Sunday, 4 September 2011

Product Analysis: Kinetica Whey Protein

OK, sports fans, here we go - kicking off my analysis of the Kinetica product range is the company's back-bone - Kinetica Whey Protein. In last weeks blog (scroll down), I discussed what exactly whey protein is; how it is manufactured, the different types of whey and what the benefits are of each type.
Now, in hind-sight, I may have been a little over-eager in how to analyse this product's effectiveness, value and overall rating. I decided to take Kinetica's offering to the whey protein market and compare it to some of the most popular, well-known and highly effective whey protein powders available today - 13 others to be exact!
I must confess, this was largely due to my own curiosity and penchant for my existing supplement usage from Optimum Nutrition - widely considered to be the very best sports-supplement brand on the market today.
Of course, this might have proved to be unfair to the Kinetica range - although certainly boasting the credentials in the company's science, the positive support from the home Irish community and the purity and 'cleanness' of it's products ingredients - how would a product that has been targeted primarily for the 'everyday athlete' measure up to the big players from the United States? As the results you are about to witness will prove, very well - in fact, surprisingly well.
So lets meet our contestants!
  1. Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey - the 'Gold Standard' in whey on the market today
  2. Optimum Nutrition Pro Complex - tremendous nutrient profile, the experts choice
  3. Optimum Nutrition Platinum Hydro Whey - possible the fastest absorbing whey...ever
  4. BSN Syntha-6 - very popular, amazing variety of flavours
  5. BSN Lean Dessert - when it comes to taste, there's very few better
  6. Cytosport Complete Whey - similar to ON's Gold Standard, fantastic overall performer
  7. Cytosport Muscle Milk - who hasn't heard of or tried this product?
  8. Gaspari Intrapro - Highly regarded company, quality is assured
  9. Gaspari Myofusion - Highly regarded company, quality is assured
  10. Reflex Instant Whey - Very popular UK manufacturer, provides excellent value for money
  11. Dymatize ISO 100 - Big name, big player, unbelievable purity and quality
  12. Maximuscle Promax Extreme - tremendous marketing and sponsorship within UK
  13. MuscleTech Nitro-Tech Hardcore Pro Series - One of the most effective, if not controversial, whey products available today

I decided on creating and rating each product under two comprehensive categories that I then further subdivided into separate criteria:

Basic Attributes

  • Number of 60g servings per container (largest available)
  • Largest size container (kg)
  • Explosive Nutrition price (£)
  • Price per kilo (£/kg)
  • Price per serving (£/serving)
  • Number of available flavours

Nutritional Information

  • Energy (kcal)
  • Protein (g / 100g)
  • Carbohydrates (g / 100g)
  • of which sugars (g / 100g)
  • Fat (g / 100g)
  • of which saturates (g / 100g)
  • Cholesterol (g / 100g)
  • Dietary Fibre (g / 100g)
  • Sodium (g / 100g)
  • BCAAs (g / 100g) - where possible
  • Glutamine & Precursers - where possible

For each attribute/component, I created a bar chart that would provide a quick comparative analysis for each of the 14 products against Kinetica's Whey protein.

Because we Amish do nothing by halves, I then decided to creates a simple point system. Ultimately, this would translate the above statistics into one, easily comparable chart that would rate all the products on a score between 1-14 (14 products), ranked accordingly. The most points would be rewarded for the most desirable trait e.g. the whey with the most protein, the fewest carbs etc.

In the end, I came up with 3 distinct pie-charts:

  1. Total points for Basic Attributes (scored out of a possible 84 points - 6 x 14pts)
  2. Total points for Nutritional Information (scored out of a possible 126 points - 9 x 14pts. It should be noted that I awarded additional points for those products that were able to provide BCAA and Glutamine values. An additional 8 points were up for grabs - 2 x 4pts)
  3. A grand overall rating, combining both categories points for each product, that would provide the ultimate product score

Before I proceed to the results, there are several things I would like to point out about my thought processes behind this analysis:

  • This is a very clinical product analysis. To provide a perfect analysis, I would like to have quantitative data regarding many important factors I was unable to add to my analysis i.e. taste, mixibility
  • The BCAA and Glutamine & Precursors breakdown is very important when deciding on the overall worth of a whey protein, but regrettably only 4 of the 14 products made this information available. To it's credit, Kinetica was one of the four, along with the Optimum Nutrition boys, which is no surprise.
  • Certain components in the nutritional information were scored, even though that component itself may not have been required or essential i.e. dietary fibre. In this case, the product with the most fibre was scored the highest
  • Some products were unable to provide numerical statistics for certain components in the nutritional information. In this instance, no points were rewarded to the product. My reasoning is that there is no reason why this product should not be able to provide all the accepted standard nutritional information, and should be penalised. This is not to say what the actual value is, or the points it would've received.
  • All attributes are based on availability from the Explosive Nutrition shop i.e. price, flavours, available sizes. This is not to say that this product would have been scored identically from other stores.

Lastly, due to the limitations of the Blogger software, I have had to post the graphs on the Explosive Nutrition profile page on Facebook. I will provide hyperlinks wherever possible, and a brief review of the results with each graph.

Click Here to go the the Explosive Nutrition Produt Review Facebook page for full findings and results.

Saturday, 27 August 2011

Kinetica: New Player in UK Sports-Supplement Market

Let's face it - when it comes time to choosing the best sports-supplement available, there are just too many variable to take into account. Too many compromises, too many promises that you don't know are fact or just well-scripted fiction. You may be looking for a product that best fits your budget. You may be looking for a product that possesses or lacks certain compounds. Or, you could just be looking for the best possible sports-supplement available that will meet your personal training requirements.

