Why Should I Take Supplements?
At 925, we recommend eating REAL food first as the simplest and best way to get your nutrition and health under control. From there, we begin to dial in the types of food and macro-nutrients needed to maintain a successful and healthy life. Only after these things are in control, or, if life circumstances make it difficult for you to reach your macro goals, do we suggest supplementation. As you progress, there are supplements to help you recover faster and provide you with performance boosts, but these are not nearly as effective without a solid foundation of proper nutrition. If you struggle with maintaining a health diet of real food or need an extra boost of accountability and support, contact our Nutrition Director, Lydia Wallie (lydia_wallie@crossfit925.com) to set up a Nutrition Session to get you on the right path.
Competitive Athletes
Competitive athletes go above and beyond the normal 4-5 workouts per week schedule. They push their bodies to the limit as they work on strengthening their weaknesses and building their athletic armor. For athletes training at this level, a solid foundation of real food is absolutely essential. If they are unable achieve the required nutritional foundation, they're opening themselves up for not only slow progress, but also over-training (due to lack of adequate recovery), loss of motivation (due to lack of energy), and even injuries.
Once a foundation of proper nutrition is built, there are supplements that can help with performance as well as recovery. A great way to immediately start the recovery process is by providing your body with quick absorbing protein and BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) directly post workout (in the form of whey protein). With the level of training competitive athletes take themselves through, inflammation will be heightened throughout the body. Omega-3s (fish oil) can have a huge effect on reducing inflammation resulting from high levels of training. Beta-Alanine, HMB, and Creatine are also potent workout performance boosters.
Weight Loss
The key to weight loss is a good balance of proper nutrition (qualitative and quantitative) and exercise. Mixing a consistent schedule of CrossFit training with a personalized nutrition plan is a one-two punch for weight loss. Start with real food, get an idea of your current food intake, then move to adjusting per your goals. Supplementation should be used if you are unable to maintain the proper level of macro-nutrient intake from real food. Natural protein supplements and BCAAs are a great way to maintain adequate protein intake and assist with recovery and muscle growth. When training frequently to maximize weight loss, additional vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium, D3, and Omega-3s will help you sleep, fight off cramping and inflammation and help maximize your recovery between training sessions. If you missed our previous Magnesium Series, check out the links below to learn more about magnesium deficiency and how to increase your consumption.
So, maybe you don’t fit into one of the categories identified above, but that doesn’t mean you may not benefit from supplements. On average, our athletes at 925 workout at least 2 times a week and maintain healthy and active lifestyles beyond our gym doors. These everyday athletes show up each day expecting an intense workout that will test their fitness level, so recovery is a priority. In order to maintain a healthy balance of fitness and rest, we need to ensure they are fueling their body and taking the necessary steps to avoid excessive fatigue and injury. Over the next several weeks, we’ll provide you with information on supplements and how and why you may want to incorporate them into your daily life, so continue to follow us as we launch our Supplements Series.