Supplements

I dare you to walk into the end of a CrossFit class and not hear the tell tale sound of a shaker cup.  Oh and if you’re not familiar with the sound it’s sound like some ones playing Yahtzee around the corner, or better yet a bunch of bums throwin’ dice.  It’s a sound associated with Longevity and muscled bros.  Ahh, the shaker cup.  But what does one throw into this mighty chalice of life you ask......supplements.  

Not all supplements are created equal.  Nutrition is the main reason that elite level athletes have arrived at the Home Depot Center year after year.  It’s not a simple science knowing what to feed your body, but there are some basic needs for the novice athlete.  

Multi-vitamins.......

Every athlete needs to take a multi-vitamin.  Ideally you would get every micronutrient your body needs through your diet.  Unfortunately we, modern peeps, often neglect the necessary: organ meets, berries, and veggies that would have sustained us in the past.  

Now which multi is right for me????

Novice athletes.  I use this term to define your three times a week athlete whose goal is to be healthy and active.  Novice athletes can have elite level skills just lack the desire to train at that level to be competitive in the region, sport. 

This athlete can use any basic multi.  Try any brand that has a large gamete of micronutrients.  Honestly the more the better, there are some tailored for older bro’s and ladies of the gray.  Stick with it, take that multi like your life is almost depending on it.  Think like filling up the gas tank, not life ending but damn are you pissed when the gas runs too low and you’re behind for that meeting/thing you need to be at.  Womp, womp.

Also a good fish oil is a necessity, good being defined as having clearly defined EPA and DHA amounts.  You’re looking for the most bang for your buck.  It should ideally appear around 2:1.  Otherwise it’s been tampered with and isn’t as pure as most, your’s truly, would like to see.  Take the recommended does twice daily, one about thirty minutes before your bed time routine and the other when ever.  Taking fish oil in the morning helps your body obsorb fat soluble vitamins like A, E, D, and K.  On days when you feel crampy, crapy, hung over, sick, run down take a double dose each time.  Trust me it’s a good thang.  

Lastly invest in a shaker chalice, cup.  Get your favorite, no frills protein and take it post WOD.  This will help you last longer as in life, and get you back in the gym sooner.  Don’t make me get into all the shenanigans about it.  Trust me.  It’s another thang, Muscle Milk and Optimum Nutrtion make the no frills kind that taste good, are cheap, and you’ll find them any where.  Now Shake Seniora.   

Those of you who wish to be competitive, the shaker cup elite look into better cleaner products.  At Large Nutrition makes a great protein called Nitrean+ that is a great way to boost your protein levels while avoiding a bunch of crap that is in other products.  Look into taking Beta Alanine pre-wod, it diminishes muscles fatigue, might be a good thing for CrossFitters (Any store brand is great).  As well, taking a ZMA complex at night is a great way to increase recovery and up your sleep (Muscle Pharm ZMA Max is the great because it also has melatonin, they also make Bullet Proof which is another good nighttime recovery product).  Finally take a Mico-Lactin supplement, it does wonders for your joints and is also an anti-inflammatory, plus plus.  Add some BCAA's and your helping your body to stay anabolic, that's creating muscle, and avoid the dreaded catabolic state where your body breaks down muscle tissue.