Quick Summary

A nice versatile protein powder that can be used as a way to increase your calorie intake, replace a meal in your daily diet, or even be used as a pre/post workout protein.

Introduction

I've only used one other Mass Gainer protein in my life, and that was 5+ years ago when I worked at GNC. Usually, I'm the stereotypical mass gainer "hatur" who criticizes them. I always recommend kids looking to gain mass to make their own, like simply adding ground up oatmeal, peanut butter, whey, and milk into a blender. Still, after looking at the profile of this one, I didn't see the usual 100+ grams of carbs coming from maltodextrin. I saw a well formulated product which didn't have the same macro breakdown as other products on the market.

I also saw the interesting flavor options... see below.

Ingredient Profile

First thing I have to mention, is the Carb 10. I am a fan of Carb 10, and wish more companies would use it. Works just as well as HBCD in my experience. As you can see in the macros posted below, it isn't really that high in calories compared to other products. Honestly, if there was 5-7 grams of fiber in here, I'd say it would be the perfect macro breakdown for my specific goals.

Macros
2 scoops give you:

5f
30c
20p

What I like about this, is that it isn't simply loaded with dextrose or maltodextrin. It's not like any other mass gainer out there. While there is some dextrose and maltodextrin in here, you only get 10 grams of sugar per serving. No complaints from me.

I like the included enzymes, which help you digest the protein. As for the protein itself, it is a blend or milk protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, and whole milk powder. Only mild complaint here is that there is no disclosure on the amounts of protein. Not knocking it down really, but with companies like NutraBio, Ghost, and MAN Sports going full disclosure with their products, it's nice to see companies do it.

The fat in here is interesting. You get MCT oil/coconut oil powder, but what really caught my eye is the avocado oil powder. I have never seen this form of fat used in a protein. Unfortunately, we can't see how many monounsaturated fats are in here, and with 7 grams of saturated fat I'm going to assume that it is very low. Still nice to see!

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

I received the Lucky Charms knock off flavor. It was just too interesting to pass up. Now I've always thought that Lucky Charms were overrated, but still fairly enjoyable. One feature that is enjoyable with Major Mass are the added marshmallows. Seems to be a trend these days, companies adding cereal bits, cookie chunks, and even candy... I dig it.

It tastes like a mild lucky charms, nothing that I'd buy for myself, but def worth trying if you're a fan of cereal like I am. I'd like to see what VMI could do with a Fruity Pebbles flavor.

It mixes very well, I never had a clump to complain about. I would advise drinking this quickly after shaking however, as the marshmallows can sink to the bottom and get stuck... who wants to miss out on marshmallows?

After reading all of the other reviews, you really can't go wrong with any flavor really.

I usually took 2 scoops (so 30 carbs), if I'm going to fill in 62 carbs in one sitting, I'm going to eat them.

Effectiveness

I found Major Mass to be very versatile. With the Carb 10, I was able to use this as a pre-workout meal and post-workout. I also used as a MRP for my drive to work.

As a pre-workout:

Due to the Carb 10, I noticed increased endurance while lifting, similar to when I take Super Carb from Nutrabio. I've used Carb 10 in the past, and enjoyed it then, and I enjoyed it here as well. Sometimes I simply don't have time to eat before I go to the gym, so this was convenient. Usually, I eat chicken and rice, but Major Mass was simply more convenient. I'd prefer everyone used whole food, but this worked quite well and was a time saver.

As a MRP:

The main reason I got this was to replace my breakfast. My morning drive to work takes me about 1.5 hours-2 hours, so I usually just skip breakfast and fast until lunch. While I don't mind fasting, sometimes I just feel better when I eat something early. Major mass helped keep my appetite at bay before I ate lunch. Works well, would be better if there was some fiber however.

I did mention using this as a post-workout. I only did that twice I believe, so I'm not going to comment on that. Of course I have to mention how this digested very well for me. I don't have issues digesting whey as it is so take my comment for what it is worth.

Value

You can get this for $46 through several online retailers. This is a fair price for 30 servings, especially when you consider the sources of calories in here. I'd still recommend eating whole food, this is a nice alternative for when you simply don't have time to eat.

If you're looking for an all out mass gainer, I'd still advise going for a blend of ground oatmeal, peanut butter, milk, and protein powder.

Side Effects

None

Conclusion

I'd recommend giving Major Mass a try. While I personally won't be keeping this on hand, it could come in handy if you want a quick pre-workout meal or meal replacement. It comes good in a pinch, and the flavoring is top notch.

Quick Summary

I got the chocolate fudge cookie. It tasted like a chocolate fudge pop to me, and the stevia wasn't overpowering. It made good mug cakes, but the shakes were a bit too foamy. I recommend it if you want a naturally flavored product. Else, stick w/ the regular VMI Protolyte.

Introduction

I'm a competing powerlifter, currently cutting some vanity pounds before I bulk in the winter. I'm lifting 4 days a week using Brian Alrushe's Powerbuilding Program and I'm running 3 days a week in preparation for a 10k race in October.

I really enjoyed VMI's Protolyte, so when I saw they had a natural version in the Troops Program, I had to try it. I've had a few natural protein powders before and they never tasted good. I hoped VMI would do better than the rest.

Ingredient Profile

One scoop (27.6g) gives you 21g protein, >1g fat, 1g carbs (0g sugar), and is 105 calories. There are also 10.5g EAAs per scoop, added electrolytes, and VMI gives us the amino profile on the tub.

In terms of ingredients, VMI uses non-GMO cold processed whey protein isolate, cocoa powder, natural flavors, xanthan gum, stevia, and an enzyme blend.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

I thought it tasted pretty good for a natural protein (8/10). There was a clear chocolate flavor. There was no bitterness. In my experience, natural proteins usually bitter from the stevia. My one critique would be that it tasted more like a fudge pop than actual fudge. This product, though, did not taste as good as the regular Protolyte.

Mixability (6/10) This is where the product started to falter. I don't know what happened (guessing VMI had too much xanthan gum in the product) but my shakes were excessively foamy. They didn't look as bad as some of the pictures I saw of the vanilla cake batter, but I would say 20-30% of my shaker cup was foam.

The xanthan gum, however, did come in handy when I made mug cakes in the microwave. They came out great every time. The product also mixed well with yogurt.

Dose- I had a scoop at a time.

Effectiveness

For me, this product was pretty effective. I usually drank it (or ate it) post workout, and my recovery has been pretty solid over the past month. (I had been concerned that my running would affect my lifting, but so far my legs are doing fine)

Protolyte Naturals digested easily, and it was very easy to fit into my macros.

On its own, it was not very satiating, but I would not expect that for 105 calories and almost no fat.

With milk, however, the satiety was better, and it was best, when I mixed it with greek yogurt.

Value

The lowest price I saw was $40 for a tub, which is $1.6/serving. This is a bit expensive to me. I can usually get a whey isolate for $1.1-$1.3/serving. That being said, I think the price is fair. One, those other products may not give me the amino profile or have added electrolyte and enzymes (all of which add value).

Also, when I looked up the costs of some other natural protein powders, they were $2/serving.

Side Effects

None

Conclusion

VMI gave us a pretty solid natural protein option (they just need to fix the foaming issue). If you don't care about natural sweeteners vs. artificial ones, go one to regular Protolyte.

Thanks for letting me try it.

Quick Summary

An overly simple, but effective, test booster that either needs an additional ingredient or a cheaper price point.

Introduction

In the midst of a very beneficial and positive run of VMI's Arimidrol, I started shopping around for a natural test booster that I could start taking immediately after finishing the AI. I wanted to experiment with leveraging a low-estrogen environment in my body with a test booster to see if I could maintain the same type of effects and progress I was receiving directly from the AI.

Ingredient Profile

I ultimately decided to pick up Black Lion's Viron for this cycle as it was a super basic booster. I didn't want a "kitchen sink" product with a variety of untested, unproven extracts and ingredients. Viron has one core ingredient - Eurycoma Longifolia Extract AKA Longjack AKA Tongkat Ali. This is an extremely common supplement with a host of research supporting its aphrodisiac, anti-estrogen, and testosterone boosting qualities. Yes, some of this research is questionable and lacks proper citations, but the popularity of Longjack in natural test boosting supplements is testament to how it is regarded in the supplementation community.

Viron's one other ingredient is 20mg of Boron Citrate which is another needs-more-research ingredient purported to have a positive effect on test production. Again, very common and found in many other test boosters.

The standard dosage of Eurycoma Longifolia is 200-300mg of a 100:1 extract taken in 1-2 doses daily. Viron hits you with a solid 500mg dose daily, with each bottle containing enough pills for a 30 day cycle.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

Per the instructions, I split my two pill dose and took one in the AM on an empty stomach and the other in the PM, usually with a meal. Very easy to swallow caps with no aftertaste, indigestion, or other side effects.

