F3 Nutrition hooked us up with some products to review. One of those was the pre-workout supplement Annihilate. Even the name of the product gets me revved up. I had already tried the Watermelon flavor, with good results. I am not a big fan of watermelon flavor in general. The fellas (and maybe ladys) over at F3 were kind enough to ship me some Limeade to review as well. This is mainly a taste test of the limeade flavor, as I have used Annihilate before and had good results in the gym.

Highlights of Annihilate:

Citrulline Malate
Caffeine Anhydrous
L-Arginine
Creatine
Beta Alanine
BCAAs

Great ingredients included in this product. I would prefer to know the exact amounts of each, but it really didn’t matter because the product performed quite admirably. I drank Annihilate prior to performing a Ronnie Coleman leg workout. The workout was pretty exhausting, but I had good energy, and obtained a great pump. My quads were popping out of my shorts by the end.

The flavor I had was Limeade, which was pretty good. I definitely prefer this flavor to the watermelon. Initially it had great lime taste, but the more I drank it, I noticed a slight after-taste that wasn’t the greatest. Annihilate had decent mixability, there were minimal clumps, but overall pretty good. Most importantly it performed well in the gym.

Recommendation: Good

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This is a review for the post-workout supplement Restoraid from iSatori Tech. Again, thanks to iSatori for hooking us up with the samples!

High Points of Restoraid:
Sugar Free
Caffeine Free
Creatine Free
8:1:1 BCAA
Glutamine
Sustamine
Citrulline Malate

I like the fact that Restoraid is Sugar,Caffeine, and Creatine free. This way, it allows me to stack this product with my other pre-workouts that contain caffeine and creatine, and I won’t be overdosing on them. Personally, I would use this as an intra-workout drink rather than post workout. I had the citrus punch flavor, and the product had great flavor, which tasted more like a lemonade flavor to me. Either way, it tasted very good. There were some particles that settled on the bottom, however I did not notice them when I drank it.

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This is a pretty simple recipe I got from one of my facebook friends. I only needed to make a couple slight modifications, and it turned out pretty healthy. The preparation is pretty simple, you just throw everything in the crockpot for 4-5 hours. (however, if you’re like me, and get a late start, you might need to brown the chicken first and then cook for 2-3 hours.)
Divided into 4 servings, each serving will contain approximately 600-700 calories, 7g fat, and 45-50 grams of protein.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 packet zesty italian dressing mix
• 8 ounces fat-free cream cheese, softened
• 2 cans fat-free or reduced fat cream of chicken soup

Directions

Place everything in the crockpot and cook on low for 4-5 hours. If sauce is too thick add a little milk. Serve over whole wheat pasta.

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So right about the beginning of May 2009 I made a decision that really changed my health and fitness life for ever.  I purchased a copy of P90X.  Now I had been into weights and working out since kindergarten so I was not new to the stage, but after a few injuries, kids, marriage and just plain life, I had fallen off the wagon. I needed something.  Something that was convenient and that would work for me without heavy weights and stress on my knees and shoulders and something that I could do from home in my double-wide trailer with minimal equipment…P90X was just the ticket. I decided to commit to a full 90-days of P90X and it was basically 90 days that changed my health and fitness life for ever.  I got ripped, shredded and even make it onto the P90X infomercial.

So why am I writing this?

I know many of our readers out there even though you follow our blog, workouts and recipes still just can’t pull it together.  And believe me, there are days when I can’t either.  If you are looking for some guidance, a program that works, if you need to lose a few pounds or are just struggling with  nutrition, you NEED to give P90X a look.  Now you’re not going to get totally Jacked on P90X, but you will gain lean hard muscle, you’ll learn how to eat properly and you will be able to push your kids on the swing for hours, go on a 5-hour hike, and not get winded bending over to tie your shoes.

Even though I no longer do full-on 90-day cycles of P90X – this program (workouts and nutrition) is still basically the foundation of my fitness regimen. I would recommend it to anyone without hesitation.

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I got a sample of Amino2 from Myogenix. This supplement is a combo product of amino acids and NO boosters.

We get 6.6 grams of the ingredients. We aren’t informed of the exact content of each ingredient. However, we do know that we get a 5:1:1 ratio of BCAAs, all 9 essential amino acids, and some bioactive peptides which are to increase your “pump.”

I had the orange flavor which to me, tasted like those Daily C chewable vitamins. I actually like that flavor, so I thought this supplement tasted good. The product did have a little foam that accumulated at the top. The product label informed me that this would happen, and recommended to let it stand after mixing. It took about 5-10 minutes for the foam to subside. If you have the time to wait, this shouldn’t be an issue, but if you are in a hurry, this would be a nuisance. Otherwise, the product mixed very well, tasted good, and I would consider it a good intra-workout drink.

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05/20/2013
07:04 PM

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I was able to get my hands on a sample of Force Factor Performance Protein in the brownie batter flavor.  This was the first product by Force Factor that I have ever tried and it was solid.  The name “brownie batter” was intriguing, but after consuming the shake it was nothing more than a solid chocolate protein powder.  The taste was right along the lines of what you would expect from a chocolate protein and it mixed extremely well with no chunks (and no blender ball).

Performance Protein is a blended protein and also contains a nice profile of vitamins and minerals.

Force Factor Performance Protein Review Highlights

• ~160 calories, 4g fat and 22g protein
• Vitamins and minerals
• Taste and mixability were great
• $50 for 2.2lbs

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I love supplements so it is always a good day when the Jacked Pack arrives.  The pack I am opening in the video is the Heavyweight pack.  This pack retails for $14.95/mo.  You will typically get between 8 and 12 servings of name-brand supplements.  I was very pleased with this pack as I had only tried one of the products (Phase 8 by  MuscleTech).  Read below to see what was in my May JackedPack.

• The  Curse Pre Workout – Lemon Rush
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Quest Bar
• Grape Blast Assault
• Celsius Orange Flavored Drink
• VPX Carbonx Super Carb Matrix
• ANS HIT Thermogenic
• MuscleTech Phase8

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05/14/2013
10:43 PM

The Research

Research has shown that the fast digesting whey protein, which is filled with BCAAs can boost muscle growth when consumed pre-workout.  Whey protein also contains certain peptides that have been shown to increase blood flow to the muscles making it the ideal pre-workout protein.

The Benefits of Consuming Whey Protein Pre-Workout

• Higher oxygen delivery to your muscles
• Higher level of nutrients delivered to your muscles
• Higher levels of anabolic hormones delivered to your muscles
• Increased energy levels
• Enhanced muscle pumps
• Prevention of muscle breakdown intra-workout

Timing and Dosage

You should shoot to consume about 20g of whey protein about 30 minutes before your workout.

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Scivation was nice enough to send us a few samples to review for the site. One of those was Raspberry Blue Xtend. This is my review of Raspberry Blue Xtend. I have tried the Lemon-Lime Sour flavor before which was really good, and I am a fan of the ingredients in Xtend.

Some highlights include:

7 grams BCAAs
2.5 grams glutamine
1 gram Citrulline Malate
great taste
great mixability
great price

Prior to this review, I was already a fan of Xtend. I like the BCAAs, the glutamine content, and the Citrulline Malate. I use Xtend as an intra-workout supplement. I have only tried the Lemon-Lime Sour flavor, so this was mostly a taste test of the Raspberry Blue flavor. This flavor was pretty darn good. It tasted how you would expect a blue raspberry flavored supplement to taste. Similar to a blue jolly rancher. It was very good. I will also say that as I kept drinking it during my workout, it tasted more and more like cotton candy flavored Bubble Gum.

Recommendation: Very Good

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05/12/2013
07:18 AM

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Gaspari Nutrition recently hit us up with a little tub of their new pre workout supplement called SuperDrive.  Upon reading the label, the only ingredient i really recognized was caffeine!  Needless to say, I did a little research before consuming this product and have to say it is pretty solid.  I took superdrive before a Stronglifts workout and it performed adequately.  I could tell it did not contain some of the ingredients I was used to, however at times it is nice to switch up what you are putting in your body – for me switching it up makes the ingredients feel like the perform better when I go back and forth.

Gaspari Nutrition SuperDrive Review Highlights

• Taste was pretty good – kind of a strange odor, but did not taste like it smelled
• Effectiveness was good.  I have had several solid workouts using superdrive
• Price is $35 for 40 servings
• Recommendation – GOOD

Here is the information from Gaspari’s Website on the ingredients in SuperDrive (click here to read it on their site)

Arginine alpha keto glutarate, citrulline, and citrulline malate.Unless you’re a newbie, you’ve definitely tried these out. All of them in their own right served a purpose in supplement history as the foundation for many pre-workouts. If you know supplements you’ve probably heard of ornithine too. However, until now, you’ve never heard of ornithine malate aka mitoDRIVE. By utilizing ornithine and malic acid with a complex, Gaspari Nutrition researchers uncovered a powerful combination which not only supports endurance and enhances nitric oxide, but it also supports recovery and power. It does this by supporting Kreb’s cycle efficiency and reducing ammonia levels within muscle tissue as well. Believe it or not, while citrulline is the metabolic pre-cursor to arginine, ornithine is the metabolic precursor to citrulline. Gaspari Nutrition utilizes a whopping five grams** of mitoDRIVE in SUPERDRIVE to support wicked performance and pump benefits. This dose is unheard of by conventional standards and very expensive to make, but Rich Gaspari wouldn’t have it any other way. 

GLYCEROL is the volumization king but unfortunately the best types come in liquid form.

Acetic acid is the lactic acid buffering king and often used to increase thoroughbred endurance. We asked ourselves “why not reign supreme by combining the two into a muscle volumizing and performance enhancing powerhouse?” This is where GLYCOSPAN technology came about by seeking out the triester of glycerol and acetic acid. The result is triacetin but unfortunately it is only found in liquid form. Gaspari researchers needed a way to deliver it to you in its new pre-workout. To get those skin tearing pumps and lactic acid reducing effects in a powder, they had to develop a spray drying process which was achieved through a process called microencapsulation. The end result is a super ingredient called GLYCOSPAN. How’s that for innovation? Don’t believe us? Try SUPERDRIVE for yourself.

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Try this Protein Fudge Bar Recipe when you absolutely need to eat some sweets.  Don’t go digging into the ice cream sandwiches or dominate an entire pack of oreos when this recipe will get you that sweet fix.  I have made this recipe about 2-3 times and it never fails.  It tastes awesome, it feels like you’re eating a fudge bar or ice cream bar and usually stops my cravings.  You can use fat free or low calorie cool whip and eat a pretty decent sized bar for under 200 calories and 2g of fat (depending on your  protein).

Ingredients:

• 1c Cool Whip
• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
• 1tsp vanilla
• water or milk

Directions

1. Put protein powder into a bowl.
2. Slowly add water/milk and stir until the protein powder is thick and smooth – not runny
3. Stir in the vanilla
4. Fold in the coolwhip
5. Spoon into a dixie cup and leave spoon in the cup – freeze
6. Eat and Enjoy

What is Agmatine Sulfate?

Scientifically speaking: Agmatine Sulfate is a compound produced in the human body through the process in which l-arginine is decarboxylated and turned into Agmatine.

Where Does Agmatine Sulfate Come From?

Agmatine Sulfate is produced in the body during the breakdown of L-Arginine.

You can also Get Agmatine Sulfate from foods – these contain high amounds of Agmatine:

• meats
• fish
• shellfish
• beer

Benefits of Agmatine Sulfate

• Help lower blood pressure
• Regulate pain
• Regulate release of insulin

Agmatine Sulfate and Bodybuilding

Agmatine has been used for awhile now in many supplements geared toward increasing muscle mass.  There are no studies showing Agmatine Sulfate can directly increase muscle mass, however it does offer a few indirect benefits that can aid with increasing muscle mass:

• Stronger muscle contractions
• Increased testosterone production
• Decreases pain sensation which can help performance in the gym
• Possibly increases uptake of glucose

Is Agmatine Sulfate Safe? 

According to the (few) studies that have been performed on Agmatine Sulfate:

• Agmatine Sulfate is relatively safe to use even at high doses
• Has been shown to have very low toxicity in cells.

What is the Suggest Dosage for Agmatine Sulfate?

There are very few human studies conducted on Agmatine Sulfate, however the general dosage recommendations are:

• 750mg/day
• Up to 2.5g/day is tolerable in the human body without any known side effects.

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I had the opportunity to review a Whey Delite from Infinite Labs. This is a whey protein powder supplement. At first glance at the supplement facts, this stuff looks awesome!
Per Serving:
110 calories
0.66 grams fat
3 grams sugar
19 grams protein

As the name suggests, this seems to be like a “lite” version of a protein powder. 110 calories is minimal, and less than 1 gram of fat is unheard of. The banana cream flavor is definitely original. I eat regular bananas all the time, so I thought I would like this product, and I did. The banana flavor was good, and it was kinda cool to have the real pieces of fruit in the shake! As you can see in the video, I had a hard time comparing this protein to something, and that’s because I haven’t really had anything like it. It was definitely original, and very good.

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Matt

05/04/2013
05:54 PM

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Aminolytes from Beast Sports Nutrition is another player in the designer BCAA/Amino Acid market.  This is a straight-up amino acid drink that contains your BCAAs, Beta Alanine and Electrolytes.  This profile makes it great for an intra-workout drink, however they pretty much say you can drink it whenever you want to aid in muscle growth and recovery.  I tested out the watermelon sample and the flavor was pretty good.  It wasn’t amazing but if I purchased an entire tub I would have no problem drinking it every day.  Mixability was average.  The sample I recieved, after mixing it, had quite a few white chunks floating on the bottom of the shaker.  They were not that noticeable when drinking it, but I could still see them.  Overall, I would say it is a solid product full-tub worthy if you can get it on sale.

Beast Sports Nutrition Aminolytes Review Highlights

• 6g BCAA
• Electrolytes + Beta Alanine
• Flavor was pretty good
• Mixability was average – white floaters that are not too noticeable when consumed.
• Recommendation: Above Average

Aminolytes™ contains a blend of amino acids and electrolytes to help you train harder and support faster recovery.* Used during your workout and after, Aminolytes™ support muscle endurance, accelerate muscle recovery and repair, and promote muscle growth to help you build muscle faster.* Formulated with the highest quality ingredients, Aminolytes™ support your efforts to get big, strong, and fit.*

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This is my review for Buzzerk a pre-workout supplement from Complete Nutrition. Buzzerk is made up of 3 different “proprietary blends” designed to increase energy, muscle power, and endurance during training. I believe I had the Crimson Crush flavor.

Highlights of Buzzerk:

*Arginine Complex
*Kre-Alkalyn Creatine
*200 mg Caffeine
*Citrulline Complex
*Beta Alanine
*Waxy Maize
*Glutamine
*Great Taste
*Great Mixability

The ingredients in Buzzerk pretty much cover all aspects you would want to in a pre-workout supplement. I didn’t really get a great burst of energy prior to starting my workout, however I did have good stamina and endurance. I did have a pretty good pump, but nothing out of the ordinary.

The taste and mixability were very good for Buzzerk. It had a good fruit punch flavor, similar to red kool-aid. I rated it an 8/10 for taste. It mixed up very well with no clumps or chunks and it wasn’t grainy. I would rate it a 9/10 for mixability.

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This is a recipe for peanut butter protein balls. The recipe is very simple. There are 4 ingredients and preparation is probably less than 5 minutes. I like to eat these whenever I get a craving for something sweet. Each ball will contain about 115 calories, 7 grams of fat, and 9 grams of protein. The fat content is a little on the high side, but it is mainly from the natural peanut butter which is ok. Just remember to eat in moderation.

