How long will you supp before you decide you're wasting $$$?

[Charlie Golf]

How long will you use a supp before you decide you're wasting $$$?

How long do most of you take a supplement before you decide it ain't working?

The reason I ask is because when I cycle creatine, I notice a difference.

When I started with whey, I noticed a difference.

With a Multi-vitamin, I noticed a difference after about a month.

Glucosamine, I noticed a difference after about a month.

BUT, I've taken Pyruvate daily for a straight 6 months (at dosage recommended by a popular health periodical, not the label on the bottle) and don't feel like I've benefitted from it at all.

FWIW, I also take CoQ10 (cycle), CLA (daily), and Psyllium (until I finished it).

The whole time I have been working out religiously (although I could have been more strict with the cardio, my resistance training was a full-body circuit) and eating relatively well but my work schedule and environment prevent me from being "perfect."

I'm starting to think that I'm literally pissing money down the drain.

 

[Xenth]

With a Multi-vitamin, I noticed a difference after about a month.

Which was?

 

[Charlie Golf]

After reading the subject of my original post I notice it seemed like an "attack" on folks who supplement. Not my intent at all -- moreso, i should have asked "How long would you use a supp before deciding it's not worth it." Or something along those lines...hopefully you guys understand...dang ole' inner-net

Is there a reason you're adding so many supps?

Basically I take what my MDs recommend.

Creatine, a multi-vitamin, and whey supplementation have pretty much been "proven" more or less on here by other users...so those probably make sense to you.

I use glucosamine b/c my knees are shot from a LOT of running during college and it seems to ease the tenderness of my older (God I can't believe I just said that) joints. This was recommended by a Sports Orthopedist.

I cycle the CoQ10 because it is supposed to have good benefits for one's ticker. Atherosclerosis runs in my family and it (along with CLA) was recommended actually by a cardiologist and my family doctor before they wanted to dry cholesterol meds.

I also got a rather unnerving blood chemistry report a few years back (in my mid-20's) that indicated blood cholesterol was not normal. This was the first time EVER that anything had been off and with the history above, I didn't want to risk it. Hence both the CLA (basically EFAs) and psyllium (which I actually don't take anymore). The last blood chemistry workup(s) was A-OK.

Surprisingly (b/c in the past I have found that docs steer people away from supps and towards Rx meds) my Drs. now recommend Whey, multi, CLA and CoQ10. I add the Creatine b/c I AM a believer, have seen the difference and was taking it before it was cool.

CLA, Whey, and B-vitamins (in the multi) are also good for the brain and both depression and alzheimers run in the family at some point.

Right now I use Whey, Creatine, a Multi, and the CLAs. I cycle the CoQ10 and use the glucosamine only when my knees really start to bother me.

I read a very interesting research article about Pyruvate that indicated that it was a true non-stimulant, thermogenic and used conjunction with diet and exercise can help. I got the it to help with the body-fat "burn" and it's the only one that I don't see any quantifiable evidence of it working. I've since stopped it after trying it for 6 months.

I tried it b/c I believe that the "metabo/rela/hydroxy-you-can-sit-on-the-couch-eat-pizza-all-day-and-never-set-foot-in-a-gym" things are all snake oil filled with unknown stimulants and as soon as you stop taking them you will gain the weight back (if you lost any at all)...but you won't gain the $$$ back.

So it's really only 4 supps, two of which go in a shake together usually. I've thought about using a protein that has CLA/EFA in it, but those things are filled with other unnecessary crap for "fillers." I'd rather just create my own concoction from straight whey powder by adding the creatine and popping a multi and CLA.

Which was?

Most noteabley a marked increase in my energy. But most importantly, after having taken a multi-vitamin for so long, I get sick a lot less often. Or if I do, it is a lot less severe and short-lived.

Over the same period, my immune stress levels and exposure have actually increased so I'm a big believer that the multi is giving me that boost I need.