• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
GGHC

GGHC Supplement Reviews

Go Green Health Care

  • Home
  • About
  • Best Fat Burners
    • PhenQ
    • Instant Knockout
    • Leanbean
    • Hourglass
  • Best Appetite Suppressants
  • Best Legal Steroids
    • Clenbuterol
    • Crazy Bulk Stack
    • D-Bal
    • DecaDuro
    • Testo Max
    • Trenorol

Pre-Workout

GAT Psychon Review – Pre Workout Supplement

Updated on February 18, 2020 by Brad Murphy

There is no doubting GAT Sports credentials and their pre-workout – Psychon. Maybe it is dosed too high? Read the review.

GAT Psychon Review
Mega dosed pre workout

PROS
Loaded formula.
Kitchen sink of sports nutrition.
Addition of Glutathione shows good research.

CONS
Quite a lot to consume in one scoop.
Jury is out on BCAAs in a pre workout

VERDICT
It’s good pre workout and up there with the best of them. There are just a few niggly little things that prevent Psychon from being a great supplement.

GAT Psychon Review

I’ll start this review by saying I was never a huge fan of GAT. The way they used to label their bog standard ingredients like caffeine under their full scientific designation just rubbed me up the wrong way.

You’d have all this “1,3,7-Trimethylxanthine” crap on the label, and they’d do it for several of the ingredients too. Yeah guys, I make a cup of 1,3,7-Trimethylxanthine most mornings, wearing my Muppets pyjamas. It ain’t special.

Now, when I saw the ad for Psychon in one of the monthly BB mags, I immediately mumbled something negative under my breath.

I hate…HATE…preconceptions and assumptions, so it made me mad when I realized I was committing these heinous crimes. Hence, I launched into full-scale review mode on Psychon.

And this is what I found….

Recommended Article: Best rated pre workout is not GAT Psychon. Find out which pre workout supplement scores the highest marks. CLICK HERE

Why Use GAT Psychon?

GAT – German American Technologies – calls it their “Mega-Dosed Hyperemia Pre-Trainer”.

Don’t worry about that “hyperemia” part either. It might sound like you’re going to die if you drink something that causes hyperemia, but it’s actually a good thing in this case. Oh, GAT! Such cleverness you have.

Hyperemia here refers to “active hyperemia”, which is nothing more than increased blood supply to organs and muscles.

When you workout, these tissues need more oxygen and nutrients. Higher volumes of blood travel to the site, bringing the oxygen with it.

They’re probably also be referring to “passive hyperemia” which is when the blood builds up in the tissue and can’t exit as per normal.

Both the active and passive stages are what makes you pumped up and swole in the gym. Excess blood travels to the muscles and is trapped there by the mechanical action of repetitions.

GAT Psychon pre workout

GAT call it “reactive hyperemia”.

So, basically, GAT Psychon is a pre-workout that gives you pumps.

Can’t they just friggin’ say that!?

They go on to tell us that Psychon is perfect for:

  • Your Heaviest Lifts
  • Muscle Building
  • Optimized Hormone Levels
  • Increased Strength
  • “Monstrous Muscle Torque”

Psychon is definitely pitched as a one-scooper…an all-in-one pre-workout that requires you to add zero additional ingredients.

Let’s take a look at the formula then.

What Are the Ingredients and Dosages of GAT Psychon ?

What Are the Ingredients and Dosages of GAT Psychon ?

Okay, Psychon is a great name. I’m all in for great names, and that’s something GAT certainly gets on the nose.

It makes me think I’m going to cause havoc in the gym, crushing PRs like a mental person on speed.

Of course, that’s plain ridiculous, but there it is.

Ingredients are the key though. Will they get your psych…on?

  • L-Citrulline Malate 2:1 – 8200 mg

BCAA Matrix 2:1:1 (total – 6000mg)

  • L-Leucine – 3000 mg
  • L-Isoleucine – 1500 mg
  • L-Valine – 1500 mg

Plus:

  • CarnoSyn (beta Alanine) – 3200 mg
  • Creapure (creatine monohydrate) – 3000 mg
  • Choline Bitartrate – 500 mg
  • L-Ornithine HCl – 500 mg
  • N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine 500 mg
  • Caffeine Anhydrous – 350 mg
  • L-Glutathione – 200 mg
  • Black Pepper Extract – 5 mg

Plus, it’s 10 calories per serve. Each scoop is 26.6 grams and of that, just over 23 grams are active ingredients. It has a blend of Vit B6, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc and Sodium in there, and the whole formula is open label.

Okay…what!?

That’s a phenomenal product, GAT. I’m absolutely thrilled I nipped that negativity in the bud and investigated this gem of a pre-workout.

Will GAT Psychon Work for You?

If you’re human, it will work.

This is up there with the best of the best pre-workout formulas. Packed, absolutely packed, with powerful, fully dosed, research-backed ingredients.

Glutathione, have you heard of that one? Check this study out and come back to me. Glutathione at 200 mg appears to boost the pump effects of Citrulline Malate, which is already in the blend at a ridonkulous 8200 mg.

There’s a full BCAA supplement within the supplement. It’s even got creatine monohydrate (still the best by the way) at a dose that will actually do something for you.

Full clinical doses of beta-alanine, ornithine, choline…and caffeine is in there kicking and punching.

I know it’s only a pre-workout but I get excited about these things, and GAT have blown my balls off with Psychon. I’m massively impressed.

