Universal Nutrition Launches Intra-Aid
November 18, 2008
No, it’s not called Kool Aid it’s called “Intra-Aid” and it’s Universal Nutrition’s newest product launch and they’re expecting big things from it. Intra-workout nutrition represents the next supplement category for bodybuilders.
Benefits of Intra-Workout Supplementation:
- Better Rehydration
- Enhanced Muscle Liver Glycogen
- Improved Immune Function
- Decreased Catabolism
- Increased Protein Synthesis
- Faster Recovery
- Maintained Pump (For The Ladies)
Universal’s Intra-Aid consists of 5 potent components: fast-acting hydrolyzed protein, a highly specialized carbohydrate blend, critical electrolytes, an essential amino acid blend, and key ergogenic agents.
Universal Nutrition has been in the iron game since 1977 and sells their supplements in over 100 countries worldwide! Universal, Optimum, PVL, Interactive, Dymatize and Ultimate Nutrition are a few of the supplement companies that manufacturer most of their own supplements. This helps keep their prices reasonable and their quality high. Companies like Nutrex, BSN, Garbage Performance Products (yes that’s the company name) and now supplement veteran Ultimate Nutrition have all thrown guns into the “intra-workout” supplement war. Ultimate just released their intraworkout supplement called “adreNOline” which looks like a fantastic product based on the formula alone. Look for intraworkout powders, RTDs and shots to be big in 2009.
BSN Wins 6 Awards!
October 15, 2008
At this year’s Olympia weekend, the annual 2008 Bodybuilding.com Supplement Awards took place which were based on over 200,000 consumer votes for these awards. BSN reigned supreme by winning more categories than 
any other supplement company!
BSN won the following 6 categories:
- Brand Of The Year
- Creatine Product Of The Year – CELL MASS
- Energy Supplement Of The Year – ATRO-PHEX
- Muscle Builder Of The Year - N.O. XPLODE
- Nitric Oxide Product Of The Year - N.O. XPLODE
- Best Weight Gainer Of The Year – TRUE-MASS
I would have awarded them “Best Labels Of The Year” but Universal inched them out of that win by one place. However, not to dampen their win but I wouldn’t have had their "Atrophex" product even in the energy supplement category as it’s a fat burner. In that spot, I would elected to put their Endorush RTD in the race. But of course, that’s just one bald man’s opinion!
Do You Remember The Bad Press BSN Faced This Past Year?
The bad press involved their three main products possibility not actually containing a rare type of creatine that they listed on their labels. I first read about this on the blog Inside Bodybuilding which also gave the link to the actual lawsuit (see SupplementPolice.com to view the lawsuit). But BSN did NOT hide behind the scenes and pretend the bad press didn’t exist. They issued a press release right away that addressed the negative claims being made against them like a true leader would. Now I’ve never worked for BSN and I don’t kiss anyone’s ass in the supplement industry, but I must applaud them on being a company that seems to be true to their fans. Companies like BSN , Cytosport , Optimum , Ultimate Nutrition and a few others are what I consider to be some of the "good guys" of our industry and their popularity is reflected by this business approach.
Did Anyone Know Ultimate Nutrition Signed Markus Ruhl?
August 6, 2008
It wasn’t publicized well so I thought I’d cover it off now as it leads nicely to a post I’m doing later this week. On February 1, 2008 Ultimate Nutrition signed the german mass monster Marcus Ruhl to endorse their product line. Marcus has not competed since 2006 according to the website http://www.bodybuilders.com/ruhl.htm and thus far really hasn’t been utilized in the Ultimate Nutrition print ads very much. So was this the right sign for Ultimate? Maybe, maybe not. Let me explain…
Pimpin Ain’t Easy Volume 1 - Enter German American Technologies
You may remember, Markus endorsing the 
original German American Technologies “STENANDIOL” kit (see pic to the left where he “sells out” and appears right on the box). He was also plastered all over their advertorials for years and they were VERY heavy advertisers which compounds the problem of a supplement consumer associating a brand with a particular supplement line. From my understanding, one of the employees at the original German American Technologies company was a bright German scientist named Jens Ingenohl. 
He is best known as the author of the 1996 steroid book ”World Anabolic Review” where he wrote under a fake name of Manfred Bachmann.
Controversial Changes Down At German American Technologies?
After some type of business change, new owners took over German American Technologies and 
Gens decided to leave to start his own supplement company that would prove to be much more successful than anyone imagined. The new owners of G.A.T. (as they now went by) gave their “STENANDIOL” kit a facelift and released some pretty good products. Today their lead product is the liquid fat burner JET FUEL which as been on the market for 2 years and sells quite well.
Pimpin Ain’t Easy Volume 2 - Enter NUTREX
Gens teamed up with supplement industry veteran Jeff McCarrell and started NUTREX Research. McCarrell was a a marketing expert with tons of connections as he had worked for MET-Rx, Weider, VPX, EAS, you name it. His sales and marketing skills were exactly what Gens needed to take his cutting-edge formulas to the next level. The first athlete they signed was … fellow German Markus Ruhl. McCarrell utilized Ruhl everywhere he could. Quickly, consumers connected Ruhl (who was making a real name for himself in competition) with the Nutrex line of products which began selling very well. For years, Markus became the poster boy for Nutrex and many consumers automatically associate him with the Nutex brand. This will take time to change in the consumers mind.
