Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Intra-Workouts: Legitimate Product Category or Marketing Scam?

I'll be the first to admit that I used to think the 'Intra-Workout' wasn't needed in an athlete's supplement stack, and while that is still partially true in some cases, it definitely isn't the case in others. Let me explain.

Scenario 1: Your training is quick, you're in and out of the gym in 45 minutes.
Scenario 2: You're bulking, so your diet is supplying you with plenty of sustained energy and amino acids to power you through your workout.

In these two scenarios an Intra Workout really isn't needed (not that it couldn't be beneficial). In scenario 1 your training time is so quick your pre-workout meal should be enough to get you through the workout. In scenario 2 the amount of food you're taking in throughout the day should supply you with plenty of energy to withstand a workout of 1.5 to 2 hours depending on your intensity. So, when is an Intra-Workout needed? During contest prep, photo shoot prep, beach vacation prep or any other scenario when you are dieting hard.

I'm currently in the midst of a show prep in which I've been dieting hard for weeks and weeks on end. So, with calories extremely restricted and workout intensity at an all time high (trying to maintain as much muscle mass as possible), energy levels are at an all time low. Not to mention hunger! The Intra-Workout is the only way I'm able to blast through a hard training session. Intra-Workouts supply you with much needed Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) to maximize muscle protein synthesis, Glutamine to help with recovery and Electrolytes, vitamin B6, Citrulline Malate to help you sustain your training intensity for longer periods of time, thus prolonging your workouts and preventing muscle degradation. So, what are some quality Intra-Workouts?


  • Scivation Xtend - No blog on Intra-Workouts would be complete without mentioning the pioneer of the Intra-Workout category. Scivation Xtend provides 3500mg L-Leucine, 7000mg BCAAs, 2,500mg of L-Glutamine plus Citrulline Malate and Electrolytes.
  • Dymatize Recoup - Dymatize basically copied the Xtend formula but added a little extra to each key ingredient mentioned above. Recoup provides 4000mg L-Leucine, 7,200mg BCAAs, 3,000mg of L-Glutamine. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!
  • iForce Compete - iForce Compete is a little different then the two mentioned above. It features ingredients that will help you with the mental exhaustion that comes with hard training in a calorie deficient state. It features ingredients like Rhodiola Rosea Extract and Vinpocetine that helps force blood to your brain, thus helping you stay focused throughout your entire training session. Another key ingredient is L-Carnitine, which forces your body to use fatty acids for energy. While it doesn't have Glutamine, it does come with Citrulline Malate and you'll get your BCAA's from the 2.5grams of Whey Hydrosolate in it.
My personal review of the 3 mentioned above: Scivation's Xtend tastes a lot better than Dymatize's Recoup, but as mentioned above you do get more active ingredients with the Recoup. I recommend trying them both, then settling for the one that tastes the best. The biggest difference I have noticed between the Xtend/Recoup and the iForce Compete is the lack of mental exhaustion. I don't get physically exhausted on the Xtend or Recoup, but I do hit a mental wall towards the end of my workouts. However, that's NOT the case with the Compete. I feel great throughout my entire workout and it's very noticable. I do wish Compete had Glutamine, but I add my own Glutamine when taking it. Also, I have to mentioned the flavor. I've tried Lemon Drop, Tangy Tangerine, and Fruit Punch Slam and all three are phenomenal! Seriously, how can they taste that good! I only have a few servings left and I'm already getting depressed!

If you want to try one of these products remember 704Nutrition.com is home of the no hassle return policy, so you can try one and if you don't like it, return it!

Useful links:
Scivation Xtend: http://www.704nutrition.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=scivation+xtend 
Dymatize Recoup: http://www.704nutrition.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=dymatize+recoup
iForce Compete: http://www.704nutrition.com/Cheap-iForce-Compete-Intra-Workout-BCAA-p/iforce_compete.htm