Will it work? Yeah, it’ll work! I’m already ordering more!

I checked out some customer feedback and I was surprised to see it not faring too well on some prominent bodybuilding websites.

One guy says you should stick with Nitraflex (another GAT pre/pump). Another complains about the amount of ingredients and that there might be too many. Yet another says something about feeling sick when he drinks that much.

Guys, start with a half serving. Hell, half a serving of Psychon will still outstrip most other pre-workouts.

It pisses me off when I hear dudes complain about quality products, especially when they then go and rave about another that’s complete shite (not talking about Nitraflex, by the way). I just don’t get it.

No wonder some companies get lazy and put nutrient-light, stimulant-riddled junk on the shelves. It seems to be what some bros want.

When it comes to fuelling your workout, igniting a good pump and triggering the anabolic process of muscle growth, you want fully dosed, scientifically supported ingredients.

Psychon is that.

Well played, GAT. You’ve won me back….sort of.

Recommended Pre Workout

4 Gauge real review

There are hundreds of pre workout supplements on the market with a hundred different ingredient profiles.

We consider 4 Gauge to be a premier supplement as it contains high dosages of the ingredients to get the most from your workout.

4 Gauge is suitable for men and women and for people of all levels from the beginner to the competitive trainer

Read more here

SX-7 Revolution Shatter – Pre-Workout

Updated on February 12, 2020 by Brad Murphy

It’s the “ultimate pre-workout with dual-phase technology” according to MuscleTech, the manufacturer of all things HydroxyCut. How does SX-7 Shatter compare to other pre workouts?

Hydroxycut Shatter
Do the best workouts start with Shatter?

PROS
The Best HydroxyCut Pre-Workout I’ve seen to date.
Great ingredients.
Powerful stims.
Fat burning.

CONS
Not the best pre workout I’ve seen.
Usual BS marketing hype.
Two different formulas (dep. where you live).

VERDICT – OTHERS PREFERRED
Although this is the best Hydroxycut pre workout I have seen to date, the bar is not set particularly high.

It is a confusing product with 2 differing formula’s depending ig you are in North America or Europe.

There are several other pre workout’s that I would recommend over and above – Check out 4 Gauge for example.

HydroxyCut SX-7 Revolution Shatter Review

SX-7 Shatter

It’s the “ultimate pre-workout with dual-phase technology” according to MuscleTech, the manufacturer of all things HydroxyCut.

Many products have a US version and an “International” (non-US) version of their formula, and the HydroxyCut line is a prime example.

In a nutshell: The US allows some ingredients like Yohimbe to be sold, and other countries don’t. This means the international version usually has that/those ingredient/s swapped out for something else.

Muscletech have never been shy about hyping up their Hydroxycut products, and SX-7 Revolution Shatter is no different.

They make some massive claims, and pull some weird competitor-comparison table out of the hat to show you that this pre-workout is the best and others don’t even come close.

The MuscleTech brand might very well be the best selling bodybuilding supplement brand in America, but does that mean they manufacture pure bodybuilding gold, or does it mean their marketing game is strong?

Let’s see how Hydroxycut SX-7 Revolution Shatter holds up to some real scrutiny.

SX-7 Revolution Shatter – The USA Version

The American recipe is the one they want to sell you, because the ingredients it contains are the controversial ones. The ones that make people think they are taking something edgy, potent and maybe, just maybe a little dangerous.

MuscleTech have cottoned on to the fact that anyone with real sense wants to see an open label, i.e. all the ingredients and their inclusion rates laid out to bare on the back of the packaging.

If they could, these companies would put proprietary blend inside proprietary blend all day long, because it means they can put crap all in to the products, and still charge you an arm and a leg for them.

These days however, they are dealing with Customer2.0, that’s you by the way, and you are way more savvy about what you are putting in your body.

What Are the Ingredients and Dosages in the US Version?

The ingredients are presented in the MyoShock™ Performance Blend and the NeuroAMP™ Sensory Matrix

You can take 1 scoop or 2 scoops of the pre-workout, which equates to 50 or 25 servings respectively.

Here’s the ingredients in 2 scoops:

MyoShock™ Performance Blend

  • 3200 mg – Beta-alanine (CarnoSyn®)
  • 3000 mg – L-Citrulline (as pure form and peptide form as PepForm®)
  • 2500 mg – Betaine anhydrous
  • 1000 mg – Taurine

NeuroAMP™ Sensory Matrix

  • 350 mg – Caffeine
  • 250 mg – TeaCrine® using ActivSphere™
  • 100 mg – Lion’s Mane
  • 40 mg – Guayusa
  • 40 mg – Yohimbe extract

Beta-alanine, L-Citrulline, Betaine and Taurine should come as no surprise to you if you’ve used pre-workouts.

They’re there for muscle pumps, intra-set muscle endurance, acid buffering, blood flow, tissue protection (from oxidation). And I’ll say right now that they are included at decent dosages.

However, there might be a few ingredients in the NeuroAMP Sensory Matrix that you’d like to know more about.

Lion’s Mane – aka Yamabushitake is a dietary mushroom that’s associated with cognitive benefits, such as general cognitive function, reduction of anxiety and depression.

Human studies with Lion’s Mane are thin on the ground but it’s showing some great potential. There’s evidence showing it can improve nerve-growth factors in the brain.

This could mean a couple of things: (1) it might be used to help people with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. i.e. it could help attenuate the loss of neurons; and/or (b) it could improve cognitive function in healthy people.

