon with broccoli and a handful of almonds. This gives a nice dose of essentially fats (essential fats- Omega 3's- are good for everything from heart health to fat loss). Another option would be a small, lean steak and salad.

Half hour before the workout I'll mix up a few scoops of BCAA's and Gatorade, or VP2 (The purest form of whey protein- large amount of BCAA's) and Gatorade. I'll start sipping it about 15 minutes before the workout, on the way to the gym.

I've been following this protocol since 1999, and it's awesome.

The BCAA's increase endurance and facilitate muscle building. The Gatorade aids in transporting the nutrients where they need to go- and provide readily available glucose to the working muscles.

I also use 5 grams of creatine in my mix. This is optional but provides a great boost to strength and muscle repair.

I usually sip this concoction throughout the workout, and when I get home, I'll drink down another serving, to further aid recovery.

Michael Collins

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