Gym Supplements : Decoded

Every day we are faced with advertisements of hot chicks holding bottles of magic pills and powders that claim to make you lose weight and get a Kim K booty. It can be hard for the everyday person to figure out what supplements they need and even what the heck they all do? So myself and the guys at Team Flex have done all the hardwork for you and made an easy list of the main supplements that are out there and what they all do! This way we can all make our own decision whether we need it or not!

First I want to make clear that yes whilst supplements will aid in weightloss, toning and gaining muscle (which is a good thing ladies) it is not a one stop shop to get there. Your diet and exercise routines are first and foremost the most important! If you don’t eat well and exercise you can’t drink a protein shake expecting to wake up with abs…Nope.

Reece from Team Flex says “Whether you exercise once a week or seven days a week, whether you are a young adult, middle aged woman or an elderly pensioner there are key products that can be tailored to your needs and used in conjunction with a good diet to enhance your life. From weight loss, to lean muscle gain, to recovery from your sessions or stopping muscle wastage there is a product for you. Supplements should never take the place or replace whole food within your diets. They should never be used to replace your main meals, but when used in conjunction with a balanced diet they will make a great difference in assisting you to reach your goals.”

Below Reece has explained what each supplement does!

Protein Powders?

Now a lean protein powder will assist in:

• Increasing your metabolism (leading to weight loss),
• Increasing muscle recovery, decreasing muscle soreness, help to tone and build lean muscle mass.
• Stopping muscle wastage in the elderly.
• Increasing hair and skin health.
• Keeping you satisfied and fuller for longer, stopping you from snacking on the wrong foods.

These are just a few examples. One of the most common misconceptions we hear from women is that protein will make you bulky. This is a total myth. Protein is used to heal and recover the body. It is the building blocks of your body including bones, muscles, cartilage, skin and blood. Protein is a component in every cell in your body. Without adequate protein levels in your diet you cannot fully recover.

There are many different types of protein supplements such as Whey Proteins (Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate), Beef Protein Isolates, Casein Protein, Pea Protein, Rice Protein, Egg Albumen Protein, Soy Protein, Hemp Protein and the list goes on. For most women if you have no intolerances to lactose you will want to use a lean Whey Protein Isolate (WPI). WPIs are lean, low carb, low fat, low sugar but really high in protein and are digested and absorbed fast which means are into your muscle tissue a lot quicker, speeding up the recovery process.

What are “fat burner’s”?

Fat burners are powdered or capsulated products that will help to give you energy, increase thermogenesis by increasing internal body temperature to help you burn more calories, they help to free up your bodies fat stores and to speed up your metabolism. Again this is an area where there are many different types and it can get confusing. If you’ve never used one before, look for one that is relatively lower in caffeine to assess your tolerance to it and one that is higher in Acetyl L-Carnitine. This is a really important ingredient that helps to free up stubborn fat stores so that your body can use that stubborn fat for fuel during your workouts.

What are Branched Chain Amino Acid’s (BCAAs)?

These are all about recovery and stopping your muscle tissue from breaking down during exercise. BCAAs are the building blocks of protein and your muscles are made of protein, so BCAAs are the building blocks of your muscles. They generally come in the form of a powder that mixes into water to create a nice flavoured drink that you sip on during your workouts. Taking these during your workout will help to speed up your recovery, reduce muscle soreness and help you to build lean muscle and tone faster.

What is Greens formula/ powder?

A greens formula is generally a once a day powdered product that can be taken on its own or added into smoothies. This will be full of the vitamins and antioxidants from your super vegetables and super fruits. Taking a serving of this will be beneficial if your are not getting in enough of the right nutrients through your diet. It will also help to boost immune system and help reduce the acidity of your blood.

What is Glutamine?

Glutamine is an amino acid that is made up in the body, however you also get it through your food. It is important for your muscle recovery, immune system and gut health. In times of stress, such as training, your body will consume more glutamine than it can produce. This is where taking extra glutamine will be beneficial to help speed up recovery, and boost your immune system.

I hope this blog post has decoded some of the supplement lingo for you and helped you decide what you need to help you reach your goals! Remember ladies muscle means a smoother more toned body and will not make you bulky! A massive thank you to Reece from Team Flex Australia!

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You can also see what products I like to use on my snapchat! Add me: justanothermum