What can you do in today's economy?Today’s economy has greatly affected the spending habits of all Americans. Less people are eating at restaurants, more people are car pooling due to gas prices, people aren’t going out as often, and some people (like those that are reading this article) are spending less money on bodybuilding supplements. I used to be able to spend hundreds of dollars every month on supplements. I would try every new supplement that came on the market, and sometimes I’d impulsively buy supplements that I didn’t even need. After being laid off at work, I realized that I needed to be smarter about all my purchases. Now I can get through 3 months, spending only around $125 on supplements. In this article I provide you with tips for more economical buying, supplements that I can't survive without, and supplements that I have cut out. Tips:Research - To make sure you won't be wasting money, do your research on a product before buying it to make sure it is effective and is the right product for you. Look at supplements reviews online and also ask friends and other people at the gym if they have had experience with the product you are interested in.
Calculate – It is important to inspect the label of a product thoroughly and understand its ingredient profile. When comparing similar products, it is often necessary to calculate price per serving or price per gram of protein. This will help you understand which supplement gives you the most for your money.
Buy in Bulk - Buying supplements in greater quantities will give you much more bang for your buck. For example, buying 10 pounds of Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey costs $75.95 while buying 2 pounds costs $19.95. If you were to buy four 2 pound tubs it would cost around $80 for 8 pounds of protein. Purchasing the 10 pound bag will save you $5 and give you 2 extra pounds of protein.
Whey2Buy - Check Whey2Buy every day for an insanely low price on certain supplements. Every morning at 9:00 am, Whey2Buy is updated with a new product at an incredible price. You may not find something you need every day, but when you do, make sure you stock up.
Can't Survive Without:Whey Protein - Whey protein is an essential supplement for anyone that is working out. Whey is a fast-digesting protein and is most effective in the post-workout period. The benefits of whey protein taken in the post-workout window are unmatched. It will give your muscles the nutrients that they need to grow, refuel and recover. Ten pounds of American Whey will only set you back $59.95 and will give you 160 servings! Taken at 2 scoops a day, one tub will last you 80 days. It is economical, tastes better than more expensive brands, and has an amazing amino acid profile.
Creatine – Creatine should be a staple in every weightlifters routine. Supplementing with creating increases endurance, strength, performance and muscle gain. Not only is creatine one of the cheapest supplements, it is also one of the most effective. Prolab’s Creatine Monohydrate costs only $21.95 for 200 servings. There is no need to buy a more expensive creatine product like MuscleTech Cell-Tech, or BSN CellMass. Creatine monohydrate is the purest and most trusted form of creatine for bodybuilders and has been around the longest.
Multi-Vitamin - A multi-vitamin will provide you with the nutrients your body needs when they are unavailable through your diet. Along with supplying your body with vitamins and minerals, some multi-vitamin supplements also include low doses of amino acids, compounds to aid digestion and absorption, energy boosting compounds (ginseng) and immune support. Anybody that is into fitness should be taking a multi-vitamin. Optimum Nutrition Opti Men contains 60 concentrated servings for $20.95.
Fish-Oil – The proven benefits of fish oil are too much to give up. Omega 3 fatty acids greatly improve cardiovascular health by decreasing cholesterol and blood pressure and also assist in the inflammatory response within the body, resulting in less pain and inflammation. Now Ultra Omega-3 will cost $21.89 for 180 servings with 500mg of EPA and 250 mg of DHA per serving.
Can Survive Without:Weight Gainer - A weight gaining supplement is good for hard-gainers that need those extra calories in their diet, but why spend the money on a weight gainer when you can make your own weight gaining shake at home? Try blending a combination of whey protein, natural peanut butter, grounded oats, milled flax seed and banana (or other fruit) into milk, and create your own homemade weight gainer. Do this and you will have all the macronutrients of a weight gainer (high protein, high carbohydrates, and healthy fats) without having to spend the money on a tub of powder.
Pre-workout - Many people have their pre-workout energy/pump supplements as a staple in their daily routine, but this isn't the case for me. When money is tight, I like to make my own pre-workout formula. The most important things to include are creatine, for the cell-volumization effects, and caffeine, for the energy. An inexpensive and effective way to do this is using creatine monohydrate and caffeine pills. If you want the feeling of drinking a pre-workout product with taste, you can crush the caffeine pills and mix that with the creatine monohydrate and add a tiny amount of Gatorade powder.
Glutamine/BCAA's - Glutamine and BCAA's are taken mostly for improved muscle recovery. While the effects aren't noticed directly, high doses of glutamine and BCAA's have been shown to decrease catabolism and improve recovery. However, being on a high-protein diet and drinking whey protein shakes every day should provide your body with enough glutamine and BCAA's, rendering supplementation unnecessary.
Follow the tips that are listed above and stick to the essentials. Understand that the more expensive product is not always the better one. Soon you will realize that you will still be able to make the same great gains in the gym, while spending less money on supplements. And before I forget, always shop at A1Supplements.com for the cheapest prices on the market.
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