Mesomorph is a pre-workout supplement that’s been through some changes in the past, but remained one of the favourites amongst stimulant-loving gym junkies across the US.
PROS
Will pick you up.
Feels good – dopamine wise.
Carnival Cotton Candy is nice (diluted).
CONS
Needlessly Creatine focused.
Pump is mediocre.
VERDICT – OTHERS PREFERRED
You either love or it you hate. I’m awkward so I’ll say it’s just OK.
Our recommended pre workout is – Crazy Nutrition Pre-Train, a pre-workout supplement that’s specially formulated to boost energy and focus without causing jitters or digestive issues.
Content Table
Mesomorph Pre-Workout Review
Mesomorph is a pre-workout supplement that’s been through some changes in the past, but remained one of the favourites amongst stimulant-loving gym junkies across the US.
Most other countries don’t let this stuff past their borders because it’s usually got some kind of ingredient in it that rubs them up the wrong way.
You see, Mesomorph used to contain DMAA, which is – in my humble opinion – one of those potent but overhyped pre workout ingredients that became a stimulant sensation.
APS are a bit like Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals in that they seem to enjoy pissing off the FDA by taking an age to remove the ingredients they have been told to.
But remove it they did. Now it’s back with a couple of other impressive sounding stimulants to make up for the lack of DMAA.
APS are also a bit like the company GAT (German American Technologies) because they love putting long-ass scientific names for common ingredients on their labels to trick meatheads into thinking they are drinking pure Hulk juice.
Oooh, Methylxanthine Anhydrous…that’s probably going to give me metal bones like Wolverine.
Nope. It’s caffeine, which is in, umm..Everything. Ever. Made.
So, now we’ve cleared that up, and it’s got me sounding like I hate everyone and everything, let’s look at where Mesomorph lies on the scale of Stimulated Next Level Jacked Workout Heaven – to – About as useful as a fish with tits.
Why Use APS Mesomorph?
It’s not for the open labelling, that’s for damn sure.
Mesomorph’s formula is split into 3 proprietary blends that give you a total scoop of 15.5 grams.
Within that scoop, there’s nearly 3 grams unaccounted for on the label i.e. the active ingredients add up to a nat’s scrote above 12.5 grams.
So, within the mix is some additional non-active ingredients that are there for flavour, keeping the powder in good condition, that sort of thing.
When you compare 12.5 grams with some of the heavier weight pre-workout scoops out there, Mesomorph looks pretty thin.
Total scoop weight isn’t necessarily indicative of quality, but IF a formula is heavy AND contains good ingredients at good individual dosages, then it’s probably a safer bet. You’ve only got to look at products like Dymatize Pre W.O. and Nutrex Research Outlift to see what I’m talking about.
That said, APS are going after the stim-lovers with Mesomorph, and sometimes they don’t need to be present at such high volumes as the more nutrition type ingredients to have an effect.
Combine that with the potential cost of said stimulants and you have a lightweight but stim-heavy pre-workout.
I guess that brings me nicely to the actual answer to the sub-heading question: Why use Mesomorph?
Answer: You are the type of person who loves getting amped on stimulants for a workout.
What Are the Ingredients and Dosages?
Like I said, Mesomorph’s recipe is split into three blends that are mesmerizingly named:
- Synthenox-Carnosine/Nitric Oxide Complex
- Mesoswell-Cell Volumizing ATP Matrix
- Neuromorph-Neuro Energized Stimulant Matrix
In plain human speak, that’s:
- Muscle Pump and Endurance ingredients
- Creatine and stuff
- Caffeine and other Stimulants
Muscle Pump Ingredients
In the 6500 mg total, we’ve got Beta Alanine (which we’ve learned is 3200mg), Citrulline Malate, and Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate (AAKG).
Straight away, I’d say Citrulline Malate should be included at 6000mg to 8000mg alone. Citrulline is the best ingredient for inducing vasodilation/muscle pumps that we know of but most of the literature highlights the 6 to 8 gram dose.
The AAKG is a bit of waste of space if you ask me. It’s not hugely effective or long lasting for pumps.
Beta Alanine is perfect at 3.2 grams. It’s the industry standard lactic acid buffer and an ingredient that is rightly included. B-Alanine can help you push out a couple more reps in a volume set, for example.
Creatine and Stuff
The 4500 mg blend includes Di-Creatine Malate, L-Taurine, Creatine Nitrate, Ascorbic Acid (Vit C), Creatinol-O-Phosphate and Agmatine Sulphate.
Let’s talk about Creatine first. There is much debate as to whether a pre-workout even needs creatine.
In my opinion, you should go and buy creatine monohydrate – still the cheapest and still the best – and you’ll get a quality brand that will last between 3 and 6 months for half the price of a pre-workout.
That’s your creatine sorted, trust me. This couple of grams business in pre-workouts is not much more than a token inclusion. You want about 5 grams daily, and it doesn’t matter what time of day either. You know what, go and read my bit on creatine and then come back.
Taurine, yep, good for blood flow. Protects the heart when you’re tanking in the gym, protects your cells from intense oxidation. It’s an all-round good guy amino.
Agmatine Sulphate is another good addition, but there’s some confusion as to whether it can be all that useful alongside Citrulline. They might fight for the same receptors, given that they work via the same pathway.
It’s in there for “cell volumizing” like the creatine and taurine and it’s becoming a staple inclusion in many pre-workouts for its improvements to bloodflow and cell hydration.
Caffeine and Other Stimulants
This mini proprietary blend comes to 1860 mg and it’s pretty much the pivotal aspect of APS’s Mesomorph.
Yes, it contains caffeine. No doubt.
It also contains Glucoronolactone (found in most energy drinks like Red Bull), Senegalia Berlandieri, Theobromine, Naringin and Isopropylnorsynephrine.
I’ll focus a little on Isopropylnorsynephrine and Senegalia Berlandieri given that they are the two ingredients added to the Mesomorph mix in lieu of DMAA.
Isopropylnorsynephrine is a common “isopropyl” derivative of synephrine, which is a common stimulant ingredient found in fat burners. It’s also known as betaphrine, and it’s been found to be more potent than synephrine (in the limited scientific literature that even mentions it).
It is not however found in Citrus Aurantium, the current – and most economical – source of synephrine.
Senegalia Berlandieri contains a bunch of phenylethylamine (aka PEA) derivatives which are probably the closest thing you’ll find to DMAA that is still available.
It interacts with serotonin and adrenaline levels, and can promote the “euphoric” sensation that people often ascribe to their first experience with caffeine.
Will the Formula Work For You?
I probably sounded like I was going wholly negative on APS Mesomorph. It’s mainly because I dislike the fancy schmancy words used for stuff like caffeine.
I also don’t appreciate the under-dosed Citrulline Malate, and the half-assed creatine.
BUT…
This is where I do a bit of a 180 because I’m going to say that Mesomorph is still awesome…if you like stimulants.
Because if you like stimulants, it will work for you. It somewhat lacks the optimum muscle nutrition that tends to work better for a lot of people (and ultimately works better for the muscles).
There’s a place for stims, though, when you just want to rock up to the gym, perform a mentally unhinged workout , and roll out.
Recommended Stacking Supplement
There are lots pre workout supplements on the market with different formulas and ingredients.
We consider Intensive Pre-Train from CrazyNutrition to be the Number 1 pre workout supplement as it contains high dosages of the ingredients to get the most from your training
If you want to stack then D-Bal Max is suitable for men and women and for people of all levels from the beginner to the competitive trainer
