WEEK THIRTY-THREE :: What Are The Best Supplements While On A Budget? [Archive]

Dallas68

07-15-2005, 07:34 AM

What supplements are good while on a small budget? What are the best supplements under $20?

Optimum 100% Whey Protein because literally protein is the main builder and retainer of muscular size. so with about seven dollars left you should try some cheap multi's not as full or effective as more expensive multi's but can definitely help you. These would have to go with each other as you need all the vitamins you can get to run at your full bodies potential. EFA's you can mostly get from your foods and is not too much of a recommendation if your really on a budget although there are cheap ones like
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sun/efa.html
fish oil is not needed as the above product already provides your Omega's.

If you just need a quick fix there are some incredible protein bars coming out some more full of protein and other awesome stuff than proper supps!

try these for awesome results

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/iss/pro42.html

this insane Bar has 42 Grams of Protein! although not that cost effective it is a quick fix

a cost effective bar is

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/bn/power.html
or
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/eas/advantcarb.html
or
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/eas/lowcarb.html
or
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/met/bars.html

there are cheaper ways to get your protein and daily needs as a bbuilder yet these bars can help tremendously.

How effective are these cheaper supplements compared to the more expensive supplements on the market?

The protein is definitely the main stay no matter your budget and is relatively really cheap at thirteen dollars!
A multi such as animal pak is more expensive and definitely has many interesting extracts that have been proven to provide energy growth and recovery in faster times.
More expensive products are mostly that because the supplements inside are literaly higher grade and contain more proven effects to help you get you where you want to be!
They also contain many more potent ingredients to help with everyday bodily functions to take you to another level. Yes cheap relatively cheap supplements can help you along to try keep you in as much of a muscle growth state as possible but the more costly supps will definitely maxamise growth beyond most can comprehend if done correctly of course.
So budget is good to really gain the bare essentials and perhaps provide you with another look to check if your nutrition and training are in order before you go crazy with the newest products when you have cash of course. You should research what the greats used before steroids and Pro hormones came along they will provide you with the pureness of liver tabs and the rest.

BONUS QUESTION: What brand can someone turn to for good quality supplements at a good price?

well Optimums protein of course,
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/gold.html

BSN is a relative dig in the pocket but has really been shown to those who have done the supplementation correctly to enhance their bodies tremendously and get out of the product what it delivers (Nitrix) (No-Explode).

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/bsn/xplode.html

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/bsn/nitrix.html

These two products can create a highly anabolic environment for your muscles.

Higher powers micronized creatine is also cheap and can increase muscular development. While staying at a modernized and cheap price.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/creatine.html

TwinLabs is very good with many products this is a good ZMA supp
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/tl/zma.html
or
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/univ/zma.html
very cheap ^^ ^^

BONUS QUESTION TWO: What is the most expensive supplement out there that works and that you should try if you have some extra cash or win the lottery?

There is really not only one product that can truly set you apart from others you need to have a varied supply.

BSN NO-Explode this powerful product has a creatine surge along with vascular pumps lasting for hours that allow increased blood flow which in turn leaves muscles fuller and with a good ratio to grow all which someone needs if they plan on getting stronger and bigger along with Nitrix you shall be on your way.

Then animal pak would be my multivitamin simply cause it works
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/univ/animalpak.html

along with a weight gainer such as N-Large 2 get a 10 pounder if you have the lotto cash who doesnt want to be bigger?
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/pl/large.html

i would also splash out on liver tabs such as
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/univ/liver.html

A supp to keep the joints going creak free
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/univ/joint.html

and ZMA another very important supp to increase natural testosterone levels of production
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/zma.html
or
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/univ/zma.html

The next best supps are the more exteme products like HGH, IGF-1 and HUMAGRO and all the very enhanced ones.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/asn/hum.html
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/legal/pxtrans.html
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/xy/noxcg.html

THere is also a very interesting product coming from S.A.N called Vault if it can do half of what they say it can do then this is a very expensive but awesome product.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/san/vault.html

Cool hope this can help you make a more clean decision of waht to do with your budget well work harder earn more money and buy the really awesome stuff!

....train hard eat clean and breathe the life your living its beautiful....What get down boy! your sets up what you smelling the flowers for? damn it son get down! good! another sets up are you ready?............

Blitz n destroy

07-15-2005, 01:17 PM

What supplements are good while on a small budget? What are the best supplements under $20?

Budget supplements should be the necessities only. I'm talking multi vitamin, EFA's, and if you can squeeze it in there, whey protein.

The multi vitamin is crucial because most athletic and bodybuilding diets are strict and although the foods eaten are sufficient in the macro nutrients, they are usually not in the vitamins and minerals we need for flawless every day function. The multi will fill in all the gaps in your diet, and assure you that you are functioning optimally.

EFA's ( omega-3-6-9, although 9 is not consisdered essential ) provide healthy fats, and are associated with improved immune function, skin texture, energy production, and tissue development, as well as decreased muscle damage. If they do not fit the budget, they can be found in fish such as tuna and salmon, and also walnuts and flax seeds.

Whey protein is the quickest absorbing of the proteins and also an extremely good source of BCAA's(branched chain amino acids), and is readily used to rebuild muscle tissue after a hard workout. Supplementing with whey protein is highly recommended and it is by far the most popular supplement.

Best Supplements Under $20
Higher Power offers a 5lb tub of 100% Whey protein, and for just $19.99 it is a fantastic bargain!
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/whey.html

NOW offers 100 softgels of omegas 3-6-9 for only $5.98, which is a great dealhttp://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/omega.html

AST Multi Pro 32x is a very well rounded multi vitamin, and is my personal choice due to its potency as well as affordability at $15.89 for a 50 day supply.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/ast/multi-pro.html

How effective are these cheaper supplements compared to the more expensive supplements on the market?

These supplements are no different in terms of quality and effectiveness when compared to other products on the market. The thing is, these products are made by companies that give you exactly what you need and nothing more, so there is no added cost. Although they dont have all the bells and whistles, they are the foundation of a good diet and supplement program, and are very friendly and effective to the budget minded buyer.

BONUS QUESTION: What brand can someone turn to for good quality supplements at a good price?

Higher Power, Optimun Nutrition, and Dymatize all provide quality products with budget friendly prices

BONUS QUESTION TWO: What is the most expensive supplement out there that works and that you should try if you have some extra cash or win the lottery?

The key phrase is "that works"
Liver Tabs have been a staple of bodybuilders and strength athletes for decades, and although old school, they are one of the most effective supplements out there.

I would suggest Beverly Ultra 40 Desiccated Liver Tabs.

At almost $40, they are the most pricey liver supplement out there, but the price comes with the reputation that comes with Beverly Int.

Quoted from http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/bev/beef.html

"Ultra 40 has more going for it than any other food supplement being very high in useable bodybuilding protein (2 grams per tablet) of the highest quality (it contains all the essential amino acids). It's a strong blood builder supplying heme iron. It is a very rich source of B vitamins, especially riboflavin, niacin, B-12, and the lipotropics choline and inositol. It's a good source of vitamins A, C, and D and other micro-nutrients"

Liver tabs also increase appetite, which makes them a good supplement for bodybuilder or athletes that are trying to ingest more food but cannot find the appetite to.

Personally, I have used Beverly Ultra 40 for 2 years now, and I would not train without them. The quality and effectiveness are un surpassed.

The other supplement worth investing your money in if you have it would be creatine. The new rage is all about CEE, and it has been show to work very well in volumizing muscle cells, and increasing strength. Investing in a combo of a bulk CEE for non workout days, and an enhanced CEE for workout days is a good idea. I take Omega's Cre-Ethyl Thunder on workout days and Higher Power CEE on non workout days, and have seen amazing results.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/ester.html
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/omega/cre.html

Good luck!

dajoka004

07-16-2005, 10:12 AM

This is a great topic. I was planning on asking this since I leave for college in a month.

OneBetter

07-16-2005, 04:29 PM

Keeping yourself, and your Wallet huge..

What supplements are good while on a small budget?
First off, protein. Protein is literally the building block of muscle. It is essential to be included in your diet. My own personal preference is Optimum Nutrition's 100% Gold Standard Whey. It has everything you
need in it, and it comes with a small price tag, a months supply could run about $14, depending on how often you wish to use it.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/gold.html

Second, a good multivitamin. In order for the body to preform to it's full potential, it needs nutrients. Higher Power offers a great deal on their One-A-Day Multi. For around $6 for a 2 months supply, you can't go wrong.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/one.html

Finally, creatine. Creatine is a must for anyone serious about working out or bodybuilding. Again, Higher Power is my personal preference. A 100 serving tub of HP's micronized creatine runs for about $13. This will last you the better part of 3 months.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/creatine.html

Total cost: ~$33.00
Total monthly cost: ~$21.50

What are the best supplements under $20?
Simply put, Optimum Nutrition's 100% Whey 2lb ($14), HFS's The Total EFA 24 oz. ($17), Higher Power's Multi-XS 200 caps ($15), and Higher Power's Micronized Creatine 1000g ($20). These are all the basic supplements you need, for prices you can afford.

How effective are these cheaper supplements compared to the more expensive supplements on the market?
It's a sad fact, but in most cases, when you buy the more expensive supplement companies products, you are paying for more then you're actually getting. These companies increase their price because they need to fund their advertising. The quality of their products in no way merit spending that all extra cash. The cheaper supplement companies products are just as effective as the expensive ones. Sometimes the expensive supplements will contain other ingredients that will make their products better, but in most cases the consumer could buy these ingredients at a huge fraction of the cost. For example, some companies charge an exorbitant amount of money for creatine mixed with dextrose. When purchased alone, these products are ten times cheaper. The bottom line is, the results you get from more expensive companies products in comparison with the cheaper companies, in no way make up for the significant different in price.

Bonus: What brand can someone turn to for good quality supplements at a good price?
Believe it or not, there are companies out there selling products that won't bust your wallet. Some trusted companies include NOW, Optimum Nutrition, Higher Power, and Health from the Sun. These companies all sell quality and cost efficient products.

Bonus Two: What is the most expensive supplement out there that works and that you should try if you have some extra cash or win the lottery?

One of the more expensive supplements out there, based solely on monthly supply, is Muscle Milk. It is $50 for a months supply, that is if you only use it once a day. Many people out there consume protein shakes 2-3 times a day. This could run you upwards of $100 a month. In either case, overall it is a great quality product to help people who are in a bulking phase, looking for gains and not worrying about a little fat gain.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/cs/milk.html
Another product that gives you gains in mass, would be Optimum Nutrition's Serious Mass. It is loaded with protein, vitamins, calories, carbs, and everything else that would be helpful to you to gain mass. It is $33 for 16 servings, and the label says take 3 servings a day. At that rate, you could be spending upwards of $175 a month. Maybe good if you won that lottery..

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/sm.html

Conclusion

In the end, supplements can only help you if you are willing to work. You can take all the supplements in the world, and none will give you the results you are looking for without hard work and dedication.

Best of Luck

- OneBetter

TheMind

07-17-2005, 07:56 AM

I can't deny that it's a very valuable topic that should teach every a few things....Lol, look forward to writing it (not enough time today), but I'm afraid all of the responses are going to look like commercials, lol

That's right, free advertisements for the cheap products, woohoo! :) They deserve it, for keeping po' college students like myself healthy.

STUD

07-17-2005, 10:39 AM

lol Yeah I couldn't agree more. I am about halfway done with my article and it already looks like a giant advertisement, but the low priced, quality products to deserve it. Without some of these companies I too would be in trouble.

Semtex

07-18-2005, 12:56 AM

I dont know if anyone has requested this yet, but I was wondering if Will(Webmaster respectively) could implement a hidden text option. Like sometimes when you spend SO many LONG hours trying to think of a unique and intresting way to present your TOTW subject and you post it days earlier...only to find out that someone the coicidencaly has the exact same approach as you do. So maybe to avoid this, he can make an option which hides a good amount of your text. You can choose how much and whether or not your text is viewable to the public. I dunno this is just a random thought, cause I usually dont have much time now and days, what with studying, working, working out, and trying to keep everything in check. Anyways good luck everyone, and I will probably submit my entry hours before deadline.

OneBetter

07-18-2005, 01:05 AM

Yea I agree Cs, if there was any way to do that it would be great. Maybe, a more simple solution would be not to let people post until the last day, or within a certain time frame? Although, that would obviously present problems to people on a tight schedule, who wrote an entire article only to find out they missed the deadline..

ravadongon

07-18-2005, 01:22 AM

TheMind

07-18-2005, 06:56 AM

Or you could just not post until Wednesdays? I personally just post as soon as I'm finished, although I have a bad habbit of not starting until about noon on Wednesday, even though my "bedtime" is about 2-3PM, lol.

Something else to keep in mind is that the response are most likely read in chronological order of time posted...If someone reads in one of the last posts something great that they read in someone earlier's post, it will not have the same impression as it did the first time, and will be less impressive. Basically, it stands to reason that probably the first posted responses will be given "credit" for coming up with whatever the highpoint was....be it creativity, or a specific example, or something to that effect.

However, I like to be able to read earlier poster's replies. To be honest, I have not once actually READ an entire article by anyone before judging(even after I've posted)....They're too long, lol. I might read the articles that place after they've been posted on the TOTW web page, but that's about it. I do, however,(as I'm sure most of you do as well) scan it real quick to get a feel for that week's competition. You can tell just by seeing the length and theformatting usually how good an article is going to be.....It's nice to know your competition before you spend your own time writing something in efforts to win. By sizing up the competition, it keeps this much more reasonable than if you were competing against a "ghost" article. Every person would be trying to make 100% sure that no one could beat them, and those who take TOTW serious would all be writing 15 page articles, covering every little detail in great depths.....which, frankly, is unnecessary for TOTW.

The best way to accomplish what you're hoping to have, is to have Will set up an account to which everyone could PM their articles, and simply post in the topic that their article was submitted. However, consider how many times we've looked at someone's article and had a nice discussion about it. How many times have you congratulated for writing a very good article....How much encouragement have you recieved by someone that liked your article, and how much have you given? TOTW would lose a lot of personality and take away from the fun of the experience if the submissions were kept private until after judging.

It'd be too impersonal for my liking, at least.

I plan to start writing my article today after getting a shower. Like always, anyone is welcome to copy off me. Copying someone doesn't get one very far in TOTW, everyone has their own style, their own approach, their own information and opinions.....I don't believe Copying has been an issue in TOTW, with the exception of a few plagiarisers(spelled wrong, I know).

There's a couple of my pennies ^

TheMind

07-18-2005, 07:20 AM

I have a question, do the 2nd and 3rd place winners still get a little money? Or is Will getting cheap ;)

The new prize money will be as follows:

1st place - 75 in store credit
2nd place - 50 in store credit
3rd place - 25 in store credit

Sorry for those who came in 2nd and 3rd in the past. Keep up the mack daddy posts and I will raise it even more!

There's the answer, and a question....Lol, c'mon Will, I know I've seen some pretty durned Mack Daddy posts.....And there's always a good handful of competitors with some serious efforts involved....

Feeling Generous? :cool:

4amWorkouts

07-18-2005, 08:03 AM

What supplements are good while on a small budget? What are the best supplements under $20? 100% Whey is a must. After that, I like green tea extract for its' antioxident and metabolism potential, a multi-vitamin and additional C and E for general health and well being, and Thermal Rage for its' energy boost.

How effective are these cheaper supplements compared to the more expensive supplements on the market? I have tried many of the more expensive brands, and have yet to really find one that was worth the extra money compared to a quality lower priced brand. Plus, I tend to use an affordable product more often (maybe 3 times a day), and horde a more expensive one (maybe once a day).

BONUS QUESTION: What brand can someone turn to for good quality supplements at a good price? In my opinion, Higher Power is the best over-all provider of quality affordable products. Scivation/Primaforce is right up there, with providing quality products, but more of it's products break the affordability barrier of $20.

BONUS QUESTION TWO: What is the most expensive supplement out there that works and that you should try if you have some extra cash or win the lottery? I love Avent Labs SesaLean, as well as the line of Syntrax Nectar protien powders. In the not as expensive category, PrimaForce Substance WPIs are great as well.

live4this13

07-18-2005, 03:31 PM

There's the answer, and a question....Lol, c'mon Will, I know I've seen some pretty durned Mack Daddy posts.....And there's always a good handful of competitors with some serious efforts involved....

Feeling Generous? :cool:

be happy your getting what you are. It cost the site a lot to just be open for free, let alone give prizes.

alfredginnings

07-18-2005, 07:46 PM

To start everything off I just want to say please do not let my reputation interfere with the knowledge I wish to share with you today.

The Basic Supplements:
1. Multivitamin
2. Whey protein
3. Essential Fatty Acids
4. Creatine/ CEE
The supplements listed above are the bare essentials when concerning bodybuilding or all around great health. With exception comes the creatine/CEE where I believe that if you choose to use it, you should already have good habits both in the weight room and with your diet.
The most economical and greatest company for the price and quality of product is Higher Power. This is a brand that does not have shiny colorful labels attempting to lure in those new to the sport. Higher Power is just a quality company with quality products at an economical price. Here is a product listing: http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/higherpower.htm
Because the company is owned by bodybuilding.com the lowest prices possible are offered to its customers.
MULTIVITAMIN
A multivitamin is something to promote general health and to close the gaps in our everyday general nutrition. Concerning a multivitamin I believe that you do not need to purchase something like Animal Pak in fact that is just absurd. I purchased a canister long ago and I felt no difference between taking the paks and taking my normal one a day. For a vitamin product I would recommend http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/ns/one.html for this is a great solid product that is sure to do its job and bridge those nutritional gaps and for the price it is absolutely unbeatable.
60 day supply: $6.00
WHEY PROTEIN
Whey protein is an absolute essential in promoting muscle growth and preventing the breakdown of muscle fibers. Whey protein is essential to bodybuilders as well as those hoping to achieve greater health in general. To many taste is a huge issue in choosing a protein. I strongly recommend http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/whey.html for it has a great amino acid profile and thus diminishes the need for an additional amino acid supplement as it also has a great taste and can be mixed with milk, a banana, flax oil and countless other common household goods to create a delicious and extremely nutritious never mind extremely cost effective weight gainer/ post workout shake.
67 servings: $19.99!!!
ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
Essential fatty acids play a great role in overall health. The benefits of supplementing with essential fatty acids are countless from better skin texture and better looking hair to energy production. Essential Fatty acids can be mixed right into your protein shakes if in liquid forms and if you like to be efficient and have a busy lifestyle than I would recommend softgels. With softgels you have no fuss with measuring certain dosages and there is no taste. A great and reputable brand of EFA softgels would be http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/omega.html. If you are a liquid person and don’t mind spending a little more money I would recommend http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sun/efa.html.
The softgels: 100 pills for $6.00
Liquid: 16 doses $12.00
CREATINE
Creatine is a great product for someone for someone who is committed to improving themselves and provides a great number of benefits from increased muscle fullness to the boosting of the ATP energy system of the ability to sprint full out longer and faster. When taking creatine be sure to take plenty of water. Now, when referring to creatine there are the two main types: MONO and CEE. CEE is much better absorbed and much more efficient and due to this I would recommend a CEE product. A great CEE product is http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/ester.html but from what I have heard this has the taste of car battery acid. If total quality and cost effectiveness is important to you and taste is almost irrelevant than this the CEE for you! If taste matters and you would prefer the CEE in pill form you will need to spend a few more dollars but here is the product for you http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/axis/cee.html. I recommend the higher power CEE because taste is not really an issue to me and it is much cheaper.
Powder: 200 servings $22.00
Pills: 40 days $29.00

Extras

Extras is where I tend to splurge in my spending quite often. If you are looking for anything in particular for a great price I recommend you try to find the product from one of the two links below for they are of great quality and of great price. Both of these links offer great ZMA products at a great price.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/higherpower.htm
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/now.htm

If I had a million dollars?

If I had a million dollars I would begin mega dosing the BCAA product Xtend http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sv/xtend.html I tried mega dosing for about a week or more and that was one of the best weeks of my LIFE! I was never sore! I was full of energy and felt great! The effects of the Citrulline Malate had not even kicked in and I felt amazing! If I had more money I would definitely continue to mega dose Xtend.

Do you really get what you pay for?

I believe the answer to this question is both yes and no. When dealing with raw products like pure Whey protein I think that they are all almost the same and the only real difference is the Amino Acid profile. When talking about pre workout supplements like No-Xplode I believe that it is more cost effective in getting you mentally focused compared to an L-Arginine stack which provides no mental focus but when consumed in appropriate doses, blows the No-Xplode away in terms of pumps. When you pay for a supplement like No-Xplode you are really paying for BSN’s marketing and a blend of specific ordinary ingredients in specific calculated quantities. This makes much more sense when talking about animal paks compared to men’s Centrum silver. Men’s Centrum silver is good but animal paks are much more expensive because they just contain more stuff which does actually help you. Animal Paks contain digestive enzymes and amino acids in pretty decent quantities that will make you better but you could buy gel caps of each ingredient in animal paks and It would be much cheaper over the long run. So when Talking about a compound supplement like Animal paks you cant really compare it to a multi like Centrum silver which is something completely elementary compared the lengthy list of ingredients in Animal Paks.
I hope this last paragraph made sense because I contemplated removing it due to how hard I felt it was to interpret.
Basically when paying top dollar for a supplement that contains basic elementary ingredients you are being ripped off such is the case with Muscle-Tech CELL TECH which you can easily make at home mixing dextrose with Creatine mono. For a link on how to do this with specific measurements and directions http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/creatine/muscletech-cell-tech-homemade.htm
When buying a supplement you should make your decisions on the ingredients within and if you truly need that not if the label looks cool and Sylvester Stallone says it will make you a champ.
For a homemade pump product cheaper than NITRIX by an arm and a leg just take 10-15 grams of L-Arginine throughout the day and eat a good amount of complex carbs which will naturally stimulate No2 production. In about 15 days you will feel the effects of the Arginine and the pump will be insane!
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/larg.html This is a great Arginine product.
If you have any questions about homemade gainer shake please feel free to PM me with additional questions. If I missed anything please also feel free to PM me.

Truly,
Alfred Ginnings

sword chucks

07-18-2005, 08:03 PM

be happy your getting what you are. It cost the site a lot to just be open for free, let alone give prizes.

I think if he makes it any better it would be like this:

1st- 100 dollars
2nd- 90 dollars
3rd- 80 dollars
4th- 70 dollars
5th- 60 dollars
6th- 50 dollar
7th- 40 dollars
8th- 30 dollar
9th- 20 dollars
10th- 10 dollars

and there can be ties between up to 3 people as well.

Im not hating the idea actually... hmm..

Semtex

07-18-2005, 08:06 PM

I think if he makes it any better it would be like this:

1st- 100 dollars
2nd- 90 dollars
3rd- 80 dollars
4th- 70 dollars
5th- 60 dollars
6th- 50 dollar
7th- 40 dollars
8th- 30 dollar
9th- 20 dollars
10th- 10 dollars

and there can be ties between up to 3 people as well.

Im not hating the idea actually... hmm..

Guys I think the whole concept of the idea is to reward people who write good articles, to benefit the site and help spread information. Lets just keep it at that and not milk anymore money from bb.com. They have done well over what they should have done in the first place. Just be grateful for what you get :).

TheMind

07-18-2005, 08:53 PM

Guys I think the whole concept of the idea is to reward people who write good articles, to benefit the site and help spread information. Lets just keep it at that and not milk anymore money from bb.com. They have done well over what they should have done in the first place. Just be grateful for what you get :).

Lol, you guys misunderstand me....

I was NOT complaining, lol. I just had found that little bit when getting the answer about 2nd & 3rd and brought it up jokingly. Sure, if it happened that'd be great, but I was not attempting to say that it was necessary.

Hence the :cool:, lol

hepennypacker52

07-18-2005, 09:07 PM

sword chucks

07-18-2005, 09:09 PM

we were all kidding

Semtex

07-18-2005, 09:24 PM

No no no, you have it all wrong.

1st-5th place - $500
5th-15th place - $250
15th - 30th place - $650

1st place - CEO of bodybulding.com
2nd place - Whole warehouse of supplements?

...Thread hijacked. Lets shut up and for now.

altruistic

07-19-2005, 01:46 PM

Easy question. Simple answer.

Kre-Alkalyn by Sci-Fit
Whey Protein(5lbs) by Higher Power
ADAM by NOW nutrition- a multivitamin
Flaxseed Oil by Health From the Sun

All are necessary and cheap for building muscle. All are quality supplements which will last a while if dosages are followed properly.

sword chucks

07-19-2005, 06:21 PM

Looks like everyone from last week is saving their article to the last minute :O

STUD

07-19-2005, 06:47 PM

I wrote like 80% of it the first day, but I just haven't had a chance to write that last section yet.

mivi320

07-19-2005, 08:59 PM

Looks like everyone from last week is saving their article to the last minute :O

lol yeah :D

I've been taking my sweet time with this one trying to perfect it :D :)

live4this13

07-19-2005, 09:09 PM

lol yeah :D

I've been taking my sweet time with this one trying to perfect it :D :)

hmmm i was thinking about writing something since noone else had but I dunno if I will. I havent wrote in 3 or 4 weeks.

bigcalves

07-19-2005, 11:34 PM

What Are The Best Supplements While On A Budget?

In today's world everyone is looking to be above the edge. Everyone is trying to be the best at what they do and are looking for ways to get on top. Supplementation has been common pracice sine thousands of years ago by people throughout the world. They used herbs and spices to cure diseases and special plants to give enegy and heal you up. Sure no one was looking to be the best bodybuilder and have the biggest muscles, but they all knew the imporatance and benefit of supplementing. Even hunters in Africa used herbs to lower their appetite during hunting expeditions. So even though you won't find anyone hunting today, you would find people trying to use the same herb for a different purpose, but it's still a helpful supplement. You can find this supplement, Hoodia, in the bodybuilding.com store. Although diet, training and rest are key, supplements can play an important role in bulking. They will give you the extra boost you need. By taking supplements you can increase your gains. Not anything dramatic, but still it's well worth it to invest in supplements. They can give you a extra boost when you need it in the weightroom or shorten your recovery time. No matter what, i strongly suggest supplements, and the best place to get them for an affordable price and excellent quality is Bodybuilding.com's store. There you will find everything you need, filled with tons of articles and places that can give you a very close look in the world of supplements. Although famous, these few supplements are very effective and not that expensive.

Supplements don't come cheap. So unless you make tons of money and have money to throw away you should always do research and finish your 'homework' on your supplements use. Remember that supplements don't make the man but hard work and rest. With supplements you can get a super boost that will help you in reaching your goals so overlooking them will be as foolish as solely relying on them. So stay smart and use them for what they are ment to be, extra help in your nutrition. In these days, there are tons of supplements on the maket. Also there's many choices that people can make, such as companies and stores. In this article I will further discuss these factors that will help you save money and get the bang for your buck. Remember that if it's too good to be true, it probably is not. I promise to go into supplements to the best of my ability and provide you with the basic and most needed supplements for a tight budget. Budgeting is important and since you are buying extra stuff I would recommend following my advise since at one time, I was in the same situation with only 50-100 dollars per month for supplements.

Best Supplements On Budget ($100)

PROTEIN POWDER

Let's face it, you need protein. If you are serious about training and are taking 300+ grams per day it will get hard to get all your protein. You need fast absorbtion after a workout and protein powder especially whey will help you. It will go into your body very fast and it will be ready for absorbtion and it will feed your muscles. Also when you wake up in the morning, since your body is hungry you can always have a scoop or two to absorb it faster and get your body started on the right track. Also throughout the day, when you are busy, you can always sip on a protein shake and meet your diet requirements. Also ever wonder what to eat before bed? Well, casien protein is the best, because it is slow digesting and it will help keep your muscles all night when you sleep. Catabolism is a nightmare word for all bodybuilders and with casien protein you can avoid that and keep what you've worked for. Since it's very important, it cannot be overlooked. Always remember that you need protein. Bodybuilding.com has the best price online and you can get a 5lb tub for around $25. Good price, great product, and also very essential.

- Easy to drink
- Fast absorbtion
- Slow absorbtion before bed (casien protein)
- Easy to mix
- Not that expensive

CREATINE

Creatine is a great supplement. It is very popular and very misunderstood. Most moms won't let their teenage son touch creatine, even though it's all natural, not harmful and beneficial. It is found in food, so unless your mom forbids you to eat steak and tuna, then you're ok. Extra creatine supplementation will help the APT energy levels. Those are responsible for muscle contraction. Extra creatine means more energy and higher endurance for short, intense moves. Would you read that again? That sounds like it can help in lifting. Well, duh. Creatine is the most famous supplement in the world except for protein. It all started in the early 90s and everyone from the local jock to Olympians have used it. It is harmless, beneficial and to some lifters, essential. Never overlook creatine, and always make a place for it on your small supplement budget. You can get it for around $15 on bodybuilding.com

- Imporved ATP enegry
- Higher endurance
- Stronger muscles
- Not expensive
- Harmless/Natural

L-GLUTAMINE

Glutamine is a very good supplement. Sure most people say they don't 'feel it'. Well I would say that might be true, but it doesn't mean that it's not working. Glutamine helps with recovery and it promotes posive nitrogen balance. So if you are always sore and feel bad, glutamine will help. It is all natural and found in vegetables, especially brocoli. Even though it's found in veggies, it's not in big amount and supplementing would be the wisest choice. Glutamine is not really expensive, but not really cheap either. I would recommend it to every lifter, from begginer to advanced since it helps you recover and we all need that. You can get a month's supply for around $15-20 on bodybuilding.com's store. Make sure that this is in your basic list of supplements on your budget.

- Promotes positive nitrogen cycle
- Helps you recover
- Helps people that suffer from overtraining
- Makes you feel better before workouts
- Not expensive, budget friendly supplement.

Multi-Vitamin

Vitamins are essential to all people. Imagine how needed they are to us. We lift weights, run and put our bodies on stress. So we NEED vitamins and in higher level than most people. I always take two or three pills of the one a day normal vitamins. So far it's treating me good and I haven't been seriously sick in 3+ years. Always make sure you eat your veggies and other vitamin rich foods but you can't always make it. Make sure to buy vitamins because you need them. A good multi-vitamin is needed and you can find those for under $5 on bodybuilding.com, best prices ever.

- Cheap
- Essential
- Helpful
- They maintain your body
- Fits in on every budget.

CONTINUED...

bigcalves

07-19-2005, 11:36 PM

CONTINUED

What are the best supplements under $20?

Sure you can't budget on $20 dollars, but if you have an extra $20 you can always benefit from some extra, not so essential supplements. These are not miracle makers, so remember to have your nutrition in check, a good routine and always remember to have all the rest you need to be able to recover, rebuild and go at it again. I will list the top 3 supplements under $20 that will greatly benefit you and give you the best results added to your 'supplemental boost'. Remember that I give my honest opinion and that i'll always try and post the best. As always you can find the best supplements on bodybuilding.com/store at the best prices. And now here are the top 3 supplements under $20.

Tribulus
This is a herb. Mostly grown in Bulgaria and Eastern Europe. It is commonly used to treat infertility and to increase natural testosterone. I've tried it and I serioulsy notice great results at around 1000-2000mg per day. I take it at one dose around 30 minutes before working out and it's helping me with increased testosterone and higher lifting energy. Also your sexual desire increases and if you have problems in those areas, it can certainly help you out. It is around $10 for a month's supply and it's a great supplement.

Garlic
Not everyone can eat gralic everyday, and it's not too friendly to your breath. Remember that you can always eat garlic, but it's better to take the pill form. It's fast and more convinient. One month's supply is around $5 making it a good supplement. It increases natural testosterone, and also it helps your cardio vascular system and it also lowers cholesterol. Wow, all that for $5 per months. Mother nature is great, and garlic is one supplement/herb that is very helpful.

Fish Oils
Yes, fat is good. People always hear about the 'good fat' and are wondering what that is. Well this is it. The Omega fatty acids are the good fats. Found in olive oil, nuts and fish they are very healthy and help with many processes in your body. Since fish is lean, you can't always get that 10-20 grams from it. So that's when fish oils come in. A one month's supple costs around $10-15 and it's really cheap considering the effects it gives. It can increase natural test, give you enegy and help you loose fat. Yes, you need to eat fat to loose fat.

All these supplements are cheaper. Sure the more expensive ones ($70+) make wild claims and have special patents that help do this and that. But natural herbs are usually found under $20 and can help you tremendously. You can always buy the most expensive ones when you get a bonus or something, but when on budget, stick to the basics. They are proven to work, all natural and will help you meet your goals. Sure everyone wants fancy supplements, but oh well, don't sweat it. I would say the these supplements I listed, have the same effects as the more expensive ones. If you are training and eating right with proper nutrition these supplements will help you natural hormone levels and fasten recovery. Those conditions are perfect for growing and progressing so they are very effective.

BONUS QUESTION: What brand can someone turn to for good quality supplements at a good price?

Personally, every brand is the same. If they have the same amount, there is no garantee that the one in the red will be better than the one in the green. Sure some companies have well known athletes representing, and are expensive. But in the end, creatine is creating and whey protein is whey protein. There is nothing magical so don't expect magic from expensive supplements. Most time all the advetising is what makes it expensive. I usually prefer well known companies such as Higher Power and NOW Nutrition. I never got any problems and all of their supplements are at a very good price with perfect quality. BodyBuilding.com has those two companies with information about them and all their products at the best prices so you can be sure that you won't get ripped off if you shop online from us.

BONUS QUESTION TWO: What is the most expensive supplement out there that works and that you should try if you have some extra cash or win the lottery

Xyience NOX-CG3 http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/xy/noxcg.html

It is the best supplement I've ever tried. It gave me the best pumps and workout endurance that I can imagine. It contains 3 types of creatine, it has Arginine that give you the pumps and increased veins. Also it's petented delivery system was greatly recieved by my body and I felt really good while taking it. As you can see it's $75 and you can tell that is not very budget friendly. But if you ever have some extra cash, try it, you won't be sorry.

So far all the supplements I listed, would be able to be bought on a budget of $100 per month.

-Whey 25
-Creatine 15
-Glutamine 15
-Multi 5
-Tribulus 10
-Garlic 5
-Fish Oils 15

That sums it all up to $80 with 20 to spare. To me, those are the essentials. So you can live it up with $80 per month and save that extra 20 and buy the Nitrix product once every 3-4 months. Remember to always have a budget and do the math in your head, that way you will be successful not only in supplements but also in real life. That way you can save up for that bottle of NO2 or that new car. I hope I helped you budget your money in this article.

Good Luck!

ravadongon

07-20-2005, 03:37 AM

WEEK THIRTY-THREE :: What Are The Best Supplements While On A Budget?

By Ravadongon

OK. So you’re tight for money. You want to be able to use supplements, but then you hear all this talk about how they’re SO expensive and only few can afford. But there’s good news for you low income earners, you CAN afford supplements if you spend you allocate and spend your money wisely on the right products that will assist you in achieving your goal.

What supplements are good while on a small budget? What are the best supplements under $20?

It must be made clear before discussing supplements, that supplements aren’t miracle pills. They will only work effectively when combined with a well planned training and diet regime. So before jumping into the supplement market, insure all other aspects of your fitness lifestyle are right, otherwise you are wasting your money.

Here is my view of the best type and brands of supplements for those on a budget to seek for, in relation to your goals:

Basic Supplements

These are the supplements I believe are a must if you are even going to consider taking supplements. Before you even consider looking at any other supplements make sure you have these.

Multi-vitamin/Multi-mineral - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/multi.html

Multi-vitamin/Multi-mineral products are undoubtedly the single most important supplement of all. Vitamins and minerals are important for thousands of bodily functions, as well as for general health and wellbeing. Although our diets do provide us with some vitamins and minerals, it is very difficult for a diet to provide you with all the needed vitamins and minerals, so it is important to supplement them.

Best Value Multi-vitamin/Multi-mineral products: Nature’s Science One-A-Day , Enzymatic Therapy Body Rewards Daily Multiple, Higher Power One-A-Day

Best Value Multivitamin products under $20: Nature’s Science One-A-Day , Enzymatic Therapy Body Rewards Daily Multiple, Higher Power One-A-Day

Monthly Cost: ~$2.60

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/efa.html

Essential fats are important for everyone to consume because they cannot be synthesized by the body. The essential fatty acids are alpha linolenic acid (omega-3) and linoleic acid (omega-6). Their benefits are enormous and range from helping us produce energy and relieving sicknesses to strengthening the immune system, preventing injuries through joint lubrication and improving our mental functioning. Flax seed oil is by far the cheapest EFA supplement you can get.

Best Value Essential Fatty Acid products: Optimum Flaxseed Oil Softgels, Ultimate Nutrition Flax Seed Oil, NOW Omega 3-6-9

Best Value Essential Fatty Acid products under $20: Optimum Flaxseed Oil Softgels, Ultimate Nutrition Flax Seed Oil, NOW Omega 3-6-9

Monthly Cost: ~$1.10-4.40 (depending on serving size)

Whey Protein - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/whey.html

Protein is the building blocks of muscle. Protein constructs and repairs our muscle fibres allowing them to recuperate and consequently grow. Supplementing protein through protein powders is an easy, quick and convenient way for anyone to get their protein requirements in for the day. The great thing about whey protein above all other types of proteins is you can take it as a fast digesting protein (with water) which is great for post workout and when you get up in the morning or as a medium-slow digesting protein (with milk) which is ideal before bed (with some healthy fats to slow down the digestion process even further) and during the day.

Best Value Whey Protein products: Bioplex 100% Whey Protein (22lbs), Higher Power 100% Whey Power (5lbs), Cytosport Complete Whey (5lbs)

Best Value Whey Protein products under $20: Higher Power 100% Whey Power (5lbs), CytoSport Complete Whey (2.2lbs), Next Designer Protein (12oz and 2lbs)

Monthly Cost: ~$7.80–15.60 (depends on how many servings size/frequency)

Gain Muscle

These are supplements I believe will help you in achieving the goal of gaining muscle. These supplements are optional, as some may struggle to afford, however highly recommended to those who are able to afford.

Creatine - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/creatine.html

Creatine monohydrate increases the amount of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) that is stored in muscles. ATP is a form of energy that is stored between the 2nd and 3rd phosphate groups that is drawn upon by the body during the process of cellular respiration (the conversion of glucose, amino acids and fatty acids to energy) to provide energy for the demands of contracting muscles during exercise. If we have more energy, we will be able to lift more weight (increase resistance) or lift the weight for more repetitions (increase repetitions), these are two ways in which we can create progressive overload, one of the key factors affecting muscle growth. Creatine also comes as Kre-Alkalyn and CEE (Creatine Ethyl Ester) both buffered forms of creatine to improve its absorption. Weirdly enough bulk CEE and Kre-Alkalyn, can be just as cheap as plain Creatine Monohydrate, if not cheaper, however in smaller samples it is clearly more expensive… (see below)

Best Value Creatine Monohydrate products: Higher Power Micronized Creatine, Primaforce CreaForm, Optimum Creatine Powder

Best Value Creatine Monohydrate products under $20: MRM Creatine Monohydrate, Ultimate Nutrition Creapure, NOW Creatine Monohydrate

Monthly Cost: ~$6.00

Best Value Creatine Ethyl Ester product: Higher Power Creatine Ethyl Ester

Best Value Creatine Ethyl Ester products under $20: None under $20. Higher Power Creatine Ethyl Ester (500g) is the cheapest @ $21.95

Monthly Cost: ~$6.00

Best Value Kre-Alkalyn products: SciFit Kre-Alkalyn, Higher Power Pure Kre-Alkalyn

Best Value Kre-Alkalyn products under $20: SciFit Kre-Alkalyn Powder (100g), SciFit Kre-Alkalyn 1500 (120 capsules)

Monthly Cost: ~$4.20 (depends on how many servings size/frequency)

ZMA - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/zma.html

ZMA is an anabolic natural combination of minerals, Zinc Monomethionine Aspartate, Magnesium Aspartate and vitamin B-6. It has been proven in numerous studies to significantly increase testosterone and other anabolic hormone levels and strength.

Best Value ZMA products: PrimaForce ZMA, NOW ZMA, Higher Power ZMA

Best Value ZMA products under $20: PrimaForce ZMA (180 capsules), NOW ZMA (90 capsules), Optimum ZMA (90 capsules)

Monthly Cost: ~$8.90

Amino Acids (BCAAs) - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/bcaa.html

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Supplements such as BCAAs (Branch Chained Amino Acids) are composed of a useful combination of amino acids for our bodies. They aid in the repair, growth, and development of muscle tissue, prevent catabolism as well as in other areas such as concentration and normalizing moods.

Best Value Amino Acid products: Higher Power BCAA 1000, SciFit BCAA Powder 5000, Optimum BCAA 5000 Powder

Best Value Amino Acid products under $20: Higher Power BCAA 1000, SciFit BCAA Powder 5000, Eclipse 2000 Deluxe BCAA

Monthly Cost: ~$6.00-27.60 (depending on serving size/frequency)

Lose Fat

These are supplements that I believe will be of great assistance to you in achieving the goal of losing fat. However they are open to whether you can afford to purchase them. If you can then I would definitely encourage you to look into purchasing them

ECY Stack

ECY is short for ephedrine HCL, yohimbine HCL and caffeine. This stack has been proven to give great results in fat loss to many. It boosts your metabolism and also decreases your cravings for food during the day, as well as giving your energy a boost. It’s also extremely cheap compared to buying other fat loss products and safe if used correctly.

Ingredients:Mega-Pro Vasopro-Ephedrine HCL, Higher Power Caffeine, Higher Power Yohimbe HCl

Monthly Cost: ~$15.00 (assuming you take 2 servings per day)

Green Tea Extract - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/green.html

Green tea is renowned for carrying many polyphenolic antioxidants (aid in the prevention or neutralization of the negative effects of free radicals). It prevents and lessens the effects of numerous diseases, increases your life span and aids in the process of fat loss.

Best Value Green Tea products: Higher Power Green Tea, NOW EGCg, PrimaForce Lean Green

Best Value Green Tea products under $20: Higher Power Green Tea, NOW EGCg, PrimaForce Lean Green

Monthly Cost: $2.10-6.30 (depending on serving size/frequency)

So there you have it. Basic supplements are supplements that I believe are musts if you are considering buying supplements. Other supplements such as those under the headings, gain muscle and lose fat are supplements I believe are of great assistance in achieving those particular goals, but are open to the amount of money you have available to spend on supplements. Keep in mind that with the best value supplements under $20, some may not be as cheap in the long run as other products that may be over $20.

ravadongon

07-20-2005, 03:41 AM

CONTINUED...

How effective are these cheaper supplements compared to the more expensive supplements on the market?

People often associate price with quality. This can be true some of the time, sure, but a lot of the time it isn’t necessarily true. For your basic supplements like multivitamins, whey protein, BCAAs, green tea extract, EFAs and some others, prices may vary quite a lot with products but essentially they all give you similar results. The reason for an increase in price can sometimes be due to extra ingredients being added to enhance the formula, or a slightly better quality or purity of ingredients being used. This is fine with your basic supplements, but it matters more with the more specialized supplements.

A clear example of this is with creatine, creatine ethyl ester and kre-alkalyn will reduce the ‘creatine bloat’ experienced when using plain creatine monohydrate and will increase absorption, however it basically achieves the same thing as plaincreatine monohydrate (increased ATP production) only in a slightly more efficient manor, but with EFAs whether you are using one product or another, as long as you get in you’re the same amount of omega-6 and omega-3 then you will get the same results.

