I’m currently using John Berardi’s Metabolism Advantage to help guide my diet. My workouts consist of Starting Strength on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and then HIIT on Tuesday and Thursday. While I’ve been lifting for about five months, this diet thing is new.
Onto my question…Berardi really likes supplements. I went and bought Greens+, Creatine, Fish oil, Milk Protein powder…
The last thing he mentioned and said was essential was a recovery drink. The one he recommended was Surge by Biotest. At my local store it was $70 for 16 servings. And considering I’m supposed to drink it 5 days a week…well, you can see that would get very expensive (money I don’t have…especially with all the others).
The guy at the nutrition store recommended as a cheaper alternative to mix my own using a Whey Protein (40g protein, 2 carb) mixed with a Carb drink (glycocarb by interactive with 48 carbs, 0 protein). It replicates the same Carb/Protein mix but at 1/10 the cost.
Would this work?
You can buy Surge from this website for $32.95 for 16 servings.
[quote]Bloobird wrote:
You can buy Surge from this website for $32.95 for 16 servings.[/quote]
If only it were that easy. Because I live in Canada, I’d have to pay for shipping AND brokerage. Brokerage is a particularly nasty fee (not to be confused with duty) which companies like Fedex charge to clear items through customs. So that $32 bottle of Surge would suddenly cost $32 + $40 brokerage + $shipping…
So even more expensive than my local store ($70 for 16 servings).
I’ve found online stores in Canada…but again, the price is around $64. So not much better (and I’d have to pay shipping).
And at $70 for 16, and 6 servings a week, I’d be looking at $135 just for a PWO.
See my post about 1/2 way down:
http://www.T-Nation.com/free_online_forum/diet_performance_nutrition_supplements/surge_or_gatorade
good breakdown, and i’m poor right now and its saving me a bunch. (better if you can find cheap bulk protien)
I also read somewhere that Chocolate Milk was a good substitute (about a 4 to 1 ratio).
Now before everyone jumps on me…I’m a newb. All this supplement stuff is very confusing for me. I’ve done oodles of reading and I really am no closer to understanding what it’s all about. So spending $200 a month on something I’m not even sure about (when money is tight)…well, you can see what I’m getting at.
I’ve read that a PWO helps your muscles recover but does it make THAT much of a difference? Seriously?
[quote]luthar28 wrote:
I’ve read that a PWO helps your muscles recover but does it make THAT much of a difference? Seriously?[/quote]
If you’re a newb, keep it simple and use chocolate milk. It’s not ideal, but then it’s likely that nothing else in your program is either.
Once you get more advanced, either buy Surge or make a homebrew version with real WPH, BCAAs, and high-glycemic carbs like John Berardi recommends in the articles below.
http://www.T-Nation.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance_diet_nutrition_bodybuilding/solving_the_postworkout_puzzle_part_1
http://www.T-Nation.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance_diet_nutrition_bodybuilding/solving_the_postworkout_puzzle_part_2
[quote]HK24719 wrote:
Once you get more advanced, either buy Surge or make a homebrew version with real WPH, BCAAs, and high-glycemic carbs like John Berardi recommends in the articles below.
http://www.T-Nation.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance_diet_nutrition_bodybuilding/solving_the_postworkout_puzzle_part_1
http://www.T-Nation.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance_diet_nutrition_bodybuilding/solving_the_postworkout_puzzle_part_2
[/quote]
Those are great articles. I finally understand. The downside to a site like this (if you can call it a downside) is that there is so much information, that finding a place to start can be difficult.
After reading those articles, I can see why Surge would be beneficial. However, considering I’m a beginner, I may stick with something a little cheaper for now…simply because of the budget. If I stick with the rules he outlined (he does a good job of explaining the science in an easily digestible way – no pun intended) then I should be okay.