Why do ergogenic aids dominate the world of preference...

[Funk]

Hello everyone, I’m doing a qualitative analysis of a phenomenon for a project. The phenomenon I’ve chosen is the use of ergogenic aids over an improved diet and/or exercise program design. My beliefs are completely irrelevant as I need the ideas of others. Please take a second and let me know what you think and how you feel about the following questions:

• Why are ergogenic aids preferred over improved diet for nutritional needs?
• Why are ergogenic aids preferred for increased muscle size/strength/endurance over improved exercise program design?
• Why are some ergogenic aids more popular/preferred over others?
• Have you used ergogenic aids in the past? If yes, which ones?
• Do you currently use ergogenic aids? If yes, which ones?
• Do you regularly recommend ergogenic aids to others?
• Anything else you’d like to share regarding the topic.

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts and ideas. Lets save the arguments and flaming until after I get a good amount of data
-Dustin

[Lost Dog]

Just curious. What demographic are you looking at. General population or people with a btter understanding of a fitness and nutrition?

• Why are ergogenic aids preferred over improved diet for nutritional needs?

The perception that it's easy, therefore, fat loss will be easy. No one likes to be deprived. Natural sources of creatine are too low in creatine. You'd have to eat way too much meat.

I don't know if protein powder counts as an ergogenic aid, but it's a food of convenience AND has a false perception that it will do something that regular food won't.

Why are ergogenic aids preferred for increased muscle size/strength/endurance over improved exercise program design?

Everyone thinks they already do it right. They've already "tried everything." Plus, it's easier.

Why are some ergogenic aids more popular/preferred over others?

Marketing, mostly. Word of mouth (like here).

Have you used ergogenic aids in the past? If yes, which ones?

Hot Rox Extreme, creatine, fish oil

Do you currently use ergogenic aids? If yes, which ones?

Creatine, fish oil

Do you regularly recommend ergogenic aids to others?

Creatine, yes. Fish oil, yes. Others, no.

Anything else you’d like to share regarding the topic.

The fact that fat loss supplements all say that they are best used with a good diet and exercise program, should tell you a lot.

Don't discount the monetary investment of supplements to help someone keep on track with their diet and exercise. If one invests money into supplements, there is a perception that they are wasting their money if they blow the diet side. Every bit helps.

There's a tremendous placebo effect involved (with fat loss) that actually works. Possibly related to merely keeping you on track.

[Funk]

I wasn't going to specify a particular population because I wanted a broad range of responses. I'm also hoping for responses from posters with as many backgrounds as possible- from the 14-year old M&F warriors all the way to JP, etc.

[jvernacchio]

Why are ergogenic aids preferred over improved diet for nutritional needs?

Some of the aides like creatine you just would have to eat way too much meat, chicken etc to get the benefits from. Utilizing a supplement can be a quick easy way to acess the benefits for nutriotional needs/purposes.

Why are ergogenic aids preferred for increased muscle size/strength/endurance over improved exercise program design?

People are slow to change.

Why are some ergogenic aids more popular/preferred over others?

Science, scientific study, time and progress. Truly beneficial supplements that are tried and true show results, Protien Powder, Creatine, Glutamine, ZMA etc

Have you used ergogenic aids in the past? If yes, which ones?

Protien Powders, Creatine, Fish Oils, L-Glutamine, BCAA's, ZMA, and various fat burners.

Do you currently use ergogenic aids? If yes, which ones?

Surge, Protien, Creatine, Flame Out, L-Glutamine, BCAA's ZMA, trying Hot Rox-Extreme currently for fat burning

Do you regularly recommend ergogenic aids to others?

The basic ones yes, Protien, Creatine, Fish Oils, BCAA's.

Anything else you’d like to share regarding the topic.

Great questions!

[Lost Dog]

Funk. Perhaps you should define "ergogenic aid" so people get in the right mindset before answering. I wasn't and had to go back and edit after I read Nacho's.

Not that I'm "all that," but a 14 year old will be less, I think.

[Funk]

As stolen from wikipedia...

Ergogenic aids are any external influences which can positively affect physical or mental performance. These include mechanical aids, pharmacological aids, physiological Aids, nutritional aids, and psychological aids.
Ergogenic aids may directly influence the physiological capacity of a particular body system thereby improving performance, remove psychological constraints which impact performance, and increase the speed of recovery from training and competition.

[Axis]

Why are ergogenic aids preferred over improved diet for nutritional needs?
Convenience.

Why are ergogenic aids preferred for increased muscle size/strength/endurance over improved exercise program design?
Don't know. I try to use both in combination.

Why are some ergogenic aids more popular/preferred over others?
Price and perception of efficacy.

Have you used ergogenic aids in the past? If yes, which ones?
Yes. Protein powder, creatine, caffeine, Gatorade, EC stack, ZMA, high-dose vitamins, ephedrine-free fat burners, amino acids.

Do you currently use ergogenic aids? If yes, which ones?
Yes. Protein powder, caffeine

Do you regularly recommend ergogenic aids to others?

