BCAA's ??

tinakathleen525
tinakathleen525 Posts: 26 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
in trying to shed body fat and was wondering if any women used amino acids as a supplement for cardio?? What's your experience like with it? How effective is it?

Replies

  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    If you have sufficient protein intake, you do not need BCAA's. It's also not going to provide you any direct benefit regarding fat loss.
  • noclady1995
    noclady1995 Posts: 452 Member
    I had been wrestling with this question, too. And this is what I gained from all the research I gathered. Since I consume quite a bit of protein daily, I decided it wasn't necessary.
    LolBroScience wrote: »
    If you have sufficient protein intake, you do not need BCAA's. It's also not going to provide you any direct benefit regarding fat loss.
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    http://examine.com/supplements/Branched+Chain+Amino+Acids/
  • dieselbyte
    dieselbyte Posts: 733 Member
    LolBroScience wrote: »
    If you have sufficient protein intake, you do not need BCAA's. It's also not going to provide you any direct benefit regarding fat loss.

    ^This.
  • Julz519
    Julz519 Posts: 22 Member
    tinakathleen525 wrote: »
    in trying to shed body fat and was wondering if any women used amino acids as a supplement for cardio?? What's your experience like with it? How effective is it?

    I take my BCAA's daily AND eat between 145 and 160 grams of protein a day. I personally feel like I can tell a difference when I don't take them. I don't supplement for my cardio though. I HATE cardio so I try to get in at least 3-4 HIIT sessions a week (just 20 minutes). I know everyone is different, but my body responded a lot more when I started doing less cardio and lifting heavier.
    Good Luck :smile:
  • ew_david
    ew_david Posts: 3,473 Member
    I use it, but my protein intake is mediocre at best. It does nothing for weight loss. However, my post workout recovery time has decreased and DOMS aren't as bad as they used to be.
  • tinakathleen525
    tinakathleen525 Posts: 26 Member
    Hey guys!! Thanks for all the input!! @Julz519 I hate cardio too!!! Unfortunately I am a pear shape so fat loss is hard for me so I try my best to get as much in!! I have started using the weight machines at the gym though to see if that helps with fat loss
  • ew_david
    ew_david Posts: 3,473 Member
    tinakathleen525 wrote: »
    Hey guys!! Thanks for all the input!! @Julz519 I hate cardio too!!! Unfortunately I am a pear shape so fat loss is hard for me so I try my best to get as much in!! I have started using the weight machines at the gym though to see if that helps with fat loss

    Your diet will help with fat loss.
  • tinakathleen525
    tinakathleen525 Posts: 26 Member
    Yes eliminated processed sugar, alcohol, most dairy, white carbs, and fried food I lost 1.5 lb in 2 weeks, it's slow so I'm trying to to be discouraged
  • dieselbyte
    dieselbyte Posts: 733 Member
    edited May 2015
    tinakathleen525 wrote: »
    Yes eliminated processed sugar, alcohol, most dairy, white carbs, and fried food I lost 1.5 lb in 2 weeks, it's slow so I'm trying to to be discouraged

    Caloric deficit is all that is needed. None of those foods will hinder weight loss, and there is no need to "eliminate" any foods from your diet. Moderation is key. White carbs do not hold some magic that makes you gain weight...
  • tinakathleen525
    tinakathleen525 Posts: 26 Member
    It's when I eat these is when I go overboard. Especially pizza and wine, I'm an emotional eater
  • dieselbyte
    dieselbyte Posts: 733 Member
    I get emotional when my pizza is finished too...

    All kidding aside, ask yourself if you can follow this long-term? What happens when you try to re-introduce these foods back into your diet?
  • joeboland
    joeboland Posts: 205 Member
    LolBroScience wrote: »
    If you have sufficient protein intake, you do not need BCAA's. It's also not going to provide you any direct benefit regarding fat loss.

