Who should take Boom Stick? Studies have shown most men start to decline in natural testosterone production between their late 20s and early 30s. This slow decent continues until your early 40s. This is when many start to see a decrease in muscle tone, increased body fat, fatigue, and lower sex drive. Sound like fun? I thought not. This can be prevented by adding a natural testosterone booster to your daily routine. A product like Boom Stick is the perfect answer. Let me clarify, this is a natural test booster, so for anyone worried about steroid use or bodily harm from synthetic chemicals, you need not worry. Because it is natural, Boom Stick will not convert to estrogen, nor is it liver toxic. This also makes it an ideal product to use between cycles if you are a user of anabolics. Let’s get down to ingredients and how this amazing product works.
Featuring a heavy dose of D-Aspartic acid, this ingredient is sure to ramp up your natural testosterone production. Studies have shown that taking D-Aspartic Acid, also known as DAA, can cause a significant increase in the output of testosterone via the testes.
Boom Stick also includes an awesome ingredient known as Ashwagandha. This herb is phenomenal, as it help reduce stress by minimizing the stress hormone, Cortisol. It has also shown to have a positive effect on testosterone levels, while also increasing sperm levels in men. This, coupled with an increase in testosterone levels provided by the DAA will help maximize your exercising capabilities and your results.
Fenugreek is another cool ingredient used in this product. While studies show Fenugreek does not affect testosterone output on a significant scale, it does in fact help prevent the breakdown of testosterone, thus helping you maintain healthy hormone levels.
This next ingredient is really special, as it covers a problem not many seem to think about when it comes to boosting testosterone. Diindolylmethane, or an easier way to say it, DIM, helps to balance hormone levels by acting as an aromatase inhibitor. What does this mean? Well, aromatase is an enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen. This can be a big problem when elevating testosterone levels. By having an aromatase inhibitor, you are allowing yourself to reap the benefits of higher levels of test, without the side effects of increased estrogen.
Nettle Extract is used in Boom Stick. This is significant as this herb has been shown to inhibit SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin). This results in higher levels of total testosterone in the body, as SHBG no longer binds with the testosterone. Once again, more test = better for you.
The last and ingredient I want to touch on is DHEA. DHEA is a precursor to testosterone, and is thus converted in the body to testosterone. This ingredient is normally produced by the adrenal glands, but has shown to decrease with aging. Having DHEA in a test boosting product is great, especially for men who may be experiencing a decline in natural testosterone production.
Add all of these ingredients up, and you are left with one hell of a natural testosterone boosting product. You see, it important to boost your testosterone, but it is even more vital to ensure you are covering all other aspects of hormone balancing. Boom Stick not only enhances your natural testosterone levels, but it also minimizes estrogen levels and frees up your natural test. Using these ingredients, and at the proper dosages, you are sure to experience elevated test levels.
The product speaks for itself. I encourage you to have blood work done and get your levels checked. After one month of taking Boom Stick, have your testosterone checked again and see the results first hand. You will not be disappointed!
You do not have to except the inevitability of declining test levels. With Boom Stick, you can get back to feeling like a young man and experience the lean muscle, metabolism, and sex drive you once did! Lift on my friends!
Garrett Skurnit
Instagram: @fit_garrett_skur
]]>First off, let me be very clear when I say supplement companies are bombarded DAILY with requests to become a sponsored athlete. With dozens upon dozens of these lackluster requests, supplement companies need to see something that sets you apart from the rest. The usual “I want to be sponsored” message via Facebook or email will not cut it at all. You must get creative! These companies are looking for an efficient ROI. What is ROI? ROI = Return on Investment. Being sponsored usually comes with free product, income, and other perks such as travel expenses paid. Even though this business is lucrative, this is still costly to potential sponsors. They need to be able to justify their investment by seeing what sort if business you will bring to the company in return. From first glance, you must show you can generate revenue for the brand.
Yes, having a nice physique is certainly required. Obviously, you need to look like a fitness enthusiast and be able to showcase what the particular company’s products have done for you. That being said, you could look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, and that still will not guarantee you a spot. Surprised? Well, allow me to clarify. Looking like a God/Goddess is excellent, but you must have a LARGE following on social media. If you cannot reach thousands of viewers with your posts, you will have a difficult time achieving the revenue your sponsor is looking for. I highly recommend Instagram! (To my supervisor, I only have 4k followers, but if you want to hook me up with an early Christmas present……)
Social media in today’s age is the BEST form of advertising. You will want to focus on gaining followers on as many social media platforms as you can. I have found Instagram to currently be the hottest. To increase your following, post often, utilize the thirty hashtags you are allowed, and follow other people! With these simple tips, you will grow your account. Now, do NOT pay for followers. Companies will be able to spot this from a mile a way, and it will be an instant turn off. Having an organic following is the goal, and will give you the best chance toward success. Of course, these tips are for those of you who are looking for sponsorship. If you are looking for an actual job in the supplement world, you will need to take a different approach.