Effectiveness

It's worth noting that I've historically responded well to boosters with Longjack at their core, thus I had a pretty good sense of what to expect from Viron. Unfortunately I think my experiment might have backfired in the sense I had already reached my natural peak with respect to body composition and hormonal state. If you read my Arimidrol review, you'll note I experienced a marked uptick in libido and sex drive, as well as a leaner, harder physique.

Once I transitioned to Viron, I did not continue to experience the aforementioned effects to the same degree. As usually happens when I come off an AI my libido dropped slightly and I felt like I was retaining more water. Nothing dramatic of course - I don't have any issues with low test or anything along those lines, however my hopes of maintaining that optimal physical/hormonal state through my run of Viron were unfounded.

This is not to say Viron is a bad product - not at all - only that I may not have given this product an optimal opportunity to showcase its effectiveness. For most of the bottle I didn't notice any of the traditional effects that I normally get from a test-booster. Not until towards the end of week three and into week four that is, when I did start to feel more aggressive, had a heightened sex drive, and could tell the aphrodisiac qualities of the Longjack were starting to hit me. In the end the product came through, but this is probably better either stacked directly with an AI and/or other products and not run after the fact.

Value

Test boosters run a wide cost range. The more robust products like Animal Stak, TEST1FY, and Rise run between $35-$50 for a month's supply. Supplementing straight Longjack extract can be done for cheaper, with Amazon having a number of products available for under $25 for a month supply at the same dose as Viron.

Most of Black Lion's products are not widely available. The best I could find Viron was $40 for a month's supply on suppz.com. This isn't a terrible pricepoint, but it's not particularly competitive. You could effectively build your own version of Viron with NOW's product line and save around $10 for a month run (at a dose of 600mg of Longjack daily). If you had some other ingredients included in Viron e.g. DAA or Fenugreek, then I'd be OK with the value here. Same if the overall cost was dropped to $30 a month which is on par with most AI's and other, simpler test boosters.

Side Effects

None.

Conclusion

While I appreciate the disclosure and simplicity of Viron, I feel it needs at least one or two more proven ingredients to be considered a top-tier natural test booster. As it stands now this is a two-ingredient product with a high price point. If you respond well to Longjack and can somehow find this on sale, go for it, but I think there are too many other quality options for Viron to be a true contender right now.

Quick Summary

A multi-vitamin missing a few key vitamins and some are under-dosed. A few of the vitamins used cheap forms, but the price is right on this product. If you are not overly concerned with some of the dosing, then give this a shot. A few extra's here truly bring this multi together nicely.

Introduction

38 years old and lift four days a week, while still recovering to total reconstructive surgery to my left ankle. I saw Muscletech's platinum multi-vitamin on the bounty list, and I have not tried a Muscletech supplement in over a decade, so I figured why not. I read up on the ingredient profile and it looked safe and interesting enough, so I decided to grab it up and do a review. Let us see what this new and improved muscletech has in store for us, at least multi-vitamin wise.

Ingredient Profile

I will not do my usual and define all the vitamins I find essential. That probably is way too long and I doubt people read it. However, I will discuss the important vitamins I look for in a multi-vitamin and their dosing, as well as the form of the vitamin on a few key vitamins. Here we have a completely transparent label, which is pretty awesome, and it does contain quite a few extra's in this, so that is always a nice perk to have.

The vitamins I find most essential in a multi are Vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, K, Folic Acid, Calcium, Zinc, and Chromium. Some extra's I personally prefer to have are Iron, Magnesium, and Boron.

Vitamin A: Here we get 10,000 IU which is a healthy dose as 3,000 IU is the RDA. Muscletech uses Retinyl Acetate and Beta-Carotene as the forms. Beta-Carotene is what you want to see, while Retinyl Acetate may have some toxicity to it, so not a good thing to have here. Muscletech took the cheap route here.

Vitamin B6/B12: Good dose of B6 at 10mg with RDA being 1.3mg. B12 has 100mcg with an RDA of 2.4mcg however it uses the cheap version called Cyancobalmin. I would like to see the methyl form here. Unfortunately most multi's use this cheap version, but it could be better.

Vitamin C/E/Calcium: 135m of Vitamin C with RDA being at 60mg, 90IU of Vitamin E and you only want a maximum of 1500 IU daily here, so thats a nice safe dose. The forms of Vitamin E are dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate, d-alpha tocopheryl acetate which is what you want to see. We get 175mg of Calcium with an RDA of 1,000-2,500mcg RDA.

Now we have some under-dosed ingredients here. Vitamin D is only dosed at 400IU while you want at least 600IU daily, Folic Acid is only at 300mcg with an RDA of 400mcg, and Zinc is only 9.5mg with an RDA of 11mg. These dosages are not severely under-dosed but definitely should be increased.

We are missing Vitamin K and Chromium from this multi, so thats no good. We only get 145mg of Magnesium with an RDA of 420mg, but we have a very healthy dose of Boron at 10mg which is the highest I have seen in a multi-vitamin yet.

Now lets discuss the extra's:

Amino Support Matrix (865mg): A small dosing of some key Amino's but still not a bad thing to have here. This blend nets us Glycine (806mg), ALA (49mg), Methionine (2.5mg), Citrulline Malate (2.5mg), Arginine HCI (2.5mg), and Cysteine (2.5mg).

Herbal Matrix (536mg): Way too many to list out, but a small dosing of some greens and reds for you. This was helpful to me as I switched my diet to all protein so I will take any added boost in this department. Do not rely on this to meet your daily requirements though, just a small boost.

Enzyme Complex (50mg): This was more helpful than I realized. This is 25mg of Amylase and 25mg of Papain. While taking this, this kept my gut healthy while doing this carnivore diet, and I had some issues develop once I ran out. So this is my favorite of all the extra's included, and is great to have.

Mineral Support Complex (29mg): A mixture of Inositol (10mg), Boron (10mg), and Choline (9mg).

I feel this profile is a bit of a mixed bag. We are missing some key vitamins that I like to see, and a few are under-dosed. Those issues definitely need to be addressed before this multi can be the best in my eyes. I do like some of the extra's included here.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

Taste/Mixability: No taste, pill form. Easy to swallow and no weird taste or smell.

Dosing: Directions call for one dose (3 pills) daily with water. I took them with my first meal of the day. Easy as it gets.

Effectiveness

I gauge a multi-vitamin on if I got sick or not during my run and just my overall well being. I did not get sick at all during this run, and felt fine so it did its job at the end of the day. The biggest factor here are the missing and under-dosed ingredients. The dosing is truly what sets one multi-vitamin apart from another. As I discussed above, the Enzyme complex aided me in digesting an all protein diet, and that was the biggest drop off I had after I ran out of this. It got my attention when I switched vitamins (with no enzyme support) and my stomach was twisted in a knot, it needed that extra help in digestion. Its not a bad vitamin if you are not concerned with Vitamin K or chromium and take a separate Vitamin D as I do. However, a multi should have all the key ingredients and you should not have to take any other pills to get your RDA. I say this is average at best.

Value

Here is the biggest shining point of the product. I grabbed this from Amazon for $10.74 (free shipping with Prime) for a 30 day supply (90 capsules). That is 36 cents a day which is a very good deal. Sure, they use the cheap version of B12 and have some flaws, but if you are looking for just the basic vitamins each day then this price is an amazing deal. Due to its dosing on my preferences though I can only say this is an average deal, but I have no regrets paying this price to try it out.

You can also find this on special a lot, currently via Priceplow Muscle & Strength has a BOGO for $13.97. https://www.priceplow.com/muscletech/platinum-multivitamin

Side Effects

No weird colored pee or anything like that.

Conclusion

If this vitamin included Vitamin K and chromium and upped the dosing a bit on Vitamin D, Folic Acid, and Zinc then this would be stellar. Some people do not like Vitamin K in their multi's so that may or may not be an issue for you. Either way it has some nice extra's to it, the price is right, so I can safely recommend this. Just understand whats missing and under-dosed and you will do fine on it. End of the day, I never fell ill or anything during this run, so yes it does its job.

Introduction

Hi guys, I'd firstly like to say thank you to supplementreviews.com and VMI for this opportunity to try out Major mass via the trooper program! I was on the look out for major mass for sometime, it's been getting rave reviews and the flavoring sounded great, being off-season really allowed me to utilize it correctly.

