#SupplementSwag

As you can tell from my tweet, I love going to the gym. Over time training has become one of my favorite things to do. I love lifting hard and I love lifting heavy. To help me do both of those things, especially when prepping for shows, I will look to supplements to help me handle my business in the gym. This is where Jacked in a Box from Muscle and Fitness comes in.

*cue the choir*

I've talked about the monthly supplement sample boxes I've received in the past (see my "Muscle and Fitness Goodies Giveaway" & "It Does My Body Good" posts) and my experience with the program has been nothing but positive. I can't always use the samples right when I receive them but trust me, they do get used! I thought I would highlight some of the samples I've received over the past few months.

I was beyond excited when I opened one of my sample boxes and it contained a sample of Jack3d  in it. I have been wanting to try this particular supplement for a very long time. There had some issues in the past with this particular supplement and the end result was USP Labs changing the formula. Tom is of the opinion that the new formula is not a powerful as the original. I never tried the original formula so I can't give an opinion on it but I can say the new formula was just "meh" to me. I didn't do cartwheels over it but it gave me a slight boost of energy before my workout. I'm not eager to buy a full-size container of this stuff but if I was given another free sample, I would definitely use it.

If you're concerned that all you'll get each month is samples of pre-workout supplements and protein powders, there...there...stop worrying :) In the box pictured above, I did receive pre-workout supplements but I also received two protein bars, one of which was a Questbar. Now, if you have been living under a rock for the past year or so, Questbars are the current craze in protein bars. I know lots of competitors love them, especially after warming them up for a few seconds in the microwave. When we were in Chicago, Genie was stocking up on the free full-size samples they were giving out at Junior Nationals.

The sample I received from Muscle & Fitness was the first time I had ever tried the bar. I am not a huge fan of protein bars. They all taste artificial and chalky to me and I'm sorry to say, this one was no exception. As I sat there chewing each bite, I thought to myself "I don't get it". I'm not even sure the added step of microwaving the bar would have changed my mind. I'm just not a fan.

Now, you're probably thinking "if the sample box is so awesome, why have you only talked about what you didn't like?" Be patient...I'm gettin' to the good stuff! :)

Apparently, I expect a lot from my pre-workout supplements. Tom's theory is that I have a high tolerance for pretty much everything so something that might have a normal person bouncing off of the walls (like Jack3d) just gives me a teeny tiny boost. When I find something that gives me the physical and mental effects I'm looking for, I snatch it up. Nano Vapor from MuscleTech is on my "Get Your Grubby Hands On It" list. From the Muscletech website:

"NANO VAPOR® helps ignite the energy you need to train with extreme intensity and prime your body for rapid and massive muscle pumps, which is a key component of a true musclebuilding workout."

This stuff does exactly what it claims to do! I feel insanely focused and strong when I'm in the gym after taking Nano Vapor. I don't feel hyper or jittery but I definitely have a heightened level of energy. The taste and smell are amazing (because you guys know how I feel about taking things that smell or taste funny!). The first time I used the supplement, I had to force myself to stop my workout. I had put myself through a brutal shoulder workout and 75 minutes in, I still felt like I could keep going.

I know have a full container of Nano Vapor in my supplement cabinet and I use it on my heavy back & shoulders days (gotta grow baby!). It really helps me push myself to lift heavier and harder. I've started telling everyone that it's my #SheHulkSmash weapon :)

Before!

After!

Have any of you used Beast Sports Nutrition products? This company has some really great stuff out that you should try.  I have "discovered" many of their products through Jacked in a Box and I'm really starting to fall in love with them! Products that I have tried, liked, and have ordered include Amphetalean, Beast Mode, and Aminolytes. I like that this company creates products that they call "multi-purpose" - they want to create products that fulfill the multiple needs of the person taking them in order to save them from having to order a ridiculous amount of different products.

Other samples that I have received and have given two thumbs up to are:

MHP Iso Fast (whey isolate protein) 

BSN Hyper FX

BSN AminoX

Gaspari Superdrive

Gaspari Aminolast

I really enjoy receiving these monthly boxes because it helps satisfy my curiosity about products while helping me save money (imagine if I had purchased a full-size container of Jack3d or a box of Questbars?!?). Plus, who doesn't like getting boxes in the mail when it's not your birthday or Christmas?? :)

Disclaimer:

I received these products free of charge and was given no compensation for this review.

All opinions expressed are my own.

It Does My Body Good

This post is all about the February sample box I received from the Muscle and Fitness Supplement Sampling program. If you haven't heard of this really cool program before, let me give you the Cliff's Notes version!! You may sign up to receive 5-7 samples of different products each month. They are currently offering a trial offer for monthly memberships. The cost to you is $7.50 or $11.25 for a 12 month membership. Shipping is free and members receive $15 off any $75+ order from the Muscle & Fitness store when they join. If this sounds like something you might want to try out, you can find additional information about the program at the Muscle & Fitness Store.

February's Haul! :)

There were a lot of goodies in February's sample box and I was giddy, to say the least. In addition to the samples pictured above I received a Cytosport shaker bottle. This girl can always use a shaker bottle so I was extremely excited when I found one in the box!


