Barbell Shrugged - Talking Training W/ Crossfit Games Athletes, Strength Coaches & More

In this episode, Doug Larson sits down with Coach Travis Mash and Dr. Mike Lane to challenge the "one-size-fits-all" approach to supplement dosing. They break down why most labels are effectively written for an average-sized person, and why that matters when you're 100 pounds soaking wet, or a 300-pound lineman. Using real stories (like a 450 mg caffeine pre-workout for a small athlete and the classic "I couldn't sleep" aftermath), the crew lays out a simple north star: doses should  scale with body weight, and you should take an amount specific to your body size. From there, they get practical on what works, what's overhyped, and how to time things. Dr. Lane explains beta-alanine as an intramuscular buffer (via carnosine) that helps athletes push harder in the anaerobic "pain cave," but only if it's taken consistently for weeks, not as a one-off. They compare that to sodium bicarbonate as a more acute strategy that can help performance but comes with GI risk if you don't practice it ahead of time. Along the