SubstanceReviews.com

Review of Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) by admin

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:17:11 -0600

I was recommended this by a friend, so I thought I would investigate it first and then give it a try.

After starting on a 3 drops per day dosage and intending to build up to 15, I investigated some more and realized that what I was doing was quite silly - putting a non-selective biocide into my body - so I stopped immediately, and continued to use it for another purpose - as a mouthwash. For this, it works extremely well.

It is just ridiculous to assume that a substance that destroys organic matter can selectively kill "bad" bacteria and leave the good ones (e.g. intestinal flora) alone, and that's what made me extremely dubious about the claims made for it.

In fact, even though as mouthwash it works better than anything I've ever used before, in this function I don't think it's particularly safe. That's because when rinsing with 4 drops of MMS mixed with 4 drops of citric acid in a mouthful of water, a few hours later I notice tiny pieces of cheek tissue becoming loose and detaching. This causes tissue regeneration, and guess what that can increase the risk for in the long term? That's right - cancer! Exactly the disease that the MMS proponents claim it cures.

The supposed background of Jim Humble (the "inventor" of MMS) is also extremely suspect. Here's a paragraph that you can find scattered around the web:

"Jim began his career in the aerospace industry in which he decided upon becoming a research engineer. Jim doesnt speak of this often, but he worked on the first intercontinental missile, worked on lunar vehicles, wrote instruction manuals for the first vacuum tube computers, set up experiments for atomic bombs, completely wired up the first machine to be controlled by computers at the Hughes aircraft company - and also invented the first automatic garage door!"

Astounding! If he did just two of those things he might be considered an absolute genius. This "bio" cannot be found on his website, but how could similar ones be found across the web if it hadn't originated from one place? The last sentence is easily verifiable as false: http://sites.google.com/site/mmsdebunked/home/jim-humble-claims/garage-door-inventor

One blogger presents an excerpt from an eBook on the 2008 version of his website (it must have been removed since) that includes this:

"He had 100% cure rate of over 75,000 malaria patients and 388 out of 390 documented aids patients. It was achieved by using the MMS to create Chlorine Dioxide."

On his current website (http://jimhumble.biz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38&Itemid=66), in describing MMS 2 (another pool chemical), Humble says this:

"What we found out recently is that MMS (now called MMS1) when given to HIV people generally cures all of their health problems associated with the HIV, but it does not cure the HIV in some cases. It is more valuable than the HIV drugs for treating HIV, but it doesn't kill the HIV virus always, just sometimes."

So, in the first sentence he's saying that MMS *does* cure HIV in most cases, and then in the very same very paragraph he's saying that it kills HIV just sometimes! What a hilarious contradiction. So now that MMS1 doesn't cure HIV, you should start using MMS2, because it will! Even the first sentence is a contradiction of the 2008 excerpt above.

This must have also originated from Humble's own writings:

"Note: Jim Humble is completely altruistic with his relationship with the miracle mineral supplement - he has given it away to the world to get it out there and does not receive any financial remuneration from the proceeds of it being sold."

Maybe, but his website does currently state (http://jimhumble.biz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23&Itemid=2) that "You get a 50% commission for each book you sell and you don't have to handle the book, money, or shipping. To request information about how to become an MMS affiliate..." There you have it! He makes his money on the sale of his books, not MMS, and you can become an affiliate and make money too!

(I didn't rate this for low side effects, simply because I didn't get to the suggested dosage and I didn't want to experience nausea nor diarrhea.)

Review of Kellogg's Special K Protein Snack Bar by soundcheck129

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:26:45 -0600

Chocolate Peanut Butter

Sadly, I was under the impression that I was grabbing the Protein Meal Bar from Kellogg's, but got this smaller product, the Protein Snack Bar, instead. It is quite a stretch to call this a protein bar at all, with just 4 grams per 110-calorie bar. I think that basically makes it just your average granola bar, in terms of nutritional value. Additionally, unlike the Meal Bar, this bar is low in fiber, with just 1 gram, while there are 11 grams of sugar. These bars are low in fat, with 3.5 grams (2 grams saturated), so the profile is pretty lame overall. The plus side? It won't derail your diet because it's so low in calories, and they tend to be pretty cheap, even when sold individually (like 89 cents). Also, the chocolate peanut butter taste is very pleasant, reminiscent of a Reese's, although the consistency is different - a pleasant crunchy and chewy feel. Not really that impressive, but it is an okay snack, although not particularly filling.

Review of Premier Nutrition Titan High Protein Cookies by soundcheck129

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:01:41 -0600

Chocolate Chip

I'm a big fan of chocolate chip cookies, so I have pretty high standards for taste. That said, these weren't bad, and I may have actually had 'real' cookies with worse flavoring. Overall, the Titan Cookies are a bit bland and have more of a protein bar taste than a gourmet taste. But for cookies, the profile is pretty good. Each cookie has 150 calories, with 10 grams of protein and 15 grams of carbohydrates. They are a bit high in fat with 6 grams total and 3 grams saturated; not really a problem but they come in packs of two, so eating both will double that. Each cookie is relatively low in sugar, with 5 grams, and each cookie has 3 grams of fiber, so eating two cookies would provide more fiber than the average 300-calorie protein bar. Additionally, the protein blend has MPI, soy, wheat protein isolate, egg and added BCAAs, so that's not bad. These aren't outstanding or massively superior to protein bars, but if you're sick of having people ask you what you're eating all the time when you eat protein bars, these may be a good choice.