Ingredient Profile

Serving size 2 scoops
Servings per container: 30
Amount per serving

Calories 250
Calories from Fat 45
Total Fat 5 g
Saturated Fat 3.5 g
Cholesterol 58 mg
Sodium 125 mg
Potassium 187 mg
Total Carbohydrate 30 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 10 g
Protein 20 g

Ingredients: Other Ingredients: Protein Blend (Whey Protein Concentrate, Whole Milk Powder, Whey Protein Isolate, Milk Protein Isolate), Carb Blend (Maltodextrin, Legume-based starch derived from pisum sativum (peas) (as Carb10), Dextrose), Cocoa, Fat Blend (Coconut Oil Powder, and MCT Powder), Natural Flavors, Sucralose, and Enzyme Blend (Protease I, Protease II, Amylases, Lipase, and Lactase

A really impressive array of carbs/healthy fats and a few sources of protein. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the addition of dextrose I'd prefer to see something else instead maybe oat flour as it's a lower gi choice and could add an improved texture and thickness - as I used primarily as a meal replacement or a pre workout meal but I guess that's the only flaw if there was one, because it worked and the profile is really on the premium end.

Taste

Marshmallow charms
9/10

A really brilliant flavor, it has a cereal milk flavor which is a nice blend of sweet and tart as such, the real marshmallow bits are a real treat and they were pleasantly soft in water/milk which I was surprised as I was expecting hard bits. Overall they nailed the flavoring. In milk or in water the flavoring wasn't that much different which was great. It is a lot more watery than expected but I didn't mind too much although I suppose 4 scoops would be a better consistency.

Mixability

Surprisingly enough mixibility was so good, I didn't use a sieve due to the bits I wanted but after a vigorous shake there was basically no residue or chunks other than the marshmallow bits.

Dosing

2 scoops in 300ml of milk or water suited me just fine.

Effectiveness

As noted this was utilized in my offseason, where not too much consideration is needed with with goes in. I have learned to take it easy but that being said i found major mass to be really versatile, I didn't do the full 4 scoops being that I'm pretty happy with the macros at 2 scoops but if one is an ectomorph I can totally see a full serving being the way to better mass gainzzz.

This was a meal replacement for me, so it was effective for me in these regards:

Lean mass gains: it totally did what the label said about mass, now at 2 scoops there was still noticeable gains or the common areas such as arms and shoulders, but it's hand in hand with my training regime where I targeted those specific points. I gained about 3/5kgs during my usage of this but I really enjoyed that it never contributed to fat gains especially since my stomach and sides are targets that have a habit of gaining unwanted adipose.

Recovery: overall I felt that this somewhat assisted in a better recovery and I'm saying this as I'm comparing my overall experience to that before I had major mass. Better recovery always equals better gainz and that I appreciate, I can only assume a full serving would be the holy grail of the above.

Versatility: although I did use this primarily as a pre workout meal, I found this to be a good on the go meal especially in the mornings or on the road. I appreciate this aspect the most as you can still add creatine etc if you wanted to use this as a post workout shake.

Hunger buster: lol I can't forget this, a real fulfilling shake, it kept hunger at bay for a long time. Even in water I really wouldn't feel hungry which makes it great if your day is busy and hitting a real solid meal is hard or you just don't feel like a solid meal, hey it happens lol.

I mean I am rating this as a meal replacement and as a meal replacement it's pretty spot on and made my lifting and days a lot easier and I really can't fault this. I have to add i had no digestive issues at all which is fantastic because I normally bloat or have stomach issues. Overall a pretty phenomenal lean mass gainer.

Value

The cheapest I could find major mass is at campus protein for around $40, and $40 for 30 servings (well for me as I used only 2 scoops) is really awesome value for money and as a meal replacement it's ideal and makes the most financial and nutritional sense to me. Now I have seen a suggestion that you can hit 8 scoops in a day which is pretty heavy lol especially since that tub would be empty in a little over a week lmao. But it all depends on your goals and how much your willing to spend. If I was an ectomorph I'd use a lot more than what I did but then expect value to suffer dramatically. But $40 for a month was really legit and for what I get in a tub - I wouldn't mind seeing the addition of greens and reds in this or a total different product that is an actual meal replacement.

Side Effects

None.

Conclusion

I am super impressed by VMI, major mass is really an awesome product that tastes phenomenal and at 2 scoops it's very affordable and worth the money. I loved the additions of their healthy fats and their carb blend - it's definitely a premium product and not your run of the mill whey concentrate, taurine, creatine mono and dextrose blend lol. This definitely topples the competition as it can be anything you want it to be. Again a very big thank you to Supplementreviews.com and VMI for this amazing opportunity that I hold dear to my heart as this is definitely one of my favorite supplements.

Peace

Fridge

Quick Summary

Batch 27 is pretty tasty and effective, but mislabeling makes me leery about recommending it. The scooper also weighs in a bit heavy, so you are best off using a microscale to ensure accurate serving sizes.

Introduction

Hi everyone. I want to begin by thanking TC Nutrition for the opportunity to review their PreWorkout. I lift very early in the morning and tend to miss getting enough sleep on a daily basis, so I (over) rely on a good preworkout to ensure I get the most out of my lift every day. I chose to try Batch 27 because it had a really well-rounded label that included tons of different stimulants, plus nootropics, and pump ingredients.

It's just about everything you'd want to see in a preworkout, but label claims, pricing, and serving sizes ultimately prevent it from receiving the green stamp of approval.

Ingredient Profile

I'll quickly address my concern about the labeling here before getting into the rest of the details. On the front of the bottle they highlight 325mg of caffeine. However, on the ingredient panel we see there is actually 275mg of caffeine and 50mg of caffeine citrate. That would mean we have 325mg of caffeine-related ingredients but because of the CafCit's bond to a citric acid it means we are only getting 300mg of caffeine base. This might seem like I'm splitting hairs, but it's simply concerning to see a mass produced product be mislabeled in its formulation. Is 25mg going to make a huge difference? No, but this should be a pretty exact science for how simple these calculations are.

Other than the caffeine we have...
Citrulline Malate at a 2:1 ratio (8g). This is a great dose here and very effective for creating the pump effect.
Beta-Alanine (3.5g). Exceeding the 3.2g clinical dose is great and will help prevent fatigue and improve recovery time.
Betaine Hydrochloride (1.8g). Also great for pumps, this should increase blood plasma volume.
Creatine HCl (1g). Creatine Hydrochloride is supposed to absorb more easily but at this dose it's probably more of a placeholder. This is above the common single serving size of 750mg, but typically you want to take 2-3g daily in total. C-HCl aborbs significantly better than Monohydrates.
Agmatine Sulfate (600mg). This is another pump product that users seem to love or hate. Personally, I'm a hater. I find that it detracts from my pump, but this is a solid dose and I think more people realize a positive effect from it than a negative one.
Tyrosine (600mg). A nice added nootropic. This should help you focus and instill a sense of calm. It may help soothe the reaction to having so many stimulants being digested at once.
L-Carnitine (500mg). Nice addition here and one I wish I saw more often. Carnitine will help shuttle triglycerides (fatty acids) to your mitochondria for cellular energy production. As a result, its also a great non-stim fat burner.
Theobromine (250mg): My personal favorite ingredient to say out loud. It's also heavily underrepresented IMO. Not only does it aid in blood flow as a vasoldilator but it also acts as a stimulant, which is a very rare combination.
Synephrine (110mg): A less potent relative of ephedrine. Effective at burning fat and acting as a stimulant, banned by CrossFit.
L-Theanine (100mg): A neuro-stimulant (not cardiac stimulant though), this will also aid in providing a sense of calm and easing the absorption of stimulants.
Huperzia Serrata (120mcg): We need more research on this. It appears to be an effective nootropic.

These servings were based on 18g; but a level scoop yielded 21.7g. Best to use a scale on this or eyeball a little below a full scoop.

Overall this is a stellar ingredient panel, and if it weren't for the mislabeling I would have nothing negative to say about it whatsoever. Great job with it overall.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

Taste: I received Sour Batch flavor and TC Nutrition really hit the nail on the head. It was sour and sweet, just like a sour patch kid.
Mixability: Mixability was no problem. There was some settling, but to be expected. Not everything contained within it is water soluble. My only beef is that they opted to use artificial colors but the color they created was a sort of swampy green color that didn't allude to the flavor at all. I think they'd be better off using red or blue or going uncolored altogether. It would need to be bright green to match a sour patch kid, but this was very dark. It seemed like a waste of dye.
Dosing: I took this daily around 4am. By the time I was lifting at 4:30 I was ready to go!

Effectiveness

I must say, this worked really well. Even on days I barely broke the 5 hour mark with sleep, this got me going. I never felt groggy after drinking it at all. The energy lasted well into the morning without me feeling fatigued at all for about 5-6 hours after taking it. I didn't feel at all jittery despite all the stimulants, and the unique flavor was something I began to look forward to. Pumps were not quite as good as I thought they'd be with 8g of CM 2:1, but I also don't respond well to agmatine, and the CM was competing with a lot of vasoconstricting stimulants. That said I never felt like I was struggling to refuel between sets, but I wouldn't say I was blown away with the pump as I have been with other products in the past. As far as focus goes, just a slight improvement there; it was right on par with what I'd expect from the sprinkling of nootropics. Just enough to gain an edge I'd say, but never achieving any sort of tunnel vision.

