Bodybuilding

When it comes to bodybuilding there are some supplements that get the job done and some that simply do not. Case in example, you will gain weight easier with a 1500 calorie per serving, protein packed, carbohydrate filled Weight Gaining Supplement than you will do with let's say...Glucosamine (a supplement with no calories made for joint protection).

With this in mind, it really is just common sense. But since common sense is not so common, we've listed what we believe are the best supplements for mass gain. In this article, we will go through a list of bodybuilding supplements that get the results you're looking for.

So where should I start?

With so many options it can be difficult to pick where to start, protein powders, weight gainers, natural testosterone boosters, growth hormone enhancers, creatine and Pre Workout Products ... you get the point, the list goes on. So where do you begin..

Well the name of the game in our bulk is calories. Natural testosterone boosters serve their purposes, they're anabolic in their nature and will see you having increased aggression in the gym, quicker gains in both strength and size, but your muscles still need adaquete nutrition in order to grow. With this being said for the majority of people a good weight gainer is the place for people to start but for all purpose sakes I've listed by category in what I think is most important for weight gain and each of our best selling products in each one.

Weight Gainers

The term weight gainer is used to describe the synergistic blend of protein and carbohydrates mixed together. Some weight gainers will also use medium chain triglycerides as their fatty sources for their weight gainers. Each weight gainer brand usually has different macronutrient ratios in order to target a specific audience.

1: 

CNP Promass

RRP £60, Factory Supplements Price £43.90!

2 Scoops mixed with 1 pint of fully skimmed milk of this will give you 390 Calories, 36.2g of Protein, 55g of carbohydrates and 2g of fat (in the form of Medium Chain Triglycerides, good fats). This makes CNP Promass a winning formula for keeping your bulk clean, with 60/40 ratio of Carbs to Protein it will give you everything you need to pack on size. Formulated to be a clean weight gainer, CNP Promass is easy to mix and tastes great. 

With a 4.5kg tub we recommend having 2 scoops twice per day, that will give you just over 6 weeks of 780 extra calories per day. Alternatively you can have 2 scoops 3 times per day if you're really struggling, and get a months worth of 1170 calories per day. That along with a well balanced diet should put weight on just about anyone. Available in 4.5kg , 2.5kgand 908g tubs.

2:  Interactive Mammoth 2500

RRP £49.99, Factory Supplements Price £32.93!

Interactive Mammoth 2500 is the ultimate weight gainer for those who just nothing seems to work for. 2 Scoops with whole milk will give you 630 calories, thats 34g of protein, 86g of carbohydrates and 32g of fats. With more or less a 25/50/25 PCF ratio, Mammoth is a weight gainer to be taken seriously. Still an easy to mix high quality protein, available in Chocolate and Strawberry.

We recommend 2 scoops twice per day of Mammoth 2500, that will give you 1260 calories per day. The guys at Mammoth recommend taking 4 scoops twice per day with whole milk, however if you're actually eating food and not just trying to live off Mammoth protein shakes then this is unnecessary for anyone who isn't a professional athlete of some form.

3:  Atlas Super Weight Gainer 1500

 RRP £39.99, Factory Supplements Price £29.99!

Per 100g, Atlas Super Weight Gainer gives 369 Calories containing 35.5g of Protein, 50g of Carbohydrates and 4g of Fats. That's without whole milk, so adding in a pint of whole milk should up the calories by about 300 calories and bump the protein up 15 or so grams. Ending up with a 660+ calorie shake with 50g of protein in 100g. Considering it costs £29.99 for a 5kg tub, this makes Atlas Super Weight Gainer a very cost effective high protein weight gainer.

Not to be underestimated, it does lack on tastes in certain flavours but it still does the job you're buying it for.

Protein Powders

Now you might already be getting in plenty of calories in your diet, you might have a great carbohydrate intake and have all your fish oils all together for your fats. Sometimes though it seems impossible to get a good protein intake in, so here's where protein powders come into your sports supplement regime. I've put together our three best sellers to try and make life a little bit easier for you.