So what do you do? You do your homework. After all, this is your body we're talking about - you need to know that all your hardwork, dedication and pennies are being supported to achieve the most effective, efficient and satisfactory results possible.

Which brings me to the exciting task of this weeks blog: reviewing a relatively new sports-supplement brand on the market that has received very little, if any, product reviews that are available on the Internet - Kinetica.

Kinetica is an Irish-founded sports-supplement company that first rolled out its product range to the home Irish market in 2009. The company made their first impact in UK markets in January 2011. Like any reputable sports-supplement company, they boast offering athletes a wide range of products to suit their sporting needs. However, where this company becomes refreshingly different is to produce all of their products with 100% natural proteins and flavours. Each product is made up from natural ingredients, sourced and produced in Ireland. Kinetica also prides itself as being the best in the business when it comes to creating and developing new delicious flavours.

Kinetica has received tremendous positive support from the home Irish market, as it is designed to cater not just to professional athletes, but to the everyday athlete and fitness enthusiast. To develop premium quality protein-based supplements, the range has been developed by a team of sports nutrition experts, including Matt Lovell - Nutritional Advisor to the England Rugby team and the UK Athletics squad for the 2012 Olympics.

Kinetica is part of Irish dairy manufacturer the Carbery Group, producer of the famous Dubliner Cheese brand. Carbery also owns innovative flavor house, Synergy - based in High Wycombe, UK. All whey protein used in Kinetica products is sourced from Irish Dairy farms.

So what exactly is Whey protein?

Whey protein is a high quality protein powder derived from cow's milk. Milk has two proteins: Casein (approximately 80%) and Whey (approximately 20%). Whey protein is more soluable than casein and also has a higher quality rating. It is often reffered to as the 'Gold Standard' of protein, as it is the most nutritious protein available.
There are 2 types of whey protein: Concentrate and Isolate. Isolate is the most pure and concentrated form of whey protein available. It contains 90% or more protein, and very little (if any) fat and lactose. Concentrate has between 29%-89% protein depending upon the product. As the protein level in whey protein concentrate decreases, the ammount of fat and/or lactose usually decreases.
For more information on whey protein, visit the Whey Protein Institute website.
Are all whey proteins created equal?

Simply stated, no. There are many factors that can influence the quality, including:
  • Number and quantity of essential amino acids
  • Digestion and absorption rates
  • Fat content
  • Taste
  • Purity

Milk only contains about 1% of whey protein. So in order to get all the benefits of whey protein, you need to take a concentrated whey protein powder.

So next week, get ready for the first of a series of reviews focused on the Kinetica range available through Explosive Nutrition. Train hard!

Tuesday, 16 August 2011

Product Review: Animal Pump

Let's face it - when it comes time to choosing the best sports-supplement available, there are just too many variables to take into account. Too many compromises, too many promises that you don't know are true or just well-scripted fiction. You may be looking for a product that best fits your budget. You may be looking for a product that possesses or lacks certain compounds or ingredients. Or, you could just be looking for the best possible muscle-building product available that will meet your personal training needs.

So what do you do? You do your homework. After all, this is your body we're talking about. You need to know that all your hardwork dedication and pennies are being supported to achieve the most efficient, effective and satisfactory results possible.

But this can prove to be a time-consuming venture - for every proponent you find, there will always be an opponent. But the chances are that the true quality, effect and value of any given product will be reflected in sheer weight of numbers. What that means is; unless you have tried a particular product and know what results you can expect to gain given your own unique biochemistry, you put your faith in others - as many 'others' as possible.

It takes a wise man to ask for the advice of others, and with that thought in ind I'm going to continue to select certain products that are available through the Explosve Nutrition website that have received numerous and/or widespread results. This should allow you - the consumer - to make your purchases in confidence with the most comprehensive information available.

This weeks product review: Universal Animal Pump

The first thing you should notice when reviewing the data above, is that 67 user reviews is an impressive and confidence-boosting factor when deciding to purchase this product. What's more favourable is the near 80% approval rating for this produ t, with only very low negative and undecided user feedback at 5% and 11% respectively. In the breakdown ratings of value, effectiveness and overall perceived worth of this product, Animal Pump performs splendidly, with excellent values all in the low 8 region. Animal have produced another consistent winner. Below are the pros and cons that were given by each person who reviewed this product, giving you more detailed insight as to what this product is really all about:
FINAL THOUGHTS
When it comes to pre-workout supplements, I freely admit that I have very little personal experience to draw upon - a few attempts at NO Xplode is about it. So, like any new product being considered for use, I first look to see who's responsible for it. Universal is one of the longest running and surviving sports-supplement companies in the world and they've established a well-deserved reputation for delivering some of the best tried-and-tested products available today. Animal Pump certainly fits that description. With a 30 day supply, this product is not only budget friendly, but very effective: greater pump, energy and focus are consistently reported. The cons, like many Universal products, focus on the quantity of pills needed to be ingested, together with a seemingly delayed effect from taking the product to experiencing the effects. The importance of an empty stomach is likely to make a large impact on the effectiveness of this product, so if you're going to use it, make sure you follow the guide-lines for usuage. Bottom-line: Great company, excellent product with a reassuring number of reviews. If you're looking for a pre-workout supp, look no further.
To purchase your order of Universal Animal Pump, Click Here.

