Supplements Are Getting Expensive...

The First 5 Supplements I'd Buy... If I Had to Start Over Today

If you've walked into a supplement store lately, you've probably noticed that prices aren't what they used to be.

With the cost of many supplements continuing to rise, more people are asking the same question:

"If I can't buy everything, where should I spend my money first?"

After more than 40 years in the sports nutrition industry, my answer is surprisingly simple.

I wouldn't try to buy every supplement on the shelf.

I'd focus on the products that are the hardest to replace through food alone and the ones that consistently give me the greatest value.

Here are the first five supplements I'd buy today.

1. Essential Amino Acids (EAAs) or BCAAs

If I'm already eating enough protein-rich foods throughout the day, the next thing I'd buy is an amino acid supplement.

EAAs provide all nine essential amino acids your body must obtain from food, while BCAAs provide three of the best-known amino acids involved in muscle building.

They're convenient around workouts, easy to mix, and much more affordable than buying another large tub of protein powder.

2. Creatine (HCL or Monohydrate)

If there were one supplement almost every athlete should consider, creatine would be near the top of my list.

Whether you choose Creatine HCL or Creatine Monohydrate, both have earned their place in sports nutrition.

Creatine continues to be one of the best values for anyone looking to support strength and training performance.

3. Vitamin D3

A healthy immune system keeps you in the gym.

Vitamin D supports the normal function of the immune system, bone health, and muscle function.

To me, missing workouts because I'm sick costs far more progress than almost any supplement can make up for.

4. ZM+B6

People spend a lot of money trying to improve their workouts.

I'd rather improve my recovery.

A quality ZM+B6 formula provides zinc, magnesium, and vitamin B6—nutrients that support normal muscle function, energy metabolism, and nervous system function.

One thing I've learned over the years is simple:

You don't build muscle in the gym... you build it while you recover.

Quality sleep is one of the best investments you can make.

5. Citrulline Malate

Instead of buying a complicated pre-workout with a long ingredient list, I'd rather choose one of the ingredients that's actually there to support performance.

Citrulline Malate has become one of my favorite workout supplements because it's simple, versatile, and easy to stack with other products if I want to.

---

Why Isn't Protein Powder on My List?

This might surprise some people.

Protein is still one of the most important nutrients for building and repairing muscle.

But protein powder is exactly what its name suggests...

A supplement.

If I can get enough protein from foods like chicken, eggs, fish, lean beef, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, milk, and other protein-rich meals, I'd rather spend my supplement budget on products that are much harder to replace through diet alone.

That doesn't make protein powder less valuable.

It simply means I'd use it when convenience matters—not as the foundation of my supplement budget.

Final Thoughts

If I were building a supplement routine today, I'd focus on products that complement a solid diet instead of trying to replace it.

For me, these five supplements offer an excellent balance of performance, recovery, overall health, and value.

Start with the basics.

Stay consistent.

And remember...

The best supplement stack isn't always the biggest one—it's the one that helps you reach your goals without wasting money.