Sports supplements for a newbie

[Ivyguy]

I am a runner and been known to lift a weight or two. I have been working out without supplements for a year, and while I feel better, I'm not getting better. I guess I've been at a plateau. So I went to gnc and got utterly confused and felt like I was getting sold.

 

I live in the desert so I would like to find a supplement company that runs the whole gammet of products (water mix energy, protein etc). I wanted to see what u guys use as the last 18 I played (rough round in the wind) I felt gassed and weak on 16 tee.

 

Thanks for any advice or links u can post.

[drewtaylor21]

[quote name='Ivyguy' timestamp='1439870499' post='12159278']
I am a runner and been known to lift a weight or two. I have been working out without supplements for a year, and while I feel better, I'm not getting better. I guess I've been at a plateau. So I went to gnc and got utterly confused and felt like I was getting sold.

I live in the desert so I would like to find a supplement company that runs the whole gammet of products (water mix energy, protein etc). I wanted to see what u guys use as the last 18 I played (rough round in the wind) I felt gassed and weak on 16 tee.

Thanks for any advice or links u can post.
[/quote]

Probably not the answer you want to hear, but supplements are not what you need. They are just that - a supplement to an already excellent pattern of sleep, nutrition, and hydration. Supplementation may make 1% difference for someone who is already checking off all those other boxes and needs just a little bit extra, but they won't do anything for a newbie but empty your wallet.

What's your quality and quantity of sleep at night?

What are your everyday nutrition habits?

How much water are you drinking? (and how much beer, soda, other)

[Ivyguy]

I eat well/clean. But I do crack everyonce in a while (venti triple latte... Damn they're like crack). But I do well on the water (typically two 32 oz nalgenes while at work then some carbonated water at home.

Sleep is a tough one. Usually 4-6 hours a night. Maybe that's where I should start.

That guys at gnc freaked me out a bit I guess.

[Twitch12]

[quote name='Ivyguy' timestamp='1439878816' post='12159596']
I eat well/clean. But I do crack everyonce in a while (venti triple latte... Damn they're like crack). But I do well on the water (typically two 32 oz nalgenes while at work then some carbonated water at home.

Sleep is a tough one. Usually 4-6 hours a night. Maybe that's where I should start.

That guys at gnc freaked me out a bit I guess.
[/quote]

The sleep would help, but if you are plateauing, you need to mix up your workouts. Doing the same thing in the gym everyday, isn't going to help you much. My sister and I were both division 1 athletes. We both are very supportive of supplementation. Our trainers (who told us what to take) had at minimum masters degrees and one a Phd in various health science fields. Supplementation is worth it... Within reason. The guys at GNC will try to sell you a bunch of stuff you don't need. Buy a pre workout (I prefer c4) a quality protein and add glutamine and creatineto your post workout shake. I would also take a quality multivitamine.

[neild76]

How often do you play golf? Are you walking or riding?

[somaplr]

The short answer is to submerge yourself into BodyBuilding.com for the articles and nutrition supplementation. When I competed and self trained/nutritioned/supplemented, that's where I got all my information from back a dozen years ago.

Depending on your goals, there are various types of nutrition programs and workout programs.

[nova6868]

I use several supplements, but they are nothing compared to sleeping 7-8 hours a night. Start there.

[Ivyguy]

[quote name='neild76' timestamp='1439904520' post='12160588']
How often do you play golf? Are you walking or riding?
[/quote]

I play 1-2 times a week. Usually a couple hours on the range throuout the week. I typically try to walk (but at 110 degrees, sometime I can't).

I just felt tired in the last 4-5 holes in the last couple of rounds (and these were riding).

Thanks for the advice y'all

[MSUIRONDAWGS]

[quote name='Ivyguy' timestamp='1439913727' post='12161740']
[quote name='neild76' timestamp='1439904520' post='12160588']
How often do you play golf? Are you walking or riding?
[/quote]

I play 1-2 times a week. Usually a couple hours on the range throuout the week. I typically try to walk (but at 110 degrees, sometime I can't).

I just felt tired in the last 4-5 holes in the last couple of rounds (and these were riding).

Thanks for the advice y'all
[/quote]



1) Sleep for sure helps re-energize
2) Agree that your workouts need to be switched up some. You body adapts to stress you give it, so doing the same thing over and over, you will plateau..Adaptation Principles
3) Eat more often- Your body burns a TON of calories in the heat right now.
4) Karbolyn is what I use before a round...NO sugar carb drink
5) During a round, you can use NUUN or what I prefer is Pedialyte
6) Obviously drink constant liquids before and during(Little to no sugar)
7) If you really want to up your stamina and get serious, use the stairmaster a few times a week. I promise, you'll see right away on that, how "in or out" of shape you really are...


