Is it Possible to Build Muscle Without Supplements? - Lee Labrada

Building Muscle-Is it Possible Without Sup.? - Lee Labrada

This week's question comes from Adam Snider living in Vermont

QUESTION: Lee, can you BUILD muscle without taking supplements? Do supplements help you gain more muscle than just eating food alone?

ANSWER: This is a great question. The short answer is that if your nutrition is perfect, and I mean perfect, then you CAN build muscle without taking additional supplements. Part of my job is providing people with the best sports nutrition supplements on the planet, yet I will tell you that supplements are just that: they are supplements to food, and usually not substitutes for food.

The reason that supplements are helpful is because most people find it difficult to eat perfectly. Eating enough of the right things at the right time to provide all of the performance enhancing nutrients that your body requires is difficult. Your body's requirements for nutrients becomes greater when you want to increase strength and performance.

Some nutrients such as protein, for instance, can be gotten entirely from whole foods such as chicken and fish. But most people don't have the patience to cook and eat 5 to 6 small portions of chicken and fish each day. That's why athletes will use high-quality meal replacement powdesr and ready to drink protein shakes like Lean Body, a couple of times per day.

I always recommend a protein supplement for this very reason, that is, the difficulty of procuring all your protein needs just from whole foods.

Many beneficial performance-enhancing nutrients are difficult to get from food alone unless you eat huge amounts of those foods, which would put your diet out of balance. For instance, you have to eat up to 3 pounds of raw meat or fish to get the equivalent of 5 g of pure creatine. It's much easier just to consume 5 g of a creatine monohydrate supplement powder.

So the bottom line is this, the judicious use of supplements, can add to a well-balanced nutritional program, and will optimize the nutrients necessary for you to more rapidly gain muscle and strength.

I hope this helps. I'm Lee Labrada, your lean body coach. Stay lean and stay strong.

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[LuckyShowTime]

I’m 100 natty. NO SUPPLEMENTS FOR ME!!! And my bench is up 60lbs since May. I eat salmon or tuna packs after workouts. 100% NATURAL!

[corentin]

PLEAS PEOPLE, EAT some REAL FOOD guyys !!! i know when you want performance and big muscle, its TEMPTING to go take Chemical powder, BUT YAAL its the first step to EAT DOGSHIT like in THE MATRIX !!!!

you don't want this believe me !! Real animals, real dairys, real vegetable guys, FOOD is LIFE

[yaseenismail]

My personal advise, always check with your GP to see if your body can handle any supplements. Some or many supplements don't agree with everyone the same. I have seen many bodybuilders that take absolutely no supplements and they are built well. Remember you must also look at your genetics.

[neil]

Agree mate, but think a whey protein drink mixed with 3-5 g creatine and some fast
Acting carbs like starch based waxy maize, is better than food as it's absorbed much quicker and that's ideal post training

[garbear]

Food befor suppl but suppl can assist your results fat loss muscle gain

[lvl]

Hi great What are your thoughts on pea based protein powder vs whey? (whey gives me acne)

[brandonwebb]

Dude's get yoked in prison. Think about that.

[sohail]

I'm allergic to basically all protein powder, where do I go from here ?

[woodystreeservicePNW]

Im starting a channel for body building with absolutely zero supplement

[oldermuscleguy]

Lee definitely easier consuming supplements such as whey or other protein than fish fowl or meat especially consuming 5 or 6 smaller meals per day

[beeblack]

Trying to work out natural no supplements.

[NelsonRodriguezOnlin]

QUESTION: Should you limit your protein intake from powders on a daily basis?  Because of my schedule, I find that 50% of my daily protein intake is coming from shakes.  The other 50% comes from meats and other food sources.

[postmanfoodreviews]

I stopped taking supplements for 4 months, bro I lost size and strength

[_k_sgaming]

I used Agoge too, it's a great meal plan, takes out all the boring out of dieting

[Vourn-]

Think about your liver, kidney and heart....

[nyeinayewai]

I wish people could just be fit without dieting and working out ??