nutrition – Page 2 – Matt Shannon, Security Pro

BCAAs Are Overrated — Here’s What to Do Instead

There was a time when tossing a neon scoop of BCAAs into your shaker cup felt like a secret code, like a sign that you were truly “dialed in.” Fast forward a few years, and the science is pretty blunt: if you’re already eating enough high-quality protein, those branched-chain amino acids aren’t doing much besides lightening your wallet.

Let’s break it down.

1. You’re Already Getting Plenty

BCAAs (leucine, isoleucine, valine) are just three of the nine essential amino acids your body needs to repair and build muscle. They’re naturally found in every solid protein source: meat, fish, eggs, dairy, and even plants. In fact, most whole protein sources already contain the 2-3 grams of leucine per meal needed to maximize muscle protein synthesis, making isolated BCAA supplements redundant.

If you eat real food and hit roughly 1.6–2.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, you’re already covered. Studies keep confirming it: supplementing with BCAAs doesn’t outperform simply consuming complete protein. Here’s why: muscle protein synthesis requires all nine essential amino acids to activate mTOR signaling, the metabolic pathway that triggers muscle growth. BCAAs alone can’t complete the job. Without the full amino acid lineup, your body can’t finish the muscle-building process.

Unless your diet is severely lacking protein, that fancy powder isn’t rescuing anything.

2. Pop Culture Made It Cool — But Not Useful

Let’s be honest: a lot of this stuck around because of marketing and muscle culture. The fitness industry turned hydration into a brand identity with bright colors, bold claims, and goofy influencers sipping between sets like it’s rocket fuel.

It looks serious. It feels like doing something extra. But feeling busy isn’t the same as being productive. In truth, most BCAA use today is psychological, the ritual of “recovery in a cup” more than any measurable physiological edge.

Field note: I’ve worked with hundreds of lifters and athletes and not one of them ever turned a corner in strength, body comp, or recovery because they added BCAAs. But I’ve seen countless athletes break plateaus when they fixed their sleep schedule, added 20 grams of protein to breakfast, or simply trained with more consistency. The wins come from the boring fundamentals, not the colorful supplements.

3. The Paleo/Keto Twist

Here’s where a lot of people overcomplicate it.

If you’re following Paleo or keto and already eating quality animal protein, steak, tuna, salmon, eggs, you’re getting plenty of BCAAs naturally. The supplement is redundant.

But here’s the real issue: many low-carb folks turn to BCAAs because they’re afraid strategic carbs will derail their progress. They won’t. If you’re training hard two or three times a week, your muscles need readily available fuel. Natural carb sources like fruit, bananas, berries, oranges, apples, et cetera, around your training window will do more for performance and recovery than any BCAA powder.

That’s not breaking Paleo. That’s being smart. And it’s cheaper than another tub of supplements.

4. When Supplements Actually Make Sense

To be fair, there are scenarios where amino acid supplementation has merit but even then, BCAAs aren’t your best option.

If you’re training fasted (early morning workouts before you can eat), recovering from an injury where whole food intake is compromised, or genuinely struggling to meet your protein needs through diet alone, a full EAA supplement or quality whey protein makes far more sense than BCAAs.

Why? They deliver the complete amino acid profile your body needs to rebuild tissue and trigger muscle protein synthesis, not just the marketing-friendly three. You’re getting the full toolkit, not just a hammer.

Otherwise? Eat real food, train with purpose, sleep hard, repeat. Oh, and if you’re a vegan or vegetarian, you will need to use supplements to meet your BCAA and EAA needs, but that’s a story for another time.

The Takeaway

Most people sipping BCAAs are already getting what they need from their plate.

The supplement industry thrives on making simple things feel complicated. They profit when you believe that food alone isn’t enough—that you need their powders, their timing protocols, their proprietary blends to unlock results.

But the truth is simpler and cheaper: eat quality protein, train consistently, sleep well, and your body will handle the rest. The fundamentals work. They’ve always worked. And no neon powder changes that.

Save your money for real food, a good night’s sleep, or maybe a new pair of shoes for the trail. If you’re eating enough quality protein, you’re already doing what BCAAs promise — only better, and for less.

