G'morning
Question for you healthy nuts out there...how many of you supplement to improve your physique/strength/musculature etc?
I'm fairly certain this is a habit of guys more than girls, but I'm looking at two things in particular that I'm curious about.
1) Glucosamine - I have horrible knees from a lot of injuries as a kid (torn tendons, etc). While I run well, and long, and all that, towards the end of my runs my knee caps feel loose (oh man I hate that feeling, have had it since the first time I blew my knees) and it's rather painful. I've also had several back injuries, my ankles roll easily, and hips hurt when I go hiking or pushing my bike. Generally I'm pretty good with pain, but constant pain gets tiresome and really is no fun. I'm not a) in the mood and b) don't have the time to have my knees worked on by the docs - i.e. surgery. My mom takes Glucosamine for her hips (which are also very bad) and she says it helps a lot. Do any of you? From what I've read it's more like a vitamin supplement and shouldn't have side-effects, and I do currently supplement my diet with vitamins to help with my energy levels.
2) Hydroxycut- the ephedrine free version of this stuff. I'm not so sure that this is something I'm even seriously considering...it's spendy, and I'm already pretty fit. My girlfriend tried it after having it recommended to her by her recruiting officer at the Marines. She's heavier for her height (also 5.1) and doesn't have the history of athletics that I do. Struggles with running, struggles with losing weight, etc. In order to Dep in she needed to drop 15lbs fast and build the right kind of muscle to hold her own. She made it, depped in successfully, and immediately started recommending this stuff to me as a way for me to finish toning up the few areas I'm struggling with (namely the tummy and tush muscles) and keep my energy levels up which are decreasing rapidly as I continue to push long hours at work plus a full time load at school. I don't really think I have a need for this sort of thing - as my doc already confirmed my iron stores are low again and I'm probably tired as a result, but after hearing her talk the world of it, I'm curious about it. What's it do? How can it be a healthy form of making your body do what you want?
I've always fallen in the camp of being fit is a lifestyle thing, no pill will get you there and keep the results you want. But I'm starting to learn that some things (like vitamins) help a lot. What do you all think?
Question for you healthy nuts out there...how many of you supplement to improve your physique/strength/musculature etc?
I'm fairly certain this is a habit of guys more than girls, but I'm looking at two things in particular that I'm curious about.
1) Glucosamine - I have horrible knees from a lot of injuries as a kid (torn tendons, etc). While I run well, and long, and all that, towards the end of my runs my knee caps feel loose (oh man I hate that feeling, have had it since the first time I blew my knees) and it's rather painful. I've also had several back injuries, my ankles roll easily, and hips hurt when I go hiking or pushing my bike. Generally I'm pretty good with pain, but constant pain gets tiresome and really is no fun. I'm not a) in the mood and b) don't have the time to have my knees worked on by the docs - i.e. surgery. My mom takes Glucosamine for her hips (which are also very bad) and she says it helps a lot. Do any of you? From what I've read it's more like a vitamin supplement and shouldn't have side-effects, and I do currently supplement my diet with vitamins to help with my energy levels.
2) Hydroxycut- the ephedrine free version of this stuff. I'm not so sure that this is something I'm even seriously considering...it's spendy, and I'm already pretty fit. My girlfriend tried it after having it recommended to her by her recruiting officer at the Marines. She's heavier for her height (also 5.1) and doesn't have the history of athletics that I do. Struggles with running, struggles with losing weight, etc. In order to Dep in she needed to drop 15lbs fast and build the right kind of muscle to hold her own. She made it, depped in successfully, and immediately started recommending this stuff to me as a way for me to finish toning up the few areas I'm struggling with (namely the tummy and tush muscles) and keep my energy levels up which are decreasing rapidly as I continue to push long hours at work plus a full time load at school. I don't really think I have a need for this sort of thing - as my doc already confirmed my iron stores are low again and I'm probably tired as a result, but after hearing her talk the world of it, I'm curious about it. What's it do? How can it be a healthy form of making your body do what you want?
I've always fallen in the camp of being fit is a lifestyle thing, no pill will get you there and keep the results you want. But I'm starting to learn that some things (like vitamins) help a lot. What do you all think?