Supplements: Help Needed

[Svyatogor]

First off, I'd like to say that I've done enough reading research on this subject, but nothing is as good as asking people for their advice. That's why I am posting this:

I am 23 years old, 6'3, 208, 12% bf. Have been lifting for over 5 years (chest: 47'' flexed, biceps 16 and 1/4 flexed), but all my gains have been completely natural, i.e., I have never used a supplement in my life. Not even Whey Protein.

I'd like to think that I am fairly big (rg570 saw me, he can prove it), but I've been stuck on the same size/weight for the past 4 months, and I want to move up! I feel like with some proper supplements, I can get much bigger, but have no clue what to take.

My main goal is to stay around 12% bf and even try to go lower, but keep gaining lean muscle. Thus, I am currently doing a lean bulking phase and want to continue doing so. I am in a gym 5 days a week.

I will not use prohormones, but everything else, I am open to. I would REALLY appreciate any input on what supplement I should look into purchasing, my diet during that time, and when I should take it (before/after workouts, etc..). Any other imput will be highly appreciated, maybe some helpful links...

Finally, I would like to say, that I am genuinly serious about this. Just need some good advice. :help:

[rookiebldr]

Ah, a friend of RG's. Well done on the gains thus far.

If you're eating properly then you may not need supplements. Many people use whey to augment the protein they are already getting. If you are too low in calories then you might want to add shake in there to increase them, however solid food works to. I've always had post workout shake with protein and carbs immediately after working out. Liquid protein and carbs gets digested faster and start working right away. So for that added calorie boost you might want to start there.

You might also need to shake up your routine some and possible switch down from 5 days to something less for some weeks to give your body a break. Just some thoughts.

[Svyatogor]

rookiebldr. thanks for your reply. What do you think of Cell-tech? I have some money to waste and was thinking about buying it?

[bigswole30]

Do not buy Cell-crap. I would choose from one of the following creatine supps

Muscle Synergy by Beverly Intl.
V-12 by Sann Nutrition
Plasma Expander by VPX
Swole by Syntrax

[dirty-c]

A creatine phase might help you achieve new gains, especially if you've never used it before. I started using creatine, eating right, and training properly. Inside of 6 months, I went from the being the smallest kid in my class, to one of the biggest (in terms of LBM anyway).

I became the poster child for creatine. Every guy in my high school rushed out and bought some. But when they still didnt make much gains (due to piss poor diet and crappy training technique) they wondered why it didn't work! :) LOL

My point is, supplements are no miracle and it sounds like you already know what you're doing. I would suggest shaking up your routine, possibly even something radically different, AND using creatine. If you don't make soem impressive gains, I would be shocked.

Read the sticky thread about creatine first if you havent already.

[rookiebldr]

Svyatogor, as we discussed and as Bigswole has indicated, I don't think the Cell Tech products is good value vs all the marketing hype. As Dirty-c has indicated, creatine may help you kick off a new level of growth. Definitely add in a post workout shake as well to combine with the creatine. dirty-c has some other good pointers too that you might want to consider.

dirty-c, well done on the gains. I suspect that the eating right and training properly had a lot to do with those gains. It's great to see the improvements from all the hard work. :)

[Svyatogor]

Thanks guys, sorry for a late reply, but I just bought good ol' EAS Creatine and have been using it since Monday. Also loaded up on chicken, water, Whey Protein, and no-fat milk, to name a few. I will post my new results in about 8-10 weeks. ~S.~

[Goin_Big]

I must reitterate that Cell Tech is a joke. I thought it worked worse than regular creatine because I felt like crap the whole time I was using it, so I lifted bad. The last time I used creatine I bought a bottle of pills for 8 bucks that I took 3g a day of for a month and it worked great. The best results I ever had was a cheap bottle of creatine pills and a nice cheap bottle of ALA. Good luck with the creatine and as far as expensive names go, creatine is creatine :)

Oh yea, and read my sig :D