im 17. . .wanna be a builder but need some help lol

[xero661]

hey everyone im am looking for a good supplement to but and i see adds for all kinds of them in muscular development magazine and Muscle&fitness magazine. . .(cell tech, Gakic, no-explode, ) jsut to name a few. i am looksing for something with no steroids lol but will help me to get bigger, i dont mind puttin in the hard work to get there either. one that reall caught my eye was Xpand. . .i was thinking of getting that one at GNC but jsut wanted to check here and see if any of yall could help me out a lil. . .any advice is greatly apprechiated.

David

[FSUFighter]

Dude, first off, I'd stay away from GNC. They charge ludicrously high prices on pretty much everything in there unless it's one of their semi-anual sales and its 50% off. Even then its still about as much as you can get it for on bodybuilding.com or ************.com or other internet stores. People will always dissagree about the best supplements but I think most will agree that the two most important things are a multivitamin and whey protein. After that I would suggest Glutamine, Creatine ethyl ester, ZMA, and NOexplode. I have used all of these and gotten results but it depends on how much money you are willing to spend. Also don't just take my word for it. Look around the forums and the internet and do your own research on what works and what doesn't. Hope this helps, good luck gettin BIG.

[HBY18202]

Dude, first off, I'd stay away from GNC. They charge ludicrously high prices on pretty much everything in there unless it's one of their semi-anual sales and its 50% off. Even then its still about as much as you can get it for on bodybuilding.com or ************.com or other internet stores. People will always dissagree about the best supplements but I think most will agree that the two most important things are a multivitamin and whey protein. After that I would suggest Glutamine, Creatine ethyl ester, ZMA, and NOexplode. I have used all of these and gotten results but it depends on how much money you are willing to spend. Also don't just take my word for it. Look around the forums and the internet and do your own research on what works and what doesn't. Hope this helps, good luck gettin BIG.

No offenser at all, but ZMA wouldn't do too much for a 17 year old. Neither would NO-xplode. NO is pretty much just for better workouts, not getting big (which I know are closely related, but there are better muscle builders for the price).

I would say pretty much stick with the basics. Any cell volumizer (Animal Pump, GB, Cell Fuel, Thunder, Xceed, etc....) would be great, along with protein and a multi would make a great stack for a 17 year old. It's all I take, and if your diets decent, you'll make gains.

[RB12]

Dymatize Xpand is a very solid product, but will provide no mass; mass comes from food, not supps. Esepcially at your age, you really don't need any supps, learn to diet and train properly (see next post)

[RB12]

A few ideas that MIGHT help:

Nutrition / Diet / Macros:

- Total daily calorie intake. This is what will make / break you

- It is NOT efficient to try and lose fat AND gain muscle at the same time

- BMR and nutrition calculator (http://michaelandkendra.com/BMRCALC/bmrcalc.htm)

- Total Daily Protein Intake (for best results I recommend AROUND 2g per lb of bodyweight) (http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=337536)

- Foods (Good vs. Bad) (http://www.t-nation.com/portal_includes/articles/2001/172food.html)

- Unified Theory of Nutrition - by Will Brink (http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/willbrink10.htm)





Bulking:

When bulking (a calorie surplus to gain lean muscle mass at a optimal rate), I aim for:

- 1lb lean beef per day
- 1 Gallon Skim Milk per day
- Around 2000 cals per day from oats
- Lots of protein shakes (up to 8 per day)
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Beef / Sloppy Joes (manwich)
- Hamburger Helper
- Pasta
- Tuna
- Potatoes
- Rice
- Veggies (Fresh if possible)

(Note: If you can afford it you can do things like steaks etc.. etc..)

- If there was ONE SINGLE KEY to the gains I made in the 1 1/2 years when I went from 175-225 (my best.. leanest gains), it is OATS / STEEL CUT OATS ! The emphasis here is that oats are a INEXPENSIVE, HEALTHY, yet VERY CALORIE DENSE FOOD. I saw lean gains like I had never seen before. But NO THEY DON'T TASTE GOOD. YOU HAVE TO FORCE FEED THEM. This gets old fast. I added about 1 cup of oats to each protein shake.

- Hungry Hungry Hormones (http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/berardi55.htm)

- Massive Eating (http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/berardi41.htm)

- Stretch Mark Mass (http://www.t-nation.com/findArticle.do?article=301stretch2)

What are some good indications that I'm gaining muscle... ?


Mirror / Appearance
Measurements
Strength
Bodyweight





Cutting:

When cutting (a calorie deficit to lose fat at a optimal rate):

- I eat many of the same foods above, but with a lower TOTAL DAILY CALORIE INTAKE

- I put a emphasis on PRE- and POST-workout nutrition, and the end result is that most of my calories are eaten before my afternoon workout. I have found this to be ideal (for me).

Fullness Factor Chart 1 (http://technologyorgasm.com/upload/fullness.jpg)
Fullness Factor Chart 2 (http://technologyorgasm.com/upload/fullness2.jpg)

What it my basal metabolic rate ?


Your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the energy used (measured in calories) by your body to perform basic functions, including internal energy expenditure, breathing, and body temperature. It is the number of calories your body would expend if you performed no physical activity throughout the day.

Simply put... your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the rate at which your body burns calories while you rest. This is very important because we only have so much time for cardio each day.

