BSN NO Xplode vs. Revolutions Crack

[RobUK2]

Hi

Does anyone use BSN's NO-Xplode (http://www.affordablesupplements.co.uk/Creatine.3/Advanced+Creatine.30/NO-Xplode.3934.html) or Revolution's Crack (http://www.predatornutrition.com/pd-crack.cfm) (these are all UK links)?

Does anyone have any opinions, or experiences, as to which works better? They're both supposed to be used pre-workout (and I assume that's only per day) so it looks like you have to choose which one to use...

Any ideas?

 

[cmor26]

I've used 4 containers of No-xplode its very good stuff. I've never heard of Predator Nutrition. The NO Xplode will give you massive veiny pumps and taken 10-15mins before lifting you'll think you can run through brick walls. What are your over all goals or short term right now?

 

[RobUK2]

My main goal is to build muscle and get my body fat ration down. I've almost halved my body fat % over the past few years - down from just under 40% to just under 20%. I hope to halve that again to >10%.

I mainly combine cardio, v. strict diet régime, and a lot of weight training. I know this isn't much help, because, well, this covers most of the main goals.... Sorry!

 

[cmor26]

Thats great man, way to go. Watch your carb intake for sure NO Xplode is fairly like on the carbs, no more than 2 scoops on just workout days. I would also take Nitrix from BSN to give you a lean pump without the carbs, lean protein and add amino acids throughout the day before meals and a good multi vit. Always take amino acids or a small lean protein shake before cardio to help keep the muscle you have.

 

[RobUK2]

Thanx, man.

 

[RobUK2]

BTW - what flavour of NO-XPLODE do you use? I use the lemonade flavour, but it has a distinct smell of household polish...

 

[KaraBulut]

NO-Explode is very popular in the US. And it also seems to be why people are always taking a crap at the gym- one of the side effects is that it seems to do odd things to the digestive tract.

NO-Explode does work. All creatine supplements do give a boost to workouts and make you retain water so that you stay "pumped" longer after a workout. NO-Explode has large doses of nicotinamide (aka niacin/B3) which will cause flushing and vasodilation.

On the down side, it's expensive (about $55-70 US). It has a lot of stuff in it. And once you stop taking it, much of the effects go away (which is true of all creatine supplements). It has caffeine, so be mindful of other sources of caffeine that you're using (e.g. soda, coffee, energy drinks) and what time of day you take it.

There's a lot of controversy about creatine supplements. They do work in terms of giving a boost to workouts and making your muscles feel pumped. But creatine has a lot of side effects and there are people who have had problems from using it.

You can try it and see if it works for you but keep in mind that it's all temporary and you should cycle off it periodically.

 

[cmor26]

I've never had any problems with taking just plain creatine. Been taking it for the last 2 years with no problems. All the pre workouts effect people different, Superpump 250 bother me but NO Xplode didn't. Its trial and error, too see what supplements works for you and what doesn't. True the effects go way after using NO Xplode or other pres but once you get to a certain physical stage you keep the vascular look and the muscles do stay harder and denser.

 

[lostnfound]

My main goal is to build muscle and get my body fat ration down. I've almost halved my body fat % over the past few years - down from just under 40% to just under 20%. I hope to halve that again to >10%.

I mainly combine cardio, v. strict diet régime, and a lot of weight training. I know this isn't much help, because, well, this covers most of the main goals.... Sorry!

Hate to be a downer, but losing body fat and gaining muscle are two completely different processes. If you want to gain muscle, you're going to have to up your calories a bit, and obviously, fat loss requires a reduction in calories.

An ideal situation is either to lose fat, but maintain the muscle you have or to build muscle, without accumulating too much fat.

I say, since you've already lost a lot of fat, your body would benefit from building muscle and either eating at maintenance or slightly above. Once you've built a solid base of muscle, you can go back to fat loss. Trust me, your body will thank you.

Good luck friend!

 

[cmor26]

Yeah I agree, you can't build up muscle and but fat at the same time. Bulk up as much as possible during the winter and start to diet and cut in early spring so you'll be ready for the summer.