Option (b) there is a dream scenario. New neuron growth in otherwise healthy people would essentially equate to enhanced cerebral capacity and processing speed.

The study on humans (Japanese men between 50 and 80 years old) used a 1000 mg daily dose.

HydroxyCut SX-7 Revolution Shatter only has a 100 mg dose at the 2 scoop serving. One tenth of the studied dose.

In itself, that doesn’t necessarily mean 100 mg is useless but going from the study findings of “Yamabushitake is effective in improving mild cognitive impairment” at 1000 mg to the vague “contributes to the unique sensory experience” (at a 100 mg) that MuscleTech/HydroxyCut talk about…is a bit of a stretch.

Now, let’s look at Guayusa.

Guayusa (ilex guayusa)

Guayusa (ilex guayusa) is a tea leaf extract similar to Green Tea and a natural source of caffeine.

It contains phenolic compounds, including Chlorogenic acid (one of the bioactives in green coffee) and several carotenoids of which lutein is the most abundant.

A study has shown it to be safe, comparable to Green Tea at appropriate dosages.

Another study investigating the effects of Guayusa as a natural source of caffeine showed that it induces less of an epinephrine (adrenaline) response than green coffee.

Cutting to the chase, Guayusa doesn’t look like a very potent nervous system stimulator and therefore won’t have much fat burning effect via that pathway. At least, not compared to caffeine anhydrous and even green coffee (and probably green tea).

By the way, Ilex guayusa tea is commercially available as Runa tea. There are probably similar benefits as green tea (C. Sinensis) with respect to antioxidant activity.

I’ll wrap up Guayusa by saying that the study that found less of an adrenaline boosting effect than green coffee also used a 200 mg dose of guayusa.

HydroxyCut SX-7 Revoluton Shatter contains 40 mg at the maximum serving of 2 scoops.

It also contains Caffeine, Theacrine and Yohimbine, the latter being potent, so I’m not too bothered about the dose Guayusa as it all stacks up cumulatively.

However, with a 40 mg dose of Yohimbe extract, 350 mg of caffeine and 250 mg of Theacrine, I don’t see the Guayusa making a drop of difference.

Yohimbine is definitely worth a mention at this point

The 40 mg dose in 2 scoops is actually Yohimbe extract bark, from which the Yohimbine – the active compound – content is estimated.

Yohimbine

Here it’s standardized at 6% which yields a 2.4 mg dose of Yohimbine. That’s considered a good starter dose of the stimulant, especially in the presence of the other stimulants in the blend.

That said, there are definitely some precautions you should take with Yohimbine.

  1. Yohimbine can cause anxiety symptoms, even panic attacks, especially in people pre-disposed to such conditions. It’s actually often used in scientific studies: to induce such side effects in investigations of anxiety.
  2. It’s a powerful stimulant and can raise the heart rate, sometimes uncomfortably if combined with intense exercise.
  3. The yohimbe bark used in this product is associated with more side effects than the isolated yohimbine compound.

If you want to try Yohimbine, I would try and find a product containing isolated Yohimbine rather than the yohimbe bark.

Also start with a very low dose, particularly if it’s stacked with other stimulants. And go steady in the gym, on the track or whatever the first few times you use it.

Will The HydroxyCut SX-7 Revolution Shatter USA Version Work?

Yes.

As a pre-workout supplement for getting a muscle pump, as a cognitive booster for focus and drive, even as a fat burner…it will work.

Personally I would like to mess with the dosages a bit so that it’s not simply a case of halving every one of them if you take 1 scoop versus 2 scoops.

Basically, I’d like the option of keeping the MyoShock blend at the 2 scoop doses and the NeuroAMP blend at the 1 scoop dose.

As that’s completely impossible, I’ll say this: Please, if you are unused to stimulants, or pre-workout supplements, take the single scoop – or even half a scoop – on your first try.

Ironically if you use caffeine and other stimulants habitually/daily then you are going to get less out of the product in general.

My advice would be to cycle off stimulants, winding down your daily intake until you are basically on nothing for a week. Then start your cycle on this.

Begin with a half or single scoop on day 1 and see how you go from there.

Rant alert !!! Incoming Rant !!!

I don’t like the way MuscleTech compare their products to the unnamed “Competitor 1” and “Competitor 2”.

I don’t like the way they say it’s “Creatine Free” as if that’s a good thing – Creatine is one of the most proven and effective muscle growth/strength supplements ever.

It means nothing to say other companies “bulk up their formula with creatine” without any context.

Yeah, some companies, e.g. Nutrex and (all hail) Jim Stoppani (JYM Supplements) put Creatine in their pre-workout formula. But they also have massive 26 gram single scoops of ingredients compared to the 16 grams in 2 scoops of the HydroxyCut SX-7 featured in this review.

Winds me up. Anyway…

MuscleTech also say there’s no L-Citrulline and no Lion’s Mane in Competitor 1 and 2. Also that there is Beta-alanine and Betaine in the competition, but the amounts are hidden in proprietary blends.

Exactly who are these competitors, MuscleTech, and why do you select those as your #1 and #2 ???

It’s a crock of sh!t, plain and simple!

These days, every single company with open label products are saying “other companies hide their ingredients in proprietary blends”.

Some still do, sure, but not your main competitors. And all of these companies with open labels are only doing so now because they have been forced out of their BS ways by the trail-blazers.

Rant. Over.

