Everyone has different fitness goals. Some want to burn fat to get purely ripped, others want to bulk up, and there are those looking to add more muscle. In any case, using the best supplements tailored to your goals will be extremely beneficial.
Whether you are new to supplements or have been taking them for years, two things jump out: there are many options to choose from, and they can do a number on your wallet. That’s where supplement stacks come in.
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What Are Supplement Stacks?
Simply put, supplements stacks, also known as supplement bundles, are a collection of supplements that complement one another and function best when taken together to aid in achieving your fitness goals. To ensure you get top results, it’s always best to choose supplement bundles containing great stand-alone products.
By combining your supplements properly, not only that you’ll get the best bang for your buck, but you’ll also capitalise on the synergistic power they have with each other. What does this mean? It means you should build your stack, choosing nutrients that increase each other’s effectiveness. You know what they say, the sum is always greater than its parts.
How Do You Choose a Good Supplement Stack?
There may be several variables to consider when choosing a supplement stack, as each one is designed slightly differently to achieve different results. But even so, some general tips may help you choose a quality supplement bundle:
Step 1: Start with the Basics
If you’re new to supplement stacking, meaning you’ve never taken some before, start with the basics. Protein stacks are a good starter pack; every stack should include a protein powder and Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs). If your budget allows, including a high-quality multivitamin and green food powder can help fill in any nutrient gaps and improve energy levels, metabolism and recovery.
Step 2: Get Specific
You may have already been training hard and following a solid nutrition plan. A smart supplement plan is an essential addition to that to take your results to the next level.
That doesn’t mean grabbing a jug of protein and a creatine container. Although whey and creatine are crucial for most fitness goals, considering the right supplements for your personal fitness goal can make a big difference. With this in mind, you must determine your fitness goal and stack your supplements based on what you need.
Best Supplement Stacks For Specific Bodybuilding Goals
You should focus on different supplement stacks based on the results you want. Here are some of the most common goals and the supplement stacks that will help you get to where you want to be:
The Muscle Building Stack
This bundle is one of the most crucial supplement stacks, especially if you exercise regularly, are an athlete, or are a bodybuilder. Vigorous exercise or competition will wear down muscles and tear their fibres, requiring the repair needed for growth. Without sufficient support, muscles will become inactive or even atrophy. Using a top-notch muscle-building stack can help ensure adequate recovery for optimum growth. Consider adding a few of these products into the mix if you’re working hard but not building muscle.
- Whey protein. Whey provides the body with amino acids and protein, both used as the building blocks for muscles. Whey increases performance strength and muscle size by promoting muscle growth. It digests very quickly, causing an immediate increase in blood flow and delivering vital branched-chain amino acids to the body. Use it both before and after exercise.
- Creatine monohydrate. Three amino acids are combined to form creatine monohydrates (glycine, arginine, methionine). Studies have shown it can help increase protein synthesis, improving performance during high-intensity exercises.
- BCAAs. Amino acids supplements like leucine, isoleucine and valine help raise growth hormone levels, which promote muscle growth. Consider incorporating 5g of BCAAs per hour of exercise into your post-workout beverage. Throughout the day, consume additional BCAAs every 2-4 hours.
The Fat Burning Stack
Are you looking to lose those unwanted kilos? Fighting the scale doesn’t have to be a full-scale war. A fat-burning stack can help, especially if you’re having trouble shedding stubborn fat. Your upper arms, stomach, waist, chin, thighs, and bottom are always areas where you can see them. Some of the most effective fat-burning supplements can help jump-start a sluggish metabolism.
- CLA. Conjugated linoleic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid primarily present in dairy products and meat from grass-fed animals. Research has shown it helps improve muscle growth, raise metabolic rate, and lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
- L-carnitine. This compound aids in the body’s conversion of fat to energy.
- Fat burners. A blend of ingredients known to boost thermogenesis and promote lipolysis (aka the breakdown of fat in the body). Avoid using products that contain any ingredients that have a stimulant effect if you experience anxiety, get hot easily, or consume a lot of caffeine (i.e. caffeine, kola nut, ephedrine).
The Bulking Stack
Supplement stacks for muscle growth may not be the best choice for bulking up. After all, no two bodies are exactly the same. While building muscle focuses on achieving an athletic, lean body, bulking up focuses on adding size and mass so your overall physique can become stronger or get past a challenge with weight gain.
You need a caloric surplus if you want to gain muscle mass. It’s a call for supplementing your bulking stack with mass gainers, BCAAs, beta-alanine, and creatine.
- Mass gainers. Do you find that no matter how much you eat, you can’t gain muscle mass? Your body is probably experiencing a caloric deficit, which means you’re burning more calories than taking in. Adding a mass gainer to your bulking stack can help you add muscle and strength.
- BCAAs Plus. In general, BCAAs can improve a bulking stack in two ways. They first encourage muscle growth following workouts. That’s as a result of the fact that they encourage the muscles’ production of protein, which ultimately results in bigger and stronger muscles. Second, BCAAs stop muscle protein from being broken down.