Cellucor Alpha-Amino Watermelon and Lemon Lime - Review

[draperd]

Cellucor Alpha Amino – Watermelon & Lemon Lime | Review

HUGE thanks to CoryReps and Cellucor for letting me review Alpha Amino before it hits shelves later this month. I received one serving each of watermelon and lemon lime flavors. Started off with the watermelon - I'll add lemon lime details later this evening after my workout.

My Background: I’m a born-again gym rat, but I’m not a bodybuilder or big-time heavy lifter. I workout to be a better all-around athlete (primary sport is basketball) and to maintain a healthy body. I always test myself and push my limits in the gym. I am in the gym for about 75 minutes, 5 days a week. Recovery is usually an issue working out 5 days, which is why Alpha Amino peaked my interest.

Supplementation wise I am a supp junkie. I worked a few years at VS when I was younger and received a pretty good training and background in sports supplements. I like to give everything an honest try and if something works I always recommend it to friends.

Workout Details: Completed my leg workout about 1hr prior to taking Alpha Amino.

Barbell Squat (185x6, 205x6, 225x6)
Leg Press (270x6, 360x6, 450x6)
Deadlift (155x6, 185x6, 205x6)
Lying Leg Curls (100x15, 110x15, 120x15)
Standing Calf Raise (90x30, 90x30, 90x30)
Seated Calf Raise (90x30, 90x30, 90x30)

Ingredient Profile ( 10 / 10):
The hydration complex (coconut water/chia seeds) intrigued me the most. I drink both when I am feeling dehydrated and run down. Seems like a great way to get hydrated in the times surrounding intense workout sessions. 3X Leucine to drive the processing of protein seems like a great idea. I would like to see the long-term effects of this ingredient choice.

Dosing ( 9 / 10):



I received one serving/scoop of the watermelon flavor. 5g of BCAA’s and the added hydration complex seem to be adequate dosing for solid recovery. Tough to guess if one scoop / day is sufficient long term. Based on my notes in the effectiveness section, I think that one scoop will be ok for most people.

Taste/Mixability( 9.5 / 10):



Watermelon: I love watermelon flavored supplements. CL Green Magnitude is my personal favorite in the watermelon department. The taste of watermelon Alpha Amino is really close to that. There is a touch of “synthetic” taste to me, but I searched really hard for that. Most users will love the taste.

Lemon Lime: Lemon lime flavor was decent. Not the tangy, citrus type flavor I was prepared for. It was a bit more muted in taste. I really preferred watermelon vs. lemon lime.

Mixability is a perfect 10. No foam like Modern BCAA or Xtend. Hardly any particles floating around after a 10 second shake. No gritty taste and went down smooth.

Effectiveness ( 10 / 10): I gauge the quality of my leg days on whether I can walk up the stairs the next morning at work. Usually it’s a pretty painful task the day after legs. I’m still a bit sore this morning, but I feel as if my recovery is well advanced of where it normal is the morning after legs. I feel pretty good – minimal soreness and well hydrated. The only thing I can attribute this to is Alpha Amino.

Value ( 9 / 10): Searching online it looks like Alpha Amino will be around $30 for 30 servings. $1 per serving is pretty steep for most users, BUT I look at my results post workout when deciding value for a BCAA product. I feel better 12 hours post workout using Alpha Amino then I do normally. I may not use it everyday based on sheer cost, but it would be a go-to supplement when I know I’ve put in an intense workout.

Overall ( 9.5 / 10): I only have one workout / serving of Alpha Amino to make my review against, but I feel I had awesome results with this product. Cellucor addressed major issues in taste and mixability that plague BCAA products and knocked this one out of the park in my opinion. While pricey, it is effective which to me is the true bottom-line. With the advanced ingredient profile and hydration complex I believe Alpha-Amino is going to end up as the new leader in the BCAA segment.

[burntreality]

So jealous right now. Mine is out on the truck for delivery. Good review man.

[draperd]

So jealous right now. Mine is out on the truck for delivery. Good review man.

Appreciate it. Go hard and let us know your results. Looking forward to seeing if the others have the positive results I did.

[Vinny82]

Nice review man! Can't wait to get mine, was supposed to be here yesterday but now it says Friday damn snow here in PA.

[The Solution]

Outstanding Review
PERFECT Detail
and great way to set up your review
others should be taking notes

JEALOUS! have not tried it yet!!

[draperd]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Pretty surprised at the effect on my recovery.

Stay tuned for taste feedback on lemon lime later this evening.

[rjlawson07]

Did you take this in place of any pre-workout supplements? Or did you treat this as a true intra-workout? Or neither? Just trying to gather some information as I work this product into my 'line-up,' once it's out that is. Thanks for your review!

