Thinking of ZMA...

[ptbrakefield]

I was studying up on ZMA some... best I can tell you should take it around two hours before bed on an empty stomach... but we are also told... LOLOL... that we should eat before going to bed...

What works for any of you who take ZMA? How/when do you take it?

I'm supplementing with NOS, Creatine, and whey plus fish oil, calcium, vitamin C and a multivitamin...

[LyingSac]

I think you'll get a lot of good feed back on this one.I'd advise you to take it,but take your calcium a half a day away from it.It helps sleep and magnesium both help raise testosterone levels...go for it

[ptbrakefield]

I take all of the vitamin type stuff (including the fish oil) in the mornings... so that would presumably be ok...

[Marius_Ursus]

You can save a lot of money if you take a simple Zinc/Magnesium supplement and a B multi. That's all that's in ZMA: Zing, Magnesium, and B...something. What B6 or B12?

I wouldn't worry too much about the calcium absorption interference. It's not a 100% blockage on Zinc and Magnesium. In fact you don't absorb 100% of anything anyway. Your body will soak up what it needs. Don't worry about it.

[ehcode]

the only thing I've heard about taking it with food is don't take it with milk as milk will interfere with the absorption of vitamin b.

And I can attest to the claims of crazy dreams when using the stuff....part of why I don't take it; I talk in my sleep enough as it is. Nice deep sleep too.
I'm not sure if it does as much good if taken midday.

[ptbrakefield]

I guess I should have mentioned that I don't sleep all that well; I go to bed in time most nights to get eight hours, but I'm going to wake up after about six hours regardless. I had a thread on this a few months ago. I'd love something that would help me to sleep better because I know how important it is.

[chodan9]

I have tried zma, I think it helped a bit with getting more restful sleep, but not so much getting to sleep. The best think I have found to naturally aid in getting to sleep is melatonin.

[farsscf]

I tried ZMA, melatonin and valerian root seems to work better for me, and is cheaper.

[Hey-Iwas51]

I tried ZMA, melatonin and valerian root seems to work better for me, and is cheaper.

You can get like 300 melatonin pills for like $8 or something (Costco) with theanine mixed in, which is an amino acid which is supposed to be a mood relaxer/ stress reducer type thing. Put me right to sleep...

[MtnBikeMike]

I use it and am very happy with the results. I doubt it does anything for your test levels but I sure sleep like a baby when I use it.

[plmb1]

I was studying up on ZMA some... best I can tell you should take it around two hours before bed on an empty stomach... but we are also told... LOLOL... that we should eat before going to bed...

What works for any of you who take ZMA? How/when do you take it?

I'm supplementing with NOS, Creatine, and whey plus fish oil, calcium, vitamin C and a multivitamin...

I take zma and melatonine..........I am very pleased with the results of my deeper sleep. And as someone else on here said, "zma it self will not boost your T levels" but the deeper sleep that you get through zma (IMO) will. Not to mention having slept better you will be able to have a more intense workout with heavy lifts such as squats and deads and that my friend will for sure raise the T levels.........Try it, you will prob like it....good luck.

I forgot to answer your other question. I take zma at 10pm, melatonine at 10:45 and usually sound asleep by 11:00 to 11:15 and do not wake up till usually around 7:45 to 8:00 unless I drink to much before bed........then I wake up sometimes in the night to pee......but have no problem going right back to sleep as long as I don't stay up to long.

If you do drink a shake before bed and it causes u to have to get up to pee this is one thing u can do: Take the zma one hour before bed, take 3mg of melatonine 20 minutes or so before bed, keep the melatonine beside your bed and if you wake during the night to pee quickly pop another 3mg before you pee and by the time you lay back down you should not have a hard time falling back asleep........BTW, get the type melatonine that disolves under your tongue. It works much faster......good luck.

[AlanBee]

You can save a lot of money if you take a simple Zinc/Magnesium supplement and a B multi. That's all that's in ZMA: Zing, Magnesium, and B...something. What B6 or B12?

I wouldn't worry too much about the calcium absorption interference. It's not a 100% blockage on Zinc and Magnesium. In fact you don't absorb 100% of anything anyway. Your body will soak up what it needs. Don't worry about it.

It's B6, there's normally around 30mg Zinc, 450mg Magnesium and 10mg of B6.

A word of caution to anyone that has not taken high doses of Magnesium, especially late at night, just make sure not to stray too far from a restroom when you wake up

[LyingSac]

I take zma and melatonine..........I am very pleased with the results of my deeper sleep. And as someone else on here said, "zma it self will not boost your T levels" but the deeper sleep that you get through zma (IMO) will. Not to mention having slept better you will be able to have a more intense workout with heavy lifts such as squats and deads and that my friend will for sure raise the T levels.........Try it, you will prob like it....good luck.

I forgot to answer your other question. I take zma at 10pm, melatonine at 10:45 and usually sound asleep by 11:00 to 11:15 and do not wake up till usually around 7:45 to 8:00 unless I drink to much before bed........then I wake up sometimes in the night to pee......but have no problem going right back to sleep as long as I don't stay up to long.

If you do drink a shake before bed and it causes u to have to get up to pee this is one thing u can do: Take the zma one hour before bed, take 3mg of melatonine 20 minutes or so before bed, keep the melatonine beside your bed and if you wake during the night to pee quickly pop another 3mg before you pee and by the time you lay back down you should not have a hard time falling back asleep........BTW, get the type melatonine that disolves under your tongue. It works much faster......good luck.

hey plmb,i'm gonna go ahead and disagree with your point of ZMA not boosting test by itself.check this out http://www/secretsofmuscle.com/testo..._boosters.html ....Roy

[oldmangreene]

I usually take ZMA anywhere from just before bed to 1/2 hour..It gives me a deep sleep and dreams..as far a vivid dreams hell I'm to old to remember when I get up...omg

[Marius_Ursus]

hey plmb,i'm gonna go ahead and disagree with your point of ZMA not boosting test by itself.check this out http://www/secretsofmuscle.com/testo..._boosters.html ....Roy

That could be the Zinc alone. It's an aromatase inhibitor. Poliquin writes of trainees of his who have eliminated their moobs by introducing shellfish and tree nuts into their diets. See, there really is something to the old "myth" of oysters' being an aphrodesiac.

[LyingSac]

That could be the Zinc alone. It's an aromatase inhibitor. Poliquin writes of trainees of his who have eliminated their moobs by introducing shellfish and tree nuts into their diets. See, there really is something to the old "myth" of oysters' being an aphrodesiac.

there always seems to be a little pearl of truth in them old sayings eh?

[SuperHappyFun]

It can't hurt anything but your pocketbook so give it a whirl. No unbiased science to support any of the claims though. All anecdotes.

[pmartel]

the only thing I've heard about taking it with food is don't take it with milk as milk will interfere with the absorption of vitamin b.

And I can attest to the claims of crazy dreams when using the stuff....part of why I don't take it; I talk in my sleep enough as it is. Nice deep sleep too.
I'm not sure if it does as much good if taken midday.

I took ZMA before I went to work and was a space cadet all day. I know it was that as I tried it a couple of days later and same result.

I have been off it for a week as ran out, but I do love the deep sleep I get with it and techicolour dreams

[dirkwright]

I guess I should have mentioned that I don't sleep all that well; I go to bed in time most nights to get eight hours, but I'm going to wake up after about six hours regardless. I had a thread on this a few months ago. I'd love something that would help me to sleep better because I know how important it is.

I'm worse. I wake up after a few hours, then go back to sleep for 3-4 more, then wake up again, then back to sleep... sigh...

I take 1 mg melatonin, 500 mg L-tryptophan, and 2 Novadex XT before bed. When I get up to pee, I take another L-tryptophan, or 2 ZMA. I get enough sleep, just not more then 3 or 4 hours at a time.

I used to slam myself to sleep for many hours with 2 Benedryl and 2 500 mg tylenol... whoa, that was a bad move on my part and it took me years to stop it. At least the stuff I take now is somewhat natural.

[dirkwright]

It's B6, there's normally around 30mg Zinc, 450mg Magnesium and 10mg of B6.

A word of caution to anyone that has not taken high doses of Magnesium, especially late at night, just make sure not to stray too far from a restroom when you wake up

Yeah, that's why I only take 2 ZMA. The generic ZMA from the Vitamin Shoppe is inexpensive.

[fusionla]

Yeah, that's why I only take 2 ZMA. The generic ZMA from the Vitamin Shoppe is inexpensive.

I'm going to start taking ZMA tonight it also Tribulus terrestris extract.
What's this about the Restroom?

[Al Shades]

I was studying up on ZMA some... best I can tell you should take it around two hours before bed on an empty stomach... but we are also told... LOLOL... that we should eat before going to bed...

What works for any of you who take ZMA? How/when do you take it?

I'm supplementing with NOS, Creatine, and whey plus fish oil, calcium, vitamin C and a multivitamin...

ZMA actually works because Zinc, Mag, and B6 are all good nutrients. I recommend it.

[AlanBee]

What's this about the Restroom?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_of_magnesia

[Stevelegh]

Helps me sleep. If I workout in the evenings, I can't sleep. Someone here suggested it and it really does help.

[dirkwright]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_of_magnesia

Heh. I tried 3 pills of ZMA the other night. After my bathroom experience the next day, I think I'll pass... ooops.. <g>