rideon7

I am wondering if anyone has tried NO-Xplode nitric oxide supplement, designed to enhance performance especially as regards weight training. One on-line listing for it is here:

https://www.bsnonline.net/products/pr...d=834266000012

My son, who is a college baseball player, uses it in his weight training, and he says it is working for him (adding muscle mass). However, I am not my son's age. I am 50+ years old, and my goals are different from his. I would like to gain some upper body strength leading to greater stamina on the bike. A bit more background: I cycle a lot, leaning more toward recreational than racing now because of age. I participate in duathlons about three times a year and one triathlon per year. My long-ride goal this summer is a one-week ride of the Rockies. I also run. Main challenges these days are reduced energy and strength because of age.

NO-Xplode is not a steroid. Interested if any others have tried it, especially those who compete in the Master's category.

barryflht

I am 50 and started back weight training last March after many many years away from it. I've tried both products and NOXplode does nothing for me that coffee won't do other than make me pass gas in the gym.

I use nitrix, actually a product I get at GNC called Nitro Maxx....They don't really add any muscle mass. You can only do that with work and diet, but Nitric Oxide products effectively open up your blood vessels so nutrients can flow better and you will get some incredible pumps when using.

zencadance

Have heard from other gym rats that it makes you a bit hyper in fact very hyper,that's how it works you train harder and get bigger.I think accepting your age would be better than looking for the magic powder of youth,get more rest.I'm older myself and I'm in good health so I would not at this point wish to try something that may be dangerous.

H2Row

Well I'm a lot younger than you (16) and I use it for rowing during competitions - it really gives me an energy boost which helps in performance. In training it will give you that boost and allow you to train harder and therefore get more results :-)

Cochise

I use it on occasion when I just cant get motivated by myself, it is a great energy boost but be careful because it is addicting. If you decided to try it I would recommend taking only one scoop instead of two other wise you will be out the wall hyper.

rideon7

Thanks to all who responded to my question about NO-Xplode. May buy a sample pack of that or Nitrix. Just sort of a "I wonder what would happen if I tried this in my work-out" kind of thing. Yes, half (or less) of the regular dosage sounds about right. After all, I'm not in show-room condition anymore.

the shark

Most products are hype and crap and backed by limited studies etc. Even when you study the results product's quote is not worth it. Product might give you some energy or feeling of a pump that is about it. They also have contaminants and other crap in many products. Just not worth it.

Also, I am not sure how gaining upperbody strength is going to help you on with bike stamina. If you are going to do some tri's then just swim to strengthen upperbody, and continue lifting.

Just stick with working out hard, and take some protein powder with gatorade after the wk out, then a good healthy meal.

If after 90 days or hard work you are not getting results, then maybe look for the majic pill, but that path is really not worth it.

Tom Stormcrowe

Here's some cited info on the metabolic effects of Nitric Oxide
https://www.circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/...ll/107/25/3118

L-Arganine supplementation (Nitric Oxide precursor, to increase natural production of N.O.)
https://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/134/3/600

If you take either, use caution, as they are still are investigating the effects of NO and precursor supplementation and don't have a long data set to evaluate long term effects.

ModoVincere

^^^ good post and good advice.

Carbonfiberboy 

It's like this. Your body makes NO in response to exercise. It's the exercise that's important, BTW, not the NO. But in any case, I'll betcha that the amount of NO which your body makes is just the right amount. And my guess is that the chemicals in this stuff don't actually cause your body to make more. The other thing this stuff has in it is creatine. It is very possible that, for vegetarians and vegans, a little creatine helps recovery after a workout. There is absolutely no evidence the pre-workout ingestion of creatine helps a cyclist at all, and it may be a hindrance.

But the main effect of this stuff, and the effect on which posters have commented, is that it contains a powerful stimulant. There is good reason to believe that taking stimulants before a workout decreases performance because the effect of stimulants decreases with usage. So when you want to really go, like during a race, or an overnight ride, or just a killer group ride, the stimulant effect of caffeine won't be there for you. You sort of used it up doing stupid workouts in the gym.

I used to drink coffee before a hard workout, especially if I didn't feel motivated. I quit that. It's counterproductive. If you don't feel motivated, what you need to do is rest. If you don't feel motivated after resting, perhaps cycling isn't your sport. You gotta love it and want it. If you want it, you'll do it. Stimulants . . . So you take a stimulant to get motivated before you do something with your S.O? See what I mean?