Value

This is a knock. At 1 scoop you only get 20 servings and the bottle is ~$45. If they can get the price below $40, they might have a contender, but at $45 it's just too much. There are other products out there that are just as effective at a lower price point.

Side Effects

None.

Conclusion

If TC Nutrition can correct the labeling errors I think they have a really good product here. I think the mistake is going to cast a shadow of doubt on the rest of the product's accuracy though, so I think they will also need to incorporate some 3rd party testing for accuracy and really make a point to showcase the results. They did a great job in the formulation overall and the flavor, and this could become a really popular PWO if they can get the label right and create confidence in the brand by the consumer. Right now I don't think that's there. I'll recommend it with slight hesitation.

Thank you again to TC Nutrition!

Quick Summary

With the product's name being Arimidrol, I was expecting results similar to what I've typically gotten from the arimistane products I've tried in the past. However, where arimistane generally gave me a leaner, dryer look with a muscle hardening effect and some moderate strength gains, the highlight of this product for me was an elevation in libido and an increased pleasure during sexual activities. I feel like this product was working for me, but the aesthetic and performance benefits were not as noticeable as I was expecting. However, the libido effects were unmistakable, and were a nice surprise.

Introduction

First off, big thanks to VMI for participating in the TROOPS program, and for letting me try this. I'm a 36 year old dad, and have lifted weights on and off since I graduated high school. I've never had huge numbers, but I enjoy doing the "big 3" powerlifting exercises and tend to focus my training on increasing those lifts and gaining strength in general. I stopped working out in early 2016 due to life taking an unexpected turn, but have been back in the gym for a few months now. I have used AI products in the past for piece of mind in regard to hormonal balance, and am especially interested in using them now as I'm getting older.

Ingredient Profile

Astragalus Extract: 250mg
General adaptogen and immune booster that has been shown to have cardioprotective effects according to Examine.com.

Acacetin: 100mg
Isolated from damiana leaf (turnera diffusa), this is the aromatase inhibitor and workhorse of the product. I could not find any information regarding the specific dosages used in the supporting research studies, unfortunately, but the ingredient is backed by clinical research as well as anecdotal evidence on various forums.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

Dosage is two capsules, once a day, 20-30 minutes prior to a meal or training. I took it before lunch everyday because it is the most consistent meal I have during the day timing-wise, and I try my best to space the doses as evenly as possible. I never experienced any bad tasting burps or anything after taking this. I used one bottle, which was a 30-day supply.

Effectiveness

In order to keep from rambling, I'm going to break this part up into the typical categories for AI products, and include what I noticed for each. I will list the category in which I noticed the strongest effect first, and go down from there.

Libido:
As I mentioned in the title and quick summary, the libido boost I received from this was by far the most prominent effect I received from this, and was really the only way I could tell it was doing anything for me up until the last several days of the bottle. Without divulging TMI, after a week so I felt a noticeable increase in sex drive, an increase in frequency in erections, sometimes for no reason, and sexual activities felt better and were more intense.

Mood/Attitude:
I didn't notice any changes mentally until the last few days, but I did notice that around the day 25 mark that I was in a better mood than usual, and I seemed to have more energy in the afternoons than usual. I normally drink an energy drink at work around 1:30 to help push through the rest of the afternoon, but I made it through all of last week without using it. I came into work this morning tired AF from a long weekend, and was very happy to see that the energy drink I bought last Monday was still in the fridge. I have also noticed I've been more confident when dealing with some of the more difficult contractors at work. It is a subtle difference and certainly could be due to a placebo effect, but it's noticeable and welcome nonetheless.

Body Composition:
I didn't notice anything here that couldn't be attributed to my diet and training, but I did put on about 3 pounds while keeping my bodyfat roughly the same. I believe this could have had some effect here, but it is just too hard to say for sure how much. However, the fact that I didn't gain any noticeable amount of fat, coupled with the mood boost I noticed during the final week makes me feel like it may have been having a positive effect on my cortisol levels. I would be curious to see how much/if any further benefit I could have gotten from running two bottles consecutively.

Strength Performance:
I was steadily getting stronger before taking this due to muscle memory and the fact that I have plenty of room for linear progression as a novice trainee. I continued getting stronger while taking this, but I did not notice any real boost in strength from this. Again, this product certainly did not hurt, but I can't say for sure that I noticed a benefit here.

Side Effects

None, unless you count morning wood. I had it practically every morning after around the two-week mark with this, sometimes it would even wake me up in the middle of the night. I finished the bottle three days ago, and now that I think about it, I haven't had this occurrence for the past couple of nights.

Value

Amazon has this for $24.99 with free shipping using prime, which is the best deal I've found. At roughly $0.83 a serving, I think this is a good value, especially if you respond well to acacetin. If nothing else, it represents a cheap way to test out your response to this particular ingredient without spending too much money.

Conclusion

Overall, I feel like this product was having some effect, but probably needed more time for the benefits to become more noticeable. The libido/sexual aspects were quite obvious, but the aesthetic and functional effects I typically experience with an AI were more subtle than I was expecting if they manifested at all. It could be that I just do not respond to acacetin as quickly as other AI's such as arimistane, though, so your mileage may vary because there does seem to be both clinical and anecdotal evidence out there to support its effectiveness. I feel like an 8-week run will be necessary for me to truly judge this product's effectiveness, but for the price, it is worth a shot if you've never tried an acacetin-based AI.

Introduction

I did some research on Weight Gainers and Meal Replacements and i found this product. Liked the profile and price, so why not buy it.

Ingredient Profile

It's a Weight gainer but i mostly used it as Meal Replacement. Each serving is one scoop (50g).

Nutrition facts are based on 4 servings.
720 Calories
0 Fat
130 Carbs
16 Sugars
50.4 Protein

Carb Blend is made of (Rice Starch, Wheat Starch, Modified Corn Starch). No Maltodextrin, no Dextrose, no cheap carb sources which is great. Also i love the fact that sugars are relatively low to carb ratio.

Protein Blend consists of (Whey Concentrate (fast to medium digestion), Milk Protein Concentrate (80% slow digestion, 20% fast), Hydrolyzed Whey Peptides (fast digestion), Egg Albumin (medium digestion)). You got multiple protein sources with different digestion times which i really like. Despite the fact that protein type ratios are not disclosed i don't think that it's simply loaded on Concentrate. Usually i experience digestion problems with Concentrate but not on this product.

My only minor complaint is the lack of fat. I get it most people would like fat totally removed but i am a different case. I would like 10-15 grams of fat and some more calories.

8g Creatine Matrix (Creatine Monohydrate, Creatine HCL, Creatine Nitrate). Creatine Monohydrate is the most effective and studied type of Creatine, Creatine HCL is molecularly bound with hydrochloric acid to enchance it's solubility and overall absorption rates, Creatine nitrate is a form of creatine where the molecule is found to a nitrate group, it is more soluble than creatine monohydrate like other types of creatine but there are no studies that indicate that it's more effective. Overall Creatine Matrix is a good addition.

Next we got 8g of added amino acids (Leucine, Isoleucine, Valine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Glutamine, Glycine). It's a positive thing that the 3 first amino acids are BCAA's which help with recovery and muscle building. The other 5 amino acids are EAA's which "compliment" and support the BCAA's. I believe that Glutamine helps somewhat with recovery despite the fact that studies don't support this. All these extra amino acids are a positive add.

Lastly a Vitamin/Mineral blend consisting of (Vitamin A, E, B1, B2, B3, Pantothenic Acid, B6, B12, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin K) mostly on a 120% daily value, except Vitamin B6 (308%) and B12 (320%). Basically a Basic Multi-Vitamin on a Weight Gainer. Solid addition.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

I tried Chocolate Ice Cream and Vanilla. Both are great flavors with no chemical taste. Chocolate Ice Cream tastes like it's name (9/10). Vanilla tastes good also but it gets more boring than Chocolate (8/10).

I add 4 servings on a 500ml shaker. You need to shake it for 50-60 seconds (it's a weight gainer afterall).Mixes relatively well. Vanilla mixes somewhat easier than Chocolate.

Dosing depends on my needs. When working out in the gym i would take 4 servings (200g) after workout. On job i would take 4 servings in the morning and 4 scoops in the afternoon.

Effectiveness

I am using it mostly as Meal Replacement. Fills my macros with no digestive problems (no farts and diarrhea). Doesn't sit like a brick in my stomach. Fills me for about 2-3 hours. Great/excellent recovery after workout but that depends on many factors. Don't except drinking this and having great/excellent recovery while having a crap diet. It ain't going to happen. Like i said earlier i would like some fats to be more balanced but you can't have it all. Overall i am very satisfied.

Value

I bought a "small" amount (just a little treat).... About 43.500g (43.5 kg) for 248 Euros. Price per 4 servings (200g) is 1.14 Euros (1.30 Dollars). If i use 8 servings it costs 2.28 Euros (2.60 Dollars). Excellent price for a weight gainer.

