AMA FDA misrepresentation, weight training tempo, muscle weight gain

More muscle and More Sex! Part I

By: Mike Furci (mike@bullz-eye.com)

01/08/2001

Furci Home / Fitness Channel / Bullz-Eye Home

Quality Assurance

Let me start by saying that I'm one of the most skeptical people I know when it comes to the supplement industry. I started working out seriously in 1983 at a time when the supplement industry pretty much did what it wanted without consequence. Most supplements on the market at that time were worthless. Manufacturers would do and say whatever it took to get you to buy their products. I, like many others, fell prey to the industry and wasted more money than I care to think about.

Well, times have changed and though there are still snake oil salesmen promoting their garbage, the supplement industry has really taken a turn for the better. The quality of products has risen dramatically since the early 1990s. This is no doubt due to MET-Rx. 

MET-Rx is by far the most innovative supplement company to date. The quality and efficiency of its products have set new industry standards since the company's inception. One of its products, Zinc Magnesium Aspartate, is one of two I will be reporting on in this two-part article. The other is Tribex 500 made by Biotest. Biotest, like Met-Rx, is very concerned with quality and is also at the forefront of the industry. These are not the only products these companies sell, as both have several other supplements that are of the highest quality you'll find.

A Personal Experience

About six years ago a popular professional bodybuilder turned me on to a product called Tribestan. This product was and still is distributed by Sopharma. The main ingredient found in Tribestan is tribulus terrestris, which is supposed to increase your testosterone, lean body weight and sex drive. I had seen this product all over the magazines for a long time but as I wrote above, I am the epitome of skepticism and if it weren't for this bodybuilder, I never would have considered trying it.

Following his instructions, I took Tribestan for about six months. Nothing, absolutely nothing happened. Not even an allergic reaction. He also got a lot of my friends to try it and the response was the same. Later, I found out this idiot was sponsored by Sopharma, so of course he's going to push this crap. 

As time went on, I kept reading about the positive effects of Tribulus Terrestris, not only that it will increase sex drive and testosterone, but will also help to decrease cholesterol. Very respected people in the industry wrote many of the articles I read. Every so often I would try new products that contained tribulus terrestris, and each time I swore I would never waste my money again. I couldn't understand what was going on. There was so much data supporting Tribulus, yet the product had zero effect on my body. Either the companies weren't putting the actual ingredient in their products or the quality was too poor to elicit any effect.

Enter Biotest. About nine months ago I decided to give Tribex 500 a try. This decision again was made only after reading many articles and endorsements from people with impeccable reputations. Yet, I truly thought I again was wasting my money. However, much to my surprise the first thing I started to notice after about a week of use was an increase in my sex drive. No, not a small increase, but a sharp increase. I would see a beautiful woman, and BAM! Erection! The wind would blow, and BAM! OK, so that's a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the idea.

And as far as having sex was concerned, I felt like I was in my early twenties again. I wanted it all the time. Now, I'm a horn dog to begin with, so this was almost too much. Well, at least my wife thought so.

After about two weeks I started to notice that I was getting a little leaner. My veins were showing a little more and my muscularity was definitely improving. I'm not saying there were dramatic gains of muscle and a tremendous loss of fat; however, I am saying that this stuff definitely gives a good kick and will help you along in your goals. And you've got to admit, raising your sexual drive and performance is not a bad thing.

Tribex 500 active ingredients

So what is in this stuff that produces such positive effects?

Tribulus terrestris: This is a very powerful herb that has been shown to elevate testosterone in numerous studies. Many researchers believe this herb increases the levels of luteinizing hormone, which positively affects testosterone levels. Research also shows increased blood flow to Mr. Happy by relaxing the corpus cavernosums (where the blood goes when an erection occurs). This relaxation effect is speculated to be very similar to the mechanism by which Viagra works.

FGP: This compound works by inhibiting estrogen receptors at the hypothalamus. Basically, it tells the hypothalamus that there is a lower level of estrogen. The hypothalamus governs how much luteinizing hormone to produce based upon the amount of estrogen it senses in the body. The lower the perceived estrogen, the more luteinizing hormone is produced, which positively effects testosterone.

Avena sativa: This plant has been shown to increase levels of free testosterone. The higher the amount of free testosterone, the more muscle you'll have. 'Nuff said.   

FAQs

Are there any negative side effects?  Do you consider wanting to have sex all the time a negative side effect? Do you consider better sexual performance a negative side effect? Do you consider a better sense of well being a negative side effect? Unless you feel any of the above to be a negative side effect, I'm here to tell you there are none. 

Will Tribex 500 help me get leaner?  It is a fact that with an increase in testosterone comes an increase in lipolysis (fat burning). Higher testosterone levels not only help to build muscle but also help to increase your basal metabolic rate. However, the effect will be greatly enhanced by training and eating properly.

What kind of gains can I expect?  The gains from person to person will vary just as the gains from weight training will vary. The average person can expect to gain from five to 10 pounds of muscle within the first month or two providing that he is eating right and training right. Training, diet and testosterone all have a synergistic effect. To get the full effect of the increase in testosterone, you must not exclude the other two.

Dosage

Numerous studies have been done on the individual components of Tribex 500, and it is my understanding that there are studies being done on the product as a whole. The preliminary reports are very positive. So what do we know? We know this product does work. We also know that the law of diminishing returns applies to Tribex 500. In other words, just because you take more than the recommended dosage doesn't mean a better effect will result. A dosage of four to five capsules is recommended for the best overall results. 

For your info 

Below you'll find the results of a recent study. These results pinpoint why I wasn't getting any positive effects from other tribulus products. The Saponins and protodioscin are the active ingredients in tribulus terrestris, and without them the products are worthless. 

Product	Biotest	Saponins	Protodioscin
Tribex 500	Biotest	74.49%	19.11mg
Tribestan	Sopharma	60.50%	14.14mg
TMZ	Muscle Link	14.88%	Non Detected
Tribulus Fuel	Twinlab	11.86%	Non Detected

Not all exercises, diets or supplements are suitable for everyone. Before you begin any program, you should have permission from your doctor to participate in vigorous exercise or change of diet or to take various nutritional supplements. If you feel discomfort or pain when you exercise, do not continue. The instructions and advice presented in this article are in no way intended as medical advice or as a substitute for medical counseling. Please consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet or exercise program. The creators, producers, participants and distributors of Bullz-Eye.com and the articles contained herein disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the exercise and advice provided here.

Got a question for Mike? Send it to mike@bullz-eye.com.