Are you confused and unsure what to take when it comes to muscle building and fat loss supplements? If so, then welcome to the club because I’m confused about supplements as well. In fact I think if anyone tells you that they AREN’T confused about supplements, either they couldn’t care less about them, or they are lying and won’t let their egos admit that they are confused.
I mean every month there are new products hitting the market, some new weird and wonderful anabolic concoction that’s promised to be the long lost secret to achieving the ripped muscular body of your dreams. Or some new loss super duper fat loss diet loss pill that will melt the fat off you quicker then a stick of butter in a red hot frying pan.
And these supplements can be tempting. Especially when you read the glossy full page magazine ads with all the scientific jargon, and the picture of some jacked up muscle dude claiming that he built his body as a direct result of taking “Supplement X”. Then to top it off they’ll stick a picture in the background of a guy dressed as a doctor with a stethoscope around his neck and a clipboard in his hand to make the whole thing seem “official”.
I mean with all that stuff being heavily promoted in an internationally published bodybuilding magazine, how can one not help but to be a little intrigued about this magic muscle building breakthrough miracle that they are selling.
Now before you think that I’m just going to go on a big “Anti-Supplement” rant, I’m NOT. I actually do use and whole heartedly believe there are huge benefits to taking certain supplements. But what I don’t like is the deceptive tactics and BS that most supplement companies use when promoting their products.
My goal with this video is to help you become a more educated consumer so that you don’t fall prey to the lies and misconceptions that greedy supplement marketers use to trick you out of your hard earned money. I also want to help you make intelligent supplement choices that will move you closer to achieving the lean muscular physique you desire. Rather then just getting a lean wallet, which is all most people end up with when buying supplements.
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154 Comments
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zam
Hie Lee,
Yuve done the unbeliveable, afta all that carnage and havoc these bbuilding magzines had falsely associated , yve cleared the truth and paved a sucessful path of hardcore b.building. thanks bro n God Bless yealll .
Zaman al sharieffy
State of kuwait
Wrestling federation.
Rene Fernandez
Dear Lee:Regarding supplements and vitamins my biggest concern is the limited offer available here in Mexico. How I wish that PROGRADE which is the one I have read about most would be available here. I currently use GNC vitamins and supplements (CQ10, Arginine, Omega 3) but for instance there is no protein dink available without aspartame or similar sweeteners. Thank you and congratulations for all your great materials. Sincerely
Rene Fernandez
Earl
what is an ideal pre and post workout supplement intake? What should i be taking before and after my workouts?
DANIEL
Hey Lee what do you think about suplementing with zinc or ZMA and also do you think stacking these with a tribulus product would be good for maximising your gains. Cheers Dan
ryan naudi
hi lee. first of all that dvd i ordered extreme fat loss just arrived and im on that same diet that your doing but with less food of course. i dont have that muscle mass like you do.
i would like to ask you.which is the best time to take creatine ,im using krea alkalyn at the moment and how much dosage should i take? and is there any supplement instead of eggs for breakfast? the thing is im not a fan of eggs and every morning i realy dont feel like eating eggs and i feel like throwing up.
thanks ryan from malta…
Jack
Lee–didn’t take the time to read through all of the previous posts, so if this is a repeat, I apologize. I’d like for you to address the differences in supplementation for the older lifter (60s and up), middle-aged lifter (40s and 50s), and younger lifters (say mid to late 20s and 30s). I’m of the opinion that teens and those in their early 20’s don’t need supplementation with few exceptions.
Thanks
Matt
Lee,
A lot information out there about supplements, etc but I notice a lot of it is biased the company’s own marketing. If you had to narrow a list down to the top five essential supplements…What would they be and why? Thanks Lee!
tony the priest
its great big Lee, thanks for your kindest support. i need to know about fat burners supplements, i used before all kind of fatburners such as LIpo 6 black, CLA, but i didnt find result to get 6 packs, even my nutrition is very good,i eat 6 meals per day ( each meal 200g weight) including 1 meal that contain carbs before workout, i need something that hits the abs.thanks in advance.
Tony
Ok Lee…here is a question I have for you…Let’s say that someone wants to maintain the muscle that they have and stay at their current weight…How much protein would that person need to maintain what they have (in grams)? Would a protein supplement still be necessary? Thanks!
