A common misconception about buying muscle building supplements is that the moment body building rookies and gym noobs get a hold of this, instant muscles will instantly grow on them as if this works the spinach works on Popeye. Word of advice: Don’t take drastic measures and actions when planning to go on a fitness allegiance. And buying muscle building supplement may instead put your body into something that you’ll regret.

Muscle gain supplements must be partnered with regular exercise and balanced diet to achieve desired results.

Perhaps, it is recommended to evaluate yourself first in order to know the right supplement for you and at the same time, determine if this is necessary for your program or you can just skip it. To help in evaluating this, here are a few points to ponder.

Why You Should:

You need an extra boost to your protein RDA

– Athletes, seasoned trainers and bodybuilders require a higher intake of protein, which in at the range of 1.4 to 2.0g per kilogram as opposed to the regular RDA of 0.8g per kilogram in order for their body to compensate the protein used by the body during workout, as well as to promote the body’s ability to adapt sudden increase of activities. This is where muscle gain supplements come in (and hence, the term “supplement”). It supplies the necessary extra amount of protein that is needed to fuel up the body for such strenuous activities, as well as to support the building of body mass and development of muscles.

You want fast and effective when used properly

– Be it for pre or post-workout, muscle gain supplements work a lot faster because of its liquid form. For pre-workouts, supplements can serve as the muscle’s energy source for accomplishing various tasks, resulting to burning more fats and calories. The body can easily absorb protein, which is important for the muscle recovery and development (for post-workout).

You need to cut off your binge eating habit

– Not that this post encourages you to refrain from eating when trying to get buff. In fact, it is highly-encouraged to pair your supplement intake with a balanced diet for more desirable result. Now going back, supplements mixed with water, juice or shakes, as well as those ready to mix supplements can serve as a great substitute for high fat/cholesterol and calorie content food, which is considerably better for reducing the risk of heart disease.

Why You Shouldn’t:

If you’re lactose intolerant/ have a weak stomach

– Some, if not most bodybuilding dairy-based supplements (whey) can trigger stomach cramps, bloating and even diarrhea, especially for those who are lactose intolerant. Moreover, creatine, which usually found in flavored supplements, contributes to these side effects.

You don’t have regular exercise

– Supplements are energy boosters by nature. And the reason for that is to trigger a person to engage in exercising to develop muscles the right way. And it would be a big waste not to use it. Rule of thumb when taking these protein-fortified drinks is you need to pair it with regular exercise if you want to achieve significant results. Otherwise, this will only cause you to gain weight without the muscles.

If your funds won’t allow

– Health and beauty comes with a price. And in the case of this protein supplement, it’s quite steep. Supplement’s price range usually starts at $30 and reach for as high as $100. And that’s just the mix alone. Although there are a number of fitness distributors and online supplement shops that offer low priced health products, you still have to consider the food that needs to go with it such as fish, meat and veggies.

With all of this being said, it is also a good idea to seek recommendations coming from your personal trainer, nutritionist and doctor, should you decide to start your supplement intake.