Hope this helps!

[Qqq123xx]

I would take some Potassium, especially in the Desert. Which you lose sweating. Of course you could get enough through food, just hard to find a significant source for the course that does not spike your blood sugar. Potatoes, spinach, banana, yogurt, oj and milk in that order have most amounts. Ranging 1089mg down to 407mg. Don't really know that you want to slam down some milk in 100+ degree heat.

[Ivyguy]

That would be a bad instance of instant regurgitation. Lol good point though on the potassium. Thanks!

[DFC]

As a registered dietitian in Canada, I would strongly suggest investing the time and money to meet with a dietitian. We can provide professional assistance in meeting with your nutritional goals. If you go on forums and request for assistance, you will get a bunch of information that may or may not be applicable.

Good luck

[kaylor3435]

I wrestled in college and after cutting weight the fastest way to get all the nutrition I needed was to drink pedyalite. Also a great multivitamin mixed with 7 to 8 hours of sleep does wonders. And also you want to eat 5 to 8 small meals a day. But bodybuilding.com is where you can find so much good information as well

[Yrrdead]

First of all I would reccomend avoiding GNC. Here are the two main retailrers I use but ymmv.

lockoutsupplements.com and nutraplanet.com

Bodybuilding.com has pretty good info, a decent forum, and not great prices. Supplementreviews.com used to be my go to but a big tech update was poorly implemented in my opnion. Still a good source of information about deals , retailers and newer products.

For use specfic to golf I usually will grab a bottle of whatever intraworkout is on sale from a decent brand. Then mix up a 20oz bottle of that to sip throughout the round.

Nootropics are kinda cool for golf but pricey. Just realize that the supplement industry is the wild west so do your research , ask questions, and get some deals.


TLDR; avoid gnc, look for BOGO's and deals just like golf balls. Think of supplements like looking for a 3pc non-urethane ball and you will do fine.

[magills]

Evolution Nutrition BCAA energy mix/powder. As others have stated Bodybuilding.com sells it and they have great service. Also if you can find it, Hydrive Energy water is fantastic.

[smitty]

Don't listen to body builders for health advice, they know very little about nutrition. They are still under the misguided notion the protein powder industry pushed that the body needs two grams of protein per lb of body weight. Don't go their route, excess protein scars the kidneys. Stick to a gram of protein per two pounds of body weight.

GNC products are garbage and the salespeople there are simply that. They will sell you absolutely anything. Most of their products are in such low quantities they have no physiological action. Just like with pharmaceuticals, if you don't take enough of the given nutrient you will have no effect.

Food nowadays is so devoid of nutrients you almost have to supplement if you want to perform optimally. Half the enzymes in an orange are gone the minute you pick it. So don't think you can get everything you need from food. Maybe 50-100 years ago, not anymore unfortunately.

[somaplr]

[quote name='smitty' timestamp='1441214346' post='12251896']
Don't listen to body builders for health advice, they know very little about nutrition. They are still under the misguided notion the protein powder industry pushed that the body needs two grams of protein per lb of body weight. Don't go their route, excess protein scars the kidneys. Stick to a gram of protein per two pounds of body weight.

GNC products are garbage and the salespeople there are simply that. They will sell you absolutely anything. Most of their products are in such low quantities they have no physiological action. Just like with pharmaceuticals, if you don't take enough of the given nutrient you will have no effect.

Food nowadays is so devoid of nutrients you almost have to supplement if you want to perform optimally. Half the enzymes in an orange are gone the minute you pick it. So don't think you can get everything you need from food. Maybe 50-100 years ago, not anymore unfortunately.
[/quote]

Well, that first statement is entirely false...just so you know. Most of the articles written on Bodybuilding (dot) com, by those who compete naturally, are many PhD's and nutritionists. So, I'm not sure which juice monkey you've been talking to, but most respected natural bodybuilders know way more about food than a many of nutritionists, especially when it comes to sports and performance (i.e. Layne Norton,)

"Excess" protein diets do not cause kidneys to "scar". 40/40/30 diets are far in the realm of safe dietary processing and caloric levels. What you are saying is a myth and no study supports it. The only study ever linked to excess protein attributing to kidney CKD is people that ALREADY have CKD (i.e. dialysis patients). The only study ever proven that levels of protein about 1.5g/lb of bodywieght led to reduced renal function on a healthy "thing"....was on rats.

[url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1262767/"]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1262767/[/url]

It's a myth...unless you have CKD, Hypertension, etc