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.
I have been using these supplements for years and I’ve found that they really do help me with motivation, focus, and of course, building muscle. To tell you the truth, I’ve had a lot of favorites one’s and on the flip side, I’ve tried some terrible ones as well. Through the years, I have definitely seen a sort of evolution take place among these supplements. These supplement manufacturers are always improving on taste, mix ability, concentration levels of ingredients, price points, even sales pitches. Yep, there’s no doubt in my mind that pre workout supplements are the most popular supplements around and if I can help you find the best one, then I’ve done my job.
On this page you will find:
Today’s pre workout supplements are probably the most diverse type of supplement you can get. Some emphasize large amounts of caffeine and L-Arginine (the precursor to Nitric Oxide), while others do not contain any stimulants at all, but rather emphasize strict muscle building properties including Creatine in one or more forms, L-Arginine, L-Glutamine, BCAA’s, and other muscle building ingredients. The truth of the matter is that in order to determine which one is the best for you, you should first determine what it is you want in a pre workout supplement. Do you need more energy? Do you need to add more muscle? Or is it a combination of both? Many top workout supplements address these types of concerns and I’m sure you’ll find one that suits you.
The first list here is the Top 10 List of the best pre workout supplement – With Stimulants. This list comprises the best all-in-one pre workout supplements that do contain stimulants as well as Creatine. In my opinion, this group of supplements are the best of the best because they address all aspects of peoples needs: Energy, recovery, muscle building, and focus. If you are sensitive to stimulants than these supplements may be to strong for you, however many people want a more hardcore pre workout supplement to them fired up and primed to handle any workout thrown their way so that’s why this list was created.
Looking for pre workout supplements without Creatine? Scroll down further for the “Best Pre Workout Supplement – Without Creatine” List! Or just click here…
See All Pre Workout Supplements…
Best Pre Workout Supplement- With Stimulants
The supplements I have ranked strike the perfect balance between 5 major criteria that I have 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 and unfair to judge a supplement based solely on proprietary blends, stimulants, and slick marketing hype. That’s why I have set up my ranking system based on the combined ingredients, actual user experience, and other positive reviews. 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.OVERALL VALUE - Is it the best price per serving? Am I getting my money’s worth!
*The Best Pre Workout Supplement 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**
#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 product 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…
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
- 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.
- Energy and mental focus. Perhaps the most over judged element of these supplements, energy output is the most abused category out of the bunch. 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 - Cellucor M5 Extreme
Quick Review:
Cellucor M5 Extreme is an advanced pre workout supplement that has literally re-invented the pre workout landscape. This version of M5 Extreme is different from the previous version of M5E because the ingredient profile is more impressive, the split-can canister is not only convenient but also just flat out cool, and the labeling is transparent. Although I am a big fan of Cellucor products and would just as well give M5 Extreme and automatic pass based on previous experiences, let’s take a closer look at the ingredients to see what makes M5 Extreme different from the other PWO supplements. This supplement is split in two: 1 side is for energy and focus - IGNITE; the other side is for muscle building – BUILD.
This supplement is smooth, taste great, and delivers big time on both clean, vibrant energy and solid strengths gains. If you’ve got the extra coin to throw down on a pre workout supplement then throw down and M5 Extreme, it’s not the most caffeinated PWO supplement per serving, however the blend of top quality ingredients in this 2-in-1 canister make this pre workout among the very best pre workout supplements to date. M5 Extreme is at the top of the food chain and if it weren’t for the price tag, this supplement would be the best.
Click Here To Read the full Cellucor M5 Extreme Review
Buy Cellucor M5 Extreme (60 Servings)
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#3 – 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 product. 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. Although it’s not at the top spot, I would give Razor 8 Blast powder the best pre workout supplement award for strongest stimulant profile to date.
Read the full Razor8 Blast Powder Review…
Buy Razor8 Blast Powder (40 Servings)
#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. Do you think Juggernaut is the best pre workout supplement?
Check out the full Juggernaut review here and rate it your self!
Buy Infinite Labs Juggernaut (40 Servings)
#5 – Magnum Nutraceuticals: SERUM
Quick Review:
Serum by Magnum Nutraceuticals is a complex all-in-1 pre workout formula that combines 6 sources of Creatine formulas and 5 Arginine formulas. To add to the list of notable ingredients are Calcium, Beta-Alanine, Betaine, L-Taurine, BCAA’s L-Tyrosine, and Alpha Lipoic Acid among others. That’s right, MN has thrown in everything but the kitchen sink with this “Accelerated” blend. To begin, the Creatine Blends are Creatine Ethyl Ester, Tri-Creatine Malate, Creatine Pyruvate, Creatine Orotate, and Creatine Decanote. Sounds impressive huh? I personally have not had too much experience with these forms of Creatine, but the bottom line here is that all of these forms of Creatine have another element bonded with it to improve absorption into your muscles. For instance, Creatine Ethyl Ester is Creatine bonded with Esters – A reaction of carboxylic acid and alcohols. Tri-Creatine Malate is three creatine molecules attached to one molecule of malic acid whereas Creatine Pyruvate is Creatine bonded with pyruvic acid. I personally have not had too much experience with these forms of Creatine, but the bottom line here is that all of these forms of Creatine have another element bonded with it to improve absorption into your muscles. The same can be said with the 5 forms of Arginine whereas the Arginine is boned with another element to improve circulation the circulation of Arginine and improve the “pump”. My issues with this supplement is that they did not include Glutamine and they did not disclose the exact amounts of each ingredient making it a guessing game as to what your exactly getting per serving. These are some minor issues considering everything else you get here. From what I can tell, this is a good pre workout supplement with loads of endurance and muscle building ingredients and at about $40 for 40 servings, that makes this supplement a great value and worth trying out.
Buy Magnum Nutraceuticals: SERUM (40 Servings)
#6 - RSP Nutrition: Fast Fuel
Quick Review:
Fast Fuel is another pre workout supplement that highlights some of the best ingredients in a pre workout supplement, but fall short where it counts. That’s not to say this isn’t a good supplement! There are some great ingredients in here such as BCAA’s, B vitamins, L-Glutamine, Beta-Alanine, Arginine, Tyrosine, and of course Caffeine. So far so good right? All these ingredients are great, you got BCAA’s for recovery, Glutamine for sustained energy, and Caffeine and Beta-Alanine for energy and stamina, but what my biggest gripe is the inclusion of Creatine Monohydrate. With all the possible side effects that accompany ole Mono, you would think that the folks at RSP would’ve stepped it up here. With monohydrate you have to load the creatine into your muscles in order to start seeing good results from it so from your 30 servings that you get per canister, you would probably start seeing results from the creatine about ½ to ¾ of the way through. To me that’s not as effective as others with better creatine forms in them. Another issue that I have with this supplement is that they do not disclose the exact amount of caffeine per serving which is a problem for those who are sensitive to caffeine. Like I said, this is a good solid supplement that has potential if you don’t mind the 2 issues I mentioned, but in the fierce world of pre workout supplements, you’ve got to bring your A game in order to be the best.
Buy RSP Nutrition: Fast Fuel (30 Servings)
#7 – Cellucor C4 Extreme
Quick Review:
Yet another pre workout supplement from Cellucor is making the top 10 list. Actually, C4 Extreme has been around for a while, but the ingredients in it are similar to its big brother M5 Extreme, however C4 Extreme is has less of them and is cheaper. The main ingredients in C4 Extreme is Creatine Nitrate (NO3 technology), Caffeine (100mg per scoop), Arginine (1000mg), Beta Alanine, Mucuna Pruriens, and a few other ingredients like Vitamin B12 and L-Tyrosine. I was actually one of the first people to try C4 Extreme and review it when it first came out. You can read the full Cellucor C4 Extreme Review here. Anyway, I enjoyed this supplement. The taste was amazing, the pump was clean and smooth, and I got stronger while using it. So why is M5 Extreme better than C4 extreme? Well, to start M5 Extreme has 2 different Creatines in it as well as more of it per serving, whereas C4 just has Creatine Nitrate in it. M5 Extreme has twice as much Arginine, Betaine HCL, Citrulline Malate, and Grape Seed Extract, in addition to coming in a 2-in-1 container. That’s why I consider M5 Extreme to be the bigger, badder version of C4 Extreme. Don’t get me wrong here, I think that C4 Extreme is still a good supplement otherwise it wouldn’t be hanging around my top 10 list, but I know that some of you will be looking at both products and wondering what the difference is. Either way, C4 Extreme is still a viable pre workout supplement that works well and get the job done. If you don’t want to go hardcore on your stimulants but still want some muscle building benefits then C4 Extreme is the best pre workout supplement for you.
Buy Cellucor C4 Extreme (30 Servings)
#8 - MuscleTech Neurocore
Quick Review:
NeuroCore by MuscleTech is a straight to the point type of pre workout supplement. It was specifically designed to do two things: Get you pumped up for your workout, Get you lean muscle mass gains. The labeling is clear and the ingredients are what you would typically find in a good pre workout supplement. Beta-Alanine, L-Citruline, Caffeine, Creatine, and Geranium Extract are typical ingredients in most pre workouts, but instead of standard creatine monohydrate or a blend which is also common, Muscletech opted for straight Creatine HCl which I like because it is ultra-concentrated and highly absorbable. There are some other unique ingredients like Rhodiola and Vinpocetine that are not typically found in these types of supplements. Rhodiola is said to improve mental focus and Vinpocetine is said to improve cyclic GMP levels by inhibiting GMP phosphodiesterase. Whether or not these ingredients actually help is highly debatable. One other fact about Neurocore is that it does not contain Arginine, stating that it’s ineffective and therefore not needed. Again, highly debatable and borderline controversial. As far as serving size, you get 45 servings for around $32 which sounds like a deal, but most people end up taking 2 or 3 scoops per workout session so that would leave you at best 15-22 servings. Ive tried Nerocore myself and Ive spoken to others who have as well and people like this product, but always comment on the price per servings.
Buy MuscleTech Neurocore (45 Servings)
#9 – Beast Sports Nutrition: Beast Mode
Quick Review:
I’m a fan of Beast Sports Nutrition’s line of products because they deliver solid and reliable supplements. Beast Mode is no exception. This pre workout product contains many good ingredients to get you amped. Some of the highlights of this supplement are the B Vitamins for cell growth and support, Calcium, Beta Alanine, Citrlline Malate, Di-Arginine Malate, and Vandium Citrate. The Energy blend is pretty standardized as this portion of most pre workout supplements remain relatively the same aside from a few ingredients scattered here and there to make it look different. This energy blend is no different aside from the inclusion of Niacin. Many pre workout supplements include Niacin and for the life of my I don’t know why. Niacin gives you that brief tingling sensation that you feel a few minutes after you consume it. Now I don’t exactly know why some companies included it, so I can only speculate that the reason is because it kind of tricks you into thinking the supplement is working, but as far as Niacin helping you in the gym, I don’t think so. My other main problem with this supplement is the lack of transparency with the ingredient labeling. I would like to know exactly how much Creatine and Caffeine I get pre 2 scoops. Since these ingredients are labeled first in each blend I know that the majority of the proprietary blends are those ingredients, but I would be guessing as to exactly how much. Aside from that, I like this supplement. There is only 1 flavor which is ok, but I would like to see a few more flavors to add some variety.
Buy Beast Sports Nutrition: Beast Mode (45 Servings)
#10 – 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 (45 Servings)
Best Pre Workout Supplement – Without Creatine
Whether you’re taking a break from Creatine, a non-responder, already have a Creatine Supplement, or just flat out not interested in Creatine (this is the case with many women) than this category of pre workout supplements is the one for you. With so much focus on the all-in-one type of pre workout supplements, this variety is often over looked by many, but that’s not to say that there aren’t some great supplements in this category. On the contrary, this category has some of my favorite pre workout supplements in them. I find that it’s important to throw your supplement repertoire a curve ball at times because your body is highly adaptable to supplement ingredients and breaking up your Creatine intake from time to time can be just the thing to get you anabolic again. Plus, I have found that not only men, but many women want to take advantage of the many benefits of taking a pre workout supplement but often get discouraged when they see all the added Creatine in them. Regardless of your reason, there are some explosive supplements in this category that may even rival the all-in-ones. So let’s get to it!
Since this category is not as big as the other I’ve decided to do a Top 5 list for the best pre workout supplement without Creatine. I do my best to research and experiment with as many as I can but sometimes I miss a few so if you feel as though there is a supplement out there that should make the list then go ahead and let me know in the comment section.
The 5 categories are:
1. ENERGY – Did I get a good amount of energy from using it? ( Caffeine, Beta Alanine, etc…)
2. FOCUS – How dialed did I feel from one serving? (L-Thyrosen, L-Citrulline, Caffeine, ect…)
3. PUMP – Was I mentally dialed in while training? (L-Arginine)
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.OVERALL VALUE - Is it the best price per serving? Am I getting my money’s worth!
*The Best Pre Workout Supplement – Without Creatine 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**
#1 – Cellucor N0 Extreme
Quick Review:
This is the second generation of N0 Extreme. There have been a few changes in this version such as the inclusion NO3 technology, a new look, and a more transparent label, but the nuts and bolts of this supplement has stayed the same. N0 Extreme is the best pre workout supplement in this category because when I take this supplement, I just feel good all around. It’s a clean, smooth energy that doesn’t leave me groggy or stimed out. Here are some meat and potatoes regarding this supplement:
“N0 Extreme comes in a 30-serving bottle, with a serving consisting of one scoop, or 9.1 grams of the formulation. A serving also contains 5 calories, 1 g of carbohydrates and 500 mg of Vitamin C. the NO Extreme Blend consists of 2000 mg of Arginine Nitrate, 2000 mg of Beta Alanine, 1000 mg of L-Citrulline Malate, 100 mg of L-Norvaline and 1291 mg of the Thermal Energy Blend, which consists of L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Valine, Caffeine, Cinammone Bark, Theobromine, Synetpherine HCL, Oxovanadium, Methyltyramine and Vinpocetine. It also contains Citric Acid, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium and Silica.” - Cellucor N0 Extreme Review…
N0 Extreme is the real deal. It mixes and taste awesome, there is a good amount of energy components, and it will help you burn fat while still being able to train hard. The price is about $15-$20 more than other similar supplements, but I believe that you get what you pay for with this product.
Buy Cellucor N0 Extreme (30 servings)
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#2 – BSN Hyper FX
Quick Review:
Hyper FX is a great Creatine free pre workout supplement that delivers intense energy and focus. BSN is always known for producing quality products and Hyper FX is yet another supplement added to the list. This is a great pre workout supplement for both men and women who are looking for an energy supplement that also provides some good fat burning properties and electrolyte support. At about $25 per 30 servings, this is a very economical supplement that you should try at least once. My only complaint about this supplement is that there is no Arginine, BCAA’s, or other muscle building characteristics in it so to me; this supplement is a borderline powdered version of a fat burner. Sure, there are other ingredients like Beta-Alanine, but in order to be the best pre workout supplement, I believe that there should be a few other muscle building factors thrown into the mix. Other than that, there are some real pluses in this supplement like the taste and mix ability is great (watermelon in particular), the energy is awesome, the fat burning characteristics are great, and the PH balancing and electrolyte support is a huge plus and is actually something that I would like to see moving forward with more pre workout supplements.
Buy BSN Hyper FX (30 Servings)
#3 – Force Factor Body Rush
Quick Review:
Surprisingly enough, Force Factor Body Rush is actually a pretty complete pre workout supplement that delivers in many areas, but just falls a bit short for claiming the best pre workout supplement w/o Creatine category. There is a whole array of ingredients in this supplement that make it very impressive such as a great vitamin and mineral composition, 3 forms of Arginine, 4 g of BCAA’s, a great hydration profile, a “focus enhancer” which houses a mixture of Caffeine Anhydrous, Greeen tea extract, L-Tyrosine, L-Carnitine, and Guarana Extract. Body Rush is indeed a good pre workout supplement, heck its indorsed by Veron Davis so it’s got to be good, but there are a few areas that I feel need some improvement. The energy provided with this supplement just doesn’t seem as strong as the others so if you are looking for a lighter pre workout supplement that this would be fine, but for me I just need more energy. Next, the mix ability and taste could be better. I tried the Strawberry Kiwi and it was ok, but compared to N0 Extreme… I mean there is no comparison. Next is the price. At $47-$50 you are forcing me to consider N0 Extreme and for a few more bucks, I would gladly go with the latter because I know the quality is there.
Buy Force Factor Body Rush (1.52 Lbs.)
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#4 - PharmaFreak: RIPPED FREAK Pre-Workout
Quick Review:
Ripped Freak pre workout is one of those supplements that just make you curious enough to want to try it. Having tried it myself I can say that the first thing I like about it is the energy is very good and you can really tune into your workouts. Although the Ripped Freak Formula is another proprietary blends that kind of annoy me, I can still get a good idea of the ingredients. You’ve got L-Tyrosine, Beta-Alanine, Arginine AKG, and Caffeine Anhydrous among others. Oleuropein aglycone (OA) is another major ingredient that I’ve never seen before. It’s derived from Olives and is said to increase adrenaline, thus pump you up more. I’ve done some research on this and to be honest I haven’t found much evidence to support the claim. AstraGin™ is another compound found in Ripped Freak that is said to increase the absorption of vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients, but this is another claim and it’s hard to verify the validity of it. Price wise, it’s a bit high, albeit not as high as others, but the fat burning and energy components are good which makes this supplement a good pre workout supplement to take. Taste/mix ability needs improvement here, probably due to the beet root powder which has been included to give you some more nutrients and to help with the fat burning process.
Buy PharmaFreak: RIPPED FREAK Pre-Workout
(200 grams)
#5 - Optimum: Essential AmiN.O. Energy
Quick Review:
Coming in at #5 is Essential AmiN.O. Energy. This pre workout supplement is more than just amino acids! Addressing those individuals who are sensitive to caffeine, Amino Energy has a good ingredient profile consisting of Miconized versions Taurine, L-Glutamine, L-Arginine, essential and non-essential amino acids and natural occurring caffeine in the forms of green tea and coffee extracts. The strong points to this supplement are it’s perfect for people who want to increase their energy and endurance without having to worry about the harsh side-effects of many other pre workout supplements. Sure the energy is not as strong as other pre workouts, but that is the point isn’t it? The taste and mix ability factors are good, but the price compared to others is excellent. You can use this as a pre workout or an intra-workout because of the great amino acid profile but one thing’s for sure, this is a great natural caffeine supplement that is very popular and definitely worth a try.
Read the full review Essential AmiN.O. Energy…
Buy Optimum: Essential AmiN.O. Energy (30 Servings)
Best Stimulant Free Pre Workout Supplement
The best pre workout supplement without stimulants is a top 5 list of the best workout supplements you can get your hands on without having to worry about the harsh effects of taking in stimulants. Sure, this group of pre workout supplements may not get you jacked up, but aside from that, they pretty much function in the exact same manor. There are several reasons why you would want to opt for a stimulant free pre workout supplement such as:
- You are sensitive to stimulants.
- You are cycling off of stimulants.
- You are allergic to caffeine.
- You’re just not a fan of stimulants.
Whatever your reason may be, I’ve got you covered. With all of the fat burners, energy drinks, and hardcore pre workout supplements I have taken throughout the years, for me it’s refreshing to sometimes take a break from stimulants to allow your body to normalize again. Constantly consuming guarana, 1 3-dimethylamylamine, and the big one – caffeine, will cause stress on your kidneys, liver, and adrenal glands so even if you don’t pick up a stimulant-free pre workout supplement, you’d better take a break from stimulants for at least 3 weeks per 2-3 containers because the long-term effects of stimulants will begin to rear their ugly heads and believe me, you don’t want that. Ok ok, I’m stepping down from my soap box now… Anyway, let’s get to the list!
It should be pretty self-explanatory as to how these supplements have been ranked, but if you need further clarification you can always scroll up and see a more details explanation.
#1 - BSN: N.O.-Xplode 2.0 Caffeine Free
Quick Review:
If you’ve been taking supplements for any amount of time, then you’ve probably heard of the supplement brand BSN. They are the rock stars of the supplement industry because they have been making very good quality supplements from the beginning. N.O. Xplode 2.0 Caffeine Free is one of those supplements. I can’t find anything wrong with it. It contains all of the aspects of that you would expect from a top pre workout supplement, minus the caffeine and stimulants. It also has 5 Creatine sources including my favorite- Creatine HCL. It also contains Betaine HCL, Beta-Alanine (CarnoSyn®), L-Tyrosine, Arginine AKG, L-Citruline in the malic acid and AKG forms, L-Histidine AKG, and Taurine. But that’s not all; N.O. Xplode 2.0 Caffeine Free also has an electrolyte blend for increased cellular hydration, something that I always look for in these types of supplements. There’s also some other important vitamins and minerals thrown in there such as Vitamin B6, B12, Calcium, Phosphorus, and Folic Acid. There is 40 calories and 10g of carbohydrates but this is most likely due to the added Maltodextrin which is used to increase Creatine absorption so there may be some sticklers out there that could argue against this, but to me this is almost a non-issue because if you’re about to do a 1-2 hour workout then taking in 40 extra calories beforehand wouldn’t really hurt you and if it helps with Creatine uptake than it’s a wash in my book.
To top all of that off, the taste of blue raspberry is like cool aid and the price is about the same as a pizza so like I said earlier, I really can’t find anything wrong with this supplement. It’s got an amazing ingredient profile, it taste and mixes great, the price is cheap, and it works great. For these reasons I had no choice but to rank N.O. Xplode 2.0 Caffeine Free the best pre workout supplement – without stimulants. (You really have no excuses on this one!)
Buy BSN: N.O.-Xplode 2.0 Caffeine Free(20 servings)
#2 - Millennium Sport: RagNOrok Ultra Caffeine Free
Quick Review:
RagNOrok Ultra Caffeine Free is another very stout pre workout supplement that delivers in just about the same way as the stimulant (caffeine free) version. This supplement includes 3500 mg of 3 different Creatine variations; Magnesium Creatine Chelate, Di-Sodium Creatine Phosphate And Creatine Gluconate. All of these forms of Creatine have another molecule bonded to them in order to boost absorption into the muscles which makes this 3 pronged Creatine combo a very potent blend. The Nitric Carnage blend is a 5311 mg combination of Beta-Alanine, Di-Arginine Malate, Arginine AKG, Citrulline Malate, Cnidium Monnier, L-Norvaline And L-Histidine. Another important ingredient profile is the Electrolyte blend that is found here. If you’ve read any of my other comments regarding pre workout supplements than you know I’m a fan of having that included in these mixes. The OblitORAC is RagNOrok Ultra’s Antioxidant blend that is found in both varieties as well as every other area of the supplement except for the Focal Fury blend. I actually think bodybuilding.com made a mistake with the ingredient profile that they posted because they show the exact same ingredients for the Caffeine version and the Caffeine free one. I had to do a bit more digging in order to tell the difference which is in the Caffeine free version they omitted the caffeine and replaced it with Glucoronolactone, DMAE Bitartrate. There are 40 servings per container which is a very good bargain for a supplement that has so much included in it.
Buy RagNOrok Ultra Caffeine Free(40 Servings)
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#3 - Evogen EVP
Quick Review:
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 a proven stimulant free pre workout supplement that will yield good results in the gym. It is a no-nonsense type of supplement where what you see is what you get. I know from past experience that this is a great supplement, but because it’s a few years old now, I would like to see Evogen product a predecessor to EVP in the near future.
Buy Evogen EVP (40 Servings)
#4 - Universal Storm
Quick Review:
Storm by Universal is very good stimulant free pre workout supplement that has a strong Creatine profile and a very good price per serving rate. Starting with the Hypervol Complex™, Storm utilizes a proprietary blend of ingredients and although you can plainly see your getting 5g of Creatine I’m not exactly sure about what that is divided among the blends but what I do know is that Monohydrate is the first ingredient which means it will take up the lion’s share of the mix. The INOXsulin-7™ blend makes up the remainder of this supplement and includes the usual pre workout staples such as L-Taurine, Betaine Anhydrous, Citruline Malate, Arginine AKG, Beta-Alanine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and 4-Hydroxyisoleucine. As mentioned previously, the price per serving is excellent. You get 80 servings for under $30 so that’s basically like getting a 2 for 1 deal. Although this is listed as a pre workout supplement and is its primary function, I have read that many people will actually use it as a post workout supplement alongside their pre workout supplement with stimulants in order to maximize Creatine absorption. Either way is fine.
Buy Universal Storm (80 Servings)
#5 - Infinite Labs: CarnoCre
Quick Review:
CarnoCre is another successful supplement produced by Infinite Labs. This supplement has semi-transparent labeling which makes reading the ingredients almost easy until you get to the CarnoPlex™. This blend has Creatine Monohydrate as its main ingredient in its 9051 mg make up. The next major ingredient is CarnoSyn® which is a brand of Beta-Alanine that “is a patented amino acid that increases strength, aerobic and anaerobic endurance, and delays muscle fatigue to train harder.” – CarnoSyn®. There are 4 Creatine variations in CarnoCre with Creatine MagnaPower®, Di-Creatine Malate, and Creatine Pyruvate being the last form. There is also an electrolyte blend as wel as 10mg of Vitamin B6. For those of you who enjoy that tingling sensation when you consume a pre workout supplement, there’s Niacin here to provide that for you. Aside from that the major drawback from this supplement is clearly the price. At $35 for 30 servings, the price is average for the ingredients provided, even if there is CarnoSyn included. CarnoCre is good supplement and can be used as a pre workout, intra workout, or even a post workout supplement. There are some good reviews from previous users so give it a shot and start building some stim free muscles.
Buy Infinite Labs CarnoCre (30 Servings)
More Pre Workout Supplements…
Learn more about Nitric Oxide Supplements…
Learn more about the Best Creatine Supplement…
Learn more about the Best Post Workout Supplement…
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I just finished my tub of MP (old formula, I don’t care much for the new)today. That’s good to know that I can give the Juggernaut a try tomorrow. Luckily the MP has a fair amount of caffeine so the Juggernaut won’t give me any jitters.
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@Devo
Nah, with those two supplements they are similar in many ways so I don’t see anything wrong with switching between the two of them. In most cases, it wouldn’t matter to much but some people pay very close attention to how much Creatine, caffeine, glutamine, bcaa, etc. amounts they consume daily so its up to the individual. Both of those pre workout supplements are very good, but they have a cumulative effect over time so in order to give each a fair review, I would personally stick with one container until its finished and then switch. Im guessing you just want to see which one gives you more energy and taste better?
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I was wondering if a person can switch supplements on a daily basis. In my case is it ok to switch from Mp Assault to IL Juggernaut? I used assault yesterday and I’m tempted to use Juggernaut today. Is there anything wrong with that from anyone’s experience?
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Muscle Marinade is great. large amount of creatine and stims like no other. You will find out the real definition of “BEAST MODE” once you have a scoop of this.
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Any other pre workout supplements you wish to see reviewed? Questions?
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@James,
Thanks for writing in. I’ve found that people respond differently to supplements and you are totally right, if your tolerance has built up to much than you won’t feel the stimulants as much as if you take a 3 week break. This has happened to me with many supplements so in order to judge it fairly, I’ve got to take that break.
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I’ve have tried M5 and it had an ok pump. C4 was decent but hardly no gains. Jack3d has been my all time favorite for over 1 year and M5 or C4 doesn’t even come close the the energy, gains, and the feeling of never wanting to stop working out. Im just done with a cycle of 1MR but the crash after a working got me wanting to take a nap. I started Assault and I agree with the comments but lost a pump after 2 weeks. of course with any pre-workout you have to cycle off of it so your body doesn’t get use to the supplement your taking. Jack3d is still the best in my opinion
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I haven’t tried Lit up yet, how was it for you? I looked over the ingredients and it has some decent stuff in it, but its hard to tell with a proprietary list.
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what about lit-up?
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Assault is a good supplement, but it isn’t the strongest.
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Love the reviews.
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@ Jeff
That’s great. I love Assault and have had some real positive gains from it. M5 Extreme is a beast so if you get the chance give it a shot.
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I love the list, I wanted to try M5 Extreme, but got Assault instead.
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Hey… love the write up, but what pre workout supplement would be more on the mild side of stimulants?? Still has a good kick but nothing crazy like 1MR, etc.. Thanks!!
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Dear Spacevt,
I got another question concerning Creatine. I heard a lot about the benefits of creatine but i am a little bit confused about the water retention caused by supplementing the diet with creatine.
I mean after a given cycle of creatine and once u stop the supplementation of creatine, do we risk to loose the shape and the muscle mass which we have gain because of the creatine intake? if yes, does this lose will be dramatic? and what is the best kind of creatine to start with (monohydrate, micronised monohydrate, magnesium chelate, etc…)?
thanks a lot and a have a nice day.
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Thanks Spacevt for your reply, i really appreciate your advices concerning my post about pre-workout supplements.
I will give it a try and start by a low dose to assess my tolerance.
will let you know about my feedback.
Have a nice day.
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RN,
Hey man whats up. I am also a martial artist and am very aware of the type of training you do. I don’t think that you’re taking too many supplements so dont worry about that but I would throw a word of caution to taking a pre workout supplement to late in the day due to the stimulants. If you are thinking about taking one after lunch then that would be fine, but not after dinner because its to late and you’ll be up all night and be worthless the next morning. Juggernaut is a fine pre workout supplement and should fit into your routine well, just wait about an hour after you eat lunch before you use it because it’s typically better to consume these supplements after you’ve digested your food. Also, if you’re not familiar with stimulant containing supplements then please take a half dose to assess your tolerance. If you are not into caffeine and stimulants then check out my best creatine supplement post. Creature, Con-Crete, and Muscle Pharm Creatine are all great supplements for adding lean muscle mass without taking in stims. Hydrate well and always cycle off stimulant-containing supplements such as Juggernaut. Good luck and happy training my friend.
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Hello spacevt very good post. I am currently 20 years old and have been training muay thai and jiu jitsu for about 5 years. I am now taking my training to the next level in amateur fighting and hopefully make it to the pros. I was wondering your advice on my supplement intake and on a pre workout supplement (I was thinking about juggernaut?) I wake up around 7-8, run for cardio then eat breakfast along with my mega men sport multi vitamin wait about 20 minutes then eat again along with my Ultimate omega 3 sport fish oil supplement. Then a protein shake then eat lunch. After lunch I workout but I was wondering if I should take a pre workout supplement before. Then after protein shake and eat. Then dinner and then after dinner I usualy workout again around 7 or 8. Then eat after. Am I taking too many supplements if I start taking a pre workout supplement? I am currently 150lbs and am looking to gain a few pounds of pure muscle I am very athletic and want to be in the best shape of my life. If you can help I appreciate it
RN
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Hey Elino
Of course pre workout supplements will help you get lean muscle, that’s their primary function. As far as the lean muscle lasting, that depends on if you continue to workout or not (the same holds true if you dont take any supplements at all). Pre workout supplements are NOT steroids. The gains that you make in the gym while taking pre workout supplements are real and are just the same if you didn’t take any, however pre workout supplements (especially the ones on my top 10 list) contain caffeine and creatine as their primary ingredients. These two substances give you more energy and power to finish your workouts quicker and with more intensity, which translates to bigger gains in strength and more muscle. Give one a try but do yourself a favor and start at the lowest recommended dose to assess your tolerance to stimulants. Good luck.
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Hi guys, am 31 years old (180cm, 87 kilos) and i ve been going to the gym on and off since several years, but starting last April ive been hitting the gym regularly. Ive been using Whey protein and some Bcaa caplets since 2 months. But i feel its time now to go to the next step. Guys i am searching to build lean muscles which last, am not searching to impress people and get huge pumps that disapear when i stop taking supplements. The question: is a pre-workout supplement works to gain lean muscles that lasts?
Thanks.
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Assault all the way…
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i have been using hemo rage ultra concentrated and it worked great for about a month than i started to build up a tolerance to it. It also bad some bad side effects like crashing jittery and it left a terrible taste in my mouth. I am considering switching to musclepharm assault, NO shotgun, or superpump 250. Does anyone have any suggestions?
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I used Jack3d and trust me, it’s some good stuff. Tastes terrible, but starts working within minutes. Had to stop using because of high blood pressure issues, but if you have no health problems you’re good to go.
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hey man, check out ac g3. its pretty new but im getting GREAT gains from it. and if you cant review it, send me an email or something about why, i would really like that. thanks
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Hey Ad,
Personally, im not a fan of putting my body into catosis, especially while doing strenuous workouts 4-6 times a week. The diet doesn’t match the fitness program so if you are dead set on continuing down this path than I would advise you to speak to your local healthcare provider. Unfortunately, im not going to be the best source of info. for you regarding the effects of bodybuilding supplements and being in a state of katosis. I’ve always believed in supplying your body with a full spectrum on nutrients including adequate carbs. and lots of water because these types of supplements are strong and demand a lot from your body.
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Hey Jason
Ive never read or heard of any pre workout supplements including Assault that have had any side effects that involved depleting testosterone.
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I went through a bottle of Assault and went off it but noticed some issues after I got off of it so I went to the doctor and my test levels were SUPER low. I know they were normal when I was taking it because i was tested(I wasn’t using it every day and only one serving) I wonder if the assault caused it or just masked it.
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Thanks spacevt for your detailed reply.
I don’t have much option now but to go on a low-carb diet and I need some energy to drive me to do some intense cardio and/or workout. My carb intake would only come from green veggies at least for the first couple of weeks. Fruits, complex carbs such as brown pasta, oatmeal are a strict no-no for some time till I get in to ketosis comfortably.
When would you advise me to take creatine-based PWO (i.e. at what body fat %, right now I am around 29-30% BF). I desperately need a PWO to enable me to sustain a longer and more intense workout session as I feel carb depleted in the first 30 mins and come home and crash on the bed. I do agree carbs are the fuel for our body and carbs would be added later on the diet starting with nuts, dairy, low-sugar fruits such as berries, oatmeal and so on but in stages.
Could you advise me how to go about the whole process? If I take a creatine-based PWO right away, I might be interfering with me diet to enable my body to go in to ketosis but then I am also worried about not getting a good carb meal for adequate post-workout muscle recovery process which is also critical. I think that’s why people take creatine immediately after a workout followed by whey protein, right?
Thanks!
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Creatine actually helps the fat burning process because it will increase ATP production giving you more energy. Creatine Monohydrate will make you retain water weight, however Creatine HCl will not. Creatine is an essential bodybuilding supplement because it stimulates ATP production which in turn stimulates your fast-twitch muscle fibers. This will allow you to lift heavier weights with more power thereby increasing muscle tissue micro-tears. These micro-tears in your muscles will heal and turn into increased muscle mass. So basically, if you lift heavier weights and/or the same weight with added intensity, you’ll be more sore which stimulates muscle growth. Be very careful with a low carb diet because you will not have as much energy to continue your workouts over time. Carbs are essential for energy so take a close look at your diet to make sure you are not under nourishing yourself.
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Hello spacevt
I am a male. The site was pretty good; gave a good count of Carb/Pro/Fat and it’s inline with what I knew.
I had a question about Creatine-based pre-workout supplement: does creatine inhibit the fat burning process in ketosis (in a low carb diet) or does it only cause water retention in muscles? The latter can be done with by doing a low-carb sans the Creatine-based supplement for 2 weeks which will get rid of water weight, right?
I am not sure of the role of Creatine in body building? And esp. role of creatine-based pre-workout supplement if one’s doing a low carb diet? May be if you could give some layman info.?
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Hey Ad.
Not sure if your male of female but if you are a male than my guess is that you are not taking in enough calories. Reason? You are not considering how many calories you are burning throughout the day including your workouts. If you continue down this path you might start to binge which is common. I understand reducing your calories by 500 to lose weight, however that strategy doesn’t take into consideration your workout load. Solution? Check out this cool tool to fine turn your caloric needs—> Click Here This will take into consideration your weight, activity level, gender, etc and break down your caloric needs. I hope you find it as useful as I have.
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Thanks spacevt for your prompt response.
I plan for more but as the week progresses, I will miss out a day or two of workouts so I tend to plan for more.
My diet is fine I guess (~1500 cals a day) – I eat 500 cals. less a day so it is not very low calorie. I have 3-4 meals throughout the day, have legumes, fish, chicken, lot of greens, tomatoes, 2 fruits a day (1 apple pre-workout to give me some energy and 1 banana post-workout) and no refined carbs at all and about 3-4 scoops of whey protein (ON gold standard) spread across the day along with a gallon of water or even more. I also take fish oil and multi-vitamin supplements every day. Planning to start some CLA supplement as well.
I have moved from Atkins to a healthier diet now and am loosing averagely 2 lbs. a week for the last 2 weeks. But the strength to lift is still not there. I remember days when I took heavy carb meals (subs, ice-creams, lots of fruits, some junk food, heavier meals), I could sustain heavier workouts and for over an hour easily. During Atkins and even now (when I take a couple of fruit servings and legumes for some carbs) I can’t sustain for even 40 mins a day and that too, with lighter weights. So either I carb-up (which is bad for body fat if I don’t ensure its all used up during an intense workout) or get some other form of energy such as N.O. et al.
I will try to use the one that you recommended and will come back for more questions.
Thanks!
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Hey Ad
Your current program of 4-5 days of cardio and 2-3 days of weights is plenty so I wouldn’t change the frequency of your workouts, but perhaps gradually increase the intensity, resistance, and duration. If you can bench press 125lbs for 10 reps and 3 sets than next week increase the weight to 135 for 10 reps and 3 sets or increase to 150lbs for 4 sets of 6-8 reps. This is just an example, but the idea is to constantly challenge your body to perform at a little higher level than you did before without driving your body to exhaustion which may cause you to quit your program, binge on junk food, or both. I would not recommend 5-6 days of cardio and 4-5 days of weights unless you’re trying out for an iron man competition or pro football tryouts. There could be several reasons for lack of energy including: poor diet, lack of rest, dehydration, and/or your body just isn’t capable of performing at that level yet. N.O. Supplements? Try
It’s a decent pre workout supplement that contains some energy, N.O. (Arginine) for the “pump”, and BCAA’s for stamina. What I also like about this product is the inclusion of electrolytes for better hydration. Give it a shot. Use the entire bottle and write back and let me know how it was for you. Good Luck and don’t be in a rush to get in shape. Fitness is about the journey, not the destination.
“Force Factor Body Rush”
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I am an obese guy (BF = 30.5%), I was on a low carb diet (Atkins), lost 25 lbs over 50 days and gave it up and gained all the weight back. I have recently joined a regular gym and do more of cardio than weights. While doing both, I have noticed I lack the energy to lift more or do intense cardio for long – I start panting. Should I use a pre-workout supplement that will help me do intense cardio as well as heavier weights? I guess I should take a NO supplement without creatine as it will retain water and make me kinda bloat. Please suggest which NO supplement will be the best for me? As of now, I do 4-5 days cardio (cycling, rowing, elliptical, stair climbing, treadmill, yoga) and 2-3 days weights. I want to make it 5-6 days cardio and 4-5 days weights (one in the morning and one in the evening workouts)
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Yeah, I’ve been hearing it’s pretty good, may give BSN a go…I will let you know how I get on…but the Nano Vapor I bought recently, was a waste…definatly a trial and ERROR!! lol…
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Kroninc Pump looks like a decent product. Looks like theres around 200-240mg caffeine per serving, Creatine, Beta Alanine, and L-Arginine. I haven’t tried this product but judging by the ingredients, it has just about the same exact ingredients as Jack3d, prehaps more caffeine although since Jack3d uses a proprietary blend, its difficult to say. If your going to give it a go, let me know how it is for you. Also, check out BSN’s new Xplode 2.0 its got a good spread of ingredients as well.
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Also, thing is Bob, these products effect people differantly, but the author gives you a general idea of the product, we should all get similair effect, however you say Hemo-Rage is best, I say it”s crap and one of the most dirtiest products out there, it only destroyed my stomach and made me ill. See what I mean…I would say Jack3d is best, nothing has beatin it for me and I train 6days a week, and Jack3d gives me close the same as it does everyday. For me it’s the gain, energy, focus, and cost that I want to hear about…I get great pumps when I train anyway, but the suppliment game is quite dear, so it’s good to know what is cheaper out there…well, until you get sponsers ofcourse, lol
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What do you think about Kronic Pump spacevt?? This got a good recommendation on UK-M by muscle finesse. I went to order and there out of stock…so settled with Nano Vapor by Muscle Tech…terrible product, although it was down to around £25 I was very dissapointed in the product, the pump was the only thing you got from this, no energy, focus and the cost was usually around over £40. WTF!! Anyway, have you tried Kronic Pump yet, it was advertised as “Stronger than Jack3d”…I think a company is going to go down for dealing if this is true!! lol…I also see you have updated, I will check these out bud, thanks for your time on this thread
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Hi bob
Thanks for writing in and although I sorta understand what you mean, your comments are themselves- bizarre. So what your saying is that when you buy a product such as a pre workout supplement, cost, focus, and taste have no barring and the only thing that matters is the energy and pump? If that’s all that matters than just dump a bunch of caffeine pills down your throat and call it a day.
Actually, im working on reformatting the rating system for these supplements so be on the look out for that. Not only are there constant price and incentive changes to these supplements but new products are coming online weekly due to the heavy competition amongst retailers and suppliers which is why right now my stats are outa whack. Ill update the page shortly.
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This rating system is sorta bizarre. The rater adds together the scores of 5 scales and then divides them by 5. This creates a list that doesn’t really jive with why people take energy/pre-workout drinks in the first place. For example, he rates hemo rage as a 10/10 for BOTH energy and pumps. Only one other product on this entire list has scored that high yet Hemo Rage falls to number 6 because of a lack of size gains and bad taste and cost? Huh? People take energy/pre-workout drinks for (a) the pump, and (b) the energy. So common sense puts Hemo Rage as the #2 pre-workout supplement on the list right behind Assault. C4 rates out as terrible in the energy/pumps category but prevails because it tastes good and is “cheap?” First of all this is a garbage way to rate products. Second of all, C4 is FAR MORE expensive than Hemo Rage or Jack3d so not quite sure why this author is placing such a great ranking in the cost category.
Personally, I’ve tried all of the energy drinks except for Assault and Hemo Rage is BY FAR the best. The energy and pumps are out of this world. Jack3d and C4 are kid’s stuff compared to Hemo Rage.
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Hey I just finished a container of Jack3d. Gotta say, it gives great energy and focus. Downside: need to start raising the number of scoops after a while. Still, great product. Wondering if anyone here has a recommendation for something that delivers that level of energy, but also gives serious pumps and is formulated to help with size gains.? Thinking of stacking Animal Pump with Animal Rage, would like to hear yalls thoughts.
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Have tried the latest from GAT: Nitraflex? Heard some review saying it’s stronger than Jack3d and Hemo Rage Ultra Concentrate.
Would love to know your experience on this new products.
Thank you.
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Sounds like the product for me mate…will give it a try…once the break is over…thanxz bud ; )
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1.m.r is comparable to hemo rage ultra because it’s a concentrated sup. so it may upset your stomach. C4 Extreme is a great product and I highly recommend it. It isn’t real strong in the caffeine department, but while I was taking it, I saw some noticeable gains in strength and I loved drinking it, it taste great and mixes really well. The energy is very clean.
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I usually do the time off stims, maybe I need to give it alittle longer…I have also tried that Hemo-Rage…made me sick mate, was going into work and having to leave after abit, lol…Luckily my mate bought it, he never liked it either…everything effects people different, but stuff tore my stomach apart!! lol…was glad to see it going down the list…Was thinking C4, and some guys recommended 1.M.R…giving what I’ve said, you think either will do the job??
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Do you think you’ve built up a tolerance to caffeine stimulants? This often happens with prolonged use of caffeine containing products. It happens to me all the time so I try to take 2-3 weeks off of any stimulants to give my body a break and to bring my tolerance down so you can feel the supplements more. If that aint it, then perhaps you could try Hemorage Ultra if you are looking for something stronger.
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Hey dude…finished the Bullnox…gotta say I wasn’t impressed…did 3scoops, tried not to overdo the servings and thought 3 should be enough, but Jack3d still sits above Bullnox in my listings…one thing I was impressed with was the pump, excatly the same as Assault when it came to the pumps, great! The focus wasn’t there as much as I would like, never gave me much of an energy boost I expected…I got the Fruit punch flavour and it mixed well…maybe I just became to used to the Jack3d experience…now looking at other ones…recommend anything on your list mate??
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Hey Lee
Good luck with the Bullnox. Its a great pre workout sup!
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Got Bullnox instead of C4, your review was to good to let it pass by mate…C4 can wait. I just hope it’s not as stomach churning as Hemo-Rage!!
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Not yet dude, but it will be the next pre-workout I buy. I’m on a stim free 2weeks at the moment. So when I get the C4 extreme (when Sport Nutrition UK get it in) I should get the full benifits and rip it up pretty good I think. And I will let you know how I get on with it man ; )
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Thanks Lee
Have you tried c4 extreme yet?
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Your review on C4 looks great dude. I have been using Jack3d for while now. I only take it twice a week and my 2other days are stim free. but always looking for something new. Has anyone tried Nuclear Garbage? Someone mentioned it a while ago on this post and I would like to know if anyone has anything else to say about it…
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Hey Murf,
There’s nothing wrong with taking protein and a pre workout together, however the protein may interfere with the stimulants in the pre workout. I suggest taking the protein first, wait a half hour then take the pre workout.
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Hello collegegirl2,
Jack3d and NO-explode have creatine in them which is a muscle builder. If you are interested in adding muscle to your frame then you should try Assault, however if you are looking for an energy supplement, I would go with Cellucor’s NO Extreme because it does not contain any creatine and is 0 carbs…
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I am a 22yr old female, 5’3 and weigh about 118lbs. I am looking for something to give me an extra boost in my workout, that is similar to Jack3ed and NO-explode. A typical workout consists of lightweights and 45min to an hour of cardio.
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Can you take the Pre Workout supplement before you workout along with the Whey Protien?
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Valuable information in this comments. I like pre workout supplements, but most of the time I prefer to use my own recipe. Caffeine free, with lots of bcaa, beta-alanine, creatine, and other secret ingredients. I don’t want any powerful stimulants in my pre workout shake. Maybe I’m a bit old school.
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Stumbled across this site when I was looking for something new to try for my workouts. A lot of good stuff on here and has got me thinking about going back to preworkout supps. After seaching around myself I came across Universal Animal RAGE. There seems to be some pretty insane reviews about it compared to the products ranked here. I was wondering if anyone has tried it and can give me a first hand review…
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Im Taking Assault by MusclePharm this stuff is insane there really isnt any other word to describe this
product. The taste is Awesome, although i must say the sodium can really be tasted in the back of the throat as it goes down
but over all i would never switch to any other product
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I just got 1MR, first time I tried it with half a scoop and with empty stomach. I felt the rush of energy in my body, it gave me a good 1 and half of workout. Usually without 1MR I get tired and sleepy within 40mins of workout. The next day I took same half scoop after an hour of eating my lunch and I barely felt the energy, I mean I know it was there but it wasn’t as strong as the first time I took it with an empty stomach, I think it is most effective with an empty stomach. Taste was ok, it was sweet and kinda bitter after taste. I might try other brands like Hemo Rage or Jack3D after finishing a tub of 1MR just to compare.
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Assault is the best pre workout supp going around, i do heaps of running and i play football and i say that it wins hands down, i noticed that there was no VPX shotgun on the list i use that as well and think it’s pretty good. Better than No Xplode and Superpump which may me go to toilet straight after i used it every time so i thew it away.
But Guys get on Assault and you will love it
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hey totally agree about Jack 3d. All the hype comes from people who casually lift. Jack is awesome for a few weeks but after that the effects die off rapidly
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I was on Assault for about 3 weeks. And let me say, I had the most miserable workouts ever. It gave me an upset stomach almost every night and while training, i felt like puking after every workout. I’m disappointed with muscle pharm products.
Jack3d is probably my favorite supplement right now. I’ve had many friends try it and they loved it!
Last week My buddy and I bought a new pre workout called F.M.L. which is made from the same company as Jack3d. It gives the same pump and effects as well. Maybe even a bit stronger. If you can get your hands on a jug of this stuff, you’ll enjoy every bit of it.
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I’ve taken NO-xplode, muscleprime and juggernaut. By far muscle prime is my favorite. It gives great gains in the gym, good focus. It’s addicting because the gains are so big that day in the gym but back to normal the next day. Juggernaut is the same for me just not as tingling that MP has. I have stacked these both with muscletech mass, and the size increase is very noticeable. NO-xplode is good if you want to be focused. Not as much gain as MP or juggernaut.
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How about proprietary blend free products that don’t hide their formulas like Up-Lift from Beverly international, bodyoctane from MAN, Gunpowder from PPN, Bulldozer XL5000 from NRG, Levrone Formula and others. Why not have a review list of such products for those who care about dosage and measuring how much they are getting … Etc
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read this if you are thinking about taking jacked 3d,
yo i dont mean to bash any of the products on here but everyone is saying that they have read a lot of good reviews about jacked3d……Its pretty good, but only for a few weeks, two at the most. it says on the bottle to not exceed 3 scoops but in only 2 weeks you’ll find yourself not feeling anything in one scoop….so you move to two…then three….i was up to five before i switched to black powder by MRI, its awesome and tastes amazing but im looking to switch shit up…..any tips…..im 19 so im lookin for something with a decent price what will jack my shit up so i cant touch my head……typical teenager i know
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Muscle Pharm Assault I give a 6 out of 10 using one tub over two months. I have tried double dose but found out using one dose or half dose with half dose of some left over NO Explode was best. I have seen good muscle growth but using Assault alone I had NO energy!!! Weird how you can rate is so High for energy.
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i just finished the tub on N.O. -xplode and it gave me good result, currently im on jack3d. It gives a good time but going to it after N.O-xplode i dont really think its a good switch for me. Im trying to get big, with a noticeable difference in size with my arms. im thinking about taking MP Assault, good choice?
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dose anyone know were i can buy CELLUCORS NO EXREME ?? i live in ireland and cant find it in any nutrition shop is there any sites i can get it at a reasonable price ???
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Thank you sir
i will def go with one of them two more than likely the Cellucor`s NO Extreme seen as it has more of what i need other than caffine an other stimulants.. also dose anyone know a really good multi vitimin as i dont eat vedgtables i usually take a cheap pharmacy multivitimin wats the difference with the cheap pharmacy products and the expensive one in nutrition shops any ideas???????
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You’re right. You don’t want a pre workout supplement that is loaded with caffeine because it may dehydrate you in the long run because of the high amounts of cardio that you do. I would recommend either Cellucor’s N0 Extreme or Evogen EVP. No Extreme has caffeine but only about 130 mg per dose plus Nitric Oxide and only a few calories which isn’t bad. Evogen EVP doesn’t contain stimulants but has does have B vitamines, Creatine, Nitric Oxide, Leuctine, and Glutamine for endurance.
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hey guys i need a little help im trainin 2 3 nights a week in mma no heavy weight training just very in tense cardio and plyometrics and tabatas just wondering wat pre work out i should take for some energy recovery an endurance? the big brands wit caffine or the natural pre work out ones ? dont really tink something wit a heap of caffine is wat i want but more somethin tat i can use continusly and that just has a bit of everything?
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sup guys… basically i started of with Jack3d and got some awsome pumps, went of it though as i started needing more and more scoops. then after a break went onto rampage which didnt really give me any significant feeling.
currently on 1.m.r and loving it but dont really feel gains in specific strength just focus.
so after i finish the tub ill go of the cycle for a few weeks then back onto it. what would you reccomend for me to take?
Assault looks good but just wondering if theres anything else reccomended…?
thanks.
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WARNING:::::DO NOT GET JACKED3D!!!! it tastes terrible and i used up to three scoops and could barely feel anything…. go with assault
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@Gettinghuge… i feel the same exact way! the no xplode is nice for the first few servings, but after, it you get nautious from drinking it, and you dont really get much energy. i just bought blue raspberry jacked, this stuff is amazing! you barely taste it.
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Hey Patrick,
I agree with you here about NO Extreme. It’s not the “strongest” of the pre workout supplements, but the energy is clean, there’s no crash, and you get a good pump from it. It’s currently on of my favorites.
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I have thried Cellucor No-extreme, Muscle Pharm Assault and BSN No-Xplode. My first was No-xplode and it was good at first but I never got the same effect as I did the first dose. Assault was a great product good pump and strength increases but its a little sweet tasting for me but definately did the job. The pricing fo the first two are not bad at all however with both had some crash laterint he day. That could also be because i work out at 5 am a lot. The last one I have tried is Cellucor No-Extreme. While this is the most expensive I believe its the best tasting and gives what seems to me to be the cleanest energy and pump of all of them. Benn on this for three weeks now and love it. The setback is the price though. I am 37 years old and have started getting good strength gains. I also use Intrabolic during my workout coupled with the pre-workout supplement.
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Hey guys my names spencer, I am now 18 years old. I really want to use a pre-workout to help me with some energy problems in the morning because its really hard to wake up at 5 am, go to school, go to practice after school, and then also have club at night. So I think a pre-workout would do me a lot of good. Was wondering if anyone knew if jack3d did anything to growth, like maybe if it stunted growth at all?
I’ve tried it before but stopped for no reason. Now that I am looking to go for it again I’m wondering if it could at all stunt my growth
thanks a ton please get back to me ASAP
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GAT Jetfuse = AWESOME!
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Great information on supplements. I would surely try out few of the above mentioned and will comment again later informing about the result.
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@Chaz – I would like to know how you would compare this to Hemo-Rage. I find Hemo-Rage to be the strongest pre-workout but not the best in pump or focus, that is, compared to Jack3d. Hemo-Rage also has crash that I don’t like and doesn’t sit well in the stomach. Thanxz for letting me know about the product dude, would like to know alittle more though because Nuclear Garbage sounds good.
Thanxz man
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Ive tried 8 of these products and they all have pretty great results. However, I recently found a product called Nuclear Garbage that just blew me away. This is saying a lot as I took this product after taking No xplode, Super pump, jack 3d, no shotgun, and armegeddon for several months in a row. Point blank- I never cycled off NO products and Nuclear Garbage still hits me hard after MONTHS and Months of constant use of other NO products. Now, If i take any other NO product i dont even feel it because for me there is nothing better than GARBAGE!
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Lol @spacevt…Too true brother….and James he’s got in one buddy, I know sometimes it’s not what you want to hear and fair enough people around you may be taking them…but your not those other people dude, just do the right thing and listen to us “old” (thanks spacevt) ones. You’ll do yourself a lot favours and your body will thank you for it. Eat, weights and sleep James….
Back to this though…Good to see Hemo-Rage slams in at No:2…unfortunatly not tried it yet, ordered some but sports nutrition ran out…got jack3d instead, and I would personally put it at No:3, but it all effects different people in different ways. I have had Assault, and it aint got nothing on Jack3d…although that’s my opinion…Otherwise this is a great list, nice work man
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Hey Bryan your welcome!
Ill look into Dark Rage, thanks for the heads up.
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I agree with Lee here James.
At your age, your butt should be in the gym mastering the fundamentals of weight training and eating like crazy. Enjoy this period of your life because it will end and at that point, you’ll be stuck with the rest of us old people having to rely on supplements for health.
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Hey John
At your age, its not necessary to take creatine, caffeine, arginine, or any other stimulants during your natural growth period. Your still got a few good years left before you stop. I would then begin to consider stimulant based supplements. Just focus on lifting weights and eating alot of proteins, veggies, fruits, and pasta. If your hitting it hard in the weight room and eating right, then there is no reason why you wouldn’t put on some size.
Im sure your coaches are showing you specific lifts for Football players like deadlifts, squats, barbell bench, military presses, ect…
Stick to these core movements and then build your routine from there to add more advanced movements like running drills and plyometrics.
I was a linebacker as well in HS and I hit the weights hard the summer previous, and got big and strong in the weight room, but neglected the calisthenics and running drills and I actually didn’t perform as well as I would’ve had I included that im my routines.
Stick to a high-protein, high natural carb diet and limit the fats and you’ll turn into a a beast.
Good luck on the field.
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Im John 17 and do varsity football and varsity lacrosse for my school. I used to play defensive back and now got switched to linebacker. Now that im linebacker i need size so ive been hittin the weights and working my ass off. One of my friends takes N.O xplode and I was wondering if any of these products would give me a little extra boost in the gym?
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James ~ How you doin dude, I’m no an expert, but your only 16…you gotta mind that your body is still growing and adapting to your changes.
I wouldn’t recommend any of these. I would say a good diet, protien and a great workout routine…let your body do everything first.
I only take pre-workouts because I work alot and at night I need that kick to get me going…
Pre-workouts help you do and push more, and because your still growing dude, you could end up causing more damage than good. Although it is upto you James, everbodys different…just be smart and safe, and remember nothing beats good old hard work and a healthy diet
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Would you recommend mp assault for me, I am 16 and looking to build lean muscle and lose a bit of fat, if not, what would you recommend??
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Tim Daniels ~ So you would recommend Hemo-Rage dude?? How did you get on with it.
Assault is good, I really enjoyed it, altho it didn’t last long.
The Hemo-Rage concentrate sounds perfect, matbe to perfect??…would be great to hear more about what you think man…
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I’m surprised not to see maximum human performances DARK RAGE on the list. You guys have to try it…it calls for 1 scoop but after a week on it I cut back it really made my heart race. The half scoop did the trick! I’m 5’6″ 185 so bigger guys may do alright on the full scoop.
I do want to try something diffrent so i’m going with your #1 choice musclepharm assault! Thanks for the reviews
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So i tried alot of pre workout supplements, and one that i keep gong back to is Jacked, there is no doubt its by far the best. Not only because it gives you incredible take off, it also keeps you going. I Don’t know why they put it in 3rd place here and gave it an 8 for the price. 1 and 2 are twice as expensive. Everyone I know always sais “I tried this new thing dude, its so great, it’s the best pre workout out there”………. And then they try jacked. It’s like crack of all supplements. Once you try it, you never want to use anything else.
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Wheres hemo rage? Ive taken Assault and Cellucore and this stuff blows them out of the water
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hey i was wondering if i could take purple k amd size on or is that a terrible idea. i used superpump for a few months and by the end of it i didnt feel anything so im changing things up help!!!
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There is not much said about Assault here…I have recently bought Assault, and I gotta say that it works well. Before Assault I was taking Myprotien’s Pulse, and that was all good at the begining, but I think I built up a tolerance to that very quicky, having to double it and still not feel what I expected. I hope this doesn’t happen with Assault, lol
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I am 18 years old weighing about 160. I am looking for a supplement that helps me gain muscle mass but also get me cut and lose weight also with a good pump.
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Has anyone tried Cellucor NO Extreme? I’m a first time user and looking to get a really good pre-workout supplement. It has good ratings and good reviews. Any suggestions? I need some results.