Tuesday, 9 August 2011

Product Review: Cytosport Muscle Milk Bars

Lets face it - when it comes time to choosing the right sports-supplement available, there are just too many variables to take into account. Too many compromises, too many promises that you don't know are fact or just cleverly scripted fiction. You may be looking for a product that possesses or lacks certain ingredients or compounds. You may be looking for a product that best fits your budget. Or, you could just be looking for the best possible muscle-building product available that will meet your personal training goals.
So what do you do? You do your homework. After all, this is your body we're talking about - you need to know that all your hardwork, dedication and pennies are being spent to achieve the most effective, efficient and satisfactory results possible.
But this can prove to be a time-consuming venture - for every proponent you find there is always an opponent. But the chances are that the true quality, effect and value of any given product will be reflected in sheer weight of numbers. What that means is, unless you have tried a particular product and know what results you can expect to gain given your own unique bio-chemistry, you put your faith in others - as many 'others' as possible.
It takes a wise man to ask for the advice of others, and with that thought in mind I'm going to continue to select certain products that are available through the Explosive Nutrition website that have received numerous and/or widespread reviews. This should allow you, the consumer, to make your purchases in confidence with the most current and comprehensive information available.
This weeks product review: Cytosport Muscle Milk Bars
Surprisingly, given that I have reviewed and analysed quite a few of Cytosport's products and concluded that nearly all of them are very good/excellent products, this is by far the most heavily criticised product I have covered. Even after only 7 submitted reviews, I think its a reasonable conclusion to think that the above ratings are truly representative of this poor protein bar. For the first time, more people would not recommend this product than those that would. Across the board in value, effectiveness and perceived overall rating, this product scores very badly in the 5-6 range. Below are the pros and cons that were provided by the people who reviewed this product, giving you more in depth insight as to what this product is really all about:
FINAL THOUGHTS
Simple. Cytosport have committed a rare faltering step with Muscle Milk Bars. Given the hugely popular acceptance of Muscle Milk, I find it hard to believe this product would let the brand down so badly. With most protein bars packing on average between 30-35g of protein, only 25g seems a little lacking. These bars aren't even that healthy for you; they contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, 14g of sugar, 30g of carbs and 310mg of sodium! What I find incredibly amusing, however, is that the company product blurb for this product states: "Stimulate growth and recovery in a manner similar to a mother's milk nourishing a baby". Bottom-line: Do yourself a favour and do not buy this product - there are many better products available.

Product Review: Cytosport Monster Pump

Lets face it - when it comes times to choosing the right sports-supplement available, there are just too many variables to take into account. You may be looking for a product that fits your budget. You may be looking for a product that possesses or lacks certain ingredients or compounds. Or, you may just be looking for the best available muscle-building product that will meet your personal training goals.
So what do you do? You do your homework. After all, this is your body we're talking about - you need to know that all your hardwork, dedication and pennies are being spent to achieve the most efficient, effective and satisfactory results possible.
But this can prove to be a time-consuming venture - for every proponent you find there will always be an opponent. But the chances are that the true quality, effect and value of any given product will be reflected in sheer weight of numbers. What that means is, unless you have tried a particular product and know what results you can expect to gain given your own unique bio-chemistry, you put your faith in others - as many 'others' as possible.
It takes a wise man to ask for the advice of others, and with that thought in mind I'm going to continue to select certain sports-supplements available through the Explosive Nutrition website that have received numerous and/or widespread reviews. This should allow you, the consumer, to make your future purchases with confidence, knowing that you have the most current and comprehensive information available.
This weeks product review: Cytosport Monster Pump
As you can see from the statistical analysis above, Cytosport have delivered another solid performer, this time in the pre-workout category. 17 reviews should be enough to deliver trustworthy opinions, and an 82% positive recommendation rating is encouraging. Only 2 people who reviewed this product decided they would not recommend this product to others, with only 1 person being undecided. Across the board in effectiveness, value and perceived overall rating, this product scored an average of 8/10. Below are the pros and cons that were given by each person who reviewed this product, giving you more in depth insight as to what Monster Pump is really all about:
FINAL THOUGHTS
The first thing to notice when reviewing the above pros and cons is that the frequency of positive comments far outweigh the negative. The main purpose of this product is to deliver good pre-workout energy and pump, and it seems to deliver in those areas. I'm also encouraged that several people listed that there are no side effects - getting the jitters, anxiousness and palpitations are often associated with such products. Sleep loss and a high carbonating nature were the highest scored cons, so be sure not to take this product to late in the day if you normally work in evening or night sessions. Be aware that the lid on your shaker may pop off due to the high carbonating effect! Mixibility is also an issue, albeit a minor one, though I hear the taste more than compensates for this. For those who are particularly sensitive to the effects of caffeine, you may want to avoid this product - at 200mg, you may experience some strong heart palpitations, so be aware of over-loading on volume. Bottom-line: This is a solid pre-workout product with some encouraging feedback. Definitely worth a try from a reputable company.
To purchase Monster Pump from Explosive Nutrition, please Click Here

Tuesday, 26 July 2011

Product Review: Cytosport Monster Maize

Let's face it; when it comes time to choosing the right muscle-building product available, there are just too many variable to take into account - too many compromises, too many promises that you don't know are fact or just well-scripted fiction. You may be looking for a product that possesses or lacks certian compounds. You may be looking for a product that will best fit your budget. Or, you may just be looking for the best possible muscle-building product available that will meet your particular training requirements.

So what do you do? You do your homework. After all, this is your body we're talking about - you need to know that all your hardwork, dedication and pennies are being supported to achieve the most efficient, effective and satisfactory results possible.

