Supplements

As a trainer I believe supplements have their place. But they should always follow a balanced nutritious diet. I would suggest that the only reason for taking a supplement would be insurance, convenience and improving athletic performance or recovery.

When I say insurance I mean insurance against missing important nutrients. That may mean macronutrients like proteins, micronutrients like vitamins and minerals or particular types of a macronutrient like fish oil for omega 3s or amino acids that are components of muscle proteins.

What supplements do I recommend?

1. Protein Powders to help increase protein intake to improve recovery. The use of protein powders can be convenient on the run as well. I generally suggest a quality whey or for Vegetarians and Vegans a high quality plant based protein powder.

2. Vitamins and minerals which will help to ensure that adequate amounts are Consumed to meet dietary needs. They may not be necessary but they will ensure there is nothing lacking.

3. BCAAs or Essential Amino Acids are not always necessary if there is adequate protein but they can be helpful especially for vegans who may not get sufficient essential or branched chain amino acids.

4. Herbal supplements can help with relaxation and sleep aid and may have other beneficial affects.

5. Fish Oil supplements can be good for providing omega 3s that are good for inflammation and form a large portion of the brain.
   

You may notice that there is no preworkout Supplements or fat burners. I am not a big fan of stimulants for training as I find that caffeine doesn’t always improve the workout in the long term and creates a dependence when a person is fatigued. They can also be disruptive to a persons sleep habits.

I also haven‘t seen any fat burner that helped when a Diet was not designed properly. The diet is the most necessary part of fat loss.