Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Are supplements really necessary for muscle growth?

By Jon Cardozo

Often one of the first things a person thinks about when initiating a bodybuilding program is buying supplements. Many people begin to consider buying a host of supplements before they have even settled on their exact weight training program or a diet plan.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, since most people today are always looking for the quick fix. Most of us don't want to take the time to work on a goal over the long term, and we would much rather find a magic pill or other device that would instantly deliver results. Of course, life rarely works that way. The greatest achievements (and failures) are a result of small choices over time.

You may not believe it, but I don't think supplements are actually necessary to build muscle. This may seem like a crazy statement to some, but to those who are experienced it probably rings quite true. After all, no pill is going to magically give you results.

When I say that supplements are not necessary for your weight training program, I'm not talking about a multivitamin or anything like that. I think it's smart to take basic nutrients on a daily basis, but some supplements are definitely over the top. When it comes to building muscle, most supplements are all about the marketing and not about results.

Even if these products don't do any actual harm, they're unnecessary. They cost you money, and ultimately leave you feeling discouraged because you have wasted your time with these products.

Whether you believe it or not, the fundamentals of muscle building haven't changed. Progressive resistance training, which means gradually lifting heavier weights, along with increasing your calories is all it really takes. Oh yeah, you also need patience, commitment and discipline. Not the most glamorous words, but they're effective.

Don't waste your time or money with supplements that promise farfetched claims. There are a few helpful supplements, but these should only be considered after you have already been training for a while and achieved some success.

Learning to rely on supplements first can put a heavy load on your bank account and ingrain some pretty unhealthy habits like choosing quick fixes instead of learning discipline and commitment.

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