Introduction

Thank you to Dymatize and the SR Trooper program for this great opportunity. I keep reading about Dymatize and how good their supplements are but never took the opportunity to try one of their products. When I saw this pop up on the Trooper list I knew I couldn't miss the chance to give it a try.

Ingredient Profile

In one scoop you get 110 calories and 25 grams of protein. Zero fat and only 1g of carbs. Protein is from Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate and Whey Protein Isolate. Sucralose and Stevia are both in here. You also get 2.7g of Leucine and 4.4g of Glutamine. I like the sources of protein they use and the Leucine and Glutamine are "nice to haves".

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

I had the birthday cake flavor and it was pretty darn yummy. It tasted like vanilla cake as I expected it to. Not to sweet and not too bland. It mixed fine with no issues in a shaker cup with one scoop of powder and 8-10 ounces of almond milk or two scoops of powder and 16 ounces of almond milk. I would dose it most of the time twice daily at one scoop. Once first thing in the morning and then once post workout. For the days where I had off days I would do a two scooper in the morning or if I forgot forgot to drink it in the morning due to rushing around, I would do a two scooper post workout. On days when I already hit my protein macros through diet, the shake in the morning would be my only one for that day.

Effectiveness

This protein did exactly what I expected it to do. Here were my expectations:
Daily Macro Goals-I want my protein shakes to help me hit my daily macro goals, which it did. If I was short on my protein or calorie goals through diet for that particular day I would use a shake to make up the difference.
Help keep me full-I also want my protein shakes to help keep me full to avoid eating extra calories throughout the day which this did. After drinking a shake I would not be hungry for at least an hour and a half which is about the time I would eat my next meal which leads me into my next expectation....
Good Digestion-I had zero issues digesting this protein. No gas, upset stomach or other issues.
Progression in my lifts-I continued to hit the short term goals and make the gains I expected to.
Recovery-The recovery seemed better than most protein powders I have used in the past. I was also using a pretty decent BCAA at the same time so I cant contribute all of the recovery to this but I noticed on chest days it took me 4 days to fully recover in the past. About two weeks after starting this I seemed to feel a better recovery on the third day. This is not to say I was completely recovered on the third day but there was less soreness than in the past during the same time frame.

Value

This can be found currently on AllStarHealth.com for the three pound tub with 45 servings at $42.49 which comes out to $0.94 per serving or the five pound tub with 76 servings which comes out to $0.80 per serving. Either way you look at it, this is a good price for a good protein.

Side Effects

None

Conclusion

Dymatize has a good protein supplement on their hands. This did what I expected my protein powders to do as I mentioned in the effectiveness section. If you are looking for a good protein supplement that is priced just as good I would run out and buy this. Just a side note: I cant wait to try their new PWO.

Introduction

A special thanks to Lab Tech Nutraceuticals for their participation here on SR.com. Today, I discuss my experiences with their testosterone booster, T-Fuel Prime. Testosterone is king when it comes to making us men feel like men. It is responsible for healthy libido, muscle anabolism, as well as a host of other functions in the body. Of course, women obviously have testosterone as well, but for us guys, test levels are more of a concern, especially as we age. Therefore, keeping levels to a healthy optimum is important to keep the alpha gears driving smoothe. While they are in no way a substitute for pharmaceutical grade testosterone replacement therapy, natural testosterone boosters can help give natural test levels a good boost to help support test's overall functions and benefits. I used T-fuel Prime as part of my pct following my cycle with Muscle1's products, so I believed it would be an ideal time to give this product a go.

Ingredient Profile

T-Fuel Prime has a fully disclosed profile detailing all the ingredients and dosages.

In all, a 2-cap serving provides tribulus terrestris at 1,425mg, bulbine natalensis at 150mg, epimedium (horny goat weed) at 150mg, shilajit at 100mg, fadogia aggrestis at 75mg, trans resveratrol at 75mg, ovine placenta at 60mg, DIM at 30mg, and piperine at 25mg. It's important to note that the daily serving for T-Fuel Prime is instructed at 4 caps a day. Therefore, a daily serving would provide double the dosage of all these ingredients. The label simply discloses the dosages for a 2-cap serving.

The only ingredient that I had to do some research on was ovine placenta. Also known as sheep placenta, it is said to contain an abundance of nutrients that can help regulate hormones, strengthen immunity, and speed up cellular repair. The oral dosage I was not able to find information on.

Aside of that ingredient, the rest of the ingredients are well known for their t-boosting properties, cortisol inhibition, and blocking estrogen. Only problem, there is under dosing in some of the ingredients. Anybody who has used Omega Sports T-force will see immediately that the fadogia is probably the most under dosed. The target dosage for fadogia is said to 18mg/kg. So someone like me would need about 1,988mg, but T-Fuel provides only a scant 75mg per 2 caps. The other ingredients are not terribly under dosed but could be dosed somewhat higher.

Dosing

You are instructed to take 1-2 servings a day, with 4 caps being the max and usually the target dose for most users. I simply chose to take all 4 caps in the morning with breakfast. I did do a spread dosage a couple days to see if it would make a difference, but it did not. Therefore, the full 4 caps in the morning was the most convenient.

Effectiveness

As part of my pct, T-Fuel Prime made a very good addition in helping get my testosterone gears back in working order.

My libido was constantly high and strong. I was having frequent, sometimes overly frequent, erections and had a drive that was always craving for more. Aggression, which thankfully limited itself to the gym, was also elevated and I was pounding out workouts with more focus and "alpha" feeling. Strength and mass gained from my cycle was sustained and slightly furthered, but not by a significant amount.

Thanks mostly to the horny goat weed, I also had a little more vascularity and a bit more pump. I had a more positive mood and mindset as well. I also maintained my leanness, thanks mostly I would presume to the shilajit, DIM, and trans resveratrol for their inhibition effect on estrogen and cortisol.

Overall, T-Fuel Prime, while not an alternative for a SERM when it comes to pct, made a great and effective addition to getting ym testosterone levels back in check and maintained to help the gains from Muslce1's products remain strong and consistent.

Value

This is where the product loses some credits. The cheapest I found T-Fuel Prime was 48 dollars on amazon. You do get a 30 day supply, but the issue is how it seems priced more expensive than other equally effective T-boosters I've tried in the past that are about 7-10 dollars cheaper. It is still effective though, so the value is definitely not the worst, but I would recommend doing some prior shopping for better prices should sales arise.

Side Effects

A little acne but that is expected from T-boosters.....nothing severe and it cleared up quickly

Conclusion

While it does tout a high price tag, overall, T-fuel Prime got the job done. Whether as part of pct or a natty cycle, it will help boost libido, aggression, give you some vascularity and pump, and help maintain and strengthen muscle mass and strength. The price just needs some tweaking and an increase in the dosage quantities of the ingredients would be nice.

WARMACHINE OUT!!!

GO pATS!!!

Introduction

As always, huge shout out to VMI Sports for sending out their Aminogex Ultra! Always up for a new amino product, and I've had other supplements from VMI in the past. Originally I requested the sweet tea flavor but received tropical mango. I was a little apprehensive at first, but honestly I was impressed with the flavor.

Ingredient Profile

Ingredient profile is better basic, Aminogex follows the standard 2:1:1 BCAA ratio at 7g per scoop. Also included is 1.25g betaine. This is used for endurance according to my knowledge. It's your standard BCAA product, not too much to discuss here. There are a few dyes included, so just be mindful if you are not a fan.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

Taste: So as I mentioned, I recieved tropical mango. WOW. I enjoy eating mango, and this was it in liquid form. Taste was spot on. Not overpowering in any way. My next statement doesn't have to do with the taste, but if you use a clear glass/shaker, it looks like you're carrying around a bottle of pee due to its color. That was my only issue, people staring at me in the gym.

Mixability: No issues here. Mixed well. Hardly any foaming. No residue at the bottom of the glass after consumption.

