muthj's Reviews

muthj

muthj's Reviews

muthj's Reviews

Product/Brand

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Higher Power L-Glutamine Powder (Muscle & Strength)

Sunday, 27 January 2008


Overall rating		4.6
Low side effects		5
Recovery ability		4
Taste		5
Mixes well		5
Safety		5
Value for money		4

L-Glutamine powder by Higher Power is a free form amino acid. Glutamine is thought to help improve muscle recovery and decrease fatigue and soreness.

There's a good amount of research going both ways, that Glutamine works and that Glutamine is a scam, so I'm not going to talk about definitive, scientific proof in this review, only my personal results.

My first experience with Glutamine was with 750mg Glutamine Capsules from GNC. I took two of them after every workout and they didn't do anything. I read that you should take at least 5g of glutamine at a time for it to survive the GI Track and actually make it to the muscles. I started looking for bulk glutamine powder, and the Higher Power brand was simple and inexpensive.

I take 10g of Glutamine per day (plus the glutamine present in my Multi and protein powders) 5g in my post-workout shake and 5g in my bedtime shake. It is tasteless and mixes well in anything. Since starting Glutamine Powder I have noticed a significant reduction in soreness. Whether this is actual science or just a placebo effect, I'm not sure. But the bottom line is that this product helps me to hit the weights with less soreness, which leads to more productive workouts.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Higher Power Creatine Ethyl Ester (Muscle & Strength)

Tuesday, 22 January 2008


Overall rating		3.2
Fat loss		4
Endurance		4
Muscle gain		3
Strength		4
Physical energy		4
Low side effects		5
Recovery ability		4
Taste		1
Mixes well		1
Value for money		4

Creatine Ethyl Ester (CEE) is creatine with an Ester group attached. This supposedly makes the creatine easier to absoarb by the cells. There is currently a good bit of controversy over whether or not CEE is real. There's data both ways. I took Higher Power CEE for 3 months, and am currently cycling off for a month.

Despite many claiming that CEE doesn't work, I experienced good results while taking it. I had a lot more stamina during my workouts and recovered more quickly (less soreness). My strength also increased significantly during those 3 months (Example: max bench from 185 up to 215).

I experienced minimal side effects with Higher Power's pure CEE powder. No bloat, no nausea, no dizziness. Just a slight increase in "back-ne"

The main downfall of this product is the taste. Creatine Monohydrate Powder is relatively tasteless. The Creatine Ethyl Ester taste absolutely terrible. Gagging terrible. It cuts through anything you try to mix it with. I was able to slug it down in a SuperPump shake or in a big glass of grape juice or Gatorade...but it's rough.

When my month of cycling off creatine ends, I will be starting monohydrate instead of ethyl ester. While I did achieve good results with the Higher Power Ethyl Ester, I can't stand the taste, and continued questioning of CEE's real benefit makes me want to stick with the tried and true CMH.

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
The Protein People Active Protein Complex Time Release Protein (Meal Replacement & Protein)

Tuesday, 22 January 2008


Overall rating		4.1
Muscle gain		4
Strength		3
Taste		4
Mixes well		4
Suppressed appetite		4
Recovery ability		5
Anti-catabolic		5
Low side effects		5
Value for money		4

Active Protein Complex Time Release Protein

My current supplementation involves Superpump before workout, APC 100% whey and CEE after workouts, and the APC Time Release before bed. I've done a lot of research and have had great results.

I used to take Optimum Nutrition's 100% Casein as my night time shake. But that stuff mixed terribly and cost 50% more than what the APC Time release costs. As far as nutritional value, the two are very similar. If you're on a budget, you won't be disappointed with this protein.

Pros:
+Tastes great in milk and is OK in water.
+Dissolves completely in a shaker bottle or blender. Zero clumps. Do not try to mix with a spoon though. You won't have good results.
+Contains a blend of protein designed to break down slowly. Take this stuff before bed to help prevent a catabolic state.
+Made in Wisconsin (hey, I'm from Wisconsin....)

