Do Supplements Matter?
We’ve all heard the adage that Abs are made in the kitchen not the gym. Here at The Abs Company we certainly believe there is truth in this statement though we also strongly believe in training variety for maximum results. This is the reason we offer many types of Ab and Core training machines – to keep those muscles guessing and improving. More on this in future posts.
When it comes the the nutrition side of things one of the hottest topics is, by far, supplementation. People ask me all the time – should I be taking supplements and if so what should I be taking?
I am a firm believer in getting as much of our nutrition as possible from whole foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables should be the staple of any healthy diet and are key to staying lean so you can have that flat, strong and sexy waistline you desire. However, it’s also no secret that our foods today don’t contain the nutrients they once did so I also believe there is a place for supplements in the typical western diet.
When people ask me what they should be taking, I keep the list very short. I know there are tons of choices on the market but I think
THIS SHORT LIST OF 3 WILL COVER THE NEEDS OF MOST PEOPLE.
1. VITAMIN D
A daily multi will fill many of the holes left by the typical diet. Especially important are adequate levels of Vitamin D. This is perhaps the area most people are most deficient and it can lead to many of the ailments we commonly see including osteoporosis, high blood pressure and certain cancers. New research is even showing promise in aiding in weight loss for those that are Vitamin D deficient. The common recommendation is 400IU per day though most research today shows that intake of up to 1000IU can be especially beneficial.
2. PROTEIN
Throughout time there have been many recommendations as to how much protein we need. They have varied from .5 grams per pound of body weight all the way up to 1.5 grams per pound. For the average person I like to recommend 1 gram per pound of body weight. This level of protein intake will ensure adequate amounts to maintain and increase lean muscle which is the key to fat loss. Muscle is more metabolically active than fat so the more muscle you have, the higher your natural metabolism will be. However, taking in this amount of protein without supplementation can often be difficult especially for those leading very busy lifestyles. I find that adding one shake per day containing 25-35 Grams of Protein (I prefer Whey) will dramatically help most people reach the desired levels.
3. CREATINE
Creatine is an organic acid that occurs naturally in the body.It is our body’s main source for explosive energy – up to about 10 seconds of work. Moreover it has a vasodilatory affect on the blood vessels – helping them to dilate and increase blood flow to working muscles. Sure the body will naturally replenish the stores of creatine but this takes time and thats where supplementation can assist. By saturating the muscles with ‘extra’ creatine, the stores will stay high allowing you to work harder longer. For anyone that trains, and that should be everyone looking to achieve that lean waistline – this is a huge benefit. There are several types of creatine on the market but most of the positive research has been done using creatine monohydrate. Typically a dose of 5 grams per day is sufficient for most people and the loading phase is not necessary, especially for people looking to use the supplement long term. There has not been research showing that cycling your use of creatine (starting and stopping intake) is more beneficial than regular supplementation.
There you have it – 3 supplements to aid in your quest for a strong, flat and defined midsection, and more importantly your long term health!