Confused by all the supplements on the market? You’re not alone. We cut through all the confusion. Check this list out to learn about all the best supplements to get ripped and what makes them so good.

Sick and tired of giving it your all in the gym and seeing only the bare minimum results in return?

It’s time to make some changes and start getting ripped!

Not sure where to start?

Don’t worry. We take a look at a few of the best supplements to include in your diet to start seeing toned, bulging muscles. Pretty soon, you will likely be able to give Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson a run for his money!

Fat Burners Can Help

The key to ensuring that your muscles become more visible is to get enough cardio exercise.

Ultimately, if you don’t work on burning off fat, there will always be an extra layer or two that will conceal those developing muscles, regardless of how hard you are hitting the weights. In order to give yourself an extra boost in this regard, fat burners are a great option and another thing to add to your clean eating grocery list.

However, it is important to note that not all fat burners have been created equal in regards to how to get lean. There are five main types and the only way to figure out which ones work best for you is to try them.

Which ones are included in the five?

#1 Carb Blockers

These fat burners make it more difficult for your body to digest carbs. Unfortunately, however, while these might help in reducing fat, they will also have an effect on your energy levels and ability to focus. Combat this by consuming as much protein as you can.

#2 Thermogenics

These work by raising your body temperature and boosting your resting heart rate. This prompts you to burn more calories even when you aren’t working out.

#3 Appetite Suppressants

If your main goal is to lose weight, appetite suppressants can help. However, for those who want to build muscle, you might want to steer clear of this. After all, if you want to build massive muscles, you need to eat.

#4 Fat Blockers

These are much like carb blockers. The only difference is that they reduce your body’s ability to absorb fats. They are not recommended for long-term use. Why? Certain fats are vital to good health.

#5 Thyroid Regulators

These help to keep your thyroid, which is responsible for your metabolism, in check, thus improving your energy levels and burning fat faster.

Dosage: For safety reasons, it is recommended that you speak to your doctor before taking a fat burner. He or she will be able to advise you in terms of the best dosage according to your general health and body weight.

Here Are The Best Supplements To Get Ripped

Green Tea

Green tea is the perfect supplement to consider for those who want to keep things natural.

Not only is it the ideal secret weapon when it comes to getting ripped, but it is also a great supplement to add to your lifestyle if you want to simply improve your health and well-being. Green tea has been used as a health supplement for thousands of years and promises many benefits.

For starters, it can help protect you from diseases. Green tea is chocked full of antioxidants. These specialize in fighting off free radicals, which can cause damage to the cells of the body, possibly leading to cancer over time.

Green tea can limit water retention and bloating. If your body has a tendency to hold onto water and show signs of bloating, green tea can help to remedy that.

Why?

It is a natural diuretic. Green tea naturally encourages your body to produce greater amounts of urine. That, in turn, also assists in flushing the system of any other harmful toxins that could hinder your body transformation progress.

It can also give you a much-needed energy boost. Not a fan of coffee?

Fear not. Green tea comes to your rescue.

Why?

It also contains high levels of caffeine (a stimulant), which can assist you in making the most of your workouts by increasing your energy and body temperature. This should ultimately lead to the burning of additional calories.

Dosage: You can drink between two to three cups per day.

Pre-Workout

It is safe to say that most athletes will take a pre-workout supplement before a heavy workout. Chances are, they will also be quick to confirm the perks linked with this practice.

With that said, the type of pre-workout that you take is of the utmost importance and can have an effect on the extent of the benefits that you will reap. Ultimately, if getting ripped is your aim, a pre-workout with plenty of nitric oxide is a must.

Why?

Nitric oxide is responsible for controlling the circulation of blood and, as most athletes know, the more blood flow that there is to the muscles, the more nutrients they receive. This, without doubt, leads to them getting bigger, faster.

One thing to keep in mind is to only ever buy a new pre-workout once you have read the ingredients on the label. If nitric oxide is not present, do yourself a favor and look for another product.

Dosage: Take the correct amount according to the instructions found on the label of the pre-workout product.

CLA

CLA is perhaps better known as conjugated linoleic acid. It can be found naturally in certain foods. CLA is most commonly found in red meats and dairy products. It can help to improve the rate at which your body burns fat. This can then be used to provide your body with energy.

Unfortunately, due to new farming techniques within the meat and dairy industries, the levels of CLA found naturally in the food that we consume have been drastically reduced. This means that in order to effectively use CLA, you may need to take it as a supplement.

Along with burning fat, CLA also provides a number of other health perks.

