Supplements

I get asked ALOT what supplements I use. As much as I try and down grade the importance of supplements to who ever is asking me the still seem to hang on my every word like "wow this is gold Jerry! Gold!" So many people seem to think that mastering supplement theory is the key to making great progress, but its not. Look at the word itself - Supplement. It's supplementing food. Nothing more, nothing less.

I have wasted my fair share of $$ on fancy supplements. There are alot of shiny bottles out there that promise some pretty amazing things. In the end, the results promised by those advertisements can only be made with steriods. Simple. I think it's really really wrong when magazines like flex have guys like Cutler standing there holding the latest, savagely overpriced Muscle Tech product saying thats what he used to get in shape for the Olympia. Thats not just bending the truth, it's down and out lying. No-one in Flex is Natural. Period.

Anyway I'm getting off topic. I thought I'd quickly explain what supplements I take and why.

Whey Protein:
I take whey before (50g) and after (50g) training. Being pre-digested your body doesn't have to work to break it down, and it often contains sugar, making protein powders innapropriate for comp prep. However in the off season it's perfect for around your training sessions because it is absorbed quickly, giving you an amino and calorie hit right when you need it. I also have 30g with Natural yoghurt right before bed, just because they taste so damn good together!

Maltodextrine/Dextrose:
Malto and Dex are just fast acting carbs. You'll find they are the main ingredient in most 'creating transport systems'. They are cheap but very effective. Thats why you should stay away from 'stacks'. They're often packed with cheap ingredients that you could have mixed up yourself for half the price. I take 50g before training, 50g during and 30g after. Thats about 115g of carbs and around 500 cals right when your body is beggin' to soak it up.

Creatine:
Creatine is the miracle supplement. It works. Simple as that. I get stronger and noticably bigger when I use it. 100% Creatine Monohydrate is cheap, safe and effective. You're crazy if you don't use it. Some people report water retention but it is usually minor and goes away if you back off.

There are other products out there that do work, but the changes are minimal when compared to the cost. You can't go past the above 3 products for good ol' fashioned value and effectiveness.
Peace-out Gym Rats