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BCAA

What do you take?

BFSmad
BFSmad g Chris Barber
28 Post(s)
28 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: February 2, 2014
Posted

Sup dudes!!

 

Right - we all know how key our BCAA's are in the daily supplement stack, now my question is this; Do we have to take a break from them? How many servings a day do you take? and do you mix brands??

 

I ask, as currently I am taking BCAA, L-Glutamine, and Creatine Monohydrate at work at 11am, then BSN Amino-X at 5:15 while at the gym training. I use 2 different bands for 2 reasons, 1- Because I cant afford to buy that much BSN ! 2- I figure they will be slightly different in ingredients, and therefore offer a slightly different benefit to each other.

Chris Barber 20 Motocross Racer SheetMetalWorker Instagram: @FitnessKidChris Snapchat/Twitter: @BFSmad
JoeHurricane
JoeHurricane p Jordan Matthews
1.5K Post(s)
1.5K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: December 12, 2013
Posted
Posted By: BFSmad

Sup dudes!!

 

Right - we all know how key our BCAA's are in the daily supplement stack, now my question is this; Do we have to take a break from them? How many servings a day do you take? and do you mix brands??

 

I ask, as currently I am taking BCAA, L-Glutamine, and Creatine Monohydrate at work at 11am, then BSN Amino-X at 5:15 while at the gym training. I use 2 different bands for 2 reasons, 1- Because I cant afford to buy that much BSN ! 2- I figure they will be slightly different in ingredients, and therefore offer a slightly different benefit to each other.

Hey man!

 

There are lots of different answers out there as to the best amount to take daily. I think about 5-10g is enough, but taking between 10-20g a day probably won't hurt you either. You don't HAVE to take a break from them, but you can if you want too, to see how you train without them and whether it makes a difference.

 

I'm actually only getting one serving from my whey protein at the moment myself after my workout, but planning on getting some BSN Amino-X very soon!

 

I don't think it matters if you have different brands, especially seeing as you have them separately...do they have any different ingredients?

 

Jordan

SHF Athlete MS Athlete Partial Fitness YouTuber
jmboiardi
jmboiardi p John M Boiardi
2.6K Post(s)
2.6K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: October 10, 2013
Posted
Posted By: BFSmad

Sup dudes!!

 

Right - we all know how key our BCAA's are in the daily supplement stack, now my question is this; Do we have to take a break from them? How many servings a day do you take? and do you mix brands??

 

I ask, as currently I am taking BCAA, L-Glutamine, and Creatine Monohydrate at work at 11am, then BSN Amino-X at 5:15 while at the gym training. I use 2 different bands for 2 reasons, 1- Because I cant afford to buy that much BSN ! 2- I figure they will be slightly different in ingredients, and therefore offer a slightly different benefit to each other.

Chris,

 

BCAA's are not only in supplements but in all the protein rich foods you eat. You don't need to take a break from them and many times if you are eating enough protein you don't even need to buy BCAA supplements. I use Optimum Nutrition capsules and I take a total of 3 grams each day - 2 grams before I work out and 1 gram with my protein shake after I workout. I add them in because in this form the body absorbs them immediately. They are good to protect muscle and provide energy before a workout as I do intermittent fasting so I only have 1 meal before I work out. They promote protein synthesis, especially Leucine, which is important right after your workouts.

 

John

34 years of lifting and nutritional experience and resident "old man" :-) MS Athlete and past Super Hermanite since 2013.
Scott_Herman
Scott_Herman a Scott Herman
7.1K Post(s)
7.1K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: August 8, 2008
Posted

Great advice @JoeHurricane and @jmboiardi,

 

I personally use @BSN AMINO-X and I take it in the morning. two scoops. You can take it anytime and it has 0 calories.

no need to cycle off it. It's just BCAAs!

Need 1 on 1 coaching? Send me a direct message to learn more!
FearlessRobb
FearlessRobb g Robert Lucier
108 Post(s)
108 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: November 11, 2014
Posted

I use BSN AMino X.  I dont use it daily. I only use in on the days that my work out land on a fasting part of my day.  so if i havent eaten anything in the last 3-4 hrs and im not for another 6-12 hrs and im going rto work out i use BCAAS otherwise if im eating before or after i dont.  Saves me a little money that way also cause im poor and cant afford to take it daily lol

FearlessRobb 370lbs to 260lbs Deadlift 375x10(don't know max 1RPM) Bench 245x7(don't know max 1RPM) Squat
philflorey
philflorey g Phil McAuliffe
163 Post(s)
163 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Lose Fat Date Joined: March 3, 2013
Posted
Posted By: BFSmad

Sup dudes!!