The following advice all comes from personal experience, so trust me on this. I got my foot in the door in this industry shortly after I graduated from High School. I applied at my local GNC and was hired as a sales associate. A few months later, I was provided the opportunity to manage my own store. At 19 years old, I was ecstatic! This was a great opportunity for me, and allowed me to get familiar with different brands and products. With this experience under my belt, I decided I wanted to pursue a career outside of GNC, and focus on one brand. At the time, I did not care who it was for, I just wanted to be a part of a specific company and get out of the retail world. For countless nights, I was submitting resume after resume. I was getting so desperate, I started applying to companies I could find on Google, one’s I had never heard of! From a persistence aspect, I was doing the right thing, and I want you to have that same persistence if working in this field is a dream of yours! Then the day came, and I received a phone call from a sales director who wanted to go over my resume and have a phone interview. “BINGO” I thought to myself. “I’m going to nail this interview and have my dream job!” I continued to think. Oh, how naïve I was…. I did nail the interview, and I did get the job. So, what is the issue? Well, the issue is, I applied to be a sales rep, covering the states of Michigan and Ohio. My job was to get our product into gyms, but not just any gyms, I had to sell to CrossFit gyms. I quickly realized my dilemma: THE NEAREST CROSSFIT GYM WAS AN HOUR AWAY. If you are confused, understand that when it comes to sales, face-to-face interaction with potential business is the BEST and most successful form of sales. I had to drive two or three hours to get to the nearest city, and this was not financially feasible for me to do at that time in my life. I then tried allocating my time to focusing on online sales. Yes, I was able to pick up clients this way, but it was still not as effective or as efficient as I would have liked. After a lot of thought, I decided to resign.
My lesson from this brief story is simple: make sure the job you are applying for is practical for your current situation. I felt like a total failure. I would like to prepare as many of you as I can to be knowledgeable before you take on this business, and prevent you from winding up in the situation I did. Looking back, it was a great learning experience, and I am glad it happened. Sometimes the best lessons are learned the hard way! There is a lot of travel involved, a monthly target for sales you will need to hit, and events you will probably have to attend. All of this is doable! The key to success in this situation is making sure you live in an area that allows you to be productive. Basically, if you live in BFE, Alaska, count yourself out of the sales rep conversation. On the other hand, if you are located in a place like New York City, check in frequently with whatever company you are interested in; a location such as that is the perfect market! If you live in a big city, take a chance and apply!
Earlier, I mentioned the amount of requests companies get for sponsorship. The same applies for jobs! Again, you must do something that allows you to stand out from the crowd. When submitting your resume, make sure you list your industry experience (if any). This goes without saying, but make sure it looks professional. And if you are applying in person, make sure YOU look professional. Just because you may be working with a bunch of “meat heads”, this is still a business, and first impressions are huge! Nine times out of ten, you will be asked “Why do you want to work for us?” be prepared with something other than “because I need the money”. I highly recommend being familiar with the brand. Companies want employees who are truly passionate about the product! If and when you get the job, the journey is not over, in fact, it is just starting. To have and maintain a successful career, you must be motivated and show the company your drive. Like I said, there are many candidates out there that could replace you any say, so be sure to put in the work and go the extra mile every chance you get!
This is a very competitive industry. With thousands of potential athletes and employees looking to wedge their way in, you must separate yourself from the pack. For those of you trying to Get sponsored, remember to have something you can offer in return. Many athletes have this fallacy that earning a sponsorship is strictly a “take” relationship. Incorrect. This is definitely a “give-and-take” partnership. The company will support you, but be sure you can support them in return via marketing! Social media will be your golden ticket; grow those accounts! For those of you looking for a career, starting small like a supplement retail store will help get your foot in the door, and could potentially lead to other opportunities! This is a great starting point to learning about supplements, different companies, and how to deal with customers. Take it from me, I started as a sales associate at GNC, and now I have the phenomenal opportunity to write about it for the best brand in the business, Redcon1. Work hard, and lift on my friends!
Garrett Skurnit
Instagram: @fit_garrett_skur
]]>The last thing I want to do is throw a pitty-party for myself, because I believe EVERYONE has one to one extent or another, but it is important for me to give some background on my life. My parents divorced when I was young, my mother remarried, and my newfound home life was anything but desirable. Thankfully, there was no physical abuse; however, my self esteem was constantly being taken down, notch by notch. When this happens, and you feel your value is low, you do not leave that feeling at home. That feeling follows you wherever you go.