Dosing: I dosed this at 1 scoop during workouts (3-5 a week depending), and 1/2 a scoop in my daily jug just to aid in recovery.

Effectiveness

I'm doing a lot more cardio and legs than usual due to an upper body injury. So all my workouts incorporate my legs throughout the week. Taking Aminogex has significantly aided in reducing my DOMs. As stated, I consumed this during workouts and on off days, so it was clearly beneficial. Legs were lifted 2x per week and 3 cardio sessions on top of that on a typical week. I felt it helped most during runs/cardio and aided in my endurance and hydration. For a BCAA product, it did what it was supposed to do.

Value

You can pick this up on allstarhealth.com for 23.99 (shipping not included). I owuld head over to Amazon where you'll pay $26.99 but shipping will be covered if you're a prime member. If you're not, you should look into it. So $24 for 30 servings is $0.80 per serving.

Side Effects

No side effects, except it kinda look like you're drinking urine.

Conclusion

All in all I would pick this up again, but would love to pickup the sweet tea flavor. I felt my DOMs were reduced, endurance during cardio was increased, and it had a fantastic taste. Basic ratio, nothing flashy, a solid product.

Introduction

Keeping optimal levels of testosterone flowing throughout the body should be a high priority for any serious gym attendee that's in their late 20's and over to maintain and improve the killer physiques that we've spent years sculpting. It's been quite some time since I've had the chance to use a "natural" testosterone booster since I never thought I really needed it due to my age but now that I'm coming up on the big 3-0, maybe it's time I gave this category a more thorough look! Quick thanks to LabTech Nutraceuticals for giving me the chance to try out T-Fuel, now lets see how it stacks up!

Ingredient Profile

There are several ingredients in T-Fuel that are very poorly researched herbal supplements that I was unable to find much information about on the net so I focused on some of the more well-researched supplements.

Tribulus Terrestris (1,425mg): For as popular as Tribulus Terrestris is in nearly all testosterone booster supplements, people would likely be surprised to know that in healthy individuals this supplement causes no significant increase in testosterone. It appears to only have any reasonable effect on individuals that are considered infertile, which would only benefit a very small percentage of individuals that would be taking T-Fuel.

Trans Reservatrol (75mg): Reservatrol is a fairly well-researched supplement that have proven to have a multitude of health benefits. It acts as a antioxidant for neurological health, has shown to promote optimal testosterone levels, and causes the secretion of adiponectin that typically is created during calorie restricted diets and has shown to be present in healthy individuals that lives significantly longer lives.

Diindolymethane (DIIM) (30mg): DIIM is a supplement that is still being heavily researched for its potential effects and benefits. It has shown promise as an aromatase inhibitor to reduce the effects of estrogen on the body, which normally leads to increased levels of testosterone (likely the reason Lab Tech Nutraceuticals decided to add it to the formula). Most doses discussed about in research range from 50-300mg, both of which are significantly higher than the included dosage in T-Fuel.

Piperine (25mg): Basically derived from black pepper, piperine is a chemical that has not shown to have much effect by itself and it typically used to boost the effects of other supplements like curcumin.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

There really is no taste for this product since it comes in pill form. It's dosed at 2 pills twice per day which is fairly easy to maintain on a regular basis. The pills are enclosed in a standard sized capsule and should be no problem to ingest for the majority of individuals.

Effectiveness

I used T-Fuel for the entire 30 day cycle at 4 capsules per day. It's pretty difficult to note on a daily basis if I really feel any difference since the effects that natural testosterone boosters actually have on increasing testosterone production is typically rather mild. I did experience an increased feeling of well-being while on T-Fuel and felt a little stronger on most of my lifts over the one month period. It's very possible that the mental aspect of taking the supplement improved my performance and for me that's usually good enough. I didn't have a chance to get any actual blood work evidence on the product's true effectiveness but I did feel like it may have potentially improved my levels slightly. For anyone coming up onto their 30's and on, the idea of having an impaired endocrine systems that is secreting sub-par levels of testosterone does cross my mind fairly regularly and T-Fuel helps give me a little peace of mind.

Value

I searched around the net and was able to find T-Fuel for about $48 on Amazon, which pits it at about $1.60 per day to use the product at its recommended dosage. In my honest opinion, I think it's a little overpriced for the ingredients that I was able to find research on but the other ingredients that are included may be kickers for its higher price tag but evidence on their effectiveness is relatively unknown.

Side Effects

I personally experienced no significant side effects while using T-Fuel.

Conclusion

After using T-Fuel for the 1-month cycle I have to note that I DID in fact feel like it had a positive effect on my testosterone production. It does include a variety of ingredients that have shown to be positively correlated to testosterone increases but it also includes a few that have been proven completely useless. It's kind of a toss up in my opinion concerning the product and its worth as a supplement. If you're a 30+ fitness fanatic that's become a bit paranoid where your testosterone levels may stand and don't want to take the plunge to ask your physician about testosterone replacement therapy then T-Fuel may be able to give you the peace of mind that you've been needing to stop thinking about your hormone levels but if you're an 18 year old guy that just wants to up his testosterone I'd say that your money is much better spent elsewhere. Cheer Fellas!

Introduction

Whats up SR, with winter approaching and the sun officially going away for the season I figured I may as well try and shed those last few pounds before it becomes hoodie weather. My training is currently hypertrophy style workouts in the early mornings with cardio (either HIIT or Boxing/ Muay Thai) 5 days a week, and some other new methods Im trying out such as hot yoga (don't make fun of me too much) and running to burn off some pounds on the weekends (cardio - 7 days a week). Shoutout to Outbreak Nutrition and the SR Trooper program for sending some of this my way.

Ingredient Profile

Before purchasing any product the first thing I look at is the ingredient profile. Right away I saw that this was not a proprietary blend and has several interesting ingredients. I'll include a photo of the profile at the bottom. In order to keep this short and sweet i'll just highlight the key points:

Acetyl L-Carnitine - 1g
Caffeine - 300mg
Coleus Forskohlii (Root) 20% Forskolin - 100mg - Powerful Thermogenic and appetite surpressant
Juglans regia extract (bark) - 80mg - This is a naturally occurring form of DMHA
Theacrine - 50mg
CapsiMax - 50mg
Citrus Aurantium (Synephrine) - 30mg

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

The flavour I received was the "Dark Berry Blend" I was very pleasantly surprised by the flavour and quite enjoyed the taste, more of a blueberry/ strawberry taste then other berry flavours I have tried. Mixability was solid, one factor to note is that with the dose of CapsiMax there will be some floaters and sinkers, these are basically pure pepper flakes and if you manage to bite one or get one stuck in your mouth then you had better be prepared for an intense heat wave and burning sensation. This never happened to me while using this product, but I have had it before and it is awful, with that said its a good idea to constantly keep swishing/ stirring the reclaim around between sips to avoid this. Dosing is listed as one scoop. i used one scoop (as suggested) about 30 minutes before either my cardio sessions or my Boxing/ Muay Thai, typically after a light meal. So I can not comment on the effects of taking this for fasted workouts/ cardio

Effectiveness

In order to keep it short and to the point I'll break down the effectiveness into the applicable categories one looks for in a fat burner/ thermo. As previously stated I used this pre cardio/ Martial Arts training.

Energy and focus: The energy I got from Reclaim was very noticeable, within a few minutes of ingestion I found myself starting to "wake up" and become more alert. By the time I arrived at the gym I was certainly ready and excited to get my session under way. From a focus standpoint I did not notice much, other then the overall increase in alertness, I did not feel any major changes in focus.

Thermogenic effects: Now this is where this product impressed me very much. Within 15 minutes of ingestion I could literally feel my body warming up, it started slow but eventually came on very strong. The first time I took this was before a boxing workout, I finished my drink right as I walked through the doors, by the time I had my hands wrapped and my shoes tied I could feel myself becoming very warm. We started off with a light warm up, skipping for 5 minutes and by the end of that I was literally dripping with sweat. Im talking t shirt well on its way to being soaked and sweat beads falling off of my nose. For the entire tub this was the effects I received every time I took Reclaim pre cardio. Not in a negative manner but on certain days it was almost too powerful, on days when I would stay late and spar I had to take my Reclaim earlier because I was so sweat soaked when I got home that I found it tough to get to sleep. That just shows the effects of the thermo compounds used in Reclaim.

Appetite Suppressant: I cant really comment on the appetite suppressant aspect of Reclaim as I usually ate a small meal before and a small meal before bed, so this was not an effect I really desired from this product. Perhaps if I was having issues binge eating after cardio this may have helped.

Actual weight lost: Let me start off by saying that I did lose weight while taking this product. However I can not attribute the weight lost to this. I started a Ketogenic diet in early September and I have lost around 10 pounds since that point, while I am certain aReclaim helped from the stand point of thermogenics and pushing me through my cardio workouts. Losing weight is calories in vs. calories out, Reclaim will help get the calories out, but if you're diet isn't on point then it is useless to think you can out supplement a bad diet.

Value

Reclaim retails for $34.99 on the Outbreak Nutrition website, I am sure there is a better price point out there somewhere, but nothing I have seen. $34.99 gets you 30 servings, at a true one scoop serving the value on this is decent at $1.16 per serving.

Side Effects

Excessive sweating (good in my opinion, but worth noting) and seeing as this product is Stimulant potent, do not consume too close to sleep time or you may suffer troubles falling asleep.

Conclusion

Overall I was very impressed with Reclaim by Outbreak Nutrition. This product really stood out from a thermogenic standpoint, with very noticeable effects in increasing body temperature and increases in sweat output. Energy wise this is also effective and may be the extra kick someone needs to get out for a run before their vacation somewhere tropical. If you can find a good price on this and can manage to avoid the CapsiMax flakes then you're in for one potent stimulant and thermogenic ride.

Introduction

Hello again my SRReviews.com friends. I am finally ready to talk about my experience with Dymatize Elite XT. I am a 45 year old father, husband and workout junky. I have been trying to lose weight for a long time. I decided to add this to my supplement intake to see if it would help keep muscle. I lift weights 3 to 5 times per week, I also try and get cardio in almost everyday. I have drastically changed my diet since August 2nd. I have incorporated daily smoothies, dropped added sugar and really tried staying away from processed foods. As my log shows I am dropping weight and gaining strength, so lets see how this protein helped. Thanks to the Trooper program and dymatize for allowing me to try this out.

https://supplementreviews.com/forum/index.php?topic=33345.0
229#'s to basically 216#
Pages 37 through 41?

Ingredient Profile

So, Houston we have a slight problem. I received a 2 pound container that no longer seems to be available. They have moved to a 4#container. The issue is it is a little different profile. So please be advised some of these ingredients are not in it anymore........

First off we have calories. My version 130, new version 140. Not a big deal. I also am not going to tell you all the differences, just the ones I think might effect it.

This is a low fat 1.5 (2.5 on new) low sugar 4g (6g on new) low carb 7g (8g on new) blended protein supplement supplying 21grams of protein. The protein contained in this container is something to talk about. We have the following proteins included in this, (WPC, Soy Protein isolate, milk protein isolate, Egg Albumin, Micellar Casein). I think my issue is the Soy as I don't like the taste. The bonus factor is that they dropped the Soy protein and Egg Albumin. They do have Soy Lecithin in the new version. Both versions contain Sunflower creamer which I could do without. But all in all this did do a good job for me. Other than that the ingredients all seem reasonable. At the end of the day we have all heard and said this is a protein supplement, so if it helps add a little protein life is good.

An interesting add on is Nutrateric. Nutrabio states that this makes for a slower release, which means it should stay in your system longer. It also is gluten free which also seems to be the new thing in town.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

I received the rich chocolate and thought it was ok. I really like the taste of MTS Whey and RCCS anything... After reading the profile I figured out the difference, this is a mixed blend that contains soy, I don't like soy.

I used my SRReviews shaker cup with the metal whisk inside. It suggests 8oz, which really made it thick to me so I generally used 12oz. This made it much more drinkable for me and it still wasn't watery. I didn't get clumps but it did kind of stick to the side of the shaker. This seems to happen with thicker shakes, or at least it does for me.

I used this no more than once a day. (they suggest 2 to 3 servings). One of the reasons I know I didn't think it was the tastiest is that I didn't use it everyday. As for using this, it is pretty simple people. I used water as stated above, you can use whatever you want. Protein supplements are to be used to enhance your daily protein. Final thoughts on dosing is, to me protein is always simple.

Effectiveness

Protein effectiveness really comes down to a few things for me. Did it cause me any stomach discomfort? Nope, I could drink this and be on my way. Did it help with recovery? Yes, I believe that it did, as after I was no longer using this my old friend DOMS came back a little bit. Now I was also using Dymatize's BCAA drink as well, so take that into account. Lastly did it give me added results in the gym? As my log can attest to, Yes it did. I both dropped weight, as well as got stronger. My lifting weights either increased poundage or repetitions, or better yet both.

Value

As of 10/16/2017

https://www.bodybuilding.com/store/dym/elite-xt.html?mcid=GGL_US_Products-Products_Dymatize_Elite_XT&bbkwid=32768528015&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzOKysJ321gIVCh6GCh2togPlEAAYASAAEgI6JvD_BwE
$39.99 which comes out to .77 a serving

http://www.nutrahealthsupply.com/Dymatize_Elite_XT?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzOKysJ321gIVCh6GCh2togPlEAYYASABEgJbafD_BwE
$29.89 which is .57 cents

I assume these are the old versions and are on clearance.
https://www.dymatize.com/store/proteins/Elite-XT
$58.79 for the new version or $1.13 per serving.

I will assume it will end up in the middle of those as old stock rotates through. Which means it's a good value for what you get. I like my proteins around a dollar per serving.

Side Effects

I had no negative side effects while taking this protein. I think it is a relatively clean profile and honestly didn't expect anything else.

Conclusion

In conclusion I would say to give this a try. We all have seen Dymatize products, and we know they have been around for a long time. Currently I have used this protein and their BCAA product which both seemed to work just fine. I wouldn't say that this is a knock it out of the park, I'll never buy another protein ever. More of a I will wait and see what kind of sales come up on Black Friday (I tend to stock up once or twice a year). So if you are looking for a protein that you can use at different times a day, then I say go out and give this a try.

Introduction

First off, I want to give a big thank you to Lab Tech for allowing the TROOPs to review their products. When they presented their fat burner Thermo Fuel Prime for review, I did a little research and then decided to see if it would be worth a future investment. Read on.

Ingredient Profile

Kudos to Lab Tech for their label transparency. Each ingredient is fully disclosed- no prop blends.
Thermo Fuel has 12 ingredients listed on the label. Personally, I think it's overkill, especially when many of those ingredients are either under dosed or have conflicting studies done on them. For example, it contains 100 mg of relora, 30 mg of acetyl l-carnitine, and 30 mg of 7 keto-DHEA.

Relora is one of those ingredients that only Dr. Oz seems to approve of, and he's a freaking quack! It is believed to reduce cortisol levels, but studies seem to contradict this claim.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine has been shown to shrink mitochondrial fat cells when properly dosed (between 1000-2000 mg per day). Thermo Fuel has 30 mg of ALCAR per serving, which is about as effective as taking a Tic Tac as a protein supplement.
,
7 keto-DHEA is another compound that has impressive cortisol reducing and fat burning properties at about 200-600 mg per day. Thermo Fuel contains 30 mg.
Under dosed ingredients notwithstanding, Thermo Fuel contains decent amounts of caffeine (350 mg per 2 capsule serving), DMHA (100 mg), and Synephrine (20 mg).

