Supplementation on the run

Flex, July, 2008 by Jim Stoppani

For a bodybuilder, summertime is the season to lose your shirt and proudly display the results of the hard work you've put in at the gym. But if the warmer months bring an opportunity for you to pack your suitcases and head off to a faraway beach, you've got a problem. After all, to help you achieve that physique, you likely relied on a kitchen-cabinet full of supplements--whey and casein protein, creatine, branched-chain aminos, arginine, fish oil, green tea extract, a multivitamin/mineral and more. Leaving these helpful supplements at home while you jet off to a sunny locale can derail your progress. Luckily, there are ways that you can pack everything you need and still travel light.

PACKING POWDER As far as protein goes, there are several options. Some manufacturers sell single-serving protein powder packets that hold about 20-30 grams. A frugal bodybuilder can simply pour his favorite powder into a quart-or gallon-sized zip-top bag. Calculate how many days you'll be traveling and how many scoops of protein you use each day, and put that amount into the bag. We suggest that you add a few extra scoops, in case you get delayed. Throw the scoop in the bag, zip it closed and put it in your suitcase. It may take up less room than a shirt. To protect against spillage, double bag it.

Worried about not having fluid or a cup to mix the protein in? Some companies offer single servings (20-45 grams) of concentrated, ready-to-eat whey in tubes that are only about three ounces. The small, slender tubes pack easy. You can put up to three of them in your carryon, but remember that they'll need to be in a one-quart zip-top bag to get through U.S. airport security.

The zip-top bag trick also works well for other powdered supplements, such as creatine, BCAAs, nitric-oxide boosters and glutamine. You can use a smaller-sized zip-top sandwich bag for these. Again, calculate days and doses and scoop that much (plus a few extra doses) into the bag, throw in the scoop, and pack it away.

RELATED ARTICLE: CAPS AND TABS

For capsules and tablets, there are many choices.Most pill organizers (the kind labeled with the days of the week) are too small to hold a hardcore bodybuilder's daily load of capsules, let alone a week's worth. Luckily, some companies make pill organizers that are big enough to hold all of your daily supplements. We recommend the Traveler's Pill Organizer. It comes with 3" x 3" clearvinyl pouches with a slide-locking system to safely hold your supps. This will easily store an entire day's worth of any bodybuilder's supplements. It can be purchased from Magellan's Travel Supplies (magellans.com). Pouches can be ordered separately.

There's nothing worse than returning from vacation and having to play catch-up with your physique goals. Instead, use these tricks when traveling to ensure that the muscle you're showing off doesn't disappear with the summer sun.

BY JIM STOPPANI, PHD