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Information on the Supplement and Fitness Industry
There are lots of supplement companies out there. Working in the fitness and supplement field allows me access to many different products. Along with some fellow fitness enthusiasts, I hope to give unbiased information on some of the popular companies and products in the market.
Fat Burning Supplements
The fat burning supplement or thermogenic market is constantly changing. Its probably a good time to check out what fat burners are the supplements of choice for those looking to lose weight.
Just like any other nutritional supplement, the fat burner supplement market is a copycat market. When one company comes out with a hot new product, everyone else follows with their own version. Most of these products will have very similar ingredients. I cannot think of a company that has a single patented ingredient that no one else can get their hands on.
Most fat burners will contain:
caffeine
green tea
yohimbe or yohimbine
synephrine
hoodia (supposedly an appetite suppressant)
Of course there are other ingredients, but I guarantee you those ingredients will be in every fat burning supplement you look at.....as long as it is a stimulant based product.
The new kid on the block it T2, a natural thyroid hormone. It acts kind of like T3, the prescription thyroid product, Cytomel. Obviously T2 is not as strong as T3 and side effects are not nearly as severe. The only problems noted in studies with T2 is when an extreme amount is used. Those who try using it in extreme amounts will likely have a rebound effect and gain some weight back quickly. The newest product to hit the market is the new Lipo 6 Black. The T2 ingredients are seen as the first two ingredients on the bottle. Expect other companies to use more of this ingredient as the popularity of Lipo 6 Black increases.
Some of the more popular products are:
Just like any other nutritional supplement, the fat burner supplement market is a copycat market. When one company comes out with a hot new product, everyone else follows with their own version. Most of these products will have very similar ingredients. I cannot think of a company that has a single patented ingredient that no one else can get their hands on.
Most fat burners will contain:
caffeine
green tea
yohimbe or yohimbine
synephrine
hoodia (supposedly an appetite suppressant)
Of course there are other ingredients, but I guarantee you those ingredients will be in every fat burning supplement you look at.....as long as it is a stimulant based product.
The new kid on the block it T2, a natural thyroid hormone. It acts kind of like T3, the prescription thyroid product, Cytomel. Obviously T2 is not as strong as T3 and side effects are not nearly as severe. The only problems noted in studies with T2 is when an extreme amount is used. Those who try using it in extreme amounts will likely have a rebound effect and gain some weight back quickly. The newest product to hit the market is the new Lipo 6 Black. The T2 ingredients are seen as the first two ingredients on the bottle. Expect other companies to use more of this ingredient as the popularity of Lipo 6 Black increases.
Some of the more popular products are:
Supplement Essentials
What supplements do you really need?
Thousands of different types of supplements are sold and taken every day. Do you wonder what supplements actually benefit you the most? Needs can vary from person to person. Someone that eats lots of fruits and vegetables will not need a superfood powder. Someone like myself needs it. There are very few supplements on the market that just about everyone could take and it would benefit them tremendously.
1. Multivitamins
Everyone can take a multivitamin. No one has a diet that is so perfect that they are getting all the nutrients every single day. Thats where the vitamin comes in, especially on those days when your diet is not the best. The type of vitamins vary. You can get an organic, food based vitamin or you can get vitamins formulated for more active individuals. My top choices are:
Animal Pak
Garden of Life
2. Protein Powder
Protein powders contain all the amino acids your body needs to perform all its functions. Protein helps with everything from boosting the immune system to repairing muscle tissue. Supplement companies produce several types of protein powder. The most popular is whey protein, but you can also get egg, soy, rice, casein, and others.
3. Acidophilus
Acidophilus is the good bacteria in the body that helps keep the immune system healty. It also helps with digestion. Acidophilus is especially important if a person has taken lots of anti-biotics in their day. The anti-biotics not only kill the bad bacteria that makes you sick, but it also kills the good bacteria that keeps you healthy and digests your food. That is where acidophilus comes in. The other good thing is the dosage. In most cases, all you need is one capsule per day with your largest meal or at bedtime. Gr8-Dophilus by NOW is a popular choice.
