ISSA Q&A: What are the Pro-Hormones and what are they used for?

From I.S.S.A.

QUESTION: What are the Pro-Hormones, and what are they used for?

ANSWER: Pro-Hormones are a class of supplements which work by raising the level of anabolic hormones in the body. This increase can facilitate the growth of lean muscle mass and also result in the reduction of adipose tissue (fat).

The popularity of Pro-Hormones has exploded in the past 9 months as their effectiveness has been recognized by the entire bodybuilding, fitness, and now sports community.

QUESTION: What are the specific types of Pro-Hormones, and what is the difference between them?

ANSWER: While they go by many different names and labels, the Pro-Hormones can basically be broken down into two distinct categories: those that are believed to convert directly into testosterone in the body (these commonly carry the "andro" tag) and those that convert into nandrolone (these typically carry the "norandro" tag).

The two most popular "andro" products-each of which likely converts directly to testosterone in the liver-are:

Androstenedione / conversion rate of 5.61% Androdiol / conversion rate of 15.76%

The two significant "norandro" Pro-Hormones-those that convert to the well-known anabolic nandrolone-are:

Norandrostenedione / conversion rate of 5.61% Norandrostenediol / conversion rate of 15.76%

QUESTION: What are the side-effects associated with the Pro- Hormones, and how can they be minimized?

ANSWER: Any time you significantly elevate the level of anabolic hormones in the body there is the possibility of undesirable side-effects. With Pro-Hormones these side-effects appear to occur at much lower levels and much less frequently than say with synthetic anabolic steroid use.

The possible side-effects fall into two classes: those caused by aromitization or increased estrogen in the body (these may include skin problems such as rashes and sensitive or enlarged nipples, gynecomastia); and those androgenic effects resulting from increased DHT or dihydrotestosterone (these could include deepening voice, acne, body hair growth, depletion of head hair, and prostrate enlargement).

Because they convert directly to the more anabolic and more androgenic compound testosterone, androstenedione and androstenediol are likely to have a higher side-effect profile than the norandros. They are also likely to cause greater increases in lean muscle mass, so it's a trade-off.

There are at least three highly-effective methods to help minimize any occurrence of undesirable side-effects with Pro- Hormone supplementation.

1. Stick within the recommended doses. In general, do not exceed a total of 750 mg / day in total Pro-Hormone intake.

2. Supplement with Chrysin (500-1000 mg / day) to help eliminate possible side-effects associated with aromitization.

3. Supplement with Saw Palmetto (300-400 mg / day) to aide in minimizing DHT related side-effects. Saw Palmetto seems to prevent the binding of DHT to angrogen receptors in the body thus blocking androgen-based side-effects.

QUESTION: What is the best way to cycle Pro-Hormones to maximize gains?

ANSWER: There's still a great deal of research that needs to be done in this area.

My own experiences and observations would suggest that the most significant strength and mass gains with Pro-Hormone use are seen after approximately 10-15 days.

This leads one to believe that very short cycles-those lasting just a week to 10 days-are probably less effective than slightly longer cycles.

This, however, must to be balanced with the need to avoid significantly diminishing the natural production of hormones which would likely occur after prolonged use of Pro-Hormones.

Right now then, the best cycle for Pro-Hormone use would seem to be a period of 4-6 weeks on followed by at least 3-4 weeks off.

QUESTION: What's your overall assessment of Pro-Hormones and their value to those looking to add quality lean muscle mass?

ANSWER: Pro-Hormones help promote lean muscle mass like no other supplements legally available. They are potent aides in the development of a top-quality physique.

They must, however, be used intelligently and in combination with well-constructed training and nutrition programs.

A Comprehensive Nutritional Supplement Review Of MusclePharm: The Athlete's Stack.

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From: AnabolicMinds

WHAT IS Recon™?
RECON™ is a unique, high-performance POST-WORKOUT REFUEL, REPLENISH, REBUILDING formula. RECON™ was designed to maximize the most important phase of the athlete’s total training program – the post-workout phase, what those in our game call the “anabolic window”. RECON was designed to provide hard training athletes with everything necessary to nourish recovery and growth from all angles. Every facet of reconstruction nutrition is accounted for in this, the most comprehensive recovery formulation. There is nothing like Muscle Pharm’s RECON™.

The brutal truth is, the harder you push your body, the better your results will be, given the proper tools to fuel recovery and growth. Your training program is only as good as your post-workout protocol. RECON™ Reconstruction Matrix leaves no stone unturned in the name of recovery and growth.

RECON™ allows hard working athletes to push harder, and recover quicker from the rigors of high-intensity training by supporting the body’s internal environment.

