Guest blog post by certified personal trainer Rich Berrian
Experiencing soreness and fatigue?
Wish your endurance was better and your body didn’t take so long to recover from physical activity?
Well, athletes of all types and the physically active endure these struggles on a day to day basis. Muscular soreness is a common ache we all share.
Strength training athletes could lift more if fatigue didn’t set in so quickly. They could also train more often if they experienced a shorter recovery time. A runner with increased endurance would experience less fatigue and better performance.
Branched chain amino acids to the rescue!
Branched chain amino acids, better known as “BCAA’s”, can benefit you by reducing all of the negative effects, enhancing endurance, and shortening recovery time. Branched chain amino acids are also said to aid in fat loss.
What exactly are BCAA’s?
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. There are approximately 20-23 amino acids, but of them, three are most beneficial and important to muscle tissue. Those three are leucine, isoleucine, and valine. These three amino acids are of that found in all BCAA supplements!
Anyone who is physically active (endurance athletes, strength athletes, gym goers, etc.) and experiences any sort of muscular soreness and fatigue should strongly consider supplementing with BCAA’s.
There are countless companies that offer a BCAA supplement. The two products that I personally like and consistently use are GAT’s Muscle Martini and Scivation’s Xtend.
When do you take the stuff, you ask?
ANYTIME, is the answer!
However, it is most important to take BCAA’s pre and post workout to help improve endurance, reduce fatigue, and aid in recovery time.
You may also consider consuming these amino acids upon waking up; your body just underwent 6 to 8 hours of fasting and your muscles now need the nutrients they have been deprived of. Making BCAA’s a part of your morning routine can also aid in the slowing of catabolism (muscle breakdown).
When do I personally consume my share of branched chain amino acids?
Not THAT type of juice…and not THAT type of woman!!
All day long!
Those who know me may have noticed the gallon of “flavored” water I constantly carry with me; this “flavored” water is actually Scivation Xtend BBCA’s. Consuming BBCA’s throughout the day can also help reduce hunger, support muscle growth, and give you a mental energy boost!
How do you take BCAA’s?
BCAA’s are sold in a flavored-powder form and should be taken in 5 – 10g serving sizes. You simply mix the powder with as much or as little water desired (this will differ from each individual, as it is based on the taste or strength of flavor).
You can buy these products in a variety of delicious flavors without ever having to worry about clumping or a chalky taste.
To demand the most of your body, you must know your body!
In Fitness and Health,
Richard Berrian
Personal Trainer
#gunslikerich
At the young age of 25 years old, Rich is an up and coming leader in the fitness industry. He has been a personal trainer in the New Port Richey area for close to 5 years already and in that time has helped countless female and male clients push past previous mental and physical limits with his high energy and motivating approach. This year Rich will have at least 4 female clients competing in their first ever fitness bikini competitions and each of these women are moms and have worked out for less than one year. He has also competed himself in 4 NPC Bodybuilding competitions, placing 2nd last year at the Lakeland Bodybuilding Classic. Stay tuned for more great fitness and supplement tips in the future from Rich!