But don’t be fooled into thinking the more expensive brands are always the best, because this is not always true, as some do not have good reputations amongst the fitness world, so it is important to see what other people think before spending money on an expensive product only to find out it doesn’t work. The forums are very useful because of this and if you use them properly then you can save a lot of money that could have been wasted on crappy supplements.

So basically if you are still unsure, for your basic supplements the cheaper brands can work just as well as the more expensive brands, however with more specialized supplements the more expensive brands tend to win out more clearly due to their superior quality. However price does not represent quality, so it is important to seek others opinions on products before jumping into purchasing them.

Tight Budget Supplement Tip

Here are some quick tips on how tips on how you should go about purchasing supplements on a tight budget:

1. Decide what type of supplements you are going to buy. e.g. whey protein and creatine
2. Find out prices for different brands of the product(s)
3. Compare prices, this can be done by:
- finding how many servings the product contains
- how long it will last you (servings/servings per day)
- price per day (cost of product/how long it lasts)
4. Find out if the product(s) works from the forum members (search in the product review section of the forums and if there are no reviews then ask a question in the forum, as some may have tried but have not written reviews)
5. Make your decision (buy or look for an alternative).

NOTE: Buy in bulk. Buying in bulk ends up being a lot cheaper for you in the long run. All though the initial cost will be big you must consider the fact that ‘bulk buying’ will last you for much longer, also buying larger quantities of products always works out to be cheaper then buying smaller quantities, add to that the shipping costs won’t hit you as regularly and it’s a lot more convenient.

Here’s an example of a likely situation for you:

I am considering whether to buy product X ($25, 40 servings, 1 serving three times per day), or product Y ($30, 60 servings, 1 serving twice per day) Both products contain the same basic ingredients, in the same proportions relative to their servings, and both have been proven to work in the same way.

T = how long it will last you (days)
$C/T = cost per time (days/months)

Product X

T = 40/3
= 13 days

$C/T = 25/13
= $1.92 per day
= $57.60

Product Y

T = 60/2
= 20 days

$C/T = 30/20
= $1.50 per day
= $45.00 per month

So even though product X is more expensive then product Y, product Y is better value for money then product X

BONUS QUESTION: What brand can someone turn to for good quality supplements at a good price?

I never purchase all my products from the same brand, but when I’m on a budget I tend to look for supplements from the following brand names, as I am assured of their quality, even for the low prices the products are sold for:

PrimaForce - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/prima/prima.htm

One of the top companies going around in the supplement market that offer high quality products with pharmaceutical-grade, tested ingredients at very affordable prices to all customers. A company that doesn’t sacrifice price for quality. If that’s not enough bodybuilding.com’s own Derek Charlebois, swears by PrimaForce and their compatriot, Scivation’s products.

Higher Power - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/higherpower.htm

OK sure, Higher Power did have some problems with the purity of their CEE, but it’s been fixed, and Higher Power have put these troubles behind them to continue to provide us with cheap, effective supplements and have a large range that can serve all of your goals, and this is reflected in their brand name being only behind Optimum Nutrition in the best selling category. All their products, especially their bulk CEE (best selling CEE and 26th overall) and 5lb Whey Protein (2nd best selling whey protein and 7th best selling product overall) are amongst the cheapest per serving available on the supplement market.

Optimum Nutrition - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/opt.htm

Trustworthy company with a wide range of products. Optimum’s reliability is clearly shown by the fact that they hold number 1 spot as bodybuilding.com’s top selling brand this month, with their whey protein currently being the most popular product at the store. There tribulus and ZMA are also very popular, both being in the top 20 as well as well as their casein powder and BCCA caps which make the top 50.

NOW - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/now.htm

NOW offer a massive range, in fact, the biggest range available on bodybuilding.com (324 products), for very low prices, perfect for those on tight budgets. They are also a very popular company with bodybuilding.com’s customer’s ranking 4th in this months top selling brands after picking up 3rd last week.

Twin Lab - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/tl/twin.htm

Another solid company with cheap products. They are ranked as bodybuilding.com’s 17th best selling company, and have plenty of good products. Their amino fuel is their best selling supplement, renowned for being a sound BCAA product.

Ultimate Nutrition - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/un/ultimate.htm

Ultimate Nutrition are another company that have proved themselves to offer good quality supplements for affordable prices. Their CLA is their second best selling supplement and the best selling CLA product at bodybuilding.com and their tribulus and amino 2000 are also quite popular.

ravadongon

07-20-2005, 03:43 AM

CONTINUED...

BONUS QUESTION TWO: What is the most expensive supplement out there that works and that you should try if you have some extra cash or win the lottery?

I don’t know about the most expensive supplement out there, but these are definitely companies that despite their expensive range of products continue to be popular at bodybuilding.com. Their supplements have been proven to work, so if you have a bit extra to spare give these companies products a shot:

Avant Labs - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/al/avant.htm

Avant Labs offer some of the most innovative fat loss products on the market, such as Sesathin, Ab-Solved and Lipoderm. Only problem is they’re not cheap. If you have some extra money to spare and you are looking for some effective fat loss supplements look no further than Avant Labs range. Layne Norton, another one of bodybuilding.com’s chief article writer’s endorses and uses Avant Labs products.

My Choice: Avant Labs Sesathin

Monthly Cost: ~$34.80

Xtreme Formulations - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/xf/xtreme.htm

Xtreme Formulations have some great amino acid and protein products that will offer excellent results again unfortunately at a ‘price’. Some of these products include ultra peptide (a slow release protein perfect before bed), ICE (a BCAA product with other helpful ingredients) and Relentless (an innovative post workout drink with a blend of ingredients designed to maximize anabolic hormone levels).

My Choice: Xtreme Formulations Ultra Peptide

Monthly Cost: ~$25.85

Scivation - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sv/sv.htm

Another company with powerful and effective supplements, which again will shrink your wallet if you’re short for cash. Scivation offer a solid BCAA with other helpful ingredients, Xtend, as well as a powerful formula to increase alertness and energy, Neurostim. Their merger PrimaForce, however offer a different range of products, that customers will find much more affordable, but still with the same quality. As I said earlier these companies products are highly recommended by one of bodybuilding.com’s major article writer, Derek Charlebois, so if you aren’t convinced now, after you see and read about Derek you probably will be!

My Choice: Scivation Neurostim

Monthly Cost: ~$34.50

There are many products that I haven’t mention that are also on the expensive side, but have clearly been proven to work, such as Universal Animal Pak, a multivitamin/multimineral with a difference, and fat burners such as Nutrex Lipo 6 and Man Scorch.

Conclusion

Never rush into buying anything, tight budget or loose budget. Spend your money carefully on supplements that have been proven to work and those that suit your goals. Remember supplements aren’t miracle pills, they will only work effectively with a well structured training and diet regime, so insure that is right before even considering supplements.

ravadongon

07-20-2005, 03:50 AM

Word Document.

TRICK D

07-20-2005, 09:23 AM

Lifting on the budget, the set backs of not being rich.

Everyday we look on television and see models, actors, professional athletes, and bodybuilders that we want to look like everyday. The problem is, we can't afford personal trainers, high priced supplements, and the food they eat. So what should you do? The key thing is to evaluate your diet, cut out expensive unhealthy food, and to choose a goal. There are many supplements that are inexpensive that can help you achieve a fitness goal.

Fitness Goals:
Everyone should evaluate their fitness goals so they know what they need and what they don't.

Type A: I want to add muscle
Type B: I want to lose weight
Type C: I want to increase my libido and raise natural testosterone levels (typically an over 40-year-old male)

What supplements are good while on a small budget? What are the best supplements under $20?

No matter what type of person you are, one thing everyone needs is protein and a multivitamin. I will talk about protein in the Type A persons. A very good multivitamin out right now is Animal Pak by Universal. You can get a 15-day supply at bodybuilding.com for less than 11 dollars. You can find it here http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/univ/animalpak.html. Animal Pak is a multivitamin for serious lifters who want serious results.

If you are a Type A person that wants to gain muscle the following supplements can be of an advantage to you:

Whey Protein: The bodybuilders source of life. Protein is the single most important supplement for lifters. Protein is a food source and helps your body get amino acids that help build and repair muscle tissues in your body. Without it there would be no growth. Whey protein is the most popular protein available today and is a milk protein. It is loaded with muscle packing amino acids. A great protein deal right now is Higher Powers 5 pound container for $19.99.If you take 1 serving a day of Higher Power’s whey protein, get this, you will be basically drinking it for less than 30 cents a day. http://bodybuilding.com/store/hp/whey.html

Creatine: Creatine is probably the most popular product to arrive on the market. It became popular in the 1990's and still is very popular today. Creatine has many different forms and upwards of 90% of users finds it effective. Bodybuilding.com has this to say about Creatine:
So, what is creatine? Our bodies naturally make the compound, which is used to supply energy to our muscles. It is produced in the liver, pancreas, and kidneys, and is transported to the body's muscles through the bloodstream. Once it reaches the muscles, it is converted into phosphocreatine (creatine phosphate). This high-powered metabolite is used to regenerate the muscles' ultimate energy source, ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
Creatine is the foremost used supplement for packing on the muscle in today's world. The great thing about it is that over the years it has become very affordable. Bodybuilding.com and Higher Power sells a kilo, yes a kilo of micronized creatine for $19.99 http://bodybuilding.com/store/hp/creatine.html. If you were taking 5 grams of this Creatine a day, it would only cost you 10 cents a day.

Glutamine: Ever lifted so hard that the next day you can barely move? This could be because your body couldn't make enough glutamine to help heal all your aching muscles. So what do you do? How about supplementing with glutamine. Glutamine is an amino acid. To some they consider Glutamine a "conditionally essential amino acid" because at hard times your body cannot make enough glutamine and you need to supplement your body to keep it running efficiently. Glutamine can be expensive but bodybuilding.com has several affordable options. NOW, a supplement company sells glutamine and has had good user reports. You can buy NOW's Glutamine for $18.95 at bodybuilding.com http://bodybuilding.com/store/now/lglutc.html. If a person would take 5 grams of glutamine a day, it would cost them 40 cents a day, and your muscles would thank you.

Arginine Optional in my opinion. Arginine is an amino acid that is popular in most NO products. Arginine expands cells and aids in giving you a bigger “pump” in the gym. When you use products containing arginine you can feel your muscles tighten and your body explode. More blood and nutrients reach your muscle cells when using NO products. NOW sells arginine in a pure form on bodybuilding.com for less than 10 dollars a bottle. I don’t feel that it is essential for a person to take, but it can be quite useful http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/arginine.html.

How much would it cost a Type A person a day to take all three of these wonderful products? Lets do the math Whey protein= 30 cents a day + Creatine = 10 cents a day + Glutamine= 40 cents a day= a total of 80 cents a day or 24 dollars a month!

If you are a Type B person, it would be beneficial for you to take these supplements:

Green Tea Extract: Green tea is a very popular supplement taken for many different reasons. Many believe that Green tea will prevent cancer, works as an anti-inflammatory, and helps aid in weight loss. What more reasons do you need to take this supplement? Green tea is also a healthy source of caffeine that has been known to aid in weight loss too. Bodybuilding.com sells a product called Lean Green by PrimaForce, I have heard very good things about this company and you can find it here http://bodybuilding.com/store/prima/lean.html for 10.79 a bottle. Someone could get by spending only 30 cents a day taking Green Tea Extract with this product.

Caffeine: If you are trying to lose weight, most likely you are busting your ass on the treadmill for hours a week. Wouldn’t be nice to have a supplement that would improve your focus and energy and give you another 15 minutes on the treadmill? Caffeine is an affordable supplement that has been used for hundreds of years. Caffeine is any many products like coffee and tea, but now is used for alertness, provide energy, and aids in weight loss. Caffeine is an ingredient in probably 90% of diet pills. You can save yourself a lot of money by buying pure caffeine from bodybuilding.com and higher power for $4.19 a bottle! You can find it here http://bodybuilding.com/store/hp/caf.html. This product would cost you less than 4 cents a day to take!

Diuretics: At any time during the day, you are carrying excess water. Women for example hold much more water than men. If you are working your butt off in the gym, and still not getting as thin as you want to be it may be because of water. Although diuretics are not the safest, there are many natural diuretics that are safe to use. MHP makes a great diuretic called Xpel that promises results in 12 hours! You can find it here on bodybuilding.com for only $13.99 http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/mhp/xpel.html.
A serving of this product would only cost 70 cents a day. That is a great deal!

A person looking to lose some weight could stack Green Tea and Caffeine and see good results. If someone would do this, it would only cost them around 34 cents a day, or $10.20 a month. It is not recommended to take Xpel with caffeine or green tea, so I would suggest a 20-day cycle of the product. This would only cost you 70 cents a day.

TRICK D

07-20-2005, 09:26 AM

continued...

If you are a Type C person, it would be beneficial for you to take supplements that can increase your low testosterone levels. Once a male gets over the age of 40, natural testosterone levels plummet and it is much harder to get the physique you once had. Some complications that low testosterone levels cause are depression, loss of libido (sex drive), and weight gain. What is a man to do over the age of 40? Well here are some supplements that will help for less than $20.

Tribulus terrestris Tribulus Terrestris is a plant found in Bulgaria. Many people all over the world have been using this plant for many different ailments for many years. It wasn’t until recently that they found that Tribulus increases natural testosterone levels. Tribulus is a very popular product that is found in a lot of sexual enhancers too. What would be better than increasing your testosterone levels and increasing your sex drive? Finding out that this product is actually very affordable! Optimum, a supplement company found on bodybuilding.com, sells a very pure version of Tribulus Terrestris with 40% saponins (the lower % of saponins the weaker the product, 40% is great)! For under $9.00 a bottle, this should be in every man’s medicine cabinet. http://bodybuilding.com/store/opt/trib.html. It would only cost someone 18 cents a day to take this product. I have also heard great things about a product by PrimaForce, Fuze is another supplement containing Tribulus Terrestris and through witness accounts I have heard is one of the best products on the market. You can purchase FUZE at bodybuilding.com for less than $19.00. http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/prima/fuze.html. This product would cost around 63 cents a day.

Tongkat Ali Also known as LongJack, Tongkat Ali has been known to increase libido and increase testosterone levels in males. Many people believe this product is better than Tribulus Terrestris. Many products are available that contain both of these strong substances. MRM makes a great product called Natural V that contains LongJack (Tongkat Ali) and Tribulus Terrestris. What could be better than the two best sexual and natural testosterone boosters in the same product! Maybe the fact you can get this for under $16.00 here on bodybuilding.com. http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/mrm/nat.html. This product would cost a person around 54 cents a day to take.

If you were a Type C person, I would suggest Optimum’s Tribulus Terrestris starting off. If I weren’t getting good results I would try MRM’s Natural V, which is a bit more expensive. Optimum’s product would cost you around $5.40 a month, and MRM’s product would cost you around $16.20 a month.

How effective are these cheaper supplements compared to the more expensive supplements on the market?

This is an easy question. To me, there is little to no need for high priced supplements. 90% of high price supplements are all hype. This means they will not work, or they will not live up to expectation. How do you beat this system? Take the supplements that are tried and true. For the last 10+ years, people have been using Creatine and Whey protein and seeing massive results. Why do you need to experiment with high priced supplements that may or may not work when you can bet your bottom dollar that these can and will work.

Yes there are some products that are worth the extra dollar. One that comes to mine is whey protein isolate. Which is a more pure whey protein without lactose (great for me, I am lactose intolerant). It is more costly than regular whey but some people have to have it. The best buy far in my opinion is Nature’s Best ISOPURE. You can buy a 3-pound tub for under $36.00 on this site. If you do the mathematics, you can compute how much you pay per gram for protein. If you compute how much you pay for Isopure’s protein, you can find that you are paying 3 cents per gram of protein. This is 3 times the price of what you pay per gram of Higher Power’s whey protein (1 cent per gram). Is 3 times the cost worth it for a gram of protein? Depends on your situation, to me, being lactose intolerant, it is.

Another effective product that is a bit more expensive is ErgoPharm’s 6oxo, which has been used by many men to fight estrogen and to increase testosterone levels. The price at bodybuilding.com is $32.89 but to many that is well worth it. It has been proven effective time and time again for post cycle therapy and for men who have low testosterone levels for many different reasons. It is another product that is worth the price. For a 20-day supply it runs about $1.65 a day.

BONUS QUESTION: What brand can someone turn to for good quality supplements at a good price?

There are many great brands to turn too. Some of my personal favorites are:

Higher Power- Huge assortment of supplements for every walk of life. Very very very good prices .
PrimaForce- Newer company with great minds. Very competitive prices
NOW- Very big product line, very good prices.

BONUS QUESTION TWO: What is the most expensive supplement out there that works and that you should try if you have some extra cash or win the lottery?

Products are products to me. Company names mean absolutely nothing to me unless they are proven time and time again. Some companies with positive user feedback are Muscletech, BSN, Omega Sports, ErgoPharm among others. If I was rich, which I am not, I would probably go for the Mass Stack with BSN which consists of Nitrix, No-Explode, and Cellmass. If you go with Bodybuilding.com you get 2 Nitrix bottles, 1 1.81 pounds of No-Explode, 2 bottles of Cellmass, and 1 free bodybuilding.com shaker. The cost is $183.17 and would save you a lot of money buying all of these at once at http://www.bodybuilding.com.

mivi320

07-20-2005, 01:42 PM

What Are The Best Supplements While On A Budget?

Let's face it-money doesn't grow on trees. As bodybuilders, we all know that the costs of food and a gym membership add up quickly. Add some big-ticket supplements into the mix, and things can get expensive. What supplements are the best while on a budget? Read on to find out!

The Essentials

Many supplements on the market are overrated, and don't produce the results that they may claim. However, there are some essential supplements that can aid one in reaching their ultimate goals. Let's take a look at the indispensable supplements on the market that should be incorporated in one's supplement regimen:

Protein Supplements

Protein supplementation is great. Not everyone has the time to cook some chicken breasts or grill up a steak. That's where protein shakes come into play. Protein supplements make things so much easier. When you're on the go and in need of some protein, just add a scoop of protein powder to a shaker cup filled with water or milk, shake away, and drink. It's that easy. Protein supplementation is vital at the post-workout time period also. Think about it. After a brutal workout in the gym, your muscles are just crying for some much needed protein to kickstart the rebuilding process of broken down muscle fibers. Below is a list of the best protein supplements under $20.00.

Optimum 100% Whey Protein

A 2lb. tub of Optimum's 100% Whey Protein will cost you $13.98. That's a great price considering the outstanding amino acid profile, taste, and grams of protein per serving.

Dymatize Supreme Whey Protein

Dymatize's Supreme Whey Protein's 2lb. tub goes for $19.95. This protein powder is low in carbohydrates, tastes unbelievable, and mixes instantly. Can't go wrong with that.

Twinlab AM Protein Fuel

Not everyone has time to prepare egg whites in the morning before work. That's why there is Twinlab's AM Protein Fuel. With a bioavailable blend of whey proteins and a superb amino acid profile, Twinlab's AM Protein Fuel is ideal for a breakfast shake. Twinlab's AM Protein Fuel is available at a price of $15.79 for 1.9lbs.

Multivitamins

Although protein supplements are important for bodybuilders and fitness buffs, multivitamins are also very important. As athletes, performance is key. When the body is deficient in a specific mineral or vitamin, performance suffers. However, by supplementing with a multivitamin, deficiencies are nonexistant. Below are listed the best multivitamin supplements under $20.00.

Higher Power One-A-Day Multivitamin

At a price of $5.99 and 60 capsules per container, Higher Power's One-A-Day Multivitamin is very reasonable. Taking Higher Power's One-A-Day Multivitamin once a day will fight off any possible vitamin and mineral deficiency, and enable the athlete to perform at peak performance.

AST Multi Pro 32X

AST is a well respected supplement company. AST Multi Pro 32X is just as well respected. AST Mult Pro 32X is easy to swallow, contains a plethora of antioxidants, and is designed specifically for bodybuilders and active individuals. At a price of $15.89 for a total of 100 caplets, Multi Pro 32X is affordable and will deliver demanding muscle fibers with important vitamins and minerals required to excel and reach the pinnacle.

Optimum Opti-Men

Not only does Optimum's Opti-Men contain essential vitamins and minerals, but a collection of herbs are also available with this multivitamin. For the price of $17.89 and with 120 tablets per container, Optimum's Opti-Men multivitamin is a great addition to one's supplement plan.

Healty Oils and EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids)

The Total EFA by HFS

HFS's Total EFA is a composed of a combination of organic flax oil, borage oil and evening primrose oil. The folks at HFS also took the extra step to add a special anti-oxidant blend into the mix which maintains freshness. With a fresh taste due to the expeller-pressed oil from high quality seeds, HFS's Total EFA will cost you $12.94 for a 16 Fl. Oz serving or $16.99 for 24 Fl. Oz. A 8 Fl. Oz serving of HFS's Total EFA will cost you $6.89. All three prices well under $20.00!

Health From The Sea's PFO Pure Fish Oil Plus Lipase

Health From The Sea's PFO Pure Fish Oil Plus Lipase is an all natural product, containing a proportional blend of omega-3 EPA and DHA. Lipase is also added to the product, which enables for optimum digestion and absorption of nutrients. At a price of $12.49 for 90 softgels, this product is by far one of the best!

Optimum's Flaxseed Oil Softgels

At the price of $4.39 for 100 softgels, you just can't go wrong. The folks at Optimum use a cold extraction process, which keeps all Omega acids (3,6, and 9) at a peak freshness.

