Help Chosing Biotest Products

Diet and Nutrition
1

Hey guys and girls!

I’m pretty new to Biotest, never having ordered anything, but after having read so much about it in the T-Nation articles, I’ve decided to invest a bit in supplements, as it’s the part of my whole workout/diet regime that I feel is most lacking. I work out hard, I diet/eat hard, so I should also be just as serious with supplements. I’m going to ask a lot of questions as I’m not really that well-versed on the topic of supplements.

Just a bit of info on me, as this is my first post, and it might also help in evaluating what supplements I’ll need.

I first started working out some 5 years ago, and was a bit on off for awhile, and when I came back after a 6 month stay abroad 1,5 years ago, I started getting serious, realizing that working out isn’t something you do half-hearted. I usually did a 4 day split where I worked out 4 days a week, but at the moment I switched to 8 week program, were I do mostly compounds, 3 days a week. I’m not really sure what the english translation is, but I think you might call it a “High Volume” program.

I’ve been using Protein shakes for most of my training time. I also used Creatine for a extended period of time some years ago, though I felt I got a bit “watery” when I used it, i.e like I got a extra layer of water on top of my skin. I don’t know if that’s normal with Creatine. At the moment I’m also using “L-Glutamine”, when I workout (as it came highly recommended by a guy I know at the local health store). Is Glutamine a good supplement?

Since New Years I decided to get shredded, and went on a strict diet, in some rather amazing results, though I’ve still got 1-2% BF before I’m totally ripped. At the moment I’m mostly concerned with gaining muscle mass, and losing fat. Now I feel that all I need are the right supplements.

I read the rather informative article on the subject ( http://www.T-Nation.com/article/supplements/the_13_super_stacks&cr=supplements ), but I’m still a bit unsure about what to buy. At the moment I’ve made this preliminary list.

“The core stack”
Flameout
Superfood
REZ-V

BCAA
Low-Carb Metabolic Drive
HOT-ROX Extreme
Alpha Male

I’m also considering BETA-7, and Surge for recovery.

Am I going totally overboard with this, and getting too much? Do any of these supplements overlap (like for example how you don’t need Carbolin 19 with Alpha Male or HOT-ROX as the above article state?).

Thanks for the read, and I’ll appreciate any help,

Regards,

2

Focus on one thing at a time - if you are nearly “ripped” start adding more muscle.

My staples are Superfood, fishoil (such as Flameout) and Resveratrol. These are just my “feel good” supplements.

I would suggest Low-Carb Metabolic Drive & Carbolin 19/Alpha Male. BCAA’s a must if you can afford.

3

[quote]-Prodigy- wrote:

I’ve been using Protein shakes for most of my training time. I also used Creatine for a extended period of time some years ago, though I felt I got a bit “watery” when I used it, i.e like I got a extra layer of water on top of my skin. I don’t know if that’s normal with Creatine. At the moment I’m also using “L-Glutamine”, when I workout (as it came highly recommended by a guy I know at the local health store). Is Glutamine a good supplement?

Since New Years I decided to get shredded, and went on a strict diet, in some rather amazing results, though I’ve still got 1-2% BF before I’m totally ripped. At the moment I’m mostly concerned with gaining muscle mass, and losing fat. Now I feel that all I need are the right supplements.

I read the rather informative article on the subject ( http://www.T-Nation.com/article/supplements/the_13_super_stacks&cr=supplements ), but I’m still a bit unsure about what to buy. At the moment I’ve made this preliminary list.

“The core stack”
Flameout
Superfood
REZ-V

BCAA
Low-Carb Metabolic Drive
HOT-ROX Extreme
Alpha Male

I’m also considering BETA-7, and Surge for recovery.

Am I going totally overboard with this, and getting too much? Do any of these supplements overlap (like for example how you don’t need Carbolin 19 with Alpha Male or HOT-ROX as the above article state?).

Thanks for the read, and I’ll appreciate any help,

Regards,[/quote]

You sound like you train hard and then all the supplements will be beneficial for you. Are you on a budget at all (this will determine the best product mix for ya)?

Don’t mix HOT-ROX with Alpha Male. Cut out the Alpha Male and replace it with just TRIBEX if your also going to be using the HOT-ROX, which I assume you will since you want to shed a little more fat.

Try microionized creatine, it doesn’t cause the bloating/water logged feeling like you were complaining about your other creatine.

L-Glutamine is fine, I swear it helps recovery. More important though is getting plenty of BCAA’s. I buy them buy the kilo and mega dose. You can find 'em in powder form for dirt cheap online.

Surge should be second on your list right next to Flameout.

Never tried REZ-V yet or BETA-7. I’ve heard positive things about BETA-7, but it is too pricey for the benefits imho.

good luck

4

Cover your bases first. Make sure your protein intake is adequate(and proper nutrition in general, Superfood and Flameout help here). Next is peri-workout nutrition, Surge rules. After that go crazy if you can afford it. If you want to cut, HOT-ROX is your poison, if you want to add some muscle, Carbolin 19 is awesome and one(if not the most)under-rated supplement Biotest makes.

