Supplements

It seems every 16 year old kid with a newly purchased gym membership feels that in order to make any gains, he has to buy the newest designer supplement, because it's "what the pros use." In fact, I know of plenty of cases where teenagers won't even go to the gym if they've run out of whatever product they're using, because then the session "won't be worth anything." This really pisses me off. Hard work is the only supplement you need, and if you're gonna skip a training session because you don't have your special lifting juice, you're a fuckin pussy! Okay, mini-rant over.


The purpose of supplements is exactly what the name implies: to supplement an already appropriate diet and exercise program. Certainly supplementation does have its merits; however, before deciding to use any, a lifter/athlete should be eating a diet rich in whole milk(organic or raw if possible), lean meats, nuts, vegetables and fruits. The lifter/athlete should also be training for strength and performance, but if you're reading this you probably already know that or have heard me say it a thousand times.

So, for the sake of argument, let's say you train hard and heavy and you're eating pretty good (an occasional crappy diet choice happens, but remember that mental toughness is even more important than physical toughness. What supplements could you take to maximize your gains and progress as quickly as possible?

1. Vitamin D - This won't really be necessary for those of you drinking your gallon of milk a day because milk is fortified with D. But for those of you who can't tolerate milk, this is a must. Vitamin D has been shown to be involved in so many bodily processes that you can't afford not to take it, especially in the winter. On cloudy days I take up to 5000 IU. Speaking from personal experience, if I ever forget to take my Vit. D in the morning, I can tell by 2pm when I'm sluggish and don't feel good.

2. Fish Oil - This could be tied for first with D, but whatever. Fish Oil should be used by everyone everywhere. The Omega 3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory meaning they could help with arthritis pain or any other inflammation you may be experiencing. They are great for your heart health, your skin, and have been shown to help with symptoms of depression. They also help your body to utilize fat for energy. I don't trust all fish oil products though. I stick with Costco's brand and Biotest's Flameout. I HIGHLY recommend Flameout and its counterpart FA3. These products are pure and incredibly potent. You can get them at www.biotest.net


3. Acidophilus - This is a probiotic. Take it with meals (1-3 times per day) and it will help straighten out your gut problems. A big issue today is that gut health is very low among Americans. What this means is that alot of people can't even absorb the nutrients they put in their bodies. Eating 200g of protein a day don't mean shit if your body can't absorb it. Not to mention the fact that a huge portion of your immune system is located in the digestive tract. Acidophilus will help to strengthen your gut's ability to absorb nutrients and protect you from sickness.

That's all I'm going to list for you. Protein powders are good if you can't eat meat throughout the day. Certainly a peri-workout shake with a 2:1 ratio of carbohydrates to protein will help muscles recover. But if you just drink alot of milk, you'll recover just as much. Don't waste money on NO products and most "super-huge-mega-protein-jacked-intense-hardcore-professional" supplements (you know the ones I'm talking about) are just shitty quality products marketed to people who don't know what they're doing, but see some roided-out bodybuilder claiming that it helped him put on 91 lbs of pure muscles in just 3 weeks. Don't fall for the hype, stick to the basics. Enjoy the snow (sarcasm) and don't let it be an excuse to not train! Go KICK ASS!