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I have used LG Sciences Anadraulic in the past. The taste is horrible. I had to push myself to drink it every time I went to the gym. After a time I could not handle it anymore and trew it in the dustbin. So be sure to ask for samples before you buy a complete pre-workout product.
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Hey Brian good question…
I haven’t tried Xpand Extreme’s stimulant-free version, however I’ve tried Evogen’s EVP and is the only stimulant-free pre workout supplement that I use when I am taking a break from stimulants. Read about about some of my comments regarding it, also follow the link and read the comments from others on bodybuilding.com. It’s a great supplement.
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I’m looking for a pre-workout supplement that does not have caffeine. I don’t drink coffee or soda so my body just doesn’t do well with caffeine. It usually results in about 2 hours of off the wall energy followed by a crash and 2 days worth of stomach aches with appetite suppression. Not much fun at all. Last product I tried was GNC Pro Performance AMP Amplified NO Loaded. I tried a full dose and got the results above, I then tried a half dose and got the same feelings. I figured anything less than a half dose was defeating the purpose of taking it in the first place. I see that Xpand Xtreme pump has a caffeine free version, does anyone have experience with that?
Thanks.
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I’m still on Assault. The recommended dosage is not working for me. It might be that my body has build a tolerance for Assault. I have doubled the dosage a I must say that Assault is working for me now. I can feel the tingle in my ears (not so much as with wite flood). The recovery between sets is very fast and I can do more reps.
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I have tried N.O. Explode, superpump250, blackpowder, Jack3d. For me, the best is Hemo-rage. It gave me incredible pumps, focus and energy. I couldn’t wait to lift after I got off work. But hey, everybody is different.
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I have tried several NO products, I did enjoy Superpump 250, Assault and Jack3d. For some reason I was building tolerance fairly quickly with these products. Currently my two favorite products are Bulldozer XL5000 and Vassive-NO. With Bulldozer XL5000, I love the formula, the taste and the feeling I get with this product. Extreme focus, energy and pump and recovery is amazing and still working on me unlike the other NO/Preo-workout products.
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Muscle Pharm Assault is not working for me at all. I have tried White Flood en Code Red, they were great.
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Muscle Marinade by Purus Labs works great for me. I feel like a complete beast in the gym.
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@Kevin Levrone – hey kevin…i tryed your product and i absolutely love it…keep it coming man..great product!!
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Ive been trying jack3d for a while now, its okay. Ive tried very many of the “best” nitric oxide supplements, and the best one i’ve found is NANOVAPOR. Its givin me a greater energy, pump, and overall feeling than anything else i’ve tried yet. Out of the 10+ things ive tried, even super’dump’250, the nanovapor was better.
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Assault is the bomb. Incredible Focus, awesome pumps, great steady energy with no crash and my stamina is through the roof!
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Im not sure how i should take my preworkout supplement and my creating supplement.
Should i be only taking one of em at a time or should i be taking the noxplode b4 workouts n creatine mix after workouts?
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I will have to agree, I am a huge fan of superpump250. I have tried some other supplements but can’t image a whole lot being better than superpump250. Its very affordable too.
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Hey iv been taking supplements for quite a while now. I have taken blackpowder and superpump, superpump has been great loved it however i have been off all sorts of supplements now for over 2 months and have been lacking the intensity that i had with them so now i have decided to start up again and am wondering has any taken 1.m.r or hemo rage before and where would they rate them in the list above, i have heard all sorts of good things about 1m.r but that is all from sales reps which obviously will to promote the product, i would also like to know does anyone have a recommendation in any type of supplement to take during workouts like size on, just trying to keep my options open. cheers
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After trying a few like no shotgun jacked3rd super pump250 morph i find the best to be the no shotgun for strength gains pumps energy and value for money one scoupand your into it ive been using it a few months now and take a scoup and a half and it blows my doors off…
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I am a beginner, so what nirtic oxide supplement would you recommend,
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Sure.
Depends on if your getting enough protein elsewhere, but it won’t hurt you in anyway.
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I am jus curious to know, if it is ok to take only a preworkout supplement and no protien at all, what would be the out come of this and what would you suggest.
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Does anyone have input on Buzzerk? Was on superpump250 but I wanted to try something different, got a great price for it. I am also taking the post-workout mix (Rezzerect). Need some feedback from those who have done both. Which has the better results? Thanks
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I’m 53 years old I workout 5 days a week I’ve tried Super pump, NO explode, Jack3d, and Hemo rage. They all seem to work about the same to me, of course my idea off cycling off one was a couple of days before I started on another round. I’m starting my 3rd week of not taking anything and I can tell my workout are suffering a bit. So I getting ready to get back on a pre-workout supplement. I’m wondering because of not cycling off like I should if I missed out on some of the effect of some of these. Given my age and the number of days I workout what would be the best
to try. I’m pretty hardcore by the way I workout with a buddy that’s younger and we really throw some weight around. Thanks, JH
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Ive found jack3d to be the best pre workout ive used so far, small scoops and taste good, i do get a weird face itch though, but it gave me lots of energy to power through reps
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I have got to say one of my favorites is the Gaspari Superpump. Just a really good pump before a session. If you are looking for that eyes bulging kinda thing and wanna throw chairs thats the way to do it
I do like more subtle supplements though as well.
Really informative post though! I’m going to check a few of these out!
-Jess
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Im turning 18 in about 3 months. Ive been taking Force factor, amp 189 creatine, multivitamin, L-Glutamine, Jack3d, and Amp wheybolic extreme 60. Ive gaine 12 pounds in just about a month and a half. I strongly recommend Jack3d if you are lacking that extra energy to last through your workouts. I go home feeling like I just had the greatest workout of my life everytime I leave the gym. However im 6’2 and am still only 160 pounds. Is there maybe another product that I should switch with one im currently taking to gain more weight? Im very defined and toned but am underweight.
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@aboxer – LoL. Well to answer your question, I think that Cellucor’s Thermo Shock will pack a punch strong enough to knock you out! I could never take the full dose of 2 morning 2 in the afternoon and my tolerance is high as well. I think that you’ll find that after your break, you will feel that awesome surge of energy that you miss. That’s another added bonus to taking breaks…
Good Luck!
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OK, thank you. Ha! And I’m not lying I think I have a really high caffeine tolerance! I have not taken any stimulants for a week now and trying to stay clear of caffeine, except for green tea. In a couple weeks, what product do you recommend for women athletes going through a rigorous workout program like boxing? I want to have that jolt and fire of energy! I am kind of dragging right now, but taking your advise in clearing my system. I do believe I have been beating it down with too much. Thanks so much for the help!
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aboxer-
If your 118lbs and taking jacked, rippedfuel, and oxyElite Pro, sprinkled with the occasional energy drink then your either lying or your the biggest caffeine freak ive ever known…lol
If your telling the truth then you need to stop taking all caffeine products immediately and give yourself a 3-4 week break. You shouldn’t be taking anymore than 300mg of caffeine a day for someone your size, its just not needed and the reason why you don’t feel them anymore is because your tolerance is through the roof. That’s ok, its just that you should always allow your body time to re coupe and in some ways heal itself from the stimulants. Whenever you feel like the energy effects of a stimulant based product is wearing down significantly, its time to take a break. Try working out without stimulants and just eat clean with an emphasis on protein. Your body can produce all the energy and muscle necessary if you just feed it right.
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Hello, I saw that you answered if it is ok if women take pre-workout supplements. But still wondering which ones nd a lot of the questions above are about being able to endure more reps and lift longer but not for training. I am a female boxer and train 2-3 hours a day, mostly conditioning, bag training & mitts. I am currently on Jack3d, RippedFuel and OxyELITE Pro (Super Thermogenic). I have used in the past Hydroxicut for energy. And I drink Redbull sometime for extra energy. I am looking for muscle definition and strength, but I am not a body builder. But I do need something that gives me the stamina and energy for 3 hour workouts and that will help me build muscle when strength training. Do you have recommendations? I also am smaller, 5’2, 118lbs. (I’m 30yrs old) But my caffeine, stimulate tolerance is high. I can take 3 scoops of Jack3d and hardly get “pumped”…same with any energy drink or Ripped Fuel type product. Thanks for the help! I’m really searching for the right product and really feel like I’m bouncing around with too many different products and unsure what’s best for women. Thanks!
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Hey Kevin Levrone Everyone! Thanks for visiting my site…
Yes, Yerba Mate is a natural form of caffeine that is by volume, less potent than other forms of caffeine such as the anhydrous forms typically found in most of the products here, but also may be healthier too because of the antioxidant properties found in it… . That’s not to say that you won’t feel the effects, but compared to the other formulas, its just not as potent. Now, that being said, I believe that you designed it that way so that it isn’t just all about the caffeine rush, which I respect and actually like. Many people get too carried away with the amount of caffeine that they don’t realize that to much caffeine can eventually harm you. You seem to have taken a very holistic approach to a pre workout supplement that I can appreciate and I wish the best of success with The Levrone Formula.
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Thanks for including Levrone Formula. Disclosure: I am Kevin Levrone. In regard to EVP I personally would never take a “Nutrient Injection/Volumizing Complex” because for it’s a red flag that there’s something secretive going on. Without the dosages listed the ingredients listed are irrelevant. You need evidence that you’re getting the proven amounts you need. Also, while my product doesn’t cause jitters, it most definitely has the stimulant caffeine in the form of Yerba Mate, and this combined with the Tyrosine, NADH and NO2 agents really gets you going – so disagree on calling it stimulant-free. It stacks up better to ANY of the products in your review. If you have any questions, please me know.
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I’ve gone through two tubs of Jack3d, and almost finished with my first tub of Assault. I thought Assault was really powerful, but had some sides like increased back acne, upset stomach and tunnel vision. Aside from that, I experienced great gains, increased energy and strength.
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I have tried the sample packets of super pump 250. The packet is only half a dose. The first 2 times i tried it I really liked it. On my 3rd try I didn’t feel the same energy level. I’m about to buy a prework out drink tomorrow. Anyone have any side effects with the super pump?
