2020 Part 6: preworkouts & forums

[OT2000]

So true story, this week is the first week I’ve worked out in months. The past 1.5yrs for exercise has been complete sh!t. Now with my home gym, I am not going to miss a workout. The whole clean eating part and drinking less beer will be tough lol.

First scoop of a pwo today. Dymatize Pre. I thought it would hit like a ton of bricks. Nope. Tolerance of piss still remains.

[eatyourspinach]

What’s Trutein best flavor?

Cookies and cream but it's not in the store so Cinnabun

So true story, this week is the first week I’ve worked out in months. The past 1.5yrs for exercise has been complete sh!t. Now with my home gym, I am not going to miss a workout. The whole clean eating part and drinking less beer will be tough lol.

First scoop of a pwo today. Dymatize Pre. I thought it would hit like a ton of bricks. Nope. Tolerance of piss still remains.

It's been sitting a while, you probably need to shake the tub

[82ndAirborne]

On one hand, it sucks to hear that you also didn't like it, but on the other, I'm happy to hear it's not just me losing my mind here.

Another observation is that the tub smelled profusely of plastic to the point where it would overpower most protein powders as it is, but after transferring to a different, fresh container, the Oreo protein itself might as well have no real smell.

Also agreed on the Nutter Butter being surprisingly dull. I've mentioned before that I plain don't like mix-ins, so I tried sifting them out and you can tell that they're relying far too much on the actual cookie pieces to carry the entire protein.

I'm not sure PES has tweaked their own Peanut Butter Cookies flavor (that is basically nutter butter style sandwich cookies on the label), but my recollection is that it was a strong contender without relying on anything but peanut butter powder looking at the current ingredients, and the macros are markedly superior.

After seeing a video of Ghost's marshmallow cereal, I didn't even bother because it sounded like they basically tweaked their regular cereal flavor to try mimicking an oat based cereal instead of corn and then dumped a boatload of marshmallows into it.

I really want to like their original cereal milk flavor going off a more recent tub (in case they changed anything in the formula), what with the whole premise of recreating a Cap'n Crunch flavor, but I really don't get much of that flavor out of it. Shifting to an oat direction + marshmallows wasn't enough to convince me.
Thanks, cheers mate! I'll definitely keep an eye out for both.


Couldn't agree more on Ghost. Like SOH11 said, they can play the social media game, but their proteins have been really lacking for me and at this point I feel more foolish than not for still giving them new chances.

The only two flavors that I can confidently rank above others that I've tried are the Chips Ahoy and the peanut butter cereal milk, if only by virtue of there being so few real contenders there. The actual Chips Ahoy protein powder minus the cookies actually tastes like cookies, and the PB cereal milk is pretty spot on. That said, if we count Reese's Puff style PBC cereal flavors, then I'll give it to Black Magic Supply.

At some point when I'm feeling adventurous, I kind of want to try the Cutler Nutrition proteins, particularly their own peanut butter cereal flavor to compare with Ghost's, as well as their cocoa puffs and marshmallow rice flavors. The cocoa puffs really struck me as and odd omission by Ghost because they had - and to an extent still have - a rather consistent cereal theme, but they went with standard chocolate milk. The marshmallow rice has me wondering if it would turn out like that rice krispy treat cereal or plain rice krispies because either way I couldn't complain.

The PES cookies and cream definitely lives up to its reputation, so I am happy with that one for sure. Their cake pop is also a really good yellow-ish cake flavor.

I'll have to check out Patriots Whey now that they have the 2lb tubs.

When it comes to Musclesport, I remember not being too impressed years ago when they had the old, green label, but some of their newer ones have had much more pronounced flavor profiles. The only one I did not particularly care for was the Unicorn Cookie flavor.

And I'm definitely going to have to check out Unico.

Beverly International Ultimate Muscle Protein Cookies and Cream is on another plane of existence than these you have referenced. PES probably would be my second choice, though a distant second.

[ManwittaPlan]

So true story, this week is the first week I’ve worked out in months. The past 1.5yrs for exercise has been complete sh!t. Now with my home gym, I am not going to miss a workout. The whole clean eating part and drinking less beer will be tough lol.

First scoop of a pwo today. Dymatize Pre. I thought it would hit like a ton of bricks. Nope. Tolerance of piss still remains.

Have you been drinking coffee otherwise or having any caffeine from other sources ?

