The ALLMAX booth was a-buzz with excitement with fans young and old lining up to get autographs from some of our Team ALLMAX Athletes and IFBB Pros Ben Pakulski and Sheri Vucick.

A Star in the Making

Over on the fitness stage, Sheri Vucick entertained the crowd with her impressive aerials and acrobatics.

Sheri Vucick standing out in height and beauty

Check out Ben’s classic moves, as he poses for the judges:

We're proud to have Ben Pakulski representing ALLMAX on the Men's Heavyweight Bodybuilding stage. If you've been following the ALLMAX blog, you have seen Ben in action as he's been training and prepping for this show. He's a favorite to win.

"The idea is to “fire up” the CNS in the morning, then come back and thrash every muscle fiber at night. Something Coach Poliquin showed me. Ample supplementation is very important. BCAAs during the workout and after is essential, I use 4 scoops of Aminocore by ALLMAX. Also make sure you’re getting lots of high quality protein." ~ Ben Pakulski

And you won't want to miss Sheri Vucick over on the fitness stage. Renowned for her daring gymnastic routines, Sheri puts on quite the show and is an all-round athlete.

"Never stop. Never give up. A champion must first challenge the self before they can challenge others. I am my competition. Failure is not an option." ~ Sheri Vucick

ALLMAX will be there in all our glory, together with some familiar faces and athletes from our amazing team. Stop by for some samples of Razor8, Isoflex, Aminocore and Quickmass and get an autographed photo from Ben and Sheri.

GO TEAM ALLMAX!

Our goal is to give you result-focused training tips, physiological evidence and supplementation research that will have you walking into your next training session armed with the knowledge to achieve your goals.

Bodybuilders call it the greatest feeling you can achieve. Some have even compared it to an orgasm. In fact, seven-time Mr Olympia winner Arnold Schwarzenegger was quoted in the movie Pumping Iron as stating just that.

The Pump – It is a thick swollen muscle, freakish vascularity and a feeling that you are leaving the gym with a set of larger muscles than you walked in with.

Some have compared it to an orgasm!

It is physical and visual proof that you just annihilated another workout. It is a feeling of conquest that lends to an overdose of endorphins and a boost in pride. It is motivating, inspiring and comes complete with its own set of bragging rights. This kind of workout makes every inch of your body burn and has you coming back for more.

The pump, in its entirety, is just as much plateau-busting, as it is ego-boosting. The list of physiological benefits is endless and over time, these benefits can provide you with some massive gains in the gym, on the court, or out on the field. But if your training is simply falling short of the “pump,” it may be time for help.

To start, you must take both the psychological and physiological effects of the pump into consideration with a brief look at the science.

The Psychological Rocket Science

Okay, so this part is not so much rocket science, as it is a snowball effect. A good pump means you had an intense workout. Any intense workout is going to leave you feeling phenomenal and more motivated to come back and try harder. The harder you try, the better your gains. The more gains you see, the more you want to push it even harder. See what I mean? You cannot lose with a good pump. But behind all these released endorphins and increased motivation lies a network of capillaries, nutrients and oxygen that do add up to some scientific proof that you should be working towards a pump.

So, let’s get started.

The more gains you see, the more you want to push it even harder.

The Physical Rocket Science

In the world of science the Pump is commonly referred to as Hyperemia. It is essentially the act of saturating working muscle tissue with oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood during rigorous physical activity. These contractions stimulate the release of increased Nitric Oxide (N.O.) into the blood stream, which causes local capillaries (blood vessels) to dilate, allowing more blood to flow into the muscle.

The Pump is essentially the act of saturating contracting muscle tissue with oxygenated and nutrient rich blood.

Increased N.O. plays many important roles within muscle tissue. Firstly, by increasing the blood flow to contracting muscle tissue, increased N.O. is able to play a preventative role in the formation of dangerous clots by keeping blood vessels smooth. Additionally, N.O. is released in response to increased acidity (lactic acid) in the muscle and actually helps to detoxify the muscle during intense training. Over time, intense training that leads to increased N.O. helps to expand the body’s capillary network. A larger capillary network improves blood circulation, athletic performance, body composition, and stimulates the growth of new muscle by releasing natural growth hormones.

Many products on the market today offer some assistance in increasing blood flow in your body. For example, phyto extracts, polyphenols and flavanols all contain properties that affect the body’s ability to increase delivery of oxygen-rich blood to muscle tissue. Moreover, these potent antioxidants also play a role in reducing the oxidation throughout the vascular system.    

