Please don't post you don't need supplements, or just eat right, or quit wasting money. I agree those are more important, but supplements help. This is in regardless to building muscle/body building, not the casual weight lifter.

I am currently taking your basic oneaday multi-vitamins and fish oil. Volt pre-workout(just started), Muscle Rush BCAA's during workout, MuscleTech whey and micronized creatine post workout.

Currently debating on whether not I should take a better multivitamin, like Orange Triad or Animal Pak. Just wanted to get peoples opinioins on everything. Is there something I'm not taking that would benefit me(Glutamine, ZMA, caseinprotein, etc)? Is there something I'm taking that won't show any results and is a waste of money? What's your favorite brands of everything?

If it helps, I am currently 5'10", 180 lbs, and around 12% BF

I apologize in advance if something doesn't make sense, it is late.

"bodybuilding, not the casual weight lifter"

Bodybuilders juice. The rest is 90% expensive pee pee. Wish there was more encouragement to give.

Caffeine anahydrous (musclefeast), and B-multivitamin from costco for preworkout are my preferred neon wizzes.

ZMAs if for no other reason than the crazy dreams it will give you.

Please clarify. Is your basic question what supplements you should or should not take?

-Which supplements that I'm taking, that i should stop
-Which supplements that I'm not taking, that I should start
-Upgrades from the supplements I do take(IE, a certain preworkout instead of what I take)
-certain supplements you've had bad experiences with

Follow up question #2, and sorry for being dense, what criteria do you want on whether or not you should be taking them?

Don't really have any criteria. Just suggestions like ZMA, test boosters, Glutamin, different amino acids, etc.

Before a "riot" ensues. The purpose of the post was to hear, "don't take this supplement, it is terrible for your body/it isn't worth the money," "try this preworkout, I love it," or "gotta take a better multivitamin," etc.

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"don't take this supplement, it is terrible for your body/it isn't worth the money," "try this preworkout, I love it," or "gotta take a better multivitamin," etc.

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Ok, lets break this down. Almost every single pre-workout on the market will cause a sharp rise in your blood pressure. That is not good, in fact it is quite bad. I often say that the best pre-workout is a cup of coffee. It's what I drink on the way to the gym and I'm willing to bet I lift a lot more weight than you do.

Multivitamins are from most manufactures are basically the same thing, find one you trust and go for it.

There are basically two supplements on the market that have been extensively tested in blind university studies: Creatine and WPI. All the other "research" advertised is snake oil BS that the companies fund with their own "labs."

Want to get big?
Work out hard with a good plan with consistent training followed by eating big.

Want to get strong?
Work out hard with a good plan with consistent training followed by eating big.

Want to look like Ronnie Coleman?
Better hit the needle and hope your body survives the ordeal.

In your original post you specifically said you didn't want to hear "Don't take X supplement"

Do you want recommendations on what not to take and reasons why?

Agree with DBS

this didn't go as planned

Why do you say that?

It sounds like the consensus in this and other topics always is: supplements are mostly a waste unless they can be consumed naturally, in which case, consume them naturally as possible. If you are desperate for results, juice up. But even those results would probably be a disappointment to most.

Nothing you are taking is bad, but I'd rather save that money and spend it at the farmers mkt and butcher counter.

I'm far from desperate for results. Just trying to edge out a little extra. When anyone asks me about supplements, I do the same thing as this, and make sure their diet is on point. But I was trying to skip that, hoping to hear from several people that may have seen some good results with an advanced multi-vitamin/pre workout. Or had the complete opposite reaction from someone(supplements that made them sick, etc.)

I apologize for the very vague questions. I've tried just about everything from time to time; lots of preworkouts, ZMA, test boosters, glutamine, BCAAs, animal pak, different proteins, and creatine. Trying to find the right stack to get the best results I can. Even if that is no stack at all, like DB said.

But you already said that you don't want to hear that supplements are a waste of money.

Protein powder is not a supplement - it is food.

Vitamins are for the most part vitamins. If you feel like you aren't getting enough in your diet, go with the cheapest stuff you can find (I like ON because I trust them).

Creatine is the ONLY supplement proven to work by reputable published studies. There is a limit you can take before it becomes dangerous.

No other supplements have shown proven physiological benefits.

There have been no studies on the health effects of supplements. You are a guinea pig.

