Why take supplements?

[Dan216]

Hey guys I have a few questions. I want to start off by saying the only supplement I take is regular ol' Whey Protein. I really started lifting at the beginning of the year so forgive my ignorance as I am a bit of a newbie.

My question is why does everyone take a crap load of supplements? It doesn't seem healthy to me to have take something to boost your energy time and time again. If you don't have the energy to work out, why do it. Why do you need to add testosterone to your workout and take creatine etc..? It has always seemed to me to be a "fast" way to get results, but not always the correct way.

I doubt the Romans back in the day took all this stuff? Even the bb's in the early 1900's?

I'm trying to go the natural route.

So my question to you is: Why take supplements? Is there a health risk? Is it to achieve a quicker goal? I mean you look at these Mr. Olympia guys and gals.. and they look unnatural to me.

Thanks and sorry in advanced for insulting anyone.. I'm just curious.

[Vinny82]

The Olympia guys and girls sure are on a lot more than "supplements". In reality, no supplement is needed, people take them because they feel they need an aide in training or diet. Many people feel that supplements will be the quick way to results, but reality is 90 percent of them do nothing. There are good supplements out there, the ones that are recommended time and time again, creatine, protein, fish oil, multi vitamins, ect. If you don't want to take supplements, you hit the nail on the head, you really don't need them.

[samps6]

so you where there to see the original Romans physiques? or your images are based upon whats shown on the TV?

[eatyourspinach]

"Regular ol' whey protein" is a supplement for food. Some things are beneficial to supplement in terms of weight lifting/exercise in general that are not always easily attainable simply through diet.

[Dan216]

so you where there to see the original Romans physiques? or your images are based upon whats shown on the TV?

Yes haven't you seen 300, Spartacus etc..?

[Dan216]

I guess my whole point for writing this thread is I lift 4-5 times a week.. Eat lots of healthy calories (Higher carbs, high protein, then healthy fats), and can't seem to gain weight. I run a mile before each workout.

My metabolism just kicks my butt and I stay at 142ish pounds.

Is taking supplements for someone like me super crucial to make gains?

[DR96]

Compare your body to car modifications like supplements they help you perform better but just like some mods not all supplements really help some are just lies

[ericdose]

Supplements are not crucial. They are exactly as the word implies, to supplement your diet/training. A lot of people do think that they can take (insert supplement name here) and magically see gains when this is not the case. You can use protein as an example. If your diet isn't dialed in then regardless of whether you supplement with protein or not, you won't really see gains. It takes hard work and dedication to really transform one's body. The supplements can help but you really have to have diet/routine down first.

As far as gaining weight, if you lift 4-5 times a week and not seeing gains it could be a few different things. the duration/intensity may be a bit much (overtraining) or it could be that you need to up the calories, in which case a good protein blend would be beneficial. I'd advise hitting up the nutrition section and start there. Usually that's where the problem lies. Once you have that down then look into your routine. Be sure you're giving your body ample opportunity to rest between sessions.

[samps6]

I guess my whole point for writing this thread is I lift 4-5 times a week.. Eat lots of healthy calories (Higher carbs, high protein, then healthy fats), and can't seem to gain weight. I run a mile before each workout.

My metabolism just kicks my butt and I stay at 142ish pounds.

Is taking supplements for someone like me super crucial to make gains?

NO WAY!

you gotta try different methods of training, and DIET COUNTING CALORIES! without that you will NEVER know why are you not achieving your goals!

[mcord11758]

Suppliments won't add weight to you any better than changing your diet. You need to figure out your maintenance calories then eat in surplus and train. How many calories do you eat/day?

[wasp9166]

because some work and most don't

get educated

[mcapote3]

so Romans didnt take supplements? where did you pull this out of?

Opium for pain
horse heal for digestive problems
egg yolk for dysentery
garlic to keep the heart good
Fenugreek to prevent pneumonia
Silphium for just about everything else

they used what they had access too at the time for physical gains we just have better science now. of course with everything you have good and bad supplements, and knowledgeable and unknowledgable users both play big on the outcome of using sups.

