98% supplements = useless?

[kibslib]

I've been working out for nearly 5 years. Because of the magazines i've subscribed to, i've been brainwashed and been on a protein shake / supplement craze. First it was the problem of figuring out which to pick and then i became crazed which was the BEST one to pick. I've tried them all and been on protein shakes for about 4 years straight. I've been on a majority of supplements for a given amount of time creatine,no2,protein shakes(regular,nightime,low carb, no carb, weight gainer, fruity tooty delcious ones, you name it),carb supplement post workout, glutamine, hydroxycut, xenerdine, taraxatone, beast spray, magnesium and zinc, fish oils, protein bars(over 10 different types), and i'm probably missing a few.
The point is i've spent about $2000-$3000 over the past 4 years and where has it gotten me? Practically no where, considering i stopped all supplements 8 months ago and my body is looking even better than before. The only thing i'm taking is a energy drink and thats just so i'm not tired during workouts. Also, I've devoloped this extreme gas problem where my gas can at times be extremely rancid and unpleasant which was probably caused from all the protein shakes.

[avian]

define useless

omega 3's are not useless
multi vitamins are not useless
protein shakes are not useless (altho i prefer whole food)
creatine is not useless

im sure most users in this forum expend more money on supplements then they should, but there is a lot of good things out there... you dont need to stop completely, you can use the basics and have good results with 60us a month

[kibslib]

Originally Posted by avian

define useless

omega 3's are not useless
multi vitamins are not useless
protein shakes are not useless (altho i prefer whole food)
creatine is not useless

im sure most users in this forum expend more money on supplements then they should, but there is a lot of good things out there... you dont need to stop completely, you can use the basics and have good results with 60us a month

Yea i agree with health benefits of vitamins and EFAs. Thats more of protecting your body and living a healthy life style as apposed to building muscle. When i say useless to everything else i mean once you stop taking them your body just goes back to its original state. So in turn what was the point of taking them to begin with? Protein shakes i will tell you right now are useless. Eating any protein immediately after post workout such as chicken breast, eggs, tuna will not effect negatively effect your gains compared with a protein shake. In fact i felt i got better gains from whole food than protein shakes.

[avian]

Originally Posted by kibslib

Yea i agree with health benefits of vitamins and EFAs. Thats more of protecting your body and living a healthy life style as apposed to building muscle. When i say useless to everything else i mean once you stop taking them your body just goes back to its original state. So in turn what was the point of taking them to begin with? Protein shakes i will tell you right now are useless. Eating any protein immediately after post workout such as chicken breast, eggs, tuna will not effect negatively effect your gains compared with a protein shake. In fact i felt i got better gains from whole food than protein shakes.

ok, but some people dont have the time to prepare 6 chicken breast a day, or scrambled eggs or tuna

whey protien post workout is a fast, conveniente way to have a good meal post workout. i think most of the lifters workout between some chors, like before going to work etc

[Adamb83]

So far I've been off all supplements(including protein) for two weeks, due to money issues, and I haven't noticed any difference with or without it. I wouldn't say they're useless, because I imagine it would be very difficult to bulk with food alone.

But they do exactly what they're supposed to, they 'supplement' meals or nutriants that you can't get otherwise. Sometimes people overexaggerate the effects of supplements. But totally useless? nah...

[kibslib]

Originally Posted by Adamb83

So far I've been off all supplements(including protein) for two weeks, due to money issues, and I haven't noticed any difference with or without it. I wouldn't say they're useless, because I imagine it would be very difficult to bulk with food alone.

But they do exactly what they're supposed to, they 'supplement' meals or nutriants that you can't get otherwise. Sometimes people overexaggerate the effects of supplements. But totally useless? nah...

thats what happened with me, money issue. I stayed off of them for a while and then i realized, "um my gains are still the same....". So what was the point of even taking them? I've been of them ever since

[Nutella!]