Meal Prep for Real Life: How to Cook Once, Eat All Week

Meal prep isn’t just for the ultra-disciplined or Insta-famous. Sure, you’ve seen those photos: Tupperware lined up like soldiers, meals color-coded, macros counted. But let’s be real, that’s not most people’s life.

What if you could meal prep without spending eight hours every Sunday or needing a second fridge? Real meal prep isn’t about perfection; it’s about persistence and readiness. It’s about building a system that fits your training, work, and flexibility needs. When you fuel your life with intention, everything else sharpens into place.

Step One: Choose Your “Prep Style”

There are three main approaches to meal prep, and the one that’s best for you depends on your schedule and personality:

Batch Prep (Traditional): Make full meals ahead of time. Roast a tray of chicken thighs, cook up a pot of rice, and steam some broccoli. Stack them, label them, done. Good for those who like structure and predictability.
Buffet Prep (Modular): Prep components instead of full meals. Think proteins (ground beef, eggs), starches (sweet potatoes, oats), and fats (olive oil, avocado). Mix and match daily based on cravings or training demands.
Half-Prep (Hybrid): Prep only the time-consuming tasks, like chopping vegetables or marinating proteins, so cooking during the week is more efficient but still flexible.

Step Two: Focus on Your Macro Anchors

Every meal should hit three pillars:

Protein: This is your building block. Prep double what you think you need. Think grilled chicken, grass-fed, slow-cooked pork shoulder, hard-boiled eggs, and Greek yogurt.
Smart Carbs: These are your fuel tanks. Rotate between your favorite veggies, white rice, potatoes, and fruit. Make them in bulk and store flat in zip-top bags to save space.
Healthy Fats: Olive oil, nuts, avocado, seeds. Never forget flavor is fuel, too. Keep these on hand for fast drizzles or topping swaps.

Make meals that tick the macro boxes without requiring a calculator. Example?

Ground turkey (who doesn’t love leftovers?) + sautéed kale + roasted sweet potato + a sprinkle of feta and olive oil.
Scrambled eggs + pepper and onions + chopped spinach + avocado.

Easily repeatable, nourishing, and delicious.

Step Three: Make Friends with Your Freezer

Your freezer isn’t just for waffles and ice cream. It’s your long-term meal prep MVP. Here’s how to make it work for you:

Buy bulk frozen vegetables and fruits.
Freeze leftover portions of chili, stew, or curry in single-serve containers.
Portion “smoothie” bags with fruits, nut butters, and protein powder. Blend them up and freeze them ahead of time – easy-peasy.
Store cooked rice or roasted veggies flat in freezer bags for quick reheats.

Pro tip: Label and date everything. No mystery meals!

Step Four: Build In the “Rescue Meals”

Life happens. You’ll miss a prep day, forget your lunch, or get stuck in traffic. That’s when “rescue meals” save the day:

Package tuna or salmon + cucumber and tomato slices + olive oil
Grilled steak + half a sweet potato with a dash of cinnamon + two slices of crispy bacon.
Hard-boiled eggs + fruit of your choice + handful of almonds

Not fancy. But fast, macro-friendly, and better than skipping meals or panic-ordering pizza.

Step Five: Keep it Repeatable

The secret to success isn’t variety, it’s consistency. Most people thrive on 2-3 breakfast options, 3-4 go-to lunches, and 4-5 dinner templates. Boring? Maybe. But boring builds bodies. Save your culinary creativity for the weekends if that’s your thing.

Meal prep isn’t about being a hero. It’s about staying disciplined and staying in the fight.

The win is showing up to train with fuel already in the tank. The win is making your life easier, one container at a time. Prep is something to be proud of and it’s a version of self-respect you can see every day.

Pick your style and start prepping, your future self will thank you.

Fuel to Perform: The Athlete’s Edge in Everyday Eating

If you show up on the mats, under the barbell, or work hard to refine your gymnastic skills with any kind of serious intent, you’re not just training. You’re preparing and refining, often asking your body to do more than the day before. In our world, what you eat becomes the difference between a “good session” and a “great session,” and between strategic recovery and systemic breakdown. It’s the small details that separate showing up from showing out!

