As a well-known Omaha gym, Omaha Barbell understands that for newcomers to nutrition and training, supplement stacks can be intimidating. If you are new or experienced at weight training it’s important to recognize that supplements do not replace sound nutritional lifestyles. When used correctly, they can help you to reach your fitness goals sooner while providing you that extra boost of energy you might need to reach that PR. If you are new to nutritional supplements, it’s important for you to know that they are often sold in groups with names like Build Muscle, Lose Fat, Improve Endurance and Contest stacks.
Supplements are meant to complement your diet, coving gaps in nutrients—to ensure you have what you need for optimum performance. It doesn’t really matter what your fitness goals are, as the correct supplements can improve your physique, health and performance. Of course, at Omaha Barbell, we realize it can be confusing at times to know what fuel to put in your tank. A good rule of thumb we recommend is to not use a supplement of you aren’t familiar with its ingredients or understand how it works.
At Omaha Barbell, we are huge on education. Really if you don’t know what you are about to consume, how do you know it is really helping your body versus hurting your body. See below for a guide our team has come up with to help you build a solid foundation of supplement information.
Protein
It’s been believed for years that your body needs 10 to 15 percent of its daily caloric intake from protein, but that number has been revised upward—nutrition experts now recommend 20 to 30 percent of your calories come from protein, especially for athletes who train hard. This is because protein helps to curb hunger and increase energy, as well as rebuild muscle after strength-training.
While food from animal sources is the best source of protein, eating meat every two or three hours isn’t feasible for most of us, so this is where protein supplements can help. They’re fast-acting so they’re especially beneficial after a workout. Some types of protein supplements are whey, soy, egg, plant and casein.
Fish Oil
Fish oil is full of essential omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA and EPA. These fatty acids are integral to human health but your body doesn’t produce them, so this makes supplements necessary (especially for those of us who don’t get enough omega-3’s from food sources). Good sources of omega-3 fats are eggs, oily fish, wild animals and grass-fed beef. Non-animal sources are walnuts, flaxseed and Brazil nuts.
Fish oil promotes heart and joint health, healthy skin, cognitive function, vision and a strong immune system, so whether your focus is on burning fat, building muscle or just boosting your overall health, our Omaha Barbell team highly recommends adding this supplement to your regimen.
Branched Chain Amino Acids
Branched chain amino acids are one of the nine amino acids essential for human health, accounting for over one-third of the amino acids in muscle protein. While BCAAs are found naturally in foods that are high in protein, when used as a supplement, they help increase energy, minimize catabolism and promote muscle growth. In turn, this leads to improved recovery and promotes endurance.
Glutamine
This adaptogenic amino acid works as a supplement to support gut health, a strong immune system, muscle growth and reduced muscle catabolism. For athletes who work out at Omaha Barbell multiple times a week, glutamine helps resynthesize muscle glycogen and glutamine levels lost during their workouts (without the release of insulin).
Creatine
For athletes engaged in high-intensity activities like strength-training and weightlifting, creatine has been shown to boost energy while exercising and boost maximal strength. This allows athletes to both lift heavier and longer. As a plus, it also makes muscles more full by acting as a cell volumizer.
Come On Down to Omaha Barbell
If you’re looking for a gym in Omaha where you can focus on building a healthy strength-training regimen, then come to Omaha Barbell and check out what we have to offer! Our Omaha Barbell team can help you understand the finer points of choosing supplements and we have state-of-the-art equipment that you won’t see at any other commercial gym. Call us any time at (402) 594-4485 to set up an appointment, or just swing by our location at 8935 J Street, Omaha, NE.
