small things

[madgame]

Ever since Ive been on this forum Ive been wondering how important those "small things" like

- taking fast-absorbing protein after your workout
(whether its best to take them right after your work out or like an hour afterwards doesnt really matter now)

- taking a good amount of protein about an hour after your workout (maybe your opinion is that its best to take them initially after your workout, but this doesnt really matter right now)

- keeping your workout time under 1 hour, because thats when your testosterone levels start declining

- taking vitamine supplements

really were.

I think all those things are scientifically proven, but how much do yall think do they really affect your workout?

Ive pretty much always stuck to the basics, as in working out properly and constantly, getting enough protein/ not too much fat, eating enough generally (I dont count the calories I eat each day, as I usually get enough cause I dont take protein powders; thus I usually get enough calories, because I have to eat more than if I didnt try to get 1g of protein per each pound of bodyweight...I just check my calories every now and then just to assure...), enough sleep and rest, not too many other cardio-like activities (otherwise eat more carbs to recompensate for it) and so on.

(I do take creatin in cycles and do take a vitamin c supplement, also, though)

That way, Ive usually been able to increase my bench press by
2,5 or a little more kgs each month, which would be 30 kgs a year
(66lbs). It didnt work out like that each month though, because I often made mistakes and hit plateaus (mostly during the first few years). Whenever I made a change, for example when I realized I should start supplementing my diet with some extra vitamin c, and things like that, I guess it didnt really have a considerable effect on my gains. Now dont get me wrong, if I find out about something that I can still do better, I do it, cause its not bad to do so.

My question however is, do you think that all these "small things" really play a considerable part or do you think a lot of it is just overanalyzing things, overrated and you could do perfectly without it?

 

[FitnessGuy]

Good question, and I think it could be that yes, we tend to overanalyze things when it comes down to it.

I think part of it is due to the fact that it isn't easy to make gains, and marketing companies know this so they try to sell us their ideas of how to get big so they can push us their supplements.
One example is the notion that the ideal postworkout shake should be fast-digesting protein, dextrose, and water. This is good of course because glucose is delivered 2 times as fast to the muscles for up to 2 hours after working out, but supplement companies have brainwashed the public with their ideas that you need supplements, and this is not the case. A healthy meal containing both fast/slow digesting protein and carbs would be just as good as that "ideal shake" if not better because it contains slow digesting carbs/protein/fats as well.

Maybe one way to look at the whole issue is that "many little small things will make a big thing"? Or maybe I'm wrong, and the little details are so insignificant that they really don't make a difference. It's hard to say, and I wish I knew. Personally right now I take a mulitvitmain, extra vitamin C like you do, and some fish oil.

 

[semag]

In general, don't they say "don't sweat the small stuff?"

As long as you're aware in a general sense, I'm sure you're ok, however... Small things in bulk do make a difference, so perhaps ignoring every small thing about making gains or staying healthy is detrimental. If you think about it, not supllementing may not hurt you, but that combined with a bad diet, combined with a bad workout routine, which may all be seen as small by some people, can combine to make a disasterous effect.

just my .02, and I'm no expert, just know what I've researched and seen.

 

[madgame]

Maybe one way to look at the whole issue is that "many little small things will make a big thing"?

That's a good point..I thought about that too when I was writing this post. I cant really tell how important that "big thing" consisting of the small things is though. I just think that if u do get you your gram of protein per lbs of bodyweight, for example it`s all good, even if u only absorb a normal amount of protein right after your workout when the protein is needed the most, and I think it wouldnt really affect your workout a lot. Maybe it would though. I dont know this for a fact.

Thx for the good answer @fitnessguy. Actually I thought u might be one of the first guys to flame me for this thread lol

@semag

. If you think about it, not supllementing may not hurt you, but that combined with a bad diet, combined with a bad workout routine, which may all be seen as small by some people, can combine to make a disasterous effect.

Thats true, but I was assuming that a good workout routine and a good diet (as in getting enough calories and protein) didnt belong to the small things.

 

[semag]

Thats true, but I was assuming that a good workout routine and a good diet (as in getting enough calories and protein) didnt belong to the small things.

hehehe... all right, so I was exaggerating a bit, but you kinda get I was leaning towards that same quote you had from fitness guy right??

Maybe one way to look at the whole issue is that "many little small things will make a big thing"?

I didn't see that the first time I read the thread... so I guess we were trying to say the same thing

 

[madgame]

Yep. I mean..Im no expert either. I just think a lot of things concerning this issue might be overrated. I dont know it for a fact though...so I was just wondering what yall thought about it.