1: PHD Pharma Whey 2.27kg - RRP £47.99, Factory Supplements Price - £35.99!

PHD Pharma Whey has great taste, great mixing, great quality, unbeatable value. From one of these you will get 90 servings working out around 40 pence per drink. In flavours like their best selling Chocolate Mint you certainly won't be disappointed or bored of this one. PHD Pharma Whey has for a long time running now been Factory Supplements best selling Whey Protein. 20g of protein per serving, 1.6g of fats and 1.8g of carbohydrates, the ultimate in staying lean.  PHD Pharma Whey is also avaialble in 908g Eco Pouchs.

PHD Pharma Wheys main key is it's amazing flavour and easy mixability. Do not be alarmed if your Pharma Whey froths a little bit when you shake it, this is a sign that they have used Whey Protein Isolate heavily in the ingredients. So despite that it may not look the best, that froth is a sign of quality. Just give it 30 seconds to settle and drink it in knowledge that you're giving your body only the best sources of protein.

2: Reflex Instant Whey 2.27kg

 RRP - £48.99, Factory Supplements Price £36.99!

Reflex Instant Whey didn't get it's nickname 'The King Of Whey' for no reason. With 80% protein, a hard number to match even on the much more costly protein powders out there, testing of every single tub produced to ensure the maximum quality, a high amount of servings in each tub made, low carbohydrates (Reflexes carbohydrates are only there to make the flavour) and the lowest fat content, Reflex Instant Whey has more than earned it's title.

The main key point to Reflex Instant Whey is the heavy focus they've put into the digestive enzymes within the product. This means that if you're someone who gets an upset stomach with Protein Powders, or have done in the past then this is the ideal one for you to be going for. 

3: CNP Pro Peptide 2.27kg RRP - £59.99, Factory Supplements Price £49.93!

CNP Pro Peptide is one of the more expensive proteins but there is a good reason for this. CNP Pro Peptide provides you with the finest quality proteins, derived from Hydrolysed Whey, Whey, Casein and Egg whites in order to fulfill your body's needs for high amounts of protein. From all these sources, CNP Pro Peptide gives you active recovery for up to 8 hours after consumption, ensuring your body stays in a state of anabolism of all day long.

With this being said CNP Pro Peptide is arguably the very best blended protein product you can buy. As a matter of fact, our sponsoresd athlete Tony Dodson chooses it as his favourite protein.

Creatine

Creatine is an extremely versatile product that many people seem to forget about. Not only do they forget it, but even if they remember it they seem to not be able to remember how many things it actually does. Taken before a workout creatine will elevate the production of ATP, which is more or less our energy. This allows you to train longer without lactic acid coming up harsh and helps you complete your sets. Taken after a workout creatine will increase the uptake of nutrients allowing for better recovery, increased strength gains and increased size. Creatine comes in powder, liquid and tablets. I have listed the best seller of each.

Take note: creatine monohydrate can only be asborbed when consumed with carbohydrates, so if you're on a ketogenic diet take a better look around our supplements and go for a Creatine Ethyl Ester product.

1: Powder, the powder of champions is Muscletech Celltech Hardcore! £32.99

Muscletech does admittedly give it's products a lot of 'overhype', but what can not be taken away from them is outside all their ridiculous advert campaigns they no doubt DO make the best creatine powder available for buking.

A synergistic blend of creatine monohydrate, phosphae and pyruvate with cell volumizing and vaso-dialating amino acids with glucose polymers to allow for absolute maximal absorption. Easy to mix drinks with great tasting flavours. Cell Tech is the product that gives you quick results in terms of weight gain and really does boost your strength in the gym. 

2: Tablets - The tablet of champions is CNP Pro Creatine E2 £27.99

CNP Pro Creatine E2 is one of the most advanced formulations of creatine ethyl ester products to hit the market. Fantastic value for money also is a good reason we've put it up, as well as having the knowledge that CNP make products designed for professional athletes so you know you're getting the quality you deserve.

