Knocked The F*ck Out

2 reviews for Knocked The F*ck Out

1. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   mhseaver670 – April 4, 2018

   The most appropriately named supplement ever!!
   —-Quick Summary—-
   Rich Piana, love him or hate him, he really kinda reinvented supplement’s. He was one of the few youtube channels I followed and watched regularly.
   He will be missed. I really feel like he truly took to heart what kind of product’s he put out. This one really proves it. Never has there been a more appropriately named supplement!
   —-Introduction—-
   Getting older and having a life that seems to never stop from the time feet hit the floor to the time I put them back in the bed. So having something that can help me get unwind and get a good night’s rest.. Hell ya I will take that!.

   —-Ingredient Profile—-
   Huge list.
   750mg of Gaba
   750mg of L-Tyrosine, Huge dose . Improving alertness following the loss of sleep. Taking tyrosine helps people who have lost a night’s sleep stay alert for about 3 hours longer than they otherwise would. Also, early research shows that tyrosine improves memory and reasoning in people who are sleep-deprived.
   8mg of Melatonin, This is a huge dose! If you are not used to Melatonin I know for a fact you need to ease into this kind of dose.

   Now there is a a lot of herbs and amino acids that I feel are important additions to this too.
   [b]Lemon balm extract 500 mg[/b] This really does help take the edge off and I have used this as a stand alone.
   [b]Inositol 500mg[/b]
   [b]L-Tryptophan 500mg[/b]
   [b]L-Dopa 200mg[/b]a precursor of dopamine, has been the gold standard for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Its many benefits include improved sexual function, increased cognitive performance and motivation, better sleep, and pain relief.
   [b]Passion flower extract 200 mg[/b]
   [b]Hibiscus flower extract 2000mg[/b]
   [b]L-theanine 75 mg[/b]
   [b]L-phenylanine 75 mg[/b]
   [b]5-HTP 30 mg[/b]

   It is a huge list of things you might not typically put in a supplement, but then again we are talking about a Rich Piana supplement here.
   —-Taste/Mixability/Dosing—-

   It only come’s in Honey lemon tea and although it does not really taste as appealing as it sound’s the taste did grow on me and learned to look forward to taking it. It mixes up easy . I just used a cup and a fork to mix it with. I would suggest starting off with a 1/4 dose as this does have 8 mg melatonin in a full dose.

   —-Effectiveness—-
   Oh hell yeah it works!. Seriously this stuff is so awesome!. I took this at half scoop the first several doses and it absolutely knocked me out.
   It is weird. You just get this kinda of calming feeling come over you. So much so you , just call it a night and then boom alarm is going off. It was kind of odd sleeping that sound and deep all night like I did. This worked for a good while at just 1/2 scoop I did recently move up to a full dose and the first few times you will be a bit groggy in the morning but it does not effect me like that now.
   The best part of this supplement for me is the way it just settles you down and the calming effect it does. I highly suggest this for anyone that has a busy life and has hard time turning it off at night.

   —-Value—-
   For 40 bucks I will pay this every time! This has lasted me a long time and it is worth every penny to me.

   —-Side Effects—-
   Can be a bit strong for the first timers or the first few times you take it.

   —-Conclusion—-
   Rich , You are missed by many. I loved seeing your passion for the supplement community and the fitness industry. I hope your company continues your path you paved and only moved forward from here on out.

2. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   dmf8625 – February 25, 2019

   Deep Sleep But No Quick KO
   —-Quick Summary—-
   From the brand:

   “There’s no such thing as overtraining. You’re either under eating or undersleeping.” – Rich Piana

   Lucky for you, Knocked The F Out has the sleep part covered! You can take all the supplements and protein powders on the market, but if you’re not recovering, you’re missing out on your true potential. Want maximum results from grinding away in the gym? Getting a deep restful sleep is key. It’s when the body is inactive and in a relaxed state that it can focus its energy on the rebuilding and repair process. Studies have shown that without enough nightly sleep, stress hormones including insulin and cortisol increase, which can lead to increased fat storage and wasting muscle tissue. Losing sleep has a long term impact on hormones, metabolism, and immune function. That’s why without a good night’s rest, building muscle and burning fat will stall. We’ve put together the best combination of herbs, amino acids and natural ingredients to combat the causes of disrupted sleep – with hardcore lifters in mind.

