2020 Part 6: preworkouts & forums

[TMac26]

Love me a good banana.

Gonna check it out


I'm still addicted to Myofeed PB Vanilla

[sloop]

Love me a good banana.

Gonna check it out


I'm still addicted to Myofeed PB Vanilla

I just got 2 tubs of the Mutant Pro banana yesterday, also really good. Banana is my favorite whey flavor too.

[nkiritsis13]

I just got 2 tubs of the Mutant Pro banana yesterday, also really good. Banana is my favorite whey flavor too.

Nutrex's banana foster is the most recent I've had, and it's a pretty spot on mix of flavors.

There's a nice cinnamon-sugar taste complementing the banana, which is smoothed out by a notable layer of vanilla ice cream (Nutrex already makes a stellar vanilla ice cream flavor, so they did good again).

A company that used to be around called Gifted Nutrition had an incredible peanut butter banana protein that I've yet to see any other brand try. It was such a simple but perfect blend of peanut flour for the true to form peanut butter taste with an impressively natural tasting banana. Sure, you could mix a peanut butter protein with a banana one, but the proportions were just right and it's a shame that there hasn't been any recent attempt.

[sloop]

When people say these 2 are heavy hitters, they are NOT joking.

So far I have 2 workouts with Dark Energy and 1 workout with Excelsior to compare to.

Dark Energy = a bit smoother, a whole lot more euphoria, total sensory overload, felt very reminiscent of recreational things we did during the late 90's - early 2000's rave days. You could make up a pitcher of this for a party and everyone would have the time of their lives. Leaving the gym I took the long, long way home one day because the bass from my car stereo was just permeating my soul and I didn't want to get out. (I took 1 level scoop for each workout)

Excelsior = Limitless energy. Took longer to kick in on a totally empty stomach first thing in the morning, but when it did, it was a total tsunami of feelings and emotion. By the time I looked at my watch I had been at the gym for 80 minutes and it only felt like 20. The mind/muscle connection was like nothing I have experienced before. No weight felt too heavy. I only left because I had to get home for something, otherwise I would have stayed hours. Mentally I was a total wreck for the whole day afterwards. Not intentionally, but real moody and reserved. I took 1.5 scoops at 11:30am and was still feeling the effects at 10pm that night.

Both of these are wild rides. Wild. Overall I think I like the experience of Dark Energy just a bit more.

My question for you smart dudes - which of the ingredients in Dark Energy is responsible for the major euphoric feelings? Is it the DMHA or the DMAA? Or the combination of both?

[danielmoo]

When people say these 2 are heavy hitters, they are NOT joking.

So far I have 2 workouts with Dark Energy and 1 workout with Excelsior to compare to.

Dark Energy = a bit smoother, a whole lot more euphoria, total sensory overload, felt very reminiscent of recreational things we did during the late 90's - early 2000's rave days. You could make up a pitcher of this for a party and everyone would have the time of their lives. Leaving the gym I took the long, long way home one day because the bass from my car stereo was just permeating my soul and I didn't want to get out. (I took 1 level scoop for each workout)

Excelsior = Limitless energy. Took longer to kick in on a totally empty stomach first thing in the morning, but when it did, it was a total tsunami of feelings and emotion. By the time I looked at my watch I had been at the gym for 80 minutes and it only felt like 20. The mind/muscle connection was like nothing I have experienced before. No weight felt too heavy. I only left because I had to get home for something, otherwise I would have stayed hours. Mentally I was a total wreck for the whole day afterwards. Not intentionally, but real moody and reserved. I took 1.5 scoops at 11:30am and was still feeling the effects at 10pm that night.

Both of these are wild rides. Wild. Overall I think I like the experience of Dark Energy just a bit more.

My question for you smart dudes - which of the ingredients in Dark Energy is responsible for the major euphoric feelings? Is it the DMHA or the DMAA? Or the combination of both?

I legitimately don't remember the last time I purchased a PWO (much less exotic) but this makes me want to get some Dark Energy.