You figure if you haven’t had any in a year and a half a scoop of pre should feel like a heart attack by now

[nkiritsis13]

On the subject of Unico protein, while not the best deal out there, they do have a 25% off coupon code on wethrift.com, although shipping seems to be a flat rate $7.99 (unless there's a free shipping price minimum).

Shopping around for pre-workouts, on the other hand, seems a bit trickier with some things totally out of stock. Alongside regular lifting pre-workouts, I'm still looking for a good one to use while boxing. I bought the new Arez Titanium for that, although I'm a bit mixed.

It's not that it's a bad supplement - far from it, actually, but I'm not sure it's ideal for any sort of "cardio" or strictly timed workout because that stuff hits hard and makes time seem to move slow. I mean, on one hand, those boxing workouts are intense, but on the other, they feel like they're taking forever as though I'm hyper aware of time. This stuff makes you want to make progress, which incidentally is not conducive to anything where you're effectively on the clock where you can't progress the flow of time itself.

Still, it's a solid pre-workout that the first time I took it practically slapped me across the face and made me feel like I absolutely had to begin working out.

On the note of flavors, they actually have a new mangomelon flavor, but in the spirit of Fitness Deal News, f*ck your flavors because, well, this stuff tastes bloody miserable. I only have the "red" flavor to go off of because that was all that was in stock when I ordered a while back, but my advice is to mix it in as small a serving as possible, try to let as little of it as possible touch any of your tongue on the way down, and chase it with anything at that point to wash away any remainder because once you're past the reasonable smell, the aftertaste is potent.

My man! Got a 4lb tub of TruTein CinnaBun, a 2lber of Banana Cream. Never tried the banana but it sounded good.

Got 2 lb tubs of the Core Fruity Cereal and PB Cup.

I’ve got a ton of protein now. The only brand I’m gonna splurge on is Merica Labz Patriot’s Whey. Im assuming their supply chain is all messed up just like everyone else and that’s why they are basically OOS everywhere. Can’t find 5lbers of Yankee F’n Doodle anywhere. That really is my favorite protein line at the moment.

Fortuitous Keepsakes, Yankee F’n Doodle, and Double Stuffed. In that order. Will be getting multiple tubs of each next purchase when they come back in. BB.com had them all at one point for like $40 a tub. I was buying them like candy.

Trutein's CinnaBun is awesome! What really sets it apart from most is they really went all in with a cream cheese frosting flavor alongside the cinnamon roll itself.

They also have my favorite pumpkin protein out there because it reminds me of the old Dairy Queen Pumpkin Pie Blizzard.

After the CinnaBun, I'm interested to hear how the banana cream pie is because I'm on the lookout for one.

Beverly International Ultimate Muscle Protein Cookies and Cream is on another plane of existence than these you have referenced. PES probably would be my second choice, though a distant second.

I always hear great things about it, so I need to pick a tub up one of these days.

Cookies and Cream is certainly an interesting flavor because you could take it in a few different directions, e.g. a more true Oreo cookie type versus the C&C ice cream flavor that leans on the ice cream side over a cream filling vanilla.

Back to UMP, does anyone know how the Angel Food Cake is? That's my mum's favorite dessert and it might make a good surprise.

[AMeyer9]

Its definitely a conspiracy

So are oligopeptides

[superhuman67]

Cookies and cream but it's not in the store so Cinnabun



It's been sitting a while, you probably need to shake the tub

I wish they would have had the C&C and the Pumpkin in the 4lb tubs so I went with the Cinnabun,
Choc Mint, and the Mocha Caramel in the 4lber's.

[OT2000]

It's been sitting a while, you probably need to shake the tub

It was hard as a rock. I had to grind it down. Took another scoop this morning, same thing. Can is still within date.

[TheFugitive]

So are oligopeptides

You love em

[OT2000]

Have you been drinking coffee otherwise or having any caffeine from other sources ?

You figure if you haven’t had any in a year and a half a scoop of pre should feel like a heart attack by now

Yup. I usually drink espresso in the morning with some raw sugar. It is my only source of caffeine typically but I’m guessing I get a couple hundred milligrams daily.

[TheFugitive]

Fug totally agree on Ghost Oreo severely lacking. Mine tasted like salt. My wife tried a sip and asked what it was supposed to be.

Nutter Butter is also mediocre. Marshmallow Cereal Milk is average but vastly inferior to the Merica Labz version.

