[Mini] Review of Primordial Performance's Maximum Absorbed Protein (Cranberry Splash flavour)

There are tubs of Maximum Absorbed Protein in our cupboards, and all the flavours have been, are, or gone (and yes, I've opened and smelt every one of them) I've held back from using Maximum Absorbed Protein because the reason I STOPPED using protein powder was that my stomach did not reacted well to ANY that I used, even if it is only a one-off, random scoop since early 2010 (and I have actually NOT used protein powder consistently in quite some time, using MuscleGel Shots as my exclusive source of supplemented protein for the last few months). Anyways, the feedback on Maximum Absorbed Protein has been so positive and good that I figured why not try just a scoop and see how it goes (I can put up with being uncomfortable for a day if it upsets my stomach). So I used a scoop . . .


What is it?



* Improves strength and recovery better than standard protein
* 2-3 times more effective than whey or casein protein
* No artificial sweeteners, colors or flavors
* No lactose. No bloating. No cramping.

For more information, review Primordial Performance - Maximum Absorbed Protein.


Formula: 10/10. Maximum Absorbed Protein is a perfect formula for someone like me, as it contains NO lactose, and little carbohydrates/sugars (I don't like to have carbohydrates in my protein, and if it has them, I prefer them to be complex). Maximum Absorbed Protein also contains an amino acid complex, which allows it to "double" as both a protein and BCAAs product. The fact that it contains actual FRUIT and not artificial flavours, sweeteners, and flavours is also a huge PLUS

Smell: 9/10. Smells like cranberries (I like cranberries)

Taste: 9/10. Cranberry Splash flavoured Maximum Absorbed Protein has a sharp, tart taste - true to eating fresh cranberries, and this tartness lingers at least a good 90 minutes post-use. I personally like cranberries and their tart taste - which was the primary reason I decided to try the Maximum Absorbed Protein in the first place.

Mixability: 10/10. On shaking there was no trace of the powder and no clumps or excess was left in the water or on the bottom of the shaker.

Texture: 10/10. Maximum Absorbed Protein has a very light texture, not like the heaviness of protein powder - in fact, it was just like shaking up and having BC+EAA, and I didn't feel like I was having protein powder at all, but rather something akin to a preworkout product or BCAAs formula (which it technically is, though).

Strength: N/A. After only one serving, this is not applicable. Not only that, but it was on a day where I did not perform resistance training. For noticeable effects in strength, a longer period of time would be needed to assess this, and even then, training goals and routines, as well as nutrition and other supplements used would affect this, so I would not be able to say whether it made a difference to my strength.

Recovery: N/A. I used the Maximum Absorbed Protein after a training session and was fine. I will not know until later in the day - or even tomorrow or a few days - how my recovery really was. Add to that the fact that I am already using products that help enhance my recovery, any recovery benefits will be a combination of everything.

Other Effects: 10/10. Surprisingly, I did not experience any tummy upsets, bloating, air, or cramping afterwards - as I did with every other protein powder before I stopped using them altogether. The only "other effect" it has was causing me to feel slightly cold inside for a bit and a warming in my face - which is an effect I get when I consume tart things, fruit especially (and actually has similar effects on me as eating cranberries does, which is not surprising since it contains freeze-dried cranberries).

Overall: 9.7/10. Based on my experience with Maximum Absorbed Protein, and the fact that it doubles as a BCAAs product, and uses real fruit for sweetness and taste makes it very favourable in my opinion. In fact, as far as formula (re fitting my personal goals and needs), effects (no bloating, etc.), and flavour (especially flavour), Maximum Absorbed Protein is my #1 protein powder (and yes, this IS a call one can make after ONE serving of a protein powder), and I may even consider adding it in with MuscleGel Shots re supplemented protein.

Would I use again? If I used protein powder, then yes, I would. If I did not have any more MuscleGel Shots and was concurrently out of BC+EAA, I would use Maximum Absorbed Protein then - this says a lot, because I will not use any OTHER protein powder, period, even the ones that used to be my top and favourite protein powders. I may even consider adding it in with MuscleGel Shots re supplemented protein and replace my BC+EAA with this - get both benefits in one.