   —-Introduction—-
   Hello all. Full intro about myself can be found here in the forum: https://supplementreviews.com/forum/index.php?topic=35432.0

   First off, thank you to [b]5% Nutrition[/b] for participating here at SR.com and sending me out a tub of Knocked The F*ck Out (KTFO) to use and share my thoughts on. This is part of the first group of 5% Nutrition supplements that I have ever used but that doesn’t mean I am unfamiliar with them and the brand as a whole. I used to watch all of Rich’s YouTube videos before his untimely passing and always saw him using his products before and after workouts (albeit at much higher dosages than what I used). I am always looking to try different sleep supplements because that is one area I struggle with when it comes to training and recovery. With most people living very busy lives, our minds always seem to be going and it can be hard to turn them off at night to relax. I have had limited success with other sleep supplements and I am excited to see how this one works out.

   —-Ingredient Profile—-
   First, I have copy and pasted a full breakdown of the supplement facts for this product. There is also a photo of the panel included at the bottom of this review.

   Serving size: 1 scoop (5.1g) Servings per container: 30

   Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride) — 2 mg
   Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) — 750 mg
   L-Tyrosine — 750 mg
   Chamomile Flower Extract (Matricaria chamomilla) — 650 mg
   Inositol — 500 mg
   Lemon Balm Leaf and Stem Extract (Melissa officinalis) — 500 mg
   L-Tryptophan — 500 mg
   Mucuna Pruriens Extract (L-DOPA)(seed) — 200 mg
   Passion Flower Extract (Passiflora incarnata)(herb) — 200 mg
   Hibiscus Flower Extract (Hibiscus sabdariffa) — 200 mg
   L-Phenylalanine — 75 mg
   L-Theanine — 75 mg
   5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) (from Griffonia simplicifolia Extract)(seed) — 30 mg
   Melatonin — 8 mg

   Other ingredients: Natural flavors, silicon dioxide, sucralose, citric acid

   Also included below is a quick summary of each ingredient and what it is supposed to do in the body. This information is courtesy of: https://www.mz-store.com/better-sleep/5-nutrition-knocked-the-foo-out-sleep-aid-153g

   GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) – is one of the most potent amino acids, which are active in the area of the nervous system. It is essential to relax and rest. Its basic mechanism of activity is the reduction of the activity of neurons (and thanks to this the feeling of relaxation, not only mental, but also physical) by obvious affinity to GABAergic receptors. In combination with effort, it may increase the secretion of the growth hormone.

   L-tyrosine – is used to a large extent against stress and stress-related ailments (it counteracts both mental and physical stress. Physical stress in understood as the feeling of pain, on which tyrosine may have suppressive influence). It also has positive influence on maintaining cognitive functions and it improves the state of the circulatory system (it decreases blood pressure).

   Chamomile flower extract (Matricaria Chamomilla) – as we all know, chamomile has been used for a very long time to support general relaxation. Nothing strange in that. Research indicates clear anti-anxiety and relaxing effect. It is also interesting that it may decrease the effect of snoring, which not only increases the comfort of sleep, but also protects from dangerous sleep apnea. Moreover, thanks to the high content of bioactive ingredients (mainly from the group of polyphenols), chamomile also has anti-inflammatory effect. It also influences the improvement of immunity (works well in the commonest colds) and the prophylaxis of the circulatory system.

   Inositol- inositol deficiencies are common among people with depression and generally low mood (moreover, studies proved increased activity of drugs for depression and compulsive disorders, which additionally confirm its positive influence on the improvement of general well-being). Diseases and episodes of nervous origin (panic attacks, stress and premenstrual syndrome) also demonstrate lower intensity in supplementation with inositol, according to the research. It also influences the improvement of the condition of the circulatory system (decreases the level of LDL-C) and improves insulin-dependent metabolism.

