Newbie

Radio|Man

Hi,

Confused newbie here :rolleyes:

So heres my story. 29,male,5ft11, 168 pounds

Last December I made a choice to change the way I eat, lose some weight and generally get fit.

I started off by visiting a gym 2 or 3 times a week, doing a bit of cardio and some machine weights.

I tried the Maximuscle ProMax Diet for a couple of weeks, but came off it.

I have been taking one thermobol capsule before training but have stopped taking that also.

Almost one year on, I am now training for about an hour and a half at least 5 times a week. I run for at least 10 mins as a warm up, do some chest and back work and more recently am concentrating on my stomach. Pretty much the same work out day in, day out.

I used to drink quite a lot of Vodka and redbull but now hardly drink at all.


I am now down to a weight I am happy with-just under 168 pounds and have recently measured a body fat reading of 7.5%

I don't take any other supplements other than 3 Spirulina tablets in the morning.

I've always been somewhat built down to my past work being somewhat physical but now I am obvioulsy much better shaped, toned and generally fitter as a result.

My diet is good, I eat as little processed food as possible, plenty of fruit and little or no red meat if possible.

So, friend in gym suggests I talk with one of the trainers as I never had an evaluation done.

We have a chat, I tell him I don't want to build too much (I want to be fit and toned rather than stocky and built) and he suggests a couple of things.

First, he will design a program for me that considers recovery time as this is not something I have not been doing.

His program will be an overall body workout.

I will be doing a lot more weights I would imagine and he has suggested I take one scoop of Maximuscle High Protein Promax Extreme, once in the morning and once in the evening and then take one scoop of Maximuscle Recovermax straight after training.

My concerns are this:

I understand the any supplements I take are just that, supplements but whatever I may take in the next few months, I would like to stop and not suffer any withdrawal symptoms.

I realise I need to up my protein intake when training so much so am pretty okay with taking at least one scoop of the Promax Extreme a day but the Recovermax has creatine in it (1g per 2 scoops), and that is something I am not so keen on.

Whilst I realise the benefit I might get from creatine, I am not sure this is the type of build I am looking for. Plus, from what I have read, creatine can lead to a bloating effect as a result of the water retention it causes in muscle.

To put it simply, I'd rather be built like a mid weight boxer than like a stocky weightlifter.

Should I be working at this naturally or with the aid of supplements like maximuscle?

What will happen once I reach my goal ?

Any other thoughts would be very much appreicated.

This fitness game is very confusing.

I've read all sorts of advice, some say cardio is bad and causes your heart to lose its "reserve capacity", others say supplements are "A o kay".

Help ! :cool:

Colm_OReilly

Radio | Man,

From what I've read it seems your primary concern above all else is fitness? Your health is your concern, not some aesthetic ideal. Am I correct?

If so, I'd personally stay away from supplements. A healthy diet (See Paleo Diet or The Zone - both biologically and hormonally sound) will pretty much give you everything your body needs.

Your 90 minutes 5 days a week sounds like a long time, counterproductive in fact. Let me know what the trainer in the gym comes back and we can critique it.

Colm

crotalus667

Radio|Man wrote:

Recovermax has creatine in it (1g per 2 scoops), and that is something I am not so keen on.

1g per two scoops is very low:rolleyes: it’s not worth worrying over , if you don’t want to take the stuff just tell the guy you’d rather not take the stuff, you can always get your protein from whole foods instead of powder .

By the way maximussel is known for lets just say not being value for money .

Radio|Man

Colm_OReilly wrote:

Radio | Man,

From what I've read it seems your primary concern above all else is fitness? Your health is your concern, not some aesthetic ideal. Am I correct?

If so, I'd personally stay away from supplements. A healthy diet (See Paleo Diet or The Zone - both biologically and hormonally sound) will pretty much give you everything your body needs.

Your 90 minutes 5 days a week sounds like a long time, counterproductive in fact. Let me know what the trainer in the gym comes back and we can critique it.

Colm

Thanks Colm,

Yes my health is a concern but at the same time, I would like to be lean and look fit overall.

It would be as much external as internal for me, if you get what I mean !

Ideally, I'd like to get in shape to a level I'm happy with, which is something I am prepared to work at for as long as it takes, but at some point, I would like to change my workouts to be more maintainence, than progressive.

I see so many people that look as if there body shape/build has been forced, rather than looking 'front of fitness magazine" fit !

As for my current sessions being counter-productive, yes I agree, but only to a certain extent as obvioulsy, I am seeing the benefits of my work outs.

At this stage though, I think I may be getting close to getting counter productive.

I guess I'm confused at where I need to go from here, and if the benefits I am seeking, are sustainable and long term. My diet change will have a huge impact on this, providing I maintain it at a certain level.

I'll have a look at the diets you suggest and will let you know what my trainer suggests.

Thanks for your interest.

Radio|Man

crotalus667 wrote:

1g per two scoops is very low:rolleyes: it’s not worth worrying over , if you don’t want to take the stuff just tell the guy you’d rather not take the stuff, you can always get your protein from whole foods instead of powder .

By the way maximussel is known for lets just say not being value for money .

Understood.

My only concern is getting into something I know I will want to get out of.

I'd rather work harder than rely on a supplement that only benefits me whilst I am taking it.

Do you think that this amount is so small, I will not experience the common effects of creatine use ? In fact, I will benefit in recovery and "achieve my goals faster" etc.

I realise that most of what I have read, relates to creatine capsules, which is totally different to the amount in question here, I'm just at the stage of feeling like I've put so much junk through my body over the years, that anything that can be avoided, should be.

Forgive me if some of my questions seem niave, but like I say, this fitness game is really complicated once you get into it.

And yes, Maximuscle not the cheapest on the market. No surprise that the boxes of Maximuscle bars lie full on counters across the country !!

eroo

one thing id like to point out to you Radio|Man,
here is the total cost per month for your supplements;
112.50euro
bet the trainer didnt say that to ya!
but if money isnt an obstacle,then go ahead.but if you dont want to use supplements then dont!promax extreme has 75g of protein per serving.sounds like you'd end up being bulked up like fcuk!is that what you want?
-eroo

Radio|Man

eroo wrote:

one thing id like to point out to you Radio|Man,
here is the total cost per month for your supplements;
112.50euro
bet the trainer didnt say that to ya!
but if money isnt an obstacle,then go ahead.but if you dont want to use supplements then dont!promax extreme has 75g of protein per serving.sounds like you'd end up being bulked up like fcuk!is that what you want?
-eroo

Yes I know, but thats my point, supplements are something I would get into for a month or two, and then stop.

Bulking up like fcuk is exactly what I don't want, thats why I'd only take one shake as opposed to two a day like he suggests, if at all.

I'm already at a size I am happy with, now I want to fine tune what I have.

If supplements can help/speed up that, and protein intake is something I am currently lacking for my exercise ratio, I'll consider a month or two of awful tasting shakes, but only if a short term course is beneficial.

A boost if you will !

Hanley

1g of creatine is nothing. You get that much in a Steak...

Dragan

Eh......your not concerned about your health, your worried about keeping a physique that you enjoy having.

Big different.

A few extra grams of protein and some creatine will not bulk any one "up to fcuk".....come on guys.

P.S - Maximuscle is overpriced ****.

Radio|Man

Dragan wrote:

Eh......your not concerned about your health, your worried about keeping a physique that you enjoy having.

Big different.

A few extra grams of protein and some creatine will not bulk any one "up to fcuk".....come on guys.

P.S - Maximuscle is overpriced ****.

I'm not as concerned about my health as I would have been when I started training. I focused on cardio when I started but now I feel I don't need to as much as I did then.