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Product Name: Musclespeed
Company: Accelerative Nutraceuticals
MSRP: $49.99 [Click For Great Prices On MuscleSpeed!]
Availability: Medium (Online)
Servings: 45
Pre-workout supplements… There is always a lot of hype surrounding them and most of the time they are a complete waste of cash. The reason is simple, all they give you is a big caffeine rush which you could haven gotten from a cup of coffee or even a can of RedBull. But I have hope; enter Musclespeed from Accelerative Nutraceuticals. Let me start off by saying that I was very reluctant on reviewing this product for two main reasons:
- It’s made by a relatively new company and therefore I have no clue as to what their credibility is like. This can be a good or bad thing; they have the chance to start off on the right foot, but could also fail miserably. Oh the excitement!
- Which brings me to my second point… Because it’s so new, I’m sure that one man’s passionate vision led him to invest his life savings into something he believes in, and his credibility is now put on the line. See, if BSN releases a shitty product… No big deal, they can release another one next month because they got the capital. But if I don’t like Musclespeed, most people won’t buy it, the company will go to the shitter and I’ve just tanked one man’s future. Luckily I don’t really care about that… And therefore It’s time to put this supplement through it’s paces and see what we have on our hands.
First Impression:
First off, the black bottle with the chrome lettering is very sexy indeed. I had a few people look at it and instantly say “oooh what’s that?” And I also love the bright red-pills. It’s a nice touch. (For those of you who’ve been living under a rock… The red pill is what Neo took in The Matrix to find out “how deep the rabbit hole really went”) Love it!
Another thing I should mention is that the product website is VERY well referenced. Just check this out: http://www.musclespeed.net/Speed-Supplement-Science.htm. Every ingredient is backed by referencing adequate and real-world studies. BIG points go to Accelerative Nutraceuticals for this. You won’t believe how many of the “big guys” will avoid you if you say “Hey, can you provide me with some studies to prove that your product or the ingredient in your product actually works”.
So far so good, now before getting down to the nitty gritty, it’s time to hear what the company has to say about it’s own product. Marketing info always sounds so exciting doesn’t it?
Product Claims:
What Is MUSCLESPEEDTM?
MUSCLESPEEDTM is a cognitive and neuromuscular accelerator, taken pre-workout, by fighters and extreme sport athletes. It’s the only natural source supplement that helps you activate the most muscle fiber with a single dose. Take MUSCLESPEEDTM 30min before training or competition and unleash unprecedented power and speed. Experience a smooth rush of energy, and mental focus, coming on 15 minutes of the first dose and up to 4-5 hours at a time!
By facilitating the production and release of two ‘wonder’ neurotransmitters known as Adrenaline and Acetylcholine, your muscles respond with more contractile intensity.
Everyone, at one time or another, has experienced a physical ‘rush’ when norepinephrine (adrenaline) has been secreted into the blood stream. This action taps into our bodies own evolutionary defense mechanism to “fight or flight” producing a sudden rise in power and strength. The effects of norepinephrine, as released naturally or through the influence of Methylxanthines, are well-established and have been the focus of numerous studies:
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Real World Results:
So Musclespeed has got quite a few claims to live up to then? Let’s begin. I tested this product out for a FULL 8 days (technically 7 because of one off day), and tested it out against three of my top activities: weight lifting, power tumbling and heavy bag training. This pretty much encompasses it’s target market.
The bottle recommends two servings daily, and says that over a period of time the effects will actually be enhanced. But because each dose (2 capsules) contains 200mg of caffeine, I took one serving for days: 1-3, then jumped to 2 servings for day 4 & 5, followed by a break on day 6, then back to 2 servings for day 7 & 8.
Day 1: I took my first dose 40 minutes prior to weight training and boy… Did it KICK me in the face. Started off by feeling more alert, everything seemed more “crisp”. After another 5-10 minutes I got this “warm” feeling. This high lasted about 15 minutes in total… After which I experienced a steady stream of energy. I would be lying if I told you my workouts weren’t in high gear, because they rocked! However, the effects only lasted 2 hours (unlike the 3-4 claimed) and I did experience a slight “crash” after. It may have been because I pushed myself or because it was my first dose, I wasn’t sure at this point.
