Archive for the ‘Supplements’ category

Current Stack

May 14th, 2010

Occasionally I post about some of the bodybuilding suppliments that I use. I figured that I might as well post a complete list. This is as of today. I keep it in rotation, so as I run out of things I switch brands or evaluate performance to see if I want to continue. I have two categories here, Daily and Pre/Post-workout. The daily stuff is every day regardless or workout. The pre/post is before during and after the gym.

One quick tangent, in the past I have hesitated to call it bodybuilding. Mostly because I really have no desire to look like a muscled out freak. On the other hand, I put a considerable amount of effort into forcing my body to gain muscle, which I believe put this activity in the bodybuilding category. That and my dad now ask me how my “bodybuilding” is going. After being called skinny and scrawny all though highschool there is something deeply satisfying about piling 800 + lbs on the angled leg press and blasting out 4 sets of 12. That is after squatting 315lbs. Usually that scares the fatties (overweight peeps who never break a sweat… come on, why are you here?).

When I started lifting, I would bench 145lbs (the bar plus a 25 on each side) now I rep 225+lbs (Bar, 2 45s on each side). I left college weighing around 130 lbs and now weigh 174. You can change your body, it just takes time a determination. /tangent

Daily:

Twinlab Daily Two Caps, 180 Capsules


Twinlab Daily Two Caps,
: Daily Two Caps? Ya… I only take one a day. Its a multi-vitamin, nothing special to see here. I actually think the GNC Men Sport are better.

All American EFX Liquid Kre-Alkalyn EFX, 16 Fl. Oz., Lemon Drop

EFX Liquid Kre-Alkalyn, Lemon Drop: I have had a lot of success with Kre-Alkalyn, but this is the first time I have used it in liquid form. The general idea is this product is PH corrected so your body does not try and kill it the second it goes down the hatch, as it does with standard Creatine. Well… like most supplement products that is a pretty tall claim but all I can say is Krealkalyn has worked for me.

Dymatize Liquid L-Carnitine 1100, 16 Fl. Oz., Orange


Dymatize Liquid L-Carnitine 1100, Orange
: The picture shown above is not accurate. I have hotlinked it hoping that it will change. It should be a rather nice looking black bottle. Anyway, this amino is meant to so speed up the metabolism of fat. As well as boost energy levels, and improve energy levels. I am not sure if it works but you can never have to much amino (that is until your doctor says you are getting to much amino). This is prescribed a lot for people on medication that caused weight gain.

Dymatize ISO-100, 5 Lbs., Chocolate


Dymatize ISO-100, Chocolate
: To be honest the Vanilla is my favorite. Its a protein supplement with no fat and no carbs. And it tastes good. Use in conjunction with lots of lean meat eating.

Pre/Post-Workout:

Dymatize Xpand Xtreme Pump, 800 Grams + Free Shaker!, Orange


Dymatize Xpand Xtreme Pump, Orange
: Basically this gets you fired up in the gym. I have discussed Xpand before. I have also professed my love of NO-Xplode. Both are good. Right now I am liking the Xpand, I would not fault you for using NO-Xplode. I would caution you that this class of product is not for the faint of heart. Use only if you are serious about smashing weights and make the Arnold in Total Recall face at the end of each set.

SciVation Xtend, 90 Servings, Refreshing Lemonade (1170g)


SciVation Xtend, Refreshing Lemonade
: This is a new one on me. Basically you drink it as you work out and as you finish working out. It is basically crap loads of aminos. Like many of these products, at first I thought it tasted weird, now that its part of my routine, I like it. It is meant to aid in recovery. While I am still on the fence about this one, I can say that my workouts have been increasing in duration. That is to say that I feel like still going after I have completed my pre-panned exercises.

Xpand: Better Than NO-Xplode

April 29th, 2010

Dymatize Xpand Xtreme Pump, 800 Grams + Free Shaker!, Orange

I am a long time NO-Xplode user. After taking a bit of crap from the guys at the local muscle shop for my love of NO-Xplode I decided to branch out. The guys at Rock Bottom Supplements hooked me up with a bunch of samples, which I tried before deciding to try a jug of Dymatize’s Xpand.