Ghost is a brand that does the social media game reallllyyyt well. I do think their energy drinks are top dog though, but I’m no energy drink enthusiast so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Their energy drinks are solid

[TheFugitive]

Yup. I usually drink espresso in the morning with some raw sugar. It is my only source of caffeine typically but I’m guessing I get a couple hundred milligrams daily.

I've been working out at night for quite sometime, (stim-free PWO). Did a scoop of 1MR last weekend and the same thing happened to me. I was like WOW!

[ManwittaPlan]

you guys try detoxing (from caffeine) to re sensitize and see what it feels like all over again?

i keep saying i'll do it buy my god i don't want to give up my morning coffee. never have less than two black cups a day for years.

i really want that virgin caffeine tolerance back again, it's been well over a decade.

[eatyourspinach]

you guys try detoxing (from caffeine) to re sensitize and see what it feels like all over again?

i keep saying i'll do it buy my god i don't want to give up my morning coffee. never have less than two black cups a day for years.

i really want that virgin caffeine tolerance back again, it's been well over a decade.

I hate the word detox but I only went as far as to limit it to two cups of tea in the morning, non work days I'm fine but normal days it still sucks and find myself having coffee in the afternoon every now and then but at least it has an effect.

[crpav]

I know I said in the past "oh I am going to give up most supplements especially pres" since I have UC and my liver numbers, AST and ALT, are elevated quite a bit. Tested yesterday and are quite elevated. So I think it is really best and time to cut out a lot of the stuff. I love my pres so what will work for some form of energy for early morning workouts?

[ManwittaPlan]

I hate the word detox but I only went as far as to limit it to two cups of tea in the morning, non work days I'm fine but normal days it still sucks and find myself having coffee in the afternoon every now and then but at least it has an effect.

Yeah it makes THAT much of a difference

I know it’ll be a week of suffering…not so much the headaches but the constant feeling like you just woke up.

I’ve read some people start fresh in a week others even after a month still don’t feel the same rush they did when they first began. The days when I’d take a 100mg caffeine pill and I felt jacked, now it doesn’t make a difference.

[UncleWade]

As with all things, up the dose until morale improves. Suck it up, sallies.

[fahdalsheheata]

I know I said in the past "oh I am going to give up most supplements especially pres" since I have UC and my liver numbers, AST and ALT, are elevated quite a bit. Tested yesterday and are quite elevated. So I think it is really best and time to cut out a lot of the stuff. I love my pres so what will work for some form of energy for early morning workouts?

Stop working out for a week and so and do the AST and ALT. It could be because of working out actually.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/art...0/#!po=42.1875

[Joe D]

What’s good to add to caffeine for focus?

[eatyourspinach]

What’s good to add to caffeine for focus?

ALCAR, Tyrosine, Alpha GPC/Citicoline

[Joe D]

ALCAR, Tyrosine, Alpha GPC/Citicoline

i picked up a bottle of alpha gpc. It’s supposed to work better than cdp choline, correct?

[nkiritsis13]

Thought I'd share this deal:

Nutrex released six limited edition flavors of Muscle Infusion protein for $34.95. I used a promo code 'CAMILLE' and they came down to $19.24 each + $4.99 shipping.

The flavors start off with a pretty standard vanilla milkshake and chocolate ice cream, but from there they have banana, chocolate frosted donut, glazed donut, and jelly filled donut.

I'm already happy with all of the Nutrex flavors I've tried so far with their regular protein, so I figured I'd go with a suite of donut flavors since that's a hard price to pass up.

What’s good to add to caffeine for focus?

Theobromine is another one that has good synergy with caffeine.

[eatyourspinach]

i picked up a bottle of alpha gpc. It’s supposed to work better than cdp choline, correct?

It has more actual choline and has data to support GH release so I do prefer it

Thought I'd share this deal:

Nutrex released six limited edition flavors of Muscle Infusion protein for $34.95. I used a promo code 'CAMILLE' and they came down to $19.24 each + $4.99 shipping.

The flavors start off with a pretty standard vanilla milkshake and chocolate ice cream, but from there they have banana, chocolate frosted donut, glazed donut, and jelly filled donut.

I'm already happy with all of the Nutrex flavors I've tried so far with their regular protein, so I figured I'd go with a suite of donut flavors since that's a hard price to pass up.