[Dan216]

The Roman thing was a more of a joke. Had to have some comic relief in there somewhere.

[BoilerUpIndy]

Night and day difference with a preworkout (energy/endurance primarily) when lifting at 6:45 am.

[Dan216]

Suppliments won't add weight to you any better than changing your diet. You need to figure out your maintenance calories then eat in surplus and train. How many calories do you eat/day?

I agree, I do need to start counting calories. I have tried in the past, but have failed as it seems to be a hassle measuring out your portions etc.. Maybe I'm looking to far into it. The family doesn't help also.. Getting on me for not eating the Costco lasagna and eating differently like I used to.

[Dan216]

I agree, I do need to start counting calories. I have tried in the past, but have failed as it seems to be a hassle measuring out your portions etc.. Maybe I'm looking to far into it. The family doesn't help also.. Getting on me for not eating the Costco lasagna and eating differently like I used to.

I'll calculate what I've eaten and get back to you! Planning on going to Panda Express today for lunch. Getting a large entrée of JUST steamed brown rice and steamed vegetables. Seems healthy to me.

[mcord11758]

At 147lbs you can stand to eat some of that lasagnia

[Frozenarcticguy]

I run a mile before each workout.

My metabolism just kicks my butt and I stay at 142ish pounds.

Is taking supplements for someone like me super crucial to make gains?

Might want to cut the running down to maybe once a week if you can't gain weight, plus increase the carbs and protein.

[Dan216]

Just wanted to thank everyone for the replies!

[DasGehrman]

Hey guys I have a few questions. I want to start off by saying the only supplement I take is regular ol' Whey Protein. I really started lifting at the beginning of the year so forgive my ignorance as I am a bit of a newbie.

My question is why does everyone take a crap load of supplements? It doesn't seem healthy to me to have take something to boost your energy time and time again. If you don't have the energy to work out, why do it. Why do you need to add testosterone to your workout and take creatine etc..? It has always seemed to me to be a "fast" way to get results, but not always the correct way.

I doubt the Romans back in the day took all this stuff? Even the bb's in the early 1900's?

I'm trying to go the natural route.

So my question to you is: Why take supplements? Is there a health risk? Is it to achieve a quicker goal? I mean you look at these Mr. Olympia guys and gals.. and they look unnatural to me.

Thanks and sorry in advanced for insulting anyone.. I'm just curious.

I don't think anyone should be a supplement junkie, however, there are plenty of things to consider taking. I personally like having whey to add protein to my diet on busy days and I just like to drink a shake after my workout (not because some anabolic window lol). Another thing is it was hard for me to eat enough quality food while bulking on 4500 cals so a mass gainer shake helped me a lot. Sometimes you don't have much energy and a pwo is a nice boost. I would recommend a good multi-vitamin just to help make sure you're gettin all the micro-nutrients you may miss on occasional basis if you don't eat perfectly balanced diet 100% of the time, nobody does.

[Dan216]

I don't think anyone should be a supplement junkie, however, there are plenty of things to consider taking. I personally like having whey to add protein to my diet on busy days and I just like to drink a shake after my workout (not because some anabolic window lol). Another thing is it was hard for me to eat enough quality food while bulking on 4500 cals so a mass gainer shake helped me a lot. Sometimes you don't have much energy and a pwo is a nice boost. I would recommend a good multi-vitamin just to help make sure you're gettin all the micro-nutrients you may miss on occasional basis if you don't eat perfectly balanced diet 100% of the time, nobody does.

4500 cals in one day? Crazy man! I calculated mine and it's roughly 3300. I feel so bloated and fat after that though I guess what I'm worried about is gaining too much to the point where I look stocky and not lean like I am now. Granted I don't have a ton of lean muscle, but I like the way I look now. So.. if I go for 3300 cals per day, will lean muscle make me look goofy? Haha

[XxmetallicaxX]

The 3 supplements i cn recommend that i have seen results form using through my own experience...

