When training, what supplements do you use? I’ve hit a plateau and was thinking a supplement might help me get the progress moving again. I would like to increase my energy, build strength and lose some weight. Any suggestions? I’ve already modified my diet and have a weight training program.
I doubt supplements are your answer. We need more background info.
Andy
When you say you’ve hit a plateau, what do you mean? You talking mentally or physically/performance wise? When you say supplements not sure if you’re talking vitamin or like food suplements (w.g, protein drinks)? I’m not so sure supplements play that much of a role in the areas you’re looking for improvement.
I was more looking for general answers to see what other people have used. I’ve never used them so don’t really know where to start.
Sometimes I take glutamine after tough workouts…seems to help in the recovery process. Better recovery means better training sessions the next day.
That, and EPO works wonders for me. JOKING!
Gordo’s Personal Supplement Protocol, FWIW. Not the answer IMO to any plateau, assuming your diet is in order. cant go wrong with fish oil & a multivit, though. Check iron.
• Not a recommendation to others!
• There are NO safe supplements for drug tested athletes, all supplementation carries a risk of cross contamination.
Vit C – 4-5g spread through the day
Vit E – 800iu, split in half, taken with food source that contains good fats, second breakfast and dinner
Fish Oil – 5g, split with food
CoQ10 – 100mg, following toughest workout of the day
Creatine – 5g, following toughest workout of the day
Whey Protein – in recovery drink taken immediately after toughest/longest workout of the day, not hydrolyzed
Glucosamine Sulfate – 1-1.5g per day, end of day
B-12 – evening with iron, 400mcg
B Complex – reduce B-12 sup in line with amount of B-12 in this
Iron – 100mg per day, check ferritin levels every 6 weeks, with C 60mins after evening meal
Alpha Lipoic Acid – 30-50mg in the AM
Also looking into Vita-Synergy – www.synergy-co.com, specifically Vita Synergy for Men and their C product
What has happened is that I start training more serious about 6 months ago. I have been consistently getting stronger, losing weight and running and riding faster. Over the past month, my weight has leveled off, my times are not improving and I don’t have the energy to train harder or the strength to run or ride faster. Having never used any sort of supplement, I don’t know where to start with my questions. I think losing weight would defiantly help my performance, but I would also like to continue to build strength. I am afraid that if I cut any calories I will have less energy than I have now. I train 6 days a week, I alternate running and biking each day. I swim twice a week. I weight train 4 days a week. With running I do a normal run, a sprint workout and a long run each week. I do a normal bike ride, and interval session, and a long ride. Swimming I just try not to drowned. I am eating a moderate carb high protein diet. I drink 8 – 10 glasses of water. Eat about 6 small meals a day. When the wife is willing, I supplement my work out with the fun kind of exercise.
So I guess I want to know if there is a product that would help my recover or refuel and crank it up a little.
John,
Thanks for the reply, but that is kind of involved. I wanted to buy a bottle of something where it is prepackaged. I don’t have the dedication to keep track of all of that.
What has happened is that I start training more serious about 6 months ago. I have been consistently getting stronger, losing weight and running and riding faster. Over the past month, my weight has leveled off, my times are not improving and I don’t have the energy to train harder or the strength to run or ride faster. Having never used any sort of supplement, I don’t know where to start with my questions. I think losing weight would defiantly help my performance, but I would also like to continue to build strength. I am afraid that if I cut any calories I will have less energy than I have now. I train 6 days a week, I alternate running and biking each day. I swim twice a week. I weight train 4 days a week. With running I do a normal run, a sprint workout and a long run each week. I do a normal bike ride, and interval session, and a long ride. Swimming I just try not to drowned. I am eating a moderate carb high protein diet. I drink 8 – 10 glasses of water. Eat about 6 small meals a day. When the wife is willing, I supplement my work out with the fun kind of exercise.
So I guess I want to know if there is a product that would help my recover or refuel and crank it up a little.
More protein can help.
Supplement your sleep with some naps.
Supplement your recovery with some lighter workouts for a week.
Back off on the weights for a week (or more).
Nothing in the bottle is necessary. I used to take all kinds of crap like that (very similar to Gordo). I stopped, and I don’t notice any difference (except that I’m not trying to remember to take all this stuff). I take extra iron about twice a month. Other than that, just a regular multi, a B-complex, and a time-release C. Fuel well before your workouts, recover well with a banana and some good whey protein and you’ll be all set.
R-E-S-T is the key to breaking through any plateau. Olaf Sabatschus has it right – “train hard, REST HARDER, race hardest!”
Why does the “quote” function always drop my reply? Anyway what rappstar said. Get some rest dude, thats your ticket to the next level.
I think that happens to a lot of people… I always see these quotes with no reply, and I think “uhm, yeah, that’s REAL helpful…”
EPO. The trick is not taking it the day before a race. As long as you’re smarter than some in this sport you won’t get caught. There’s no age group testing outside of competition. 
Along that tack, amphetamines will help him lose weight and feel more energetic. Tack on some d-bol, and he’s got the muscle building thing covered too…
I supplement my diet with lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. I get several times RDA just by doing this and get tons of anti-oxidants and fiber.