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How to get ripped fast

published Sunday, February 12th, 2012 at 3:29 pm by

If you want to learn how to get ripped fast and stay that way then the first thing you should do is overload the muscles when you workout. Training hard is vary important. The second is to put yourself on a calorie-deprived diet to lose body fat. Together, you can cut unwanted fat and simultaneously gain muscle but, you must be mentally tough and continue to train heavily to preserve-and even build-muscle mass. And, as I’ve discussed several times already, back up heavy training by eating high-quality protein supplements on a consistent basis.

One of the main factors to getting ripped is to be able to lose body fat while adding muscle.  To do this you need to keep your daily caloric intake below your maintenance level. The industry standard has always been to reduce your daily calories by 500.  So if where to maintain your weight at 3000 calories per day, reduce your calories by 500 to 2500.   Of course your weight and basal metabolic rate (also known as your BMR) have everything to do with your target rate so look up some more detailed info by doing a search online or clicking here.

Since you will be working out hard, you need to eat a high protein, high carb diet with most of your carbs coming from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.  Try to eat at least 5-6 meals per day with protein in each meal.  Don’t eat any saturated fats and drink a half a gallon of water per day.  Of course you’ll be lifting weights and a lot of them. Make sure your routine is tight and is a struggle to finish, this way you can force your muscles to grow.  This is the least you can do to get ripped.

All this is still not enough…

Now this is just a simple base plan to start from but getting truly ripped takes a lot more than just that.  I didn’t even get into weight training, cardio, and other factors like how to break through plateaus, and supplementation.  I am definitely not a fitness guru, but I do know one who has put together a system that has answered it all in great significant detail…

The “Muscle Gaining Secrets” Guide To Getting Ripped

 

The best workout plan for hard core training is the Muscle Gaining Secrets total workout plan. This is not a basic guide about beginner training, but rather a comprehensive beginning to end A-Z guide that is intended for serious athletes that push their bodies hard and are looking for something that is going to dramatically increase your strength, size, and endurance, while also helping you recover during your down time.  This guide is not as hyped up as some of the others wanna-be e-books on the market, but trust me, it covers all the essentials for quick, long-lasting gains that will impress even the most seasoned bodybuilder.

Many people who are in great shape learn how to get ripped fast do so by first and foremost, committing to a long-term plan that is designed to help you get in the best shape of your life.  Your mental focus is everything because its what you tell yourself and how you react to the information that will determine if you will get ripped or even in shape.  After you feel you got the mental advantage, take action and stay consistent.  You do need supplements, but this guide has got that covered as well. Vitamins, Fish Oil, Protein, as well as a healthy diet filled with proteins,greens and healthy carbs.  If you’re a couch potato or a  wannabe then don’t bother because this essential guide is only intended for serious athletes that know the basics about bodybuilding, but are looking for more.

 

Get The Muscle Gaining Secrets Guide

The “Muscle Gaining Secrets” bodybuilding plan covers:

  • How to break through any frustrating, muscle building plateau
  • The 7 Critical Anabolic Factors that absolutely MUST be covered if you ever want to see an ounce of muscle growth!
  • Unlock the top 10 tricks the pro’s use to recover faster between workouts
  • how to unleash an endless supply of your body’s own natural, anabolic hormones that will drench your muscles in growth fuel, 24 hours a day!
  • The underground secret to developing bullish, brute strength and power
  • Steal the #1 best kept secret of elite Olympic strength coaches…
  • The cardinal sin that ALL skinny guys commit and must stop doing immediately!
  • How to develop relentless motivation and unstoppable self confidence!
  • Meal plans, workout plans, and much much more…

If this sounds like something you could benefit from then you’ve got to get the Muscle Gaining Secrets Guide and take your bodybuilding to the next level.  Your gains will be significant and noticed by everyone.  You will no longer just “wing it” in the gym.  You’ll know exactly what to do and when to do it, plus, you’ll always stay on the cutting edge of all the latest bodybuilding news and techniques before anyone else!  Grab this guide and transform your body!  Join me and hundreds of others and unlock your body’s true potential!

Get The Muscle Gaining Secrets Guide

   

   
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Posted in Weight Training | 2 Comments »

Best Post Workout Supplement | 2012 Edition

published Tuesday, February 7th, 2012 at 11:11 am by

(Jump To Top 5 Total Nutrients List)

(Jump To Top 5 Major Nutrients List)

(Jump To Top 5 Essential Nutrients List)

 

Best Post Workout SupplementsPost workout supplements are crucially important to aid in muscle growth, recovery, and provide the body with vital nutrients.  There are hundreds of Post workout supplements currently on the market that vary in their aim and purpose which can make choosing the right one a confusing and daunting task.  Bodybuilders, athletes, and weekend warriors all follow different workout routines and supplement regimens so what supplement works for one may not be the best choice for the other.  After reviewing dozens of different post workout supplements I started to realize that there were certain characteristics that make up the best.

That’s why I’ve put together 3 lists of the top 5 best post workout supplements currently on the market that are divided into 3 different groups to address 3 different bodybuilder needs.  The first section is the Total Nutrients Category.  They are ranked by 5 major categories that when combined together, form the most complete post workout supplement.  The next section is Major Nutrients Category and is for bodybuilders that do not need any creatine or protein in their post workout supplement.  This section is ranked according to 3 major categories.  The last section is the Essential Nutrients Category and is post workout supplements that contain mostly pure BCAA’s with a few additional nutrients to assist with absorption.

Best Post Workout Supplement – Total Nutrients

 

The 5 major ranking categories of quintessential post workout recovery are:

  1. MUSCLE BUILDING COMPLEX – The most important aspect of post workout supplements are how much did your muscles recuperate and grow.  What you’ll find in this category is Protein, Creatine, Beta-Alanine, Citrulline, and L-Arginine – all of which are paramount to building valuable muscle.
  2. ANTI CATABOLIC COMPLEX – After a tough workout your muscle are depleted of nutrients which causes your body to begin to feed on your muscle tissue for food and energy.  We don’t want or need that side-effect. The anti-catabolic complex stops this from happening and puts your body back into the muscle building anabolic state. Here you’ll find carbohydrates, L-Glutamine, Alpha Ketoglutarate, Thiamine, and Riboflavin amongst others.
  3. BCAA COMPLEX– Branched Chain Amino Acids are the building blocks of protein synthesis and refers to the essential amino acids Leucine, Isolucine, and Valine .  They aid your body in faster muscle recovery, muscle growth, and can also aid in weight loss as well as increase endurance.
  4. ELECTROLYTE COMPLEX  – Electrolytes are ionized minerals that help the human body and vital organs carry out normal functions through chemical electric signals. Electrolytes are essential for maintaining normal bodily functions and they are easily depleted after a tough workout.  Potassium, Sodium, and Calcium are typically found here.
  5. OTHER NUTRIENTS  – This category is reserved for any additional nutrients that have been included into these supplements that also have positive effects on health and recovery.  Anti-Oxidants, additional vitamins and minerals and various herbs are what make up this category.

*This list will often change due to new post workout supplements hitting the market so check back often for revisions and updates.

 

**All supplements are gauged based on 5 categories from 0-10
with 0 being the lowest rating, and 10 being the highest rating**

Best Post Workout Supplement

#1 – BioRythym: Afterglow

QUICK REVIEW:

BioRhythm’s post workout supplement Afterglow is a very well balanced and complete supplement. It contains a healthy 20g protein a whopping 7.5g L-Glutamine, 2.5g BCAA’s, 1g KreAlkalyn, 30g simple and complex carbs., and a whole slew of vitamins and minerals. You can buy a single RTD bottle, a 20 pack, or you can get it in powder form. Not too many people are aware of Afterglow because BioRhythm is not as well-known as Muscle Pharm, VPX, or BSN, however Afterglow has an impressive list of ingredients that well versed bodybuilders are sure to take note of. Of, and the drink also taste very good so it will go down nice and smooth every time you mix one up.

Buy BioRythym: Afterglow

-$69.95 -N/A -N/A -N/A

 

 

 

 

#2 – Universal: Torrent

 

QUICK REVIEW:

Universal’s Torrent is a great post workout supplement that contains all of the major post workout supplement categories but barely misses the mark due to a low protein amount. Aside from the lower 20g of protein, Torrent contains a great post workout matrix. The Anti-Catabolic Leucine Complex found in Torrent is important for triggering anabolic functions in the body and is what makes this post workout supplement different than the rest. The Creabolic Complex contains 3 different creatine compounds that put your total creatine intake at 3g per serving. Another highlight of this product is the Waxy Maize complex that has shown to quickly inject simple carbs into the blood stream thereby inducing an anti-catabolic effect.

Buy Universal: Torrent

-$34.99 -N/A -$33.95 -$32.99

 

 

 

 

#3 – Optimum Nutrition: After Max

 

QUICK REVIEW:

After Max made by Optimum Nutrition is the most complete post workout supplement to date.  It contains all the major recovery and growth factor nutrients that are vital to replenishing your tapped fuel stores and promoting increased muscle growth and recovery.  The 1:1 ratio of protein to carbohydrates is the perfect post workout combination that you’ll never have to think about.  All you do is add your scoops and consume.  No more guessing how much protein or how much carbohydrates you need.  Plus, per serving, After Max contains a whooping 40g of Protein, 5g of Creatine, 5g of Glutamine, Carbogen and Aminogen for increased element absorption into the blood stream.  To round of After Max, there’s a whole spectrum of vitamins and minerals as well as healthy digestive enzymes that all assist in optimal post workout recovery.

Buy Optimum Nutrition: After Max

-$39.99 -N/A -$38.95 -N/A

 

 

 

 

#4 – MHP: Dark Matter

 

QUICK REVIEW:

Although Dark Matter has a lower protein count at 16g per serving, Dark Matter was designed to do one thing – force feed your muscles. Dark Matter consist of a 3 pronged approach: WaxiMAX, HydroSIZE, and ProSYNTHAGEN. WaxiMAX is a low viscosity high molecular weight osmotic waxy maize starch intended to replenish glycogen and supports cell volume. HydroSize is the muscle expansion portion consisting of 2 forms of Creatine – Creatine Pyruvate and Creatine Gluconate. ProSYNTHAGEN is the last stage of Dark Matter that consist of fast and slow digesting proteins as well as a full spectrum of Amino Acids.

Buy MHP: Dark Matter

 

 

 

 

#5 - VPX: NO-SyntheSize

 

QUICK REVIEW:

VPX is a well-known supplement manufacturer that is famous for several popular supplements like Redline and NO Shotgun. NO SyntheSize is a stimulant-free post workout supplement that is designed to build muscle using superior ingredients. To start off, the Protein Hydrolysate Matrix is made up of fast and slow digesting proteins for a more sustained approach to muscle feeding and with a full spectrum of Amino Acids to accompany it, this protein matrix is dead on. What’s more impressive is the Proprietary Muscle Volumizing, NO2, Insulinotrophic matrix. This portion of NO-SyntheSize is made up of 5 Creatine variations: Creatine Taurinate, Creatine Gluconate, Creatine Ethyl Ester, Creatine Magnesium Chelate, and Creatine Monohydrate. It is also comprised of Citrulline Malate, Beta Alanine, and L-Arginine.

 

 

Buy VPX: NO-SyntheSize

Best Post Workout Supplement – Major Nutrients

 

The 4 major ranking categories of quintessential post workout recovery are:

  1. ANTI CATABOLIC COMPLEX – Your Glutamine stores are usually tapped after you finish a grueling workout.  It’s very important to restore it to regain energy and stamina.
  2. BCAA COMPLEX– Branched Chain Amino Acids are the building blocks of protein synthesis and refers to the essential amino acids Leucine, Isolucine, and Valine .  They aid your body in faster muscle recovery, muscle growth, and can also aid in weight loss as well as increase endurance.
  3. ELECTROLYTE COMPLEX  – Electrolytes are ionized minerals that help the human body and vital organs carry out normal functions through chemical electric signals. Electrolytes are essential for maintaining normal bodily functions and they are easily depleted after a tough workout.  Potassium, Sodium, and Calcium are typically found here.
  4. OTHER NUTRIENTS  – This category is reserved for any additional nutrients that have been included into these supplements that also have positive effects on health and recovery.  Anti-Oxidants, additional vitamins and minerals and various herbs are what make up this category.

*This list will often change due to new post workout supplements hitting the market so check back often for revisions and updates.

 

**All supplements are gauged based on 5 categories from 0-10
with 0 being the lowest rating, and 10 being the highest rating**

Best Post Workout Supplement

#1 – MusclePharm: RE-CON

 

QUICK REVIEW:

Recon is the best post workout supplement that does not consist of protein or creatine. It contains Carb Max™ – A 3 Stage Delivery System that is made up of Glucose Polymers, Dextrose, and Inulin. The Anabolic Primer Matrix is a 3:1:2 BCAA Blend of essential and non-essential amino acids. The Recovery Accelerator has L-Glutamine, L-Arginine, and L-Pyroglutamic Acid and it works along side the Muscle Extend Matrix that includes Beta-Alanine, Citrulline Malate, Suma Pfaffia Pariculate) Root), and Ginger Extract (Zingiber Officinale)(Root). The last part of Recon consist of a Anti-Stress And Adaptogen Matrix, a Muscle Detoxifier, and a Reload Matrix. Recon would of scored higher if it contained Protein and/or Creatine, but to be fair, Recon can easily be accompanied by a protein supplement and/or a creatine/pre workout supplement.

 

 

Buy MusclePharm: RE-CON

 

 

 

 

#2 – Evogen: Cell K.E.M.


QUICK REVIEW:

Cell K.E.M. by Evogen is a great post workout supplement if you’re looking for something that doesn’t contain protein.  Its true intent is to be used alongside Evogen’s other successful pre workout supplement – EVP, however Cell K.E.M. is also a great stand-alone product as well.  The 4:1:1 Growth Acceleration Complex is made up of BCAA’s to start.  Then the Recovery Augmenting/Anti-Catabolic/Anti-Oxidant Complex consists of L-Glutamine, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacinamide, and Pyridoxine Hydrochloride. The Osmotic Expansion/ATP-Enhancing Complex found here is made up of Arginine Alpha Keto-Glutarate, Creatine Gluconate, Citruline Malate, and L-Norvaline.  Finally, the Electrolyte Infusion/Hyper Hydration Complex which consist of Sodium Citrate, Di-Potassium Phosphate, Di-Calcium Phosphate, Tri-Magnesium Phosphate, and Sodium Chloride.

Buy Evogen Cell K.E.M.

-$49.95 -N/A -N/A -N/A

 

 

 

 

#3 - SciVation: Xtend

 

QUICK REVIEW:

SciVacation Xtend is a top intra/post workout supplement that has been around for several years now.  The foundation of this supplement is the “7000 mg of BCAAs in an ideal 2:1:1 ratio of Leucine:Isoleucine:Valine” followed by 2500 mg of L-Glutamine.  Although Xtend is advertised as mostly an intra-workout supplement, the benefits of utilizing it as a post workout supplement are equally beneficial.  The rest of this supplement’s ingredients consist of Vitamin B6 to help with BCAA absorption and 1:1 ratio of 1000 mg of Citrulline Malate which helps increase training intensity and ATP turnover.  Also included in Xtend is the Electrolyte blend to increase and restore hydration levels in the cells.  SciVacation has always produced quality supplements, but Xtend is perhaps the most well-known and well-respected of the bunch.  Bodybuilding.com has over 1500 real reviews and over 1400 people have recommended it making this supplement a very safe bet.

Buy SciVation Xtend

 

 

 

 

 #4 – Axis Labs: N’Gage

 

 QUICK REVIEW:

Axis Labs N’Gage is a post workout supplement that contains some of the best sources of nutrients you can find.  Utilizing Ajipure BCAA’s AND L-Glutamine, N’Gage receives top ratings in both the Anti-Catabolic and BCAA categories.  Ajipure is a manufacturing process whereby the nutrients are derived from high quality botanical sources. “AjiPure® Amino Acids are strictly derived from botanical sources and are instantized for optimum bioavailability and absorption.*” Provided all things being equal N’Gage could’ve grabbed the top spot as the best post workout supplement for this section, however it fell short in the other categories.  By not including an electrolyte profile and nothing more than vitamin B6, N’Gage fell a bit short, however what is not included in my ratings system that should be mentioned is the great customer feedback regarding the excellent taste and mix ability of the product.  So if high quality BCAA’s and Glutamine is what your after followed by superior taste and mix ability than Axis Labs N’Gage is your supplement.

Buy Axis Labs: N‘Gage

 

 

 

 

#5 -Universal: Atomic 7

 

QUICK REVIEW:

Universal’s Atomic 7 is another solid post workout supplement that has been receiving some great reviews by the bodybuilding community.  The nutrient profile make up is very similar to Axis Labs N’Gage, and to the untrained eye, you wouldn’t see any real differences between the two, however they are there.  The major differences and the reason why N’Gage holds a better rank than Atomic 7 first in the amount nutrients in each ingredient is less than N’Gage, second the source of these ingredients not as good as N’Gage, and third factor although not as important, is the taste and mix ability is slightly less desirable.  Of course, Atomic 7 is fine post workout supplement and anyone who purchases it will definitely get their money’s worth, but for anyone who is really comparing the two, there are some noteworthy differences that do separate one from the other.  The only other difference between the two is Atomic 7 contains 500 mg of Taurine.

Buy Universal: Atomic 7

-$21.99 -N/A -$21.95 -$20.99

Best Post Workout Supplement – Essential Nutrients

The 2 major ranking categories of quintessential post workout recovery are:

  1. BCAA COMPLEX– Branched Chain Amino Acids are the building blocks of protein synthesis and refers to the essential amino acids Leucine, Isolucine, and Valine .  They aid your body in faster muscle recovery, muscle growth, and can also aid in weight loss as well as increase endurance.
  2. OTHER NUTRIENTS  – This category is reserved for any additional nutrients that have been included into these supplements that also have positive effects on health and recovery.  Anti-Oxidants, additional vitamins and minerals and various herbs are what make up this category.

*This list will often change due to new post workout supplements hitting the market so check back often for revisions and updates.

 

**All supplements are gauged based on 5 categories from 0-10
with 0 being the lowest rating, and 10 being the highest rating**

Best Post Workout Supplement

#1 -Magnum Nutraceuticals: DNA

 

QUICK REVIEW:

DNA by Magnum Nutraceuticals takes the top spot for best post workout supplement in the Essential Nutrients Category.  DNA comes in pill form and the recommended dosage is 8 pills per serving.  It contains “7 sources of BCAAs, including the latest Ethyl Ester & Ketoisocaproate Calcium technology.” These types of essential amino acids are absorbed quicker into the body thereby speeding recover and protein synthesis.  The other nutrients found in DNA are vitamins B6, B12, B3, and folic acid which aside from increasing natural energy levels, B vitamins also play a role a cell and tissue repair.  The last point I like to make about DNA is it contains 1000 mg of L-Arginine.  By including Arginine into the matrix, you have the perfect delivery system for your highly absorbable nutrients.  The reviews of other bodybuilders have been very good so obviously DNA has been really delivering on the goods.  This is a great product and I highly recommend it.

Buy Magnum Nutraceuticals: DNA

-$38.99 -$39.99 -N/A -N/A

 

 

 

 

#2 – BSN: AMINOx

 

QUICK REVIEW:

AMINOx made by BSN is a top notch post workout supplement because it contains a whopping 10 g of Amino Acids and instead of standardized aminos, the amino acids here are micronized which does increase absorption because the particles are smaller and can enter the bloodstream quicker.  AMINOx also contains 500IU of Vitamin D as well as 160 mg of sodium.  This product also contains something called “Efforsorb EnDura Composite” which is unique in that it creates an Effervescent effect when mixed in water.  This is very similar to Alka-Seltzer, but instead of helping a stomach ache, you’re helping your muscle recover.  The taste is great and the mixability is second to none.  The cost is around $20 per 30 servings which is a bargain. This is a great post workout product and is sure to please even the most savvy bodybuilding enthusiast.

Buy BSN: AMINOx

 

 

 

 

#3 – Gaspari Nutrition: BCAA 6000

 QUICK REVIEW:

So who isn’t a fan of Gaspari Nutrition products?  They have consistently produced high-quality supplements and BCAA 6000 is no exception.  To start, BCAA 6000 is comprised of a 4:1:1 ratio of essential amino acids. 4000 mg of L-Leucine, 1000 mg of L-Valine, and 1000 mg of L-Isoleucine.  BCAA 6000 also contains vitamins B6 and B12 for added natural energy and cell repair.  The cost is very comparable to AMINOx and it comes in tablets at about 180 per container which should last you a solid 30 days.  The bottom line with this product is that it works and the reviews so far from others definitely reflect that.

Buy Gaspari Nutrition: BCAA 6000

-$18.99 -N/A -$19.75 -$18.99

 

 

 

 

#4 – MHP: BCAA 3300

 

QUICK REVIEW:

BCAA 3300 is another 4:1:1 ratio blend of essential amino acids.  The other main ingredients here are comprised of 1.7 mg of Riboflavin and 1.5 mg of vitamin B6.  The bottle contains 120 tablets which will last you an even 30 days.  The recommended serving portion is 4 tablets compared to 6 or 8 with some of the other BCAA pill form supplements.  I like MHP supplements, but in my opinion, the milligrams are lower than some of the other supplements like BCAA 6000 which contains 6000 mg or Aminox which contain 10000 mg of amino acids.  For me, this portion size is not enough for my big frame, but it is more suitable for people who weigh no more than 160 lbs.  If you weigh more than that then you might want to consider something else.

 Buy MHP: BCAA 3300

 

 

 

 

#5 – Beverly Int.: Density

 

QUICK REVIEW:

Density by Beverly Int. is a post workout/recovery supplement that is very straight forward with their approach.  It contains all 8 essential and non-essential amino acids at 500 mg each.  The only other major ingredient is 50 IU of Vitamin E.  The recommended serving size is 5 tablets and the bottle contains 150 tablets in all which is 30 servings.  As far as ranks are concerned, it ranked lower than the others because for the average lifter or someone who is cutting weight, this is a fine supplement, but for those of us who are high-output lifters than it may not be enough to support our growth.  Either way, you will benefit from taking this supplement, but to what degree is hard to determine.

Buy Beverly Int.: Density

 

 

 

 

 

   

   
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Best Creatine Supplement | Top 10 List – 2012

published Saturday, January 28th, 2012 at 12:37 am by

(Jump To Top 10 List)

 

Arguably the most important supplement and athlete can take, Creatine supplementation can literally be a game changer in the gym, on the field, or during any other physically demanding endeavor you embark on. The market is flooded with dozens of different Creatine products which makes finding the best Creatine supplement difficult to say the least.

After the successful introduction of Creatine Monohydrate in the 1990’s, supplement companies have been chomping at the bit, trying to further the evolution of Creatine supplementation.  To date there numerous variations of Creatine currently on the market:

-          Creatine Monohydrate

-          Micronized Creatine MonohydrateBest Creatine Supplements

-          Creatine Hydrochloride

-          Creatine Phosphate

-          Creatine Citrate

-          Creatine Ester Ether

-          Creatine Malate

-          Creatine Magnesium Chelate

-          Kre Alkalyn

Most of the information that can be found regarding these variations are marketing ads that come direct from the manufacturers themselves and they’re the ones trying to sell you the product! Since many of these variations do not have a lot of (if any) independent scientific studies to support their validity, taking one of these variations is literally like rolling the dice. That’s not to say that they do not work. Many variations seem to be more effective than others based on particular additives, manufacturing methods, and overall value. I personally like Micronized Creapure Creatine, however, because there are so many brands and variations out there,  try every single brand out there would become a full time job. Creatine HCl and Creatine Magnesium Chelate both seem to be the most recommended variations of Creatine Monohydrate amongst many of the testimonials ive read.

