Jesse: So, this is going to be a controversial video,
don't you think? Jeff: I mean, it depends
on how you define controversy. What's up, guys, Jeff Cavaliere, Athleanx.com.
Jesse: Jesse Laico, Athleanx.com. Jeff: So today we are going to talk
about supplements and their necessity in terms of helping you to build muscle or at
least optimize the amount of muscle that you carry right now. But it comes from a
question that we got an Ask Jeff question. Jesse: This is from Tommy2shirtz, with a Z,
by the way. Hey, Jeff, I've been following you for a while and I've been locked in on
my training and nutrition because of it. Thank you. My brother and dad however,
just started working out New Year's resolution, and hired a very respected trainer that's well
known in our gym. He pulled him aside on day one and said, Listen, I'm not going to BS you. If
you want to build muscle, you're going to have to face the facts and take supplements, period.
Jeff: Whoa. Jesse: He said he had nothing to sell
them and the gym that they go to, I know doesn't even have any, he just wanted them to be informed.
They knew I knew way more about this stuff than they did, so they asked me what my thoughts were.
I figured I'd ask the guy I trust the most to give you the real no BS answer. What's your take?
Jeff: Wow. Okay. So, I have to start off by saying maybe not the most responsible trainer,
but I'm a little surprised. Jesse: I'm not surprised.
Jeff: Okay. Jesse: When I walked into a certain
supplements store, which I will not name. Jeff: Oh, yeah.
Jesse: When I weighed what 115, 120 pounds? Jeff: By the way, we have a video on this.
Jesse: Yeah. Jeff: Can I tell them?
Jesse: Yeah, go ahead. Jeff: It was undercover.
Jesse: Yes. Jeff: It was a little bit
of a setup. But I kind of knew that this is the behavior that was happening in this particular
store. Not every store like this, but -- Jesse: So anyways, I walk into the store, skinny
as a rail, and I asked the clerk for a fat burner. The most powerful fat burner that they got.
Jeff: You were 120 pounds soaking wet. Jesse: Soaking wet.
Jeff: Rail thin. Jesse: Yeah. So,
I asked for the most powerful fat burner they got and he gave it right to me and said if you want to
burn even more fat, take double the dose. Jeff: That, that's the part that crushes me.
I mean, I'm smiling but dying inside. Because that's crushing me. When it comes to supplements,
we all know that it's a slippery slope and the people that will push them on you
will do so very willingly. Jesse: Yeah.
Jeff: Right. And it can be very bad advice. And what I would say to kind of bring it back
to the original question is, I would never have made that recommendation first and foremost. The
first thing I would say, and this should ring a bell for you, is if you're a rank beginner,
don't take supplements. And I've said it flat out before, don't take my supplements because
I don't think they're going to give you the edge that you're looking for. Because you haven't set
in place the most important thing you can do, and that is the commitment to the new lifestyle
through proper nutrition and making the right choices right from the get-go.
Jesse: Right. Jeff: And if you don't learn
how to build the foundation of your meal plan around whole foods and real foods, in other words,
you need to have them do exactly that, supplement the actual right choices that you're making.
Jesse: The good nutrition. Jeff: In the good nutrition. Now,
some people will say, But Jeff, what's your feeling on the people that buy the supplements
to increase their level of commitment? Jesse: Their accountability.
Jeff: Yeah, they want to become more accountable and they-they have the bottle sitting right there
on the counter. Jesse: Yeah.
Jeff: And they're like, there's my supplements, and now I got to go work out. Listen, I'm aware
that that happens and that could be something that gets you to at least get yourself to the gym. But
what I'm telling you is, if that supplement is going to be the thing that makes you commit, it's
not going to last long term. The commitment has to come from in here, not from what's in a bottle,
that we know. Now back to the nutrition choices. There's this play for the tie mentality. Have you
ever heard that phrase before? Jesse: Yes, I have.
Jeff: So, play for the tie. I'm going to take my green supplement in the morning
and then go eat a bunch of shit the rest of the day. But I have my healthy greens,
so I must be doing something healthy. That's not going to be a winner long term. The play for the
tie is going to lead to a loss every single time. And not weight loss, but just an actual
loss in your attempt to get to that next level of fitness. So, we don't want to do that at all. Now,
who would take supplements? Do I agree with what he said? I think if you go back to his exact
statement, he said, You can't build muscle without supplements. That is total bullshit. That is total
bullshit. We all know someone out there who's not taking supplements, who's jacked is hell.
Jesse: Yeah, right. I will say -- Jeff: Even the Liver King.
Jesse: I will say -- Jeff: That was a cheap shot.
Jesse: --that when I started my journey, I actually built a decent amount of muscle without
supplements. So, I can talk from-- Jeff: Right, you can talk from
firsthand experience Jesse: --experience.
Jeff: Now you, Jesse-- Jesse: Yup.
Jeff: --on supplements versus not on supplements. Once everything is in place--
Jesse: Yup. Jeff: --which guy do
you think is going to build more muscle? Jesse: Probably the guy on supplements.