Conclusion

My favorite Weight Gainer so far. A quality product with great macros and taste, no digestion problems, filling and an excellent value. When i am done with my stockpile i am thinking buying another 20kg. I really like this product. Thanks for reading my review.

INTRODUCTION

Thanks to VMI SPORTS for constantly participating in the SR TROOP program and to SupplementReviews for making this connection possible. I lift 5 days per week, from Monday to Friday.

INGREDIENT PROFILE

Calories: 105
Total Fat: Less than 1g
Cholesterol: 1mg
Sodium: 40mg (1.5% DV)
Total Carbohydrate: 1g
Protein: 24g

Type of Protein: Whey Protein Isolate
Form of Processing: Cold Processed
BCAA (coming from Protein): 5.3g
Extras: Gluten Free, Lactose Free, Non GMO, Aspartame Free, Patented Electrolytes (500mg Magnesium Bisglycinate Chelate, 300mg Calcium Bisglycinate Chelate, 183mg Potassium Glycinate Complex and 8mg Chromium Nicotinate Glycinate Chelate), Digestive Enzymes (Protease 1, Protease 11, Amylase, Lipase, Lactase).

Comments: Those are all great forms of electrolytes so well done VMI. The cholesterol is also very low which is good. Great profile.

VMI has a FAQ section of this protein here: https://www.vmisports.com/products/protolyte-whey-isolate if you need more information.

TASTE/MIXABILITY/DOSING

*TASTE: I received Vanilla Peanut Butter. I don't like Vanilla flavored proteins (except Pro-Antium) but the inclusion of Peanut Butter is worth it to improve the taste. It's not very delicious but it's alright, I give it a 7/10. At the end it's a Whey Isolate protein, I don't expect it to taste better than a protein that has Whey Concentrate. With milk it's 8/10.

They sent me 1 sample of these flavors: Orange Dreamsicle (7.5/10), Chocolate Peanut Butter (8/10), Snickerdoodle (7/10), Strawberry (8/10). Surprisingly, Strawberry was the best along with Chocolate Peanut Butter. I thought Strawberry was going to be the worst lol. All were tried with Water.

MIXABILITY: No problems here.

DOSING: I took 1 scoop post-workout, sometimes inmediately post-workout and other times it was like 2 hours before bed.

EFFECTIVENESS

The first week of taking this I was very surprised because muscle soreness was zero, nothing! That's even more surprising because the week before, I was sick and wasn't able to lift so my soreness had to be higher but surprisingly it wasn't the case. I thought it was going to be an epic month with no pain! The following week, reality gave me a punch and woke me up from my 'painless dream' lol.

But Protolyte worked alright. Fast digestion (1-1.5hrs), no side effects, helped maintain muscle, helped to keep lifting daily, useful for adding protein to any meal with low protein amount.

VALUE

You can find the 1.6lbs size for $39.99 around the web (Suppz, Tigerfitness, Amazon, etc.), $34.99 (AllStarHealth) and +$45 (other websites). The most I would pay for a protein of this size is $35, not more than that. Using those patented electrolytes seems expensive though so you're probably getting what you pay for. The 4.6lbs size container is not so widely available and you can get it for $75-$80. That gives you 70 servings. The $75-80 for the bigger size is the "average" of this protein category (Whey Isolate only proteins).

So overall, it's not a bad price, you're paying what you get. I would suggest buying other things and finding coupons/promos/discounts to lower the overall price. I raised the Value a bit more (from 7 to 7.5) because I compared it with other competitors and their proteins only have Protein without anything extra. VMI's website sometimes also has a coupon discount (most brand websites do) so you could get the 4.6lbs for $64 if you get a 20% off coupon.

SIDE EFFECTS

None.

CONCLUSION

Good taste. Great profile. If the extra ingredients are worth it depends on you but I can't deny their top quality so you're paying for what you get. I don't have complaints about this protein, I just think Isolate only proteins have their own target.

Quick Summary

A good whey blend protein, better flavoring and some extras than bulk.

Introduction

Hey SR, here today to review Flex Nutrition's whey protein called Everyday Whey Pro. I use protein daily to meet macro requirements, help with recovery, stay out of a catabolic state, and satiate hunger. Because of these purposes, I usually enjoy a whey/casein blend but I adjust to what I have, make my own, and find most proteins very useful in helping me with my goals. Here's how Everyday Whey did.

Ingredient Profile

I would say this is an above average whey protein profile. I attached the supplement facts, but the macros are as follows: 140 cals, 2g fat, 4g carbs (2g sugar), 24 g protein. With these macros, it's pretty easy to fit into the most strict diet plans, even though the carbs are a little higher than I like on my keto diet. This protein then adds some MCTs, which I really like for my keto diet, and Stevia for a more natural sweetening option. Overall, a good profile and looks like a mixture between bargain and more premium with the ingredients.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

Because of the MCTs and a little added sugar, this whey has a better taste than cleaner or bulk proteins. I had the creamy vanilla flavor and even though I'm not huge on vanilla it was good. Mixability was good, minimal shaking, and a little thicker than regular which I like. Dosing is whenever you need it, I would usually take postworkout or as a snack/meal replacement mid day. I usually took one full scoop of this, but sometimes I did a half/half with casein.

Effectiveness

Proteins are hard to judge, but since this was easy to fit into my macro/diet plan this worked. I progressed in terms of my goals in the gym and my recovery did not suffer. I didn't lose any muscle mass even though I am cutting so it kept me out of a catabolic state along with my protein macros. I will say, I did enjoy this more when I mixed a half scoop with a half scoop of casein as it helped me in terms of satiating hunger, but did an ok job by itself as well. I had no digestion issues so this protein worked well for me.

Value

This is on the pricier side of things at $35 for 26 servings. You can definitely buy cheaper bulk proteins and receive a much better $/serving, but this does taste better, have MCTs and stays away from artificial sweeteners. I would like it a little cheaper, but I think it's fair.

Side Effects

None.

Conclusion

Overall, I think this is a nice protein and a mix between bargain and premium. It worked well for me and will look for sales.

Quick Summary

So I recently took this PH for 30 days as part of a contest prep for a state NPC bodybuilding show. I have to say I was very pleased with the results. Coupled with a strict diet, and increased cardio 4-5 times a week while on it, I remained the same weight while on it, but saw a definite increase in lean mass in the last two weeks of the cycle.

Introduction

I am a 36 year old amateur NPC bodybuilding competitor. I have tried several natural test boosters and PH supplements over the last 10 years. Overall, my favorite up to this point was Legal Gear Sciences Trifecta stack prior to the rebranding after some legal issues with the DEA. After 30 days on the 1-AD, it was clear that it worked, and without any horrible negative sides.

Ingredient Profile

Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 Tablet
Servings per container: 60
Amount per serving %DV
1-androstene-3b-ol, 17-one Decanoate 75mg
5a-Hydroxy Laxogenin 50 mg

Other Ingredients: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Phosphatidylcholine 75%, Hydroxy Propyl BetaCyclodextrin (HPBCD), Phytosterols, Magnesium Stearate, Silica, FD&C Blue #2 FD&C Red #40.

So I am no chemist, and I don't know all of the small changes, name changes, and tweaks that all these companies have used and continue to use to mask the precursors for 1-ANDROSTERONE. 1-AD uses 1-androstene-3b-ol, 17-one Decanoate as it's precursor. I found that this was a solid, mild mix with a low estrogen conversion. I had no signs of gyno. but again I only used this product for 30 days with the recommended dosage. The strength gains and improvement in mass became noticeable within the first 14 days. Hi-Tech claims that this product will increase vascularity, however I did not notice this as much as I did just an overall fuller look. There was slight water retention. As I mentioned earlier, I carried a wetter look while on this product, however, with the lack of a weight increase with my training routine, I would say that the water retention was minimal.

5-Alpha-Hydroxy-Laxogenin is supposed to have a similar effect as Anavar. Hi-Tech claims that this ingredient will have no hormone suppression, shut down or toxicity. With my experience, with a complete loss of sex drive, and testicular discomfort I would disagree with their claims of no hormone suppression. My body seemed to become completely dependent on this product for test production. My body quickly adjusted with no PCT and natural test production resumed within a week of stopping the 1-AD. The next time I use this product I will ensure I add a PCT into the mix.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

The directions are for 2 tablets spaced through the day. I myself took one around 8 am, and the other approximately 12 hours later to keep an even Intake. The pills are not large, and are easily swallowed. I noticed no horrible taste, or indigestion that I sometimes get with some supplements.

Effectiveness

I noticed no difference within the first week. By the second week it seemed to be kicking in. I started to feel fuller every day, and by the end of the cycle I was full and hard during my workouts. By week 3, I lost all sex drive, something that came back after a week of going off of the 1-AD. That was something that worried me a bit, as with my experience with other PH's, my libido skyrocketed.

