Nitric oxide vs strength?

Jacska · 10-24-2008, 07:23 PM

Hi!

Before talking about NO products I tell you which supplements I use.
I am doing a powerlifting workout plan right now to increase strength and mass. My supplementation is as follows:

1st 2 weeks - Loading and warmup phase:
1.2g + 1.8g (morning, night) of Tribulus terrestris.
15-20g creatine monohydrate split in 5gs (morning,, before meal, preworkout, after workout)
200-300g of protein in whey form

3-6 weeks - Mass building phase
1.2g+1.8g Tribulus
3-3 T Bomb II (morning, night)
5-10g Creatine monohydrate (morning shake, during workout)
1-1 Cellmass (morning, before everything else, after workout)
Animal Pak - before workout
Stack II - before workout (ECA stack)
10g of glutamine - before workout
300-400g of protein
Overall 4-5000 kcal - 4-5 meals lot's of low GI carbs, fish oil, flax seed oil

Okay, that seems to be a lot, but it works very well so far.
I gained 4 kgs so far (5th week only) with no apparent fat increase (Because of the ECA stack I'm burning so much calories).
My deadlift improved from 290 lbs x 3 to 333x4 // 355 x 2
My bench press from 220 x 5 to 220 x 9 - I'm gaining hard on bench though:P
Squats: 265 x 5 (bad form) to 310 x 4 (nice and deep)

That's roughly 20%, 14% and 17% improvements on core exercises. (calculated 1 RM increase). You can see that's a huge increase so far.

But let's talk about nitric oxide. Whenever I take NO products (I've tried N.O.-xplode and NOS Fusion) I immediately achieved huge pumps. However other than the aesthetic gain I discovered that my stamina and strength is dropping very rapidly. An example on bench press: 2 warmups then:
1st set with 220 lbs - 9 reps (calc 1RM - 283)
2nd set with 220 lbs - 7+1failed reps (1RM - 264)
3rd set with 335 lbs - 3+1 failed reps (1RM - 249)
4th set with 335 lbs - 2+2 failed reps (1RM - 242)

As you can see that's roughly 15% decrease in strength, and very visible stamina decrease (failed reps). I note here that when I don't take NO products my calculated 1RM is very consistent, sometimes even increasing!!

Continued...

Jacska · 10-24-2008, 07:30 PM

...

I am currently using some left over NOS Fusion, and I can tell it pumps me up very much. My arms are large and hard without them, but if I take it before workout, my skin feels like tearing apart. my stamina is losing very quickly, and I have a very (and I mean really) tigth sensation in my arms.

I was thinking that it migth be because my biceps just pump up so large that it takes out space from my triceps, therefore less blood is going to my triceps.
I wonder why is this because it is supposed to be the contrary!! NO products should increase stamina...

Note: Same thing happened with other NO products (NOX pump, NO xplode).

However after workout with NO products, next day I sensed DOMS and also next time without NO products my stamina and strength increased a lot.

My conclusion: NO products are no good for strength gain.

Any similar experiences?

**allstar** · 10-24-2008, 07:37 PM

Ok thats alot to read, maybe I will read it all later when I feel like sitting down. But as for the last thing I saw, NO products are not made for strength gains, I have yet to see a company advertise strength gains, but if there is one they are dumb. You might get increased energy which could lead to what you could call a "strength" gain but is only the ability to rep those last 3.

Jacska · 10-24-2008, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allstar

Ok thats alot to read, maybe I will read it all later when I feel like sitting down. But as for the last thing I saw, NO products are not made for strength gains, I have yet to see a company advertise strength gains, but if there is one they are dumb. You might get increased energy which could lead to what you could call a "strength" gain but is only the ability to rep those last 3.

Yeah it seems to be, I also used it when I was doing bodybuilding last year. And I didn't really improved from it. I had bad side effects: upset stomach, insomnia because high caffein etc. Now I don't really understand why should people use them. It is supposed to increase stamina, that's why I took them for the extra reps. And all I gained was fewer reps and much less volume on my workout...

**allstar** · 10-24-2008, 07:47 PM

Some respond different than others, also you have to keep very hydrated

Jacska · 10-24-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allstar

Some respond different than others, also you have to keep very hydrated

Yeah, it seems so. However about hydration, I drink about 1 liter of green tea before workouts, also I drink while training. roughly 5liters a day (I go to toilet like 10 times).

I think the pump is all rigth, however I was thinking that I got so large pump, that my skin cannot take any more and because of the side effect of pumped up biceps (which I don't use while benching) my triceps can't extend fully, it's harder to squeez more blood to the swollen muscle therefore.

lild · 10-24-2008, 08:10 PM

the pump is the bodies way to prevent injury.if the pump is too large then strength is loss.the same thing happens to me with no products,as soon as i stop taking the product my strength will come back.

**ibanezman88** · 10-25-2008, 08:48 PM

it's funny that you make this thread actually, as i just did my own experiment and came to the conclusion that NO products decrease strength.

i'm never taking them again.

Ilikehooters · 10-25-2008, 09:24 PM

why is your bicep pumped too much you not doin curl before and i deff dont have same effects as yall i lft heavier and more reps with it

Jacska · 10-26-2008, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilikehooters

why is your bicep pumped too much you not doin curl before and i deff dont have same effects as yall i lft heavier and more reps with it

NO pumps up every muscles before workout, not only those which you gonna work with. In my case the biceps. I think I have a very good natural pump, and what NO makes is just too much for me. I'm loosing stamina and strength rapidly, and I don't really know why.

Ilikehooters · 10-27-2008, 01:32 PM

ya i just never really experienced it to that extent but do what works for you man

PociusMaximus · 10-27-2008, 02:49 PM

I seriously want to puke after drinking a glass of Cold Fusion (Fruit Punch). Sits in my stomach, gross.

Jacska · 10-27-2008, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PociusMaximus

I seriously want to puke after drinking a glass of Cold Fusion (Fruit Punch). Sits in my stomach, gross.

If that's the case read my other thread:
forums/supplements/32836-how-overcome.html#post593824

I had the same thing, now I can drink anything no matter how **** it tastes.

**A-Ron21** · 10-28-2008, 08:45 PM

Ditch the tribulus and T-bomb II, dude. You're only wasting your money on that stuff.

If your diet, training, and recovery are on point then your testosterone production will be at its max, barring any outside influences, and you dont need to supplement with any testoserone booster.

(quoted from Red)

Jacska · 10-29-2008, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A-Ron21

Ditch the tribulus and T-bomb II, dude. You're only wasting your money on that stuff.

If your diet, training, and recovery are on point then your testosterone production will be at its max, barring any outside influences, and you dont need to supplement with any testoserone booster.

(quoted from Red)

Yeah, those are pretty expensive, however I am having very good results from this combo. It really helps me get fast recovery, also my sleep improved a lot and I generally feel much more energetic due to the raised test levels. However I did only 1 cycle to try it out, and it works. I'm not gonna ditch out, but maybe substitute to another type of test booster (I'm not going to do steroids or prohormones though). Thanks for the advice though, I'm going to stop using it for 1 month and see the difference.