I remember back in 2003 working out at college and simply adhering to the traditional post workout protein shake.  Ah, how things have evolved.  It makes me wonder about the supplement technologies that will be available 50 years from now.   Around 2004/2005 gym rats around the country started to consume a preworkout drink before their training - at its most basic level, it included L-Arginine (to stimulate Nitric Oxide production) and caffeine (stimulant).  NoXplode produced by BSN was probably the most popular of the preworkouts introduced to the market, and I took it religiously in those years with good results.  Just like with any genre, other companies introduced their preworkout shakes to the market, and now the three that I generally rely upon are NoXplode (BSN), NoShotgun (VPX) and NanoVapor (Muscletech). 

At the same time as the preworkout came the 'new postworkout shake', the traditional 40 to 60 gram post workout protein shake became passe, and was replaced by the postworkout creatine/glutamine recovery shake, which preceeded the actual protein shake that one would take thereafter.   The most popular product in this genre was BSN's cellmass.  This trend of the preworkout and the postworkout shake continued steadily from about 2004 to 2008, and as each year increased, so did the popularity amongst gym-goers.  Just recently there has been an addition to this 'supplements-around-the training-session' trend, and it is best described as the intra-workout shake.  I've been taking Nutrex's Mass Xplosion for the past week now with very good results, the difference that I notice is that my muscles stay fuller for longer periods of time.  Every one knows that there is a huge difference in the size of a muscle after training it.  A lot of times I will hear guys in the gym say, 'I wish I could look like I look now 24 hrs a day,' but what invariably happens is that the pump subsides.  Anyways, I've noticed that by adding the intra-workout shake to my supplement arsenal my muscles stay fuller for longer periods of time.  As I stated above, I have been taking Nutrex's Mass Xplosion and like it, and I think that BSN is releasing an intra-workout product soon as well.  So, for those of you who want to maximize your muscle gains, I definitely recommend following the pre-workout, intra-workout, post-workout protocol.  It'll really boost your muscle gains.


Below is an interview with Nutrex and Dr. Heidkamp, the developer of Mass Xplosion.

Nutrex: Dr. Heidkamp, we understand you are from Tuebingen, Germany, the hometown of one of Germany’s most prestigious sports academies. Your expertise is sports nutrition with a focus on advising athletes on ideal ways how to supply muscles with nutrients and replenish energy during actual exercise. Tell us more about your research regarding this matter.

Dr. Heidkamp: I have been working with numerous track athletes, soccer players, cyclists, swimmers and lately bodybuilders for over 12 years. During this time we conducted a tremendous amount of research and performed hundreds of tests which allowed me to conclude that maximum physical performance can only be achieved when you feed a muscle during actual exercise. Not before and not after but during exercise is what truly matters and gives the best results.

Nutrex: Isn’t that what a pre-workout meal or supplement is designed for? You consume something before a workout or event and it supplies your muscles with the nutrients and energy they need?

Dr. Heidkamp: Consuming certain foods or supplements before exercising is definitely a sound idea as it helps to establish the basic parameters for a productive training session. However, you still miss out on your best chance to make a muscle respond, which is, as I mentioned already during exercise.

Nutrex: Can you explain how this would pertain to bodybuilders? Knowing that you have been working with professional bodybuilders like Dennis Wolf and Armin Scholz for several months our readers certainly are curious to learn what you suggest.

Dr. Heidkamp: When you lift weights you create what bodybuilders call a pump. This is attributed to the enhanced blood flow to the particular muscle that is being exercised. Compared to a rested state when blood flow is normal and low, this increases 15-20 fold during exercise. Along with the extra blood, nutrients are flushed towards that muscle since blood is our body’s main transport vehicle. So, if you increase blood flow 15-20 times over its normal rate you can also increase nutrient transport to a muscle by 15-20 times. Best of all as a bodybuilder, you can actually decide which muscle you want to benefit the most by simply selecting whatever muscle you want to train.

Nutrex: How can you consume anything while you train without getting sick and nauseous? Doesn’t it take some time to digest whatever you eat or drink anyhow and none of the nutrients you consume during exercise would be available for your immediate benefit?

Dr. Heidkamp: It is absolutely crucial that you ingest something that is instantly available. The workout formula I have developed saturates your blood with precisely timed and readily available anabolic key nutrients. By consuming essential and branch chain amino acids, fast-acting glucose, vital ATP-precursors an athlete can quickly super-saturate his blood. Key is, to use these compounds in powdered form with sufficient water. This creates an extremely low osmolality rate, which means the time it takes for such a solution to pass through your stomach is minimal.

Nutrex: How does it work in practical terms?

Dr. Heidkamp: You select a body part you like to train on that day, for instance chest. You mix up my workout formula with at least 20 oz. of water and you continuously sip on it in between your working sets. Make sure that you pace yourself so you don’t run out of your pre-mixed drink half way through your training. Within minutes into your chest training blood flow to your chest will significantly increase and along with it nutrient transport. All the anabolic agents in my workout formula are in their most elemental form and rushed to the actual muscle at work at a rate of 15-20 times higher than normal. This instantly induces anabolism and glycogen super-loading. The result is extreme cell volumization and prevention of any catabolic effects training usually has. Your muscle is now in an immediate state of hyper-growth.

Nutrex: This sounds like a perfect strategy to bring up lagging body parts!

Dr. Heidkamp: It actually is. Look at Armin Scholz for instance. While being one of the most massive bodybuilders his quads were always lagging. We changed his quad frequency from one workout per week to two and he started consuming my workout formula during all of his quad sessions. Within only one month his quads improved dramatically and now look thicker and much fuller.

Nutrex: You have not only Armin Scholz but also Dennis Wolf consuming your workout drink. What are his results?

Dr. Heidkamp: I met both athletes during a seminar of mine they attended. They were very open to my concept of consuming a special anabolic workout concoction while you exercise. They clearly saw the merits this unique approach has to offer. Still, I don’t believe they expected the kind of results they ended up seeing. Dennis Wolf, who in my eyes will be Mr. Olympia within the next two years gained a total of 9 lbs within the first 3 weeks. Dennis got unbelievably full and big but retained his miniscule waist. He looks like a cartoonish super hero.

Nutrex: Does your workout formula produce results for anyone or is it only applicable for very advanced athletes such as Dennis Wolf and Armin Scholz?

Dr. Heidkamp: The anabolic workout formula I have designed has been tested on numerous bodybuilders, not just professional athletes. Depending on someone’s body weight and length of workout session he simply has to adjust the dosage of my formula and the amount of water it needs to me mixed with. We have discovered that optimum results can be expected when the average training session lasts between 1 -1 1/2 hours.

Nutrex: What about the number of sets and reps someone should train with? How can they fully benefit from your workout formula?

Dr. Heidkamp: Naturally, we need to create a good pump effect to fully benefit from the enhanced nutrient delivery to a working muscle. If you bear this in mind, I advise that you keep your rep range between 8-15 per set. Instead of focusing on a certain number of sets per body part I rather suggest that you watch the clock. Train large muscle groups such as legs, back and chest for about 60 minutes and smaller like your biceps, triceps or calves for approx. 30 minutes. Within that time frame try to do as many sets as possible with whatever exercises you prefer by adhering to the above recommended rep range. Our goal is to get as much blood as quickly as possible into any given body part and to keep it there for a certain period of time. This is absolutely essential as it will allow for all the nutrients you consume with my workout drink to be transported to the respective muscle and subsequently trigger the described anabolic actions.

Nutrex: I understand that several supplement companies have pursued you to work with them as they obviously see the enormous potential your workout formula holds? What made you decide to go with Nutrex and give us the exclusive rights to your unique workout product?

Dr. Heidkamp: As a scientist I respect the fact that Nutrex is truly on the cutting-edge of supplement innovations. Nutrex was the first to develop and release a liquid capsule. Nutrex then improved on that by bringing a capsule in a capsule to the market. I feel there is no better supplement company to go to. Knowing that Dennis Wolf and Armin Scholz are both sponsored by Nutrex is a great coincidence and it will allow me to continue working with these fine athletes.

Nutrex: With Mass XXplosion, Nutrex is now introducing your original workout formula into the mass market. What are your thoughts?

Dr. Heidkamp: I am very happy that everyone, not just elite athletes have now easy access to such a ground-breaking invention. People will be surprised about the results they will get from Mass XXplosion. I predict that once they use it, they will not want to ever train without it again.

10/01/2008

patientperseverance: This article was truly informative. I will try Mass Xplosion, and get back to the pre-workout drink. Currently, for post workout, I use Optimum Nutrition Whey protein and add L-Glutamine and Maltodextrin (about 30 grams), a rapid delivery form of glucose. It's my own recipe. If you get a chance, you should address the merits of an intraworkout drink (consumed throughout the workout) versus the pre-workout drink. Both are advertised, but the former purport to boost energy levels during workouts. Good blog, and good photo. The other guy is smaller than yourself, but has an impressive body. Cheers!

09/08/2008

tiffany raroe: I LOVE LOVE LOVE this blog, im learning so much, and the guys are so hot!!!!

09/05/2008

jake: Great article as always!

09/04/2008

hipman: keep the articles coming,I'm learning so much by following this blog.

09/04/2008

Jase Exercise: I drink one shake with pineapple juice after every workout... Jase Exercise

09/03/2008

WonderBoy: great article! i learn so much reading through this blog, keep the articles coming, thanks for all you do.