Day 2: Took one dose 40 minutes prior to power tumbling. This time it didn’t come on so fast, but I could definitely feel the intense “crisp” sensation. It’s hard to describe this feeling… It’s as if the contrast ratio is increased and all the colours you see are sharper. Powertumbling is done on an 84 feet long, bright blue power rod floor and the colour just JUMPS. This was good because while throwing a double twisting back layout, I felt more confident and could clearly see the landing. This training took place after a intense 3 hour coaching session with my athletes and my usual dip in energy was nonexistent. Felt it working for a total of 2.5 hours but this time with no crash after. So far so good.
Day 3: Took one dose in the morning on an empty stomach 40 minutes prior to letting loose on my heavy bag. I quickly realized that taking this supplement on an empty stomach SUCKS. At first I thought “this was it… Just like other stimulants it pussied out after the 3rd dose!” … Not so. Take it with a bowl of oatmeal and you’re in for a wild ride… As I soon fond out.
Day 4: Disappointed with the day 3 results, I yet again took a dose in the morning for another heavy bag kicking session (this time with a bowl of oatmeal with flax seeds, crushed almonds & some brown sugar) and was in happy land again. Great rush after 35 minutes, the warm feeling was back and was better than ever (Musclespeed is said to be mildly thermogenic so this makes sense… ).
The colour sharpness wasn’t as intense as before, but it was still there. This was the first time I felt the energy last for 3 hours and then slowly taper off. No crash. Ballin’! I also tested to see if I could kick any faster than before: Clearly with the extra energy, my kicks made quite an indent in the 100lbs vinyl heavy bag, but as for raw speed, it only made a slight difference. Took another dose in the evening before body-weight training and it was as intense as ever. No crash, but this time I felt as if it tapered off after about 2.5 hours. Again, not a huge deal since I only need about an hour in the gym, but the claim was said to be 3-4 hours, so that’s the benchmark I’m looking for.
Day 5: I had another power tumbling/coaching session coming up and the total time that I’d be actively doing physically demanding work was 4.5 hours. I decided to see how long one dose would truly last this time. Overall… The exact time that I felt Musclespeed work was 3 hours and 16 minutes. So it fell short of my 4.5 hour session, but I couldn’t complain. I still managed to get through my training because of the absence of a “crash”. I was also going out that evening, so I decided to take one dose before heading off to a friends birthday party. No complaints here, I had a good time and partied all night long. No one in their right might is going to take this as a pre-party supplement but I figured what the hell… I’ll be thorough.
Day 6: Took the day off. Reason was simple… I wanted to see if taking a small break would result in me feeling the RUSH that I got when I took my very first dose. It really doesn’t matter which stimulant you take, if it has caffeine in it, you are bound to become resistant to it at one point or another.
Day 7: I was excited to start off my day with a bang, would taking a “break” really help? Well as I found out, not really. Took a morning dose, felt great, but couldn’t recreate the feeling that I got on the very first dose. This isn’t exactly a bad thing since edging towards “jittery” territory can hinder performance rather than help it. My punches and kicks were crisp, sharp and powerful. For those that train kick boxing, you know very well that once exhaustion hits you can’t aim as well, but I could still put the kick where I wanted it. Bravo. Evening workout session was also a pleasure.
Day 8: No workout took place on this day, but just wanted to see how it performs as a normal “pick me up”… And if it can compete with my beloved cup of coffee. As far as the “kick” goes, it was obviously superior, and a heck of a lot more convenient, but I still don’t see the red pill replacing my cup of Joe. Took one dose at lunch-time and one dose at 10pm to see if Musclespeed would keep me up while I researched and wrote about it. It’s weird, because if you take it without doing any physical activity, it only tends to last a hair under 2 hours.
I also gave a dose to a friend of mine who is a competitive gymnast… Just to see if the results were consistent across the board. Here’s a summary of her experience:
- Kicked in 30 minutes after taking one dose
- Gave great energy, and improved her focus
- Lasted throughout her 4 hour training session
- Experienced no crash
As you can see it fared slightly better for her, but keep in mind that although she is an elite athlete and trains ridiculous hours every week, she is not a regular supplement user. So your results may vary but I have no doubt it will work for you.
Finally, a review wouldn’t be complete without listing the cons. Here are some of the issues I have:
- The lasting of the energy isn’t consistent. At times you will feel it working for beyond 3 hours, and other times it will underperform by lasting for only 1.5 – 2. It seems there are certain factors which need to be present for Musclespeed to really shine.