When the time came to play sports in school, I automatically assumed I would fail in some way, or not be as good as the rest of my fellow athletes. And like sharks to blood in the water, everyone can sense that lack of self confidence. I had a very negative mindset. When you have a negative mindset, it will translate in your productivity. By assuming the worst, I was setting myself up for failure. And when I did fail, the ridicule from others was loud and clear. Of course, I thought that was to be expected. “I’m a failure at home, so it only makes sense it’s the same at school and sports.” I would think to myself. You have to understand, as Kai Greene’s famous motto goes: “Thoughts become things.” If you are positive, good things will happen. If you think negatively, there will not be a good outcome. Unfortunately, as a child and young teenager, I did not have the wisdom to understand this fact. I did not see the light anywhere in sight, until the summer before my senior year.
For over ten years, I was living a life full of negativity and self doubt. At seventeen years old, right after my junior year of high school had ended, I finally stood up for myself. I was told “If you don’t like it, pack your bags.” Wow, that was fucking music to my ears. “That sounds good to me!” I remember saying. At seventeen, I had my own car, a job, and could fend for myself. This thought had never crossed my mind, and to be honest, I am not sure if it ever would have, had it not been presented to me. Why would it? I was by no means a delinquent, and there was no way I could leave my mother behind. Thank God, she was on the exact same page I was. “I’m right behind you.” She exclaimed when I told her I had finally had enough. My vehicle was loaded with my belongings within hours of being told to “move out”. I had never packed so fast in my life! I only had one question remaining: “Where do I go?”
My younger years were not all bad. I had been blessed with some great friends, friends that would take a bullet for you if necessary. One of those friends was someone who I still love like a brother to this day, my good buddy Jon. You see, Jon was the type of person you could call at 3 AM and say you were stuck in a ditch. He would wake up, be there within minutes and pull you out. Anyway, I gave Jon a call as I was sitting I my belongings packed car. “Jon, I need a favor.” I explained as soon as he picked up. “What’s up man?” he replied. I told him all about my situation. Without hesitation, he voiced “Come on over!” (Jon, if you happen to read this, this may seem like a small gesture on your behalf, but I will forever be grateful for your act of friendship). He was still living with his parents at the time, who are also very generous people. He set me up with a bed and we shared his bedroom. It was undoubtedly cramped, but I did not care. I was able to not only hang out more with one of my best friends, but I was finally free from years of feeling like I was three feet tall. This only lasted about a week, until my mom had found a new place for us to live. Let me tell you, that week was like a dream vacation. I could breathe again.
My mother and I got settled into our new place at the beginning of July, and guess what was right around the corner: football season. Football, a sport I never dared try. I had never been confident in sports like basketball and baseball, “how the hell would I ever be competitive with the toughest of tough athletes in a game like football?” Well, that was what would have normally gone through my head. With this newfound life, this life that I no longer had to live with a million tons resting on my shoulders, I had been given a spark. Like the plants and trees blooming during spring, I was making a transformation. With my fresh and unrelenting confidence, I started to attend practice.
Life was good, it was summer, I was knocking heads in football, I was no longer scared to talk to girls (I quickly learned it was not that hard when you are confident *insert smiley face*), and my senior year was a mere two months away. I went to Elk Rapids High School, and there was quite a buzz around this year’s football team. When I joined, coach threw me on the defensive line as he probably figured it would be the easiest position for me to pick up with zero playing experience. I loved watching football, but I had never played it. There was so much to learn about the game, and I greatly enjoyed it. Little did I know, we were about to have a special season. Looking back, I wish with every bone in my body I had worked less and went to more practices that summer.
We went 9-0 that year, beating a team we had never defeated in school history, Traverse City St. Francis. To top it off, it was on THEIR field. This team also had not lost a conference game since the early 2000s (This current year was 2011). Did I play a lot? No. Not only was my experience lacking, but we had so many great football players on this team. I was always on special teams, and then I got in the trenches when we were up big in games. I did not care at the time, I was just happy to finally get a taste of this great sport. To my fellow teammates and coaches, thank you for such a bright spot in my life. This experience would end up catapulting me to my passion today, bodybuilding.
Football had familiarized me with the weight room. Being 5’10 and 175 lbs at the time, with one year of football under my belt, I knew I did not have a good chance at playing college ball, so what else could I do? This is when I realized, a gym would always be available to me. Just because football was done, my body was just getting primed to begin its transformation. I had such a hunger to better myself, and get “HUGE” as they say! I started buying supplements left and right. I was hitting up YouTube 24/7 to get tips and inspiration. Let me tell you, I found a treasure chest.