RECON™ Muscle Reconstruction Matrix MAXIMIZES POST-WORKOUT GROWTH AND REPAIR by:
• REFUELING Muscle Energy Stores
• REPLENISHING Vital Nutrients Lost During Intense Training
• REBUILDING Muscle Tissue by Providing Critical Growth Enhancing Nutrients
• REGENERATING - Scavenges Cellular Pollution and Remove Metabolic Waste
• RELOADING Muscle Cells by Stimulating Hyper-Loaded Nutrient Uptake
• RECHARGING - Blocks Stress-Induced and Post-Workout Catabolism
• FEEDING RECOVERY - Boost Immune and Recovery Mechanisms.

HOW DOES RECON™ WORK?
RECON™ combines 7 natural Matrices specifically formulated to fuel the body’s muscle-building, repair and recovery systems to maximize post-workout growth and repair and optimize the “anabolic window”.
RECON™ is hyper-loaded with glycogen-replenishing, muscle-loading specific carbohydrates (Carb-Max blend), stress hormone regulators and cellular detoxifiers to prevent catabolism and promote cellular health, and immuno-modulators to maximize health and recovery. RECON™ also target key anabolic and recovery pathways within the body to support muscle growth, fuel recovery and maximize the body’s adaptive response to hard training.

NO HARD-TRAINING ATHLETE SHOULD TRAIN WITHOUT RECON™.
Careful combination of the key ingredients in RECON™ result in the most comprehensive POST-WORKOUT RECOVERY AND MUSCLE-BUILDING formula-ever!

RECON™ Muscle Reconstruction Matrix contains:
• RECOVER Matrix:
• The most abundant amino acid in the body, glutamine, is known for its immune boosting and muscle building properties. RECON™ has over 7 grams of glutamine per serving, along with several other powerful, recovery-inducing agents.
• REBUILD Matrix (Anabolic Primer):
• Research has proven time and time again Essential and Branched Chain amino acids to be critical components of the muscle building process. Especially in immediate post-training “window of growth”, BCAAs and EAAs are critical components of muscle repair and rebuilding. RECON™ contains 6 grams of EAA’s and 6 grams of BCAAs
• REFUEL Matrix (Muscle Extender):
• Beta Alanine and Citruline Malate have been shown to help replenish cellular energy, to fuel ongoing muscular contractions for harder, more intense training sessions. RECON™ REFUEL Matrix will facilitate cellular energy replenishment and prepare the muscle cells for the next training session.
• REGENERATE Matrix (Muscle Toxin Remover):
• RECON™ is hyper-loaded with key herbal extracts and phytochemicals specifically included for their role in recovery, regeneration and rebuilding. The REGENERATE Matrix also contains several cellular detoxifiers, free-radical and cellular pollutant scavengers, specifically designed to remove metabolic waste for improved recovery and cell health.
• RELOAD Matrix (Insulinogenic):
• Insulin is the most anabolic hormone in the body, bar none. RECON™ contains several proven nutrient “drivers”, insulinogenics and insulin mimetics, specifically included to help thrust recovery agents from the bloodstream into the muscle cells. RECON™’s RELOAD Matrix acts as a hyper-loaded nutrient delivery system, formulated to stimulate rapid nutrient uptake for maximal muscle growth and repair.
• RECHARGE Matrix (Anti-Stress-Adaptogen):
• Cortisol and free-radicals are the two primary opponents to cellular health and recovery. RECHARGE Matrix contains several specific compounds included to control cortisol, the stress-response / growth-inhibiting hormone.
• REPLENISHMENT Matrix (Carb-Max™ blend):
• Carb-Max™ blend is a scientifically formulated combination of specific carbohydrate sources, each specifically chosen for its unique energy-yielding properties and recovery enhancement capabilities. The Carb-Max™ blend contains 3 different mono- and polysaccharides, combined to yield rapid, sustained cellular replenishment.
.
KEY POINTS of RECON™
What makes RECON™ such critical nutrition for hard-training athletes?
RECON™’s powerful, comprehensive formulation contains active ingredients scientifically proven to address all key components of the post-training recovery process; and most-importantly, RECON™ contains sufficient quantities of all key active agents to make RECON™ the most impactful and one of the most important products for athletes today. There is no other product like RECON™.

RECON™
• Maximizes Post-Workout Growth and Repair
• Optimizes the Post-Workout “Anabolic Window”
• Refuels Muscle Energy stores
• Rebuilds Muscle Tissue
• Replenishes Vital Nutrients
• Boosts Immune and Recovery Mechanisms


WHAT IS ASSAULT™ EXTREME PRE-WORKOUT MATRIX?

