Workout naturally or with supplements?

i think you should go with protein bars shakes etc.. because its got a good amount of protein to help build muscle and energy its good to have meal replacements if you are trying to lose weight . just don't eat protein bars and shakes without workout because it puts weight on you lol

In my opinion there are only a handful of supplements that both work and aren't too expensive.

Multivitamin + fish oil(multi ensures you don't have nutrient deficiencies fish oil helps joints and heart)

whey or other protein powder(but isn't 100% necessary if diet is high protein)

BCAA(involved in signaling protein synthesis, among other benefits)

Creatine(Involved in ATP transport to cells, also can increase activity of satellite cells.

What supplements were you taking?

I'm only familiar with the more common ones like whey, creatine, and glutamine.

As far as those, they just make it easier so you can work harder where it matters. Work smart, not hard. Your still putting the effort for the workouts. People have different opinions. I'm neither an advocate or a protestor. Going all natural in my opinions is just ridiculous. Yes, it will work, but it's like driving with the parking break engaged, you're just making your life harder. At the same time, there is a huge market for supplements out there and people do go a little overboard.

$180 per month though is pretty steep. I don't even spend that much a year. What were you buying? How much were you taking? A lot of supplement instructions tell you to take a lot more then you actually need. Like creatine and whey for example. The instructions on the containers I have say to take it like 4 times a day. That's crazy. I can accept maybe twice a day, especially when you are going hard with your workouts, but 4... That's just a scam to get you to go thru your product faster.

Lastly, GNC tends to be more overpriced than other retailers. Shop online.

What supplements did you take? You can get some cheap protein online; GNC marks their products up like 200%. If you're trying to gain weight I recommend Up Your Mass. It tastes great and is only $35 for a month and a half worth. If you just want to build lean muscle you can get Isopure powder. It's really high quality protein and can last up to 2 months if you only take one scoop. You don't need the recommended 2 scoops.