My MASS Pump Pre Workout by the Hut Group Review
My MASS Pump Pre Workout by the Hut Group Review First Look:
So I have had quite a busy Easter holiday weekend.
It’s involved lots of painting and decorating at home plus lots of mess. I simply cannot seem to keep paint away from clothing, carpets furniture or even areas of my anatomy.
Then, as I got my bicycle out of the shed this morning I noticed Stiffkey F&B paint all over the seat.
It is utterly exasperating. I also hung some new light fittings as well. It seems IKEA pendant shades do not fit without an adapter either.
Basically, I am fucked.
Absolutely fucking shattered.
So, here I am with a pre workout that I managed to source in my local store on the off chance when I was buying a 24lb bag of coal for my sitting room fireplace.
By the way, it was also snowing at the time FFS.
So, here I am about to hit the gym and get ready for a vacation in Mexico next month.
I need something that can help me focus and energize me so I can get the best out of the little time I have.
The thing is, there are plenty of pre workout supplements available, so why should I chose this one?
The fact is, not all pre workout supplements are even effective or offer any kind of real world benefit.
The main issues that I come across are:
- Doses of effective ingredients that are too low to be of any benefit
- Unproven ingredients
- Proprietary blends
- Potential harmful ingredients
- It just doesn’t work
With this in mind, and with my experience of using many pre workout supplements before I hit the gym or play rugby.
I am keen to find out exactly what is beneficial so we can extract the best from ourselves and perform to a higher standard.
This is a brand I have never seen before, however, a quick scan shows that it is operated by the Hut Group which run a number of health and beauty companies.
So, is this the budget option to the old budget ‘My Protein’?
Yes, the Hut Group operate the highly successful My Protein range, so can they recreate the same success?
What can a pre workout really do?
The use of a pre workout supplement is traditionally to provide a more explosive and focused workout when you hit the gym.
This is achieved by providing high levels of stimulants to fight fatigue as well as increase the blood flow to the muscles and organs.
They can also include other ingredients that are known to help increase cognitive function so you can effectively zero in on your goal and help smash it.
However, they are no commonly used by students looking to concentrate while stay up late as well as gamer’s and even machine operatives or long distance drivers.
The main key benefits are:
- Increase energy – Smash your workout with more intensity
- Motivation – Get straight out of bed for an early morning gym session
- Improved focus – Zero in on your weights program or even revise harder
- Alert – Stay alert and improve concentration
However, not all pre workout supplements are equal, and some are downright terrible or contain potentially dangerous ingredients in dangerous doses, or concealed doses.
We analyse each one with an in depth review.
Ingredients: The Science
Caffeine
It stimulates the central nervous system (CNS), heart, muscles, and the centers that control blood pressure to give you an extra boost and hit that PB.
Caffeine Anhydrous is the purest form of caffeine so always look out for it.
This is found in 4 Gauge which is the best pre-workout.
It is also found in Instant Knockout which is the best fat burner available at present.
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-979-caffeine.aspx?activeingredientid=979
L-Arginine
L-Arginine opens up the blood vessels and arteries to assist with blood flow, nothing really to do with testosterone but may assist with any impotency issues that are not helping you attain that hot chick in the gym who is 15 years your junior.
However, you will require 5g per day alone!
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-875-larginine.aspx?activeingredientid=875&
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/l-citrulline-uses-and-risks#1
Paullinia Cupana (AKA Guarana)
Studies note that 75mg guarana (9mg caffeine) was able to enhance cognitive scores related to memory and reaction time with a subsequent dose-response study noting that 75mg was more effective than higher (150-300mg) and lower (37.5mg) doses.
https://examine.com/supplements/paullinia-cupana/
Citrulline
This is used as a sports performance and cardiovascular health supplement. L-Citrulline supplementation results in reduced fatigue and improved endurance for both aerobic and anaerobic prolonged exercise.
An increase in growth hormone has been noted with exercise, but not at rest.
L-citrulline boosts nitric oxide production in the body.
Nitric oxide helps your arteries relax and work better, which improves blood flow throughout your body.
Supplementing can help lower blood pressure in people with pre-hypertension.
This is often found in the best pre workouts.
To supplement L-citrulline to enhance sports performance, take 6,000 – 8,000 mg of citrulline malate about an hour before exercise.
https://examine.com/supplements/citrulline/
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/l-citrulline-uses-and-risks#1
You can read more about Citrulline and its benefits for exercise, here.
BCAA
BCAAs (typically a combination of L-Leucine, L-IsoLeucine and L-Valine) play a critical role in muscle development because they are metabolized in the muscle rather than the liver.
Because BCAAs are metabolized in the muscle, they can be used for building new proteins or for energy.
However, Supplementation is not necessary if you eat eggs and meat regularly. However, if you are a vegetarian or vegan, supplementation will be vital.
BCAA’s are often included in whey protein supplements, too.
https://examine.com/supplements/branched-chain-amino-acids/
Glutamine
It is generally touted as a Muscle Builder, but has not been proven to enhance muscle building in healthy individuals; only those suffering from physical trauma such as burns or muscular wounds (knife wounds) or in disease states in which muscle wasting occurs, such as AIDS.