If asked, I share my experience. I don't go out of my way to hype things.
Anything else you’d like to share regarding the topic.

nope

[Big_D]

• Why are ergogenic aids preferred over improved diet for nutritional needs?

Convenience and the belief that they are more effective than natural sources. Some supplements, such as creatine, actually have a valid reason to be supplemented due to the minimal amounts that are in meat. Others are just perception and give the illusion that by taking them, one is doing more for his/her body.

• Why are ergogenic aids preferred for increased muscle size/strength/endurance over improved exercise program design?

They are preferred because it is an easier way out. Who wants to spend a couple hours redesigning their diet when they can just buy a fat burner? It is all in their perception that they are helping themselves, when, in fact, they are usually using unnecessary supplements.

• Why are some ergogenic aids more popular/preferred over others?

They are more proven and more effective. Marketing also has a lot to do with it, as any article at T-nation tells you to get 20 bottles of hot rox or 50 tubs of metabolic drive.

• Have you used ergogenic aids in the past? If yes, which ones?

Yes, creatine, glutamine, whey, casein blends.

• Do you currently use ergogenic aids? If yes, which ones?

Yes, creatine, glutamine, whey/casein blend.

• Do you regularly recommend ergogenic aids to others?

No, only if their training and diet is on par, or they are particularly lacking in protein in their diets.

Those are my $.02, and I don't claim to be an expert .

[gobbla]

* Why are ergogenic aids preferred over improved diet for nutritional needs?

Convenience and the belief that they are more effective than natural sources. I don't think people really appreciate how much\little work a good diet requires. It's not to execute really but it requires a certain amount of vigilance that people aren't willing to commit to. It's easy enough to do better but you have to do better all the time.

* Why are ergogenic aids preferred for increased muscle size/strength/endurance over improved exercise program design?

It's easier to blame a supplement if things go good or bad. It's difficult to say "I didn't work hard enough" when doing a program. Then it's difficult to see or not see gains and say honestly that it was or wasn't the programs fault, assuming that the person didn't really have rigid goals and measuring standards to begin wth.

* Why are some ergogenic aids more popular/preferred over others?

Price, on either end. People think expensive works and cheap is worth trying.

* Have you used ergogenic aids in the past? If yes, which ones?

Yes, creatine, glutamine, whey, multi, fish oil, zinc, calcium, glucosamine, bcaa, ZMA.

* Do you currently use ergogenic aids? If yes, which ones?

Yes, creatine, glutamine, whey, multi, fish oil, zinc, vit-E, calcium, glucosamine, bcaa, ZMA.

* Do you regularly recommend ergogenic aids to others?

No. I really don't think that most of this stuff does too much. If a person wants to try it, then that's fine and dandy. I wouldn't "recommend" any of it.

[I. Kay]

Originally Posted by Funk

• Why are ergogenic aids preferred over improved diet for nutritional needs?
• Why are ergogenic aids preferred for increased muscle size/strength/endurance over improved exercise program design?
• Why are some ergogenic aids more popular/preferred over others?
• Have you used ergogenic aids in the past? If yes, which ones?
• Do you currently use ergogenic aids? If yes, which ones?
• Do you regularly recommend ergogenic aids to others?
• Anything else you’d like to share regarding the topic.

Others have already stated the obvious: because people want the easy way out.

People also want to feel like they are doing something proactive.

For fat loss: The first step is buying something (the easiest). The second thing will be attempting to use the product (second easiest, but consistency is in an issue). For some people it's a test to see if they should even join a gym... "If I can't even remember to take my pills, how would I get myself to the gym every day?"

For muscle gain: Everyone has the "perfect" program. They work SO hard. They "eat enough". So THAT'S why NO-Explode is necessary. Besides, this really jacked guy at the gym used it, and...

Also, especially for muscle gain, I think that there is a draw to be "a part of the club". It's almost like shaving your legs for cycling. For the average cyclist who rides maybe 3 times a week, never competes... do the shaved legs really help? So it is for supplements. People aren't at the elite level, but they feel like a Lifter if they "walk the (supplement) walk". I mean, what self-respecting guy at the gym isn't "on creatine"?

Certain products (Muscletech, for instance) have amazing advertising. 6-page full-color ads with tons of "scientific evidence" and jacked models. Everybody you know has tried Nitrotech or Celltech. At Vitamin World, high-quality labels (bright colors) sell very well. Overly-technical labels do not. People often ask if the stuff "is natural" if the label is too busy. But nobody asks about NO-Explode, because while the ingredients list is long and confusing, the front label is big, red, and easy to read.

I've used these ergogenic aids:
creatine powder, creatine elixir, topical fat burners, Tribulus, glutamine, ZMA, protein powders of various kinds, fish oil, green tea extract, Arginine, thermogenics, caffeine pills, amino acid pills (I won't list the herbs that I use for anti-inflammatory and immune system purposes)

I still use creatine, protein powder, ZMA, green tea extract, tribulus, fish oil.

I often recommend fish oil to people. ZMA and protein powders too. I spend much of my time at the store talking people OUT of buying fat burners and NO2 products.