After Tom’s last post about supplements, I have been receiving a lot a questions about them. A lot of people are confused as to what to take, how much to take, and even when to take them. I understand it can be very intimidating walking into a supplement store and not knowing what to take. If you did that, you already made your first mistake. Its very easy to be sold into taking something that you don’t need these days. There isn’t a miracle supplement out there meant for everyone, and depending on what your fitness goals are will determine what supplements you should be taking.

Someone just starting out isn’t going to take, or shouldn’t be taking the same supplements as a body builder trying to bulk up for a competition. Supplements are suppose to be what the name implies, a supplement to your diet, and your diet shouldn’t rely primarily on them. So, for someone just starting out, your focus should be less on the supplements and more on your diet. Making sure you are getting the proper vitamins and minerals from the foods you eat, and obtaining the ones you didn’t from your supplements.

For someone who is looking to bulk-up and to put on some muscle should again primarily focus on their diet. Adding supplements such as proteins powders, weight gainers, and pre-workout drinks can add additional benefits. You need to be careful with the protein and weight gainer supplements as they can be packed with sugar and other things your body doesn’t need, which in turn could make you more fat then muscular! I know it sounds silly, but I have seen my fair share of guys at the gym who thought they got more muscular by taking these but in reality just got fatter.

Unfortunately, only a registered dietitian can safely recommend what supplements you should be taking. The worst thing you could do is listen to what the sales person at the store tells you to take. The best thing you can do is to do your research. Find out what supplements are recommended for your fitness goals, and what brands are most reliable.

-Scott