Review of Precision Engineered Proto Pure Bar

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:41:59 -0600

Very high in protein and just like a meal,but the chocolate peanut butter could be improved,but overall Brilliant gives you the pump you need!

Review of PowerBar ProteinPlus Reduced Sugar Bar by soundcheck129

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:29:02 -0600

Chocolate Peanut Butter

Although most of PowerBar's offerings focus on endurance athletes and massive quantities of carbohydrates, the company does realize that catering to other athletes could be advantageous as well. The Reduced Sugar ProteinPlus bar is their most bodybuilder-friendly offering, with 22 grams of protein per 270-calorie bar. That's not too bad as far as protein bars go, although many tend to have more protein with that amount of calories. Of the 30 grams of carbohydrates, only one gram comes from sugar, which is quite out of character for PowerBar products. Of course, there is still just one gram of fiber and 17 grams of sugar alcohol, so it's not a perfect profile. Each bar does contain a random assortment of vitamins and minerals as well as 9 grams of fat, 4 grams of which are saturated. The flavor is on par with probably Met-RX and other middle-of-the-line offerings, as it tastes good but not great. One particularly annoying aspect is that, while the bar itself doesn't seem dry, it leaves your mouth tasting dry. No cardboard consistency and not overly chewy, but not a top choice.

Review of Ronnie Coleman Signature Series Myo-Blitz by soundcheck129

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:21:13 -0600

Fruit Punch

If Ronnie takes this to kill it in the gym, he must just be naturally crazy because I didn't experience anywhere near the intensity he shows off in videos by taking Myo-Blitz. The first time, I figured it was a fluke, but the consistent lack of results suggested it was not. The most prominent effect I experienced was a stomach ache, no matter how I altered my eating schedule to accommodate the supplement. Other than that, I did feel some increased energy and focus, but nothing that would make me purchase the product again. Frankly, I'm not a fan of the formula because I can't really tell what's in it. The scariest part is the 6,000-mg prop blend, which includes caffeine, taurine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, creatine, HICA, etc. The ingredients included are solid, although a few others - beta alanine, NMT, etc - would be appreciated. And of course, it's not cool when you have to guess how much caffeine is in a 6,000-mg prop blend because the scope of possibilities is disturbing. While the mixability was excellent, the taste was nothing exciting, which pretty much sums up the whole product.

Review of Costas Foods Muscle Sandwich by soundcheck129

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:21:50 -0600

Chocolate

I'm a huge fan of graham crackers, so when I saw that these had actual graham cracker in them I had to pick a few up. I imagined that the chocolate flavor would make this taste a bit like a S'more, but that wasn't the case. Apparently both flavors of the Muscle Sandwich have a peanut butter taste, so I was glad I picked chocolate. Although this wasn't quite a Reese's Cup, I thought the chocolate-peanut butter combination was above average as far as protein bars go. The profile, however, leaves much to be desired. Each 290-calorie bar provides just 13 grams of protein, with 25 grams of carbohydrates and 5 grams of fat. All of the fat is saturated, and most of the carbohydrates - 15 grams - come from sugar. Each bar has just 2 grams of fiber and few vitamins and minerals. The protein does come from WPI, which is nice, but the profile doesn't offer many other exciting attributes. This bar is more filling than some other brands, but nothing else outrageously awesome to report.

Review of Quest Nutrition 100% Natural Quest Bar by soundcheck129

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:08:27 -0600

Lemon Cream Pie

Quest just unveiled its new, 100% natural line, which was a bit confusing because it seemed as though their original bars were all-natural as well. Apparently the difference lies in the use of stevia in the new bars and sucralose in the old Quest bar line. The new natural line also has fewer flavors - lemon cream pie, chocolate peanut butter, cinnamon roll, strawberry cheesecake and coconut cashew. The taste of the Lemon Cream Pie is absurdly good, pretty much Ultra Peptide 2.0 in protein bar form. Really, it's almost obnoxiously tasty, with distinct lemon and cream flavors. The texture is much different than other bars because it's soft, although the bars tend to be a bit dry. About 10 seconds in the microwave enhances the flavor. The all-natural profile is excellent, no more sugar alcohol laden bars for once. You also get 20 grams of protein for 170 calories, which is great even for dieting. Just 6 grams of fat, none of which are saturated, and 17 grams - yes, that's right - of fiber per bar. It really doesn't get better than this in terms of profile and versatility. However, being low in calories, the bars don't provide much energy and are surprisingly not very filling. The protein comes from WPI and MPI, which is also a nice change from bars with "soy protein nuggets" as the main protein source. The only downside is that they are a bit expensive and as far as I know can only be purchased online, so there's no instant gratification. I'm pretty sure I can live with that, though.