But this can prove to be a time-consuming venture. For every proponent of a given product, there is always an opponent. But the chances are that the true quality, effect and value of any given product will be reflected in sheer weight of numbers. What that means is, unless you have tried a particular product and know what results you can expect to gain given your own unique bio-chemistry, you put your faith in others - as many 'others' as possible. It takes a wise man to ask for the advice of others, and with that thought in mind I'm going to continue to select certain products that are available through the Explosive Nutrition website that have received widespread and/or numerous reviews. This should allow you, the consumer, to make your purchases in confidence with the most comprehensive information available.

This weeks product review: Cytosport Monster Maize

The first thing you should be aware of when considering the above results, is that 6 reviews is not a great number to form conclusive opinions on. However, given the available reputable products that Cytosport has made available, I believe the above results could well be a just representation of Monster Maize. This is the first product I have reviewed that has received a 100% recommendation rating - a tremendous confidence booster. In the breakdown ratings of value, effectiveness and overall satisfaction, Monster Maize performs brilliantly - 9/10 value rating should really help those who have a limited budget to experiment on supplements, and an almost identical effectiveness rating of 8.7 is a superb compliment. Below are the pros and cons that were provided by each person who reviewed this product, giving you more detailed insight as to what this product is really all about.
FINAL THOUGHTS
In all honesty, there's very little that needs to be said concerning this product, other than it has been given a very limited, but 100% satisfaction and accompanying recommendation by those who have taken the time to review it. Nice to see 'good value' at the top of the pro list. This product looks like an excellent post and pre-workout supplement to take when engaging in intense cardiovascular or resistance training. Bottom-line: If you are looking for such a product to fill your training requirements, this comes highly recommended. Try it!
Click Here to purchase Cytosport Monster Maize

Monday, 18 July 2011

Product Review: Animal Cuts

Let's face it; when it comes time to choosing the right muscle-building product available, there are just too many variables to take into account - too many compromises, too many promises that you don't know are fact or just well-scripted fiction. You may be looking for a product that possesses or lacks certain compounds, you may be looking for a product that best fits your budget. Or, you may just be looking for the best possible muscle-building product available that will meet your particular training requirements.
So what do you do? You do your homework. After all, this is your body we're talking about - you need to know that all your hard work, dedication and pennies are being supported to achieve the most efficient, effective and satisfactory results possible.
But this can prove to be a time-consuming venture. For every proponent you find there will always be an opponent. But the chances are that the true quality, effect and value of any given product will be reflected in sheer weight of numbers. What that means is, unless you have tried a particular product and know what results you can expect to gain given your body's own unique bio-chemistry, you put your faith in others - as many 'others' as possible.
It takes a wise man to ask for the advice of others, and with that in mind, I'm going to continue to select certain products that are available through the explosive nutrition website that have received numerous, widespread results. This should allow you, the consumer, to make your purchases in confidence with the most comprehensive information available.
This week's product review: Universal Animal Cuts
After 66 reviews, which is a more than adequate number to form some substantiated opinions on, my first thought is that this is a 'good' but certainly not an 'excellent' product choice for a thermogenic. With just under a 70% approval rating, the majority of people would recommend this product. However, nearly 10% wouldn't recommend this product, and a surprisingly high number (13 people) were undecided if the effects were worth the time and money. Across the board in effectiveness, value and perceived overall rating, this product remains in the mid 70th percentile. Below are the pros and cons that were provided by each person who reviewed this product, giving you more indepth insight as to what this product is really all about:

FINAL THOUGHTS
The first obvious visual difference between the pros and cons for this product, is that there is much more focused variety of positive comments whereas the cons are quite ranging in terms of scope. 93-86 is the pro-to-con split, a pretty closely matched statistic which does not inspire confidence in itself. As with all Animal products, the number of pills is always the greatest perceived negative comment, but there is a worrying number of comments which suggest increased fatigue and a decrease in energy levels (16-41 is the pro-to-con split on energy levels being effected by taking this product). However, a loss of body-weight and increased definition are the overwhelming positive factors agreed upon by those who have taken this product. Bottom-line: This is a decent thermogenic, but by no means the best when compared to the likes of Oxy Elite Pro - the No1 perceived fat-burner. Universal is one of the longest running supplement companies with a good reputation. If you're looking to experiment with a thermogenic, give it a try, but be aware of those decreased energy levels, especially if your daily active level demands your energy to be a reliable level.

Friday, 8 July 2011

Product Review: Cytosport Monster Milk

Let's face it: when it comes time to choosing the right muscle-building product available, there are just too many variables to take into account - too many compromises, too many promises that you don't know are fact or just well-scripted fiction. You may be looking for a product that possesses or lacks certain compounds, you may be looking for a product that best fits your budget, or you may just be looking for the best possible muscle-building product available that will meet your particular training requirements.
So what do you do? You do your homework - after all, this is your body we're talking about. You need to know that all your hard work, dedication and pennies are being supported to achieve the most efficient, effective and satisfactory results possible.
But this can prove to be a time-consuming venture - for every proponent there is always an opponent. But the chances are that the true quality, effect and value of any given product will be reflected in sheer weight of numbers. What that means is, unless you have tried a particular product and know what effects you can expect to gain given your own unique bio-chemistry, you put your faith in others - as many 'others' as possible. It takes a wise man to ask for the advice of others, and with that thought in mind, I'm going to continue to select certain products that are available through the Explosive Nutrition website that have received numerous, widespread reviews. This will allow you, the consumer, to make your purchases in confidence with the most comprehensive information available.
This week's product review: Cytosport Monster Milk
Before writing these product reviews, Cytosport was a brand name that I was only slightly familiar with through the ever-popular Muscle Milk. But once again, the company have produced another seemingly solid performer with Monster Milk. 85% of the 58 people who submitted a review would positively recommend this product, with only 4 people who would not recommend this product, and 5 who are undecided. The ruling negative feedback for this product is the price in relation to the number of servings you receive, the main contributor to the 70% value rating which we shall look at closer in a minute, Otherwise, both the effectiveness and overall rating of Monster Milk scores in the mid-80th percentile zone, 8.5 and 8.2 respectively. Below are the pros and cons that were given by each person who reviewed this product, giving you more in-depth insight as to what this product is really all about:
FINAL THOUGHTS
Monster Milk is a big-player protein supplement that can act as a meal replacement supplement, yet doesn't have the levels of fat and calories to be considered a weight-gainer, so it's an ideal choice for those wishing to pack on lean muscle mass without making too great a compromise on muscle tone and definition. This product's effectiveness and taste are it's highest rated attributes, and the fact that it contains some kre-alkalyn (creatine compound without the unwanted bloating and water-retention side effects) is also a good addition. A low sugar content is also a very desirable quality, especially as so many heavy-duty protein supplements and weight-gainers drop points in this department. The price is this product's greatest drawback, in relation to the number of servings it contains and the comparative products available on the market.
Bottom-line: Cytosport is a reputable company to choose from, and this product provides high quality albeit at a higher than average price. If your budget can afford it, go for it. However, if you have a limited budget to spend on supplements, you may want to go for a product with better value for money.

