Hello,
I have been going to the gym for the last 6 months. Trying a body transformation. From 6’5" 325lbs to 250lbs. I’ve been using Muscle Milk and plain whey protein powder. Heard allot of bad things about Muscle Milk on this site so far. So, all of you experts out there please lend me a hand.
What sups to use for lean muscle and fat loss.
I already use: the Biotest Flameout fish oil pills , and EAS Phosphagen creatine, Cytosport Complete Whey Protein, Cytosport Muscle milk.
Thanks,
TC
tk, kudos to getting back in shape. Instead of listing twenty different supps in my post, I am going to advise you to go into the T-Nation store and read the accompanying article for each product. The articles break down in concise detail what the products are intended for and why and when they should be used. This will give you the best understanding IMO.
Good luck,
D
[quote]Dedicated wrote:
tk, kudos to getting back in shape. Instead of listing twenty different supps in my post, I am going to advise you to go into the T-Nation store and read the accompanying article for each product. The articles break down in concise detail what the products are intended for and why and when they should be used. This will give you the best understanding IMO.
Good luck,
D[/quote]
So…Biotest is the top? The Best?
TC
[quote]tkclary wrote:
Dedicated wrote:
tk, kudos to getting back in shape. Instead of listing twenty different supps in my post, I am going to advise you to go into the T-Nation store and read the accompanying article for each product. The articles break down in concise detail what the products are intended for and why and when they should be used. This will give you the best understanding IMO.
Good luck,
D
So…Biotest is the top? The Best?
TC
[/quote]
Most on here like to think so, hence why we frequent the site and post as much as we do. They just hit a nice sweet spot of quality and price that I just do not see elsewhere (and I have tried products - and still do - from a lot of different companies).
We could rattle off a bunch of info on the supplements on the site, but they are just what they say they are: supplements. Some more info on your diet and workout plan can actually target some key areas to help out in your body transformation.
[quote]tkclary wrote:
Dedicated wrote:
tk, kudos to getting back in shape. Instead of listing twenty different supps in my post, I am going to advise you to go into the T-Nation store and read the accompanying article for each product. The articles break down in concise detail what the products are intended for and why and when they should be used. This will give you the best understanding IMO.
Good luck,
D
So…Biotest is the top? The Best?
TC
[/quote]
There are companies that put out a high quality of products and companies that put out garbage and everything in between. That said, Biotest puts out high quality products that I personaly use and believe in as do many others here.
Also, even if you choose to shop elsewhere by reading through the articles in the T-store you will have a better understanding of supps in general and how to formulate a plan for their use.
Take care,
D
[quote]Kuz wrote:
tkclary wrote:
Dedicated wrote:
tk, kudos to getting back in shape. Instead of listing twenty different supps in my post, I am going to advise you to go into the T-Nation store and read the accompanying article for each product. The articles break down in concise detail what the products are intended for and why and when they should be used. This will give you the best understanding IMO.
Good luck,
D
So…Biotest is the top? The Best?
TC
Most on here like to think so, hence why we frequent the site and post as much as we do. They just hit a nice sweet spot of quality and price that I just do not see elsewhere (and I have tried products - and still do - from a lot of different companies).
We could rattle off a bunch of info on the supplements on the site, but they are just what they say they are: supplements. Some more info on your diet and workout plan can actually target some key areas to help out in your body transformation.[/quote]
OK.
Here is a bit of background on me and my mission…
October 17th 2006. My Doctors visit was the last straw. I weighed in at 325 lbs (FAT) and he was going to add another high blood pressure med to the arsinal. He was unhappy and I was ashamed. again… So I made a choice to change my life for me, my wife, and my 2 boys. I am 35 yrs old…too young to continue down this road.
So I started going to the gym 3 days - 4 days a week. Cardio and strength training. I am now about 295 lbs and have been taken off most of the blood pressure meds. I have a Dr. visit at the end of April and I anticipate being taken off the last blood pressure med then.
I am looking to build a strong, lean, muscular body. I am 6’5" tall and would like to weigh about 245.
Does this help?
Tom
Listen, supps won’t “transform” your body. Caloric intake and excercise will. Don’t listen to all the this vs that protein crap…in the long run it’s nothing.
Just keep working hard, eating clean and getting a good balance of foods with lots of water.
Fish oil is good too.
Congratulations on your results thus far, tkclary, and welcome to the “Nation”!!!
As much as I love my supps, when it comes to changing your body composition (the ratio of lean to fat), I prefer to put greater emphasis on how a person eats. It’s important that what you do eat is supportive of vibrant good health, energy, cognition (brain function) as well as body comp. Even if you’re not fully up to speed on their benefits and advantages, you’re safe starting with a quality protein powder (straight whey or Metabolic Drive) and a good fish oil supplement like Flameout. From there, your choice of supps really depends on your goals and special needs.
