Optimum NutritionInstantized BCAA Powder, Unflavored, Keto Friendly Branched Chain Essential Amino Acids Powder, 5000mg, 60 Servings (Packaging May Vary)

I added this supplement to my daily diet over the past month and there is a significant difference in my recovery. I lift 3-5x a week and ride about 75-100 miles on top of that. No soreness, feel good and ready for the next day.

Optimum Nutrition is the industry leader and I am a big fan of their product.I've decided to change my life style and challenge myself by getting into a better body physique. I work out twice a day and most of my routine are high intensity workout with a good mixture of heavy weight and light weight (with high reps) training.I always take branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) before, during, and after each work out.BCAA helps muscle recovery and prevent muscle loss. When the rate of synthesis equals the rate of breakdown, you don't gain or lose muscle. If the rate of synthesis exceeds the rate of breakdown, you gain muscle. When the rate of breakdown exceeds the rate of synthesis, you lose muscle. If you're dieting, you may be burning the candle at both ends: elevating muscle breakdown and reducing protein synthesis.Working out compounds the metabolic effects of dieting. The leaner one becomes, the more lethargic one can become. Decreased energy intake and decreased glycogen storage make for some rough training sessions. If you're too tired or weak to lift as heavy as your body was getting used to, your muscles will adapt, and they won't use as much energy to get the work done.That means your body won't increase lean muscle mass; it might also mean that your body will use lean muscle for energy because you aren't using it to lift a heavy load.BCAAs have even more positive benefits than reduced breakdown and increased protein synthesis. They might also help improve workout intensity! BCAAs compete with the amino acid tryptophan for entry into the brain, where tryptophan can be converted to the neurotransmitter serotonin.During exercise, serotonin levels rise and can (among other things) increase the perception of fatigue—that means a less intense workout for you.BCAA supplementation reduces the amount of tryptophan that enters the brain, and therefore reduces the amount of serotonin produced. This might allow you to work harder, longer.

I've been using Optimum Nutrition's Instantized BCAA 5000 Powder for a while now, and it has become a staple in my fitness routine. What I really like about it is how easily it mixes into water or my post-workout shake—no clumps or residue, which is a big plus. The taste is subtle and not overly sweet, which I prefer. Since I started taking it, I've noticed improved recovery after workouts and less muscle soreness the next day. It's a straightforward product that does what it promises without any fuss. Definitely recommended for anyone serious about their fitness goals!

WARNING: This tastes so bad that you won't be able to use it. I'm sure the effect of BCAA's are decent, but if you consume enough protein this supplement is probably a waste. Either way I wanted to give it a try. First, I mixed it with a protein shake and was barely able to drink it, and had to force myself too. The next time I took it, I figured it would be better just to mix it in a couple of ounces of water and down it. Well, it doesn't mix at all and is essentially hydrophobic, so it just sits in a big glob. I tried downing it and somehow managed to not puke everywhere in the kitchen. The taste was the worst thing I've ever had in my life. Before I bought it I saw the comments warning of the bad taste but figured it just didn't taste good. Boy was I wrong. Save yourself some money and go with the pills.

Unflavored reviewA stage 2 lifting productAt this stage I use three products1) Pure Whey ( I prefer Optimum whey chocolate )2) Creatine (No preference)3) Optimum Nutrition BCAA 5000mg unflavored.Why Optimum -Straightforward, no flashy packaging or complex list of ingredients promising instant gains. I was drawn to BCAA suppliment solely on my past experience with the Optimum brand. Their products mix well and do the job.Why BCAA -I train 4 days on 1 day off. I push myself hard and as a result i'm drained afterwards. I say that this is a stage 2 product because it will take you some time to truly drain yourself. If you're just starting out at the gym I recommend that you stick to just Whey protein. Why? Because you have a lot to learn about yourself and your form before you tire your targeted muscles out enough to warrant this product."I know i'm ready for this product stop trying to sway my decision and review the product itself"-I don't draw out the bitter and sickening taste of this product, nor do I complain about it. Amino acids aren't going to taste great, accept that. If you can take a shot of tequila you can suck down a few shots of water with a serving of this. I tend to put about 3 ounces of water in a cup with a serving of BCAA powder swirl fast and shoot it down. Refill the glass with another 3 ounces and get out any residual product. If you're taking Creatine replace the water with some juice to get your sugar spike.When to take - One serving before a workout and one after (I do about .75 serving per)Results - Immediate notice in decreased muscle fatigue. I had some terrible DOMS with most muscle groups. Even with a strong diet, the soreness affected my workouts. Once I incorporated BCAA powder into my daily routine I noticed a significant decrease in soreness, as a result my workouts became more intense.Why Optimum BCAA over others? I trust Optimum. I hear a lot of talk about 2:1:1 ratio of Leucine to Isoleucine and Valine being a good ratio. I did some searching and couldn't find any conclusive evidence of this being superior, but figured it didn't hurt to go with the general opinion on this one.4/5 stars-I am deducting a star because of the lack of scooper. It's not a huge deal but how much could it cost to throw a little measuring scooper in there. I was on the road the first time I used this product and I tried to tap some of this into my shaker. About 12 servings fell onto my lap.Summary:It's a great product from a reliable brand. It tastes like garbage, but if you can handle a shot you can handle this. I don't recommend buying if you have worked out for 2 years or less.Update 11/29/2013:I switched from 4 days on 1 day off to an intense full body one day on and one day off. I find the BCAA supplement far more useful on the 4 day on 1 day off training schedule. Since switching my routine I have trailed off from using this product.