Let’s skip the noise and get tactical: how do semi-competitive athletes or serious recreational competitors fuel performance when life’s messy—work, travel, kids, and tired mornings? Let’s make it real.

The Big Picture

Research shows nutrient timing matters, especially around workouts. The ISSN says, “Purposeful ingestion of nutrients at various times throughout the day” (source) supports strength, power, body composition, and performance.

But for your average serious athlete? The “anabolic window” isn’t a specific, narrow window where you must cram in a meal. That “window” is basically as wide as a garage door. You don’t need perfect timing; it’s about being prepared at the right time.

Three Fuel Strategies That Work

1. Pre-training Anchor Meal
Eat something 60-90 minutes before your session: a moderate amount of carbs, lean protein, and a lighter amount of fat. Example: oatmeal with banana + a scoop of whey or Greek yogurt. Why? You’re topping off glycogen and priming your engine. If you train early and can’t eat, choose a liquid option: an easy-to-digest protein and carb-balanced smoothie.

2. In Training Mini Feeding (When It’s Longer or More Intense)
If your session lasts more than 60 minutes or you’re doing back-to-back days, plan a quick carb hit mid-session (30–60g) and hydrate thoroughly. Why? To prevent an energy crash during your training and help protect your neurologic control.

3. Post Training Recovery Meal
Hit carbs + protein within 1–2 hours after intense work. Aim for a carb-to-protein ratio of roughly 3:1 to 4:1. Why? To replenish muscle glycogen, repair muscle, and prepare for your next session. Example: 4-6oz chicken breast, 1/2 sweet potato, 1 cup of roasted veggies drizzled with garlic-infused olive oil + 1 banana + 1 tbsp peanut butter.

How to adjust for workload (without going neurotic)

• Light day/skill day: Reduce carbs by ~20–30% and keep protein moderate.
• Heavy day/max effort session: Increase carbs by 10–20%, keep protein steady.
• Rest day: Keep protein consistent, reduce carbs/fats based on hunger, not fear.

You don’t need daily macro spreadsheets. Just know your baseline, use a fuel strategy, and build awareness. This gets easier each week and with every rep.

Notes from the Field

I’ve watched CrossFit athletes and tactical team members burn themselves out because they consistently skipped their pre-session carbs or failed to track and meet their protein intake for 2 or 3 consecutive days. When your training really matters, you have to treat eating like it’s a part-time job. I’ve run a meal prep business, coached fighters, been a fighter, and lived and trained overseas. I know that life because I’ve lived and breathed it for years. Fueling with purpose is fundamental.

Super Simple Action Steps You Can Take This Week

Pick one heavy training day and one rest/light day. Write down your usual food. For the heavy day, increase pre- and post-training carbs. On a rest day, maintain a steady protein intake and reduce carbohydrates by approximately 20%. Have a pre-workout anchor meal 60 minutes before a session. Note your energy, focus, and performance.

Log your post-training recovery meal within 2 hours after a session—get your carb and protein hit. Track how you feel the next day.

The key takeaways: Fuel consistently, match carbs to your workload, prioritize recovery, and make eating part of your training routine.

Train. Eat. Recover. Repeat.

If you’re training to lead from the front, fuel like someone already ahead of the pack.

The 5 Biggest Meal Prep Myths and What Actually Works for Real People

Meal prep gets talked about so much these days, you’d swear it’s a personality trait. It’s always rigid, joyless, and maybe just a little smug. But the truth is, prepping food isn’t about discipline for its own sake. It’s about simplifying the week so you can think less about logistics, saving money, and staving off adverse health effects, and more about living your life.

While you’ll often see phrases like “may help” or “might improve” online, real data and everyday experience show what actually works. Here’s what makes a real difference for people like us.

Myth #1: “Meal prep means eating the same thing every day.”

Reality: Meal prep doesn’t mean you have to eat chicken and rice every day until you’re sick of them. The real goal is to make healthy choices easy and convenient.

Try prepping ingredients instead of full meals. Grill or roast some proteins, cook a few types of carbs, and chop up veggies. Then, mix and match them throughout the week—maybe smoked salmon over greens one day, steak and rice another, or yogurt with fruit when you need something quick.

