Supplements are exactly what they sound, a supplement
to your main diet. They are essentially dietary compounds designed
to help change your body composition through loss of fat and/or
muscle gain. Strength gains and increases in endurance are also
very common through supplementation. Once you have adapted an appropriate
diet, supplements are important to obtaining some necessary nutrients
that you may not be able to get from eating everyday food or so
you can obtain extra amounts of certain nutrients. Supplements usually
consist of natural or synthetic ingredients that contain fundamental
vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Many people are led to believe that supplements are necessary to
have any success with weightlifting or fitness training. This however
is completely absurd. People have been training or doing forms of
fitness training years before any companies came out with these
supplements. Many people have had great successes in the weight
room without any supplements. It is important to realize before
taking any supplements that they won’t work miracles on your
body. You need to have the right work ethic and already have adapted
a proper nutrition plan and workout routine. People should also
be aware that many companies who advertise their products often
make claims for physical improvement that are often either false
or something that they have not proven. There are no laws controlling
what supplement companies can say or what claims they can make regarding
their products. It is important to make sure you do the research
yourself before beginning to take any supplements. Once you have
done this and are on a proper nutrition and workout regimen, supplements
will definitely aid your improvement.
As a beginner or average lifter or fitness enthusiast the four
main supplements you will need to begin a routine include protein
powder, multivitamin, fish oil, and creatine. These supplements
would be considered the big four for almost all lifters. In depth
analysis of each of these supplements follows.
Protein
Multivitamin
Fish Oil
Creatine |