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I’ve tried Jack3d, No-Xplode and white Flood. All great pumps, only side effect was a sick feeling from white flood and some jittery feeling from jack3d. No-Xplode was great till I reached the end of my tub, then I didn’t get the same pump I was use to getting. Currently I’m on 1m.r. and if I had to recommend one of these great products it is this one.
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I’ve tried NO-xplode, Jack3d, and SuperPump250 over the past several years and have been pretty happy with results. I recently came across a new product in capsule form that has been really impressive – “Pre-Workout” by XBX Labs. I’ve been using Pre-Workout for about 5 weeks and am still getting a good PUMP and have increased my max # of reps.
This product contains both Beta Alanine and an L-Arginine “NO” blend. I’d never use these 2 supplements together, but for me, this combination works very well. I was able to workout longer and lift more weight.
It also has 5 mg Niacin, which intensifies absorption of the primary ingredients, (this likely improves the results) and helps regulate the elevated triglycerides that frequently come with taking a lot of bodybuilding supplements.
I would recommend giving Pre-Workout a try for anyone that pushes hard 5 or more days a week.
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personally i think that mri’s black powder is one of the best preworkout formulas on the market i get crazy pumped within minutes of drinking it and hav that pumped feeling hours after my workout
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That depends on your goals.
Are you a bodybuilder or trying to add muscle to your frame? If yes, than sure you can take them, but probably at a lower dose say half of whats on the label.
If heard many women comment on a product by Controlled Labs called:
White Blood. Its stimulant-free, but gives you some good pumps. Check it out.
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Is it ok for women to take all of these pre-workout supp.?
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I don’t see LG Sciences Anadraulic State GT on your list, maybe it is to new?
I was blown away by what ASGT had to offer. Not only was the energy outstanding, but the stamina, strength and endurance were all unbelievable. I NEVER felt like this on Jack3d, or any other pre-workout powder. The energy was great, but ASGT gave me so much more. I’m definitely an LG Sciences believer now! I’ll be recommending this to everyone I talk to about pre-workout powders.
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muscle prime by allmax should be on this list. i could crank out about 4 reps of 100 lbs on skull crushers and im on the 2nd and a half week doin 10 reps. amazing product with focus and intensity!
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I have tried No-xplode, jaCk3d, no shotgun, nitrix, white flood and cgt-10. The results were impressive from all , the only issue is that your body would build tolerance and thus the positive effects would wear off after 3 weeks. This indicates the heavy reliance on stimulants.
For the past 5 weeks, I have been using Bulldozer xl5000 from neuro research group bulldozerbig dot com with great results in terms of increased energy, longer muscle pumps and exceeding my sticking point. What I like is that it truly can be a pre/intra/post workout due the BCAA and amino acid content in addition to creatine, beta alanine, and more.
What in like the most is that it is the first product that contains carnitine-l-tartrate in a pre workout drink which has been shown promising in increasing testosterone, burn fat and producing energy.
Another product that I still enjoy is CGT-10 from optimum which contains no stimulants.
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superpump has about 1g per scoop so you can supplement with another creatine product like size-on if you like, but you should cycle the superpump because of the stimulants. Im about to write another article all about creatine so stay tuned for that… There is one product that I have recently discovered that im currently taking and it rocks. Its called
This is a hybrid of creatine where there is NO LOADING PHASE! It begins working on the first dose! Its to early for me to say emphatically if it is worth the price tag, but I will say that so far it IS!
Cellucor M5 Extreme
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How much creatine is in superpump250? Always been a fan of creatine. Or is there a supplement that is just as good or better than creatine.
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2 months on 3 at the most, then 3-4 weeks off would be ideal.
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Whats a typical cycle on a NO blend?
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Hello Mo
Most products have their own unique proprietary blends that set them apart from other supplements. Superpump250 is considered a blended product because it contains more than just NO. Most products that you see on my page are blends and not just NO by itself. Since there are over 200 different pre workout supplements its hard to break down all of them for you here, but just to tell you briefly what the difference is it would be the variants in the blends. Some contain creatine, some dont, some contain BCAA’s, while others are just pure NO or Arginine. There are many factors that determine exactly what kind of pre workout supplement to take, but if you like superpump (which is a good product) you should try some others like Expand, Whiteflood, Musclespeed, and NO Zero. They will effect you differently, but always remember, and this is key, your body will build up a tolerance to the caffeine and that pump that you felt will not be there the longer you take a stimulant based product. That’s why you should always take 2 weeks off between cycles to lower your tolerance. When you are cycling off, it might make sense to take a pure NO product. Trial and Error is the best teacher here.
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My buddy and I are trying to figure out differences between all NO products. We currently just started taking superpump250 and like it. What’s the difference between a superpump250 and any of the other NO products?
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Hi Mo
Good Question. I’m sure many people wonder about Force Factor and whether or not it is effective.
Force Factor’s main ingredient is Nitric Oxide and is used to “force feed” muscles by expanding the capillaries so that more nutrients are absorbed by your muscles. Nitric Oxide is found in many pre workout supplements and although studies do show that it does work, you don’t necessarily need to get it through taking Force Factor. That’s not to say its a “bad” product, its just that they do a lot of advertising and people are curious about it, but the bottom line is that its just another nitric oxide supplement, there’s nothing really special about it per se.
I personally like a mixed pre workout supplement because they contain caffeine, bcaa’s, creatine, and nitric oxide. I like when my pre workout supplement puts me in the game by getting me focused and pumped up, ready to crush it. And also assist with recovery and muscle building. Right now im trying
MuscleTech NaNO Vapor Hardcore and im loving the muscle pumps.
But some people don’t like the stimulants so in that case I would recommend
ISS Research Satur8 Nitric Oxide
Its really just a matter of personal preference and where you are at in your training program. Good luck
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Is Force Factor a waste of money or is it worth taking? Is it better to stick with a mix instead of caps?
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Finishing up a tub of jack3d…not near a noticeable as the first couple of doses, but have been impressed with the focus/concentration it provides more than anything. I get great reps no matter what group is being worked. Be careful with your sleep it will keep you wide-eyed if you take it too late.
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If you are 15 and serious about athletics (I assume you are a Freshmen or Sophmore), join a sport or program offered at your school. It will help you focus on one particular area or athletics. In addition, your coach will help you with any questions you have in regards to your workout and it will be geared towards your age and what is acceptable for you and only you. If you are reading these post and are looking to add size strength and cut fat, maybe a good avenue would be wrestling. It intails a hardcore workout. I am old enough to be your father and I would give the same advice to my son. You will get a great cardio workout along with muscle strength. One tip that I would recommend and it is an area that I ignored as a youth is BREAKFAST. Most kids are too tired and to rushed in the morning to take a good 10 minutes to fuel up for your day. Chances are if your hitting the gym, it’s after school. Breakfast will give you fuel all day long and prevent you from having premature fatique during your afternoon workout. You can get some great diet programs online that will help you plan a great healthy energized breakfast for a full day of fuel. A couple last words of advice Preston, KICK ASS!
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Preston,
There are several reason why you shouldn’t take these supplements.
1. Your body has not fully developed yet and these ingredients are very powerful, you don’t want force-feed your muscles while they are underdeveloped.
2. These supplements are designed for serious athletes and bodybuilders not kids.
3. Right now you should be focused on doing basic lifts and exercises to build a foundation, you shouldn’t try to run before you can walk.
4. I don’t recommend any kid to take any supplements besides a multivitamin because you haven’t even gone through puberty yet. Let you body develop naturally before you start to supplement it.
Bottom line – If you want to get strong there are dozens of things you can do to get stronger that do not involve taking potent supplements like these. Start by eating more protein and veggies each day, build a foundation, and don’t even think about taking any of these for several years.
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I’m almost 15 years old. does anybody have any reasons why i shouldn’t take any of these supplements? Also, which supplement is the best for your money?
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C.B.
As long as you can handle the effects of the stimulants as well as the cost of buying each one, I don’t see a problem with it, but if you did do it that way you wouldn’t know which product was working for you and which one wasn’t. Sometimes it takes a few weeks of constantly taking a product to really begin to realize its benefits.
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I started off with the NO shotgun. Which is still my favorite. I’ve also tried the Jack3d, which was good but made my stomach hurt but gave a good pump and increased both endurance and strength. It ran out in two weeks, and it didnt really mix that well. The No Explode was also good and did the same as the shotgun but didnt taste as good and if you shake it instead of stiring it, it will blow the top off your mixer cup. The vasocharge, which i am trying right now has done nothing in the way of pumps or endurance, maybe it just akes longer to work but thats what ive expirienced.
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I am curious, what would happen if you were to alternate between thru a few of these each week? Like say take the Jacked on Monday,White flood for teh next worked out and the musclespeed for the weekend? Would that be bad or just expensive?any advantage to doing that?
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I agree C.T.
I was very surprised with the increase in strength as well. Congrats on the lose of fat. Im trying to get my BF down as much as possible to make up for the cheat meals that are sure to come… Thanksgiving, Christmas meals, etc…
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A couple of months ago, i tried the musclespeed for the first time. The feedback was good on it so i decided to try it out. I can definitely attest to the strength and power increases i got from it. The boost in focus is great with no crashes. Overall, down about 8lbs of fat. It’s a good one for sure.
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Any of these supplements will help but that is not their primary function.
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Does anyone know how to remove love handles? I can’t get rid of em. Im not fat, i just that extra skin around there. Will Jacked help with that?
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Dude, this is a pretty complete list you got here. With real good recommendations. Ive been reading alot of positive reviews on Jack3d and White Flood around the net.
Ive tried Superpump 250- worked well.
N.O. Xplode- been there got tired of it half way thru it.
USP labs has been putting out some good products. I would recommend that you stack Jack3d with Recreate by the same company -USP labs. This guy I know at the gym has been screaming about it for weeks. He seems to be getting some decent size.
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Im tired of N.O. Xplode. Im glad to see there are other NO2′s to use. Im going to get Jack3d.
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Im using White Flood now. Been on it for 5 days and OMG this stuff is awesome! Haven’t tried Jack3d yet, but been reading some positive comments on it.
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