And if the label is accurate, then yes, definitely the combination of DMHA & DMAA responsible for those effects.

[sloop]

I legitimately don't remember the last time I purchased a PWO (much less exotic) but this makes me want to get some Dark Energy.

And if the label is accurate, then yes, definitely the combination of DMHA & DMAA responsible for those effects.

Damn I was hoping 1 of them was the main culprit, was hoping to buy some in bulk (if even possible)

I'm only using these heavy hitters once a week, there's no way I would ever take these as a daily driver.

[danielmoo]

Damn I was hoping 1 of them was the main culprit, was hoping to buy some in bulk (if even possible)

I'm only using these heavy hitters once a week, there's no way I would ever take these as a daily driver.

It has been many years... but what I remember from users is that DMHA was a 'feel good' type of stimulant, whereas DMAA was more of the laser-focus stim.

[sloop]

It has been many years... but what I remember from users is that DMHA was a 'feel good' type of stimulant, whereas DMAA was more of the laser-focus stim.

Both of these are right in line with OG Craze if you ever had that years ago.

[UncleWade]

When people say these 2 are heavy hitters, they are NOT joking.

So far I have 2 workouts with Dark Energy and 1 workout with Excelsior to compare to.

Dark Energy = a bit smoother, a whole lot more euphoria, total sensory overload, felt very reminiscent of recreational things we did during the late 90's - early 2000's rave days. You could make up a pitcher of this for a party and everyone would have the time of their lives. Leaving the gym I took the long, long way home one day because the bass from my car stereo was just permeating my soul and I didn't want to get out. (I took 1 level scoop for each workout)

Excelsior = Limitless energy. Took longer to kick in on a totally empty stomach first thing in the morning, but when it did, it was a total tsunami of feelings and emotion. By the time I looked at my watch I had been at the gym for 80 minutes and it only felt like 20. The mind/muscle connection was like nothing I have experienced before. No weight felt too heavy. I only left because I had to get home for something, otherwise I would have stayed hours. Mentally I was a total wreck for the whole day afterwards. Not intentionally, but real moody and reserved. I took 1.5 scoops at 11:30am and was still feeling the effects at 10pm that night.

Both of these are wild rides. Wild. Overall I think I like the experience of Dark Energy just a bit more.

My question for you smart dudes - which of the ingredients in Dark Energy is responsible for the major euphoric feelings? Is it the DMHA or the DMAA? Or the combination of both?

Who the sweet **** needs 400mg of caffeine, 60mg of 1,3 and 200mg of DMHA? Jesus Herbert Christ.

Which is my roundabout way of saying, I'm buying some.

[superhuman67]

Nutrex's banana foster is the most recent I've had, and it's a pretty spot on mix of flavors.

There's a nice cinnamon-sugar taste complementing the banana, which is smoothed out by a notable layer of vanilla ice cream (Nutrex already makes a stellar vanilla ice cream flavor, so they did good again).

A company that used to be around called Gifted Nutrition had an incredible peanut butter banana protein that I've yet to see any other brand try. It was such a simple but perfect blend of peanut flour for the true to form peanut butter taste with an impressively natural tasting banana. Sure, you could mix a peanut butter protein with a banana one, but the proportions were just right and it's a shame that there hasn't been any recent attempt.

Definitely agree Nutrex's Banana Fosters is very good banana flavored protein and it's a different
twist on banana with a very slight hint of cinnamon sweetness. This flavor worked great for frosted
French toast I picked up a couple tubs of that Gifted protein on a CRAZY clearance last year and
that was Phil Heath's brand and I had the vanilla cookie and strawberry and both were uniquely good.

[superhuman67]

When people say these 2 are heavy hitters, they are NOT joking.

So far I have 2 workouts with Dark Energy and 1 workout with Excelsior to compare to.

