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 MUSCLESPEED^TM?

MUSCLESPEED^TM 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 MUSCLESPEED^TM 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:

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

So there has been a craze going about on a new type of carbohydrate that is supposed to be far superior to either dextrose or maltodextrin. It’s called waxy maize and today, we have a product by Ultimate Nutrition which is being hailed as the perfect DURING workout formula. Yup, apparently pre and post workout supplements aren’t enough, if you’re serious, then its time to stock up on some DURING workout supplements also. So is adreNOline pure hype shit or worth the pretty penny? That’s what I’m here to find out.

First, let me say big ups to Ultimate Nutrition for sending me some review packets… 4 to be exact, and sending it FAST. As far as customer service and the company itself is concerned — they get 5 stars. Some company marketing reps are such pussies and won’t send me review products after reading the bashing that Armageddon got. Wow, bite me for telling people the truth! But I should also say, I’ll call a spade when it’s a spade (Purple-K from Fusion). So to put the product through it’s paces and tried it out on 3 different occasions to see how it held up.

First is good ‘ol weight lifting, second is a 2 hour power-tumbling session and third was some gruelling Karate training on my heavy-bag. In fact, these 3 activities are going to be my new standard from now when I test future supplements. I’ll change shit up every  now and then: such as sparring, olympic trampolining etc. But the core aspects will remain.

But first, let’s hear what Ultimate Nutrition has to say about it’s product…

Product Claims:

AdreNOline is the during-workout formula designed to keep you energized and focused throughout your workout. This intensive blend features 46 ingredients in 9 scientifically-designed blends including Waxy Maze carbs and a BCAA, Energy and Recovery complex:

• 46 scientifically-formulated ingredients
• 0g of sugar per serving
• 100mg of caffeine per serving
• 3g of BCAA’s per serving
• Vitamin and Mineral Blend
• Digestive Enzymes

AdreNOline is the during-workout formula that gives you 110% for the 110% you give. AdreNOline is packed with scientifically-formulated complexes to keep you energized and focused throughout your workout. Ignite your workouts and take your muscle pumps to ultimate levels with AdreNOline’s N.O. DyNOmite Complex. AdreNOline also contains Glycomaze Complex, Quick Pro Complex and Recovery Glutaplex to build your muscles during training.

This intensive blend features 46 ingredients in 9 scientifically-designed blends:

• Glycomaze Complex
• Anabolic BCAA Complex
• Quick pro Complex
• Hydration Complex
• NO DyNOmite Complex
• Recovery Complex
• Fatigue Extender Complex
• Energy Complex
• Enzyme Complex

Real World Results:

Let’s start with the taste. It tastes like orange creamcicle… And I doubt this flavour is for everyone. You’ll either love it or hate it. Personally… I thought it was OK. It wasn’t the worst tasting supplement I’ve ever had, but it wasn’t the best either. Personally, since the whey protein in this stuff gives it that “milky” feel… They would have been better off with something like strawberry. So overall taste and flavour: 3/5

Next is the mixability, and it was pretty much flawless here. I just poured the powder into my shaker cup, and threw in 12oz (350ml) of water (as per directions) and then shook the SHIT outa it for about 10 seconds and VIOLA! A perfect blend. Though I have to say, there is some milky white stuff that collects at the bottom after about a minute if left alone. I think it might be the glutamine mix but I’m not sure. So although it mixes well, there is some white powdery stuff that just WONT dissolve. Mixability Rating : 4/5

Now let’s address specific features that it claims and see how it did in the real world. I’m going to break down one serving (60g) into its specific components.

The Kick (1.5/5)

It promises to help keep  you focused through your workout with this “energy complex” but the true fact of the matter is… I barely felt anything. The main reason is the measly 100mg of caffeine… Which is about what you get from a cup of coffee. If you’re a regular coffee drinker like me (1-2 cups a day) or a heavy coffee drinker (3-5 cups a day) then this complex will be useless to you. You’re better off with the energy mix in my Fitness Mini-Course or one of the millions of pre-workout formulas out there that give a decent buzz through caffeine.

NO DyNOmite Complex (1/5)

This complex is basically 1g of Agrinine. Yes there are a few other mixtures that add up to the 1g such as Arginine Ethyl Ester and Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate but they all essentially are meant for one thing… To give you the pump. As previously stated in my Armageddon review, I haven’t seen enough evidence that proves that Arganine improves the PUMP you get OR that it helps your body produce a significant amount of NO to benefit and improve performance. This 1g blend is not needed in my opinion as my post-workout pump when not taking adreNOline lasted for about the same time as when I did take it.

Anabolic BCAA Complex (4/5)

A 3g blend of Leucine, Valine and Isoleucine… All have been proven to aid in protein synthesis and L-Leucine has shown to help preserve muscle glycogen stores. I’m all for BCAA’s and having 3g during/before a workout seems logical here. No complaints.