   Lemon Balm Leaf and Stem Extract (Melissa officinalis) – another natural ingredient, well-known to us from often prepared infusions, which help to deal with stress. Once again traditional ingredients demonstrate wonderful properties. It increases the feeling of calm and relax to a large extent, at the same time decreasing the feeling of sleepiness and may decrease the perception of pain (it is most often associated to specific affinity to GABAergic receptors). It is also suspected that it may influence the increase of the level of acetylcholine, which entails positive effect in the nervous system and when it comes to cognitive abilities. It also demonstrates high antioxidant properties.

   L-tryptophan – is a precursor of many important compounds in the organism. In the context of widely understood relax, the most important compounds, which are produced during its metabolism are melatonin and serotonin. Consequently, it influences proper regulation of the daily cycle (melatonin) and the improvement of well-being, anti-stress and anti-anxiety effect (serotonin).

   Mucuna Pruriens Extract (L-DOPA) (Mucuna pruriens) – the main active ingredient provided with this plant is levodopa, which is a direct precursor of dopamine. Due to this, it works in the nervous system, improving cognitive abilities and demonstrating protective properties on the nervous system. It also regulates proper level of serotonin and catecholamines. Moreover, it considerably decreases the level of prolactin (its excessively high level is the problem, which people after steroid cycles deal with). Research also indicates that it improves glucose metabolism in blood.

   Passion Flower Extract (Passiflora incarnata) – an ingredient used for ages in traditional Indian medicine. The base of its activity is the influence on GABAergic receptors. Due to this, it has anti-stress effect (in testing the effectiveness in relation to generalized anxiety disorder, it was equally effective to one of drugs – oxazepam, showing no side-effects). This is attributed to a large content of flavonoids, which at the same time demonstrate high antioxidant activity.

   Hibiscus flower extract (Hibiscus sabdariffa) – it improved sleep length and quality in the research. It also has protective influence on the circulatory system (mainly due to the high content of anthocyanins, which inhibit ACE proteins. It also indirectly modulates the processes of nitric oxide production), improves lipid profile (by activating AMPK enzyme, consequently decreasing the synthesis of hepatic fatty acids).

   L-phenylalanine – one of exogenous amino acids. It is an indirect precursor of many neurotransmitters (dopamine and catecholamines), necessary for the proper activity of the nervous system.

   L-theanine – is an amino acid, which to a large extent influences the improvement of the nervous system and the perception of relax. What is exceptional about this amino acid is that it can cross blood-brain barrier, which influences much better effectiveness of activity. Its mechanism of activity is the most interesting. Theanine stimulates the production of alpha-1 brainwaves in the neuronal area and this mechanism is responsible for increased feeling of relax and attention. It influences the improvement of sleep quality and length. It considerably decreases the amount of stress-related biomarkers. It also has neuroprotective effect. It influences the improvement of blood pressure by modulating the production of nitric oxide.

   5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) (from Griffonia simplicifolia Extract) – the basic mechanism of activity of 5-HTP is the fact that it is a precursor of serotonin, effectively crossing blood-brain barrier. Due to this, it influences general improvement of well-being to a large extent. In the context of falling asleep, it decreases the time needed to achieve sleep and increases its quality (according to PSQI index), it also decreases nervous tension and anxiety perception.

   Melatonin – a neurohormone, the basic activity of which is regulation of the biological cycle of the organism. Its high content in the product is especially important for people, who lead an irregular lifestyle (work during the night, frequent travels etc.), as it does not decrease natural production of melatonin (even after stopping its application), but only stimulates its secretion, facilitating the improvement of daily rhythm. Basically, it decreases the time needed to fall asleep and improves sleep quality. Additionally, it has neuroprotective effect (it demonstrates extreme antioxidant properties).

   Additionally, the formula was enriched in vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) – it takes part in the correct signalization in the nervous system (it is the component of enzymes taking part in the conversion of precursors to active neurotransmitters), which also conditions proper homeostasis of the nervous system.

   Overall I like the variety of ingredients included and hope they work synergistically to give me a good night’s sleep. Some of these ingredients are dosed lower than competing supplements on the market except for the melatonin in my opinion. For most people this is either a love it or hate it ingredient as higher doses can have some negative or weird reported side effects. Most products that I have seen in this category have between one milligram to five milligrams. With eight milligrams in each scoop of KTFO, that may be a red flag to some but I am interested to see the effects and I have not previously had any bad experiences with high doses of this ingredient.