Would I recommend? Yes. Maximum Absorbed Protein has a solid ingredient profile. Feedback on the product is solid. Flavour tastes great. It can be used pre, intra, and post-training (intra and post re recovery effects), so an all-round product.

Review of Primordial Performance's Organic VitaBerry

My first tub of Organic VitaBerry gone, and I can barely wait for my new one to get here!!!


What is it?



* 100% Organic Freeze-Dried Six-Berry blend
* Low Sugar : Maximum Phyto-Nutrients
* No Artificial Sweeteners or Flavors
* Makes bulk supplement powders taste like tropical punch

For the product write-up, please see Primordial Performance: Organic VitaBerry.


Smell: 10/10. Like Heaven: A fusion of raspberry, cranberry, and strawberry. It's a bit like MaliBobu - I could smell it all day! Absolute perfection!

Taste: 10/10. Exactly like it smells. Seriously the BEST tasting supplement product I have ever tried - and I've used quite a few products that have tasted great.

Solubility: 10/10. On shaking there was no trace of the powder and no clumps or excess was left in the water or on the bottom of the shaker.

Texture: 10/10. Like fruit juice diluted with water. The surprise was the berry seeds that were scattered throughout the solution - made me feel like I was drinking a drink of berries that I'd put in the blender! Added that extra touch that made me like, mmmm.

Mixing with Bulk Powders: 10/10. Organic VitaBerry goes with anything. When I first started using it, I mixed it with my EndoAmp Max, and it overtook the taste of the latter, making it nice. I still dose it with my BC+EAA, and it mingles with the Watermelon-Kiwi flavour of the latter to give a fresh, fruity/berry flavour. Definitely very versatile and can be mixed with anything.

Overall: 10/10. I loved Organic VitaBerry from the FIRST dose. Not only is it the BEST tasting supplement product that I have ever used, but it also provides many antioxidant and heath benefits. I never want this to leave my cupboard!

Would I use again? Yes. Organic VitaBerry is now a STAPLE in my supplement arsenal.

Would I recommend? Yes. Absolutely! If you haven't already tried Organic VitaBerry, you're missing out!

Review of Primordial Performance's EndoAmp Max

My first tub of EndoAmp Max gone . . .


What is it?



* Prevents the rise in cortisol following exercise
* Improves the testosterone to cortisol ratio
* Amplifies Testosterone and Growth Hormone production
* Promotes muscle growth, speeds recovery and reduces muscle soreness

For the product write-up, please see Primordial Performance: EndoAmp Max.


Smell: 2/10. EndoAmp Max smells like a chemical - hard to put my finger on, but almost like nail polish or varnish.

Taste: 5/10. I have gotten used to it, even though if I don't down it pretty fast, it's still nasty.

Solubility: 10/10. On shaking there was no trace of the powder and no clumps or excess was left in the water or on the bottom of the shaker.

Texture: 10/10. Like fruit juice diluted with water.

Cortisol Levels: N/A. Although I would have liked to see the changes in my Cortisol levels from pre to post-EndoAmp Max, I did not have bloods done. I will note that my stress levels are ALWAYS HIGH.

Testosterone Levels: N/A. Although I would have liked to see the changes in my Testosterone levels from pre to post-EndoAmp Max, I did not have bloods done.

Growth Hormone Levels: N/A. Although I would have liked to see the changes in my Growth Hormone levels from pre to post-EndoAmp Max, I did not have bloods done.

Muscle Growth: 7/10. Please note that throughout my usage of EndoAmp Max, I was also using (and only recently finished) Triazole, as well as IGF-2, so any results re muscle/lean growth can be attributed to a combination off ALL those products. When I started using EndoAmp Max, I was 9% bodyfat at 111.6 pounds, and are currently 9.5% bodyfat at 115 pounds. Over that month I had a final gain of 3.4 pounds at a ratio of 2.7 to 1 increase in lean mass (+2.5 pounds) and bodyfat (+0.9 pounds) respectively, with the lean mass gains made in my shoulders.

