Dear Valued USPlabs Inner Circle Member. Let me begin by saying this is a letter I never thought I'd write, he last thing I ever wanted to do was get into the "Pre-Workout Pump" market. After all, it's completely crowded with the same damn product over and over and again, disguised in different packaging. In fact, it's rather nauseating to say the least. I mean, how many times can someone do the same thing? With that said, I like having a ton of energy, strength, stamina & endurance for my workouts. I mean, who doesn't? And there's nothing like the right combination of compounds taken pre-workout to deliver awesome workout after awesome workout.
After all, if your workouts suck, you can all but forget about making killer progress anytime soon.
So for the past 3 years, I've been drinking my own "mad elixir" before each workout. And, let me stress again, this was only intended for my own personal use. Before I knew it, I was supplying half the gym, and many of my Internet friends, with my pre-workout concoction... They'd ask me what I was drinking, ask if they could "try it" then they simply couldn't "train without it.". I didn't have a name for this drink originally, but it quickly became known as "USPlabs Jack3d" because it made everyone lift more weight, pump out more reps and have crazy, lasting energy along with sick, muscle-engorging pumps. Because handing out supplements at the gym was not my first priority (and quite frankly, a massive pain in the ass at times), I'd forget to bring some or run out from time to time. Needless to say people were on my case and bugging me to release it. I kept telling them "I want absolutely nothing to do with this."
"Wow, People DO Need This."
But it wasn't until I started explaining how much healthier and better my little concoction was that I realized I probably should bottle this up and let the hardcore guys get their hands on it. But again, I really didn't want to play in the pre-workout game. Just didn't excite me. So, under immense pressure, I decided to do a small run of USPlabs Jack3d (AKA Jacked) and only release it on the Internet for now. That way, I didn't have to advertise it, it wouldn't take away from USPlabs focus and it would simply spread by word-of-mouth.
Will it ever be put in retail distribution? Who knows, but certainly not now. You might be saying to yourself, "Jacob, why not just use one of the 3,000 pre-workout formulas already on the market? Excellent question, and that would have been much easier than all of this, but in a nutshell, here's why, Up to 77% of pre-workout powders are nothing but unhealthy, Insulin-soaring, fat-storing fillers Shocking, but true, over three-fourth's of what you consume on a daily basis is nothing but ineffective filler that can actually cause you to gain bodyfat! Kind of defeats the purpose if you ask me. Not only is this detrimental to your gains, but it shoots prices through the roof. After all, it costs big bucks to ship now-a-days. And, larger packaging costs more than smaller packaging. In essence, you're not only paying for fillers, but footing the shipping bill as well!
So why do these companies do this? It's simple really. Larger packaging takes up more shelf space. And, the consumer has been trained to think "bigger is better" so you are fooled into thinking you are getting more active ingredients than you really are. But in this case, bigger not only means more expensive, but more dangerous as well.These fillers mainly consist of evil, fattening maltodextrin, large amounts of magnesium & artificial dyes. Not good to say the least.
Here's the breakdown
Maltodextrin (Worse Than Sugar!)
We all know maltodextrin is an absolute killer to your physique, causing insulin to shoot through the roof and put your body into fat storing mode (NOT what you want any time, let alone as you're headed into your workout). Many of you reading this just got the answer to why your fat loss has come to a dead halt, The supplement promoted to help, is ultimately hindering your goals, I'd be pissed off! I hear all the time about guys flipping out (rightfully so) that their protein powder contains a few grams of carbs...so why in the word is it ok for a pre-workout powder to contain a shitload of them? And of the worst possible kind...It's not...and USPlabs Jack3d is here to end that. Here's some facts about maltodextrin: Maltodextrin has a glycemic index of 105 – That's sky-high on the chart - 5 Points higher than Glucose & 44 points higher than sucrose (Yep, that's straight-up table sugar!)
- Maltodextrin is found in large quantities in all of the top selling pre-workout pump products.
- Most products contain between 6 to 11 grams of maltodextrin per scoop - With 2-3 scoops being required for effective dose!
- A "hardcore" dose of popular powders will yield up to 33 grams of Maltodextrin! That's 72-132 calories super-high GI carbs! Same as a can of soda!!
