Optimum Nutrition Essential AmiN.O. Energy Review

November 15, 2015 / waterjugfitness / Leave a comment

Over the past few years Optimum Nutrition’s Essential AmiN.O. Energy has become a staple in my daily routine. Whether I’m trying to gain weight, burn fat, or just looking for a quick pick me up, AmiN.O. Energy is a personal favorite. Check out the review below, and decide for yourself if this product is right for you.

What To Look For When Buying A Supplement

Main ingredient
Effectiveness
Taste
Side effects
Cost

The main ingredient in this product is amino acids (5 g per serving).

Amino Acids Benefits

Prevents Catabolism (breakdown of muscle)
Increased Protein Synthesis
Increased Energy
Reduced Fatigue
Supports Weight Loss and Fat Burning
Supports Recovery

I’ve found AmiN.O Energy to be extremely effective before, during and after workouts. How? With a 160 mg “Energy Blend”, I’m able to stay energized and focused throughout my workout. This particular “Energy Blend” has 50 mg of caffeine per scoop, not per serving, so keep that in mind. Also, I typically get a good pump after taking this product. Lets discuss the taste, I generally mix two scoops into about half gallon of water and love it. Optimum Nutrition also has wide a variety of different flavors to choose from. A few of my personal favorites are Green Apple and Concord Grape, I couldn’t pick just one. As for the side effects, I have not experienced any or heard of any negative side effects from taking this product. Lastly, the cost, I typically get the 65 serving container which costs roughly $38.00. Lets do the math, $38.00 for 65 servings comes to $0.58 per serving. Give or take a few pennies.

Rating (1-5)

I highly recommend this product, and have spoken with several others who do as well!

Is there a supplement you’ve been thinking about taking but want to hear a first-hand review? Please leave a comment and if I’ve taken it I would be happy to share. And if I haven’t taken it, I would be willing to give it a shot. Now be sure to go follow WaterJugFitness on Twitter and Instagram for daily fitness tips.

References
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bcaas-the-many-benefits-of-amino-acids.html
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/issa89.htm

Cellucor C4 Extreme Pre-Workout Review

August 2, 2015 / waterjugfitness / Leave a comment

Have you ever arrived at the gym after a long day at work and just didn’t feel like being there? That’s when it’s time to reach for your pre-workout. A good pre-workout supplement should provide your body with adequate energy and focus throughout your workout. Many pre-workout formulas also promote fat loss, increased muscle volume and the “PUMP” feeling (how they do this is beyond me).

Have health concerns about taking a pre-workout? My personal recommendation, I’m no doctor, but if you have health concerns you may want to consult with your doctor before taking a pre-workout. Pre-workouts generally have large amounts of caffeine and depending on your body, you may react differentl.

Ok, lets get into the supplement review now.

Cellucor C4 Extreme Pre-Workout

What To Look For When Buying A Supplement

Main ingredient
Effectiveness
Taste
Side effects
Cost

The main ingredient of this product is Creatine Nitrate (1 g per serving).

Creatine Nitrate Benefits

Increase lean muscle mass
Improved high intensity output
Improved strength
Improved power
Improved recovery time

Cellucor C4 also packs 1.6 grams of Beta Alanine and 1 gram of Arginine AKG. Beta Alanine has been shown to increase muscular strength, mass, endurance and reduce muscle fatigue. Arginine AKG has been shown to increase nitric oxide production thus increasing the bodies ability to build mass. Please know the studies to prove the benefits of Arginine AKG are lacking. C4 also contains an “Explosive Energy Blend”. You will find these “Blends” in many pre-workouts, the main ingredient I look for though is caffeine. This product contains 135 mg of caffeine. Moving on to the taste, my favorite would have to be Icy Blue Razz. Basically tastes like a pixie stick, that’s the best comparison I can give you. As for side effects, I haven’t experienced any negative side effects from taking this product. I have heard people complain about a “tingling” feeling after taking C4. Lastly, this pre-workout costs $39.65 for 30 servings. Depending on where you buy it the price may vary slightly.

Rating (1-5)

References
http://www.betaalanine.info/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/487696-what-is-arginine-akg/

Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard Protein Review

February 11, 2015March 22, 2015 / waterjugfitness / Leave a comment

Hey Everyone! Thanks for tuning in to my supplement review on Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard protein. Protein is a key component in repairing and building muscle. If your diet lacks protein you’re probably not getting the most out of your workouts. The good news is there are tons of supplements out there to help you increase protein intake.

Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard

What To Look For When Buying A Supplement

Main ingredient
Effectiveness
Taste
Side effects
Cost

The main ingredient of this product is Whey Protein Isolate (24 grams per serving).

Whey Protein Isolate Benefits

Muscle growth
Lose fat
Improved strength
Improved recovery

Optimum Nutrition also packs 4 grams of Glutamine and 5 grams of Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAA’s) into this protein. Glutamine and BCAA’s have been shown to greatly improve the break down and absorption of protein into muscle tissue. This is crucial in terms of effectiveness because after a workout your body needs these fast-acting nutrients to repair and build muscle. Lets talk about the taste, hands down Extreme Chocolate Milk and Vanilla Ice Cream are my favorite flavors. Another great thing about this protein their large variety of flavors. Choose your flavor wisely though because servings per container may vary. A 74 serving container will cost about $0.72 per serving which is a great value. In regards to side effects, I have not experienced or read about any negative side effects.

Rating (1-5)

References
http://www.livestrong.com/article/39242-benefits-whey-protein-isolate/
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/glutamine.htm

The Starter Stack

February 4, 2015March 22, 2015 / waterjugfitness / Leave a comment

What’s “The Starter Stack”? Good question, it’s two supplements I started taking daily to increase muscle volume and strength. Do I think supplements are important for meeting your fitness goals? Yes! When I first started working out I had no clue about proper supplementation. My thoughts were, “they can’t really help that much”. After a few months into working out, I decided to purchase a few supplements. I didn’t want to purchase them right away as I wasn’t sure if I would even stick with lifting. Once I became more dedicated to the fitness lifestyle, I started taking both a protein and a creatine supplement. Body Fortress Super Advanced Creatine HP BSN SYNTHA-6 Protein

Let The Gains Begin

With just these two supplements alone I was able to pack on 10lbs in a couple months. Before you start saying I bet it was mostly water weight and fat. Good job, you would be correct. Most of it was water weight with a little bit of fat but there was also a drastic increase in muscle volume. The creatine allowed me to work harder and push out more reps. Instead of benching 95lbs for a few reps, I could do 135lbs one time. You may laugh but it was progress. Guess what, the progress is what kept me going back for more! What about the protein supplement? The protein was essential for building muscle. Since I was not getting enough protein in my everyday diet I was unable properly recover and repair broken down muscles. So if you decide to start taking Body Fortress Super Advanced Creatine HP and BSN SYNTHA-6 Protein beware of the side effects (sarcasm).

Benefits

Increased muscle volume
Increased strength
Increased focus
Gains

Again, it’s completely up to you whether or not to take supplements and which ones. If you do decide to start taking supplements I strongly recommend looking into the consumer ratings and reviews. If there are any supplements you swear by please leave a comment and I would love to try them out, if I haven’t already. Now be sure to go follow WaterJugFitness on Twitter and Instagram. Also go check out the Water Jug Fitness YouTube channel for supplement reviews and more! References http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/creatine-q-and-a-top-17-questions-answered.html