Recovery: 5/10. The last month my training has been all over the place. My recovery has also been all over the place - great some days and other days the training from the day before taking more out of me than it should have.

Overall: N/A. The last month (and just before that) have been very UNcharacteristic of me, and I have been UNcommonly inconsistent, with my training and nutrition unusual and all over the place. NOTHING has gone as planned and everything has been readjusted and readjusted again over this period from what my goals, etc. were at the start. Because of this, I do not feel that I gave EndoAmp Max a fair trial, and therefore cannot assign it an "overall" score.

Would I use again? Yes. Because of how things have been over the last month, I feel and know that I did not really give EndoAmp Max a decent chance at showing me what it was capable of doing, and I want to do this. Besides, because my stress levels are ALWAYS HIGH and my training is usually VERY INTENSE, I need a cortisol control product as a staple.

Would I recommend? Yes. The science behind EndoAmp Max is solid, and it can be used continually, unlike most cortisol control products, making it perfect as a staple.

Initial Impressions: CreaPure

CreaPure

Smell: 10/10. CreaPure has no smell.

Taste: 10/10. CreaPure is tasteless.

Solubility: 9/10. On shaking (albeit only a few seconds) there were some faint flecks of powder left swirling in the water.

Texture: 10/10. Like water.

Other Effects: 10/10. No water retention. No bloating. No nausea. CreaPure is straight creatine monohydrate, so I didn't expect anything different.

Initial Impressions: EndoAmp Max and Organic VitaBerry

EndoAmp Max

Smell: 2/10. EndoAmp Max smells like a chemical - hard to put my finger on, but almost like nail polish or varnish.

Taste: 2/10. Nasty. Worse than it smells. As bad as Vitamin B5 powder.

Solubility: 10/10. On shaking there was no trace of the powder and no clumps or excess was left in the water or on the bottom of the shaker.

Texture: 10/10. Like fruit juice diluted with water.

Other Effects: N/A. Even though it smells and tastes like a$$, the taste will lessen as I get used to it to the point I will no longer notice it, and the product is highly beneficial and useful to me for cortisol control, so I am going to continue using it regardless.

Organic VitaBerry

Smell: 10/10. Like Heaven: A fusion of raspberry, cranberry, and strawberry. It's a bit like MaliBobu - I could smell it all day! Absolute perfection!

Taste: 10/10. Exactly like it smells. Seriously the BEST tasting supplement product I have ever tried - and I've used quite a few products that have tasted great.

Solubility: 10/10. On shaking there was no trace of the powder and no clumps or excess was left in the water or on the bottom of the shaker.

Texture: 10/10. Like fruit juice diluted with water. The surprise was the berry seeds that were scattered throughout the solution - made me feel like I was drinking a drink of berries that I'd put in the blender! Added that extra touch that made me like, mmmm.

Other Effects: N/A. But let me tell you, I am going to look FORWARD to using VitaBerry EVERY day!

Day 283: Double HIT

Training

HIT - Skip/Box:
2 rounds (no recovery between rounds) -
1. Skip 1 min
2. Straight Punches 1 min
3. Skip 1 min
4. Hooks 1 min
5. Skip 1 min
6. Uppercuts 1 min
7. Skip 1 min
8. Pitter-Patter 1 min
9. Skip 1 min
10. Plank 1 min

HIT - V-Burn Challenge Circuit:
2 x rounds (no recovery between exercises; 1 minute recovery between rounds) -
1. Jumping Split Squat x 10 per leg
2. Hand Walkout (from toes) x 10
3. Single-Leg Deadlift (with twist and lateral reach) x 10 per side
4. Push-Up (with alternate side rotation) x 10
5. Jumping Jacks x 10
6. Side Lunges (with over head reach) x 10 per side
7. Handstand Push-Up x 10
8. Squat Thrust (jump and reach) x 10

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: The 'first' day of training was tough - I slept for EIGHT hours!

Mood/Aggression: Mostly up, with some HIGHLY aggressive sections.

Energy: I have been a non-stop, running Energizer Bunny since I got up.