As far as workouts, they were pretty intense. My coach had me on a 6 day a week training split, and for the most part I had to force myself out of the gym because I didn't want to stop. During my workouts, my strength gains increased maybe 10 lbs per lift during the 30 days. It wasn't anything insane, but I felt great while on 1-AD. My focus and energy were great, whether this was just a mind game or a result of the product, it worked to keep me pushing hard. When I fatigued out, however, I was numb and had no muscle connection. This was especially true on back day. However each day was better then the next, and I seemed to be growing even tho my weight stayed the same. My gains were not dry gains, but I was on a fairly high carb diet while using this product. My pumps in the gym were great. The only downfall was I seemed to loose a lot of the noticeable "size" I had shortly after walking out of the gym when my pump fell off. During my workouts, and for about two hours after however, I looked big, and lean. And once my pump died off, my muscles were much harder and fuller then usual which was a huge plus. This also aided in posing, as I felt like I had a great muscle connection. I did loose strength after coming off this product, but in all honesty my diet also drastically changed and my cardio increased significantly as I started to lean out for the show. I cannot attest to long term strength gains with this product. I would like to try this product again without immediately going into a contest prep as I'm sure the gains will be more impressive.

Value

I paid roughly $50.00 for this product through my coach. Based on other products, both non hormonal test boosters and PH's out on the market that sell for much higher costs, this was a great value for what you get. Even with the minamal strength gains on my end, I fell in love with the muscle fullness and the muscle connection I was able to obtain while on the 1-AD. It worked well for me and was well worth the cost I paid.

I have also seen this available on dpsnutrition.com for $59.99 before the usual discount code of dps10. Currently 1-AD is out of stock on dps, but Hi-Tech's products are 15% off. DPS will notify you by email when the product is back in stock if you click on the notify me link in the product description.

I've also seen this product in stock in a local supp shop, thenutritioncorners.com. The price is also around $60.00, however they will price match online prices from companies such as DPS.

1-AD is currently in stock at Mysupplementstore.com, for $59.99, with free US shipping.

Side Effects

The only negative sides I experienced was a complete drop off of my libido for approximately three weeks, starting about halfway through the bottle. Libido returned to normal a week after coming off of this product. The only other negative side I experienced was slight testicular discomfort during the last two weeks on this product. The discomfort was nothing severe, it was noticeable off and on a couple times a week.

Conclusion

I will gladly use this product again. It was by far the best PH I had used since LG's pre DEA raids. 1-AD gave me great fullness and mental connection to my muscles. The strength gains were what I expected with the workout splits and diet that I was on. Although I didn't put on any weight while on this product, I looked like I added 5 lbs, while leaning out in the process. I recommend this product to anyone looking for a fuller feeling in the gym.

Quick Summary

A Special thanks to HD Labs Nutrition for their participation here on SR.com. Also, my apologies for this review being late. Calibrate V2 is overall unimpressive from my experiences and needs significant improvement in many areas.

Introduction

Today, I discuss my experience with HD Labs Nutrition pre workout Calibrate V2. I consider myself somewhat of a stim junkie and love to try new pre workout formulations. Pre workouts have become a especially handy for me since I began my new career and engaged in more frequent cardio sessions during recomp intervals. Of course, I will undergo "off" cycles to help prevent adrenal downgrade, which I believe is vital to ensuring pre workouts are still effective for the user. Calibrate V2 looked like a more modest formula compared to others I've tried, but still looked worth a try.

Ingredient Profile

The profile is fully disclosed with all ingredients and dosages included. Though, I've never been fond of the cluttered, "dosages in parenthesis" type format. Also, much of the ingredients is underdosed.

Each serving size is one scoop.

The profile begins with vitamin D at 1,250IU, niacin at 15mg, magnesium at 80mg, chloride at 60mg, and sodium at 40mg

Next is the Advanced Strength & Output Amplifier complex dosed at 5.1g containing 4 main ingredients. They include beta alanine at 1.6g, creatine monohydrate at 1.5g, MagnaPower at 1.0g a.k.a Magnesium Creatine Chelate, and trimethylglycine at 1.0g. While these ingredients are all good for endurance, energy, and overall anabolic support, they are quite underdosed. Each of these ingredients has a general effective dosage quantity that can be as high as 5g.

Following is the Extreme Vasodilation & Muscle Oxygenation Matrix dosed at 625mg containing 2 ingredients including L citrulline malate at 500mg, and HydroMax (glycerol powder) at 125mg. These are both well known for their pump and swole-feel enhancing benefits, but again we have significant underdosing here. To not even have a full gram of citrulline malate alone is ridiculous.

Lastly is the High Performance Energy & Nootropic Blend dosed at 240mg containing 3 ingredients including caffeine at 125mg, dicaffeine malate at 102.5mg, and citicoline at 12.5mg. The dosage of caffeine for all users is variable depending on each user's preference. So the caffeine sources are not too underdosed, but the citicoline needs to be dosed higher.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

The only available flavor at this time is raspberry punch. I thought the flavor was good, though it did have a slight chemical like aftertaste.

It mixed fine in water without any sediment or grit.

During the initial three weeks I took one scoop 15-20 minutes before my workout. In the remaining days, I bumped up to two scoops to see if an increased dosage would better the effects. Again, the two scoops were mixed with water and taken 15-20 minutes pre workout.

Effectiveness

Calibrate was not a total miss and did get the job done. However, I feel there can be improvement in several areas.

Energy (6/10): Even two scoops, the energy was average at best. It was clean, but not consistent. It would eventually wane in the latter portion of my workout and simply was not an overall impressive surge like I would better prefer. I was not expecting it to bounce me off the walls, but I feel it could've been better

Focus (1/10): The focus was borderline non-existent. The little focus that I barely got was in no way satisfactory and I did not have that improved mindset or sharpened instinct that I often look for in a pre workout.

Pump (3/10): I experienced barely any increased pump or swole feel. The highly underdosed l-citrulline malate and glycerol powder did little to pump my physique even during high volume compound sets.

Endurance (0/10): Again resulting from the lack of proper dosing, my endurance did not seem to benefit from Calibrate V2. I did not have any pwo induced longer or harder training intervals outside of what I would normally do. My endurance is normally high, but I would still be able to notice an increase given my past experiences with other PWOs.

In summary, even with an additional scoop, Calibrate V2 simple failed to deliver in nearly all areas.

Value

Calibrate V2 is only available through HD Labs Nutrition own website at 50 dollars for a 32 serving tub. Considering the lack of results and that two scoops will most likely be needed for most bigger users such as myself, I find that value to be insufficient and too expensive. Significantly better pre workouts I've used on today's market may go for the same or even lower that 50 dollars. All things considered, Calibrate V2 is not worthy of an investment for me.

Side Effects

none

Conclusion

While everyone is different and may find themselves contempt with this formula, I was overall not impressed or satisfied with this product. The lack luster energy, borderline absent focus and pump, and no affect on endurance, makes Calibrate V2 a "no go" for me. To improve this product, I would significantly increase the dosage quantities of all of the included ingredients, lower the price, and add some additional focus and pump enhancers like agmatine sulfate. I'd say, it may be worth a try to those who prefer more modest dosed formulas, otherwise keep this one on the shelves and look elsewhere.

WARMACHINE OUT!!!

GO RED SOX!!!

Quick Summary

Hello Everyone, another review coming in fast. I am 18 and work at my local gym as a spin instructor, but my love is weightlifting. I have been using this product since I started working there 2 years ago, and am just now reviewing this after joining recently. So far I have written two other reviews, and am just as excited to write this one. Let's dive into it.

Introduction

Optimum Nutrition's Essential Amino Energy RTD is a fantastic product that brings great taste, energy, muscle recovery and mental focus to its consumer. For muscle recovery support drink 1 bottle after training. For energy and focus drink 1 bottle anytime during the day.

Ingredient Profile

Ingredients included in ON Amino are a blend of amino acids like Taurine, Beta Alanine, BCAA Peptides. It also contains Whey Isolate.
Taurine is an amino acid that is already made in your body, but it is not an essential amino acid. The difference between the two is an essential amino acid needs to be supplemented into your diet because you body does not already have it.
The blend of amino acids is kind of disappointing because it does not tell you the amounts that you are getting.
100 mg of caffeine as well.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

At my gym, we sell the watermelon wave flavor and it is amazing. The taste is perfect a little sweet and sour and the watermelon flavor is very dominant. The RTD formula is great and mixing is not needed. I have never had a problem with settling or shaking before hand. As for dosing, this is up to you. I usually drink 1 whole bottle at a time, but have mixed this into a gallon of water and it was still a great tasting product. Did not feel too watered down.
Packaging is very nice as well! Sturdy plastic bottle.

