"legal" supplements in BUD/S?

[AEDaniel]

Whats up guys-this is my first post, but i love this forum for all the useful info. I understand the banning of creatine during buds, but how about other supplements such as chromium picolinate, glucosamine, wheat germ oil, and stuff of that nature. Do they prohibit these as well?

[B HURB]

I'm replying to get this thread back up to the top. The only "supplement" I use right now is Muscle Milk, which is basically just a protein shake. I take it once after workouts, nothing more. Is Muscle Milk allowed at BUD/S? Anybody?

[Illmaxic]

I'll tell you what guys, all you need to get through BUD/S is testicular fortitude... None of this supplement crap. You don't need any of it to get bigger or stronger. Plenty of people can go all natural, why can't you?

[kklingman]

damn straight illmaxic

[billusn]

If you read Marcus Luttrel's book, you will see that you won't have time for any supplements in Indoc or BUDS. You will also get the best view of the "testicular fortitude" it will take to get you through BUDS. Having never been through it, I cannot speak from personal experience, but this book was enough to convince me that altho' I would rather die than quit anything, I probably didn't have what it takes to become one of the most elite fighting men in the world. Hats off to those of you who have done it!!!

[Illmaxic]

damn straight illmaxic

kklingman, I like you man, haha, we always seem to be on the same page...
But seriously though guys, WHY do you need the use of supplements? To me, is like saying to myself, "Ok, I don't have what it takes to do this on my own, without assistance." Whether that is how you feel or not, that is vibe I get from people who use supplements. I know that is an extreme generalization, but it brings me back to my point that I made in my previous post, tons of people have gone all natural and come out the end, why can't you? The plain and simple truth is, you don't need supplements to get the edge on anybody or anything. The edge you get is in your mind. And if you don't think you have that edge without supplements, then I'm sorry to say I think you might be in the wrong business.

[kklingman]

you know this gives me an interesting idea. Someone should do a study, maybe BUD/S instructors, over the course of a few years, to see what percentage of men who go through BUD/S use supplements, what supplements they use, and of those percent who do use supplements, how many of the men graduate the program. Then we'll be able to see what impact, if any, these supplements have on the success of students at BUD/S. I mean granted these guys are training like what, 12-15 hours a day, so I can see why you might want to get an extra 20 grams of protein in or whatever to help aid in muscle recovery. But as illmaxic said, thousands of guys have done it in the years before without supplements which means so can we.

[snow85]

you know this gives me an interesting idea. Someone should do a study, maybe BUD/S instructors, over the course of a few years, to see what percentage of men who go through BUD/S use supplements, what supplements they use, and of those percent who do use supplements, how many of the men graduate the program. Then we'll be able to see what impact, if any, these supplements have on the success of students at BUD/S. I mean granted these guys are training like what, 12-15 hours a day, so I can see why you might want to get an extra 20 grams of protein in or whatever to help aid in muscle recovery. But as illmaxic said, thousands of guys have done it in the years before without supplements which means so can we.

yeah... that's what your snickers bar is for. using supplements like that, and putting that much stress on your body will break it down super-fast. you'll be looking at injury after injury after injury, b/c for all the happy supplementation, you're robbing your body of the nutrients it needs, even if your supplements tell you that you're not.

but, if you kids want to try to go through BUD/S on supplements, good luck to you.

[kklingman]

yeah... that's what your snickers bar is for. using supplements like that, and putting that much stress on your body will break it down super-fast. you'll be looking at injury after injury after injury, b/c for all the happy supplementation, you're robbing your body of the nutrients it needs, even if your supplements tell you that you're not.

but, if you kids want to try to go through BUD/S on supplements, good luck to you.

i like snickers.

[snow85]

me too, although i could do w/o the chocolate. v. yummy.

[JLPestkeJr]

Gotta agree with you guys on this one. I've been using creatine and energy supplements (no steroids, im not an idiot) for about a month now and just started taking hydroxycut hardcore (I'll admit I'm rather vain so i like the 'cut' look) but i don't plan on using them forever. As far as my personal experience with them, i work roughly 50-60 hours a week and get the minimum healthy 6 hours so i need a little extra boost to train my *** off or I'll never make it to indoc. in six months. Given the short training time I've given myself i naturally need to push myself past my physical limitations in order to make it happen. I plan on all natural workouts at least 3 months before i ship, like you all said, going to BUD/S on supplements is definitely something you don't want to do.

Jim

[JLPestkeJr]

And by the way, the frozen snickers are probably the best thing ever...

[kklingman]

And by the way, the frozen snickers are probably the best thing ever...

oh damn, frozen snickers bring back fond memories of high school.

[Illmaxic]

I understand that you have a busy work schedule, and I'm not trying to pass any sort of judgement whatsoever, my point is that regardless of what you do that makes you tired or short on time, the time you spend training and the benefits you receive from it should be a direct result of your mind and your spirit, not some supplement. They don't make supplements that make BUD/S easier, all that $hit is in your head, your mind and spirit is the most powerful supplement you will ever have, and it doesn't need refills and it doesn't cost money, just blood sweat and tears... Not to mention it doesn't do all sorts of F*cked up $hit that any of these "over the counter" supplements do to the inside of your body.

