# Fitness supplements for older man? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 14, 2018, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-supplements-for-older-man/822940 "2018-10-14T16:15:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-supplements-for-older-man/822940/21 "2018-10-25T01:59:18Z")
Well, roids are unquestionably effective, but they have side effects that could be considered undesirable. One of those is bigorexia - once you start with something mild, like anavar, you might crave getting even bigger, and move on to more potent and dangerous drugs. I’ve decided to stay natural, and see what I can do with my (admittedly crummy) genetics. My gym buddy is trying to talk me into doing a contest this summer… ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-supplements-for-older-man/822940/22 "2018-10-25T02:17:25Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Honestly, I haven’t found anything that had any dramatic effect. > But, the “conventional wisdom” is that Creatine, BCAA’s, and plain old Whey Protein are the most effective. > I used to make my own protein shake, with PB2, Whey protein, and Silk protein nut milk, and it worked very well when I was trying to put on some lean mass. > I’m 58, so I understand where you are coming from. Nothing OTC will have an anabolic effect. The various supplements in pre-workouts simply enable you to do a bit more (maybe 1-2 extra reps per set) in the gym. The extra work is where the extra gaiinzzz come from. I make my own pre-workout cheaper and better at home. 😃 Seriously, it costs me about $10-11/month though you have to buy bulk up front. My mix: 5g Creatine replenishes ATP faster 4g Beta-alanine buffers lactic acid 6g Citrulline malate increases nitric oxide (vasodilator) improves blood flow and muscle pump 200mg Caffeine energy and focus 200mg L-Theanine synergist with caffeine, smooths out the caffeine jolt and crash ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-supplements-for-older-man/822940/23 "2018-10-25T02:20:01Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Nothing OTC will have an anabolic effect. The various supplements in pre-workouts simply enable you to do a bit more (maybe 1-2 extra reps per set) in the gym. The extra work is where the extra gaiinzzz come from. > > I make my own pre-workout cheaper and better at home. 😃 > > Seriously, it costs me about $10-11/month though you have to buy bulk up front. > My mix: > 5g Creatine replenishes ATP faster > 4g Beta-alanine buffers lactic acid > 6g Citrulline malate increases nitric oxide (vasodilator) improves blood flow and muscle pump > 200mg Caffeine energy and focus > 200mg L-Theanine synergist with caffeine, smooths out the caffeine jolt and crash And that’s 1x/day pre-workout? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-supplements-for-older-man/822940/24 "2018-10-25T02:29:04Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > And that’s 1x/day pre-workout? Yes. Also, I buy from Bulksupplements on Amazon. They have a very good reputation of supplying honest supplements. ---
**Author:** ![TGWATY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TGWATY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TGWATY)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-supplements-for-older-man/822940/25 "2018-10-26T15:55:17Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > If your diet is light on meat, dairy and eggs, then I would suggest supplemental protein, either the bars or the powdered stuff. > > Out of curiosity, how do you spend 5 hours on fitness in a day? What exactly do you do? On Sundays I would want to do abs + weightlifting, which is about 2 hours, then hike for 3 hours. But life usually interferes with the hike and I have to settle for less. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-supplements-for-older-man/822940/26 "2019-02-26T00:46:02Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Nothing OTC will have an anabolic effect. The various supplements in pre-workouts simply enable you to do a bit more (maybe 1-2 extra reps per set) in the gym. The extra work is where the extra gaiinzzz come from. > > I make my own pre-workout cheaper and better at home. 😃 > > Seriously, it costs me about $10-11/month though you have to buy bulk up front. > My mix: > 5g Creatine replenishes ATP faster > 4g Beta-alanine buffers lactic acid > 6g Citrulline malate increases nitric oxide (vasodilator) improves blood flow and muscle pump > 200mg Caffeine energy and focus > 200mg L-Theanine synergist with caffeine, smooths out the caffeine jolt and crash I finally decided to give this a shot…first 3 ingredients are on the way. I’m skipping the caffeine since most of my gym trips are in the afternoon and I don’t want it to keep me from sleeping at night. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-supplements-for-older-man/822940/27 "2019-02-26T02:32:40Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I finally decided to give this a shot…first 3 ingredients are on the way. I’m skipping the caffeine since most of my gym trips are in the afternoon and I don’t want it to keep me from sleeping at night. Excellent. Be aware, Beta-alanine causes [paresthesia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paresthesia). It’s harmless and quickly diminishes with continued use. Citruline malate is nasty tasting. You’ll need either a strong fruit or lemonade flavor to cover it. I use a store version of Crystal Light. I mix up several weeks worth at once (dry) and just measure a single dose rather than measuring each ingredient every day. You’ll need a gram scale accurate to at least 1/10th gram. Air-tight canister and leave room to give a good shaking to mix. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-supplements-for-older-man/822940.md?page=1)