Here we are again. If you are reading this, it means that you are looking forward to another tip for making your daily supplements help you achieving your goals. Well, you are in the right section! Let’s go straight to the point then.
An indisputable fact proven by Time
All history books agree on the fact that human race started evolving between 2,3 and 2,4 millions of years ago. If we take the last 70 years off, since the introduction of chemical products in food with the intent to maximize sport performances (roughly after World War II), it’s clear to everyone that the human race has been able to cope pretty well without supplements.
Furthermore, considering that nowadays we can choose when it’s best for us to train according to the priorities of our busy lifestyle (whilst for thousands of years, physical activity resulted from hunting and surviving without the luxury of this choice), we can state that your body does not need any special supplements to survive.
Hold on! Before you post a bad comment or even send the SWAT to my place, please read twice what I have just said.
I am not saying supplements are useless. They do work, but under no circumstances can they replace your natural, extremely effective and endless supplement (I would also add the adjective -free-). This magic formula is called “Motivation”.
WHERE CAN I FIND IT?
Within yourself.
HOW MUCH IT COSTS?
Nothing.
HOW LONG IT LASTS?
It depends on your long-term goals. Studies show that long-term and ego-based goals do not last long.
WHAT IF I NEED MORE THAN THAT?
If you realize it’s not enough, please consider wondering why you are training.
Honestly, answer this: what will your body do without supplements? Would it be able to handle your workouts all by itself, with no help at all..?
Supplements for Martial Arts Training.
Whatever your answer will be, please understand that all supplements you are taking on a daily basis (in the hope that they come from natural sources) are the best choice when your goal is (for example) completing your diet with nutrients that can be useful for your body to recover quickly. However, if your goals are to becoming bigger, or stronger too easily, well maybe you should consider that this can be defined just with one word: cheating.
Nature’s Perspective.
One day, during one of my training session, I noticed a flower bud falling on the ground: the wind just took it apart from its stem. It was still red and beautiful, and I decided to take a few pictures.
After just one hour, it suddenly became wrinkled, as nutrients were no longer being supplied to it. It lasted enough time to show barely one one hour of the best red the originating plant displays when all its flowers are attached to its twigs.
A huge lesson of Life.
To me this was a huge lesson, as I figured out that we are all strong and good looking flowers as long as we receive a source of nutrients (metaphorically speaking, when the plant and its roots are regularly fed with water and fertilizer). Nevertheless, when this source of nutrients is interrupted, we can only rely on what our body can naturally produce.
Final considerations.
As a consequence of what happened to the flower, my opinion is that – yes – good looking flowers are stupendous but, when it comes to choose what to put into the body, I choose to rely on myself and my motivation rather than unnatural and short-lasting powders.
Furthermore, your body can quite easily get used to taking a supplement and will let you down when this source is no longer supplied. Just like a father with his son taking his first steps: of course he will fall on the ground, but then he will stand up and little by little he will start walking with his own legs.
No, our point is that supplement is the perfect support (not the perfect solution) in the following two cases:
- When your body can no longer produce that specific nutrient due to age or due to medical conditions.
- When you are training so hard and steadily that your body needs extra support.
Nowadays you can see people taking protein powder drinks before and after their workouts, although their training sessions are not that exhausting to justify that extra intake of nutrients. Nutrients are essential when training is minimum 2 times a day and 5 days a week, as your methabolism needs to be dramatically activated in order for your body to really benefit from that protein powder. And yes, sessions should be demanding, with few brakes (45/60 minutes of full workout -involving cardio- is a good session)
First, ask your doctor for professional advice, as self-planning your own supplement is not advisable. Furthermore, it would be very wise to interrupt any supplement after few months: this way your body won't feel "indulged" for too long, and will learn to "walk on its hands" by itself, further and further, as a reward for being taken care of.
