What Supplements Should I Use with my Fitness Training?

At no time in the past has there ever been as vast an array of supplements aimed at those who may be considering a course of fitness training, as that which is available in today’s market. It is therefore not too surprising that so many of the fitness enthusiasts who subsequently sign up keep asking the very same question. Which of this confusing assortment of products should I use?

Firstly, it is important to distinguish those products that are designed to prepare the body to better cope with the stresses and strains that invariably accompany any form of strenuous exercise, especially for a beginner, from those that are designed to enhance one’s growth or performance by artificial means. Although such products are often claimed to be natural, the manner in which they are prepared and administered is often anything but natural and, when used in this form, some of them could give rise to undesirable or even harmful side effects.

The truth is that we have become a society that firstly, is inclined to look for quick-fix solutions and secondly, one with a tendency to succumb to the hype generated by the media – of which a great deal is simply marketing propaganda and without substance.

In practice, what should actually determine which of these supplements you should use, is their nutritional properties. For strong, healthy muscle tissue, protein is essential, and one of the more convenient but, nevertheless, enjoyable alternatives to pigging out on a stack of T-bone steaks is to obtain it in the form of whey. It is best taken after exercise and acts to jumpstart natural protein synthesis. In addition to its role in the growth and repair of muscles, protein can also enhance energy levels and relieve depression. For bulking up, the milk protein casein can be taken before bed to continue the process while you sleep.

Like whey, creatine promotes protein synthesis and has been proven to increase muscle strength which, in turn, allows one to build muscles faster than other alternatives. Products containing the Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) valine, leucine and isoleucine, essential for the synthesis of protein, are also of value. However, so too is sufficient sleep. It makes very little sense to spend half the night jolling, grab five hours of sleep time or less, and then ponder about which supplements to use.

In fact, if you are considering a membership of a Body20 studio, perhaps with the intention of pursuing a course of EMS training, whether your goal is toning or body building, there is really nobody better qualified to advise you than our trainers.