Whatever your goals and whichever supps you decide to start with, it’s probably not a bad idea to add one thing at a time so that you can better assess which supps are giving you the biggest (bigger?) bang for the buck. (grin)
If you have any questions along the way, don’t hesitate to ask!
Answer #2. (grin)
You’re getting good advice, tkclary, re focusing more on your diet and less on the supps. Your diet is responsible for a good 80% of your results (an arbitrarily selected number, admittedly, but used for demonstrative purposes (grin)). Supplements “supplement” or support a good diet. If you’ll focus on that and tell us what you’re struggling with, we’ll make recommendations along the way.
Supplements definitely help!!! HOT-ROX, as an example, works its magic by suppressing appetite and increasing energy. But if you do what you’re doing currently (i.e., making no changes whatsoever), it’s unlikely that you would see “miraculous” results. On the other hand, if you increase activity slightly (over what you’re doing currently) and reduce your caloric intake slightly, then you should be very happy with your results.
You’re definitely approaching things correctly. You’re working out, doing resistance training and some cardio. You’re probably making better food choices and have reduced your caloric intake slightly. Results do tend to slow down over time and adjustments do need to be made along the way. Are you losing between a pound and two pounds a week? How are your energy levels? Do you have much of a problem with cravings? Do you have any health issues other than the high BP. How is your mood? Do you have trouble sleeping at night?
If you’re not happy with the results you’re seeing each week, go ahead and post a copy of your diet, and we’ll see if we can’t help you tweak and adjust it a bit.
Get your diet in order 100%. Once you have that going then you can start to look at supplements to supplement your diet. All you really need is a good quality protein powder. Fish oil can also be very beneficial.
Muscle Milk is okay…I like it cause it has lots of calories. However I just buy GNC 6lb tubs for $30 each during gold card week. 320 cals, 60g protein per 3 scoop serving and the stuff tastes fine.
Oh and get some Spike Shooters…they are amazing.
[quote]Tampa-Terry wrote:
Supplements definitely help!!! HOT-ROX, as an example, works its magic by suppressing appetite and increasing energy. [/quote]
No offense, but I think it’s pretty irresponsible to recommend a product like HOT-ROX when the guy is taking BP meds and overall is having health problems, even though I’m sure you meant well.
Here’s my .02, TC.
Take supps that are going to promote health. You’re certainly on the right track with the Flameout, as it’s a very high quality product.
REZ-V seems to be another one that has many positive health benefits that may help you in the gym as well.
I’d be carefull with taking too much in the form of shakes. They really don’t do anything for me as a meal replacement, so I always end up taking a shake with food anyway which simply just increases that caloric intake for that meal. The shakes are good for post workout, but I would just stick to that for a while.
Instead of shakes (throughout the day), I’d recommend BCAA’s. From my research, I’m pretty confident that taking them is a way to be calorie efficient. You get all the benefit of the protein source that going to help repair and build tissue with zero calories!
I’d probably drop the Creatine…all it seems to do is add water weight, and even though it isn’t bad weight, added weight doesn’t help BP, and really, the Creatine effect isn’t drastic enough to keep it in your supplement intake.
My last recommendation is to do some research on Berardi’s diet recommendations. I find that he’s about the best for that when it comes down to body comp changes.
Stay positive and focused!
Personally, and from experience of dropping quite a bit of weight over the last few months, I would recommend:
a low carb (less than 100g per day), high protein (about 1g per pound of bodyweight), calorie restricted (bodyweight in pounds * 10) diet.
A multi-vitamin, to make up for what the protein drinks aren’t giving you.
Flameout. Look at the article in the store section to find out why.
3 full-body workouts per week.
2 sessions of cardio per week, if you can handle it. If you can’t, don’t worry about it. It isn’t important until you start getting toward your goal.
A support system, accountability partner, or group of people who know what you’re trying to do, and will keep you motivated to do it.
A cheat meal once a week. Go ahead and have some pizza. Just don’t have an entire pizza. The idea is to keep yourself sane, not to cause a metabolic disaster.
Hard work.
Dedication.
Perseverance.
Number ten is the key. If you’ve got everything else in line, the weight will come off, and you will achieve your goal. This is science. Follow the rule and see the results. Just don’t give up until the end.
Everything else is icing on the cake you aren’t allowing yourself to eat anymore. Make sure you talk to your doctor about how the intensity of your workouts and whatever supplements you decide to take will affect your heart and overall health.