Adam Sutton
Well Lee, I guess I would like to have a better understanding of which supplements work and which ones don’t. And if you have a supplement regiment or nutrition plan that would be ideal for building muscle.
Thanks man
jose martinez
hey lee best video ever…….i have a question about creatine and protein shake, should you drink both of these when you are not working out because i workout 5 times a week, monay-friday, and i dont know if i should also drink it in the weekends when i ont work out. and another quick question whats better muscle milk or protein shake? THANKS MAN.
Randy
Great info on the hype surrounding supplements. I was diagnosed with Low-t (it happens as you approach the golden age of 50) and was advised to start using Andro-Gel…which was not cost prohibitive. I went instead with Gaspari’s Novedex XT. The results are in the bloodwork…T levels went from low 100’s (Lee…Lee….snap out of it…I’m doing better) to a respectable 586. I have energy for my workouts, and then some. With that being said, my question lies in 3 areas…PROTEIN – FAT BURNERS – RECOVERY…thanks for all you do!!
irfan
Hy lee i don`t use any supplement but i think its good for bodybuilder.
Don
I am 66yrs. young and I simply just want to lose some weight (198lbs now and would like to get down to 183lbs) and somebody fat. I realize that at my age it is very difficult to to, but I would like to give it a try. My question or comment is: Since there are so many types of supps. out there, which ones actually do work? I currently take protein, and glutamine, plus my regular vitamins and minerals. Does glutamine actually do much for you? Creatine I have taken in the past and it did nothing for me except put on weight, which I don’t want to do. Also is there an actual drink that one can take that will give you energy and make you feel a little stronger for your workouts?
Thanks,
Don
ken
i tried using NITROTECH HARDCORE whey protein before and nothing happened even after following the suggested serving amount. i also tried using Weider’s creatine supplements but i didn’t felt any change at all. so what i did was to just stick to a high protein diet composing of egg whites up to 6-7 pcs a day, chicken breast,any lean meat etc,but the only problem with it is that my body gains muscles way too slow.i guess i just have to select a brand of supplements that can be trusted and proven effective by anyone who have tried it so as to boost or speed up my body’s development…:i don’t want to end up killing myself with steroids =(
ken
what’s the most effective pre-work out supplement that will help me lift heavier weights?they say creatine and/or nitric oxide does it.is it true? i also like to know how to make use of amino acids and what brand of whey protein you can suggest
and i like to know what is the best amount of serving.
hogan tyler
should creatine be cycled?
Alan
how do you feel about test boosters do you think they are worth it and witch one is the best to use.
thanks Alan
steve
I wondered if you had any comments on the new research that is pointing to
high concentrations of toxic heavy metals in protein mixes. There seems to be little information from the manufacturers on this subject. I even emailed a few of them, and got no reply . Now, I’ m wondering, what is in the protein shake I’ m consuming every day ?
Please see the ABC story in this link
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/health&id=7473904
Daniel Gomez
Dear Lee,
I’m new to body building but not new to working out. I have been an martial artest for 35 years and now I want to work on body building. I would like to get as much nutrition from my food, so I would like to know what would help with that.Thank you
Daniel
Joseph
hey i did watch the video but my questions vary…
1. if i start taking a fat burner should i take it near the end of my cutting cycle since i should be able to drop fat relatively easily at the start?
2. Does animal stak testosterone booster work? i want to know because if you find a whole pack for 15 dollars of what regularly costs 45 i am wondering if it helps. and a gerneral percentage of how much it helps.. im 20 years old so i know my body has plenty of testosterone but at a third of a price of a very established brand im thinking its worth it
3. since it is smart to take a week off from working out at times is it a good idea to take supplements right as you start after the 1 week break? or do you ease into it? i always lift heavy and do a 5×5 but should i jump in hard and take help like creatine or go a week or 2 without it?
Carlos
I came into a small amount of money a few years ago and experimented with quite a few supplements and pro hormones. I still use the ones that I feel help me and have disconitnued the ones that seem inert or unneccesary for me. Out of all these items I tried, between 25 and 50…there are only 4 or 5 that I use now. The prohormones seemed to help me push through barriers but require strict monitoring of BP and dosages and anti-estrogen accompaniment. That means a BP cuff that you use regularly and occasional blood work to monitor your liver enzymes. The danger of using stronger steroidal compounds is hard for young men to resist but you should study carefully what you may be gambling away in exchange for some image of yourself you have in your head. Hard work, intelligent planning and perhaps paying for mentoring by Lee will get you there cheaper, faster and safely.
