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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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.