What “the science” says: Research from the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity found that people who plan their meals tend to have more diverse diets — not less. It’s the planning that makes variety possible, not spontaneity.

Myth #2: “Prepping takes too much time.”

Reality: Spending a few hours on Sunday or Saturday can save you from stressful evenings all week. Even just washing produce, boiling rice, or portioning fruit ahead of time can make your weekdays much easier.
And it’s not just about time. People who spend even 30–60 minutes a day preparing food eat more vegetables and fruit (University of Washington research, 2014).

The time’s going somewhere either way, you can spend it prepping intentionally, or you can spend it waiting in drive-thrus.

Myth #3: “Meal prep is only for people trying to lose weight.”

Reality: That idea is just a marketing myth. Meal prep isn’t only for losing weight. It helps you avoid making poor choices when you’re hungry and supports your long-term health.

Sure, portion control helps. But more importantly, prep stabilizes your energy and makes fueling performance automatic. Whether you’re lifting, coding, or commuting, your brain and body both need steady inputs.

Home-prepped meals consistently come in lower in sodium and saturated fat, not because they’re “diet food,” but because you’re in charge of the ingredients.

You’re not dieting; you’re planning to succeed, not to fail. When in doubt, always rely on PPP, proper prior planning, and it’ll save you in countless scenarios.

Myth #4: “It’s cheaper to just grab takeout.”

Reality: The numbers don’t lie. Data from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shows that people who cook at home spend significantly less on food than those who eat out. Prepping helps you shop with purpose, so you buy only what you need. You waste less food and make your ingredients go further.

Pro tip: Using convenience items still counts as meal prep. Things like pre-washed greens, frozen veggies, frozen fruits, or rotisserie chicken can make things easier. Being efficient is smart, not cheating.

Myth #5: “Healthy meal prep means going ‘Paleo,’ ‘keto,’ or you’re “cutting carbs.”

Reality: Restrictive eating styles burn people out. The goal is consistency, not purity. You don’t have to eliminate carbs, especially if you train. Always remember, persistence over perfection.

Your brain and body work best with carbs. Foods like fruits, vegetables, potatoes, and white rice help you perform and recover, especially if you’re working out.

Coach’s Note: We eat well today for optimal performance tomorrow. — **Coach’s Note:**
We eat well today for optimal performance tomorrow.

Whether your training is on the mats, in the gym, or at your desk, food is fuel, not a moral test.

The Bottom Line

Meal prep isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being consistent. It’s a simple way to get back your energy, time, and control in a world full of distractions. Eat well, keep your plans simple, and stick with what works.

Progress comes from following through, not from always trying something new.

Fueling Your Cybersecurity: How To Eat Right for Cyber Success

A Beginner’s Guide For Eating to Shed Fat, Revive Your Metabolism, and Sharpen Daily Performance.

Cybersecurity incidents don’t care how well you slept or ate. They happen anytime. If your body feels slow, your mind will too.

That’s why nutrition isn’t just about physique or gym numbers. It’s about resilience.

A strong body fuels a sharp mind, which makes you a stronger IT professional.

Before jumping in, you might ask: how do you build nutrition habits that fuel performance, even under pressure? Let’s break it down with these five rules:

Rule #1: Always Eat Protein First

If there’s one macro nutrient that changes everything, it’s protein. Most people under-eat it, even those who train.

Why it matters: Protein saves muscle, keeps you full longer, and helps your body burn more calories.
Aim for .75 to 1g per pound of lean or target body weight. Spread it across meals: eggs at breakfast, chicken or beef at lunch, fish at dinner, or a shake if needed.

Think of protein like a system update: without it, your body gradually weakens until you notice it, and by then it’s too late.

Rule #2: Drink this down deep into your SOUL – Carbs are NOT The Enemy

Carbs, like protein, provide 4 calories per gram.

Carbs get demonized needlessly. If you train hard, they’re your gas pedal—not optional.

Performance: Carbs fuel high-intensity efforts (CrossFit, sprints, heavy lifts). They refill glycogen so your “engine” doesn’t sputter.
Focus: Complex carbs—including all fruits, vegetables, and grains like rice—keep blood sugar steady. That means steady energy and fewer crashes.

