A few posts ago, I discussed the "perfect health profile" one might pursue using Prograde products. This included what I consider to be the three essential nutrient profiles for a baseline of good, sustained health:
- VGF 25+ (multivitamin and mineral);
- EFA Icon (krill oil based essential fatty acids), and
- Longevity (proprietary antioxidant blend).
Today, I want to just quickly recommend three essential products for fitness. These products have highly specific functions, and I don't want to give the impression that absolutely everybody should use them. These are sports supplements, so unless you're actively working out--especially with strength and weight training--you should leave them alone.
The first essential component of any good sports supplementation program is protein. Protein derived from whey has been proven to be the most effective and most bioavailable form of protein for many reasons, not least of which is its involvement in the creation of Growth Hormone in the body. Rather than using GH supplementation, many professionals recommend using whey protein to fuel the body's own production of this muscle-building hormone (it's also a more natural process).
Prograde's protein is sweetened with stevia, a natural plant-derived sweetener that has no calories, no insulin response, and leaves no chemical residue or trace in the body. This is in stark contrast to artificial sweeteners like aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose, all of which have been shown to produce highly toxic effects on the body.
Whey protein is absorbed very quickly, and goes to work in muscle repair almost immediately. Other proteins, like the casein in milk, tend to work over a more protracted period. This is why some experts recommend taking a whey protein shake with milk before bed on heavy lifting days. The two work together overnight to help build your muscles while you sleep.
(*Note that other experts have found this process will interrupt your sleep as well, so bear that in mind if you find you can't sleep. It's because the ingestion of protein and sugar, as found in the milk, gives you more energy, making it harder to sleep restfully. Try it and see what works for you.)
The second essential product is a recovery drink. While protein is good, and we do want to avoid a high-sugar diet, the fact of the matter is that research has proven time and again what happens if you don't help your body replenish its supplies of available sugar.
You start burning muscle for energy. Yikes!
Prograde Workout contains both protein and simple sugars to help counteract the the potentially damaging effects of post-workout glycolysis. The glycogen cycle is a critical phase in muscle recovery, and feeding it properly is only a smart move. I've found that a serving of Workout before working out helps fuel my workouts, while a serving after really does make a big difference in how fast I get my energy back.
The third component for a fitness program is sort of optional. It's really most important for those looking to burn more fat. It's called Metabolism, and it's specially formulated to increase metabolic burn. Now, this stuff does contain caffeine, so if you have a heart condition or trouble sleeping you don't want to use it. But if you're otherwise OK (please check with your doctor beforehand, just to be sure), it really does help to accelerate fat loss. It's not unlike other products (Absolute Lean Team, Hydroxycut, etc.), but I will say that I've personally found it to be more effective. I also didn't get any twitchiness like I did with Hydroxycut. That stuff made me jittery!
So, the basic fitness/fat-loss trio I recommend is:
- Prograde Protein
- Prograde Workout
- Prograde Metabolism
Yes, there is a combo pack, but it doesn't include metabolism. If you go to the combo packs page, you can get Protein and Workout as a pack. Then just visit the Metabolism page to buy it separately. And remember, before you do any of it, check with your doctor. This is especially important if you're over 35, but it really does go for anybody.
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