Sunday, 3 July 2011

Product Review: Cytosport Monster Mass

Let's face it, when it comes time to choosing the right muscle-building product available, there are just too many variables to take into account: too many compromises, too many promises that you don't know are fact or just well-scripted fiction. You may be looking for a product that possesses or lacks certain compounds, you may be looking for a product that fits your budget, or you may just be looking for the best possible product that will meet your particular training goals and requirements.
So what do you do? You do your homework. After all, this is your body we're talking about - you need to know that all your hard work, dedication and pennies are being supported to achieve the most efficient, effective and satisfactory results possible.
But this can prove to be a time-consuming venture - for every proponent there is always an opponent. But the chances are that the true quality, effect and value of any particular product will be reflected in sheer weight of numbers. What that means is, unless you have tried a particular product and know what effects you can expect given your own unique bio-chemistry, you put your faith in others - as many "others" as possible. It takes a wise man to ask for the advice of others, and with that in mind I'm going to continue to select certain products that are available through the Explosive Nutrition website that have received numerous, widespread reviews. This should allow you, the consumer, to make your purchases with the most comprehensive information available.
This week's product review: Cytosport Monster Mass
Once again, this is another solid addition to the Cytosport product range. Although not an overwhelming figure, 16 reviews in this instance should be a realistic representation for this product's attributes. An '80th percentile' recommendation rating is very reassuring, with in fact only 1 person giving this product a negative review (see 'Final Thoughts'). Again, only two people were unsure in their recommendation of the product. In the categories of effectiveness, value and overall rating, Monster Mass performs very well with a minimum rating of 8.1/10. Below are the pros and cons that were listed by each individual who reviewed this product, giving you more detailed insight as to what this product is really all about:
FINAL THOUGHTS
I'm often asked in my Expert Q&A section about what products I'd recommend as mass gainers. This would certainly be one of them, based on the analysis of the listed reviews. However, there are a couple of suggestions I'd like to make: Regardless if your goal is lean muscle building or pure bulk, I would not take a weight gainer shake immediately before bed - mass gainers have much higher levels of fats and calories that are harder to digest during long periods of inactivity, and any excessive carbs and sugars will inevitably get stored as fat, so don't purposefully aid to this increase. Ease of mixing is always the Achilles heel of mass gainers, largely due to the volume of powder to blend (apparently in order to hit the 50g protein mark requires 4 scoops, not 2). The main drawback to this product would be it's high fat content, even for mass gainers. Make sure that you keep your cardio levels high whilst using it to avoid excessive softness (which will always serve to raise and maintain your metabolism). And of course, if your gut is not used to shakes or mass gainers in particular, be prepared for some cramping and aching (something that you should get acclimatised to - if you don't, take it as a sign to back off on the volume of powder).
Bottom-line: If bulking up is your goal, this is a great choice. But remember, always be sure to first create the demand in your body for such a product, then supply that demand.

Saturday, 11 June 2011

Product Review: CytoSport CytoGainer

Lets face it - when it comes time to choosing the right muscle-building product available, there are just too many variables to choose from. Too many compromises, too many promises that you don't know are fact or just well-scripted fiction. You may be looking for a product that possesses or lacks certain compounds. You be be looking for a product that fits your budget. Or, you may just be looking for the best possible product available that will meet your particular training goals.

So what do you do? You do your homework. After all, this is your body we're talking about - you need to know that all your hard work, dedication and pennies are being supported to achieve the most efficient, effective and satisfactory results possible.

But this can prove to be a time-consuming venture - for every proponent there is always an opponent. But the chances are that the true quality, effect and value of any given product will be reflected in sheer weight of numbers. What that means is, unless you have tried a particular product and know the results you can expect to gain given your own unique biochemistry, you put your faith in others. As many 'others' as possible. It takes a wise man to ask for the advice of others, and with that thought in mind I'm going to continue to select certain products that are available through the Explosive Nutrition website that have received numerous, widespread reviews. This will allow you to make your purchases with the most comprehensive information available to you.

This week's product review is CytoSport CytoGainer.