What you can do that really works, and is proven to work, is to drink a post-workout recovery drink. Put a little more protein in it after weights, and a little more carbo in it after a long ride. No fancy chemicals.

rideon7

Thanks for these links. Was looking for peer-reviewed medical journals about NO but didn't come up with any hits, so these help!

rideon7

Motivation isn't really the issue, it's age-related loss of stamina and soreness (an NO supplement is not going to do anything to alleviate soreness). There are things that help for the 50+ athlete, glucosomine, for example. I put up the initial inquiry to ask if anyone had experience with the NO Xplode supplement, then to base my own decision taking that information into consideration. You're right, the stimulant doesn't sound positive. Only two posters have given their age here. How old are you, carbonfiberboy?

late

I like this stuff. Has nothing to do with weightlifting, but I find it helps quite a bit after exercising hard.
https://www.newchapter.info/product/p...&-KeyValue=108

Tom Stormcrowe

No worries, I just checked a couple of medical databases. Found the links there and then took a look for public access versions connected to them.

Carbonfiberboy 

I'm 62. I was given this moniker in 2000 when I got my carbon Trek and was such a little kid about it. I don't believe there is an age-related loss of stamina. I did a 15 hour 400k last year, and I will be even stronger this year. I've been stronger every year. I have friends nearing 70 who can put trained 40 YO riders away. I ride with a national champion in his 20s, and I'm a nothing. So maybe at 80 I'll be tired. For increased stamina, do more high intensity training. For soreness, try whey protein, 15g within 10 minutes after a ride or workout and then enough more over the course of the next day that your legs are ready to go again after 24 hours. Get a recording, downloading HRM and limit your zone 5 to 20 minutes/week and your zone 4 to an hour/week, but use those quantities as goals. Weight train. Don't ride hard when your HR won't come up, but ride. Do easy rides when you're tired, but ride. I take glucosamine, a little creatine, and about 10 other vitamins and minerals, and lots of those. I eat a mostly organic, natural foods, vegetarian diet. I have a full-time job. I'm married and I don't take you know what.

Eulogy13x

In your body, the levels of *NO production are self-limiting by the O2 levels in the blood. When you take supplements like this, you throw this out the window, which is bad. FYI, I'd be careful with this stuff; my thesis examined the damage caused to your cells by excess nitric oxide, and it's not pretty. Short-term, probably not bad. Long term, probably VERY bad for your heart. On the good side, this thread just gave me an idea for a new research proposal.

Tom Stormcrowe

CFBoy, there isn't an age related decrease in stamina....matter of fact, it's kind of the opposite. Our stamina for endurance actually seems to get better.......

Now this may be from better time, life and activity management skills and better able to hoard resources for the finish rather than burning it out in the beginning, but the effect is still there. What does slow down is recovery time.

rideon7

Awesome! Sounds much like the book Younger Next Year . . . by Crowley and Lodge. I admire your endurance and the info you provide that works for you. I consider my lifestyle generally healthy. As you with you, I have a wife and a full-time job--a high school teacher, so, yeah, I think age does make a difference, though often in a positive way.

Thanks again for your info.

rideon7

Cool. And would this detrimental effect apply regardless of age? Perhaps even moreso at some age levels? When doing the searches to try and get more info about NO-Xplode, I found several discussions on bodybuilding/weighttraining forums. Some guys said it worked for them, some said it didn't (didn't see any comments by women--go figure), but not one of them mentioned any potential ill effects. Part of my question is out of concern because my son takes the stuff, as does just about everyone else on his team, or they take something like it.

jamesstout

they sent me a few free samples but to be honest it isn't great - its taste is though! it contains quite a few stimulants and i wouldn't want it every day it also has crazy colourings¬

Packeteer

I have taken NO xplode and other NO and creatine supplements. I am 22 years old and train for cycling as well as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The NO xplode really helps for the Jiu Jitsu but not so much for the cycling. I sprint better when taking No xplode but the endurance doesn't get better.

One of the big problems i see with people taking NO xplode and thinking it helps them is they dont account for the caffeine. You might want to try taking a Nitric Oxide boosting suppliment and/or a creatine suppliment instead. I find that although NO xplode does work it only does as good as taking caffiene+creatine+Nitric Oxide. I think a lot of people take NO xplode and get all jacked up off the caffeine and think that they are getting something coffee can't do.

Also remember that taking creatine lowers your bodies own production of it. So unless you are taking creatine all the time or almost never i would say skip it. You risk running into a situation where you take it jsut enough to lower your natural production but not taking it every time you train. This leads to your creatine supplementation lowering your normal performance. I personally save the pre-workout suppliments for anerobic training or important competition. Other than that i would advise you to skip it.