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

Nothing flashy, just L-Carnitine.

Introduction

First and foremost I would like to thank VMI Sports for sending me out their product so I could try it and review it for you guys. I would also like to thank SR for providing me the opportunity and the tools so that I can share with you guys my experience.

I love to try products that can help me burn that unwanted fat. Carnitine has been in the market for a while now and has a lot of studies done already. I thought why not add Carnitine to my arsenal of fat fighting supplements and see where it takes me.

Ingredient Profile

Very simple profile of three different type of Carnitine ... Carnitine simply put helps the body produce energy. It plays a crucial role in the production of energy by transporting fatty acids into your cells' mitochondria. The mitochondria act as engines within your cells, burning these fats to create usable energy.

L-Carnitine 1.5 g - This is the standard form that is not bound with any other molecules. This supposedly is what you would want if you wanted help with energy increase.

L-Carnitine L-Tartrate 750 mg - This is another form of Carnitine that turns into Carnitine Tartrate within the body. I'm not sure what mix the two into this forumal. Carnitine and Carnitine Tartrate could be considered the same.

Acetyl L-Carnitine 750 mg - Now this guys is a little different from the other two since it's actually found mostly in the brain. Carntine Tartrate is found mostly in the muscles ... This form of Carntine should actually help you with cognitive functions. It has the ability to penetrate blood brain barrier which allows it to stay in the central nervous system, where its main effects actually take place. While in the nervous system the main attributes in contributes is
provide energy for brain cells thru its fat transport mechanism, also it becomes a substrate for production of acetylcholine, one of the main neurotransmitters of the human body.

Good stuff overall.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

Pretty good tasting tablespoon of liquid. I didn't mind the taste at all. It does have a little of the chemical taste but nothing that would make me shiver.

Effectiveness

I'm a big believer in Carnitine but the effects are very subtle. I didn't notice any cognitive advantage while using this product like described by others. I think I could say that I had a better well being but that could just be me in my head. As for as the fat burning capabilities that I would say was noticeable. I did not loose that much weight but my waist line has slimmed tremendously ... A lot of it I contribute to my good diet and the cardio I've been subjugating myself to. I do feel like when doing cardio on Carnitine my body fat has been attacked more efficiently than with out it. I don't think I have ever gotten so skinny in my waist line that I'm actually going to buy another belt. I realize that the diet has the real affect on this outcome but again I think that the outcome is so much more effective because of this product. No, let me rephrase ... I don't think my outcome would be that effective without the main ingredient called L-Carnitine ... I did not feel any thermogenics (increased heat) while on this product but it did initiate more sweating while doing cardio.

Value

This is not going to be easy because there are similar product out there. If you want to get Carnitine by itself in a powder form that would be the cheapest ... It would cost your for 3g about .30 cents per serving. If you purchased this product it would cost you .64 cents per serving. That is pretty much doubled. Now you have to consider that you are paying for the ease of access to consume the product. You paying for the bottle, the liquid and the flavor pretty much. Personally that's pretty expensive to ask for that much just because you added Acetyl L-Carnitine ... that actually costs the same amount in the powder form.

Side Effects

None that I have experienced.

Conclusion

Would I personally buy this product ... Only if it was buy one get one free. I'm sorry but personally I'm just too frugal to ahead and double up the price when I know there is a powder form that is half cheaper. But, that's just me. If you don't want to bother with powder and looking for things to mix it with ... than this product is actually for you. Very easy to consume and very enjoyable. I'm a big fan of Carnitine so I would recommend this product to the rich and lazy ;). I thank you for reading this review and wish you a wonderful day.

Quick Summary

Mostly bought this product to compare different EAA products. Used Redcon1 Grunt before and was quite happy. Fellow troopers pointed out other EAA products and decided to give them a try. Primeval Labs EAA Max outdid Grunt period. Watch out for deals, the regular price is a little too steep

Introduction

I always use BCAA's as a staple. They seem to work good to reduce doms and increased recovery speed. Some brands recently came out with products containing EAA's as well. I read some interesting stuff about EAA's and tried Redcon1 Grunt at first. I was keen to find out if the addition of EAA's would provide some benefit. I read an article that stated that just using BCAA's is just like playing baseball with just an pitcher andwell not a complete team. Since a am from Europe and nobody plays baseball here the metaphor was mostly lost on me, but the bottom line was that EAA's are a superb addition and I decided to give it a try. Grunt worked well for me, but I got some suggestions from fellow Troopers that there are perhaps better EAA product out there (Think is was Smashley, so thanks). Currently running mTor from Myokem. Never got around to writing my review on Primeval Labs EAA Max, which I used in between, so here it is.

