The recession has us all rethinking our spending habits and, more often than not, the most logical solution for financial relief is to bear down and make tough cutbacks. A few more nights in and a few less nights out on the town. Maybe you're getting rid of some premium cable channels or downsizing your cell phone plan. But one area you don't want to scale back on is your daily pursuit of a bigger, stronger, leaner physique.
Financial institutions and automakers may bathe in the warmth of bailout money, but no one in Washington is going to be handing you a check to take to your local nutrition store. That's OK, because you don't need more money to keep your supplement coffers full - you just need to shop a bit smarter. Sure, you'll need to make some compromises and perhaps abandon familiar brands for some new ones, but our tiered stacks for getting big, getting lean and getting strong wilt make sure that your gains don't go belly up, even if your 401(k) does. BUDGETING FOR MASSGaining quality muscle realty isn't rocket science. If you consume enough of he right calories at the right times while training hard, you'll fill out just fine over time. But supplements can help get you where you need to go faster.
ECONOMY STACK 1: Say it with us: whey and creatine. Whey is a fast-digesting protein that provides an immediate rush of important aminos into your muscles at the times you need it most pre- and post workout. Luckily, almost any brand of whey is pretty affordable. The same goes for creatine, which helps you move more weight. But since we're shopping on a budget, there's no need to go on the hunt for a fancy, big-name jug of miracle powder - creatine monohydrate will do just fine.
ECONOMY STACK 2: If you have a few more bucks to throw around, the addition of mixed protein and arginine will help speed your gains. fixed protein – a combination of fast and slow-digesting proteins, usually whey and casein and/or soy helps you prolong the flow of amino acids into your muscles around workout times, aiding recovery and growth. Arginine, which enhances blood flow and boosts your pump, can also be had on the cheap if needed.
ECONOMY STACK 3: Purchasing separate whey protein and casein powders, if your wallet allows, can provide additional benefits and stretch your supply of each. Casein has a snaillike digestive pace, so taking it before bedtime will keep your muscles fueled through the night when they might otherwise turn catabolic because of the extended fast. Beta-alanine, which increases strength and endurance during workouts, is a nice bonus for mass seekers who can afford it.
BUDGETING FOR FAT LOSSWhen it comes to fat loss, we want it off fast. That means noticeable results - starting today. Although diet is the most important piece of the puzzle, the right supplements can really light your metabolic fire and get you lean in a hurry.
ECONOMY STACK 1: The king of all fat burners in the post-ephedra era is caffeine. Not only does this cost-effective supplement increase fat burning and suppress appetite, but it also boosts strength, allowing you to train heavier and burn even more fat. Adding green tea extract and whey protein to the picture further contributes to your burn. Green tea contains compounds called catechins, including epigallocatechin gallate, which inhibits an enzyme that breaks down norepinephrine, the neurotransmitter involved in regulating metabolic rate and fat burning. Whey protein can help you burn fat by helping you add muscle, because the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. Plus, it can also decrease hunger.
ECONOMY STACK 2: If you have a few more bucks to invest, commercial fat burners - which cost a little more - are worth the price. They use synergistic blends of proven fat-burning ingredients, such as the caffeine and green tea discussed above, in addition to other very effective and often research-supported ingredients for melting fat - such as synephrine, evodiamine and guggulsterones, just to name a few. Combining these ingredients helps you attack fat burning from a number of angles.
ECONOMY STACK 3: If you really want to stretch your dollars, try adding conjugated linoleic acid and carnitine to turn up the heat. CLA is a fatty acid that has been shown to reduce body fat while increasing muscle mass. Carnitine works its magic by transporting fat into the machinery of muscles.
BUDGETING FOR STRENGTHYour foremost goal in the gym - getting freaky strong - can be achieved without putting you out of house and home. The three tiers we offer here are very broad, pricewise but still within reason and even less than many of you already spend.
ECONOMY STACK 1: As with the mass stacks, creatine and whey protein are key. Their ability to aid in adding strength and fueling growth, respectively, need to be at the base of your strength supplement pyramid. The addition of an unlikely player, caffeine, rounds out the first stack. Research shows that caffeine can almost instantly add five pounds of strength to most major lifts. The fact that it's one of the cheapest supplements on the market is just icing on the cake.
ECONOMY STACK 2: If you have slightly more spending flexibility, you can add beta-alanine and taurine to your cart. Converted to carnosine in the body, beta-alanine provides additional strength and stamina for long, heavy workouts. Taurine, present in many energy drinks, helps muscles contract faster and with more force, allowing you to make short work of heavy sets. It also prevents your muscles from getting fatigued. This means that taking both will allow you to be stronger for longer.
ECONOMY STACK 3: Two ingredients can send your strength off the charts. Arginine, a potent vasodilator, can assist with the release of growth hormone and boost strength when taken regularly. Tribulus terrestris boosts testosterone, strength and aggression when taken pre-workout - perfect effects for a tussle with the big plates.
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