Applied Nutrition Critical Pump C:P2 Pre Workout Review
Applied Nutrition Critical Pump C:P2 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
Theacrine (1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acid)
An alkaloid molecule which can be seen as a structurally modified version of caffeine.
However, although it is similar to caffeine whereby it has a sedative effect at relatively low doses, but where this sedative effect with caffeine is at an impractically low dose with theacrine it is the dose normally consumed by tea.
Research on Theacrine is really too sparse though to cast any real assertions.
https://examine.com/supplements/theacrine/
Arginine-alpha-ketoglutarate (AAKG)
Tests on supplementation draw no real benefit that would not be found from resistance training itself.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21813912
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Its antioxidant properties mean vitamin C provides neuroprotective effects and benefits for blood flow. By protecting the testes from oxidative stress, vitamin C can also preserve testosterone levels.
https://examine.com/supplements/vitamin-c/
Salt (sodium)
An essential mineral; its consumption is critical to our health.
However, Americans do consume double the recommended daily intake.
Excess sodium may not raise blood pressure, but it is associated with other health issues, such as kidney damage and an increased risk of cognitive decline.
https://examine.com/nutrition/awful-nutrition-myths/
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
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)
Gives you more energy and boost your metabolism, helping you shed unwanted pounds.
Ensure you are not deficient in Vitamin B12 so you can do that quick 10 miler at 5am…
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-b12-cobalamin
Niacinamide (Vit B3)
Higher amounts of niacin can improve cholesterol levels and lower cardiovascular risks and maybe symptoms for Alzheimer’s .
However, the jury is out on these real benefits.
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/924.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/
L-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 prehypertension.
https://examine.com/supplements/citrulline/
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/l-citrulline-uses-and-risks#1
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
Glycine Propionyl-l-carnitine
Older men who have symptoms of low testosterone levels sometimes use propionyl-L-carnitine in combination with acetyl-L-carnitine which seems to work well over a 6 month period.
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-803-propionyl-l-carnitine.aspx?activeingredientid=803&activeingredientname=propionyl-l-carnitine
Dose:
1 serving is 15000mg. This is more than a lot of the pre workout formulas I have tried.
This is cola flavor which tasted like that cheap ass cola you get which is unbranded. The consistency was quite ‘thick’ for use of a better word. Some seem very watery and thin but this didn’t.
Not as much as XE Edge from BSN though, that was like treacle.
Pros:
There’s 12 ingredients contained in this pre workout which is a fair amount, let’s also consider that these ingredients are not hidden within a proprietary blend like so many others are.
Beta-Alanine can help with muscle endurance, although not entirely proven. It does feel a little that the tingly sensation from beta-Alanine does take over and become a diversionary tactic.
Citrulline is great because it helps the body produce more nitric oxide. It is also good for performance, warding off fatigue and increase growth hormone while exercising.
Carnitine is great for producing energy or it can increased insulin like growth hormone, but this is dose dependent.
Caffeine is an extremely popular stimulant which can help provide the energy to get out there running, cycling or just head over to the gym.
There’s a number of B vitamins included which all have a wealth of benefits notwithstanding processing carbohydrates, boost energy, testosterone and your metabolism let alone the cardiovascular benefits.
Sodium is an essential mineral, too much can cause issues but when working out a lot of salt is lost through sweat, and it needs to be replaced.
Creatine is excellent for recovery and strength gains when supplemented regularly.
It is good to see Vitamin C which helps with blood flow, increased blood flow means more oxygen is provided to the muscles and waste products are taken away more quickly.
So how did it feel?
It certainly got rid of my hangover that’s for sure. I was feeling groggy and un-energetic. The main purpose of taking this pre workout was to alleviate the effects of too much booze the night previous.
However, it got me going enough that I thought hitting a few weights wouldn’t go amiss.
In fact I did more than I was originally planning to do and it felt good. I never normally lift in the morning as I feel I do not have the energy to do so, but this morning all of that changed.
I had a nice tingly feeling and was focused to push further and harder.
It was a good gym session.
READ: Read about our favorite pre workout that turned me in to a beast on the rugby pitch
Video:
Cons:
It didn’t last too long if I am honest, an initial rush soon wore off within an hour quite easily.
Theacrine isn’t really that beneficial.
Arginine, while it does cause the tingly sensation it actual benefits seem to be very hard to prove. It seems to be the same story regarding AAKG too.
It is interesting to see GPLC which isn’t often in many other supplements, in fact only 1 supplement I have seen thus far includes it.
It sees effective for raising testosterone levels in older men but only when supplemented with acetyl-L-carnitine which this is lacking.
Applied Nutrition Critical Pump C:P2 Pre Workout Review Conclusion:
I did like this, not only did it cure my hangover, it got me in the gym lifting heavy ass weights when I am normally to tired or grumpy to do so.
The taste wasn’t great but that is easily looked over.
It is a shame there are a couple of ingredients that are often found in other pre workouts but seem to be having a hard time actually providing any real, scientifically proven benefit.
Perhaps they should be dropped in favor of ingredients such as Coconut water for re-hydration and potassium, L-carnitine wouldn’t have gone amiss either considering it seems to be required for the GPLC to be effective.