Ingredient Profile

1 scoop is 12 grams. 9.5g of which (5,5g BCAA and 0,825g EAA). I am not sure how much EAA's would be ideal. This seems a small dose, but can't be sure. I haven't found any info or research on the ideal amount of EAA's. The amount of BCAA's is in the medium range of BCAA products. Some contain more.

BCAA
L-Leucine: 2,5g
L-Valine: 1.5g
L-Isoleucine: 1.5g

EAA
L-Lysine (300mg)
L-Threonine (225mg)
L-Phenylalanine (200mg)
L-Tryptophan (50mg)
L-Histidine (25mg)
L-Methionine (25mg)

That's almost the same profile regarding the amino acids as Grunt with minor differences (0,5g less Leucine, 25mg less Threonine, 50mg less L-Phenylalanine ). But in addition, EAA Max contains

Electrolytes
Magnesium 17mg, Sodium 39mg , Potassium 52 mg

Cluster Dextrin, 2g
Cluster Dextrin, sometimes known as Highly Branched Cyclic Dextrin (HBCD), is a new advanced breed of maltodextrin. Cluster Dextrin passes through your stomach faster than other carbohydrate supplements, making it more readily available for your body to burn as energy. For some extra energy during workouts, focussed on the intra workout part.

D-Ribose, 500mg
D-ribose is a pentose sugar that plays a role in the production of energy intermediates, aimed at ATP regeneration.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

EAA Max is not only winning in the ingredient department, the mixability is far better than Redcon1's Grunt. Where Grunt leaves some residue (hard suger like residue), EAA max mixes perfectly. I tried two different flavors. The cherry lemonade and Orange Sherbert are both ok. Not amazing but a solid 7. The cherry lemonade mixes nicely with different types of pre workout flavors. I usually drink my pre workout for before workout and toss an intra and some water in for during my workout.

Effectiveness

Primeval Labs EAA Max is meant for recovery, but maybe more for intra workout considering the electrolytes and cluster dextrin.. As for effectiveness I was really satisfied. Dom's definitely were less while EAA MAX. I was perfectly satisfied with Grunt, but the electrolytes and cluster dextrin in EAA Max are an extra bonus and make EAA Max a very good intra workout. Eletrolytes are definitely felt when it comes to hydration.

Value

The normal price is $29,99 for 30 servings. $1 a serving can be a bit much for a Amino product. I think a little bit too much. There seems to be a sale going on somewhere at all times. I got two tubs for $45 at a limited time price cut, which is a very good price point.

Side Effects

None

Conclusion

My purchase of EAA Max was mostly meant to compare different EAA products. I definitely feel products that contain EAA next to BCAA's provide a benefit. I did enjoy Grunt and believe it really assisted in recovery. I feel EAA Max from primeval is a little better. It basically packs the the same ingredients with some added bonuses. For now Primeval labs EAA Max is my favourite and tops the EAA game. Watch out for deals though, the regular price is a bit steep.

Quick Summary

Vanaphase is trying to bring back a supplement that had a little bit of fame back years ago. While giving this some really big claims they had some big shoes to fill right out the door.
- Dramatic strength increases within 1-2 weeks
- Absurd inter-workout pumps
- Rock hard muscles throughout the day
- Improved workout endurance
- Enhanced recovery times
- A tighter, leaner physique
So how does this supplement differ than what was out in the 90's , and if it really does work this well , why did it disappear?

Introduction

41 year old male looking for any extra edge I can get to help fight of the aging process or at least the visual part of it .

Ingredient Profile

Vanadium: 10mg- Vanadium
Vanadium is used for treating prediabetes and diabetes, low blood sugar, high cholesterol, heart disease, tuberculosis, syphilis, a form of "tired blood" (anemia), and water retention ; for improving athletic performance in weight training; and for preventing cancer.
How does it work?
There is some evidence that vanadium might act like insulin, or help to increase the effects of insulin.
This is taken from webmd

Vanadium is LIKELY SAFE in adults, if less than 1.8 mg per day is taken. At higher doses, such as those used to treat diabetes, vanadium frequently causes unwanted side effects including abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, nausea, and gas. It can also cause a greenish tongue, loss of energy, and problems with the nervous system.
Vanadium is UNSAFE when used in large amounts and for a long time. This increases the risk of serious side effects including kidney damage.
Vanadium might lower blood sugar. People with diabetes should check their blood sugar carefully and watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

They are tasteless.
I took one with every meal. Pretty simple but kind of annoying at the same time.

