Whether you’re a bodybuilder, powerlifter, team sport
athlete, or someone who just wants to get stronger and leaner, you’ve likely
seen and heard about supplements that will help you reach your goals. You’ve
probably also seen the ads in the magazines and online with the big jacked dude
or the hot chicks next to whatever product is being advertised along with some
hyperbole about how that supplement is the one you need. Before you go ordering
everything online at once or running to the vitamin store in your mall and
stockpiling for future gains, take heed of these tips because it could save you
from wasting time, money, and even prevent you from ruining your reputation.
Talk to your doctor
That paragraph on all the labels or ads about talking to a
physician might look like it’s only legal jargon that companies use to protect
themselves from a lawsuit but it’s actually legit advice and you need to take
it seriously. Many supplements contain a wide variety of ingredients, vitamins,
and minerals. You need to know what your body can handle and not handle. If
there’s something you would have an allergic reaction from then there would be
no need to throw down your hard earned cash on it.
Set an appointment, get a physical done, and talk to your
doctor about what supplements you’re considering and why so he or she can give
you the information you need to consider before moving forward with your plan.
If you feel you need a second opinion, that’s your choice but definitely seek
an opinion before moving forward.
Athletes, talk to your organization or league officials
How many times over the years have you turned on your
favorite sports show to see highlights and catch breaking news of some pro
athlete or top college star being suspended or even dismissed from the team due
to testing positive for performance enhancing drugs? Over the last decade it’s
become commonplace to see a story like this. When the athlete in question
speaks, he normally blames the positive test on a supplement he was taking.
If you’re someone who plays a team sport or is involved
competitively with an organization, make a phone call or go to their
headquarters and talk to the officials with your organization. Bring some
paperwork or keep the info on the product you want to take on your phone so you
can pull it up during your discussion. There are some supplements that are
perfectly legal to take but your organization may still choose to ban their
players from using. If you tested positive for one of these supplements then it
would still look like you failed a test for steroids. This could ruin your
reputation as a competitive athlete and even affect your long term future. No
one wants that for you so for athletes competing under an umbrella league, take
the time to talk to someone before making a decision.
Make sure your training and nutrition is on point first
So now you’ve talked to your physician and got the ok for
the supplements you’re considering and you now know your league will approve of
the products as well. So what else is there? Remember that warning on the
bottle about talking to your physician? Well there was likely more to read and
it was probably something along the lines of “use this supplement in
conjunction with a proper nutrition and exercise program.” I don’t care what the
supplement is you’re thinking about, no supplement ever has or ever will
replace serious training and dedicated nutrition. If you’re not working out
regularly to strengthen your body and if you’re not providing your body with
the proper nutrients it needs to not only improve but at the minimum function
like it’s supposed to, then guess what? Those supplements you’re buying are
going to turn into a waste of cabinet space, time devoted to taking them, and
your cash. Make sure that you’re following a sound eating plan and that you’re
training as hard as you can regularly and then you can supplements to your
overall fitness and performance puzzle.
Determine your goals
The diet is right and the workouts are on point. So what’s
left? Now you need to make sure the product you want is going to actually help
you get closer to your goals or not. If that cool ad you saw is for a weight
loss product that will help you get ripped and ready for the stage then that
might be much help to you if your goal is to gain 10 pounds of muscle. So why
would you buy it? That doesn’t make any sense. You would likely want products
that would help you build muscle or a high calorie supplement that would help
you gain extra weight.
If you’re a long distance runner and want to increase your
energy then perhaps you should take a supplement that would help provide you
with energy before the run or if you’re an athlete who starts out great but
need something for the middle of the session so you can finish strong then an
intra-workout supplement might do the trick for you. Choose your supplements
carefully so they will work for you.
Do your research
Now this is where you’re validating whether the products are
worth the hype of if they’re a bust. You should invest some time into
researching the products you want as well as the key ingredients that are
advertised to be in it. If you see red flags and think that the ingredients
wouldn’t be worth the investment, stop where you are and stop looking for
something else.
If the product checks out, look for customer reviews from a
reputable source and see what they are saying. If you can find somewhere that
posts reviews or analysis and you like what you see, then you can feel a little
better about clearing out cabinet space.
Determine your budget
Supplements can be great but they can also be expensive. At
this point you need to determine how much you can spend and how often so you
won’t break your budget. This is an investment in your health and if you
followed all of the above steps to this point then you should see a good return
on that investment in the form of improved physique, performance, and health.
However it shouldn’t come down to buying supplements or paying your bills. At
the end of the day, the products simply aren’t worth that. Also if it comes
down to buying the hot product on sale or getting your food, food wins every
time because as we covered earlier, nutrition is more important than
supplementation. Once you have the numbers figured out, spend accordingly and
search around for the lowest prices before clicking “checkout” or going up to
the register.
Conclusion
The supplement industry is a multi-billion dollar business
that has boomed over the last couple of decades. You can’t go anywhere without
seeing some ad for the “next big thing” that will help you become the beauty or
beast you always wanted to be. However before you go grabbing for your wallet
to dig out your credit card or cash, take some time to follow these tips above
and one of two things will happen. Either you’ll figure out you don’t really
need it and will save your money for something that will serve you better or
you’ll learn that you’re making a wise investment and will see the gains you
seek and will be glad you got whatever it is you want. Regardless of what the
outcome is, you’ll still be glad you didn’t make a rash decision.
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Source: http://www.flomuscle.com
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