Body-Building

The number of people that have a gym membership has increased by more than 4 million. This statistic excludes those who workout at their school gym. On social media platforms such as TikTok, there are numerous videos which relate to going to the gym, exercising properly, eating the right food, and workout plans. With the increase of people attending their local gym, it also means that there will be more people not working out properly, or not following a proper workout plan. This could potentially harm those who are trying to be fit making all their efforts go to waste. Protein powder, pre-workout, collagen, creatine, caffeine, and supplements are all terms which the average gym-goer has heard. However, it is important to know what these words mean and if they are actually good for you.

Protein powder is seen as a necessity for all gym rats and should be eaten with every meal. There are many ways to spread out how you take your protein but the most efficient way is to take it before or after you workout. When it comes to meals, having more protein than carbs and fats is definitely advised for people who want to get fit fast and have a toned body. There are many types of protein powder and the three types of protein are plant based protein powder, collagen powder, and whey protein. You will hear doctors tell teenagers who work out to stay away from collagen powder and invest their money in PB2 or Orgain plant based protein powder instead. But why is this? Depending on where you buy it from, collagen powder is not always the safest. Some powders may contain heavy metals and have not been third party tested which could result in an imbalance of chemicals in your body. Collagen powder is mainly made of the connective tissue of animals such as cattle, pig, and fish which would not make it an option for vegans, vegetarians, or those whose religion prevents them from eating certain animals. Collagen powder is an incomplete protein as it excludes tryptophan (one of the nine essential amino acids) but it contains higher levels of skin tightening amino acids such as glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. Pea protein is vegan and vegetarian, but it still packs about the same punch as collagen powder. Pea protein tends to be high in leucine, isoleucine, and valine which are three of the essential amino acids that your body cannot make. These amino acids help out in muscle gain and recovery making it a favorite for some. Along with the benefits, it also comes with multiple flavor choices which make your protein shakes more enjoyable. The last type of protein powder is whey protein. Many professional bodybuilders and actors use this powder as it makes it extremely easy to gain muscle. Along with a solid diet, whey protein can make your muscles pop out in no time. Whey protein comes from the milk of a cow but it is separated from the lactose part of the milk. Each of these protein powders have their benefits and it is really up to you to choose which one you would want to take.

Pre-workout is another powder which many gym enthusiasts pack in their bags. Pre-workout is essentially an energy booster which enhances a person’s performance in the gym. Caffeine is a popular pre-workout and is taken with creatine in most cases. Caffeine is found in coffee and tea and is a natural stimulant making it safe to consume in small amounts. Creatine is a supplement which facilitates the movement of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) which is the body’s energy currency. It allows the transfer of that energy to be more efficient which allows you to be more powerful during your workouts. Pre-workout is very common and should not be avoided as long as there are no health conditions stopping you from taking it.

A common rule of thumb when it comes to the diet end of a healthy lifestyle is to make sure that you are taking 1g of protein per 1lb of body weight in an entire day. This will optimize your results when it comes to muscle mass. When it comes to what you should have if you want to increase gains in the gym is a protein powder of your choice and take pre-workout in the suggested amounts. As long as you follow these rules, your results in the gym will be absolutely amazing. Good luck with your journey!