Effectiveness

I had zero effects from this. Good or bad. I was looking for even slight changes but the ones I did have I can not credit it for this. I was on a slightly different diet than normal so I was already starting to lean out some then kinda hit a wall , which was when I started to take this. So with all these claims I thought it would help put me back on track. I did keep my hopes up but I never did see anything or feel any extra boost in the gym. I was at least hoping for the added water pumps it promised but I can not say they was increased at all either. I was starting to feel like I got scammed or even got a placebo product. My strength was going up on this but I feel It was more of the different training program and the better diet than this.

Value

36.99 for 90 count which is 30 day supply . For what I got from this. No way.

Side Effects

zero. Good or bad

Conclusion

As mentioned in my title. I think some things should just be left behind and not messed with again. Sorry it took so long to get this review up.

Quick Summary

Excellent product with premium patented ingredients at a premium price that delivers premium results. Torem doesn't mess around. If you are willing to pay the price you can actually get results. I'll choose this over over-hyped non effective stimmed up fat burners every day. Solid stuff

Introduction

36 years old financial auditor trying to balance life with three kids and a busy job. Trying to get in some quality time at the gym in the meantime. When I manage to squeeze in some gym time I can use all the supplement help that's out there.
Been looking to lose some unwanted fat, mostly around the midsection. Nice time to experiment with some of the abundant fatburners out there. I have tried some before, with different results. The main thing It made me understand is not to expect too much from a fat burner.

Most Troop supps are not available in Europe. After contact with Torem they had no issue at all sending it out to Europe after a slight contribution to the shipping cost. Much thanks to Torem and the Troops program!

Ingredient Profile

Inno SlimTM (250mg
InnoSlim regulates glucose, fat cells, and muscle cell metabolisms. Regulates glucose absorption and helps the body overall when it comes to nutrition absorption. 250mg is the advised dose.

Advantra Z (50 mg)
Advantra Z is a fully trademarked product that has been shown to increase athletic performance and fat burning capabilities. Made from bitter orange. I was unknown with this ingredient before and did some research. Results look promising, I found that it may (in rare instances) cause an increased heart rate among healthy people. I did not experience this at all. For effects, the recommended dosage is 100mg a day. Since Neco Adipem should be used twice a day this amounts up to exactly 100mg.

Garcinia Cambogia (100mg)
Tropical fruit rich in hydroxycitric acid. Not a fat burner, but many studies do report subjective appetite decrease

Green Tea Extract (250 mg)
Studies have shown green tea to increase metabolism. Fat burning effects are highly synergistic, almost dependent, on not consuming caffeine habitually. Well, for me this doesn't work out that well. I simply need my coffee. Nonetheless, Green tea extract is one of my favourite ingredients when it comes to fat loss. After trying several fat burning supplements I know It works for me personally, even with my daily coffee.
Significant effects in humans are noted only at high doses, such as 400-500mg EGCG equivalent per day. Beware when you purchase green tea extract, the amount of EGCG is crucial. Neco Adipem delivers 70% which is really potent. Next to the weight loss, green tea extract has many other (bonus) benefits, lower blood pressure, cancer prevention and many more.

Actigin (25 mg)
ActiGin is improve exercise performance by clearing out aged, non-dividing cells,
mitigating exercise-induced inflammation, as well as improving glycogen storage and usage by muscle tissue. My guess is Actigin is added for the glycogen storage capabilities.

Capsimax (50 mg)
Is a concentrated highly-active, natural capsicum extract from red hot chili peppers Capsimax delivers effective levels of capsaicinoids without the gastric burning sensation of unprotected red hot peppers. 50mg is a good and standard dose.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

Neco Adipem comes in a cool package. Doses are divided in pouches that contain 2 pills. One pouch before breakfast and one pouch before dinner. Easy dosing and easy to swallow pills.

Effectiveness

You absolutely get what you pay for here. Compared to other fat burning supplements I have tried this one is hands down the best. I usually have some food cravings two hours after dinner. Those completely disappeared.
During the course of taking this product my abdominal section got way more defined. It was nice to see some abs in the mirror again. The first week I did not notice that much. Week 2 and three things really kicked off and I could wait to step on my scale in the morning because the effects were measurable too. I lost 3 kg, that's 6,5 lbs in your weird American non-metric system My fat percentage dropped almost 1,5% point, and I actually reached a two year low just under 17%. Still not satisfied with that but I have had to work a lot harder to drop some fat before the introduction of Neco Adipem. This all considering no change in diet or exercise routine.
That being said, this product is almost stim free (undecided on the Advantra Z). You can easily stack this with what you want. Fat burners that pack some stim are hard to combine with a PWO, with Neco-adipem this is no issue at all.