   —-Taste/Mixability/Dosing—-
   Taste >> At the moment, this product is available in only one flavor, Honey Lemon Tea. The powder itself has a strong lemon scent which also carries over to the taste. I don’t get much honey flavor while drinking a scoop of this. Overall the flavor is enjoyable and is similar to a strong cup of tea; much better than most of the other sleep supplements that I have tried before.

   Mixability >> With each scoop only being about five grams and mixing it in the warm water makes this section effortless. The powder almost mixes itself if you pour the warm water into your cup then add the scoop. A few swishes with a spoon and you are ready to go. (See the attached photo at the bottom of the review)

   Dosing >> Per the brand: ” Mix one scoop in 8 oz. of warm water and drink 30 minutes before bedtime.” There is no information on whether this product would be more effective taken on an empty stomach or with food. Since I eat all of my food towards the end of the day, all of my servings were taken with some food in my stomach.

   —-Effectiveness—-
   When it comes to the effectiveness of this supplement, it lived up to everything but its name. At no point during the entire tub did this every “knock me the f*ck out”. After finishing a scoop of this in warm water, I could continue to stay awake for multiple hours if I needed to and sometimes I did when I just couldn’t fall asleep while lying in bed. I also tried sitting in a dark and silent room after finishing my serving to try and achieve the knockout effect from this supplement but that did not work either. If I got wrapped up in a TV show or book late in the evening after taking this supplement, it had no effect on making me drowsy.

   Moving aside from that intended effect, I was pleasantly surprised how KTFO performed in other areas. While it did not induce any drowsiness for me, there was a feeling of calmness I noticed while using this product. During the use of my tub, I would sometimes use it for multiple nights in a row then take a night or two off. That is how I noticed the calming effect this supplement produced. On the nights that I did not take a scoop, it was definitely harder to wind down and fall asleep, no matter how tired I was.

   Once I did fall asleep, that is where KTFO really shinned as I quickly entered a deep sleep or REM. After getting past the initial stage of not being able to fall asleep, the next thing I would know is its morning. No waking up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and no staring at the ceiling at 3am. My sleep was uninterrupted, peaceful and sometimes there were pleasant dreams that I was able to remember the next day. Four hours of sleep on a scoop of this felt like eight. If I happened to be able to get eight hours of sleep on a night that I took this; the next day was outstanding and I felt like I had all the energy in the world without the use of any stimulants.

   There was also no morning grogginess or hangover at any point during my time with this supplement. Whether I had four or eight hours of sleep the previous night, I was ready to go the next morning when my alarm went off. No hitting the snooze button and no additional time needed to shake off a morning fog or immediately reach for some caffeine.

   —-Value—-
   This product is available at few different online stores and for the most part the pricing is pretty consistent. Keep in mind each tub contains 30 servings versus some others that only have 20-25 nowadays. You can find it for $32.95 plus shipping unless you order more than $99 on the Rich Piana website. Or you can go to Amazon where I have seen it for as low as $22 with free shipping from multiple different sellers. Illpumpyouup.com is another well-known site that stocks this supplement and has been known for some good sales.

   —-Side Effects—-
   I did not experience any negative side effects while using this supplement. As mentioned earlier, be aware of the dose of melatonin in each scoop of this product if you know that you do not react well to this ingredient.

   —-Conclusion—-
   In the end, KTFO is the best sleep supplement that I have tried thus far. I still haven’t found one that knocks me out from the start as the name implies for this but everything else was great. A fully disclosed label with a variety of ingredients, an enjoyable taste that I did not need to slam each time because it tasted like dirt, effectiveness that performed well in most areas that I was looking for and a reasonable price that could allow someone to use this every night if they wanted to without breaking the bank.

   Thank you again to [b]5% Nutrition[/b] for participating here at SR.com and sending me this supplement to review. I am very happy I got the opportunity to give this supplement a try along with your pre-workout recently.

   [b]R.I.P. Rich Piana[/b]

   [b] Thank you for reading my review and let me know if you have any questions.[/b]