[draperd]

Did you take this in place of any pre-workout supplements? Or did you treat this as a true intra-workout? Or neither? Just trying to gather some information as I work this product into my 'line-up,' once it's out that is. Thanks for your review!

Took my normal preworkout and AA post.

I took AA post workout due to UPS running late. Normal circumstances I would probably use it Intra-workout, although the product packaging notes you can use it anytime of the day.

[rjlawson07]

Took my normal preworkout and AA post.

I took AA post workout due to UPS running late. Normal circumstances I would probably use it Intra-workout, although the product packaging notes you can use it anytime of the day.

Excellent. Thank you! I have been bringing a protein shake with me to the gym, which I will probably move to the end of my workout while I use Alpha Amino throughout.

[PatrickNegri]

I was interested in this product. Thank you for your honest review!

[The Solution]

Excellent. Thank you! I have been bringing a protein shake with me to the gym, which I will probably move to the end of my workout while I use Alpha Amino throughout.

Did you take this in place of any pre-workout supplements? Or did you treat this as a true intra-workout? Or neither? Just trying to gather some information as I work this product into my 'line-up,' once it's out that is. Thanks for your review!

BCAA are best taken upon waking in a fasted state for morning training
2) between meals spaced 4-6 hours apart to allow protein levels to reach refractory levels before being spiked again

http://www.biolayne.com/wp-content/u...-Tech-2008.pdf
http://www.biolayne.com/news/episode...ein-synthesis/

3) Intra-workout is the least importance if fed, due to overlap from pre-workout meal into the post-workout period, so you dont need a shake or amions post-workout a whole food meal would be optimal.

[draperd]

BCAA are best taken upon waking in a fasted state for morning training
2) between meals spaced 4-6 hours apart to allow protein levels to reach refractory levels before being spiked again

http://www.biolayne.com/wp-content/u...-Tech-2008.pdf
http://www.biolayne.com/news/episode...ein-synthesis/

3) Intra-workout is the least importance if fed, due to overlap from pre-workout meal into the post-workout period, so you dont need a shake or amions post-workout a whole food meal would be optimal.

Great info Bob!

What do you think Cellucor's position is on the best timing/use of Alpha Amino? I figured the hydration complex comes in handy intra-workout...

[The Solution]

Great info Bob!

What do you think Cellucor's position is on the best timing/use of Alpha Amino? I figured the hydration complex comes in handy intra-workout...

As stated above brother

this is common knowledge

Pre-workout for a fasted state
if you are dosing intra your pre-workout meal is still digesting and will be overlapping into the post-workout period
BCAA's are instantly digested so it will spike protein again after shortly consuming a meal pre-workout makes for no shake or bCAA right away post-workout because you are still digesting the pre-workout or intra-workout BCAA/Protein meal.

[draperd]

As stated above brother

this is common knowledge

Pre-workout for a fasted state
if you are dosing intra your pre-workout meal is still digesting and will be overlapping into the post-workout period
BCAA's are instantly digested so it will spike protein again after shortly consuming a meal pre-workout makes for no shake or bCAA right away post-workout because you are still digesting the pre-workout or intra-workout BCAA/Protein meal.

Makes sense. Just wanted to make sure.

[DasBiceps]

Already got my samples. I am going to start the lemon lime review tomorrow

[rjlawson07]

BCAA are best taken upon waking in a fasted state for morning training
2) between meals spaced 4-6 hours apart to allow protein levels to reach refractory levels before being spiked again

3) Intra-workout is the least importance if fed, due to overlap from pre-workout meal into the post-workout period, so you dont need a shake or amions post-workout a whole food meal would be optimal.

Thanks for the information. I'm going to see if I have this right (forgive me for my ignorance): it sounds like I'm best using my preworkout as scheduled before the gym, nothing during the workout, and then AA immediately following. I can then include a protein shake or two throughout the day as a snack (or two). Is that right?

[draperd]

Added in my thoughts on lemon lime flavor in 1st post.

[The Solution]

Added in my thoughts on lemon lime flavor in 1st post.

Thanks man!
I cant wait to give it a shot and see for myself.

Thanks for the information. I'm going to see if I have this right (forgive me for my ignorance): it sounds like I'm best using my preworkout as scheduled before the gym, nothing during the workout, and then AA immediately following. I can then include a protein shake or two throughout the day as a snack (or two). Is that right?

