Protein vs Amino Acids
 

First let me start by saying that I don't know what I'm talking about here... but here's my question.

My understanding so far, is that protein is too large to be absorbed by the intestine, so the liver breaks it down into amino acids first.

If this is the case, and if I'm consuming an appropriate amount of protein, (1.5 to 1.9 x lean bodyweight), then is there really a need for Amino Acid supplements? Or am I just wasting my money.

And if there is a need... which ones specifically.

I do take a pre and post work out Whey shake that combined =
48g Protein
6g Cho
2g Fat
240 Calories
Potassium 200mg
Alanine 2360mg
Arginine 1010mg
Aspartic Acid 5016mg
Cystine 988mg
Glycine 824mg
Histidine 826mg
Isoleucine 3246mg
Leucine 5062mg
Lysine 4466mg
Methionine 984mg
Phenylanine 1496mg
Proline 3018mg
Serine 2252mg
Threonine 3308mg
Tryptophan 810mg
Tyrosine 1406mg
Valine 2848mg

Would you suggest that I'm missing or not getting enough of something?

You're doing fine. I think there are several other threads where this has been discussed. Amino supps are a waste of money for the most part. If you wanted to take something like Xtend, then that would be the exception. Still, it's not worth the money IMHO when compared to whey.

I don't know why people think BCAA's are a waste of money.

Personally I keep them in my system all the time - I've been on 2600 cals for the past 2 months ( and I'm going to increase soon) and my weight is still holding at 225-230. The only thing I can think of is the large amounts of BCAA's have helped me maintain my strength and size while on lower calories.

Just my opion :D

Plus all these pod casts I'm listening to from Fitcast all they do is praise them.

Because a scoop of whey has the same amount of BCAAs as Xtend. :)

plus a whole bunch of other stuff :)

I wouldn't be able to sip on a jug of whey all day.

x2!! Xtend is my crack lol...just saying...:biglaugh:

and xtend tastes soooooooooooooooo much better than whey. plus whey doesn't have cit mal or vitamin b6 :)

Yes, but whey does have a bunch of other aminos that Xtend doesn't have. I would trade all of the other amino acids it contains for citrulline. I can do without the liver toxic B6 :D I like the taste of my whey just fine. :p Sipping on whey throughout the day would be more beneficial in maintaining a positive nitrogen balance IMO.

i just use both. so.

you lose :)

I eat more than you. You lose. :)

i thought you were at a weenie 2500 cals? :) i'm sitting solid at 3200.

I never went below a weenie 3000 calories. I stopped the diet a few days ago...it just wasn't working as well for me. My strength is up significantly since I stopped. I'm over 4000 cals/day now...sometimes over 5000.

quitter.

It was a silly goal. I don't care about my body fat percentage. I care about being strong. All I had to do was lose a little strength/endurance & I realized what was important.

You're a wimpy eater. :p

yeah, but i weigh like 100 pounds less than you :)

i'm wondering if i may have to cut something back further...i've had "heartburn" since i was on all that pain medication....and it's not getting better...gone through nexium and prilosec, and zegerid...gonna be time to get the endoscopy soon i think. i may have to lose the eating before bed thing. which blows ass.

Haha I don't even weigh 30lbs more than you, I don't think.

Have you tried digestive enzymes? That seems to help me with heartburn.

yeah i been taking probiotics...

i used to be able to eat like a whole jar of salsa....lay down immediately and go to sleep...and not have a problem. ever since that fucking naproxen...my throat has been messed up. doctor thought the prescription drugs would let my throat heal....but it's not healing. maybe they can just coat my throat with teflon or something...that'd be badass.

So you haven't been taking digestive enzymes. That could potentially help, I think.

Try Zantac
 

I had an esophogeal ulcer about 10 years ago. The doc put a camera down my throat and took a pic. They jacked me up on demorol, so I didn't mind the procedure... HOWEVER...

In the interest of being thorough, my doc felt it necessary to check my other end too. So they gave me a Barium enema. Let me just say, never again... that procedure was completely miserable and painfull. Basically, they pump a cement truck up your ass with a fire hose and expect you to hold it in while they flip you around and take xrays of your insides. And no drugs to help you cope... it f'n hurt like hell. :wtf:

After all that crap... they just gave me a scrip for Zantac, which is OTC anyway. I took the stuff every day for about 2 months and the ulcer healed. I would have rather tried the Zantac first. Now, whenever I get recurring indigestion, I just take Zantac for a week or two and I'm good for another six months or so. Sweets and refined sugar are what triggers most of my indigestion.

This isn't scientific, but I've been told that there is some type of "valve" or "flap" in your upper gi track that gets eroded by the acid in your system... heal the flap and the problem goes away. And Zantac inhibits the acid production, thus allowing the "flap" to heal. That could all be crap... but it kind of makes sense.

any you recommend?



i might try zantac next...i would rather not go through the endoscopy...or the enema. i've talked to a few people about it...and well. none of them liked either.

It's called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). I had to look it up...couldn't remember the name of it either. Mints actually cause the LES to relax which in turn may cause heartburn. Fun fact for the day...

A general, cheap multi enzyme formula might help. They sell a lot of individual enzymes, but just buying a combination of the different enzymes typically costs about the same. It should cost less than $10. I love it though...whenever I get bloated from eating too much, it speeds up the digestion. And I sleep better at night if I take one of the capsules because I always eat before bed.

i wonder if they have 'em at walmart pharmacy.

Aha....
 

Please don't tell anyone that I have an eroded sphincter... lol

Ok... I'll shut up now.

What enzyme product do you typically use, Ross?

This one:
http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp...entPage=family

maybe i'll go to <shudder> GNC.

Haha I just looked at CVS, Rite Aid, & WalMart...couldn't find anything. There has to be another store somewhere that has them...

i had looked at that gnc one before you posted....i wonder what milk products it contains?

I wonder also.

it says no sugar....so hopefully that includes lactose :)

i've found probiotics that have lactose in them....kinda f'ing stupid and defeats the point :)

i'm gonna check at the grocery store pharmacy in a bit, see if they have anything.

got lucky. found some at the groc. store....for like $5...and they had zantac cheap too :)

and they always either have hot chicks working.....or hot chicks shopping there. mmmm. it's worth paying a little extra :)

^^^ That's how my grocery store is!!!

Hot chicks and food....
 

Hot Chicks and food... yum...

Sorry if this is beating a dead horse, but I thought I'd give my 2 cents here. I think BCAA's are not necessary given your diet.

Having said that, I think the main use for BCAA's are the potential to help during certain types of training. 10 grams before/after fasted training, for example, would probably minimize any catabolism. That's about the only way I'd use them.

I just drink human blood and human muscle tissue...its sure to have all the nutrition I need.

I eat more and use both, Now both of you lose ..
Yee Haa ! :biglaugh:

I only use whey protein supplement to build muscle. No need to use bcaa product because in whey contains all of the bcaa that your body need to prevent catabolism effect...

If you take amino's (the BCAA's) before and after workout it will protect muscle mass. So I don't think it is a waste of money.