Archive for the ‘Supplements’ category

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.

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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