Conclusion: This product will definitely get you going. There’s just no need for MuscleTech to be d-bags about it.

Additional Comments – International Recipe for HydroxyCut SX-7 Revolution Shatter

Yes, right, there is another recipe for people who don’t live in the US, because certain ingredients can’t get through customs.

MuscleTech have taken out the Yohimbe, which is due to the aforementioned side effects of the stimulant.

They’ve also taken out the Guayusa for the non-US version. I’m not sure why but perhaps it isn’t economical to source it in Europe and other countries. Either way, it’s got the boot, but I doubt it’s a safety issue.

Niacin, as nicotinic acid, is the one replacement at 10 mg or 20 mg (1 or 2 scoops). That’s basically a bit of Vitamin B3. In those quantities there’s not much point talking about it because it won’t do much. It certainly isn’t a replacement for Yohimbine in terms of stimulation.

All other doses are the same in the US and International versions. At least with the international recipe you don’t have to worry about the potential for anxiety. Some people might prefer that assurance.

Summary

HydroxyCut SX-7 Revolution Shatter is an effective pre-workout supplement, and in my opinion a vast improvement on many of the previous products in the same line.

There is a lot of quality competition out there though, so I would ignore the blatant marketing trickery of MuscleTech, and encourage you to do your own comparisons.

I understand they have to do something to stand out in a competitive market, but there must also be people like me to balance the equation.

I’m the Yin to their Yang…or something.

Recommended Pre Workout

4 Gauge real review

There are hundreds of pre workout supplements on the market with a hundred different ingredient profiles.

We consider 4 Gauge to be a premier supplement as it contains high dosages of the ingredients to get the most from your workout.

4 Gauge is suitable for men and women and for people of all levels from the beginner to the competitive trainer

Read why we rate 4 Gauge so highly

Dymatize Pre W.O. Review – Detailed and In-Depth Analysis

Updated on February 12, 2020 by Brad Murphy

Pre W.O. is Dymatize’s current answer to the call for one-scoop, open-label, hard hitting pre workout powder supplements. How does it fair. Our review has the answers.

Dymatize Pre W.O. Review - Detailed and In-Depth Analysis

PROS
Quality One-Scooper.
Pumps are real.
Proven ingredients.

CONS
Lacking a few key ingredients.
Other pre workouts are better.

VERDICT
Personally, this product is high on my pre-workout supplement rotation. Quality product.

Having said that I would recommend 4 Gauge over and above.

Dymatize Pre W.O. Review

Pre W.O. is Dymatize’s current answer to the call for one-scoop, open-label, hard hitting pre workout powder supplements.

It comes daubed with a bunch of slogans and catchphrases, but the one that stands out to me is “Never Waste a Workout”. Ergo, take this sh!t and you will always get a worthwhile workout.

For me, that’s really the point of a pre-workout. Of course, it’s about getting the right nutrients at the right time for your muscles to perform, start recovering faster afterwards, and begin the anabolic process of growth.

I think of it as maximizing your energy, strength and endurance potential for the next couple of hours.

Some days I wake up and feel like garbage. Maybe I’ve done 4 big days training on the trot already and the idea then and there of going to the gym is a bit daunting.

Maybe my 2 year old has brought home yet another virus from daycare, and lovingly donated it to me via a mucus-laden sneeze to the face.

Whatever the reason, that’s when a stimulant pre-workout is definitely on the cards.

I’ve been using Dymatize PreWO for four or five weeks now, so I’ve gotten a really good idea as to how it stacks up against the competition.

Dymatize Pre W.O how does it work

Why Use Dymatize Pre-W.O.?

It’s a one-scooper, so it’s basically a formula of ingredients at various dosages, combined to give you the following benefits in the gym, on the track, or wherever:

  • Energy
  • Strength
  • Pump
  • Intensity

Those four benefits are the elements that all one-scooper pre-workout supplements should provide…

“Energy” ingredients to accommodate for the overall additional energy demands of full-bore workout. “Strength” compounds to literally help increase the force output of the muscles.

“Pump” agents to increase vasodilation, helping you get swole through your reps and sets. And “intensity” inclusions to help your mind dial in to your muscles and get you 100% in the zone.

Dymatize Pre W.O. contains 4 branded ingredients: CarnoSyn, Nitrosigine, betaPower and TeaCrine.

It’s good to see that because you know straight away that the Beta-Alanine, Betaine, Arginine Silicate and Theacrine are all of the highest industry quality.

By the way, it’s also Gluten Free and Banned Substance Tested, for those of whom they are requirements.

Dymatize Pre W.O. Ingredients and Dosages?

Dymatize have put an open formula in Pre W.O., which basically means we know (a) all of the ingredients, and (b) their inclusion dosage.

This is a trend most supplement manufacturers are following these days, responding to the demands of customers who, quite rightly, want to know what they are putting in their bodies.

So, what are you putting in your body if you drink Pre W.O. before hitting the gym?

Fifteen calories per serving, for a start. That’s low enough to not even ping your radar if you’re on a cut or counting your macros for any other reason.

Dymatize Pre W.O. Formula

The main active ingredients in one scoop are as follows, each scoop totalling 20 grams:

Citrulline Malate [8 grams] – it’s taken the reins from Arginine as far as vasodilation and muscle pumps are concerned. Citrulline makes it to the kidneys where it’s converted to arginine which then does its job. Drinking arginine itself has less effect as it’s broken down before circulating.

