Here is the most popular Whey Protein Brand at Amazon.com:If you want value for your money, give this baby a try. Tastes good and comes in several flavors. Here are some great reviews about this product:

Excellent stuff. I am using On’s 100% whey since about a year now and I highly recommend this product. Esp, the double rich chololate tastes like heaven, easily mixes with milk/water and leaves no stomach bloating etc. This product on amazon is a bargain and you should not let go. Get the 10 pound box and save $30. This is great stuff, if you want to grow, get this ASAP.

Here’s another:

I’m a VERY picky eater! Just ask my girlfriend, family and friends
Yet I must say that this is is a good drink! That is if you like chocolate. Mix one cup of the powder (very fine) along with 8 oz of milk (skim, etc.) and it taste even better than chocolate milk! The secret is to mix it up REAL good! I mean for minute, or if you have a mixer or blender that’s even better. But I usually (for time reasons) mix it after breakfast with a spoon then drink it up.

And a third review:

 I researched protein powders by reading reviews and forum postins and on whey protein was one i kept seeing again and again. It was cheap too (comparatively) so i jumped on it.

I’m trying to bulk up for my first year of college and this was the first powder ive tried. And its fantastic! For taste anyway, i havent had it long enough to look for results. With water, its ok, kind of bland but not bad tasting at all. A bit gooey, could be a bit sweeter, but i still liked it. I have only tried mixing it with a spoon and it easily dissolves but clumps in goo floaters. Not a problem for me.

When i tried it with milk it was delicious! Tasted just like milk chocolate powder you get at grocery stores. Its almost too good as now when i get close to finishing my workouts i look forward too much to the postworkout snack and lose focus. Highly recommended!

Check pricing now at amazon.com 

Leucine is one of the three “branched-chain” amino acids (BCAA’s), along with isoleucine and valine. These three amino acids account for one third of all the protein in muscle tissue, and this significant contribution makes them highly important for helping build muscle and increase energy in muscle cells. They are also converted to other amino acids when deficiencies arise.

Our muscles use leucine directly for fueling any work they perform both during exercise and when resting and also it has been shown to help prevent muscle breakdown and increase energy and endurance. According to researchers, 90% of dietary leucine is used for energy during exercise. It’s the most researched of all amino acids except glutamine.

Isoleucine, together with the other two branched-chain-amino-acids promote muscle recovery after physical exercise and on its own it is needed for the formation of hemoglobin as well as assisting with regulation of blood sugar levels as well as energy levels. It is also involved in blood-clot formation.

This amino acid must be supplied through diet since our body is not capable of producing this branched-chain amino acid. “People involved with strenuous athletic activity under extreme pressure and high altitude may benefit from supplementation of this nutrient.”

Valine is needed for muscle metabolism and coordination, tissue repair, and for the maintenance of proper nitrogen balance in the body; used as an energy source by muscle tissue; helpful in treating liver and gallbladder disease; promotes mental vigor and calm emotions.

Valine is found in abundant quantities in most food and has a stimulant effect. Healthy growth depends on it. Our body cannot produce this amino acid. The main food sources are: soy flour, raw brown rice, cottage cheese, fish, beef, lamb, chicken, almonds, brazil nuts cashews, peanuts, sesame seed, lentils, chickpeas and mushrooms.

These three BCAAs’ should be taken all together for best result.

One popular supplement that contains all these BCAAs’ is Twinlab’s Amino Fuel 2000.

Many asian men find it difficult to get really muscular due to genetics, but find it easier to get and stay lean, at least in my own experience that is the case. I grew up skinny and really lean and no matter what I tried to gain weight it did not work. It’s only after consistent dedicated time in the gym, in the kitchen, and with proper supplementation I was able to build and retain lean muscle. No matter where you are in your fitness journey, it is important to remain inspired and strive for your goal. I was browsing the internet and came upon this site, Pinoymuscle.com. I was surprised to learn that there are many dedicated filipino bodybuilders. One of them is Cesar Lokines (pictured), who inspires me because I know that I can achieve his results. He started off skinny too and today he competes at 160 pounds weight class. He is the same height as me, same weight but much leaner. Looking at his pictures inpires me to get the same results.

WE LOVE THIS STUFF! It’s not all in your mind, when you drink this creatine and nitric oxide combination, you can actually feel it working. You’ll be able to lift more weight and have a longer workout as the drink makes it’s way through your bloodstream. You’ll swear it makes you warmer and pumps up a thermogenic effect as you feel it start to work.

For best results, drink 30 minutes before a workout. Start with 1 scoop at first to make sure it doesn’t cause stomach upset – and then up dosage to up to three scoops. Recommended usage (from the canister) is four weeks on and four week off to ensure maximum results. Flavors include: grape, fruit punch, lemon lime, blue raspberry, orange citrus punch and lemonade frost. Get single serving packets at your supplement store to take a taste test.

From the Manufacturer:

NO-Xplode is the world’s first and only pre-workout supplement that produces immediate results in energy, size, strength, pumps, performance, mental focus, and training intensity…You will literally see and feel it working within minutes of taking it! NO-Xplode has the unique ability to get you dialed in and pumped up for every single workout by inducing the strongest and most advanced nitric oxide, creatine, and body-mind stimulating surge ever developed in a supplement. No other products can say that! No other products can do that! The ingredient profile is mind-blowing!

Many of the ingredients in NO-Xplode are completely unique and relatively unheard of, and to date have never been applied to a product of this magnitude. If you think there is something out there, or that will come along, that will outperform this product – it’s not possible! I spent a year developing this product and it is more complicated to formulate than imaginable. Most companies are not willing to spend the time or money on trying to develop a product of this caliber.

