Should i avoid BCAA

Strengthcamp001
Strengthcamp001 Posts: 18 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I heard that BCAA gives energy for workingout ... but my aim is to lose fat ..so i want my body to use the excess fat for energy .. should i avoid BCAA's

Replies

  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    edited October 2018
    Eat at a calorie deficit for fat loss.

    I’ve never heard of BCAAS being used for energy before. I have heard of them being used after a workout to help your muscles recover (not sure how effective it really is).

    BCAAS won’t prevent fat loss if you are in a calorie deficit.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Strengthcamp001 wrote: »
    I heard that BCAA gives energy for workingout ... but my aim is to lose fat ..so i want my body to use the excess fat for energy .. should i avoid BCAA's

    Are you confusing BCAAs with pre-workout?

    Pre-workout can give you energy for working out, but it's just the caffeine in it.

    BCAAs may help a little with recovery/muscle soreness.

    As for "wanting your body to use the excess fat for energy", that comes down to creating a calorie deficit. Unless you are drinking so much BCAAs that you create a calorie surplus, this is irrelevant. My BCAAs are like 28 calories a scoop.
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    BCAAs do NOT give you energy. The caffeine they are often packaged with does/could, but not the BCAAs.

    For fat loss, focus on your calorie balance/deficit.
  • TrishSeren
    TrishSeren Posts: 587 Member
    You don't need BCAAs as a supplement, they're in your food, you get them anyway from a balanced diet. It's just the latest and greatest marketing fad by the "fitness" industry. Also, remember this diagram and you'll be grand!qb6durvbqnfk.png


  • gearhead426hemi
    gearhead426hemi Posts: 919 Member
    I drink BCAA's when I am going to do a long hike, run or mountain bike ride. They seem to help with recovery when I am really pushing myself. Just my opinion of course.
  • Cahgetsfit
    Cahgetsfit Posts: 1,912 Member
    BCAA for muscle recovery as stated above. mine have virtually no calories coz I buy the non-flavoured pure stuff that tastes like *kitten

    pre-workout gives you energy but personally i dont see the need to take them, it seems to me a bit like a "OMG i'm hardcore I need to feel the buzz, i'm waiting for the pre-workout to kick in" (from instagram posts and so on). I have used pre-workout in the form of pure beta alanine before (not caffeine otherwise I can't sleep), but that was when I was prepping for a show and on stupid meal plan and exhausted and miserable and would arrive at the gym and want to cry instead of work out - so I'd take beta alanine to get me through. So unless you are doing extreme dieting, do you really NEED pre workout?

    My opinion only. I know lots of people who take it and they seem to think it makes them perform better. I feel like I can perform just as well without it.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    gearhead426hemi wrote: »
    I drink BCAA's when I am going to do a long hike, run or mountain bike ride. They seem to help with recovery when I am really pushing myself. Just my opinion of course.


    There isn't any evidence to suggest BCAAs support recovery. If you want a proven recovery supplement, look at Beta Alanine and L-Citruline.

    OP, BCAAs don't have much value.
  • capaul42
    capaul42 Posts: 1,390 Member
    If you are getting enough protein in your diet, BCAA's really aren't necessary. And by enough, I don't mean recommended daily intake, that's too low. I mean 20-30% of your daily macros.
  • HeyEmilio
    HeyEmilio Posts: 64 Member
    I've discontinued taking BCAA supplements and am confident that I'm getting enough with my meal plans

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