White Flood Reborn Juicy Watermelon
Big Thanks to the CL Team for sending out a tub my way to try and review
Taste
I have tried quite a few “Watermelon” flavored products in my time, and I have to say CL did a good job and improvement of the past on their flavoring. This is not a Jolly Rancher Watermelon flavoring, but its not a “Tart” Watermelon if you know what I am saying. Its not overpowering but its good, refreshing more like it. It should be called “Refreshing Watermelon” IMO because its not strong (even as stated on the bottle 8oz per 1 scoop) you get that initial watermelon flavoring and then it fades fast on the aftertaste on the way down. The initial burst of flavoring is very good, like a ripe watermelon not overly sweet and well done. Controlled Labs has done good. Much better than the Beet Root!
Mixability
I shook this literally 3 times, not even 3 seconds, instantly dissolved. The coloring threw me off for a watermelon as it came clear, but overall that doesn’t meant a thing. The powder is very fine/thin as you can see on the scooper above and is dissolving upon touching the water. I have not had a problem with Purple Wraath, Green mag in the past so this did not surprise me.
Formula
Per 1 Scoop:
225mg Caffeine
EndoPump Complex:
I dig the inclusion of BA, CM, and Norvaline. BA/CM will aid in recovery, performance, and endurance for training (unknown amount) and the bit of norvaline will be great for pumps during training as seen on the market in some other pre-workouts and GDA products.
RebornNeuro Complex:
I am unknown on the fruit and the other ingredients involved in this mix here, perhaps a rep could chime in regarding the benefits and why they included this into the formula. Regardless it will be interesting to see the inclusion of these and why CL did it. There is always a reasoning behind their methods.
Workout Reaction
Lets first comment on what is noticed during training and then how I dosed this
Energy
Around 200mg of caffeine is my sweet spot, I am not a person that needs tons of stims to get going, this is just enough to give me energy and sustain my focus for around 90 minutes (The durations of most of my workouts ((Especially legs)) anything Upperbody will be shorter) depending on my split and current mesocycle I am running. There were no jitters and it was very smooth from start to finish of my workout, which even trailed into my post-workout meal after I drove home and cooked.
Pump
Much more noticeable when I had food in me prior to training (I dosed this prior to fasted morning training) and the pumps are not as noticeable, the Norvaline may play a part in this when dosed around carbs and training later in the day/afternoon. Not to mention a bit of food will aid performance (for some) compared to those who thrive off fasted training. Most of my training sessions are upon waking (5-6 a.m.) or afternoon (12,1,2ish around there) once in a while like 5-6ish depending on my schedule and if I am teaching or working other part time jobs (Since I have 3).
Dosage
Tried two ways
1 Scoop Fasted
This was an Upperbody (Chest/Back/Shoulder workout).
I started off with 1.5 Dumbbell Bench (all the way down, half way up, back down, and then all the way up) an intensity technique for DB Bench and worked up to 6 sets of the 110’s to get the chest going and then moved into a rest pause work on a hammer strength fly. This is where I performed 10 sets with 15 seconds rest between each set for reps of 3 and really focusing on squeezing at the top of the motion to get the blood pushed into the pecs. While the pump was not as noticeable as a fed state I could still feel the muscles being engaged and pumped (but to a slighter less degree). My focus was very good in a fasted state (Where I give it the edge over fed). For back I did a low row superset like the hack squats you will read below (4 second negative followed by an explosive concentric for 5 reps, wait 15 seconds and then a quick negative and a 4 second concentric where you are focusing on nothing but your elbows and slowly pulling towards your belly button to get the lower lats engaged). Again lower back is a weak spot so I try many different aspects to get it working and engaged to bring it up. I ended the workout with one last superset of hammer strength machine laterals (6 sets of 10) and a hammer strength low row (to engage my stubborn lower lats). The laterals had a 2 second pause at the top and squeeze as did the lower hammer strength rows. Both were back and forth with 30 seconds rest between sets (about the time it took me to walk from machine to machine in the gym). Both provided good pumps and my energy was solid (better than a fed state) and it even lasted about 45 minutes past my workout after dosing around 5:30 in the morning. The CM/BA I can tell play a factor in overall recovery and performance during the workout. Since I have used both in the past and in multiple products they have always treated me right and without them I notice a slight drop in performance and recovery. How much in the formula? We do not know but even if it does not reach the recommended dose of around 6g CM (found in studies) and around 3g of BA throughout the day (which again I doubt due to the amount in the blend) There is still some present. (Slight tingles not much or long)
1 Scoop Fed
This was a leg session. I started with squats in a slow negative (3 second), pause (2 second) and explosive concentric to start the workout. After working through 6 sets no energy was dropped and I was cruising with around 60 second rest between sets. After this I moved into a good morning to focus on getting my hamstrings warmed up and also targeting a weak lower back, after 5 sets still no drop in focus and a touch of pump going on in my legs/hamstrings. After this I moved into a superset of hack squat. I would do a 4 second negative followed by an explosive concentric, and then I would pause for 10 seconds and do a quick drop and 4 second concentric as an intensity technique for a twist on a hack squat. This is where my teardrops started to get pumped full of blood and the heart started to throb. With 90 seconds rest between the quick superset of 10 reps it catches up to you fast between the two tempo’s. Lastly I moved into a higher rep leg press with a 3 second negative, 2 second pause and then explosive on the way up and worked up to 15 rep sets that had my quads literally on fire and destroyed. To finish off my hamstrings I would take weighed chains and wear them around my neck and do weighted lunges across the gym and then also do a very slow hold and negative on a leg curl as a superset to put the finishing touches on my leg. Energy never dropped the entire workout. My preferred method and when I am stronger (in a fed state) but like I stated depending on schedule I cannot always make this work.