I somewhat agree, a lot of supplements are useless but some are essential

any of the hype you read could of been made with the same amount of effort without supps.

with the exception of a few or steroids where you see results that actually came from the supplements

[El_Uneis]

i have tried a lot of stuff during the years , from creatine , glutamine, animal pak /stack/mstack, mhp t-bomb 2, twin lab amino fuel, gnc weight gainers, whey protein from gnc/body fortress, methoxy, eprifrin, ecdysterone.. and non got me any noticable results.

the only supplement that was worth more than the money i put on is " methyl masterdrol" and "formadrol extreme".. basically "Steroids".

i gained like grazy on them.. in 2 weeks i gained about 10 lb clean on masterdrol then gained another 5 lb on formadrol .. that is 15 lb in 3 weeks.

and im still keeping the gains .

peace

[1quick1]

Originally Posted by kibslib

Yea i agree with health benefits of vitamins and EFAs. Thats more of protecting your body and living a healthy life style as apposed to building muscle. When i say useless to everything else i mean once you stop taking them your body just goes back to its original state. So in turn what was the point of taking them to begin with? Protein shakes i will tell you right now are useless. Eating any protein immediately after post workout such as chicken breast, eggs, tuna will not effect negatively effect your gains compared with a protein shake. In fact i felt i got better gains from whole food than protein shakes.

Believe me protein shakes are not useless. It's just more convenient then cooking up a chicken breast and it's absorbed quickly (the way you want it after a workout). If you can get all the protein you need from your diet more power to you but most people don't have time to cook up all the stuff 6 times a day to do that's why they use protein shakes.

The thing is you've named a lot of different supplements and a lot of those supplements are aimed for different goals. (i.e. creatine and hydroxycut) are not going to do that same thing.

Why not just trying sticking to the basics that are proven (well as close to as proven as you can get) to work. Here's the ingredients.

A GOOD healthy diet with good carbs and a ton of protein spread across 6 meals, creatine, and a multivitamin. If you don't get enough protein in your diet throw in protein shakes and if you don't get enough EFA throw in some fish body pills. Then lift hard. Remember a protein drink or any of those things aren't miracle supplements. Just lift hard, give your mucles the tools they need, and rest.

BTW I will agree with you that 98% of supplements are useless.

[nick912]

good for you!

[dexterium]

There are a lot of products out there that work. All you have to do is hit up the product review section. It is impossible to deem them useless... if you have subject A and Subject B and they esentially are the same genetically, and they both are eating the same food and are doin the same workout. If you throw in a few supplements here and there for subject A, then there will be signifcant differences.

[DejaBlue55]

Cool thread title, especially in the supplement section... ???
No, 98% of supplements are not useless.

That is all.

[Quintis Vindex]

Anyone saying they stopped using Whey Protein due to money issues needs the use of a basic calculator. Whey Protein tubs, like the 5lbers of Ultimate Nutrition that I favor, are extraordinarily cost effective when it comes to the cost per gram of protein.

[marqui678]

The bottom line is that if you have a great diet, the supplements are unessicary, but they very convient and there are a handful of supps that actual youd have a hard time getting the nessicary amount from food. The whole point of supplements is to, youll be shocked, supplement your bodies needs which are unfufilled.

[Rage (SoCal)]

All pretty true. Although there is a lot of good stuff out there, many stims.

Stuff I'll buy again and again

Whey
Creatine
Fish Oil
Multi
Vitamin C


I just purchased some Glycerol, Taurine, and Phenibut and some Neuro-stim +C for my woman. To me, these are goodies for me. Sometimes supplements really give you a little extra kick in the ass which can make workouts a whole lot better. Stuff like ATD and Activate are not by any means necessary but they are certainly a whole lot of fun. I find it impressive to see what the body can do when it has a little extra support from supplements. It must feel awesome to be on the real deal. I'll never know.

[Mercenary]

Originally Posted by kibslib

When i say useless to everything else i mean once you stop taking them your body just goes back to its original state. So in turn what was the point of taking them to begin with? Protein shakes i will tell you right now are useless. Eating any protein immediately after post workout such as chicken breast, eggs, tuna will not effect negatively effect your gains compared with a protein shake. In fact i felt i got better gains from whole food than protein shakes.

ahhaha what a loser

I'm sure you can keep tuna and chicken breasts and eggs on your locker at your gym but I can't at mine

whey protein is one of the few things that work and work well stop being a dumb ****

I bet you never lifted a weight that's why you are complaining that your body went back to its original state.

you remind me of this kid that took acetabolan and was all excited and **** coz he was gettin muscles and when he stopped taking it he was all bummed coz everything went back to normal = his skinny old self

his name was jckeith btw

[Madevilz]

Originally Posted by Quintis Vindex

Anyone saying they stopped using Whey Protein due to money issues needs the use of a basic calculator. Whey Protein tubs, like the 5lbers of Ultimate Nutrition that I favor, are extraordinarily cost effective when it comes to the cost per gram of protein.