4. Fish Oil
Fish oil is great for everything. It helps with inflammation, bodyfat reduction, blood pressure, high cholesterol, brain function, and it can even help a person gain muscle mass. The only reason a person would not supplement with fish oil would be if they eat fish on a regular basis....2-3 times per week. Dosages vary with fish oil and can range from 1gram to 10 grams per day. I have seen and taken doses higher than that. Do your research to decide on the dosage that is right for you. Many companies manufacture fish oil. Some of the more popular include:
Liquid Fish Oil by NOW
Ultra Omega 3 by NOW
Coromega Omega 3by Coromega
Omega 3by Nordic Naturals
In order to help you separate the good supplements from the bad, I have another blog
Bodybuilding Supplement Information, that goes into a little more detail about these products. Hopefully this information can be of benefit to you. Supplements have gotten a bad rap over the years but there are some supplements that truly do help.
1. Multivitamins
Everyone can take a multivitamin. No one has a diet that is so perfect that they are getting all the nutrients every single day. Thats where the vitamin comes in, especially on those days when your diet is not the best. The type of vitamins vary. You can get an organic, food based vitamin or you can get vitamins formulated for more active individuals. My top choices are:
Animal Pak
Garden of Life
2. Protein Powder
Protein powders contain all the amino acids your body needs to perform all its functions. Protein helps with everything from boosting the immune system to repairing muscle tissue. Supplement companies produce several types of protein powder. The most popular is whey protein, but you can also get egg, soy, rice, casein, and others.
3. Acidophilus
Acidophilus is the good bacteria in the body that helps keep the immune system healty. It also helps with digestion. Acidophilus is especially important if a person has taken lots of anti-biotics in their day. The anti-biotics not only kill the bad bacteria that makes you sick, but it also kills the good bacteria that keeps you healthy and digests your food. That is where acidophilus comes in. The other good thing is the dosage. In most cases, all you need is one capsule per day with your largest meal or at bedtime. Gr8-Dophilus by NOW is a popular choice.
4. Fish Oil
Fish oil is great for everything. It helps with inflammation, bodyfat reduction, blood pressure, high cholesterol, brain function, and it can even help a person gain muscle mass. The only reason a person would not supplement with fish oil would be if they eat fish on a regular basis....2-3 times per week. Dosages vary with fish oil and can range from 1gram to 10 grams per day. I have seen and taken doses higher than that. Do your research to decide on the dosage that is right for you. Many companies manufacture fish oil. Some of the more popular include:
Liquid Fish Oil by NOW
Ultra Omega 3 by NOW
Coromega Omega 3by Coromega
Omega 3by Nordic Naturals
In order to help you separate the good supplements from the bad, I have another blog
Bodybuilding Supplement Information, that goes into a little more detail about these products. Hopefully this information can be of benefit to you. Supplements have gotten a bad rap over the years but there are some supplements that truly do help.
Pre - Workout Products
Pump Fuel
Odds are you won't find Pump Fuel for sale on the internet anywhere.The only place I have seen it for sale is on NDS Nutrition's website and in select GNC franchises. Some GNC locations are corporately owned so make sure you check with GNC to find franchises in your area.
Pump Fuel has a little more creatine that some of your more popular pre workout products. A container to Pump Fuel would be similar to a container of NO X-plode and Cellmass combined. Its also a one scoop serving.
I highly recommended trying Pump Fuel if you get the opportunity.
Certain pre-workout products like NO X-Plode have been around for a long time. The success of NO X-Plode brought along many competitors. Here are some of the better products on the market. There are lots of pre-workout products to chose from. Many of them have similar ingredients. In most cases, differences will be the amounts and types of compounds used for cell volumization and for nitric oxide production.
Odds are you won't find Pump Fuel for sale on the internet anywhere.The only place I have seen it for sale is on NDS Nutrition's website and in select GNC franchises. Some GNC locations are corporately owned so make sure you check with GNC to find franchises in your area.
Pump Fuel has a little more creatine that some of your more popular pre workout products. A container to Pump Fuel would be similar to a container of NO X-plode and Cellmass combined. Its also a one scoop serving.
I highly recommended trying Pump Fuel if you get the opportunity.
Certain pre-workout products like NO X-Plode have been around for a long time. The success of NO X-Plode brought along many competitors. Here are some of the better products on the market. There are lots of pre-workout products to chose from. Many of them have similar ingredients. In most cases, differences will be the amounts and types of compounds used for cell volumization and for nitric oxide production.
Most Popular Proteins Available
It is difficult to choose a protein to use these days with the hundreds of supplement companies promoting their products. In most cases the bigger name brands are of good quality. A benefit of having all these companies is that they work harder to make their product better to stand out from the competition. That helps not only with the quality, but with taste. Proteins taste much, much better than they used to. Which makes it easier to be consistent with your nutritional programs whether it be gaining mass or losing bodyfat.
