Fitness journeys can have varying definitions depending on each individual, however, the one thing they all have in common: People work for results. Day in and out, members strive to achieve the fitness goals they have in mind, however sometimes the journey may become stagnant. When it comes to achieving fitness goals and seeing results, clear solutions should be present to solve such bumps in the road. Luckily, there is an addition that can be made to a fitness journey that will provide progress and offer results: Supplements.
Do Your Research
Supplements are an effective way of providing energy and aid endurance throughout a workout.
In addition to your diet and exercise regime, supplements are a great inclusion to any workout routine or fitness lifestyle. There are many types of supplements you can take to boost any areas that may be hindering progress, but with just one search, you might be flooded with results, and may have questions about which ones are the right ones for your fitness plan. It may be best to ask your trainer/provider for recommendations, or you could ask trusted members from your local fitness center for experienced, first-hand knowledge.
Workout Supplements
When thinking about the most effective supplements to take around a workout, it’s especially important to make sure you are getting the correct nutrition you need before the intake. Supplements are not intended to replace food, as they cannot replicate all of the nutrients/ benefits of foods, such as fruits and vegetables. With that understood, let’s look at some of the ways supplements can help enhance your body’s needs and fulfill the gaps in the workout journey.
When it comes to incorporating supplements into a lifestyle, it’s helpful to think about them in phases: before and after exercise. Before an exercise, the body needs energy to provide a stimulating workout, which pre-workout is specifically designed to assist with boosted blood flow, getting the mind to focus and prepare for the activity, and to improve overall performance while enhancing fat loss. Afterwards, the body needs to recover from the invigorating session it just went through, which is why post workout supplements are especially important in the cycle of a fitness routine. Specifically targeting muscle recovery, fat burning, and muscle gaining. The ingredients in pre and post workout may vary from brand to brand, however, just to name a few, some of the most common ingredients found in pre and post workout supplements, whether in powder, liquid, or pill form, are:
- BCAA
- Beta Alanine
- Caffeine
- Calcium
- Creatine
- Carbohydrates
- Vitamins (Such as B, B12, Niacin)
These ingredients are crucial not only for the workout, but for the long-term results that are to come with time. These ingredients found in pre and post workout supplements are incredibly beneficial to not just the active lifestyle desired, but to maintain overall healthy lifestyle as well.
Do Supplements Really Work?
Now, the question you may be wondering; Do workout supplements really work? The answer, simply put, is yes. Workout supplements can be used to assist or further enhance exercise performance, however, a healthy diet with adequate amounts of healthy foods, carbohydrates, protein, and water is required to fuel the body for continuous amounts of physical activity. In order for the supplements to deliver on their part, the person taking them must do their share, meaning maintaining a healthy diet and regularly monitoring certain lifestyle choices must be done in order to see results.
Workout supplements may be the key to advancing your fitness journey and may also help elevate the healthy lifestyle desired. Incorporating supplements into the fitness routine will not only benefit your overall health but also help you reach the goals you set; and maintain them.