ASSAULT™ is a combination of several powerful, clinically proven, naturally occurring substances brought together for their specific performance-enhancing, endurance-boosting and strength-building properties.
These key ingredients work synergistically to provide your muscles with true increased energy at the cellular level, to dramatically improve performance:

ASSAULT™ has been scientifically proven to:
• ALLOW USERS TO TRAIN HARDER AND LONGER
• LIFT MORE
• RECOVER FASTER
• INCREASE THE ANABOLIC ENVIRONMENT & RESPONSE TO TRAINING
• INCREASE NUTRIENT DELIVERY TO AND WASTE PRODUCTS FROM WORKING MUSCLES
• INCREASE OXYGEN SATURATION
• INCREASED BLOOD FLOW
• INCREASE ENERGY OUTPUT
• IMPROVED MENTAL FOCUS WITHOUT OVERSTIMULATION OR CRASH

No other supplement in existence today does what this unique formulation has been shown to do.

WHAT’S IN ASSAULT™?
40,000mg of hardcore active ingredients per serving! – TWICE THE DOSE of other brands! ASSAULT™’s specific anti-fatigue, muscle-fueling formula boosts performance by utilizing the power of the following ingredients:

ASSAULT™ contains EFFECTIVE AMOUNTS of:
• 5 GRAMS OF CREATINE (CEE/CREAPURE/KREALKALYN) – ramp up volume, pump and ATP production
• 3 GRAMS OF BETA ALANINE – increase muscular contractility and crush fatigue
• 2 GRAMS CITRULLINE MALATE – fuel aerobic energy pathways to enhance performance, delay the onset of muscular fatigue and maximize muscular energy production
• 3 GRAMS OF ARGININE – enhance volumization, nutrient delivery and cellular oxygenation to feed performance, recovery and growth
• SUMA ROOT – The “Russian Secret” – Russia’s best-kept secret is ASSAULT™’s Secret Weapon! Suma is a plant-based steroid-alternative that has been used for years by Russian Olympic athletes.

HOW DOES ASSAULT™ WORK?
ASSAULT™’s clinically proven formula combines the vital “powerhouse” active ingredients above with several key synergists into 3 “MATRICES” specifically formulated to maximize performance enhancing impact. With more than TWICE the active ingredients per dose of other major brands, no other product can stand up to the power of ASSAULT™!

• Muscle Explosion NO Matrix: Powerful volumizing compounds, hydrogen ion scavengers and anti-fatigue agents work synergistically to keep muscles jamming, full and tight, with more contractile power than Mother Nature ever anticipated. This component of ASSAULT™’s aggressive formula will keep you training until the lights go down.
• Strength Domination & Recovery Matrix: Ramped up ATP, increased cellular volume and nutrient uptake – these are the keys to impacting muscular strength, power and feeding accelerated recovery for ongoing growth. The Strength Domination & Recovery Matrix of ASSAULT™ fuels energy pathways, feeds cytoplasmic expansion and enhances nutrient delivery into muscle cells, where they feed anabolism.
• Mind Connection Matrix: The three powerful neuro-support agents, taurine, pyroglutamic acid and tyrosine, are naturally occurring brain support chemicals. ASSAULT™ Mind Connection Matrix contains a unique and potent focus formula, designed specifically to improve alertness and concentration capabilities. More than just another caffeine-based jitter product, ASSAULT™ feeds the body, and razor-sharpens mental function without increased cardiac stimulation.
• Suma Root – Russian Anabolic Secret: ASSAULT™’s secret weapon! Suma Root is called the “Russian Secret” because was used by Russian athletes as an alternative to anabolic steroids. Suma is actually a South American herbal derivative with several adaptogenic properties. Suma gets its muscle-building properties from its high levels of anabolic-type phyto-chemicals including beta ecdysterone and other ecdysteroid glycosides.
Suma is known to:
• increase nitrogen retention and support protein synthesis
• improve cellular oxygenation and enhance energy pathways
• regulate hormone levels
• boost immunity
• increase libido
• enhance recovery and improve energy

KEY POINTS of ASSAULT™
Why is ASSAULT™ a better choice than other brands?
1. TWICE the ACTIVE INGREDIENTS per dose!
2. EFFECTIVE LEVELS of all performance-boosting ingredients
3. Contains SUMA, the RUSSIAN ANABOLIC SECRET
4. Preferred pre-workout of top UFC and NFL Stars



“NO HARD-TRAINING ATHLETE SHOULD BE WITHOUT BATTLE FUEL”


We WHAT IS battle fuel™? 
BATTLE FUEL™ is a unique, high-performance Anabolic Support formula. BATTLE FUEL™ was formulated to provide hard training athletes with comprehensive support for hormonal, muscle building, and recovery systems. BATTLE FUEL allows hard working athletes to push harder, and recover quicker from the rigors of high-intensity training by supporting the body’s internal environment.