Really useful for those in a ketogenic diet or in any kind of low carbohydrate based diet due to it not being dependant on carbohydrates to be absorbed. Due to this creatine being absorbed uniquely due to lipophilic properties you can rest assured that any water retention goes straight to the muscles and does not merely lie underneath the skin. Meaning that nutrients are going right where they need to be for maximal recovery and there will be no water covering up your muscles giving you that 'fatty' appearance. 

3: Liquid - The liquid of champions is  Inner Armour Kre Alkavol Liquid £22.95

Inner Armour Kre Alkavol Liquid is a revolution in supplements. Kre-alkalyn is one of the latest forms of creatine which is already PH balanced, meaning that you lose more or less none of it in your digestive tracks. Kre-Alkavol is also liquid in that it stores no water retention but still gives your muscles the increased uptake in nutrients. 

Glycerol is also used which allows creatine to be easily absorbed, and creatine allows glycerol to be practically forced into the muscle cell to create a fierce anabolic environment for vascularity, muscle pumps and growth that’s 'off the hook' according to the guys at Inner Armour.

Natural Testosterone Boosters

Natural testosterone boosters come in all shapes and sizes with various well researched ingredients as time goes by. Most natural testosterone boosters work by increasing the levels of freeform testosterone being used and asborbed into the blood, whereas as time has gone by some of the more modern ones work on directly elevating natural testosterone levels.

1: Better Body Sports D-Aspartic Acid - £19.99

BBS D-Aspartic Acid is an absolute revolution in natural testosterone boosters. Increasing Luteinizing Hormone directly (the thing that creates testosterone in the first place), as far as natural testosterone boosters go there is no other with as much research and backing as this. Boosting Naturally boosting your testosterone levels by as much as up to 70% in some cases! An average so far of 48% is still there. A great supplement to include in post cycle therapy.

Increases in natural testosterone levels has many positive benefits. Increased muscular mass, increased strength and quicker recovery as well as elevated moods and more efficient use of the fat you're storing. In the long run what we're trying to say is you'll be happier, stronger, more musclar and leaner. As far as natural supplements go this one is the champion. 20 servings per bottle, it is recommended that you take 2 weeks off in between each cycle although there is no actual research to suggest you need to. 

2: Anabolic Innovations Stoked - £29.99

With the absolute finest herbal testosterone boosting ingredients around, Anabolic Innovations Stoked set the bench mark for natural testosterone boosters when it first came out. Where others fell short, it carried on exceeding expectations.  Quercetin, Piperine, Horny Goat Weed and Trans-Resveratol. That's natural testosterone boosters, freeform testosterone boosters and natural estrogen management all packed into there.

Freeform testosterone is testosterone we have just floating around our blood not being put to particular good use, it can not be absorbed properly without the correct nutrition. Keeping on top of your estrogen levels for a more favourable testosterone to estrogen ratio is also a key point in having a drier physique with better strength gains. Anabolic Innovations Stoked is a spot on product ideal for use in PCT or as a standalone natural testosterone booster.

3: Dymatize Tribulus Terristris - £17.99

Tribulus is probably the oldest form of natural testosterone boosting used within the sports supplement industry these days. Although occasionally receiving some bad press, people forget the real reasons why Tribulus is such a popular supplement.

Firstly Tribulus is not primarily a natural testosterone booster, it is a freeform testosterone booster. This means that as a stand alone product for either the natural athlete or those in their natural phases between prohormone cycles is when it performs best. Very quick to digest, tribulus is also a very good mood enhancing product and helps increase blood flow.

Now with these statements bared in mind we can safely say that's it's good to take Pre-workout, given that it's mood enhancing properties will put you in a better mind state in the gym and your freeform testosterone will finally be put to good use and give you good strength gains. Tribulus also boosts sex drive which can make it a popular supplement amongst older males. 

With 650mg of Tribulus per tablet, Dymatize Tribulus Terrestris is one of the strongest tribulus supplements available in the sports supplements industry along with outstanding value for money. Dymatize make quality products at quality prices which is the reason we stock them.