Aimo
2001 february I was training in the New Style Gym in Fuengirola, Malaga Province in Spain. I asked a Finnish older bodybuilder, who got silver medal at Senior World Competition 2000, if he used a lot of fruits to boost his training. I then thought, that fruits are doing good for a bodubuilder´s strength level. He said, that he is reducing his weight (fat) and suggested me going to the local Mercadona and buy 1 kilogram chicken breast daily for reducing weight. I saw him again in the next summer on a street, and he really was in prime condition! He was HUGE, and people turned around to look at him. What will we learn about this? Decide yourselves, sons! I am 73 now and I still go to the Mercadona here in Torrevieja, Alicante province to buy either chicken or turkey breast for my main food. For a change, I eat a lot of tuna, but very little dark rice and potatoes. Instead Smoothies and germs daily.
My strength levels are growing better from week to week, month to month! which has made me a believer of strength training to keep me young and get better from year to year.
I am going to publish my before and after photos in the next autumn, if I am going to be satisfied with my new development…
Best Regards to you all, especially to you newcomers. Keep asking and studying old as well as new methods.
Aimo
Lovely
Hi Lee,
I am 18 years old . My only need of supplements to maximum pump.
I have seen some bodybuilder videos .It is amazing that how they pumped in their workouts , veins out and every muscle looks very tight.
I have read about nitro supplements to give maximum pump.
Are these really work?
If yes which one we should choose?
Can i get pumped like professional bodybuilders.
Ed
at 44 should I be taking creatine if my main objective is to keep, or gain more muscle but also lose body fat. I cant seem to drop the body fat and did I mention I hate cardio. I have been trying con-cret creatine instead of monohydrate because of the horrible gas it gives me. What is your opinion on this kind of creatine.
Nick
I was wondering if it is beneficial at all to take creatine and a product like noxplode or horsepower at the same time? Creatine each day and the other product before workout.
rudy sebasdtian
what’s the effect of protein powder to lean muscle? the truth behind protein powder is it true that it contains a lot of sugar?and traces of lead too?
kARI Jackson
Three questions Lee
Does price of supplement equate its nutritional quality (i.e. would a more expensive supplement such as Force Factor be better than anything from GNC?)?
Do I have to intake casein protein in addition to whey to develop my body fully?
Is there a generic amount of creatine to be taken for working out? Better Time Period?
Paul
I’m not a bodybuilder, but I’m interested in being as fit as possible in terms of speed, strength, stamina and flexibility. With regards to supplements, my questions are which ones to take and avoid? I’m sure each supplement is designed for a specific purpose or perhaps more than one purpose? Another question should any combination of supplements taken be avoided, in terms of nasty side effects or any other reasons? My sports are mostly aerobic activities like tennis and running, but I also use strength exercises, because I believe strength exercises like using weights will help build or maintain muscle mass, & help with overall fitness and health. I believe in a mix of aerobic and anaerobic exercise for balanced fitness.
chrysovalantis
the most working supplements for strength and muscular definition is myotest of sun creatine in fact myotest is really working i have been taking it for a week and noticed a small increase in bench press actually i usually do 6 reps with 150kg or 337,5lbs for 4 sets and now i can easily do 10 reps with the same weight and same sets by the end of the treatment i assume that i can press 210kgs for one rep notice that the product is not steroid supplement it can increase your testosterone levels without putting extra testosterone in your body it is a totally vegetable
James
Actully my biggest questions have already been answered. I worked out for about three years straight and used alot of supplements that maybe i shouldn’t have until now because i think i am around that 95% range NOW where improvements are getting hard. But the 3 year rule and understanding that supplments aren’t necessary but can help those certain few, helps me understand alot about supplements. alot of people probably wonder about supplements due to the Pre-work out catergory, It’s a HOT SPOT right now and no one knows which brand to choose from that will give them the best results. I personally took NO-Explode, Super Pump 250, Jacked, Black Powder, Bull Nox, White Flood. I use them just to test them out and you know, they didn’t turn out all that bad. But what i noticed was that they made me THINK that i needed them to start a work out. Without it then i really didn’t think i can handle the weights. I stopped taking them now and realized i still get some of the same effects without taking them. i think when people ask you about supplements now its due to which brand of Pre-Work out supplements you can recommend them because you already told everyone everything there is to know about supplements. Just in my opinon, you made several videos describing supplements that should have answered all the hype about supplements already.