- Maltodextrin is simply added as a filler to deceive you into thinking you are getting more for your money.
- And, to make things even more shady, Maltodextrin is often cleverly disguised on the label as "glucose polymers." How do we know they are being deceptive? That's a lot of damn carbs – why do they try to disguise it?
- High amounts of maltodextrin is what you pay for with those other formulas. Shipping, bigger packages & bottles all cost more. Who do you think is covering these costs?
Is your pre-workout product making you fat? If it has maltodextrin (i.e. "glucose polymers") then it certainly is.
The leading Pre-workout Pump products are LOADED with Magnesium.
Now, we need magnesium for a lot of reasons, but more is NOT better & can have serious side effects and health risks. Here's some magnesium facts...
- National Academy of Sciences has set the upper tolerable limit of magnesium for adults at 350mg/day – that's equivalent to just one scoop of most products.
- Some products use Magnesium Glycerophosphate - which is only 10% active. In order for them to get 350mg of active Magnesium per scoop, they must use a whopping 3500mg of Magnesium Gylcerophosphate – That's over 10 grams of magnesium per 3-scoop serving – which is just about the therapeutic dose prescribed by doctors for constipation!
- Magnesium is also used as a filler - 3.5 grams each scoop is compromised from the Magnesium.
- Magnesium at high doses is used therapeutically as a laxative.
- The high Magnesium in this product is the reason people get the runs, not because of the stimulant effect.
This is very unhealthy and toxic when consumed regularly. How many times do we have to read about guys having to leave their workouts - or missing their workouts entirely - because they were stuck in the bathroom? Why take a product that is supposed to get you pumped for the gym when it will cause you to have to skip the gym? It's the magnesium that's causing this, NOT the stimulants...High doses of magnesium are used in the medical field as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of constipation (it causes diarrhea). All of this just so it looks like you are getting more product than you really are? Hmm...Sure, this isn't the most pleasant conversation ever, but you should know the facts. USPlabs Jack3d contains no magnesium, so there's no issues.
Virtually all pre-workout powders contain an enormous amount of artificial coloring at levels deemed extremely dangerous. Strange how they forgot to put that on the label. The leading pre-workout pump products all contain different mixes of artificial food coloring including:
- Red #40
- Blue #1
- Yellow #5
- Yellow #6
- Red #5
For example, when you ingest this stuff you're eating petroleum – That's right, straight up coal & tar...yum, yum!!...And, if you suffer from any kind of ADD or ADHD, these dyes have a significant negative effect on your well-being! I'm not kidding, this stuff is straight poison. In fact, some countries have actually banned certain artificial coloring from their food supply. For example, Red #5 cannot be used in Australia because it's deemed as a significant health threat. There's a reason handlers of these dyes are required to wear industrial-strength gloves & masks for protection. Why artificial coloring is allowed in the USA is a whole different issue, but we aren't putting that crap in our powder. We choose not to put it in our formula. USPlabs Jack3d ONLY contains natural flavoring and coloring.
I don't understand this, but it seems that people love when there's 500 ingredients in a single product, when it's obvious that the ingredients are added in such miniscule amounts they wouldn't even have an effect on an ant! I guess it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside as it makes you think "Wow, if 2 ingredients are good, 30 must be insane!" Well, the majority of the ingredients listed are there in trace amounts, meaning they won't do a damn thing for you, except deceive you into thinking you're getting ingredients that will actually help you. I know our customers are intelligent & demand more and do not fall for the fluff, window dressing BS. You won't find trace amounts of any ingredient in USPlabs Jack3d. Just the ingredients that will deliver dramatic results, every time.
Synergistic Combination is KEY
We have combined some exciting, new compounds with tried and true compounds to deliver a formula that is extremely potent, yet not detrimental to your health. The biggest factor in this is making a synergistic formula. Not just a bunch of ingredients thrown together haphazardly. Combine the correct ingredients in the correct amounts and you truly get 1 + 1 = 5!
Motivation and Energy in the Tank
While some products may cause the excitation you need to get motivated to get into the gym and move weight around, but unless you also have some "energy in the tank" you're not going to perform your best. Yet, with USPlabs Jack3d, you'll not only have to force yourself to get out of the gym, but you'll get more repetitions in while you're there. More repetitions will ultimately lead to more muscle mass.
In essence, this product hits both angles, allowing you to increase strength, power, focus and stamina, while providing the motivation to get into the gym. The end result is better performance in the gym and ultimately, more muscle mass.
USPlabs Jack3d- Formula Breakdown
Geranium (1,3-Dimethylamylamine or Methylhexamine)
This plant contains a powerful compound which has been shown to be more potent than ephedrine in some respects, but falls just short of being as powerful as amphetamine. Like ephedrine, it produces sympathomimetic effects in the body, resulting in strong Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulation, allowing for improved strength output, focus, alertness and mood. Side benefits may include fat loss due to potential appetite suppression, as well as through increased work capacity and the possibility of increased norepinephrine release.
Schizandrol A. This compound is an exciting one
It has not only been shown to outperform amphetamine in cognitive tasks involving focus, but it has also been shown to increase the capacity of muscles to perform work by 222%, while also increasing physical force. In essence, it is able to provide a stimulating effect to the body and mind.
This is indeed THE elite compound for true mind-muscle connection! If this weren't enough, it has even more evidence of its effectiveness. For example, it has been shown to improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, while improving muscle power in athletes. It has also been shown to improve running times in endurance events, reducing fatigue, muscle pain and shortness of breath. ...It has even been shown to improve the eye's sensitivity to light and result in improved night vision (2-fold improvement!). It's also possible that the compound may increase energy expenditure, also resulting in a loss of body fat. Last, but certainly not least; unlike various stimulants which can increase catabolic hormone levels (i.e. glucocorticoids), this compound may actually lower levels of hormones like cortisol. And, as we all know, cortisol is dramatically increased during a workout and can stop muscle growth in its tracks. Schizandrol A will help keep cortisol at bay so you can get bigger, stronger & leaner! Don't get confused with the cheap, ineffective Shizandra found in some other products. Our Schizandrol A is a potent Engineered Extract only found in USPlabs Jack3d. Methylxanthines (Caffeine & Theophylline)
Both of these compounds belong to the family of methylxanthine compounds. They are both able to stimulate the CNS, while also stimulating contractility of skeletal muscle directly and this may partially be due to the release of catecholamines such as norepinephrine. Caffeine also has the benefit of fighting fatigue and drowsiness; enhancing the flow of thoughts; increasing alertness and improving intellectual efforts along with producing euphoria or a sense of well-being in some cases. Just as these methylxanthines can increase the effectiveness of compounds such as ephedrine, it is thought that it may do the same for the unique compound found in Geranium. In terms of specifics, at the cortical level, caffeine is also thought to promote increased wakefulness or vigilance, via adenosine receptor antagonism, causing stimulation of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain and reinforcing inhibition exerted upon sleep-promoting GABA neurons. The stimulant effects are exerted directly upon the cerebral cortex, medulla oblongata, and spinal cord. In addition to these beneficial effects, we have included a precise combination of these methylxanthine compounds which allows for a longer, more powerful, and sustained effect. This is because these compounds are a shared substrate for the same metabolic enzyme, thus, when the two are co-ingested, one compound is "sacrificed" while the other is "spared" resulting in decreased elimination of the active constituent. The end result is that you no longer have to worry about feeling stimulated for an hour or two, followed by a quick crash...With our precise combination, you get a long-lasting and sustained effect.
Most formulas just throw in a ton of caffeine and hope for the best.
USPlabs Jack3d has a precise blend of compounds that will not only get you flying through your workouts like a mad man, but will allow you to have hours upon hours of energy without a harsh crash at the end. Caffeine & theophylline are perfectly blended for a powerful synergistic effect. This is one area where USPlabs Jack3d truly separates itself. It's not 300, 400 or 500 mgs of caffeine thrown in so you can "feel it." It's the proper stimulants in the proper dosages.
