Thread: BCAA for muscles aid

BCAAs rock hardcore. I've used the 2222 by ON and now I'm using the Amino 1500 from Vitamins.com

Do they still count as a natural? non-drug

yea its amino acids, the building blocks for protein.

15-20g per day will definitely help preserve muscle if you're cutting. If you're bulking I wouldn't bother.

why is that redspy?

Well, personally I think my money is better invested in balanced protein supplement sources like whey or casein for bulking, rather than individual amino acids. 5-10g pre workout may help reduce muscle catabolism, but I prefer a whey shake and oats 90 minutes before working out. Just personal preference.

Yes, then I think I need it.. especially when I will be adding cardio

Originally Posted by redspy

Well, personally I think my money is better invested in balanced protein supplement sources like whey or casein for bulking, rather than individual amino acids. 5-10g pre workout may help reduce muscle catabolism, but I prefer a whey shake and oats 90 minutes before working out. Just personal preference.

Bump to that. BCAA's are pretty worthless if you are getting enough protein. Hence the reason to use while cutting. Also, the definition of cutting should be contest prep when used for this. If your cutting cals slowly, and still getting enough protein, they aren't that beneficial IMO.

I think you'll be wasting money Sara.

Originally Posted by redspy

15-20g per day will definitely help preserve muscle if you're cutting. If you're bulking I wouldn't bother.

I take about 15grams during my workouts or cardio and 5g after 5g before bed. Expensive.

Originally Posted by PreMier

Bump to that. BCAA's are pretty worthless if you are getting enough protein. Hence the reason to use while cutting. Also, the definition of cutting should be contest prep when used for this. If your cutting cals slowly, and still getting enough protein, they aren't that beneficial IMO.

I think you'll be wasting money Sara.

Jake, the only thing I'm concerned about now, is I want to start doing 20-30 minutes cardio first thing in the morning before my first meal.. I don't want any muscles loss with this process

I don't know drinking an extra plain whey protein before my morning cardio would be enough

I think it would.. look at all the bcaa's the protein has in it. If you want to read up on bcaa's I will give you a link.

Originally Posted by PreMier

I think it would.. look at all the bcaa's the protein has in it. If you want to read up on bcaa's I will give you a link.

I would love to read about it
I was thinking of having a plain whey and adding some BCAA

I just noticed something.. I mispelled BCAA on the top of the thread

http://forum.avantlabs.com/?act=ST&f=1&t=8741

Taking BCAAs on an empty stomach first thing in the morning before cardio is an excellent idea, IMO. Whey takes too long to completely break down into amino acids. By the time the whey is amino acids, you will be completely done with your cardio. BCAAs are absorbed straight into you blood with no digestion required. Much more effective for immediate use.

What is the breakdown time for whey?

Thanks Jake! I will read this

I still wonder though how much protection BCAAs on an empty stomach give you against catabolism when doing cardio on an empty stomach.

Originally Posted by PreMier

What is the breakdown time for whey?

It depends on the type of whey, but I'd guess at around 60-90 minutes on average. Hydrolyzed whey (enzymatically partially digested) is absorbed faster than regular concentrate.

whey protein(s) cause serum leucine levels to peak around the 1 hr mark. that would lead me to believe that amino acids from whey would be entering the bloodstream in about 20 minutes give or take

Originally Posted by PirateFromHell

Taking BCAAs on an empty stomach first thing in the morning before cardio is an excellent idea, IMO. Whey takes too long to completely break down into amino acids. By the time the whey is amino acids, you will be completely done with your cardio. BCAAs are absorbed straight into you blood with no digestion required. Much more effective for immediate use.

what if you drink your whey, wait an hour, do your cardio, then have a PWO shake? would that work well for minimizing catabolism when doing cardio on an empty stomach?

I find that what has worked best for me is doing cardio after breakfast, but making it a no-carb breakfast.

Originally Posted by young d

what if you drink your whey, wait an hour, do your cardio, then have a PWO shake? would that work well for minimizing catabolism when doing cardio on an empty stomach?

You wouldn't have an empty stomach if you had a shake an hour before, but I think this situation would be preferable to first thing in the morning with only water in your stomach. We need to remember that amino acids are absorbed in the small intestine after they are slowly released from the stomach. Whole proteins have to be denatured in the stomach before they can even be digested into individual amino acids. This takes much longer than simply absorbing amino acids. It is analogous to dextrose vs whole-grains. Dextrose is already a glucose monomer that can be absorbed almost immediately, where as the whole-grain starch has to be digested until it becomes glucose before it can be absorbed into your bloodstream. In general, protein takes about twice the energy of carbohydrates to digest (24% vs 11%, roughly). We don't digest protein as fast as some believe.

Originally Posted by young d

what if you drink your whey, wait an hour, do your cardio, then have a PWO shake? would that work well for minimizing catabolism when doing cardio on an empty stomach?

this is the perfect time to use BCAA's

BCAA's after the cardio sesssion?

Originally Posted by sara

BCAA's after the cardio sesssion?

no, an hour before.

Originally Posted by sara

BCAA's after the cardio sesssion?

before cardio when performed on an empty stomach. it will help to minimize catabolism and increase lipolysis.

but you can surely use BCAA's before and after cardio or resistance training sessions. the body can also use additional BCAA's.