I have mentioned
in the past about how supplements can improve your bodybuilding experience.
Just like yesterday’s article, if you are coming in late, here is a simple
breakdown. Think of your nutrition as a castle wall. The nutrients from food
are the big blocks of granite that form the wall. Supplements are the mortar
that holds everything together. It fills in the gaps between the stones, binds
everything together, and keeps that wall upright when those rousey mongorians come to tear down your
chitty wall. Supplements on their own
do little but when mixed together, they make that wall strong.
My list of
supplements is pretty small. I take Vitamin B, E & fish oil for my
metabolism and my heart, Vitamin C for my immune system, and CLAs and Green Tea
Extract to help me burn fat. While I got away from it recently, I have returned
to having a whey protein shake when I get home after my workout, and I do a
casein protein shake before bed.
Now, the Whey
Protein shake is fortified with BCAAs but I only use one scoop, so I am not
getting the full recommended dosage that the company recommends which is three
scoops. The human body can only absorb about 30 grams of protein in a sitting
so to me, that is just protein overkill to get their full dosage of BCAAs.
So why not just
take BCAAs? So a few weeks ago, that is what I started.
Amino Acids are
very important to bodybuilding because they provide two essential things that
we are looking for. Muscle retention and fat loss. Back in the day,
professional bodybuilder Frank Zane was known as “The Chemist” because he was a
big believer in amino acids and other supplementation. And let’s face facts.
Google Image Search “Frank Zane.” The man’s physique is darn near perfect and
his contest weight was usually around 185 pounds. It would be amazing to shrink
down to that size and have his muscle definition. So if it works for Zane, I
thought I would give it a try.
I opted for the
BPI Sports brand of Best Aminos which you blend into water. Most people acquire
the necessary amino acids through food. In order for this to occur, you have to
eat the food, it has to get processed by your body, and then pumped into your
blood stream. The benefit of adding Amino Acids through supplement is that the
fuel gets absorbed directly into your blood stream. Your body then utilizes
them as fuel while you are working out to stimulate your muscle growth. They
offer a fruit punch blend that if you mix with the right amount of water is
pretty tasty.
There is a
series of debates as far as when you should consume these. I take mine about 10
minutes before I hit the gym. (My commute time is very short.) On average, I
would say that my workouts last approximately 75 to 90 minutes. If I was going
in for a four hour session, taking the amino acids the middle of your workout
would be very beneficial. But I don’t have that kind of stamina and the last
thing that I want to do is stop in the middle of my workout, mix up a batch of
the stuff, swig it, and keep going. Taking it to start is just a more viable
option for me.
Now, there are a
lot of supplements that claim they will make you stronger. This is not the
case. You don’t just take them and instantly become stronger. You take them,
you gain energy and fuel, and you get 10 reps where you normally might have
only mustered 9. Those extra reps and that ability to go harder is what make
you stronger.
I started my
week with trying some new chest routines which I thought would have left me
pretty sore. That was on Monday. I did a second chest day on Wednesday. And on
Friday I added several sets of Incline Push-Ups with my arm routines. My
soreness afterwards feels considerably less that it should be. I like to
believe that is because of the amino acids.
So I feel that
BCAAs are definitely something I will continue to add to my supplements. I can
tell you what oligopeptides do. I have not researched that far ahead yet. But I
like them. Do your research and they might help you out too.
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