Taking glutamine by mouth does not seem to improve athletic performance according to studies.
https://examine.com/supplements/glutamine/
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-878-glutamine.aspx?activeingredientid=878
Creatine
This is a well regarded supplement overall!
Supplementation increases creatine storage and promotes a faster regeneration of adenosine triphosphate between high intensity exercises.
These improved outcomes will increase performance and promote greater training adaptations.
There’s nothing that has been proven to be more effective than just plain old creatine monohydrate, regardless of what it says on the packet. So do not be fooled.
It is also useful for increasing testosterone levels as you can read here, and do not be put of by this is you are a woman, because women also require testosterone for important bodily function.
http://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1550-2783-9-33
http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/creatine.html
Beta-alanine
Supplementation of this non essential amino acid aids the production of carnosine. That’s a compound that plays a role in muscle endurance in high-intensity exercise.
That said, studies have not exactly been positive nor entirely conclusive.
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1222-beta-alanine.aspx?activeingredientid=1222&activeingredientname=beta-alanine
Carnitine
Acetyl-L-carnitine helps the body produce energy. It is important for heart and brain function, muscle movement, and many other body processes.
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/carnitine-lcarnitine
Men who were supplemented 2g per day showed an increase of Insulin like growth hormone when combined with exercise.
Very limited evidence to suggest any fat loss unless you are an elderly person.
http://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Abstract/2003/08000/The_Effects_of_L_Carnitine_L_Tartrate.5.aspx
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Carnitine-HealthProfessional/
https://examine.com/supplements/l-carnitine/
Dose:
One scoop prior to your training session.
A scoop is a whopping 25g.
This compares very well to many of the best pre workout supplements which will offer over 15g.
Pros:
Considering I have never seen or even heard this line of supplements from The Hut Group before, I am pretty impressed with the array of ingredients on offer.
From what is essentially an unassuming pouch of powder, I think we may be able to get some good benefit from this supplement.
Let’s look more closely at the ingredients.
Caffeine is another ingredient that is probably the most well know and documented. It appears in plenty of supplements, and no less, pre workout supplements.
It will stimulate the central nervous system, increase alertness and raise your energy levels.
Citrulline can increase nitric oxide and performance when it is dosed in the correct amounts.
Guarana helps cognitive ability, but this is very dose sensitive Something to just bare in mind.
BCAA‘s help with building muscle and creating energy, so a particularly good and welcome addition. Especially as you work out you will be tearing muscle fibers. BCAA’s will help repair and recover.
Creatine is a bit of a wonder supplement.
Studies have proven that not only will it help with increases or muscle size and strength but also contributes to increased levels of testosterone which has wider overall benefits.
Carnitine is another ingredient with multiple benefits.
Not least fat loss (if you are elderly), energy production and even increases in growth hormone.
Arginine is theoretically a great ingredient that can open up the blood vessels and arteries to allow a great amount of blood flow.
This helps to transport nutrients to the muscles and organs but also helps transport away and waste products. So a great addition…but more about this later.
Price:
$28
Cons:
While it seems there are very few problems with this pre workout, there’s a few areas that need highlighting.
So let’s start with the couple of ingredients that are not really offering any sort of proven benefit.
Beta-Alanine. This ingredient does usually have quite an impact.
You can usually feel it making your head and neck feel tingly, but other than a sensation which gives the impression that something is happening, not much really does.
Glutamine, like Beta-Alanine is a popular and common ingredient found in many muscle building supplements.
However, the reality is that unless you have suffered serious trauma or are affected by a disease such as AIDS, this really has no positive effect.
Guarana itself can be be beneficial. However, it is very dose sensitive, and this is where tis shortcomings are unearthed in this supplement. It is simply dosed too high for optimum results.
Which beings me on to the next dosing issue…
Arginine has to be dosed at 5g to be offering the best results. However, this comes in at a woeful 1.3g per serving.
This also could have been a more complete supplement if there had been the inclusion of:
- Beet
- B6
- B12
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Coconut water
- Rhodiola
- Vitamin C
- Theanine
- Zinc
There’s more positives than negatives in terms of ingredients but that proprietary blend and low dose does this no favors whatsoever.
My MASS Pump Pre Workout by the Hut Group Review Conclusion:
This has been an interesting revelation to me. Not only the brand, but also seeing who is the driving force behind it.
Then, considering I have never heard or seen anything of MASS their pre workout offering stacks up quite well with only a few issues.
This is not too bad considering some of the dire offerings we are used to seeing and using with little to no positive effect.
So, when there’s a pre workout loaded with several good ingredients it comes as a bit of a pleasant surprise.
However, not all is great.
There’s still a few areas that need tidying up.
These included a few ingredients that would be better off replaced with proven vitamins and minerals, but also having the correct and adequate doses would make a big impact.
Is there anything else to add…?
Well, yes, there is a better product than this that will get you fired up and cause hell in your chosen sport, so it is worth taking a look at 4GAUGE.
