Product Review: Gaspari Real Mass

I've always been a fan of gainers. Being a young hardgainer Asian kid made me rather impervious to calories even with the crazy fare that is our local food.

But enough chatter. I broke away from the usual tag team duo of Real Gains and Muscle Juice that I've been used to for a change.

Gaspari Real Mass. I had a look at the nutrition fact and felt that it was worth a shot. Packing about 620 calories in 3 scoops, the profile wasn't as simple as other gainers.

The protein blend incorporated egg albumin together with the usual whey isolate and concentrate. That oughta give the taste a boost, not to mention the biological value of the protein dose.

Real Mass uses a complex carbohydrate mix and throws in some healthy fats in the form of sunflower and flaxseed oils to make up a pretty rich profile. Most notably is the inclusion of Hydroxyisoleucine which is touted to be a mimic of the powerful anabolic hormone, insulin.

Taste-wise... it was very different from most. Wasn't a straightforward feel to the vanilla. Somehow it tastes very herbal and the initial smell of the powder is a dead giveaway of this. Well, I kinda like it though it does feel quite sweet despite the 14grams of sugar per serving.

Lastly, for those with lactose intolerance, the good news is that this product contains the GaspariZyme complex, a series of digestive enzymes to help with well... digestion.

Product Review: Muscle Juice Revolution 2600

It was only a matter of time before I tried this new and improved version of Muscle Juice, having had a couple of tubs of the last variety.

So what's different?

A new protein blend christened OCTO-Pro (8 types of protein), a whole lot less sugar (18 grams), added healthy fats, glutamine and a time-release carbohydrate complex.

Sure upped the ante from the old Muscle Juice which is quite simple in composition really.

Best of all, the folks at Ultimate managed to jam pack 11.1 lbs into the same sized tub thus providing the same 20 servings given 4-scoops per serve. Value for money is still on the cards for this product.

Taste? Honestly, not much difference from before and that's a good thing. Though it is rather puzzling how with 71% less sugar, the Revolution 2600 doesn't stray too far from the original.

Two thumbs up!

Product Review: Chef Jay's Lite Bites

Have you ever had that sudden urge to binge in the evenings or late at night? Like you just wanna munch on some crackers or chips?

BUT, you're a gym rat or fitness junkie and you know damn well what junkfood will do to you. Just the thought of trans fat and our 1 gram daily limit is enough to turn you off and make you rather suffer the pangs of hunger.

Its a bleak picture I'm painting but it's true because it is a description of my own experience. If you feel me then this is going to be some good news to you. If you don't, hell... don't lie to yourself. Either that or you need to get your fat ass off the couch.

Anyway, the remedy for the aforementioned situation is this product: Chef Jay's Lite Bites and I'm not going to go all informercial on it.

Simply put, it's cookies with a healthy twist. High in protein and low in fat and sugar. Best of all, it tastes absolutely delicious.

Yes, that's the ultimate truth. Face it, we're all suckers for taste. Health products usually have the drawback that they taste like cardboard or chalk. But not this one and I ain't sugar coatin'.

Think about 14-18 grams of protein per serve and it's also certified Halal so that's some Halal protein source for those of the Muslim faith.

Product Review: Nutrabolics Iso-MRP

Tried Iso-MRP from the little known Nutrabolics. Quite a good brand really and coming from Canada, their products do feel a little different from the usual American stuff.

So I approached this one without any expectations. It's their answer to an MRP in the likes of Uni-Syn and Myoplex. However, the product is packaged in tubs instead of individual sachets. Perhaps there's better economy this way.


The powder's very fine and smells pretty good. That's a good indication of the taste that's to follow. Mixability, needless to say was easy and quick.


Check out my dandy MixMagic bottle!

OK, first impressions: It tastes exactly like VICO. Not Milo... but VICO, if you can tell the difference. Pleasant I must say and it made me want to take another gulp after downing one.

In terms of function as an MRP... I felt that it wasn't really satiating. Kinda felt more like a protein albeit a rich one. But with 36 grams of protein, complex organic carbs, EFAs, fibre and CLA, I ain't complaining. This is a pretty good supplement for a lean physique while staving off hunger and regulating appetite.

