Overkill?

[Twirl]

Haven't really been to active as of late but I've been busy between work, school, gym, and paintball practice. But at the gym the other day I asked one of the trainers for a good place to get chalk and some decently priced protein around here and he wrote this entire stack down. Looks a little overkill to me lemme know what you guys think.

Tribulus
ZMA
Animal Pak
Uni-Liver
Green Tea
L-Arginine
L-Glutamine
Creatine
and of course a protein powder of sorts (Smart Gainer by his recomendation)

[Tom Mutaffis]

Haven't really been to active as of late but I've been busy between work, school, gym, and paintball practice. But at the gym the other day I asked one of the trainers for a good place to get chalk and some decently priced protein around here and he wrote this entire stack down. Looks a little overkill to me lemme know what you guys think.

Tribulus
ZMA
Animal Pak
Uni-Liver
Green Tea
L-Arginine
L-Glutamine
Creatine
and of course a protein powder of sorts (Smart Gainer by his recomendation)

I don't want this to sound the wrong way but unfortunately it looks like the trainer may not be very experienced or knowledgeable when it comes to nutritional supplements:

Tribulus - Some have noticed minor benefits from it but it is generally regarded as ineffective. (Do not purchase)

ZMA - This is good for sleep support, but if you are not having trouble sleeping then it will not do much for you (Questionable Purchase)

Animal Pak - This is just a multi-vitamin. Having the word "animal" in the name does not make it any more potent than any other good vitamin complex or simply having a balanced diet. If you have the extra money then this is an option but there are plenty of alternatives.

Uni-Liver - I cannot believe that someone actually recommend this. Dissicated liver tablets were something that bodybuilders took in the 70's before whey protein shakes were readily available. I have tried these and all that you will get from them is an upset stomach. (Do not purchase)

Green Tea - Green tea is good if you need additional antioxidants or are looking for something to support weight loss. For energy you will probably want a stimulant with a little more caffeine or you can just use simple carbohydrates pre-workout. This one is up to you, it is beneficial but not necessary.

L-Arginine - Not sure why this one was recommended either. L-Arginine will not do anything for "pumps", but it is a common misconception (those products use AAKG). If you have a good quality protein shake with balanced amino acid profile then you do not need to supplement with any aminos. One of the reasons to use a higher quality protein shake product (Do not purchase).

L-Glutamine - Again there is a lot of hype about this product but many of the theories on it's effectiveness have recently been debunked. Glutamine is not a worthwhile supplement and you will get plenty of L-Glutamine in a good protein shake. (Do not purchase)

Creatine - Not all creatines are created equal. The best place to start is with monohydrate (most cost effective and proven form), and then move on from there. To ensure that you are purchasing a high quality product I would look for "Creapure" creatine monohydrate.

Protein Powder - For this it really depends on your goals and what you are using it for. If you are just looking to supplement daily protein intake then an MRP or "Gainer" would be a waste since the cost per serving is higher on those products. If you are using it for post-workout recovery then an MRP would be best, and if you are simply looking to add calories then you may want a gainer but should shop carefully as many of them are low quality protein and high in sugar.

So here is your revised list:

Protein - High quality protein shake with mostly isolates, preferably a protein blend if you are looking for something versatile to use as a meal replacement or at bedtime (blends have varying digestion rates which make them "time released").
Creatine - Creapure creatine monohydate. Take 5 grams daily with simple sugars and muscle saturation should be reached in approximately three weeks. No need to load or cycle.


I would recommend taking a look at AtLarge Nutrition for creatine and protein. Their protein shake (Nitrean) was chosen by Men's Health Magazine as the #1 Protein Shake in 2008 and 2009. They also sell Creapure Creatine and you can purchase a 3 month supply for less than $15.

Right now there are also some great sales on the ALN products.

Let me know if you need help putting together a diet, training routine, or supplement schedule.

[Travis Bell]

Great post Tom

Twirl, the original list your trainer wrote down is super poor and would be a great waste of your money

If you want to get some protein and creatine, you should take a look at the AtLarge Nutrition sale going on, the prices are excellent for the high quality products they are.

[Unreal]

Protein if needed is great. Creatine is a great supplement. Fish oil is also a great supplement. The only other thing I would think of adding is a stimulant for energy during a workout if needed.

[vdizenzo]

What Tom said and I'd add in a multi for good measure.

[KarlMarx]

Keep in mind that trainers often get kickbacks from supplement stores...I would take their word with a grain of salt as some of them benefit equally to the amount they make you spend.

[Twirl]

Tom, that was probably the best response I've seen in a bit. Thanks man, I appreciate it truly. I'm trying to gain around 30lbs at least. So Nitrean, creapure, a multi, and fish oils? Sound good?

[Tom Mutaffis]

Tom, that was probably the best response I've seen in a bit. Thanks man, I appreciate it truly. I'm trying to gain around 30lbs at least. So Nitrean, creapure, a multi, and fish oils? Sound good?

No problem; I am glad that you found the information to be helpful.

The stack that you have described sounds good. Remember that supplements are meant to supplement your diet and so it is important to make sure that you are eating right as well.

Gaining 30 lbs will take quite a bit of time, but that is a great long term goal. I would set a short term goal of gaining 5 lbs in 4-6 weeks and then move from there; this way you have something attainable that will keep you motivated.

Are you simply looking to gain mass for a sport or in general, or do you want to gain the 30 lbs while maintaining your current body composition (BF %)? I would be happy to help with your diet / training if you are interested.

[DavyRen]

Tom, that was probably the best response I've seen in a bit. Thanks man, I appreciate it truly. I'm trying to gain around 30lbs at least. So Nitrean, creapure, a multi, and fish oils? Sound good?

Sounds good, you may want to add Maximus depending on how much cash you have.

[Twirl]

Are you simply looking to gain mass for a sport or in general, or do you want to gain the 30 lbs while maintaining your current body composition (BF %)? I would be happy to help with your diet / training if you are interested.

pm'ed