I've been under the bar for 11 years. I've been competitive powerlifting for five years. I've held federation bench and squat class state records. I've won nationals in my class. In my past I've tried just about everything under the sun. If there was ANY competitive advantage to taking something, don't you think I would take it?

People don't want to hear this, but to get really big or really strong takes years of hard work. Supplement companies feed off of the idea that there is a short cut. Don't you think that if there was there would be a lot more really big and really strong folks out there?

You might ask what about the guys that are advertising the supplements. They are getting paid for their endorsements.

Ever hear about a supplement called Gakic? It was the next big thing 7-8 years ago. Do you want to know why it didn't succeed? It tasted like bile and it didn't work. If it worked and tasted like bile, everyone would be using it today.

I used NOxplode. My progress continued, I didn't get weaker and I had more $$ in my pocket when I quit. Why isn't NOxplode popular anymore? If it was so good, why isn't everyone using it today? Everyone was using it 5 years ago. Where is the explosion of huge strong people?

But you don't want to hear any of this. You want to hear what serious weight lifters use as a shortcut.

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I apologize for the very vague questions. I've tried just about everything from time to time; lots of preworkouts, ZMA, test boosters, glutamine, BCAAs, animal pak, different proteins, and creatine. Trying to find the right stack to get the best results I can. Even if that is no stack at all, like DB said.

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Dont listen to those guys. They dont know what theyre doing.

Look...take all that. Take all that that you listed. And when you plateau, then add something else that the gnc guy suggests. Have you tried turmeric complex? That is a little known secret. turmeric complex chased with a shot of apple cider vinegar (for the metabolism). Saw palmetto and horse chestnut is bunk so dont take it. That is what they test the new employees on their selling ability. Fenugreek is a bodybuilders best friend and also a well kept secret. Take that with phosphatidyl serine. At your weight, take 300 mg 3 times a day with the fenugreek.

And stay away from ageless male and dhea. Ive tried them and they dont work.

I've been trying to edge out, too. A bro gave me this stuff called testolactone and my sheet's gotten huge!
I'm reppin like 3 or 4 with 3 plates one each side!
Veins are nice, too. I just have a problem passing out when I get up to fast, but it's worth it when I rock those v necks at the club!

WPI = Whey Protein ????

Or is this something else?

Sorry for noobish question

I assumed he meant whey protein isolate...

WPI = Whey Protein Isolate.

This guy has to be trolling. Well done OP

I take c4 pre-workout, it works for me and tastes good, maybe it's a placebo thing on it working but I feel like it works. I took noxplode for a while same results as taking c4 but man it tasted terrible.

Steroids.

If you don't want to juice:

Creatine
Whey Protein
Caffeine

That's it.

Thanks to those who gave educated responses on my jumble of words.

Won't buy BCAA's again after this tub is done.

DB, in your experience, do you think the isolate makes that big of a difference? Or is just better because it doesn't contain the fats/carbs that regular whey has?

Shano, I use WPI and you'll find that the very large majority of the "whey" on the market is actually WPI. As for the research, that is the realm of the college researchers and their programs over the last decade and more.

Pre-workout I take/drink caffeine and arginine. Post-workout I take whey protein, about 25-35 grams of protein. Right before I go to bed I do a post-workout recovery drink that has protein, creatine, and some other good **** in it.

FWIW—a fellow I Aggie I used to work with had a serious heart attack while on NO Xplode. He would drink one in the AM to get through work and then a second shortly before his workout. He drank his second one day and within 30 min had the flop sweats, massive pains and 911 was being called. Was out of work (office job) for 3 weeks after that. Came back with a heart monitor he had to wear like fanny pack for 2 weeks

I've taken numerous supplements in the last few years and found that most pills are $$$ wasters for me. Especially if I pass them and they haven't even broken down yet..nasty stuff.

Chewables and powders are what I stick to

does anyone have a pre workout drink they LIKE?

jt, the stuff I'm taking now is working well for me(Neon Sport "Volt"). Get's me going, but doesn't make me feel like I'm on crack. Doesn't help that much with the pump, though.

Dihydrogen monoxide works for me

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Doesn't help that much with the pump, though.

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Don't feed the troll

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Dihydrogen monoxide works for me

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Coffee. Natural foods.

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does anyone have a pre workout drink they LIKE?

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Yes....coffee.