BCAA follow up.

[#8]

I received from my distributor a free sample of Fusion's new BCAA / Enzyme tablet supplement called AGENT M. After about a month or so using it, I can defintely say this supplement works. I experienced much less DOMS after leg workouts, and my overall strength and recovery time improved slightly. I didnt expect to make incredible gains on it at all, but I am currently doing PCT right now and my strength is still going up. I finished the bottle and have moved on to Interactive Nutrition's MUSCLE GUARD BCAA powder. This stuff tastes like ass, but feels equally as effective. For some reason this BCAA powder is not water soluble and barely mixes in a shaker cup.

Anyhoo, BCAA's for the win, and I will definetely continue using them as a pre and post workout supplement.

Dosages: Agent M

Pre workout - 5g
Post Workout - 5g

Dosages: Muscle Guard

Pre workout - 10g
Post Workout - 10g

[Ritch]

Cool, thanks for the follow up, the dosages seem right. During pct I think BCAA`s can be real helpful.

[O-Train]

Right now I'm taking 9g postworkout and I like it. Like you said though it tastes really bad and doesn't mix. I think that's just the way pure BCAA powder is. It seems very sensitive to moisture also. I just fill my mouth up with water and dump it in 3g at a time. Not the best option but it makes it go down faster.

I have also noticed that it is beneficial to recovery. I take it with dextrose and whey powder.

[Shortdave]

Add the powder to the water, not the other way around, and use room temp water not cold water... it should mix easier that way.

[#8]

its relatively inexpensive for a supplement that seems to be working quite well. somehow i get an improved pump and i become quite vascular on it as well (although this might be due to my high carb diet also). either way, i recommend either product highly.

[JonnyO]

For some reason this BCAA powder is not water soluble and barely mixes in a shaker cup.


Think of how it would be inside your body then. How much is actually utilized and wasted.

Thats why I prefer Peptopro as it's 100% water soluble, you dont even have to stir it.

[#8]

enzymes convert the BCAA's in your body. hence Agent M adding enzymes to the tabs. I dont think solubility of this supplement has anything to do with absorption rates in my body where appropriate enzymes are doing their job at breaking it down.

[Chaps]

Yup BCAA's are a staple for me i prefer powder though so i go with Scivation's Xtend and just sip on it during my workouts, definitely shaves a good day off of recovery.

[jsv22]

enzymes convert the BCAA's in your body. hence Agent M adding enzymes to the tabs. I dont think solubility of this supplement has anything to do with absorption rates in my body where appropriate enzymes are doing their job at breaking it down.

in the gut the absorptive cells have at least four sodium dependent amino acid transporters; one for acidic, basic, neutral and amino acids. These transporters bind amino acids after binding sodium. This then dumps sodium and the amino acid into the cell

There is typically no absorption of peptides longer then 4 amino acids (new borns are different though, as they can absorb immunoglobulins in colostrum (milk)). tri and dipeptides are readily absorbed with sodium as the a.a.'s are via PepT1.

-jsv

[#8]

^^OK? translation?

[O-Train]

^^OK? translation?

Translation = don't worry about it.

[jsv22]

ya sorry i got a little carried away, and didn't even respond to the right thing....i was just reading an article on this and i'm a bit sleep deprived..lol

i meant to say solubility in water doesn't = absorption,
-jsv

[Praetorian]

Why not just take some whey pro isolate...youll get three times the amount and its much cheaper.
P

[Ritch]

Why not just take some whey pro isolate...youll get three times the amount and its much cheaper.
P

I know exactly what you mean, but taking these BCAA seperately just seems to have a different effect. Plus if you`re in a calorie deficient diet, these can really help you be anti-catabolic. I swear I was at my leanest with the best strength retention ever. Something which being natural would always stugle with. Basic guideline would be take 1000 grams over 3-4 weeks and see what happens.

[JonnyO]

ya sorry i got a little carried away, and didn't even respond to the right thing....i was just reading an article on this and i'm a bit sleep deprived..lol

i meant to say solubility in water doesn't = absorption,
-jsv


So are you saying the absorption of 10g BCAA powder is equal as Peptopro?

[Praetorian]

I know exactly what you mean, but taking these BCAA seperately just seems to have a different effect. Plus if you`re in a calorie deficient diet, these can really help you be anti-catabolic. I swear I was at my leanest with the best strength retention ever. Something which being natural would always stugle with. Basic guideline would be take 1000 grams over 3-4 weeks and see what happens.

