Not talking bloody steroids but what shakes or other healthy products do you recommend to bulk up.
Fastbike Tue 22/09/09 10:58
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It depends where you buy it.
Each gym, and shops like Holland and Barrett, will stock different brands.
However, in simple terms (and putting aside tablet supplements like Lecithin, L Arginine, etc), bulking up supplements will fall into 2 broad types ...
High Carbohydrate ... for body bulk
High Protein ... for lean muscle mass
Both will come in big tubs, and be mixed with milk.
The high carb, body bulk supplements will be called things like "Crash Weight Gain"
For max all out results, take a carbohydrate supplement with meals, or during the day.
Take a high protein supplement AFTER you work out. When you work out, you damage your muscle tissue. The process of repairing the tissue, is what makes it grow. Your body tries to repair the tissue and make it bigger, so that it is better prepared to handle similer traumas in the future.
You have a small window (a few hours) after you work out, when your body is searching for protein to re-build the damaged muscle tissue. This is when you need to fill your body with easily absorbed protein ... meat, nuts, fish, chicken ... and a liquid supplement.
JJ x
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Question Author
Thanks JJ! That helped a lot, you are well knowlegable about this  . Im thinking you work in a health shop  
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Hi, fastbike.
No, I don't. But I am a bit of a gym rat.
I run a lot (hence my username) and I seriously look after myself.
I don't take "bulk up" supplements myself ... I'm not a female bodybuilder! ... but I do workout hard.
I take vitamin and mineral supplements, and I try to make sure I know what's good and what's useless.
I mentioned L-Arginine. That's a good thing to take. It helps the body to synthesize other substances ...
In other words ... it helps the body to convert protein into muscle. It also encourages your body to produce natural human growth hormone, so your body finds it easier to make muscle tissue.
You can get L-Arginine at Holland and Barrett. I use it, because it's good for general muscle recovery.
One other thing to bear in mind ... As you take these supplements with milk, use skimmed milk, otherwise you'll be drinking too much fat, and you'll end up looking like the Michelin Tyre Man.
JJ x
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Forgot to mention ...
L-Arginine comes in tablet form, and it will be in the vitamin and mineral section.
 x
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Hi JJ , thought while you are giving out advice could just as well ask you... I'm not really over weight, but i would like to tone a bit (bum, tum and arms) is there any supplements you would advise to help tone and trim?
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Hmmm ...
If your weight is about okay, SC, all you should need to do is concentrate on high rep, medium resistance exercises.
Drink water ... lots of water. All of your body's management function rely on being well lubricated. Ignore the nonsense that some people say about "drinking too much water". What your body doesn't need, you will just get rid of.
Of the muscle groups you've mentioned, maybe the Bum is the hardest to work. Your butt (gluteus maximus) is the biggest muscle in your body ... and the sexiest !! ... So it can take a lot of exercise. But the results are worth it. Not only do you get a great bum, but it supports your whole posture.
My bum routine is ...
Cable kickbacks ... until your bum hurts ... and then
Hack squats
Single leg presses
Reverse hyperextensions ...
Abductor machine ... dropping the weight after each set, and working each set to exhaustion.
I scream a lot when I work my butt, and I can hardly walk afterwards, but I think I have the best butt in the gym !!!
x
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Excellent JJ, thanks for the advice... so you think rather stay clear of any supplements and just drink lots of water and excersise a lot then 
Good to know we have someone with good advice in there dont you think Fastbike?
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Supplements are, as the name suggests ... to "supplement" your diet.
Is anything missing from your diet? Or are you doing something for which your diet is not sufficient ... like building yourself up?
I actually do take a load of vitamin and mineral supplements. These are to help my body recover from the poundings that I give it. Also, I live on my own and, to be honest, I'm not keen on cooking, so I eat a lot of takeaways.
So, I take ... (these are all natural supplements, which I get from Holland and Barrett) ...
Cranberry extract
L-Arginine
L-Carnitine
L-Lysine
Muira Pauma
Hawthorn berry extract
Zinc
Magnesium
Vitamin E
Wheat germ oil
Pumpkin seed oil
But although I JJ x
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thanks again JJ i dont eat super healthy but i also dont live on take away food. i think i probably have a pretty balanced diet... i think i dont drink enought water tbh...
basically i think i just need something to help me get the "toning" i need... i was thinking about something like CLA (as CLA enhances fat loss and increases lean body mass it also increases the activity of hormone sensitive lipases, which results in the breakdown of stored fat)
but i think i'll just keep going with the 30 min cardio on the mornings and then weight training in the afternoon or eve...
and then i'll read up on the supplements you listed and see if i can get hold of them 
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Sounds like you have a good exercise balance there, SC.
Drinking water can be a bit of a bind. I sometimes do it by getting up and gulping down 2 or 3 pints (if I'm not running). By mid morning, it's all been absorbed or used.
Then do the same thing a couple more times in the day. You can soon get into a routine of drinking 6 pints of fresh water each day.
Maybe best not do do this if you are a long distance lorry driver ... unless you have a strong bladder !!
JJ x
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haha at least not a long distance lorry driver... so will give your theory a go... starting now! 1... 2... 3... down...
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LOL ...
I didn't comment on CLA ... sorry.
I don't know much about it. The idea seems to be that it both breaks down fat, and encourages muscle growth.
Maybe it does. The reported clinical trials seem to be from lab animals, but that is always the case with newish products.
Keep us posted if you get any results.
JJ x
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I will do JJ, before i start on any CLA or anything else i'll first try the drinking more water (better on the £ too)
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Try growth hormones FB, apparantly they work wonders.
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