Supplements and the Male Species

Us blokes don't often get things right. Between leaving the seat up, regularly scratching our balls, stinking out the bathroom, burning everything on the bbq....we don't stand much of a chance.

Similarly, when it comes to health supplements, most guys tend to miss the forest for the trees.
If I had a $ for every guy that came into my store looking for the next ultra-mega-mass-gainer-protein synthesiser-testosterone-enhancer, I could probably take a week off.
Guys, it's not entirely your fault either. I used to read the muscle magazines, try and follow the pro's training and diet, yet still not get the same results as them......I wonder why?

Fortunately, being 20years older I've managed to wise up to the fact why I never could achieve the physique of many of those bodybuilders in the magazines. I won't risk a lawsuit today, so I won't delve into the details as to how many of those athletes (?) look the way they do.
Instead I've put together a basic list of supplements that most guys could benefit from. They may not be the most glamorous products on the shelves, but at the end of the day they will deliver the goods.


Multivitamin. The plain Jane of supplements, but important for two reasons. 1, a good multi will cover the bases if your diet is lacking any essential nutrients, and 2, it will actually assist with absorbing nutrients from your food.
Protein powder. Forget the oxy-nitro vasodilators, creatine delivery systems, and mutant muscle products. You're not going to grow a gram of muscle unless you're ingesting a sufficient amount of protein. The most economical way to do this is in the form of a protein shake. 1-2 a day should equate to 60-70grams of protein. This is close to half the daily requirement of an 80kg male wishing to gain lean muscle.
Essential fats. About as sexy as Posh Spice, I know. Essential fats are just that, and are a major contributor to long term health. If you don't eat a lot of fish then supplement with a fish oil capsule or 3. There's a mountain of research being conducted on the anti-inflammatory effects of EPA/DHA, as well as joint, nerve, eye and brain health. One study recently suggested that it was the primates that wandered down to the waters edge and started feeding on fish, that developed their brains from that of a chimps, to the multi-terrabyte powerhouses we've got stored in our skulls today. Hard to imagine amongst some people I know, but if you wish to evolve your thinking as well as your physique, a fish oil supplement is for you.
L-Glutamine. Again, about as sexy as a Bee Gees reunion, but an often overlooked product. All you need is 1-2 teaspoons a day, and voila, you may find you're not aching half as much as usual. A potent ammonia scavenger (that's the stuff your body produces when it's under stress) and hugely important amino acid in terms of recovery.

That's it. 4 of the basics. Consider these your foundation supplements, along with getting your caloric requirements correct, training, and adequate rest, and you're bound to have an army of Jessica Alba lookalikes kicking your door in.
If in doubt, get a good nutritionist to help you pull it all together.
Get these right, and you may not need many of the other "whizz bang" over hyped products which often claim to make you bigger and stronger than a Hereford bull, give you a higher t-count than a male Lion, and get you as ripped as Bruce Lee in a matter of days.

Greetings muppets!

We're now officially halfway through the year, which means I should be about $500,000 better off, 5 kilograms lighter, and had at least 2 dates with Jess Simpson...oh well, maybe next year the new years resolution fairy will visit.

I read a scathing article a while back aimed at Enrique Iglesias of all people. Now I'm the first to admit, he's not the most manly of men, I can't exactly see him being cast as the next Marlboro Man, promoting chainsaws, competing in a wood chopping competition, or camping in the wild, and he's not exactly on my top ten people in the world I'd like to meet, but I must admit, I do have a few of his tracks from his Escape CD on my iPod. Don't panic the ranter isn't going metro!

The article had the heading "loser of the week" and read like this: His insipid pop music isn't particularly impressive, and neither are his private parts. Hero singer Enrique Iglesias recently admitted he isn't well endowed by confessing that he finds regular condoms too large.

How do journalists like this retard avoid defamation charges? I only hope the publication has gotten rid of this wombat.Thanks again for chastising a man for admitting a particular area of weakness. I'm certainly not putting my hand up to be President of the CPA, (challenged penis association) but I firmly believe the root of a lot of mens problems are just this. As boys grow up to be men, they're constantly taught to be tough, to not admit that they have problems, worse still, if a man does admit he needs help, then he's considered to be either gay, weak, or strange. Sadly, my point is reinforced by brief, scathing articles like the one above.

I see it all the time, both in my store and at the parent support group I attend. Men who simply "don't have a problem" regardless of the fact they weigh over 100 kg and have had a heart attack, or they think they've failed as a parent because their teenage kids are mucking up! Or failed in other areas of their lives.

I'm not suggesting group hugging sessions over a plate of falafels. I do think that our culture needs a shift in the way men are "supposed to be." One of the reasons I like training in my garage, is it makes me feel good, not just physically, but also in a manly way...particularly the "old school" exercises such as snatches, cleans, squats, chin ups, etc....I feel connected with the historic, Olympic lifters. The brotherhood of Iron perhaps? Whatever works I say, but men do need to act more like "brothers" when it comes to supporting each other.....otherwise we're going to be taken over by a bunch of pill popping, drinking, estrogenic, Beckham worshipers...God help us!

As for Enrique, now let me see. A talented musician, can speak several languages fluently, has sold millions of albums around the world, probably has an 8figure bank account, and is married to Anna Kournikova.....hmmm.....if that's a loser, where do I sign up? Let me guess the retard who wrote the article is a part time model, porn star, has an 8 inch wanger, has dated more beautiful women than Justin Timberlake, and a 7 figure salary.....of course you do? I'm sure all journalists are like that, and you just happened to pen the article on a napkin whilst on a date with Kate Hudson....yeah right!

Next month I'm going to briefly discuss the Tour de France, I read an interesting book which highlights what goes on behind the scenes. Did you know you can beat just about any drug test in less than 5 minutes? All you need is a portable centrifuge, a small needle, and a bag of saline. Will detail more next month. Until then, keep training and sticking to your food, your body will thank you for it come Spring.