Supplement shenanigans!

Barely half way through the week and another supplement rant from yours truly.

As always I caveat this post by saying that supplements do form a valuable part of any good training program. However they are the 5% that complements a balanced nutrition and training program, they should never be the focus.

Unfortunately supplement companies with a vested interest in selling products (no issue with this) over-hype their latest products with unrealistic hyperbole (big issue with this).

Recent case in point is my favourite whipping boys at a certain bodybuilding website. Yes they do publish plenty of great articles on their site but this doesn't mitigate some of the rubbish claims and slick marketing that permeates their supplement business.

Whats got me hot and bothered? Well the website I alluded to is at it again with its a once in a lifetime, mega, cutting edge, game changing ( have I run out of superlatives?) fat burning panacea!!

The premise of the supplement is that it allows users to carb up heavily as it suppresses fat gain. The active ingredient is touted as cyanidin 3-glucoside (one of the active components in blueberries) and literature exists on 'possible' efficacy for weightloss. However to my knowledge studies thus far relate to those done on mice and invitro. Interestingly there is some suggestion in scientific literature of the extract being useful for eye health.

Now here is the thing. If the supplement works, great but why promote it in such a pontificating, self serving way that treats the customer like a 10 year old idiot. Not that it appears to harm this company, based on the livespill commentary on their site every knucklehead is lapping it up.

Take my hat of to them they use a marketing approach that would be right at home with infomercials for snuggies, bam wah absorbent towels and those funky knives that cut through cans?!!

What makes me laugh is the almost juvenile pitch. They claim they have spent a decade acquiring the right formulation (such dedication), have recently only been supplying to professional bodybuilders (ohhh legitimacy), have run a trial with a limited number of customers (wow worked for everyone of them) and wait for it.. the are willing to offer to regular guys like you and I (so generous).

Now the biggest insult to our intelligence is that they say they don't want the supplement trial to be 'wasted' therefore you have to buy a 6 week supply, and sign up for a credit card automatic refill. Now what the fuck is this? The spurious rationale provided is that people not using the supplement correctly bothers them ( they don't want you to buy one bottle and realise the shit doesn't work) and they want all of us to get the great results (hand over your credit card you schmo).

I have had enough of the crap these guys peddle and what frustrates me the most is they have some fantastic articles (not the staff writers) but great guys like Gentilecore and Dave Tate. But these efforts are soured when you realise it's really all a front for selling their house brand supplements. If you want to have some fun try this: read any article by one of the staff writers and check how many times they mention one of their products during the article.

At the moment I am investigating the cost of test sampling a range of supplements on a monthly basis for you guys. I am meeting with local University labs to see the cost of batch testing some of these supposed ground breaking supplements for purity. Will keep you posted.

In the mean time, train hard eat well and yes take supplements (creatine, protein and antioxidants) leave the other shit alone.

Stay strong!
Thomo