Effectiveness

Now, I mostly drink this when I need a switch up from my normal supplements that I take. Ill use this a pick me up during the day at work. Yes, sitting behind the gym desk can get very tiring lol. I usually reach for this and I feel so much better. The caffeine kicks in even though its only 100 mg (Im used to high amounts of caffeine). Mentally I feel much better. Not as tired and I'm able to focus better then normal. I have never felt more recovered after a workout though. For me, this product is more of a mid day pick me up.

Value

The cheapest you could find this is on allstarhealth.com at 27.49 for a 12 count. My gym sells them for 3 dollars each, and if I didnt get a discount I would not be buying them. For me, they seem a little expensive for a little boost, and would probably reach for an energy drink to reach the same purpose. Good product, just a little pricey for me. I have had energy boosters before that can save me about ten bucks.

Side Effects

None at all

Conclusion

In conclusion. Optimum Nutrition's RTD Amino Energy is a great pick me up if your looking for a boost. A little expensive but I am a true believer of trying everything and seeing the results. Great taste and I would definitely be interested into picking up any other flavorings. This product mostly made me feel energized and mentally clear rather then aiding me in muscle recovery.

Quick Summary

This MRE is one you should have no problem scarfing down while you're on the go

Introduction

Greetings SR! Back again with another review and this time it's MRE brought to you by Redcon1. Firstly, I want to thank the SR TROOPs program and Redcon1 for giving me the opportunity to try this product out. If you want to know of my background, you can find it in my profile here at:
https://supplementreviews.com/users/jamesjsix

Ingredient Profile

7.8/10
Nutritional Info:
Serving Size 4 Scoops (130g total, wow!)
Servings Per Container 25
Calories 525
Calories from Fat 35
Total Fat 4g
Saturated Fat <1g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 200mg
Potassium 250mg
Total Carbohydrate 75g
Dietary Fiber 8g
Sugars 5g
Protein 47g

Ingredients:
Rolled oats
Protein blend: salmon protein, chicken protein, egg albumin, brown rice protein, and pea protein
Dehydrated yam
Dehydrated sweet potato
Pea starch
Coconut water powder
Dehydrated blueberry fruit
Dehydrated goji fruit
Maltodextrin, dextrose
MCT oil
Natural flavor
Cellulose gum
Cinnamon
Salt
Sucralose
Acesulfame potassium.

Starting with the macros, a full serving of 4 scoops gives you a big punch towards whatever your calories and nutritional needs are and has a fairly common 1:1.5 ratio of protein to carbs. This meal replacement is a little different from many others in that its based on "real food" choices. Usually we'll see a heavy portion of milk proteins, either whey or casein, but this product has salmon and chicken protein as the first 2 ingredients in the protein blend with 3 other supporting protein choices. I both love this and am concerned at the same time. The pro to this is that a variety of proteins is nice, especially for a MRP, as it can hit different nutritional notes than just chugging more whey. The downside to me is that they are no specific on the protein source. Maybe it's just me but I see chicken protein and I want to know what part of the chicken (or fish) that I'm eating.

Carbs are also from more recognizable food choices with rolled oats (a lifter's carb if there ever was one) as the first choice with dehydrated additions after that. Fat is minimal but seems to be generally derived from coconut sources.

All in all the ingredient profile is a refreshing different take on a MRP and fits a niche in the marketplace that wasn't well addressed.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

7/10
Taste isn't super important to every supplement but for a meal replacement, its high on my list of things I care about. I received the Dutch Apple Pie flavor and while its doesn't quite hit the taste head on, it certainly reminds me of it. The dominant flavor is apple cinnamon (which really comes through) that finishes with the fairly benign oat flavor. Given the ingredients list, I think this is as good or better than I expected and was an overall positive.

Mixability was okay, but nothing to write home about. Clumping wasn't an issue at all but the heavy concentration of oats made this not a shake that's going to fully dissolve. If you've ever had a protein shake in a blender bottle that you added oat flour to or made a shake with a blender and used rolled oats, its similar to those, the oats stand out and give it a "sticky" mouth feel.

Dosing is a highlight, simply because the smaller scooper allowed me to take only what I needed for my macros for the day. Four scoops usually ended up being a really heavy shake so my normal was to take 3 scoops. Something as simple as the smaller scooper made a big difference for me in this product as some have a single huge scoop that is harder to deal with.

Effectiveness

8/10
As a meal replacement option, this is pretty darn good. As I said, I played around a bit with the dosing and found that the sweet spot for me was 3 scoops and I almost always mixed with water. This gave me right about 400 calories and struck the right balance for me between saiting my hunger while not leaving me overly full and sitting like a brick in my stomach. It functioned for me as a MRP should, it replaced one of my meals on days i was at work and didn't have time/access to real food.

Value

8.3/10
The best I could find for this supplement is $60 for a 100 scoop tub of ~7lbs. This puts you at $.60 a scoop total and if you use the standard dose you'll pay $2.40/serving. Another way to look at this is that you're essentially getting 219 calories per dollar.

At this price point, the value is pretty high in raw macro terms and if you are looking for a real food choice, it's definitely a good value. For comparison sakes, you are getting more calories per dollar than in many mass gainers as well as comparable MRPs. Most of those do not break 200 calories per dollar.

In general, MRP (and mass gainers as well) value is always in the eye of the holder for a product like this as you are paying for convenience calories, food is almost always cheaper. Compare this to a meal-prepped option, this is almost certainly more expensive but it's also easy to make, keep good, and transport.

Side Effects

None at 3 scoops, 4 scoops made me feel a bit bloated which is why i reduced my dosage.

Conclusion

8.1/10
I like this product and if i was looking to use a meal replacement shake normally, this would be high on my list of ones I could choose from. What sets this apart from the pack is the real food choices contained therein and the corresponding flavors. While the taste isn't spot on, its pretty good and different from almost any other I had from milk based sources and the calories come at a pretty good value. I'd like for there to be a little more info in the protein sources particularly, but it wouldn't prevent me from buying the product in the future. Recommended.

Quick Summary

Fantastic amino acid, colorant free without compromising taste. Decent value for money, would buy again.

Introduction

So Nutrex is finally available in South Africa again and this was one of the first products to catch my eye. I train right out of bed in the mornings around 5 am so a quality amino acid supplement is non-negotiable in helping to pull me out of a catabolic state and ready for whatever I have on the cards for that mornings workout. The packaging is solid, sealed well and no moisture damage found upon opening.

Ingredient Profile

Although its ingredient profile is somewhat simple, I found it to be highly effective.
It boasts 40mg of patented Magnesium (as TRAACS Magnesium Glycinate Glutamine Chelate)
A clinical dosed BCAA 2:1:1 profile of which:
- 3g L-Leucine (enough to activate mTOR receptors)
- 1.5g L-Isoleucine
- 1.5g L-Valine
As well as a proprietary blend labelled as a "High speed energy & amino complex" for a total of 2g which is comprised of:
Taurine
Magnesium Glycinate Glutamine Chelate (MGG)
N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
Caffeine Citrate (yielding 100mg active caffeine)
Theacrine (as pateneted TeaCrine)

Ingredient Breakdown:
Branched Chain Amino Acids (Leucine, Iso-Leucine and Valine) would aid in preventing muscle catabolism, as well as aid in recovery.
Taurine is a free form amino acid contained in foods and manufactured in the body from the amino acid cysteine. Because taurine is utilized by the body during exercise and in times of stress, it's become a popular ingredient in energy drinks and of course PWO's.
MGG as Glutamine itself rapidly dissolves on its own and Magnesium can cause stomach irritability. Glutamine in an amino acid chelate molecule allows for it to be more stable. While magnesium through an amino acid chelate molecule allow for greater availability and less irritability.Magnesium is chelated to both glycine and glutamine in this patented process that stabilizes glutamine and detoxifies magnesium. In this form the molecule breakdown includes, 10% magnesium, 60% glutamine, and 30% glycine. This in turn aids greatly in reducing muscle soreness and shortening of recovery time.
N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine, or NALT, is a supplement that's commonly used by people with ADHD. But, NALT is a unique supplement, because many people report feeling smooth energy, stress relief, happiness, and motivation after using NALT.
Caffeine Citrate is a central nervous system stimulant, usually used to aid with breathing and lung function.
TeaCrine, a patented stimulant similar to caffeine but with unlike caffeine, it does not affect blood pressure.

Although I feel the above ingredients are good as they are, I would have liked to see an electrolyte blend such as that of Scivation XtendGo which could help greatly with the loss of salts and decreased hydration during intense training. Even if it were a simple Sodium/Potassium blend, I feel this would increase its value greatly and make a genuine difference.

