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Posted 10/23/2007 11:32 AM (GMT -8)
hey guys, so recently i started feeling good enough that I could get back into the gym (still flaring a little bit) and start working out again. I used to lift pretty hard in high school and I used to take a lot of whey protein. but it seems like my body wont handle that anymore. I lost a lot of weight since i got UC and I am looking to put back on a lot of that muscle mass. I wanted to know the supplements you guys are using (if any) or if you had a preworkout or postworkout plan that was effective for you.

I tried out some of my buddies NO EXPLODE last night, and that didnt seem to bother me to much, so I might continue on that.

Also ive read some posts and it seems that people are back and forth on creatine.


thanks for your help guys

/Joe
Posted 10/23/2007 11:49 AM (GMT -8)
I had success with Muscle Milk. It also tasted good (chocolate).
Posted 10/23/2007 11:51 AM (GMT -8)
I'll post back later tonight. Stay tuned!
Posted 10/23/2007 12:40 PM (GMT -8)
going back to the gym tonite after 2 mos, I never used any kind of supplement. I am psyched, will probably only go for 1/2 hour and do 1/2 what I normally do but just need to get my muscles stretched and feel good again. Will start slowly
Posted 10/23/2007 12:50 PM (GMT -8)
I don't consider NOXplode a supplement. It's really just caffeine with a small amount of creatine (malate). It'll get you bouncing off the walls pre-workout, and might help to squeeze out an extra rep here and there. To put your mass back on you'll need a surplus of calories, approx. 1 gram protein per pound of lean body mass, and a good mix of complex carbs and fats......and you'll need to lift heavy weights and get plenty of sleep. I sip on a mixture of creatine monohydrate (5g) in 16 oz water and a few scoops of Gatorade powder during my workouts, and then I drink a half serving of CytoGainer post workout. I recommend staying away from the machines, and use the free weights. Flat Barbell bench press, barbell squats, deadlifts, barbell rows, overhand pull-ups and dips. 2-3 days per week, 2 sets of 8 reps for each exercise. Do that for 8 weeks, then look into adding some isolation exercises like curls, straight-leg deadlifts, barbell hack squats, abs, etc. www.wannabebig.com has a forum that is crammed full of good information about diet and exercise
Posted 10/23/2007 2:16 PM (GMT -8)
Caffeine can be irritating to a sensitive gut. I'd proceed carefully.

Make sure you're using a whey protein isolate, not a concentrate. The isolate is easier on the digestion. If you find whey bothers you, you might try an egg white protein. I've been using Jay Robb's egg white protein. L-glutamine is a good supplement to add... the pure powder is good for muscle building AND for gut healing and it's tasteless.
Posted 10/23/2007 2:23 PM (GMT -8)
creatine always did me in...and i jhad mixed results with whey... the best/easiest on the belly, thing I tried was straight eggwhites post-workout. Boil 5-6 eggs, toss away the yolks, (or maybe save one to help the taste, and mixit al lup with a fork. it ends up being about quite a decent amount of protein and zero fat, unless you mix in a yolk.

however, I should add that I did not gain muscle mass with this... pure calories throughout the day will help you there--the eggwhite was just my post workout solution, since that's pretty crucial.

goodluck!
Posted 10/23/2007 2:25 PM (GMT -8)
I've been lifting and using supplements daily for about 5 years.

My "normal" daily supplements are as follows:

(1) serving of Scivation Xtend during my workout and post workout (BCAA's)

5g of creatine mono post workout

aprox. 40g of protein 15-20 minutes after my Xtend post workout

MHP Active multi

Now Ultra Omega3 (best fish oil imo) check out the EPA & DHA per serving

I recently added Real Gains for between meals at the office to help gain some of my weight back. My recent flare knocked 10lbs off me :(

those are my daily supps

Now when I feel like it I take NoXplode pre-workout (good stuff imo)
I also like to supplement with an Arginine supplement as well if I got it (Nitrix, NO2 or Blitz Cycle fan)
Sometimes I'll take a bucket of Glutamine too if I have some. I like taking this with some extra vitamin c during cold season

When I got diagnosed with UC, I stopped everything. Just recently I talked to my dr about this and he said he see's no problem at all with what I've listed. Take it for what it's worth I guess. All I know is I like to work out and I love my supplements.
Posted 10/23/2007 2:54 PM (GMT -8)
I find that my mind and body benefit enormously from strenuous workouts- I go to the gym alot even when flaring, except when pain or urgency to the toilet holds me abck, anyway. Even then I find I can usually "bull" my way into doing some good reps on various machines.

My biggest gripe is that I can't gain weight worth a dxmn. I am extremely lactose intolerant and although I do eat some essentially lactose-free dairy including homemade yogurt (high fat stuff at that), I need a lot of it to gain weight (and weight is needed to get muscle mass and move on to heavier resistance). I have cautiously tried some of these weight building supplements but don't seem to tolerate any of them well. Glutamine I can tolerate except that it constipates me in more than very small doses.

Low-carbing helps my gut alot (avoidance of starches, sugars etc) but without traditional carbs it is hard for me to gain weight.
Posted 10/23/2007 4:11 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks a lot for all the posts guys, hopefully I can get back into some good shape .

/joe
Posted 10/23/2007 4:41 PM (GMT -8)
the gym is where it's at. Even during the toughest of times, you / I will feel SOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER after working out.