First, FISH OIL.....I have bad AC joint from basketball injury, ever since i started supplementing with this i noticed pain relief
Second, CREATINE....only been supplementing for about 2 months now but i noticed increase in strength gains since i loaded up for first week and now do creatine maintenance
Last....Pre-Workout....time and time again everyone posts about the benefits of a preworkout supplement, they work, they increase your energy focus and pumps in the gym.

Now i have tried testosterone boosters, several protein products and i cant honestly say i have seen any results from these supplements, if their were any results it could very easily been from something else like training and diet...

[obey46]

4500 cals in one day? Crazy man! I calculated mine and it's roughly 3300. I feel so bloated and fat after that though I guess what I'm worried about is gaining too much to the point where I look stocky and not lean like I am now. Granted I don't have a ton of lean muscle, but I like the way I look now. So.. if I go for 3300 cals per day, will lean muscle make me look goofy? Haha

Basically just keep track of your progress. If you're not gaining weight, eat a little more. If you do gain weight too fast, drop calories a bit and go from there. Most important of all is just track your progress and make adjustments when needed. Check out the nutrition section. Limit your cardio as well since you know you have a high metabolism. You're basically burning calories and have to eat more just to negate that deficit. If cardio is a must then keep it to a light jog or even a walk.

[Dan216]

Thanks I like that advice. Using something like MyFitnessPal is such a hassle to me. One reason for the cardio is I'm an EMT and eventually going for paramedic/firefighter. I need to be strong and have the endurance to go with it. Hmmmmmmm... Decisions, decisions..

I think you guys have got me thinking about needing to eat more. Thanks for that!

[JohnRybicki]

Hey guys I have a few questions. I want to start off by saying the only supplement I take is regular ol' Whey Protein. I really started lifting at the beginning of the year so forgive my ignorance as I am a bit of a newbie.

My question is why does everyone take a crap load of supplements? It doesn't seem healthy to me to have take something to boost your energy time and time again. If you don't have the energy to work out, why do it. Why do you need to add testosterone to your workout and take creatine etc..? It has always seemed to me to be a "fast" way to get results, but not always the correct way.

I doubt the Romans back in the day took all this stuff? Even the bb's in the early 1900's?

I'm trying to go the natural route.

So my question to you is: Why take supplements? Is there a health risk? Is it to achieve a quicker goal? I mean you look at these Mr. Olympia guys and gals.. and they look unnatural to me.

Thanks and sorry in advanced for insulting anyone.. I'm just curious.

ive been lifting for 15 years straight. i can tell you i work with nutritional supplements out of humility for the depletion and stress caused by bodybuilding. i believe in putting nutrition back in when i have exhausted it and i admit that we all dont have a way of performing a daily tally of what nutrients we are exhausting besides being able to try things. if i take some bcaa's, for example, and find i have better recovery, then i know that was something i couldve been providing more in my diet but was not. now, obviously im talking about nutrition; i mean, i dont think low energy is a caffeine deficiency, but i advocate that if people are worn out and tired that they look into getting coenzymated b vitamins into their system so that they can make cortisones/adrenaline better.

[Dan216]

ive been lifting for 15 years straight. i can tell you i work with nutritional supplements out of humility for the depletion and stress caused to by body. i believe in putting nutrition back in when i have exhausted it and i admit that we all dont have a way of performing a daily tally of what nutrients we are exhausting besides being able to try things. if i take some bcaa's, for example, and find i have better recovery, then i know that was something i couldve been providing more in my diet but was not. now, obviously im talking about nutrition; i mean, i dont think low energy is a caffeine deficiency, but i advocate that if people are worn out and tired that they look into getting coenzymated b vitamins into their system so that they can make cortisones/adrenaline better.

So if someone is worn out, why not take a nap or a rest day and come back with a better motivational level?

