I am currently on NO Xplode and notice the label says to take it on an empty stomach… is it okay if I take it with my pre-workout meal which is a protein shake?

Ok… I think it’s about time I addressed this problem before it gets out of hand. It is NOT necessary to consume Xplode on an EMPTY STOMACH, which means that the last meal should be at least 2 hours before. So NO, it is not okay to consume it along with your protein shake as it will only reduce its effectiveness.

I have lost count of the emails, texts, and phone calls I have received in the last few weeks from my friends who need help with BSN supplements, NOT Xplode in particular. For all those who have NOT had Xplode, they actually EXPLODE in your faces while mixing…didn’t I tell you NOT to shake it in the shaker, but to STIR it with a spoon? For those of you whose clothes Xplode stained, blew up in your gym locker, ruined your kitchen, and blew up in his car (well… this was me… haha)- honestly, you guys are a fun bunch. .

Well, I have to admit, it can be tricky for those of you who don’t take the time or monitor your meals as closely as I do. For example, my meals are always about 3 hours apart, and I only drink large amounts of water 2 hours after each meal because it takes about 2 hours for stomach contents to clean out, petty things that I sometimes take very seriously.

I have a friend who wakes up in the morning, has 2 slices of bread and heads to the gym right away to work out…how is he supposed to fit NO Xplode into his schedule, because he needs to consume it on an empty stomach? That was exactly the question he asked me when he started supplementing with Xplode.

Then there are those of you who eat when you’re hungry and sometimes skip meals altogether, or just grab a quick bite to fill your stomach before your workout… consuming yourself on an empty stomach before your workout?

A bit tricky, but just needs a little getting used to.

For the past few months, I’ve also been consuming a protein shake before my workouts. There is scientific research to suggest that taking protein before you lift weights may be just as important, if not more so, than taking it right after.

When you lift weights, the blood flow to your working muscles increases dramatically and this helps to ‘push’ any circulating amino acids into the muscle cells. But you need to have enough amino acids circulating in your blood to optimize this effect. This is why you should eat some protein (protein is made of amino acids) before you exercise. This will support faster muscle growth… and who doesn’t want that?

Ok, for those of you who are a bit confused and finding it hard to manipulate your time, take your protein shakes AND supplement with NO-Xplode, here is what I suggest you do:

(1) 60 minutes before your workout, have your protein shake, mixed with water and not milk. (milk takes longer to digest and you want it to digest quickly to make room for Xplode).

(2) 30 minutes after your protein shake, take your NO-Xplode (however many tablespoons you normally need). Your pre-workout protein shake will have been cleared/digested as it’s just liquid, and it won’t take up to 2 hours like a normal meal to achieve an empty stomach.

(3) If you are also supplementing with Cellmass, consume 1 serving immediately after your workout. Cellmass is BSN’s post-workout creatine supplement to replace creatine stores lost during training, speed recovery, volumize muscle cells, increase muscle density/hardness and many other fun things.

(4) 30 minutes after consuming Cellmass, consume your protein shake/post-workout meal.

*The schedule above was derived from data available at http://www.bsnonline.net

Hope this clears up the confusion folks. Good luck! Drop me a note here if there are any specific questions you’d like me to answer about NO Xplode. I will do my best to help.