Raj
Hi Lee… Can you pls speicify perfect meal plan for a beginer.
Ben
Hey Lee, your opinion on pro-hormone type supplements eg. testosterone boosting products would be pretty useful, I’ve seen all your stuff and I don’t think you’ve covered it. Thanks.
Des Duignan
Can you advise me on taking Glutamine, when, how much etc, and also what are your views on L-carnitine?
Dave
great video, first thing I do when I buy a muscle mag is flip through and cut out all the advertisements and throw them out which saves a lot of page flipping when reading and sometimes cuts the size of a magazine in half!
My biggest supplement question is about multi vitamins. You need proper nutrition in order for your body to properly absorb and use protein and obviously diet is the most important, but if your diet doesnt provide everything you need which MV are the best to fill the gaps when it comes to muscle building? Which nutrients should you look for in them that are most important?
Some directions tell you to take like 8 pills a day, which seems crazy to me to pop that many pills every day. Are these actually more effective than a one or two a day brand, is it really necessary to take that many for full effectiveness? and which company of MV is the most widely used and respected by pro builders?
Stefan
Hey Lee, I love the information do not stop. If I only take creatine (taking it for 2months then cycle off) and protein alone and continue to workout daily, while, taking my vitamines of course. Do you think that is enough to get great results?
Zim
I couldn’t stop laughing at the pic of the obese kid holding a Cell-Tech jug. That product is the most unhealthy junk you can possibly consume. It’s like drinking 10 tablespoons of white sugar with a sprinkle of added creatine! LOL
Joey Vaillancourt
This is really good stuff Lee.
Its important that people know that supplements alone are not the determining factor in building muscle or losing fat.
Great post man!
Timbo
The only supplements i take are protein powder as well as going through a cycle of creatine powder (1 month on, 1 month off). I am naturally lean and therefore don’t have to worry much about my diet, i just eat lots of food (not fast food though). Realistically is there anything more i should be doing to increase muscle mass??
Mohd. Al Hatta
Hi, Mr Lee. My main question is what type of supplement that I should take? I want build muscles and the same I need to loss some fat. And I want to ask about the glutamine.
Brian
My question, is creatine hard on the kidneys?
Tito-Erobu
Dearest coach,to start with,i do not subscribe to the idea of using suppliments.Anyways,how much food protein and starch should i consume for effective muscle growth?
Justin
Any take on nitrous oxide as a pre workout ingredient; the role of the variety of vitamins and minerals in gaining muscle mass and strength; and the question I can’t seem to get an answer to: is fat essential in the digestion of protein? This man says so… http://www.criticalbench.com/VinceGironda.htm
salmi
i do not beleive on supplement.i have more than forty years in bodybuilding,and i have never taken any supplement.diet is more important.
Byrd
I have a tip for choosing protein powder. Choose a brand that does not use artifical flavours. Choose one that uses only natural flavouring, like styvia. Cut out that aspartame, sucralose, and all the other CRAP they throw in there. That shit is not good for your body or your brain.
joel
i believe in supplements because i’ve actually used some and seen good results (joe weider’s creatine) i dont even know if they still make those. the only thing is that there are tons of supplements in the market now and its all about who has the best marketing strategy. i’ve used some of the most hyped supplements and seen no results.
Mike
Lee, you always have such good straight to the point information. I was wondering what your opinion is on the most effective form of creatine and how and when it should be taken.
Thanks
Tito-Erobu
Dear coach i must say u ‘re the best.Sincerly i don’t use suppliments neither do i subcribe to idea.Two quetions,do i get the largest amount of carbs from yams? Secondly,how does physical training,weight lifting etc affect our libido?
shyam
hi lee… after reading the comments i really appreciate you…Lee can you please tell me which supplement is best for good shape and loss of weight… I used to do body building like about 12 years back. now i am overweight. Mostly i know the tips doing exercise… i am 31 yrs.. i cannot do exercise like before… is that anyway i can get supplement so that i can get some strength.. i do exercise like about 2 and half hours a day.
john biller
very informative indeed..thanks for this great article on supplement guide..i do exercise daily also drink protein shakes…i am 23 years old trying to gain more muscle mass.
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