Review of Ronnie Coleman Signature Series Resurrect-P.M. by soundcheck129

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:26:59 -0600

Blue Razz Dream

According to the marketing write-up, "sleeping hard" is the secret to Ronnie Coleman's growth. I'm assuming that wasn't the only aid he had, but nevertheless, sleep is important. And since I have trouble getting enough sleep, I picked this up. At first, I didn't get a great impression. The mixability was pretty poor and the taste was utterly disgusting; I hadn't met a blue raspberry flavored product I didn't enjoy until this. It had a fruity taste but that was overpowered by the cough medicine flavor that lingered after I was finished drinking it. However, the sleep was great. Deep sleep, no waking up during the night, vivid dreams. Waking up wasn't a pain either, as I was not drowsy. With Theanine, GABA, ZMA, HICA and creatine, this is one complete recovery formula. If that's not enough GH-boosting ingredients, the formula also contains arginine and ornithine. Each serving is only four calories, so you can use this dieting or bulking. Despite the unpleasant taste, I thought this was helpful and thankfully the price isn't too obnoxious.

Review of Top Secret Nutrition Fat Burner by soundcheck129

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:26:53 -0600

Fat burners are a dime a dozen, so I was able to snag this one at a really low price. Of course, it didn't take long to figure out why it was inexpensive. I needed this to prepare for a post-holiday photo shoot, which meant that appetite suppression (to help resist the plethora of available treats), effectiveness and energy (to offset carb comas) were important. Although the appetite suppression was decent (each dose lasting a bit longer would have been nice), the energy was really disappointing. If I'm reading the label correctly, there's only 33 mg of caffeine per dose, so that's probably a factor. Thermogenic effect was more present than the appetite suppression or energy, but I was also doing a lot of exercise, so that gets me feeling warm anyway. If you're looking for something to take several times a day and perhaps even at night, this may work for you. However, it's not that powerful and not overly impressive.

Review of iForce Nutrition ZMA by soundcheck129

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:03:21 -0600

ZMA is, of course, not the most popular supplement of all time, but it is widely available and tons of companies, from high-end to low-end, continue to produce it. While the testosterone-boosting benefits of ZMA may be overblown, zinc and magnesium have been shown to have beneficial hormonal effects on their own, so it's not difficult to imagine that that ZMA would have some effect. I didn't take pre/post bloodwork so I can't say anything definitive, but I did find that I was less sore in the morning while taking ZMA and I slept quite soundly, usually through the entire night, which is something I haven't done in ages. The sleep was deep, as even when I couldn't get a full night of sleep, I didn't feel tired. However, I did sometimes feel drowsy in the morning, which I assume was a result of the ZMA. Nothing exciting or new with the profile, but that's ZMA for you. What is nice is that the price on this is quite low where ever you look, so I think it's worthwhile even just if you use it to improve quality of sleep and don't care about potential hormonal benefits...sleep enhances recovery as it is.

Review of iSatori Liquid Morph

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:54:30 -0600

After taking half dose my stomach got a sharp pain then my whole body was on fire. I had a bad allergic reaction.had to take benadryl to counter act. We think it was the nosine that caused this. Took a half hour for normal skin Color. Terrible. I had bought it on clearance. Get what you pay for. Beware! My skin was beet red. Never again

Review of Wheaties FUEL Energy Bar by soundcheck129

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:41:36 -0600

Chocolate Peanut Butter

Wheaties has evidently entered the world of protein bars, but the results aren't particularly impressive. Though this bar tastes great - very candy like, and nothing like the cereal - there are several factors that make it a bit less than awesome. The delicious flavor comes partly due to 13 grams of sugar and 12 grams of fat (6 grams saturated), so that's another way in which this bar is candy-like, and it's not a good way. Also, each bar contains 15 grams of protein, which is about half of what other bars with similar calorie counts (this has 290) offer. It can be good for pre-workout or snacking to keep you going, as it contains 30 grams of carbohydrates, but there's only 1 gram of fiber. The protein comes from soy, which will make this unpopular, but it does contain MCTs and some added vitamins, which is nice. I liked the bar because it was filling, but I don't see myself getting a box.

Review of Steffco International Muscle Fuel

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:36:08 -0600

This is the best muscle builder ever. It provides a very positive stamina, energy, and endurance without any crash in the end. It dramatically reduces hunger and cravings, so no binging is in sight. When mixed with water, the taste is like watery milk. Mix it with any nitric oxide or any fruit or juice you like, and you get a fantastic drink plus lots of energy to spare. Best of all, it has no sugar, unlike the rest of the protein powders. Even if you can't exercise, it will still build lean muscle. Now make sure you drink lots of water for it is necessary when taking any protein supplement. This will make it easier to process on your kidneys. An old friend of mine could not come out of bed due to muscle fatigue and old age, but after taking a second dose of this powerful supplement, he could go to the bathroom by himself. A week later, he was back to normal again. And I have chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and scholiosis. It has helped me gain my muscles back, do gardening, wood working, and 20 lbs. dumbells, which I had not been able to do for years. My mental focus is superb. You have got to try Muscle Fuel. My friends are glad I recommended it to them.

Review of BiPro USA BiPro Whey Protein Isolate by soundcheck129

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:35:50 -0600

It's not often I use unflavored whey, but when it's on sale and I have a lot of Jello pudding mix around, I make an exception. In the past, I've found unflavored whey to be a bit of a misnomer, as few products actually taste like nothing. However, the BiPro was as close to unflavored as anything I've experienced in the past. No milky or tangy taste, almost like drinking pure water. Mixability was fantastic, even when I dropped in flavoring agents such as pudding mix or flavored coffee creamer. The whey didn't mask any of the flavoring I put in, so you don't have to worry about any Frankenshakes - it tastes like what you mix in, and that's it. The profile is great, no fat, no carbs, just 80 calories and 20 grams of protein per scoop. No lactose, and I didn't have any digestion issues, bloating or gas. It wasn't very filling, but isolates rarely are, and if you mix something with fiber or fat into it, you'll feel full.

