The Do You Work Out Zone

[EnderD_503]

Originally Posted by greeneyedlady

Thanks Ender!

Lots of information for me to read later.

Do you take any supplements?

Allmax's Isoflex (whey protein isolate) is the only supplement I take at the moment (have never taken any other supplements except protein supplements or multivitamins, the latter I don't take anymore since only the expensive ones are really worth it and the cheap ones really aren't worth even that little bit of cash).

I drink milk mixed with a scoop of Isoflex 3xday (upon waking up, post-workout, before bed) if I can't get in a real high protein food source at any of those times. The reason is to make sure that my nutrition supports my strength goals, but I don't let it act as a substitute for a proper workout, good nutritional habits and adequate rest (though the added BCAAs do help recovery).

Basically, each person's protein needs (and therefore how/if they should supplement) differs depending on their level of activity, goals, medical conditions etc.

Edit: oh and to add to the post something of my own workouts since it's been a while and I'm actually really proud of my injury recovery lately...really happy lately with how my knee is finally improving!

Today I managed to make it through 15 mins of interval sprints (granted, not at as high speed as I used to do) without too much pain. About 10 mins in I started to feel something (though not so much pain or discomfort, just acknowledgement that the knee is 100% yet), but managed to make the whole 15 mins. Some discomfort afterwards, but nothing too serious.

For months after my injury I could barely do a leg workout to save my life (and actually had to leave leg workouts out for almost 2 months), but in my last workout I managed to do 40 lbs alternating jumping lunges (which makes me hopeful that I might one day get back to doing proper plyos again), which is a huge change from the last few months of attempted bodyweight lunges followed by screams of excruciating pain But there was an obviously lack in explosive strength in my right leg compared with my left leg. At least I managed to do them, lol

I also managed 10 reps of 160 lbs in quad extensions, which, again is a huge improvement from before where I could barely do 115 lbs quad extension for reps without a lot of discomfort in the right knee, which allows me to have hope that I'll be able to return to my previous strength and hopefully beyond. There was actually no pain after this last leg workout. Even with deadlifts, I had to go for a relatively light weight, but now I'm almost over the 200 mark without shooting pain afterward. It's still kind of discouraging, though, that this time last year I was eons away from where I am now. It reminds me of how easily achievement can be taken away in just a split second with an unlucky hit.

Squats are the only thing I'm still really having difficult with, but largely because I've found that my injury oddly left me with far less flexibility in my hip flexors than before...which sucks. Oh well, slowly but surely.

Just wanted to share that, because I'm really happy that there's actually a hope of getting back to where I was before and continue to do what I love.