Do you need sports supplements to build muscle? No, you don't need them. What you do need is proper nutrition.
However, with that being said, supplements can enhance a weight training program once all nutrition and training issues have been dealt with.
If you've been following a consistent diet for at least 8 weeks and your seeing progress with your workout routine, you may want to introduce supplements.
Sports supplements are not going to save your weight training routine or be solely responsible for it's success.
Supplements are exactly that, to help enhance (supplements) an already successful diet and weight training program.
I can say this for certain supplements, they work (reputable ones anyways). They can help give you that slight boost, but there are some things you need to remember with supplements. Firstly, certain supplements have to be taken a the proper times and in the right amounts for it to be useful. For example, in my humble opinion, whey protein isolate is best taken immediately after weight training in order to get the best results. However, taking 5 grams of whey protein isolate for a 180 pounds weight trainer is not going to do a thing. in this case, the timing is right but the dosage is way off. 40 grams of protein would be more appropriate for building muscle.
Secondly, you need to make sure the supplement does what it is supposed to do. You need to practice a bit of due diligence before you start dishing out your hard earned cash. At one time, inosine used to be the big thing back in the late 80's.
This supplement was totally useless but it didn't stop hoardes of body builders from buying the stuff up (Including yours truly). There was absolutely no evidence that this stuff worked but supplement companies knew exactly what buttons to push. I'm ashamed to say that I've been a sucker on more than one occassion for the next big supplement. Stick to what works and you'll do just fine. What works? See this page here for supplements that help build muscle size.
Read as much literature as possible on your chosen supplement. If there is any doubt, save your money.
Thirdly, make sure the company is reputable. There is simply too many scammers out there in the supplement world. FDA is pretty lax on sports supplements so any joe with a kitchen sink can make shotty supplements, package it up and charge you for sub par ingredients. Places like GNC rely on quality supplements that work. It is not in GNC's best interest to simply sell any old supplement on the market. The brands at GNC are pretty reputable so it's safe to say they work. Don't ge me wrong, I personally think GNC's charges too much for their supplements but, they do come from reputable companies.
I just read a book by Jeff Anderson called Homemade Supplement Secrets and it is simply wonderful. You'd be surprised what supplement companies will do just to get your hard earned money. I like the way Jeff presents his book because he really goes after the supplement companies. It's really an eye opening book that I recommend you read.
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