Summary

Above, the essential supplements under $20.00 have been covered. But how do these lower priced supplements stack up against expensive supplements of the like? Easy. With the above supplements that were mentioned, notice the large number of servings per container for the price. You know what that means? More bang for your buck. Most expensive supplements offer the same product with the same ingredients, but don't offer a large number of servings per container. With expensive supplements, you're basically paying for the advertising, the label, and you are paying for the extremely high endorsement cost for the pro bodybuilder or athlete who is pushing it.

The Nonessentials

If you've got some extra cash to spend, then "nonessential" supplements are for you. With the basic supplements covered in the above section and a sound diet and training program, one can easily reach their goals. However, the supplements listed below can also aid one in making progress, but not necessary to incorporate.

Creatine

Some folks don't respond well to creatine. Truth is, creatine is not an essential supplement when on a budget. However, for those who have the extra money and are willing to give creatine a try, below the best creatine products for under $20.00 are listed.

AST Micronized Creatine

Faster absorption rates, no gastric distress or bloating, greater efficiency, and the results that your looking for, AST's Micronized Creatine is a superior product. At the price of $14.60 for 325 grams and 550 grams for $18.49, AST's product is easily affordable and under $20.00.

Dymatize Creatine Monohydrate

Dymatize's Creatine Monohydrate is derived from animal free sources, and is at it's purest state. Increased performance and energy output are just some of the many benefits Dymatize's Creatine Monohydrate has to offer. At the price of $17.99 for a total of 500 grams, Dymatize's Creatine Monohydrate is a superior choice of creatine monohydrate.

EAS Phosphogen

We all know that by supplementing with creatine, the body gains lean body mass (LBM) and strength levels skyrocket. With EAS's Phosphogen, creatine is available at a reasonable price. For a total of $13.49, you can get 500 grams worth of creatine. At a price of $19.99, 1000 grams of creatine is yours!

Weight Gainers

Most people can add muscle mass by eating ample calories and by taking part in a vigorous workout program. If you aren't gaining, then you're not eating enough. Simple as that. However, some folks happen to be "hardgainers." These folks eat, eat, and then eat some more and don't gain an ounce. That's where weight gainers come into play. Although not essential, they do benefit some folks. Let's take a look at the best weight gainers on the market for under $20.00

Prolab N-Large 2

With 600 calories and 52 grams of protein per serving, Prolab N-Large 2 is easily the best weight gainer on the market for under $20.00. Available in chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, Prolab N-Large 2 sells at $17.95 for 3.8lbs!

Cytosport's CytoGainer

With 3g of Creatine, 2g Glutamine, and 54g of protein per serving, Cytosport's CytoGainer is a great bargain. The taste is delicious, and a wide variety of flavors are available. The flavor options include: Banana Creme, Vanilla, Strawberries-N-Cream, Rocky Road, Cookies 'N Creme, Chocolate Mint, and Chocolate Malt. For a total of $19.99, 3.25lbs. of Cytosport's CytoGainer is an incredible deal.

Energy Enhancing Supplements

Although fat burners and energy enhancing supplements are not essentials, they do serve a purpose. If you find that energy levels are at rock bottom prior to workouts, then energy enhancing supplements may be for you. Let's take a look at the best energy enhancing supplements on the market for under $20.00.

Higher Power's Caffeine

Now that ephedrine has been banned, folks who need that extra energy boost don't know where to turn. Higher Power's caffeine is much like ephedrine and generates ATP and improves mental focus. That's just what you want before a workout. At a price of $4.19 for 120 capsules, Higher Power's caffeine is easily affordable.

(continued on next page)

mivi320

07-20-2005, 01:45 PM

D&E's Orange Rush

D&E's Orange Rush contains korean ginseng, orange peel bioflavonoids, green tea extract, guarana, and caffeine, all of which have been proven to enhance energy levels. D&E's Orange Rush also contains vitamins and minerals which will help rev up energy levels also. One pound of Orange Rush is under $20.00, selling at $19.61.

NOW Energy

With ingredients ranging from grean tea extract, ALA, Guarana, and Ginseng, NOW's Energy is one of the best of the best. Not only does NOW Energy have a quality ingredient profile, but the folks at NOW also added a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. With such high levels of B-Vitamins, energy levels are sure to stay elevated! At a price of $8.98 for 90 capsules, NOW's Energy can be yours!

Summary

Although these supplements are not essential, they are under $20.00 and have there advantages. However, the basic supplements (AKA The Essentials) are the way to go when on a budget because they've been proven to work in an effective manner.

What brand can someone turn to for good quality supplements at a good price?

Primaforce-When I hear the word quality, I automatically think of Primaforce. With an incredible line of products, affordable prices, and proven customer satisfaction, Primaforce is truly a great brand to turn to for those looking to purchase quality supplements.

Optimum Nutrition-Another great supplement company who thrives on delivering it's customers with the best supplements. Not only do the folks at Optimum encourage living a healthy lifestyle through proper supplementation, but they also sell for less.

Higher Power-The fine folks at Higher Power want nothing but the best for their customers. With the vast choice of quality supplements they offer, they are easily one of the best supplement companies out there today.

Twin Lab-Twin Lab provides innovative and top of the line products to their customers at the lowest prices. The folks at Twin Lab produce supplements using the finest ingredients on the market, and provide outstanding customer service.

What is the most expensive supplement out there that you should try if you have some extra cash or win the lottery?

Scivation Xtend-Scivation is a solid company with scientifically proven supplements that work. Xtend is chock full of BCAA, Glutamine, B6 Vitamins, and Citrulline Malate. All of these ingredients work in synergy to maximize performance, cut down of fatigue, and increase recovery from intense workouts! For $50.89, 1035 grams of Xtend can be yours!

VPX Micellean-This slow releasing protein powder is purely amazing. The taste, the amino acid profile, and the ingredients are all top notch. This protein powder has a sustained time release, meaning it lasts for 4+ hours keeping you in an anti-catabolic state! For 2lbs. of Micellean for $30.95, say hello to some nice gains with this potent stuff!

Avant Labs Sesathin-The folks at Avant Labs know quality. Everyone I talked with who has used a product by Avant Labs has not been let down. Sesathin is the best fat burner on the supplement market as of now, hands down. With proven results, excellent quality, and a backbone of scientific research, Sesathin by Avant Labs is available at a price of $34.79 for 3.75 Fl. Oz!

Conclusion

For those on a tight budget, purchasing the "essentials" under $20.00 will ensure great gains and bring you closer to reaching your fitness goals. The "nonessential" supplements are not necessary, but if you happen to have some extra cash flow, by all means, go for it! The expensive supplements that were just covered in depth are great if the funds are there. With whichever supplement you plan on purchasing, remember that nothing can supplement dedication and hard work.

Best of luck with all of your goals,
Mike

Dallas68

07-20-2005, 02:45 PM

bobio257

07-20-2005, 06:12 PM

When people enter active lifestyles, in order to get in or maintain a
good physique, it affects their diet. The entire role of supplements
are to put the nutrients into the athlete's body that he or she would
have trouble getting enough of, while maintaining a healthy diet.
Depending on what the person's goals are for his or her diet, depends
on his or her needs for different nutrients. Here are some important
supplements to, at low costs, to help in obtaining those goals.
To Build Muscle:
Whey Protein: Protein has become very competative on today's
supplement market. There's Whey, Egg, Cassein, Soy, and combinations
of them. All of them provide the full spectrum of of amino acids, thus
all are complete sources of protein to include in your everyday diet.
My protein preference is Whey protein. Not only can it be found for
less money, but it also has the highest biological value. From here,
the Whey protein market is exceptionally competative. There's
Hydrolyzed whey, ion-exchanged whey, Whey concentrate, Whey Isolate,
partially digested whey protein peptides, and ultra-filtered whey. The
bottom line with a whey protein supplement is that it has the protein.
I know there's a lot of you guys shaking your heads out there. The big
reason that we have all of these strange forms of whey is so that
companies can boast their version over others. Anyhow, here's my top
three recommendations for the thriftiest of whey protein products,
listed in order of cheapest price per serving.

1. Bioplex 100% Whey Protein.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/bioplex/100whey.html
2. Cytosport Complete Whey. (Note: it is cheapest in 5lb
container.)
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/cs/whey.html
3. Higher Power 100% Whey Power.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/whey.html

Multi-vitamins: With all the new muscle being built, and old
tissues being destroyed, and the hormones being released, it is
important to replace micronutrients. Here are my top three choices,
which I rated by content, potency, and price per day of use:
1. Enzymatic Therapy: Body Rewards Daily Multiple.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/et/bodydaily.html
2. Nature's Science: One-A-Day
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/ns/one.html
3. Higher Power 1-A-Day
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/one.html
***Note: You might want to check out your local drugstore as
well. They tend to have good deals there as well, and if it
isn't potent enough, you can always take one and a half or even
two capsules. Just watch your intake of Vitamin A; if you
ingest too much, it could be toxic.

Creatine: Although this is a popular substance used for
increasing muscle mass, it begins to deviate from the concept of a
supplement. Creatine is a nonessential amino acid, that your body
produces plenty of on it's own. For some people it seems to work well.
I, however, have not had many good experiences with creatine in the
past. Reguardless of personal opinion, it is a popular supplement,
and here are my top three:
1. EAS Phosphagen.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/eas/phosnew.html
2. Iron-tek, essential creatine monohydrate
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/iron/creatine.html
3. Higher Power Micronized Creatine
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/creatine.html

To Cut Fat: In order to cut the fat, a person needs to be taking in
less calories than he or she burns. For some people this can be kind
of hard, and thus, a supplement is used to assist in losing that extra
bodyfat. To help in fat loss, there are different kinds of supplements
that can be used. The three kinds that I recommend are: Thermogenics,
minerals, and Fatty Acids.
Thermogenics: These are typically herbal supplements that
increase a person's metabolism and energy. Today's mainstream of
thermogenic supplements, however, are being made way too effective, not
to mention way too expensive. You're probably scratching your heads,
wondering how something could be too effective. If you have a terrible
diet of beer and doughnuts, and you start taking one of these powerful
fatburners, you'll lose weight. The second you stop, you gain it ALL
back, within a week or two. This is why I recommend lower potency
thermogenics. So here's the thermogenics I recommend, and the top
three best buys for each one:
Green Tea Extract: Not only a good weight loss
supplement, but also a powerful antioxidant. The top three:
1. Now Green Tea Extract.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/gtea.htm
2. Higher Power Green Tea Extract
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/green.html
3. Universal Green Tea
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/univ/green.html
Yohimbe: This helps not only for weightloss, but for
cardiovasular health, antioxidant protection, and male enhancement as
well. I've been taking some of this over the summer, and I have seen
some great results. The top three are:
1. Optimum Yohimbe 1111 Caps.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/yo.html
2. SciFit Massive Yohimbe Bark
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sf/yo.html
3. Higher Power Yohimbe.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/yocaps.html
Minerals: Beleive it or not there are a few minerals that can
aid in fat metabolism. In addition to my top three's from this site,
you might want to check out your local grocery or drugstore for great
deals.
Chromium Picolinate: A trace mineral that is used to
maintain healthy insulin levels, chromium picolinate will help store
glycogen in your muscles, and not your gut. My top three pics are:
1. NOW Chromium Picolinate
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/chrom.html
2. Optimum Chromium Picolinate:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/chrompic.html
3. Wieder Chromium Picolinate
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/weid/chrom.html
Calcium: You've heard that it helps with strong bones,
but I bet you didn't know that it helps with fat metabolism. Although
it is not fully understood, 600-1000 mg daily have been shown to burn
more fat than cutting calories alone. Here's my top three money
savers.
1. Nature's science Calcium Citrate.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/ns/calcium750.html
2. NOW Coral Calcium.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/coral.html
3. Solaray Calcium Citrate.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sol/calcium.html
Fatty Acids: Special strains of essential fatty acids (the
Omega-3 and 6 families) have been gaining popularity within the past
few years for their ability to increase bodyfat oxidation.
CLA: Conjugated Linoleic acid has been shown to help
build muscle and burn fat as well as lower cholesterol, improve immune
function, and protect against free radicals. Here's the three winners
for thrifty CLA.
1. Prima Force Max CLA
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/prima/max.html
2. Ultimate Nutrition CLA
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/un/cla.html
3. Country Life CLA Tonalin
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/country/cla.html
Flaxseed Oil: A great way to obtain Linolenic,
Linoleic, and Oleic fatty acids (Omega-3, -6 , and -9). This again
helps build muscle and burn fat. This site only sells 2 pure flaxseed
oil products, so you might want to check out your local supermarket or
drugstore for the best bargains. Here's the two products sold at this
site:
1. Optimum Flaxseed Oil Softgels.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/flax.html
2. Natrol Flax Seed Oil.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/natrol/flax.html

In closing, you don't need a disposable income of a business tycoon in
order to get the nutrition you need to get or maintain the body that
you want. On the flipside to all of this, supplements can only assist
in your lifestyle. If your taking supplements down the board, but you
do not have a stable exercise plan, you're not saving money at all;
you're throwing it away. This site is full of amazing articles about
exercising that can really turn you around. I really recommend you
check it out. http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbmaintrain.htm
And as always, make sure you've checked with your doctor before
bursting into a routine.

Bonus Question 1: I feel that either Higher Power or SciFit are great
brand names to turn to when looking for a supplement at the cheapest
cost.

Bonus Question 2: One supplement that's kind of expensive, but can
really help is Beta-Hydroxyl Beta-Methylbutyrate, or HMB for short. It
suppresses catabolism in the muscle, and I've had some great success
with it. The top three cheapest ones are:
1.SciFit Extra Strength.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sf/hmb.html
2.Profight HMB
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/fight/hmb.html
3. Eclipse 2000 HMB
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/eclipse/hmb.html
but, if you've got the extra money, I'm partial to EAS's
version.
EAS HMB
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/eas/hmb.html

sword chucks

07-20-2005, 07:41 PM

Are the articles due today or tomorrow?

mivi320

07-20-2005, 08:46 PM

Are the articles due today or tomorrow?

Tomorrow. (The 21st) :)

sword chucks

07-20-2005, 09:05 PM

Tomorrow. (The 21st) :)

but it says 21th so Im worried he meant to do 20th cause that has a "th" after it

plus that would be a wednesday just like last week

maybe Ill just post mine

sword chucks

07-20-2005, 09:29 PM

Eh screw it. I'm just gonna post it.

A Budget Doesn’t Have to Hold You Back!

On the market today there are countless effective supplements. There are supplements to gain weight, stay lean, increase fat loss, increase energy, and basically to serve any purpose that an athlete can think of. In our quest as bodybuilders there are a lot of appealing selections of supplements to use. Every different supplement seems to affect another function of the body. To maximize productivity, all bodybuilders would have in their kitchen a big cabinet loaded with canisters of different shapes, colors, and sizes. There is just one problem. Money!

As athletes, we want to do everything we can to maximize performance. Living in modern times can be expensive, though. We have to set at least a little bit of money to pay the rent! This is why choosing supplements is not easy for many people and there is a lot of argument about what supplements are effective and what will have a minimal effect. But before you even get into that, be ONE-HUNDRED PERCENT sure that your funds are set for everything else. The last thing you want to do after ordering 6-8 of the products below for 50 dollars is notice you don’t have money to buy your food this week! Budgeting isn’t just about buying cheap products, it is about prioritizing things and taking EVERYTHING into account, and minimizing stress because of it.

This is why when choosing supplements it is very important to first look to the most effective and most basic supplements out there. The supplements that have always been favored. The supplements that are always debated but always are proven effective. What’s better is that these effective supplements are usually cheaper than the more luxurious ones. Read on to find out how to maximize your results on a budget! Don’t let a budget hold you back!

This article will discuss the 10 supplements that satisfy the qualities mentioned above that are relatively cheap and most effective that every bodybuilder should have. I will start at the most effective supplements and end with the more frilly ones that can still be afforded on a budget. I will also compare some more luxurious products with their less expensive counterparts, go into companies that you can always trust for affordable quality, and suggest some products to purchase if you happen to have some extra savings.

1) Dextrose- The Body’s Main Energy Source!

Dextrose, or glucose, is a simple sugar derived completely from corn. It is 20% less sweet than cane sugar so it provides a different taste. But taste should not be your main concern on a budget! Even if dextrose is a delicious sugar, what you should worry about is that dextrose (glucose) is the main source of energy in the body! Dextrose creates an anabolic environment, improves recovery greatly, and provides energy for the muscles!

The anabolic environment

It is a proven fact that insulin is one of the top most anabolic hormones in the body. When insulin in the blood is high, the uptake of nutrients such as protein into the muscles will be greatly increased, which means faster muscle growth! One thing of note, however, is that dextrose and other simple sugars should really only be consumed around a training session because high insulin at other times can result in fat gain. This fact does not stop dextrose from being the top of the most effective supplement list!

Improvement of recovery

Everyone knows that after a workout the body is in a catabolic environment. To reverse this, many people take a meal a little while after a workout with some oats or bread. But this is not the best way! Having a protein shake with some dextrose during the workout can greatly improve recovery by preventing this catabolic state from coming about altogether!

Increased muscle energy

For anyone who hasn’t had dextrose, I bet you have had one of those days where your muscles just feel weak in a workout. It might not happen too often but it can be prevented with a cheap bad of dextrose. Taking 10-20 grams of dextrose 20-30 minutes prior to a workout greatly increases the storage of muscle glycogen. You will be stronger.

Products

NOW Dextrose is probably the cheapest Dextrose you will be able to find. At under 3 dollars for what can make a supply for a month or more, this is truly the most cost-effective supplement.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/dex.html

2) Multivitamin- Make Sure Your Body is Nourished!

The body performs at its best when provided with a proper amount of vitamins in proper ratios. All vitamins have different functions that are helpful to anybody, but especially an athlete. So next time you go shopping, should you ask for every vitamin in individual canisters to make sure you get everything? No! Just get a multivitamin! You can trust companies such as Higher Power and Centrum to load their vitamins with all the necessary vitamins. It is nice and simple. Here are two examples of important vitamins found in a multi vitamin:

B-vitamins[/b]

B-vitamins all have important metabolic functions. There is only one that is especially important to athletes, and this is vitamin B-12. B-12 aids the body in metabolizing nutrients such as protein! It is best, though, to take all B-vitamins in a proper ratio, so do yourself a favor and eat a multivitamin for this effect.

[i]Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a necessary vitamin for many athletes that supplement with fish oil. It is unhealthy to have too much fish oil and too little Vitamin E. Buying Vitamin E alone can be expensive so it is best to simply get your daily Vitamin E intake from your simple multivitamin. No worries!

Products

If the body is lacking in any one vitamin, that hurts one of the body’s functions, causing an athlete to perform at a sub-optimal level! Getting a multivitamin can satisfy your full vitamin needs. Higher Power One-a-Days are very effective. On top of this, it will only cost you 7 to 8 dollars for a whole two months of multivitamins that can create an effective environment for maximum performance. Make sure to eat real food to get a more full spectrum of vitamins!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/one.html

3) Whey Protein- Increase Recovery and Protein Synthesis!

As athletes, we know the importance of protein. Protein is made of amino acids which are used to repair muscles after exercise. “Training for muscle mass requires more than just hard work, it requires protein, as much as 1 gram per pound of bodyweight per day for some individuals...A solution to this problem comes in the form of protein supplements.” (Schwarznegger, 709)

And getting in one gram per pound of protein per day doesn’t just mean eating bread and nuts and calling that adequate protein. Whey protein benefits any bodybuilder in many ways over other protein sources.

More Efficient in the Body
While bread and nuts do contain protein, their protein is not very efficient in the body. Whey protein, though, is 100% efficient in the body because it contains a full spectrum of amino acids- unlike many other foods. Meats, Poultry, Eggs and other dairy products also are very efficient proteins but whey is the king.

Speedy Absorption for Speedy Recovery

Remember Dextrose, from above? I mentioned that dextrose is very beneficial in aiding nutrient absorption. Since you should already have dextrose- you are going down the list since I did put it in a specific order- you should try combining dextrose and whey protein after an intense workout. In fact, this should be done for every workout. Combined with the speedy uptake of nutrients to the muscles caused by dextrose and whey’s already fast absorption, you should definitely improve recovery tenfold. Your muscles will quickly repair after a workout and you will start growing!

Convenience

Another thing that you should already know about diet is that you must eat every 2-3 hours. Sometimes, though, it is hard to get meals in that often- you could be in school, out on the road, at work, or anywhere else, and when that 3rd hour hits you should be searching like a madman for protein. If you simply make a protein shake to bring with you. This can make a big difference, especially for those very busy bodybuilders. Another thing to aid convenience is the bodybuilding.com shaker bottle, and while this is not a supplement, it is very fashionable and a must-have for any bodybuilder.

I suggest you get two or three- http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/shaker.html

Products

Now, since you are on a budget, this extra protein might seem expensive. It really is not though. 5 pounds of a quality whey protein can cost anywhere from 20 to 30 dollars for a basic product. There are also powders that have a super flavor, but cost 40 to 50 dollars for just 5 pounds! I suggest you go straight to the Higher Power Whey Protein. This will only cost you 20 dollars for a whole 5 pound container. Since I recommend 2 scoops during or post workout and 2 in the morning to maximize your nitrogen balance, that is 2-4 a day- so this jar should last you a month or so. If you are more conservative it will last you longer and you can still achieve great results!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/whey.html

4) Omega 3 Fish Oil- Optimize Your Body Composition!

Fish oils have been recommended for a very long time for their great effects on body health. The healthy fats, even at a low dose such as 4 to 6 grams in a day, can do wonders to prevent heart disease and create an environment in the body that is conducive to muscle building and not encouraging to fat gain. They also aid brain function.

To be continued...

sword chucks

07-20-2005, 09:32 PM

Use for Bodybuilders

Now, it is utilized by all successful bodybuilders, because it is another item that makes a huge difference in body composition. It has various effects that all work towards fat loss and protein synthesis- have you heard of leptin? If you have then know that fish oil greatly increases leptin sensitivity. If you haven’t heard of the neurotransmitter, just know that the previous sentence means something good!