[B HURB]

Damn fellas, it was a simple question. The question was: is it allowed or not? A short yes or no would've sufficed. The main reason I use it right now is to improve recovery after workouts, not to gain mass, hence I only use it maybe once a day if that. I KNOW you can become overly dependent on supplements if you do too much too often. But I also think some of you are ignorant when it comes to knowing some of the benefits they can offer.

[snow85]

hey kk! illie!

we're ig'nant on supplement usage!

me, i'd just rather chew on straw.

[Illmaxic]

hey kk! illie!

we're ig'nant on supplement usage!

me, i'd just rather chew on straw.

haha, yup, I'm as ignorant as they come. I'll be the most ignorant b@stard who doens't have a f*cked up liver and kidneys due to any kind of supplement use. If that's ignorance, then count me in!

[kklingman]

awe **** we're ig'nant.

BHURB I used to take EAS mass factor like 3 times a day back when i used to lift heavy for mass. But since I've discovered the wonderful powers of chocolate milk, i don't need nor want anything else. As for muscle milk being allowed at BUD/S, i don't know. why don't you get in contact with a SEAL mentor. he might know more. then again, maybe he won't know anything, what the hell do i know. but it's worth a try.

[Illmaxic]

ask kory knowels, the guy was a SEAL, a SEAL mentor, and he runs the site www.thesealquest.com... I've emailed him and he responded promptly, he is good about that. He knows everything, inside and out.

[B HURB]

ask kory knowels, the guy was a SEAL, a SEAL mentor, and he runs the site www.thesealquest.com... I've emailed him and he responded promptly, he is good about that. He knows everything, inside and out.

Thank you.

[marksag]

Save your money, train hard before you get there and get mentally tough. The staff will train you the rest of the way. BUD/S is mostly mental, Never Give Up and be a good classmate.

[AEDaniel]

I wasnt talking about performance supplements, i was referring to dietary supplements. Like, a vitamin. Im sure you can take a multi-vitamin but other things such as glucosamine, for joints and stuff of that nature. I wasnt sure how strict the policy was.

[crod2487]

Whats up guys-this is my first post, but i love this forum for all the useful info. I understand the banning of creatine during buds, but how about other supplements such as chromium picolinate, glucosamine, wheat germ oil, and stuff of that nature. Do they prohibit these as well?


im sure you can take a multi. i dont see the problem with that.

[kmonty33]

Any supplement: vitamins, protein, etc that you wish to take must be apporved in order for you to take them. The diet they feed your during BUD/S is high in protein, carbs, and fat to help give you the necessary energy and muscle recovery for all the training. It comes down to your dietary habits. So dont worry about taking these things at BUD/S, they will be obsolete even if you get them apporved.

[pittguy]

OK, well, I waited to reply to this one because I wanted to double check, but you are definitely allowed to take protein supplements, and actually I've been informed that a large number of trainees supplement with whey. Additionally, glucosamine and chondriton are often given to the trainees by the docs to help deal with any joint problems they may be experiencing.

As far as people criticizing the use of supplements, the unfortunate reality is that food today is not as nutritious as it used to be. With all the chemicals and processing of today, food loses alot of its natural qualities. With that in mind, a multi vitamin is a smart move for all people, not just athletes and trainees. Concerning sports supplements, I say, why not? Science has found better ways to treat injuries and disease and we readily accept it. If science can help make us recover from physical training better, why not accept it.

The thing about supplements however, is you must remember they are a supplement, not a replacement. Often times athletes think drinking protein powder counts as a meal. I would only recommend drinking it on your way from the gym back to your house to have a meal.

[BL_85]

go to BUD/s and find out what they can and cant have. in the mean time dont get hooked on all that crap you dont need especially if your not allowed to have them in training. Stick to a good diet and plenty of protien.

[skullgrinder]

Thank you Pittguy. I agree with you totally. I am pretty much done posting on this site anyways because it seems that it is filled with nothing but high school kids who think they know everything. I still keep a hopeful eye out that I might see a post from someone who is able to keep a normal discussion going without trying to ram every beleif they have down your throat. Just look a couple of discussions down with my accelerade vs. cytomax discussion to see what I mean. Personally, I like Riboise. It does not get the spotlight like a lot of the big name supplements do. But, it works and is great for endurance. It also has studies to back up its effects.
Jordan

[pittguy]

No problem, Skullgrinder. As far as your accelerade vs. cytomax discussion, there was alot of misinformation flying around that discussion. But I think that's just the nature of the internet, misinformation is perpetuated by people repeating what they were told somewhere else. As far as I have read and my knowledge of biology, because of the protein in accelerade, it would logically be the better sports drink, but I haven't tried either one. The military in general is opposed to most supplements. If you really search through the threads here, I can remember a BTDT said to us once that a guy passed out during a timed run, they found creatine in his locker, and he was gone the next morning. So as far as supplementing, I suppose it's a catch 22. I try to think of supplements as a convenience rather than a tool.