Mental Focus and Clarity: Top of the line.

Stress: High. And I am highly pissed off as well.

Libido: The body wants it.

Endurance: Excellent.

Pump: None.

Vascularity: Only after my carbohydrate meals.

Quality of Training: HIT was GREAT!

Recovery: Feeling it when I was finally able to stop and breath a little - six hours after my night shift started.

Body Composition and Look: Midsection looks great in the bathroom mirror - not as good in the gym, though. It must be the lighting, because my arms look better and way harder and defined in the gym mirrors than at home.

Other Effects: A couple of blemishes have appeared - nothing Flawless: IDRT and Eviscerate can't take care of.

Eviscerate Smolder Notes: When I get warm or hot, I can feel that smolder - otherwise, nothing, which is GREAT.

Other Notes: I woke late today - so late meant that I would not have time to do today's training and be back home in time to head to my night work, so I did Saturday's session instead (and Saturday's nutrition), and will do today's training tomorrow and go from there . . . Although no resistance training today, I used GlycoCarn-GPLC. Nothing. Pump and vascularity were zilch. It seems that using NO products has the OPPOSITE than intended effect on me, and I don't even get the usual decent pump and vascularity that I would get withOUT them. Interesting . . . Also, finally got my Primordial products, so started EndoAmp Max and Organic Vitaberry today . . . AND this is the longest I have been without using a creatine product in seven years, and after this week, my muscle creatine threshold levels will be back at baseline, when I start CreaPure (since it didn't arrive yet) . . .

Completing the Female Terminator's REMODEL

19 weeks since I started training again, ~6 weeks since I have been back at Maintenance training levels.

I have just competed in my debut US Figure competition, where I placed third. I had initially planned on competing at the Worlds in November. However, I have reconsidered, deciding that I want to do 1-2 more competitions before stepping up to the World stage (IF I decide I want to continue competing in this arena).

I was not as lean as I wanted to be for my competition, and there is NO reason for me NOT to continue on the intense preparation that has occurred over the last week or so to get to the leanest and ULTIMATE conditioning of my life! I am giving myself one month maximum to lose 1% bodyfat (the leaner one gets, the harder it is to lose bodyfat, and a slower rate of loss will also mean a higher rate of being able to maintain that leanness) and ~2 inches from each my hips, and thighs (since I have gained muscle mass in those areas, I am not sure how much I will actually lose with losing some muscle mass - although I don't mind some going from my legs) - a loss of 1% bodyfat is going to make a dramatic difference to my physique.

Matt Cahill at Driven Sports wants a female perspective on Triazole - I am logging my experience so that other women can see effects and have some idea of what to expect, etc. should they consider using this product.

I am also using Slin-Sane - this is replacing NeoVar Recomped as my nutrient repartitioner/insulin mimetic.

AND I am one of the privileged who get to try the new Eviscerate Smolder betas!

GOALS

* Body Composition of 7% bodyfat (or as lean as physiologically possible - I want to be able to use myself for an anatomy chart!)
* Maintain Resting Pulse of 30-32 beats per minute

I'm starting this log at:
* Body Composition of 8% bodyfat
* Resting Pulse of 32 beats per minute

TRAINING

Monday: HIIT Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes + Full-Body + 20 min Post-Weights Cardio

Tuesday: 20 min Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes + Full-Body + 20 min Post-Weights Cardio

Wednesday: HIIT Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes + Upper Body + 20 min Post-Weights Cardio

Thursday: 20 min Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes

Friday: HIIT Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes + Shoulders/Arms/Abs + 20 min Post-Weights Cardio

Saturday: HIT + Stretch 20-30 minutes

Sunday: Day OFF

A second cardio session (either am or pm) will be added in 2-4 days a week as well.

My training does not stay the same re exercises, order, sets, reps, or weight used, each week, but varies. I always lift as heavy as I can for the reps I set out to do each session, and I use 30 seconds to 1 minute recovery between sets/supersets/trisets/giant sets.