Octacosanol, a plant-based extract, has illustrated an ability to create a battery-like reserve of energy.

The oxidative capacity of muscle tissue is important during intense training. Your body’s ability to keep blood oxygenated can help spare glycogen stores. Octacosanol, a plant-based extract, has illustrated an ability to create a battery-like reserve of energy by improving the oxidative capacity of muscle tissue. It does this by accelerating the oxygenation of the blood, and provides your body with the energy it needs for bursts of power and speed. Studies have also found that Octacosanol can improve reaction time and grip strength, as it exhibits properties affecting the central nervous system.

B vitamins, specifically B3 and B9, also play a role in N.O. production. These vitamins serve as vasodilators and help to open up the capillary network, allowing for an increased flow of nutrients and oxygen. Additionally, B3 (niacin) will also help to deliver nutrients while removing toxic muscular waste.

ALLMAX Nutrition has simplified the science of the pump with HemaNOvol. This scientifically formulated N.O. stimulator includes Argi-N.O.-Nine, a complex blend of ingredients proven to act as precursors to bioavailable N.O. in the body. HemaNOvol is complete with phyto-nutrients such as Theobroma Cacao, an extract with similar antioxidant properties to that of green tea, but with almost six times the potency. It acts as a mild stimulant and diuretic and can also help suppress the appetite.

Theobroma cacao extract has almost 6X the potency of Green Tea!

Octacosanol helps to spare muscle glycogen and increase the muscles oxidative capacity.  Finally, B vitamins 3 and 9 are matched with a Gamma-NOS complex. Both these complexes help to protect muscles against reactive free radicals created during physical activity by carrying away toxic muscular waste.   

To achieve a true pump with HemaNOvol, take 5 pills on an empty stomach 30 minutes prior to your workout, and then incorporate the following tips: 

TRAINING FOR THE PUMP

1. Dynamic Warm-Up

Get your blood pumping and your body sweating. The American College of Sports Medicine Journal reported that active hyperemia following a warm-up improved blood flow at the onset of high intensity exercise. Additionally, it contributed to an increased aerobic contribution to muscle energy metabolism. Try doing 10 minutes of high intensity intervals before you even hit the weights. This is a surefire way to get your heart rate up, your blood moving and your mind focused.

2. Warm-Up Sets

Begin your weight training by performing at least two warm-up sets on a compound exercise such as squats, deadlifts, lat pulldowns, or bench press. The warm-up sets should be typically light with higher reps to initiate muscle contraction.

3. Feel the Burn

Find the rep range that works for you. Do not work to failure but lift heavy enough to feel a burn. For me, four sets 10 to 12 reps (with proper form) gives my body a decent pump.

4. Stay Focused

Focus on form, range of motion, and time under tension with each rep. By fully extending and contracting the muscle, more blood will flow to the muscle.

5. Reduce your Rest Times

Keep your rest in between sets to a minimum, or superset muscle groups. Keeping your heart rate up will help keep the blood moving in your body.

KEY POINT

Make sure you complete your last exercise of a specific body part with at least one drop set. That is, do the set with a given weight, once you begin to reach muscular failure, drop the weight to a lower amount and immediately restart until you reach muscular failure and repeat. This will really pool blood in the target muscle and provide a high level of muscle stimulation.

Your body doesn’t stop working when you put the weights down, and neither does HemaNOvol. Its sustained-release technology ensures that your pump lasts long after you have left the gym, to ensure your muscles receive the oxygen and nutrients it requires to recover.

Don’t let your gains fall short of the pump. Do yourself a favor and get the pump you want and need every time you enter the gym with HemaNOvol.      

Written by Valeria Fazio

Valeria Fazio holds a B.A. Honors degree in history from Carleton University and a diploma in professional writing from Algonquin College. She has been competing in amateur fitness and figure competitions for three years, and has recently qualified for the 2011 Ontario Provincial Figure Championships. As a certified personal trainer and nutritional coach, Valeria helps others in her free time to achieve their fitness goals.

Sources:

• Balch, Phyllis A. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements. Avery: New York,  2010.
• Kim H, Park S, Park T, Han DS. Octacosanol supplementation increases running endurance time and improves biochemical parameters after exhaustion in trained rats, Department of Food and Nutrition, Yonsei University, Seoul Korea.
• Lerman, Amir. John C. Bennett, Stuart T Higano. Linda J. McKinley. David R. Holmes. Long-term L-Arginine Supplementation Improves Small-Vessel Coronary Endothelial Function in Humans, The American Heart Association, 1998, 97: 2123-2128.
• Taylor, Johanna C., Lisa Rapport, G. Brian Lockwood. Octacosanol in Human Health, Journal of Nutrition, 2003,19,2: 192-195.
• Triarco Industries. Metabromine.
• Thorne Research. L-Arginine, Alternative Medicine Review. 2005,10,2: 140-147.
• West, Sheila G. Effect of Diet on Vascular Reactivity: An Emerging Marker for Vascular Risk, Current Atherosclerosis Reports 2001, 3: 446-455.

When combined, what you get is a potent mix that can only lead to success. ALLMAX Nutrition recognizes this and created the most unique, multi-functional protein product on the market today: the new HEXAPRO.

HEXAPRO’s six highly bioavailable proteins are fast, medium and sustained release proteins that ensure high amino acid levels with both short-term and long-term delivery. Each Protein has been carefully selected to achieve maximum protein assimilation and absorption. HEXAPRO is also fortified with five amino acids to enhance recovery, including all three BCAAs essential for protein synthesis and providing a rapid energy source for muscles. Rounding out the list of quality ingredients found in HEXAPRO is four grams of fiber to aid in digestion and to help with nutrient uptake. Finally, with the taste being comparable to a thick milkshake, HEXAPRO will leave your muscles satisfied and your taste buds singing.

Why Include Six-Protein Blends in One Product?

Combining the six-protein blends used in HEXAPRO creates a multi-dimensional product that can be used at any time of the day and for many purposes. Whether you decide to have it in the morning upon rising or in between meals, the different digestion rates of the proteins found in HEXAPRO will feed your body with a steady flow of amino acids all day long so your muscles are never be in a state of starvation and never at risk of atrophy.

Why you Need the Different Protein Blends of HEXAPRO

Reason #1: Whey Protein Concentrate: Considered by many to be the most efficient protein for the body, WPC is easily absorbed and provides a quick flush of amino acids into the bloodstream.

Reason #2: Milk Protein Concentrate: Produced from skim milk by a series of processes that include ultra filtration, evaporation and drying. MPC contains both casein and whey protein, making it a slower digesting protein for sustained amino acid delivery.

Reason #3: Whey Protein Isolate: Yielding a higher percentage of pure protein, and virtually lactose-free, WPC is revered by many as the best post-workout protein available due to it extremely fast absorption rate.

Reason #4: Micellar Casein: With its slow and constant release of amino acids, MC causes the timed-release dripping effect of amino acids into the bloodstream that can last for up to seven hours.

Reason #5: Egg Albumin: Thought to more closely resemble human tissue than any other animal tissue, egg albumin products (such as protein powder and amino acids) are very quickly and efficiently assimilated into our systems when consumed.

Reason #6: Hydrolyzed Whey: Created by using enzymes to pre-digest or cut the whey protein into smaller parts called peptides, your body can quickly utilize and digest these amino acids as your muscles require them.

Reason #7: Convenience: By using six different blends of protein, HEXAPRO offers a full spectrum of amino acid delivery that meets the needs of hard-working bodybuilders at any time of the day. The slow, medium and fast-acting release times of the proteins ensures hypertrophy and eliminates the risk of catabolism.

If you are serious about bodybuilding, and I know you are if you’re reading this article, then making use of this unique six-blend protein is a must. I’m excited at the possibilities HEXAPRO brings with it. Speaking from the viewpoint of a busy husband and father, along with the commitments in my professional career, I don’t always have time to make meals or sit down to eat them and HEXAPRO fills that void and couldn’t have come along at a better time. The need for a versatile product such as HEXAPRO was there, and ALLMAX Nutrition took notice.

Written by Dana Bushell

Dana Bushell teaches high school Phys. Ed and coaches senior football and is a certified fitness consultant and competitive bodybuilder. Dana is an Associate Professor of Communications in Barrie, Ontario, and a regular columnist for Inside Fitness and a clothing rep for P3 Entertainment.
 

It is your sanctuary and therefore under no circumstances should you leave the gym feeling dissatisfied, on edge, or upset because your workout sucked.

Nothing happens by accident and consequently, bad workouts happen for a reason.

So instead of wallowing in self-pity thinking about how sub-par your gym session was, sit down and think about everything you did that day leading up to the mother-of-all-let-downs, and remap your game plan for your next session.

The following is intended to foolproof your workouts, ensuring you walk out of the gym more pumped then when you entered.

How to Foolproof your Workouts

Have a Game Plan

If you think you can just walk into a gym, without a plan, goal, or map – think again! A solid workout must have a road map complete with a legend. On this road map you must know what muscle groups you are working, what machines, dumbbells and barbells you need, how long you want to be there, and ultimately why you are there. With these goals in mind, you should have a program drawn out complete with sets and rep ranges. Setting out your goals will keep you focused.

Drop your Baggage at the Door

This is your time now. Not your boss’s, not your partner’s, and not that jerk who just cut you off on the way to the gym. Thinking about your phone bill is not going get you that fourth row of abdominals. In reality, stress may actually make you retain more water, making you lose any abdominals you may already have. So leave the baggage at the gym door. Now is the time to concentrate on one thing and one thing only – your physique. 

Get your Rest

If you spent a night of tossing and turning, or simply hit the sack late, it may not be a good day to consider hitting the gym. Without solid rest, you cannot expect your mind and body to perform like a Spartan. Further, pumping yourself full of caffeine and similar substitutions is not the answer to all of life’s problems. My advice is to take a pre-workout power nap, or even take the day off. If your mind and body aren’t feeling it, then sorry to say it – neither are you. A day off (God forbid) will not kill you, and it may even inspire you to work out twice as hard the next day.

Fuel your System

You can’t expect your diesel-like system to run on empty. Make sure your nutrition is top-notch, before and after your workout. Not only will this supply your body with the energy it needs to perform, but your mind will be at ease and ready to focus on every rep and set. Based on your own personal caloric intake, prepare your body with a complete protein, a complex carbohydrate, and a good fat at least one hour before your work out.

Supplement your workout to enhance your performance help with muscular recovery and growth. No training session is complete without a pre-workout supplement like MusclePrime – specifically designed to help you maintain a solid pump and a keen focus to drive you through the toughest workouts. With a complete complex of essential amino acids, MusclePrime is guaranteed to prepare you for your workout by increasing mental focus, blood circulation, and nitrogen delivery.  Its inclusion of all three BCAAs ensures proper and efficient recovery and repair.

Fine-Tune your Mood

Create a playlist of your favourite songs that you know will get you pumped and ready for action. Your best bet is to compile a playlist specifically for the gym or even for each muscle group, and switch it up often.

Written by Valeria Fazio

Valeria Fazio holds a B.A. Honors degree in history from Carleton University and a diploma in professional writing from Algonquin College. She has been competing in amateur fitness and figure competitions for three years, and has recently qualified for the 2011 Ontario Provincial Figure Championships. As a certified personal trainer and nutritional coach, Valeria helps others in her free time to achieve their fitness goals.

Getting up this early to work out takes a lot of discipline and a little bit of Razor8 Blast Powder. After a good night's sleep when your body is at its peak, this is the time to load up the weights, train heavy and really push yourself to the max.

Attempt this workout if you dare! 

Alexandra Porshnikoff with her winning Trophies at the LA Fit Expo 2012

Sasha came into LA and swept the Ironman Naturally Show, first winning the Master's Figure Class, then the Open Figure Class and finally, the Overall Figure Class. WOW!

We're so proud of you, Sasha. Well done!

These delicious protein snacks are so easy to make and fun to eat.

You can make them into bars or roll them up into bite-sized balls for on-the-go protein.

Delicious!

Ingredients

• 9 tbsp. honey
• 1 c. natural peanut butter
• ½ c. ISOFLEX Vanilla protein
• 1 c. oats, uncooked

Optional: almonds, various dried fruit, raisins

Preparation

1. Mix the honey and peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 1 ½ minutes.
2. Add the ISOFLEX protein and oats to the mixture. You can also add almonds, cranberries, and/or raisins for added flavor and texture.
3. Once the mixture is cool enough to touch, roll into bite-sized balls.
4. Or smooth the mixture into a tray and let stand for an hour and then cut into 12 equal bars.

Can be stored in the fridge or freezer.

