If you want to be lean and in shape, you need to put in the work. There are no magic pills or potions that will do the work for you. There are, however, various supplements that you can use to aid you in your quest for a leaner and shredded physique.
Supplements are a good way to help you reach your goals and get a six-pack but with so many on offer, it can be confusing to know which ones you should take and what the exact benefits are.
There are supplements for abs that can help you to burn fat and have a more ripped appearance. There are also supplements that help you with your workouts, build muscle, and enhance your recovery.
Here are a few different types of these supplements:
Pre Workout Supplements
Ever have that feeling of lethargy right before going to the gym?
The negative self-talk kicks in and you start convincing yourself that perhaps one day off won’t matter much. Don’t beat yourself up, it’s common.
Everyone does it. That’s where pre-workout supplements come in…
Not only can they boost your energy levels right before a workout, they can also give you that buzz you need to make your workouts more satisfying. That’s largely because of the ingredients commonly found in pre-workout supplements.
Each brand has its own particular formula but the ingredients usually include amino acids, B vitamins, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, and sometimes small amounts of creatine.
Creatine
Your body naturally produces creatine and stores it in your muscles where it helps with energy production and strength.
It’s been popular as a supplement for over twenty years now, particularly among bodybuilders and strength athletes. There is a growing body of research backing up creatine’s effectiveness in improving athletic performance.
There are various ideas about the best way to actually supplement with creatine. But most experts recommend a loading phase where you take approximately five doses of 20 grams for five days.
After the loading phase, you should then take a single maintenance dose of up to 5 grams a day for six weeks to eight weeks before having a rest for a couple of weeks and then starting the process all over again.
But with the many conflicting ideas around creatine dosing, it’s a good idea to try out different dosages for yourself and see what works best.
Protein Powder
Protein powder is one of the most common nutritional supplements available.
Protein is essential not only for building muscle but also for repairing damaged tissue and the production of certain enzymes and hormones. It has also proved effective in helping people lose weight by leaving them feeling fuller for longer.
There are different types of protein available either dairy-based or plant-based. Different protein affects the body in different ways and is absorbed by the body at different speeds.
BCAAs
The acronym may sound like some sort of advanced college degree but BCAA actually stands for branched-chain amino acids.
They are essential nutrients that we can get from the food we eat, especially meat, dairy and legumes, and they aid various processes in the body.
For example, branched-chain amino acids are commonly taken as a supplement to help repair muscle tissue, alleviate tiredness and fatigue, and generally improve athletic performance. They also work by stimulating the utilization of protein and muscle growth.
Whilst we can get BCAAs through diet, supplementing with them can increase their levels and improve your athletic performance.
Vitamins & Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are one of the most popular supplements available, often taken by active and inactive people alike. They are essential nutrients that your body needs to function properly and stay healthy.
The body does produce some vitamins and minerals on its own as a result of certain biological processes but it doesn’t produce them in nearly enough quantity to survive. Hence, we must derive most of the vitamins and minerals we need through our diets.
However, even a seemingly healthy diet can be lacking in certain nutrients. There are thirteen known types of vitamins and many more minerals, each of which serves a specific function in the body.
So go ahead and get supplementing! It can really help you to achieve your goals quicker!
