I Need Help w/ Taking Supplements, Protein ETC!!!!

[pebblesus]

OK,
so there are thousands of supplements, enhancers n all out there to help us get the bodies we want... I've gone thorugh phases where I have been completely natural (mainly due to laziness and disinterest in dealing with the overwhelming options in supplements out there..) and phases where I have tried a couple (such as natural herb testosterone enhancers, green tea, Nitric Oxide, Hydroxycut etc.)

I have chosen to try supplements because not only being a woman, I am also not genetically predisposed to building, or having hard, lean, defined muscle (lot of "soft" women in my blood line hehe).
Im 5'2, 115-120 and have built very reasonable muscle over the past couple years for my size (havinng lots of trouble showing it though :T )
My questions needing advice are these:
(1) How much protein could one have per meal to achieve results? I know that your body can use up to so much then the rest is stored as fat more-or-less, Im not sure where the line is. I find that 3 egg whites AND a cup of oatmeal AND 1/2 cup cottage cheese is sometimes way too much and I feel bloated for hourse after (no fun eating breafast if you hang out of your jeans all the rest of the day..
(
2) How on EARTH are you supossed to fit in all the supplements?!?!
There are supplements for building muscle, burning fat, achieving density, focus & energy, STACKERS that you "use in conjunction with others for max results".. all need to be taken on empty stomaches (preferably close to workouts) most can't be taken within hours of each other.. Then there's the PROTEIN. Can't take them with food (including a protein shake) and the shakes need to be taken close to workouts as well.

ANY ADVICE?

Any advice on how to take your supplements AND your protein shakes?
I don't have many personally, I don't have room in the schedule yet lol...I don't take them consistently because I don't know where to fit them in.

I would LOVE to hear from anyone (and CATHE of course on their routines using supplements, enhancers and shakes. I'd like to know what supps you like and which ones work best for you and which ones don't...

I really just don't know how to get them all into the day. Sometimes i only take them on an actual workout day.

Please send me any advice!!

 

[swayzepetsitting]

First, I have a question for you: Do you lift heavy weights in conjunction with endurance training or do you just stick with endurance training. The reason I ask is because I also had a problem with building muscle. Just a few weeks ago I started doing a strength training routine using Slow and Heavy, Gym Style, Pure Strength, and Pyramid Upper Body and Lower Body in combination with protein powder after my workouts (one scoop of either Jay Robb's whey protein or Any Whey protein mixed with fruit, rice milk, and spinach). You might just need to jazz up your weight routines.

I am already seeing results, particularly in my chest (I have large breasts and they have gotten really firm and perky due to the chest work). My legs are much more firm as well. My eating has also been really great, which has had a major effect on the results that I'm seeing.

I am assuming that you eat a "clean diet"...

3 egg whites, oatmeal, and cottage cheese would make anyone bloated! Here is what I do: I have a protein smoothie (above) after my workout and then about 3 hours later I have 1 egg (organic), %100 whole grain cereal or oatmeal w/ cinnamon and stevia, and a grapefruit (as large as I can find) with stevia sprinkled on it. I use rice milk or organic cow's milk with my cereal and oatmeal. I feel very satisfied after this and not bloated at all.

As far as supplements, the only things I would recommend are a good daily vitamin, protein powder, and Vitamin B-12 (if you do not eat meat). I don't use any fat burning or energy increasing supplements.

If you still aren't sure how much protein to consume, just try changing up your workouts and adding some protein powder. If after a good amount of time you still don't see the results you are after, you might want to add more protein or increase our weights.

Anyway, these are just my opinions. It is always good to do some research on your own (oh, and listen to the other posters on this forum, of course). Good luck and keep us updated on your results!