To Take Supplements Or Not

So I've had a few people ask why I've fallen off on updating the blog, sorry guys! My semester just ended and I was extremely busy with school and work. But here's my newest update, send me your comments/questions!

As someone who never took supplements before, I highly recommend taking them when using a workout regimen. Depending on what your goal is, there are definitely supplements out there that will help you. I hate how people associate taking supplements with steroids or how people think if you take supplements, you're a huge body builder. Both are untrue and totally false. Yes supplements can help you gain mass but more importantly, they help you recover.

Currently I stack three different supplements when working out. My pre-workout formula is a product called Jack3d made by USP Labs, which has a high concentration of AAKG or Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate. AAKG promotes nitric oxide production which enhances blood flow which allows for more oxygen to reach working muscles. The more oxygen and nutrients that reach working muscles, the more repetitions someone can do. The one thing to be careful with this product is that it is highly concentrated. The serving size is three scoops, however the scoops are super small. You definitely want to test your tolerance before using all three scoops. I started off using just one scoop and I immediately noticed increased strength and stamina. As your body gets more and more used to it, you can gradually increase your dosage.

The second product I use is GNC Pro Performance AMP Amplified Creatine 189. I take one pill before working out and one after. Creatine allows one to perform better because it helps supply energy to muscles while stimulating protein synthesis. Also when an abundance of creatine phosphate is stored in the muscle, the muscle will hold more water in its cells and become what is known as "volumized" or "super-hydrated." The more volumized a muscle is, the more it will promote the synthesis of protein.

The last product I use is GNC Pro Performance AMP Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60. Using this to make a protein shake after my workout helps in my body recover as well as add nutrients I need to stay in shape. Most protein combinations have a number of amino acids as well as other nutrients that help muscles recover after a workout.

As well as taking supplements, dieting correctly helps an enormous amount in giving your muscles the nutrients they need to grow and recover. Eating fast absorbing carbohydrates after a workout are great. If you're trying to build muscle, eating any sort of pasta after a workout is a great source of carbohydrates. It doesn't even have to be whole grain, although if you're trying to get lean and lose a few pounds, definitely stay away from white pasta, bread, etc.

The biggest tip I can give is definitely find a pre-workout supplement that helps you focus and gives you energy. Some may make you sick in the beginning, but that's because of its make-up, such as NO-Xplode or Super Pump 250 that have a lot of magnesium in them. After a while your body will adjust and you won't be running to the bathroom, but if you're looking to hit the gym right away and not the bathroom, stay away from supplements with a lot of magnesium in them.

Happy workouts everyone!