According to Naval Special Warfare Dietary Supplement Policy you are allowed single serving packets of Gatorade or Powerade type drinks, multi vitamins are available through the medical center, protein powder is discouraged but allowed although it must be cleared and stamped by NSWC Medical, and Glucosamine and Chondriton can be prescribed by medical officers to trainees with documented joint disorders. Basically everything else is explicitly or implicitly prohibited.

I hope that clears some things up. I see where both sides are coming from, but I think the best route lies somewhere in the middle.

[skullgrinder]

Its called D-ribose.
Sorry, i mispelled it. I totally agree with you about all of the misinformation out there. Stew Smith himself even says if you want to get stronger that creatine works. But, he also goes on to say that he does not recommend it for people trying to go the spec ops route because of the biomechanics of how works; a lot of people get bad muscle cramping. I don't think there is anything wrong if you take it months ahead of time to get a boost in strength. Just don't take it when you are doing insane cardio. What I here a lot of people on here say is the latter part of Stew's comment. They seem to ignore the first part. Its all about periodization. Just because you take creatine during a mass gaining cycle 6 months ago does not mean it is still going to be in your system today. But, you can still be benifiting from the strength gains you get long after it has been flushed out of your system. As for cytomax vs. accelerade. I do believe you are right that accelerade probably works better. The whole reason I started taking cytomax is because some of my freinds in recon use to take it all the time when they were in R.I.P. They said it was great for recouperation. But, that is a different service. Who knows, BUDs might be different. I'll let you know when I get there.
Jordan

[ktmracing144]

To be honest, I am one of those High School seniors that is aspiring to be a Navy SEAL ... I am in the US Naval Sea Cadets now and went through their EOD program over in Virginia Beach this summer and we got a taste of wet and sandy everyday and all that good stuff ...

I agree with what was said above though that some supplements are good for recovery and if we have them why not take advantage of them ...

i run marathons and ultra marathons (26.2 miles plus) and if i could use glucosamine or something joints i dont see any reason why you cant take advantage of that

however, i do see the rational behind no creatine at bud/s due to the high amounts of cardio ...

and ive never heard of the other drink you were talking about but i have used cytomax (partly because it is at every aid station during a marathon) and i think it works pretty well for recovery ...

overall, everybody's body is unique so nobody can really cram a bunch of bull that they "know" is the best because it might not be for somebody else ...

[luta]

Yup, I only take protein shake and dont even care about supplements. If you look at the economy, not one company would care to make quality vitamins because they dont get paid by the government or whoever to make it quality. My wife graduated with a degree in economics and she told me about it/

[asixe]

You can't take any supplements in BUD/S. If you get caught you'll get your *** handed to you. The reasoning behind this is because they change the way the body reacts to things. Your body is under a tremendous amount of stress at BUD/S and it's already what the Navy refers to as "High Risk" training. People do DIE from BUD/S. Anything that elevates your blood pressure just a tiny bit can cause a life threatening situation under extremem conditions. You aren't even allowed to take many vitamins. MSM and glucosamine are out. Fish oil, you could probably get away with. What will happen is that when Phase (1) starts you'll get a talk to by the head corpsman instructor and he will tell everyone to label their stuff with their initials and the instructors will approve or disapprove of it. If they disapprove you won't get it back. It's best to just not take anything there. Honestly it's not going to help anyway. Those that have been there can confirm. Eat well and exercise. When you get to BUD/S you will be given anything you need.

[AEDaniel]

Thanks asixe. Good explanation

[dive doc]

Guys this is a very important point. Remember BUD/S is classed as one of the toughest (if not the toughest) military training regimes in the world and therefore is one of the toughest regimens you will ever place your body through. The stresses that this places on your body in terms of physiology and metabolism are so far outside the normal ranges that you can not afford to disrupt the bodys natural mechanisms for healing and recovery unless you know EXACTLY what you are doing.

Many vitamins, supplements etc may contain even natural minerals which could have a detrimental impact on a bodys physiology during the extreme stress periods through which you will be exposed. This is no more so apparent than during hellweek. I stand open to correction here for the most recent classes, but for previous classes during hellweek you are only given even the most simple meds like paracaetamol/ibuprofen by the medical staff, IF and WHEN you need them, not when you think you do.

As Asixe said, people have died as a result from "high risk" training like this. Every organ in your body will be placed under maximum duress. Do not place yourself at additional risk by introducing substances into your body, when you do not know how they will react during this type of extreme training. BUD/S training, protocols and procedures have been running a lot longer than you and the medical staff are VERY particular about looking after you. Those procedures exist for a reason; your safety. Do not not jeopardize that.

Gentlemen, go clean, and go mean!!! HooYah!!

DD

[IT3]

My info might be somewhat dated, but you can buy Ensure/Slim Fast shakes in a can at the NEX and take them. They provide extra calories and protein and can help somewhat with recovery if you take them at night before you go to bed. Otherwise, besides some gatorade or something, it's all you.

[bigv123]

Ensure and Slim Fast?? You're better off just eating at McDonnald's! Well ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration. But, the quality of ingredients used in those specific products is CRAP.

Sean V.