Celebrity Endorsement 101
To take on some of the big boys in the industry, you can’t do that by signing B level champs. Athletes (like celebrities) have their place in a marketing program but you must always look for talent that brings your brand up to their level. The best example of this happening in bodybuilding was when BSN signed Ronnie Coleman. Almost overnight, BSN broke out of the “up-and-coming company” they were perceived as, to a top company in the consumers mind. In my opinion, Markus Ruhl’s popularity is on the decline which can pull your brand down with them. New consumers are constantly coming into the industry everyday and replacing older guys that lose interest. If you don’t keep appealing to the younger consumers, eventually you’re through. Click HERE to see a cool YouTube video on Markus Ruhl.
Ronnie Coleman Sues Gold’s Gym?
July 29, 2008
By Scott Welch
Today I was on www.GetBig.com, which I frequent at least three times a day and a member named “ja351” posted a very interesting update on BSN spokes model and 8-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman. Supposedly the big Texan is suing Gold’s Gym for allegedly using his muscles to lure in members into the gym! No not the bald cartoon figure they’ve used for years on their company logo but I guess a poster they’ve circulated with his image on it. In a lawsuit filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Coleman claims Gold’s used a photo of him to advertise Gold’s … a photo that was plastered on posters. According to the website tmz.com Coleman is suing for misappropriation of image, invasion of privacy and unjust enrichment. He’s seeking unspecified damages and an injunction putting and end to the use of him on the poster.
SOURCE FOR FORUM POST: http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=226215.0
ORIGINAL STORY: http://www.tmz.com/2008/07/28/mr-olympia-rages-at-golds-gym/
11 UFC Fighters Get Drug Tested!
July 23, 2008
By Scott Welch
According to a great blog I tune into everyday called “Inside Bodybuilding” (http://www.insidebodybuilding.blogspot.com) The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) has provided the names of 11 fighters from this past Saturday’s UFC event that were tested for drugs and steroids. Tested Fighters Include: Anderson Silva, James Irvin, Tim Credeur, Cale Yarborough, Hermes Franca, Frank Edgar, Cain Velasquez, Brandon Vera, CB Dollaway, Nate Loughran, and Shannon Gugerty.
To the best of my knowledge, Anderson Silva is the only fighter on the list who has a supplement endorsement contract. Anderson is under contract with Canadian supplement company Nutrabolics (www.nutrabolics.com). Test results will be in within the next week. With the recent signing with BSN, the UFC has some serious momentum on their side for attracting new supplement users to the category. One failed drug test will drastically set the legitimacy of these guys as athletes way back once the media gets a hold of it.
BSN Signs Deal With UFC But Was This A Good Move?
July 18, 2008
In case you missed it, supplement giant BSN just announced a multi-year partnership agreement with the UFC. BSN’s CEO Chris Ferguson comments on the partnership:
“I’m proud to announce that BSN is now the ‘Official Nutritional Supplement Provider’ of the UFC®. MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world today. We are excited to be aligned with an organization as prestigious as the UFC® and are eager to stretch our brand with this partnership by showcasing our product line … We have entered into this strategic partnership with the UFC® to solidify our combined global presence.”
BSN has already showcased their brand logo in the center of the octagon at a recent pay per view and have already developed a MMA site at www.bsn-mma.com and also now have a presence on www.ufc.com.
MMA is definitely one of the fastest growing sports and many people from various walks of life are watching it. If you’ve been to an event, you’ll agree that the audience is massive and the adrenaline high.
Now BSN is definitely one of the top 5 largest companies in the industry. They’ve got hot new products like VOLUMAIZE (www.volumaizemf.com) and another new product is rumored to be coming out, but was this a good use of their resources? Will this move BSN further out of their core bodybuilding focus and make them seem like more of an active-lifestyle company? Can a supplement company ever be the brand of choice amongst hardcore bodybuilders and mainstream people at the same time?
With an alliance with the UFC you DO reach many people but are you reaching THE RIGHT people?
I asked Domenic Mauro (pictured below choking out UFC president Dana White) what he thought about the BSN UFC deal. Domenic is the president of Nexus Sport Management and one of the go-to guys in the fitness industry when it comes to what’s going on with athletes, who signed with who etc.
Here’s what “The Domenator” had to say:
“Great move for BSN! In addition to sharing a similar target market, the UFC is the largest MMA organization on the planet currently promoting the sport through Pay Per View events and programming on SpikeTV. Don’t be surprised if you see BSN taking advantage of product placement on both TV shows “UFC All Access” and “The Ultimate Fighter”. To complete the equation, BSN should also sign a UFC fighter (such as George St. Pierre) and a UFC Octagon Girl (such as Rachelle Leah) to include in their marketing and help brand the relationship and confirm the connection with the UFC.
