Fitness and supplements

[JT77]

Hi folks
I am training to do a tough mudder in June for cancer fund for children in Northern Ireland.
I started trading about 6 weeks ago and I am up to 3.5 miles and doing reps in the gym etc.
I was hoping to pick the fitness fanatics brains about health supplements etc that can boost energy to help push me on or maybe certain foods etc and also something that helps with joint pain and stress. At 37 it's a lot harder than it used to be to train so need all the help I can get lol

Thanks in advance
JT

 

[c1973]

Fish oil is good for the joints.
Also, glutamine supplements are supposed to be good for the energy levels, so I'm told. They certainly give me a boost at the gym.

 

[JT77]

Thanks c
Any place to buy them or is it just a boots job?

 

[c1973]

Holland and barret maybe?

Slow release energy is what you're after for stamina. So, oats, beans etc are good for that.

Personally I'd load up on protein prior to doing it as well, get the muscles fuelled up. It certainly isn't going to do any harm. Protein shakes are a good way of getting the extra fuel, buy a decent one like ON whey protein, they taste great in chocolate flavour, and mix up well, as I say it won't do any harm.

 

[Jimaroid]

Most supplements are a waste of money and just pass straight your body. A good diet with a mix of complex carbohydrates and high in protein, eaten little and often and especially in the periods following your exercise sessions is most effective. There is no replacement for a good diet.

Look into making your own vegetable smoothies. And have a search for what Nigel Mitchell does in Team Sky with nutrition. It's believed to be a big factor in their success.

Good luck with the training.

 

[One Planer]

As has been said, supplements are exactly that. A supplement to tour diet.

Get your diet in order and you can keep them to a minimum.

 

[JT77]

Thanks folks thought my diet wasn't too bad but weekends are a killer as I love beer!! I'm good all week but get to Saturday and usually end up with a few pints and a btl vino lol

 

[c1973]

Whey protein gets to your muscles faster than the protein from steak, eggs etc. Fact!

The quicker it gets there, the quicker your body starts repairing muscle after exercise.

A proper balanced diet is most definitely the way to go, but supplements have their place.

Just my opinion obviously.

 

[Foxholer]

Whey protein gets to your muscles faster than the protein from steak, eggs etc. Fact!

The quicker it gets there, the quicker your body starts repairing muscle after exercise.

A proper balanced diet is most definitely the way to go, but supplements have their place.

Just my opinion obviously.

Isn't it simply that Whey Protein has a higher percentage of the (supposedly) desirable elements, with less in the way of 'noise', than other 'foods'? Certainly a worthwhile supplement to a muscle building plan. The non-supplement alternative is simply more of the current food! Eggs are pretty high in protein if you want a 'normal' food.

The absorption rate really only becomes a factor when intense sessions are followed by further (intense) activity imo.

 

[c1973]

I'm assuming the OPs training will be intensive, hence the reason he's asking about supplements.

Working on that assumption, you want the body repairing itself asap or it goes into a catabolic (correct word?) state and given that what he is training for will be hard on the muscle as well as cardio, then the absorption rate after training is where the 'critical' intake period will be imo (as well as prior to training naturally).

Don't get me wrong, it's probably all overkill for a one off event, but it won't do the body any harm to look after it better during the training. :thup:

The whey protein is broken down (forget the word, hydrogenised??) To make it easier to absorb.


One other thing. WATER. And plenty of it. Don't be getting dehydrated.