But still, there had to be a way to determine what the best Creatine supplement is.

So after spending countless hours of sifting through all the marketing hype, bias, and straight up lies, what emerged were some commonalities that could help me better determine which ones stand out from the rest.

So staying true to form, I’ve decided to put together a list of the top 10 best Creatine supplements currently on the market based on 5 major categories that when combined together, form the best Creatine supplement you can get your hands on.

The 5 major ranking categories that make up the best Creatine supplement are:

 

  1. Purity – Often overlooked, the purity of your Creatine is important because if careful attention is not paid to filtering out impurities then over time the slight impurities will begin to have an adverse effect on your body.  We don’t want that.
  2. Muscle Absorption – Perhaps the most critical and most controversial aspect of Creatine supplements is how much of the supplement is actually absorbed into your muscles.  If you ingest a Creatine supplement and you just expel most of it then what’s the point of taking it to begin with?
  3. ATP Synthesis– Adenosine TriPhosphate, or ATP Synthesis refers to the ability of the Creatine supplement to harness energy for your cells, therefore increasing your ability to lift heavier weights, run faster, jump higher, etc… This category refers to the Creatine supplement’s potential ability to increase your power output.
  4. Side Effects – Another controversial aspect of Creatine are the potential side-effects to supplementing with it.  More common side-effects are bloating, dehydration, and gastrointestinal distress.
  5. Overall Value – This category is self-explanatory.  What is the overall value of the supplement and is it worth the price?

 

*This list will often change due to new Creatine supplements hitting the market so check back often for revisions and updates.

 

**All supplements are gauged based on 5 categories from 0-10
with 0 being the lowest rating, and 10 being the highest rating**


Best Creatine Workout Supplement

 

 

#1 – Beast Sports Nutrition: Creature Powder

 

 

Quick Review:

Coming in at the #1 position is Creature Powder.  This Creatine blend of 4 different Creatines include: Creapure® Brand Creatine Monohydrate, Creatine Magna-Power® Brand Of Creatine Magnesium Chelate, Creatine Alpha-Ketoglutarate, Creatine Anhydrous, & Vanadium Citrate.  The Magnesium bonded element included in Creature Powder increase muscle absorption levels while the Creatine AKG boost ATP output levels.  This is a top-notch Creatine supplement that is great for athletes, bodybuilders, and non-responders that have difficulties with Creatine absorption.

 

 

Buy Beast Sports Nutrition: Creature Powder

 

 

 

 

#2 – MusclePharm: Creatine

 

Quick Review:

Coming in at #2 is MusclePharm’s new Creatine supplement.  This supplement is has an impressive 5 Creatine blend that include: Creapure, Creatine AAB, Di Creatine Malate, Creatine Nitrate, Con-Cret® Creatine HCl (100% Concentrated Creatine), Cinnulin PF®.  Creapure has become the new standard in monohydrate due to its incredible purity and can be found as the main ingredient in Muscle Pharm’s Creatine.  Di Creatine Malate increases bioavailability, while Creatine HCl increases absorption levels.  This 5 pronged approach to Creatine should deliver all the necessary Creatine to your muscles.

 

 

Buy MusclePharm: Creatine

-$21.99 -N/A -$18.95 -$19.99

 

 

 

 

#3 –  Athletic Edge Nutrition: Creatine RT

 

Quick Review:

Creatine RT is a new Creatine supplement from Athletic Edge Nutrition.  It is comprised of Creapure® (Creatine Monohydrate), Taurine, and Russian Tarragon Extract.  At first glance, it may not seem to exciting, however adding Russian Tarragon Extract to Creatine has been shown to drastically increase Creatine uptake into the muscles, much like Simple Carbs. only without the extra calories. At 6.54g per serving you’re getting about 20 servings per canister which is on the lower side compared to many of the others, but were Creatine RT lacks in servings, it makes up for it by utilizing Creapure Creatine and a fantastic delivery system.

 

 

Buy Athletic Edge Nutrition: Creatine RT

 

 

 

 

#4 -   ProMera Health: Con-Cret

 

Quick Review:

Con-Cret is a new type of Creatine that utilizes Creatine Hydrocloride which is said to be a stronger and more potent form of Creatine.  Unlike standard Creatine Monohydrate, Creatine HCl does not require a loading phase nor do you need to cycle the product which makes this form of Creatine desirable indeed.  Because of its concentration, taking large amounts of Con-Cret is not necessary which makes taking this product convenient as well as having the benefit of accurately taking the right amount based on bodyweight.  I’ve read some positive feedback from many who have taken this product, however there isn’t much independent research to back its claims so the jury is still out regarding it.

 

 

Buy ProMera Health: Con-Cret

 

 

 

 

#5 – Controlled Labs: Green MAGnitude

 

Quick Review:

Perhaps one of the oldest Creatine supplements out of the bunch, Green MAGnitude has proven itself to be an effective Creatine supplement.  Green MAGnitude consists of: Magnesium Creatine Chelate, 2CM™ Dicreatine Malate, Betaine Anhydrous, L-Taurine, and L-Tyrosine.  Utilizing Magnesium in one form of Creatine and Malic Acid in another, absorption levels into the muscles are increased compared to standard Creatine Monohydrate making ATP synthesis a huge plus.  Betaine Anhydrous is used to regulate toxic byproducts and including L-Taurine and L-Tyrosine increases protein synthesis.

 

 

Buy Controlled Labs: Green MAGnitude

-$38.99 -$38.99 -$25.95 -$26.99

 

 

 

 

#6 – Nutrex: Volu-Gro

 

Quick Review:

Volu-Gro by Nutrex utilizes Creatine Monohydrate as its only source of Creatine which makes it a safe bet, but what makes Volu-Gro an even better than standard Creatine Monohydrate is the inclusion of Waxy Maize and its Electrolyte blend.  With the inclusion of Waxy Maize, the Creatine Monohydrate has better absorption properties which increase the uptake of both Creatine and Glycogen into the muscles.  I’m always a fan of including Electrolytes into any workout supplement for hydration purposes and including it into a Creatine Monohydrate based supplement is wise.

 

 

Buy Nutrex: Volu-Gro

-$32.99 -N/A -$34.99 -N/A

 

 

 

 

#7 –  Optimum: Micronized Creatine Powder

 

Quick Review:

Optimum Nutrition makes some great no-frills supplements.  What you see is what you get here with their Micronized Creatine Powder supplement.  They use the patented Creapure method of Creatine Monohydrate, but also take it one step further by Micronizing the Creatine.  By using micronized Creapure Creatine you get a more pure version on Creatine that absorbs much quicker into the muscles.  Another great aspect of this product is that it comes in 5 different sizes which greatly increase affordability to anyone who is on a budget.  If you’re a fan of Creatine Monohydrate and want to steer clear of the newer Creatines than this is your Creatine.

 

 

Buy Optimum: Micronized Creatine Powder

-$28.99 -N/A -$27.95 -$26.99

 

 

 

 

#8 –  Betancourt Nutrition: Creatine Chewies

 

Quick Review:

Creatine Chewies? Yep, you read right.  Perhaps this will be a growing trend in the future but when I first noticed Betancourt’s Creatine Chewies I was like “WTF?” But actually, if you think about it, what a great idea!  They are convenient, portable, and actually work just as good as an equivalent powdered version.  Creatine Malate is the primary version of Creatine used which is said to increase ATP levels more than standard Monohydrate and with the inclusion of simple carbs., uptake is at its peak.  The pack that it comes in offers 3 different flavors in the pack and will run you about $.086 per serving.  Give’em a try, they work well and they can change up the same boring routine.

