Supplement Advice

I made a big mistake.

Howdy. I got a job 1.5 months ago, and I just today got a chunk of my money, $160, from my Mother, who’s been borrowing it :frowning: I’d planned on getting a gym membership and supplements with my first paycheck, but I’ve had to wait about 6 paychecks. Flush with money in my wallet today, I made a very silly decision – I went to Vitamin World and bought some supplements that looked good without doing some research first. I knew I was taking a big risk at the time, but I was too excited to care. I spent $35 on NOS Blast, a creatine-nitric oxide-caffeine-arginine-whatever mix of stuff. It’s supposedly exactly the same as ‘Amped ECN NOS’.

I got my gym membership soon after, but I wasn’t able to workout today anyways. I opened the product, so a return is not possible. I just did some research on the product, and I am the biggest asshole in the world.

I have a few questions. First off, is this stuff quite unhealthy? My Mother wants to use it for energy for her job, which is fairly physical and tiring. Would it be ethically incorrect to let her use this stuff? Will it negatively affect her healthy if she took, say, one scoop (they recommend 2-3 before a workout) before work with a large beverage?

Now, about supplements! So, if I understand it correctly…

-Creatine- allows you to pump with authority for a slightly longer period before you gas out. You take it after a workout. You only need about 3-5 grams per day (or was that per dose?). I’ll piss out most of the creatine I consume. It’d increase my reps, no? It also should make my intellect a bit keener. It directs water into my muscle tissue, so I’ll need to hydrate effectively while using it. -If I take creatine, how should I dose it? One dose a day? 4-5? How much per dose? Thanks-

-Caffeine- hardens my arteries.

-Nitric Oxide- isn’t something that I need as the basis of a supplement.

-Whey- Just a protein supplement? Anything wrong with it? I’m too lazy to do much research, so if it’s more than just protein, please elaborate if you can.

-Glutamine- can prevent muscle deterioration, and is expended en masse during a workout, so I need it.

That’s all I’ve found so far. I know it’s probably wisest to do my own research, but I want the easy way out this time. What should I be taking? I’m 17, 6’0, ~175, I haven’t been working out very long, and I’ll be looking to add functional strength and get much better at running, and eventually cutting a bunch of fat.

What would be a wise bunch of supplements? What kind of supplements should I be using, and how? Any advice? Thanks in advance, much appreciated :slight_smile:

Also, I know to eat big. Protein and whatnot. I’m going to be buying myself steak, chicken, fish, things of that nature, as well as fruits. I got a fancy multi-vitamin that I assume wasn’t as bad a purchase as the creatine mix. I hope I don’t come off as too much of a fool, I’m new to this and I want to learn, I’m just impatient and somewhat lazy. Thanks for your assistance.

In the time it took you to compose this essay telling all of us how lazy you are and what a fool you are and how you want the easy way out and please elaborate and thanks in advice (?) and how you want us to do the research work for you and answer your questions, you could have used the search button at the top of this page and found out everything you needed to know and not had to tell us any of this.

[quote]Arms Afire wrote:
In the time it took you to compose this essay telling all of us how lazy you are and what a fool you are and how you want the easy way out and please elaborate and thanks in advice (?) and how you want us to do the research work for you and answer your questions, you could have used the search button at the top of this page and found out everything you needed to know and not had to tell us any of this. [/quote]

  1. It’s not an essay, it’s a few tiny paragraphs.
  2. No, I couldn’t have. I used to search button many times and found plenty on things relevent, but nothing for an absolute beginner.
  3. I didn’t ask anyone to do any research for me, merely share some knowledge.
  4. No need to be so haughty.

arms afire is right. if you arent committed enough to do your own research, you sure as hell aren’t going to make gains in the gym.

creatine raises ATP stores and therefore intramuscular hydration and yes should allow a rep or two more as well as greater recovery due to the hydration

Caff. is a stimulant

NO is well junk

Whey = easy food

Glutamine is the most abundant amino in the body and well most food as well. Your getting enough more then likely if you just eat. save it for when your a server burn victim or some such thing

Other then that id do some quick searches bro those topics are covered a LOT in posts and article across the web and here

Phill

Stuff like this really discourages people from helping out.

Instead…say something like, “I’ve learned x and x, but I’m really wondering about y and I can’t find any info on it.”

[quote]abominabelsnoman wrote:
arms afire is right. if you arent committed enough to do your own research, you sure as hell aren’t going to make gains in the gym.[/quote]

I’ve been doing research all night.

I was hoping to get some basic, solid advice so I could start tomorrow.

Thanks.

It looks like he made note of what he’d learned about each supplement. Why do people feel the need to lecture about the importance of research? Pathetic.

[quote]SweetDaddyPatty wrote:
It looks like he made note of what he’d learned about each supplement. Why do people feel the need to lecture about the importance of research? Pathetic.[/quote]

In all fairness, I agree with most of what has been said, but I think my current situation absolves me of my laziness. It’s not that I’m lazy, it’s that I am anxious and impatient waiting to get this thing on the road. I was hoping to get some advice on a couple good supplements so I could start today. Thanks everyone.

Creatine:
http://www.T-Nation.com/readArticle.do?id=768093
Glutamine:
http://www.T-Nation.com/readArticle.do?id=461188
http://www.T-Nation.com/readArticle.do?id=459884
N.O. Crap
http://www.T-Nation.com/readArticle.do?id=1445574
Caff.
http://www.T-Nation.com/readArticle.do?id=461957

Hope this helps. Took me 5 mins. Typed each word into search. Great site, this T-Nation.

No worries, less typing, more eating, lifting, rest, repeat.

Food is the best supp, Creatine and whey are the only things that are no brainers. All other stuff is worthless shit, unless its illegal and even then food is still the best supp. Eat lift rest and repeat for years, stay the fuckin course. I’m like brand new to this game and that has finally penetrated my thick skull, saving me a ton of money. Like I said no worries, you over complicate things. Peace