The important fact to appreciate when observing the above statistics is that 63 reviews is a very adequate source to justify the given ratings. Clearly, this product can be seen as a 'very good' if not an 'excellent' weight gainer. A 90% positive recommendation rating is a testimont to this product' effectiveness, with only marginal percentages in both the negative and undecided categories. Across the board, this products effectiveness, value and overall rating is a solid 8, edging 9. Below are the pros and cons that were listed by each individual who reviewed this product, giving you more in depth insight as to what this product iw really all about.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Again, what's important to recognise here is that the frequency of the positive comments far outweighs that of the negative comments - the top 5 most frequently made comments are rated much higher than their negative counterparts. This product promises to build muscle and mass, is great way to replace small meals with good value, and mixes well. Conversely, a small number of people thought this product mixed poorly, was excessively thick and gave some bad gass - welcome to weight-gaining supplements, kid! Bottom-line; after reviewing the above analysis on this product, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a decent weight-gainer.
To purchase CytoSport CytoGainer from the Explosive Nutrition website, Click Here

Saturday, 4 June 2011

The Night Before A Competition...

"T'was the night before Game-Day and all through the house, not a creature was stirring"...except for a very tanned blogger with something to type about! Yep, tomorrow is my first entry into a UK Fitness competition - the FAME UK Natural Bodybuilding and Fitness Competition, no less. Held in The Scala club, near Kings Cross, it's an all-day event where Yours Truly plans to take home the gold in the 'Muscle Model' division.
It has always been an ambition of mine to compete in a live-judging competition. The great thing about the FAME UK Championships is that it's an American based company - the winners of the UK divisions get the chance to compete in Las Vegas for the US-based version. Prizes include a spread in Muscle & Fitness Magazine, and photo shoots with world-renowned fitness photographers. For me, my goal of entering is not just to fulfil a long-running ambition, but to really launch my fitness modelling career on a respected stage. Exposure is my number one goal - I need people to see what I've known all along: that my aspirations are credible and marketable.
I entered this competition last September, so this is not a spur-of-the-moment decision. I formed a plan of how I would achieve my ideal competition state, and it's taken a good 6 months for me to get to this point. In all honesty, despite my size and background in pro-wrestling, I had never really followed a specific training regime before. My experience comes from trial-and-error, advice and results from my peers, and on information I had learned from magazines and books over the years. I have learned to develop and trust my instincts when I train, and have often discovered that methods and exercises I've performed in the past based on instinct have more often than not had a sound, established recommendation in the fitness community.
But I have learned some important lessons for those individuals looking to peek for a specific event/date - be it a fitness competition or a beach holiday. In no particular order, here are some random thoughts:
  1. You can't train for size and definition simultaneously: These are two training goals at opposite ends of the spectrum. Sure, there are many exercises that you can perform that can aid both goals. But to truly maximise your potential, you must except periodisation as your training methodology. Accept the fact that you won't be at your leanest when attempting to pack on muscle - concentrate on building a solid foundation of muscle that can later be chiseled away. Next time round, aim to surpass your previous plateaus
  2. Have a plan: For my mass-building goals, I learned of a former Soviet strength-training master by the name of Pavel Tsatsouline - I highly recommend picking up his books for ideal reading material on the subject. His book "Beyond Bodybuilding" really opened my eyes to some fantastic training systems and a different psychology towards my training. While far too much information to simplify in this one blog, he taught me a very important lesson...
  3. Keep it basic: Bench Press, Dead-Lifts, Full-Squats...and nothing else! - performed at least 3 times a week, these basic power-lifting compound exercises are the essential core of your mass-building goals. BP and DL alone will cover the whole body. Performed in a fixed-duration hypertrophy method (DeLorme), they are sure to pack more meat on your bones.
  4. Realise the progress of your gains: 4-8 weeks is typical for how long your body can adapt to any one style of training, no matter how efficient or hard it may be. Do the same thing long enough and your results will slow, cease and at worse, regress. Have the next phase of your training in mind so that you can switch when you feel that plateau coming
  5. Have a strong-mental focus: Every day when you get out of bed, leave for work, get to work, before you train, before you go to bed - realise what the hell it is your training for. How much do you want this? How much is this important to you? Have an image in your mind of what you want to achieve, what you want to look like, and pursue it with single-minded determination. It's your choice. Just remember: no matter how hard you think you're working, there could be someone working twice as hard as you. Decide your level of commitment.

Well, it's time to get some shut-eye. I hope these thoughts will ring true for some of you. Until then; Good Training!

Thursday, 26 May 2011

Product Review: MuscleTech Leukic Hardcore

Lets face it - when it comes time to choosing the right muscle-building product available, there are just too many variables to take into account. Too many compromises, too many promises that you don't know are true or just well-scripted fiction. You may be looking for a product that fits your budget, you may be looking for a product that possesses or lacks certain compounds. Or, you may just be looking for the best possible muscle-building product available that will meet your particular training goals.
So what do you do? You do your homework. After all, this is your body we're talking about. You need to know that all your hard work, dedication and pennies are being supported to achieve the most efficient, effective and satisfactory results possible.
But this can prove to be a time-consuming venture; for every proponent there will always be an opponent. But the chances are that the true quality, effect and value of any given product will be reflected in sheer weight of numbers. What that means, is that unless you have tried a particular product and know the results you can expect to agin given your own unique biochemistry, you put your faith in others. As many 'others' as possible. It takes a wise man to ask for the advice of others, and with that thought in mind, I'm going to continue to select certain products that are available through the Explosive Nutrition website that have received as many reviews as possible - so that you may make your own purchases in confidence with the most comprehensive information available. This week's product review:
MuscleTech Leukic Hardcore
Once again, the first thing you should realise when viewing this product is that 16 reviews is a small number to form in concrete opinions on this product's true worth. However, I believe this to be a reasonably accurate representation of the product's attributes. At nearly a 70% positive recommendation, this is a good, but not overwhelming response. Nearly 20% view this product negatively, which is not an encouraging statistic. However, only 1 review was uncertain as to the worth of Leukic. Overall worth, effectiveness and value are perceived as mediocre, with worth predictably being the lowest rating at 5/10.
Below are the pros and cons that were listed by each individual who reviewed this product, giving you more detailed insight as to what this product is really all about.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The purpose of Lekic is to raise your body's anabolic state, providing a much better environment for muscle-growth and off-setting the effects of muscle breakdown after resistance training, but without elevating or decreasing hormonal levels. I have not experimented with this product personally, but with the obvious complaint of a MuscleTech product's pricing, and that the pills appear to be a little over-sized, there is no standout drawback to this product. Excellent muscle definition has been reported with this product. Increased energy and muscle growth were most frequently reported, although I would prefer to have more reviews to base my verdict on. Bottom-line, I would try this product, but I would make sure not to stack it with similar supplements and try it in isolation - so that I could get an idea for it's true worth.