Jeff: I would agree with that. I would agree with that. I'm going to get to this in a second. Now,
you on supplements versus me, not on supplements. I do take supplements,
I take my own supplements, but I'll get into that, too. Who builds more muscle?
Jesse: Probably you. Jeff: I agree with you. But-but-but
no. The point is, is that there are people out there who are always going to exceed you,
whether they're on supplements or not. Jesse: Yeah.
Jeff: It's a you versus you scenario here. I think in every you versus you scenario,
the you who has everything -- again dialed in nutrition's in check,
who dials in and then adds supplements is going to experience better benefits overall than the person
who's not taking supplements. Jesse: Right.
Jeff: And that's a pretty strong opinion, but I believe it to be true. And I know you can point
to that genetic outlier who's just a freak of nature, who's got a massive build, who never
taken a supplement in his life. Jesse: Right.
Jeff: Same guy who can actually sneeze and build a bigger neck. Right? That guy, though, if he
took supplements in addition to having those freak genetics, he's going to be in a better place.
Jesse: Yeah. Jeff: I believe. Now, why is that true?
Because supplements become incredibly necessary for people who are locked in, who are committed to
the process and who want to see next level gains because certain supplements just cannot be gotten
inadequate amounts through diet. Jesse: Really?
Jeff: No. And again, I'm a practitioner and a believer of having a great nutrition plan. One
that you can be consistent with and live with for the long term. It's what I do. I
put up videos about it. However, you're not getting, for example, the amount of
creatine that's going to show benefits to you on a consistent basis through eating whole foods.
Jesse: Really? Jeff: No. Three pounds of chicken--
Jesse: Ooh. Jeff: --two pounds of beef--
Jesse: Ooh. Jeff: --to get five grams of creatine.
Jesse: Ooh. Jeff: You might do it for a day.
Jesse: Yeah. Jeff: You're not doing it every single
day. And creatine is one of those supplements that you're dosing every day, five grams a day,
maintenance dosing. Jesse: Yeah.
Jeff: Beta Alanine, same thing. You're not going to get the levels of Beta Alanine to
see the benefits of the ingredient or creatine without supplementing.
Jesse: Okay. Jeff: And again, we're not talking
about shoddy supplements here, we're talking about ones that have science behind their benefits.
Jesse: So, ones that actually have the supplement that they're saying that s in it, is in it.
Jeff: Oh, ouch. You're going there, huh? Jesse: I had to.
Jeff: Yeah. You got to make sure that actually what you're buying is actually in the bottle.
But that's another that's for another day. So if you wanted to get the benefits of creatine, which
we know has been proven as a solid science based supplement, you're not going to get it unless you
actually start to take it. So if that person who has those great genetics were to add that
to the equation, likely he's going to see improved results over whatever baseline he comes in at.
Jesse: Right. Jeff: So, do I think supplements
are necessary to build muscle? No. To improve upon what you've got, 100%. They will take it
to the next level, if the desire is there and the commitment is there. Now, I get a chance to work
with a population of people, professional athletes who take my supplements. I already know that part
is in place. I already know that part is in place. And what I try to do through our YouTube channel
is get people to understand what's required, the commitment that's required, to the education of
learning how to improve your body. Get all of that in place and then, of course, supplements become a
factor. But you don't see me putting my -- by the way, there, right here. Good plug. But my bottles
all over the place behind me and everything else to try to push people on the supplements. I don't
do that. I never have on this channel. Some people aren't even aware that I have supplements.
Jesse: Really? Jeff: Because I don't,
because I don't talk about them that much. Jesse: Sure, you don t talk about them.
Jeff: But the point is they are supplemental to the person that has their-their shit in order.
Jesse: Yeah. Jeff: And then they take it to the next level. And
I think that if you're watching this, hopefully you're getting your stuff in order. And when
you're looking for stuff, of course you can go buy my supplements. I would appreciate it. But going
back to the question by the guy in this -- Jesse: Tommy2shirtz.
Jeff: I mean, again, ranked beginners, no. You got so many other areas that you can improve
upon first before you're being told that face the facts, this is what you need to do.
Jesse: Yeah. Jeff: You know, I'm glad that the guy
didn't have something to sell him, and it wasn't doing it with that motivation behind it. But
I think that that advice is going to send those guys down a path that's going to ultimately lead
to failure. Because they're looking for that success in the bottle rather than inside. And
when the success is not started from in, and the drive doesn't start from inside you rather than
the bottle, it doesn't last for the long term. Jesse: Right.
Jeff: So hopefully, guys, you found the video helpful. Tell me what your thoughts
are on supplementation. Are you at that point where you've added it? What do you
take? And is it beneficial to you? I'd like to know in the comments below. Also,
if you haven't done so, make sure you click Subscribe and turn on your Notifications,
so you never miss a video from us when we put one out. All right, guys. And by the way, Jessie,
nice red lighting in the background here. Jesse: I you know, it's a Christmas present
to you from your credit card. Jeff: Thank you very much. All right,
guys, see ya.