A few days ago I started getting things in order on every level to start my 2012 Figure Olympia prep. That means everything from, a very clean house, all extra work done, clients plans made, my dietary goals in place, as well as all of my supplements, ordered and stocked.
My list of must have:
Myofusion Hydro 5 lb Milk Chocolate
Intrapro 5lb Double Chocolate
Superpump MAX (any flavor) they all remind me of sweet tarts....very yummy and all can be mixed with each other.
Anavite
Phenerox
and now Aminolast.
Several years ago, I used another BCAA product that I would just add to my water and drink all throughout the day. I happen to be one of those people that cannot stand to drink plain water. I love Superpump MAX as a fix to the taste issue, but I don't want to drink it all day into the night. Mostly due to the stimulating effects which could keep me awake. And as many products change, this BCAA that I used to use changed it's formula and now is a chalky version of what it once was. I stopped drinking it for that reason. Additionally, the money I spent on it was a waste because I also found out that the BCAA'sthat were purported to be in that product were not once research was done. So God knows what I was drinking, I could have just added Crystal light, and called it a day.
As Team Gaspari athletes we are informed extensively about new products that Gaspari comes out with. We are educated through full web based seminars about each product, and it is exciting to be apart of a company that has products that actually do what they say they are going to do. Continuing education in all areas from training methods, to nutrition, as well as supplementation as it evolves constantly is imperative. I love this aspect (we have a training today at noon for the new Aminolast today) of being a Gaspari athlete. If you were to take a moment to actually go to the Gaspari website (Aminolast) and look under what is exactly in the products, you would be amazed. There are multiple highly effective dosages of several products that are extremely important that athletes that are combined into one product. That saves big time financially. For instance, I take Anavite not just because it is a multivitamin. It also has 2-3 grams of Beta-Alanine as well as a full dose of L'Carnitine and L'Tartrate. Which have been proven to increase anaerobic and aerobic thresholds. Therefore, improving athletic performance. Both used for utilizing fat stored for fuel. So really that is 3 separate products in one.
Most importantly, when buying any product, make sure you know where it is being produced. Not all facilities are created equal. I personally will never buy another product that is not produced in a high quality controlled environment. I don't have the money or precious time to waste on products that do not have efficaciousdosages or do not contain the ingredients that are shown on the label. Justsomething to think about.
Here is what I do know. Make sure when you read a product label, that all of the ingredients are properly specified regarding exact dosages. A "proprietary blend" just isn't good enough. Know what you are taking, how much and what the benefits and or risks are.
For example, this is what I do know about Aminolast, before I get to the technical stuff, it tastes so light and refreshing. So I don't feel thirsty when I drink it. If it doesn't taste good, I can't drink it. So, thankfully whoever does the product flavoring at Gaspari gets it right time and time again. Also, this prep for me will be about a lot of lower body conditioning, and endurance training. I need to repair, recover and be able to do it all over again the next day. I am looking to reduce DOMS (Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness), get enough electrolytes, and in a reduced state of calories, make sure that I am consistently getting my BCAA's. The building blocks necessary to maintain what I am building on a caloric deficit.
Quick list of a what's in Aminolast, and the benefits. And now I can chuck the crystal light! lol
| KEY INGREDIENT | PURPOSE |
| Calcium (as Calci-K® calcium potassium phosphate-citrate) | Supplies the electrolytes calcium, potassium, and phosphorus for optimal performance |
| Magnesium (as Albion® dimagnesium malate) | Supplies the critical electrolyte magnesium which supports over 300 physiological processes. Athletes should have 2x the RDA. |
| Sodium (as sodium chloride) aka salt | Provides critical sodium and chloride which serve as electrolytes and are lost through sweating. |
| Leucine Peptides (as PepForm™) | Supplies a full spectrum of essential amino acids bound to leucine for enhance recovery and reduced muscle soreness. Di and tripeptides are rapidly absorbed. |
| Leucine, Isoleucine, & Valine (aka BCAA’s) | For enhanced recovery, reduced soreness, and to augment skeletal muscle BCAA breakdown during training. |
| Taurine | An important antioxidant and helps support muscle volume as an osmolyte. |
| L-Ornithine L-Aspartate (as AmmoJECT™) | Helps support the efficient disposal of muscle waste product to support endurance while limiting fatigue. |