Beta-alanine
Beta-alanine serves as the rate-limiting precursor of carnosine and as such, it has been shown that by supplementing with beta-alanine, you can greatly increase carnosine levels in skeletal muscle tissue. Carnosine is an extremely important dipeptide that is generally present in rather high concentrations in skeletal muscle, though it is also found in nervous tissue and other excitable tissues as well. It is so important because it acts as a buffer of sorts, preventing the increase of acidity or Hydrogen ion accumulation in skeletal muscle; something which is thought to contribute to the fatiguing of muscles. Furthermore, there is evidence that by increasing carnosine levels, power output can be increased as well. In short, you are able to improve your power output, while also delaying fatigue; you can lift more explosively and for longer periods. It is no coincidence that the most explosive athletes (e.g. sprinters) in the world have higher carnosine levels in their muscles. Looking to the animals of our world provides us with yet another example; the most explosive animals such as greyhounds and thoroughbred horses also have the highest level of carnosine in their muscle tissue as well.
Creatine Monohydrate
While we may negate the increase in Hydrogen ion levels in skeletal muscle by increasing carnosine levels, we still must overcome one more obstacle in order to allow us to prevent fatigue while working out. In this case, we must use a compound which can ultimately increase the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in muscle. ATP, as we all know, is a high energy nucleotide which acts as the major energy carrying molecule in our bodies. Consequently, muscle fatigue is also related to energy loss in skeletal muscle, specifically, ATP being converted to adenosine diphosphate (ADP). In effect, one phosphate group is lost and must be replenished in order for the muscle cell to continue on working. By supplementing with creatine, we are able to increase the levels of phosphocreatine in muscle. Phosphocreatine is a high energy buffering compound which is able to donate a phosphate group to ADP, allowing the formation of ATP once again. In short, we can prevent or reduce fatigue from occurring by increasing phosphocreatine levels, which in turn will allow for the regeneration of ATP from ADP. By addressing both the regeneration of ATP, while also limiting Hydrogen ion accumulation, we are able to provide a one-two combination that effectively reduces fatigue to an amazing degree.If this weren't enough, the compound we have included may also increase the swelling of muscle cells, possibly increasing protein synthesis or inhibiting catabolism; the end result being an increase in muscle mass. While creatine monohydrate isn't new or ground-breaking, it's scientifically sound, proven millions of times over in the real-world and an absolute must in any pre-workout formula.
The "Best" Creatine?
It seems there have been a myriad of creatine products on the market in recent years; each and every one of them claim to improve upon the original creatine monohydrate. Yet, not one of them has ever been able to do so. Though, should this really be a surprise? It has been known for some time now that creatine monohydrate's bioavailability is nearly 100%, despite many marketing attempts to make you believe otherwise. Yet, each one of these products has claimed that they could improve the product in some way. The only reason for the stomach issues associated with creatine was the loading phase that was promoted when creatine first came out. This has since been disproven & not needed to achieve desired results. First it was the effervescent formulations, claiming that the buffered product could resist acidic degradation of creatine to creatinine in the stomach, while at the same time, decreasing the transit time for the creatine to enter the small intestine from the stomach, again, hypothetically reducing the amount of creatine degradation. Last, it was supposed to improve solubility of the creatine in solution, hypothetically resulting in improved absorption. Yet, scientific studies showed no improvement in absorption or bioavailability with these formulations. The next attempt was to improve creatine absorption with various salts, the latest of which appear to be tri-creatine citrate and creatine pyruvate. Yet again, as you would expect, studies have shown no significant increase in bioavailability over regular creatine monohydrate. Don't be fooled by slick marketing; some manufacturers may cite a study which had shown slightly greater (although not statistically significant and hence not accepted as likely being unique) plasma concentrations of creatine with the pyruvate salt in particular.
However, they will most certainly and conveniently leave out the scientists' own conclusions, "The higher plasma concentration with Creatine Pyruvate is unlikely to have been due to greater bioavailability, since the bioavailability of Creatine Monohydrate is known to be close to 100%" and "It is questionable if the small differences observed in the plasma concentrations with the three treatments would have any effect on the increase in creatine in muscle."Yet another example of these futile attempts includes the creatine ethyl ester. This particular product also boasted claims of improved bioavailability by preventing the degradation of creatine to creatinine in the stomach, while also improving physiochemical properties conducive of improved bioavailability. Yet again, the product failed to do so. In fact, not only did the addition of the ethyl ester not help, it actually was shown to accelerate the degradation of creatine to creatinine in an acidic solution. It can be estimated from such studies that the bioavailability of the creatine ethyl ester is actually far less than regular creatine monohydrate, which again, is already nearly 100% to begin with.