Product Review: UN Real Gains 6.85lbs Cookies & Cream

I've recently started on a superb stack of which this is one of the components.

UN Real Gains and it ain't called that for no reason. This is one serious lean mass gainer.

It's been awhile since I last tasted this fine shake... maybe close to a year as I was trying out other products.

When Universal Nutrition recently released Real Gains in an all new Cookies & Cream flavour, I knew I had to try it so like a ship returning to familiar port, I carted off a 6.85lbs tub home. The container itself looks different now being all black and labeled to reflect Universal Nutrition's classic iconography. Sweet...

The whiff of the product itself is not very enticing I must say. But I brushed that aside since I'm no stranger to it... could be just the new flavour.

Mixability has improved a lot and the taste.... phenomenal! The cookie bits aren't too noticeable but the blend itself is perfect. Not too sweet like Muscle Juice's rendition of the flavour.

With 52 grams of protein, just the right amount of carbs and minimal sugar and fats, this gainer is really about quality gains. Though the calories doesn't hit four digits per serve, I think that can be played to an advantage. For example, I actually take it about an hour before bed when I don't really need so many calories. The casein content works wonders to keep my body fuelled for growth as I sleep.

I just hope I don't get addicted to this stuff.

Product Review: Ultimate Prostar Whey

I regularly get questions from friends and clients alike about protein powders. Questions like,

"Which is the best brand?"

"What is the best flavour?"

"How many grams protein so-and-so product has in a serve?"

"How to take and when?"

and my all-time favourite, "Which is the cheapest ar?"

Granted, some of these are pretty valid questions and asking them is a perfect exercise of consumer savvyness. But in all honesty, I also believe that one man's meat is another man's poison. What works for me might not apply to you and vice versa. Think about it, isn't it the same with infant formula? or medicine? or fashion? Everyone's made differently and variety is the spice of life.

Having said that, finding a supplement that works for you can be like searching for true love so sometimes it's just best to judge for yourself. While I may be able to tackle the technical questions with absolute certainty, I usually just find middle-ground for the more vague ones and leave it to interpretation.

Case in point. Let's observe a simple product here: Ultimate Nutrition Prostar Whey. Another bread and butter product for any gym rat. Good ol' Chocolate flavour in a 2 pound tub with 22 grams of protein per serving. With 35 of these servings per tub and having almost no fat and sugar, it's food champions are made of.

But is it the best brand?

What constitutes a best brand? Is it the overall product quality? It's efficacy? The magnitude of following or customer loyalty? Company strength? If so, then Ultimate Nutrition definitely checks out... c'mon, they're even the title sponsor for Mr. Olympia this year!

But let's not get caught up with all that. Just look at the product before you and be rational.

The modest container hides a fine instantized powder. No surprises here. It's the industry's standard these days so if you're still getting crummy ass products that clump from some pharmacy or personal care shop, STOP. That's wasting your top dollar man.

Give it a few whirls in a shaker and the homogenous mixture is ready for consumption. As expected from a regular whey, it's not very rich unless mixed with milk (yum yum..) or other flavour enhancers like peanut butter, honey, oats and the like.

But to some of us, taste is secondary. We care about what's in the potent mix and what it can do for the body more than anything else. Having this kind of mindset really makes a difference how one looks at food on a daily basis. lol

Anyway, Prostar's ideal for that anabolic window post-workout. It's rapidly absorbed and with about 10 flavours to choose from, I don't see how anyone can't be pleased.

Product Review: EAS Myoplex Original

Are you,

1. A bachelor/bachelorette living on your own in the city trying to eke out a life with no homecooked food?
2. Someone with terrible nutrition timing due to work or other contraints?
3. An avid traveler with a hectic schedule?
4. Trying to manage weight with some funky diet programme?
5. An athlete, gym rat or someone who leads an active lifestyle?
6. A curious monkey with a knack for trying the unknown?

Well if the answer is 'Yes' to any one or more of the above, then this product is a lifesaver.

EAS Myoplex Original Meal Replacement Powder (MRP). Essentially, it is designed to be a complete meal, providing all the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals in a shake. Pretty nifty eh?

Just to yammer a lil' on the company, EAS is one of the earliest sports nutrition company to hit the market and they really do have quite an expansive range of products. In fact, they are credited with releasing the very first commercial grade creatine product, Phosphagen, a simple monohydrate. Together with Myoplex, these have been their flagship products for some time as many fitness buffs can attest.

The insulated paper packet comes with an easy-to-tear top and I'm treated to a pleasant chocolate whiff as the fine powder hits the water in my shaker.

One serving packs about 280 calories, which I think cuts it right down the middle. It is not too much like a gainer which typically packs 600-1000 calories a serve and neither is it too little like a standard whey protein which would usually hover around 100 calories or so a serve.

That's makes it ideal for diet programmes and weight watchers. I also find it quite satiating even for myself (with my crazy metabolism) and this could be due to its mid-range Glycemic Index rating.

Coupled with 42 grams of protein and only 3 grams of fat, this is quite the superfood really. The carbs are a little low with only 23 grams but that can be easily remedied if one chooses to binge on crackers or rice cakes with this shake.

The shake itself is a little too frothy when shaken vigourously. It mixes very well though so no real complains but I wonder how it would fare in a blender instead.

Product Review: Gaspari MyoFusion

Finally, the last product in my lil' Gaspari Stack.

Gaspari MyoFusion... Good ol' protein. It's bread and butter for any gym rat or athlete.

It belongs to the sustained-release category of protein supplements along the likes of GAT Muscletein, MAP Freak Fix and MHP Probolic.

So then, the common question a savvy consumer would ask is, "What's the difference?"

It'll be difficult to answer this question without being long-winded so just to simplify things, I'll say that one should always look at 3 basic criteria: economy, efficacy and taste (yeah, it's OK to be a big baby sometimes).

Looking at MyoFusion's nutrition facts, I can already see that it's a quality product with it's unique blend of ingredients. The protein variety checks out with Cross-Flow Cold Process and Microfiltered Whey Protein Concentrate and Isolate, Egg Albumen, and Milk Protein Isolate for that sustained-release. But what sets it apart from the others is the inclusion of CLA and Flaxseed Oil for that balance of healthy fats and metabolism boost.

A single scoop of MyoFusion packs close to 160 calories which is a little higher than your typical whey protein but still tolerable for those on a diet. A notable mention is also the 25 grams of protein in a serving and with about 25 servings per 2lb tub, its pretty good value.

Taste? I took a swig of it after gym and found it quite pleasant. Perhaps not as rich as Probolic but decent nonetheless. Definitely eases the senses after toiling the weights. ^_^

Product Review: GAT Muscletein Ultra-7

Here's a sneak peek at GAT (German American Technologies) Muscletein Ultra-7, a sustained-release protein.

Now, sustained-release protein products are usually pretty tasty stuff and work wonders for the body but the drawback is their cost. They are considerably more expensive than your good ol' bread and butter whey and rightfully so, because sustained-release proteins usually contains a spectrum of protein sources like egg, casein, and other various milk fractions. You pay more to get more, it's simple logic.

But that might soon be a thing of the past with this one. Not that this product defies logic, but for some reason, it's 5 pounder tub is quite affordable. Yes, that's another thing you don't see everyday, 5 pounds of sustained-released protein. Most of em' come in 2lbs. At least over here in Malaysia it does. C'mon take your pick: MAP Freak Fix, MHP Probolic-SR, Axis Labs Muscle Delight, and the list goes on.. Muscletech Nitrotech doesn't count. That's a thing of the past.

Seen here is a sachet of Strawberry flavoured Muscletein Ultra-7. The number 7 supposedly denoted the different types of protein that makes up the product: Ultrafiltered Whey Protein Concentrate, Microfiltered Whey Protein Isolate, Calcium Caseinate, Micellar Alpha And Beta Caseins And Caseinates, Milk Protein Isolate, Egg Albumin and Glutamine Peptides.

