My Boys - What Supplements Would You Suggest?

[niki]

Ok, I've been hanging around for a bit now, have my journal going, following Built's advice to the letter.......but this is for my boys, ages 17 and 15. They've been doing BGB for about four months now....if I knew how to post pictures I would.

Bottom line, is they want to drop some money on supplements, and I figured you all would have the best input on if that's a good idea, what to buy, and where to buy it.

15 yr old is 5'11", 185. This guy is all about strength. He can leg press over 1000lbs, and benches 245 . He wants to be a monster. I have no doubts that he will be. This one gains fat and/or muscle easily. Has to watch his carb intake. Bizarrely strong - probably from blacksmith work and competative gymnastics when he was younger.

17yr old is 6'6", 220. Benches 255, leg press over 1000.- This one says he doesn't care how strong he is, just wants to look amazing...lol..His wingspan is like 89 inches, which makes it real work building his arms to the point where they LOOK big. Harder time getting in the calories and putting on weight, but still never was gangly like you would expect someone as tall as he is. His chest/traps have grown like crazy the past few months. From no chest - to, like, cleavage....lol.

The leg press at our gym doesn't go any higher than 22 plates.

They are both super dedicated as far as lifting goes, and I'm actually pretty impressed with their diets as far as teenagers go. They have cut fat and put on the muscle like crazy. They don't do soda, and save junk food for splurges every once in awhile. Not a lot of grains, decent amount of fruits/veggies. My grocery bill since they started lifting is rigoshdamdiculous.....

They each take a liquid multiminera/multivitamin, and b complex/b12. They are considering creatine, a fat burner for the 15yr old, and I believe a weight gainer for the 17yr old......any input would be appreciated.

 

[MDR]

Personally, I don't think kids need anything other than a good diet. Nothing wrong with a multivitamin, and protein and creatine won't do any damage. As far as a weight gainer, stick to food. No 15 year old kid needs a fat burner. Sounds like they are progressing just fine. Might want to get off the leg press machine and get them squatting. Basic compound movements and plenty of food is what they need, and what will keep them progressing.

 

[ihateschoolmt]

^ That's pretty much what I was going to say. Squatting deep instead of leg pressing should take care of your not being able to fit enough weight on the bar problem... And honestly I doubt they are going far enough down with that kind of weight because that's like twice as much as I can do and I squat 315 for reps and by that logic they should be squatting like 600 pounds if they can do that much on leg press.

 

[SuperLift]

Some good info above. Fatburners and weight gainers are good. High intensity training for the 15 yo especially. The 17yo should definitely workout with high intensity, but I'd go with heavier weight - lower reps with him. Have their workouts based around heavy compound lifts. Especially squats and dead lift. Those 2 lifts alone will do wonders if you are trying to gain muscle. As for the supplements - creatine is good in addition to the protein and gainers they are already taking and is also relatively cheap which is a plus! I assume they are taking a pre workout drink? I absolutely recommend one of those to help intensify the workout. Most all of them contain arginine which would not be a bad idea to get them on - helps shuttle more nutrients into the cells. Hope this helps a bit!

 

[sassy69]

RE: The fat burner - would rather NOT see kids < 18 on them -- if the point is dump some fat / change body composition, the 15 yr is still coming into his prime on testosterone production - I could see that affect his fat / muscle depositing ratios and would also want to promote the idea of using diet to make those changes before looking to pills.

 

[niki]

I agree with y'all on taking stuff - would rather they not, but they are itching to add to their program....they are doing the 'baby got back' from Built's blog...and have been for nearly four months....so they are doing all the compound lifts...not sure on max squat....I could ask.....the only thing other than the vitamins that they take is whey protein - no pre/during/after drinks that I'm aware of....and they do eat a hell of a lot of food.......costco is my friend.

So, adding creatine is a go, then........

 

[cdan19]

either one playing any sports? if not Im sure coaches at school are drooling for them to come out for a sport or 3. sounds like they are self driven and thats the best way. I'd defiantely add creatine but agree no fat burner or pre drink needed other than protein.

 

[MDR]

I agree with y'all on taking stuff - would rather they not, but they are itching to add to their program....they are doing the 'baby got back' from Built's blog...and have been for nearly four months....so they are doing all the compound lifts...not sure on max squat....I could ask.....the only thing other than the vitamins that they take is whey protein - no pre/during/after drinks that I'm aware of....and they do eat a hell of a lot of food.......costco is my friend.

So, adding creatine is a go, then........

