The weight loss and fitness industry is full of fancy gimmicks and hyped promises. Humans love a good shortcut, but the truth is, there is no shortcut for hard work. When it comes to attaining your fitness goals, hard work means going to the gym, lifting weights, eating a healthy diet, and drinking water.

While there is no shortcut for the work, supplements can be a way to enhance what you’re already doing.

Workout Supplements that Actually Work

One of the most tried-and-true workout supplements is creatine. Creatine is a naturally occurring nitrogenous organic acid present in all of our bodies. In its synthesized form, creatine is a performance-enhancing substance, and it can help boost the production of adenosine triphosphate. Adenosine triphosphate helps muscles repair and grow under stress.

Creatine can give you a burst of energy, and it helps with muscle repair during your workout. This means you may be able to run a little faster, add one or two more reps, and push your muscles to perform at their best. There have been hundreds of clinical studies on creatine, and while the results do vary per person, the overall consensus is that creatine works.

Another useful workout supplement is Branched-chain amino acids or BCAAs. BCAAs do not help you during your workouts. They help afterwards. They are a mix of the three amino acids that help with muscle repair and recovery, and their whole job is to help your muscles recover faster after a hard workout.

Supplements aren’t the only thing that can assist your workout routine. It’s also important to eat a high-protein snack postworkout. A high-protein snack, such as Jawbox Jerky, can help your body start repairing your muscles as soon as you leave the gym.