T E S T O S T E R O N E J U N K I E

Pharma Legal KRACKED OUT Pre Workout Review First Look:

It is Saturday morning. I am a bit hungover if I am absolutely honest.

A couple of bottles of Sauvignon Blanc and a beer whilst muscling through fillet steak.

It was nice, I must admit especially after  along week at work. I was in bed though by 11pm so it wasn’t a late one.

So with a fuzzy head and eggs already eaten this morning I have found the virtues to kick start the day with a pre workout.

I have ordered loads of samples because it is good fun testing lots of different products and writing about them but it is good finding the best pre workout.

Initially I did just want the pre workout for that kick up the ass to get me going for the day, however I am spurred on to lift some weights which I don’t normally do at the weekend.

I normally play rugby on Saturday’s but today I have a family engagement to attend (involving more booze) so here I am with my cat sat on my lap writing this.

This actual pre workout comes in cola flavor which isn’t too bad tasting, a little bit cheap and the sachet is just plain white. However, looking online I am reassured that their product look much better and do stand out , so if you’re really concerned about aesthetics fear not.

Ingredients: The Science

Russian Tarragon (artemisia dracunculus)

Influences plasma creatine levels during the ingestion of creatine monohydrate. Further research is needed to evaluate the effects of Russian Tarragon on creatine uptake and retention in muscle.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3313115/

Ephedra

Has been used as a weight-loss agent and energy enhancer for athletic performance. It is banned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, International Olympic Committee, and National Football League.

https://nccih.nih.gov/health/ephedra

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-847-ephedra.aspx?activeingredientid=847

1,3-Dimethylamylamine (DMAA)

1,3-DMAA is a neural stimulant with a structure similar to Ephedrine and adrenaline that has been used as a pre-workout stimulant.

Not much information is available on 1,3-DMAA supplementation, and is no longer commonly sold as a supplement. Because it is structurally similar to amphetamine it can cause false readings for doping tests and should not be used by competitive athletes.

https://examine.com/supplements/1,3-dimethylamylamine/

Yohimbe

Related to Yohimbine, Yohimbe is a powerful stimulant and used to increase fat loss as well as assist with erectile dysfunction. Can cause a host of other problems though, this is in out supplements to avoid list.

Supplementation with yohimbine combined with resistance training does not significantly alter the body mass, muscle mass, or performance indicators.

https://examine.com/supplements/yohimbine/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17214405

Rauwolfia

Studies show that it appears to be a safe and effective treatment for hypertension when used in appropriate low doses.

However, some adverse side effects such as lethargy, sedation, psychiatric depression, hypotension, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, gastric ulceration, nightmares, bradycardia, angina-like symptoms, bronchospasm, skin rash, itching, galactorrhea, breast enlargement, sexual dysfunction, and withdrawal psychosis are not uncommon.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4566472/

L-Norvaline

l-Norvaline showed significant improvement in serum nitrates, urea, LDH, testosterone and testicular protein level in diabetic rats.

There seems to be lots of information on the web about l-norvaline being a wonder drug, however, very little can be found from reliable, scientific sources i.e websites that are not trying to sell it to us.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26671005

Fulvic Acid

Used for Alzheimer’s and fatigue but there’s not enough evidence available to confirm this is effective.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1320-fulvic%20acid.aspx?activeingredientid=1320&activeingredientname=fulvic%20acid

Creatine

A well regarded supplement.

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.

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 been small and not entirely conclusive.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1222-beta-alanine.aspx?activeingredientid=1222&activeingredientname=beta-alanine

Beta Alanine does give many users that tingly/itchy feeling. Some love it, others hate it.

I think it is best described at Chillblains – i.e when you go in to a warm room after your hands have been exposed to the cold and they start to feel itchy.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3491570/

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.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-979-caffeine.aspx?activeingredientid=979

Dose:

1 serving is a woeful 6500mg.

This is about 50% of what we would expect.

I cannot really describe the flavor other than it tasting horrendously of those flavors produced in a lab that are supposed to be of fruit but just taste artificial in every way.

Pros:

This has a few interesting ingredients.

Not least Ephedra and Yohimbe…both of which can cause problems and one of which is banned in the US by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, International Olympic Committee, and National Football League. Yohimbe requires a prescription in Canada.

However, they are both effective regardless of their legal/banned status.

I have not come across Russian Tarragon before now, this is supposed to help speed up the absorption of Creatine.

DMAA almost falls within the same problem with Ephedra, however, while it isn’t a banned substance it can throw up false readings in athletes and therefore it is advised against using it if you play competitive sports.

Rauwolfia can help lower blood pressure in low doses, we’re not sure how much is contained within this pre workout though.

Caffeine is a good stimulant able to help people wake up, become alert and energized.

Creatine is a well regarded supplement that has been used for many years helping users increase size and strength when used regularly.

So how did it feel?

I may have felt a bit of tingling from the Beta-Alanine but other than that I could not tell I was using a supplement at all.

I think this is down to the low dose and proprietary blend, it really was weak.

READ: Read about our favorite pre workout that turned me in to a beast on the rugby pitch

Video:

Cons:

The main issue I have with this is that it just doesn’t work.

I felt no effects at all except maybe a minor bit of tingling from the Beta-Alanine. However, this could well have been the blood vessels in my face bursting from the weight I was doing.

Then, consider that it contains ingredients that either require a prescription or are banned by numerous sporting bodies.

Not forgetting that DMAA may also throw up false readings in doping tests.

I haven’t even started on the number of ingredients that do not really offer any benefit or that there’s a lack of evidence proving their worth or that this is a proprietary blend that means while all of these ingredients are included they could (most likely) be in extremely small doses.

It also tastes pretty weird too.

Pharma Legal KRACKED OUT Pre Workout Review Conclusion:

How can I give a good score to a product that doesn’t even work?

I can’t. I won’t.

I felt nothing, and while there are some good ingredients included I think the proprietary blend has hidden the trace amounts of each one provided. This is not helped with the really overall dose too.

So, it doesn’t work, there’s a really low dose, it tastes odd and I think we are been given trace amounts.

Plus Ephedra may be harmful it is also banned by sporting bodies.

Yohimbe can also be harmful and a prescription is required for use in Canada.