Products

There are two different ways to take fish oil. Some people like to use an oil. There are also soft-gels which might be less uncomfortable for some to take. The oil is a bit cheaper for those of you on a super strict budget. Health From The Sea produces an oil at 6 cents per grams, while Olympian Labs produces soft-gels at 7 cents per gram. Another thing you can look for is a 2-for-1 deal- I found one at a local CVS and was able to get 500 grams of fish oil for about 12 dollars. You do the math.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sea/pfo.html

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/olabs/omega.html

5) Vitamin C- A Sick Bodybuilder Can’t Make Gains!

How many times have you got sick in the last year and had to skip a workout? How many times did you wish you didn’t get sick? My answer- never. I am a firm believer that Vitamin C is one of the most effective anti-oxidants in the body and the key reason as to why I have not been sick at all for the past year.

Preventing Sickness

The immune system’s performance is greatly enhanced by Vitamin C. Once I started supplementing with Vitamin C, I did not get sick and so I was able to train constantly to create muscle mass. Vitamin C also protects the body’s cells and might reduce the effects of cancer, heart disease, aging, and arthritis.

Reducing Muscle Breakdown

Studies presented in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning showed that an intake of Vitamin C limited cortisol release. Cortisol is not good news for a bodybuilder- it causes the breakdown of muscle proteins! Having a steady vitamin C intake can limit the expression of this hormone, though, improving the amount of growing that can take place! Something to keep in mind is that while Vitamin C has no toxicity in the body, these studies revealed that taking over 4 grams (4000mg) per day had no advantage as taking just 4 grams a day.

Products

For products, Higher Power comes through again with a great supplement at a low price. Their Vitamin C 1000 costs about 13 dollars for 250 grams. That will last you 2 to 4 months depending on your intake! Considering it is another product to greatly aid recovery and maximize each and every year of working out, 13 dollars is not much to pay.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/c1000.html

6) Creatine- Maximize Strength and Muscle Gains!

Creatine is a great supplement because in small amounts it can greatly increase strength and improve the appearance of the muscles. Simply put, everyone taking creatine is seeing AWESOME muscle and strength gains! This natural product can make all the difference in the world for an impatient bodybuilder!

Maximum Strength Gains

By increasing ATP production, creatine really can improve your strength! In the body it is converted to phosphocreatine, which regenerates ATP in the muscles. This doesn’t just mean that you will be able to have a bigger ego in the gym, though, or you will be able to add that 10 pounds to your best squat or bench press to beat your friend- the sudden strength gain will cause an overload to the muscles that will create a HUGE amount of new muscle mass!

On a side note, one mistake many bodybuilders make is cutting out creatine when they begin a diet to lose body fat. It is best to stay on creatine so that your strength stays at an elevated level, and you will actually see an increase in strength this way!

Making Muscles Fuller

Creatine is also a “cell volumizer”. By loading water and other such products into the muscles, it can greatly improve their fullness. Many people surprise others when in just one week their arms and shoulders seem to have blown up- is it the creatine kicking in? You betcha!

Products

Higher Power produces a Micronized Creatine that sells at 20 dollars for ONE THOUSAND GRAMS. There is no way you can pass that up! It is cheaper than protein powder! It might seem like quite a bit if you choose to load your creatine intake, but contrary to popular belief, a loading phase for creatine is not best- it is more effective to just take a stable amount. Taking 5 grams a day, 1000g will last you 200 days! That is a long time! Because the creatine is Micronized, its absorption is improved as well! If you have a little extra money drop it on some creatine, you will NOT be sorry!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/creatine.html

7) Joint Support- Lift Heavy All of the Time, Pain-Free!

While this seems like it should be higher on the list, joint support is not necessary for everybody. Many lifters go on for a long time with little joint pain. However, investing in a joint support product such as Glucosamine Sulfate, Chondroitin Sulfate, Shark Cartilage and/or MSM. Over time, though, many lifters begin to feel worn down and sometimes experience extremely unbearable joint pains! I have talked to people in the gym that tell me to “be careful with those deadlifts, because when I used to do them I couldn’t even get up in the morning!”

Making an investment in your joints

To some people, 2 years of lifting causes havoc on their joints. Actually, this is the case for many older people. If you are a teen bodybuilder this hopefully is not a problem, but if you are over 30 years old or even 40+ years old- you must invest in joint support!

The thing with joint support supplements is that they take some time to kick in. If you feel even the slightest joint pain starting, invest in some joint support products.

Products

So you go to the local vitamin store and see a bottle of MSM for 40 dollars. Crap, that doesn’t follow the budget! No company beats the price or effectiveness of TKE’s Joint Boost with MSM though- this product packs together Glucosamine Sulfate, Chondroitin Sulfate, Shark Cartilage and MSM for a weird sounding yet surprisingly effective joint support “cocktail” which can lead to total joint health! And it only costs 20 dollars for 40 days of the supplement!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/tke/joint.html

8) Branch-Chain Amino Acids- Protein in its Most Effective Form!

BCAAs, or branch-chain amino acids, are some of the most effective athletic supplements out there. Keep in mind that out of the thousands of products out there, BCAAs hit the top 10! That is because the BCAAs leucine, isoleucine and valine are used to build muscle, fuel the body (as opposed to using existing muscle mass), and increase the absorption of other proteins!

Choosing a BCAA product doesn’t have to be difficult

You’ve probably seen a lot of BCAA products that are very expensive though. That is because when making a BCAA product, companies can load it up with tiny amounts of other things such as Glutamine, Taurine, and AAKG in tiny and ineffective amounts, but make you think it is worth the additional money. Instead you have to find a product that contains only leucine, isoleucine and valine so that you are not paying for anything extra.

BCAAs are not found in the body naturally!

Another thing of note is that these amino acids are not made in the body, while the non-essential amino acids are produced in the body. This can cause a lot of bodybuilders to miss out on possible gains!

Products

Like I said before, we have to make sure the supplement that we are buying is made of one-hundred percent BCAAs, or something pretty damn close to that, or you will waste money! I recommend either Higher Power BCAA 1000 or Scifit BCAA powder. Higher Power BCAA 1000 costs .11 per gram, but comes in capsule form and a month’s supply costs about 11 dollars. If you want to take a powder, Scifit BCAA Powder 5000 costs anywhere from .5 to .7 grams per container (depending on the size of the container). I highly recommend buying this supplement in bulk! It will save you a big bit of money!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/bcaa.html

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sf/bcaa.html

9) Caffeine- Get a Surge of Energy!

Everyone knows what caffeine is. Caffeine is a very simple product with many benefits! Caffiene Anhydrous will give you powerful workouts and greatly increase your alertness with amounts as low as 200mg!

Caffeine’s less obvious benefits

With a sudden boost of energy and a new mental drive you will be able to lift like never before! You will be much more focused and energized.

Caffeine is not just some stimulant though, the substance also sets itself into the muscle cell and keeps fatigue from occurring! This cheap supplement will buy you another 1 or 2 reps in some cases! That can be very nice!

Products

You COULD just go out and purchase coffee in bulk, but you’ve surely heard of how negative that is for your health, it has many negative effects on the teeth. Also, you would have to drink it black to keep extra calories from entering your diet. Getting a simple caffeine supplement is much more convenient and quite possibly cheaper. I recommend a Higher Power supplement for this one as well- get yourself 120 capsules for under 5 dollars!

Note: I do not encourage you to become the supplement equivalent of a Dunkin Donuts junkie.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/caf.html

To be continued...

sword chucks

07-20-2005, 09:33 PM

10) Egg Protein- Protein for Regular Use

What? Another protein on the list? If protein is so important, why is Egg Protein so low on the list? Well, in my opinion, a second protein supplement is more of an option if you have the money after buying everything above.

The problem with whey

I would just recommend taking whey protein in your shakes for convenience when you are on the go if you are on a super tight budget. However, purchasing an egg protein for infrequent use can make a big difference. The problem with whey protein is that it is only available in the body for up to 45 minutes after it is consumed. If you are only taking a meal every 2 to 3 hours, that means that you are going nearly an hour with little protein flowing through the body!

Using egg protein for extreme convenience

Egg protein, unlike whey protein, lasts in the body for 2 hours or more! Not only this, but it is considered the “gold standard” of proteins in that it contains all 8 essential amino acids and is readily digested in the body. When you need a quick protein fix to replace a meal, go egg, not whey.

Products

Optimum Nutrition produces 100% egg protein at about one dollar per serving. But think about it- one 22 gram serving means that it has more protein than SEVEN egg whites! So it is worth the money. I know 30 dollars is over 20 which was the limit, but you will be probably be using this very rarely. If you really want to spread it out, you can mix half a scoop of egg protein with a whole scoop of whey, which will balance out the absorption and make the meal last longer in your body, but will also cut the cost.

I didn’t want to be misleading before when I said that whey protein was the best for when you want convenience. Having a longer-lasting protein in my body made a big difference and I felt a lot better once I started taking egg proteins in my meal replacements instead of whey proteins.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/egg.html

Making Cheaper Selections

While it is easy enough to just stick to the product selections that were provided above, many times people will be tempted into buying a more expensive supplement because it could have a slightly better effect. I am not trying to discourage anyone from buying the more expensive supplements if you can afford them. I am an advocate of all supplements, not just the cheap ones. For those of you on a budget though, here’s what you think you are missing out on... so here are some examples.

Higher Power Creatine VS VPX CEX

Creatines come in many different forms and come mixed with many different substances. The thing is, in all of them, the key is creatine. It doesn’t matter if it is Esterified, Micronized, mixed with Taurine, or anything else. VPX CEX is a very expensive supplement- For about 50 dollars more, you can get the same amount of creatine. However, VPX CEX also adds in A-AKG, and some other cell volumizing agents, not to mention 2 different types of creatine! I’m going to be honest, that product sounds damn cool, and also very effective.

And I’m positive that the cocktail of Creatine Ethyl Ester and Creatine-AKG will result in more creatine in the muscles with less bloating, those are just added benefits. The main product is still creatine and if you are on any kind of a budget, spending 70 dollars for 2 months of creatine is unreasonable! Therefore, I recommend forgetting about anything but 100% pure creatine- keep it simple- that is how you save money.

Higher Power Whey Protein VS PVL Whey Gourmet

How could two types of protein powder be so different? Well, as a bodybuilder, taste is sometimes something we miss out on. Some companies like PVL are kind enough to produce products with a great flavor that makes you look forward to every protein shake and make you glad to be a bodybuilder.

The taste might be tempting, but look at the nutrient profile of PVL Whey Gourmet compared to Higher Power Whey Protein. Both contain minimal amounts of fat and carbohydrates (less than 3 grams), and both have exactly 23 grams of protein in one serving! In fact, both cost about the same price, 20 dollars! But take a closer look. For the same amount of money, Higher Power gives you THREE more POUNDS of pure protein.

Therefore, if you have the money lying around get yourself some PVL Whey Gourmet and shake things up- but for regular use, buy the cheap stuff and in bulk, it will yield you the same results. If you are really looking for a tasty whey protein, though, continue reading!

NOW Dextrose and Basic food VS Prolab N-Large II

To be honest, these two products are not too similar. However, we can still compare them. Both are supplements meant to supply carbohydrates to the body and add calories to your daily total. I believe that weight gainers such as Prolab’s N-Large II are very effective. In fact, N-Large II is packed with mostly complex carbohydrates, minimal fats, and lots of quality protein. Dextrose is just sugar.

However, if you use your Dextrose, Whey Protein, and Fish Oils in conjunction with some regular food such as oatmeal, you save yourself money. These items will get you further with the same amount of money, and can be a little healthier as well!

Higher Power BCAA VS Sciviation XTend

A final comparison that I would like to make is between different types of BCAAs. This situation is very similar to the creatine situation. Many companies, in an effort to fully harness the power of BCAAs, will add in other Amino Acids and other substances. Sciviation does this with their XTend. XTend is a combination of BCAAs, Glutamine and Citrulline Malate, all in generous amounts.

This makes Sciviation about 60% BCAAs (Grams of L-leucine, L-isoleucine, and L-valine divided by the grams per serving, or 7/11.5). There are about 630 grams of BCAAs in Sciviation XTend. Is this the company being cheap and filling it with what is basically air? No, it is just a more luxurious supplement. You are probably doing fine with what you have. Citrulline Malate and Glutamine are some big names in the recovery supplement world.

However, once again, if you pay for this you are spending money on luxury. For those of you on a budget and paying for 9 other supplement items, the extras are too much to pay for. I suggest you just get some Higher Power BCAAs, or SciFit BCAA Powder 5000. That alone will give you all of the benefits that there are to BCAAs alone. I will recap what I said in the comparison of creatines- keep it simple and try to get 100% BCAAs or as close as you can to it.

Overall

Use the examples above to help you make decisions on any supplement. Thinking of getting some AMP or Neurostim? Try to make due with simple caffeine anhydrous. Have you seen a very expensive joint support product out there that has a cool name, like Equilade Lube-All Plus recently? Keep in mind that you can match the results with a more simple and much cheaper item like TKE Joint Boost with MSM. KEEP IT SIMPLE!

I am gonna say this one more time, by the way- the purpose of this article is to help an athlete get the most bang out of each dollar. If you have the extra money, you can be sure that a more complicated supplement will give you slightly faster gains. But a cheap supplement stack can be nearly as effective.

A Brand that Really Cares About the Athlete

There are just as many companies out there scamming their customers with expensive luxury products that have tiny effects as there are good, reliable companies that always product the necessities for athletes at a regular price. Bodybuilding.com lists somewhere in the ball park of 40-60 companies in their brand listing section! Where do you get an idea of what company is best? Well, you can’t rely just on one company, since they produce different products. I will give you five supplement companies that I can find all of my necessary supplements at, reasonably priced!

Higher Power- You can be sure that you will get great prices here!

Higher Power is a very budget-friendly company, and with good reason. They are owned by bodybuilding.com! Because it is owned by this website, they can make the prices as low as they go! Their whey protein is the cheapest out there, and you can buy a large supply of effective vitamins for a small price. It is clear that Higher Power is a supplement company that really cares about the athlete!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/higherpower.htm

AvantLabs- Unique supplements!

The name AvantLabs is not meant to mislead you into thinking the company is based on science and produces only the most effective supplements. Because all of that is true! They do not sell simple products like your standard protein powder or Vitamin C though. I think all of their supplements are best if you have some extra money lying around as they are optimized, but if you read the above section you can find that this is not completely necessary.

What I would recommend for anyone is some Sesathin. This product costs about 30 dollars a month at full dosing and its effects for fat loss have been widely received. It will give you the best bang for your buck over most other fat loss supplements.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/al/avant.htm

To be continued...

sword chucks

07-20-2005, 09:34 PM

NOW- Quality is affordable!

Do you remember when I mentioned Dextrose before? That is just one example of what NOW produces. 2 pounds of dextrose costs a little under 3 dollars- a very cheap price- and many of NOW’s supplements follow the same trend! Another bonus to buying from NOW is that you can find mostly anything that you need there. If you see something by NOW, know that it is a trust-worthy product!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/now.htm

Iron-Tek- Mixing together the most effective ingredients at low prices!

Iron-Tek is one company that stood out to me just a few weeks ago when I was looking for a cheaper Whey Protein. This product caught my eye because they nearly match the cheap price of Higher Power Whey protein! Each serving is just one cent more expensive. But the catch is that they don’t just give you Chocolate Chalk flavor and Vanilla Chalk flavor, in fact, they offer appealing flavors like Chocolate Fudge, Cookies & Cream, and Banana Cream! I guess it is possible to afford flavor and quality!

Iron-Tek also produces a creatine that is very cost-effective. The ingredients to their Essential Creatine Monohydrate include only 100% creatine monohydrate. You should know the benefits of creatine by now, so you should understand that 1200 grams for under 23 dollars is a very impressive deal! That is almost one full year of creatine.

These are not Iron-Tek’s only products. They also produce a lot of other high-quality, budget friendly products!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/iron/iron.htm

MRM- Another selection of supplements at low prices!

MRM is a company that is definitely dedicated to nutritional research as much as they are dedicated to making money! Their Whey Protein costs only $0.35 per serving, only $0.05 more than Higher Power’s Whey Protein. You can usually tell from the cost of a company’s Whey how their other products compare. They produce ALA, a Creatine Monohydrate product, and a BCAA product, all at very low prices, to give other examples of their credibility.

Judging from those figures, you should be able to tell that MRM is one company that produces effective products at very low prices!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/mrm/mrm.htm

Overall

Knowing companies that produce trust-worthy supplements is important if you are on a budget. Hopefully, this section will help you narrow down what to buy from the sea of supplements out there. It is clear that these five companies above are companies that really care about the athlete!

The “What Should I Get Now That I Have A New Pimp Job?” Section

Eventually with all of this budgeting that you have learned about, you will end up with some savings, or maybe you got hired for a higher paying job. After you spend time buying supplements that cost 10-20 dollars for a month or two of use and probably seeing better results than before you read this article, you will have to have saved up a few extra bucks. If you just got your new job it is possible you will be on a whole new level of budgeting- no budgeting! Either way, what do you spend your extra money on?

Being the athlete that you are, you want not to blow this money on a night at the bar, but rather to buy another effective supplement that will give you some lasting gains and that is truly worth your money. At least I hope you do. However, you might want to just get something to try it out or something else for “fun”. Here are three choices of supplements that you can look into.

An Exciting Nitric-Oxide Product- Xyience NOX-CG3

Now this stuff can be fun. What could be cooler than a product with THREE types of creatine, THREE types of glutamines and THREE types of Arginine? I am sure that as soon as this product hits your doorstep, you will be dying to just dig right in. NOX-CG3 is a Nitric Oxide-based product. Nitric Oxide is mostly considered a useless supplement- people say that all it does is make some veins pop out for a few hours.

Recently, though, studies have begun to show that getting the “pump” is actually conducive to the hypertrophy of the muscle fibers. Studies have further shown that Arginine supplementation will also cause more than just a temporary pump! Not to mention, the creatine and glutamine in three forms to maximize absorption of each. Even if the pumps are nothing more than temporary for you, the creatine and glutamine will make this product worth the money. Also, I believe that getting a supplement like this will greatly boost your confidence to train and will give you some new motivation.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/xy/noxcg.html

Become Trendy With This BCAA Product- Sciviation XTend

This is a product that I mentioned in the previous section. While it has gotten very impressive reviews, this mixture of BCAAs, L-glutamine, Citrulline Malate, and B-vitamins, it is still very highly priced. Like I calculated before, you get 630 grams of BCAAs per a 1035 gram container- and this costs you over 50 dollars.

However, if you get some extra money, definitely get yourself some XTend! You will be surprised at how the added Citrulline Malate and L-Glutamine affects your recovery and performance! Many people are taking Sciviation XTend in very high doses and gaining lean mass incredibly quickly. Give this supplement a shot in high doses for a while when you have a little more money! Everyone else is!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sv/xtend.html

Get Some Lasting Gains- AvantLabs LeptiGen

A good supplement that will greatly help any athlete develop muscle mass and improve overall aesthetics is LeptiGen Mass. This product provides an environment in the body that maximizes muscle growth while minimizing fat storage. It will provide the user with some new muscle mass and speed up growth while it is being taken. This isn’t just some added water weight or some sugar-induced fat weight that some companies will add that is only temporary, it is true muscle that will only continue being added once the use of LeptiGen Mass is discontinued.

For the few months that you have a supply of LeptiGen, I am sure that you will be very happy with your results and see noticeable changes weekly!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/al/mass.html

Another Thought About Buying Expensive Supplements

I believe that expensive supplements are really not necessary and might not be greatly more effective than the simpler versions. However, seeing all of these great reviews, you will really be impelled to buy something like Xyience NOX-CG3, and I do not want to discourage from you it! Like I said, getting one of these products with so much proof and endorsement will DEFINITELY increase your excitement for training. If you truly want some flavor-blasted whey protein like PVL Gourmet- get it! It’s your money!

If you really want to get the most bang for your buck, though, get a product like LeptiGen that is ONLY sold at high prices, and experience some sure, long-lasting gains.

Conclusion- A Word On Supplements

So by now you know what supplements are most cost-effective, what companies you can always turn to for affordable quality, how to pick out the more cost effective supplements out of the bunch, AND the more expensive supplements that are truly effective. What a productive read!

When choosing supplements, it is very important to first look to the most simple products out there. If you want the cheapest creatine, get a product that is 100% creatine! Above, I listed ten supplements that produce great results: Dextrose, a Multivitamin, Whey Protein, Fish Oils, Vitamin C, Creatine, BCAAs, Joint Care, Caffeine and Egg Protein. These are products that are always favored by bodybuilders and can be found at very impressively low prices.

One thing that I would like to note is that while there are thousands of supplements out there and you can get a whole bunch for a low price, first make sure you can afford MORE than enough food, a gym membership, clothes, necessary equipment, AND other things like the rent. This is what a successful budget will accomplish. Go to the list from top to bottom and see what you can afford AFTER you are sure you have adequate funds to pay for everything else that comes up, so you don’t end up having to take money away from food or equipment or replenishing your container of dextrose or whey protein. Like I said in the intro- budgeting isn’t just about buying cheap products, it is about prioritizing things and taking EVERYTHING into account, and minimizing stress because of it.

In the contemporary bodybuilding world, there are many supplements in circulation. They are all around to accomplish different goals. You can buy a supplement for anything, but most are to increase energy, strip away fat like it ain’t no thang, stay lean, or gain muscle. (hey who doesn’t want more mass?) If you were to use all of these supplements and research on them, you can bet your progress would be improved, but these supplements can get expensive. BE SMART when buying supplements and I GUARANTEE that you can MAXIMIZE performance even on a tight budget!

