What supps are you guys using ?

[Mike]

Ashwaghanda (stress and T4->T3 conversion)

You're not concerned about impacts of GABAergics on your long term dopamine regulation?


On my side, test is best. All this nutritional stuff is less effective than getting the basics right.

 

[dainluke]

You're not concerned about impacts of GABAergics on your long term dopamine regulation?


On my side, test is best. All this nutritional stuff is less effective than getting the basics right.

My dopamine regulation has been fucked since the age of 5. I’ll take a faster metabolism and less stress any day of the week.

I don’t know if I would class Test as a supplement haha. Supplements are basically compounds that provide your body with extra nutritional elements to illicit functions in the body. Hormonal augmentation is a totally different ballgame imo.

 

[Mike]

My dopamine regulation has been fucked since the age of 5. I’ll take a faster metabolism and less stress any day of the week.

Interesting though, I wouldn't touch that shit if you paid me to, the risks are pretty real. If it's just anxiety and metabolism, there might be safer options.

Have you had your thyroid levels checked pre and post or are you just trusting that one study?

 

[clmartin1314]

6 meals a day, coming to 260g Protein, 70g fat and 250g-350g carbs depending on which training day it is
Currently on cycle with dbol, test E, Equipoise

Drinking Multi-vitamin, MSM for knee joints, USN XTS Black pre-workout and Primacore Protein for post workout

40mins fasted cardio every morning
1-1,5h heavy ass weights in afternoon

Dammm that's alot of protein. Kidneys must be crying

 

[dainluke]

Interesting though, I wouldn't touch that shit if you paid me to, in fact, I don't understand why any male would. If it's just anxiety and metabolism, there are way safer options.

Have you had your thyroid levels checked pre and post or are you just trusting that one study?

I didn’t read any of the studies. I’m also not going to try and argue for its efficacy because I don’t really do that thing anymore. I quit bodybuilding and I use whatever I use for my own purposes. I train how I train, and I don’t really care to convince people to follow me.

My thyroid and I have had a weird relationship throughout my life and at the time I began taking it, I honestly don’t recall why. All I do know is the my T3 levels have tested relatively low twice, and my T4 levels were above the healthy range.

I can put down a fair amount of calories and I don’t like how I feel when I’m off ashwaghanda. I’m not sure how I’d test the effect it has on dopamine, but what I can say is that my mood regulation hasn’t changed at all. It’s pretty much always been the same throughout my entire conscious existence whether or not I use it. For that reason I figure there’s no reason not to use it.

 

[Mike]

I didn’t read any of the studies. I’m also not going to try and argue for its efficacy because I don’t really do that thing anymore. I quit bodybuilding and I use whatever I use for my own purposes. I train how I train, and I don’t really care to convince people to follow me.

My thyroid and I have had a weird relationship throughout my life and at the time I began taking it, I honestly don’t recall why. All I do know is the my T3 levels have tested relatively low twice, and my T4 levels were above the healthy range.

I can put down a fair amount of calories and I don’t like how I feel when I’m off ashwaghanda. I’m not sure how I’d test the effect it has on dopamine, but what I can say is that my mood regulation hasn’t changed at all. It’s pretty much always been the same throughout my entire conscious existence whether or not I use it. For that reason I figure there’s no reason not to use it.

I editted my post because I sounded stand-offish, not intentional 🙂👍🏻 Reading now

 

[LaidToRest]

 

[dainluke]

I editted my post because I sounded stand-offish, not intentional 🙂👍🏻 Reading now

I’m genuinely curious though. What exactly does it do that makes it such a bad option? I actually had no idea there was an argument against taking it. I began taking it years back and Jerry Brainum made a video that affirmed its usefulness, so I kinda just went along with it. I know I seem to be more of a thinker from most of my comments, but when it comes to PEDs and supplements, I’m happy to experiment on myself and do stupid shit just to see what happens.

 

[Mike]

I’m genuinely curious though. What exactly does it do that makes it such a bad option? I actually had no idea there was an argument against taking it. I began taking it years back and Jerry Brainum made a video that affirmed its usefulness, so I kinda just went along with it. I know I seem to be more of a thinker from most of my comments, but when it comes to PEDs and supplements, I’m happy to experiment on myself and do stupid shit just to see what happens.

So long term use, and in some individuals even short term use, can cause weird shit, decreased test, anhedonia, CFS, both fertility and libido issues, brain fog. It's highly suppressive/depressive. So yeah it mellows you out, but low dose t3+t4 is cheap af, well tested and can keep your TSH healthy and thyroid enzymes in a super happy place. For stress some simple supps like magnesium, theanine, vit d, chamomile extract/apigenin (at low doses, as it's also gabapergic) and rhodia can be pretty effective, especially in tandem. Also if your BP is high, when I started treating that, it helped my stress levels astronomically

 

[dainluke]

So long term use, and in some individuals even short term use, can cause weird shit, decreased test, anhedonia, CFS, both fertility and libido issues, brain fog. It's highly suppressive/depressive. So yeah it mellows you out, but low dose t3+t4 is cheap af, well tested and can keep your TSH healthy and thyroid enzymes in a super happy place. For stress some simple supps like magnesium, theanine, vit d, chamomile extract/apigenin (at low doses, as it's also gabapergic) and rhodia can be pretty effective, especially in tandem. Also if your BP is high, when I started treating that, it helped my stress levels astronomically

Magnesium I will never take because it cramps me up hectically. Fertility has been gone for years, my natural testosterone production is gonzo, my pre-workout has a decent shot of L-theanine, and I absolutely despise T3.

