Introduction
Pre-Workout supplements, Nitric Oxide boosters, Workout amplifiers, Energy enhancers; whatever you refer to them as, they’re all essentially the same product consisting of a concoction of ingredients all of which you will have a hard time determining quantities of. Welcome to the wonderful world of new age supplementation; as these products will attempt to lure you into their outlandish claims of increased vascularity, strength, energy, etc. So do they deliver in their claims, or is your money better spent on a fillet mignon and baked potato? Today we will check out one of Dymatize Nutrition’s nitric oxide products “Energized Xpand”, and attempt to answer that question.
Ease of Mixing – 5/5
No problems here just make sure you mix this stuff in a cup with a spoon and not in a shaker bottle because if you choose the latter chances are you’ll end up with about $5 of N.O supplement all over you and your clothes. This stuff reacts like you would expect a shaken up can of Coke would. Consider yourself warned.
Taste 3/5
I tested the Grape flavour and all things considered the taste isn’t too bad for a N.O supplement, quite artificial but definitely not bad. The one thing to remember when mixing N.O supplements is to always use more water than the container recommends, as in my experience the flavour is always a little too intense.
Effectiveness 3/5
Effectiveness of a N.O product can be hugely dependant on the person; I know the first time I took one I experienced heart arrhythmia which scared me off them after that initial use.
I have long since learnt that it was due to the Caffeine in the product. Now there are non-caffeinated N.O products available but for today we will focus on the regular highly caffeinated products. For the purest N.O product results it’s recommended you consume your serve (or 2) on an empty stomach. Note: some users have been known to experience laxative type effects, stomach cramping and or the jitters using this technique, so if you are prone to these types of conditions assess your tolerance at a safer time before you go to the gym; as there’s nothing worse than being deep in the hole during a squat session only to have your back end fail you.
I decided to dose the product as recommended and found I did experience some of the laxative effects, nothing major however. I also noticed a jittery feeling as the session went on, which I really didn’t like. This feeling is generally due to the caffeine hit your body experiences from the product. Thus I use these products only on days when I’m really tired and need that extra kick to get going on a lift day.
Nutritional Analysis 4/5
Much like most major N.O products, “Energized Xpand” appears to be a solid supporter of the “more ingredients is better” approach. It’s no Muscletech NaNO Vapour, but the list is still rather bloated.
In addition due to all the patents supplement companies have on their products you never know what amounts of each ingredient you’re consuming. For e.g. “Creatine Ester Fusion”, “Arginine Fusion”, “Glutamine Fusion”, “Xpansion Matrix” and “Energized Matrix”. Basically what they above jargon means is that “Energized Xpand” contains a selection of creatine sources, glutamine sources, arginine sources, citrulline and caffeine; pretty much stock standard stuff for a N.O product.
Value for Money 4/5
As N.O products have become more main stream, their price have inevitably dropped; the same rings true for “Energized Xpand” as the 40 serve container I purchased set me back slightly less than that of the BSN and Muscletech N.O variants. Thus there is definitely value to be found in this product.
Overall Conclusion 3/5
Overall Dymatize’s N.O offering “Energized Xpand” fits right into the target market without any major plus’s or negatives. It’s a solid offering, well priced and doesn’t have any ingredients in it that make you think “why is that there?”
I’m personally not a major fan of N.O products as I think too many inexperienced lifters see the containers and think these things will morph them into a Ronnie Coleman lookalike. Let me tell you this… they won’t, you are better off eating a solid meal before you hit the weights, as it will treat you better in both mind and body. In addition you probably won’t be making a not so smooth dash to the toilet after ingestion either.
These products do have their place mind you, I personally feel that they can get you through a workout if you are feeling really sluggish or are running short on time and cannot fit in a proper meal beforehand. So if you’re thinking of shelling out some cash for some N.O supplements, remember they can aid you in your goals but they aren’t going to replace hard work and proper diet.
You can buy the new version of Energized Xpand – Dymatize Xpand Xtreme Pump from our store!
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