Top Selling Supplements
Below is a list of the top selling dietary supplements in the United States according to the Nutrition Business Journal
1. Multivitamins
2. Sports Nutrition Powders/Formulas
3. Calcium
4. B Vitamins
5. Vitamin C
6. Glucosamine/Condroitin
7. Homeopathics
8. Other Vitamins
9. Fish/Animal Oils
10. CoQ10
11. Vitamin E
12. Probiotics
13. Vitamin A/Beta Carotene
14. Noni Juice
15. Magnesium
1. Multivitamins
2. Sports Nutrition Powders/Formulas
3. Calcium
4. B Vitamins
5. Vitamin C
6. Glucosamine/Condroitin
7. Homeopathics
8. Other Vitamins
9. Fish/Animal Oils
10. CoQ10
11. Vitamin E
12. Probiotics
13. Vitamin A/Beta Carotene
14. Noni Juice
15. Magnesium
Simple Fat Loss Strategies
There are many strategies when it comes to fat loss. There are literally hundreds of gimmicky diets out there. Here are some tips to help you get results and not have to worry about gimmicks.
Try to eat whole foods more often.
Supplemental proteins are great, but they just aren't as satisfying as whole foods. There are two more things to consider, it takes more energy to utilize whole foods and whole foods deliver more nutrients than engineered foods do.
Increase your protein and fat intake.
For protein, try to get your usual one gram per pound of bodyweight. Try increasing your fat intake a bit. One can do this by taking fish oil supplements, eating nuts, and cooking with olive oil. Make sure the increased fat intake is NOT the saturated variety.
Try carb cycling.
In order to increase your protein and healthy fat intake you must decrease carboydrate intake to maintain the calorie deficit. Try taking in a few more carbs on training days and cutting them back on off days.
Cut back on cheat days.
Cheat days are important for the sake of sanity. Start with one cheat day per week. If you notice that the results are not coming you may have to cut back on the frequency of your cheat days.
Try to eat whole foods more often.
Supplemental proteins are great, but they just aren't as satisfying as whole foods. There are two more things to consider, it takes more energy to utilize whole foods and whole foods deliver more nutrients than engineered foods do.
Increase your protein and fat intake.
For protein, try to get your usual one gram per pound of bodyweight. Try increasing your fat intake a bit. One can do this by taking fish oil supplements, eating nuts, and cooking with olive oil. Make sure the increased fat intake is NOT the saturated variety.
Try carb cycling.
In order to increase your protein and healthy fat intake you must decrease carboydrate intake to maintain the calorie deficit. Try taking in a few more carbs on training days and cutting them back on off days.
Cut back on cheat days.
Cheat days are important for the sake of sanity. Start with one cheat day per week. If you notice that the results are not coming you may have to cut back on the frequency of your cheat days.
The Best Supplements for Bodyfat Reduction
Multivitamin/mineral
This is just to cover all of your nutritional bases. Everyone should take a multivitamin.
Fiber Supplements
Fiber helps keep your blood sugar in check and it helps keep the hunger pangs away. At least 25 grams a day is recommended.
Protein
Studies show that increasing your protein intake to ½ to 1 gram per pound of bodyweight greatly improves the rate of fat loss. [1]
Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)
BCAAs help maintain muscle mass when dieting. Most protein powders contain high amounts of BCAAs. Doses vary among experts. Generally 20 grams a day or more will be helpful.
Fish Oil
Fish oil, along with multivitamins, should be taken by everyone. Bodyfat reduction is just one of the many benefits to taking fish oil. Its good for the heart and it has anti-inflammatory properties. Doses vary depending on the use and personal tolerance. People have uses doses as high as one gram per % body fat (12% body fat = 12 grams of fish oil per day).
Thermogenics
When most people think of weight loss supplements, they think of thermogenics. There are many choices when it comes to these products. These products will vary in the amount of stimulants so it is best to try a few for yourself to see what you can tolerate.
References
1. Lockwood et al. Nutr Metab 2008, 5:11
This is just to cover all of your nutritional bases. Everyone should take a multivitamin.
Fiber Supplements
Fiber helps keep your blood sugar in check and it helps keep the hunger pangs away. At least 25 grams a day is recommended.
Protein
Studies show that increasing your protein intake to ½ to 1 gram per pound of bodyweight greatly improves the rate of fat loss. [1]
Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)
BCAAs help maintain muscle mass when dieting. Most protein powders contain high amounts of BCAAs. Doses vary among experts. Generally 20 grams a day or more will be helpful.
