Column: Supplements help athletes get bigger, stronger

But those sorts of supplements aren’t right for everyone. Some people need a little more oomph, like those guys at the gym who can bench more than the bar, and those girls who play in the WNBA. Their supplements come in gigantic containers and have names such as “No-Xplode” and “Jack3d.” The names and sheer size of these products practically radiate force.

Nutritional supplements supposedly have a variety of benefits for those who choose to use them. However, while the average person’s dietary additions include multi-vitamins and fish oils, the average athlete’s arsenal of additional nutrients normally includes protein and creatine. According to multiple Princeton Varsity Club members, that sort of combination delivers extreme results.

For most of our athletes, especially those on the Princeton football team, the supplements appear to be working. Barely a quarter of the team weighs less than 200 pounds. Similarly, half of both the hockey and basketball teams have upped their weight past the 200-pound mark.

Freshman Connor Kelley, described by teammates as a “meathead and a football junkie,” is a quarterback for the Tigers. “In the past, pre- and post-workout [creatine] has helped me recover between workouts,” Kelley said. “I think it really helped me gain muscle.”

Judging by his build, which is all of 210 pounds, I think the creatine helped too.

Before you start pounding creatine and protein powder like a “football junkie,” there are a few things that you should keep in mind. First, you have to work out regularly in order for creatine and protein powder to be effective in terms of muscle building. Someone who takes protein supplements and does not work out gains fat, not muscle. And someone who takes creatine without working out really does not belong at Princeton.

Next, eating healthy is always necessary, even when you take supplements. That does not mean eat less — if you have ever seen a football player in the dining hall, you know that strong people do not eat less — just make sure to hit all the major food groups.

Lastly, recovery is an essential part of every workout routine. Do not exercise the same muscle groups two days in a row and try to get between seven and eight hours of sleep each night. Few people realize how important sleep is to the process of building muscle.

For those who are averse to taking anything unnatural, supplements are not absolutely necessary for building muscle; they just speed up what many find to be a frustratingly slow process.

Sophomore Akil Sharp, a running back for Princeton, takes a more natural approach to working out. While Sharp used to take pre- and post-workout creatine, glutamine and wheat protein, “[he is] not taking any of those supplements anymore, and [he has] actually gotten stronger by doing so.”

Sharp’s advice is more credible than that of most people on campus. He weighs roughly 210 pounds and his biceps measure 17 inches around. To say the least, he is beyond jacked.

“My body refuels itself,” he said. “It’s more natural.”

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Many people are divided on the issue of supplements. Some question their legality while others question their effectiveness. Regardless of where people stand on the issue, one thing is for certain: No one gets strong without going to the gym.