Hello everyone, today I'll be talking about Supplements, stores, and all products that people try to sell you.
Supplements
First off to answer a big question I always get asked, you never have to buy any products or supplements to work out. It is not required, many people work out without any whey protein powder, glutamine powder, creatine and/or pills.
Personally I've used protein powder ( GNC Pro Performance 100% Whey Protein, GNC Pro Performance Mass XXX Weight Gainer, Gaspari Nutrition Myofusion, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey) and I've used pre-work out supplements (Super Pump 250 by Gaspari Nutrition) Out of all of them, I would only recommend the Gold Standard 100% whey by Optimum Nutrition, on top of being the top selling protein all over the place and being rated one of the highest protein powders out there, it is also very reasonably priced compared to the other protein powders you've encountered. The protein mixes easily with water or milk, and tastes great. Out of all protein shakes I've had, this taste the best. But again keep in mind that drinking protein will not make you big and strong, you still have to work your ass off in the gym. Protein shakes just help you give you the nutrition that you may not be able to eat all at once in meals throughout the day. You still need to work hard in the gym, keep hydrated throughout the day(protein shakes make you dehydrated and could hurt your body if you don't intake enough water) and still eat right.
Now about pre work out shakes, I don't know if they worked for your friend or people you know, but personally I find it as a waste of money and time. I've taken super pump for about a month, it just made me sick. It didn't make me work harder nor did I get better results. So out of almost two years, I've only taken pre work out for a month, I never took it again. Though different pre work outs work differently, I know people that responded well to N.O Explode(another pre work out) but had no effect when drinking Super Pump, so if you really are wanting to take it (Personally I just wouldn't bother but it's your choice if you really want to or not) don't be disappointed if you got no effect, it happens. Though trying other pre work outs may help if the one you take doesn't.
Let me right now save you hundreds of dollars, don't buy any pills from any store like GNC or online from some random company you never heard of. They cost a shit amount of money, and they don't do anything for you. If they don't work, and you complain, they will say it says on the bottle it recommends you also work hard in the gym and eat properly for the pill to work best. In that case, you might as well save yourself money and just work hard and eat right in the first place. There is no magic pill out there that will make you strong or big or faster, only you and your hard work will work. You see these all the time on the internet how they took this pill and they turned from a fat guy or a scrawny guy into a ripped freak. That's all bullshit, it's just them trying to get you money, the only pills worth taking ever are vitamin pills only because they give you nutrition but it's not a substitution to a healthy meal.
What it comes down to, nothing will make you stronger, faster, bigger, slimmer, leaner, or better in whatever your goal is other than your own hard work, through determination and motivation in the gym or fields, and a right healthy meal plan. All supplements will only help enhance, but is definitely not required. Though don't bother with any pills (other than Vitamin pills those are fine). The only supplement that would be worth buying are whey protein and vitamin pills.
Gym equipment
There are many gears you may see people bring into the gym if you've gone once or twice, these are belts, water bottles, gloves, wraps, and gym chalk.
Belts are for lifting heavy when doing squats to keep your back supported through abdominal pressure. This is not too important for beginners or those who just want to be built since you have to go pretty heavy before you need a belt, even I don't need one yet. These are for more advanced bodybuilders.
Gloves are for grip, because when your hands get sweaty, your grip strength would weaken making it a problem to lift heavier. It's an alternative to gym chalk, for any reason you can't use gym chalk, gym gloves are a good alternative, on top of better grip, it will prevent calluses.
Wraps are to help support your wrists to lift heavier, though I wouldn't worry about that when you're a beginner.
Gym chalk is a powder you apply on your hands to keep your hands dry for better grip. It is one of the best equipments you could buy, it works well if grip is a problem you have. Again it is only needed if grip is holding you back from gaining results.
In reality, you probably don't need any of these equipments. Gloves are a good investment if you don't want calluses and need better grip. But just remember you never have to buy these things, especially when you're a beginner. Bring or buy a water bottle, keep yourself hydrated at all times, you are much stronger and funtioning better when hydrated I can't stress that point enough.
Stores
There are many stores probably in your area where you can buy all the things I've talked about, such as Pop eyes and GNC. Don't buy from these stores, Pop eyes is cheaper than GNC but they're both way over priced. The Gold card in GNC gives a discount, but it's still way more pricey than ordering it online at bodybuilding.com. I don't work there nor do I care about them gaining money, but they really do give great deals, ever since I've found that site's store, I only buy from them. Don't be ripped off from all these stores that sell way too overpriced, take a look at bodybuilding.com Even with shipping and handling fees, it's still cheaper most the time, though I buy by bulk.
-Wilson
