Most of my posts are tech related, however today I’ve started a new category on my blog called /fitness & /muscle building. Hope that you can gain some knowledge about this off beat topic and put it to use.

I’ve always been a fan of Cellucor’s M5. Great product and for me one of the best pre-workouts on the market. Recommend you try it, but use it wisely so that you’re not dependent on it for your “pump”.

I’ve been around supplements for a while now and wanted to share my thoughts with everyone out there. My opinions are based on my own experiences, trial and error and lot’s of patience. You might agree or disagree with this post but at the end of the day if you’re researching this topic it’s wise to collect all the information you can and then make an educated decision on what’s best for you.

Lot’s of youngsters have misconceptions about supplementation and which supplements to take and when to take them. There are so many products in the market it causes confusion. We’ll get to the core supplements you need for different goals a little later.

I’ll split this post into different parts, the first being a general overview and which ones you might consider taking in order to achieve your goals and some cold hard truths. You do have a certain goal or chalked out a plan don’t you? I suggest you plan out your routine, diet and supplementation and follow it for at least 3 months before you roll out a new plan.

TRUTH #1
No supplementation is more valuable to your body than your natural food intake. Get your food intake down, know what to ingest into your body and then start planning your supplementation around that. It’s all about your diet, so figure that out first.

Having said that it’s hard to eat so many meals a day without living in the kitchen. No one wants to cook all day long.  Supplements come in very handy when you’re on the go and you don’t have time in between meals.

I suggest having at least 3 square meals a day with all the nutrients you need and use supplements in between those meals when you don’t have time.

TRUTH #2
We live in a and companies want you to use their products. They will market accordingly and trap you in with their strategy. You really can’t blame them as they want to sell, make a name for themselves and turn a profit. End of the day to them it’s all about the $$$..

Just be aware of this.

TRUTH #3
Supplements can be psychologically addictive. They do work, but try to strike a balance between usage and complete dependency. For a list of your base  supplements have a look below, those are all you really need at the core of your training. Couple that with a great nutritional intake and you’ll see results.

TRUTH #4
There are no shortcuts, stay away from synthetics if you want longevity. Pros will use them (they know what they’re doing and are like walking pharmacies) and you’ll feel bad about it when you look at yourself. We aren’t pros, we’re just trying to look good and turn a couple of heads.

TRUTH #5
You can do a hell of alot naturally, but you won’t come out looking like a Demi God. Be patient….

Points to Consider

1. Build your base up naturally if you’re a beginner, then start thinking about supplementation. Try to eat natural, it might be a pain but it’s worthwhile.
2. Formulate a plan and stick to it for at least 3 months. Just like everything else in life if you strategize it will pay off and big time. If you want to just hit the gym to get some exercise and cardio or had a negative day that’s completely fine. If you’re serious then start setting small goals for yourself.
3. Eat, eat and eat right to suit your goals. Try to take natural sources of protein in your body rather than taking protein shakes. Also first find out when your body utilizes protein and then plan accordingly.
4. If you really want to get ahead learn about nutrition and advanced nutrition. Keep experimenting with natural foods and see how your body reacts to them. Switch up your diet routine and shock your body from time to time.
5. Never use supplements for over 3 months. Use them wisely and then Cycle off for a couple of months in between and go completely natural just so your body doesn’t get used to the intake.

Your Base Supplements:

I’m 37 so for me recovery is more important than anything else. I’m still a firm believer in Amino Acids as your base no matter what age group you are in and I’ll take those over protein shakes before and after my workouts as well as before food intake.

In conjunction with Aminos it’s wise to take BCAA’s or Branched Chained Amino Acids. They make up 35% of your muscle mass and are probably one of the most overlooked supplements in the market. Read up on them and try some. You’ll really be surprised

Here are Aminos and BCAA’s that I use, they all act similarly.

• Dymatize Super Amino 4800, 325 Caplets. (For me the liquid versions made my stomach upset, I prefer using soft gel caps or caplets)
• Optimum Superior Amino 2222, 320 Tablets
• Inner Armour BCAA PEAK, 30 Servings

Try one of the aminos and the Inner Armour BCAA, they’re not too expensive. Optimum Nutrition also sells BCAA’s and they are probably the best bang for the buck too.

Your Creatines:

You should read up on creatine and what it’s effects are on your body. I’ve used micronized creatine (normal white powder) as well as Cell Tech before. The best creatine that I have found in my experiences was:

• Kre Alkalyn by EFX

It’s a great product and many athletes (American football players) use it. There is nothing better than not having to load up creatine, this way you get all the goods without the bloat with lot’s of power. I’ve also used Cellucor M5 as a creatine replacement which is phenomenal.

Your Pre-Workouts:

Pre-Workouts have come on the scene rapidly in the past 5 years or so, starting with N0 Explode, remember that? This one is a toss up, lot’s of people will argue and debate about pre-workout supplements and how they don’t need anything to get a pump at the gym and that they’re useless.

I’m not here to argue whether to take them or not, but i will say that the ones listed below that I’ve used are fantastic.

Keep in mind that these are the most addictive supplements out there, psychologically. For obvious reasons companies want you to consume their products and keep consuming them.

• Cellucor M5 Extreme
• Cellucor C4
• Muscle Pharm Assault

Stay away from:

• Jacked 3D
• 1MR
• Yo3ked 3D (or whatever it’s called)

They have negative effects on the body or at least did for me, probably due to the amount of stimulants in the formula. Heightened aggression, loss of pump, sleepless nights and overall drowsiness didn’t settle well for me at all.

There is a hell alot out there, it’s like a vast sea of products and information which can confuse you. Get your goals down and plan accordingly, know what suits your body and what doesn’t, how it reacts to your nutritional and supplementation intakes. Just do a little research and you’ll be fine.

We’ll discuss other supplements (Thermogenic products, Testosterone boosters, protein powders, etc. etc.) in the posts to come. Meanwhile good luck with your endeavors. You know you don’t need to have muscles or look good to be a man right? Haha