Ways of Wellness - Your online support for all things health and wellness!

Welcome to the Ways of Wellness blog! My name is Jon Steuart and I am a physical fitness and nutrition enthusiast. While all of the contents/opinions herein are based on my personal experiences and research over many years, and not any formal education, I am absolutely confident that there will be something for everybody who is interested in improving their physical and mental well-being. Please feel free to leave your comments and questions.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Supplement Reviews - Athletic Edge Nutrition, IntrAbolic Wild Berry Punch


IntrAbolic by Athletic Edge Nutrition is a very complete peri-workout supplement that is intended to be consumed around (and specifically during) the time of your workout. IntrAbolic is packed with ingredients that are intended to increase muscular endurance, aid in muscle recovery and encourage an environment in the body conducive for building muscle as efficiently as possible.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving Size: 1 scoop (12 g)
Servings per Container: 40

-Calories: 25
-Total Fat: 0 g
-Cholesterol: 20 mg
-Total Carbohydrates: 1 g
-Protein: 4 g
-Vitamin C: 30 mg
-Vitamin E: 15 IU
-Calcium: 45 mg
-Phosphorus: 55 mg
-Magnesium: 25 mg
-Chloride: 20 mg
-Sodium: 50 mg
-Potassium: 75 mg
-Peptobolic Response Blend: 8,028 mg
30% Hydrolyzed Whey Protein [IntrAbolic-Peptides], L-Leucine [2.5g], Arginine, L-Valine, L-Lysine HCL, L-Phenylalanine, L-Threonine, L-Isoleucine, L-Histidine, L-Methionine
-Power/Strength/Endurance Blend: 1,870 mg
Beta-Alanine [1.6g], Potassium, Phosphorus, Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, Chloride

My Experience
While it can vary from time to time based on the sort of training program that I am following, I generally lift weights four days each week. My sessions generally focus on many of the main, compound lifts for each body group (i.e. bench press, squats, dead lifts, etc.). In addition, I will add in some supplemental / isolation work as I see fit. Since the majority of my lifting is of the compound variation, and compound lifts are known to require more energy and effort (due to their involvement of more muscle groups), I often find myself fatiguing by the latter half of my workout - This is where I personally found IntrAbolic to shine.

Before heading to the gym, I mix up a Nalgene bottle with 1-1 1/2 scoops of IntrAbolic. During my short commute, I begin sipping on the concoction. Then, over the course of my workout, I continue sipping on the mixture. If possible, I try to consume my drink over the course of my entire workout. That being said, I have been known to get a little "over ambitious" with my drinking and find myself having to add water as I go in order to stretch it out. While this is an effective way of prolonging the mix, it does dilute the flavor.

Ingredients
IntrAbolic does contain beta-alanine. Beta-alanine is a supplement used primarily for its abilities in the muscular endurance arena. It should be stated though that in order to reap these benefits from the ingredient (or at least maximize these benefits), studies have shown that the body needs to reach a certain level of saturation. In order to do this, one should consistently use beta-alanine for several weeks (or more) on a daily basis. Another well-known aspect of beta-alanine is the fact that it can cause a "tingling" sensation when consumed. The best way to describe this is that it sort of makes your head itch a little bit (in my experience). Don't worry though, this isn't permanent! It usually goes away after an hour or so after consumption and the recurring tingling upon each dose generally subsides after a week or two of consistent use. All of this being said, I have found beta-alanine to be extremely effective at improving muscular endurance.

In addition to the beta-alanine, I feel that the other key ingredients to IntrAbolic's success are the Essential Amino Acids (EAA's) and the Hydrolyzed Whey Protein. Essential Amino Acids are the key building blocks of protein that help rebuild muscle after breaking it down (via lifting weights). Many supplements include just the Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAA's), but not the other EAA's. IntrAbolic has both. Hydrolyzed Whey Protein is protein that has gone through a process that breaks it down into smaller pieces which enable quicker absorption. IntrAbolic is known for its protein being hydrolyzed to an extent that is superior to similar supplements. In other words, the protein in the supplement is very quickly absorbed which is crucial during a time when your muscle is being broken down.

Taste / Mix
The Wild Berry Punch flavor is pretty good. While I have tasted better tasting supplements, I have tasted MANY that were far worse. I would say that the flavor is on par with a sugar-free, berry-flavored Crystal Light, but perhaps a touch sweeter. Of course, this can be manipulated by adding more (less) water or more (less) IntrAbolic. One thing to watch out for is some staining if you spill this due to the colored dyes that are in it.

I have never run into problems mixing this supplement. As mentioned previously, I add it to my water-filled Nalgene bottle (usually with about 28-32 ounces of water in it), shake / swirl it around, and hit the road. I have made a habit of shaking / swirling the mixture before drinking it just to make sure that I break up any settling that has occurred.

Cost
IntrAbolic is a bit more expensive than some other intra-workout products. It is usually priced in the $32-35 price range per bottle. In addition, if you are like me and find yourself liking more than one scoop from time to time, your cost per workout does go up. However, you can find this on sale occasionally for $25-30, but this is not too common. I have only purchased this supplement online (as I do with all of my supplements), so these prices are estimated accordingly.

Conclusion
Athletic Edge Nutrition's IntrAbolic
is a great peri-workout supplement for the avid weightlifter / bodybuilder. It is very effective at providing increased endurance during your workout and is said to also aid in recovery and growth. This supplement is best used on a consistent basis and as such, would not necessarily be something I would recommend to the person who only works out on occasion. The Wild Berry Punch flavor is good and quite refreshing during your training session, but watch out for stains upon spilling. One bottle of IntrAbolic can last for quite a while, so the value really is there; however, the $30-35 price tag may be a bit steep for some. If you have room in the bank account and are serious about your training, give it a try! Purchase AEN IntrAbolic

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