Episode 7: Supplements 101: My 7 Favorites, and How They Can Benefit Your Health and Fitness

LISTEN: Apple Podcast | Spotify

Have you ever felt overwhelmed when it comes to supplements, and everything that’s out there? I often get asked my thoughts about them, what I take, what I suggest, etc., so I’m excited to dive into all things supplements for this episode! I know there is a LOT to choose from, and also a lot of misinformation, which makes it even more difficult to figure out what you actually need, and how to get the biggest bang for your buck.

 I'll be honest-I had a little bit of a hangup when people were requesting me to discuss this topic, because I've struggled a lot with supplements in the past. It feels a little strange to be sharing this information, but I'm also so confident in what I'm going to share with you too. I don't ever want you to think I'm just going to 'spit; information at you without telling you my thoughts, or what I've gone through on my journey.

My husband and I first started working out about 13 years ago, and we used cheap products, like a crappy whey protein from a grocery store, and an off-brand creatine. We had no idea what we were doing, or what these products were that we were putting into our bodies, but we still got the best results. 

Fast forward to my time as a Beachbody coach, and I began using and promoting these expensive supplements to help my business, as well as the clients I was "coaching". I felt pretty icky about all of it, and I knew you didn't have to use these products to get results with your health and fitness. Eventually, I figured out this wasn't right for me; I started my own business and became certified, and decided to always be 100% honest about what works for me, and my clients.

In today's episode, I'm covering the 7 quality supplements I use regularly, which are:

• Reds and Greens-the base for gut health, which support digestion, balance pH levels in the body, improve immune function, and deliver nutrients to the rest of the body
• Multivitamin-no matter your health and fitness status, age, occupation, etc., everyone needs to be taking a multivitamin for proper metabolism, cellular function, muscle protection-the list goes on! 
• Protein (my favorite supplement of all)-whey protein, plant protein, protein isolates-any of these can help you to reach your protein goal, which helps increase your overall muscle mass and strength, and still lose weight (if that's a goal of yours)
• Glutamine-amino acid that is naturally found in the body, and is important for digestion and immune function
• Creatine-creates faster muscle growth in the body (not something everyone likes or wants, but can be beneficial too)
• L-carnitine-provides your body with nutrients to effectively metabolize or store fat, which ultimately helps with maintaining a healthy weight
• BCAAs (branched chain amino acids)-not necessarily needed if you're consuming enough protein (especially a quality protein powder), but these help with muscle soreness and decrease muscle fatigue from exercise

I'm passionate about supplements (if you can't already tell), but I don’t want you to think that if you’re not taking all of these things, you won’t see positive results with your health and fitness-that’s just not true. You can become more knowledgeable and confident when it comes to using supplements, but remember, supplements are something that can be added to your lifestyle, and are more of an “extra”. The consistent plan you’re following with your nutrition and workouts is the most important thing!