Are supplements really necessary for muscle growth?

Often one of the first things a person thinks about when initiating a bodybuilding program is buying supplements. Many people begin to consider buying a host of supplements before they have even settled on their exact weight training program or a diet plan. This may be due to an unfortunate tendency in North American society to look for shortcuts and quick fixes in accomplishing any new goal, or it may in part be due to the daily bombardment of advertisements that we face on TV, radio, and yes, even the Internet. These ads often promise incredible results in improving our physique in various ways without any discipline or effort needed on our part. Could this possibly be a healthy way to achieve weight gain or any other important goal for that matter?

Though this may be received as a bold and controversial statement, I would assert that few if any supplements are really needed to accomplish muscle weight gain. I refer specifically to steroid alternatives and other supplements meant to enhance muscle growth without any further action from the consumer. (A careful distinction must be made here between these kinds of supplements which may not be necessary or even safe in the long term, and other supplements which promote general health such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and the like. I would also exclude protein supplements that simply provide food in a convenient manner.) At best, steroid alternatives may provide muscle growth that could have been achieved naturally and safely. At worst, they may cause the user long-term harm, either in health hazards or in their finances.

The bottom line is that everyone can achieve massive muscle growth by adhering to the basic principles of progressive resistance training and increasing caloric intake. In other words, lift more, and eat more. Keep doing this until you're as strong as you want to be. You don't need to consider questionable steroid alternatives, or even more reliable substances such as creatine, until you have practiced basic principles and achieved as much success as you can. Only then can something like creatine be considered to give you a slight boost for advanced training. Be careful not to believe all the hype when you begin a new strength training or bodybuilding program. You have to commit to long-term learning and long-term training. If you train yourself to rely on supplements and other quick fixes, you will not only waste a lot of money, but you'll also train yourself to lack the discipline and commitment needed for long-term success.

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Jon Cardozo, from Jcardozium research, writes on how to build muscle naturally. He also writes on general issues such as nutrition and general fitness. Visit his website for more information on strength training exercises at maximum-muscle-gain.com

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