Simple question- legit pre-workout supplement or not? Wondering if I should crack the seal on this bottle and use it.

I get mine in bulk from NutraPlanet. Stuff gives me unbelievable pumps. I take 1 heaping teaspoon in a glass of water about 20 minutes before I start my workout.

It's the main ingredient in most NO products. Great pump and definitely a lot cheaper in bulk and lasts a long time.

what about aee

i predict AAKG bulk powder sales at NP to go up and it to go out of stock....always happens with threads like this.

i have never used the bulk powder, but it has been in some of the blends i have used and produced good results

I just pick'd up some Tabs of NOW's AAKG for like $5. I'll try them down the road. Sorry that wasn't really productive to the original question

I've used aakg and for me at least aee works better

It appears that AAKG should only be taken pre-workout, only on the days that you DO workout. Regular L-arginine has to be taken everyday it seems, making it more inconvient.


For a 'cheap' pump, I will do:

6-7g of AAKG
1,000mg of Vitamin C

^I take this ONLY on days that I workout.


---------then if you want---------
5g of Beta-Alanine
5g of Creatine Monohydrate
5g of Citrulline
25g Waxy Maize

Originally Posted by ReaperX

It appears that AAKG should only be taken pre-workout, only on the days that you DO workout. Regular L-arginine has to be taken everyday it seems, making it more inconvient.


For a 'cheap' pump, I will do:

6-7g of AAKG
1,000mg of Vitamin C

^I take this ONLY on days that I workout.


---------then if you want---------
5g of Beta-Alanine
5g of Creatine Monohydrate
5g of Citrulline
25g Waxy Maize

Yea get some anti-oxidents in there and isn't Vit C suppose to make the pump effect more pronounced because of this? I know CMI makes N03 Overload is tabs and adds in anti-oxidents to help with the free radicals NO2 can produce.

Originally Posted by Distilled Water

Yea get some anti-oxidents in there and isn't Vit C suppose to make the pump effect more pronounced because of this? I know CMI makes N03 Overload is tabs and adds in anti-oxidents to help with the free radicals NO2 can produce.

Anti-oxidants is good for free-radical control. Vitamin C is supposed to 'extend' the pump over a long window, thus making it more effective. You could put more anti-oxidants if you wanted too, but Vitamin C is cheap, plus it also has additive effects other than just an anti-oxidant.



I've done this several times, but if you go to Wal-Mart, they have this brand called 'Body Fortress' and makes 'Super NOS Pump.'

It is relatively inexpensive and manuf. in the US. I just throw back between 3-6 tablets and a 1,000mg Vitamin C tablet about 45min-1hr before working out. This is about as cheap as it gets.

Originally Posted by MrBrightside;

Simple question- legit pre-workout supplement or not? Wondering if I should crack the seal on this bottle and use it.

Like creatine, arginine bonded to any of the Krebs Cycle intermediate such as citrate, fumarate, malate, succinate, and alpha ketoglutarate, or compounds involved indirectly in the energy cycle, for instance, orotate, pyruvate, and so on, yields improved absorption, bioavailability, and potency.

Consequently, arginine alpha ketoglutarate should be an arginine supplement of choice. You will get all the endothelial-lining-support and vasoldilation properties of arginine plus a number of cool benefits of alpha ketoglutarate (AKG), such as more arginine stability, bioavailability and absorption. Furthermore, alpha ketoglutarate will serve as a transport medium for arginine, making it directly available at the cellular levels for optimal synthesis. Beyond this, alpha ketoglutarate improves the endogenous production of of glutamine and glutamic acid, both important for muscle growth and for the immune system. AKG also binds to toxic ammonia in muscle cells, in the liver, and in the brain, thereby converting ammonia into glutamic acid, improving glutamine levels and assisting in elimination of toxic ammonia from the body. Lastly, as a Krebs Cycle intermediate, AKG improves VO2 Max and energy metabolism in muscle cells, and is consequently a potent ergogenic.

Arginine alpha ketoglutarate all the way!

Originally Posted by Brolic;

what about aee

Esterification (as in arginine ethyl ester) or bonding with alpha ketoglutarate (as in arginine alpha ketoglutarate) overcomes the typical arginine limitations, ensuring that arginine absorbs optimally and is available for its ergogenic properties. So, you basically need less of arginine ethyl ester or arginine alpha ketoglutarate, compared to base arginine to produce better results than base arginine.

I'll prefer arginine alpha ketoglutarate, though.

Sweet, I'll start taking them tomorrow then. Thanks for the input.

I prefer AAKG simply because is it mostly tasteless and effective.

Originally Posted by ReaperX

It appears that AAKG should only be taken pre-workout, only on the days that you DO workout. Regular L-arginine has to be taken everyday it seems, making it more inconvient.


