Would taking supplements help me?

Kevcol

Hi guys,

Just have a question as to whether taking supplements would help me as regards getting more toned/leaner. I have a fair idea that if I was doing weights 3-4 times a week it would probably be useful taking the supplements but I rarely lift weights so I'm not sure it would be beneficial. I'll give an outline of the workouts I do on a typical week.

Monday/Wednesday/Friday - 1hour 30 mins Muai Thai training which involves a lot of press ups, pull ups, sit ups etc. (basically exercises using my own body weight) and some sparring.

Tuesday/Thursday - 1hour 15mins Gaelic Football training involving sprinting, jogging etc.

Saturday or Sunday - A gaelic football match.

I think I have a pretty good diet otherwise ( apart from eating too much bread/sandwiches perhaps) and I am wondering if anything such as Creatine or Protein shakes would be of benefit to me. I am not sure if I should be taking these since I am not doing any weights but I would like to get stronger muscles and core too.

I am 5'8" and I weigh about 68kg at the moment. I wouldn't mind putting on some extra muscle weight if I could.

Thanks for any advice given

SunnyDub1

Simple answer to your question - NO. Most defiantly not.

If you want to get "tonned" start lifting weights and look into your diet. Clean diet and strength training = results. No protein shake or supplement will make you lose weight and gain muscle.

Leinsterr

Kevcol wrote: »

Hi guys,

Just have a question as to whether taking supplements would help me as regards getting more toned/leaner. I have a fair idea that if I was doing weights 3-4 times a week it would probably be useful taking the supplements but I rarely lift weights so I'm not sure it would be beneficial. I'll give an outline of the workouts I do on a typical week.

Monday/Wednesday/Friday - 1hour 30 mins Muai Thai training which involves a lot of press ups, pull ups, sit ups etc. (basically exercises using my own body weight) and some sparring.

Tuesday/Thursday - 1hour 15mins Gaelic Football training involving sprinting, jogging etc.

Saturday or Sunday - A gaelic football match.

I think I have a pretty good diet otherwise ( apart from eating too much bread/sandwiches perhaps) and I am wondering if anything such as Creatine or Protein shakes would be of benefit to me. I am not sure if I should be taking these since I am not doing any weights but I would like to get stronger muscles and core too.

I am 5'8" and I weigh about 68kg at the moment. I wouldn't mind putting on some extra muscle weight if I could.

Thanks for any advice given

If you do that much cardio you should be fairly lean at the moment. I made the mistakevof thinking that supplements are as important, if not more important, than my diet. I made close to no gains for months, fixed my diet by finding out exactly what I needed, my macros etc and am doing so much better now. Only use a shake after training, especially after your muai thai. If you want to put on muscle you need to lift. There's nothing wrong with bodyweight exercises. Maybe you could drop gaa and do lifting instead if you prefer muai Thai or vice versa. Don't take creatine as it can lead to cramps and dehydration during your gaa matches. Good luck!!!

Kevcol

That's great guys, thanks for the advice.

Seems like if I want to put on more muscle I'll need to start doing weights so. Not sure if that's feasible at the mo with GAA championship coming up so I might postpone doing it until the end of the GAA season. Loving the Muai Thai at the moment tho so I'll defo keep that on. I take a smoothie after Muai Thai at the moment, it's 300ml of low fat milk, a tablespoon of peanut butter and a banana. It's supposed to have 30g CHO, 12g protein per 300mls. Is that a suitable shake for after training.

Thanks again for the help!

mayo51

Kevcol wrote: »

Hi guys,

Just have a question as to whether taking supplements would help me as regards getting more toned/leaner. I have a fair idea that if I was doing weights 3-4 times a week it would probably be useful taking the supplements but I rarely lift weights so I'm not sure it would be beneficial. I'll give an outline of the workouts I do on a typical week.

Monday/Wednesday/Friday - 1hour 30 mins Muai Thai training which involves a lot of press ups, pull ups, sit ups etc. (basically exercises using my own body weight) and some sparring.

Tuesday/Thursday - 1hour 15mins Gaelic Football training involving sprinting, jogging etc.

Saturday or Sunday - A gaelic football match.

I think I have a pretty good diet otherwise ( apart from eating too much bread/sandwiches perhaps) and I am wondering if anything such as Creatine or Protein shakes would be of benefit to me. I am not sure if I should be taking these since I am not doing any weights but I would like to get stronger muscles and core too.

I am 5'8" and I weigh about 68kg at the moment. I wouldn't mind putting on some extra muscle weight if I could.

Thanks for any advice given

Hey man, im in the exact same position as you, im 5ft 8in and 68kg, I lift weights around 3 times a week and I use supplements. don't go too over on the weights if ur thinkin of startin, speed is a big part of gaelic football and you do NOT want extra weight holding you down (because muscle is heavier than fat!) . And as for supplements, unless your training 4+ times a week I wouldn't think you would need them . P.S I play gaelic football aswell and im a defender and let me tell you, the last thing you want is to be slow in that position. A bit of muscle is fine but don't overdo it

double GG

Kevcol wrote: »

Hi guys,

Just have a question as to whether taking supplements would help me as regards getting more toned/leaner. I have a fair idea that if I was doing weights 3-4 times a week it would probably be useful taking the supplements but I rarely lift weights so I'm not sure it would be beneficial. I'll give an outline of the workouts I do on a typical week.

Monday/Wednesday/Friday - 1hour 30 mins Muai Thai training which involves a lot of press ups, pull ups, sit ups etc. (basically exercises using my own body weight) and some sparring.

Tuesday/Thursday - 1hour 15mins Gaelic Football training involving sprinting, jogging etc.

Saturday or Sunday - A gaelic football match.