Had Lab Tech chosen to simplify things and increase the synephrine amount to maybe 50 mg, the ALCAR amount to 500 mg, the 7 Keto amount to 100 mg, and ditched the other ingredients, it would be a pretty potent fat burner/cortisol reducer combo.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

These red and white capsules had no taste, but they smelled like rotten eggs dipped in sulfur. Seriously, the smell was overbearing, but thankfully, there was no taste. Each bottle of Thermo Fuel contains 120 capsules, roughly twice the amount of other fat burners. The suggested dosage is 2-4 capsule per day. I took 2 capsules, twice a day. My first two were taken in the morning right before my workout. The last two were taken 6 hours later.

Effectiveness

Although many of Thermo Fuel's ingredients were under dosed, the main ingredients definitely did their job. My appetite wasn't suppressed that much, but I had extra energy, focus, and a sense of well-being. I didn't really "feel" any thermogenesis taking place, but I did lose about 4.5 pounds. Aside from the smell, this was quite a pleasant run.

Value

The cheapest I could find Thermo Fuel was for $52 on LabTech's website. Although at first glance, this does not represent a good value, keep in mind that each bottle contains 120 capsules, and depending on how you dose it, you can get up to 2 months worth out of it; a pretty good value in my book.

Side Effects

None

Conclusion

I think LabTech should tweak their formula a little. Adding more milligrams of ALCAR and 7-Keto to the Caffeine, DMHA, and Synephrine would make it a very unique and effective product. That's not to say that Thermo Fuel is a bad product; actually it's pretty good. However, the smell, the unnecessary addition of Relora, and the negligible amounts of truly effective ingredients (ALCAR and 7-Keto DHEA) drop it down a few rungs on the fat loss ladder.

Introduction

What's going SR Boys and Girls! I would like to thank Outbreak Nutrition and the Trooper program for the opportunity to try Survive. Protein is one of the main staple for those looking to increase lean mass when performing any physical activates. For those who are counting calories for a show or to just make a drastic change to their eating habits, having enough macros to over your body cannibalizing it's self is key; could Survive help? Let us find out

Ingredient Profile

Profile on Survive is fully disclosed, which is always a treat to know what we are putting in our body. There is only 133 Calories, which 19 of it come from fat. There if only 3.1 grams of carbs and Outbreak clearly states "No Amino Spiking Guaranteed." As we know, many other products out there, despite a number of well-known companies who are have been sued for amino spiking, continue to do so. In addition, there is 25 grams of a mulit-blended protein to help keep your body in an anabolic stated for a longer period. Furthermore, Survive includes a digestive enzyme that will help with digestions; helpful for out lactose intolerant family members.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

Taste - I received their Vanilla flavor, which was not bad; it does have a chalky after taste.

Mixing - I mixed this in different ways, in water, it mixed well, no clumping, and very smooth. When mixed in milk, it became thicker, which is what I wanted since it would keep me fuller.

Dosing - I took Survive as part of my morning regiment; a breakfast option 4 times a week.

Effectiveness

As far as gauging how effective a protein supplement is, can be tricky, since we incorporate other supplements that help with lean mass and recovery. Therefore, I took this in the morning on days where I worked out the night before. Whenever I work out in the evening, the next day, I am super hungry. I took my serving of Survive with whole milk, normally I use Almond milk; however, I found that whole milk did the trick I was looking for. After taking my serving, I noticed that my hunger was in check for up to 4 hours, which is nice, since I love to eat! Now, when I mixed Survive in water, which was a few times to see the difference, I was hungry with an hour and a half; therefore, whole milk for me made Survive a meal replacement.

As for recovery, I noticed there was a reduction of DOMS, this did not kick in right away; I was using Survive from Monday to Thursday, by Tuesday evening, I would notice less soreness in my knees. My workout routine during this run was a fully body workout, using body weights, and dumbbells. My increase of lactic acid was reduced, and to experience the full effect of Survive, I made sure not to add any additional BCAA supplements. Furthermore, I can tell I did not have any digestion issues; sometimes when using whole milk, my stomach gets a little upset, I did not experience that with Survive.

Value

Outbreak has Survive on their website for $29.99, there are 23 servings in one tub. I am sure, we are so used to seeing 30 servings for a tub of protein; however, when you take into consideration what is included in Survive, the value is not bad, Furthermore, if you take this 5 times a week, you still can get 30 day out of it. In addition, if you use Survive as a meal replacement, it is a lot cheaper and healthier than Mc Eye Balls (Mc Donald's uses cow eyeballs as fillers for their beef).

Side Effects

None

Conclusion

Survive in my opinion, is a competitive protein product. Considering they market and stand by their statement of no amino spiking, that speaks volume for a company who can back up their claims. Survive is a good addition to someone who is looking for a clean blended protein with the added digestive assistance for better absorption, at a decent value. I would like to thank Outbreak Nutrition again for the opportunity.

Introduction

First of all many thanks to the Troops Program and to LabTech Nutraceuticals for giving me the chance to try this and apologies for forgetting to press the start button for 4 days.

Ingredient Profile

Let's get straight to the point
Agmatine Sulfate 750mg
Nitrosigine 650mg
Beta Alanine 700mg
Citrulline Malate 2:1 400mg
Beet Root Powder 350mg
Glycerol Monostrate 200mg

You got a decent amount of Agmatine Sulfate for those pumps along with a relatively new version of Arginine called Nitrosigine which is a compound that is made by arginine, inositol, and potassium silicate. Nitrosigine is a bit underdosed (reported minimum dosage is 750mg). I would just rather have plain Arginine or AAKG but it's ok. Next we have is Beta Alanine which is a effective but a relatively cheap ingredient to help you with endurance. Lastly we got Citrulline Malate, Beet Root and Glycerol on negligible amounts and propably won't do anything. I was quite troubled with the combination of Agmatine, Arginine and Citrulline because they use the same receptors. More details on the Effectiveness sector.

Beet Root Rant:
Lastly, i can't understand the new obsession with Beet Root. Many companies lately include it in their pump or pre-workout products for the nitrate content but on very low amounts to be effective even if you have other pump ingredients (usually 1000mg). A 180 pound person would need at least 450 mg of nitrates from beetroot extract (many of us weight more than 180 pounds and we would need a higher quantity). The problem is that Beta vulgaris L. contains only 1% - 1.5% nitrate per gram of raw material and that's if a supplement brand is using the best quantity. Even if we use the best possible scenario (1.5% nitrates) you still get only 15mg occurring nitrates from beets per 1g which a negligible amount. You would need to consume 30g of Beet Powder from the best quality (1.5% nitrates per gram) to reach the target of 450mg nitrates. The only product that i have seen over 1g is Tectanic Red which contains 19grams and tastes like crap. Companies just add it because people think that it actually helps them....

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

No taste or mixability because they are pills. Medium sized capsules that are fairly easy to swallow. One serving is 4 capsules 20minutes before workout out. I strongly believe that Pump Products are meant to be stacked with a Pre-Workout so i took them with my Pre. You can't expect to have the energy and focus from a Pump Product like you would have from a Pre-Workout.

Effectiveness

4.5/10

1 Serving:
On the first 5 days i tried one serving and i felt nothing in terms of Pumps, Vascularity or Endurance....Absolutely nothing. I couldn't get a pump.... The irony is that taking my pre as standalone i would always have some kind of pump (sometimes decent, sometimes great) thanks to 6-7g of Citrulline but when i combined them together with this i couldn't get anything and i was pretty disappointed.

2 Servings:
So i upped to 2 servings for the next 10-11 days. On the first two days i would have some great pumps so i figured we are doing something now and i was quite impressed but unfortunately it was a placebo effect. On the latter 8 days pumps were at best below-average (i wouldn't consider them even decent just very slightly improved). Vascularity didn't really much improved my veins were slightly more pronounced but nothing that impressed me and endurance were exactly the same as without it. Some days i would even break the capsules and add them directly to my pre-workout but with no improvement...

3 Servings:
On my last days with this product i upped to 3 servings to check if things will get better. At last i would have some decent pumps considerably better than 1 or 2 servings. Vascularity was again decent with veins being bigger and more pronounced (ofc nothing like skin ripping). Endurance was slightly improved especially on cardio.