Cons:
-Artificial Sweetener (Sucralose). I like to keep my diet as natural as possible
-Would like to see a higher proportion of casein protein since that dissolves the slowest.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
The Protein People Active Protein Complex 100% Whey (Meal Replacement & Protein)

Tuesday, 22 January 2008


Overall rating		4.1
Muscle gain		4
Strength		4
Taste		3
Mixes well		5
Suppressed appetite		3
Recovery ability		4
Anti-catabolic		5
Low side effects		5
Value for money		5

The Active Protein Complex (APC) series of Protein put out by The Protein People is definitely for the cost conscious. I was able to obtain 5lbs of their Vanilla 100% Whey for only $24.00.

Unlike other budget proteins I've tried, APC mixes very well in a shaker bottle. Absolutely no clumps. It also tastes pretty decent in both water and milk. APC is sweetened with Sucralose, so if you dislike artificial sweeteners, you may not want to try this product.

I take one heaping scoop of APC after every workout. Each scoop has ~20g of protein (equal to GNC brand). Most of this 20g is Whey Protein Concentrate, which is the cheapest form of whey protein. This, however, is to be expected from a budget protein. APC does also contain some level of Whey Protein Isolate.

It's hard to distinguish the effects of a protein powder, so let me put it this way: I've been taking APC 100% Whey for over 4 months. I have high-intensity lifts 5 days per week and have gained 11 pounds of lean muscle (my body fat percentage is 10). Seems to work for me!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Gaspari Nutrition SuperPump 250 (Energy)

Tuesday, 22 January 2008


Overall rating		3.9
Physical energy		5
Muscle gain		3
Endurance		5
Pump		4
Low side effects		3
Aggression		4
Recovery ability		3
Increased appetite		1
Alertness		5
Strength		4
Taste		4
Mixes well		5
Value for money		4

I've used two containers of Gaspari's SuperPump 250. I have tried NO Xplode, a similar Nitric Oxide product.

With the NO Xplode I got decent pumps and excellent focus for about the first two weeks. After time I grew more and more tolerant, to the point where 2.5 scoops was barely noticeable.

I decided to switch to SuperPump, mainly because it was $15 cheaper. I'm so glad that I did. I currently take 2 heaping scoops of SuperPump with a half tsp. of creatine ethyl ester before every workout. In 20-30 minutes my head is rushing, my muscles are pumping, and I have an incredible feeling of focus and energy. I can work out harder, my muscles get incredibly pumped, and my veins grow more distinguishable. SuperPump also helps to burn fat. The best part is that the effects of SuperPump last for about 2 hours, and I still get the same if not more effect as I did on the very first day.

Side Effects:
-Smelly Gas every now and then
-Change in stool consistency.
-Drowsiness after wearing off (if you take too late at night)
-Light Headedness (if you are dehydrated)

Before using SuperPump there are a few things you should know.
-I've only tried Blue Raspberry. It's an acquired taste but it is definitely manageable. No gagging like I did with NO-Xplode Lemon Lime
-Take it on an empty stomach and don't eat or drink anything but water for at least 20 minutes after taking! Otherwise your SuperPump may turn into SuperPoop.
-This is not for the casual gym goer. This is for regular, explosive workouts to put on lean muscle.
-Not good for aerobic workouts. I've tried it and I feel like my muscles get too pumped. It hinders range of motion a bit and I get slightly queasy.
-Start small. One scoop the first couple times. Once you get used to it up to 1.5 scoops. Then go to 2. Then if you really want to get pumped go for 2 heaping or 2.5 I have felt no need to go with 3.
-It says on the package to take on off days. Don't. It's a waste of money.
-Drink lots of water!
-I'd recommend cycling. I do 3 months on and 1 month off, in conjunction with my creatine.

If you follow those tips you should minimize side effects and get fantastic results. I will never go back to a different Nitrogen product.

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