Do You Take Workout Supplements?

Thank you to the Council For Responsible Nutrition for sponsoring this post. Learn more about how #SARMsCanHarm at crnusa.org/SARMs!

Chatting about protein, pre-workout supplements and drinks, recovery aids, and more has been a frequent thing in our household the last few years.

Do you and/or your significant other incorporate any or all of these products into your fitness routine? I’m curious to hear your thoughts about how you fuel your body for your workouts, or if you avoid products altogether!

Anyone who knows Jamie knows that physical fitness is really important to him, and for years he’s incorporated a bunch of products into his routine. I never thought twice about the drinks I’d see him shaking up until he shared with me a few stories of his fellow service members whose health or career was negatively affected by taking performance enhancing drugs.

Though he shakes up (literally) his routine from time to time depending on online sales or an interest in trying something new, he remains committed to reading up on how to take products correctly in a way that will enhance the time he spends working on his physical fitness. Most people know that the Army requires soldiers to take frequent PT tests to track physical performance, so this has remained very motivating to Jamie to put in the time he does in the gym.

As far as little ole me is concerned, I haven’t dabbled too much with workout enhancing products. A few years ago I took supplements as part of a postpartum weight loss challenge I did, but I was never quite sure how the products were aiding my success, considering the meal plan was so clean anyway.

Besides prenatal vitamins and probiotic, I haven’t taken anything else in years (the people closest to me know I’m weird about what kinds of supplements and medicine I take and will usually avoid both if I can, because like I said, I’m weird).

Just recently I bought some pre-workout mix on a whim from the gym I was attending in Manhattan, and I’ve definitely been enjoying it the last few weeks. I usually drink it about 20 minutes ahead of time, and mentally I feel like my workouts have had a bit more “oompf”.

A big part of me used to wonder if pre-workout was a bit of a placebo, even though studies say products with these ingredients are safe and a workout aide. I do feel a bit of a caffeine kick when I drink my new mix about 20 minutes before my workout, so I think this is something I’ll keep up as a part of my workout routine. It’s hard to go backwards once you’ve incorporated it for a while, you know?

Education is so important when it comes to nutrition supplements, and with research available at our fingertips, there is little excuse to not do a quick search about a product you’re interested in.

I didn’t know until recently that there’s a new category of new drugs known as SARMs, which stands for Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators. They have been found in a number of adulterer products that mask themselves as “dietary supplements”, though they are actually unapproved drugs and not dietary supplements.

Jamie’s interest in SARMs (something he’d never heard of before) was really piqued by this information considering he drinks protein, pre-workout, and a recovery drink. After triple checking, we learned that all of his products are completely safe if consumed in the correct dosage (my pre-workout drink is too!) They are free of SARMs, which are so scary and pose a risk to all consumers, including athletes, and should be avoided since they can result in potentially life-threatening consequences.

The more ya know, right? Check those products that you or your loved one are taking! Where are they from? Are they potentially harmful? If you’re unsure, do your research and refer to the Council for Responsible Nutrition for more information.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.