Review of 1,3-Dimethylamylamine

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:03:14 -0600

All products containing dimethylamylamine have been pulled off the shelves of all Military Commissaries and Base Exchanges because recent reports show that two soldier deaths and additional adverse health effects in other service members is related to the use of products containing DMAA.

Review of Everlast HyperPlex by soundcheck129

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:44:12 -0600

Fudge Cookie Crunch

This is a great meal replacement bar, as it provides 370 calories. These bars are pretty filling, but they aren't a problem to take down because they taste great. The flavor is kind of hard to describe, but it's like a chocolate-heavy cookies and cream flavor. The consistency is soft and chewy, like a candy bar. These provide 30 grams of protein, which is great, although they are quite high in fat, with 14 grams, and 8 grams come from saturated fat. One thing I don't like about the bars is that they are relatively high in sugar, with 15 grams, but also have 7 grams of sugar alcohols...I'd really rather just have one or the other. I was pleasantly surprised to see that these bars had 8 grams of fiber, as that's usually missing from sugar/sugar alcohol-heavy bars. Grab a box, you won't be disappointed.

Review of Hammer Nutrition Hammer Bar by soundcheck129

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:13:32 -0600

Almond Raisin

At first I was turned off by the fact that this 220-calorie bar had only 10 grams of protein, but I figured that's really just 5 grams less than a Supreme Bar with about the same amount of calories, so it's not a big issue. What is nice about these bars (especially compared to Supreme Bars) is that they feature organic ingredients, such as flax, agave nectar, almond butter and sesame seeds. The bars are carbohydrate-heavy, with 25 grams, and have 15 grams of sugar, but none are refined sugars. Each bar also has 4 grams of fiber, so they are fairly filling. The bars are also high in fat, with 9 grams, but only 1 gram is saturated. These are helpful as pre-workout bars because they provide a good amount of energy but not a sugar rush. They don't have as many added nutrients as other bars but they do have a lot less artificial junk. I personally enjoyed the taste combination of almond butter and raisin, it was like an alternate PBJ that was quite tasty.

Review of Anabolic Innovations HGHpro by soundcheck129

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:08:01 -0600

I can't say I have much experience with GH-boosting products, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I ran this right before 3Z so I could compare the two, but there weren't too many strong points to contrast. HGHpro contains Alpha-Glycerol Phosphoryl Choline, GABA and mucuna puriens among other ingredients, nothing too crazy there. I did find that I slept better on this, but it's hard to say whether I gained any more muscle or strength than I would have had I not been taking it. If anything, the results were not dramatic. The deeper sleep was nice, and I didn't wake up feeling drowsy like I did with the 3Z. I did notice an increase in hunger, but I didn't feel like I was experiencing enhanced recovery. AI also claims this will promote fat loss, but I didn't see any. With that said, I wasn't trying to diet, so that could be a factor. Some people swear by this stuff, but I won't be joining them.

Review of Anabolic Innovations 3Z by soundcheck129

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:52:02 -0600

ZMA has been around for a while, and aside from people arguing over its effectiveness, there hasn't been much new with the formula, until now. AI's Ez features the classic ZMA profile but also contains GABA, L-theanine and valerian, among other herbal extracts. I didn't get bloodwork done so I can't comment on any test-boosting effects, but I did feel an improvement in sleep. I fell asleep much quicker than usual and didn't really wake up throughout the night unless there were loud noises. I did sleep through the night and always woke up feeling well-rested. Unfortunately, at times I would also wake up feeling drowsy. It wasn't overwhelming, but it did make getting out of bed a bit difficult. Of course, with ZMA plus all the other sleep-inducing ingredients, that isn't too surprising. I haven't noticed a difference in recovery since I stopped using this, although it seemed as though I was less sore in the morning when I took it, which could be a placebo effect.

Review of AST Vyo-Pro Protein Bars by soundcheck129

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:28:45 -0600

Chocolate Brownie Xtreme

Another day, another protein bar. I trusted these bars with the task of keeping me sustained through finals, and they were up to the task, but not by themselves. Each bar is 220 calories, so they are more diet-friendly than most bars but still provide 20 grams of protein. The protein comes from milk, casein, whey and egg, which is nice to see for a change. However, there is also no fiber in the bar, but it does provide some B vitamins. My main problems with these bars is that they are not really that great-tasting - the chocolate flavor is there but it's certainly nothing about which to get excited. Secondly, I found these to be pretty chewy. However, neither complaint was a deal-breaker, especially with the profile being pretty good: 220 calories, 20 grams of protein, 27 grams of carbs and 7 grams of fat (4 grams saturated). Price is about the same as every other bar on the market.

