SUPPLEMENTS- Good? Bad?

[VitaVol]

You do realize that Alpha Lipoic Acid degrades into NOTHING in light in about 10 seconds in a powder form? Muscle-Tech would make whole BATCHES of Cell-Tech and not even include it! Someone does independent testing...."Hey, that's not in there but you list it on the label!!". MuscleTech's response, "Well, it degrades in light, that's why you didn't detect it.

 

Companies FEED off the UNEDUCATED CONSUMER. You can buy 10 POUNDS of Dextrose on the internet for about $15 and 400 grams of Creatine for about $11. That would make about 7 containers or Middle sized Cell-Tech. There's a sucker born EVERY MINUTE.

 

926, if you are actually spending MONEY on Myostat then you have no business entering into a thread discussing supplements.

 

Insulin is the most anabolic hormone in the body. Period. Spike it post workout and you drive glycogen back into the cells along with promoting anabolism.

 

Whey protein is good to use post workout and in the morning because of it's 45 minute digestion range. Throughout the rest of the day one would be better off using caseine or meat.

 

If you want to know what is JUNK (like Myostat...LOL!) and what isn't, ask away.

[pennyplay6254]

What is the safest but most effective supplement on the market?

[VitaVol]

Assuming your training and nutrition are on par (at least 3 carbs and .8 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight daily is a good guideline, with 80 grams of simple carbs post workout), I would rate the following in terms of important:

 

1. Protein. Most people don't get enough through their food to provide positive nitrogen retention. Idealy a hard training athlete would take in 30-40 grams of protein once every 3 hours every single day, with 40 grams of whey post workout. Tuna has 32 grams in a can. A large chicken breast has about 40. Milk has 8 grams per cup. No matter what the source is, however, GET ENOUGH PROTEIN EVERYDAY!!

 

2. Creatine. There have now been over 300 studies (independent and paid, University, etc.) on the effectiveness and safety of Creatine. FOr over 80% of the people that use creatine, greatly enhanced levels of ATP are present in their skeletal muscle after only 1 week of supplementation. Creatine supports power during short, explosive movements (bench press, squat, vertical jump, sprint, etc.) and does so very well. The ideal way to take creatine is post workout (your muscles are saturated with it...or 'store' it...over a period of time...it doesn't work at the time of use like a stimulant) with at least 80 grams of carbs in a liquid form (if possible...fat free frozen yogurt will work, believe it or not). An insulin spike along with creatine intake is STILL the most EFFECTIVE way to take it in. Liquid creatine, by any company, is GARBAGE. The bottle contains creatinine, a byproduct of creatine which does NOTHING (creatine degrades into this byproduct in about 15 minutes once liquified...that's why if you are taking it with you to the gym, leave it in the powder form in your shaker and mix it up afterwards). Creatine DOES NOT cause cancer (this ridiculous statement made by a german research group was later retracted...which, of course, wasn't printed). It can cause cramping in people with bodyfat under 7%, which, contrary to what a lot of athletes think, usually doesn't include most players. Simply drink about a gallon of water a day, total, and you should do fine (you should be doing this already for proper hydration regardless of using creatine).

 

3. Glutamine. The most abudant amino acid in the human body, glutamine comprises about 60% of all skeletal muscle. When your body enters a catabolic state, glutamine is the first free amino that is taped into. It is not an "essential" amino, but it's "conditionally essential", meaning that your body needs extra amounts depending on your activity levels. It greatly enhances workout recovery and reduces muscle soreness. Around 10 grams a day will suffice, 5 grams post workout and 5 grams before bed.

 

There are a BUNCH of other things you can take (ZMA, Flax Oil and Fish oil, for instance), but these are the 3 "safest" and most neccessary supplements. There is a BUNCH of garbage out there...a WHOLE BUNCH. Supplements are not regulated by the FDA, obviously, so you have to trust the company you are buying a product from and do your own research into the effectiveness of a particular substance before buying it. Myostat, CellTech, NO2 and 1-AD are some of the bigger ripoffs out there right now (Myostat does NOTHING, Celltech is way overpriced, as the company that makes it feeds off idiots who are suckers for ads, NO2 is arginine...don't be fooled, and 1-AD isn't realistic for anyone under 25 in terms of safety and effectiveness). I deal with UT athletes every single day who are totally clueless about proper nutrition for making the gains they want, or what supplements do and which one's are needed and not needed. They have one nutritionist for their entire men's athletic department....

 

In short, do your research, don't believe what you read in magazines and don't listen to your "buddy". And if you're under 18, don't be an idiot and take a "testosterone boosting" supplement. You're getting your wallet cleaned and you don't need it at your age.

[LchsRB4u]

Whey protien would be it . It will make you stronger and bigger at the same time.

[Rebelguy]

What do ya'll know about Advocare's P.O.S. line in terms of safety and effectiveness. My doctor and coach gave me the OK on it and I've seen significant gains already when coupled with whey protein and an intense workout program. Anybody know anything about it?

[VitaVol]

Advocare is basically a multi-level marketing company that deals in sports supplements. You can save yourself a lot of money going other directions, I'll put it that way.

 

What all do they have you taking?

[Rebelguy]

Just POS-5 combined with a big ole protein shake before bed. I know it's partially the workout I'm on but I've put on a good 15-20 pounds in the last month taking it. It might be all psychological but it's working so I see no reason to stop.

[Blue21SallyAt7]

the best supplement a teenager can get is a HEALTHY DIET!!!

[VitaVol]

Define "Healthy" for us?

 

Is it the FDA's "Healthy Diet", where they've told people for almost 30 years that all fat is bad and that people should overload on carbs? America is now as fat as it's EVER BEEN. Diabetes rates among 8-13 year olds have DOUBLED since 1990. The FDA's version of a "Healthy Diet" is what is neccessary to keep a SEDENTARY 50 year old ALIVE. Think a hard training teenager needs to follow the FDA's "healthy diet" guidelines?

 

Very few teens know how to eat right for TRAINING purposes...and won't take the time to do so, not realizing the importance.

[IronKnight]

Creatine, Protein, and a Multi Vitamin combined with a quality program will work.

[ADAD]

Look into MCT oil. My son and another player have both found it to be an effective energy producer without all the negative side effects of a stimulant. Plus the taste is similar to orange flavored butter.

[VitaVol]

Medium Chain Trglycerides are easily taped into by your body, as they are long strand fatty acids that are tapped into for energy as easily as carbs (in some studies). Not a bad product but not overly productive.