There we go, this is a big reason why 99.99% of bodybuilders use shakes. More convenient, and a lot cheaper than whole food. (and I guess you could consider faster digested protein... but I guess since we're replying to a supplement non believer)

Anyway, nutritions and training are the core of mass gaining, not supplements.

[Madevilz]

Mercenary, no need to be an a s s

[Adamb83]

The one thing I can say i notice, is that when I consistantly take 1 serving of a protein shake/weight gainer(Such as cytogainer, N-large ect...) for a period of a month or so, I rarely gain more then 1 or 2 pounds. However, I've been experimenting with cycles of protein, by taking 2 servings a day for two weeks on and two weeks off(money issues again) I've put on a lot more clean mass and managed to maintain it.


I don't know if this idea is logical or not from a scientific view point, but it works well for me.

[Flex500]

Originally Posted by kibslib

Yea i agree with health benefits of vitamins and EFAs. Thats more of protecting your body and living a healthy life style as apposed to building muscle. When i say useless to everything else i mean once you stop taking them your body just goes back to its original state. So in turn what was the point of taking them to begin with? Protein shakes i will tell you right now are useless. Eating any protein immediately after post workout such as chicken breast, eggs, tuna will not effect negatively effect your gains compared with a protein shake. In fact i felt i got better gains from whole food than protein shakes.

ah but see most people know whole food is as good as protein shakes but that doesn't make protein useless. For instance I can pound a two serving drink of protein in 10 ounces of water in about 2 minutes. It doesn't feel me up at all and then boom, within 45 min. I am ready for a huge meal.

A lot of the times I am not able to eat meals as much as I would like so I will have a protein shake with 2 servings of milk and 2 servings of protein and there ya go there is a ton of protein and over 400 calories packed into a 16oz. drink. It gets hard to eat 400 or so grams of protein from food so protein drinks work well.

Now I will agree with you that people rely on supps. way too much. People have sh*tty diets, shi*ty training, and not enough rest then they buy superdrol or beast spray and expect to look like Jay Cutler in 48 hours. Some people may not need protein drinks and that is fine. But for me protein is convenient and now cheap and tasty.

Supplements I feel are 100% good and useful...

1. multi-vitamin...well duh
2. flaxseed/fish oil
3. really any multy mineral or vitamin you feel you may need
4. protein drinks
5. creatine
6. no2 products..work for some not for others, definately not essential

[wiseguy1111]

That is your opinon and thats ok, but I do disagree with you.

[KeeperOfTheBeer]

Originally Posted by Flex500

Supplements I feel are 100% good and useful...

1. multi-vitamin...well duh
2. flaxseed/fish oil
3. really any multy mineral or vitamin you feel you may need
4. protein drinks
5. creatine
6. no2 products..work for some not for others, definately not essential

^^^^^ yup.
+BCAAs for me, though. Too bad xtend is so expensive. I'm not sure if it really is cost-effective. I think it works and I have a little extra cash to blow

[cxm]

Protein shakes are a convenient way of getting enough protein in your daily diet. I dont see how chicken breasts are cheaper or any other whole food than a protein shake. If you do enough research for a whey protein that works for you (price, quality and taste), you will find one. I have looked and tried different types, but if your buying "muscle milk", ON pro-complex or any other high priced protein of course its expensive. Your first mistake like all newbies is paying attention to the ads in mags (I was also one), fortunetely I started to research on the internet, friends and forums (bodybuilding is my favorite) and then compared products. For example for me, creatine mono works just as good instead of buying any the others like EAS phospagen HP, Muscle-tech, any other with dextrose. 1000 grams of mono costs about $20.00 for 200 servings at 5 grs. EAS phospagen is about $20.00 for 42 servings of 5 grs. I take 10grs a day, so regular mono lasts about 14 weeks.
EAS would last me 3 weeks. I would have to buy 5 jugs of EAS to 1 jug of regular creatine mono, I just saved $80.00 by just switching and researching.
If you get terrible gas from whey concentrate your probably lactose sensitive, so you should try whey isolate ion exchange, virtually lactose free.
Maybe if you do some research you can find affordable supplements for you.