 

 

Buy Betancourt Nutrition: Creatine Chewies

-N/A -$32.99 -$24.95 -$22.99

 

 

 

 

#9 – AST: Micronized Creatine

 

Quick Review:

Micronized Creatine is a better, safer, and more efficient version of Creatine Monohydrate because it’s surface area is 20 times smaller.  AST Micronized Creatine’s smaller particle size means quicker digestion and faster utilization.  AST Sports Science Micronized Creatine mixes easier and stays in solution. Regular creatine powder drops to the bottom of the glass even before you are finished stirring which can leave a gritty taste in your mouth and may lead to stomach upset.  With 110 servings per container, AST’s Micronized Creatine is a great value and will get the job done right.

 

 

Buy AST: Micronized Creatine

AST

-$17.99 -N/A -$18.95 -$17.49

 

 

 

 

#10 –  Integrated Supplements: 100% Creapure Creatine Monohydrate

 

Quick Review:

Completing my list of the top 10 Creatine supplements is 100% Creapure Creatine Monohydrate.  I included this supplement for a few reasons.  The first reason is that many people like to stick to what works and no other supplement has more research done on it than good ole Creatine Monohydrate, but what makes this Monohydrate different is that it is the purest version you can get.  At 99.99% pure you know you’re getting a supplement that has no impurities or fillers.  The next reason why I encluded this supplement is that at 1000g per canister you get a whopping 200 servings!  That’s $0.14 per serving.  You get cheap, high quality Creatine.  What more do you want?

 

 

Buy Integrated Supplements: 100% Creapure Creatine Monohydrate

-$29.99 -N/A -N/A -N/A

 

 

 

 

Click Here For Full Product Listings On All Creatine Supplements

 

 

   

   
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Posted in supplements | 3 Comments »

Best Pre Workout Supplement | Top 10 List – 2012

published Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 at 12:55 am by

(Jump To Top 10 List)

 

If you’re no stranger to hard and strenuous physical exertion such as hitting the weight room hard, playing rough sports, or MMA among others, than finding the best pre workout supplement for you can become an important ally in your overall health regimen. 

Pre-workout supplements are a newer kind of formula that was originally created to help bodybuilders plow past muscle building plateaus and to help with low-energy slumps due to the daily grind of workout wear-n-tear. The formula’s for the most part are comprised of Creatine, L-Arginine, Beta Alainine, and Caffeine based stimulants that when combined correctly, can push the athlete past their normal rep. range and typically pro-long the workout routine with added intensity and mental focus.  Although determining whether or not all these different PWO supplements can live up to the marketing hype associated with each product, there are some more than others that can benefit any athlete if taken properly and with proper nutrition and strenuous exercise.

As the supplement world expands and new products are released into the market, it was always helpful for me to read real reviews from others about their experiences with different products so I decided to do the same thing and put together a list of the very best pre workout supplements currently available. This way you will have a much better understanding of what your actually in for when you go to purchase your own.

 See All Pre Workout Supplements…

How To Rate The Best Pre Workout Supplement

Not all pre workout supplements are created equal, in fact they are quite different in their consistencies, purity, and purpose. The pre workout supplements that I have ranked here are based on the best blends of ingredients to produce not only the most effective supplements to build muscle, but also give you the best bang for your buck as well as the best overall user experience. Keep in mind that the strength of the supplement (i.e. caffeine amount) only makes up 1 part of the ranking system and is by no means THE only criteria in which these supplements have been judged.

I see a lot of people make the mistake of judging a pre workout supplement based solely on how strong the stimulants are and not on the gains they’ve made, the value, and overall experience. Don’t make that mistake! Just because a supplement has 300mg of caffeine, doesn’t mean its the best pre workout supplement. It takes a lot to make it to this list so if you see a pre workout supplement appear on my list, you know its got to be good.

The supplements below strike the perfect balance between 5 major criteria that have been used to judge the overall effectiveness of a pre workout supplement. With all the proprietary blends out there that do not tell you specifically whats in the supplement it would be difficult to judge a supplement on ingredients alone. That’s why I have set up my ranking system based on the actual user experience so you’ll know what to expect when you take it. The 5 categories are:

1. GAINS – Did I increase my strength and size from using it? (Creatine, Amino Acids, Protein, etc…)
2. PUMP – How amped up and ready to hit it did I feel from one serving? (L-Arginine, Caffeine, Beta Alanine, etc…)
3. FOCUS – Was I mentally dialed in while training? (L-Thyrosen, L-Citrulline, Caffeine, ect…)
4. TASTE/MIX – Was the taste enjoyable and does it mix well ? (The taste and quality of the ingredients are factors as well, although considered secondary to the first 3 categories.)
5. COST - Is it the best price per serving? (Price per serving may be considered a factor. Secondary as well…)

*This list will often change due to new pre workout supplements hitting the market so check back often for revisions and updates.

**All supplements are gauged based on 5 categories from 0-10
with 0 being the lowest rating, and 10 being the highest rating**


Best Pre Workout Supplement
UPDATE 10/22/2011- Assault is the 2011 Pre workout supplement of the year award winner for 2011! Congrats!!!

#1 - Muscle Pharm Assault

Not So Quick Review:

I have been a fan of Muscle Pharm Assault for a long time. Assault IS the best pre workout supplement to date hands down. I know it, you know it, and so does thousands of others. Muscle Pharm Assault is a well-rounded pre workout supplement that gets you pumped, gets you focused, and gets you ripped, and with the addition of other nutrients like BCAAs, carbs. and vitamins, you get more out this pre workout supplement than just stimulants. The main ingredients are Creatine, L-Arginine, BCAA’s, L-Glutamine, vitamins, and energy stimulants that are synergistically combined together into a potent dose of pure iron-pumping mayhem. Hundreds of real athletes of all kinds have this product rated at a solid 9 out of 10 on BB.com which is damn good, considering how many people have chimed in and voted. But let’s get down to it.

What makes Assault the best pre workout supplement?

I’ll give you 10 hardcore reasons…

  1. The Creatine blend is great. Assault contains 5g of Creatine HCl (Con-Cret) and Creapure Creatine. Creatine HCl and Creapure are the best forms of Creatine you can get your hands on in my humble option and at 5g you’re Creatine needs are basically taken care of.
  2. 6g of BCAAs. Another essential pre workout component that is a 3:1:2 ratio blend that is more evenly distributed than other forms of BCAAs and promotes better recovery and muscle mass.
  3. 4g Beta Alanine. An amino acid that improves endurance, energy, and stave off fatigue. This is not an uncommon ingredient found in pre workout supplements so it’s not a big surprise to find it in Assault, but 4g is a good enough amount per serving to be beneficial.
  4. Vital nutrients. Vitamin’s B-12 and B-6 are a great source of natural energy, red blood cell formation and increases protein and carb. absorption. Plus L-Glutamine for stamina!
  5. Electrolyte profile. Let’s face it, when you work out you run the risk of dehydration by potentially depleting your calcium, sodium, and potassium levels. Assault provides these ingredients to help you stay hydrated and keep your electrons firing properly.
  6. Energy and mental focus. Perhaps the most over judged element of pre workout supplements, energy output is the most abused category of pre workout supplements, no matter. Assault has taken care of this aspect as well. Per ½ scoop you get 150mg of caffeine and a full scoop yields 300mg. Also included in Assault is Taurine, Pyroglutamic Acid, L-Tyrosine, Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT), Papain 1000, L-Aspartic Acid, Pyridoxine HCL, and Cyanocobalamin.
  7. Increased Absorption. What good are all these ingredients if your body doesn’t absorb much of it? Assault includes 3 major factors to boost nutrient absorption. L-Arginine the precursor to NO is a typical ingredient found in pre workout supplements, but what isn’t so typical are the other two elements. Astragin® is a ginseng extract that can potentially increase Creatine and Arginine absorption, increases glucose uptake, and ATP production. Cinnulin works in the same manor whereas it increases nutrient absorption directly into the muscles.
  8. Pure Value. Each container provides 40 servings of high quality product. That’s 40 days of balls to the wall training. The folks at Muscle Pharm “get it”. They understand the importance of quality ingredients and you can definitely tell that they know that you and I will not stand for sub-par ingredients.
  9. Taste and Mixability. Sure you can just toss a bunch of bitter, chemical-based crap down your gullet if your “hardcore” enough, but even that becomes cumbersome. Assault taste great. I haven’t tried all the flavors, but the Blue Arctic Raspberry and Fruit punch flavors are awesome, plus it mixes well with little graininess. Update 10/22/2011 – New flavor added – Orange Mango.
  10. Thousands of others agree. BB.com has rated Assault as the best pre workout supplement for 2011 according to gross sales and over 1400 real customer reviews. But in addition to that if you search around to other workout forums and read what other people say on different sites, the consensus is the same.

