Sports nutrition: how to buy the genuine product at a good price
Decide by your goal, not by the tub
First answer the question “what for”. To build mass, people take whey protein, a gainer or creatine monohydrate. For recovery after workouts, casein or BCAA amino acids. For endurance, isotonic drinks and pre-workout formulas. Vitamins and fat burners are better discussed with a doctor or a coach, especially if you have a chronic illness.
Creatine monohydrate is the most common and best-studied form, so there is usually no need to pay extra for “clever” names. In a gainer, look at the ratio of protein to carbohydrates, because some mixes are almost pure sugar.
Isolate is filtered of lactose and fat more than concentrate, so it is usually more expensive and suits you if dairy does not agree with you.
What to put in your request
- type of product — whey protein, isolate, casein, creatine, gainer, BCAA, pre-workout;
- brand — for example Optimum Nutrition, MyProtein, BioTech, Scitec, or “any trusted brand”;
- weight or pack size — in grams, kilograms or servings;
- flavour — chocolate, vanilla, unflavoured;
- genuine product and documents — whether you need papers or a check of the batch;
- goal — mass, cutting, endurance, recovery;
- shelf life — for example, at least 6 months left;
- budget and delivery city.
Example: “I need whey protein Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard, 2 kg, chocolate flavour, genuine with batch documents, at least 6 months of shelf life left. Courier delivery to Singapore, budget up to $89.”
How to compare offers
The most common trap is a different weight for a similar price. Count the cost not per tub but per gram of protein: look at how much protein is in a serving and how many servings are in the pack. A 2 kg tub with little protein can turn out worse than a smaller but cleaner one.
Ask about the manufacturing date and the expiry date, and about how it is stored. Well-known brands have different lines and markets, so check the exact product name and the ingredients on the label. A careful seller will send photos of the tub, the barcode and the date. If a price is far below all the other offers, that is a reason to ask where the product comes from.
How BlaBlaPrice works
Instead of calling shops, you describe what you want once. The request is checked, and sellers reply in the chat, showing the price and terms. They can see where their offer stands and improve their terms, which is why the price often comes down. Your contacts stay hidden until you choose a seller. It is all explained on the “How it works” page.
Other gear for training
If you are putting together a home gym, look at athletics and fitness, and for team sports at football or hockey. You create a request on the home page.
