How to get the effects you need with the supplements you have.

With so much demand for nutritional panaceas and potions, the bar has been raised substantially within the past decade. All of this competition reflects a society that is demanding high quality—and a lot of it! As more people become interested in fitness, the demand for better products and higher quality will increase as well. Companies offering false claims and poor products won’t be able to compete alongside legitimate products with quality raw materials.

If you’re clueless about the power your supplement cupboard really offers, this article is for you! Remember one thing: You can have all the tools in the world at your feet, but if no one teaches you how best to use them, you may never succeed. If you’ve been flying blind with supplements for longer than a year, take heart… You no longer have to!

The first step is deciding what it is you want to achieve with your program. Most people aren’t satisfied and want to transform themselves from what they are currently, to something better. Below are categories of change that represent what 99% of people out there want to attain. Find your goals and you’re on your way:

FAT LOSS
Fat burners (stimulant or stimulant free) – A great addition to a balanced diet. If you don’t like a speedy feeling, go with stimulant-free. Many choices in this category.

Glutamine – Excellent recovery tool for dieters looking to burn fat. Fills muscles and helps spare wasting.

Vanadyl Sulfate – A great supplement for preventing carbohydrates from stimulating fat-producing insulin.

Carnitine – Use prior to cardio exercise for mobilizing fat stores so that you use more fat for fuel.

Chromium  – Vanadyl’s partner, it prevents food from stimulating insulin response, which can cause carbohydrates to be stored as fat, rather than in muscles or utilized for immediate fuel.

Multi-Vitamin(plus extra B and C) – Dieting is stressful and your body demands extra nutrition to compensate for fewer calories. Take extra stress vitamins (B&C)

Growth hormone releasers (P.M.) – Arginine, Ornithine, Guggul Sterones and L-Tyrosine. Formulas vary.

Protein (zero or negligible carbs) – Important to include protein often when dieting, choose one with low carbohydrate count for less insulin activity while dieting.

Chitosan – Actually binds to dietary fat ingested and carries it out of the body before it can accumulate or be stored as fat. It is shellfish based, so allergies must be heeded prior to taking Chitosan.

RECOVERY
MSM – Increases blood flow to any area, which can carry waste (lactic acid) out of muscles after exercise and aid rapid recovery.

Glucosamine and/or Chondroitin – Joint remedies taken separate or together. A category of supplements crucial to those who train hard and open joints to stressful activity.

Multi-Vitamin – Vitamins in any program mean less burden is placed on diet to get all needs met. Exercise also increases demand for daily allowances. Take extra anti-oxidants, A, E, C to promote additional healing.

Glutamine – Single most abundant amino acid found in muscles. Greatly aids recovery and keeps muscles full after demanding and often depleting work.

Branched Chain Aminos – High concentrations of Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine are found in muscles, these are wasted during exercise and must be replenished for repair to occur.

WEIGHT/ MUSCLE GAIN
Creatin – Will create great pumps during lifting, increase overall cellular water volume to aid in increases in maximum lifts, and facilitate growth and recovery during and after exercise.

Weight gain/ high calorie meal replacement – To gain weight, muscle specifically, getting enough calories can be challenging and is essential to success. For general scale weight gain for underweight people, use a weight gainer. For muscle gains, use a high protein/ moderate carb/moderate fat product 2 times a day, plus a high protein only supplement in addition.

Carbohydrate supplement – A carb-only supplement taken prior to exercise, and just after, is a good practice to facilitate weight gain. The more you can supplement with carbs when carbs are most needed for replenishing glycogen in muscles the more growth you’ll achieve.

STRENGTH GAIN
Creatine – Because of the water volume creatine provides, it’s essential in creating strength gains.

Carbohydrate supplement – Carbohydrates provide energy, which is stored in muscles as glycogen—the fuel the muscles use during exertion. Keep glycogen and energy high.

Protein – Use a protein supplement for any goal. For strength gain, use one that contains 20-45 grams carbs per serving (not weight gainer), along with some fat, for best results.

Natural Testosterone Boosters - as we age, natural testosterone levels decrease making it more difficult for men to build muscle and strength. Natural elements like ZMA (zinc & magnesium) and different herbal supplements can help boost natural testosterone levels.