I am not going to do any specific work for my legs - aside from a few exercises for my hamstrings each week - as my lower body overwhelms my upper body. If I train legs, I gain muscle mass despite what I do (as has been shown over the last 8 weeks), and more muscle mass in my legs is NOT what I want or need.

I train first thing in the morning, since this is the most effective for me.

And for any given week training can be changed and adapted, based on how my body is feeling, recovery, etc.

NUTRITION

I am going to be doing a week-pre-competition diet every second week. Every first week I will allow myself a cheat meal either once every 3-4 days or once a week (on my Day OFF), depending on how I'm feeling after training, etc.

I will be having 5-6 meals daily, 2-3 hours apart.

I will continue to drink 1-2 galleons of water a day, with the only other liquid that I consume re drinks being herbal or green tea.

SUPPLEMENTS

(in alphabetical order):

Alpha-T2: 2 caps first thing and 2 caps ~8 hours post-Dose 1.

BC+EAA: 3-4 x 10.5-21 grams daily.

BLACK CATS: 3 caps first thing and 2 caps 6-8 hours post-Dose 1.

CreaPure: 2.5g 60 min pre-training and 2.5g immediately post-training.

EndoAmp Max: first thing, post-training, and pre-bed.

IGF-2: 3 caps first thing and 3 caps pre-bed.

Lipotrophin-PM: 2 caps first thing and 2 caps pre-bed.

MuscleGels: 1-2 daily.

Organic VitaBerry: 5g first thing and 5 g post-Meal 1.

Slin-Sane: 1 cap 15-20 min pre-Meal 1, and 1 cap pre-bed (as well as 1-2 caps 15-20 min pre-meal containing high carbohydrates).

Topicals: Eviscerate Smolder applied post-shower once daily.

Triazole: 1 cap first thing and 1 cap 6-8 hours post-Dose 1.

Vitamin C: 1 gram first thing, 1 gram immediately post-training, and 1 gram pre-bed.

I'll also be using GlycoCarn-GPLC (4.5g ~60 min pre-training) and PlasmaJet (10 caps 1-2 hours pre-training) on and off.

COMMENTS

Please note that I may or may not comment on all the factors listed below in each 'update'.

Sleep - Time and Quality
Mood/Aggression
Energy
Mental Focus and Clarity

Stress
Immune System
Libido
Joints
Endurance
Strength
Pump
Vascularity
Quality of Training
Recovery
Body Composition and Look
Other Effects

So, going to be a lot of fun over the next four weeks!

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK . . .

THANK YOU . . .

A lot goes into competing and I would not have been able to do what I did without the backing and the support of the following companies and people:

* Applied Nutriceuticals
* Christine and Matt Pearson
* Primordial Performance
* LG Sciences
* Performance Enhancing Supplements
* Sean Scott

Each of you were mentioned in my "Bio" at the Finals of my competition, but I would like to thank you all again, here, for your sponsorship and support, encouragement and motivation, and belief in me.

I also want to thank everyone else who has been behind me - Ava, Brenda, Jeff, Chris, Josh, Jason, Brandon, Gary, Dave, Rob, and the many others (you know who you are).

I mentioned to Sean on the night before the competition that this is the FIRST time I have competed ("competed" being a blanket term for all my sporting competitions) that I have actually HAD support from others and not disapproval or disappointment that I have chosen this path (when I was cycling, my coach and sponsor were the only support I had), and it means a lot to me to have that. So thank you for that. It definitely makes a HUGE difference knowing that I am not doing this by myself.

~Rosie~

Day 259: The Primordial Woman

Training

Day 258

Cardio - Stepper:
20 min @ 8 floors/min

Gym - Upper Body (30 sec recovery between alternate sets):
Alternate Set A -
1. EZ-Bar Bicep Curls 6 x 20
2. Incline Dips 6 x 15
Alternate Set B -
3. BB Military Press 6 x 15
4. DB Lateral Raises 6 x 15
Alternate Set C -
5. DB Shoulder Press 6 x 15
6. Bent Over DB Rear Raises 6 x 15
Alternate Set D -
7. Push-Ups (feet on floor, hands on box) 6 x 12
8. Supinated BB Bent Over Rows 6 x 15

Post-Weights Cardio - Stepper:
20 min @ 8 floors/min

Posing Practice 10 min.

