Posts Tagged ‘Supplement Review’

DIY – Supplements

Posted: June 25, 2016 in Announcements, Meal Plan, Product Reviews
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I decided that I was spending WAY too much money on supplements.  Because supplements are supposed to be SUPPLEMENTAL to what I am already consuming I thought it was a waste of money to pay for the Big Name Brands with their fancy Proprietary Blends and what not.  I decided to try to create my own personal Pre and Post workout supplements.  I buy ingredients in bulk.  My last bill was around $140.00.  This included ingredients for both the pre and post workout stuff.  The amount of ingredients that I bought should supply enough material for around 3 months of training (1-2 times a day, 5-6t times a week).  The equates to around $1.50 a day or $45 a month.  I was spending $100-150 a month on the Big Name Brands. I tried to keep it simple and easy.  I researched what a lot of the Big Name Brands used for ingredients in their supplements and tried to replicate it as closely as I could. What I found was that most pre and post workout supplements contained roughly the same ingredients as other pre and post workout supplements.  Here are the main ingredients:

Pre-Workout

  1. Caffeine
  2. BCAAs
  3. Beta Alanine
  4. Creatine
  5. Flavoring

Post-Workout

  1. Whey Protein
  2. BCAAs
  3. Creatine
  4. Flavoring

These along with a few other ingredients (glutamine, vitamin c, etc) make up the bulk of most pre and post workout supplements.  I decided to go to BulkSupplements.Com to see how cheap (but good) of ingredients I could get.  After I placed my order (I actually ordered through Amazon so I could get 2 day free shipping so I could get it faster) I figured out how much of each ingredient to use to get me to the average amount that most other supplements used.  Here is what I came up with:

Pre-Workout

  1. Green Coffee Bean – 1/8 tsp = ~212mg of Caffeine
  2. BCAAs (2:1:1) – 3 tsp = ~5.3g
  3. Beta Alanine – 1/2 tsp = ~2.3g
  4. Creatine Monohydrate (Micronized) – 1 tsp = ~5g
  5. Great Value (Wal-mart brand) Sugar free-Low calorie Pink Lemonade Drink Mix – 1/2 packet = 1/2 tsp = 5 cal, o carbs 15mg Potassium, and flavoring to cover up the other stuff.

Post-Workout

  1. Whey Protein Isolate – 2 Tbsp = ~30g
  2. BCAAs (2:1:1) – 3 tsp = ~5.3g (yes, I know I probably didn’t need to double up on the BCAAs)
  3. Creatine Monohydrate (Micronized) – 1/2 tsp = ~2.5g (yes, I know I probably don’t need much more than 5g of Creatine a day)
  4. Gatorade Powder – 1 scoop/12 oz = 80 cal, 21g carbs, and is good flavoring.

I poured the powders into (better)sealable containers and labeled them.  I measure them out each time.

If any of my readers have other ideas or a better way/cheaper way, etc. let me know.  I am open to trying anything.  I have been using my DIY supplements for a few weeks and I think they do help with my pre-workout energy and post-workout muscle soreness.

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I’m Back!!!

Posted: June 21, 2016 in Announcements
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After a long hiatus from blogging I have decided to return to the world of digital journaling. (thats basically what my blog is) I have begun a new training program supplied by Renaissance Periodization.  It will include a 15 week Hypertrophy Block, a 12-16 week Strength Block, and a 4 week Peaking Block before my next competition.  I just started week 1/workout 1 today.  Check out the blog entitled Hypertrophy Block 6/20/16 if you want to see what it included. I will try to do a better job next time discussing my feelings (like a social justice warrior/triggered person) next time on how I think that particular training session went.  I will also resume my book reviews and product reviews. I have started DIY (Do-It-Yourself) pre-workout and post-workout supplements and will review that process too, as well as give you an easy receipe you could follow. I will also post DIY projects that I have been working on in regards to equipment or gym accessories. Hopefully, I will also start posting videos again and I will introduce you to my new training partner Nick. This is just a heads up.  Look for more posts coming soon.

PS: Here is my daily selfie coming back. This is a shirt I got for helping carry the giant Warner Bros balloon during a parade a few years back.

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Supplement Review: MHP’s Products

Posted: March 10, 2015 in Product Reviews
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the past few months I have used 3 products from Maximum Human Performance. I have been using ISOFast protein powder, Dark Matter Zero Carb Post-Workout, and Dark Rage Pre-Workout.  I will review them all individually, but let me just say that overall, I have seen great results from these products.  Since I started taking them I have seen muscle growth and definition improve, my energy while working out increase, and my post-workout recovery time needed decrease.

ISOFast Whey Protein – This product is the best protein powder that I have tried.  It tastes very good.  Mixes well with milk or water. It has been instrumental in my muscle growth.  I have seen the biggest muscle gains with this protein supplement.  Most of the time, I use it as a breakfast meal right after my morning workout.  I mix it with milk, a banana, some berries, and sometimes kale/spinach.  It tastes great and helps me with my over-night fasting hunger pangs.

Dark Matter Zero Carb – I think that using this concentrate has helped me with my weight gain/loss.  Without changing my diet too much, I have cut some carbs and used Dark Matter Zero Carb to help with recovery and muscle growth.  With this reduction in carbs, I have seen some weight loss and using this product has helped with my workout recovery and energy.  It tastes a little funny (chalky) but not unbearable.

Dark Rage – I originally tried the recommended dose of this product.  It was TOO much!!! I felt very shaky and weird.  I cut it in half after that and it was great.  Gave me the right amount of energy.  When my body got accustomed to that I kicked it up to 3/4 of a scoop. This is where I am currently sitting and loving it.  Plenty of energy for my morning and afternoon workouts, helps me with my intra-workout recovery/post-workout recovery, and giving me that “pump” I like to see while lifting.

STI: G6 Sports Supplements from GNC

Posted: October 2, 2014 in Product Reviews
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Here are my thoughts after a couple rounds of G6 Sports supplements bought from GNC:

G6 Prolific Isolate- Vanillia – $67.99

Good – Good protein source.  Only 100 calories. 40 servings.  Did notice some gains in lean muscle mass. Clean and easy to digest.

Bad – Does not taste very good, even mixed.  Cost.

G6 Pre-flight – Fruit Punch – $49.99

Good – 30 servings. Did help with energy requirements for workouts.  Didn’t really see increased focus but usually focused when lifting anyway.

Bad – Flavor is very strong even with extra water. Cost.

G6 Replenish – Candy Watermelon – $62.99

Good – Great taste. Recovery time was cut down.

Bad – Taste is very strong. Only 17 servings! Cost.

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