BCAAs?

brichic
brichic Posts: 5 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Does anyone use BCAAs for their workouts?
If you do, do you use them pre or post? And have you found them to be effective?

BCAAs stands for "branched chain amino acids" for anyone wondering, thanks!

Replies

  • east6500
    east6500 Posts: 1 Member
    edited March 2016
    Yeah, I just stated supplementing them daily. but, I'm cutting some fat right now, on my 2nd week in Ketosis. I usually only use them post workout due to the fact that leucine can spike your insulin (bad for fat loss). Haven't really noticed a difference except for the fact that I'm still gaining muscle definition while not eating carbs in caloric deficit! :)
  • jessef593
    jessef593 Posts: 2,272 Member
    I wouldn't recommend them unless you're pulling 2-3hr long workouts or you're at an extreme deficit and want to prevent losing as much lean mass as possible. I used to take BCAAs religiously. Intra workout, before bed, if I woke up in the night. And nothing, the real thing that got me making progress was eating at a surplus and working out progressively.

    You'd be better off saving your money and just sticking to good old water in my opinion, if you're eating enough protein chances are you're getting more than enough leucine for protein synthesis. It's the same for glutamine, unless you're top tier or getting competition ready I see absolutely no point in spending your money.
  • jessef593
    jessef593 Posts: 2,272 Member
    I know that after I've said this, people are going to study bomb this thread out of existence, but truly they don't make any significant difference.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    I take them intra workout when I'm on a deficit. Maintenance or surplus, I do not.
  • tristen_leigh
    tristen_leigh Posts: 214 Member
    I've started taking them during my workout with glutamine (mixed with water in a shaker bottle to sip on during workouts) and I do notice I am way less sore than usual. I haven't been taking them long enough to tell you anything long term though. Good luck!
  • selina884
    selina884 Posts: 826 Member
    Yep eggs
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • hockeysniper8
    hockeysniper8 Posts: 253 Member
    I am 40, weight train and play hockey twice a week. Just started using Cellucor Bcaa's during workouts and hockey games. Muscles are not stiff or sore the next day
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    I use them intraworkout. Even if it's completely placebo effect, they help me sustain my training all the way to my last set and are therefore worth it
  • spzjlb
    spzjlb Posts: 599 Member
    I'm not answering the OP but this brings forth an honest question: Why not just take whey protein, which is an abundant source of BCAAs and much cheaper?
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    spzjlb wrote: »
    I'm not answering the OP but this brings forth an honest question: Why not just take whey protein, which is an abundant source of BCAAs and much cheaper?

    Calories. Which is why I think BCAAs are only even possibly worth considering when on a deficit.
  • ninenines
    ninenines Posts: 197 Member
    I often weight train first thing in the morning in a fasted state and don't eat until much later, so take BCAAs intra workout on those days. If I'm lifting later in the day I don't bother.
  • cajuntank
    cajuntank Posts: 924 Member
    A good read on BCAAs given to me by @SideSteel

    Read all parts
    http://josephagu.com/2013/01/18/bcaas-for-bodybuilders-just-the-science-part-1/

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