Beta-Alanine (as CarnoSyn) [3.2 g] – beta-Alanine is a non-essential amino acid that combines with histidine to make carnosine, which buffers lactic acid allowing you to push a few more reps in a volume set, or sprint another 20 metres to escape a mountain lion.

L-Taurine [2 g]

Betaine (as BetaPower) [1.5 g] – aka trimethylglycine (TMG), Betaine is a methyl donor which regulates homocysteine levels (high levels of homocysteine can ultimately lead to coronary heart disease). For performance it might protect cells from oxidative damage during exercise.

Inositol-Stabilized Arginine Silicate (as Nitrosigine) [1.5 g] – Citrulline might have taken over as the main pump ingredient but Nitrosigine is a stabilized form of Arginine that can have a longer lasting effect than arginine by itself and supposedly even boosts Nitric Oxide levels beyond Citrulline Malate.

N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine [350 mg] – a more stable form of L-Tyrosine which may add more tyrosine to your system, providing additional benefits like cognitive stimulation, anti-stress and anti-fatigue effects.

Caffeine Anhydrous [300 mg]

Coconut Water Fruit Powder [200 mg] – the electrolytes in natural coconut water are possibly some of the most helpful additions to this formula. When you get your sweat on, you lose them, so supplemental electrolytes help your muscles to keep firing when you’re going at it.

Theacrine (as TeaCrine) [125 mg]

All of the above included dosages reflect the average effective doses found in clinical studies that have investigated these ingredients.

Will Dymatize Pre W.O. Work for You?

I’ll get straight to the point: This is a good pre-workout supplement.

For me, the muscle pump is critical for a good workout, and Pre W.O. provides that in spades. The combination of Citrulline Malate (at 8 grams, no less) and Nitrosigine make for a good pairing. Some of that mix might compete for receptors but you know you’re gonna get lit.

Muscle pumps are responsible for more than you looking jacked in the gym. It increases the performance of muscles, the nutrition that gets to them, oxygen transportation.

There’s even evidence that big pumps can give a stronger signal to the anabolic pathways that respond to the mechanical triggers of resistance training.

A piece of advice though: if you drink coffee then try and taper off it for a week before you start taking Dymatize PreWO. Then, when you take it, make sure it’s the only source of caffeine and stimulants you are getting. You will feel them that much more for your workout.

Personally, this product is high on my pre-workout supplement rotation. Quality product.

Recommended Pre Workout

4 Gauge real review

There are hundreds of pre workout supplements on the market with a hundred different ingredient profiles.

We consider 4 Gauge to be a premier supplement as it contains high dosages of the ingredients to get the most from your workout.

4 Gauge is suitable for men and women and for people of all levels from the beginner to the competitive trainer.

Mesomorph Pre-Workout from APS Review – Our Analysis

Updated on February 10, 2020 by Brad Murphy

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.

Mesomorph Pre-Workout from APS Review

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.

If you want my advice check out 4 Gauge – it’s the best pre-workout in my opinion

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 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:

  1. Synthenox-Carnosine/Nitric Oxide Complex
  2. Mesoswell-Cell Volumizing ATP Matrix
  3. Neuromorph-Neuro Energized Stimulant Matrix

In plain human speak, that’s:

  1. Muscle Pump and Endurance ingredients
  2. Creatine and stuff
  3. 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 Pre Workout

4 Gauge real review

There are lots pre workout supplements on the market with different formulas and ingredients.

We consider 4 Gauge to be the Number 1 pre workout supplement as it contains high dosages of the ingredients to get the most from your training

4 Gauge is suitable for men and women and for people of all levels from the beginner to the competitive trainer

Read the 4 Gauge review here

Ghost Pump Review – Pre-Workout Vasodilator

Updated on April 23, 2020 by Brad Murphy

Ghost Pump is the GOAT Pump Product, according to the company that makes it. “A year in the making”, they say. “The greatest ever”, they claim.

Ghost Pump label

PROS
Great looking brand and product.
Manufacturers know what they are doing.
Tastes nice
Good set of ingredients.

CONS
There is a lack of real proof of reviews from customers.
One ot side effects have been noted.
It’s starting to look a bit old now.

VERDICT – OTHERS PREFERRED
Ghost Pump is a good product. It is very nearly a great product.

There does appear to be a lack of real customer reviews – sure you can see tons of positive reviews but nothing beats a real person (not an already swole bodybuilder) holding the bottle.

If you wanted to buy Ghost I wouldn’t try to dissuade you too hard but I would suggest you checkout 4 Gauge beforehand

Ghost Pump Review

Ghost is a relative newcomer to the sports, ergogenic and bodybuilding supplement industry, but it’s already making waves on social media with their daily activity.

The company is one of quite a few juniors that have landed on the scene with a loud statement at the ready:

– Transparent labels, scientifically proven ingredients, effective dosages, no BS.

Having learned from the mistakes and successes of the industry’s behemoths, Ghost and their peers have the option of starting off on the right foot, and hitting the ground running as a result.

I’d say they’re making a good go of it as well, which is more than I can say for some of the upstart supp companies out there. I won’t name and shame just yet.

Their products, so far, are going down a treat, and while their message, marketing and mingling might be on point, the real litmus test is the efficacy of the product.

So, is Ghost all noise and no trousers? Or do they have a winning formula with Pump?

Why Use Ghost Pump?

I mean, how much different can one muscle pump supplement be from the next? Surely we’ve got a grasp of the best ingredients and dosages by now.