The powder is very fine and upon tearing the packet, there is an instant waft of the smell of butterscotch. It's strange... but really very appetizing!

As with most instantized proteins, Muscletein Ultra-7 dissolved very well although shaking it does produce a bit of foam just like UN Ultra Whey Pro. Well, not too much of a problem for us big guys... we ain't babies about to regurgitate milk after sucking up some foam. A mighty belch is prolly the only effect this will cause.

I took a sip and it really does taste..... butterscotchy. But blended very well with a strawberry flavour. Yummy I must say. It made me want to down the whole shaker at once. Fuuny how the label only says 4 grams of sugar per serving, but it does taste quite sweet. Hmmm...

However, I couldn't say the same for the Chocolate flavour. It wasn't bad, but somehow Strawberry had more kick. There was the same underlying butterscotch tinge and maybe the choc was a lil' overpowered by that. Goes to show that flavours can vary a lot despite being a same product. Or it could just be me.

In any case, definitely a 5-star product. Great taste, great value (45 grams of protein per serve) and good affordability.

Product Review: Muscle Juice 2544... Again!

I've done this before, so I'm not going to go through the details again which would simply be the same.

The difference here, is the flavour!

Cookies and Cream babeh! Man, does this flavour rock. Especially when I'm feeling sucky after a hard day's work or a grueling gym session.

Check it out, it has lil' cookie bits in it...

With just water alone, it tastes like a Flurry from MickeyDs. I've not tried mixing it with milk yet but I can just imagine how crazy that will be.

Keeping me satiated every night before bed... this calorie bomb is giving me the boost I need to pack on some serious size.

Product Review: MAP Freak Fix

Here's a relatively new protein product on the block by MAP (Muscle Asylum Project). Having won the New Brand of the Year 2008 Supplement Award, the people at MAP sure have to work hard to make sure that their products stack up to the competition. I mean, consumers are getting smarter and they're more likely to trust a decades old company like Universal Nutrition rather than a fresh off the mill one like MAP.

But that's not being very fair isn't it? We shouldn't be too quick to write off new kids on the block. Sometimes they might come with better technology and innovation.

So here I've got MAP's Freak Fix Muscle Whey in Chocolate Blackout flavour. This lil' 2lb tub of protein stands in line with the other advanced protein supplements out there like MHP's Probolic, Axis Labs' Muscle Delight or the notorious Muscletech Nitrotech. Not just your average whey protein, Freak Fix boasts a whey blend of isolates, concentrates and caseinates. OK... that's a given for most advanced protein supps I know... so what's the diff? Well, supposedly there is this technology they claim as the Wave Pulse, which is to describe the staggered nutrient delivery to the body. Apparently the protein components have been compounded in a specific ratio to create this effect.

How real and how important is this? I have no idea. I'm sure if they dare to claim as such then there must be scientific validation. I'm pretty sure it can't be felt (definitely no throbbing sensation, lol).

Well in any case, apart from protein content, which is by the way 34 grams per serve, there is also a decent amount of BCAA and creatine monohydrate mixed in with a few other ingredients to modulate better growth and recovery.


I took a peek into the tub.




A very ominous look. The powder seems ashen. I whipped out a scoop and mixed up a serve.

Man, I thought I've seen all colours... but black? Reminds me of black sesame dessert. They certainly weren't kidding when they said Chocolate Blackout.

I took a swig of the viscous liquid.

"Hmm, tastes like Nitrotech," was my first reaction.

It wasn't too out of this world. The chocolate didn't taste as dairy-like as IsoGainer and it certainly was no Muscle Milk. It was... simple... for something so complex.

Quite alright I guess. I wonder if I'll get around to trying the vanilla or strawberry versions sometime.

Product Review: MHP Probolic-SR

I was quite excited about this one.

MHP or Maximum Human Performance is an up and coming brand of sports nutrition and from their modest range of products, Probolic-SR is touted as their best. Sorry, that's being a little ambiguous because you can't really compare different product-types to each other. What I meant is that in terms of popularity, Probolic-SR is ahead of their pre-workout, gainer, etc; and for good reasons.

