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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
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| Nov 5 2008, 2:54 AM EST (current) | malonchr | 7 words added |
| Nov 5 2008, 2:08 AM EST | malonchr |
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Following on from last month’s tip, this week by request we look at the popular training supplements of creatine, HydroxyCut/Fat Blaster type products, and hormonal supplements.
Creatine
Creatine is a natural substance produced by the body stored in the muscles. Without going into the technical detail, a chemical reaction between Creatine and a substance called ATP is the driver of all muscle contraction. Creatine itself is essential for providing fuel for short explosive activities, such as sprinting 100m or lifting heavy weights.
The theory behind taking Creatine supplements is that if you have more of it in your body you will be able to go harder for the full 100m or lift a few extra repetitions of a weight.
I have taken Creatine as a training supplement on and off for years now. It sure has come along way, I remember my first experience when it was a relatively new supplement and I ended up doubled over in agony from crippling stomach cramps. Thankfully they have now eliminated the side effects and it is widely available.
After using it for a while does it work? All the scientific evidence points to yes but I’m not sure, it does make you retain water which does make your muscles look bigger. What I can tell you for sure is that when I take Creatine I can lift more weight, be it psychological or physical I don’t know, but frankly I don’t care as long as I am lifting more weight!
HydroxyCut / Fat Blaster type products
The idea behind these supplements is to artificially raise your metabolism, and suppress your appetite, so that you lose weight fast.
Personally I’ve tried a few of these types of products and I have to say they scare the bejeezes out of me. Firstly, they often include guarana or caffeine to boost the metabolism, which is fine in small doses, but some of the leading brands are the equivalent of up to 10 cups of Red Bull per day! I guess this is ok if you don’t plan on sleeping for the next week or so, but some of us have jobs to do.
Secondly, the potential side effects of stomach cramps and diarrhoea are not pleasant
My advice...stay away from these.
Tip: Caffeine mobilizes fat cells so they are burnt faster during training. A cup of black coffee before an aerobic session will help you maximise this benefit. You don’t need to take expensive supplements.
Hormonal Supplements
Let me tell you a story….
My first weight training instructor at age 17, was an ex-body builder by the name of Shane. Shane had taken almost every legal and illegal hormone supplement known to man in his career, and yes he was and still is as big as a house.
But, Shane was then 30 and retired from body building, yet was still suffering from the side effects of hormonal supplements that I only thought were rumours.
He had lost all the hair on his head, and grown hair all over his upper arms and back. His chest, once revered on the body building stage, now competes with Pamela Anderson’s.
And the scariest part of all, he had only recently recovered from triple bypass heart surgery at age 29.
The moral of the story…these supplements work but it is not worth it. Unless your doctor prescribes them, stay off the hormonal supplements, because you can’t reverse the damage you might do to your body’s natural hormonal balance.
That ends this months tip on supplements. Before I go I have found another cool health and fitness tip site run by the US government call small steps
It’s a great site and I love their advertising, some of which is below. Well I'm not surprised...they have to do something being the second most obese nation in the world.
Question: Which country has the highest rates of obesity in the world?
Tip: The country has a packet of chocolate covered honeycomb balls named after it.
Til next month,
Chris
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