The main problem:
I experienced a major loss of power on all dosages i have tried. For example some 8 reps became 5 reps and even with those reps i was really strangling. I knew for sure that my strength was in trouble. Nothing changed in terms of workout, sleep or diet. After ending the container my strength quickly come back to normal and this 5 strangling reps became 8 relatively easy reps. I believe the main suspect for this is the combination of Agmatine and Nitrosigine that somewhat counter each other because they use the same receptors (Both arginine and citrulline are antagonistic to the effects of agmatine towards nNOSO). It matches the loss of power (Citrulline as standalone increases my strength by 2-3 reps and gives me almost always some kind of pump). You will probably ask why then combine your pre that contains Citrulline with this? Simply because the company states on their website to combine this with their pre that already contains 8g of Citrulline and because almost all pre-workouts contain some quantity of Citrulline these days.

Overall a mostly ineffective product considering the fact that i had to increase to 3 servings (12 pills) to get a decent pump along with a big loss of strength on all dosages which a huge problem for me.

Value

2/10
44.99 Dollars for 50 servings. I needed 3 servings to have decent pumps so the price per serving goes to 2.7 Dollars which i wouldn't even spend on a product that gives me killer pumps.

Side Effects

Nothing at all.

Conclusion

I can't recommend this to anyone based on my experience and i wouldn't buy this but I believe LabTech Nutraceuticals is a solid company overall and won't write them off based on one product. This is just their bad "apple" which every company on the market has one way or the other.

Introduction

I've both had the pleasure and displeasure of trying out a plethora of pre-workouts over the years and I have tried products with excellent formulas that I still use today but I've also tried ones that I have had to toss out after one serving cause of side effects. The pre-workout market is huge and it's very easy to be misled by deceptive advertising so it's an honor to act as a guiding light for the fitness community to steer people in the right direction towards products that actually live up to their names. Full Spectrum RX by Lab Tech Nutraceuticals is a pre-workout with an almost unheard of ingredient profile that I just had to try! With a list like this, it could potentially take the crown as best overall pre-workout on the market, so enough talk! Lets see how it stacks up! Quick thanks to Lab Tech Nutraceuticals for giving me the chance to try out their flagship preworkout product!

Ingredient Profile

Holy moly! I can't believe how many ingredients were included in this product and not only that but the ingredients are effective ones with clinical doses at that! It's extremely rare to see a company go this far to include such a complete list of supplements into a product, it truly deserves the name of Full Spectrum! Unfortunately there are just so many ingredients that I will narrow it down to a couple of the ones I feel are most noteworthy.

Citrulline Malate (8g): Wow, clinically dosed citrulline malate is pretty rare mainly because it's so expensive! Huge kudos to Lab Tech Nutraceuticals for opting to do this because so few companies make this decision to save a couple bucks. Citrulline Malate is one of the few nitric oxide precursor supplements that have shown to effectively improve nitric oxide production and provide us with those skin bursting pumps we love oh so much in the gym.
Beta Alanine (3.5g): Another clinically dosed ingredient that appears to be dosed even higher than the usual 3.2g that I've seen in 99% of products. Beta Alanine works as a pH buffer to delay onset of lactic acid build up and helps you get a couple extra repetitions in before the insane muscle burning sensation hits.
2-Aminoisoheptane (175mg): The new DMAA which has been rightfully named DMHA. Its a fairly new derivative of the original chemical structure that we have all come to love in popular supplements like Jack3D or 1MR and it has a very similar stimulant/focus effect to the original. Also very well dosed!
Agmatine Sulfate (1.5g): Another popular pump supplement that works as a precursor to nitric oxide as well but through a different pathway from citrulline malate. It's typically dosed at 1g but they decided to up the dose 150%!
Noopept (30mg): A very popular nootropic supplement that has proven to significantly benefit cognitive functioning and improve overall focus and attention.
Caffeine: 350mg

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

I had the chance to try out the Sour Gummy Candy flavor that I did actually enjoy but it does have a bit of a funky texture to it probably from the insane addition of ingredients that messed with it but definitely nothing to make me second guess the product. I do love sour flavors and they do hit the mark here. It doesn't mix all too well with the recommended 8-12oz of water and will likely need a second flush of water to fully ingest a serving. It's also dosed with a fairly large scooper that puts most preworkouts to shame but there really is no other way to do it considering the ingredient doses. This thing is chalk-full of pure ingredients with MINIMAL filler.

Effectiveness

I normally used Full Spectrum Rx about 15 minutes prior to stepping onto the gym floor to give the ingredients their due time to kick in. I've gotten fairly used to the almost instantaneous tingles that come on from the addition of the beta alanine followed by the slow increase in focus and urge to attack any and all weight machines in sight. The pumps were completely insane with great overall focus and energy. I noticed that my pumps lasted long after my typical hour and a half gym sessions but to be honest with all crazy concoctions of preworkouts that I've tried in recent month I was unfortunately not as impressed with the stimulant side of the product. Considering the ingredient profile list, I thought I'd be in crazy coo-coo lifting world but it never really got to that point if anyone really has an idea of what I'm even talking about haha. It's funny cause though the ingredient list is absolutely outstanding it didn't affect me the way I thought it did and I guess I overly hyped myself up. Either way Full Spectrum Rx is an excellent all-around product with all fronts covered.

Value

At $50 per tub on Amazon and with a surprising 30 servings, Full Spectrum Rx rings up to about $1.66 per serving which I believe is a very reasonable price with all things considered. I can't think of any other preworkout supplement with a more complete profile than Full Spectrum Rx and most of the elite level products easily cost more as well!

Side Effects

I did notice that I had some fairly bad crashes while using Full Spectrum Rx that affected me about 3-4 hours post-workout.

Conclusion

Full Spectrum Rx is one hell of a product that includes an amazing ingredient profile that I really can't chime in about enough because I've yet to see another product duplicate what Full Spectrum Rx has done on paper.... but unfortunately it just didn't hit me the way that I really thought it would. It's not that the product was bad at all, it's just that I expected "super insanely awesome" and just got "super awesome"... still great just not as great as I thought it'd be. I have to give plenty of kudos to Lab Tech Nutraceuticals for creating a truly complete product without asking over $2 per serving for which is actually nothing short of amazing. Though I would not recommend Full Spectrum Rx for any newbies to the preworkout scene, anyone that looking for something more than the usual popular blend should definitely take this product for a go because it has exactly what makes an elite product....well.... elite! Cheers Fellas!

Introduction

A special thanks to Naked Nutrition for their participation here on SR.com. Today, I discuss their plant based protein supplement Naked Pea. I am no way a vegan or vegetarian and I mostly stick to good ol fashion whey protein. However, truthfully plant based proteins have their advantages in both nutrient content and health benefits. I steer clear of soy as it doesn't agree with me too well. Rather, should I opt for a plant based protein I prefer pea, rice, or hemp. When I do, I usually use them as additives to shakes and will use them solo at times if I can find them at a good value and flavor.

Ingredient Profile

Each 2 scoop serving provides 27g of pure pea protein. In addition, each serving naturally yields 2g of sugar, 2g of carbs, and 120 calories. Lasltly, each serving provides 5.7g of BCAAs.

Pea protein has some unique benefits to one's health that make it an ideal protein source to include in any healthy diet. Pea protein can promote both heart and kidney health, has high quantities of both essential and nonessential amino acids, can help regulate blood sugar, and can aid in weight loss through ghrelin regulation. Of course, like any other protein, it can also help improve muscle recovery.

Naked Pea Protein contains no artificial colors, dyes, flavors, sweeteners, GMO-based ingredients, or additives of any kind.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

I received the unflavored version so I could use it as an additive to my usual whey containing shakes and occasionally some foods. It added a slight nutty, but overall pleasant taste to whatever I added it to. Rarely did I use it straight up and when I did, it wasn't the best tasting so i stuck to using it as an additive.

