I'm about to get back on my weight lifting regiment and I'm wondering what the best and safest supplement to take before or after my workout would be. I'm not looking to add mass (I'm already a big guy) as much as I am looking to "tone" and to look more "cut". I've heard good things about Met Rx. Are there any others that are good and safe that you could suggest? I know there are a lot of workout folks on this board so any help would be appreciated.
Beefcake! Beefcake! BEEFCAKE!!!!!! (sorry, haven't slept much and my roommate's been watching lots of Southpark).
I took Ripped Fuel for awhile and it gave me alot of energy, but it had the Ephedra stuff in it. I stopped taking it.....Im curious of what I can take now...waiting for an answer with you drummer
I've always been against any supplements other than vitamins. The cut/tone look can be acheived by regular weight lfting and reduction of overall body fat. Before a workout, I'll eat a couple of bananas and some bread for energy, but that's it. Good luck though!
Some people swear by supplements, but some swear that it's all marketing and that you can get the same stuff from diet, cheaper. It's strange, all the guys with huge muscles take them, but most legit scientists say their crap, so it's hard to decide whether or not you should believe what you read or what you see.
Well I'm not at the 'ripping' stage by any means. I'm still building muscle mass that will increase my resting metabolic rate and burn fat off (along with aerobic exercise). 'Ripping' is particularly challenging, it would seem, since insulin is probably the best transport (into muscle fibers) for many anabolic factors and sugars are important post workout (w/i 15 minutes or so) to replace energy stores, but that would provide you with calories that you may want to avoid if you are 'ripping'. BTW, do you take creatine? Probably the best supplement to increase strength and workout duration, not just mass (but you have to take it properly or you benefit very little). Read Dr. Colgan on supplements and workouts. For MRPs (or most supplements) I like EAS Myoplex, but I have not used MetRx in a long time (they obviously have a great rep, though)
Is that safe? Wasn't that what Mark Mcguire got "caught" using a few years ago? Is creatine the name of the ingredient or the name of the actual product? Pardon me, but I'm pretty clueless on all these different supps. I've heard that eating a high protien low fat meal about 20 minutes after a workout helps build muscle. Any truth to that? I usually eat a couple of cans of tuna.
McGwire got caught using Andro, which I am not familiar with. I think tests showed it made your breasts bigger. Creatine is a protein that helps support muscle development. When used properly, it can help a lot, but I think that it can damage your kidneys or liver if you don't use it right.
Not the research funded by the Met-rx corporation, no, I pay little mind to that. The only thing that there's any consensus on actually "working" above and beyond anything you could get naturally without taking supplements is Creatine, and the jury is still out about that regarding the long term safety risks such as kidney and liver damage, as far as I know. All that other stuff, protein shakes and bars, etc, that's all fine, for the stuff that isn't garbage, but you could just eat a chicken breast or whatever and save money and get the same effects.
ima, I started working out seriously near the end of January 2002 at the workout facility that we have at work during lunchtime. I work out 4 days a week (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays) for an hour or little over. I don't eat a good diet. I don't really stretch before I start lifting. I don't take any supplements. I have always viewed supplements as "cheating" or the "easy way out". Yes, I have been tempted to take creatine or hydroxy cut or some of the other stuff, but I feel that I am cut pretty good already (well, at least with my arms!). Besides, nothing is more satisfying to me than to see the incredible gains that I have made in over a year and a half by just lifting! I can't tell you how many times I see someone that I haven't seen in a while say to me, "Wow, you really bulked up." However, I have only gained like 12 pounds since working out - I went from 180 to 192. Lifting helps relax me and also is a great stress buster, in my opinion. It is also very enjoyable when you are able to continue to go up (and do it all by yourself, i.e. no supplements) in weight AND reps. When I first started lifting, I didn't even DO a barbell bench press! I did a dumbell bench press instead with 30 lb ones. Now, I have a max of 245 lbs which is not bad for a 6 foot 3 guy that weighs around 193 lbs. As for curls, I have been able to do 10 reps with 45 lb dumbbells and also do 10 reps of 95 lbs on a straight barbell curl (hurts my wrists like hell, though ). I feel that I am the best at curls when it comes to the rest of the people I work out with (I have slowly moved up when it comes to the bench press, but they are dudes who can do 300 ahead of me), and I have, I feel, represented myself well in there - meaning I am no longer the low guy. However, I achieved this by staying with it 4 times a week. Sure, I would rest a week or so, especially if I was in pain, but you can't take off too much or you will lose some of it. Also, it is important to change your workouts every so often because your body will get used to what you are doing and that can slow you down. Sorry for going on about this, but lifting has become a passion for me just like music and other things. It may be erroneous to think this, but I am thoroughly convinced that supplements would not help me much. I do know that is MORE satisfying to do what I have been doing and seeing the other guys in the weight room marvel at my progress. Good luck, ima, and I hope you can stay with it!