I’m a non-responder to creatine, so I can’t comment on that. BCAA I don’t really feel are vital other than PWO, and Surge has the goods there. Depending on your age, Alpha Male and TRIBEX will rock your socks off, or not do much for you. Spike is awesome, and I would take it every day if I could afford to. Z-12 looks fantastic and I’m waiting for a bottle to arrive on my doorstep right now to try it out.

5

We need more information, like age/training age, weigth, height, goals, etc.

TRIBEX and Alpha Male may not be appropriate due to your age.

I find my priority supplements to be in this order, Surge, protein, creatine, BCAA. I have Surge before protein, because it contains protein and I have a high protein diet already, so the post workout shake moves up the list; it also has a good amount of BCAAs in it already.

The bloating/water retention from creatine comes from using too large of doses, how much were you taking, and how frequently?

6

Hey, thanks for all the answers so far.

[quote]Zagman wrote:
We need more information, like age/training age, weigth, height, goals, etc.

TRIBEX and Alpha Male may not be appropriate due to your age.

[snip]

The bloating/water retention from creatine comes from using too large of doses, how much were you taking, and how frequently?[/quote]

24 years old, 180cm, 70 kg weight (that’s around 5ft11in, and 154lbs, yes I know, “you weigh nothing”, I weigh little considering my size,).

I stated both my goals and training age further up, been training for 5 years, last 1,5 years, more seriously, and goals are to cut off another 1-2% BF at least, and add more muscle.

Regarding the Creatine it was 2 years ago, so I don’t recall, except that I did follow the adviced dosage that came with the creatine to the point.

7

[quote]Zagman wrote:
We need more information, like age/training age, weigth, height, goals, etc.

TRIBEX and Alpha Male may not be appropriate due to your age.

I find my priority supplements to be in this order, Surge, protein, creatine, BCAA. I have Surge before protein, because it contains protein and I have a high protein diet already, so the post workout shake moves up the list; it also has a good amount of BCAAs in it already.

The bloating/water retention from creatine comes from using too large of doses, how much were you taking, and how frequently?[/quote]

Whats a good amount to take to avoid bloating? Is 5g/day a good amount/frequency?

8

[quote]invictus1 wrote:
Surge should be second on your list right next to Flameout.
[/quote]

Best advice so far.

9

I just take 5g post workout, it is a little on the light side actually; there is research showing that for most people, 3g is plenty. Anything more and your urine just gets more expensive. 5g a day is fine, there are some good articles on this site that talk about it.

10

If the Micronized variety Biotest offers doesn’t make you watery, especially if you don’t go over 5g like you said Zagman (the recommended use of Biotest’s is 5g/day), then I’ll think I’ll go with that too, especially at a price like 13$ which nothing considering the prices I’ve seen around where I live.

11

It isn’t that the micronized variety doesn’t make you bloat, it is more along the lines of the dosing. But 5g a day shouldn’t make you bloat at all and will last a good long time.

12

Ah, I was just going by what I read further up in the thread.

13

Zagman, you said Alpha Male and TRIBEX might not be appropriate due to age. Are these products good for a 24 year old?

Also I should not mix Alpha Male and HOT-ROX, and rather go for HOT-ROX and TRIBEX instead?

Thanks for all help so far guys!

14

24 years old, in truth you should have a boatload of T running around your system, if you feel like trying a tbooster, than go for it. I would have advised you to avoid them until around 21, just to make sure you are fully developed and that they won’t screw aroudn with your natural hormone balance too much.

I believe you don’t mix Alpha Male and HOT-ROX because of the Carbolin 19, TRIBEX does not have it I believe.

I am still a fan of protein, Surge, creatine, bcaa. I feel those are staples. HOT-ROX is a damn good fat burner.

15

[quote]rsg wrote:
Focus on one thing at a time - if you are nearly “ripped” start adding more muscle.

My staples are Superfood, fishoil (such as Flameout) and Resveratrol. These are just my “feel good” supplements.

I would suggest Low-Carb Metabolic Drive & Carbolin 19/Alpha Male. BCAA’s a must if you can afford.[/quote]

Whats the deal with REZ-V? Why is it one of your staples?

16

[quote]bw1985 wrote:
rsg wrote:
Focus on one thing at a time - if you are nearly “ripped” start adding more muscle.

My staples are Superfood, fishoil (such as Flameout) and Resveratrol. These are just my “feel good” supplements.

I would suggest Low-Carb Metabolic Drive & Carbolin 19/Alpha Male. BCAA’s a must if you can afford.

Whats the deal with REZ-V? Why is it one of your staples?[/quote]

Have you read the potential health benefits from it? Not only in the release notes here, but in general?

I think the most in depth discussions I saw were here:

Seriously worth looking into.

17

Well it seems I got shafted by my country being one of the strictest countries in the world on what is considered to be “medicinal” (I don’t know the proper english term).

Apparently 80% of what Biotest offers is illegal for me to get into my country from inside of the EU.

Guess I’ll have to settle for Metabolic Drive® ADVANCED�?� PROTEIN, REZ-V, MICRONIZED GERMAN CREATINE and SURGE RECOVERY, the only supps that were legal.

18

What, they didn’t allow fish oil/Flameout?

Those are pretty good staples regardless.

19

They told me Flameout was considered illegal to import from outside the EU if it had more than 3grams of Omega-3 per daily serving.

20

Unreal, what country are you in?