I am not a huge fan of protein bars. Let's be honest, I would rather have a meal than a "meal replacement bar"! However, there are times when you can't sit down to a meal(s) because you forgot to pack them so it's the protein bar in the pocket of your lunch bag to the rescue! The Promax Pro Series Peanut Butter Crisp bar is 350 calories per bar with 28g of protein & 37g of carbs. I didn't eat the whole bar in one setting and half a serving was more than enough to fill me up. The taste was better than some protein bars that I've tasted and I did like that the bars primary source of protein is whey protein. I would have liked the peanut butter taste to be a bit stronger but I'm also a girl who likes to eat peanut butter out of the jar by the spoonful so... *shrugs*

Amphetalean from Beast Sports Nutrition is a product that is supposed to give you an energy boost while burning body fat. According to Beast Sports Nutrition, "Amphetalean is a strong energy formula that gives you a boost and keeps your energy level constant during your training or workout. While elevating your energy levels, Amphetalean also helps your mind focus and promotes weight loss". Here's what I can tell you from taking the one serving that I received - it tasted like Hi-C Orange. I'm being a bit facetious but honestly, I only took one serving and in my opinion, that is not enough to for me to say whether it did or did not promote weight loss. I didn't notice a significant change in my energy levels and again, I'm not sure if that's because I only took one serving of it. The powder did mix well with cold water and there were no clumps (which is always a positive) but the color of the mixture was this borderline neon orange so don't let that freak you out! The taste, as I said, reminded me of Hi-C and there's nothing wrong with that!

One of the samples that I fell in love with was the VPX Sports 12 Gauge Shotgun!! Excuse my language but this is some good shit!! It is a pre-workout supplement that, according to VPX Sports, "delivers the extreme mental acuity and intense energy required for explosive workouts in the gym and on the field". I decided to take this on an Operation Build-A-Back workout day and since it was my first time taking it, I followed the instructions as stated on the package. Close to 30 minutes after taking it, I started to feel a little tingle in my nose and fingertips and I knew it was starting to kick in. I didn't feel ridiculously hyper or energized but I really felt myself "zeroing in" on each exercise & rep. I could feel my blood pumping (not in a scary way) and I felt an intense need to smash my workout :) I loved this supplement so much that I ordered a full size container of it - ssscccooorrreee!!!

In being mindful of time, I'm not going to go into every sample in the box but I can say that February's sample box was an awesome one. I love that I found a new pre-workout supplement and that the folks at Muscle & Fitness included a shaker bottle (hey, it's the simple things that make me happy!). I can't wait to see what goodies will be in the March box!!!

Disclaimer:
I received these products free of charge and was given no compensation for this review.
All opinions expressed are my own.

If You Build It...

photo credit

Do you remember that quote from The Field of Dreams --> "if you build it, they will come"? This was the quote going through my head yesterday afternoon as I tried to annihilate my shoulders in the hopes that next competition season, my Dwight Howard boulder shoulders will arrive :)

photo credit

Muscle and Fitness was gracious enough to send me one of their November sample boxes and you guys, I swear the boxes & samples just keep getting better and better! If you are unfamiliar with the monthly supplement program they currently offer, here is a quick overview of the program --> You may sign up to receive 5-7 samples of different products each month. The cost of the membership is $15 a month or $11.25 with an annual membership. Shipping is free and members receive $15 off any $75+ order from the Muscle & Fitness store when they join. If this sounds like something you might be interested, you can find additional information about the program at the Muscle & Fitness Store.

Some of the samples included in this month's box include:

Universal Atomic 7- Grape Splash 

VPX Carbonx- Chocolate

Muscle Pharm Assault- Watermelon 

Baddass Nutrition - Pre & Post Workout Drink

For my "Buildin' Boulders" workout, I decided that I would start with my sample of Universal Shock Therapy - Grape Ape. I am going to be honest here, I did not like the taste of this product at all. It was very hard for me to stomach and the smell was a bit strange. It did mix well with cold water and there were few granules left at the bottom of my container after pouring the contents of the packet into water. Even though it was very difficult for me to drink all of the mixture (I don't like to eat or drink things that smell funny), I did finish it all and started my workout a little less than 30 minutes later.

The product description states "Shock Therapy harnesses the power of the NO boosters, muscle volumizers, energy substrates, antioxidants and nootropics and fuses them into a single cutting-edge supplement" so I expected big things from this supplement. I was slightly disappointed when I didn't feel a significant surge of energy, focus, or power at any point after I had taken it. Now, that is not to say that I did not have an incredible workout....cuz I did! Below is the shoulder workout that I threw together with the help of The Boss #2 - try it out and let us know what you think!

I've sampled some of the other supplements provided this month's box since trying the Shock Therapy sample. I will share my thoughts on the different products and the workouts I did in an upcoming post! I do want to say that this is what I love about the monthly supplement sample box program - the fact that you can try products before fully "committing" to them. Some of the samples I received were awesome and when I need to restock my supply, they will definitely be on my "Add to the Rotation" list. Other samples, like the Universal Shock Therapy, weren't quite for me and I was able to determine that before spending my money on something I probably wouldn't use again. Just something to keep in mind if you're considering signing up for the program!

Disclaimer:

I received these products free of charge and was given no compensation for this review.

All opinions expressed are my own.

Was It You?!?!?

Thank you so much to everyone who entered
 the "Better than Halloween Treats"supplement sample box giveaway!
 If your name is not the one announced, don't cry & dry your eye. 

I promise to have another giveaway soon!

Kristen Perillo!!

Kristen, send me an email at teneciap at gmail dot com
with your mailing address so I can send you your winnings! :)