This blog is going to be a pretty simple one, but it does start with a disclaimer:
As always, this is my personal opinion, one formed from many years of knowledge and experience in my industry, but an opinion nonetheless.
I don’t claim to know everything, and this is not the factual, undisputable best 3 supplements that could ever be bought. It is what I would deem to be the most important and beneficial to me, and a lot of my clients too.
What defines a supplement?
Well, the dictionary puts it quite nicely: a thing added to something else in order to complete or enhance it.
More specifically, from a training and lifestyle point of view, it is used to aid performance and help you move more efficiently towards your fitness goals, whatever they may be.
So, what enhances my journey and that of my client’s the most?
1. Protein Powder
That’s probably not going to be a surprise to anyone- it has become a fitness journey staple in recent years. Categorising this as a ‘supplement’ is a grey area, as protein is an essential macronutrient that we plainly wouldn’t be here without. Humans need it for growth and repair so it kind of is a necessity rather than an enhancer. However, we consider the powder form as a supplement as it is something you should be adding to your journey.
The powder is a by-product made during milk production and has been utilised for its incredibly practical properties to get more protein into your diet even when you’re on the go. It’s easy to use and can even be a money saver too. Quite unsurprisingly my suggestion for a type of powder would be whey protein as it’s so quick to digest and gets into the bloodstream, but for more information on different types or protein powder available on the market click the link below:
Basically, it’s a fitness fundamental.
2. Vitamin D
This is one that get a bit overlooked: the Vitamin D Capsule. Britain can be a pretty grey place for most of the seasons, and this can have a real genuine impact on your health and mood. You can get the tablets from many places these days- supermarkets, pharmacies and health-stores, online, and they are super easy to add into your lifestyle. Just one tablet a day can elevate your mood and combat depression and build-ups of stress. You won’t feel it working like a caffeine buzz, but if you make it part of your daily routine it can really keep your levels in check without breaking the bank. As a guide you should be thinking about a dosage of 1000IU per day.
3.Caffeine
This is one I try not to become too reliant on, but it does really have a lot of benefits when it comes to fitness. Caffeine is considered one of the most used drugs in the world, but aside from thinking about your morning coffee, when its used as a fitness supplement it can help with performance levels to give an energy boost while training and reducing fatigue as you go, and it can aid your nutritional goals too by acting as an appetite suppressant. Of course it also come with its famous caffeine buzz of clarity and focus.
I tend to use caffeine in the form of a pre-workout where I will consume 200-300 milligrams before training to boost my performance. Occasionally, on my rest days I will consume caffeine from a zero-calorie energy drink. My personal favourite is Monster as their low-cal range is still super tasty and packs a punch of about 170 milligrams which I find to be the perfect amount to act as a pick-me-up and energy kick when I’m with my 6am clients!
The thing to remember with caffeine is that it is a supplement, an enhancer, not something to become reliant on- it’s very easy to over-consume. It can have a bit of a bad rep for this, but the danger is in the dosage, not the actual product. It’s key to find what is right for you and your body.
So there’s my top 3!
For me these are the basics that can be very easy to begin adding into your lifestyle and daily routine to really see a big difference in your mood, energy levels and performance.
Let’s be honest, you’re probably already getting the caffeine in, but consider how you are utilising it fitness-wise. With protein and Vitamin D, just doing a but more research into each product would be a great place to start.
As always, I’d love to hear from you if you have questions or want to request a blog on a particular subject, hit me up!