 

 

Buy Muscle Pharm Assault

 #2 -  Allmax Nutrition Razor8 Blast Powder

Quick Review:

What can I say, im very impressed with Razor8.  The folks at Allmax have really done their homework to deliver a very serious pre workout supplement.  The first thing I like to mention is the transparency of their labeling which is a very good intro to what is a very intense set of ingredients.  To start, there is an almost insane 385mg of combined caffeine with another 51mg of Geranamine!  You will feel this hit hard.  Another ingredient that isn’t normally found in PWO’s that is found in Razor8 is Yohimbine which increases fat loss, mental focus, and vasodialation.  The muscle building factors that make up Razor8 is equally impressive.  The 5g of Creatine Monohydrate that is included here is very pure and very refined, I would say on the same level as Creapure.  There is also 325mg of Beta-Alanine which helps with energy and strength production and can be found in many of the best pre workout supplements, but what isn’t normally found in other PWO’s that is found in Razor8 is COP (Creatinol-o-Phosphate) which also increases strength and stamina, whilst decreasing acidification.  To top is all of there is an impressive 4 different forms of L-Arginine that pump all of this muscle building mayhem in and throughout your body. If you are not a serious lifter and have never taken a pre workout supplement before than I caution you to try this, but if you are searching for real power and are not scared of the dark side than pick up some Razor8 Blast Powder.  A new bar has been set.

 

Buy Razor8 Blast Powder

-N/A -N/A -$35.99 -$35.99

#3 – Driven Sports: CRAZE

 

Quick Review:

Craze by Driven Sports is a hot new pre workout supplement that has been getting some excellent reviews by bodybuilders and athletes alike.  This is a different pre workout because it addresses an important aspect of supplementation and nitric oxide production – negative by products.  By including L-Arginine, vitamin C, Creatine Monohydrate, and Citrulline, the muscles are able to produce a greater amount of ATP production and nutrients while still being about to shuttle out ammonia – a byproduct of amino acid breakdown.  By addressing this issue a lifter is able to not only increase power but also maintain it.  Craze also delivers on the energy and mental focus aspect of this formula by including caffeine, Dendrobex™, Citramine, and PEA.  Another noteworthy aspect of craze is the great taste! Of course it’s not as important as other factors, it does make it that much more enjoyable. Craze is a bit different from other PWOs because it takes a different look at what bodybuilders really need in the gym and that’s why it’s scored so high on our charts.

 

Buy Driven Sports: CRAZE

-$31.99 -N/A -$31.95 -$32.99

#4 - Infinite Labs Juggernaut

Quick Review:

Juggernaut by Infinite labs is surprisingly strong at 200mg of caffeine per serving so if you dare venture into the highest dosage recommendation at 2 scoops/servings, you can be sure to be brimming with constant energy for hours and hours, but that’s not all the Juggernaut offers.  Their muscle building matrix is impressive with Creatine Myo-Matrix™ (Dicreatine Malate, Creatine MagnaPower® Magnesium Creatine Chelate), whey protein complex, and carnite complex.  Top that off with various vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, B12, E, Potassium, and Chromium and you got yourself a great pre workout supplement.  All those ingredients are great but when I noticed the added electrolytes, it was just icing on the cake.

 

 

Buy Infinite Labs Juggernaut

#5 - BSN N.O. Xplode 2.0

Quick Review:

BSN’s new and improved Xplode 2.0 is a better, more complete pre workout supplement. There’s 2 grams more per serving compared to the previous version of Xplode. The new proprietary blend is only 1 scoop per serving as  appose to up to 3 scoops in the previous version.  This is a more concentrated formula from BSN and although the ingredients are proprietary and you cannot make out exactly what they are, the profile still looks great on this supplement.  Xplode 2.0 contains all the major pre workout supplement staples such as Creatine, Arginine and Citroline,  Beta-Alanine, and Caffeine, but what makes this version better is that there is the electrolyte complex that gives you more hydration before working out.  This is a great pre workout supplement that everyone should try at least once before passing judgement because this a serious supplement that will get you huge.

 

 

Buy BSN N.O. Xplode 2.0

#6 - Gamma Labs Pre-Training Formula

Quick Review:

Gamma Labs new Pre Training Formula contains a nice muscle building complex with Taurine, Creatine Complex (Creatine Monohydrate, Creatine Magnapower™, Dicreatine Malate), Arginine Complex (L-Arginine, L-Arginine AKG, L-Arginine Malate), and Beta Alanine. The exact amount of caffeine per serving is hard to determine because the 426mg energy complex is comprised of several components such as Caffeine Anhydrous, Mucuna Pruriens (20% L-Dopa), Acetyl-L Carnitine And ATP but im sure caffeine makes up most of the complex so it should be a good amount. This is a good pre workout supplement that has won over many bodybuilders based on reading other reviews.

 

 

Buy Gamma Labs Pre-Training Formula

-$31.95 -N/A -$32.95 -N/A

#7 – Dymatize Expand Extreme Pump

Quick Review:

The ingredient profile on this supplement looks impressive, but you should come to expect that from Dymatize. Xpand Extreme Pump is a solid pre workout supplement.  The energy and focus are awesome.  You feel pumped and looking forward to lifting and sweat out another great workout.  Im not sure why there’s so much criticism regarding this supplement, but it is strong and you should always make sure to read and follow all the directions on the label because many of these 1 scoop formulas are so strong you actually need to start only taking 1/2 of a scoop, especially if you are sensitive to stimulants.  This pre workout supplement comes in 5 different flavors and 2 caffeine free versions which is nice for those who are taking a break from stimulants.  This supplement contains 5g of Creatine 5g of amino acids, 3.5g Arginine fusion, and 3.35g mental focus matrix and 1.5g Beta Alanine!  A complete well rounded pre workout supplement that gets the job done right.

 

 

Buy Dymatize Expand Extreme Pump

#8 -Betancourt Nutrition Bullnox Androrush

Quick Review:

Betancourt Nutrition Bullnox Androrush really surprised me and really shouldn’t be underestimated. Assault for me was better as far as taste and pump but not by much. The Di-creatine Malate allows for more bio-availability of creatine and absorbs quicker into your muscles than creatine monohydrate. The energy was very good and lasted for as long as any other concentrate formula such as Hemo Rage Ultra, but the muscle gains were even better. I felt really strong when I was taking Bullnox. The weights seemed to feel lighter than they actually where and I had a great pump that left me feeling very vascular and swelled. This is the only pre workout supplement that ive seen that comes in “chewies” which is kinda weird, but I guess it makes sense if your in a rush or cant mix up a drink. Over-all this pre workout supplement delivers as promised and really opened my eyes and surprised me. Bullnox Androrush for me was the dark-horse of the line-up and has ended up landing in the runner up position.

