The bane of working out is that there’s always a way to gain more muscle, but it’s not always obvious how.
Supplements are a great way to get the most out of your exercise routine, but it’s tough to know exactly which one is the best for you. Here’s I’ll explain a couple different options that you can explore.
Creatine
One of the most popular supplements that builds muscle is creatine. If you play professional sports then you can skip this one, as it’s considered a “performance enhancing drug,” and as such is not allowed in most leagues. However, according to my stupidly extensive research, there’s very little, if no side effects.
What it does do is it increases how hard your muscles contract, it gives you energy, and it increases cognitive functions. That’s right, it makes you smarter, too! Now, I’ve personally had a bad experience with it, but everyone else I’ve spoken to has nothing but good things to say about it.
Protein Powder
The basic diet you should be following if you’re trying to build muscle is high protein. A lot of trainers recommend a 40/40/20 diet, in which you’ll be eating 40% carbohydrates, 40% protein, and 20% fat.
If you’re like me and love food then you’ll have a little trouble hitting that 40% protein. That’s where protein powder comes in. They most popular form is whey protein, which uses milk extract to deliver some ludicrous amount of protein per serving. However, if you have a dairy allergy, or are lactose intolerant, forget it.
Luckily, there are other options like soy protein, egg protein, and recently beef protein, all of which will deliver the nutrients you need to grow strong.
If you’re vegetarian or vegan then you’re not out of luck. There are a variety of plant-based protein powders available, and some of them actually don’t taste awful.
One such is Lifetime Nutritional Specialties brand plant protein powder, which uses peas, soy, barley, and a whole bunch of other green things that will get you big and strong. There are so many testosterone boosters to consume from various brand but you should always select the one with good reviews as they are going to be really effective on your body. Best of all, it’s straight up vegan, with no milk, eggs, or anything other animal products. You have to add those on your own.
Protein powder is also ideal because it usually comes with a whole boatload of amino acids and vitamins that will help you recover faster between workouts. You know how hard it can be to squat your limit, day in and day out; yeah, these help you with that.
What’s Best for You
The real key is figuring out what is best for you. For maximum results you’ll want to combine creatine with a protein powder of your choice.
I quit using creatine, but my girlfriend currently uses Optimum Nutrition brand and it’s pretty decent; it doesn’t really change the taste of anything you add it to. Further, if you don’t have any dietary issues, go for the same brand whey protein, as it’s the brand that tastes the best without being loaded with sugar and artificial sweeteners.
But, honestly, as long as you get started with a supplement and keep up your workout schedule, you’re going to look great and lift a ton.