For any of you looking for vitamins, minerals or supplements

www.dpsnutrition.com

www.bodybuilding.com

those two sites cannot be beat. Shipping is cheap and fast! Very dependable sources
Posted 10/24/2007 6:05 AM (GMT -8)

Probiotic said...
My biggest gripe is that I can't gain weight worth a dxmn. I am extremely lactose intolerant and although I do eat some essentially lactose-free dairy including homemade yogurt (high fat stuff at that), I need a lot of it to gain weight (and weight is needed to get muscle mass and move on to heavier resistance). I have cautiously tried some of these weight building supplements but don't seem to tolerate any of them well. Glutamine I can tolerate except that it constipates me in more than very small doses.

Low-carbing helps my gut alot (avoidance of starches, sugars etc) but without traditional carbs it is hard for me to gain weight.

I found it helpful to supplement with omega3 oils so that good fats help replace some of the calories lost when avoiding starchy carbs. I use Udo's, olive and flax oils and take 'em by the tablespoonful. Nut butters and avacado are also good sources of healthy fats and calories.

You may be interested in a weight training and diet program developed specifically for hard gainers called the Gaining Mass program by Anthony Ellis. It helped me put on weight in the form of healthy muscle for really the first time in my life. It's a great program. Seems like alot of the members have food sensitivities and issues... made us wonder if it's not pretty common for hardgainers/ectomorphs to have digestive problems. Anyhow, check out the program at: http://www.skinnyguy.net/

Posted 10/24/2007 7:45 AM (GMT -8)
I do weight training at home along with cardio of course and I don't take any work-out supplements, if you're able to eat right you should be getting your protien via diet, chicken, fish, ect...I've heard too much creatine caused D so I'd be really careful with that, I don't think it's worth the risk of ending up in a flare just to have bigger muscles...besides, my own personal opinion, on both male and female bodies it's nice to see natural muscle not muscle enhancement...muscles are very genetic driven as well, it's said that you can do thousands of stomach crunches but if you don't have enough of a genetic component you won't likely have really ripped abs.

:)
Posted 10/24/2007 12:02 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks princesa for the links- I will check out the articles in there. I guess I am definitely a "hard gainer," even moreso since becoming low carb. Not that I'd trade that for a moment, as the LCing tangibly helps my IBD.
Posted 10/24/2007 7:27 PM (GMT -8)
I am not a big exercise person and decided to go to two fitness classes tonight after not really exercising at all for months and I am so sore I can barely walk. My legs have never felt this sore in my life...and I'm guessing it will only get worse in the next few days! I've never taken any work-out supplements, but just bought some l-Glutamine b/c my friend said it might make my muscles heal faster.

princesca - Is it better to take powder l-Glutamine or capsules? I just bought some powder stuff from Wal-mart, but I'm not sure if it's a good brand or not (Body Fortress). It has 4,500 mg per serving.
Posted 10/25/2007 6:00 AM (GMT -8)

pb4 said...
...it's said that you can do thousands of stomach crunches but if you don't have enough of a genetic component you won't likely have really ripped abs.

The cliche "great abs are made in the kitchen" is probably more important than genetics. You gotta watch the diet and remove the layer of fat before you can expose the ab muscles.

Sara14 said...

princesca - Is it better to take powder l-Glutamine or capsules? I just bought some powder stuff from Wal-mart, but I'm not sure if it's a good brand or not (Body Fortress). It has 4,500 mg per serving.

I prefer the powder. You'd have to choke down a ton of capsules to get the amount you can get in a teaspoon or so of a pure, high quality powder. I mix it with my powdered probiotics and water two or three times a day.

Posted 10/25/2007 6:25 AM (GMT -8)
princesea or anyone used rice protein? I can't take whey protein isolate, but it could be brands with artificial sweeteners...lots of cramping gas.

princesea..does the Jay Robb's egg white protein have any sweeteners?
How much do you take and how?

thanks,
quincy
Posted 10/25/2007 7:15 AM (GMT -8)
Good thread. All I can say on glutamine is- be careful and start with a low dose because it can be (is for me and most I know) VERY constipating. Even a teaspoonful, i..e a few grams, can block me up all day. If this 'normalized' the stool it would be one thing, but it just makes for a more blocked up D later in my case. In low doses it can be helpful for me getting out and about if I am having an urgent D day though.
Posted 10/25/2007 7:28 AM (GMT -8)
princesa,

The point is, even with proprer eating habits (especially geared towards muslce toning) genetics IS the #1 key factor on how ones muslces develop....you can eat very carefully and do a thousand crunches but that will NOT guarantee you'll show ripped abs since genetics IS the key component.
Posted 10/25/2007 8:11 AM (GMT -8)
the best egg protein powder imo:
http://www.dpsnutrition.net/get_item_on015.htm

tastes good too
Posted 10/25/2007 10:41 AM (GMT -8)

quincy said...
princesea or anyone used rice protein? I can't take whey protein isolate, but it could be brands with artificial sweeteners...lots of cramping gas.

princesea..does the Jay Robb's egg white protein have any sweeteners?
How much do you take and how?

thanks,
quincy

I don't use rice protein because I avoid all grains.

Jay Robb's egg white protein is sweetened with stevia. I take a scoop 1-3 times a day, mixed in water with probiotics and l-glutamine.

http://www.jayrobb.com/cat_proteinEggWhiteAll.asp

L-glutamine is helpful for controlling diarrhea, so yes, it can be constipating if you take too much or are sensitive to it.

pb4, I think we're both right. Yes, genetics determine how much muscle you can gain of different types, but you won't see anything if it's covered by a layer of abdominal fat... and no amount of crunches will make fat go away.

 

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