    This is mostly correct - the only exception I'm aware of would be if you engage in either Intermittent Fasting, or fasted training. In this case, BCAA supplements will provide necessary aminos to prevent muscle breakdown without breaking your fast with excess calories.
  • Alidecker
    Alidecker Posts: 1,262 Member
    dieselbyte wrote: »
    I get emotional when my pizza is finished too...

    All kidding aside, ask yourself if you can follow this long-term? What happens when you try to re-introduce these foods back into your diet?

    Agree with this, when I started losing weight 6 years ago I worked with a trainer. I was upset with myself for having pizza fairly early on, his response was "Is it realistic that you will never eat pizza again? No, so learn how to incorporated it into your diet now while still losing weight"
  • ythannah
    ythannah Posts: 4,371 Member
    I use BCAAs pre-workout because I work out fasted and sometimes fall short on my daily protein goal. I'm hoping to preserve muscle, not lose fat.
  • tinakathleen525
    tinakathleen525 Posts: 26 Member
    I do allow myself certain foods once in awhile and in moderation. I could never leave pizza lol if I feel bad about I just work longer at the gym
  • dieselbyte
    dieselbyte Posts: 733 Member
    joeboland wrote: »
    LolBroScience wrote: »
    If you have sufficient protein intake, you do not need BCAA's. It's also not going to provide you any direct benefit regarding fat loss.

    This is mostly correct - the only exception I'm aware of would be if you engage in either Intermittent Fasting, or fasted training. In this case, BCAA supplements will provide necessary aminos to prevent muscle breakdown without breaking your fast with excess calories.

    Training causes muscle breakdown, fasted or not. BCAA supplementation alone doesn't prevent muscle breakdown. The concern is net protein balance - MPS vs MPB. Training fasted doesn't require BCAA supplementation if you are breaking the fast relatively soon. However, to your point, if you train fasted and will remain in a fasted state for an extended period of time, BCAA supplementation may be more optimal than waiting 6-8 hours post workout to break your fast and consume protein.
  • kindrabbit
    kindrabbit Posts: 837 Member
    tinakathleen525 wrote: »
    in trying to shed body fat and was wondering if any women used amino acids as a supplement for cardio?? What's your experience like with it? How effective is it?

    I asked this question at my local sports nutrition shop. I was asking because I was suffering badly with DOMS and had been recommended BCAA's. I was told that a decent protein powder will have sufficient BCAA's for my purposes. In my research I have found that most protein powders are lower in calories than pure BCAA's so I have stuck to protein powder.
  • G33K_G1RL
    G33K_G1RL Posts: 283 Member
    My coach recommended BCAAs for my kickboxing workouts, which can be 3 hours and pretty intense. I haven't been taking them long enough to really conclude if they make a difference, but my main goal with them is to help muscles rebuild after workouts, not weight loss.

    Also, because my kickboxing finishes late, I don't have a huge meal after, so it's harder to get all the protein I need in that window :)

    Don't take BCAA for weight loss, and don't take them just because "so-and-so" said it was a good idea. IF you have an intense workout and your protein intake is on the low side, then you might want to consider it to help recovery.
  • dieselbyte
    dieselbyte Posts: 733 Member
    Karen_libert wrote: »
    tinakathleen525 wrote: »
    in trying to shed body fat and was wondering if any women used amino acids as a supplement for cardio?? What's your experience like with it? How effective is it?

    I asked this question at my local sports nutrition shop. I was asking because I was suffering badly with DOMS and had been recommended BCAA's. I was told that a decent protein powder will have sufficient BCAA's for my purposes. In my research I have found that most protein powders are lower in calories than pure BCAA's so I have stuck to protein powder.

    How is that possible??? Leucine, isoleucine and valine are BCAA's. BCAA's are Branched Chain Amino Acids. Protein is a series of up to 20 Branched Chain Amino Acids. How can protein be lower in calories compared to the amino acids that make them up??

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