Perhaps other manufacturers will finally get the hint that creatine monohydrate isn't going to be improved upon as there is virtually no room for improvement. Yet, that won't stop them as history has shown. Creatine monohydrate after all is an effective product. In fact, it's probably one of, if not the most scientifically validated dietary supplement in existence and it delivers real world results as well. But remember, the marketing arm of these companies are banking on the fact that creatine is such a great supplement; a supplement that has become a staple for nearly all athletes and weightlifters, that they want to create their own unique version, touting some supposed added benefits. But as you've learned, there is no such thing.
"doesn't creatine need a delivery system?"
Delivery Systems? Delivery Systems? You Talkin' Bout Delivery Systems? The lack of bio-availability is not what causes the side effects from creatine. It's the "loading phase" (20-30 grams per day!) that was initially touted (and still used by some today) when creatine first hit the shelves in the 90's... Absolutely "genius" in marketing, as the "loading phase" quadrupled initial sales and caused an almost instant water weight gain so users were thrilled. However, it wasn't all sunshine. Peak creatine concentration in the body has a ceiling. Meaning, when peak concentration is reached, the body has no more room for the extra creatine. So, it "flushes" it out...And this is why creatine got a bad wrap for not "absorbing" when, in essence, it was poor application...You only need a few grams of creatine per day, that's it. After 7-14 days, whether you take 30 grams of creatine a day or 2 grams of creatine a day, your blood concentration levels of creatine will be exactly the same...
L-Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AAKG)
This particular compound was included in the formula as it may also increase strength and peak power performance. Yet as an added benefit, by including a very precise amount, in combination with other ingredients, one can also experience an increase in vasodilation, which can potentially increase the flow of nutrients to skeletal muscle, thereby enhancing muscular recovery.
In addition, this vasodilation may result in increased glycogen storage, which in turn may increase cellular swelling of skeletal muscle. This cellular swelling is capable of producing anabolic effects in skeletal muscle, while at the same time, producing an increased "pumped" sensation in muscle, making your workouts all the more pleasing. Not stopping there, with the precisely formulated combination of compounds found in USPlabs Jack3d, one can also expect that the increased vasodilation could potentially decrease body fat (virtually impossible with maltodextrin formulas) by allowing more of the circulating epinephrine to reach adipose tissue where it stimulates lipolysis (fat burning). You may have noticed the ultra-concentration trend over the last few years that virtually every major corporation has used to conserve energy, reduce waste and lower costs. From cars to food to even household items like dish detergent...With the way our environment & economy is, we simply cannot afford any waste whatsoever. The price is just too high. The supplement industry is no different , as mentioned above, USPlabs Jack3d contains as many servings, and is more potent, than products three or four times its size. I mean, who the heck wants to pay for unnecessary fillers? USPlabs Jack3d is ultra-concentrated with only the highest quality ingredients available. No fillers, no artificial flavors, no dyes & Minimal packaging means the absolute strongest, healthiest and best value for you.
How Does It Taste?
In a word...AMAZING! Sure, you'll hear that from most companies, yet virtually all of the pre-workout drinks on the market are, at best, tolerable. And, let's be honest, most taste like crap. In addition, most drinks require 16-20oz of water (hey, all those fillers have to dissolve somehow!), leaving you bloated & sluggish not the best environment for attacking the weights. USPlabs Jack3d requires only 4-8oz and is probably the best tasting pre-workout drink ever! With a pleasant lemon-lime flavor that goes down smooth and refreshing, you'll be shocked it's as potent as it is - it's simply a joy to drink!
Quick USPlabs Jack3d RECAP
- Significantly enhances intensity, strength, energy, power, endurance, pumps & recovery
- No sugars
- No calories
- No Maltodextrin
- No Magnesium
- No dangerous dyes
- No filler ingredients-You are not paying for 2 base ingredients and 20 filler ingredients
- We are augmenting 3 systems to work together so they can keep up with each other during the workout. This is true synergism
- Great taste
- Ultra-concentrated – needs only 4-8 ounces of water per 3 scoop serving
- The best damn value you'll ever find in a pre-workout product
