Supplements...

I've lifted weights for over 10yr. I have packed on the muscle slowly, little pound after little pound. Because of this, my strength for my size is probably in the top .1%. I have a few friends my size (I'm not that big), who take supplements. They get the size/look quickly, and they also increase their strength. But, the size seems to always vary +-10lb by what supplements they are taking. Also, their strength is pretty poor IMO for their size. Lots of those supplements just increase the size via water weight.

Now some people use the NO xplode etc as a pre workout drink. I've taken it maybe 5times in my life. It does give a "boost" in strength/size before the workout. It's good to use before a "Major" wt workout (with plenty of h20). With the extra strength, you'll lift more, and thus get a harder workout. But, don't use it to much as it will no longer work as well with constant use.

I'd stick with the old school basics. Diet, lift, diet, lift, diet, lift. Get yourself a good diet plan and stick with it. Get at least 1gm of protein for every 1lb of body weight you are. I would start keeping a good diet log. Go to a bb'ing website and look around for some good diet plan...
It will probably be the same thing every day and very boring. But it will work. It'll be things like natural peanut butter, chicken breast, oatmeal, brown rice, tuna, olive oil etc.

As for the strength training part, learn how to "power lift". Squat, dead lifts, bench press... Those build size and strength.


PM me if you want some more "diet log" advice.

 

stay way from Cell Tech and Nitro Tech. it's all just high in sugar, and never work.

if u wanna gain some size and strength, as well as recovery level, go for normal whey protein. take 1 gram per 1 lbs of ur body weight. for example, if ur 100 lbs, u need to take 100 grams of those supps everyday.

split ur intake 3-4 times a day, morning, mid morning, pre and post w/out. drink plenty of water too.

in case u wanna increase ur energy, look for creatine monohydrate.

 

This is somewhat related and i don't want to thread jack but, what kind of fruits/veggies can i eat to get more energy(not necessarilly for working out). I feel really sluggish in the morning and then agian in the late afternoon. Anyone have some suggestions? I usually lift every other day but i can't beleive that is what makes me tired on my day off from the gym.

EDIT: hell in general any kind of food that would give me energy not just F/V.

 

Fastback, Start the day off with a complex carb/protein. I usually do a 1Tbs of natural peanut butter, 1 packet instant oatmeal, 1 scoop of Whey protein and 1 8oz glass of white grapefruit juice. I also drink 1 cup of coffee. It's a pretty light breakfast, but it'll really jump start you. The grapefruit juice will make the coffee KICK... It also helps with fat burning. I'd ask your MD first though, some people will tell you coffee/grapefruit do not mix.

"Grapefruit juice also effects 'legalized drugs' such as caffeine by raising caffeine intake in the blood. In other words, when taken with your coffee at breakfast, you'll get a definite buzz."

 

They are supplements. That's all. Nothing more, nothing less. There's nothing in them your can't find in whole foods. They are not a fast track to weight or muscles. If you want to gain weight, stick to whole foods first. THEN take supplements to make up for what your can't fit into your mealplans during the day.

Not to mention weight gain is not good if you're just getting fat. Instead of taking Mega Bulkup Powder 5000 and getting fat, I would much rather train hard in the gym and try to put on muscle. Eat lots of healthy small meals.

 

A lot of people use them, but everyones results vary. I would stay away from NO-Explode for now though. I just read on bodybuilding.com last week that they released a NEW forumla. Unfortunately this new mix has two things added that all other brands have removed because of possible ill-health affects. (I couldn't find the link, sorry). So I'd stay away.

When it comes to the NO mixes just try various ones.

I personally don't use them. I have a couple sample packs I still haven't touched.

High protein diet, veggies/fruits, and exercise and you're good to go.

Make sure you're eating 6 times a day. And in between those meals snack on walnuts or almonds, have a thing of yogurt, an apple, something to always keep your system functioning.