Nutrition Analysis per Portion

• Calories: 64
• Total Fats: 2.4 g
• Total Carbs: 8.7 g
• Total Protein: 8 g

Created by Cathy Norris

CLA can greatly affect the look of your physique through a relatively complex cellular process but with an easy-to-follow supplementing protocol.

What is CLA and Why Do I Need it?

CLA is a family of at least 28 isomers of linoleic acid found mainly in meat and dairy products derived from ruminants. Due to the processing of many of our foods, CLA is broken down and lost by the time it reaches our dinner plates. This poses a great problem for us as we are not able to convert enough linoleic acid into conjugated linoleic acid.

When we do not get enough CLA in our diets, there is a greater chance of accumulating fatty deposits.

As obesity levels continue to rise, the need for higher levels of CLA in our bodies increases and the need for supplementing with CLA grows.

How Can I Benefit from CLA?

CLA has been studied extensively in animals, but it was not until the early 2000s that scientists really saw a benefit for human consumption. Once the research began, it quickly became apparent that supplementing with CLA caused a decrease in overall body fat mass, even without a restrictive diet plan in place.

How does this happen?

CLA works to reduce body fat by preventing fat accumulation in fat cells. Fat normally enters the fat cell through a door that is controlled by an enzyme that acts as the key. By acting on this enzyme, CLA keeps the door locked. When the door is locked, fat cannot enter the cells, preventing them from increasing in size. The less fat present in the cells, the smaller and less mature they become. This helps to reduce the level of fat in your body. The increased breakdown of fat helps to fuel and preserve muscle mass, which in turn increases lean muscle mass.

Why Use CLA95 when I Can Use RapidCuts Shredded Instead?

That’s a great question as RapidCuts is a phenomenal product for burning fat.

What CLA95 can do for you is prevent the actual accumulation of fats within the cells before it becomes noticeable on the exterior. RapidCuts targets fat burning in a different way by amplifying thermogenesis and preventing adipocyte maturation in those cells that have already taken in excess fat by working to shrink those affected cells. As well, CLA has no stimulants and promotes the body’s natural fat-metabolizing mechanisms.

Can I Stack CLA95 and RapidCuts Shredded Together?

Absolutely! Stacking CLA95 and RapidCuts Shredded creates a two-on-one situation for fat cells where the fat has no chance of survival at all. CLA95 prevents digested fat from entering the cells and RapidCuts works to burn and shrink down the already fattened up cells. There is no way fat can prosper in a thermogenic, adipose-eating environment like that.

Do I Have to Cycle CLA95?

Not at all. CLA95 is most effective when taken for a period of 3 to 6 months. Taking it all year round will only further these results. A recommended dose of 3000 mg a day is considered to be optimal. ALLMAX gives you 1000 of those milligrams in one softgel capsule, taken 3 times per day with food.

With the competition season for this year quickly approaching, take notice of how your physique is shaping up and the rate at which you are losing any accumulated body fat mass. If you think you are behind, add CLA95 to the mix. Stack it with RapidCuts Shredded for ultimate fat burning and prepare to have more definition than a dictionary!

Sources:

Henrietta Blankson, Jacob A. Stakkestad, Hans Fagertun^, Erling Thom, Jan Wadstein and Ola Gudmundsen, “Conjugated Linoleic Acid Reduces Body Fat Mass in Overweight and Obese Humans”, Journal of Nutrition. 2000;130:2943-2948.

Naturalnews.com

Pariza, Michael, Park, Yeonhwa, Cook, Mark; “The biologically active isomers of conjugated linoleic acid”, Progress in Lipid Research, volume 40, issue 4, July 2001, pgs. 283-298.

Written by Dana Bushell

Dana Bushell teaches high school Phys. Ed and coaches senior football and is a certified fitness consultant and competitive bodybuilder. Dana is an Associate Professor of Communications in Barrie, Ontario, and a regular columnist for Inside Fitness and a clothing rep for P3 Entertainment.
 

During the final weeks of prep, when Ben is in a low-carb state, he relies on training buddies like Watson and pre-workout supplements like Razor8 to pull him through. Pakulski shows you how to get show-stopping legs.

"Anyone who has great legs is a great lunger – if you can't lunge, you ain't getting quads.

"If you want quads, start lungeing." ~ IFBB Pro Ben Pakulski

Follow along with this heavy training session and find out what secrets the IFBB Pros use to get them to the top.