Review of Galaxy Brands Linny Mac 4XL Bars by soundcheck129

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:49:02 -0600

Chocolate Caramel Peanut Crisp

Living off campus means that I either have to plan ahead and pack a ton of food or drop a ridiculous amount of money on campus dining options. Or, it did, until I picked up these beefy bars. With 360 calories, these keep me going between classes and they actually taste quite good. Not quite candy bar flavor, but it's above many other protein bars. The downside - they are pretty chewy, so you may need a full class period to finish them off. The profile also isn't the best, with soy as the main protein source. Each bar has 30 grams of protein, which is great, but it also packs in 13 grams of fat (5 grams saturated) and 19 grams of sugar. Each bar has 5 grams of fiber, which is nice and perhaps helps make these so filling. These also seem more melt-resistant than many other bars I've had, so kudos on that.

Review of BMF Hardcore Amazing Whey by soundcheck129

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:35:05 -0600

Calling your product 'amazing' is a good way to drive up people's expectations, which can be risky business. This whey isn't exactly amazing, although it is pretty good. The product is pure WPI, so it's easy to fit into any diet, with 115 calories, 24 grams of protein, 1 gram of carbs and 1 gram of fat per serving. There's just 1 gram of sugar and a digestive enzyme complex, which may be the reason I didn't experience any bloating or stomach ache. This mixed smoothly and as with most isolates, the shakes were on the thin side of things. The flavors were pretty good - Chocolate Peanut Butter was more chocolate than peanut butter but still tasty, and unlike some brands, you could actually detect the two different flavors. The strawberry was a bit on the sweet side but not as sweet as ON's, so it was palatable. This is a bit pricey, but FitnessOne always has coupon codes so it's not too bad.

Review of BMF Hardcore Just Whey by soundcheck129

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:33:51 -0600

Vanilla

I must say I had pretty low expectations for this one, but Just Whey exceeded my expectations and proved to be a pretty good value. As the name suggests, this is a mere whey protein powder, nothing fancy - no blend, MCTs, etc. The nutritional profile is okay - 2 g fat, 3 g carbs, 23 g protein, nothing to get too excited about. What is surprising is that the taste was excellent. I am normally not a vanilla fan, but this had a great, bold flavor with a frosting-like taste, perhaps a hint of marshmallow. It wasn't overly sweet but definitely wasn't bland. The mixability was pretty good, smooth with just stirring. The shakes are thick and milkshake-like, not thin like an isolate would be. No digestion issues, would definitely purchase again.

Review of Driven Sports Craze

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:51:27 -0600

This stuff is amazing! I am hella sore the day after each workout because it helps me train so much harder. Taste is fine, and it could even taste worse and I'd still drink it for the effects it gives. After work no matter how tired I am and how dautning a workout seems craze picks me up for it perfectly. Love this stuff.

Review of Rivalus COMPLX5

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:19:21 -0600

A good clean option for preworkout as Rivalus is one of the seemingly few companies that abides by WADA regulations.

Review of Driven Sports Craze by soundcheck129

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:34:59 -0600

The death of the pre-workout category has been greatly exaggerated; Jack3d, SPMAX and countless products have claimed to kill the competition. However, those pale in comparison to Craze. Appropriately named, this product will get you in the zone and focused, with an insane amount of energy considering the - from what I understand - relatively low caffeine content. The taste is gross and it makes you sweat a lot and produces irritating cottonmouth, but you will feel like working out for hours. Appetite suppression is high, although I have heard some people say they weren't hungry for nine hours, so that could be a drawback. No bloating, gas or SuperDumps,so that's nice. Unfortunately, this is a prop blend, but it contains a lot of good stuff without fluff; caffeine, beta alanine, creatine mono, NMT, TMG and a few other goodies. No 1,3D, no arginine.

Review of ALRI Chain'dOut by soundcheck129

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:27:47 -0600

Blue Raspberry

Chain'd Out is a BCAA product, and while it isn't just aminos, it doesn't really provide anything else worth getting excited about. While other intra products have B vitamins or electrolytes, Chain'd Out provides alanine, cordyceps, rhodiola rosea and apple peel extract. Really, the additions seem kind of random, and I read a study recently that cordyceps apparently has very little actual physical impact. That's not to say this is a bad formulation (it does have the BCAAs at least), but the added extras just don't seem particularly thrilling. The Blue Raspberry taste was great, I used a little more water than recommended and the flavor was still there, just not particularly bold (which is good, in my opinion). Mixability was poor, with lots of floaters and some foaming. Overall, I guess I might pick it up again if on sale.

Review of Kellogg's Special K Protein Shake by soundcheck129

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:24:51 -0600

Strawberry

Considering the awesomely profiled products that small supplement companies can produce, it's a bit sad that a big brand like Kellogg's can't provide a better nutritional profile than what is offered in this shake. Each contains 180 calories, with 10 grams of protein, 29 grams of carbohydrates (18 grams sugar) and 5 grams of fat. The shake does have 5 grams of fiber, which help it stick with you more than you might expect, but you'd be better off drinking two cups of skim milk to get a better protein-per-calorie ratio. One benefit of this shake is that it is very tasty, just like Strawberry Nesquick if you've had that. Not overly sweet and no sugar crash thanks to the fiber. This is alright in a pinch but isn't the best choice. Price is okay if it's on sale, and the colder you keep this, the better it tastes..the difference is significant.