Fueling high-performance training can place undue stress on the body’s internal mechanisms. The body systems that govern muscle building, recovery and growth, and the immune system are all taxed during hard training. BATTLE FUEL™ was designed to help keep the body’s hormonal system ANABOLIC, while facilitating health, recovery and growth to maximize performance and training results.

BATTLE FUEL™ will:
• Maximize Testosterone Output
• Modulate Estrogen
• Support Anabolic Processes
• Boost Immune System
• Support Cellular Oxygenation and Fuel Endurance
• Natural Detoxifier/Free-Radical Scavenger
• Dramatically Enhance Recovery
• Enhance Aggressive Mental Focus

HOW DOES BATTLE FUEL™ WORK?
BATTLE FUEL™ combines several natural compounds that have been shown to impact the body’s hormonal, recovery and immune pathways. BATTLE FUEL™ is a comprehensive system of 5 “MATRICES” each specifically formulated to target key anabolic and recovery pathways within the body to support muscle growth, fuel recovery and maximize the body’s adaptive response to hard training.
NO HARD-TRAINING ATHLETE SHOULD BE WITHOUT BATTLE FUEL™.
Careful combination of the key ingredients in BATTLE FUEL™ results in one of the most powerful Natural Performance Enhancers ever formulated.

BATTLE FUEL™ Natural Anabolic Stack:
• TESTOSTERONE BOOST Matrix – Maximize Anabolism
BATTLE FUEL™ meticulously combines several herbal hormonal support agents in proven quantities included to boost testosterone and free testosterone levels. Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) is the Testosterone control switch within the body. BATTLE FUEL™ contains LJ-100 to counter SHBG, to “free” testosterone from this binding protein.

• ESTROGEN SUPPRESSION Matrix–Modulate Estrogen/Support Anabolism
Supporting maximum anabolism includes modulating estrogen, without completely eliminating this powerful hormone. BATTLE FUEL™ contains a precise combination of DIM, di-indole-methane and the potent free-radical scavenger/ estrogen-modulator, Trans-Resveratrol to keep estrogen levels in check, for a harder, drier look, without eliminating the anabolic components of this powerful hormone.

• MUSCLE BUILDING BLOCK Matrix–Maximize Anabolism and Recovery
BATTLE FUEL™ contains an anabolic support matrix comprised of several botanicals that have shown strong impact on energy production and recovery from muscular fatigue. Herbs including Suma root and extract, also known as The Russian Secret, and Maca extract, have demonstrated endocrine support, increased cellular oxygenation, quicker recovery and greater endurance.

• OXYGENATION / ENDURANCE Matrix - Anti-Fatigue / Unending Endurance
BATTLE FUEL™ contains two key ingredients that help support cellular oxygenation, combat fatigue and help support ongoing muscular endurance. Di-methylglycine (DMG) has been shown to help with oxygen utilization at the cellular level, functions as an anti-oxidant, and boosts the immune system. Suma root, the Russian Secret, has been shown to help support cellular oxygenation among a myriad other performance-enhancing benefits. Together, these two powder keg additives combat fatigue and help with cellular respiration for greater on demand energy yield.

• INTERNAL SUPPORT MATRIX – Immune Support / Cellular Health
Fueling high-performance training can place stress on the body’s internal mechanisms. Metabolic, biochemical “pollution” builds up, and can impact performance, recovery and immune function. BATTLE FUEL™ contains a carefully formulated herbal matrix specifically designed to scavenge free-radicals, detoxify and cleanse internal organs, enhance recovery and bolster the immune-system. The Internal Support Matrix contains specific adaptogens, anti-oxidants and detoxifying agents that work synergistically to preserve the internal health of the hard-training athlete.

KEY POINTS of BATTLE FUEL™
Why is BATTLE FUEL™ a better choice for athletes?

BATTLE FUEL™
1. Naturally Maximizes the Anabolic Environment by
- Increasing Testosterone Production
-Maximizing Free Testosterone
-Modulating Estrogen
2. Increases Performance by
-Reducing Fatigue and Increasing Strength
-Increasing Cellular Oxygenation
-Enhancing Aggressive Mental Focus
3. Supports Faster Recovery for Greater Training Gains by
-Cleansing Internal Systems with Specific Adaptogenic and Free-Radical Agents
-Boosting Immune System