Which supplements can help me get ready for my first fitness competition? — Lisa Ritchie, via Twitter

“In addition to training hard and eating right, certain supplements can help boost your results and get you into stage-ready shape. I recommend a few different types of supplements to my clients when they are prepping for a show,” says Shannon Dey, CEO and founder of Bombshell Fitness and head of professional competitive fitness Team Bombshell. Below, her fave picks.

Before first cardio:

A fat-burning supp (two days on, one day off) for energy and fat loss

Morning:

Vitamin B6 (for brain development and function), vitamin E (antioxidant), multivitamin (overall health), collagen (to help boost skin elasticity), slow-releasing iron (red-blood-cell function), glucosamine/chondroitin (joint health), and a fiber supplement (for gastrointestinal health)

Post-workout:

BCAAs and glutamine (amino acids that assist in building muscles and repairing tissue as well as recovery)

With two to three meals per day:

Digestive enzymes (to help with digestion)

Evening:

Vitamin C (antioxidant) as well as calcium, magnesium, and zinc (key minerals for a variety of bodily functions)

Protein powders:

These may replace other protein sources but preferably only for one or two meals per day, maximum.

Before bed:

Glutamine (for additional recovery)