Review of Kellogg's Special K Protein Meal Bar by soundcheck129

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:47:57 -0600

Double Chocolate

Sometimes, roadside convenience stores disappoint you, and on road trips, you can't just stop at every place to try and find an upgrade. Thus, you may be stuck with a Special K Protein Meal Bar. At 170 calories, this isn't the most filling bar ever, but it does have 5 grams of fiber for effort. Just 10 grams of protein but 26 grams of carbohydrates (15 grams of sugar) and 4.5 grams of fat makes this bar less than ideal but not quite a deal-breaker. On the plus side, this bar has a few vitamins and minerals and a high level of tasty flavor, so you can't be too mad. However, it doesn't keep you going for long and the protein sources aren't high quality - soy and skim milk - and the profile isn't too great, as it contains partially hydrogenated oils and most of the fat is saturated. A good alternative to a candy bar, but that's about it.

Review of Optimum Nutrition Optimal Protein Diet Bars by soundcheck129

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:48:34 -0600

Chocolate Mint

Finding low-carb bars is getting easier and easier, but finding tasty ones still remains challenging. However, the Optimal Protein Diet Bars are a definite contender, at least the Chocolate Mint flavor. These taste very much like the Doctor's CarbRite bars, with a rich chocolate flavor and a hint of mint reminiscent (although not as great as) of Andes candy. Also similar is the nutritional profile - 180 calories, 20 grams of protein, 2.5 grams of fat, 23 grams of carbohydrates. The bars are sugar-free but unfortunately contain 22 grams of sugar alcohols. As you might expect, that has significant gastrointestinal consequences; gas at best and diarrhea at worst. The bar has a solid consistency and actually has a decent protein blend - casein, WPI, soy, wheat and egg, which is a major upgrade from the usual protein bar content of soy only.

Review of Balance Bar Balance Bare by soundcheck129

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:57:36 -0600

Sweet & Salty Chocolate Almond

To paraphrase The Most Interesting Man in the World commercials - I don't always eat protein bars for dinner, but when I do, it's two at a time because I haven't eaten all day and am starving. I picked this bar because it seemed an excusable substitute for part of a meal, given the broad array of vitamins and minerals, including 200 percent of the RDA for vitamin B12 and 100 percent each of the RDA for vitamins C and E. I say part of a meal because the bar is just 200 calories, though it offers 15 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber. It's a tad high in sugar with 11 grams but has only 2.5 grams of saturated fat (7 grams total). Any flaws in the profile can be forgiven once you consider the great taste - staying true to its name, this struck a great balance of sweet and savory, with a rich chocolate flavor and tasty granola. The consistency was also impressive, nothing like a normal protein bar, more like *gasp* actual food.

Review of Promax Lower Sugar Energy Bar by soundcheck129

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:36:57 -0600

Peanut Butter Chocolate

Promax used to be known for really tasty bars with really poor nutritional profiles, but the company seems to have changed a bit (for the better). Promax now has a line of 'lower sugar' bars (apparently taking the hint from Detour), and the profile is much improved. With just 9 grams of sugar and 14 grams of fiber, this 220-calorie bar is a pretty good choice. It has 18 grams of protein and 7 grams of fat (4 grams saturated), so it isn't perfect, but it's better than a lot of snacks. The protein is mostly soy although there is some casein and whey. The bar is large considering the low calorie count, but the taste is pretty mediocre - don't expect a Reese's. Given the profile - which also contains a bunch of vitamins and minerals - and the price ($1.39 for each bar, not as part of a box) I would pick this up again without hesitation, although I might opt for a different flavor.

Review of Oxiracetam

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:39:55 -0600

It's Good for concentration but it seems to "bury" emotions and creativity.

Review of Twinlab Power Fuel by soundcheck129

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 14:04:11 -0500

Electric Blue Raspberry

As if there were not already enough pre-workouts on the market, Twinlab decided to drop one more in. Luckily, it's actually a pretty solid product. While Power Fuel is similar to many other products thanks to the arginine-caffeine-creatine formulation, it is differentiated due to, among other things, the lack of 1,3 and the inclusion of MCTs and beta-alanine. It's fairly low in calories, with 45 per serving due to the waxy maize and maltodextrin. I'm a fan of quick carbs in pre-workouts, so I don't have an issue with that. Energy was pretty solid, more than you might expect from a supplement with 120 mg, as that is less than you'll find in a lot of other products. Focus was improved but it wasn't one of those tunnel-vision scenarios, although stamina and endurance were solid. No crash at all, which is probably thanks to the rational amount of caffeine. Mixability was flawless although taste could have been improved. While it was tasty, there was a strong chemical taste to it. Not overwhelmingly impressive but not bad either.

Review of Cellucor C4 Extreme

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:32:21 -0500

This is a wonderful product. C4 comes in 30 and 60 servings, not 45. and the max reccomended dosage is 2 scoops, not three. And also early version contanted 1,3d. i hasent contained this ingredient in a while. This is good stuff. I have used c4 and will continue to use it. thanks

Review of PowerBar Harvest Dipped by soundcheck129

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:44:14 -0500

Double Chocolate

PowerBar Harvest Dipped bars aren't your traditional protein bar, as they only contain 10 grams of protein per 250 calories, and that protein primarily comes from soy. However, if you are looking for a pre-workout energy source, this can be preferable to other options, as it contains 42 grams of carbohydrates, with oats being the main ingredient. However, it is high in sugar, with 21 grams, although that can be an advantage. As far as general health goes, this can also be a suitable choice, with 5 grams of fiber per bar. The best aspect, by far, is the great taste of these bars. Great chocolate taste and a crunchy but not overly chewy texture. Hate on them all you want, but the soy crisps really make this bar. And of course, the vitamins and minerals are an added bonus. This doesn't provide a massive boost of energy but it has definite potential to perk you up.