You’d think so, but the reality is we still have much to learn about these ingredients, and we have more ingredients – natural and anthropogenic – to discover.

That said, we do have a scientifically supported effective dosage range of most of the currently known commercial muscle pump ingredients.

So, the key is whether companies like Ghost are willing to put those clinical doses in their products. That determines effective supplements from the crap ones.

What differentiates the effective ones from the must-haves is a combination of things.

  1. A little added pizzazz, in the form of a unique ingredient inclusion or additional benefit
  2. Strong flavour game – yeah, you chug this stuff but it’s better when it doesn’t taste like the sack sweat of an ostrich jockey
  3. Money money money – hey if I can afford another tub because you’re not ripping me off, then you’re one up on those dudes charging for a silver tin for, ummmm, no reason whatsoever.
Ghost Pump label

Why Ghost Pump over another?

Well, as you’ll see in the ingredient section, they check all the boxes I’ve highlighted to above. They have also elected to leave stimulants out of it, which allows you to caffeinate or otherwise stimulate, yourself to your heart’s content (‘scuse the pun).

There’s also the fact that they’ve prioritized the vasodilation / nitric-oxide boosting / muscle pump benefit over everything else. Literally every ingredient in Ghost Pump has some beneficial effect on blood flow, vascularity and hyperemia.

For me, a good muscle pump is the primary thing I’m looking for in a pre-workout supplement, and that’s because of its utility in the gym.

More blood to the muscles = more oxygen and nutrients. It also means your muscles look jacked because that increased blood flow is being pumped into the tissue in response to the mechanics of concentric and eccentric repetitions under load.

That doesn’t just look great. It feeds into the very cascade of reactions that ultimately trigger an anabolic growth response. You see, the pressure that the increased blood traffic puts on the cell walls in muscle tissue is one of the signalling mechanisms for the hypertrophy process to begin.

Increase that muscle swell and the signal is a little stronger. Add to that the additional work you can put in because of reduced fatigue and improved muscle oxygenation, and you have the anabolic programming for getting permanently jacked.

Ghost Pump Ingredients

What Are the Ingredients and Dosages in Ghost Pump?

Again, it’s open label so the ingredients and their inclusion rates are all there on the packaging.

Here’s the formula in 2 scoops of Ghost Pump, which is 17.5 grams. There are 20 x 2 scoop servings in each tub:

  • 4000 mg – L-Citrulline (vegan fermented)
  • 2500 mg – Arginine Nitrate (NO3-T®)
  • 2000 mg – Taurine
  • 1500 mg – Glycerpump™ (Glycerol Powder 65%)
  • 300 mg – Norvaline
  • 200 mg – Pine Bark
  • 50 mg – Astragin® (Astragalus membranaceus and Panax notoginseng)

L-Citrulline

L-Citrulline is the daddy of muscle pump and anti-fatigue ingredients. Citrulline converts to l-arginine in the kidneys, which in-turn boosts nitric oxide, which signals blood vessels to widen for increased blood flow.

Taking arginine itself used to be the way, but arginine is very quickly broken down before it reaches the blood. It’s still the key component to the muscle pump, but inside your body.

Arginine Nitrate – NO3-T®

Arginine Nitrate’s presence in the formula might make you think my comments on arginine above are wrong, or that this formula is weak.

It’s neither. This patented form called NO3-T takes advantage of nitrate bond allowing it to last a hell of a lot longer in your system.

The dose of 2500 mg is probably the strongest available on the market.

Two powerful pump ingredients at whopper doses, and we’re only 2 ingredients in.

Taurine

Taurine has quietly become a regular in pre-workout supplements across the board. It can increase blood flow, supplying yet more to the Citrulline / NO3-T swell.

A recent meta-analysis – the king of scientific studies (because it’s a study of studies) – informed us that taurine is beneficial for endurance too.

Taurine is an organic osmolyte, meaning it can regulate the volume of your cells via hydration. This serves to protect the cell during oxidative stressors such as exercise.

In many ways taurine is a lot like a neurotransmitter, and likely exerts positive effect on cognitive function, though no nervous system receptor has been found yet.

All in all, taurine remains a bit of an enigma, but one that is undoubtedly vital to survival and beneficial to supplement. The 2 gram dose is safe, and double the average industry dose.

GlycerPump™

GlycerPump is a patented form of high-yield glycerol that is a massive 65% glycerol by weight (old school clumpy glycerol powder was about one tenth, 10%, glycerol.

It’s more stabilized for better mixing and absorption (again, do you remember the clumps of old?).

Dosage is key here – 1500 mg at 65% yield is high!

The glycerol of yesteryear required grams of the stuff because of the low yield, poor mix, instability and clumpiness. Glycerpump (which is made by Pinnacle Ingredients by the way) requires less powder to work…but even then Ghost still put 1500 mg in!

Norvaline

I told you there’s nothing but pump ingredient after pump ingredient in this stuff.

Norvaline works as the NFL blocker for Arginine in your blood.

…what?

Nitric Oxide (NO) levels are boosted by arginine, which is increased by the L-Citrulline and the NO3-T. That NO then triggers vasodilation, and hence the muscle pump swoleness.

To regulate the process, an enzyme called arginase is also set loose. This inhibits arginine and caps the NO production. It’s a good thing, because it creates a cycle, rather than a runaway reaction.

Norvaline blocks some of the arginase, which keeps your serum arginine doing its thing for longer, and boosting Nitric Oxide for your whole workout and a good while afterwards.