Dark Energy = a bit smoother, a whole lot more euphoria, total sensory overload, felt very reminiscent of recreational things we did during the late 90's - early 2000's rave days. You could make up a pitcher of this for a party and everyone would have the time of their lives. Leaving the gym I took the long, long way home one day because the bass from my car stereo was just permeating my soul and I didn't want to get out. (I took 1 level scoop for each workout)

Excelsior = Limitless energy. Took longer to kick in on a totally empty stomach first thing in the morning, but when it did, it was a total tsunami of feelings and emotion. By the time I looked at my watch I had been at the gym for 80 minutes and it only felt like 20. The mind/muscle connection was like nothing I have experienced before. No weight felt too heavy. I only left because I had to get home for something, otherwise I would have stayed hours. Mentally I was a total wreck for the whole day afterwards. Not intentionally, but real moody and reserved. I took 1.5 scoops at 11:30am and was still feeling the effects at 10pm that night.

Both of these are wild rides. Wild. Overall I think I like the experience of Dark Energy just a bit more.

My question for you smart dudes - which of the ingredients in Dark Energy is responsible for the major euphoric feelings? Is it the DMHA or the DMAA? Or the combination of both?

I haven't tried Dark Energy but my guess is the DMAA,DMHA,and that 50mg of GABA just work great
together and though GABA is usually used in sleep formula's in higher dosages the low dose probably
has a good mood effect combined with the other two ingredients mentioned.

[TheFugitive]

When people say these 2 are heavy hitters, they are NOT joking.

So far I have 2 workouts with Dark Energy and 1 workout with Excelsior to compare to.

Dark Energy = a bit smoother, a whole lot more euphoria, total sensory overload, felt very reminiscent of recreational things we did during the late 90's - early 2000's rave days. You could make up a pitcher of this for a party and everyone would have the time of their lives. Leaving the gym I took the long, long way home one day because the bass from my car stereo was just permeating my soul and I didn't want to get out. (I took 1 level scoop for each workout)

Excelsior = Limitless energy. Took longer to kick in on a totally empty stomach first thing in the morning, but when it did, it was a total tsunami of feelings and emotion. By the time I looked at my watch I had been at the gym for 80 minutes and it only felt like 20. The mind/muscle connection was like nothing I have experienced before. No weight felt too heavy. I only left because I had to get home for something, otherwise I would have stayed hours. Mentally I was a total wreck for the whole day afterwards. Not intentionally, but real moody and reserved. I took 1.5 scoops at 11:30am and was still feeling the effects at 10pm that night.

Both of these are wild rides. Wild. Overall I think I like the experience of Dark Energy just a bit more.

My question for you smart dudes - which of the ingredients in Dark Energy is responsible for the major euphoric feelings? Is it the DMHA or the DMAA? Or the combination of both?

Sexy tubs

[Joe D]

I tried the s’mores microwhey, stevia makes for a terrible sweetener.

[82ndAirborne]

I definitely laughed at the flavor "orange research"

[Anthony21]

Damn Sloop nice write up bro. Reminds me of the good old BB.COM review days.

When I saw reviews for Dark Energy I was intrigued but ever since OG Craze then Detonate by Gaspari I've been real cautious on which pre workout supplements I put in my body.

[sloop]

Damn Sloop nice write up bro. Reminds me of the good old BB.COM review days.

When I saw reviews for Dark Energy I was intrigued but ever since OG Craze then Detonate by Gaspari I've been real cautious on which pre workout supplements I put in my body.

Thanks bro, just trying to add some context between the two.

These two are bonkers. I'm already looking forward to giving Dark Energy another whirl next week.

[Anthony21]

Thanks bro, just trying to add some context between the two.

These two are bonkers. I'm already looking forward to giving Dark Energy another whirl next week.

I heard Dark Energy is good to only take maybe 1-2 times a week since you build tolerance to it pretty quickly.

[TheFugitive]

Pound for Pound its hard to beat Vortex



Available in Sour Watermelon, Snow Cone and our newest Flavor, Power Juice

[sloop]

Pound for Pound its hard to beat Vortex

[MinisterOfLust]

Who the sweet **** needs 400mg of caffeine, 60mg of 1,3 and 200mg of DMHA? Jesus Herbert Christ.