Review of Millennium Sport Technologies Cordygen5

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:32:58 -0500

This product is awsome, I am 62 y.o. and it is now a staple among my supp's. Excelent synergy with products with shilajit extract like primavie, I take only two caplets, one at bed time, and one more first thing upon awakening with a huge glass of water..Luis Mtz Mexico.

Review of Gatorade G Series Fit 01 Prime by soundcheck129

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:42:56 -0500

Cranberry Pistachio

At some point, the powers that be at Gatorade realized that it might be useful to offer products other than just a fat- and protein-free recovery beverage, and thus, the G Series FIT products were born. The Prime bar - not to be confused with USP Labs' Prime - is a pre-workout snack bar that comes in four pieces so you can choose how much energy you want for your workout. The entire bar provides 190 calories, so each piece provides 47.5, a rather odd arrangement. Taking less than the full bar didn't really do much in terms of energy, and eating the full bar had the unfortunate side effect of stomach discomfort and cramps. Another issue involving the formula is...the formula. With 8 grams of fat, 27 grams of carbohydrates (17 grams of sugar) and 6 grams of protein, this doesn't seem particularly optimal for exercise. A growing body of research suggests that protein is just as important prior to workouts as it is after, so frankly, this formula is a bit disappointing. The taste was quite poor as well; while I like both pistachios and cranberries, the combination was just short of awful. The chewy consistency wasn't bad, but that is hardly worth paying $2 per bar for. And no, this isn't a traditional bodybuilding "pre-workout" because it is not a stimulant/focus product, so don't expect boundless energy.

Review of Clif Bar Clif Crunch by soundcheck129

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 19:26:43 -0500

Blueberry Crisp

Lately I've found a small snack right before workouts or cardio has led to some quality sessions, so I've been trying different protein/snack bars to fit the bill. Short of Supreme Bars, the Blueberry Crisp Clif Crunch bar is one of the best tasting I've found. The taste is not quite that of a blueberry muffin but it's pretty sweet despite being less than insanely high in sugar (11 grams). Each bar contains just 190 calories so it's a light meal but it's rich in carbohydrates (26 grams) so it's pretty decent for energy. Only 3 grams of fiber so it shouldn't create a "SuperDump" and it has more electrolytes than even the new Xtend...which is still not much. It probably won't fill you up after a workout but it's decent for a between meals snack. Just 4 grams of protein so you may want to take it with a shake.

Review of Rockstar Energy Drink Recovery by soundcheck129

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:53:05 -0500

Orange

Given the name, this seems as though it's supposed to be some sort of hangover-killer, but it's pretty well suited to overall energy as well. I got a four pack and found it was not only good for a morning wake-up call but for pre-workout use as well. I was surprised to find impressive pumps with this, and despite having less caffeine than a lot of pre-workout powders, 160 mg per can, the energy was pretty long-lasting and intense. I could have gone without the intense thermogenic effect, as I was sweating pretty intensely after about 10 minutes of exercise, which was annoying. The forumla contains the typical massive amount of B vitamins and taurine but also offers ginseng, milk thistle and prickly pear extract. The orange flavor was pretty good, basically orange soda although it was a tad more watered down than a typical soda.

Review of MuscleTech NeuroCore by soundcheck129

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:32:32 -0500

Grape

There's a reason why, even if I have a terrible cold, I never buy cough syrup. And that's because it tastes so horrible that I'd rather have a cough. If you've experienced the horrors of grape cough syrup, you'll know exactly what NeuroCore tastes like. It's not only bad tasting but also offers a bitter aftertaste to complete the overall lack of appeal. That would have been forgivable were this a high-quality product. Sadly, it's not. The marketing copy for this provides a veritable checklist of what NeuroCore doesn't do. I felt pretty much zero energy, focus or strength. Pumps were minimal, and though I usually experience a large thermogenic effect and great endurance with Geranium/caffeine combo products, I got neither here. On the plus side, this mixed well with minimal water and the formula has a big dose of beta-alanine and 110 mg of caffeine per scoop so it's not insane. No BCAAs is a bit of a bummer. I have heard great things about this product from others, so perhaps your experience may differ.

Review of AllMax Nutrition Taurine by soundcheck129

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:34:17 -0500

Considering the ridiculously inexpensive price of this product, I figured I'd give it a shot. Sadly, I got what I paid for - very little. As for the positives - this was pretty tasteless so I didn't taste it when mixed into juice, Vitamin Water, BCAAs, etc. It also mixed smoothly, with no foaming or excessive floaters. Taurine is supposed to enhance focus, energy and overall performance, but it's pretty difficult to tell if I experienced a significant difference in these categories compared to working out without the supplement. I read a study that said taurine is best when combined with caffeine, so perhaps my attempt to use this as part of a stim-free protocol wasn't the best idea. Thankfully, the investment wasn't a large one.

