Supplement Questionnaire

[Boss Man]

Supplement companies are big bucks, and many will try to sell you perfection, but how savvy do you think you are, when it comes to buying and using them?

Fill this questionnaire out and see whether your supplement buying and usage habits are good or not.

Also don't necessarily answer how some other person might, be individual, not what they appear to be.

Dare you accept Bossmans challenge?


1. What do you do when someone you know says a supplement is good?

A: Trust them and buy it.

B: Seek other opinions.

C: Check it out first.


2. If you saw a supplement with one or more sportspeoples endorsement, or claims some named sportspeople used it, would you buy it on that basis? I mean these well paid / successful people, ought to know about supplements right?

A: Yes they're medal winners or pros, so the supps must be good.

B: Depends who it is.

C: Never.


3. You get mailed a free trial sachet of a supplement, would you use it?

A: Yes, it's free why not?

B: Depends what it is.

C: Only if one or more people I know, gave me a heads up.

D: Only after I'd done something to verify it properly.


4. You are thinking of buying a fancy supplement with Herbs and Micronutrients in it. Would you

A: Go ahead and buy it, because the ingredients are sourced from nature, so they must be okay to ingest.

B: Get opinions from mates first.

C: Only after I'd done something to verify it properly.

D: I don't buy or wouldn't consider buying fancy supplements.


5. You want to buy a specific type of supplement. Would you be more likely to buy it because

A: It had a cool name and label on it.

B: The manufacturer or a shop or internet site, said amazing things about it.

C: The manufacturer had a cool name.

D: One or more flavours looked really tasty.

E: You knew one or two people saying amazing things about it.

F: You're struggling to get physical improvement and believe this will help.


6. Your Doctor is warning you off supplements, do you,

A: Take his advice, after all he's a Doctor.

B: Depends on the medical situation and what he says.

C: Ask for his background or experience with supplements first.

D: Ignore his advice, because you think Medical Schools don't spend time, teaching supplement knowledge.


7. You get a reaction from a supplement, do you

A: Stop using it.

B: Reduce consumption.

C: Mix it or consume it with something else.

D: Seek medical help.


8. Would you feel happy using a supplement, if you were doing things like consuming Alcohol, and / or taking medications.

A: Yes every time.

B: Depends what it was I was taking.

C: No I wouldn't.

How do you think you shape up, in Bossman's estimation

[fitoverforty]

Dare you accept Bossmans challenge? - Okay, I'll give it a go


1. What do you do when someone you know says a supplement is good? - Answer is C.

A: Trust them and buy it.

B: Seek other opinions.

C: Check it out first.


2. If you saw a supplement with one or more sportspeoples endorsement, or claims some named sportspeople used it, would you buy it on that basis? I mean these well paid / successful people, ought to know about supplements right? sadly I am guilty of A.

A: Yes they're medal winners or pros, so the supps must be good.

B: Depends who it is.

C: Never.


3. You get mailed a free trial sachet of a supplement, would you use it? Answer is C.

A: Yes, it's free why not?

B: Depends what it is.

C: Only if one or more people I know, gave me a heads up.

D: Only after I'd done something to verify it properly.


4. You are thinking of buying a fancy supplement with Herbs and Micronutrients in it. Would you

A: Go ahead and buy it, because the ingredients are sourced from nature, so they must be okay to ingest.

B: Get opinions from mates first. -Answer is B.

C: Only after I'd done something to verify it properly.

D: I don't buy or wouldn't consider buying fancy supplements.


5. You want to buy a specific type of supplement. Would you be more likely to buy it because

A: It had a cool name and label on it.

B: The manufacturer or a shop or internet site, said amazing things about it.

C: The manufacturer had a cool name.

D: One or more flavours looked really tasty.

E: You knew one or two people saying amazing things about it. - Answer is E.

F: You're struggling to get physical improvement and believe this will help.


6. Your Doctor is warning you off supplements, do you,

A: Take his advice, after all he's a Doctor. - Answer is A. (but have done D. in the past )

B: Depends on the medical situation and what he says.

C: Ask for his background or experience with supplements first.

D: Ignore his advice, because you think Medical Schools don't spend time, teaching supplement knowledge.


7. You get a reaction from a supplement, do you

A: Stop using it. - Answer is A. and maybe D.

B: Reduce consumption.

C: Mix it or consume it with something else.

D: Seek medical help.


8. Would you feel happy using a supplement, if you were doing things like consuming Alcohol, and / or taking medications.

A: Yes every time.

B: Depends what it was I was taking. - Answer is B. (I would research to see if the combo of supplement & meds was safe)

C: No I wouldn't.