Creatine is not going to cause any problems. Following Built's advice and her program outline is an excellent idea. Sounds like these two are doing pretty well to me. I was training very hard at this age in the hopes of earning a football scolarship, and they can continue to make tremendous progress at their respective ages and level of development without anything more than good training and a solid diet. I teach and coach at the H.S level, and so many kids are trying to figure out what to take to get better. There is no magic pill. Mostly I tell them to work hard and eat well. I know I probably sound like a broken record, but for teenagers it really is pretty simple. Keep us informed on their progress, and good luck!

 

[x~factor]

And honestly I doubt they are going far enough down with that kind of weight because that's like twice as much as I can do and I squat 315 for reps and by that logic they should be squatting like 600 pounds if they can do that much on leg press.

There are some leg press machines that have low incline. There was this one machine at my old gym that I could put 10 plates on EACH side and do a set for reps. Now at my current gym, the most I could put is 5, maybe 6 on each side.

 

[ihateschoolmt]

True I didn't think about that, my leg press has me almost laying on my back lol.

 

[Merkaba]

Yes maybe a little creatine. Kids don't need fat burners. Period. Plus they are generally a waste of time unless you're counting down to a contest maybe......maybe. Tell them to drink some strong coffee or go get some cough medicine with pseudoephedrine in it. Just make sure the pharmacist doesn't think you're trying to make crystal meth out of it.

Weight gainers? he doesn't like eating?

They need to learn how to eat. They need to learn how to get in the protein and macs they need, including fat and carbs! Eat carbs. They are already walking testosterone vials. What more do they need? They need to eat. Drink water. Lift correctly. Rest correctly, and repeat. It's as simple as that. And I'll stress the REST. Guys at that age think they need to max out every other week or bust ass every day. They need to learn how to take days off, ALL THE WAY OFF, and do next to nothing, if you will allow them. The body doesn't grow in the gym, it's the other 22 or 23 hours that really makes the difference. Now if you ask them how many calories they are eating on a daily basis would they know, or be even close to knowing? Tell them to spend their time on that and their intake, instead of the gazillion freaking products out there they will swear they need. Then when they've matched up their intake with their goals tell them to look into supplements and come here and buy some off of the board, or the sponsors.

When they can't grow any more by proper periodization/intensity/and intake, then worry about supplements.

 

[SuperLift]

Lots of calorie dense foods. Pasta - ground beef those helped me gain a ton of weight

 

[niki]

Thanks everyone - appreciate the responses. I don't know about the leg press machine - I was just throwing out a couple of numbers out there so you guys would get an idea of what they were doing....I'm semi new to all this...

My main concern is I don't want them taking something that will damage them, or effect hormone levels, that sort of thing.

Neither one plays sports. The oldest is a brainiac and already has his associate's degree, and is going to university in the fall. He just turned 17. He has always been the kinda chubby smart kid. He is glorying in his new build - again, wish I could post a pic.....the younger one used to be in competative gymnastics where he did very well.....tried to talk him into wrestling, but no go. Tried to talk him into football....no go.....he is the one with the competative willpower.....

The older one has gone on fitday.com to figure out macros and calories and such.....I'm working on the rest days - two per week with BGB program....they are also using lifting for mental health, so sometimes on rest days when they need to go in they do abs, or hiit, or something like that.

They eat - seriously. I spend over $300 a week feeding them. Hamburger, chicken breasts, tuna, salmon, over 5doz eggs, 8 gallons of whole milk, protein powder.....not to mention fresh/frozen fruits and veggies. (all this purchased weekly at Costco) I cook - when I have time. Rarely eat out - or fast food. They eat better than most their age. Our family has food sensitivities, which has made them much more aware of what they put into their bodies.

Thanks, really! I am working full time, school full time and check back here even if I don't have time to respond right away.

 

[ihateschoolmt]

Your 17 year old has an associates degree? I'm not doubting you so don't take this the wrong way but how is that possible? I thought kids were required by law to go to public school til they were 16, did he finish high school when he was 15 and then go to community college?

 

[niki]

He finished high school at home at 13, going at his own pace......We have a program here where you can take college courses while in high school, lol, so he went back and took an online hs course here and there to qualify for the free college. He just won a free ride to any school in the state.....he is all about advanced mathmatics......

There are many, MANY educational options out there. Much more flexible than most realize. He's so big - nobody even knew he was 13 - he fit right in, made friends, no problems socially at all. He was shaving at 13, and 6 foot at twelve years old.....I kinda feel like I missed out on about five years of childhood with him....

People constantly ask him what team he plays for.....drives him nuts, cause he's never been athletic. Grows too fast. As soon as he kinda learned what he was doing, he'd grow and get all clumsy. One time he came home from school and told me he fell like three times - no sports, just walking around....poor kid. He is powerful, and maybe now that he's not growing (god I HOPE not) he will come into his own. He wears a size 18 shoe.