Basically, Norvaline extends the cycle, so you can extend your PPUUMMPP.

Pine Park for Pinus Pinaster at 95% Proanthocyanidins

“Pine bark in pump products is nothing new” says Ghost. They go on to say that the Pinus Pinaster genus has some hefty science in its favour with respect to NO boosting, performance and endurance.

It’s probably a bit of a ball-ache to look these things up yourself so I’ll throw a couple studies your way.

By the way, Pycnogenol is a branded form of French Pine Bark extract, which happens to belong to the Pinus Pinaster genus that Ghost are talking about:

  • Here’s a study looking at vasodilation and NO production
  • This study evaluated triathlon performance by athletes supplementing pinus pinaster extract, and of “normal subjects” having a crack at the Army Physical Fitness Test
  • One study showed pine bark can even improve cognitive function, attention, mental performance and professional skills

There’s quite a lot more out there as well but I had those knocking around on my laptop and thought they added a bit of meat to Ghost’s claims.

If you don’t have time to dive into those links, suffice it to say that this ingredient improves performance, both mentally and physically and can boost nitric oxide production.

The Army fitness test and triathlon study there used a 100 mg/day and 150 mg/day respectively.

Ghost have lobbed 200 mg in to the formula. Because why not!

AstraGin®

AstraGin is a patented blend of Astragalus membranaceus and Panax Notoginseng. It’s purpose in the blend is to improve the absorption of amino acids, proteins and glucose.

Here’s a video from NuLivScience’s website explaining the ingredient’s benefits:

The two component herbs have also been studied for their neuroprotective capabilites, and found to also increase levels of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), improve energy metabolism and delay/reduce apoptosis (cell death).

A great ingredient to round out the formula.

Will Ghost Pump Work for You?

That is a very loaded question. We like Ghost Pump – when this review was first written we pretty much drooled over it

This is one of the best dedicated muscle pump pre-workout supplement I’ve seen. Yes it should work for most people, and it’ll do it tasting beautifully as well.

Ghost are making stackable supplements the right way. You could use Pump on its own and you’ll get monster swole, but they’ve elected to keep stimulants out of it.

Some of you might have seen that as a disappointment, but it’s actually what makes the most sense.

Think of it like this: Ghost have probably made the industry’s most effective muscle pump product by focusing entirely on ingredients that achieve that goal.

Adding a cursory 300 mg of caffeine would mean you wouldn’t be able to just dump a half or whole scoop of Pump into another stimulant based pre-workout.

It’s also at a price point that makes it feasible. You can buy Ghost Pump PLUS your stimulant/thermogenic pre-workout and stack the two together for not much more money than your all-in-one pre-workout…and I can almost guarantee the combination will do more for your workout anyway.

Ghost are partnering with other companies to make the Warheads flavour, and to include the GlycerPump, AstraGin and NO3-T, and they’re doing it in style, with good taste and with potent efficacy.

It’s hardly surprising they’ve made such a product when the CEO of the company is a huge fan of getting swole.

A man after my own heart.

Recommended Pre Workout

4 Gauge real review

Although Ghost Pump is a premier supplement I feel that 4 Gauge is simple unbeatable.

4Gauge contains high dosages of the ingredients to get the most from your workout.

4 Gauge is suitable for men and women and for people of all levels from the beginner to the competitive trainer

Read the 4 Gauge review here

BPI – One More Rep Review. Can it Give You a Muscle Pump?

Updated on February 12, 2020 by Brad Murphy

As pre workouts go One More Rep is very well known. It has been around for sometime. Does it really work though? Is it as good as some other similar and new pre-workouts that have appeared. Read our review.

One More Rep review

PROS
Good ingredients.
Cheaper than most similar products.
Beet root is good for pumps.

CONS
Under dosed.
Lacking a robust formula.
Only 6 grams of active ingredients.

VERDICT – OTHERS PREFERRED
If you are asking my opinion on a pre workout I would go for 4 Gauge – There are some quality ingredients included and it dosed just about right.

Read our 4 Gauge review here

BPI – One More Rep Review

BPI Sports say that their “legendary” 1.M.R pre-workout has evolved into the newer One More Rep.

I liked the 1.M.R branding, it was a cool play on the famous contraction 1RM, meaning One Rep Max – the amount of weight you can pull or push in a particular movement for exactly one repetition and no more.

Whether the name change is really to accommodate for the change in recipe, or it’s because the bros of the world couldn’t get their heads around the the letter twist.

Whatever. What’s in a name anyway, right?

Actually, that’s where BPI are being legit. Most pre-workout manufacturers go with the fierce approach to their marketing. Make a song and dance about how their stuff’s so potent you could lift a 200 lb kettle bell with your butt cheeks, and the customer might look over the fact that it’s still only caffeine and some amino-acids.

BPI go with the cooler strategy. Basically, One More Rep can help you bust out, well, one more rep. One more than your previous PB, or, you know, one more than your competition.

According to them it can anyway.

BPI One More Rep

Why Use BPI’s One More Rep?

The three main “on-trend ingredients” (their phrase, not mine) in One More Rep are L-Citrulline, L-Carnitine and Beetroot.

Citrulline is the muscle pump ingredient to use these days, and for good reason. It gets converted to L-Arginine, a primary Nitric Oxide (NO) booster, in the kidneys.