The outer packaging and advertising for Xpand, unlike the packaging for the rest of the Dymatize line has limitless vulgarity. It approaches what I would expect from MuscleTech. The Xpand box has some MMA fighter with a sward tattooed on his chest and makes all kinds of claims about THE MOST EXTREME PUMP EEEVVVEEERRR. Luckily the container itself has a nicely textured carbon-fibery look to it, thus reducing the duchebagery on top of my fridge.

Side tangent: The shaker that Xpand comes with is crap.

NO-Xplode mixes pretty easily, although they say you should not shake it… because it might explode (mmmm…. yeah…). At first I was frustrated with Xpand because no matter how well I mixed or shook it was gritty at the bottom. Then I made a breakthrough. If you mix it and then let it sit for a min or two the grittiness has a chance to dissolve, once that has happened it tastes great.

NO-Xplode hits you fast but Xpand hits you faster. If you drink it on an empty stomach you will be looking for something to lift within a min. What is weirder though is as I start to warm up parts of my arms and legs start to tingle. At first I was unsettled but after a few times though, I think it makes the pump that much better.

While Xpand does not have the caffeine content of NO-Xplode, it seems to keep me awake longer. That may just be a case of my body adapting to a new formula, but none the less I tend to go under one serving if I am working out later than usual.

Circling back, what is the purpose for a pre-workout? To get you mental and physically prepared to hit the weights. Xpand accomplishes this goal, better than NO-Xplode.

I should note that Xpand comes in pre-workout powdered as well as “energized” and non-”energized” pill forms. Pills and pre-workout does not seem to work out in my calculus, but your mileage may vary.

If you don’t live in Vancouver WA where you can get good advice from a great shop like Rock Bottom Supplements, you can buy online from a reputable place like Bodybuilding.com.

BSN Dessert Protein: The Holy Grail of Protein

December 9th, 2009

A long time ago I stopped expecting my protein to taste like what the package said. Doing so was always a setup for disappointment. Instead of asking for the flavor to be like what the package says, I just ask that is not taste bad.

BSN Lean Dessert Protein Shake, 1.39 Lbs., Chocolate Fudge Pudding

Well I can finally say that I have found a protein that tastes exactly as described. BSN Dessert Chocolate Pudding is like eating one of those pudding cups you find in the grocery store next to the yogurt. It actually thickens as you stir it resulting in a viscosity that is thick but drinkable.

It comes in smaller sizes and its clearly not designed to replace your standard protein supplements. I have been using it when I a) need a break from my standard protein or b) need something to help me resist cookies. I am going to order a jug of the cinnamon roll and keep it at work for those afternoon bouts of hunger and cravings for sugar.

Supplement Stack

November 2nd, 2009

So it’s a lame joke.

BSN NO-Xplode: The First and Best Pre-Workout Supplement

October 28th, 2009

BSN NO-Xplode

NO-Xplode is not an anti-explosive agent. NO-Xplode is probably the worlds most popular pre-workout supplement and the mother of all energy drinks. Unlike other energy drinks this is designed to be consumed before a workout. Before I share my thoughts on NO-Xplode I should back up and cover what exactly a “pre-workout supplement” is.

Pre-Workout Supplements

I pre-workout supplement is something, generally a drink, that is designed to be taken 15 to 30 min before starting your workout. Furthermore, they are generally designed for weightlifting workouts but would be used for other sports. They generally consist of caffeine, creatine, and l-arginine. Caffeine is there to amp you up and get you in the gym, creatine to give you that little performance boost and l-arginine is a nitric oxide precursor. Nitric oxide dilates your blood vessels during muscle contraction, increasing the blood flow or as users would describe, giving you a much bigger pump.