BMR Calculator:
http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/


Where can I learn more about the "Fatloss Basics ?"


Fatloss Basics Part 1 (http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpost.php?p=4476014&postcount=3)
Fatloss Basics Part 2 (http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpost.php?p=4476023&postcount=4)
Fatloss Basics Part 3 (http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpost.php?p=4476035&postcount=5)
Fatloss Basics Part 4 (http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpost.php?p=4476040&postcount=6)


What are some good indications that I'm losing fat... ?


Mirror / Appearance
Measurements
Bodyfat caliper
Bodyweight





Supplements:

- Supplements / Companies to avoid (http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpost.php?p=6801890&postcount=81)

- SAVE $$$$$ ! ! STICK WITH THE BASICS ! ! )


Multivitamin (http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/adam.html)
(Click here for a Multivitamin Comparison Chart) (http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=561943)
10 lb bags of Optimum Whey Protein (http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/whey.html) (This includes a great BCAA profile AND glutamine) (Note: I recommend Choc / Choc Mint only)
Creapure Creatine (http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/crea.html) or Creatine Ethyl Ester HCL (http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/omega/cre.html) or Magnesium Creatine Chelate (http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/clabs/green.html)
Cold Pressed Flaxseed oil (and / or fishoil (http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/efa.html)


- Stay on creatine, there is no need to cycle it ! (cycling and loading are totally optional)

- Creatine timing (when / how to take it):
Science behind creatine timing (http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=307788)
In depth look at creatine (http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/author22.htm)

- For best results, aim for AROUND 2g of total daily protein intake per lb of bodyweight EVERY SINGLE DAY ! !

Example:


Bodyweight: 200lbs
Total daily protein intake: 400g

Here is why:


Protein Prejudice (http://www.johnberardi.com/articles/nutrition/proprejudice.htm)
Protein intake studies (http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=337536)
BCAA's / Leucine (http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=392907)





Workout / Routine:

- I recommend a MAX-OT, 5x5, HST (or similar) routine with a EMPHASIS ON:
- Squatting / Leg pressing
- Deadlifts
- Barbell benchpress (Including flat / decline / incline)
- Both BB's and DB's for best results

- Concentrate more on measurements and less on bodyweight

- Weigh yourself once a week. Should gain (or lose) around 1lb per week (depending on goals).

- Concentrate on form first, in order to stay injury free

- Emphasize both range of motion, and mind-muscle connection

- With intensity, strength gains, and a proper bodybuilding diet, the size gains (or fatloss) will come

- Make sure and have a spotter when working out your major muscle groups, preferrably someone bigger than you

- Don't be scared of overtraining. Simply listen (pay attention) to your body, and ask more questions later if you think you are overtraining.





Cardio:

- If possible, do cardio at least 8 hours from when you lift weights

- If possible, do cardio in the AM after sleeping.

- No need to do cardio on a empty stomach, but many prefer to due to nausea

- Jumping rope is a very efficient form of cardio

- Sprinting is a very efficient form of cardio (http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/par46.htm)

- HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) is a efficient form of cardio (http://www.musclemedia.com/training/hiit.asp)






Recovery (A.K.A GROWTH !):

- With proper intensity MUST COME PROPER RECOVERY !

- Make sure and get enough protein right before you go to sleep.

- Make sure and get enough protein/carbs right when you wake up

- Make sure and get enough deep, quality sleep (Not getting enough quality sleep is the #1 newbie mistake. You should aim for at least 8 QUALITY hours of sleep per night):

http://www.johnberardi.com/articles/training/sleep_1_pr.htm
http://www.johnberardi.com/articles/training/sleep_2_pr.htm

- Make sure and get enough protein / calories on off days (This is when your body will be recovering) It is important to be consistent !

- Make sure and get proper pre and post-workout nutrition:


Carbs pre and post workout.
Protein pre and post workout.
Creatine pre and post workout:
Pre, During, & Postworkout Nutrition (Click here) (http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=272067)






Cell volumization:

Make sure and drink enough water both throughout the day and during your workout (this is CRITICAL ! !) I drink about 1 liter per hour, and at least 3 liters during my workout. (Keep in mind I am currently over 240lbs so you may not need this much).


H2O / Cell Volumization... the ultimate supplement (http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=332329)
Stretch Mark Mass ! (http://www.t-nation.com/findArticle.do?article=301stretch2)
The role of cellular hydration in the regulation of cell function (http://www.biochemj.org/bj/313/0697/3130697.pdf)
In depth look at creatine (http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/author22.htm)
Glycerine / Glycerol (http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=164581)







Other Resources:

MCWTRAINER's SUPPLEMENT THREADS (http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=590038)
ESSENTIAL Supplements - By Ironpimper (http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=517741)
Mind and Muscle - Strengthen your connection (http://mindandmuscle.net)
The BB.COM Bible - By BIGNBUFF (http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=167918)
Rules, Information, and "Best Of" Threads Index (http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=245936)







Good luck !
If you have read this post and ALL the links provided and you still have a question or concern.. please E-Mail me and I'll get back to you as soon as possible:

pt@controlledlabs.com

Disclaimer: The above post is IN MY OPINION, or IN MY EXPERIENCE, unless otherwise noted.
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