What Supplements Should I Take?

What Supplements Should I Take?

One of the most common and important questions asked, it’s still a surprise some of the misinformation being spouted out there about the right sorts of supplements to take for specific results. With so many supplements around and companies spending bucket loads on marketing, unless you’re in the industry or an avid reader, you’ll be hard pressed to stay on top of all the new developments and picking the right supplement for you. And so, for a large majority of trainers, there seems to be a haphazard approach to taking supplements. Add in some ‘bro science’ from your well meaning friends and you’re on a path to seeing all your hard earned dollars going down the drain and no real results.

This supplement guide was designed to help you navigate through this supplement minefield and help you reach your goals faster and easier. We do understand and encourage that diet and exercise make up the majority of your effort, but the right supplements can really provide a helping hand to help you achieve your goals. So read on and see which supplements are right for you.

What Supplements Should I Take to Build Muscle?

Building muscle by definition requires that you have protein and amino acids available which provide the building blocks to muscle tissue. A good blended protein supplement will help you to get plenty of protein from a variety of sources to assist with the process. A casein protein for night time and creatine round out the top 3 supplements which may help support muscle building processes.

What Supplements Should I Take to Build Lean Muscle?

Building lean mass isn’t a whole heap different to building muscle in general so all the above listed supplements can be used. Swapping a blended protein with a fast digesting WPI or a fat loss protein can be useful in providing you with the protein your muscle needs but without the calories or with added fat loss support ingredients to help lean you down.

What Supplements Should I Take to Get Cut or Ripped or Defined or Toned?

Getting cut, ripped, defined or toned basically means leaning down substantially and reducing body fat or body water to really make the muscles stand out. Losing body fat without losing muscle is pretty much impossible, but ensuring your protein intake is adequate will help reduce muscle losses. A dedicated fat loss supplement as well as a diuretic will really help you achieve the fat loss and muscle definition you’re after, but both of these should only be used short term. Pre-workouts are optional as a way to support energy and workout performance on a calorie-restricted diet – a common trait of cutting or toning diets.

What Supplements Should I Take to Get Big or Bulk Up or Build Mass?

Getting big, bulking up or building mass will simply mean an increase in total calorie intake. Weight gain or bulking proteins are an excellent way to add calories with convenience and ease without all the bulk from kilos of food. Those who find it hard to gain weight should pick a mass gain protein with a higher carbohydrate to protein ratio. Creatine and pre-workouts round out the top 3 supplements for bulking up by helping to support mass and performance. Harder, more intense workouts means bigger results and a bigger you.

Finding the Right Supplement

Remember that supplementation just like with diet or exercise works best when individualised. The above suggestions are only a guide and isn’t the be all and end all to what you should take for each specific goal. There are thousands of supplements on the market and many of them are just as good as those listed above. Head over to Part 2 of this ‘Which Supplement to Buy’ Series to see which supplements you should take for fat loss, hormone support and other common goals.