That’s All.

sword chucks

07-20-2005, 09:36 PM

o and this.

STUD

07-20-2005, 09:48 PM

Bulking on a Budget

By Pat O

Everyone knows that obtaining the perfect body does not come cheap. It costs hard work and dedication as well as money to pay for all those sometimes pricey supplements. Of couse you do not need supplements, but anyone serious about improving thier phsique will be willing to shell out those extra bucks for the body they've always dreamed of. Whether you are bulking up, cutting down or just trying to get that lean look, supplements can help you reach your goals in the shorest amount of time. We all know, supplements are great, but the price of them can be a big problem for those on a tight budget. When purchasing supplements on a budget you always need to buy the most essential supplements first. Whey protein, multivitamins, essential fatty acid's and creatine are all essential and should be the first things you buy when purchasing supplements. Here are some essential supplements all under $20 that provide the quality you need while keeping your wallet full.

Whey Protein - Protein is essential for building muscle and whey is the highest quality and best form of protein there is. Whey is absorbed much faster than animal protein so it can help start the production of amino acids used for building muscle tissue quicker. A tub of whey may seem expensive to you at first but if you do the math, it is much cheaper than any food source of protein, even tuna. For only $19.99, Higher Power's 100% Whey Power is the perfect combination of low price and quality.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/whey.html

Multivitamin - A good multivitamin is perhaps the most important single supplement a bodybuilder or athlete can consume. One's body needs to be fed an extensive variety of nutrients to perform at its maximum potential. A multivitamin provides these vital nutrients so your body can reach its full potential in all areas of metabolic activity. A high quality and also very effective multivitamin is AST's Multi Pro 32X. For only $15.89, the Multi Pro 32x will not only provide you will the vitamins you need, but also the minerals you need to reach your potential.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sun/efa.html

Essential Fatty Acids - Essential fatty acids play a very important role in muscle growth as well as improving overall health. Major benefits of essential fatty acids include increased muscle cell protein synthesis, elevated growth hormone secretion and energy production. The Total EFA by HFS is a great product that will provide you will all the essential fatty acids you need. At only $16.99 you will be supplied with 47 days worth of high quality essential fatty acids in a easy to store 24 Fl. Oz. bottle.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sun/efa.html

Creatine - Creatine is the single most popular and effective bodybuilding supplement around. The reason for creatine's vast popularity is due to the fact that it works. Creatine is a naturally occuring amino acid found in foods such as tuna, salmon and beef, so there are no adverse side effects. In just two weeks creatine can significantly increase muscle mass within an individual and give them increased energy while performing physical activity. There are many forms of creatine, but the cheapest, while still very effective, happens to be creatine monohydrate. Creatine monohydrate is a viturally tasteless and colorless powder that can be mixed with any non-acidic liquid such as grape juice or water. A very cheap yet very effective creatine monohydrate is Phosphagen by EAS. For only $19.99 you get 1000g (a 6 month supply) of high quality, pharmaceutical grade creatine monohydrate.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/eas/phosnew.html

Lower Priced Compared to Higher Priced Supplements

When it comes to supplements the fact of the matter is that prices can be very deceiving. You can go out and spend $200 on flashy products and end up getting the same stuff that someone else paid $100 for. When purchasing supplements many times you are paying for the fancy label and not what's inside. This is why you need to research what products give you the best bang for your buck. The Supplement section on Bodybuilding.com is a great place to talk to experienced individuals about any question or concerns you may have involving supplements, including the cost effectiveness of certain products.

For the most part, in terms of effectiveness, the more expensive supplements are usually superior to the lower priced ones. Don't worry though, you don't have to buy that $75 creatine product to make gains. There are plently of products in your price range there to give you the results you are looking for. If you have some extra cash and are willing to pay top dollar for the top supplements be carefull because there are expensive supplement out there that won't give you the results of some lower priced products. The most reliable way to find out the effectiveness of a particular product is to read product reviews. There are product reviews on all sorts of bodybuilding supplements in the Bodybuilding.com forum. Before you purchase a item I suggest you read product reviews to find out: a) This product's effectiveness, and b) If this product is worth the price you're paying for it. With this newly aquired information you can now go about making a decision on whether or not to purchase that particular product.

BONUS QUESTION: What brand can someone turn to for good quality supplements at a good price?

There are many supplement companies out there, sadly there are many of them putting out bogus products with even more bogus claims. There are some companies however that put out products that prove the perfect example of where cost meets quality. Optimum Nutrition for example is a widely respected company that earned this respect from putting out high quality products at a bargain price. Optimum Nutrition's 100% Whey Protein is perhaps the most popular and top selling whey protein product out right now. Its perfect mix of quality, great taste, dependability and low price that makes it such a wonderful whey protein product. ON's ZMA, flax seed oil softgels and BCAA caps are a few more high quality, low priced supplements Optimum Nutrition has to offer. Higher Power also has many quality products at budget friendly prices. Higher Power's 100% Whey Power, Micronized Creatine and One-A-Day multivitamins are all dependable products you can turn to while trying to save some cash. NOW foods also deserves a mention as it has many high quality products such as ADAM multivitamin, dextrose, Omega 3-6-9 and Arginine/Ornithine. Here are the product listing for each of these great companies:

Higher Power - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/higherpower.htm

Optimum Nutrition - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/opt.htm

NOW Foods - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/now.htm

BONUS QUESTION TWO: What is the most expensive supplement out there that works and that you should try if you have some extra cash or win the lottery?

In the highly unlikely chance that you win the lottery or just have extra money to begin with, supplementation can be very confusing because without a budget, every supplement is now in your price range. If you are willing to pay top dollar you expect to get only the highest quality and most effective supplements. Finding the absolute best products out there can be tricky and certainly no one wants to go through thousands of product reviews. Here are some products you should try if you have a little extra cash and want only the most effective and highest quality supplements:

Scivation Xtend - This is very effective supplement, period. Xtend will give you increased energy throughout your workout as well as enhanced ATP production to promote cell volumization. Xtend can also greatly reduce your recovery time so you can get back in the gym even quicker than before. You can also megadose Xtend,to get the body you've always dreamed of, even faster.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sv/xtend.html

Avant Labs SesaThin - A simply amazing fat loss supplement. As of now it is the most effective fat burning supplement. SesaThin will get you that ripped look you have always wanted.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/al/sesa.html

BSN Nitrix - A highly effective nitrous oxide product that will give you the pumps you've always wanted. Nitrix increases bloodflow, carrying essential nutrients to deprieved muscle cells, faster. This can not only greatly aid in muscle growth, but also provide you with more energy during your intense workouts.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/bsn/nitrix.html

Good luck.

LosersWhine

07-21-2005, 12:31 AM

What Are The Best Supplements While On A Budget?

So your not making much gains lately. You train your heart out and are completely exhausted when you get done. You have heard a lot about supplements, but you don’t know which ones are scams and which may actually help. You also don’t have a lot of spending money because your really trying to save up for that new car and you’ve done really good so far. So what are you going to do you want to make good gains to impress that chick or just for self-improvement. Let me help you learn as much as you can in this article.

NOTE: There is no magic supplement that will make you loose 40 lbs in a week, make you look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, or any of that fake crap. While there may not be any magical supplement some supplements will help you recover, help make gains, and generally feel better.

What supplements are good while on a budget? ($100.00)

Before we even talk about supplements let me clear something up. There is no supplement in the world that can substitute for a good diet. Without a good diet you are basically trying to start a car without an engine in it. So before you go on reading this article make sure you have a good diet.

Protein…. yes the stuff you see on every nutritional label you look at. Not some crazy word you’ve never heard before just protein. Protein is needed for growth that’s all there is to it you need protein if your going to grow. One of the most important qualities of protein is its ability to build muscle and make it grow.

There are three different categories of protein. Fast acting proteins – are digested more rapidly then other proteins so it can start feeding your muscles faster its perfect after a hard work out when your muscles are basically begging your for protein. Whey protein is the perfect example of a fast acting. Slow acting proteins – these regulate the release of amino acids and protein for a steady flow of both making these the perfect thing to take when you’re your not going to be eating for a while (i.e. sleeping). Casein protein falls under this category as it takes about 7 hours to digest. Everything in-between proteins – These proteins aren’t fast or slow digesting they digest at a medium rate. Egg protein is an example of these.

How much should I take?

This is a very confusing subject, and there are many different answers. There is no right answer because well we are all different and what works for other people may not work for you. Let me tell you what I do because it makes sense to me. Use this lean weight calculator http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/WeightBodyComp.html to find your lean weight. Then multiply that by 1.4 and that’s your protein intake for the day. Why does this make sense to me? It makes sense because fat doesn’t need protein to maintain so why try to and the .4 is because when you weight train your body needs more protein simple as that.

Are there any side effects?

Yes there are some serious side affects that can occur if you are not careful and take huge amounts of the stuff. Extremely high amounts of whey could overload your liver. And as with all protein the make your kidneys work a lot harder which is a bad idea. High protein diets also make you dehydrated so be sure to drink plenty of fluids.

What brand should I take?

Optimum Nutrition’s 100% Whey - is my first choice because its cheap, its good tasting, and it gave me results. My favorite flavors are chocolate, vanilla, double rich chocolate, and Vanilla ice cream. You can find every flavor except vanilla ice cream here at BB.com here is the link http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/whey.html.

Higher Power Whey Protein – my second choice it’s very cheap I don’t think it tastes as good as ON’s though. Here is the link http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/whey.html.

Dymatize Elite Whey – my last choice I have only tried it in one flavor which was chocolate and it was a little duller then ON’s, but it is still cheep and a good choice. Here is the link http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/dym/elite.html.

Creatine…. creatine is a very misunderstood supplement for being used so much. Most moms wont let you touch creatine because some know-it-all bodybuilder told her its bad for your kidneys and now she wont listen to anything you have to say. So is it so bad for your kidneys? NO! In fact getting protein from your normal diet will make your kidneys work harder then taking creatine.
Now I am not saying there aren’t side effects because it seems like everything has side effects these days. Some minor side effects you may get are water retention, stomach and muscle cramps, and diarrhea. Sometimes you don’t get these side effects sometimes they fade after a while sometimes you have them for the whole time you are taking creatine. Some things to be aware of while taking creatine are there have been no long-term tests to show if creatine has long-term effects and there have been no tests on adolescence taking creatine so we don’t know if it has any effects on the growing process and you should drink 8-12 ounces more water then normal for every 5 grams you take.

How does creatine work?

When you are working out lets say bench-pressing your working you are using ATP and that’s how you get energy. So how does your body make ATP well your body is very complex in a cool way. It has many back up systems so if you run out of one thing you can still use another. So you get ATP usually by carbohydrates, which usually take about 3 seconds to convert to ATP, when you run out your body converts fat to ATP, which takes about 3 minutes. When you supplement with creatine your body stores it as creatine phosphate, which takes about ½ of a second to convert to ATP. So you could see how creatine could help you get more reps and lift more weight.

How much should I take?

There are two different phases when taking creatine, a loading phase and a maintenance phase.

During the loading phase you should take 15-20 grams (or 3-4 teaspoons) spread out during the day for 5-7 days. After that you are doing maintenance, which is 10 grams spread out during the day.

What brand should I use?

I recommend these products.

Higher Power Micronized Creatine – Cheap, great quality, great results what more do you want. Here is the link you won’t regret buying it http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/creatine.html.

Dymatize Elite Creatine Monohydrate – Great price, great quality, great results. Here is the link http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/dym/creatine.html.

EAS Phosphagen – I always liked EAS products and they did a great job on this one. Here it is http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/eas/phosnew.html

L-Glutamine…. The most abundant amino acid in your body. So how can supplementing with it help you? Supplementing with L-glutamine will increase your body’s ability to make the growth hormone, it also helps your immune system because when you work out glutamine levels decrease, it also prevents muscle breakdown. L-Glutamine can help you gain and most importantly keep you healthy.

How much should I take?

I recommend taking 5 grams 2-3 times spread out through your day. That’s it no phases like creatine its easy.

Are there any side effects?

Like all supplements taking too much is a bad idea obviously. There are no serious side effects for taking L-Glutamine right now. Taking too much could give you a upset stomach and diarrhea.

What brand should I take?

Glutamine is more expensive then anything so far, but its definitely worth it and here are some products I recommend.

EAS’s L-Glutamine – Again I love EAS products this one lives up to EAS’s name with a great product. http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/eas/lglut.html

Pureform’s L-Glutamine Pro – Cheap and good all I got to say. http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/pf/lglut.html

PrimaForce’s GlutaForm – PrimaForce makes great products though they can get a little pricey. Anyways this is a great product here it is http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/prima/glut.html.

Multivitamin…. Having a Multivitamin may not give you gains. But it will keep you healthy and that is very important to me. For example I have not been sick in 7 years not even a fever and I have had some crazy nights, I have gone 3 days without sleep, and I work out so my body takes a lot. I know my multivitamin is keeping me going and I am never going to stop taking them.

How much should I take?

That depends on which brand you have, but mines serving size is one capsule, which I take in the morning when I wake up and in the evening 3 hours before bedtime.

Are there any side effects?

Taking to much vitamin C at one time can give you and upset stomach or diarrhea that’s it.

What brand should I take?

AST’s Multi Pro 32X – Love these its what I use and I am not switching till I have to.
Get them you wont be disappointed http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/ast/multi-pro.html

Twinlab’s Daily One Caps – If for some reason I couldn’t get AST’s I would get these.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/tl/daily.html

Higher Power’s Multi XS – Last choice still a good choice for anyone that doesn’t want the two products listed above. http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/mxs.html

LosersWhine

07-21-2005, 12:34 AM

Continued....

What are the best supplements for under $20.00?

For under $20.00 you can either get something that will help you with your gains, or you can buy a bunch of little things that will make you feel better and increase your health, but wont really help your gains. If I were to try and stretch $20.00 as far as I could here is what I would buy.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/one.html $6.00

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/omega.html $12.00

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/am.html 120 caps comes out to $18

That would give me a multi, good fats, and some amino acids for energy, better focus, and a little boost in gains.

If I was going to buy just 1 thing I would get this.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/dym/whey.html nothing beats good old whey protein. $20.00

BONUS QUESTION: What brand can someone turn to for good quality supplements at a good price?

I generally use three brands because they are cheap and I know I am getting good quality supplements. I use Optimum Nutrition all the time for protein it’s always my first choice because they are cheap, good tasting, and I have gotten results from them. I use Higher Power mostly for creatine and sometimes for a multi and their protein when I cant get any ON they have been good to me I like there creatine and it works for me. I also use Dymatize for their protein mostly when I feel like getting it or can’t get anything else. That’s about it I sometimes use some other companies when I am bored of those, but this isn’t a sales log.

BONUS QUESTION TWO: What is the most expensive supplement out there that works and that you should try if you have some extra cash or win the lottery?

If I got the extra cash or won the lottery I would probably try out the more expensive line of products unless I heard bad things about them. Some of these include AST’s products, Scivation Xtend I have heard good things about, Met-RX’s meal replacements, EAS’s meal replacements, Prolab’s N2 Large, and CytoSport’s CytoGainer. Yeh if I get a lot of extra cash or win the lottery bb.com will definitely know it because I would go on a spending spree buying all the products I hear good things about. Here are the links to everything I just said except I am just going to post where to find AST’s product to save time and space.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/ast/ast.htm
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sv/xtend.html
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/met/metmrp.html
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/eas/myoplexnew.html
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/eas/myodeluxenew.html
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/pl/large.html
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/cs/gainer.html

Hope this helped.

LosersWhine

07-21-2005, 12:36 AM

wow that took like 5 hours. Im glad its finished im going to bed now and going on vacation for a couple of days then ill read the results. So GL everyone.

TheMind

07-21-2005, 07:08 AM

WOW. Ummmm...I admit, procrastinator that I am, I have no yet written my response......But.....WOW...

Scanning through the other articles, I'm starting to wonder if I should even start it :-s The competition is VERY tough this week, moreso than I've seen in other weeks for sure. Very nice jobs, all of you.

The bar rises yet again. I don't think I can compete, and I don't know that I should spend several hours on work that won't yeild any fruit :(

Who knows...I'm getting a shower.

Again though, it seems you've all done an EXCELLENT job. Regardless of if you Win/Lose/Tie, I think you should all be proud of the work you've done.

sword chucks

07-21-2005, 09:08 AM

do u guys think it is a good idea to get 4-5 usernames and enter with each oen.

TheMind

07-21-2005, 09:23 AM

do u guys think it is a good idea to get 4-5 usernames and enter with each oen.

1) That's kinda dishonest
2) Who wants to write THAT many articles?? Holy cow, too much time invested
3) Will would recognize this if more than one UserName tried to order things to the same place/name, and likely disqualify them.
4) Uncool to the Max.

sword chucks

07-21-2005, 10:29 AM

1) That's kinda dishonest
2) Who wants to write THAT many articles?? Holy cow, too much time invested
3) Will would recognize this if more than one UserName tried to order things to the same place/name, and likely disqualify them.
4) Uncool to the Max.

i hope you knew i was kidding?

Semtex

07-21-2005, 12:46 PM

Taken off at Thursday, 9:32 pm to further edit.

Semtex

07-21-2005, 12:52 PM

So many supplements, its ridiculous how many products you guys use lol.

ho_124

07-21-2005, 03:53 PM

Supplements that should be bought on a low budget should be ones that all bodybuilders require in their diets. These supplements should be cheap and very effective in gaining muscle or maintaining good health. Buying cheaper supplements does not always mean it is lower in quality. Some good quality supplements that are needed to make the best gains possible are listed from highest to lowest importance.

1. Multivitamin – It is the single most important supplement needed to be consumed because vitamins and minerals are responsible for metabolic functions. Look for multi’s expecially high in B-vitamins since they have many anabolic properties

AST Presents Multi Pro 32X ($.16/serv)
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/ast/multi-pro.html

Higher Power Presents One-A-Day ($.10/serv)
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/one.html

2. EFA’s – Essential fatty acids are very important since they help the body stay healthy and also raise testosterone levels. Many EFA’s can be in the form of supplements, seeds or nuts and oils.

Nuts and seeds

Almonds ($.50/serving)
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/alm.html

Peanuts
Peanut oil
Natural peanut butter

Safflower
Safflower oil
CLA ($.09/serv)
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/un/cla.html

Sunflower seeds

Sesame Seed
Sesame Oil
SesaThin ($.39/serv)
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/al/sesa.html

Flax Seed
Ground up Flax
Flax seed Oil
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/oil.html
Flax soft Gels
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/flax.html

Also try walnuts, pumpkin seeds, soybeans, and olives.

3. Whey Protein – Whey is great for a post workout meal since whey protein isolate is easily absorbed into the body. It is also very convenient and cheap to drink right after a workout so that your body is not in a catabolic state for very long.

Cytosport Complete Whey
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/cs/whey.html

Higher Power 100% Whey Power
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/whey.html

4. High GI Carb – After training, glycogen stores are low and must be replaced. High GI carbs will create an insulin spike and replace the glycogen back into the muscles very effectively.

Ground up Quick Oats at grocery store

Dextrose ($2.98 for 2lbs)
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/dex.html

5. Creatine – Great for muscle increasing muscle mass and is also a great energy source for muscles (ATP)

Higher Power Micronized Creatine
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/creatine.html

Dymatize Creatine Monohydrate
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/dym/creatine.html

6.Testosterone Enhances – Great supplements to look for are tribulus, ZMA,

Tribulus
Now Tribulus
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/trib.html

Ultimate Nutrition Tribulus Terrestris
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/un/trib.html

ZMA
Higher Power
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/zmahp.html

SciFit
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sf/zma.html

7. Fat Burners – The most effective are thermogenic fat burners and also EFA’s (CLA and SesaThin)

Thermogenic fat burners
Nutrex lipo 6 ($.46/ serv)
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/nutrex/lipo6.html
ECA or ECY Stack

Stimulant Free fat burners

Universal Presents Super Cuts 3 ($.18/serv)
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/univ/cuts3.html

NOW Green Tea Extract ($.06/serv)
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/egcg.html

What are the best supplements under $20?

Multivitamin
Optimum Opti-Men: Also contains herbs specifically for males
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/men.html
Price: $17.89, 60 servings

NOW ADAM: Contains ginseng and other herbs, CoQ10, ALA and Ginkgo biloba, high in B-vitamins
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/adam.html
Price: $16.59, 60 servings

EFA’s

Now: Omega 3-6-9: Contains all essential fats from flax, borage and fish
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/supero.html
Price: $11.19, 90 servings

Also try HFS Flax liquid gold (Flax oil)

Whey:
Higher Power Whey Power:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/whey.html
Price: $19.99, 67 servings

Creatine:
Higher Power Micronized Creatine: Cheapest in its class
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/creatine.html
Price: 19.99, servings 200

BCAA:
SciFit BCAA Powder 5000
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sf/bcaa.html
Price: $ 19.79, 60 servings

Liver Tabs:
Now Liver Powder
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/liv.html
Price: $5.79, 34 servings

ZMA:
PrimaForce ZMA
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/prima/zma.html
Price: $17.79, 60 servings

Stimulants:
SciFit Caffine
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sf/caffeine.html
Price: $6.94, 200 servings

NOW Panax Ginseng
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/gin.html
Price: $11.99, 125 servings

How effective are these cheaper supplements compared to the more expensive supplements on the market?

In many situations, cheaper supplements may contain the exact same ingredients, but one may be more expensive than the other. For example, Beverly Int. Presents EFA Gold which contains flax seed, borage and fish oil for $17.59, 30 servings but NOW also has the exact same ingredients as Beverly and is only 11.69 for 90 servings. That’s less than ¼ the price of Beverly int.’s price per serving. In other cases, you may have a more expensive supplement because it contains many ingredients. For example, Power butter may be on the expensive side but it contains peanuts, Flax seed, Egg whites, and wheat germ, it is high in Omega 3 and Omega 6, has 5g of fibre and 15g of protein. This is great because it contains multiple nutritious ingredients and it would probably be even cheaper than buying an EFA and egg protein supplement. Power butter is even better since it can just spread onto toast for breakfast.