- I strongly believe that this supplement can benefit from proper cycling. Taking it constantly will surely decrease it’s effectiveness, and instead of trail and error, I’d like to see the dosage instructions on the bottle be more specific.
- I’m not sure if it was just me, but another thing I’d like to see is the mention of taking this WITH food. On the label it just tells you how much to take. Taking it on an empty stomach barely did anything for me, so this needs to be addressed. I doubt every Musclespeed user will be able to find this review.
Conclusion:
So overall, I was actually pretty friggin’ impressed. It has already managed to out-last most other stimulants that I’ve tested and for about $1.11 per serving, I believe MuscleSpeed would be a great addition to a martial artist’s or weight trainer’s supplement arsenal. Gymnasts and Power tumblers are also in for a real treat because your aerial awareness is heightened. On top of this, if you stack it with creatine… you will be a gym machine.
As you’ve noticed, I haven’t bothered to list the ingredient research and theory behind them because frankly… You can find everything you need on their science page. This gave me more time to put the product where their mouth is.
Another thing you need to remember is that this supplement is new and so is the company, it is common sense that their blend will only improve and become more potent over time (if it doesn’t… you can bet I’ll be all over their ass!)
Totally recommended!
Order MuscleSpeed at 23% OFF! (Limited Time Offer For FJ’s Readers)
[UPDATE: 06/01/09] So the CEO of Accelerative Nutraceuticals got back to me about the review and we talked about a few of the concerns which I had… here’s what he had to say:
On The Issue of labeling & product cycling: “There are certain label requirements by the FDA and only so much verbiage we can fit onto the label. We tried to cram as much as possible of the most important information. Cycling the product is mentioned on the website: http://www.musclespeed.net/FAQ.htm#Product_Use”
On The Issue Of Empty Vs Full Stomach:“Most people respond better on an empty stomach. However, for most first time users I typically recommend they have some light to eat before. Some people have insulin sensitivity problems and MS contains ALA. It can lower blood sugar for these type of individuals. Low blood sugar can lead to low energy. There is not enough ALA to be a any real concern, but for liability reasons, it’s best to err on the side of caution.”
> Kudos to Accelerative for clearing things up. This is how you communicate with customers & the community!
To Being Fit & Sexy 4 Life!
-Fit Jerk
May 27, 2009
#1
how do you think musclespeed is helping?
June 7, 2009
#2
Would you like me to copy and paste the entire review in the comments section for you? *sarcasm*
June 20, 2009
#3
Very thorough review of Muscle Speed. Thanks for your contribution to Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival.
June 29, 2009
#4
I’ve been taking it for a couple of weeks now and I can wholeheartedly concur with your review. I love the warm feeling the product gives, but I have to take a full dose (the 2 pills) to achieve it. It’s warm and tingly. But I mostly take it to train (I’m a runner) or when I go to work (yes, I’ll take it instead of coffee anyway — I stay focused, I’m sharp and there’s no crash!) I feel like there are energy supplies in me I didn’t know I had and will want to keep going even after my session is over.
I have noticed some inconsistencies — I think sleep might be a factor that I need to test better, but well rested, I can go on for a good 4-4.5 hours. I’ll definitely test in on full or empty stomach as well to see what the results are.
Overall: really, really impressed.
June 29, 2009
#5
Yeah, its some good stuff eh? Though…I don’t think I’ve noticed the effectiveness of Musclespeed to the amount of sleep you get at night but it’s something I might try and play around with.
I guess it WOULD make sense that if you’re well rested it will last a bit longer since you’ll NATURALLY have more energy to spare.
November 1, 2009
#6
hey, I’m thinking about purchasing this… just wondering how you think i should cycle it, while being stacked with Kre-Alkalyn? I hit the gym for heavy lifting usually 5 days a week, and do sum cardio day 6 and 7.
November 2, 2009
#7
You do not need to “cycle” it as there is nothing in there there requires loading. It’s the same with Kre-Alkalyn. Just take them when you workout and don’t take them when you don’t… dead simple.
Now, you workout 5 days a week so I’d suggest you only take it when you NEED the kick in the ass. Save you some cash in the long run and while it will work everytime, you don’t want to become mentally “dependent” on a supplement.
Grab your bottle from the link above and you’ll get 23% off. Let me know how it works out for ya.
January 12, 2010
#8
Thanks for posting this, always wanted to know a good pre workout supplement.