Rethinking “What’s My Stack?”
Walk into any gym and eventually someone will ask: "What's your stack bro?” It’s one of the most common questions in bodybuilding circles. The problem? It’s the wrong question to ask.
Supplement stacks aren’t something you copy and paste from your favorite athlete or training partner. A smart stack is built by assessing your own nutrition, your own lifestyle, and your own performance needs — then filling in the gaps. That’s what supplementation was designed for in the first place: Not to replace whole foods, but to cover deficiencies and enhance performance where diet alone comes up short.
Supplements as Nutritional Gaps
Here’s how I personally approach it.
- Protein: It’s hard for me to get enough protein from food alone, so I rely on Animal Iso Whey to close the gap
- Omega-3s: I don’t eat fatty fish every day, so I use Animal Omega to support heart, brain, and joint health
- Ergogenics: Some ingredients are tough to get in optimal doses from food — creatine, citrulline, beta-alanine. That’s why I use Animal Pump and Creatine Chews
This isn’t about following a cookie-cutter workout supplement bundle. It’s about strategically meeting my needs.
The Science of Synergy
One of the true positives of stacking is synergy — when ingredients taken together deliver more than the sum of their parts.
- Creatine + Beta-Alanine: Together they support strength and muscular endurance
- Citrulline + Electrolytes: Improves blood flow and hydration for training
- Protein + Omega-3s: Enhances muscle protein synthesis and recovery
When you’re stacking correctly, you’re not just adding more. You’re creating combinations that optimize absorption, bioavailability, and total effect.
Beyond Performance: Targeted Support
Stacks can also cover areas of recovery and health that training alone won’t fix.
- Animal Flex: For joint integrity and long-term wear-and-tear management
- Animal PM: For deeper sleep and recovery, which directly feeds back into growth and performance
- Animal Juiced Aminos: For intra-workout essential amino acids when the diet isn’t timed to cover that window
- Animal Meal: For athletes who are constantly on the go and need a full-spectrum meal replacement
Each of these fills a very different need — and the right “stack” depends entirely on the athlete.
Building Your Stack
The takeaway here is simple: a supplement stack should be personalized, strategic, and purposeful. Start by asking:
- What can’t I consistently cover through diet?
- What areas of performance or recovery need extra support?
- What synergies could improve the way my body responds?
From there, layering in products becomes intuitive. Your stack is no longer just “more supplements.” It’s a system that makes your nutrition, training, and recovery more complete.
Final Word
The real positive of stacking isn’t the stack itself. It’s the thought process behind it. Don’t ask “What stack are you on?” — ask “What do I need to be complete?”
For me, that’s protein, omegas, and key performance enhancers. For you, it might be different. But if you approach stacking with purpose, you’ll find your results compound in ways you didn’t expect. That’s the science — and the art — of supplementation.
About The Author
John Jewett is a IFBB pro, a top five Olympia competitor, and five-time powerlifting World Champion. Beyond his bodybuilding accolades, John holds a bachelors in Exercise Science, a Masters in Nutrition. He’s also a Registered Dietitian and self-proclaimed muscle nerd, generously sharing his extensive knowledge of fitness and nutrition with the Animal community.