Which ones top the list?

CLA helps in lowering cholesterol, boosting the immune system (which can make it easier for you to recover after your workouts) and lowering the risk of suffering from breast cancer in the future.

Dosage: You can take between 1.8 to 9 grams of CLA per day, depending on your body weight.

Protein Powder

You were likely wondering when this would make the list.

Wonder no more!

This is arguably the most common supplement used by those who want to get ripped and get ripped fast. It serves many purposes and has proven to be one of the healthier supplements that can be used on a long-term basis.

Not only can it assist in building and maintaining muscle mass, but it is also known for boosting energy levels, upping athletic performance and encouraging the body to shed unnecessary fat reserves.

By boosting energy levels and enhancing performance, you are able to work harder when you’re at the gym. This, as you might expect, leads to better results and the loss of a greater amount of fat.

The more you work out, the stronger you will get and the easier it will be to start lifting those heavier weights. Once you do this, your muscle size will increase. That will also lead to an increase in your metabolic rate, resulting in even more fat burning and, eventually, muscles that are more visible and, of course, more ripped!

For best results, it is recommended that you consume two different types of protein powder on a daily basis. The two types you should consume are a fast digesting powder and a slow digesting powder. The fast digesting powder, which usually consists of whey isolate as its main ingredient, should be taken right after an intense workout.

Why?

It will help to provide your muscles with the essentials that they need in order to grow and repair themselves.

The slow digesting powder, which usually contains casein, can be taken an hour or two before bed. It will aid in providing your muscles with essential amino acids while your body rests and recovers. It will also ensure that you wake up feeling rejuvenated, well nourished and ready to go!

Dosage: Take according to the instructions on the label of the product.

Creatine

If you are not taking creatine, what are you waiting for?

It is known throughout the fitness industry as the superhero supplement for building and maintaining muscle mass.

It can also have a positive effect on an athlete’s overall endurance levels.

Why?

The reason is likely because the best creatine provides the athlete with a temporary boost in muscle strength. This ultimately allows him or her to enhance the effects of strength training and build bigger muscles a lot faster than anticipated. Ultimately, you should be able to lift more weight, which will eventually lead to increased muscle mass and more productive gym sessions.

Dosage: Start off by taking 5 to 25 grams per day for one week. Of course, the amount will vary based on your size, weight, and gender. From there, in order to maintain your levels, you should only be taking 5 to 10 grams per day.

Carnitine

Carnitine has a number of awesome benefits when it comes to both the mind and the body, especially for those who are reducing a number of carbs they consume in their diet.

Both forms of carnitine, L-Carnitine, and Acetyl-L-Carnitine work by encouraging a flow of fat and energy to your muscles when you need it most during a workout. This helps to replace the energy lost by limiting carbs. It also helps to encourage the drainage of toxins stored in the muscles during a workout, which can limit the amount of recovery time needed in between. Finally, it targets the mind and assists in promoting focus, which can be negatively affected when fewer carbs are consumed.

Dosage: You can take between 1,000 to 2,000mg both before and after a session at the gym.

Multivitamin

All of this time spent at the gym can take a toll on the amount of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that your body is able to absorb. Knowing this, it pays to take a multivitamin not just to enhance your performance during training, but also to improve your health in general.

A good multi will provide you with all that you need to ensure consistent energy levels and faster recovery in between workouts. It will also increase your capacity for concentration and focus, making it easier for you to really make the most of your gym sessions.

Dosage: Take the amount as listed on the label of the product.

Fish Oil

Fish oil is always healthy, but it can have even greater perks for those looking to boost muscle mass.

Why?

Fish oil encourages your body to feed on other fat reserves in order to provide energy. This leads to fat reduction and a better metabolism. It can also help to lessen the extent of muscle breakdown, which means that fatigue and muscle soreness will be greatly reduced.

Studies have also shown that fish oil, and omega-3 fatty acids in particular, have the power to improve heart health (reducing the risk of heart attacks and heart failure) and aid in effective joint recovery. It goes without saying that this is great news after lifting all of those heavy weights!

Dosage: 1 to 3 grams with every meal is ideal.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many different supplements that can help you to attain that ripped body that you have been dreaming about for so long. But, it is very important to note that without a diet full of healthy nourishment, and a consistent gym schedule, the results that these supplements are able to offer will be severely limited.

If you want a muscular physique, taking proper care of yourself and remaining disciplined are the two main secrets to achieving it. Thankfully, the supplements will be there to make it all that much easier to get there and sustain it.

By Bianca Delport