No

Pre-workout for FASTED training
Between meals spcaed 4-6 hours apart (links above showing the research)
Intra-workout is least importance

Again if you train fed, your pre-workout meal is still digesting into the post-workout period and protein is still present in the stream
taking AA's intra workout when aimons are already present spikes protein again (which goes against the MPS Study and allowing protein to reach refractory levels before being spiked again which shows the best and greatest muscle protein synthesis) so you are constantly elevating protein levels (which does not aid Muscle Protein Synthesis)
taking AA's again post-wrokout would be a waste, your protein levels are still sky high from a pre-workout feeding or intra-workout AA beverage, so a whole food meal post-workout is fine (even if its 45-60-75 minutes post) the need for a quick AA hit or a protein shake when you are done lifting is not necessary.

This help?

A protein shake or protein powder is used to hit your protein and meet your protein quota for the day when you cannot get whole foods.

[rjlawson07]

No

Pre-workout for FASTED training
Between meals spcaed 4-6 hours apart (links above showing the research)
Intra-workout is least importance

Again if you train fed, your pre-workout meal is still digesting into the post-workout period and protein is still present in the stream
taking AA's intra workout when aimons are already present spikes protein again (which goes against the MPS Study and allowing protein to reach refractory levels before being spiked again which shows the best and greatest muscle protein synthesis) so you are constantly elevating protein levels (which does not aid Muscle Protein Synthesis)
taking AA's again post-wrokout would be a waste, your protein levels are still sky high from a pre-workout feeding or intra-workout AA beverage, so a whole food meal post-workout is fine (even if its 45-60-75 minutes post) the need for a quick AA hit or a protein shake when you are done lifting is not necessary.

This help?

A protein shake or protein powder is used to hit your protein and meet your protein quota for the day when you cannot get whole foods.

Yes - thank you for taking the time to get my head wrapped around that!

[Anytimechuck]

great review. I like the watermelon flavor. reminds me of a jolly rancher

[LordMarcus6]

So jealous right now. Mine is out on the truck for delivery. Good review man.

Agreed. It looks like a great product. Nice review brother, very informative.

[draperd]

I wanted to post an update on the Lemon Lime flavor of Alpha Amino. As you guys may know the samples sent to the testers for that flavor didn't hit the mark for many of us in the taste department. Turns out Cellucor changed the lemon lime flavor for the final product that went to market. Cory reached out to me and sent some of the new lemon lime flavor to see how it compares.

The new lemon lime flavor is WAAAAYYYY better than the samples I had. It's still not an overly citrus or tangy flavor but you know its lemon lime. Best of all no more aftertaste.

Says a lot about Cellucor as a company that they are willing to change flavoring and send more product out to ensure they make things right with their loyal customers.

[LordMarcus6]

I wanted to post an update on the Lemon Lime flavor of Alpha Amino. As you guys may know the samples sent to the testers for that flavor didn't hit the mark for many of us in the taste department. Turns out Cellucor changed the lemon lime flavor for the final product that went to market. Cory reached out to me and sent some of the new lemon lime flavor to see how it compares.

The new lemon lime flavor is WAAAAYYYY better than the samples I had. It's still not an overly citrus or tangy flavor but you know its lemon lime. Best of all no more aftertaste.

Says a lot about Cellucor as a company that they are willing to change flavoring and send more product out to ensure they make things right with their loyal customers.

Mad respect. Great company and a noble move.

[The Solution]

I wanted to post an update on the Lemon Lime flavor of Alpha Amino. As you guys may know the samples sent to the testers for that flavor didn't hit the mark for many of us in the taste department. Turns out Cellucor changed the lemon lime flavor for the final product that went to market. Cory reached out to me and sent some of the new lemon lime flavor to see how it compares.

The new lemon lime flavor is WAAAAYYYY better than the samples I had. It's still not an overly citrus or tangy flavor but you know its lemon lime. Best of all no more aftertaste.

Says a lot about Cellucor as a company that they are willing to change flavoring and send more product out to ensure they make things right with their loyal customers.

Any chance to post a full review?
I never tried lemon like so I am curious

[DasBiceps]

I wanted to post an update on the Lemon Lime flavor of Alpha Amino. As you guys may know the samples sent to the testers for that flavor didn't hit the mark for many of us in the taste department. Turns out Cellucor changed the lemon lime flavor for the final product that went to market. Cory reached out to me and sent some of the new lemon lime flavor to see how it compares.

The new lemon lime flavor is WAAAAYYYY better than the samples I had. It's still not an overly citrus or tangy flavor but you know its lemon lime. Best of all no more aftertaste.

Says a lot about Cellucor as a company that they are willing to change flavoring and send more product out to ensure they make things right with their loyal customers.

Good to hear the aftertaste is gone. Lemon Lime would have been my favorite flavor if it wasn't for the aftertaste.