I've always been skeptical because it's often on sale and never seen any feedback on it

[superhuman67]

It has more actual choline and has data to support GH release so I do prefer it



I've always been skeptical because it's often on sale and never seen any feedback on it

Their Banana Fosters Isolate was very good and PB Toffee was also uniquely good and they just released
C&C and Strawberries & Cream but no feedback yet on those flavors. The Muscle Infusion use to have
casein in the formula but now it's only a whey combo and the new flavors sound interesting but I stocked
up on the Truetein sale and MYOTREND sale I HUNTED down.

[ManwittaPlan]

It has more actual choline and has data to support GH release so I do prefer it

I've always been skeptical because it's often on sale and never seen any feedback on it

Strong stuff, gave me anxiety. Hard to explain the sensation, felt like I had shortness of breath but didn’t, felt paranoid. This was at 900mgs.

I usually just use alcar, CDP, dmae and acetyl l tyrosine all together (a copycat brain candy formula).

[superhuman67]

Strong stuff, gave me anxiety. Hard to explain the sensation, felt like I had shortness of breath but didn’t, felt paranoid. This was at 900mgs.

I usually just use alcar, CDP, dmae and acetyl l tyrosine all together (a copycat brain candy formula).

That's a GOOD combo for focus and it's actually better than what most of these overpriced $$$ pre's have
in their formula.

[ManwittaPlan]

That's a GOOD combo for focus and it's actually better than what most of these overpriced $$$ pre's have
in their formula.

IMO the best I’ve had as far as clarity and sense of well being goes.

That with a strong cup of black coffee works great.

[nkiritsis13]

Interesting anecdote but after my prior foray with Arez Titanium for my boxing pre-workout, I reverted to my usual OG Alpha Lion Superhuman on my last boxing workout and the experience was night and day. The original Superhuman pre is a really smooth balance of energy best described as endurance because of how it's coupled with an overall relaxed sensation. That made it an absolutely perfect pre-workout for something like extended boxing where mentally I was able to chill out a bit and enjoy the flow of the workout instead of being so amped that all I could think about was how I wanted to somehow move time to finish faster.

I'm glad I stocked up before Alpha Lion reformulated because the magic wasn't there with the new pre-workout that I have tried.

I've always been skeptical because it's often on sale and never seen any feedback on it

Echoing what superhuman67 said, Nutrex's proteins are really solid and outright impressed me because I was also trepidatious when I first ordered their protein having never had it before.

The bananas foster is a successfully complex flavor that hits so many notes at once; you get the vanilla ice cream base, hints of brown sugar and banana, and even what I eventually realized was an ever-so-slight hint of rum or liqueur.

Their vanilla, of all things, is a true stand out for me with its inclusion of real vanilla beans that reminds me of premium vanilla bean ice cream in taste.

[eatyourspinach]

Their Banana Fosters Isolate was very good and PB Toffee was also uniquely good and they just released
C&C and Strawberries & Cream but no feedback yet on those flavors. The Muscle Infusion use to have
casein in the formula but now it's only a whey combo and the new flavors sound interesting but I stocked
up on the Truetein sale and MYOTREND sale I HUNTED down.

Echoing what superhuman67 said, Nutrex's proteins are really solid and outright impressed me because I was also trepidatious when I first ordered their protein having never had it before.

The bananas foster is a successfully complex flavor that hits so many notes at once; you get the vanilla ice cream base, hints of brown sugar and banana, and even what I eventually realized was an ever-so-slight hint of rum or liqueur.

Their vanilla, of all things, is a true stand out for me with its inclusion of real vanilla beans that reminds me of premium vanilla bean ice cream in taste.

By feedback I really meant the legitimacy of it, it was weird seeing a protein blend (old formula) being sold for $20 for 2lbs fairly often elsewheres

[superhuman67]

By feedback I really meant the legitimacy of it, it was weird seeing a protein blend (old formula) being sold for $20 for 2lbs fairly often elsewheres

I think that people these days are so use to OVERPAYING for proteins and ESPECIALLY pre's that when
they see a REAL deal they think something is wrong with the product. This is why companies keep coming
out with the nonsense of LIMITED edition of everything these days and charging way too much for the
products cause they make the consumer think IF they don't get the so called LIMITED flavor there going
to miss out. This is the whole new marketing all these companies are doing these days and catching all
the especially newbie supp users for their expensive pricing.