Taking supplements is one way to provide your body with extra support when increasing the amount of physical demand that you’re placing on it. These make the body work better and they make the user feel better, stronger and more capable. Many are even intended to improve specific functions such as the rate at which fat is burned or new muscle is built. Most have both benefits and drawbacks. Following are several things that every bodybuilder should know before supplementing.
Supplementing Cannot Make Up For Poor Nutrition
A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that they can get all of their essential nutrients through multi-vitamins, powders, shakes and pills. In truth, however, nutrients are always best absorbed when they are obtained from natural food sources. Although supplementary powders and pills can certainly boost your nutritional intake, you should not rely on these for ensuring that all of your dietary requirements are being met.
If You Aren’t Doing What You’re Supposed To Do, You Won’t Get The Results You Seek
Never expect a product to make up for what you aren’t doing in the gym. The best products are made to support hard workers, not eliminate the need for hard work. Formulas that claim to do anything more are often offering little else beyond empty promises.
Certain Forms Of Supplementation Require On-Cycle Support
Don’t be over-ambitious in your supplementation routine. Smart bodybuilders start small and gradually work their way up to the most aggressive and potent formulas. Certain supplements require consistent, on-cycle support in order to mitigate the side effects that these products commonly cause. Stick with something that is designed to have a moderate impact on your physique and a very noticeable and beneficial physical impact on your training.
When Using Major Supplements, Be Sure To Give Your Body Plenty Of Breaks
In a sense, any bodybuilding effort or product that takes the physique beyond what it is normally meant to do, will invariably place additional stress on certain systems and components. People who recover faster, lift more, gain more mass, shed more fat or have greater respiratory endurance as the result of supplementation, must account for the extra stress that these increases are adding. The best way to do this is by taking regular breaks in between performance enhancement programs.
Start With Simple, Easy-To Manage Products
There are a number of simple and easy-to-manage products that you can use to improve your muscle gains, fat losses or overall physical performance and abilities. For instance, you might start with an endurance booster that limits the rate of oxidation, slows the development of lactic acid and boosts respiratory recovery. You can also use:
– Fat burning supplements that boost overall metabolic functioning
– Post-workout or recovery pills that alleviate soreness and improve mobility
– Weight gain and protein powders that support rapid and robust muscle development
Basic and very low-risk products like a pre-workout supplement can yield impressive results and they do not entail the many side effects that other, more potent products often do. Prohormones and legal steroids are in a class of their own and require more careful and carefully guided use. Products that merely enhance existing functions can take you to all new levels of fitness without necessarily compromising your health.