Fish Oil
Fish oil, along with multivitamins, should be taken by everyone. Bodyfat reduction is just one of the many benefits to taking fish oil. Its good for the heart and it has anti-inflammatory properties. Doses vary depending on the use and personal tolerance. People have uses doses as high as one gram per % body fat (12% body fat = 12 grams of fish oil per day).
Thermogenics
When most people think of weight loss supplements, they think of thermogenics. There are many choices when it comes to these products. These products will vary in the amount of stimulants so it is best to try a few for yourself to see what you can tolerate.
References
1. Lockwood et al. Nutr Metab 2008, 5:11
Supplement Insider Sites
Great places for supplement information on the web
Muscletech Products To Avoid
As mentioned earlier, Muscletech has launched several new products in the past few months. All of which have been "researched" at major universities across the world. Here are a few more products that we have tried:
Gakic
They make this in tablet and powder form. The powder is the nastiest thing I have ever tried. It is supposed to dispose of waste products faster allowing for better endurance and muscle strength. Only a couple of us noticed some positive effects from the product. One person noted a longer lasting pump and he was able to push through a few more reps on his exercises. Another noticed similar results as far as muscle endurance. The rest of us didn't notice much as far as strength gains.
Leukic
Basically conisists of the amino acid L-leucine. It is touted as a purely anabolic substance. Users are expected to notice strength and muscle mass gains. None of us that tried this product noticed any results. Leucine is best used with food. Companies now are including extra Leucine in their protein powders. My suggestion is to buy a protein powder with leucine added or buy straight leucine powder and add it to your food.
Gakic
They make this in tablet and powder form. The powder is the nastiest thing I have ever tried. It is supposed to dispose of waste products faster allowing for better endurance and muscle strength. Only a couple of us noticed some positive effects from the product. One person noted a longer lasting pump and he was able to push through a few more reps on his exercises. Another noticed similar results as far as muscle endurance. The rest of us didn't notice much as far as strength gains.
Leukic
Basically conisists of the amino acid L-leucine. It is touted as a purely anabolic substance. Users are expected to notice strength and muscle mass gains. None of us that tried this product noticed any results. Leucine is best used with food. Companies now are including extra Leucine in their protein powders. My suggestion is to buy a protein powder with leucine added or buy straight leucine powder and add it to your food.
Protein Review: Pro NOS
the markers of NO2 and CE2 have created a good protein, Pro-NOS. They claim the product is supposed to increase nitric oxide levels by 950% and decrease belly fat by over 4%. That is saying a lot for a protein powder. Pro-NOS has 42 grams of whey isolate and whey concentrate. These whey peptides are supposed to be a specific, optimal length to be used by the body. One is called Actinos which is responsible for the large increase in nitric oxide output. The other is called VAT-burn which is supposed to decrease belly fat by over 4%.
Pro-NOS also has 9 grams of fat per serving. Sunflower and canola oil are the main sources of the fat. It's a little higher in calories at about 290 per serving. As far as taste goes, its actually pretty good. It has a thicker consistency than most proteins. The one thing I did notice was the taste. I think it tastes really good. It has an usually clean aftertaste, which is very unique for a protein powder.We all liked the taste of the protein, but most of us don't believe the hype when it comes to the huge spike in NO or the reduction in bodyfat.
Its a good product if it is used just as a protein powder. Don't expect anything dramatic from it.
Pro-NOS also has 9 grams of fat per serving. Sunflower and canola oil are the main sources of the fat. It's a little higher in calories at about 290 per serving. As far as taste goes, its actually pretty good. It has a thicker consistency than most proteins. The one thing I did notice was the taste. I think it tastes really good. It has an usually clean aftertaste, which is very unique for a protein powder.We all liked the taste of the protein, but most of us don't believe the hype when it comes to the huge spike in NO or the reduction in bodyfat.
Its a good product if it is used just as a protein powder. Don't expect anything dramatic from it.
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packman57 wrote...
Great informative lens. Very well written and laid out on the page. Great Job 5*
Posted June 27, 2009
Ladymermaid wrote...
Great lens and your information is presented in a very honest and understandable manner. Wonderful to see!
Ladymermaid
Posted June 01, 2009
qlcoach wrote...
Great job with this lens. Best wishes for your success. Met you on Link Referral. Hope you will visit my lens about emotional healing. Gary Eby, author and therapist
Posted May 31, 2009
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