The NO-Xplode Experience

BSN basically invented the pre-workout segment with NO-Xplode. They sell tons of this stuff. Let me describe how it works on me after consuming:

2 to 3 min: I can feel my heart rate raise and my breathing becomes deeper and quicker.
10 min: I am starting to talk faster and do things faster
30 min: I WANT TO LIFT SHIT, NOW!!!!!!
60 min: This workout is amazing, I’m amazing, I should tell everyone on twitter how pumped my [today's muscle group] is right now! (note: this is also why my iphone stays in the car)
90 min: I can workout forever.
Post workout: I’m tired. I need protein, dinner and enjoy the zen time.

I know caps are obnoxious, but I think it accurately describes the feeling.

Granted you can take NO-Xplode and not have a good workout. Its an aid, not an auto-pilot. Furthermore, I have it on shaky authority that in 5% of people NO-Xplode does noting, my wife is among them. Sucks for her.

BSN NO-Xplode NT

BSN just released an updated version of NO-Xplode. It will be interesting to try. You find after a few jugs of NO-Xplode that all the flavors basically taste the same, its not a bad thing, they just taste the same. I am also planning on branching out when I have finished my current jug. I think I might try the VPS NO-Shotgun, which I gather is similar to Bang!.

Do Your Homework

Now I did a lot of reading before trying a pre-workout supplement. I tried to understand exactly what every ingredient was designed to do. I have even had conversations with my doc about what supplements I use. For those in need of dot connecting… Do your homework and talk to your doc, everyone’s different, I’m not a medical type, look after yourself.

If you workout in the evening and are sensitive to caffeine you might want to look for a strictly NO/caffeine free product. You also need to cycle. a few months on, month off. The package outlines the plan and I believe is generally a good philosophy.

NO-Xplode do not shake warning label

Don’t Shake No-Xplode

Finally, Can You Shake No-Xplode? There is a big warning label on NO-Xplode that says, do not shake. A little research shows reveals the reason. NO-Xplode is essentially carbonated. If you put it in a small vessel and shake it you could be creating a small bomb, kinda like a shaken can of soda. Despite what BSN’s site says, I doubt it would kill you… I mix it with a spoon, sloshing in a circular motion in a shaker bottle works as well. If you are feeling paranoid, do it with the drinking lid open.

Scales Lie, Use a Body Fat Monitor

July 14th, 2009

Omeron Fat Loss Monitor Review

I often tell people that endless hours of cardio is not the optimal, long term, way to loose fat. I usually suggest a very healthy amount of weight lifting (even for women). This is because weight lifting damages the muscles, prolonging the calorie burn as they are repaired. Additionally someone who is packing muscle will have a significantly higher resting metabolic rate. Here is the catch, as you pack on the muscle, you may find yourself getting heavier and not lighter. So how to you track your progress? Remember, you can’t improve what you can’t measure.
» Read more: Scales Lie, Use a Body Fat Monitor

Battle of the Premium Energy Drinks: Endorush vs Bang!

June 16th, 2009

BSN Endorush vs VPX BANG!, 12 Pack, Black Cherry

Context:

To be perfectly fair, Endorush and Bang! are not exactly the same thing. Endorush is designed more as an energy drink than a pre-workout drink. Bang! is very much a pre-workout drink, that could compete with NO-Xplode directly. However, you will most likely find them being sold in the same case, side by side. Furthermore, both of these drinks compete with their powdered counterparts.

» Read more: Battle of the Premium Energy Drinks: Endorush vs Bang!

BSN Nitrix

May 15th, 2009

So this is the part where people start asking where I am going with this blog. In other posts you talk about outdoor gear, now supplements? Strange I know, but time that I don’t spend adventuring or geeking out is spent in the gym. Now after that huge digression… BSN Nitrix.

BSN Nitrix, 360 Tablets

Nitrix is the first “N.O.” product that I tried (although the N.O. is just part of Nitrix). The basic idea of N.O. is to dilate you blood vessels so you perform better in the gym. It does this with huge doses of amino acids. Is this safe? Well I asked my Dr. and he was not that concerned. Like vitamins what you don’t use you excrete. Nitrix also contains creatine and ton of B vitamins. All of this goes together to get you huge pumps.

» Read more: BSN Nitrix