Tag: supplements

Nutrition by Conor HeffernanAug 28, 20175:02 pm

Forgotten Bodybuilding Supplements: Desiccated Liver

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At a time when anabolic steroids were in their infancy, bodybuilders were turning to an altogether different sort of wonder substance. Said to increase one’s energy, muscle mass and overall wellbeing, this product was cheap, easy to take and used by some of the top bodybuilders of the time.

I am of course referring to Desiccated Liver, a supplement form of liver, popularised from the 1950s onwards by a series of bodybuilding gurus. In today’s post we’re going to examine what exactly Desiccated Liver was, who used it and finally what benefits they believed it provided. We’ll then finish up with a brief discussion about whether or not it should form part of your own supplement stack.

A History of Pre-Workout Supplements

Situated halfway between the gym and the nightclub, pre-workout supplements have taken on a remarkable popularity amongst gym goers in recent years. Labelled with ‘hardcore’ names such as ‘Anarchy’, ‘Mr. Hyde’ or ‘Rage’, the pre-workout supplement has become a staple amongst portions of the lifting community.

Indeed, one may be forgiven for thinking that bodybuilders, powerlifters, weight lifters and just about anyone else who has ever graced the gym floor have been using these supplements since the dawn of gym going. This however, is not the case. In fact, the first major pre workout supplements did not hit the markets since the 1980s.

So what came before the pre-workout supplement? What did bodybuilders do in the time of physical culture or the time of Arnold and co.? Furthermore when did pre-workouts hit the market? And why did they become so popular? An ambitious set of questions, which today’s article seeks to answer.

Resources by Conor HeffernanMar 28, 20174:20 pm

Old School Supplements: Choline and Inositol

The early forerunners of bodybuilding were adventurous in every sense of the word. From 20 rep squats to raw meat, these men and women stopped at nothing in the pursuit of pure, unadulterated muscle. For muscle anoraks like me, this pursuit resulted in a series of supplements being used, which of course, had varying levels of success.

Though we’ve previously covered old school supplements such as Bob Hoffman’s fish protein powder (excuse me while I gag…), it seemed about time to study a supplement that may actually benefit the current bodybuilding populace.

These ‘vitamins’, combined together, were thought to increase one’s energy and strength levels, lower their body fat and even protect one’s heart and liver. The last benefit being one of major importance at a time when steroids were beginning to hit the scene and few knew what side effects if any they may have.

We are of course, referring to choline and inositol, a power couple used by iron heads for decades with varying results.

Nutrition by Conor HeffernanMar 14, 20173:54 pm

Guest Post: The Evolution of Supplements

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Our latest post comes from the wonderful and talented Samantha Olivier from Ripped.me. We’re delighted to have Samantha featured on the site again and know you’ll enjoy her latest piece.

There is quite a bit of hearsay as well as a slew of myths that obfuscate the truth behind supplements. Well, I would ignore the things you’ve heard through the grapevine and focus on solid facts instead. The story about the evolution of supplements is a stirring one, full of unexpected plots, developments, twists and turns. More importantly, it teaches us a lot about the products that have quickly transformed from unknown interlopers to lead actors on the central stage of fitness.

Resources by Conor HeffernanJan 5, 201710:06 am

Guest Post: Top Supplements for Increasing Muscle Mass

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One of the hardest things to do is to increase size while keeping muscle definition. Nutrition and the right training regimen play an important role, but the addition of the right supplements can do wonders. There are a ton of products on the market that claim to increase muscle mass, decrease fat and get you cut. The hard part is finding the best supplement for your needs, so we broke down the top products on the market. Here’s a few of the best selling supplements and the benefits each of them offer.

Nutrition by Conor HeffernanNov 3, 20164:03 pm

Everything you Needed to Know About Supplements

Workout supplements can be a minefield to understand. With so many horror stories out there, a lot of us steer clear of supplements altogether. It might be worth reconsidering your aversion, though. When done right, supplements can be a fantastic addition to your exercise routine. Not only that, but they can also help you receive all the nutrients you need. If your knowledge of supplements ends at vitamins, then you’ve come to the right place. The key to getting supplements right is research. Shopping around will make it clear which websites are most reliable and which retailers can be trusted. Make sure you know what you’re putting into your body. Here are a few different options you might want to consider.

Resources by Conor HeffernanSep 24, 20168:22 pm

Weston Price and Bodybuilding

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Earlier this week, Physical Culture Study was lucky enough to chat with Sally Fallon Morrell, the President of the Weston A. Price Foundation. For those readers who are unaware of the Foundation’s work, the WAPF has spent nearly two decades educating people on healthy dietary practices.

Advocating the consumption of saturated fats, raw fullfat dairy and a host of other supposedly ‘unhealthy’ foods, the WAPF can be seen as a sane voice in a world of low-fat fanatics. More recently, the Foundation has spearheaded the move to make raw milk sales legal into all 50 American States. With 42 down and only 8 more to go, few would bet against them.

So without further ado, check out a rather enlightening discussion with Sally.

In both the bodybuilding and fitness community more generally it is commonplace to see diets that are high in lean cuts of meat, carbs and low in fat.

How does the Western Price diet differ from such approaches and what do these approaches lack?

Resources by Conor HeffernanSep 13, 20169:03 am

Don’t Buy Supplements Without Reading This First!

In recent years, the amount of people taking supplements for fitness purposes has risen tenfold. They can increase strength, energy and focus during your workouts. Some can even support muscle growth, enhance the immune system and improve joints. So it’s not hard to see why they have become so popular. But when all supplements claim to help us reach our fitness goals, how do we know we are buying the best?

Like most things, some supplements work more effectively than others. So the more knowledge you have before you buy, the more informed your decision will be. If you’re interested in buying a supplement to aid your workouts, here are some things you need to do first.

Training by Conor HeffernanAug 9, 20169:05 am

Lies, Snake Oils and Downright Deception: Selling and the Fitness Industry

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The fitness industry, was and is, a notoriously dubious business place. For every honest athlete seeking to help his fellow trainer, there are dozens of genetically blessed individuals who seek to make a living with half-truths.

This chicanery, is however, a time honoured tradition as evidenced by today’s article. Surveying the great names of the physical culture game, today’s post looks at the forerunners to the current market industry and demonstrates how many sought to promote their products over the truth. Unsurprisingly names like Sandow, Sick and Inch all feature.

So if you thought that deceit was a new phenomena in bodybuilding, you are sorely mistaken!

Resources by Conor HeffernanAug 2, 20164:16 pm

‘Diuretics’, Muscle Builder, June 1961,

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The following article on diuretics comes from 1960s bodybuilding magazine, Muscle Builder. Though now a commonplace drug used by pro bodybuilders to ‘lose water weight’ and increase definition on the day of a show, diuretics were a relatively new phenomenon in the 1960s, hence the magazine’s admiration for the ‘wonder drug’.

Nowadays the drugs are synonymous with highly uncomfortable side effects and in extreme cases, death. Similar to our previous posts on steroids, the article highlight’s the sports initial naivety to the drug.