Thursday, 12 May 2011

Product Review: MuscleTech Hydroxycut Hardcore X

Let's face it - when it comes time to choosing the right muscle-building product available, there are just too many variables to take into account. Too many compromises, too many promises that you don't know are fact or just well-scripted fiction. You may be looking for a product that fits your budget, you may be looking for a product that possesses or lacks certain compounds. Or, you may just be looking for the best possible product available that will meet your particular training goals.
So what do you do? You do your homework. After all, this is your body we're talking about - you need to know that all your hardwork, dedication and pennies are being supported to achieve the most efficient, effective and satisfactory results possible.
But this can prove to be a time consuming venture: for every proponent there's always an opponent. But the chances are that the true quality, effect and value of any particular product will be reflected by sheer weight of numbers. So unless you have tried a particular product and know what results you can expect to see given your own unique bio-chemistry, you put your faith in others - as many 'others' as possible.
It takes a wise man to ask for the advice of others, and with that thought in mind I'm going to continue to select certain products that are available through the explosive nutrition website that have received numerous, widespread reviews. This will allow you to make your purchases in confidence with the most comprehensive information available. This week's product review:
MuscleTech Hydroxycut Hardcore X
The first thing you should notice when reviewing the statistics on this product, is that 12 reviews is relatively a very small number base to form any lasting, concrete conceptions on this products qualities. However, with that being said, HHX does not perform well at all. Only 50% of reviews positively support this product, with equal numbers of reviews supporting a negative and indifferent response to this product at just under 20%. The overall worth, effectiveness and value of this product is seen as mediocre at best, failing to score 7/10 in any of the categories. Predictably, at 6.2/10, value is the lowest perceived quality of this MuscleTech product.
Below are the pros and cons that were provided by each person who reviewed this product, giving you more particular insight as to what HHX is really all about:
FINAL THOUGHTS

With this particular product, I have the benefit of drawing upon my own experiences. I used HHX to help my definition goals when training for a 'Best Body' competition held at the Arnold Sports Festival. At the time, MuscleTech products dominated my supplement needs, so it was a no-brainer for me to pursue the company's latest and greatest thermogenic. Personally, I have to say that I was pleased by the results I saw. I never weighed myself to measure how much weight I loss, I simply went by the 'Looks good naked' method. Of course, I was training twice a day, and I was sure to take a dose immediately before my cardio, but as my first experience with thermogenics of any kind, I have to say it was worthwhile.

From the comments listed above, it's worth paying particular attention to the caffeine levels if you are particularly sensitive. Of course, any MuscleTech product will always have a dark cloud hanging over it, an unfortunate byproduct of too much bad press in the supplement community, and it may be pricier than many alternatives. But I feel this product does work, and if you are looking for a thermogenic to try, this is one I would recommend. However, when wishing to use thermogenics, always realise that the best possible way to bring out maximum results will be with a clean diet, and regular cardio - the best times to use thermogenics.

Thursday, 5 May 2011

Product Review: Optimum Nutrition Nitro Core 24

Let's face it: when it comes time to choosing the right muscle-building product available, there are just too many variables to take into account. Too many compromises, too many promises that you don't know are fact or just well scripted fiction.
You may be looking for a product that fits your budget, you may be looking for a product that possesses or lacks certain compounds, or you may just be looking for the best possible product available that will meet your personal training goals.
So what do you do? You do your homework. After all, this is your body we're talking about - you need to know that all your hard work, dedication and pennies are being supported to achieve the most effective, efficient and satisfactory results possible.
But this can prove to be a time-consuming venture - for every proponent there is always an opponent. But the chances are that the true quality, effect and value of a particular product will be reflected in sheer weight of numbers. That means that unless you have tried a particular product and know what results you can expect to gain given your unique bio-chemistry, you put your faith in others - as many others as possible.
It takes a wise man to ask for the advice of others, and with that thought in mind, I'm going to continue to select certain products that are available through the Explosive Nutrition website that have received numerous, widespread reviews. This will allow you to make your purchases in confidence, given the most comprehensive information available. This weeks product review: Optimum Nutrition Nitro Core 24
Once again, this is another strong performer form Optimum Nutrition. After 43 reviews, 86% of those submitted would positively recommend this product. There are very low negative and undecided reviews, scoring 3.5% and 7% respectively. This product has a superb perceived overall rating, with comparative effectiveness and value around 9/10.
Below are the main pros and cons that were provided by the 43 people who reviewed this product, given you more insight as to what this product is really all about.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Again, a reassuring quality when reviewing this product is that the cons are not only far outweighed by the pros, but that the frequency of similar bad experiences is much lower than the frequency of positive feedback. This is sustained release, meal-replacement protein, but it is not recommended as a pre- bedtime supplement due to the relatively high carbohydrate source (more important to those individuals on a low-carb, leaning phase). Bottom-line: This is an excellent protein source for individuals on-the-go, or who cannot always intake adequate sources of whole foods during their day. Definitely recommended.

