In the fitness world, women are always looking for ways to increase performance in the gym. Besides being able to maintain a consistent training routine many women rely on certain supplements to help burn fat and maintain energy. Unfortunately, most of the supplements sold are made for women.
Women consume 35% of all supplements sold. What this means is that there are much fewer supplements made for women. In this article, I will discuss some of the best supplements for women to help burn fat and build muscle.
There are many women who train just as hard as men, the difference is that many women have different requirements than men. One of the frustrating things for women is that most supplements are made for the male athlete. In this article, I will discuss some of the best supplements women should consider helping improve performance in the gym and some of the benefits they can offer.
Table of Contents
Are supplements necessary?
Realistically, supplements are not something you have to take, many people are on a tight budget and can only support a monthly gym membership. and the truth is if you are eating properly you probably do not need a supplement. If you do have some extra money certain supplements can make a big difference in how you train. I know from personal experience that the older I get, trying to juggle work, and family and still make it to the gym is hard.
As women get older, we tend to get tired quicker, and worst of all we tend to accumulate fat easily. There are many supplements that are not that expensive and can make a big difference in how you feel. Below are some supplements you may want to consider depending on your activities.
Fat burners
Fat burners are one of my all-time favorites, in fact, for most women who just start going to the gym, this is a must-have. Most fat burners are sold as a weight loss aid to help curb appetite and of course, lose weight.
Fat burners can do much more, especially if you exercise. A lot of women do some kind of cardio, but regardless of what kind of exercise you are doing a fat burner can give you energy, speed up your metabolism and give you energy throughout the day.
I would like to say that all fat burners are the same but they are not many are loaded with stimulants, so if you are sensitive to caffeine make sure you check the ingredients closely, some fat burners are stimulant-free but still contain ingredients that can help boost your metabolism.
Pre-Workout supplements
Pre-workout supplements are another must-have. I know a lot of women who will drink an energy drink before going to the gym. This is not a very good idea. Most energy drinks are loaded with caffeine and sugar.
The only thing you will get from an energy drink is a quick burst of energy, but 20 minutes later your body will crash and burn. PRe-workout supplements are a much better alternative to energy drinks. A good pre-workout made for women will not only provide you energy, many of them contain vitamins, minerals, and quality proteins to help you train hard with energy to spare the rest of the day.
When looking for a pre-workout supplement it is important to look for those made especially for women, most are made for men and are loaded with creatine and Tribulus Terrestris which are things women should avoid.
Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA’s)
Branched-chain amino acids are important for women, especially Leucine. They help improve protein synthesis which is important for maintaining lean muscle. Women who are trying to lose weight can benefit from branched-chain amino acids, as you begin to lose weight and eliminate fat your body will begin to consume more amino acids. If your body does not have enough nutrients, it begins to feed off the nutrients in the muscle.
There are three essential amino acids you should be getting, Lucine, Isoleucine, and Valine. The reason they are considered essential is that your body does not naturally produce them. Essential amino acids come from thinks like beef chicken and dairy products.
There are many supplements that contain essential amino acids, often many pre-workout supplements contain them in the right amount that will not only ensure proper protein synthesis, many supplements contain added vitamins and minerals.
Conslusion
There are many supplements women can take to help not only improve their training, but they can also provide them with nutrients they otherwise don’t get with diet and nutrition. Fat burners for example are important for women who want to shed quickly. Not all supplements are safe, so it’s important that you do your research and check labels carefully, finding the right supplement can make a big difference in boosting energy and feeling good.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodybuilding_supplement
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Hi My name is Rosalie and the author of Womenandmuscle.com I started this blog to help women understand a little about the side effects of anabolic steroids and share some of my favorite alternatives that have helped me stay in shape and improve my performance in the gym.