 

Right - we all know how key our BCAA's are in the daily supplement stack, now my question is this; Do we have to take a break from them? How many servings a day do you take? and do you mix brands??

 

I ask, as currently I am taking BCAA, L-Glutamine, and Creatine Monohydrate at work at 11am, then BSN Amino-X at 5:15 while at the gym training. I use 2 different bands for 2 reasons, 1- Because I cant afford to buy that much BSN ! 2- I figure they will be slightly different in ingredients, and therefore offer a slightly different benefit to each other.

Hi Chris

 

Thanks for asking the question as I have the same one!

 

Thanks @joehurricane, @jmboiardi and @scott_herman for your answers.

 

For me, I take 2000mg (that's 2 grams, right?) of BodyScience's BCAAs (www.bodyscience.com.au). 1000mg before working out and another 1000mg after working out. Like John, I train in the fasted state during a 16:8 IF period.

 

Cheers

Eat like a man Train like a beast Operate like a gentlemen Become a legend
Whisper
Whisper p+ Kostas Kroustaloudis
687 Post(s)
687 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Train for a sport Date Joined: September 9, 2011
Posted
Posted By: BFSmad

Sup dudes!!

 

Right - we all know how key our BCAA's are in the daily supplement stack, now my question is this; Do we have to take a break from them? How many servings a day do you take? and do you mix brands??

 

I ask, as currently I am taking BCAA, L-Glutamine, and Creatine Monohydrate at work at 11am, then BSN Amino-X at 5:15 while at the gym training. I use 2 different bands for 2 reasons, 1- Because I cant afford to buy that much BSN ! 2- I figure they will be slightly different in ingredients, and therefore offer a slightly different benefit to each other.

I personally have never used BCAA's. Its one of the supplements I dont believe to be working much. Same with glutamine. BCAA's can be somewhat useful, but they are expensive as well. So I dont see the reason to pay a bunch of money for making my body 0,2% better looking.

Cutting is a whole different story though. I might recommend BCAA's for cutting although they are still not necessary. If you are using them anyway, there is no reason to take a break from them. Its almost like saying "to take a break from food". You could do it, but its not necessary and somewhat pointless.

Kostas

Muscular Strength Athlete and Content Manager 6 Years Lifting Experience Bachelors in Molecular Chemistry/Biochemistry, Working towards Masters Lifting Style & Philosophy : Aikido, Energy, Balance, Flexibility, Posture
JoeHurricane
JoeHurricane p Jordan Matthews
1.5K Post(s)
1.5K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: December 12, 2013
Posted
Posted By: philflorey

Hi Chris

 

Thanks for asking the question as I have the same one!

 

Thanks @joehurricane, @jmboiardi and @scott_herman for your answers.

 

For me, I take 2000mg (that's 2 grams, right?) of BodyScience's BCAAs (www.bodyscience.com.au). 1000mg before working out and another 1000mg after working out. Like John, I train in the fasted state during a 16:8 IF period.

 

Cheers

Yup @philflorey 2000mg = 2g. So you could potentially take more if you wanted to.

 

Are you taking powder or capsules? I can't find the ingredients but both look OK..certainly hope so given the price of the powder in particular haha

 

Jordan

SHF Athlete MS Athlete Partial Fitness YouTuber
Daniel_Meyer
Daniel_Meyer g Daniel Meyer
518 Post(s)
518 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: October 10, 2013
Posted
Posted By: BFSmad

Sup dudes!!

 

Right - we all know how key our BCAA's are in the daily supplement stack, now my question is this; Do we have to take a break from them? How many servings a day do you take? and do you mix brands??

 

I ask, as currently I am taking BCAA, L-Glutamine, and Creatine Monohydrate at work at 11am, then BSN Amino-X at 5:15 while at the gym training. I use 2 different bands for 2 reasons, 1- Because I cant afford to buy that much BSN ! 2- I figure they will be slightly different in ingredients, and therefore offer a slightly different benefit to each other.