Value

It sells for 95! Dollars at amazon.com, but at the time of writing this review is on sale at their own site for 48 dollars. The regular price at the site is 57 dollars. Quite the difference.
Of course Neco Adipem is not cheap. Even at the sale price of 48 dollars this is quite an amount of money for a supplement.
Consider however the price of other fat burning supplements -and more important the results-. If you are serious about losing weight/fat I believe you are better off investing some money in a product that actually works. There are so many fat burning products out there with shady stim ingredients, immense claims, and with a total lack of any results. You can either go that route and hope you stumble across an affordable product that works or go for a sure, but costly, option. I would go for the latter.
That being said, the price on Amazon is ridiculous A real punch in the gut. Not sure why it is that much higher there. Even for the mentioned results, 95 dollars is just too much.

Side Effects

None at all

Conclusion

A premium product that is expensive but delivers. Stacking the effectiveness against other fat burners I tried before this is definitely a winner. If you have the money and want a fat burner that actually works don't be afraid to spend it on Neco Adipem.

Quick Summary

Unknown with barbender nutrition. Overall a pleasant surprise. A very solid pre workout with an amazing taste. No exotic or new ingredients, straight up decent oldcsool profile.

Introduction

36 years old financial auditor trying to balance life with three kids and a busy job. Trying to get in some quality time at the gym in the meantime. When I manage to squeeze in some gym time I can use all the supplement help that's out there. I always use a pre workout. Not a fan of most exotic stimulants, but no fan of underdosed pre workouts either.

Most Troop supps are not available in Europe. After contact with Barbender and a the payment of (part of) the shipping costs I received a bottle of Torque. Much thanks to Barbender and the Troops program!

Ingredient Profile

The ingredient profile is decent, the ingredients are alle well known culprits for a pre workout.
3g of Beta Alanine
Increases muscle endurance. Large doses of beta-alanine may cause a tingling feeling called paresthesia. Never experienced this personally before. Harmless anyway, some find it annoying. Recommended dosage is 2-5g. 3g is a fair dose.

3g of L-AAKG
Should increase nitric oxide activity / blood flow in the body. Evidence is mixed, but added to many pre workouts. Recommended is 2-5 g. 3g is a fair dose.

3g of L Citrulline Malate
One of my favourite ingredients in a pre workout. Benefits are abundant. Increases energy, Nitric Oxide production. Buffers lactic acid accumulation and raises Growth Hormone (GH) levels post workout. The recommended dosage is 6-8 g. Most pre workouts stay below this amount. Some do include 8g, but not that many. I would like to see the Citrulline malate to be dosed at at least 5g. 3g does the job but could be better.

500mg of N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
The best absorbed form of L-Tyrosine. Increases dopamine levels. Basically makes you feel euphoric and focused. 500mg is a fair dose.

280mg of Caffeine
Personally around my sweet spot. Less just doesn't work for me, more can cause jitters. Especially for people that like their coffee during the day, more than 300mg is a bit much. Happy with this amount of caffeine. A higher dose can cause a crashing feeling for me personally after my workouts.

1.25g of Betaine Anhydrous
Betaine (trimethylglycineis a component of beetroot. A single dose of betaine reduces homocysteine levels and is shown to increase power output. promotes cellular hydration, much like creatine does. 1.25mg is a fair and standard amount.

5mg of Bioperine
Standard dose of absorption agent. The ability to increase the bioavailability of nutritional compounds. 5mg is a dose commonly used.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

Torque really shines in the taste department. The powder is really fine and mixes excellent. I had the watermelon flavour which actually tasted like watermelon. Watermelon flavour tends to be a bit sweet but Barbender nutrition really outdid competitors on the flavour department. The right amount of sweet and sour. Definitely watermelon, great taste.

Effectiveness

I wasn't sure what to expect since I am not familiar with barbender nutrition. The ingredient profile looks goods without any exotic stimulants. Just fairly dosed on the most common and proven ingredients. It turned out to be a nice surprise. Energy levels were good without that cranked up feeling. The pump section was good and the focus level was also good. I specifically use the word Good as I had better; energy wise, pump wise and focus wise. This was however with different types of pre workouts. Torque does a good job in all departments, so a good overall pre workout. I would like to see the amount of citrulline malate upped just a little. One downside of Torque is the longtitude of the energy which waned a bit during workout. My workouts aren't that long, but for people used to longer training sessions this could be a downfall.

Value

Torque isn't widely available. You can get it through the Barbender website and on amazon. For 30 dollars a tub this comes down to 1 dollar a serving which is a fait price for a pre workout considering the ingredient profile.

Side Effects

None

Conclusion

A decent standard pre workout without to many extra's or new ingredients. A combination of proven ingredients at a good dosage turns out to work just fine. Where this product really shines is in the flavour department.

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.