Answers (3)
1
Gus,
I have worked at a vitamin store for years and have acquired a good knowledge base regarding a variety of supplements from herbs all the way to sports nutrition. I certainly agree with a couple of points Marian makes regarding the efficacy of supplements vs psychological reliance (mental addiction) usage. I am what I term a "supplement minimalist". I get most all of nutrients from foods regarding the majority of supplements. However, when it comes to fitness and sports nutrition I believe supplements can be elemental to success! Another thing I am in agreement with Marian is the "cleanliness" of the supplement. By that I mean what is actually in this supplement. I analyze every ingredient on the bottle before it goes in my body. Many companies (particularly big name companies such MuscleMilk, BSN, Gaspari) have poor quality ingredients as well as a ton of stabilizing ingredients (to preserve), and fillers (to make it cheap). I stray away from these brands/supplements all together. Regarding pre-workout - there are many options out there. From my perspective - I believe if it will get you to exercise then I am for under the stipulations above. Look for clean sources of naturally caffeinated pre-work supplements such as green tea (EGCG). Green tea has decent thermogenic effects as well!
Stay away from artificial flavors/ dies and other additives.
Couple rules of thumb
-Look for a smaller ingredient list (for the most part less is usually good when it comes to sports nutrition)
-If you can't pronounce the ingredients - Stay away from the product
Feel free to email directly if you have any more direct question- I would happy to answer them
jmartuscello@mail.usf.edu
Fuel the Movement,
JM
I have worked at a vitamin store for years and have acquired a good knowledge base regarding a variety of supplements from herbs all the way to sports nutrition. I certainly agree with a couple of points Marian makes regarding the efficacy of supplements vs psychological reliance (mental addiction) usage. I am what I term a "supplement minimalist". I get most all of nutrients from foods regarding the majority of supplements. However, when it comes to fitness and sports nutrition I believe supplements can be elemental to success! Another thing I am in agreement with Marian is the "cleanliness" of the supplement. By that I mean what is actually in this supplement. I analyze every ingredient on the bottle before it goes in my body. Many companies (particularly big name companies such MuscleMilk, BSN, Gaspari) have poor quality ingredients as well as a ton of stabilizing ingredients (to preserve), and fillers (to make it cheap). I stray away from these brands/supplements all together. Regarding pre-workout - there are many options out there. From my perspective - I believe if it will get you to exercise then I am for under the stipulations above. Look for clean sources of naturally caffeinated pre-work supplements such as green tea (EGCG). Green tea has decent thermogenic effects as well!
Stay away from artificial flavors/ dies and other additives.
Couple rules of thumb
-Look for a smaller ingredient list (for the most part less is usually good when it comes to sports nutrition)
-If you can't pronounce the ingredients - Stay away from the product
Feel free to email directly if you have any more direct question- I would happy to answer them
jmartuscello@mail.usf.edu
Fuel the Movement,
JM
0
I wrote a blog on supplements about a month ago. Read it on my page if you get the time, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts about it.
There is a time and place for supplements in some fitness routines. I tend to view pre-workort energy supplements like this...
You use your supplement that isn't regulated by the FDA, so it might have high levels of heavy metals that can build up in your system over time and cause problems later on down the road, cool. You get your caffeine boost, becasue we all know that a certain level of caffeine can boost performance, cool. But how much of this stuff are you getting and what is actually in it? I don't like how some pre-workout drink mixes don't tell you exactly how much caffeine is in every serving. Anything over about 100mg is too much for my taste. You can have some really bad withdrawl symptoms if you consume 100mg/day for just three days and stop cold turkey.
The only other issue that I have with pre-workout energy supplements is that they offer incentive to workout. While that can be a great thing, what happens when you run out of your supplements? People might find it more difficult to workout, not necessarily because the supplement "helps" but because they feel like they can't do it on their own.
That's my biggest issue. People become reliant on the "effect" that supplements have... not necessarily physically reliant, but more mentally in my experience. It's an obstacle in program ownership and adherence.
If someone can use a pre-workout energy supplement and not let the decision on whether or not to work out depend on whether or not he/she has his supplement, then cool, use it if you so choose. Is it worth the risk, though? For some people it is, some people it isn't.
Great question, Gus!
There is a time and place for supplements in some fitness routines. I tend to view pre-workort energy supplements like this...
You use your supplement that isn't regulated by the FDA, so it might have high levels of heavy metals that can build up in your system over time and cause problems later on down the road, cool. You get your caffeine boost, becasue we all know that a certain level of caffeine can boost performance, cool. But how much of this stuff are you getting and what is actually in it? I don't like how some pre-workout drink mixes don't tell you exactly how much caffeine is in every serving. Anything over about 100mg is too much for my taste. You can have some really bad withdrawl symptoms if you consume 100mg/day for just three days and stop cold turkey.
The only other issue that I have with pre-workout energy supplements is that they offer incentive to workout. While that can be a great thing, what happens when you run out of your supplements? People might find it more difficult to workout, not necessarily because the supplement "helps" but because they feel like they can't do it on their own.
That's my biggest issue. People become reliant on the "effect" that supplements have... not necessarily physically reliant, but more mentally in my experience. It's an obstacle in program ownership and adherence.
If someone can use a pre-workout energy supplement and not let the decision on whether or not to work out depend on whether or not he/she has his supplement, then cool, use it if you so choose. Is it worth the risk, though? For some people it is, some people it isn't.
Great question, Gus!
0
Hi Gustavo. While supplementation is a personal decision (I don't do it), if a client asks for my opinion on it I say "no." I think that we can address most, if not all, of our energy needs (including pre-workout energy) through proper eating/diet. I find that making sure that I eat something nutritious before I workout, I have the energy necessary to make it through the workout. How much we eat, and how far in advance we eat it prior to working out is a real individual decision and determination (as well as WHAT we eat). As to your question, again I don't take any pre-workout supplement.
I hope that this helps!
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
larue.cook@lecfitness.com
I hope that this helps!
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
larue.cook@lecfitness.com
