Supplements

Supplements are all the rage in the health and fitness industry. Most people think they the only way to lose weight or build muscle is to simply take a supplement and BAM it will happen. While there is a place and time for supplements its not the end all and be all of how to achieve your goals. What does the word supplement mean- Something that is added to something in order to make it complete. It doesn't say the only thing you need, it says its added to make it complete. Supplementation is there to aid you in yours goals if you are lacking something in your diet. Yes most foods today are not nearly as pure as they were hundreds of years ago so taking a multi vitamin may be important to your over all health and wellness. What I want to talk about here is all the "other" supplements. Please remember this is my own opinion from the research as well as from studying to become a personal trainer. Do your own research or ask your healthcare professional if you have questions, you can always e-mail me for information as well. Here are some of the most popular supplements that people think are the only thing needed to get you to your goals. 

Lets talk protein. As important as protein is, drinking just a protein shake and thinking you will get big or lose weight is simply not how it works. With protein shakes being all the rage sooooooo many companies promoting wether it be a MLM company or a "nutrition" company, do your research. Things to think about before you even consider a protein power is…well do you NEED it, what exactly are you trying to achieve, are you eating enough REAL food along with it. Once you have answered those questions then you will know if its NEEDED. If joe smo tells you at the local nutrition store to get X brand of protein because you tell him your goals don't just buy it. Go home research it and ask a trusted professional. First and for most you should be getting it from real foods. There is a a time and place for a protein supplement. If your on the go and need a quick meal or if your in the gym and exhausting your muscles and are eating right then you should think about it. Remember REAL FOOD FIRST. Don't look to a protein supplement to quick fix, because IF you get to where you are and don't change your bad habits 1st, it WILL come back! Here are the two that I have used or use at the moment. Visalus nutritional shake mix and Dymatized Iso 100 whey. I use them post workout only OR in place of one meal IF I'm on the go. 

Fat burners are something a lot of people take because they want to get rid of that fat quick. Again if your not fueling your body with REAL food you will have a hard time shedding any body fat regardless of what you take for a fat burner. This is a great article on how NOT to use fat burners. While they have a time and a place, they should be used only for a short amount of time and only if your diet is on point. 

Pre-workouts, again here is something people think they NEED because everyone is taking them or they think if i take some magic drink or pill ill lose faster and get skinny sooner. People, people, people, if you have not seen a patter here yet I hope u see now. All of these are NOT needed to get you to where u want to be, they may aid but you should be only taking them to aid if your nutrition is right not to cut corners. Any-who, here is my take on them. Why are pre workout drinks so popular? This posted link is a good link with a little bit of information on how to safely choose a pre workout if u NEED it. I however don't recommend it if you are not truly a hard trainer. There really is no need for a pre workout IMO if your diet is in check & you are resting as much as u should. For those of you who are truly training hard in the gym, lifting and building your body and feel the need to use one, do your research before you go out and buy one.

My two cents on all the "quick fix" diets out there. With so many quick diets and cleanse out there its hard to weed thru the BS on what to do. My thought, DONT do it. CHANGE your lifestyle and stop trying to get a quick fix! YES you may lose weight and inches, YES you may feel great and have more energy but is that really sustainable for the rest of your life. Think about it once u get to where you want to be most of you will quit, you will start doing what you did before and you will gain all of that and maybe some more back and then around and around you go to another diet and another cleanse. So if you make the choice to change you lifestyle one small step and a time you won't need to worry about that bounce back weight and continue that vicious cycle of yo-yo weight loss and gain because you will always  be in check with your food and your exercise and your body will respond in kind:)
Trust me, I went from an almost 200lb women to a lean muscular 135 to a pregnant 17o and back down to competing in a bikini competition, weighing in at about 128-130 solid muscle, not skinny. This has all happened in a 3 yr span and there has been no yo-yo diets, not super quick fixes. What there has been is tons of research, Lots of blood, sweat, tears, tons of meal prep and discipline. I would not be writing this blog now would I be where I am in m life without actually changing my life. Now I know lots of you don't want to have the same body nor do you have the same goals as me but yo-yo dieting will only keep you unhappy in the long run, Make small changes for the better and you will be much happier!