[quote]Dominator wrote:
Here’s my .02, TC.
Take supps that are going to promote health. You’re certainly on the right track with the Flameout, as it’s a very high quality product.
REZ-V seems to be another one that has many positive health benefits that may help you in the gym as well.
I’d be carefull with taking too much in the form of shakes. They really don’t do anything for me as a meal replacement, so I always end up taking a shake with food anyway which simply just increases that caloric intake for that meal. The shakes are good for post workout, but I would just stick to that for a while.
Instead of shakes (throughout the day), I’d recommend BCAA’s. From my research, I’m pretty confident that taking them is a way to be calorie efficient. You get all the benefit of the protein source that going to help repair and build tissue with zero calories!
I’d probably drop the Creatine…all it seems to do is add water weight, and even though it isn’t bad weight, added weight doesn’t help BP, and really, the Creatine effect isn’t drastic enough to keep it in your supplement intake.
My last recommendation is to do some research on Berardi’s diet recommendations. I find that he’s about the best for that when it comes down to body comp changes.
Stay positive and focused![/quote]
Some good ideas for sure. Creatine? It was actually Dr.Berardi’s book that got me to take 5 g. of creatine a day. The Metabolism Advantage book. So I only take 5 grams a day. Not the heavy doses the bottle recommends. REZ-V ? ? What is this? Also…what do you think about the Muscle Milk? I am beginning to think it has too much fat per serving. 18 grams ! “Lean Lipids” Whatever that is supposed to mean.
T
[quote]tkclary wrote:
Also…what do you think about the Muscle Milk? I am beginning to think it has too much fat per serving. 18 grams ! “Lean Lipids” Whatever that is supposed to mean.[/quote]
Carbs are the enemy, not fats. If you’re eating fat, your body will more easily transition into burning fat for fuel.
Muscle Milk was actually the primary component of my own weight loss; 20 pounds in November, about 10 pounds a month since then. I’ve staled a bit, so now I’m mixing Metabolic Drive and Atkin’s Advantage (2 scoops MD and 1 can of AA), because it’s lower-carb and higher protein than the Muscle Milk. I’ve also come to greatly appreciate Splenda.
http://www.T-Nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1231523
This is why so many people around here avoid muscle milk.
[quote]Brant_Drake wrote:
http://www.T-Nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1231523
This is why so many people around here avoid muscle milk.[/quote]
I read it. Cytosport must have also. They have removed the Glycocyamine (GCC) from all the new batches of Muscle Milk. The new formula is starting to hit the shelves now. I bought some from Bodybuilding.com last week. No Gycocyamine (GCC) none at all. So, now what do you think of Muscle Milk ?
Tom
[quote]tkclary wrote:
Brant_Drake wrote:
http://www.T-Nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1231523
This is why so many people around here avoid muscle milk.
I read it. Cytosport must have also. They have removed the Glycocyamine (GCC) from all the new batches of Muscle Milk. The new formula is starting to hit the shelves now. I bought some from Bodybuilding.com last week. No Gycocyamine (GCC) none at all. So, now what do you think of Muscle Milk ?
Tom[/quote]
I think it’s sad that people like Dave Barr had to draw attention to an ingredient like this in order to get the company to remove it.
Dominator, no offense taken. Good catch!!! It’s a point worth clarifying …
HOT-ROX can potentially have a vasodilatory effect that in combination with BP medication would result in a state of hypotension. It’s not an absolute or guarantee or “in all cases.” It’s more a possibility.
For those considering combining the two, start out at 1 capsule daily for 3-5 days, assess tolerance, and if all is well, repeat until reaching the recommended dosage. If at any time you experiences things like headache, fatigue, dizziness or nausea, then you know you’ve reached the point of intolerance. If you experiences these symptoms after working up to only 2 capsules per day, then it’s probably a good idea to discontinue using it.
As per Cy Willson, there’s a myriad of people taking medications for hypertension with HOT-ROX and there haven’t been any problems, but one should always side with caution.
[quote]ChrisKing wrote:
tkclary wrote:
Brant_Drake wrote:
http://www.T-Nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1231523
This is why so many people around here avoid muscle milk.
I read it. Cytosport must have also. They have removed the Glycocyamine (GCC) from all the new batches of Muscle Milk. The new formula is starting to hit the shelves now. I bought some from Bodybuilding.com last week. No Gycocyamine (GCC) none at all. So, now what do you think of Muscle Milk ?
Tom
I think it’s sad that people like Dave Barr had to draw attention to an ingredient like this in order to get the company to remove it.[/quote]
I went to BB.com and wasn’t able to find the “new” Muscle Milk formula. Where do you see that they changed it?