 

 

Buy Bullnox Androrush

#9 - Athletic Edge Nutrition: PreSurge Unleashed

Quick Review:

The PreSurge™ Unleashed Blend is a unique blend of nice energy and old school muscle building Creatine Monohydrate along with L-Tyrosine, and L-Carnitine as its major ingredients. The Glycocarne is said to increase N.O. levels thus providing some vascularity and muscle building aspects to the supplement as well. PreSurge Unleashed also contains an extract from a herb called Russian Tarragon. It has been added to simulate spiking your insulin so that you can become anabolic and build muscle ” …this extract could bring about skeletal muscle absorption comparable to spiking insulin with large amounts of high glycemic carbohydrates and or protein.” If all that isn’t enough, PreSurge also contains Epimedium for increased N.O. levels and an anti-oxidant complex to round this supplement out.

 

 

Buy Athletic Edge Nutrition PreSurge Unleashed

#10 -Nutrex HEMO-RAGE Black Ultra

Quick Review:

Nutrex has been in the supplement game for quite some time and they are constantly upping the anti on their supplements. Hemo Rage first hit the seen about a year ago and was a good product, but couldn’t compete with the big boys because of the crash and stomach aches that people where complaining about. Now, with the new and improved Hemo Rage Ultra Concentrate, Nutrex is proving once again to be a front runner in the pre workout category with this ultra potent formula that will set your ass on fire. Many people will often supplement their pre workout supplement with a fat burner or something else that contains stimulants. DO NOT take any other stimulants with this stuff. It is quite strong and should give you all the energy you need. In fact, this stuff can turbo charge an elephant! Aside from the fact that it is a strong energy formula, lets not forget that Hemo Rage U.C also contains Nitric Oxide in the form of L Arginine and Creatine Monohydrate. This is a supplement for people who always say, “I cant feel it working…” or “My tolerance is really high and I need something strong”. Well my friends, here it is. A pre workout supplement so strong you can power half a city block.

 

Buy Nutrex Hemo Rage Ultra

#11 - BPI Sports: 1.M.R Powder

#12 – MuscleTech NeuroCore

#13 – Cellucor c4 Extreme

#14 – USPLabs Jack3d

#15 – VPX NO-SyntheSize

#16 – Gaspari Nutrition Superpump Max

#17 – Controlled Labs White Flood

#18 – Ripped Freak Pre-Workout

#19 -  Universal Animal Rage

#20 – MuscleTech NaNO Vapor Hardcore Pro Series

Other Great Pre Workout Supplements


- Evogen EVP

Evogen EVP is a brand new stimulant free nitric oxide pre workout supplement that is very impressive to me because it serves as not only a supplement to get you pumped and add muscle, but it also contains other useful ingredients that any athlete who weight trains can benefit from. For starters, it contains a healthy dose of N.O. to force-feed the muscles. Next, is a Nutrient Injection/Volumizing Complex that contains a creatine complex. Then there is a dose of Ultra Soluble L-Leucine that helps put your body in a more anabolic state. There is the ATP complex for energy and focus and also a anti-catabolic/recovery complex of L-Glutamine (Pharmaceutical Grade), Carnosyn (Beta-Alanine), L-Glutamine Alpha-Ketoglutarate, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, and Pyridoxine. There are also a full range of B vitamins for extra natural energy, Magnesium, Potassium, Calcium and a few more throw-ins to round it all out. This is a great supplement for people who want to take 1 supplement, instead of 3 or 4 because it will save you a lot of time and hassle. It is more expensive the Levrone Formula, but it also contains more two. The rank about the same as far as the 5 criteria, but this one has more in it so you could consider this one to be a better, more complete product that can even hold its own against the pre workout supplements with stimulants.

Buy Evogen EVP

-Light Caffeine-

- Levrone Formula Extreme Nitric Pump Blend

Kevin Levrone has been a professional bodybuilder for many years so you would expect someone with as much experience and knowledge in the game would come out with a killer product. He has put everything hes got into this awesome nitric oxide pre workout supplement that is a very no-frills type of product. He does not try to hide any of his ingredients by using proprietary blends that are never fully understood. All of the ingredients are listed and in plain sight, so you know exactly what you are getting here. The pump from the ATP/AKG combination is a clean and steady pump that last throughout the duration of your workout, plus because there only a small amount of natural caffeine (Yerba Mate), you don’t experience a crash or take in any harsh stims which is exactly what your looking for in a product like this when you either have a low tolerance to caffeine or if you just prefer a more natural approach to your supplements.  This is an excellent pre workout supplement and can stack up to any other supplements out there any time of day.

Buy Levrone Formula Nitric Pump Blend


More Muscle Building Supplements…


Click here to read about Nitric Oxide Supplements…

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Posted in Weight Training | 149 Comments »

The Best Protein Supplement

published Monday, January 9th, 2012 at 10:51 pm by

You’ve just finished another grueling workout, you’re tired, muscles are burning, and your body is screaming for some high powered nutrients to rebuild and repair your muscles. You only have about ½ to an hour tops before your anabolic window closes and you lose your opportunity to capitalize on your hard fought work in the gym.

What do you do?

Some cheap convenience store protein just isn’t going to cut it. You deserve better than that and so does your body. You need the best protein supplement you can get your hands on so you can build valuable muscle consistently over time.  Protein supplements serve as the core supplement in a serious athlete or bodybuilders armory and selecting the very best one should be a top priority if your serious about building muscle.

Click Here for all protein categories and varieties….

There are only a few things you should be aware of when it comes to protein:

The Different Types Of Protein

Before deciding which protein powder is necessary, here is a short protein primer to help you make sense of the thousands of different protein supplements from which to choose:

WHEY PROTEIN Supplements

Whey is known for its superb amino acid profile, elevated cysteine content, fast digestion, and interesting variety of peptides. Because it is digested and absorbed quickly, the best time to consume it is before your workout, during your workout or immediately following your workout. Taking protein during these times are best because your body is its most active and is in an “anabolic state”.

CASEIN PROTEIN

Casein is is much like whey protein but what makes it different is the fact that it is considered a slow digesting protein. It is also known for its excellent amino acid profile and interesting variety of peptides, but because casein is slowly digested into your bloodstream, don’t use it during workouts or after workouts – you need a fast absorbing protein at these times. A good time to have this type of protein is at night time or used as a meal replacement.

SOY PROTEIN

Many soy advocates will state that soy protein is magical and a “super-food”, but on the flip side there has been some independent studies that have indicated that soy may actually raise estrogen levels in your body. Estrogen is a hormone that is found in all humans, however women have higher amounts and contributes to giving women their sexual characteristics, like boobies! Of course there is no definitive answer to these findings, but Ill tell you this much, you wont catch me consuming soy and developing man boobs! ITS BECAUSE OF ALL THE CONFUSION, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, I SUGGEST AVOIDING SOY PROTEIN ALTOGETHER AND STICKING TO THE OTHER TYPES LISTED.

 



How Much Should I Take?

Protein is an extremely important macro nutrient and should be eaten frequently throughout the day. I recommend at least 1 to 1.5 grams of protein per pound of lean body mass. This means that if you are 150 pounds and 10% body fat (150 x 0.10 = 15 lbs of fat leaving 135 lbs of lean mass), you will require at least 135 to approximately 205 grams of protein per day.

I recommend that protein powder be used primarily for your pre-workout, workout and post-workout shake. This is when liquid food is more advantageous over whole food since it has a faster absorption rate.

Now that you are armed with some essential protein know-how, its time to reveal the best protein supplements to take based on individual needs…

Protein Blends are generally a combination of several types of protein blends such as whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, egg protein, casein protein, and soy protein.

