When you’re living in as sun-soaked a city as Sydney, if you identify as LGBTIQ or their friends, or you plan on going to the gay party to end all gay parties, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras after party, then showing skin almost feels like a prerequisite.
Of course, it’s not; but you’d be kidding yourself if you thought you’d go without gawking at a few finely tuned torsos and their hangers-on as your prowl the grounds of Hordern Pavillion in the dead of night.
The good thing about the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is, though, that regardless of who you are, what you look like and what you like to do with who, you’re welcome; and if keeping up with the Joneses if your thing, then we’ve done some of the hard work for you.
Bulk Nutrients are Australia’s own, and the people to go to for your protein and health nutrition and supplements and this Mardi Gras, we’re talking all thing fat burners and protein to aid you in your quest to shred that last little layer of love to look at your optimum prime.
We spoke to Brodie West, marketing manager and pro-LGBTIQ-er himself about bods, burners and how to do both, best.
When it comes to the big Mardi Gras after party night, there’s a lot of perceived pressure to look good, but as Brodie says, it’s not all about what you look like.
“I think there is an element of perceived pressure to look good for Mardi Gras, but there isn’t a “fit bodies only” door policy – it really is the most inclusive event on the Australian calendar. However, if you’re like me and work well to deadlines then it really is the perfect opportunity to train towards a pretty fabulous end goal,” he said. “I think this can really be attributed to the very popular New Year resolutions of losing weight, and trying to cut back on meat consumption or makes some positive impact on the environment. We [tend to] see a spike in protein products as there are many weight loss benefits with a high protein diet, not to mention the benefits in recovery time during a period of increased amounts of exercise.”
Every little bit helps, as the saying goes, but too much can work against you. Lots of people take fat burners to help shake off that last 10% of anything they’re not keen on, but as Brodie says, it’s about doing it wisely.
“Although most ingredients in fat burners are derived from amino acids, or natural sources, one thing to watch when taking fat burners is the amount of caffeine you consume. If you are used to taking a pre-workout before you train, then decide to add something like AM Burner to your morning program, then buy your morning coffee out of habit you are looking at around a 500mg caffeine hit all before you even start work! Make sure you space your caffeine consumption throughout the morning, and I would suggest to ensure that you don’t consume any additional caffeine after lunch. Adequate sleep is really important to combat stress, fatigue and assist in the recovery process – so you want to be sure that you aren’t laying awake at night. If you are sensitive to stimulants, I would avoid burner products that include caffeine all together and opt for supplements like PM Burner or Acetyl Carnitine instead.”
But a lot of information about burners and how and even why you’d use them can often be hard to come by. Brodie’s a bit of a guru in all this and has experienced many an after party in his day, so he’s got a few of the answers:
“A lot of people like to speed up the fat loss process, because let’s face it – who actually likes to diet? Burner products help keep the metabolism boosted which in turn helps your body burn more fat and use it as energy. In addition to this many burners include ingredients to suppress the appetite to help you feel fuller for longer to help curb those insatiable cravings. Burners work best to help extend an already boosted metabolism, so be sure to take them just before or after a solid cardio or strength session. The sexiest thing about someone isn’t their six pack, it’s their confidence – so when it all starts getting too hot in the RHI and the sweat marks threaten to appear (we all know it gets that way pretty damn quickly!) just make sure you make the most of your night and have fun – it will be another 12 months before you can do it all again!”
Beneath it all, though, Brodie remains adamant that supplements are just that; supplements. They should only be used in conjunction with other healthy choices.
“Supplements should only really be used if you have a solid diet and training program to get maximum effect. They are designed to help you fast track the dieting process, and help you reach your body composition goals faster. They are the perfect addition to someone with a busy lifestyle due to their fast absorption, affordability, convenience, and ability to fill the gaps that your diet may be deficient in. I would strongly recommend taking a protein supplement with any burner product as studies conducted by CSIRO have shown that higher protein diets are more effective for weight loss and weight maintenance both in the short and long term, not to mention the benefits for recovery in a period of increased exercise and potential stress on the body.”
And after the glitter’s settled, streamers have been all rolled-up and passed out bodies, swept off the dance floor, Brodie recommends recovering with some 5HTP capsules and some Electrolyte Plus to help rehydrate and replace all those glycogen stores that would be depleted after a night of dancing to get back on track as quick as possible. Embrace the high of Mardi Gras, but be prepared for the post MG blues.
Here are some of Bulk Nutrients’ most popular supplements at this time of year:
Plant based/Vegan supplements: