I've been saying for YEARS that I'm going to start working out seriously, but for one reason or another I fail.

Anyway...it's January again...and I'm promising myself to do it...again.

So, I can't help but notice the dozens and dozens of ads on Yahoo and other websites that tout the benefits of Nitric Oxide. This company in particular is EVERYWHERE;



Ordinarily I dismiss these snake oil claims, but these are EVERYWHERE and they offer a risk-free trial. So I'm considering trying it out. If it gives me that extra boost so I can see results or breeze through a workout, then I might stick with it. Hell, if it helps me lose the gut, I'd be hooked for LIFE!

Any advice?

Never heard of that stuff and I would not take those ads too seriously. The before and after are always hilarious though.

Take my advise; just go! Get an instructor to give you a good training schedule, change that every three months and just GO...and eat sensibly.

I work out three times a week and although it's a pain in the ass, it does pay off.

Good luck

Nitric oxide boosters work but you have to be careful because some of them are extremely overpriced, it´s ridiculous.You can get some of the main ingredients in bulk and pay considerably less for it, especially for the amino acid l-arginine, which is pretty much the key ingredient of any NO boosters.
Some scientists are a bit skeptical and say that only arginine injections really work and that using the powder or capsules won´t do much for you but I think that that stuff really works, even in powder form ( I use powder because the capsules are too expensive).

Some stuff seems to work better but it´s actually the caffeine or other stuff in it that gives you the push. What any NO booster really is supposed to do is give you a good pump (and therefor more vascularity, bigger looking veins....don´t know if that´s really something that you´d want though).
The arginine in it is also said to shorten recovery time and supposedly helps the immune system...unless you have a bad case of herpes because then you should stay away from arginine for a while.

The bulk powder often tastes horrible ( and I mean HORRIBLE....DISGUSTING....almost vomit inducing) but the trick is to just mix it with grapefruit or lemon juice and gulp it down...you won´t taste the bitter arginine if you mix it with lemon juice. I tried mixing it with cranberry juice and it smelled and tasted like rotten shrimps or rotten fish.

One of the main reason why some prefer the capsules is the taste (because most people don´t know about the lemon juice trick) or they´re after the other ingredients, those that give you that extra edge. Sometimes, the same company makes different NO boosters, with a slightly different arginine to caffeine ratio.

It is also rumored to help against impotence, a poor man´s viagra if you will,because of the blood vessel relaxing properties of arginine.

I paid approximately 30 dollars or less for a pound of arginine powder...that lasts me more than a year.

The BSN products (makers of Syntha 6 meal replacement protein shakes for hardcore bodybuilders) are also good but a bit on the pricey side.

What exactly is your aim, what do you expect from such products?

There´s this orger named Eiconoclastes, I think he´s Dutch, he could tell you a few things about NO boosters.

Do some google research of reviews for the stuff. ESPECIALLY for cheesy ads you see everywhere. I have read and seen far too many times that these type of products often come from scammers who will say "risk-free trial" but you need a credit card to sign up and then they bill you an exorbitant amount every month for installments and you can't get a hold of anyone on a phone line to cancel.

If it seems too good to be true, it is.

Here´s what the GNC website says about it. Take it with a grain of salt though.



From :
http://www.forcefactor.co...rce_factor

Nitric Oxide (N.O.), recently featured and recommended on TV and in the mainstream media, is a natural chemical compound which has been found to increase blood flow and improve muscular fullness through vasodilation and oxygen delivery.

As a vasodilator, N.O. helps move oxygen into your muscles when they need it most, sparking powerful muscle growth, strength gains, and ripped pumps. Nitric oxide supplementation may naturally enhance sexual performance, as increased oxygen flow occurs all over the body as a result of vasodilation. Finally, good levels of N.O. have been found to promote immune response and wound healing. In other words, even the low doses of nitric oxide that your body naturally produces have great impacts on your overall health, from muscular growth to healthy blood flow.

What's the catch? The problem is that although nitric oxide is naturally occurring in your body, you don't make quite enough of it. As a result, the experts at Force Factor have developed special blends of amino acids that cause increased levels of nitric oxide in the body. Force Factor Nitric Oxide Booster is a natural compound that helps us build strength, gain muscle, protect our immune systems and promote effective cardiovascular function. It gives the ultimate boost to our overall health.

1. Natural enzymes immediately get to work by converting Force Factor's signature L-Arginine complex into powerful Nitric Oxide, raising the N.O. levels in your blood.
2. The endolithium, or inner lining of your blood vessels, begins to signal the smooth muscle surrounding your veins to relax, causing the blood vessels to expand.
3. While exerting the muscles during a workout, the vascular dilation allows an increased blood flow.
4. In this state, the veins are primed to increase nutrient delivery to the muscles throughout the period of physical activity.
5. The body will begin to feel invigorated, refreshed, and motivated to push the normal exercise limits.
6. You walk away from your workout with confidence and the sense of accomplishment that only comes from the boost provided by Force Factor's unique formulatio









69 dollars for a measly bottle of capsules is VERY expensive, even compared to most of the pricier products on the market ( like BSN´s NO Explode).

Try to find more info before you pay so much money for this. I made a lot of mistakes in the past and paid too much for stuff that I didn´t even need.

CarrieMpls said:

Looks like they are being distributed by GNC and GNC is not really a bad company, as far as I can say.Still too expensive !

KoolEaze said:

Yeah, GNC would be a reputable company. So now it just matters on whether it works.

It just seems his main push was seeing advertising everwhere. It makes me think you're following some link from an ad off of a random website and who knows where you're sending your money or giving your info to.

Those before / after -photos are hilarious.

Even if it's such a small caption, you can tell they've been photoshopped to hell.

Thanks for the replies-!

Yeah, I've googled and I've read reviews...but I take everything with a grain of salt (whihc is why I wanted first-person advice).

I'm not looking for a magic pill...just something to get me started on the right track.

About a year ago, I worked out diligently for almost 6 months, and cut my fat intake, but saw no appreciable results.

Never taken anything (no Creatine, no Whey, nada) but I'm considering it if it's worth it.

Nitric Oxide supps are basically LOTS of the amino acid Argenine. It's not really gonna do that much for you accept give you a little gas if you're unlucky.

Take some ZMA capsules before bed time. It will ensure that you don't have a zinc defficency that some people get when training hard.
Other than that take a multi, work out hard, eat more and get enough rest between workouts for muscle recovery.

Save some $$$ on supplements

CarrieMpls said:

I think of GNC as a really disreputable company. I think they'll take anything and label it healthy as long as they can sell it. I guess that doesn't make them different from any other company, but considering the line of work they're in, it seems worse to me.

joseph8 said:

This is the best advice. The only stuff I ever use is Creatine.

uPtoWnNY said:

Isn't Creatine for bodybuilders though?

PurpleJedi said:

If you don´t even use the most basic supplements, then why are you thinking about NO boosters so much? Those are just a little extra for those who already take at least a decent protein shake, some post workout whey AND creatine. Creatine works well but I don´t use it because it may lead to hypertension...but whey is good,especially after a good workout.

In a nutshell, it´s like this;

In the morning:
- a good protein shake ( whey is easily digestible but doesn´t really stay in your system for long, so I take a pro 80 shake) and some carbs


In the daytime: protein rich meals and carbs, MAYBE a shake if necessary


Pre-workout: carbs (pasta, rice,potatoes,whatever)

Post-workout: Some simple carbs to fill up your glycogen cells in your muscles and for recovery....the carbs also help your body to transport the protein into your muscle cells, this is when an insuline spike is actually good for you and works for you as a growth hormone.
Then,shortly after the simple carbs, use a whey protein with nothing but water...no milk. This type of protein goes right to your muscles but, as I said above, does not stay in your system for a long time.



Before bedtime; One casein-based pro 80 protein shake. This stuff stays in your system much longer because your body needs longer to break it down. So this stays in your system for many hours, releasing protein into the muscles slowly and gradually.





Zinc, ZMA, arginine, NO boosters, creatine etc. are just bonuses...whether you take them or not is up to you. I use zinc and arginine, but not creatine even though it´s good. And I drink protein shakes and whey protein etc.

Efan said:

Yeah, there's that! Good point.

I just meant they aren't the type to steal your credit card info...

PurpleJedi said:

It increases muscle volume and strength and keeps water in the muscle cells,basically. Some don´t like it because it makes them look bloated (but I dont think so), some say it´s bad for your blood pressure ( which may be true, so I dont take it).
For bodybuilders, yes.....that is, if you really want to increase your muscle volume. The line between a fitness enthusiast and a bodybuilder is often blurry and thin.

KoolEaze said:

Aha-!

I did not know that.



That's why I'm asking!

Hey, this was like an on-line training session...now how much do I owe ya?

PurpleJedi said:

Nothing, just keep posting here, you are actually one of my favorite orgers here and also in P&R.

KoolEaze said:

CarrieMpls said:

Keep in mind GNC also sold Hydroxycut - the one that got banned eventually b/c people were having heart problems, I think someone died. They're a seller like anyone else, do your research

Efan said:

Indeed!

...and remember, the super-cut men & women you see in these ads are models. It doesn't mean they actually use the product that's being advertised. As others have said, it's about lightening your wallet.

One thing you need to know about MOST of those before and after photos.

Most of the time those guys were already body builders and then paid to gain weight for the before photo and then got back into shape or were just off training. *remember there were some photos of Arnold Schwarzenegger a few months before he did T3 that showed him way out of shape.*

Same with the weight loss and all that. Some of the weight loss are real photos but the person was not on the plan and in some cases the photos were stolen and used with out permission.

But most of the time those results were some how faked.

another scam of the FREE TRIAL is the shipping.

They charge $10 to ship it when it costs them $5 to make and ship so they make $5 no matter what. (I know as I was a packager (make money at home stuffing envelopes) for one of these (in good faith) I ended up being called as a material witness in a federal mail fraud case but the people plead guilty so I never got to testify or even get deposed.)

It may be legit, but you may not need it. I have been lifting for two years without using any supplements (even creatine) and I am pretty well cut. Just work hard and keep at it. Lifting twice a week and taking weeks off at a time will not work.

Seems like regular exercise & good food should be enough without supplements

Darwintheorgangrinder said:

That´s exactly what some buff guys do...they only train one muscle once a week and sometimes take a week long break for recovery.
What is your workout routine? I train at least three days a week.

I would stay clear of this stuff. The FDA doesn't test this stuff. So you have no idea what the long term effects. Everything has sideffects. I would just exercise and try to eat healthier. Also forget taking high doses of amino acids. All you do is piss them out. You can get enough aminos from eating lean protein. But don't over do it with the protein either. Too much protein is hard on the kidneys.

I would NOT mess with this stuff at all.