I have plenty of T4 and from practical testing, my body’s natural T3 sees higher up-regulation throughout the day than taking 40mcg of T3. 60-80 I would not be willing to daily, let alone take at all. I wouldn’t even be willing to daily 40 tbh. To be dead honest I wouldn’t take a good dose of T3 even if I was competing, unless a pro card was on the table and I actually had a decent shot (never days).

On 40mcg I believe I was a few ticks above dead average on the range, so 40 does nearly fuckall. I was on T3 for around 7 months and after coming off my metabolism increased and my caloric requirements increased. The only cool thing I experimented with was starving myself on 0 carb with T3. Quite a freakin’ experience.

Currently my mood regulation on/off ashwaghanda doesn’t seem at all better or worse. Back in 2015-2016 I had quit training and I hadn’t yet even heard of it, and I was the most down I’d ever been in my life. If you find that ashwaghanda does affect you negatively then for sure stay away from it. In my particular case it poses basically no harm to me.

Final bit on T3:
IMO augmenting with AAS or any sort of GH-based protein-peptide is somewhat safe because you can acquire different esters relatively easily, and the processes of growth and repair are largely uncontrollable and occur sporadically. You can’t really ever be sure when your body requires a peek level of a hormonal protein-peptide like IGF or an AAS like Test/Nandralone.

With T3, it’s a bit like insulin. You have no idea when your body will require more T3 to up-regulate mitochondrial respiration. I.e., I used to get super low at times of the day because my T3 levelled off at an unideal time. The metabolic system of the body occurs 24/7 as we’re basically always eating (well at least I am), and I can’t really see a justifiable reason to take control of my own active metabolism when I don’t know when the nutrients are hitting me or when my body requires a higher peek.

Augmenting with synthetic T3 is like setting a static OC on a Ryzen CPU whereas allowing your body to take the wheel and using something that up-regulates the conversion rate with respect to when your body wants to up-regulate it, is like running a sick PBO config. To me the only logical use of T3 is when you’re medically low because your thyroid is shot, or during the latter stages of a harsh contest prep during which your body is heavily down-regulating T4 conversion when your body fat % is well below your set point. Just my two cents, but yeah, I don’t like T3 at all. Not to mention if you run out of the drug and your thyroid ends up dormant - not probable but not impossible - you’re pretty much going to be stuck on 1000 calories per day or you’re going to gain significant amounts of fat until it kicks back into gear.

T4 and TSH are chill though, if for some reason your pituitary and your thyroid aren’t coordinating to create the power supply/raw materials necessary for conversion into active.

 

[dA_k1D]

Damn. Thanks. So what u using?

Currently Using Primacore Whey, its a new product that Xtreme Nutrition sells, really good and clean supplements for a good price

 

[dA_k1D]

Sheesh thats a lot of protein. Whats ur current weight?

It's a bit more than I actually need, but i'm cutting on carbs so need to make up the calories in protein. I weigh 86kg in the morning. I'm short (1.67m) so hovering around the 85kg for the last year, but pushing now to get to 90kg of lean muscle

 

[dA_k1D]

Dammm that's alot of protein. Kidneys must be crying

It's actually in pretty good shape, clean food that digests easily, lots of water, and you're good to go

 

[BarnacleBOY]

I'm just taking Collagen. But I only run and do home body weight workouts.

 

[Dom]

I'm just taking Collagen. But I only run and do home body weight workouts.

Just as a healthy addition that won't affect your workouts at all?

 

[BarnacleBOY]

Just as a healthy addition that won't affect your workouts at all?

Yeah, it helps a bit with recovery though. I noticed before collagen, my muscles would take longer to recover, yet with it (so I take a teaspoon after a workout or a run), and the next day I'm definitely not as sore.

 

[ThatGuyJD]

Yeah, it helps a bit with recovery though. I noticed before collagen, my muscles would take longer to recover, yet with it (so I take a teaspoon after a workout or a run), and the next day I'm definitely not as sore.

That doesn't sound right. Just sounds like a fitness thing... never heard of recovery increases from Collagen.

 

[AthanC]

That doesn't sound right. Just sounds like a fitness thing... never heard of recovery increases from Collagen.I

I would say you are right and wrong on the same breath. Collagen powders are usually high in protein. If his diet is low on protein he will recover slower. Collagen will add a bit to it and help with adding a bit more protein. Recovery can definitely be helped by Creatine and Glutamin or Steroids lol. Your Body needs the fuel to recover and if you are not able ( various reasons, busy schedule, etc.) that is what supplements are for.