Quick Pro Complex (5/5)

Basically 10g of whey protein ISOLATE, not the cheap concentrate stuff. Perfect! With the aid of BCAA’s this will no doubt be a fool proof way of making sure your body doesn’t eat up your muscles for energy and go all catabolic on your ass. The logic is sound.

Hydration Complex (4/5)

Again, a 1g blend of proper electrolytes. Simple, logical and practical… And should help during an intense workout. A much better blend than some other lame sports drinks.

Recovery Glutaplex (4/5)

A 2g blend of glutamine, good shit! The only gripe is that it should be at least 5g, but 2g is better than nothing. I’ve been a Glutamine user for a while and I highly recommend it. Some people say it’s useless depending on which studies they have read but I’m all for it, and glad to see it in this mixture.

Fatigue Extender Complex (1/5)

This 750mg complex is made up of Beta Alanine and L-Carnosine. Both SOUND supplements but the fault here is two fold by Ultimate Nutrition. The first being that they decided to use a BLEND of Beta Alanine and L-Carnosine, when Beta Alanine by itself is not only sufficient, but superior. Studies have shown that when you take in L-Carnosine by itself, it is broken down into different parts and then later reformed (pointless). It is actually MUCH more effective to take in Beta Alanine since it helps the body synthesize L-Carnosine anyway. And why do we need L-Carnosine?

Because it has shown to inhibit advanced glycation end products (AGE’s) which damage muscle tissue, scavenge free radicals & it has the ability to buffer hydrogen ions produced in the skeletal muscle during highly intense exercises. This is no surprise since a study found out that bodybuilders had twice the concentration of L-Carnosine in their skeletal muscle tissue than average athletes which could answer why they are able to carry out intense physical muscular activity.

So by now you must be thinking: “so what the hell is the problem, isn’t it a good thing they included this stuff?”. Nope, pay attention son! You see, at only 750mg… It’s basically irrelevant. You need to take anywhere from 3-5g a day for this stuff to be effective, and a measly mix of 750mg is just a waste of space.

Glycomaze Complex (2.5/5)

Here’s where things get interesting. A scoop of adreNOline has 38g of Waxy Maize. I’ll throw a very brief into about waxy maize out in your face: it’s been touted as the new form of carbohydrate for athletes because its supposed to be a complex carb, has high molecular weight, and is sugar free. This means it’s supposed to pass through your stomach very quickly and SHUTTLE supplements (like protein and/or creatine) to your muscles faster than dextrose or maltodextrin. And because it’s so quick, its supposed to restore your glycogen levels faster than dextrose (hence why Ultimate Nutrition is using it in a “during” workout mix) Sounds awesome right? WRONG!

You see, the ONLY carbohydrate that has been proven to do that is a patented mix called Vitargo®… Which CAN be derived from waxy maize, but also from other sources. This is where the confusion started. I think that supplement companies believe waxy maize is the primary factor in these amazing results and now sell waxy maize by itself claiming it to be more efficient then dextrose or maltodextrin based on studies done on Vitagro®… But that’s a different compound all together. In fact a study done by Purdue University has shown that WM has a 3 times lower glucose response than maltodextrin and 2 times lower response than white bread! HA! So much for that. So in the end, waxy maize is a more expensive and less effective alternative to maltodextrin and white bread.

So, as a low GI, complex carb, waxy maize get’s a thumbs up, but for something to be used during INTENSE exercise to replenish glycogen stores or to shuttle nutrients post-workout, I have a hard time recommending it over the tried and true maltodextrin powder.

Real world results reflect this. During weight training I didn’t feel much of a difference, I pushed out an extra rep on a few of my exercises over drinking just regular water, but that’s hardly anything to get excited about. During power-tumbling, I really felt no extra energy and half way through I started just using water because the flavour was making me thirsty. Oddly enough, the true place where this stuff shined was during my heavy bag session – I was able to go on a bit longer than usual and had no “thirsty” feeling while drinking adreNOline. I also sweat a lot during my heavy bag sessions since it’s outside on a deck while the sun is shining down, so it’s nice knowing that my electrolytes are being replenished.

Conclusion:

When all is said and done though… adreNOline is a tough call. First, I don’t really know what it is. Is it something that gives you energy, helps prevent catabolism, replenish glycogen stores or a compound to give you pumps? It tries to be the jack of all trades, and this ends up being it’s downfall since it doesn’t do anything really well for a cost of $3 per serving. Most people already have some protein at home, so you can just take about 1/2 a scoop of that before your workout along with  your favourite pre-workout drink and you’re MUCH better off.

The ONLY people that I see benefiting from adreNOline are people that workout 2x a day. Or ones that workout for a long period of time (marathon runners… this stuff probably has you covered). The price might be worth it to help you recover a bit quicker and keep you in an anabolic state, but for the rest of us… Maybe we can hold out till Ultimate Nutrition works out the kinks and creates something that’s more effective without the un-needed frills. If you’d like to know the pre-during workout formula that I personally use and have come up with, check out the full version of my Flawless Fitness Book.

To Being Fit & Sexy 4 Life.

-Fit Jerk