When buying whey protein, the price usually determines how much whey protein isolate and whey protein concentrate in the supplement. Usually more expensive proteins have more isolate in it. Isolate is great since it is faster absorbed by the body and contains no lactose. When choosing a creatine supplement, creatine monohydrate may not be the most desirable type of creatine since it sometimes gives athletes cramps, bloats and must be taken with a high GI carb. Buying a more expensive creatine product such as Kre-Alkalyn is much better since it doesn’t carry any of these side effects and is easily absorbed. Some more expensive supplements such as Swole V.2 or NO-Xplode is also good for creatine non responders. When choosing supplements, it is best to look for supplements the ingredients in the supplements, price per serving and how much is in that serving, and what company made it.

What brand can someone turn to for good quality supplements at a good price?

Here are my Favorite Companies which turn in quality supplements at a great price. Here are the Top 6:

1. NOW: They produce a wide variety of quality supplements which are quite inexpensive. Almost any supplement you are looking for, they have it. Supplements such as L-carnitine, ginseng, milk thistle and much more. (Price:9, Quality:9 )

2. Optimum Nutrition: They produce great supplements, such as whey (most popular whey), tribulus, BCAA and ZMA for a pretty good price. (Price: 9.5, Quality: 8)

3.Higher Power Nutrition: They are definitely known for their cheapest prices in creatine, Whey protein, glutamine and multi's.
(Price: 9.5, Quality 8)

4.Prolab: They produce great supplements such as weight gainers (N-Large II) as well as glutamine
(Price:8.5, Quality: 7.5)

5. Cytosport – They have the worlds greatest sport drink Cytomax as well as the best protein supplement Muscle Milk which is highly anabolic for a decent price.
(Price 6.5, Quality 10)

6. BSN – Although their supplements are on the expensive side they have great pre-workout supplements such as NO-Xplode and Nitrix which contain multiple active ingredients
(Price: 5, Quality 10 )

What is the most expensive supplement out there that works and that you should try if you have some extra cash or win the lottery?

Muscle Milk: High quality protein, EFA’s, Carnitine, Vitamins and minerals, Endocreatine production
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/cs/milk.html

NO-Xplode: Great NO2 ingredients, great creatine ingredients (especially for creatine non-responders), great stimulant ingredients and electrolites
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/bsn/xplode.html

Cytomax: Patented lactic acid buffer, succinates for oxygen delivery, electrolytes, ginseng herbal lift, antioxidants, great for running
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/cs/cytomax.html

Ether: Kre-Alkalyn, patented D-Ribose and many more athletic enhancing ingredients. Great for recovery and pre-workout energy.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/get/nosether.html

VPX Redline: Great fat burner, look at ingredients
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/vpx/red.html

SciFit TZ3 Stack: Tribulus and ZMA
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sf/tz3.html

San Tight: Great Fat burner
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/san/tight.html

San Infusion: High quality and highly anabolic protein
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/san/infusion.html

ErgoPharm 6-oxo: Eliminates estrogen to enhance testosterone
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/ergo/6oxo.html

STUD

07-21-2005, 06:49 PM

What do you guys think of my article? I want to know what I need to work on so I can improve my writing. Thanks.

sword chucks

07-21-2005, 07:39 PM

What do you guys think of my article? I want to know what I need to work on so I can improve my writing. Thanks.

I liked your article, you are very persuasive

As you can see it was kinda short though, try to go in depth a bit more

I think you should add in a little more HTML so it is a bit easier to read.

overall just really push the persuasive attitude, make everything sound good and even make the bad stuff sound good, then make the good stuff sound better :D

also, next time use a conclusion for every section, 'chu know?

and u should also go back and edit that first line in it- "Everyone knows that obtaining the perfect body does not cheap" :P

STUD

07-21-2005, 07:50 PM

lol Thanks SC. I don't have a spell checker in my Microsoft Word because I accidently deleted the file that contained the data for it. This last article probably had numerous mistakes, but to look on the bright side I'm getting a new computer next week so that won't be a problem anymore.

sword chucks

07-21-2005, 08:19 PM

Kill_yourself

07-21-2005, 08:31 PM

What Are The Best Supplements While On A Budget?

In our quest for the perfect body, we constantly search for the next best way to reach there. Though we diet and train like animals most of us are just not able to be one step above the people with a naturally gifted set of genetics. Thus we turn to supplements; something that everyone misunderstands as the one stop solution to physical perfection.

We try everything. From the newest in research and development to the old school supplements that have helped bodybuilders attain freakish results for decades. But sadly, our pockets do not run as deep as our desire would want it to. Soon we find out that although the supplements do work and although they provide you with the edge that you need for your training, we realise that you just can’t afford it.

Things to consider when purchasing your supplements:
1. Always check with your doctor before trying anything. This can not only help your doctor better understand any illness you may have in the future, it can also give you that peace of mind knowing that whatever that you are consuming is approved by a certified professional
2. Decide on what is your current physical goal(e.g. losing fat, shedding water for competition , building mass for the off season etc) So people make the mistake of using the same supplement as their friends without any considerations to the possible difference in physical goals.
3. Do you homework on the product. Check for the company’s reputation, reviews, testimonials on the products. Although you may not rely on it 100%, it can give you a brief idea on what the product’s reputation is. After all 1000 testimonials is not easily faked.
4. Check the label for the serving size. Some supplements boast about how one serving of their product provides you with an extraordinary amount of protein, but then upon closer inspection you realise that actually the serving size is 2- 3 times the normal serving size compared to another product.
5. Check the pricing of the product. To better explain this point just bear in mind one phrase “If it is too good to be true, it usually is” So if you see this supplement that is freakishly awesome and selling for 5 bucks, don’t waste your time. Or if you see some supplement that is extremely over priced like $250 per bottle, forget about it. It isn’t worth it.
6. Make your decision. Choose and compare your favourites and purchase one of them.

Standard supplement everyone needs

Regardless if you are trying to gain mass or loss fat, these are the essentials to consume so as to allow your body to function at an optimal rate.

1) Whey Protein
Protein is a part of every cell in your body, and no other nutrient plays as many different roles in keeping you alive and healthy. It is important for the growth and repair of your muscles, bones, skin, tendons, ligaments, hair, eyes and other tissues. Without it, you would lack the enzymes and hormones you need for metabolism, digestion and other important processes.

Recommended Whey protein

• Optimum 100% Whey Protein. This is without a doubt the most valued for money whey protein that I have ever purchased. And may I say, it taste great. Although it is not the one with that best quality or the one with the lowest price, it has a good blend of above average quality and below average pricing to strike that balance of quality and cost. That is why it remains as the top selling supplement in bb.com

Cost: $13.98 with 31 servings.

• EAS Myoplex (New Formula)Still on the most portable supplements you can find in the market today. With its blend of quality protein and amino acid and a touch of carbohydrate, it provides a good source of nutrients.

Cost: $59.99 with 42 servings. Therefore it is about $42 per month. Although it carries a slightly steeper price compared to Optimum 100% whey protein, every cent you are paying, is worth it if you are always on the goal.

2) Multivitamin
It's absolutely crucial that your body gets the nutrients it needs to function effectively and efficiently. The daily stress of pollution, fatty and processed food, and stress deplete your body of nutrients and it's up to you to replace these nutrients. You can do this through healthy nutrition, or even better, through healthy nutrition and proper supplementation.

Recommended Multivitamin supplement
• Animal Pak. One of the best and top brands of multivitamin that you can find in the market today. Regarded by many as the absolute essential in one’s diet, Animal Pak definitely has the nutrients that you body requires.

Cost: $21.95 for 44 packs. Considering what this product can do for you, it is really valued for money.
• Pure Essence Life Essence. For certain multivitamin supplements, they claim to have just about everything in their product. And they are not lying. But upon closer inspection, you find that all the nutrients are in extremely smaller quantities. Fortunately, that is not the case for Pure Essence Life Essence multivitamin. It has everything that your need and at a low price.

Cost: $19.89 which would be able to last you for a whole month.

Goals: Muscle building

1) Creatine. From a bodybuilder's perspective, creatine can significantly increase lean muscle mass quickly, improve performance in high intensity exercise, raise energy levels and speed up recovery rates. Creatine's ability to raise energy in muscles is due to its muscle protein synthesizing action whilst reducing the breakdown of protein. This happens because creatine has the effect of super-hydrating muscle cells with water. It also improves muscle growth adding size and strength to muscle fibers.

Cost: One of the cheapest product it the market today creatine is generally cheap in all brands. Any brand would do.
2) EcdySterone
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/ecdy.html
It is very safe and highly anabolic.
Recommened Products:

• BSN Betalin-7-EC. One of the supplements that have given me the best gains within the shortest period of time. It is highly anabolic. It also comes in capsule forms for easy consumption.

Cost: $37.95 With a supply of a month.

Kill_yourself

07-21-2005, 08:32 PM

Goals: Fat loss

• Guggulsterones
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/guggul.html

Recommended products:

1) Lipo 6. My absolute Life saver 10 weeks from competition. I was over weight by 30lbs during my off season due to my excessive eating and with my low metabolic rate, I was not able to burn off the fat as fast as I would have hoped to. But after supplementing lipo 6 to my diet and training regime, I managed to loss that 30lbs and also gain 3 lb of muscle in the process. The Best fat burner money can buy.

Cost: $27.49 for a month’s supply.

2) S.A.N. Tight. Yet to try it personally but from all the testimonials from my friends that have used it, it is a must try. Due to the extreme contents of this product, results can be seen rapidly.

Cost: $29.98 with 2 months supply.

IS CHEAPER SUPPLEMENTS INFERIOR TO MORE EXPENSIVE ONES?
In a way it is a yes and a no answer. When a supplement is cheaper, it could be for various reasons other than that they use a inferior form of ingredients. The same can be said for a expensive product. Do not be fooled by the manufacturer’s marketing strategy. In order to properly judge the quality of the supplement, you must look at the specific content on the label and asking around wouldn’t hurt either.

Tight Budget supplements(One month’s supply)
(Around $50 )

Muscle Building
1) Optimum 100% whey protein -$13.98
2) Life essence multi vitamin- $19.89
3) Higher Power Micronized Creatine- About $4 per month
4) Pinnacle AnabolX Plus- About $15
Total: $52.87

Below $20
Although $20 is a little too low, we would just have to make the best use of it.
1) Optimum 100% whey protein -$13.98
2) Higher Power Micronized Creatine- About $4 per month
Total: $17.98

Fat loss
(Around $50)
1) S.A.N. Tight- About $ 15 per month
2) Optimum 100% whey protein -$13.98
3) Life essence multi vitamin- $19.89
Total:$17.98

(below $20)
As mentioned earlier $20 is a little low to work with so even for a fat loss goal the same combination of supplement can be used for fat loss and muscle building
1) Optimum 100% whey protein -$13.98
2) Higher Power Micronized Creatine- About $4 per month
Total:$17.98

P.s Food is should still be the backbone of your diet. Good old chicken will never run out of fashion. Supplement should only be there to aid you in time when you have time constraints. Don’t even think of drinking Protein shakes the as your only form of nutrition.

Bonus Question 1

What brand can someone turn to for good quality supplements at a good price?

Actually most of the more famous brands are about the same, except the one or 2 small amendments here and there. But in general they are all the same basic product.

1)Optimum Nutrition
The brand the I use the most. It taste great and it is reasonably priced. Plus it is not just some cheaper off the wall products, it has help me through many plateaus that I have encountered. My favourite would have optimum 100% whey protein
2) Twinlab
One of the brands that constantly come out with highly specific products to suit your specific wants and needs, it is a must try. And also it is not over priced. My favourite product would have to be the AM/pm fuel
3)NOW
A brand of supplement my whole family uses. Not necessarily restricted to bodybuilding, it has a wide range of products to help you increase your general health status. My favourite one would have to be the vitamin C. because ever since I used that product, I have never felt seriously ill.
4)Prima Force
Although a relatively new product in the market, it has managed to establish itself as a leading brand in supplementation. At first when I used it I was a little sketical, but seeing the results I has brought me, I have not problems promoting this brand to others. My Favourite one would have to be Substance WPI. I use it as a form of post workout meal and it taste great too with great mix ability.

BONUS QUESTION 2:
What is the most expensive supplement out there that works and that you should try if you have some extra cash or win the lottery?

1) VPX Hemogex. This is by far the only reason for my 19.75 inch guns. Although it cost a bomb to maintain, I feel that it is worth that every penny that I spent. It has also helped me lift through my normal limitations. Currently I am squatting 450 lbs because of this very product. But I am slowly trying to cut down on this and let by body be attuned to the absence of this product. Because I know that sooner or later this product is going to burn that huge hole in my pocket.

Final thoughts
When you are choosing a supplement, it may be tempting to try just about every thing you can find but that would only lead you to a very damaged liver. To ensure your personal safely also check and do your homework on the product before consuming it. After all it is your own body that you are messing around with so you wouldn’t want to screw it up. Don’t ever rush into buying a supplement. Remember, bodybuilding is not an over night sport. It is something that takes years of hard work and un dying dedication. So if you want to remain healthy till you die, don’t be too quick to use a suitcase full of supplements.

Kill_yourself

07-21-2005, 08:33 PM

if anyone can point out ways to improve my article writing skills, i am completely open to it... well sword chucks your thoughts?

sword chucks

07-21-2005, 09:13 PM

if anyone can point out ways to improve my article writing skills, i am completely open to it... well sword chucks your thoughts?

I dont know what to say really. Just be more in depth. also for your intro/conclusion try to think of it like this

INTRO SECTION

idea 1- main idea, a broad topic (ie supps are good)

idea 2- make it specific to what you want to prove (ie you can get good supps on a budget)

idea 3- say specifically what ur article will discuss but dont be very specific (ie "i will say what good cheap supplements are")

BODY

do everything u siad in the intro

CONCLUSION (reverse order from intro)

rehash idea 3- remind them what they just read (ie " i just went over some good cheap supps")

rehash idea 2- restate what u wanted to prove (ie "u should know now that you can get good supps on budget")

rehash idea 1- restate the overall idea (ie "supplements are good" again)

that should make it must more organized

also- be generous with HTML and different fonts or using bold/italics! it makes it easy to read!

Semtex

07-21-2005, 09:19 PM

I dont know what to say really. Just be more in depth. also for your intro/conclusion try to think of it like this

INTRO SECTION

idea 1- main idea, a broad topic (ie supps are good)

idea 2- make it specific to what you want to prove (ie you can get good supps on a budget)

idea 3- say specifically what ur article will discuss but dont be very specific (ie "i will say what good cheap supplements are")

BODY

do everything u siad in the intro

CONCLUSION (reverse order from intro)

rehash idea 3- remind them what they just read (ie " i just went over some good cheap supps")

rehash idea 2- restate what u wanted to prove (ie "u should know now that you can get good supps on budget")

rehash idea 1- restate the overall idea (ie "supplements are good" again)

that should make it must more organized

also- be generous with HTML and different fonts or using bold/italics! it makes it easy to read!

How old are you sword?

Semtex

07-21-2005, 10:34 PM

"Get a job you bum."

Get your priorities right
It’s a phrase I hear often (daily almost), my parents know that money is hard to come by. Money does not grow on trees, and for the many people that are broke/poor we know this all too well. Its reality that the average kid trying to live a bodybuilding lifestyle is bombarded with many obstacles, school, family, friends, work, bodybuilding, and the list goes on. We MUST learn to adapt to our surroundings, and realize our priorities. School is a number one priority for teenagers, which takes up time, effort and is extremely taxing on the regular person. Family, depending on your situation maybe even more important- I know of this first hand. My family situation is not pleasant; it’s basically "Days of our lives". Even with all the fighting, screaming, and changes, I can still persevere because I have discipline which is very hard to come by nowadays. Friends take up even more time, what with the parties, drama, and problems they can bring. Still, friends and family are worth it in the end. I am not yet privileged enough to have a job, as I have not met the State requirements of age nor do I have the work permit. This does not limit me from obtaining supplements though, to help me with my bodybuilding. The limited money that I have must be used efficiency and I cannot afford (ha) to make any mistakes. Bodybuilding is a very strenuous sport, because it can throw ANYTHING out of balance, whether it is family, work or etc. It destroys you physically and leaves you mentally drained, but you must work around it. You can’t afford to be caught sleeping in class or even worse, letting your grades drop. Supplements are here for a reason, not for you to depend on, but they are here to supplement you.

Supplement means: Something added to complete a thing, make up for a deficiency, or extend or strengthen the whole.

You must learn first try to strengthen yourself as much as possible before even using supplements. By this, I mean making sure your diet is PERFECT as far as the 40(Carb)/30(Protein)/30(Fat) ratio. Then if your diet is in check, make sure your routine is SOLID. Keep rep ranges between 6-10, start off with compound lifts, such as squat, deadlift and bench press. Create a 7 day split, working your body parts on 3-4 days, cardio 1-2x a week, and working each muscle ONCE a week. (Trust me, I gained 3 solid inches on my biceps in about 6-7 months, and I probably did isolation exercises once or twice. Compound movements are key)

As a newcomer to the bodybuilding scene, I first had to learn the basics. I worked as hard as I could last summer WITHOUT supplements, to see my potential. I went as far as I could, gaining a lean 15 lbs in 3 months. Its not that bad, considering I knew little information, had no supplements and was driven on pure motivation. The following school year I decided to join a weight training class, which in turn- made me consider using supplements because I knew it wouldn’t be an easy class, so I needed as much help as I could get. I first learned as much as I can, through searching the forums for a month or two, and reading many articles. (If you don’t believe me, search my first 30 topic threads and look at the dates. I NEEDED information, because without knowing how to use a supplement, its pointless even having it) Now that I have decided to use supplements, and I have a good idea of what they can do, and how they help- it was time to buy some. I came the conclusion that with my money problem, I needed a supplement which will help me in many different tasks.

Whey
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/whey.html
Whey protein was my numbero uno choice in supplements because it was the most efficient supplement, for my needs. Here are its benefits:

1) It will aid in reaching a daily protein requirement that is very hard to come by, without whey because for the average man (150 lbs) he would need to consume 150-300 grams of protein daily. This spread out, in 7 meals would end up totaling 32 oz. of lean chicken breast (285 g of protein). That means 2 whole POUND of chicken a DAY. That is very hard to eat, if you can even stomach 2 lbs of chicken a day. Whey makes it easier to get the 1-1.5 lb of grams of protein per lb of his weight.

2) Cost. Look at this math, comparing the cost of protein per gram between chicken and whey.

The Math

Then you have to add in the preparation costs, flavoring ingredients, gas/electric cost, and time. Time is money and you can’t be bothered to spend hours in the chicken. (Special thanks to www.calorieking.com for estimates on chicken/protein ratio.)

Here in California, chicken is a whopping 3.81 per lb! I researched this today, after looking at the groceries. Whole chicken breast equals 142.5 grams of protein per lb.

Chicken Breast at $3.81 per lb, and at 142.5 protein per lb

$3.81 / Lb. of chicken breast containing (142.5 grams of protein) = .0267 cents per gram of protein.

Optimum Nutrition Whey at 2lbs(77 servings) and 23 grams of protein per serving
77 Servings X 23 grams protein per serving= 1771 grams of protein per 2 lb
$13.98 (for a 2 lb tub)/ 1771(grams of protein per tub) = .0078 cents per gram of protein

Look at the differences in PRICE!! .0078cents per gram of protein with WHEY OR .0267 with chicken!

150 lb man would need 200 grams of protein. 200 grams X .0078 (Whey) would equal to $1.56 a day. 200 X .0267 (Chicken Breast) would equal to $5.34 a day.

Times this by 365 days a year.

569.40 a year on protein with whey
1949.10 a year on protein with chicken(not even adding preparation costs)

I dont know about you but, I think I would rather keep 1379.70 in my pocket rather than give it to some butcher :). With the cost of living in California already skyrocketing past other states, its hard enough to live here as it is.

3) Quick absorption rate. This is key in bodybuilding, at certain times it’s extremely essential to get protein into your body as fast as you can. It takes the average man an hour and a half for whey protein to be fully digested, that is very fast considering you only have a 30-60 minute window of opportunity to get protein into your body Post-workout. This protein, supplemented with the right carbs will keep your body anabolic and prevent catabolic effects of protein deficiency.

4) You DONT need to stack BCAA's or Glutamine with your Whey!!! Depending on the brand of whey you buy (I buy Optimum Nutrition); you will have a great amino acid profile. When you consume 30-70% of your protein from whey each day you get all the essential BCAA's you need, and also Glutamine. You get about 4 grams of Glutamine and 19 grams of BCAA's per 23 servings of Optimum Nutrition whey. This eliminates the need for extra money wasted on BCAA's and Glutamine. (Information derived from bodybuilding.com at http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/topicoftheweek2.htm "What are your top 3 supplements")

Personally, I believe it is very ignorant to put ANYTHING above whey, in the top 3 supplements. If you were truly were in need of money, you would NOT buy some useless vitamin or efa, because protein is the building block of muscle. Vitamins and Essential Fatty Acids have their place, but they fail in comparison to whey. Protein is the foundation of your bodybuilding lifestyle, everything else is just support beams. Without a foundation, support beams are useless because everything will eventually collapse.

Semtex

07-21-2005, 10:55 PM

Other supplements
You do not need any supplements other than whey until you have perfected your dieting and routine, from there you can move on to multivitamins, and then to Efas. Creatine is not for you, if you barely have time as it is, you do not want to waste your time with creatine. As a creatine non-responder, I have wasted a fair share of money to creatine. Loading phases, matinence, water retention, not worth it in the long run. If ANYONE tells you that you need creatine OVER WHEY they are likely very uneducated or a GNC employee.