The NO relaxes the walls of your blood vessels, allowing them to dilate (vasodilation) and thus send more blood volume, including oxygen and nutrients to your working muscles. You know, the “pump”.

It’s better than taking straight arginine because, as you probably know by now, arginine levels tank too quickly before it can get to your blood. So, ironically, supplementing citrulline increases your arginine levels more than arginine does.

So far so good.

Carnitine is a bit of an all-rounder. It’s endured the test of time, that’s for sure. I wouldn’t put it up there as the ingredient with the biggest impact, but it has enough medium impacts to make it very worthwhile.

It gets involved with fat metabolism, aerobic exercise performance, heart protection, muscle damage, insulin sensitivity and blood flow (to mention a few) and they’re positive effects across the board.

Beetroot might look like a weird inclusion if you haven’t seen its rise in the supplement industry yet, but it’s a naturally high source of nitrates, which are useful again for the pump and intra-workout endurance and performance.

There’re more ingredients in One More Rep but I’ll get to those in a bit. The three described above answer the main question though: why buy this over another pre-workout? Because it contains quality, research proven ingredients.

These and the rest of the formula can provide the following benefits to your workout, recovery and growth phases:

  • Enhanced Muscle Pumps
  • Increased Focus
  • Improved Muscle Endurance
  • Heightened Strength
  • Faster Recovery
  • Increased post-training Muscle Growth
  • Increased Fat Burning

Next, I’ll open up the rest of the formula and see whether it’s worth you giving One More Rep a spin in the gym.

What Are the Ingredients and Dosages?

The formula for the new One More Rep is below. Each scoop is 10 grams of ingredients.

Most of the formula is open (i.e. each individual measurement is noted), and then there’s a proprietary energy blend.

  • 30 mg – Niacin (Vit B3)
  • 128 mg – Sodium
  • 3 g – L-Citrulline
  • 1 g – L-Carnitine L-Tartrate
  • 500 mg – Beetroot (powder)
  • 500 mg – Trimethylglycine (TMG) as betaine anhydrous
  • 500 mg – N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine

One More Rep Energy (proprietary) Blend – 454 mg

  • Caffeine anhydrous
  • Theobromine
  • Phosphatidylcholine
  • Himalayan Pink Salt
  • Yohimbe extract

Adding that up quickly, you can see there’s only 6112 mg – 6.1 grams – of active ingredients.

Therefore, nearly 4 grams of the 10 gram scoop is non-active ingredients added for taste, texture and powder quality.

Just over six grams!

For comparison purposes, Dymatize Pre W.O. and Nutrex Outlift each contain 8 grams of Citrulline Malate alone…2 grams more of a single ingredient than One More Rep’s entire formula.

And it’s not as if the other ingredients in One More Rep are unique to it in any way. You can find these ingredients in many of the pre-workout powders online and on the shelves.

Yohimbe is an interesting inclusion. It’s a stimulant that causes a little bit of controversy, even though it’s in a lot of US made fat burners and pre-workouts.

It’s potent, but it might interact with anxiety levels in some people, especially those pre-disposed to anxiety disorders and/or panic attacks.

The proprietary energy blend means we can’t know for sure what the dosage of Yohimbe is, but it’s rare to find a company adding problematic amounts to their products these days so we’ll just have to trust BPI Sports.

Will the Formula Work for You?

I’m not sure about this one, guys. If you’re a loyal, die-hard BPI customer then you’re probably not reading reviews anyway – you’re just going to buy it.

If you’re shopping around then I recommend you just do a bit of comparison on like for like ingredients with the different brands and pre-workout products.

How can one have 25 grams of active ingredients and another have just over 6 grams? Especially when they’re using pretty much the same ingredients?

It just doesn’t compute.

The ingredients themselves are good, and it does give a medium pump, and a stimulant kick. It’s quite a step down from the full muscle-nutrient packed pre-workouts I associate with the best performances of my life.

… but then it’s perhaps 20 bucks cheaper than those products as well.

Let me know what you think.

Recommended Pre Workout

4 Gauge real review

There are hundreds of pre workout supplements on the market with a hundred different ingredient profiles.

We consider 4 Gauge to be a premier supplement as it contains high dosages of the ingredients to get the most from your workout.

4 Gauge is suitable for men and women and for people of all levels from the beginner to the competitive trainer

Read the 4 Gauge review here

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Trending

PhenQ new

PhenQ Review – Can it Burn Fat and Curb Your Appetite?

muscle hypertrophy

Muscle Hypertrophy Explained – Myofibrillar and Sarcoplasmic

Strength Training for Bodybuilders – Starting Out

Training for Strength Gains

Training Specifically for Muscle Size, Mass and Bulk

Protein powder how much and when

How Much Protein Powder Do I Need? For Working Out and Building Muscle

Categories

  • BodyBuilding
  • Ingredients
  • Legal Steroids
  • Nutrition
  • Pre-Workout
  • Reviews
  • Training
  • Uncategorized
  • Weight Loss Supplements

Copyright © 2021 | This website (gghc.org) should only be used as an entertainment and education resource and should not be used to self diagnose or as a medical diagnosis. All information published are the views of the author, contributors and commenters; and do not necessarily reflect the views of this website’s owners. All content written is subject to copyright. All images are licensed or original and should not be used without consent from the owner of the image rights. All videos are copyright. All product reviews are the views of the reviewer and do not necessarily reflect the views of this website’s owners. All advertisements are compensated. There may be affiliation between author and product and some compensation may occur.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Service
  • Facebook