The key isn’t cutting carbs. What matters is eating quality carbs at the right times.

Hard training days? Eat more.
Recovery days? Dial it back a bit.

Rule #3: Fats – The Slow-Burn Energy Source

Fats do not give quick energy like carbs, but they help you last longer. Fats are essential for hormone production, brain function, and recovery.

Prioritize avocados, nuts, olive oil, walnut oil, and sesame oil, as well as grass-fed, wild-caught and free-range meats.

Most people do well with 20–30% of their calories from fat. That’s enough for health but not too much.

Rule #4: Hydration = Cognitive Uptime

Mild dehydration tanks focus faster than hunger. For IT pros, that’s dangerous.

Target: ½ gallon per day minimum.
Use electrolytes during long training or extended incident calls.

Think of hydration as uptime. Skip it, and your system crashes.

Rule #5: Structure Beats Willpower, Every Time

No one does well by guessing. Like securing a system, lasting results come from discipline and routine.

Meal prep → Simple, repeatable meals built ahead of time.
Macro targets: track for a few weeks until you get the feel.
Boundaries: Sleep, fuel, and downtime are mandatory security controls.

The goal is not perfection; it’s persistence. Remember, chasing perfection can actually slow your progress. Aim for 80 to 90 percent consistency for the best results.

Closing Thoughts

Nutrition is about training, discipline, and resilience, and it all starts with each meal.

Forget fad diets, quick fixes, and guilt. Focus on what helps you daily: sufficient protein, good carbs, healthy fats, water, and sticking to a plan that eliminates guesswork.

Anyone with a strong body and sharp mind doesn’t just survive the grind; they thrive in it.

Soon, I’ll show you how to build simple, sustainable meal prep systems. You can protect your body and mind just like you protect your network: with structure and planning.

Remember: your body is your first line of defense. Fuel it like YOU matter.

Do You Even Eat Bro? Why Meal Prep Is Security for Your Health

Waaaayyy back in the day, when we launched our Paleo meal prep business, people used to love and also laughed at our meme tagline: “Do you even eat, bro?”

It was funny. But it was also the truth. Most people didn’t eat well, not because they didn’t care, but because they didn’t plan. And, the truth is, most people don’t invest any time in preparing their meals, and it costs them.

The business was built on a simple idea:
* Make eating clean easier than ordering pizza.
* Source only local, high-quality foods–from all of our fruits and veggies, to our choices of pasture-raised poultry and beef.
* Take the stress out of nutrition so people could focus on training, work, and life.

And here’s what I learned: meal prep is like security for your diet and prior proper planning always ensures success.

Plan ahead, or get hacked by junk food. If you don’t have meals ready, DoorDash or the vending machine will win.
Build guardrails, or chaos takes over. Structure (shopping lists, prepped meals, set eating windows) keeps you from drifting.
Stay consistent, and resilience follows. Just like training or cybersecurity, it’s the boring reps that make you strong when it counts.

nutrition for busy professionals
discipline_paleo fitness_crossfit

That’s why I still fall back on three rules that anyone can run with:

Prep protein in bulk → Grill or roast a few pounds of chicken, beef, or fish. Protein is the foundation; everything else is garnish.
Keep easy fruits & veggies on hand → Frozen, bagged, or pre-chopped. Don’t overcomplicate it. Rotate what you like.
Don’t skip fats → Avocado, olive oil, nuts. They keep your hormones happy and your brain sharp when the day gets heavy.

It’s never about hitting 100% perfection. It’s about persistence — stacking small wins, meal after meal, day after day, week after week. Never forget the 80/20 rule to begin with, and do your best not to get overwhelmed. Small changes build habits that lead to permanent changes.

I didn’t always nail every meal, but because the vast majority of my meal were planned, I could keep training, keep coaching, keep working, and keep moving forward. One day at a time.

Never forget, meal prep is like security for your health and wellbeing. And, in the world I come from, when you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

And yes, I still eat, bro.

What’s your go-to meal prep hack that keeps you fueled during the week?