01 · Foundations

The Floor

Before anything exotic, cover the basics most men are quietly short on. If you take nothing else, take these.

Core
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Creatine Monohydrate

NOW Foods

Form
Unflavored micronized powder
Dose
5 g daily. Timing doesn't matter, consistency does

The most-studied sports supplement there is. Supports strength output, training volume, and cellular hydration. Cheap, boring, and it works.

Skip the loading phase. Skip anything labeled HCl at four times the price.

Core
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Vitamin D3 + K2

Sports Research

Form
Softgel, D3 5,000 IU with K2 MK-7
Dose
1 softgel with a meal containing fat

Most men who train indoors are low. Supports bone density, immune function, and normal testosterone production. K2 belongs in the same capsule, because it directs calcium where it should go.

Get a blood panel first. Dose to your labs, not to a bottle.

Core
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Magnesium Glycinate

NOW Foods

Form
Capsule, 200–400 mg elemental
Dose
200–400 mg, 60–90 minutes before bed

Involved in hundreds of enzymatic processes, including muscle relaxation and sleep quality. Glycinate is the form that absorbs without sending you to the bathroom.

Oxide is the cheap form. It is a laxative, not a supplement.

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Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)

Sports Research

Form
Triglyceride form fish oil, third party tested for oxidation
Dose
2–3 g combined EPA + DHA daily, with food

Supports cardiovascular health, joint comfort, and brain function. The Western plate runs heavy on omega 6 and light on this.

Check the actual EPA/DHA on the back panel, not the '1,000 mg fish oil' on the front.

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Ideal Sea Salt

Dr. Murray

Form
Mineral salt with a 2:1 potassium to sodium ratio, 16 oz
Dose
Use in place of table salt, or a pinch in your water on hot or training days

You sweat out more than water. Most men run high on sodium and low on potassium, and this flips that ratio without a sugary drink mix. In Phoenix heat this is not optional.

A salt, not a candy stick pack. No sugar, no dyes, no 2 grams of cane sugar hiding on the back.