Tuesday, 26 April 2011

Product Review: Animal M Stak



Lets face it: when it comes time to choosing the right muscle-building product available, there are just too many variables to take into account: too many compromises, too many promises that you don't know are fact or just well-scripted fiction.

You may be looking for a product that fits your budget, you may be looking for a product that possesses or lacks certain compounds. Or, you may just be looking for the best possible product that will meet your personal training goals.

So what do you do? You do your homework of course. After all, this is your body we're talking about - you need to know that all your hard work, dedication and pennies are being supported to achieve the most efficient, effective and satisfactory results possible.

But this can prove to be a time-consuming venture - for every proponent you find for a particular product, there will always be an opponent. But the chances are that the true quality, effect and value of any given product will be reflected in sheer weight of numbers. That means that unless you have tried a particular product and know the unique effects you can expect to see given your own bio-chemistry, you put your faith in others - as many 'others' as possible.

It takes a wise man to ask for the advice of others, and with that thought in mind I'm going to continue to select certain products that are available through the Explosive Nutrition website that have received numerous and widespread reviews. This will allow you to make your supplement buying decisions with the most comprehensive information available. This weeks product review: Animal M Stak



It's clear to see from the above statistics that this is a tried, tested and proven product. After 56 reviews, almost 80% would support recommending this product, with a low percentage (10%) having a negative experience with this product. In effectiveness, value and overall rating, this product consistently delivers in the high 70th percentile. I imagine that the biggest contributor to people rating this product with a negative review is that they simply did not create the demand for it with their training regimen. Make no mistake, this is a hardcore product aimed at hardcore iron monkeys. Busting out 3x10 on 15lb dumbbell curls is not going to warrant taking this product!


Below are the main pros and cons of each person who reviewed this product, given you more detailed insight as to what this product is really all about.



FINAL THOUGHTS

The immediate observation I make when reviewing the table above is the high frequency of similar positive effects compared to the low frequency of similar negative effects i.e. 23 reports of 'builds muscle' compared to 6 reports of 'not enough packs for the money'. For me, of course, the most attractive quality concerning this product is that it contains no steroidal substrates, and is suitable for natural bodybuilders and power lifters, including drug-tested athletes. As I've previously mentioned, you must create the need for a supplement in order to realise the benefits of taking it. If you're serious about your training, and perform a high volume, low rep approach with a lot of benching, squatting and dead lifting, this product is ideal. Just don't expect to realise the potential of this product is you do a light workout once or twice a week.

Increased appetite? Solid strength gains? Builds muscle? Be prepared to add a few £'s to your weekly shopping bill to give your body what it will need - you will not get bigger and stronger unless you consume an appropriate amount of calories to support and build new muscle mass. Personally, this is a product I will be looking to try during my next heavy phase of training.

To purchase Animal M Stak, please Click Here.

Tuesday, 19 April 2011

Product Review: BSN Syntha-6





Lets face it - when it comes time to choosing the right muscle-building product available, there are just too many variables to take into account - too many brands, too much science. Too many compromises, too many promises that you don't know are true or just well scripted fiction.




You may be looking for a product that fits your budget, you may be looking for a product that possesses or lacks certain compounds. Or you may just be looking for the best possible product that will meet your personal training goals.



So what do you do? You do your homework. After all, this is your body we're talking about. You need to know that all your hard work, dedication and pennies are being supported to achieve the most effective, efficient and satisfactory results possible.



But this can prove to be a time-consuming venture; for every proponent you find, there will always be an opponent. But the chances are that the true quality, effect and value of any particular product will be reflected in sheer weight of numbers. That means that unless you have personally tried a particular product and know the effects you can expect given your unique bio-chemistry, you put your faith in others - as many 'others' as possible.



It takes a wise man to ask for the advice of others, and with that thought in mind, I'm going to continue to select certain products that are available through the Explosive Nutrition website that have received numerous, wide-spread reviews. This will allow you to make your product purchases with the most comprehensive information available. This weeks product review: BSN Syntha-6









This weeks product has received a very respectable number of reviews, and it is clearly evident that this is a very effective product. After 130 reviews, 85% of the reviews would recommend this product to others, with only a marginal number of reviews supporting a negative or undecided response (4% and 8% respectively). This product rates a very healthy 8.5/10, with a comparative rating given to it's effectiveness and value. As BSN is often seen in the same light as MuscleTech products - that the cost is proportionate to the hype and unkept promises the brand tends to deliver - 7.6/10 is a very respectable score.




Below are the main pros and cons of each person who reviewed this product, giving you more specific insight as to what this product is really all about








FINAL THOUGHTS




What struck me most was how minor the negative comments were. Aside from the obvious cost concerns and excessive gas, it seems that this product has a higher than average fat, sodium and cholesterol content, which could be a point of interest if you were looking for a very lean. protein supplement. Certainly, ample intake of water should minimise the impact of the sodium, and a high activity level will overcome the cholesterol. But its clear that there are much leaner options. Taste is perhaps the greatest compliment concerning this product, asides from the more important fact that it is perceived as a good muscle builder and excellent meal replacement.




My recommendation: Try it. If you're looking to try something new, especially in the time-release department, BSN Syntha-6 is definitely worth a look. To purchase BSN Syntha-6, please Click Here.