Pre-workout carbs aren’t about eating big. They’re about showing up ready to work. This breakdown is for go-hard-or-go-home lifters — people like me who train with intent, not comfort. I split this into food vs supplement carbs because digestion speed, energy availability, and muscle readiness matter when you’re pushing limits. I walk through: • When fast carbs make sense • When food still wins • Why cyclic dextrin and dextrose are tools — not magic • How I fuel before sessions that actually mat