Supplementation is a part of most body building and weight training programs. Mass supplements can help bodybuilders to gain size, whereas fat burners contribute to lean, ripped muscle and help you to get cut. Supplements most often come in the form of amino acids and may work to increase energy, recovery time, muscle growth and overall metabolism.
Fat Burners
Certain bodybuilding muscle supplements are labeled fat burners. For instance, l-carnitine helps to decrease body fat by turning fat stores into energy. This helps to increase immediate and long term energy and contribute to more efficient work-outs. Take 400 mg to 4 grams of l-carnitine daily for fat burn. L-arginine is also a fat burner and helps increase oxygen efficiency. Ingest 3 grams to 25 grams per day for ripped muscle. Chromium picolinate and choline help to reduce fat stores as well.
Muscle Growth
Use l-lysine to help muscles grow and maintain mass. Because it helps increase protein stores, it contributes to optimal muscle size. The amino acid arginine has also been shown to increase muscle mass and reduce fat stores to help you get ripped muscle. Branched chain amino acids such as isoleucine, valine and leucine are mass muscle supplements that can help to increase muscle size due to their anabolic properties.
Muscle Repair
L-tyrosine for is a restorative bodybuilding muscle supplement mental sharpness. Take 150 grams to 250 grams daily. L-glutamine is also helpful for recovery purposes, and will help turn protein stores into muscle. Take up to 5 grams per day of this amino acid. Creatine is also helpful for muscle repair and helping to increase energy.
Omega Acids
When you want to get cut, and increase muscle regeneration, consume plenty of omega 3 and omega 6 acids. These can be found in foods such as oily fish (salmon and halibut), nuts and sunflower oil. Omega acids are also available in supplement form in most health food stores.
Bodybuilding Supplementation Recommendations
Most weight training and bodybuilding supplements should not be taken separately, but purchased in supplement form with all of the necessary ingredients needed to obtain the desired result. If you want to gain size, you will likely purchase a mass supplement or drink. To decrease fat or develop more lean body mass, you might purchase a fat burning supplement. Individual supplementation should be taken under the care of a physician to ensure safety. Take a multivitamin as well as amino and omega acids to experience optimal energy levels, muscles size and lean muscle mass.