Hello everyone, my name is Chris and I’m looking for some advice. I recently read an article on here about the NO2 myth and it got me thinking about my own supplementation and lifting/running regimen.
First, some background about myself: I’m now almost 21 years old, weigh 165 lbs, and stand at 5’9. I used to be a fat kid, weighing 220 lbs back in high school. I lost the weight by running, and running, and running. Then I was so skinny that I felt I had to do something, so I lifted heavily, 4 days a week and cut my running down. I gained 20 lbs from 160 and then cut the weight appropriately and now am at a pretty lean and muscular 165.
Okay…so…my workout looks like this:
4 days a week of lifting, focusing on big exercises and also a lot of pull ups (i’m going to be doing the Marine PLC program next Summer). I run on a 3-day cycle, taking the 4th day off, and then repeating.
Running
2 mile run as fast as possible (military timing)
45 minutes of slower cardio
Sprints, hills, etc.
Day off
I am currently taking these supplements and I want to know which are BS and need to be stopped and which ones could be helping me.
Propecia (for baldness - I’m pretty sure this is essential, in my case haha)
MSM (for recovery, joints, and hair)
NO2
Beverly International “Lean Out”
Green Tea
I’m so confused about supplements, as there are countless pills, brands, and bottles out there.
What kinds of supplements truly work, that don’t mess with hormones, in helping to put on leaner mass? My goals are to find a good thermogenic, a good BCAA supplement, and something that supports “pumps” (artificially looking big lol) or “lean mass gains.”
The very basics that I would recommend if optimum whole food nutrition is being met for an athlete would be a high quality protein powder or MRP. A high quality essential fatty acid formula for anti inflammatory and joint health and a Greens type product to compliment a diet already high in vegetables and fruits.
I would recommend reading the articles provided by this site on the different products. This way you will have a better understanding of the purpose behind them. There are some like the ones mentioned above that should be staples for good health and their are some that you can cycle depending upon goals at a given time.
First off, I’d drop the NO2 from your next purchase. There are a lot of supplements out there that really don’t do anything. I’d first look into your diet, and make sure everything is good there. As far as supplments that work: protein, creatine, and a multi vitamin are the basics and all you need at this point.
Why do you need a fat burner with all that running? You only weigh 165 lbs.
Fake muscle look? Why not try gaining 20 lbs and see real muscle.
First off, I’d drop the NO2 from your next purchase. There are a lot of supplements out there that really don’t do anything. I’d first look into your diet, and make sure everything is good there. As far as supplments that work: protein, creatine, and a multi vitamin are the basics and all you need at this point.
Why do you need a fat burner with all that running? You only weigh 165 lbs.
Fake muscle look? Why not try gaining 20 lbs and see real muscle.[/quote]
I understand what you’re saying - your advice is sound and sensible. I’m wary of creatine because of its potential adverse effects on hairloss. I might just be extra careful there, because I am on Propecia and have had a hair transplant (which went well)…but I’m in a different situation there.
Gotcha, creatine is definitely not essential so no worries there. Just curious, but I’ve never heard of creatine causing hair loss? Where did you get that information?
Creatine and hair loss? I think someone’s been bullshitting you.
Anyway, as long as your diet is in order, you can look into a fish oil & some protein powder.
Dumb the NO2 and the Lean Out. You want a thermogenic - try HOT-ROX. BCAA’s - might as well try the new one’s from Biotest - on this site. Something to help put on lean mass? Carbolin 19. Just make sure your diet is in order or else you’ll be wasting money on supps.
You really don’t need something to give you a “fake pump”, rather get some Surge or just make sure your PWO nutrition is in order.
[quote]rsg wrote:
Creatine and hair loss? I think someone’s been bullshitting you.
Anyway, as long as your diet is in order, you can look into a fish oil & some protein powder.
Dumb the NO2 and the Lean Out. You want a thermogenic - try HOT-ROX. BCAA’s - might as well try the new one’s from Biotest - on this site. Something to help put on lean mass? Carbolin 19. Just make sure your diet is in order or else you’ll be wasting money on supps.
You really don’t need something to give you a “fake pump”, rather get some Surge or just make sure your PWO nutrition is in order.[/quote]
Sounds good, thanks.
The hairloss thing is kind of an area of expertise for me. I know that what happens is Propecia stops the alpha reductase enzyme conversion of testosterone to DHT which essentially blocks or slows hair loss.
There is some concern over what an increase in testosterone can do - and while it may well be nothing - for someone dealing with hair loss at a young age, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Of course, lifting will undoubtedly raise testosterone levels, but do I want to mess with supplements which could mess with Propecia/Alpha-Reductase?
As far as I know, none of the mentioned supps will mess with what you’re taking for your hair - but you’d have to check up on that because I can’t be 100% certain.
Also, if you’re having problems with hair loss give Saw Palmetto a try - you can get it at a pharmacy and I’ve read it helps prevent conversion to DHT too. Another product a friend of mine is using is Nourkrin - just google it - apparently it’s a good natural alternative for hair regrowth.
[quote]rsg wrote:
As far as I know, none of the mentioned supps will mess with what you’re taking for your hair - but you’d have to check up on that because I can’t be 100% certain.
Also, if you’re having problems with hair loss give Saw Palmetto a try - you can get it at a pharmacy and I’ve read it helps prevent conversion to DHT too. Another product a friend of mine is using is Nourkrin - just google it - apparently it’s a good natural alternative for hair regrowth.