Products that have worked for me, 100% of the time
Excluding Whey, obviously it works EVERYTIME.

Green Tea
I truly believe Green Tea is underrated in the world of athleticism. Green Tea is high in anti oxidants, so it will flush all the toxins out of your body. It will relieve oxidative stress, protects skin from ultraviolet light, and it has a very high caffeine content. The high caffeine content will keep you energized and ready to blast through your workout and also it will keep your mind focused. I always drink at least 10 oz of it pre-workout because it always seems to help me. Green tea is also extremely affordable, usually averaging 2-3 dollars for a small canister of tea leaves. The canister will last you roughly a month or two depending on your frequency of use. I buy "Jasmine Tea" because that is the type that my family uses, it contains green tea extract. You can get this either in tablets or through a regular store. There are many different tea's that contain green tea, like jasmine tea- look in your cupboards and I am sure you will find something similar.

Don't waste your money on creatine, whether it is Creatine Ethyl Ester, Creatine Monohydrate, Creatine Kre-Alkalyn, or ANY other Creatine that missed! Its always ok to trust your supplements, its another to depend on them. Maybe you had a hard day at school, you get to the gym and hope that your creatine mono kicks in. It doesnt, you get disappointed and go home. Dont let supplements control you, they are there to help. Confusing products will only destroy the average persons trust in supplement companies. We dont need person on the "tec", (inside joke).

It’s cheap so it can’t be effective
Wrong. Always study up on your supplements; I am not here to advertise a million different supplements for you. I refuse to be a talking billboard, telling you what the best creatines, glutamines and vitamins are. But simply be educated, your intelligence is a far greater advantage for you than any supplement you can dream of. Your intelligence will save you years, thousands of potential dollars, and lots of wasted effort. You know that mainstream America is extremely uneducated about bodybuilding in general, its time for you to pull away from the herd. Trust yourself, block out the people who whisper empty promises in your ear. This will pave the way for you in the long run.
I do not want to be hypocritical when it comes to products, but I will list the brands that have helped me the most:

-Optimum Nutrition
The brand of my first whey, a very trustworthy company. Efficient products if you are on a budget.
-Twinlab
The multivitamin that I swear by, I refuse to take any other horsepills. Great company, whether you are on a budget or not.

You got money to gamble with?!
Frankly, I am a bit of a gambler myself. I try to get free samples of the most popular supplements so I can see if I respond to them or not- and how well I respond. You can test some out yourself, and see what works best for you. If a product works for you, and it helps your gains, by all MEANS get it! If you have the money you might as well, but don’t go buying junk that you will never use after 2 weeks.
Here is a great link for free supplements:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=467077&page=1&pp=30

A supplement that I have been playing around with, for the last week is SciVation's Neurostim. Neurostim is a stimulant which is proven to enhance mental focus, increase energy, increase endurance, improve exercise capacity, help you lose body fat, and prevents pre-exhaustion. WHEW! That is a lot of benefits, but I have yet to test my sample. I plan on using it tomorrow, and I will get back to anyone who wants to know its effects on a creatine-non responder. Because I know there are many non responders out there.

But honestly, I would rather spend 50 bucks on real food than 100 dollars on supplements. There is NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING that tastes as satisfying as a cheesy, gooey tuna melt after an hour of HIIT cardio or a nice chicken salad on some toasted rye bread. Don't get too attached to your supplements though, because I don't know about you, but I dont really crave supplements at 3 in the afternoon- I am craving foooooooood! :)

On a closing note: This topic is one that I am all too familiar with. If there were a topic that was made just for me, this one would be it. I want to keep this short and sweet, so it doesn’t have the misconception that it’s a complicated topic. I am not here to shove a ton of foreign products down your throat, simply to provide you with the information necessary for you to make an informed decision on what supplements you find suitable for you. My story is similar to many others, one of trial and error any many mistakes. I wish you luck with your journey in bodybuilding, and may you have the best success.

Inspirations and information:
Topic of the Week 2: [Great Article]http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/topicoftheweek2.htm

Definitions:
http://www.dictionary.com

sword chucks

07-22-2005, 09:03 AM

How old are you sword?

fi'teen

good thing u added to that article i thought it was lookin short :P

sword chucks

07-22-2005, 09:06 AM

TheMind

07-22-2005, 10:09 AM

Ah life back in the days of the first TOTW's was so simple. All you had to do was one post. now its much more competitive lol

also why does everyone suggest ONs whey when higher powers is so much cheaper.. So is Iron-Teks...
I've heard great things about the taste of ON's whey and everything....but frankly, I use HP. It's the cheapest, and mixing the chocolate with milk is like some GREAT chocolate milk.....Water isn't quite as good, but it's still better than Yahoo(or whatever that chocolate drink is) and it makes a living off of its taste.

HP till I die.....or get rich, whichever comes first, lol.

LosersWhine

07-22-2005, 10:57 AM

I like ON's because its kinda cheep and they have more of a selection of flavors, everyone sais that it doesnt mix good with milk thats why i mix it with water (which takes like 20 seconds) doesnt taste as good but its not hard to get down either. i mix milk with a shaker easy and were done. I like HP's products because there really cheap and there still good quality. Never tried Iron Trek (mabey i should). Also how was my article?

pierson0802

07-22-2005, 11:18 AM

I am a manager for a vitamin shoppe and am asked this question on a daily basis customers. I believe that Optimum nutrition is a great protien on a budget. Our 2lb. tub is only $13.99 and contains all the essentials. It's is 100% whey and contains a digestive enzyme to help with digestion. Instead of getting the MRP packets, put your protien in ziplock baggies to save money. If you're taking in 5 or 6 shakes a day, who can afford that fee of conveince? With the left over $6 you can get a reasonable multi. I believe you can get enough BCAAs through supplementation. As far as EFAs, find a 3 for $1 tuna sale and stock up on that!
If you have the extra money, muscle milk to me is the best protien on the market. It has whey and casien, and is chalked full of MCTs for energy. In my oppinion it is one the best tasting also. A great product for energy and creatine is SuperPump 250, It'll help you tear down the gym.
Bottom line though, you have to have the intensity and will power to getr in there do it. If you think lifting is physical, you have it all wrong. Through all of my training for the SEALs, you learn that your body does what you tell it to! Try a good Tribulus/ZMA stack aslo to get your testosterone levels raised.

Semtex

07-22-2005, 01:28 PM

fi'teen

good thing u added to that article i thought it was lookin short :P

I wasnt feeling so good so I had to take a break. Ugh I get sick usually when it gets REALLY hot, California sucks.

Semtex

07-22-2005, 04:50 PM

I'd like to point out that the Link for Topic of the Week: All about warming up is messed up. It goes to http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/schultz63.htm instead of http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/topicoftheweek32.htm

webmaster

07-22-2005, 04:53 PM

sword chucks

07-22-2005, 05:14 PM

I've heard great things about the taste of ON's whey and everything....but frankly, I use HP. It's the cheapest, and mixing the chocolate with milk is like some GREAT chocolate milk.....Water isn't quite as good, but it's still better than Yahoo(or whatever that chocolate drink is) and it makes a living off of its taste.

HP till I die.....or get rich, whichever comes first, lol.

the next protein I get will be Iron-Tek, I wanna try Banana cream but I bet it doesnt taste incredible, either way its just anohter cheap whey.

SemoBodybuilder

07-22-2005, 07:36 PM

Build the body, live the dream, keep the cash!

What supplements are good while on a small budget? What are the best supplements under $20?

Many if not most supplements are overpriced, and that makes it difficult for the average man to find money at the end of the month to buy his stash. For under $20 though, bodybuilding.com leaves us with many options for supplements:

Higher Power 100% Whey Power 5 lbs. ($19.99) 67 Servings
Protein is essential for musclebuilding and is the most abundant supplement around. It's a must for bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts alike to maintain that lean physique and constantly improve it. Whey is the highest rated protein on Earth-ranked above eggwhites in purity. Tastes delicious also.

Higher Power Micronized Creatine ($19.99) 1000 g for under 20 bucks is a steal. Creatine dramatically improves muscle gain and increases strength within one month. It's an essential supplement and a cheap one at that; one that's been scientifically proven to increase strength. 1000 g will last more than 3 months and will keep your wallet fat.

Prolab Glutamine Powder ($19.49) 88 Servings
Glutamine is an amino acid that gets deplenished when we exercise. By putting more in our bodies it helps our muscles heal faster and our entire body recover from hard workouts. It helps preserve muscle tissue also when dieting.

Higher Power Multi XS ($14.95) 100 servings A multivitamin/multimineral supplement is almost essential for everyone and especially for the active persons and elite athletes. It gives our bodies the essential nutrients we need and restores those that are lost during intense activities. Under $15 bucks for over a 3 month supply is an amazing price.

Higher Power Caffiene ($4.19) 100 servings Caffiene is a powerful stimulant that will deliver energy and focus to any part of your day. It is widely used to increase alertness and to help delay muscle fatigue. One to three servings a day would suffice in getting anyone amped and ready to go.

Optimum NutritionFish oils ($3.49) 100 servings Fish oils provide Omega-3 fatty acids which are essential for healthy living. These also make the skin look younger and healthier and even more importantly it supports healthy heart function. Also, if supplemented in higher doses, is proven to help shed bodyfat in a safe manner.

These supplements are all basic and should provide the groundwork for anyone with a tight budget, but for under $20 they will all last for over 3 months with the exception of the whey protein (if taken consistently). This is almost unreal thinking of the kind of results one may achieve with just the basics. Many other supplements are out there, but these are all proven to work and will help you reach your goals in a inexpensive matter.

TIP: A cost effective way to buy supplements is in bulk and all in one order. This allows a person to get all their supplements at once and in large quanties, save a load of cash on shipping and overall price, and save time and hassle from having to go back and order/reorder more.

How effective are these cheaper supplements compared to the more expensive supplements on the market?

The cheaper supplements I listed may be as effective as any expensive supplement on the market, and in some cases more effective (per price anyways). They are for the most solid, reputable products.

Cheap Supplements Pros: Cost effective, able to buy in larger quantities, proven supplements but have less "hype" so they are able to be sold cheaper, Higher Power happens to be the house brand so it's there for the blue collar man

Cons: sometimes you get what you pay for and the cheaper item isn't as good or as good as the higher priced item, sometimes lower quality, doesn't always come in a fancy wrapper with huge claims on the label, may not contain the latest ingredients to hit the market

Positive Examples: See above in part 1.

Negative Exampls:
Tribulus Terrestrius- made by over 50% of the brands on this site and is usually under $20 for 1-3 month supply. Results that it work are inconclusive and many say it is a waste of money. Fortunately, it can be bought individually and is cheap.
Universal NOX3 ($27.95) It's cheap because it lasts quite a long time but it's also cheap quality. These pills break and crush up easily and aren't meant to be carried around-best made for someone who works at home. In this scenario "you get what you pay for" and the cheaper NO2 alternative isn't as good as the Nitrix or MRI NO2.

Expensive supplements nowadays are made of mythical proportions. They lay claim that "Supplement 1" will build 10 lbs of muscle in 2 months while "Product B" will burn off 25 lbs of fat in 6 weeks. Many times these expensive supplements are overrated and no better than the cheaper alternative. Sometimes though, there are more effective ingredients, and if used consistently, may provide more dramatic and/or superior results.

Expensive supplement pros: cost, latest ingredients, pretty label/wrapper, makes huge claims, shows examples of pros using the supplement (BSN Ronnie Coleman; Muscletech-"nuff said), has scientific research/studies to show background, may be produced by a reputable company that produces quality products, may provide better results, has extensive marketing done to make you believe product will work

Expensive supplement cons: overhyped, overpriced, over "researched" (many times lab tests aren't consistent and we aren't told of the variables, amounts, or outside factors affecting study), may come with side effects (prohormones or stimulants apply here)

Positive Example: Nitro Tech ($52.89) 4 lbs This is a solid product that delivered hundreds of lifters results in only a few months. When stacked with Cell-Tech it's a potent one-two punch on building muscle but also on your pocket book. For $20-$30 dollars many brands offer 5-6 lbs of quality whey protein that will deliver similar results.

Negative Example: ASN Humagro ($23.80) claims that it will build muscle mass because its a legal growth hormone. The scientific tests this product claims it made could have been done on untrained males who responded quickly to the lifting and not that Humagro. The logs and reviews speak for themselves when it's said this product is nothing more than a sugarpill and will empty your wallet fast.
ASN Xomatropin ($75.75) 30 servings (8 sprays per)A similar product to Humagro, but only more expensive and more ingredients; this one will empty the old wallet in a hurry. I have never come across any reviews on this product or anyone talking about it. One spray is applied for every 22 lbs, well in that case a 250 lb man would require about 12 sprays a day and it would last him roughly a month. Wow is all I can say-let's hope it works!

While both cheap supplements and expensive supplements have their pros and cons, in this case where a person is tight with cash, cheap supplements are the answer. They will provide steady and consistent results for a person who takes his training, dieting, and rest seriously. They also allow a person to put his money in himself, investments, family, and other hobbies.

Bonus Question 1

What brand can someone turn to for good quality supplements at a good price?

Higher Power, PrimaforceNOW Foods, Optimimum Nutrition, Twinlab, SciFit, Prolab, and Universal

These brands all have a large number of products to choose from (including all the basics) with NOW being the biggest (324 products and counting). Each brand had a whey protein, creatine, multivitmin/mineral, MRP, tesosterone booster, energy booster/fat burner, and NOW obviously having quite a bit more for slim prices. If you had a favorite brand amongst these, you could pick one company and customize your own stack. These supplements are quality also and the results will come without the high price!

If I had extra cash, what supplements would I buy or reccomend?

This is easy. I would spend my money on the BSN Mass Stack. It contains a high quality pre-workout energy supplement-NOExplode, a top-of-the-line creatine-Cell-Mass, a solid NO2-Nitrix, and a hyped up testosterone booster-Axis-HT. These supplements will build mass and density for any hardcore lifter and most of the muscle will stay. Even if it doesn't work as great as it claims, it may mentally make a person lift harder because of the amount of money invested. Personally, I myself and others have seen results using these supplements.

Closing Statement:
If I had only $100 dollars or so to work with every 2 months, I would turn my supplement purchases all over to Higher Power and/or NOW Foods and stick with their products because they are cheap and effective. At this point in my life I have a little more to work with so I can afford the expensive supplements and formulate my own opinions on what is pure hype and what actually works. For the individual who can only spend so much, the cheap supplements listed above are a great start and could be used without any others for an ultimate stack and provide excellent results. Watch out for hype, high prices, and gimmicks from expensive brands. Look at the cheaper brands listed above and go through them-see what they have to offer and find out what works best with your wallet, motivation, goals, and time.

Semtex

07-22-2005, 07:46 PM

Build the body, live the dream, keep the cash!

What supplements are good while on a small budget? What are the best supplements under $20?

Many if not most supplements are overpriced, and that makes it difficult for the average man to find money at the end of the month to buy his stash. For under $20 though, bodybuilding.com leaves us with many options for supplements:

Higher Power 100% Whey Power 5 lbs. ($19.99) 67 Servings
Protein is essential for musclebuilding and is the most abundant supplement around. It's a must for bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts alike to maintain that lean physique and constantly improve it. Whey is the highest rated protein on Earth-ranked above eggwhites in purity. Tastes delicious also.

Higher Power Micronized Creatine ($19.99) 1000 g for under 20 bucks is a steal. Creatine dramatically improves muscle gain and increases strength within one month. It's an essential supplement and a cheap one at that; one that's been scientifically proven to increase strength. 1000 g will last more than 3 months and will keep your wallet fat.

Prolab Glutamine Powder ($19.49) 88 Servings
Glutamine is an amino acid that gets deplenished when we exercise. By putting more in our bodies it helps our muscles heal faster and our entire body recover from hard workouts. It helps preserve muscle tissue also when dieting.

Higher Power Multi XS ($14.95) 100 servings A multivitamin/multimineral supplement is almost essential for everyone and especially for the active persons and elite athletes. It gives our bodies the essential nutrients we need and restores those that are lost during intense activities. Under $15 bucks for over a 3 month supply is an amazing price.

Higher Power Caffiene ($4.19) 100 servings Caffiene is a powerful stimulant that will deliver energy and focus to any part of your day. It is widely used to increase alertness and to help delay muscle fatigue. One to three servings a day would suffice in getting anyone amped and ready to go.

Optimum Fish oils ($3.49) 100 servings Fish oils provide Omega-3 fatty acids which are essential for healthy living. These also make the skin look younger and healthier and even more importantly it supports healthy heart function. Also, if supplement in higher doses, is proven to help shed bodyfat in a safe manner.

These supplements are all basic and should provide the groundwork for anyone with a tight budget, but for under $20 they will all last for over 3 months with the exception of the whey protein (if taken consistently). This is almost unreal thinking of the kind of results one may achieve with just the basics. Many other supplements are out there, but these are all proven to work and will help you reach your goals in a inexpensive matter.

TIP: A cost effective way to buy supplements is in bulk and all in one order. This allows a person to get all their supplements at once and in large quanties, saves a load of cash on shipping and overall price, and saves time and hassle from having to go back and order/reorder more.

How effective are these cheaper supplements compared to the more expensive supplements on the market?

The cheaper supplements I listed may be as effective as any expensive supplement on the market, and in some cases more effective because they do what they claim. They are solid, reputable products.

Cheap Supplements Pros: Cost effective, able to buy in larger quantities, proven supplements but have less "hype" so they are able to be sold cheaper, Higher Power happens to be the house brand so it's there for the blue collar man

Cons: sometimes you get what you pay for and the cheaper item isn't as good or as good as the higher priced item, sometimes lower quality, doesn't always come in a fancy wrapper with huge claims on the label, may not contain the latest ingredients to hit the market

Positive Examples: See above in part 1.

Negative Exampls:
Tribulus Terrestrius- made by over 50% of the brands on this site and is usually under $20 for 1-3 month supply. Results that it work are inconclusive and many say it is a waste of money. Fortunately, it can be bought individually and is cheap.
Universal NOX3 ($27.95) It's cheap because it lasts quite a long time but it's also cheap quality. These pills break and crush up easily and aren't meant to be carried around-best made for someone who works at home. In this scenario "you get what you pay for" and the cheaper NO2 alternative isn't as good as the Nitrix or MRI NO2.

Expensive supplements nowadays are made of mythical proportions. They lay claim that "Supplement 1" will build 10 lbs of muscle in 2 months while "Product B" will burn off 25 lbs of fat in 6 weeks. Many times these expensive supplements are overrated and no better than the cheaper alternative. Sometimes though, there are more effective ingredients, and if used consistently, may provide more dramatic and/or superior results.

Expensive supplement pros: latest ingredients, pretty label/wrapper, makes huge claims, shows examples of pros using the supplement (BSN Ronnie Coleman; Muscletech-"nuff said), has scientific research/studies to show background, may be produced by a reputable company that produces quality products, may provide better results, has extensive marketing done to make you believe product will work

Expensive supplement cons: overhyped, overpriced, over "researched" (many times lab tests aren't consistent and we aren't told of the variables, amounts, or outside factors affecting study), may come with side effects (prohormones or stimulants apply here)

Positive Example: Nitro Tech ($52.89) 4 lbs This is a solid product that delivered hundreds of lifters results in only a few months. When stacked with Cell-Tech it's a potent one-two punch on building muscle but also on your pocket book. For $20-$30 dollars many brands offer 5-6 lbs of quality whey protein that will deliver similar results.

Negative Example: ASN Humagro ($23.80) claims that it will build muscle mass because its a legal growth hormone. The scientific tests this product claims it made could have been done on untrained males who responded quickly to the lifting and not that Humagro. The logs and reviews speak for themselves when it's said this product is nothing more than a sugarpill and will empty your wallet fast.

While both cheap supplements and expensive supplements have their pros and cons, in this case where a person is tight with cash, cheap supplements are the answer. They will provide steady and consistent results for a person who takes his training, dieting, and rest seriously. They also allow a person to put his money in himself, investments, family, and other hobbies.

Bonus Question 1

What brand can someone turn to for good quality supplements at a good price?

Higher Power, NOW Foods, Optimimum Nutrition, Twinlab, SciFit, Prolab, and Universal

These brands all have a large number of products to choose from with NOW being the biggest (324 products and counting). Each brand had a whey protein, creatine, multivitmin/mineral, MRP, tesosterone booster, energy booster/fat burner, and NOW obviously having quite a bit more for slim prices. If you had a favorite brand amongst these, you could pick one company and customize your own stack. These supplements are quality also and the results will come without the price!

If I had extra cash, what supplements would I buy or reccomend?

This is easy. I would spend my money on the BSN Mass Stack. It contains a high quality pre-workout energy supplement-NOExplode, a top-of-the-line creatine-Cell-Mass, a solid NO2-Nitrix, and a hyped up testosterone booster-Axis-HT. These supplements will build mass and density for any hardcore lifter and most of the muscle will stay. Even if it doesn't work as great as it claims, it may mentally make a person lift harder because of the amount of money invested. Personally, I myself and others have seen results using these supplements.

Closing Statement:
If I had only $100 dollars or so to work with every 2 months, I would turn my supplement purchases all over to Higher Power and stick with their products because they are cheap and effective. At this point in my life I have a little more to work with so I can afford the expensive supplements and formulate my own opinions on what is pure hype and what actually works. For the individual who can only spend so much, the cheap supplements listed above are a great start and could be used without any others for an ultimate stack and provide excellent results. Look at the cheaper brands listed above and go through them-see what they have to offer and find out what works best with your wallet, motivation, goals, and time.

Sorry it seems you passed the deadline by about 19 hours.