It mixed very well in whatever I added it to without any additional clumps or globs.

Like all protein products, the dosing depends on your protein needs. I used two 2-scoop servings daily. Once in the morning with a whey protein shake, and another sometime in the later afternoon either with another shake such as my post workout shake, or another preparation.

Effectiveness

Like traditional whey protein supplements, as well as other protein supplements I've used in general, Naked Pea Protein helped significantly with my muscle recovery and also helped stave off hunger pangs.

With the extra macro intake as well as BCAAs and nutrient supplementation it provided, I noticed I was recovering more efficiently. I had less overall soreness and fatigue throughout the days and post workout as well. I found that I was less lethargic in the mornings following heavy training sessions, even if I did not get adequate sleep hours. That was especially helpful given my new work hours.

Even though I am not currently trying to lose weight, I enjoyed how Naked Pea Protein helped keep my hunger at bay. It did not kill or reduce my appetite to the point where I didn't want to eat. Rather, it helped keep those spontaneous cravings I often get throughout the days from occurring. This is important not only for weight management, but also because it helps reduce the likelihood of of snacking between meals. Even with a protein bar, I usually try not to snack often because it can throw off my meal plan quotas.

Value

As mentioned in the title, Naked Pea Protein is not cheap. The cheapest price I found for a 5 lbs tub is 52.24. That is a bit of a steep price tag, though plant based proteins do generally run higher. Furthermore, you get 76 servings in each tub, allowing it to last quite a while even if your a frequent user. Overall, not a bad value considering how much you get in a tub and the superb natural quality of the product. As always, look out for sales.

Side Effects

none

Conclusion

If you need to switch to the plant based route of proteins or simply need a healthy addition to your macro supplementation regimen, Naked Pea Protein is a product to look into. It's all natural, no artificial "stuff" quality and efficiency in helping meet macro and nutrient goals makes it a superb choice among plant based protein supplements and protein supplements in general. Due to the high price, be sure to keep a lookout for good deals and sales.

WARMACHINE OUT!!!

GO PATS!!!

I'd like to thank VMISPORTS for the opportunity to review Vasogen through the Trooper program. I'll start by saying that I am not as well versed in pump products as I am in stimulant and performance based products. I have used a couple like Hemavol (years ago), Vasky and straight Citrulline. To be honest, I have never really found a pump product to deliver any noticeable effects that I would not have experienced without them That being said, I went into this trial with an open mind and hopeful attitude that they would be the one for me.

Ingredient Profile

The product starts with a few ingredients to help with fluid balance and replacement.

Niacin (B3 as Niacinamide): 10mg
Chloride: 61mg
Sodium: 39mg
L-Taurine: 2g

Then there is the Vasogen Swell Matrix Blend, which unfortunately, is wrapped up in a 1.15g proprietary blend. It includes the following:

Hawthorn Berry Powder: It is used to regulate blood pressure and it is a safe way to counteract any supplements that may cause high blood pressure. It does this through vasodilation.

Schizandra Berry Powder: Helps with the body's ability to fight stress. It has shown benefits for energy, cognitive function and mood.

Theobromine: Like caffeine, it can provide intensity to a workout but without affecting the Central Nervous System. It has also been linked to better NO productions, so better pumps.

AgmaPure (agmatine Sulfate): A patented form of agmatine sulfate, this pump inducing ingredient improves blood flow for better pumps while also providing some nootropic (mood enhancing) effects.
Pine Bark Extract(std. min. 95% Proanthocyanidins): Can help increase the endurance and performance yield in the gym by increasing the amount of oxygen in the muscle and by dilating the blood vessels.

ViNitrox (Grape and apple polyphenols): Also added to help with blood flow and to increase nitric oxide levels in the muscles.

Based on the ingredient list, there are some really effective things in here. It is just too bad that their amount are kept from us. That, along with the fact that the blend is only 1.15g, I would say that it is pretty dispointing. I would like to see 1g of agmatine alone.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

Taste: I have the Blueberry Razz flavour, with the picture of blue raspberries and coconuts. I mention the picture because the taste is overwhelmingly that of coconuts. There is a hint of fruitiness but it is hidden behind the coconut and slight chemical taste. It is not a bad flavour and =I never once struggled to drink it, but it is not in my top contenders. I'd say maybe about middle of the pack.

Mixability: I did not experience any issues with the way the product dissolved in water. Sometimes, there was some granulation left at the bottom of the shaker cup, but that could be due to not mixing thoroughly enough. Usually, a couple of shakes did the trick.

Dosing: 6.68g per serving. I did not wish to take out the small scale to measure out the . grams so usually I would just use a full scoop, which I measured out to be 6g. At one serving, the container lasts 30 days, but really, I think that you would need at least 2 scoops to see any desirable effects. That brings the total down to 15 days worth. In my opinion, that is simply not enough.

Effectiveness

This is the area of the product that I am the most disappointed in. It is also the most important. For me, I never experienced any changes, benefits, or effects from Vasogen. I tired taking it with carbs, without carbs, with more carbs, with protein, with protein and carbs, and it never really made a difference. I used it consistently throughout the 30 days, no matter which body part I was hitting and I can't say that I ever felt any effects from the product. On a couple of occasions, on arm days, I included 2 scoops to see if I could feel anything, and again, I felt nothing more than usual. This was disappointing, as the ingredients present in the profile are quality ingredients, but the doses just might not be high enough. It is also possible that the product just did not work well for me. As I stated earlier, I never really experienced success with a pump product. So you should keep that in mind.

Value

The cheapest I could find this product listed at is $29.95. That is right around the same price as other pump products, so it is competitive. But there are others out there at a lower cost with really good reviews like MTS Vasty, which goes for $20. You then need to consider the fact that you will probably want to consume 2 scoops of this at a time, with brings it down to 15 servings, making the value a lot less favourable. So you would have to decide whether or not the price is worth it for you.

----Side Effects--
I did not experience any side effects with this product. Unfortunately, not even positive ones.

Conclusion

I think that VMI is on the right track with Vasogen. They are good quality ingredients set to help out with a fuller pump. If only we could see the dosage upped and the proprietary blend gone, it might be a product worth considering. But as it stands now, I don't think that Vasogen is a product that I would be willing to spend my money on. It is just not worth it for me.

Introduction
I'd like to start by thanking LoudMuscle for the opportunity to try out and review Launch Sequence as part of the trooper program. I have taken many different types of supplements before, included various natural testosterone boosters that included increased libido as part of the overall effects. But I have never used a straight up men's health supplement with the sole purpose of enhancing or restoring interest in sex. I have been on a calorie restriction for some time and with adding calories into my diet, with the addition of Launch Sequence, my hopes were pretty high with this combination.

Ingredient Profile

Ill start off by stating that it is a proprietary blend (1560mg). usually this is something that would be a negative for me, but with this type of product, I am more concerned with wether or not it worked, than with the actual dosages.

Tongkat ali: Refered to as "home grown viagra". It boosts libido thanks to its eurypeptides. Helps to restore normal levels of testosterone by increasing the rate of release of free testosterone from the sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG).

Horny goat weed: It contains chemicals that help increase blood flow and improve sexual function. Often used for erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.

Tribulus terrestris: Often used to elevate testosterone back to normal levels, which also helps with male sexual enhancement.

Yohimbe bark: Although usually used for weight loss, it can also be used to boost libido in both men and woman which in turn enhances sexual performance.

Ashwagandha: this has many different benefits. in this case, it is a natural herbal alternative for loss of libido and erectile disfunction. It can also significantly benefit fertility.

Maca: Studies of Maca report a heightened sense of sexual desire. It is often used when anti depressants tend to decrease sex drive. The mama reverses the effects, adding more enhanced libido.

Mucuna Pruriens: It is used as testosterone booster and to increase erections by strengthening them to improve erections. It can help treat impotence as it inhibits the release of prolactin which can cause problems with erections. It also helps with sperm production and health.

Muira Puama: It is shown to increase libido and to support healthy erections. In turn, it supports male fertility.

