Beginner looking for some help

[ilmartelo]

Back in highschool, I played sports and worked out every day. In college I stopped working out and playing sports and put on about 50 lbs. I used Stacker 3 to get most of the weight off and was back down to about 140. Im 5'6''. My waist is 31''.
Body fat between 22% and 11% depending on which online calculator I use. The formula from GNC said 16%.

I started working out again about 2-3 months ago. I work out 4 times a week, but I dont do much cardio, mostly lifting. My regimin is chest, back/legs, shoulders, arms, rest, rest, with abs every workout day. I do 5 sets of compund motions and 3-4 sets of everything else.

I eat around 2500 calories a day. I use protein supplements to get at least 160 grams of protein a day. My calorie breakdown is usually 40/30/30 protein/carbs/fat. Sometimes I cheat and have a big meal, but not often.

I have been using NO2, the GNC nitrate oxide product, for about 2 weeks, and have seen good gains on it. I put on about 6 lbs of muscle since I started working out. My measurements all increased and I'm really motivated by the gains. According to the GNC formula, I also lost 1% of body fat (from the 16%).

A few of my friends suggested using Animal CUTS and cycling that with the NO2. They said do two 21 day sets of NO2 followed by one cycle of CUTS and repeat. Are there any other supplememtns I should look at?

I appreciate you guys taking a look at this. I just wanted to get some feedback about what I'm doing and suggestions for improvement. Any help would be greatly aprreciated.

Thanks,
SAL

 

[brodus]

The 6 pounds of muscle you gained is from getting back in the gym and eating right, probably not from small doses of Arginine (which is all NO2 is-->WAY overpriced arginine). NO2 is too expensive, and Animal Cuts sounds like something from 1986 that came with a Rocky sweatband, so I'd stay away from it...especially if GNC sells or recommends it.

If you NEED a supplement (which I don't think you do, as you've only been back in the gym a little while and you're making great progress), look into Creatine Monohydrate...don't buy anything from GNC anymore-->start shopping here: www.1fast400.com

You should add some Flax Oil, too. At least a tablespoon per day. You should also incorporate cardio into your plan, unless you want blood pressure problems and stubborn fat.

I would say save your money and buy better food until you hit a plateau, i.e. the gains stop, before introducing another supplement.