What are the benefits to a blend? When you use a blend you get more of a full spectrum of proteins which your body breaks down and uses for immediate use and sustained use. Using a blend will create an anabolic environment from the whey and an anti-catabolic environment from the casein – use this kind at any time of the day but NOT before or after a workout. Use Whey instead…



#1 – Optimum Nutrition Performance Stack


Get The Optimum Nutrition Performance Stack


“Get this stack! Gold Standard Whey and Casein protein is the overall best protein supplement for several years running according to bodybuilding.com. 24gm of protein in a whooping 74 servings per 4lbs. tub! You have all the essentials here for super cheap! You get 5lb. container of kick-ass gold standard whey(any flavor!) for your fast digesting protein needs(pre and post workout shakes) AND gold standard Casein protein(any flavor!) for your slow digesting needs (meal replacement and/or before bed)! Plus, bodybuilding.com is throwing in a 30 day supply(90 capsules) of their Opti-Men Multi-Vitamin for free! Anyone who lifts weights and knows even the slightest bit about body building and working out will see the huge benefit of snatching up this stack for CHEAP! $69 bucks for all of this. Nuff said. ” (I just ordered mine 15 minutes ago, haha!)

#2 – Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey



“I have been using Gold Standard Protein for about 5 months now and I have been very satisfied with the taste, mix-ability, and cost. I started out with a 2 lbs. canister when I first tried it out and it lasted me about 3 weeks. I realized after the first week that I really liked it so when I was running out I went ahead and ordered the 5lbs canister of the double rich chocolate from bodybuilding.com. My first drink was a post workout shake and I thought “Damn, this stuff is unbelievably good!” There is only 1 gram of fat per serving which is shocking because it reminds me of how Musclemilk taste without the loaded fat and extra calories. Its no wonder that this product has been protein of the year several times over, including this year(2009). You absolutely cant go wrong here.”

Get Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein



#3 – Optimum Nutrition Platinum Hydro Whey


“Eventually O.N. will evolve their already great whey protein as new science and protein synthesis techniques evolve. The next step in the evolution of whey protein is Platinum Hydro Whey. This protein is a slight cut about Gold Standard in 2 ways. One, the protein content is more per serving at 30g each scoop and second, Platinum protein is broken down further before consumption utilizing hydrolysis for even faster absorption into your muscle tissues both pre and especially post workouts. The price is slightly higher than Gold Standard for both of those reasons so although you are paying more, your also getting more out of your protein. If you don’t mind spending a few extra bucks for it than grab it up. This is a great protein to have to supplement with on regular workout days and on heavy lifting days when fast repair is needed. “

Get Optimum Nutrition Platinum Hydro Whey

#4 – BSN Syntha-6




“BSN has always been on the front lines with great supplements. N.O. Xplode, Nitrix, ect… Syntha-6 is BSN’s flagship protein supplement that is surprisingly good when mixed with skim milk. It is a blend of Casein and Whey with some egg and milk proteins added for flavor. The amount of protein per serving is not as much as Gold Standard at 22g each and the calories are slightly higher as well. This is a good anytime type of protein that can be used for any type of use such as pre, post, and P.M. dosing. Another reason why Syntha-6 didn’t score higher is because the amount per container is also less than Gold Standard which brought the overall rank down. If you can’t get Gold Standard and are left with Syntha-6 than you won’t be dissapointed as far as gaining muscle, but you just won’t get your full money’s worth like you would with the O.N. combo or stand alone Whey.”

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#5 – MuscleTech Nitro-Tech Hardcore Pro Series



“Muscletech’s Nitro Tech Hardcore is part of the Pro Series line-up and is a solid protein supplement to boot. This protein supplement comes in strong at 25gm of protein per serving and with extra ingredients added to the mix such as vitamin B-12, Calcium, Amino complex, and Creatine, and even Taurine this protein supplement gives you more per serving as far as ingredients than the others on the list. Muscletech is obviously a 1st tier company and has more than proven itself through out the years, but the one annoying aspect about their products is that they hide what the actual amounts of these components are which make it more difficult for anyone who is trying to be as accurate as possible as far as what their body is consuming. A solid product and deserving of making it on the list, but comes in a bit short to the more dominant Optimum Nutrition star lineup.”

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#6 – Gaspari Nutrition MyoFusion, Chocolate Mint



“I really like this product. Gaspari Nutrition doesn’t F_ck around with its supplements. The mix-ability is great and the protein matrix is top-notch. I didn’t try all of the flavors, but the one I did try was the Chocolate Mint which was the bomb. What is also great about this product is that it not only contains 3 different proteins at various ratio’s, but also BCAA’s, glutamine, and a good dose of healthy fats that is necessary to sustain proper tissue composition and elasticity. If you are looking to save some money and want the best bang for your buck then pick up Myofusion. It covers the necessary bases for muscular development.”

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~Best Protein Weight Gainer~

Some people are hard gainers and need a little extra calories and fat to help them put on muscle. Others are just in their bulking stage of working out and need a product that can help them pack on the extra pounds of muscle. That’s where a weight gainer type of protein comes in. These types of supplements are not recommended if you are looking for lean mass, but are essential for gaining size and volume…

 

IDS Smart Gainer, 10lbs.Strawberry-Banana- $38.99


idsgainer“Its called smart gainer for a reason… It’s not just about taking in high amounts of protein and calories, hell for that just eat steak cheesecake for dinner! No, this is a true supplement that has much more to offer you like Glutamine, a healthy dose of BCAA’s, Alpha Lipoic Acid, AND Creatine which is not typically found in weight gainers. 10 lbs. at 30 servings is ideal for a 15 day hyper gain(2 servings per day) or 1 serving per day for a steady 30 day gain. The strawberry-banana was the one that I sampled and it tasted great. You can down it with milk or water or mix it in a blender with whole milk, a banana, and ice for milk-shake so good you’ll slap your momma!”

IDS Smart Gainer, 10lbs. Strawberry-Banana- $38.99

 

~The Best Meal Replacement Protein Drink~

Sometimes you don’t have time to cook a healthy meal when you have a busy schedule, on the run, or just plain lazy (we’ve all been there before). That’s where a meal replacement drink comes in to save the day. You can use these as a standard protein supplement in the event you ran out of your main supply of whey or casein, but don’t make it a habit – These MRP’s are intended for meal supplementation not strictly protein supplementation for building muscle…

VPX Zero Impact MRP, 20 Packets, Graham Cracker-$49.89


zeroimpactMRP“Ok, im a sucker for meal replacements because I happen to be a little lazy. I have a hectic schedule, kids, and host of other crap that drains my time away. I know, i know excuses are like assholes, everyone’s got em, but people are busy with a lot of different things and don’t want to go fat out on a McFat-ass hamburger and fries. These zero impact packs are pretty awesome. Ive tried several meal replacements and this product has the perfect balance vitamins, protein, minerals, and other good stuff that will save your behind when your in a bind. Hey, they’re made by VPX so you know this stuff is quality and the graham cracker flavor is rockin.”

VPX Zero Impact MRP, 20 Packets, Graham Cracker-$49.89

 

~The Best Protein Candy Bar~

I thought I would throw in this category because Im a fan of protein bars and are very convenient when your in a bind. Some people might argue with my top pick because it isn’t the healthiest protein candy bar on the market, but it is the best damn tasting one and that is what I care about. After-all you do see the words “candy bar” in the heading don’t you? Here’s a cheat bar that’s so good, you forget its even got protein in it…

Supreme Protein Carb Conscious Bar, Variety 12 Pack- $27.99


supremecarb“OK. These freakin things are addicting! I’ve tried dozens of different protein bars and most of them taste like chalky crap or manufactured ecto-goop that triggers my gag reflux. These bars on the other hand are so good I almost prefer them to regular candy bars. No joke. They won the 2009 protein bar of the year easily. Ive tried all 4 varieties and they are all awesome. I personally favor the rocky road bar with the cookies n cream and peanut butter bars running a close second. That’s why I recommend the variety pack, they all rock! If you’re going to order some get the 12 pack, trust me on this. You will be thanking me later. You can find these bars around town at about $4.00 per bar, you can order 12 for $28. That’s $2.30 a bar, almost half price. Get them.”

Supreme Protein Carb Conscious Bar, Variety 12 Pack- $27.99

 

Click Here to check out all of the protein categories and varieties….

 


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