Kevin T
Hall of Fame
I never said supplements are a substitute for a healthy lifestyle. If you eat greasy fast food almost every day, you're making a choice to shorten your life.
There's plenty of research on supplements on the internet. I don't feel compelled to look for them, nor do I need proof beyond what I already observed myself. Some people saved their own lives by taking experimental cancer treatments. If something doesn't work for me, I stop taking it. We aren't talking about drugs here, these are natural supplements.
I would really love it if all my supplements were just placebos. Then all I'd have to do is think that I'm taking something healthy. Kinda like what a Christian Scientist thinks (those guys who say you shouldn't take medication because all conditions are mental). Nearly every serious bodybuilder and strength athlete takes Creatine. With all that support behind it I seriously doubt that you can argue it's a placebo effect.
There are some supplements I know I can get through diet. It's just too much of a pain to get some of them. I might have to catch some sharks to get joint supplements, and that could be dangerous! LOL
Don't go swimming with sharks.
Creatine does work but I personally have experienced no benefits beyond the "loading" phase. I also didn't experience any benefit on subsequent loading phases. It's also not great for endurance and since we're primarily concerned about tennis here (or squash, racquetball, trailrunning, skiing for me), it has limited benefit. Bodybuilding is a world I have ZERO interest in.
Regardless (or irregardless, per r2's wishes), good luck with your diet/exercise plans.