[rhadam]

I agree, I do need to start counting calories. I have tried in the past, but have failed as it seems to be a hassle measuring out your portions etc.. Maybe I'm looking to far into it. The family doesn't help also.. Getting on me for not eating the Costco lasagna and eating differently like I used to.

Exactly why you're not gaining weight. It's not exactly about what you put in, it's the total calories. Eating 3 meals that consist of 500 cals each won't get the job done. Eat more food, stop thinking that things are dirty and clean, gain some weight. Boom easy.

[Valhallabound86]

If you don't have the energy to work out, why do it.

You're 20. Not to throw the age card at you, but lifters in their 30's+ may need a kick in the pants to get to the gym due to parental/work responsibilities that take priority. If a caffeine tablet does that, then I don't think you have the right to label that as an unhealthy method of supplementation.

[JohnRybicki]

So if someone is worn out, why not take a nap or a rest day and come back with a better motivational level?

well, nobody is going to argue against sufficient rest, but consider nutrition levels. spectracell blood tests, which is said to be more accurate than blood tests, gives you the stats of everyone in america who has ever taken it; its pretty shocking to see how many people had steep deficiencies in micronutrients and even specific amino acids. if somebody has low folate, b12 and iron levels i dont recommend they sleep more; those people should be taking folate, b12 and iron and then they can go out an lead a productive life instead of sleeping all day. the same principle applies to bodybuilding; more hormones are being produced by people who train, and that means more of the raw materials to make them are being used up ect. more aminos are being replaced, so more need to be taken in.i know people who dont take anything and they lift their whole lives, but i also know people who wouldve kept working out if they had supplied their bodies with everything it could use for recovery ect. there are supplements that can take away with continued use, and they all have to state on their label that a cycle off period is necessary, but when it comes to nutritional supplements, its just like providing your body with more material in case it wants to use it. people dont realize it, but our food supply is messed up, so we're working with extracts in a sense whether we want to or not; big farms reuse soils for crops year after year without replacing minerals, resulting in low selenium content in food ect. again, refined foods leech micronutrients out of our bodies to be utilized. these are the challenges our diets face, and missing out on vital nutrients is a problem; look at iodine for example: low levels cause goiter and imbecility; how many thousands of people had to get really dumb and lumpy before iodine had to be added to salt? the fact is they thought they had everything they needed from their meals. these guys who train hardcore year after year dont want to miss workouts and sleep; they want to give their bodies what is needed to function optimally and better

[Mr.Cooper69]

well, nobody is going to argue against sufficient rest, but consider nutrition levels. spectracell blood tests, which is said to be more accurate than blood tests, gives you the stats of everyone in america who has ever taken it; its pretty shocking to see how many people had steep deficiencies in micronutrients and even specific amino acids. if somebody has low folate, b12 and iron levels i dont recommend they sleep more; those people should be taking folate, b12 and iron and then they can go out an lead a productive life instead of sleeping all day. the same principle applies to bodybuilding; more hormones are being produced by people who train, and that means more of the raw materials to make them are being used up ect. more aminos are being replaced, so more need to be taken in.i know people who dont take anything and they lift their whole lives, but i also know people who wouldve kept working out if they had supplied their bodies with everything it could use for recovery ect. there are supplements that can take away with continued use, and they all have to state on their label that a cycle off period is necessary, but when it comes to nutritional supplements, its just like providing your body with more material in case it wants to use it. people dont realize it, but our food supply is messed up, so we're working with extracts in a sense whether we want to or not; big farms reuse soils for crops year after year without replacing minerals, resulting in low selenium content in food ect. again, refined foods leech micronutrients out of our bodies to be utilized. these are the challenges our diets face, and missing out on vital nutrients is a problem; look at iodine for example: low levels cause goiter and imbecility; how many thousands of people had to get really dumb and lumpy before iodine had to be added to salt? the fact is they thought they had everything they needed from their meals. these guys who train hardcore year after year dont want to miss workouts and sleep; they want to give their bodies what is needed to function optimally and better

Lol.