3 tbsp natural peanut butter
1 scoop protein powder (I used Top Secret 100% Whey Vanilla Cream)
1/8 cup sugar free maple syrup
1/4 cup rice krispies (I used Crispy Rice

Mix all ingredients in a bowl
form into 4 medium sized balls and line on parchment paper (wax paper)
store in refrigerator

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We got a few samples in of MHP Dark Rage. This is a pre-workout supplement that provides a little bit different technology used to achieve a massive pump. MHP claims that Dark Rage stimulates Erythropoietin production, which in turn stimulates red blood cell production. Thus, more blood volume=more oxygen/blood to your muscles=bigger pump. They pair this technology with L-Arginine, Citrulline, creatine (microtein), beta alanine, BCAAs, and caffeine which should provide for a pretty well rounded pre-workout supplement.

I had the fruit punch flavor for this review, and it was not very good. I compared it to a cough medicine where they try to hide the medicine taste with a fruit punch taste, but it doesn’t really work, and you can still taste the medicine. It really was not a good tasting supplement. It did not have a very good after taste, or a good before taste. Just an awful taste.

For the performance, I will say that I did have a big rush of energy prior to starting my workout. About 20 minutes after taking Dark Rage, I was rearing to hit the gym. I had decent energy, and stamina throughout the rest of my workout. As for the pump, I had a decent pump. I wouldn’t say that I noticed anything more than normal, however.

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I made an adapted version of some mini chicken pot pies. The original recipe called for some Bisquick. I wasn’t about to make the recipe as directed, so I needed to come up with an alternative. Here is my Homemade Bisquick-equivalent Recipe:

• 2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
• 1/4 Cup Oat Bran
• 1/4 Cup Stevia
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder

Using this recipe, each cup of Bisquick Substitute mixture will contain 368 calories, 2 grams of fat, and 15 grams of protein.

Compared to Regular Bisquick per cup= 480 calories, 13 grams of fat, 9 grams of protein.

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Another great bodybuilder workout that beat the snot out of me.  This Ronnie Coleman Chest and Tricep workout incorporated the 12-rep range again which is great for putting on volume.  After doing stronglifts 5×5 for a few weeks, increasing sets by 7 reps really shocked my system and I was sore for days.  These bodybuilder workouts are no joke and a great way to mix it up in the gym.

I started off too heavy on bench – not sure if I was too ambitious, sore, had an off-day or what, but I ended up finishing the sets nearly 20 lbs below where I started.  This may happen to you when doing this (or any other workout) so just drop the weight until you find the correct weight for the remainder of the sets.  Especially if this is the first time you have performed this workout you will definitely be searching for your sweet spot.

Sets and reps are below.

Chest
Bench press, 5 sets – 12 reps
Incline barbell press, 3 sets – 12 reps
Flat bench dumbbell press, 3 sets – 12 reps
Flat bench flyes, 4 sets – 12 reps

Triceps
Seated cambered-bar extensions, 3 sets – 12 reps
Seated dumbbell extensions, 4 sets – 12 reps
Close-grip bench press, 4 sets – 12 reps

TURKISH GETUP

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Charlie

04/28/2013
02:32 PM

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Dang, AllMax Nutrition did it to me again.  They made me wish I had known about Hexapro earlier!  If you are not familiar with AllMax, you should be. I have now tried 4 of their  products and they are all awesome.  I have tried IsoFlex Whey isolate (in two flavors), IsoFlex Chiller, AllMax MusclePrime (watch the AllMax MusclePrime Review here) and now AllMax Hexapro.  This is one solid stack they have going on here – I need to try more!.

Hexapro is a blended  / sustained release protein.  The cookies and cream milkshake flavor was great.  It was more on the vanilla/frosting side of the flavor spectrum.  It mixed great and went down easy.  I would put it right up near the top of cookies and cream protein powders I have tried (and I have tried quite a few).  Hexapro is definitely full-tub-worthy.   HEXAPRO™ is also fortified  with 5 Amino Acids to enhance recovery, including all 3 BCAAs essential for protein synthesis and providing a rapid energy source for muscles.

AllMax Nutrition Hexapro Review Highlights

• Great flavor and mixed well
• 6 highly-bioavailable proteins
• 176 calories, 4g fat, 25g protein
• Fortified with amino acids and BCAAs
• Price: 3lbs for $37