Joe’s
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By Joe DeAngelis, NPC Bodybuilder & Powerlifter
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While visiting Universal Nutrition's R&D Department in New Brunswick, NJ, the staff immediately commented about the gains I had made since they last saw me. Indeed, my competitive weight at the 1998 NPC Ironman Championships in December was 241 on the day of the contest. Eight months later, my contest day weight at the 1999 IFBB North American Championships, held in August, was an official 254 lbs.
A lean thirteen pound gain in less than a year would be fantastic for anyone just starting a training program, but it is pretty astonishing for someone who's been in the iron game for fifteen years and who already has a high degree of muscle mass. So how did it happen?
After the Ironman, I was faced with the problem of needing more size in a relatively short period of time. I knew that eating all the junk food in sight would only add tons of bodyfat, but I needed enough calories for energy and nutrients to fuel muscle growth.
Being part of Team Universal, I had access to what I can confidently say are the best supplements in the world. But using the right tool for the right job is always important. And it's not always obvious. Which tools would I use? Here they are: Animal Pak, Animal MStak, A.M.P., BCAA 2000, Super Whey Pro, and SPM For Lean Mas.
I took the Animal Pak three times a day with meals to provide maximum vitamin/mineral support, along with key anabolic nutrients and glandulars. I did not want to shortchange myself of any nutrient, let alone vitamins and
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minerals. Animal MStak was taken after breakfast but before training to maximize my anabolic environment and my thermogenic potential, and to provide vital herbal support for related systems. Thirty minutes after taking one packet, I was a raging bull going into the gym! During the middle of the day and after my workouts, I took A.M.P., and BCAA 2000. For these supplements, I took 4-6 of each. I wanted the key aminos and anti-catabolic nutrients to do their work right away.
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In my own experience and based upon my conversations with some of the best bodybuilders and powerlifters in the world, I've learned that protein builds muscle. Aside from my combination of supplements, the real "secret" to my whole nutritional program was (and still is) my special protein powder blends. As with vegetables, I thought to myself, "Why should eat only one type of protein all day?"This kind of thinking led me to formulate my super protein mixes.
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Supplements offer convenience...
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The more protein you eat, the bigger and more muscular you become. There is no real evidence that high protein diets cause problems in healthy individuals, and the thinking that the human body can only absorb 30 grams of protein at one sitting is ludicrous. Show me someone who eats 30 grams of protein every three hours (totaling 240g in 24hours) and I'll show you someone who will never reach his full muscular potential.
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I began mixing different types of protein powders. Two scoops of SPM For Gainers, two scoops of Super Whey Pro, and two teaspoons of Glutamine Powder. For the record, I used Vanilla Super Whey and Vanilla SPM For Lean Mass. The flavor was absolutely INCREDIBLE! The combination also satisfied my sweet tooth completely. Each shake gave more than 80 grams of first-rate protein from three unique sources plus 10 extra grams of pure Glutamine.
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