 

[Dom]

I would say you are right and wrong on the same breath. Collagen powders are usually high in protein. If his diet is low on protein he will recover slower. Collagen will add a bit to it and help with adding a bit more protein. Recovery can definitely be helped by Creatine and Glutamin or Steroids lol. Your Body needs the fuel to recover and if you are not able ( various reasons, busy schedule, etc.) that is what supplements are for.

I get the logic but Collagen is quite pricey compared to straight up whey (sort of like extracting water from a very expensive rock when you are next to an oasis) - Collagen VS Whey.

 

[AthanC]

I get the logic but Collagen is quite pricey compared to straight up whey (sort of like extracting water from a very expensive rock when you are next to an oasis) - Collagen VS Whey.

I don't have to read the article to tell you are 100% right. Collagen has other benefits as well (skin, joints, heart and more) comparing to whey and it is way more expensive. But some supplementation is better than none. The fact that he feels more recovered could be the Collagen there is absolutely no harm only benefits or it could be simply mental placebo effect. Believing can be more powerful than any supplement. Whatever the case might be if it works for him then I believe he should continue doing it.

 

[SteveIndeed]

Something that's piqued my interest recently: how does anyone (aside from the manufacturer) know whether the protein/carbs/sugar content of the various supplements actually is? Do we take the manufacturers at their word? Someone I know said people ought to go with the mainstream brands (USN, NPL, Nutritech, etc) because they're more likely to get it right considering how many people use their products and what they've got to lose should it emerge that the quoted values don't match what's inside the tub.

I'm considering this in light of switching from My Wellness Superior Whey to someone like USN BlueLab.

Thoughts?

 

[Dom]

Something that's piqued my interest recently: how does anyone (aside from the manufacturer) know whether the protein/carbs/sugar content of the various supplements actually is? Do we take the manufacturers at their word? Someone I know said people ought to go with the mainstream brands (USN, NPL, Nutritech, etc) because they're more likely to get it right considering how many people use their products and what they've got to lose should it emerge that the quoted values don't match what's inside the tub.

I'm considering this in light of switching from My Wellness Superior Whey to someone like USN BlueLab.

Thoughts?

If I am being completely honest, that person you know is promoting those brands.

To be thorough - try contacting a manufacturer & ask (this will probably be a tedious process). Avoid sales reps as they will spew crap to build their own shit throne.

 

[SteveIndeed]

If I am being completely honest, that person you know is promoting those brands.

To be thorough - try contacting a manufacturer & ask (this will probably be a tedious process). Avoid sales reps as they will spew crap to build their own shit throne.

My question in that case is this: which out of the non-mainstream brands is the most "reliable"?

 

[Dom]

My question in that case is this: which out of the non-mainstream brands is the most "reliable"?

This is my opinion - I quite like Supplement World as their review system is extensive & used.

To also try to keep in mind - there are plethora of factors that go into supplementation (meaning that the results may not be the same for everyone for various reasons).

 

[dA_k1D]

there was a study done a couple of years ago regarding all the local protein powders, have a look HERE

Look..."local" protein powders, the cheaper options on the shelf, it's not derived from the best quality of Protein. But then again, a protein shake is a supplement, you should be getting 90-95% of your daily requirement from real food

So that is why I don't see a reason to buy imported protein at such a premium, because it's mainly a lekker shake 1-2 times a day, that has some protein in

 

[dA_k1D]

My question in that case is this: which out of the non-mainstream brands is the most "reliable"?

TNT is really good, and clean
Primacore is good
Clear Nutrition is new and pretty good
NPL has great stock but can get a bit pricey
USN is not bad, watch out for sugars
Biogen is also good

And like Dom said, have a look on the review page on supplement world, it gives a good understanding

 

[SteveIndeed]

Thanks, gents @Dom, @dA_k1D. Will investigate.

 

[Dom]

Thanks, gents @Dom, @dA_k1D. Will investigate.

No problem - use the data tables as a good guide (a lot of the stuff crams in sugar for the carbs).

 

[Marcell1992]

Vitamin K2, D3, E, Omega 3 and ashwaghanda.

I'm surprised nobody takes K2, but I guess this thread is more focused on workout supplements.
Practically nobody gets enough K2 in their diet due to how livestock are fed and raised.

 

[SteveIndeed]

No problem - use the data tables as a good guide (a lot of the stuff crams in sugar for the carbs).

That's exactly what I'm looking at. The MyWellness Superior Whey has a pretty good protein/carbs/sugar ratio (25g/3.5g/2.2g) as does the USN BlueLab (22.3g/2.8g/.8g). The low sugar of the BlueLab is appealing, though, but you get only 2kg for R800 compared to 3.3kg of Superior Whey for R830.