I think I have a pretty good diet otherwise ( apart from eating too much bread/sandwiches perhaps) and I am wondering if anything such as Creatine or Protein shakes would be of benefit to me. I am not sure if I should be taking these since I am not doing any weights but I would like to get stronger muscles and core too.

I am 5'8" and I weigh about 68kg at the moment. I wouldn't mind putting on some extra muscle weight if I could.

Thanks for any advice given

On the supplement front, taking a protein shake is basically a liquidized chicken breast. Have a look at nutrition 101 sticky and work out your macros needed for fats, protein, carbs and your calorie allowance. Then document a typical days food in to myfitnesspal or another such website and see how it comes out. If you need the extra protein in your diet, have an extra chicken breast or some cottage cheese or your scoop of protein.

On the creatine front, if you're over 18 why not. It's the most researched supplement out there at the moment and has been proven to increase lean body mass, sprint performance, strength etc..

Don't take any notice of cramping or dehydration etc. as there is no evidence for any of this. Just drink a little more water and you'll be fine. A lack of water dehydrates you not creatine.

Have a google of creatine monoydrate and read the first page of the 'supplements' thread on the health and fitness forum for more info aswell.

mayo51 wrote: »

Hey man, im in the exact same position as you, im 5ft 8in and 68kg, I lift weights around 3 times a week and I use supplements. don't go too over on the weights if ur thinkin of startin, speed is a big part of gaelic football and you do NOT want extra weight holding you down (because muscle is heavier than fat!) . And as for supplements, unless your training 4+ times a week I wouldn't think you would need them . P.S I play gaelic football aswell and im a defender and let me tell you, the last thing you want is to be slow in that position. A bit of muscle is fine but don't overdo it

5lbs of muscle is the same weight as 5lbs of fat, I have no idea what you're talking about as to how it can be heavier. Denser yes, but not heavier.

Also since when will muscle slow you down? Packing on massive amounts of muscle may affect him if his lean mass increases significantly but strength training and power training in the gym is an essential component of 'speed'.

colman1212

mayo51 wrote: »

Hey man, im in the exact same position as you, im 5ft 8in and 68kg, I lift weights around 3 times a week and I use supplements. don't go too over on the weights if ur thinkin of startin, speed is a big part of gaelic football and you do NOT want extra weight holding you down (because muscle is heavier than fat!) . And as for supplements, unless your training 4+ times a week I wouldn't think you would need them . P.S I play gaelic football aswell and im a defender and let me tell you, the last thing you want is to be slow in that position. A bit of muscle is fine but don't overdo it

Ummmm...Most sprinters/rugby wingers lift very heavy weights and run extremely fast so I don't think this makes much sense.

Kevcol

Thanks again for all the replies.

I'm definitely not looking to lose any more weight, I think I'm light enough as it is. That's why I'm wondering if taking anything would help me to build a bit of extra muscle.

As regards the Creatine, does the type of exercise I'm doing suit taking it as a supplement. I want to build muscle but if I'd need to be doing weights as well as the training I'm doing during the week then I think I'd probably leave it off for a few months. But if it would help even though I'm just using my own body weight in exercises then I would consider it.

colman1212

Kevcol wrote: »

Thanks again for all the replies.

I'm definitely not looking to lose any more weight, I think I'm light enough as it is. That's why I'm wondering if taking anything would help me to build a bit of extra muscle.

As regards the Creatine, does the type of exercise I'm doing suit taking it as a supplement. I want to build muscle but if I'd need to be doing weights as well as the training I'm doing during the week then I think I'd probably leave it off for a few months. But if it would help even though I'm just using my own body weight in exercises then I would consider it.

Supplements aren't going to magically build muscle.
Supplements and good food will help the muscle repair after you damage the muscle lifting heavy weights hence making it stronger.
If you are not lifting heavy weights then..... no creatine won't make you grow muscles!

Kevcol

I'm not trying to come across cheeky or smart but I did not say I want to magically build muscle. I am not that naive to think that you can gain muscle without working for it. I was asking if it would help me build muscle coupled with the type of exercise (pull ups, sit ups, push ups etc) I am doing but obviously not. Thanks for the reply

mayo51

Kevcol wrote: »

I'm not trying to come across cheeky or smart but I did not say I want to magically build muscle. I am not that naive to think that you can gain muscle without working for it. I was asking if it would help me build muscle coupled with the type of exercise (pull ups, sit ups, push ups etc) I am doing but obviously not. Thanks for the reply

If u want to try a supplement, then maybe u could try a protein shake. www.myprotein.com have protein for really cheap. I would consult a doctor before takin them though as they can cause problems if too much is taken..
Best of luck man!

RidleyRider

mayo51 wrote: »

If u want to try a supplement, then maybe u could try a protein shake. www.myprotein.com have protein for really cheap. I would consult a doctor before takin them though as they can cause problems if too much is taken..
Best of luck man!

Too much protein?

mayo51

RidleyRider wrote: »

Too much protein?

Takin too much protein for long periods can lead to kidney problems...

RidleyRider

mayo51 wrote: »

Takin too much protein for long periods can lead to kidney problems...

so what are you saying, quit taking protein every now and again? : confused:

mayo51

RidleyRider wrote: »

so what are you saying, quit taking protein every now and again? : confused:

No, what I am saying is that taking too much protein can damage your kidneys, For example, taking 2 protein shakes a day is alright, no problems.
BUT, taking 4+ protein shakes a day can lead to the body getting more protein than it requires and it is up to the kidneys to remove extra protein that has been taken in. Consider the fact that you also get protein from natural food such as lean meat, fish, dairy etc...
So back to your question, I am not saying to quit taking protein, I am just saying take it in moderation. 1-2 shakes a day is fine, but 4+ shakes a day can lead to kidney problems...

RidleyRider

Not if you drink plenty of water..