Musclebuilding Stack

16Jun/08Off

Musclebuilding Stack

Supplements. Good? Bad?

Anyone know if these supplements are healthy?

MuscleTech® naNO VAPOR
MuscleTech® naNOx9
GNC Pro Performance® 100% Whey Protein - Chocolate
MuscleTech® Musclebuilding Stack
MuscleTech® GAKIC
CreATINE tablets

I am a 15 year old and I want to gain some weight (muscle mass and weight) I am getting a membership to a gym and I am wondering if any of these would be good for me.

Brandon, the only supplement on this list that I would even consider at your age and training level would be the whey protein. There is documented value in consuming whey protein immediately before and after your workout, and it can help you ensure that you're ingesting enough protein to support muscle growth.

Provided that you are healthy and don't have kidney disease, a scoop or two a whey can help you meet your daily protein requirements -- which should be around 1 gram per pound of lean body mass. Try to get most of this from whole food sources like chicken breast, lean beef, seafood, fish, eggs and dairy, and use the whey around your workouts when it's fast digestion is most beneficial.

Make sure to read the ingredients, and avoid whey powders labeled "Gainers" or whey powders that contain other supplements like creatine. Gainers will contain tons of sugars which drive up their calorie content. You don't need that many calories to build muscle. Look for a 100% whey product -- Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey is my favorite, but Isopure is good as well (though a little pricey, IMO.)

The other supplements are either snakeoil or in the case of creatine, not appropriate for a beginning weight lifter. For the next couple of years concentrate on building your foundation through solid nutrition and hard work -- which will always get you much further and will be more satisfying. Save your money and use it to buy good food -- remember, food is the most natural anabolic (and safe) supplement there is.

Best of luck!