Natural Growth Hormone Boosters

Natural Growth Hormone boosters are exactly what they say they are. Complex precise blends of amino acids or vitamins and minerals designed to allow the body to release the most human growth hormone possible. Most work by allowing the pituary gland to work more efficiently.

1: Twinlab ZMA Fuel - £14.29

ZMA is one of the most effective natural growth hormone boosters avaialble. As well as the valuable metals within it also helping to boost natural tesotsterone levels. The main key points to ZMA are that it helps lull you to sleep, taken about half an hour before bed time on an empty stomach can help boost the effects of it dramatically. 

Twinlab ZMA Fuel is a uniquely synergistic combination Of Zinc And Magnesium. This University Laboratory Tested Anabolic Formula Has Been Proven To Enhance Healthy Hormone Production.

Zinc and Magnesium are commonly depleted from your body. Studies have shown that supplementing with 30mg of Zinc and 450mg of Magnesium per day can elevate testosterone levels up to 30%! TwinLab has formulated ZMA Fuel for maximum efficiency.

2: Maximuscle GH Kick - £31.99

Maximuscle GH Kick is made of a specially formulated blend of various amino acids. All these amino acids (Arginine, Lysine hydrochloride, L-glutamine) are combined together in such a way that it helps them poass through the brains blood barrier much more efficiently than it normally would do. This helps increase the production of human growth hormone.

The reason why Maximuscles GH Kick is so effective is due to the combination of amino acids converting to GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric Acid), which is arguably the most effective natural growth hormone enhancer that is available to the market. It is normal when takingMaximuscle GH Kick to experience a tingling sensation around the body and being lulled to sleep in a similar fashion to that of the Twinlab ZMA. With this being bared in mind the best results from Maximuscle GH Kick can be obtained when taking it last thing at night before bed.

3: Animal Stak - £38.39

The quality of Animal products is absolutely unreal. So whereas they're all more expensive than most of their competitiors it IS for a reason. Animal put more research into their products than almost anyone else with good evidence and research backing up why they have put every little thing in. They even label their ingredients into sections to let you know exactly what is doing what for your body. A lot of pills to swallow is usually the case, but the guys at Animal put them into handy little packs.

Each pack contains effective doses of patented and proven ingredients designed to help you naturally enhance your body’s ability to produce anabolic hormones such as growth hormone and testosterone. Animal Stak also includes DHT blockers and aromatase inhibitors to help your body prevent the conversion of testosterone to either estrogen or DHT. Finally, you’ll find select vasodilators to help enhance systemic circulation and deliver these ingredients where your body needs them most.

Pre-Workout Products

Pre-Workout products are synergistic blends of stimulants and vaso-dilating products. Designed to make you energetic and provide an increased blood flow around the body, this then leads to intense mental focus in the gym, increased strength gains, increased recovery and larger pumps.

Most Pre-workout products contain heavy amounts of L-Arginine, this converts to nitric oxide in the blood and is highly anabolic. It puts the body in a positive nitrogen balance, during this state the body is able to draw in higher volumes of protein more efficiently. So with this being bared in mind make a little more effort to get your post workout shake in.

The best one for focus and strength-

USP Labs Jack3d £25.99 - Jack3d (pronounced Jacked, not Jack 3-d or Jack The Third as we've been told before), is without a doubt the most powerful stimulant pre-workout product that there is. We've never had one bad review. Personally the first time I used Jack3d, I was doing some powerlifting and I recall not being able to rest for longer than about 20 seconds in between sets. Even that felt too long, I was so psyched and energetic. Strength increase was definitely noticeable - and best yet I'm not the only one who says this. We've had good review after good review on this product, it's a staff favourite here too!

Just 1 Scoop when you first get it is plenty, you probably won't ever need to up the dosage. You see the guys at USP Labs have done a great job here making a product that really only has the essential ingredients in. You can check them out here for information on these. 52 servings of madness.

The only bad review was from the owner of Factory Supplements, who said it was too strong for him.