How do you think you shape up, in Bossman's estimation
I think I am like the average consumer - having sometimes given in to the hype and "promised" results and bought something hoping for a miracle and instant results, but have gradually become more wary of anything I ingest - doing a little research on it first - having learned the hard way that there is no such thing as "instant" or !00% guarantees.
So Boss, how do you think i measured up?

[Nokie173]

1. What do you do when someone you know says a supplement is good?

C: Check it out first.

2. If you saw a supplement with one or more sportspeoples endorsement, or claims some named sportspeople used it, would you buy it on that basis? I mean these well paid / successful people, ought to know about supplements right?

C: Never.

3. You get mailed a free trial sachet of a supplement, would you use it?

D: Only after I'd done something to verify it properly.

4. You are thinking of buying a fancy supplement with Herbs and Micronutrients in it. Would you

D: I don't buy or wouldn't consider buying fancy supplements.

5. You want to buy a specific type of supplement. Would you be more likely to buy it because

F: You're struggling to get physical improvement and believe this will help.

6. Your Doctor is warning you off supplements, do you,

C: Ask for his background or experience with supplements first.

7. You get a reaction from a supplement, do you

A: Stop using it.
And
D: Seek medical help.

8. Would you feel happy using a supplement, if you were doing things like consuming Alcohol, and / or taking medications.

B: Depends what it was I was taking... (Require research!!!)

For any supplements... research should be done first!!!...so Did I pass?

[Boss Man]

I'll explain personal reccomendations from these answers.

1. What do you do when someone you know says a supplement is good?

C: Check it out first.

(The product might work for the other person, but it might have poor effects on you, or contain something that is contraindicated in relation to alcohol, or either medications, a medical problem or both.

Failure to assess the product, may leave you open to medical side effects, possibly serious. Especially for Caffeinated supplements in relation to Heart disease.)


2. If you saw a supplement with one or more sportspeoples endorsement, or claims some named sportspeople used it, would you buy it on that basis? I mean these well paid / successful people, ought to know about supplements right?

C: Never.

(Absolutely. Sportspeople and medal winners, might have experience with a supplement, but do you know how much they research stuff?

It's all good and well if they get it independantly checked, to make sure it contains no banned content, stated or otherwise, but unless they do specific reasearch on things like Amino Acids and Herbs, or have a qualified background in things like Herbology for example, they could as much be duped by hype products and the income potential, being a face for the supplement might bring.)


3. You get mailed a free trial sachet of a supplement, would you use it?

D: Only after I'd done something to verify it properly.

(Again, it boils down to this. The product might work for other people, but it might have poor effects on you, or contain something that is contraindicated in relation to alcohol, or either medications, a medical problem or both.)


4. You are thinking of buying a fancy supplement with Herbs and Micronutrients in it. Would you

C: Only after I'd done something to verify it properly.

(Again, it boils down to this. The product might work for other people, but it might have poor effects on you, or contain something that is contraindicated in relation to alcohol, or either medications, a medical problem or both.)


5. You want to buy a specific type of supplement. Would you be more likely to buy it because

A: It had a cool name and label on it.

B: The manufacturer or a shop or internet site, said amazing things about it.

C: The manufacturer had a cool name.

D: One or more flavours looked really tasty.

E: You knew one or two people saying amazing things about it.

F: You're struggling to get physical improvement and believe this will help.

(In fairness any of these answers are potentially red herrings. For A, B, C, D, or E, they're all wrong things to do. The name, taste, look, or name of company, have no bearing on how it works or could harm you, and you can quote the answer in question 4. For F, similar thing, however you must assess diet and training first.

Most supplements based around weightlifting and activity, are no good for active people, who are consuming inadequate calories or doing inadequate exercise, or too much of the wrong thing. Always address these things before using a supplement. If you feel diet and training are right, then assess what supplement you might need, and then follow answer 4.)


6. Your Doctor is warning you off supplements, do you,

B: Depends on the medical situation and what he says.

C: Ask for his background or experience with supplements first.

(C is good to do, because they might be saying something like, "I think it might be wise or best", or "don't, because". How they word their response to your admissions, will tell you if they speak from experience, research or are just giving an opinion. In which case opinions are not necessarily based on fact, so they may be wrong, or inexperienced in what you are discussing.

So depending on scenario B, and how they address the discussion, then perhaps do C. If you refer to answer 4, this could apply before or after a medical consultation. Don't forget even if a Doctor weightlifts and uses a Whey powder or Creatine as examples, does that mean they know anything about stuff like HMB, or Beta-ecdysterone?