What’s your diet like?[/quote]
I eat a lot of vegetables grown in my own garden, grilled chicken breast, whey protein, whole wheat pastas, Fiber one cereal, hardly anything besides water or maybe diet soda sometimes or a diet energy drink, unsalted nuts, tuna, oatmeal, big salads…pretty much a clean diet with the kinds of things that should be promoting lean gains.
Looks good, just make sure if you’re bulking (which you should be), that you are eating enough.
Basically, your essentials are be fish oil, a multivitamin, BCAA’s, an MRP and lots of food and sleep. MSM is also quite good so you can keep using that.
If you want to bulk or lose weight, the only supps I would personally recommend are HOT-ROX & Carbolin 19.
[quote]Dhuge66 wrote:
rsg wrote:
Creatine and hair loss? I think someone’s been bullshitting you.
Anyway, as long as your diet is in order, you can look into a fish oil & some protein powder.
Dumb the NO2 and the Lean Out. You want a thermogenic - try HOT-ROX. BCAA’s - might as well try the new one’s from Biotest - on this site. Something to help put on lean mass? Carbolin 19. Just make sure your diet is in order or else you’ll be wasting money on supps.
You really don’t need something to give you a “fake pump”, rather get some Surge or just make sure your PWO nutrition is in order.
Sounds good, thanks.
The hairloss thing is kind of an area of expertise for me. I know that what happens is Propecia stops the alpha reductase enzyme conversion of testosterone to DHT which essentially blocks or slows hair loss.
There is some concern over what an increase in testosterone can do - and while it may well be nothing - for someone dealing with hair loss at a young age, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Of course, lifting will undoubtedly raise testosterone levels, but do I want to mess with supplements which could mess with Propecia/Alpha-Reductase?[/quote]
Hey dhuge,
I’ve delt with the same thing and have used the propecia. About the testosterone levels though, I would think that a higher level of T would decrease hairloss. I know for me lifting, TRIBEX and ZMA have raised my T levels and hairloss seems to have come to a standstill. I also use rogaine but the amount of hair regrowth has seemed to increase with my lifting.
[quote]jbodzin wrote:
Dhuge66 wrote:
rsg wrote:
Creatine and hair loss? I think someone’s been bullshitting you.
Anyway, as long as your diet is in order, you can look into a fish oil & some protein powder.
Dumb the NO2 and the Lean Out. You want a thermogenic - try HOT-ROX. BCAA’s - might as well try the new one’s from Biotest - on this site. Something to help put on lean mass? Carbolin 19. Just make sure your diet is in order or else you’ll be wasting money on supps.
You really don’t need something to give you a “fake pump”, rather get some Surge or just make sure your PWO nutrition is in order.
Sounds good, thanks.
The hairloss thing is kind of an area of expertise for me. I know that what happens is Propecia stops the alpha reductase enzyme conversion of testosterone to DHT which essentially blocks or slows hair loss.
There is some concern over what an increase in testosterone can do - and while it may well be nothing - for someone dealing with hair loss at a young age, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Of course, lifting will undoubtedly raise testosterone levels, but do I want to mess with supplements which could mess with Propecia/Alpha-Reductase?
Hey dhuge,
I’ve delt with the same thing and have used the propecia. About the testosterone levels though, I would think that a higher level of T would decrease hairloss. I know for me lifting, TRIBEX and ZMA have raised my T levels and hairloss seems to have come to a standstill. I also use rogaine but the amount of hair regrowth has seemed to increase with my lifting.
um creatine doesnt raise your testosterone levels… raising test doesnt mean it converts to dht. you made up this theory on your own and your no expert.
[quote]whatsmybodyfat wrote:
um creatine doesnt raise your testosterone levels… raising test doesnt mean it converts to dht. you made up this theory on your own and your no expert.[/quote]
[quote]Dhuge66 wrote:
whatsmybodyfat wrote:
um creatine doesnt raise your testosterone levels… raising test doesnt mean it converts to dht. you made up this theory on your own and your no expert.
ok that is a forum, i searched creatine, nothing. external hormones can raise dht. higher testosterone…unlikely. creatine doesnt raise test levels. it increases atp in muscles, it increases cell volume. Its made of 3 amino acids. Its found in steak. So steak causes hairloss? saturated fat raises test levels does this increase hair loss? sleeping raises test levels, lifting raises test levels. if you are worrried abotu test levels dont eat steak, dont lift, and dont sleep. just don’t do steroids that convert to dht. nice bicep picture sweet looking jacked
its not how your genetically distributed. you jsut either don’t do enough leg workouts or don’t do them at all. jsut to let you know though doing legs reaise tests levels you might want to watch out. squat and drink milk
[quote]whatsmybodyfat wrote:
Dhuge66 wrote:
whatsmybodyfat wrote:
um creatine doesnt raise your testosterone levels… raising test doesnt mean it converts to dht. you made up this theory on your own and your no expert.
ok that is a forum, i searched creatine, nothing. external hormones can raise dht. higher testosterone…unlikely. creatine doesnt raise test levels. it increases atp in muscles, it increases cell volume. Its made of 3 amino acids. Its found in steak. So steak causes hairloss? saturated fat raises test levels does this increase hair loss? sleeping raises test levels, lifting raises test levels. if you are worrried abotu test levels dont eat steak, dont lift, and dont sleep. just don’t do steroids that convert to dht. nice bicep picture sweet looking jacked[/quote]
You might be right, maybe i’m just paranoid about it.