Rhodiola rosea extract: Although it has other adaptogenic properties, it significantly increases libido. Because of this, it inhibits stressors that are usually the cause of erectile dysfunction. it in turn, helps support healthy sexual desires.

Base on this list, it is easy to see that LoudMuscle has really packed Launch Sequence with a healthy assortment of ingredients proven to support male sexual performance. Without an open label, it is hard to say wether or not the doses are enough. We will have to let the results speak for themselves.

--Taste/Mixability/Dosing----
Taste: N/A pills

Mixability: N/A although the pills are decent size and easy to get down.

Dosing: 2 capsules with food once a day. Pretty simple and easy to follow. It has a full 30 day supply, so 60 pills.

Effectiveness

This is the part that really intrigued me, as I did not know what to expect. When first starting this product, I would take the pills in the morning, not thinking anything of it. It is always just easier to take all of my pills at breakfast. It is part of my routine and I don't forget to take them this way. I soon found out that the few hours before work (I am a teacher by the way) is not the right time to take this product. Apparently it is time sensitive. I would take two pills around 7 am and about 4 h ours later (11am), I found myself with what could only be called a "semi" . Just having my boxers against my junk would cause a slight sexual sensation. Not an all out erection, but enough to be aware of this and be self conscious about my bulge. And I don't wear tight pants. It took me a couple of days to realize that it was actually the product causing this. So I then decided to take it around 7pm instead. To my surprise, I experienced the same effects around 11pm. Finding myself in this situation helped my sexual arousal, but not my wife's unfortunately lol. In terms of sexual performance, I can't say that I experienced more pleasure, longer lasting or harder erections. Where this product does shine, is getting you in the mood. For me, this is huge because after a long day of teaching children, and coming home to more young children, my sex life really takes a backseat, which could be a strain on any marriage. This product really delivers in that sense. If only I could find a version for my wife.

Value

At $89.75, this is a very expensive supplement for 30 days. It is really difficult to say if it is a value or not. Like i said earlier, it really helped getting in the mood, which could be a marriage saver. That in itself may very well be a value for someone. It is a luxury supplement and at this price, you should know that going in.

Side Effects

Other than the explained benefits, there were no side effects.

Conclusion

This is a great product that does what it claims. If you are laking the sexual desire, this is the product for you. It will really gets you in the mood. If you can afford it, even if your not lacking in this area, you should give it a try. You will love it.

Introduction

I'd like to start by thanking Outbreak for the opportunity to try their pre workout as part of the trooper program. I have been using pre workout supplements for years now. I have used all different types, from low stim, no stim, moderate stim, high stim, performance based, endurance based, safe and natural, to new and exotic stims. Suffice to say that I have tried many and feel as though I could provide a solid opinion on them by now. Throughout my usage of Pathogen, I used the supplement at 5am semi fasted, with about a half of a scoop of whey protein. This stayed the same throughout my usage.

Ingredient Profile

L-Citrulline Malate 2:1: 5000mg
-Citrulline fights fatigue, while promoting muscle gains. Being combined with magic acid, I'd like to see the dosage higher, at least up to 8mg.

Beta Alanine: 3200mg
-Increases stamina strengths and therefore, muscle gain. 3.2g is the recommended daily dosage. I'm happy to see it added in the amount. Some people may not like taking the full dose at once due to the parasthesia (tingles), but I kinda like it. Plus it means that I don't have to supplement else where to get the full dosage.

AGMass (agmatine sulfate): 1000mg
-This pump inducing ingredient improves blood flow for better pumps while also providing some nootropic (mood enhancing) effects. 1g is right around the sweet spot for me and usually what most companies add to their products.

Choline Bitartrate: 500mg
-This nootropic enhances memory, brain health and cognition. recommended dosages range between 250-1000mg, so 500mg here is near the middle of that.

Caffeine Anhydrous: 350mg
-Waterless, highly concentrated form of caffeine. 350mg will be high for beginners, but for someone like me, it is right around where I like to be.

TeaCrine 40% as Tasteless: 125mg
-Like caffeine, it will provide the needed energy for a full on attack of the gym. Unlike caffeine however, one does not build a tolerance to theacrine, which ensures a smooth, lasting energy over the course of the entire jar of preworkout. Outbreak even uses the tasteless form, which is appreciated, especially after tasting products with the regular form, which can taste pretty bad and take over the entire flavour.

Theobromine: 100mg
-Like caffeine, it can provide intensity to a workout but without affecting the Central Nervous System. It has also been linked to better NO productions, so better pumps. 100mg falls in the range of daily recommendations

Jugulans Regia (root) extract: 100mg
-It is a naturally occurring source of DMHA. This central nervous stimulant enhances energy and mental alertness. It has been linked to "feel good" or "euphoric" moods. 100mg is a pretty good dose, especially considering the other stimulants in this product.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

Taste: Agent Orange Pineapple
-The taste is pretty accurate to the name. You do get the flavour of both orange and pineapple, although I Would say that it leans more heavily to the pineapple side. It is recommended to mix it in 8oz of water but I found that 12oz gives it a perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness. I'd give it an 8 overall on a scale of 10.

Mixability: I am one of those people who do not shake the cup very hard or for very long. Instead, I tend to shake between sips. overall, I did not find any issues with the mixability. There was some graininess left over from time to time. But I don't really mind that so much.

Dosing: Servings per container say 28 and I found that to be pretty accurate. One this is however, that I would recommend using a scale to weigh out each dose as the scoop provided tends to under dose each serving. A serving size is 11.8g and I found that with a full scoop, not heaping, it usually came out to about 8 or 9g.

Effectiveness

Energy/focus
With Theacrine, caffeine, and DMHA, it is hard to go wrong with this product. Right from the beginning, it provided me with intense, focused energy that lasted well beyond a 60-90 minute workout session. The energy from this product was smooth and consistent throughout then entire workout and throughout the entire jug. That is probably do to the Theacrine. Focus was always present, but not as noticeable as the intense energy. it was not a jittery energy, but smooth and consistent. If I had to compare it to another product, I would say that it is about the same as Kraken at a single dose.

Performance/pump
Although there is a decent amount of beta alanine, and CM, I did not notice any added performance boost. My numbers still progressed in the gym, but not any more so than they usually do due to progressive overload. I never felt like I could lift much more than usual, but I did have the energy to continue with my sets. I did not notice any extra pump effects either, which I was looking forward to with the CM and Agmatine.

--Value----
At the time of writing this review, it can be found for $34.99. For a product with 28 servings and some pretty good ingredients at decent dosages, I would say that it is a decent value. Although I would like to see cheap ingredients like creatine added so I would not need to supplement extra, which would increase it's value slightly.

----Side Effects--
I did not notice any negative side effects. Like I said, there were no jitters involved at all. One thing however, is the that "good mood" feeling that you get from DMHA. Hours after my workout, (around 4), I would just be walking around with sense a euphoria. It is difficult to explain otherwise. Only that you really feel good, almost high but unimpaired. If that makes any sense. Either way, I can't say that I hate that feeling.

Conclusion

I think that Outbreak has a strong competitor in the pre workout market with Pathogen. It is laking in a couple of areas like performance and pump, but the energy and good mood feelings are off the charts. I have taken many pre workouts over the years and I would rank Pathogen in my top 5 favourite in terms of energy and focus. It's definitely worth a try in my opinion.

Introduction

What's up guys? Another pre-workout review coming at you and this time it is the "Gold Standard" by Optimum Nutrition. I have mad respect for O.N. I actually got this specific PRE for half price because one of my gym buddies bought two and sold me the other one for half of the retail price. As with most pre-workouts, this one makes a bold claim on the front calling itself "the gold standard of pre-workouts," so I was excited to take it for a spin.

