Question: I intend to put on muscles by going to the gym more often. Therefore, I am hoping to know what supplements are best for muscle gains as I hope to put on muscles quickly.
There are so many different products out there that it is really giving me a major headache. I am hoping that with your advice, I can make a more informed choice about fitness supplements that I can purchase to help me with my fitness goal.
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Answer:
I have to be very honest – I am not a big fan of fitness supplements and products like creatine, whey protein and mass gainers. Somehow, the thought of chemicals in my body just seem quite scary.
Ever since these products hit the shelves, there have been more bad than good. Yes, “hardgainers” (skinny people who have trouble gaining weight, like myself) don’t seem to have much problems like before thanks to these products.
However, manufacturers seem to be more enthusiastic about making products that work without worrying about the health consequences that come with them. Have you noticed that such products are withdrawn from the market pretty regularly?
The reason for this is because researchers found something in those products that can adversely affect human health. This is the main reason why I am somewhat hesitant when it comes to suggesting fitness supplements and other products.
You might think that this can impair your ability to succeed, but some of the best bodybuilders of all time did not even have access to protein shakes and other supplements. They merely relied on protein from their food and good, well-planned exercise routines.
They are living proof that a person can gain lean muscle mass if they set their sights on that goal. It will take hard work and perseverance, but at least you rest assured knowing that you cannot suffer from nasty health complications later on.
Furthermore, studies are starting to realize that if you choose to bulk up using unnatural means, it can result to obesity in later years in life, when you don’t exercise as often. This means that you constantly need to exercise every single day for the rest of your life to avoid obesity.
However, if you work hard on gaining muscles naturally, you need to engage in physical activities to keep up your strength and fitness. You might lose a bit of muscle mass but you won’t become obesity during your golden years.
I think that is another major reason for you to avoid such man-made supplements.
Since your aim is to put on lean muscles, I strongly suggest that you have regular meals throughout the day, perhaps 5 small meals around the clock that are rich in protein. You should also have foods high in fibre and carbohydrates to provide you with energy while exercising.
Drink plenty of fluids so as to help regulate your body processes and help flush out toxins after your workout.
Also, remember not to get too excited in the gym. You will need to give your body sufficient rest to help your muscles repair themselves and grow.
While my opinion is that you should try to avoid such supplements, I think that it is a matter of personal choice. If you feel that gaining muscles quickly is important and you do not mind the possible health risks, then by all means, go ahead.
I wish you all the best in your muscle-building journey. Let me know how you are progressing!