For anybody trying to improve their physique, weight and resistance training is a great way of doing so. Over the last few years, bodybuilding has improved greatly, both in terms of popularity and in terms of equipment, knowledge, and the various activities and processes involved in making it what it is. For anybody who thinks that building muscle is easy, and that, by simply training hard for a few weeks and watching their diets, that they can also achieve an IFBB pro physique, they will be in for a very rude awakening and reality check. Building muscle, dropping body fat, increasing definition, and increasing strength as a whole, is notoriously difficult, even for people with years upon years of experience under their belts. The lifting weights side of things is difficult enough, but the true test of a person’s real mental resolve lies in the diet and nutritional side of things. There’s a saying that goes “muscle isn’t built in the gym, muscle is built in the kitchen” and for the most part, that is absolutely correct. You break down and destroy your muscles in the gym, and you build and repair them in the kitchen, or at least, the foods and nutrients you put into your body, allows it to grow and recover. Once you’re satisfied you are consuming the right quantities of fresh and healthy produce, you should then begin thinking about supplements. Supplements are synonymous with the bodybuilding world and rightfully so. The correct supplement stack used alongside a balanced diet and effective training routine will yield incredibly impressive results, the hard part however, is finding which supplements to use. Here we’ll be taking a look at the top supplements used by bodybuilders, to create the ultimate supplement stack.
Pre-workout supplements
First on our list we’ll be taking a look at the benefits associated with pre-workout supplements. Pre-workout supplements contain stimulants such as caffeine, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, creatine, and nitric oxide, to deliver the ultimate burst of both, physical, and mental focus, allowing you to really get into the zone whilst you train. We all find ourselves feeling tired, lethargic, and lacking energy and motivation on some days, and if you’ve ever tried forcing yourself through a workout when feeling like this, you’ll know right away how difficult it can make your training. Instead of being fired up and enthusiastic, you find yourself feeling bored, unmotivated, tired, and hoping to just do the bare minimum required and going through the motions, trying to get in and out as soon as you can. Pre-workout supplements however, solve all of those issues. The caffeine and other stimulants fire you up and energize you, both physically and mentally, the amino acids, vitamins, and creatine helps increase energy production, and the Nitric Oxide dilates the blood vessels, thus improving circulation and allowing more oxygen and nutrients to be carried around the body via the blood. It also improves vascularity and muscle pumps as well.
Whey protein isolate
Protein is essential for muscle growth and function, which is why bodybuilders use protein supplements and consume high protein diets. The main issue with protein supplements however, is that some are more potent and beneficial than others. Whey protein for example, is the most popular type of protein supplement, and is naturally derived from dairy milk. It is available in a number of forms, including: concentrate, and, isolate. Whey protein concentrate is cheaper than whey isolate, and is considered inferior. The reason for this is that it is only around 70 – 85% pure protein per serving, so the rest of the nutrition comes from carbohydrates and fats. Whey isolate however, is much purer, and is typically 90 – 95% pure protein, which is exactly what you need when trying to pack on the muscle. It is obviously slightly more expensive, but if your budget will allow you to do so, it is very highly recommended that you pay a little extra and opt for whey protein isolate.
Super greens
Thanks to various health documentaries released over the last few years, more and more people are finally realising that, by consuming fresh and healthy produce, including fresh fruits and vegetables, that not only will they look, feel, and perform and function better, but that they will also stand a much better chance of living a healthier, longer, and happier life as well. A great way for bodybuilders to really maximize their nutrient consumption in a morning, is to use a super green supplement. These supplements contain vast quantities per serving of superfoods and healthy produce derived from green vegetables and fruits. They boost immunity, they enhance the metabolism, they improve organ health and function, and they generally promote health, wellness, and overall well-being. One serving each day will provide more than enough of your recommended daily intake of 5 portions a day of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Omega 3 supplements
Bodybuilders notoriously suffer from bad joints later on in life, which is primarily down to the fact that, as they begin getting heavier and adding so much muscle to their frames, and putting their bodies through such strenuous workouts, the joints struggle to cope with the added weight and pressure. Because of this, many bodybuilders will consume omega 3 supplements each day, due to the fact that these healthy fatty acids help to promote bone and joint health and can lubricate the joints, helping to provide protection against conditions such as arthritis or osteoporosis. As well as that, omega 3 supplements help to boost the metabolism, they improve brain health and function, they help to balance and regulate hormones, they improve organ health and function, and much more besides. Ensuring that your body is fit and healthy on the inside is absolutely essential if you’re a bodybuilder, because you need it to work with you, to not only build muscle, but to also recover so you can do the entire process all over again the next day.