Not necessarily. Nor if you wanted a Protein powder full of Herbs, would they necessarily know what each Herb does, or what interactions it might have on the body, so this boils down to issues of trust with the Doctor, and their research / experience of the subject matter. Most medical schools might delve a little into some supplements / Herbs, but not necessarily effectiveness / dosage of different types.)


7. You get a reaction from a supplement, do you

A: Stop using it.

D: Seek medical help.

(Definitely do A. Depending on the reaction, like you get some itching for example, you might feel D is not necessary, however if you got things like Stomach Cramps, Nausea, Vomiting per se, D would be advisable. Common sense would prevail in the given outcome, as to whether you decided D was desirable to persue or not.)


8. Would you feel happy using a supplement, if you were doing things like consuming Alcohol, and / or taking medications.

C: No I wouldn't.

(Exactly. refer to answer 4. Even if you took anti-biotics for 2 weeks for something like an eye infection, as an example. Someone getting good results off a supplement and telling you to try it, might not be taking anti-b's, so if an ingredient in the supplement reacted with them, you could be in for a bad time, same as you could with an ingredient, that stimulates part of the body affected by a disease, or when consuming alcohol. Think Creatine and Alcohol, (no-no).)

what you should notice is, most of the answers pertain to one golden rule, Research, research, research. Taking any kind of supplements, even Vitamin, Mineral or Herbal ones, might sometimes cause side effects or severe problems in certain situations. You owe it to yourself, to be careful, because unless you're a chemist, herbologist, or suitably knowledgeable about these things, or the specific supplement and it's ingredients, you might screw your body up.

Medical practicioners cannot also be guaranteed, a concrete source of wisdom on such matters.

Remember some can be persuaded, not to mention alternatives to mainstream medicine, simply by being given free drug samples, or free stationary with company logos / motifs on, so that stems back to point, about trust issues with medics, even people of similar backgrounds, I.E. Nurses, Chiropractors, Massage Therapists etc etc..

In the case of people who dabble in Homeopathy, ignore their advice. They're basically kooks, peddling stuff with all the efficacy of bulls piss

I've seen magic acts on TV, (often gore based), where someone wears a white coat. Are they formerly of a medical persuasion? Don't count on it.

Now then, compare your answers to mine and feel either some sense of guilt or smugness

[Cmendryk]

1. What do you do when someone you know says a supplement is good?
C: Check it out first. - Everyone can make a buck on a stupid kid looking to "pump iron" ... they will tell you it's good because it's more expensive then others, I have actually been told that some magical "Iron" bit was in one of them, i let him continue just to laugh at him

2. If you saw a supplement with one or more sportspeoples endorsement, or claims some named sportspeople used it, would you buy it on that basis? I mean these well paid / successful people, ought to know about supplements right?
C: Never. - That's like buying a bowflex with no idea how it works because you think it looks cool. If someone I idolized like... *tumbleweed* ... supported it, it's just because they know some people would use it for that very reason, where if you had and IQ point, you would know they are all in it for the $$ not to actually help you

3. You get mailed a free trial sachet of a supplement, would you use it?
B: Depends what it is. - I choose this because it's closest to no. If you had something already working for you why jepordize it because someone sends you something hoping you like it? If what I had didnt work for me at the time, maybe seeing that this was a healthier version COULD make me turn to it but in all likelyhood, don't what ain't broke.



4. You are thinking of buying a fancy supplement with Herbs and Micronutrients in it. Would you
D: I don't buy or wouldn't consider buying fancy supplements. - If I wanted to be a health nut, I would be eating tofu *YUCK* ... It may work for some people and if worst resort came down to it I might attempt that but really it's just a ploy to get the people going "it's not natural" to think ... that it is.

5. You want to buy a specific type of supplement. Would you be more likely to buy it because
F: You're struggling to get physical improvement and believe this will help. --- Really E could have worked because I did take a few words from trustee's like bossman, but in all actuallity, if i didnt want to get bigger to an extent, I wouldn't be on shapefit ANYHOW

6. Your Doctor is warning you off supplements, do you,
B: Depends on the medical situation and what he says. - If it were to give me cancer, i'd stop. If it was because in 20 years arm might hurt a little more, Meh.


7. You get a reaction from a supplement, do you
D: Seek medical help. - I would stop using it until I got the medical advice, and again if it was gunna give me cancer i would stop, if it was just a wierd reaction because of what i had mixed it with or something like that, then I would just take a little more precaution next time


8. Would you feel happy using a supplement, if you were doing things like consuming Alcohol, and / or taking medications.
C: No I wouldn't. - With alchohol, you could get into a baddd chugging contest LOL. And Med's aren't supposed to mix with anything, I mean Advil to me isn't meds... but really you shan't be mixing stuff like that