I decided to join a gym for a few months and work with a personal trainer... it was either that or crossfit and I guess i flipped a coin and wound up at the gym..haha. I am coming back to exercise after significant time off from major plastics...

Anyway, first session was today and my goals are to strengthen and tone, reduce body fat percentage and (nice to have) build up some more butt since mine is quite skinny. Trainer recommended taking aminio acid supplements when doing aerobics to keep body from burning lean muscle - if I understood correctly. I am curious if this really makes a difference... i know some of you have researched this stuff alot.

My bodyfat is about 29% but i really wonder how accurate the pinch tests are on the formerly obese. Anyway, he laid out a plan of how to get to like 20% bodyfat and I told him I thought 25% is good enough for a 49 year old (I didn't mention my fear of my butt disappearing entirely..haha)

The compliment he paid is that even though i have been off exercise for awhile... just started back up recently, my strength and flexibility are really good. My form is good too. I credit my Julian Michael's DVDs I learned alot from them. I laughed when he said I could kick the butt of the 30 year guy he just worked with who claimed to be athletic.

I will be most interested to see if in a month I can drop 2% body fat down to 27 since I didn't see that kind of movement working out on my own (well, I didn't have a good way to measure either, just going by my scale that supposedly measures body fat%).

In truth, as expensive as CrossFit is, I bet by the time I pay for personal training, cross fit is an affordable option. I am just doing month to month at the gym so thought i would re-evaluate after a month but I am liking it there - good group classes, trainer was really good and it isn't too crowded.

Jane...glad to hear you've joined a gym and you're liking it. Gym trainers seem to be very fond of lunges and that will definitely build your rear end back up.

As far as BCAA's...I think they are definitely one of the best bangs for your buck when it comes to nutritional supplements. I don't take much at all in the way of supplements...I think Fiddleman is the real expert on this....but I do take BCAA's religiously and I think they make a huge difference in workout recovery and Protein synthesis.

My preferred is SciVation Xtend...green apple explosion.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sv/xtend.html

I mix it with my Water and it improves the taste...allowing me to drink more water. It's also sugar free.

My endocrinologist, who is part of the bariatrics practice, has me taking relatively high doses of L-Carnatine to protect lean muscle and mobilize fat because of all the workouts.

I also eat high protein within 20minutes post every workout. I eat oatmeal/soy milk/ applesauce pre workout so my body will burn that instead of eating my muscle because I'm stubborn and train/dance moderate to high intensity and that IS NOT good for fat loss. Lower intensity does a better job mobilizing fat. How you eat really helps your body produce/use it's own amino acids correctly.

Yea you! I love being strong!! Woohoo

I also use Xtend (grape is by far the best flavor). It really helps on big work out days or long ride days. I also use GAT Aminos post work out and 30 grams of protien.

Are amino acids made from soy? Because I can't do soy. I would love to hear from Fiddleman on this - he knows my new Xfit compound lift training I'm doing.

Does anyone know about BNS Aminos? My Battle Buddy recommended them.

Does anyone know about BNS Aminos? My Battle Buddy recommended them.

no, I have not used the BSN Aminox, but am using the ON Amino Energy for pre work out and the xtend for post workout. Both are working out really well for me. I like using amino acids powders a lot more than the typical pre workout powders because my body seems to assimilate them better than the pre workouts, they improve stamina \ endurance and I am never sore the next day no matter if I am performing max PR, a lot of lighter reps or a combination of the two. Never.

BSN Aminox might be good as I liked their Syntha 6 Protein in the recent past (since shifted to ON hydro builder powder).

It has a lot of good reviews:

http://reviews.bodybuilding.com/BSN/AMINOx

I like that the BSN Aminox comes in a lot of flavors (I like watermelon), has 10 g BCAA per serving and zero calories. Fairly comparable to the xtend that BTB and I use.

The only thing I do not really like about BSN Aminiox based upon reviews is that it has a lot of dyes (xtend has dyes too) and some carbs (from sugar according to label. Xtend has 0 carbs).

I know you did not ask, but also consider a good fish oil, beta-analine for less fatigue during workouts (takes about a month to load) and a good monohydrate creatine (takes 1-2 weeks to load) for better protein synthesis. I use the NOW brand for beta-analine and monohydrate creatine, but there are lots of other good brands out there.

So has anyone seen a difference using the amino acid?

So has anyone seen a difference using the amino acid?

I can say that I have a lot of muscle. I do not know how much of that is down to L-Carnatine and DHEA. I think it's a combination of the effort to eat, supplement, and drink a lot of fluid.

Before I saw the endocrinologist I was cold all the time and I was losing way too much muscle over fat. I really have very little fat now and a lot of muscle. I am warmer. So I don't know what to put it down to.

Agree with a lot of CBT remarks. It does not really help with protein synthesis (building muscles), but helps with having an optimal workout and recovery. I have a good set of muscles now, but I cannot directly attribute it to the aminos.

I take several omega vitamins as well as eat sardines regularly, and I have begun drinking a protein shake right after working out, what is the best timing for taking the aminos?

Aminos are good anytime. Particularly though before, during and after exercise. Same as creatine (mix together) if you are going to supplement that route. The Xtend is meant for all 3. I use a pre work out with Aminos and then Xtend during and GAT after with 5grams of creatine. I noticed gains within the first several weeks when I started. I can't imagine not cycling it now. I have given a couple of buddy's my bottle of XTend while on long mountain bike rides as they didn't eat right and didn't bring anything in case they bonked and they both now drink it regularly for it pulling them through the ride. I will also concur with fiddle man as I am typically never sore and work out HARD 5-6 days a week.

Make sure the creatine is monohydrate and look for German engineering. It has been long known that they are best at this supplement. Also know you need 20grams a day for 5 days then down to 5grams a day forever. The muscle martini in the pic is my post work out amino. It has a lot more to it than just Aminos. I highly recommend it.

Doesn't creatine just give you fake "water" muscles? that's what a lot of guys out here say ... I am so sore from a workout 2 days ago that it hurts to cough, I don't have access to aminos atm.

I just bought what the trainer recommended... use it for awhile and see if it makes sense to switch. I bought aminoboost xxl

http://www.dotfit.com/aminoboostxxl

According to the website I can do 1/2 scoop before and 1/2 scoop after since I weigh under 150#.

I am not sure I really understand how this is different than extend though. It is confusing to me... but reducing soreness and just having the right energy to finish a workout is helpful. I worked out very intensely yesterday and didn't ever fade out but it was hard. I was sore last night, but this morning not too bad. I will know for sure when I go horseback riding this afternoon just how sore I am...

The amino boost looks fairly similar to xtend, but is missing a couple things:

L-glutamine

Citrulline

Both are key for athletic performance, but glutamine is key for better recovery. I am surprised the amino boost product is lacking it.