Gain muscle fast: is there a magic pill or potion?

Everyone is looking for a magic pill that promises fast muscle building results. Is there one like that?

Are supplements the way to go to gain muscle fast? Yes and no. Diet and weight loss companies have you believe that their products are magic bullets for fat burning, weight loss, and even targeted products for certain “problem” areas of your body. People believe all that hype, all the time! We are spending a lot of our hard earned money on empty promises. Because? Because we want a ‘quick fix’ and we want results without having to work.

Nothing is going to replace the results that a proper diet and strength training program provide. Yes folks, that means we have to push ourselves.

There are valid supplements that benefit muscle building results. We will cover 7 supplements that have been researched and studied for their validity.

#1 Creatine

Creatine monohydrate has been around for 20 years. Creatine is probably the most researched supplement when it comes to increasing muscle size and strength. One study concluded that 4 days of high-dose creatine (20 grams per day) followed by a low-dose intake (5 grams per day) during 10 weeks of resistance training increased strength in trained muscles by 20-25 %. Not only that, lean muscle mass in the flexor region of the arm increased by 60%, suggesting that creatine not only aided strength, but also muscle size.

#2 Tribustol

Tribustol is a little known supplement that could be the next “creatine”. It is a variation on one of the most powerful underground formulas to emerge from the Eastern Bloc. It was specifically designed for Bulgarian strength athletes to help them maintain their muscle strength and size between their steroid cycles. Tribustrol is a combination of specific herbs and nutrients in high doses, it is not a steroid. But these athletes found that it kept their drug-induced gains the longest—it helped them make gains close to what they saw during their steroid cycles.

Tribustol has been shown to be effective in increasing strength and muscle mass, as well as decreasing body fat stores, when used for at least 4 months. It comes in capsule form and 3 capsules are taken twice a day. The only side effects seen during university testing are increased appetite and libido.

#3 L-Carnitine

L-Carnitine was originally marketed as an amazing fat burner. Carnitine helps the body convert fatty acids into energy used primarily for muscular activities throughout the body. If you follow a low carb diet and are willing to take enough L-carnitine (in liquid form), you will see results.

So how much do you take (in liquid form)? It is recommended to start with 2.5 grams once in the morning before exercise and on an empty stomach. You can gradually increase to 5-7.5 grams per day, over time. Make sure you don’t take it with carbs. If you consume more than 30% carbohydrates in your diet, just make sure you wait about 45 minutes after your L-Carnitne dose before eating carbohydrates. Some gastrointestinal complaints (upset stomach, diarrhea, etc.) have been noted if the dose is too high or increased too quickly.

#4 Amino acids

Traditional aminos remain a favorite tool to use if you want to maintain your muscle mass while dieting. We’re talking about full-spectrum amino acids, not BCAAs (Branched Chain Amino Acids). Many bodybuilders are concerned with building muscle, but some forget the value of maintaining the muscle they have built when trying to diet to lose fat. Amino acids are ideal for this, especially combined with fish oil (discussed below); they can serve as a super quick “food” between meals.

Always take amino acids in capsule form with a little fat, such as fish oil. Start with 5 to 10 grams per day and build up from there. You may experience mild stomach upset if the dose is too high.

Recommended products are Universal 23 Aminos or Superior Amino 2222 Caps from Optimum Nutritions, which you can buy online. Just google the names for more information.

#5 fish oil

There could be books written on all the health benefits of fish oil. But the focus is on the overlooked benefits of fish oil for the bodybuilder or fat loss enthusiast, namely increased metabolic and anabolic response.

Fish oil has the ability to decrease the insulin response. Insulin is basically a storage hormone. It tends to shed excess carbohydrate calories as body fat in the event of a future famine. For many of us, insulin promotes the accumulation of body fat. Therefore, avoiding your body’s reaction to carbohydrates is vital in the fat burning process – fish oil does this very well.

Start with 1-2 grams per day in divided doses. Work your way up to 6-9 grams per day. It can be taken in liquid or capsule form; Regardless of the form, the quality of the fish oil is crucial. Google: Carlson fish oil, Designs For Health, or Zone Omega3 Formula for quality.

#6 Full Strength*

Shawn Phillips developed an MRP (Meal Replacement Product) and protein supplement backed by university research. Full Strength uses a combination of whey protein isolate with the highest quality whey concentrate. Contains approximately 50% protein calorically, excellent for bodybuilding and fat loss diets. Full Strength also provides you with multivitamins and minerals for the day.

#7 Nitrix*

This supplement has nitric oxide, which is beneficial for muscle growth and performance, and is known for its ability to facilitate blood flow. Simply put, it helps regulate the activities of the brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach, and other organs. Lung and liver function is vital in the muscle building process. You need a healthy liver to process fat efficiently – it is the number 1 organ in the body for burning fat. Once liver function is strained, fat burning slows down or stops altogether. All this suggests that the increase of NO in the body can induce a series of favorable biological processes to increase muscle mass and decrease body fat.

There you have it – a list of performance-based supplements to help you get muscle-building results.

I am not affiliated with anything on the list above, just sharing information.