Ingredient Profile

Serving Size is 1 scoop

Muscle Matrix
Creatine Monohydrate (as Creapure): 3 g
AstraGin Proprietary Blend [Astragalaus membranaceus Extract (root) & Panax notoginseng Extract (root)]: 25 mg

Perfomance Composite
L-Citrulline Malate: 1.5 g
Beta-Alanine (as CarnoSyn): 1.5 g

Energy & Focus Complex
Acetyl L-Carnitine HCl: 375 mg
N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine: 250 mg
Caffeine: 175 mg
Citrus Bioflavonoids: 100 mg

So right off the bat you see those prop blend names and your heart drops, BUT they actually fully disclose how much of each ingredient is in every serving (S/O Optimum Nutrition for that). Your "Muscle Matrix" blend gives you a nice 3g serving of creatine. I love getting a substantial amount of creatine in my pre-workouts because I can then take my usual 5 grams of monohydrate post workout and get the best of both worlds. They also include this blend called "AstraGin" which acts as an absorption catalyst, kind of like black pepper but not the exact same properties. Next up we have the Performance Blend and we get 1.5g of Citrulline Malate and 1.5g of Beta-Alanine. I always like to see these 2 ingredients in my workout, however, my only complaint is that they are underdosed. I'm only getting about half of the Beta-Alanine that I would want for optimal results and only 1/4 of the clinical dose of Citrulline Malate.
The Energy/Focus Blend starts off with a nootropic brain booster in the form of Acetyl L-Carnitine which can also help metabolize fat and they include Acetyl Tyrosine for added brain/neurological support. The main part that I want to talk about here is the caffeine. I find that at 175mg that is a lot lower than I would like to see. As a person that drinks 3-4 cups of coffee every day I like to see at least 250mg of caffeine in my pre-workouts to really give me that jump start to my pre-workout.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

Taste: I had the Strawberry Lime flavor and was very impressed. I haven't tasted any other supplement like it. Score: 8/10
Mixibility: NEVER had any issues mixing this product in my blender bottle. Score 8/10
Dosing: I like the one scoop serving, but I didn't "love" it so I definitely took a scoop and a half more often than not

Effectiveness

One serving of this product gave me "good workouts" but I wanted GREAT workouts so I would often use 1.5-2 servings at a time. Let me say this: 2 servings of this product proved to be very effective. At 3g of Beta-Alanine, 3g of Citrulline, 6g of creatine, and 350mg of caffeine I had some phenomenal workouts. My endurance felt never-ending. I would go through my entire planned workout and then go back at the end and hit some sets of the main exercises. The pump was still extremely average even at 2 servings. I've learned that I need clinical doses of key pump ingredients in order for me to get any sort of 'special pump'. The 350mg of caffeine gave me a great jumpstart to my workout every single time. The only downside to using 2 servings at a time is that it goes sooo much faster than normal. My tub only lasted around 2 weeks because of it :(

Value

This is my biggest knock on this product. It's not cheap ESPECIALLY when you start doubling up on your servings. The cheapest that I can currently find this product is for $31 at CampusProtein.com for 30 servings. That turns into $2 per serving when you start doubling up. It's definitely not the best choice for your wallet

Side Effects

None with 1 scoop
Slight beta-alanine tingles at 2 scoops

Conclusion

Good pre-workout at one scoop (nothing really that special), and a great pre-workout at 2 scoops. However, it is just overpriced for what you're getting.

Introduction

Staunch Nutrition is a company that I never knew existed until they showed up in my instagram feed with their pre workout Koala Freak. I decided to give their pre workout a try and accidently bought their protein (more on that later). So, since there aren't many reviews for this company I decided to review their protein (I was not a fan of their pre workout).

Ingredient Profile

Staunch Nutrition Whey Isolate comes in three flavors, they are hot chokkie, vanilla ice cream and caramel von mocha. Each tub comes with either 29, 30, or 31 servings depending on the tub. The protein source is whey protein isolate that is made with temperature cross-flow micro-filtration as per the Staunch website. I happen to have the caramel von mocha flavor so I will be discussing the ingredient profile for that version. Each scoop comes in at 100 calories, 0g of fat, 2g carbohydrates and 24g of protein. I will note that it is a little high in sodium at 190mg. It is artificially and naturally sweetened and does contain sucralose.

There is not really much to say about the ingredient profile but I do like that it is a whey isolate. I have recently switched over to using either whey isolate, plant protein or a protein blend that heavily favors whey isolate. In the past with whey protein concentrates (WPC) or blends with ratios that favor WPC I have had GI issues. With this protein I had no GI issues and felt it was lighter on my stomach. Overall, it is a solid whey protein isolate powder.

Taste/Mixability/Dosing

The flavor I had was caramel von mocha and I really enjoyed it. When you first drink it you are hit with a caramel taste then it turns to mocha followed by an almost cinnamon taste. It was quite good and unique. I will note their is a slight aftertaste that could be described as almost chemical. I am unsure if it was a mix of the milk and the protein powder. Unfortunately, I mostly use milk with my shakes so I am unsure if it was there with water. It mixed fairly well but I did notice when mixed with milk it was a lot thicker than other whey isolates I have used in milk. I always used skim milk to make this shake and thought it really brought out the flavor. It did foam slightly when mixed using the blender ball but it was not really an issue. In terms of dosing, I always used one scoop whenever I needed to fill my protein macros.

Effectiveness

I found Staunch Nutrition Whey Isolate to be an effective protein supplement. I think the main reason was because of how much I liked the flavor. A lot of times if I am not really enjoying a protein flavor I don't use it as much and sometimes miss hitting my macros. This was not an issue with this product. The main benefit I noticed was slight improved recovery while I was taking this product. I think it had to do with me meeting my protein macros more effectively because I enjoyed the taste. This was most notable in my weight training as I have moved to four intense workouts per week. They are usually followed by some type of cardio either at the gym or at the park. When I first swapped to this routine I had an issue where my biceps would still be sore from chest/bicep day and that would effect when I did back. However, since adding a scoop of this protein I noticed increased recovery, which in turn lead to increased muscle. Overall, I found this to be an effective protein and it is just as effective as other whey protein isolates I have tried (Nutrabio, Magnum Nutraceuticals, Man Sports and Legion).

Value

I could only find this in one place and that was from Staunch Nutrition's website. It retails for $39.00 making it $1.33 per serving. However, you can buy two and three bottles at a time to save some money. The two bottles brings it down to $1.25 per serving and three bottle it is $1.16 per serving. Comparing this to other isolate proteins Dymatize ISO100 goes for $0.99 per serving, BSN Syntha 6 Isolate is $1.12 per serving, BPI Sports ISO HD is $1.30 per serving and Nutrabio Whey Protein Isolate is $1.38 per serving. I think this product is competitively priced especially since it tastes a lot better than other proteins I have had. That includes all of the ones I price compared it to. So, I am willing to spend the extra money and this may very well become my protein of choice.

Side Effects

I had no side effects while taking this product.

Conclusion

Overall, I enjoyed my time with Staunch Nutrition Whey Isolate. It tasted really good but did have a slight chemical aftertaste. I found it to be very effective and was on par with previous whey protein isolates I have tried. It is competitively priced but please read the next section to see why the value score is so low. I would recommend giving this protein a try but beware of the "special offers" while checking out.

Wait, Why Is the Value Score So Low?
As previously mentioned, I accidently bought this protein and that was due to a "special offer" while checking out. For most online purchases, I will checkout with paypal and that is what I did here. If you have not used paypal before you are usually directed to the paypal website then directed back to the website of the place you are ordering from. Most places will drop you back onto the order page where you can review your order for the final time before submitting. Staunch redirected me to a page advertising their whey protein isolate as a "special offer" and while clicking through the page the order went right through including the protein. Now, I realize it was my fault for not fully reading the "special offer." The order completed rather than bringing me to a order finalization page, which I thought would occur. I did contact them but by the time they got back to me it had already shipped (they have really fast shipping), I could have returned it but I would have had to pay return shipping fees. I will note the only thing in my cart until the "special offer" was their pre workout. Due to this I have to knock the value down.

-Xcmiler