Stretch 20 min.

Day 259

HIIT Cardio:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 12 x 20 sec effort/40 sec recovery
c. 4 min jogging

Gym - Shoulders/Arms/Abs (1 min recovery between trisets):
Triset A -
1. BB Military Press 4 x 12-15
2. DB Lateral Raises 4 x 12-15
3. Incline DB Rear Raises 4 x 12-15
Triset B -
4. V-Bar Tricep Push-Downs 4 x 12
5. DB Concentration Curls 4 x 12 per side
6. Alternate DB Hammer Curls 4 x 12 per side
Triset C -
7. Rope Crunch 4 x 15
8. Reverse Curls (on bench) 4 x 12
9. Plank 4 x 1 min

Post-Weights Cardio - Stepper:
20 min @ 9 floors/min

Posing Practice 15 min.

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: It's either the insulin release or because it's high sugar/carbohydrates, but not long after eating late at night/early in the morning, I pass out . . .

Mood/Aggression: Started out the day great. A few different surprises throughout the day - both days - that made me smile. Finishing a bit out of sorts and very disappointed in myself.

Energy: I've barely stopped once I've gotten up - even though I almost feel like I could pass out just by closing my eyes.

Mental Focus and Clarity: There until after night work.

Metabolism: Great!

Stress: Highly stressed - and this time it is ALL definitely MY fault!

Libido: Still on high alert!

Endurance: AWESOME!

Pump: Been amazing both days. Really seeing it during resistance training, the hardness of my muscles starting to come in.

Vascularity: Deltoid and biceps vascularity becoming more prominent. Also through chest/deltoids I saw today when I was resistance training.

Quality of Training: Yesterday was another long training session/s - ~3 hours. Today was slightly shorter, but barely, with resistance session ~30 minutes less, and the shortest one this week! . . . HIIT was good. Definitely better for me to do this RUNNING. Stopping between efforts again, heart pounding and hurting my chest, gasping for breath, on my knees or heels. Managing, though, and only the last four efforts noticing the pace slow a little . . . Resistance session was great. Did some posing in my recovery periods between trisets, getting an idea of angles re arms, etc. for the best definition and vascularity, etc. Vision was blurry during a few exercises - and the same happened yesterday as well, and I had to shake myself to snap out of it . . . Post-Weights Cardio took it up a notch . . . Posing Practice is hurting. Really makes my knees tight, especially around the muscle insertions . . .

Recovery: Calves are in PAIN - the faster I move, the less it seems to hurt. Going up and down stairs is agony, and I have to crabwalk down, LOL.

Body Composition and Look: Definitely need to lose the fat; tighten up the diet - START dieting, because in all honesty, this has NOT happened yet! - to keep up to par with my training: There's no point destroying myself in the gym if my eating habits are going to destroy me later!

Other Effects: EXTREME thirst (the longer training periods contributing to it)!

Other Notes: Started Bio-Mend again yesterday . . . As mentioned above, I have yet to really "diet" for this. I know I only have TWO weeks left until my competition, and it's these two weeks that are going to see the "diet" happen. Yes, I can only blame myself if I don't win. I also know that I have another shot in November, but I still want THIS win - definitely need to get my head in the game and the attitude that I used to have when cycling; I was almost unbeatable when I was in my zone then . . . This week has been quite hectic and very, very busy and stressful. NEXT week is my week-pre-competition practice, so I will in essence do this week twice in a row, which is ok . . . I will definitely be in the shape and have the condition that I want in November, but I also need to do my best to achieve it for THIS competition as well - after all, why bother competing if you're not there to win it (I NEVER do something to "make up the numbers")! . . . And yes, for those who have been noticing over the last week, I am no longer with Applied Nutriceuticals. This is no reflection on the company or the people, and I will always stand behind them and support them - many of their products are STAPLES for me! I am now "The Primordial Woman" - with Primordial Performance, another company that I have great respect and admiration for, believe in and are proud to stand behind 100%!