Which is my roundabout way of saying, I'm buying some.

That's look like a powerhouse.

[TheFugitive]

When you find it for 15.99, thats bonkers

[dougefresh93]

Pound for Pound its hard to beat Vortex

:

[faipdeooiad]

Merry Christmas you filthy animals..and a happy new year.

[superhuman67]

Merry Christmas you filthy animals..and a happy new year.

Same to you and hopefully 2021 is a BETTER year for ALL of us.

[TheFugitive]

Merry Christmas bro's, hopefully everyone got some BCAAs

[superhuman67]

Merry Christmas bro's, hopefully everyone got some BCAAs

I had mine early this more during my big back Christmas Morning workout.

[TheFugitive]

I had mine early this more during my big back Christmas Morning workout.

Good man

[nkiritsis13]

I've been eying Ryse Loaded Protein in the Chocolate Cookie Blast flavor, which Muscle and Strength had (still might be going on) a clearance blowout that took 15% off the 2lbs that brought them down to $38.24 or you could get the 4lbs for... $39.99. So yeah, I spent the extra 74 cents and upgraded to 4 lbs and decided to also try the Peanut Butter cup.

Although I'm still wrapping my mind around the flavors, Ryse fulfilled my dreams with the Chocolate Cookie Blast by providing what I would call thus far the definitive Oreo cookie protein powder. To be clear, there is no cream to the cookie here; we're talking essentially this:

Spoiler!

Imagine your typical cookies and cream protein, and now imagine all of the "white" disappeared and all of those little black specs actually tasted like something instead of serving as window dressing. Opening the tub reminds me a bit of the old Post Oreo O's cereal, but pure chocolate.

I attribute this to Ryse not screwing around and committing to alkalized black cocoa powder.

Alkalization, often known as Dutch Process or "Dutching," removes the bitterness while also darkening the cocoa, and it's what gives Oreos their distinctive, near-black coloration and unique flavor that transcends "just chocolate."

I have been searching and waiting for this very kind of protein that goes for just the Oreo cookie flavor, and I'd say it nails it.

It's incredible how such a subtle but vital ingredient difference is what elevates this protein above the bog standard cookies and cream formula, which often gravitate towards the cream portion, neglecting to actually do anything with the cookie part beyond tossing in some crumbs. If you were to sum up the typical cookies and cream proportions, they might as well be this:

Spoiler!

I.e., vanilla cream with a dusting of something kind of chocolatey.

That kind of defeats the point, which I why I'm thinking that Ryse's Chocolate Cookie Blast could be the answer to giving an otherwise wanting C&C protein the much needed protein boost. Just a small test with some Ryse + Nutrex Vanilla Bean Ice cream was much closer to the idea of a "Cookies and Cream Ice Cream" most people are familiar with than any standalone C&C because of how the first "C" will invariably be overwhelmed by the latter - especially if we're talking small specks of cookie crumbs that will get lost to the ether.

*As I'm typing this out, it just occurred to me that it would also be good mixed with Black Magic Supply's Devil Cake, which is really more of a Red Velvet/creamy cake, to make a more true Devil's Food Cake.

What's going to make or break this for some people, and my guess as to why some people an vary on reviews, is just how much you're into the idea of a pure, no-cream Oreo cookie, or like really dark chocolates in general.

I need to mull over the peanut butter cup more, but my initial impression is that it is definitely one of the better CPBs I've had, favoring the peanut butter note but maintaining a smooth transition that blends the two flawlessly.

Ryse uses powdered peanut butter and regular alkalized cocoa here, and it's a more mellow, smooth blend; it even smells creamy out of the tub.

