Fat Burners, protein bars, meal replacements, creatine, protein powders.......everywhere we turn there is an advertisement for some sort of supplement. Watch an NFL game and see an ad for "Myoplex", turn the TV to a sports channel and see "Met-Rx's" Strongest man contest, walk down an aisle at your local grocery store pharmacy and see numerous vitamins, pills and powders. I think it can make a person feel like working out without a supplement is a waste of time.
As a personal trainer I'm often asked about supplements. For me to prescribe a certain supplement to achieve a certain benefit is really out of my realm as I'm not a licensed dietitian. However, if I'm familiar with the particular supplement in question, I can share my opinion on it.
Before getting into the benefit of any supplement the first thing we should examine is the actual definition of the word "supplement" Well, here it is as defined in the Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary: 1 a: something that completes or makes an addition. In other words, supplement are designed to be an "addition" to an already sound diet. Not to be used in lieu of whole foods. Think of it like this......supplements may be used to fill in the gaps where your diet may have deficiencies, but make every effort to have your eating habits as sound as possible. With he busyness of people's schedules, that is no easy task!
Do certain supplements play a role in improving muscle mass, strength, health, and performance? They can, but before spending lots of money on the next "Magic Bullet" make sure your eating habits are sound, and your exercise program is at a level that would warrant supplementation to your diet. If you only exercise one day a week, don't bother using creatine.....it would be a waste of money.
Also, make sure you do your homework on a supplement before purchasing it. Will the supplement interact with any physical condition that you have or any medication that you're taking? Does it match the goal your trying to achieve? Do you know of anyone who has used it that can give you feedback? Certified personal trainers, registered dietitians (RD) at your local health club, your primary care physician, as well as the Internet can be great resources in your supplement research.
Sincerely,
Scott Fleurant
CPT
Saco Sport & Fitness
Saco, Maine 04072
scottf@sacofitness.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment