Question about amino acids

[Kittycat5]

Dude at work came up to me asking about a.a. for lifting. I said low calorie protein is probably best but he is worried about weight gain. Is there something specific I should tell him as far as specific amino acid supplements that would benefit or is just the old good diet, train hard, do cardio the answer?

 

[CFC]

If he's trying to gain lean mass, then he could potentially benefit from supplementing with the amino acid leucine, in addition to plenty of protein from his regular meals. People will usually suggest taking supplemental BCAAs (branched chain amino acids), but it's actually the leucine that most strongly signals for protein synthesis/anabolism.

However if he's specifically trying to lose fat rather than gain muscle, he'd do best to avoid adding extra leucine (it appears to inhibit fat loss).

 

[Kittycat5]

Tyvm. I will tell him.

 

[Voxide]

Why is this guy trying to lift but worried about weight gain?

 

[Kittycat5]

He's pretty big, not just muscle. Kinda young. Idk man, he literally walked up to me and asked me with never before speaking to me and figured I ask you guys rather than me look it up.

 

[ritch]

Unless he's natural, taking all the extra bcaa's won't do anything so no need for him to worry about weight gain. It's a luxury product that can help reduce DOMS, that's about it.

If not taking the basics and I doubt he is, why bother?