So far so good, and definitely worth the $0.74 upgrade.

https://i.imgur.com/f3IlqLS.jpg

Definitely agree Nutrex's Banana Fosters is very good banana flavored protein and it's a different
twist on banana with a very slight hint of cinnamon sweetness. This flavor worked great for frosted
French toast I picked up a couple tubs of that Gifted protein on a CRAZY clearance last year and
that was Phil Heath's brand and I had the vanilla cookie and strawberry and both were uniquely good.

I gave my tub another whiff because I felt like there was something I couldn't quite pin, and it hit me that there really is even a slight rum note to round out the true banana fosters flavor.

[Joe D]

I've been eying Ryse Loaded Protein in the Chocolate Cookie Blast flavor, which Muscle and Strength had (still might be going on) a clearance blowout that took 15% off the 2lbs that brought them down to $38.24 or you could get the 4lbs for... $39.99. So yeah, I spent the extra 74 cents and upgraded to 4 lbs and decided to also try the Peanut Butter cup.

Although I'm still wrapping my mind around the flavors, Ryse fulfilled my dreams with the Chocolate Cookie Blast by providing what I would call thus far the definitive Oreo cookie protein powder. To be clear, there is no cream to the cookie here; we're talking essentially this:

Spoiler!

Imagine your typical cookies and cream protein, and now imagine all of the "white" disappeared and all of those little black specs actually tasted like something instead of serving as window dressing. Opening the tub reminds me a bit of the old Post Oreo O's cereal, but pure chocolate.

I attribute this to Ryse not screwing around and committing to alkalized black cocoa powder.

Alkalization, often known as Dutch Process or "Dutching," removes the bitterness while also darkening the cocoa, and it's what gives Oreos their distinctive, near-black coloration and unique flavor that transcends "just chocolate."

I have been searching and waiting for this very kind of protein that goes for just the Oreo cookie flavor, and I'd say it nails it.

It's incredible how such a subtle but vital ingredient difference is what elevates this protein above the bog standard cookies and cream formula, which often gravitate towards the cream portion, neglecting to actually do anything with the cookie part beyond tossing in some crumbs. If you were to sum up the typical cookies and cream proportions, they might as well be this:

Spoiler!

I.e., vanilla cream with a dusting of something kind of chocolatey.

That kind of defeats the point, which I why I'm thinking that Ryse's Chocolate Cookie Blast could be the answer to giving an otherwise wanting C&C protein the much needed protein boost. Just a small test with some Ryse + Nutrex Vanilla Bean Ice cream was much closer to the idea of a "Cookies and Cream Ice Cream" most people are familiar with than any standalone C&C because of how the first "C" will invariably be overwhelmed by the latter - especially if we're talking small specks of cookie crumbs that will get lost to the ether.

*As I'm typing this out, it just occurred to me that it would also be good mixed with Black Magic Supply's Devil Cake, which is really more of a Red Velvet/creamy cake, to make a more true Devil's Food Cake.

What's going to make or break this for some people, and my guess as to why some people an vary on reviews, is just how much you're into the idea of a pure, no-cream Oreo cookie, or like really dark chocolates in general.

I need to mull over the peanut butter cup more, but my initial impression is that it is definitely one of the better CPBs I've had, favoring the peanut butter note but maintaining a smooth transition that blends the two flawlessly.

Ryse uses powdered peanut butter and regular alkalized cocoa here, and it's a more mellow, smooth blend; it even smells creamy out of the tub.

So far so good, and definitely worth the $0.74 upgrade.


I gave my tub another whiff because I felt like there was something I couldn't quite pin, and it hit me that there really is even a slight rum note to round out the true banana fosters flavor.

i enjoyed the banana very much. I ordered the chocolate, and the pb toffee and I’m looking forward to trying them out.

[superhuman67]

i enjoyed the banana very much. I ordered the chocolate, and the pb toffee and I’m looking forward to trying them out.

I like the PB Toffee though it's mostly toffee but it's unique and tasty In the future I definitely will
try the other flavors as well chocolate, vanilla bean,and moose cream which is supposed
to be a take on a ice cream flavor I've never tried but what the hell I'll try it out.