It tastes freakin' awesome. Smooth and easy on the senses. The benchmark is of course the chocolate flavour and by tasting it, I immediately could grasp the fine texture of the shake. With 6 other flavours to choose from, I'm sure it's only a matter of preference. What's fundamental is the how fine the blend is and how good the flavouring tech is. From that, I can safely reason that the other flavours oughta be fine if not just as awesome.

Now in nutrition aspects, Probolic-SR packs about 20 grams of protein per serve, which is just one scoop. This is different from most advance protein blends that typically needs two scoops per serve. It evens out anyway you look at it though.

The key defining property of Probolic-SR is its super extended sustained release protein. Using a proprietary blend of soy protein, casein, whey concentrate and BCAA's, it's something you don't see in other equivalents. As shown in the picture above, the payoff is a 12 hour feed of proteins for the body. How excellent is that? Imagine, take 1 serving in the morning and 1 before bed and your body is totally fuelled round the clock. And it's not like there is a bloated or utter satiation as I still could have lunch despite downing a serve 2 hours before. It's just there in the blood providing nutrients and with so little sugar and carbs, dietary habits won't be affected. Or maybe it's just my ravenous appetite... lol

Good stuff really. I'll be looking forward to the other range of products from MHP and how they stack up.

Product Review: Ultimate Nutrition Muscle Juice 2544

This bad boy right here packs some serious caloric punch. With 1000+ calories per serving, a shaker-load of this is more than your average gainer. So what's the difference? Or rather, what's the catch?

Well let's see, from the picture you can tell it give 55 grams per serving so that checks out in terms of protein content. Then there's about 162 grams of carbs in a serve so thats a little more than your average but for active people or those with high metabolism, it's all good. As for the much dreaded fat content, this is the catch. There's 17 grams right there in a standard serving of four scoops. If you're super religious about your nutritional intake or very prone to putting on fat then Muscle Juice isn't too ideal. Otherwise, wallop away cause this is one pretty good tasting product!

If you think about it, and put things in perspective, 17 grams of fat ain't too bad really. Plus, this gainer's content of trans fats, (which is really what everyone should worry about since we've only got a 2g a day limit) is actually... zero.

All in all, I think the pros outweighs the cons. Especially for skinny guys and girls.

Product Review: ABB PurePro

Sweet...

is not exactly how I would describe the taste of ABB's PurePro. Not that it is off-putting or anything like that... it sure does taste fine as a protein supplement. It's just that there is this salty tinge to it... and a bit of an almond after taste. I suppose that would only be accurate, seeing that the flavour is Vanilla Praline.

All other aspects checks out as well. A serve packs about 20 grams of protein with a typical amino acid breakdown; no aspartame; minimal carbs, sugar and cholesterol to give about 110 calories in a scoop. The protein source itself is a combination of whey isolates and concentrates to give that varied utility to the body.

In any case, sipping on this kinda reminds me of this song...

Makes me wanna do the ParaPara.

Product Review: UN Ultra Whey Pro

Here's Universal Nutrition's answer for a whey protein product. No doubt that they have a very extensive range covering every different type of protein whether its soy, milk, egg or even just pure whey isolates; this one however is the regular bread and butter if you're not looking for specialty.

Packing 75 servings with 22 grams of protein from 3 main sources, i.e. whey concentrates, isolates and hydrolyzed whey, this gives a wider spectrum of nutrition for the body. The powder is very fine and mixability is quite good with a shaker though it still loses out to ON 100% Whey Gold Standard. But the plus side is that WheyPro doesn't taste as watered down as the latter.

The taste is actually quite unique because it is somewhat a little bitter like dark chocolate. This is however, for the chocolate flavour and I don't know what the vanilla or strawberry would taste like.

Product Review: Axis Labs Muscle Delight

This is a good tasting protein.

