sup·ple·ment
/ˈsəpləˌment/
noun
Nutritional supplements are one of the fastest growing industries in the world. This category includes Vitamins, Minerals, Essential Fats, and Sports Performance products that have produced approximately $32 billion in revenue in 2012; and if you are not trying to cash in on this; you are likely spending your hard earned money gobbling up the newest magic elixir. Just the other day someone asked me “Hey, what’s the story with this company XXYYZ Labs? Where’s their lab? Do they have some Harvard PhD formulating their products? If I take them will I get huge?” I simply had to laugh. In reality, they don’t have a lab; it’s probably someone with a GED coming up with the products and there is a product that will make you huge but they don’t sell it; it’s called steroids. In bodybuilding as in the real world, perception is the new reality.
Now the intent of this “commentary” is not to slam any supplement company or product, it’s just to try and open some eyes. Truth is, if you are reading this you probably have a little more knowledge about supplements than the average person (at least I hope so) and if you don’t well maybe this helps. My good friend Dave Palumbo has always been and to this day remains one of my go-to sources for knowledge regarding the science of supplementation. Quite simply, there is no one better when it comes to getting into the nuts and bolts of how a particular substance works. I don’t always agree with him about specific product preferences, but I do mostly agree with him about what type of results I should expect.
Whether you are shopping online at a distributor, buying direct from the manufacturer or frequenting a GNC type store, there are literally hundreds of supplement companies and thousands of products to choose from. Take Protein for example: Do you want Whey? Casein? a Blend? Grass Fed? Hydrolyzed? Cold Filtered? Microfiltered? Makes your head want to explode and that’s only 1 category of product. If you listen to some of these “gurus” and “supplement companies”, you will be taking a pre-workout energy drink, a pre-workout protein shake; an intra-workout drink; a post workout protein shake; pills or another drink for vitamins and minerals; a shake for fiber; and don’t forget you also need some other products for focus, growth, soreness, sleep and to increase your sex drive! It really boils down to this: “Don’t believe the hype”!
The sad truth is that those guys/girls whose physiques you admire in the magazines or on the websites didn’t get that way by buying some magical over-the-counter supplement. They got that way through diet, working out hard and for most part, steroids and/or growth hormone. Take away the steroids and/or GH and just use OTC supplements and then try selling me on how good you look. A long time ago I asked Dave how do I look like that, his blunt and straightforward response was: “You won’t.” I replied “ok, not necessarily like someone getting on stage, but I want to look better, how?” Again, a simple response: “You learn to eat properly. You work out like a possessed person. And depending on how far you want to go you take some gear.” Then I asked “What about all these supplements out there”? He laughed and told me “Your staples are a multi-vitamin/mineral; fish-oil; a fiber product and a protein powder. The rest you can try if you want, if you like them, keep using it, but you don’t need them.”
It was that simple and something I’ve tried to follow (well not necessarily the eating right part, but that’s my choice). Now, I’m not in any condition to step on a stage (nor do I want to), but at 47 I am in better shape and work out harder than most people half my age and I still manage to turn some heads. I do use over the counter supplements but I am not obsessing over them because in 34 years of working out I’ve yet to find one that I think really made a huge difference.
There are lots of great companies making quality products but the opposite is also true so you need to be careful. A good quality product should always trump slick marketing and a good looking spokesperson. If you ever go to the Arnold or Olympia or any show that has an expo, make note of all the supplement companies. I guarantee if you go back the following year, the majority of them will not be there. That doesn’t mean those companies didn’t have a quality product. Their failure could also be the result of things like bad marketing; price structure or lack of management. Breaking into the supplement industry isn’t that hard considering the majority of companies outsource the production of their products to a lab (and there is nothing wrong with that). What really matters is longevity, staying relevant and creating quality products that people want.
I’m not saying don’t use supplements (because then I’d be a hypocrite). And I’m not exactly advocating steroid usage either (although, clearly that does help). What I’m trying to point out is that supplements aren’t going to all of a sudden turn you into Phil Heath. Don’t be afraid to try something but if you don’t’ feel it works, don’t be afraid to stop using it as well. If you don’t have the money or access to the newest, latest and greatest supplement, don’t worry, you can still achieve your goals……..just follow the advice Dave gave me above (and remember; poptarts are not a viable protein source).