Review of MuscleMaxx MuscleMaxx by soundcheck129

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:39:18 -0500

Chocolate Fudge

I had previously heard some atrocious reviews of this product, in this flavor, so I was a bit hesitant to check it out. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it must have been reformulated, because it tastes awesome (though it is 3 g higher in carbohydrates than the original). This is a Muscle Milk-esque product, although it is lower in fat (4 g total) and higher in carbohydrates (15 g) and protein (35 g) per 240-calorie serving. It also only has WPC and WPI but does feature MCTs, Flax Oil, CLA and Omega 3 powder, so that's impressive. Each serving also contains 2 grams of fiber and I found this to be massively delicious. The consistency is quite thick and the flavor is rich, deep chocolate - somewhere between dark chocolate and milk chocolate. Perhaps not the greatest supp of all time but it's quite cheap for 5 lb tubs, so I'm a fan.

Review of Betancourt Nutrition Englutarade by soundcheck129

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:03:14 -0500

Kiwi-Strawberry

Another on-sale pickup, Englutarade is basically a Gatorade-esque drink except low in carbs and purportedly more beneficial for recovery due to its star ingredient...glutamine. Had I not gotten this for half price I wouldn't have picked it up but I thought it might be beneficial for running. Unfortunately, it's quite low in calories (30 per serving) and thus low in carbs. No BCAAs, just vitamins, Ginkgo, 40 mg of caffeine, quercetin and some electrolytes. A bit of a weird design for a product from a bodybuilding supplement company, but there it is. Recovery may be slightly improved, but when taken prior to exercise as directed, didn't really feel any energy. If nothing else, it was refreshing after workouts, so I guess that counts for something. Flavor and mixability were pretty good, though. Pretty much your standard strawberry-kiwi flavor (like Propel's, if you've had that) and it mixed smoothly.

Review of Betancourt Nutrition BCAA Chewies by soundcheck129

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:38:40 -0500

Strawberry Kiwi

The world of amino acid supplementation seems to be one driven by good-tasting supplements, and Betancourt BCAA chewies are no exception. The Strawberry-Kiwi flavor is sweet but a bit subdued so you don't feel too much sugar tearing away at your teeth. While these aren't intended to be taken intra-workout, you could, and I did with no issues. I found it more convenient to carry these in my pocket than to carry around a water bottle with an intra, so that was a plus. Additionally, I've had stomach discomfort with overly sweet intra drinks (Xtend) in the past, and didn't have that here. That said, the chewies are more expensive than an intra on a price-per-serving basis. Additionally, the ratio is not disclosed and the label suggests valine is the primary amino, which would be odd. Only 16 calories and 2 grams of sugar, which is probably about the same or better than a typical BCAA drink.

Review of NutraPlanet Agmatine Powder by soundcheck129

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:48:16 -0500

Agmatine seems to be all the rage right now, and it's a bit hard to understand why, as this is basically just a straight pump product. I'm not against pumps or anything, but I also don't like buying products solely for pump...I do get pumps from lifting alone. That said, the NP agmatine powder did help improve pumps and I noticed that vascularity was significantly enhanced, even when I'm not lifting - I had some insane veinage in my arms just from running. Agmatine is also supposed to increase IGF-1 and GH release and improve recovery, but I can't definitely say that I've experienced those results. Recovery time between sets seems to be shorter and strength has increased, but not in a huge way. It's virtually tasteless and mixes well with everything I've tried, so no issues there.

Review of Higher Power 100% Micellar Casein by soundcheck129

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:32:07 -0500

Banana

Finding cheap casein can be a pretty tough task, so using the one offered by Bodybuilding.com's house brand, Higher Power, is a great option. As with every other casein, this produces thick shakes, but it doesn't chunk up like some other casein products I've used. In addition to the mixability being good, the taste is pretty good as well. It has a slight banana cream feel, which I prefer to the typical candy-like banana flavors. What I like about the flavor is that it isn't overwhelmingly sweet, but it's also not overly muted like some casein flavors. I prefer Higher Power casein to the brand's whey because it is more filling and I prefer the consistency of the shakes. No frills here, so don't expect a blend with whey or the infusion of MCTs, etc. That said, it's a good value for the money - good luck finding a less expensive casein.

Review of Muscle Asylum Project Arson

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:02:38 -0500

When the Directions are read and understood, and the Product is used accordingly, ARSON is the BEST PERFORMING THERMOGENIC ON THE MARKET.. For those of you who have not assessed your tolerances to this product, and have side-effects, PLEASE RE-ASSESS YOUR TOLERANCE LEVEL. Always start with the minimum dose of 1 and slowly build up to 2, and if your body accepts the 2, then move on to 3.. I do not use frequently in the summertime, my work is physically demanding and I am sometimes outdoors. During the colder months, I use this product excessively. AGAIN I STRESS READING DIRECTIONS AND USING THE PRODUCT ACCORDINGLY.. I love the hell out of this stuff, and I am 48yrs young.

Review of iSatori Liquid Morph

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 23:37:40 -0500

immediately after taking a free sample of this my skin started to burn and turn bright red. headeache and dizzines soon followed. not sure how long it last becuase its been 15mins and still no improvement