Yeap, sometimes after a hard day's workout, you just wanna look forward to that protein shake and rest in the thought of getting your nutrition down to pat. And wouldn't it help tremendously if that protein shake in wait tastes spectacular?

Life is about experience and while it's the long and hard road most of the time for the iron warrior, one must never forget to take a step back and appreciate the finer things in life once in a while.

Axis Labs Muscle Delight is not just about good taste, it is also a fundamentally solid protein product. It provides 32 grams of protein, 5 grams creatine, 6 grams glutamine and about 7 grams of BCAAs among other nutrients.

The drawback is of course, it only packs 15 servings a tub and the 300 or so calories each serving will whip out. Definitely not for the calorie-watchers.

Product Review: Muscletech Nitrotech

Ah... nostalgia. Nitrotech was the first protein supplement I took years back. Back when it looked like this,

Yeah... kinda like first love it was. Sweet, heavenly and made me a better person... but then it got too much to upkeep so I chucked it. Lol.

Anyway, enough bullshit metaphor.. it's good to revisit supps after awhile. At least that's what I think. Gives the body a little variation. Here I have the new and improved Nitrotech in Chocolate flavour. Let's see what difference a few years can make.

It's still as fine as ever, mixes real quick and easy. Taste is as I remember it but having now tasted the magnificent Muscle Milk, I can't say this tastes as good. It's more of like a souped up version of ON 100% Whey Gold Standard. In any case, a quality product all round... spiked with creatine and carbs for "instant" growth. Now I just wonder, how does the newer HardCore version stack up with the competition?

Product Review: Cytosport Muscle Milk Revisited

This stuff's so good I just had to go for it again. This time I opted for Chocolate flavour.

I guess you can never go wrong with chocolate... the safe flavour I would like to call it. But somehow Muscle Milk never fails to impress. I mixed it with milk and it totally tastes like a milkshake, just as the tub label says.

Anyway, I realize that this really makes a good nighttime protein supplement. Unlike before, I avoided taking the Mocha Joe version at night since it contains caffeine. Now, I've been taking my choc on nights where the supper crave kicks in and I find that it keeps me satiated nicely until morning when I'm ready for breakie. Gone are the days where I wake up feeling like an Ethiopian child.

Packin' 32 grams of protein per serving and a whole lot more... Muscle Milk may not be quite the bang for your buck but it's quality stuff and at 300+ calories a serve, makes quite a good in-between-meals snack.

Product Review: CytoSport Muscle Milk

This post marks the beginning of what I hope will become a comprehensive databank of info about supplements. This of course is limited to my budget in my quest to try out all everything under the sun so it may be awhile from one post to another.

What better way to start off than with CytoSport's Muscle Milk... at first glance, I had my doubts about this product since it doesn't really look catchy but a valuable lesson learnt is never to judge (in this case) a product by its looks. With a friend's recommendation, I lugged a 2lbs tub of Mocha Joe home.

man..i need to take better pics

As I was too anxious to try it out, I whipped up a serving right away upon reaching home. The first thing that hit me was the taste of it, simply phenomenal. I've tasted many protein drinks before but this one's a winner by a longshot. Damn, even with just water its texture is rich and creamy. The only problem was I couldn't sleep that night. Caffeine? Yeah, should've guessed since it's Mocha Joe. But strangely though, I didn't have this problem again even after taking it late at night. Acclimatized maybe? I don't usually take caffeine so the first serving must've really had its kick.

In terms of effectiveness I think there's little to doubt here. Muscle Milk's concept is that its designed to mimic mother's milk, the superfood for growth. Heh, imagine that...

good album...

Its proprietary blend is termed EVOPRO, a protein matrix of whey isolates, whey concentrates, whey peptides, caseinates, etc. What this does is that it essentially keeps your body fuelled with protein for an extended amount of time after consumption. At 32 grams of protein a serve, that's damn good news. The downside is that there's only 15 servings in a 2 pounder tub so it might not be the protein of choice for those on a budget.

Well, I'm convinced. But I'll prolly go for it once in a while to break the monotony of just sticking to one particular whey protein (100% whey gold standard anyone?) all the time.