The goal of every hard training individual is to break down the maximum amount of muscle while training in the gym, or on the field. You do not grow muscle when you train! Instead you grow muscle while you sleep through the body using protein, carbohydrates, fat and hormones to replenish and repair muscle tissue. The sole goal of training in the gym is to break down the muscle fibers further by constantly making small continual progress. Progress in the gym is usually measured in the following ways: adding more reps, sets and or weight on the bar. In fact the mathematical equation for size is as follows:
Hypertrophy=(Load)(Time Under Tension)(Volume)
What the equation means is that hypertrophy or size is determined by the load or the amount of weight on the bar multiplied by the time under tension or the number of reps you do, followed by the volume or total number of sets you perform. REP?s works by increasing your ability to make continual progress on each of the three pathways mentioned above which will allow you the ability to add more muscular size.
Creatine Monohydrate and Ribose work synergistically in a very powerful role. Together they help increase the muscle fuel called ATP or adenosine triphosphate. ATP is the primary energy-producing molecule for short bursts of energy or vigorous muscle contraction. Lifting heavy weights, sprinting for short burst and any form of sparing all use ATP for the muscle?s primary energy source. Unfortunately, as you are exercising, ATP releases its energy at the time of contraction and it breaks apart, loses a phosphate atom, and forms adenosine diphosphate (ADP). The body only maintains a small supply of ATP which is sufficient to last a few seconds. This is why it is paramount to supplement with Creatine and Ribose. Oral supplementation of Ribose has shown to increase athletic performance in young male recreational bodybuilders. In one study the group that received Ribose had significant increases in muscular strength and total work performance after four weeks, compared with pre-treatment levels. No changes were noted in those using a placebo. (15) In 1998, a study conducted showed that creatine can increase both strength and endurance in athletes. Creatine was given to 25 football players who had reached a plateau while undergoing a difficult weight-training program. After 28 days of supplementation with creatine, researchers measured a 41 percent increase in ?total lifting volume? (sum of all lifts). (11) Have you ever reached a training plateau and wanted to break through it? Supplementation with Creatine and Ribose just might be the ticket for you. One year later, another study which lasted 35 days showed that 42 football players had improvement in both strength and mass. (7) Creatine and Ribose do not only work for men, as a study of 29 women who took supplemental creatine for ten weeks also made improvements in strength and muscle mass. (16) Some researchers have shown strength gains with as little as five to seven days of supplementation. (14),(17) Creatine supplementation is also beneficial to older weightlifters and athletes. In a double blind study conducted at the University of Saskatchewan, found that creatine supplementation in conjunction with a weight training program demonstrated a significant advantage of creatine over placebo in terms of increased lean body mass, reduction in body fat, and increased muscular strength, and endurance in men over the age of 70. (5) Overall creatine and ribose supplementation enhance muscular function and size along with cardiovascular, and neurological function. (8) (18)
Beta-Alanine is the rate-limiting precursor of the amino acid Carnosine. What this means is that the more Beta-Alanine you ingest the more Carnosine your body can produce. Supplementation with beta-Alanine has been shown to increase the concentration of Carnosine in muscles, decrease fatigue in athletes and increase total muscular work performed in one training session. (6)(9) A recent study by Dr. Hoffman and Colleagues recently examined stacking Creatine and Beta-Alanine together and the results were simply amazing. The study used 33 highly trained college football players and monitored their results for 10 weeks. Prior to and following the 10-week study, the researchers had the football players keep a log of their dietary intake, measured the athletes' body composition, body weight, one-repetition maximum in the bench press and squat. The football players who consumed creatine and beta-Alanine increased their 1 repetition max on the bench by roughly 25 pounds. Increases in one-rep squat max were even greater in that the increase in their 1 repetition maximum was increased by nearly 50 pounds. The athletes also gained a significant amount of muscle mass and lost 1.2% of body fat. (10) Overall a very impressive study!
Citrulline Malate is a combination of two non-essential amino acids that play a role in nitrogen balance and metabolic processes. Citrulline Malate improves aerobic performance and capacity by influencing lactic acid metabolism and reducing fatigue. Citrulline Malate helps to reduce lactic acid during intense training. Lactic acid is one of the compounds that are responsible for the intense burn that you feel towards the end of a set. For most individuals, if the intense burn is buffered, they can usually get another repetition or two which can lead to more muscle mass when compounded over hundreds of workouts during a year of training. Citrulline Malate also has the ability to increase plasma levels of Arginine within the body which can also lead to an increase in Nitric Oxide, ?NO? levels (7),(12). Citrulline has also shown to increase ATP (Andenosine Triphosphate), which is the major source of energy during exercise along with greater phosphocreatine recovery after exercise (3).
Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate is an advanced form of the amino acid Arginine used by bodybuilders and athletes to prolong the muscle pump, accelerate muscle growth, speed recovery and improve sexual performance. Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate is suitable for bodybuilders, athletes and regular gym users wanting to gain muscle size and strength, get a better muscle "pump" while working out, and improve sexual vigor. Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate works on many pathways within the body by stimulating the production of nitric oxide and insulin. Insulin is a very potent anabolic hormone, especially post workout. The anecdotal evidence reported from many satisfied gym users shows a clear increase in muscle pump, but what is more amazing is the possible strength increases associated with Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate. During an 8 week study, the group that received the AAKG increased their one repetition maximum on the bench press by an average of 19 pounds while the placebo group added only 5 pounds. (4) Who out there would like to add 19 pounds to their bench press?
Taurine is a conditionally essential amino acid and is the second most abundant amino in muscle tissue. Taurine has demonstrated muscle cell volumizing and insulin like effects, which can help to enhance protein synthesis and enhance glucose and amino acid metabolism. Taurine's powerful anti-catabolic effects have been well documented. Intense exercise and stress quickly deplete Taurine levels in the muscle. Therefore many researchers now believe that all high-intensity bodybuilders looking to maximize gains in strength and size should include Taurine in their daily supplement regimen. In one study a beverage containing Taurine, simple carbs and caffeine, just like in REP?s increases endurance performance in humans (1). In REP?s there is also 7 grams of Dextrose which will help in providing energy and keeping your blood sugar levels from dropping to low during physical exercise.
Caffeine has been around for a long time and helps to increase exercise performance, mental focus and provide a short term reduction of fatigue. One study looked at caffeine and its direct effect on the central nervous system and strength gains. In this recent study, 37 men were divided into a caffeine or placebo group. The caffeine group received a supplement that contained approximately 200 mg caffeine and the other group received a placebo. Rep?s also contains 200 mg of caffeine which is the perfect amount for most individuals. One hour after ingestion of the supplements, each individual was tested for their 1 repetition maximum on the bench press and their total repetitions. The caffeine group demonstrated an increase in maximal bench press strength compared to placebo, and also performed more repetitions using a sub-maximal load. This study shows that when caffeine in the amount of a small cup of coffee is ingested prior to exercise workout performance measured in strength and total lifting capacity are improved (2).
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