With regards to BCAAs I like to use 10g intra-workout. Try to get BCAAs with a higher content of leucine as it is shown to stimulate more protein synthesis.

Take 10g of glutamine post workout as this may help with digestion

Sport Rehabilitation BSc GSR Sport Rehabilitator and S&C coach at Boston United FC Super Hermanite Twitter: Daniel_Meyer99
philflorey
philflorey g Phil McAuliffe
163 Post(s)
163 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Lose Fat Date Joined: March 3, 2013
Posted
Posted By: JoeHurricane

Yup @philflorey 2000mg = 2g. So you could potentially take more if you wanted to.

 

Are you taking powder or capsules? I can't find the ingredients but both look OK..certainly hope so given the price of the powder in particular haha

 

Jordan

Hi Jordan

 

Thanks for helping me out on my maths there!!

 

I take the tablet form. I find it's easier to transport and take. There's no pfaffing around with shakers, etc.

 

There's also BCAAs in my protein powder, so I'm taking about 4g most days (except rest days)

 

Cheers

Eat like a man Train like a beast Operate like a gentlemen Become a legend
AnabolicAliens
AnabolicAliens g Anabolic Aliens
36 Post(s)
36 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: January 1, 2015
Posted

BCAAs can be useful as a supplement, but are not necessary if you are eating a protein-rich diet. The most important amino acid to look for is leucine.

 

BCAAs are a good tool to use when you are limited on calories- something to consume when you are in-between meals, or at the gym.

 

They MAY help fight muscle protein breakdown during times of fasting.

 

BCAAs tend to be price-y. And so are most protein-rich foods.

 

-Personally I prefer to get my BCAAs from foods! But Scott just gave me some BSN brand BCAAs , so I will give them a try!

 

Don't worry- I'm in college for Nutritional Science!

 

 

JoeHurricane
JoeHurricane p Jordan Matthews
1.5K Post(s)
1.5K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: December 12, 2013
Posted
Posted By: philflorey

Hi Jordan

 

Thanks for helping me out on my maths there!!

 

I take the tablet form. I find it's easier to transport and take. There's no pfaffing around with shakers, etc.

 

There's also BCAAs in my protein powder, so I'm taking about 4g most days (except rest days)

 

Cheers

Nice Phil, sounds like you are covered then!

SHF Athlete MS Athlete Partial Fitness YouTuber
JoeHurricane
JoeHurricane p Jordan Matthews
1.5K Post(s)
1.5K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: December 12, 2013
Posted
Posted By: AnabolicAliens

BCAAs can be useful as a supplement, but are not necessary if you are eating a protein-rich diet. The most important amino acid to look for is leucine.

 

BCAAs are a good tool to use when you are limited on calories- something to consume when you are in-between meals, or at the gym.

 

They MAY help fight muscle protein breakdown during times of fasting.

 

BCAAs tend to be price-y. And so are most protein-rich foods.

 

-Personally I prefer to get my BCAAs from foods! But Scott just gave me some BSN brand BCAAs , so I will give them a try!

 

Don't worry- I'm in college for Nutritional Science!

 

 

I read that a BCAA supplement is actually good and potentially better than simply getting it from your proteins because as a supplement, they are not tied to other amino-acids, where as in proteins they are tied to others.

 

So when you take them as a supplement, they are abosobed quicker and make for better protein synthesis.

 

I suppose this could be mainly useful if you were using them to fuel your workout though. If you weren't using them for a workout, I guess it might not matter how quickly they are absorbed, just as long as they are abosrbed.

 

Jordan

SHF Athlete MS Athlete Partial Fitness YouTuber
BFSmad
BFSmad g Chris Barber
28 Post(s)
28 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: February 2, 2014
Posted

Just purchased some BPI BCAA's from bodybuilding.com as they had an awesome deal on. I'm curious if they will be better, as BSN is fizzy and makes you burp !! Which is funny... Until it ruins your sets because you keep needing to stop !

Chris Barber 20 Motocross Racer SheetMetalWorker Instagram: @FitnessKidChris Snapchat/Twitter: @BFSmad
muscular strength
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