[sothrowedmex]

Originally Posted by kibslib

I've been working out for nearly 5 years. Because of the magazines i've subscribed to, i've been brainwashed and been on a protein shake / supplement craze. First it was the problem of figuring out which to pick and then i became crazed which was the BEST one to pick. I've tried them all and been on protein shakes for about 4 years straight. I've been on a majority of supplements for a given amount of time creatine,no2,protein shakes(regular,nightime,low carb, no carb, weight gainer, fruity tooty delcious ones, you name it),carb supplement post workout, glutamine, hydroxycut, xenerdine, taraxatone, beast spray, magnesium and zinc, fish oils, protein bars(over 10 different types), and i'm probably missing a few.
The point is i've spent about $2000-$3000 over the past 4 years and where has it gotten me? Practically no where, considering i stopped all supplements 8 months ago and my body is looking even better than before. The only thing i'm taking is a energy drink and thats just so i'm not tired during workouts. Also, I've devoloped this extreme gas problem where my gas can at times be extremely rancid and unpleasant which was probably caused from all the protein shakes.

Are you serious? OK if you arent seeing the gains you so desire maybe its time for a little introspection. See what the problem is. Its probably you and your training or lack thereof. Supplements do just that "SUPPLEMENT" To render them useless is a fallacy/ Are you trying to refute based on your opinions or own errors? NOthing stays at its original form if you dont continue to work at it to achieve the desired results. Like being broke then winning the lottery. You spend all the lottery winnings now you are broke again. If you dont spend that money wisely , invest, and put money back that you spend then you will go back to how it was before. BEING BROKE. Body building is an investment of not only money, but time, dedication/devotion. Some people expect too much from things in life.Free hand outs and short cuts. Supplements are not short cuts and are not useless.They are there to facilitate your body in many different ways such as: recovery, energy, enhance blood flow, etc. i think you brainwashed your own self into believing that they don't work, which is a placebo effect on its own. Be positive about things, about your workout, and supps and they will do what they are intended to do. PLus make sure you are taking the supps right.Make sure if you stack supps together that they are synergistic, and dont contradict each other. Also its about timing...

[FredPo]

Don't want to say this like a prick, but it's the best way to get my point across. No pun intended . But if I can't eat a lot of protein, say at college and I all I got is a protein shake and a granola bar, then how is that protein useless, especially when I cannot afford to eat steak and chicken everyday while in college. Remember, supplements are to "supplement", not to be made the whole diet so use them wisely. But if you got the money, eat chicken and red meat everyday and you'll still get huge.

Fred

[Hugh]

ya, i agree with ya. id say 98% is an undershoot. Since a multi and efas and maybe protein after a workout are probably less than 1% of the other crap they try to sell ya. Creatine works fine if your diet is in order.

[American Hunk]

it's not as bad today, but most supplements are still "junk" IMO. you should have seen it back in the 80's with all the crap they had out. it was like 99.9% of supplements was crap. you couldn't even get good protein back then with all the weider ****.

[Flex500]

Originally Posted by American Hunk

it's not as bad today, but most supplements are still "junk" IMO. you should have seen it back in the 80's with all the crap they had out. it was like 99.9% of supplements was crap. you couldn't even get good protein back then with all the weider ****.

yeah as bad as they still are today they have come a long long way. I remember even around like 1998/late 90's it was hard to find a protein that you could stomach.

[SeaHawk22]

The strap is the only thing that is really essential for constant gains everything else is just what they are called "supplements".


SeaHawk22

[acecombact1]

Most supplement dont live up to the hype, but there are many good supplement out there. you have to be realy critical to pick up good supplement.