In an effort to protect NO-Xplode from knock-off companies, BSN has filed for various patents to help protect the products integrity. Simply, there has never been a product to date that has even come close to producing the growth, pump, mental focus, and performance factors that NO-Xplode will come to be know for. NO-Xplode is an amazing accomplishment in the history of supplementation.

Here’s a couple of personal reviews:

“I have used this product for the last seven weeks with AMAZING results. I have gained 20 lbs quickly. The only side-effect has been mild heartburn while running. This product is well-worth trying for weight training.”

and another one:

 ”This product is ridiculous!! Not in a bad way but ridiculous in the fact that my first time taking a serving I felt twice the energy, twice the bloodflow and three times as ready to hit the gym. My first thoughts, ‘well maybe it’s because my body isn’t used to it yet’.
Not only that, I have passed this little known supplement on to friends and they have all said the same exact thing. OMG!! I only work out to stay in shape but with this product many people are telling me I look like I workout professionally. The fruit punch is easily the best flavor. “

What are the best protein bars? We went to Amazon and searched for protein bars and then read the customer reviews. The top result was Kashi’s GOLEAN Protein & Fiber Bars available in chocolate peanut, chocolate almond and chocolate caramel. From the manufacturer:

Protein & fiber bar. Protein 9g. Fiber 6g. All natural. Reformulated for optimized glycemic response. Calcium, folic acid, Vitamin E and other really great nutrients! This all-natural snack is the blissful combination of decadent chocolate ad roasted peanut butter. And to help meet your daily needs, GoLean Crunchy! bars contain a specific blend of nutrients, including calcium, folic acid and Vitamin E. GoLean Crunchy! bars are now designed for an optimized glycemic response to help balance blood sugar. The glycemic response is optimized by the type of carbohydrates and unique combination of protein and fiber. Slow release carbs. GoLean Crunchy! bars contain whole grains, nuts and low glycemic carbs to help deliver a steady stream of energy, helping you avoid sugar spikes and crashes. GoLean Crunchy! bars are a good source of protein. Protein helps give you a lasting feeling of satisfaction and is essential for muscle development. GoLean Crunchy! bars are high in fiber, which promote a lower glycemic response and helps you feel full longer. At Kashi, everything we create supports our belief that healthy living begins with healthy eating. That’s why we created the GoLean family or products with a unique blend of protein and fiber to help you stay satisfied, energized and committed to eating right! Diabetic Exchange: 2 carbohydrates & 1 lean protein.

But with only 9 grams of protein per serving, this may not be for hard core muscle building. Let’s check some reviews:

I bought these for busy days at work when I don’t have time for lunch, and to lose a little wieght. The chocolate makes them taste like a treat, not a diet. And they’re high in fiber and protein, so a good option as a meal-replacement. Plus, they’re delicious! I look forward to my bar each day.

They may taste good, but other brands will pack more protein in one bar to eat on the go.

Exercising your abdominal muscles with a Swiss ball is one of the best ways a guy can jump-start his routine, for what may seem unique to you is actually quite familiar to your muscles. A Swiss ball mimics movements your abdominal muscles typically do throughout the day. “The abdominal wall’s greatest job isn’t to cud you off the floor; it’s to constantly support and stabilize your body in an upright, balanced position all day long,” says Jeff Bell, C.S.C.S., N.A.S.M., A.C.S.M., co-owner of Spectrum Wellness, New York City. Merely positioning yourself on the ball forces all your muscles (especially your abs) to naturally contract before you even start a movement. “Doing crunches on top of a ball also lets you bend back through a greater range of motion to work more muscle fibers along a safe, supported surface,” says Bell. “Trying to arch your lower back on a flat surface to achieve the same effect will only compromise the spine instead of strengthen your abdominals.”

MEDICINE BALL PUSH-UP (inner chest, lower chest, triceps) Get on your knees and place your hands along the sides of a medicine ball, spreading your fingers wide to help grip the surface. (If you don’t have access to a medicine ball, use a soccer ball, basketball or any other round object.) The space between your index fingers and your thumbs should form the shape of a diamond. Balance your weight on the ball, then carefully extend your legs behind you to assume the traditional push-up posture (7a). Lower yourself down until your chest touches your hands (7b), then slowly press yourself back up and repeat for as many repetitions as possible.

Step 4: Try the pyramid scheme This technique has nothing to do with a Ponzi vertical marketing scheme. The pyramids we’re referring to actually do pay off by enabling you to blast your deep-muscle fibers. This is accomplished by using less weight and higher reps at the start of an exercise routine, and progressing toward heavier weight and fewer reps at the end. By pyramiding the weight, you are gradually warming yourself up for the next set, and at the same time strengthening your muscle or the exhausting task ahead. Pyramiding also helps to improve your balance and get you comfortable with the movement, so you’ll be able to pound out that final heavy set to absolute muscular failure.

Pressdowns produce intense, continuous pressure over the entire triceps area, and the rope pressdown can fry your tris better than most other variations. At the start of the movement, turn your palms inward and position them on a plane in front of your sternum. As you press down, simultaneously do two things: Pronate your hands until your palms face the floor, and slowly move your hands apart until your thumbs are approximately 12 inches apart. Called a flareout, this movement throws a truly nasty pump on the lateral head.

Convert anger to conviction. “Anger is the feeling; aggression is the behavior,” Pfeiffer notes. “It’s possible to feel angry and do something that’s constructive or creative, not destructive.” Much of the time, anger is based on a sense that other people have violated your rights or needs. Say the team captain has said something demeaning to you. Rather than attacking him physically or calling him names, ask yourself why the statement made you angry. Then identify the principle you feel is being violated – in this case, that you should be treated with respect – and put your conviction into words. “Anger makes you wild,” Goulston notes. “Conviction makes you strong.”