Building muscle can often be a difficult and confusing task, since there’s so much conflicting information out there. Naturally, someone starting out often looks for the perfect guide to building that muscular physique.
One of the places that a beginner bodybuilder might go to learn about the fundamentals might be the local bookstore, and one of the first stops in the bookstore would probably be the magazine rack. Looking to bodybuilding magazines can inspire a new bodybuilder by demonstrating what others have accomplished before.
Personally, I’m not really into browsing through these magazines, but many novices seem to be motivated by them. However, these magazines may not be as objective as you think. These magazines often recommend supplements, but they don’t tell you that the magazines themselves are often owned by supplement companies.
Even when there is no direct affiliation between the magazine and the companies advertising their supplement products, there still seems to be a conflict of interest since the magazines rely on these advertisers. Advertisements, along with subscription fees, are how magazine companies make their money after all.
The real problem with this is that many beginners don’t know any better and try to follow everything they read in these magazines. Sometimes they don’t figure this out until after they have wasted a lot of time, effort, and money.
This brings us back to a critical concept of bodybuilding which tells us that supplements should not be the basis for a muscle building program. A few supplements can be useful for the advanced trainer who is trying to maximize his gains and has already developed a solid weightlifting and diet program.
The truth is that supplements are not really a magic bullet for building muscle. If you are more advanced in your weightlifting efforts, then it is possible to give yourself a slight edge with a few useful supplements. Otherwise, don’t even bother until you’ve mastered the basics of weight training and nutrition.
Before you move on to any kind of supplements which will simply take money away from your wallet, focus on learning these core principles. If you can’t afford a trainer, consider learning from an expert who has proven that supplements are not necessary to build muscle.