BCAA are identical as found in whey isolate or in table form. BCAA used to be real popular back in the 80's when whey isolate wasnt available. When 100% whey isolate became available it literally killed the market for BCAA...now they are being remarketed with a different hype...sorry folks same shit.
If you are in a caloric deficit the type of diet you are on means much more than a few tabs of BCAA. Its a good marketing plan and many guys fall for it but save your money invest in a good isolate and youll be much happier.
P

[Ritch]

BCAA are identical as found in whey isolate or in table form. BCAA used to be real popular back in the 80's when whey isolate wasnt available. When 100% whey isolate became available it literally killed the market for BCAA...now they are being remarketed with a different hype...sorry folks same shit.
If you are in a caloric deficit the type of diet you are on means much more than a few tabs of BCAA. Its a good marketing plan and many guys fall for it but save your money invest in a good isolate and youll be much happier.
P

Of course the powdered proteins killed the market of bcaa`s because they are cheaper and more convinient. And the type of dosages we`re talking about is in the high end (over 10 grams per shot averaging 50 grams or so a day) which is much more than a few tabs of BCAA of which I agree with you won`t do jack shit. Think about it, those tabs in the day were dosed at what? 1000mg per tab? Who do you know took in 50+ of those tabs a day back then? So I`d say during the 80`s they weren`t given a fair run. Besides those tablets are garbage being compressed they way they were so absorption is not even comparable to free powedered form. So you can`t say it`s the same shit...

Taking bcaa right before trainining is better than ingesting iso any day beause of the rate of absorption, also during and after the workout as well. These are the key amino`s involved in protein synthesis keeping you anti catabolic if you choose to believe in such a term... John Berardi even talked about people going on very hypoclaric diets eating only 3 times a day and taking 10 grams of bcaa in between the meals to avoid muslce loss.

Haven`t used them during a mass phase of training so I can`t vouch for them for that purpose, but for dieting it can make a difference just gotta use the right doses at the right times. But if I had to choose between a protein powder and a bcaa powder for sure the protein powder comes first.

[#8]

i just feel better and recover quicker while i use them. too much whey upsets my stomach. im gonna continue using them as cost isnt really an issue for me :) (i work at a supplement store) hehe

[Praetorian]

Of course the powdered proteins killed the market of bcaa`s because they are cheaper and more convinient. And the type of dosages we`re talking about is in the high end (over 10 grams per shot averaging 50 grams or so a day) which is much more than a few tabs of BCAA of which I agree with you won`t do jack shit. Think about it, those tabs in the day were dosed at what? 1000mg per tab? Who do you know took in 50+ of those tabs a day back then? So I`d say during the 80`s they weren`t given a fair run. Besides those tablets are garbage being compressed they way they were so absorption is not even comparable to free powedered form. So you can`t say it`s the same shit...

Taking bcaa right before trainining is better than ingesting iso any day beause of the rate of absorption, also during and after the workout as well. These are the key amino`s involved in protein synthesis keeping you anti catabolic if you choose to believe in such a term... John Berardi even talked about people going on very hypoclaric diets eating only 3 times a day and taking 10 grams of bcaa in between the meals to avoid muslce loss.

Haven`t used them during a mass phase of training so I can`t vouch for them for that purpose, but for dieting it can make a difference just gotta use the right doses at the right times. But if I had to choose between a protein powder and a bcaa powder for sure the protein powder comes first.

I dont see how the rate of absorption makes any difference. If you ingested any protein source timely before training you would still have sufficient amino acids available...doesnt matter if it were BCAA, iso, or chicken. People are a bit too paranoid about losing muscle while dieting when the fact is more people would get into much better shape if they werent so obsessed with this idea. Eating 6 meals per day (proper macros) spaced out evenly provides sufficient amino acids for muscle maintenance while dieting. This is a very common beginners mistake and why you see so many guys in their first few shows smooth as a baby. If you plan your diet and training correctly there is no need for BCAA...not to mention ISO either...all you need is food period and you wont lose an ounce of muscle.
P

[Ritch]

I agree with alot of what you`re saying especially with the whole paranoa thing. I did once hear an expert I forget who saying how the amino pills were garbage because they were compressed by a hydrolic machine, can`t remember why. But have you tried taking them? I don`t think they would have lasted this long if they didn`t work for some people. Sure marketing helps, however all the marketing in the world won`t make smilax, dibencozide, and HMB a staple in people`s supp stacks. Why because they absolutely suck. With all the people you`ve met, you`ve never once met one who thinks they`re an asset? Or maybe it`s that one supplement you hate, me it`s glutamine!

From what I understand you talk shop with alot of smart people and are a well informed guy. But you`re telling me that all you need if food and you won`t loose an ounce of muscle? Then how is it even pro`s claim to lose muscle and they are on mega doses of everything and are under some high profile guidance? You sure about that?

[jsv22]

So are you saying the absorption of 10g BCAA powder is equal as Peptopro?

If they have a similar amino acid profile i don't see why it would be much different, why would it?

-jsv