- Joined
- Apr 18, 2005
- Messages
- 785
- Reaction score
- 0
Alright, fellas, here's the deal:
Back when I first started working out, I spent a lot of time reading the wrong kind of literature. I became intent on maximizing my "pump," taking my "physique" to the "next level," and becoming a "mass monster." So, I copied routines straight out of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding and started bouncing back and forth between whichever flashy supplements had the most convincing full page ad in Muscle & Fitness. It's a sad story; I know.
Then, I stumbled across Sherdog and got a wake up call. I began working out properly, with a steadily increasing intensity, and with great regularity. I took an honest look at myself and decided that I was hoping my supplements would prove to be some sort of magical shortcut to my longterm fitness goals. I began to eat shitloads of clean calories and cut back on my supplementing to good old whey protein and a daily multivitamin. All this worked out well because soon I found myself at a new college with a work-study job broke as hell; I couldn't have bought supplements if I wanted to.
But nowadays I have my training and diet more or less on lockdown, and I'm not looking for shortcuts. I am looking for ways to improve my performance. I should be running into some cash over Christmas and (with any luck) will improve my financial situation next semester (I'll have a car at least so I can get a job off campus). So, I'm looking to supplement my routine on a modest budget.
Things I want to improve in a prioritized list:
1) My size and the amount of weight I can move.
2) The sleep I get at night.
3) My general, day-to-day comfort. I get to feeling beat up or under the weather (I have bad allergies) about once a month. I usually am over it after a couple days of rest, but I talked about it in S&P and got a bunch of supplement suggestions.
Things I am planning on buying and my questions about them:
A Top-of-the-line Multivitamin: I've been taking KAL Enhanced Energy multi's. Are there any other suggestions out there? What should I be looking for in a multi.
Vitamin C: KAL has 800mg of this. Madmick suggested I supplement Vitamin C to help keep my system waste free. Do I need to be supplementing beyond this? Should I hit myself up with some C multiple times throughout the day?
Fatty Acid Supplements: I'm taking a look at the Omega 3,6, and 9 supplements on Puritan's Pride.
Valerian: Suggested as a sleep aid.
ZMA: Same as above. Does everyone agree that ZMA has an anabolic effect?
Creatine: I searched this forum for threads on Creatine. I never really found a strong consensus on what version of the shit works best. A friend of mine goes apeshit over ether estyl or whatever that junk is called. How do I know I'm getting quality creatine? I know Ross Enamait talks about using Ribose and Creatine together. Does this forum have an opinion on that practice?
NO2: I'm not really convinced I need this stuff, but I read about it in the stickies here. It seems that the general consensus is go for it? Is this true?
If you can help me out by answering any of these questions, telling me if I'm making a glaring supplementation mistake, or giving me the inside scoop on getting this stuff cheap, I'd be very grateful. Thanks.
Back when I first started working out, I spent a lot of time reading the wrong kind of literature. I became intent on maximizing my "pump," taking my "physique" to the "next level," and becoming a "mass monster." So, I copied routines straight out of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding and started bouncing back and forth between whichever flashy supplements had the most convincing full page ad in Muscle & Fitness. It's a sad story; I know.
Then, I stumbled across Sherdog and got a wake up call. I began working out properly, with a steadily increasing intensity, and with great regularity. I took an honest look at myself and decided that I was hoping my supplements would prove to be some sort of magical shortcut to my longterm fitness goals. I began to eat shitloads of clean calories and cut back on my supplementing to good old whey protein and a daily multivitamin. All this worked out well because soon I found myself at a new college with a work-study job broke as hell; I couldn't have bought supplements if I wanted to.
But nowadays I have my training and diet more or less on lockdown, and I'm not looking for shortcuts. I am looking for ways to improve my performance. I should be running into some cash over Christmas and (with any luck) will improve my financial situation next semester (I'll have a car at least so I can get a job off campus). So, I'm looking to supplement my routine on a modest budget.
Things I want to improve in a prioritized list:
1) My size and the amount of weight I can move.
2) The sleep I get at night.
3) My general, day-to-day comfort. I get to feeling beat up or under the weather (I have bad allergies) about once a month. I usually am over it after a couple days of rest, but I talked about it in S&P and got a bunch of supplement suggestions.
Things I am planning on buying and my questions about them:
A Top-of-the-line Multivitamin: I've been taking KAL Enhanced Energy multi's. Are there any other suggestions out there? What should I be looking for in a multi.
Vitamin C: KAL has 800mg of this. Madmick suggested I supplement Vitamin C to help keep my system waste free. Do I need to be supplementing beyond this? Should I hit myself up with some C multiple times throughout the day?
Fatty Acid Supplements: I'm taking a look at the Omega 3,6, and 9 supplements on Puritan's Pride.
Valerian: Suggested as a sleep aid.
ZMA: Same as above. Does everyone agree that ZMA has an anabolic effect?
Creatine: I searched this forum for threads on Creatine. I never really found a strong consensus on what version of the shit works best. A friend of mine goes apeshit over ether estyl or whatever that junk is called. How do I know I'm getting quality creatine? I know Ross Enamait talks about using Ribose and Creatine together. Does this forum have an opinion on that practice?
NO2: I'm not really convinced I need this stuff, but I read about it in the stickies here. It seems that the general consensus is go for it? Is this true?
If you can help me out by answering any of these questions, telling me if I'm making a glaring supplementation mistake, or giving me the inside scoop on getting this stuff cheap, I'd be very grateful. Thanks.
)
