geo said:
I don't know the full details - just know that the fella shipped a large inventory of the stuff over with him - in spite of having been told not to. Also, the quantities that he brought over were far and beyond the quantities he would need for himself....
And no - it was creatine.
Ack, I thought you were referring to someone who was using it in the shacks or something as opposed to a guy shipping it overseas. And why someone would want to take a moisture sucking supplement in an environment like Afghanistan is beyond my comprehension....
Seeing as there are so many topics on supplements, I'm going to launch into a mini rant here, as I've experimented with some supplements (all legal) and know many people who are into bodybuilding etc and who juice. I find that its the young folk like myself who are so obsessed with finding that magic pill or powder that will make them into the next Jay Cutler without any ill effects. The reality is, 99.9% of the stuff on the shelves of your local Garbage N' Crap (GNC) or other 'nutrition' store is JUNK. Absolute JUNK. Beyond your basic protein powders (which are generally good, as anyone who is trying to get big knows, it's near impossible to get enough protein each day unless you want to eat7-8 chicken breasts a day and mounds of dry, disgusting cottage cheese. Good quality protein shakes are a low carb and easy way to get the needed protein AND cut back on how much you eat....have a shake instead of a snack/meal), anything else is a waste of money and has more of a placebo effect then anything else.
This goes for creatine, fat burners, 'synthetic testosterone' (the real stuff is illegal), NOXplode etc etc etc. It's all JUNK. The only supplements that you can take that will actually have an effect that was worth the money are anadrol, synthol, HGH, clen, etc....all of which are illegal and will eventually cause vital organs (liver and the family jewels) to shut down for good.
In other words...STAY AWAY FROM SUPPLEMENTS. Just stay away. I know you think you look cool in the gym with a blender bottle beside you...but you're just wasting money. Want to take some extra protein? Go for it, can't hurt. Want to take the next step up into creatine etc or even juice? Don't bother. The only people who should be taking anything else are pro body builders who have professional trainers getting them what they need. Same goes for steroids, Jay Cutler and other massive monsters can juice all they want. But I guarentee that you don't have the knowledge and skill to juice without killing yourself or making your testicles disappear. My friend has a shirt that says 'Ask me about Chemistry', and for good reason. But he'll be Mr. Olympia 2015....not you. So, DON'T JUICE. I know it's tempting and it looks easy, but unless you maintain a diet so strict it'll make you want to die and workout so hard you fall over...you'll do nothing but destroy your body. Despite what you think, juice is not magic and requires MORE dedication and effort to get results then if you just worked out normally.
I'm no poster boy for fitness, far from it, but I know a thing or two about the supplement world (I used to work with alot of meat-heads and juicers) and what it can do, and what it can't. And most of it is can't, unless you know exactly what you're doing. Me, I take protein. I'll be starting a new diet soon (no bread, no pasta, no cheese, no processed food, no soda....essentially only chicken, rice, cottage cheese, veggies, fruit and shakes) and I work out with a trainer. Does it work? Yup (well, eventually it will, last semesters dieting wasn't so good). Did I need a laundry list of chemicals? No.
Seriously, just say no. Stay away from the GNC and other such stores. If you have a trainer, ask him/her for advice if you really are interested. Or consult a diet specialist. They may recommend protein, but not much else. Save you're money and use it to buy quality groceries and to pay a personal trainer. Those two things will do more for you then any of the junk the so-called 'nutrition specialists' at the Garbage N' Crap will push on you.
Unless you know what you're doing, don't take it.