Can someone recommend supplements to help build muscle and keep me lean other than using Ultra 40 and Mass? My little body cannot handle them
Since I introduced them into my diet I've had ummm "issues" so I hd to take them out.
My diet is clean otherwise following a near 40/40/20 split. I am currently taking UMP and Muscle Provider and Glutamine Select but is that enough to build more muscle? I'm looking to do a figure competition in May 2009. I know I'm starting off early but right now I'm just trying to find the right combo of food to accomplish what I'm wanting to do.

Diet is #1. The supps you are taking are great. You could look to add creatine and Muscle Synergy to improve the anabolic environment.

I know how important Diet is. I make sure each week before I go grocery shopping I have my chart completed so I know my exact split of Carbs, Protiens, fats and calories. I eat the same thing all week long - boring but I actually don't mind.
I'll look into adding Muscle Synergy and Creatine. I've heard that Creatine causes bloating - how true is that statement? And what about using the Mulitple Enzyme Complex?

quote:

Originally posted by dreambig12:
I know how important Diet is. I make sure each week before I go grocery shopping I have my chart completed so I know my exact split of Carbs, Protiens, fats and calories. I eat the same thing all week long - boring but I actually don't mind.
I'll look into adding Muscle Synergy and Creatine. I've heard that Creatine causes bloating - how true is that statement? And what about using the Mulitple Enzyme Complex?

Good creatine does not cause bloating IMHO. Its usually attributable to some other factor. Creatine draws water into the muscle cell period.

quote:

Originally posted by dreambig12:
I know how important Diet is. I make sure each week before I go grocery shopping I have my chart completed so I know my exact split of Carbs, Protiens, fats and calories. I eat the same thing all week long - boring but I actually don't mind.
I'll look into adding Muscle Synergy and Creatine. I've heard that Creatine causes bloating - how true is that statement? And what about using the Mulitple Enzyme Complex?

So you know, there is Creatine IN Muscle Synergy. I guess it wouldn't hurt to take extra Creatine, but as Jason said, creatine will hold water INTRA-MUSCULARLY. NOT subcutaneous. If you choose to do both Muscle Synergy AND creatine on top of that, which isn't a bad idea, choose Creatine Select. You should make sure you getting QUALITY! There is no way you should 'bloat' on that stuff!

Multiple Enzyme Complex is great... It is really up to you on that one. Are you having digestive issues with your current food intake? If so, then go ahead with the ME. I've had some issues in the past so I added ME and it took care of that little problem!

Chunky, I will only use Bev Products I really do like them alot even though my body didn't like the Ultra 40 and Mass.
I have had some issues in the past, but not so much since I've added more carbs back into my diet (the good kind, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, brown rice etc) and drop all dairy products. Although just had a few when I started taking 40 & Mass, so maybe I really don't need ME. I'll just wait and see how my body does. But I definately will add in the Creatine I have read some great things about it.
Do or should your cycle Creatine? Use it for 6 weeks and then off for 2 weeks or something like that. And if I use both MS and Creatine Select should I cycle both?

Not necessary to ever go off of Creatine OR cycle. It is a bodybuilding necessesity wether cutting, hardening, gaining, pre-contest, whatever... It is ALWAYS a good idea to keep 2-5 grams of creatine in your diet a day.

As far as MS goes, it is up to you. Some never go off of it, some only use it for Cutting, a few add it for gaining strength?? Very versatile, but again, I don't see a need to cycle that one either.

I trained with Jason and he recommended using creatine along with Muscle Synergy daily. I really saw terrific strength gains consistently through the 16 weeks even at the end when calories were lower.
For me, I suffer from endometriosis so my body holds lots of water during a flare up and the bloating is not fun and you literally look like a different person. It did make my bloating worse but ONLY initially. The body adjusts rather quickly too. After a while when I would get a flare up from the endometriosis I would only bloat for a little while and it would subside withing an hour or less. And that is only for when I'm having a bad 'episode' that month. (Sorry guys...but this is what us women have to deal with) As you get leaner, it is less and less noticeable, of course. I don't bloat AT ALL now unless I'm having a flare up from the endometriosis. Hope this helps.

Hearing real experiences does help - thank you. I was really bumbed when my body wouldn't handle Ultra 40 and Mass and I was really starting to see some improvements as were a few other people at my gym. I want to continue down the path I'm taking towards my first figure competition and I know I need more muscle on me then lean out. But right now I have time, just enough to get through the holidays and not feel guilty about enjoying a few good meals in the next 6 weeks

quote:

Originally posted by dreambig12:
Hearing real experiences does help - thank you. I was really bumbed when my body wouldn't handle Ultra 40 and Mass and I was really starting to see some improvements as were a few other people at my gym. I want to continue down the path I'm taking towards my first figure competition and I know I need more muscle on me then lean out. But right now I have time, just enough to get through the holidays and not feel guilty about enjoying a few good meals in the next 6 weeks

DOnt sweat it you dont need U40 and Mass to gain muscle, use MP 3 x daily or UMP and then get in eggs, lean turkey and lean beef as your other options of protein. This will more than suffice, trust me..

Whew - ok well then I'm doing good -cuz I do all that well minus lean red meat - I don't eat red meat, just Chicken, turkey, fish, eggs as well as MP & UMP. And obviously I'm doing something right becuase my mom made a comment that my shoulders are really cutting up. You can really start to see the stridations.
So Thanks