At one time, I ran a blog called Fitterverse: A universe of fitness. This post originally appeared there. Thanks to the Wayback Machine, I’ve been able to recapture the text. I’ve published them here on their original publication dates.
First, let me tell you that I make no claims to be an expert on supplementation. Mostly what I do is pay attention to what others who have similar goals to myself have, and then follow their lead on types of supplements. I also try to figure out what other things might help me meet my goals, and try those as well.
I was never a big believer in supplementation at first, but I’m pretty certain I’d have not made the gains that I have without it.
Here’s what’s in my current stack, and why:
- Optimum Nutrition Platinum Hydrobuilder – Every muscle-building program starts with protein shakes. You may have a shake as a meal replacement, you may have a pre-workout shake, a post-workout shake, and some seem to throw in shakes just for the hell of it. I’ve chosen this particular one because it seems to be lower-calorie than some of the others I’ve tried. I’m also pretty lazy, and don’t feel like having to take 3 or 4 different things when a single compounded product will get me there, and this has a combination of a lot of things I wanted – creatine, BCAAs, betaine, L-Glutamine, L-Arginine, and Taurine, for example. I’ve had all three of the flavors, and prefer the chocolate, but the vanilla is least offensive when I throw in my pre-workout.
- SciVation xTend – Honest reason I use this – because I can only drink so much plain water, and I figure it’s better to use something that helps meet my fat-burning/muscle-building goals. With that said, I only use it at about 25% strength, otherwise the taste gets pretty overwhelming. I’ve tried the lemon-lime sour flavor, and the pink lemonade flavor. Neither of them are what I’d call tasty, but the lemon-lime is less offensive to me.
- USP Labs Jack3d Micro – I wasn’t using a pre-workout when someone introduced me to Jack3d original formula, and I was immediately hooked. Last time I went to get the original, it was sold out, so I thought I’d try the Micro. Honestly, I prefer the original, but I can definitely tell the difference between using this and using nothing.
- AST Sports Science MultiPro 32X – You gotta have a multivitamin, and this one has a great combo of price and vitamin and mineral content.
- Bodybuilding.com Green Tea Extract – I’ve been taking green tea for a couple years now to support fat loss. I’ve tried two or three different versions. This one I like because it’s 500mg and one pill per day.
- Doctor’s Best Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM – I’m over 40. After a bout with tendonitis in both knees and a diagnosis of patellofemoral pain syndrome, my orthopedist recommended I try this type of supplement, as studies show it works in about 40% of patients, and I’m apparently part of that 40%. I take this particular brand for one reason – it’s one per day, one capsule, unlike the first brand I tried which had me taking something like 5 pills at a throw, twice per day.
- BPI Sports RoxyLean – one of my current goals is to get ripped. I’m aiming for about 170 pounds body weight, which should leave me pretty shredded. I’m not above some chemical assistance. This is my first attempt with this type of supplement, so I can’t say I know how it’s gonna work.
- 365 Nutrition Omega 3-6-9 – 365 Nutrition is the house brand of my local Nutrition Depot, which from what I can tell is a 3-store chain located only here in Georgia. Using this particular brand because it was recommended to me by one of the staff there. Not sure about the other stores, but there’s one guy in the Duluth, Georgia Nutrition Depot who seems to really be well-versed in all these things. He hasn’t led me wrong so far that I can tell, so I took his word this was a good Omega 3-6-9.
So that’s my stack. What’s in yours, and why?