You really can't go wrong with any fruits and veggies. I tend to eat broccolli and squash/zucchini in addition to my chicken and rice during the week. Sometimes I buy apples and sometimes oranges.

Make sure you eat breakfast before you leave the house. Be it a bowl of cereal or oatmeal (not the sugary kind). Get something in your stomach. If you've never been a breakfast eater, well start now. Get in the gym 3 days a week.

My typical day(I mix it up):
7am - Bowl of cereal and protein shake
8:30 - Banana
10 or 10:30 - English Muffin or Oatmeal
12 - Rice and Chicken w/ fruit/veggie
2-yogurt/nuts
3:15 - same as noon
4 - gym
5:45 - protein shake and some sort of dinner just depends on the mood

Most important thing....WATER!

 

+1, good general advice. Dont fall for the latest supplement craze either, too much $. Stick with whats been around.

Ferrar_lvr= if you are serious about building your physique go to a different site such as bodybuilding.com or flexonline.com forums.
There is much better information and many members that religiously give feedback and track any and everything related to supplements.

 

Try Betastatin, its just a protein shake but it does produce great results that you keep....Cell Tech and NO Xplode will bloat you up but they are not real gains....I used both and prefered NO but it is a newer product so it should be better....Betastatin is hard to find in some areas but if you take one packet an hour before yoru workout and one afterwards you will pack on some good gains....Diet and a good workout with plenty of rest will take car of the rest

 

i've been ding weightlifting 3-4 times a week since 2004. do PM me is there's any advice on diet, supplements, w/out programs, etc. i'd be glad to help.

my choice of supplements :

http://www.horleys.com/

 

Nice, i like simple meals like that. Usually it is a bowl of cereal, dirnk the milk, take 1 pill of centrum vitamins. Occasioinally i throw in an energy drink like redbull, sometimes more throughout the day. I don'te tend to crash, or i don't really notice t he crash if it happens. not a big coffee drinker but, i like the idea of Coffee and grapefruit burning fat. anyone else got some fat burning foods? The advice is great guys!

 

I'm a "diet" guy.

I gave up on supplements a loooong time ago.

There is no short cut.

"No pain no gain". That goes for the diet part as well as the exercise part. If your diet doesn't "hurt" you aren't trying hard enough.

 

Not sure what you mean by having your diet "hurt"..... if you mean not eating junk food and fast food and garbage, then yes. But there's plenty of ways to modify your diet to a healthy level but still have it exciting and tasty. Limiting your diet to the same thing everyday is easy to keep track of what your intake is, but it's boring.

Eat lots of fresh vegetables, whatever kind of protein is on sale (fish, eggs, red meat, poultry, whatever), dairy (calcium is EXTREMELY important to your body) and whole grains and fresh fruit. Cut back refined sugar intake, especially soft drinks. But be sure not to sacrifice vitamins and minerals for the sake of macronutrient control. In other words, don't let the 12g of lactose in a glass of milk dissuade you from getting your necessary calcium. Don't let the 17g of sugar in an orange prevent your Vitamin C intake.

Too often people are dissuaded from eating properly because they are told what not to eat and why everything is bad, rather than having explained to them what foods are GOOD and why they SHOULD eat certain items. It's a lot easier to shop and eat food when thinking about why something is beneficial rather than the cumbersome job of eliminating myriad items because you find something bad about it.

 

I cannot stand grapefruit juice, but for those two reason I may have to chug it down.

Try another Vitamin that doesn't contain Iron. I use to take Centrum and switched to Men's One-A-Day, and have noticed a difference in my energy. I'm going to start trying different multi's just to see if I notice anything.

 

supplements is not short cuts, if that what your trying to suggest. most supplements contain high protein for faster and better tissue and muscle recovery after workouts. i take supplements daily, 3 times a day. i workout really hard, and regular food is not enough for me. hence the supplements.

 

I know what supplements are. I used to be a competitive power lifter.

Now I'm very lean. Especially this time of year. My diet is very strict.

That's what I mean by "HURT".