BSN’s timing to associate itself with the UFC and the sport of MMA as the “Official Nutritional Supplement Provider Of The UFC” couldn’t be more advantageous. With the popularity of MMA continuing to grow and increasing mainstream attention being brought to it through network giants such as NBC (“Strikeforce On NBC”) and CBS (“CBS Elite XC Saturday Night Fights”) broadcasting it, the UFC will inevitably receive more attention. Mainstream is also granting more credibility to UFC athletes. Most recently, UFC Welterweight Champion George St. Pierre was the first MMA fighter to ever be nominated for the ESPY Best Fighter Award…an honour usually given to mainstream Boxers.”
Optimum Nutrition Releases … A New Flavour?
July 15, 2008
By Scott Welch
It seems every time I turn around, Chicago based Optimum Nutrition (www.OptimumNutrition.com) has another new product being launched! Last month it was Salmon Oil capsules, this month it’s a Rocky Road flavour of their post-workout powder “RECOVERY 2:1:1”. Common guys – who cares about a new flavour? Give bodybuilders a revolutionary new ingredient that nobody else has. Give us the next Creatine! Okay, okay, I’m just busting your chops because you’re the top 5 largest supplement company in the industry and I want you to discover a new ingredient that turns the industry upside down!
QUALITY AT A LOW PRICE?
The Optimum line is a top-notch product line and the price is unbeatable. At this year’s Arnold Classic, I spoke with Jay Jacobsen who heads up their marketing at Optimum and I was really impressed with his knowledge level. They are certainly not near the top of the supplement industry by fluke. But in my books, what sets them apart from most of the others is the fact that they are one of the few companies that own their own manufacturing plant and distribution company. Most companies rely on large distribution companies like Europa Sports (www.EuropaSports.com) and Boss (http://www.bossonline.net/index.html) to sell their products to the to the thousands of stores and gyms in America. But distribution companies mark the product price up to cover their costs (and so they should), which makes your supplements cost more, by the time they reach the store. (Hey, that rhymes doesn’t it?). Anyway! Optimum cuts this step out for the most part with their own trucks, sales force, and warehousing. This is just one difference that allows them to sell great products at a lower price than some other companies. In Canada however, Optimum uses a top-notch distribution company called “Upper49th” (www.Upper49th.com) to sell their supplements and they do a terrific job from what I’ve seen.
RECOVERY 2:1:1
Hey in my books, it’s not the best name for a supplement (for the same reason I covered with my last BIOTEST post.) In terms of the formula though, it looks pretty good. In ON’s words, RECOVERY 2:1:1 is based on:
“…the latest science demonstrating that blending different types of carbs and proteins maximizes absorption and leads to better results than the use of larger amounts of any single type.”
BLENDING DIFFERENT PROTEINS
I agree that there are advantages to blending different types of proteins with each other, especially faster digesting proteins (like whey) with slower proteins (like casein). If there are high levels of the faster digesting proteins to keep you in an anabolic state until the slower digesting proteins break down into their constituent amino acids, you are in good shape. Otherwise, your body may slide into a catabolic state. ”Help my muscle mass is falling and I cannot get it back up!” High levels of these fast-digesting proteins (i.e. whey protein) are especially important after a workout when muscle tissue is damaged.
BLENDING DIFFERENT TYPES OF CARBS
In concept, this makes sense and I agree with it. Waxy Maize is one such carb, as is Vitargo, dextrose, maltodextrin (a.k.a. glucose polymers) and a newer carb popping into a few new post-workout supplements called Trehalose. One such post-workout powder to include this is “ANABOLIC WINDOW” by Nutrabolics (www.Nutrabolics.com). But let’s not take the spotlight off “RECOVERY 2:1:1” now! There are two other carbs in the formula that I agree with adding in small amounts like Optimum has done – they are: Sucrose & Fructose. To start with, Sucrose (a.k.a. table sugar) is a disaccharide, which means it’s made of two sugar molecules attached to each other. One of these is glucose (a.k.a. Dextrose or D-glucose) the other is Fructose (a.k.a. Levulose). One reason many companies include Fructose in their formula (especially protein bars) is because it’s sweater than most other carbs which helps with flavouring while keeping the calories down. But it’s also added from a physiological side, as it can help raise liver glycogen levels more efficiently than other carbohydrates. After a workout muscle glycogen will be low of course, but liver glycogen may also be low. Adding a bit of fructose and sucrose after your workout will help boost liver glycogen.
THE RECOVERY 2:1:1 FORMULA
The formula delivers BCAAs in the ideal 2:1:1 (Leucine:Isoleucine:Valine) ratio needed for anabolism, 35 g of a blend of slow and fast-acting proteins and 70 grams of carbohydrates from multiple source like waxy maize. As I’ve been saying for a few years now, Vitargo, Waxy Maize, and newer forms of Waxy Maize are going to be really hot when competitive bodybuilders catch on to this trend and other supplement companies start adding it to their products. And BSN thinks so also as they’ve just launched their version of Waxy Maize product to be consumed during your workout called VOLUMAIZE (www.volumaizemf.com).