P-Spec
04-18-2012, 09:15 AM
What do you use, Why do you use it and do you actually notice any positive effects or do you just take it because all the magazines/websites say you should take it?
Here's my list
Multivitamins - I've been taking these since my Flintstones gummies @ age 3. I've heard teachers say that everyone should be required to take a daily vitamin. More recently I've heard that super potent multi's could be crushing your renal system, which sort of makes sense when your getting 8333% of something. Personally I take 2-3 per week on days when I feel like I haven't gotten adequate nutrition from the fruits/vegetables in my diet and I always buy the no frills multi's with 100% or less DV of each nutrient.
Green Tea - Been taking Green Tea Extract for about 6-7 years now. Mostly because all the rage was it does everything from preventing cancer to helping support a healthy heart and aiding in weight loss. Only real noticeable physical benefit is slight amounts of energy increase. I'll probably keep taking these forever just because I'm programmed into them by now. I stopped taking those super high EGCG count one though since I've heard those could wreak havoc on your kidneys as well.
Fish Oil - Take this because I've always been a freak about heart health and additionally now I've had several joint injuries and have heard it aids in joint lubrication. Another supposed benefit is mood elevation. Does it work? Lots of Dr.'s say so, but who knows. I've been taking this about as long as Green Tea and will be for the foreseeable future.
Milk Thistle - With all the pills/powders I'm punishing my Renal system with, I figured it only made sense to take a supplement specifically targeted at improving renal system function. I have no idea if it works but I'll probably keep taking it.
Whey Protein - More specifically, I've recently switched to ON's Oat's & Whey which is super delicious. I think everyone can agree that supplementing protein into your diet is alway going to have a positive effect if your goal is mass/muscle gain. Also it's very easy to notice the difference in muscle soreness/recovery if you have ever tried to lift without supplementing with protein, for most people.
Creatine - I always take Creatine in mono-hydrate form. I definitely notice my strength numbers are slightly up while I'm supplementing with Creatine as opposed to when I'm not. I can also say I notice the water weight effect in my muscles as well. I usually stop taking Creatine right before the summer as I finish up the cut cycle to eliminate its water holding effects.
BCAA's - Magazines tell me I should supplement with BCAA's. I can't tell if they're having any effect, but amino acids can't really hurt your body either.
CLA - This might come as a shock, but I really feel like this is the "X" Factor in my supplement arsenal. I've always noticed significant strength gains and leaner mass during the times I've been stacking CLA as part of my supplement regimen. In the past year I have gotten significantly stronger than I have ever been, while not putting on any additional unnecessary mass. The only difference from any other year is that I have been taking CLA for over a year straight now. I give up a thumbs up to this one until I'm proven otherwise.
Pre-Workout N.O. Energy - Currently taking White Flood, which has always been the top performer in my books. This seems to be one supplement category, where a different brand seems to work better or worse depending on the person....for whatever reason. I notice what most people notice, the first 2-3 weeks of lifting with an NO supplement are great, I get amazing energy and the desire to keep lifting.....but after the 3rd week or so, the results DRASTICALLY fall off. For this reason, I take the practical approach and cycle no longer than a month or two before taking a 1-2 month break into between using NO supps.
Well that's it.....feel free to add yours, I'd love to see what other people actually think of the supplements they use regularly.
Here's my list
Multivitamins - I've been taking these since my Flintstones gummies @ age 3. I've heard teachers say that everyone should be required to take a daily vitamin. More recently I've heard that super potent multi's could be crushing your renal system, which sort of makes sense when your getting 8333% of something. Personally I take 2-3 per week on days when I feel like I haven't gotten adequate nutrition from the fruits/vegetables in my diet and I always buy the no frills multi's with 100% or less DV of each nutrient.
Green Tea - Been taking Green Tea Extract for about 6-7 years now. Mostly because all the rage was it does everything from preventing cancer to helping support a healthy heart and aiding in weight loss. Only real noticeable physical benefit is slight amounts of energy increase. I'll probably keep taking these forever just because I'm programmed into them by now. I stopped taking those super high EGCG count one though since I've heard those could wreak havoc on your kidneys as well.
Fish Oil - Take this because I've always been a freak about heart health and additionally now I've had several joint injuries and have heard it aids in joint lubrication. Another supposed benefit is mood elevation. Does it work? Lots of Dr.'s say so, but who knows. I've been taking this about as long as Green Tea and will be for the foreseeable future.
Milk Thistle - With all the pills/powders I'm punishing my Renal system with, I figured it only made sense to take a supplement specifically targeted at improving renal system function. I have no idea if it works but I'll probably keep taking it.
Whey Protein - More specifically, I've recently switched to ON's Oat's & Whey which is super delicious. I think everyone can agree that supplementing protein into your diet is alway going to have a positive effect if your goal is mass/muscle gain. Also it's very easy to notice the difference in muscle soreness/recovery if you have ever tried to lift without supplementing with protein, for most people.
Creatine - I always take Creatine in mono-hydrate form. I definitely notice my strength numbers are slightly up while I'm supplementing with Creatine as opposed to when I'm not. I can also say I notice the water weight effect in my muscles as well. I usually stop taking Creatine right before the summer as I finish up the cut cycle to eliminate its water holding effects.
BCAA's - Magazines tell me I should supplement with BCAA's. I can't tell if they're having any effect, but amino acids can't really hurt your body either.
CLA - This might come as a shock, but I really feel like this is the "X" Factor in my supplement arsenal. I've always noticed significant strength gains and leaner mass during the times I've been stacking CLA as part of my supplement regimen. In the past year I have gotten significantly stronger than I have ever been, while not putting on any additional unnecessary mass. The only difference from any other year is that I have been taking CLA for over a year straight now. I give up a thumbs up to this one until I'm proven otherwise.
Pre-Workout N.O. Energy - Currently taking White Flood, which has always been the top performer in my books. This seems to be one supplement category, where a different brand seems to work better or worse depending on the person....for whatever reason. I notice what most people notice, the first 2-3 weeks of lifting with an NO supplement are great, I get amazing energy and the desire to keep lifting.....but after the 3rd week or so, the results DRASTICALLY fall off. For this reason, I take the practical approach and cycle no longer than a month or two before taking a 1-2 month break into between using NO supps.
Well that's it.....feel free to add yours, I'd love to see what other people actually think of the supplements they use regularly.