For a 'cheap' pump, I will do:

6-7g of AAKG
1,000mg of Vitamin C

^I take this ONLY on days that I workout.


---------then if you want---------
5g of Beta-Alanine
5g of Creatine Monohydrate
5g of Citrulline
25g Waxy Maize

This works out perfectly with my taking 5g mono w/ grape juice (vitamin c and glucose) and then taking the AAKG.

Originally Posted by ReaperX

Anti-oxidants is good for free-radical control. Vitamin C is supposed to 'extend' the pump over a long window, thus making it more effective. You could put more anti-oxidants if you wanted too, but Vitamin C is cheap, plus it also has additive effects other than just an anti-oxidant.



I've done this several times, but if you go to Wal-Mart, they have this brand called 'Body Fortress' and makes 'Super NOS Pump.'

It is relatively inexpensive and manuf. in the US. I just throw back between 3-6 tablets and a 1,000mg Vitamin C tablet about 45min-1hr before working out. This is about as cheap as it gets.

That's the brand I bought. Have you heard of their fantastic-looking pre-workout powder called "Super NOS Blast" (not to be confused with the inferior Precision Engineered "NOS Blast" product at vitamin world)? The ingredients are stacked, and, since it's Body Fortress, I'm guessing it's relatively cheap. I hear fruit punch tastes great, too. They don't carry it at my Walmart, nor can you order their products from their site; do they have it at your local walmart?

Originally Posted by strategicmove

Like creatine, arginine bonded to any of the Krebs Cycle intermediate such as citrate, fumarate, malate, succinate, and alpha ketoglutarate, or compounds involved indirectly in the energy cycle, for instance, orotate, pyruvate, and so on, yields improved absorption, bioavailability, and potency.

Consequently, arginine alpha ketoglutarate should be an arginine supplement of choice. You will get all the endothelial-lining-support and vasoldilation properties of arginine plus a number of cool benefits of alpha ketoglutarate (AKG), such as more arginine stability, bioavailability and absorption. Furthermore, alpha ketoglutarate will serve as a transport medium for arginine, making it directly available at the cellular levels for optimal synthesis. Beyond this, alpha ketoglutarate improves the endogenous production of of glutamine and glutamic acid, both important for muscle growth and for the immune system. AKG also binds to toxic ammonia in muscle cells, in the liver, and in the brain, thereby converting ammonia into glutamic acid, improving glutamine levels and assisting in elimination of toxic ammonia from the body. Lastly, as a Krebs Cycle intermediate, AKG improves VO2 Max and energy metabolism in muscle cells, and is consequently a potent ergogenic.

Arginine alpha ketoglutarate all the way!

Great info, definitely taking them tomorrow.

Should AAKG be taken before bed?
or maybe regular Aginine?

why shouldnt AAKG be taken on non workout days? I ususually take 5 grams in the morn and then 5 grams before workouts for 6 weeks. I used to use the expenisive GNC NO2 product a while back and had great results. Turns out i can make my own for 80 bucks cheaper.

Whats the point of taking a pump product on non-workout days? 10g a day is a bit over kill if you ask me.
I don't like taking it before bed just well cause whats the point. Might even keep me awake.

im 6-2 220. i thought u needed to take it on non workout days to keep levels up? Im not really sure i think i may have read that a while back. I only take one day off from training every seven so i just take it on that one day anyway

I guess you could take it on workout days but I just prefer to take it on workout days only to save money. Even for your weight I still think 10g is a lot. I usually take about 3-5g with 200mg Caffeine and about a gram of Taurine before I workout. Adjust your tolerance start low and bring yourself up and I guess if you need 10g then keep it there.

Originally Posted by pavb10

im 6-2 220. i thought u needed to take it on non workout days to keep levels up? Im not really sure i think i may have read that a while back. I only take one day off from training every seven so i just take it on that one day anyway

That's not how NO works...you dont want chronically elevated levels of NO...trust me.

oh crap whys that? ive always done that in the past. whats the effect?

Originally Posted by dsade

That's not how NO works...you dont want chronically elevated levels of NO...trust me.

Ditto, thats a lot of free radicals floating around.

Originally Posted by Soopaman

Ditto, thats a lot of free radicals floating around.

DING DING DING

whats a free radical?

Malcom X , Abbey Hoffman,

haha yeah i get enough of that in school. what exactly is a free radical as it pertains to the body though i hear it a lot?

Originally Posted by pavb10

haha yeah i get enough of that in school. what exactly is a free radical as it pertains to the body though i hear it a lot?

Basically, it is a cleaved molecule floating around in the body. This is something that you do not want to have prolonged, elevated levels of due to it's effects on performance, recovery, etc.

how do u minimize free radicals? what can u take?