In comparison with other international Amino Acids ive used, a noticeable difference is that there is no vasodilating ingredients to aid in blood flow and muscle pumps during workout. L-Arginine, Agmantine Sulphate or Citrulline Malate could mean a much more intense workout and an even more enjoyable amino acid complex.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

At a serving size of 10.7g its well within PWO scoop range, mixed well when shaken with gusto otherwise small powder bubbles remain.
I don't think there would be any need to double scoop at any point, going above 8g of BCAA's would wreck even the strongest stomachs and have you on the loo with a caffeine buzz. Not ideal for anyone trying to get a decent workout done on the go.
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of Nutrex' Amino Charger+Energy was that it is entirely colorant free which I love, for those who don't know, the colorants that are added to many supplements can cause gastric discomfort and skin issues in those prone to those types of issues for which I am one.
As far as taste goes, fruit punch is pretty much the only flavor available for the charger+energy and in all honesty it was pleasant, easy to get down first thing in the morning, oddly reminiscent of a glass of fruit cocktail juice with your morning breakfast.

Effectiveness

Being the caffeine junkie that I am, I was not expecting a massive rush from the minimal 100mg of active caffeine but I know that I needed it to get me up and running at 5 am. I was able to notice a difference in my workouts after about the 3rd session using amino charger+energy. Felt much more driven, slight focus enhancement and found that it was definitely easier to get a sweat going on an empty stomach. For overall effectiveness I would say that Nutrex' Amino Charger+Energy made a significant difference to my workout, perhaps not the same as Scivations XtendGo in terms of muscle pumps and electrolyte supply but still noticeably different as opposed to not using an amino acid supplement at all. Although subtle, the energy boost is evident and no crash was felt after the workout, I can describe it as a very clean energy boost with added mental focus and clarity.

Value

In South Africa Nutrex' Amino Charger+Energy retails for 429ZAR which works out to 32 dollars US for international readers, further split it comes to 14.30ZAR or 1.06US per serving. In SA this translates to pretty good value for money and puts it right up there with the likes of Mutant, Pro-Supps, BioTechUSA and Optimum Nutrition. Although not the cheapest, I have no doubt that it was more effective than any locally made amino acid i've tried in the past.

Side Effects

Quite happy to report no side effects were felt during the entire use of the above product, no shakes, shivers, heart palpitations or indigestion experienced at all. I can safely say that its a risk free amino acid supplement.

Conclusion

Ultimately, I am really happy with the new line that Nutrex has released, being colorant free and tasting phenomenal means that I am likely to stick with them for some time to come. Solid packaging, even when shipped from the US to us in South Africa, the quality remained and a really pleasant experience was had. All in all, a good addition to any fasted morning athlete, gym rat or the average Joe looking for a quick pick me up during a long work day. Would buy again, good work Nutrex.

Quick Summary

Interesting formula with quality patented technology like AminoZorb and Kre-Alkalyn but it either needs more dose of each of those 2 ingredients and/or the product itself needs more ingredients to be considered in my "elite preworkout" list. However, it will still push you to make good progress in your workout. I invite you to read my suggestions for the company.

INTRODUCTION

Thanks to Flex Nutrition for participating in the SR TROOP program, allowing me to try this interesting preworkout and SupplementReviews for making this connection possible. I love preworkouts, you love preworkouts, we all love preworkouts. And if you don't love them, then you haven't tried one correctly or haven't tried the correct one. I lift from Monday-Friday so I need preworkouts to help me keep pushing and pulling!

INGREDIENT PROFILE

Flex Nutrition explains every ingredient they added here: https://flexnutrition.net/product/rocket-fuel/ so I'll try to put just the 'most popular benefits'.

5g of Citrulline Malate for Increased Pumps, Vascularity, Performance, etc. For more benefits and how it works, read here: https://supplementreviews.com/ingredients/citrulline-malate or read the link at the beginning of this section. We don't know if it's a 2:1 ratio or 1:1 or even if it's more Malic Acid than Citrulline. Unfortunately, the product nor the website say what's the ratio of their Citrulline Malate, it's important to know the ratio. It's a good 'healthy' or 'balanced' dose. 6g or more can sometimes send you to a bathroom trip before working out.

3g of patented Beta Alanine (CarnoSyn) for increased performance, strength, delay fatigue, train for longer time, etc. For more benefits and how it works, read here: https://supplementreviews.com/ingredients/beta-alanine or read the link at the beginning of this section. Very good dose.

2g of D-Ribose: It's involved in the production of ATP (active energy). For more info, check the brand's website at the beginning of this section.

2g AminoZorb which is enzymatic buffered Leucine, Isoleucine, Valine 2:1:1 ratio. The brand's website says: "AminoZorb BCAA patent pending process makes this branch chain completely stable in solution and water soluble." A bit more info about it of the brand owner of the patent: http://allamericanpharmaceutical.com/Docs/AminoZorb/AminoZorb.pdf This ingredient is new to me and to this industry, it's still "patent pending".

1.5g of Kre-Alkalyn. It's Creatine that has been processed to have a "pH" of 12, so it doesn't convert into Creatinine. The Creatine molecules are more stable. I haven't tried this form of Creatine by itself so I can't say if it's more effective than other forms of Creatine. This is the dose used by the product that has this ingredient by itself so I guess it's ok. Considering the price of this product, I would have liked to see more dose though. Check the brand's website at the beginning for more info.

1g of Tyrosine. From NOW L-Tyrosine's product: "L-Tyrosine is an essential amino acid and a precursor of the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine to help maintain normal and health mental functions and support your mood or well-being. In addition L-Tyrosine may also support healthy adrenal, thyroid and pituitary function. One thing it also does is convert to the thyroid hormone thyroxin. This plays an important role in controlling metabolic rate, not to mention skin health, mental health, and growth rate!" Good dose. The minimum you want to see is 500mg.

325mg of Caffeine for energy, alertness, focus, mood, etc. This dose is high but considering it's the only stimulant in this formula, then I think this high dose is necessary.

I give it a 7.5/10 here. I like the idea they tried to do. They kept it "simple" by the amount of ingredients used but also tried to put some interesting ingredients in here. The problem with that is for example "D-Ribose". Yes, it's involved in ATP production but it's 2g a significant amount? I read any amount can be beneficial but I also read doses above 5g were needed. The AminoZorb is interesting but 2g? :/ dissapointed with that dose because of the price you ask for this product. 1.5g of Kre-Alkalyn seems to be the standard but again, for the price you ask for, you should add more.

TASTE/MIXABILITY/DOSING

TASTE: I received the Fruit Punch flavor. It seems to be the only one available right now. The initial taste isn't so pleasant but as you keep drinking, the taste gets better and better, reminding me of a natural fruit punch flavor. At the end of the flavor and the aftertaste, you will feel it.

MIXABILITY: The bad thing is the huge foam :/ It's not a foam that goes away easily, you have to swirl the liquid as you drink and also let it sit for a couple of minutes. This needs to be fixed. Also, the powder was clumped before opening. It wasn't a big problem because the clumps were not solid but it's still a minor problem that needs to be fixed if you pretend this to be commercialized.

DOSING: 1 scoop 30-45 minutes before working out.

SERVINGS: 33

EFFECTIVENESS

Right now I'm not lifting like before so won't separate this into several sections like I always do. I think the best attribute of this preworkout was the energy and endurance/performance part. Even though Caffeine is the only stimulant, the 325mg did a great job to last the whole workout. The endurance/performance was remarkable, I could easily do combined exercises/supersets although I'm already used to that. The Focus was alright but not outstanding. I'm not lifting for Strength right now so won't judge it so much here. I didn't feel increase on strength. Pump was higher than average but no skin splitting pumps.

So overall, it did a good job, but it's not an elite preworkout. It's in a "higher than average" category.

VALUE

It seems to be only available on the brand's website: https://flexnutrition.net/product/rocket-fuel/ for $49.49. Usually the price the brands have on their website is not the real retail price they expect to sell their product but considering it's the only place available to buy and with that price, I have to judge it based on that price of $49.49. It's too expensive.

Even though putting the Kre-Alkalyn and AminoZorb patented ingredients is expensive, I think the dose included doesn't justify the high price. It's only 2g of AminoZorb BCAA and 1.5g of Kre-Alkalyn. If we were talking about 4g and 3g respectively, then maybe it would be more justified because it would be like buying Aminos + Preworkout in 1 single product, 2 in 1, and therefore, it would be more justified. Also it only has 1 ingredient for Pumps, which is Citrulline Malate, so IMO, it lacks more ingredients and doses of some ingredients included to justify that high price.

SIDE EFFECTS

None.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE COMPANY

1. Add more ingredients to justify the high price.
2. If you don't want to add more ingredients because you want to keep it simple, then fine, but then double the dose of AminoZorb, D-Ribose and Kre-Alkalyn to 4g, 4g and 3g respectively. Maybe it could take this preworkout to a next level and keeping it "simple".
3. Please solve the huge foam generated.
4. Please also solve the clumps, if you don't do anything about this, sooner or later the product will fail, retailers will lose money because people won't buy it because it's clumped.
5. Disclose the Citrulline Malate ratio (2:1, 1:1, etc).