As qwerty mentioned, one was Andro, but he also took creatine. The Andro was later found to produce a lot of female hormones, not just (or at the expense of) testosterone. As for creatine safety, there are a lot of warning about drinking water to flush the kidneys. Many many people are taking large quantities of the stuff, and I've yet to see a study that indicateds a risk to the kidneys (other than a theoretical risk) when taking recommended dosages. As for protein after workouts, would probably help greatly. I imagine tuna is a good source; many use whey protein which has been shown to be very effective. And FWIW, some research show creatines benefits brain performance and provide some protection against concussions.
Originally posted by SamFisher Not the research funded by the Met-rx corporation, no, I pay little mind to that. You apparently pay little mind to any. The only thing that there's any consensus on actually "working" above and beyond anything you could get naturally without taking supplements is Creatine, and the jury is still out about that regarding the long term safety risks such as kidney and liver damage, as far as I know. What? I thought you said they were all crap? Technically, there is a continuing lack of consensus on all supplements, whether anabolic or otherwise. For years, the medical community, in conjunction with/spurred on by the pharmaceutical corporations, has been anti-supplement. It has only been in the last 5-10 years where the realization is setting in that they were grossly wrong. Case in point, antioxidants. You cannot get the maximum beneficial dosages of them with any type of diet...no matter how many vegetables you eat. Of course, this is more of an American phenomenom. Year ago, limited research went into supplements here because it cost several hundred million to get a drug/supplement approved for disease treatment by the FDA; who would fund that when you couldn't patent the compound or make any claims about what it can be used for? Also, many supplements required significant longitudinal studies (many of which are being undertaken in Europe). Talk to a cardiac physician and see if she now takes vitamin E. Speak to someone with osetoarthritis and ask them if glucosamine has helped them. Ask the Japanese about CoQ10 and the heart or why they have gum laden with the amino acid taurine. Pregnant women now all take folic acid, and European formulas now add DHA for infant brain development (while the FDA does not require it...why break what ain't broke...brilliant... ) etc etc Many non-anabolic supplements work for different populations, and can also benefit athletes. E.g., workouts produce free-radicals and release stress hormones that can hinder recovery, so many take antioxidants and immune system enhancers.
Here is a pre/post workout formula that will have you dramatically increasing your strength and lean mass if you are on a heavy lifting program. 30 minutes before your workout drink a high quality MRP with 18 Ounces of 2% milk, I like borden high protein. Good MRP's are Met-RX, Myoplex and I also like GNC's Mega MRP. I also take one Vivarin before a workout if I am feeling sapped. This MRP will provide you with a steady flow of aminos and slow release carbs to power your workout and supply the building blocks as they are needed. Assuming your workout lasts at least one hour, after your workout your will take the following shake created by nutritionist Susan Kleiner that I have slightly modified for a higher protein and calcium content (and better taste): 16 ounces cold 2% milk 1 packet vanilla carnation instant breakfast 1 banana 1 tablespoon peanut butter This is a high carb and protein shake that will feed your muscles, bones and joints the food they need to recover from a tough workout. Those two shakes will provide about 1200 calories and around 100 grams of protein. I suggest taking a multivitmin after your dinner and I personally take my creatine at night although from my experience when you consume your creatine doesn't matter much. Include a well balanced whole food diet with this plan and you will see your lifts increase almost every time you go to the gym.
Ahh. A conspiracy by doctors against supplement companies. That must explain why Met Rx and other supplement companies are frequently hauled before the FTC fo deceptive advertising among other violations.
Met-Rx's brief affair with Androgen, much like EAS's was met with disaster and subsequently given up. I wouldn't use any supplement except creatine and then I only cycle it to get out of plateaus.
What are the 'other' violations other than 'unsubstantiated health claims' issue, which is the issue I already alluded to? And FWIW, the FDA, which sets the guidelines for 'unsubstantiated health claims', was forced (by the courts) to relax its draconian hurdles for health claims by supplement manufacturers. Previosuly, companies could not even mention reduced birth defects with folic acid supplements. How idiotic.
