Critical Reload

We don't have to guess about this — researchers tested it.

Trained athletes lifted twice: once after breakfast, once fasted. Fed, they squatted ~15% more volume at the exact same weight. Skipping breakfast didn't just make it harder — it cost them reps.

If you've got a morning athlete, here's what to do about it 👇
https://criticalreload.com/is-it-better-to-workout-after-eating-or-before/

If your athlete comes home from practice saying they felt off — low energy, sluggish, not quite themselves — the first question usually goes to sleep, stress, or effort.

There's another question worth asking first:

What did they eat before practice? And when?

The performance difference between a fueled athlete and an unfueled one isn't subtle. Low energy. Slow reactions. Fading early instead of finishing strong. That gap doesn't come from talent — it comes from preparation.

And parents have more influence over that preparation than most realize.

What's stocked at home. What gets handed in the car. What your athlete knows to grab at the cafeteria or gas station on the way to practice. That's all you. And it doesn't require a nutrition overhaul — just knowing what the right options look like at each location.

We put together a full guide that covers the whole system: timing windows, real food options by location, goal-specific plates, and a school-day schedule coaches can share with the team right now.

Forward this to your athlete. Or read it together and build the habit from there.
Fuel your work. Perform your best.

Read the full guide → https://criticalreload.com/what-to-eat-before-a-workout-high-school-athlete-guide-to-fueling/