 

[RobUK2]

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the advice, but I just don't know what else to do! I consume about 300g protein (I weigh about 224lbs), eating every 2hrs, and I normally do about 2-3hrs exercise per day (some cardio, some weights - always rotating which muscle group so nothing gets overworked). Without adding 'empty' calorie snacks to my diet, I struggle to eat more than 2,200kcal!

 

[RobUK2]

Well, I guess I could start eating at McDonalds...

 

[cmor26]

When I bulk I do nothing but very heavy compound movements lifting. Most people try to do too much. Keep the lifting simple and heavy and get lots of rest, you'll put on some serious muscle. I only do about 10-15 minutes after lifting of interval running on the tread and thats all. And I squat 3 times aweek, free squating with heavy weight is a good natural growth hormone booster and testoerone boosters. And like I said earlier add some EAA amino acids before a few of the meals, Universal Nutrition Egg amino tablets are great. Not sure what you can get over there though.

 

[RobUK2]

Well, I just checked out what I can get hold of. Bodybuilding.com (http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/save-on-shipping-to-uk.htm) has just halved it's shipping costs for deliveries to the UK. So I should be able to get almost any supplement sold in the US thru them.

Only slight inconvenience I found with them before (well, not really THAT company, just all orders shipped internationally), because of all the health scares in the UK (e.g. BSE, Foot and Mouth, salmonella, etc.), HM Customs seizes ANY order containing certain organic ingredients (e.g. they seized some whey protein I ordered because it's derived from milk).

Did check that site for Universal egg amino tabs - couldn't find it...

 

[KaraBulut]

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the advice, but I just don't know what else to do! I consume about 300g protein (I weigh about 224lbs), eating every 2hrs, and I normally do about 2-3hrs exercise per day (some cardio, some weights - always rotating which muscle group so nothing gets overworked). Without adding 'empty' calorie snacks to my diet, I struggle to eat more than 2,200kcal!

Well, the problem is a conceptual one- you're trying to do two very slow but contradictory things at the same time- adding mass and calorie restriction/weight loss. It's like running on a treadmill- you're running but not getting anywhere.

You'll hear people talking about bulking and cutting. What they're talking about is focusing on muscle gain and then focusing on trimming fat. Unfortunately, most people take it to the extreme and doing it in a unhealthy way.

Most guys can only gain between 3-7 pounds of muscle in a year from their work outs. Just based upon the comment that you're doing 2-3 hours of exercise a day, it seems like you're sending your body confusing signals. Most guys workout 45-90 minutes a day balancing cardio days with lifting days (not doing the both on the same days except for warmups on lifting days). By doing 2-3 hours of workout a day, you're stressing your body but your body is not sure whether it's supposed to be using fat stores (from the cardio) or whether it's supposed to be storing fat and glycogen from the intensity of the workouts.

If you're really serious about this, then have a body fat percentage analysis done to determine how much of your weight is fat and how much is muscle. Based upon this, you'll get an idea of whether you need to focus on cardio and weight loss or whether you're going to be able to focus on mass gains. Once you have an goal to focus on, then work with a trainer to come up with a plan to get to that goal.

 

[cmor26]

Yeah 2-3 hours is too much, if you want to build up bulk muscle lift only 3-4 times a week. For example I do squats for legs and core before my upper body and arm days. For day 1 I do squats 5,4,3,2,1,2,3,4,5 reps increasing weight I rest for about 5-8mins and then do my upper body dumbbell bench and dumbbell back rows for 5x5 super set, about a min rest inbetween each set. then I do standing military press and lat pull downs for the same and thats it. Day 2 is the same squats and then a bicep and trip 5x5 with 3 different tri and bi exercises. So my week is day 1 is squat and upper day 2 is squats and arms. So is a 8 week program 3 days aweek. mon day1, wed day2, fri day1, week 2 is mon day2 wed day1 fri day2 and so on.

 

[cmor26]

simple old school workout, i've found it online and tried it out and i put on around 8lbs or muscle, you will get thick and stocky from it but throw in about 10mins of light cardio afterwards and you'll be fine. Intervals are the best at fat burning, plus lite cardio after lifting can help with recovery.