Looking back now, I realize I was beginning my journey, a journey that my YouTube inspirations like Kai Greene and CT Fletcher had once started. These men are so iconic to me, I could write an article on each of them. Both had rough pasts, hell, CT Fletcher has flat lined. Yes, he has technically been dead, and this man still puts in 110% in the weight room. If you get the chance, please watch and listen to these men, their stories, and their triumphs.
It has been six years since I started my journey into fitness. I have worked my ass off every step of the way since I developed self confidence. I am proud to say, that 175 lb teen is now twenty-four, sitting at 210 lbs! I will not stop. I cannot stop. We only have ONE life. We must do everything in our power to maximize our potential. At the end of the day, we all have something motivating us. As you can read from my story, it can be very personal. Just because we strive for greatness, that does not mean we are insecure. It means we are motivated to be better. It is ok to look back and see how far you have come, to admire your results. Just remember, do not forget to look forward, to see how far you are going. This does not only apply to fitness, but all aspects of life. Make THIS life count! Lift on my friends!
By Garrett Skurnit
Instagram: @fit_garrett_skur
]]>Bulking, cutting, or just being becoming a healthier version of you is not magic, it is literally science! These steps are simple to follow and understand. It may seem like a lot, but so did addition when we were in kindergarten. After repetition and commitment, it became a breeze! So with this. Follow these tips, and you will be on the right track to achieving your goals. Lift on my friends!
By Garrett Skurnit
Instagram: Fit_garrett_skur
]]>Most of us have hectic schedules. Between work, the gym, and family, life can definitely take its toll on our energy. In this busy world we live in, it’s nice to enjoy a little extra pep-in-our-step. We have coffee and energy drinks, but coffee can get boring, and energy drinks are not exactly the best thing to put in our bodies when we account for the loads of sugar packed into one can. I previously mentioned people sipping on BCAAs throughout the day, and now they have an opportunity to reap the benefits of their anabolic concoction, and get a boost in energy! This can be achieved with Breach Ballistic. This product provides the same great aminos as its counterpart, Breach. Where they differ is in the added caffeine, theobromine, and choline bitartrate found in Breach Ballistic. I get it, you probably know what caffeine is, but did I mention there are two different forms of caffeine in this product? Yes, two. We have Caffeine Anhydrous, which is your typical, fast acting form of caffeine. This is dosed at 50mg, equivalent to about a half of a cup of coffee. The second form is Dicaffeine Malate. Also dosed at 50 mg, this version of caffeine tends to provide a “cleaner” and longer lasting boost of energy. Theobromine works similarly to caffeine. This ingredient increases energy levels and will heighten focus. Choline Bitartrate is phenomenal. While not a stimulant, this molecule will intensify your focus, which will undoubtedly help in day to day activities. It is safe say Ballistic Breach is great tool to stay anabolic and give you boost throughout the day, especially in the gym.
You may be wondering if this product is safe to take during your workout, specifically after drinking a pre-workout. The answer is two-fold. Yes you can, but use caution and asses your tolerance prior to doing so. Lessen the dose of either your pre or Breach Ballistic prior to drinking a full serving of both. There are many products out there that are already pushing the limits when it comes to the level of stimulants they contain, so it would be good practice to proceed carefully when using two products that contain such ingredients. Now, if you choose to drink a stim-free powder prior to working out, you will be absolutely fine drinking Breach Ballistic during your session. As mentioned earlier, the level of caffeine in Breach Ballistic would equate to around a cup of coffee. There is not a whole lot to worry about when it comes to being overly stimulated if you are taking just this product. Some people choose to mix both their pre and BCAAs and drink it all at once! In case you were curious, yes, this product is delicious, and comes in three excellent flavors. With choices like Blue Lemonade, Strawberry Kiwi, and Watermelon, you cannot go wrong. You have now learned about a product that tastes great and has exceptional ingredients. This leads to the all important question: “What’s the price?”
Go ahead and repeat after me: “I’ve been ripped off.” There is no denying we have all made purchases with supplements that we have come to regret. Dropping hard earned cash on supplements that do not work, taste horrible, and sometimes do not even have what is listed on the ingredients label is the worst! Fortunately, you will not have this problem with Breach Ballistic. Currently being sold for $25.00, this, in my book, is a steal. And yes, you do get a FULL 30 servings. A quality product for under $1.00 per serving is hard to come by. As you can see, Breach Ballistic is worth the investment. If this product has your attention, do not forget to save some for the original Breach.
Between Breach and Breach Ballistic, one product is not better than the other. Redcon1 wanted to give their customers variety and convenience. Now, instead of having to drink a cup of joe and a separate BCAA shake, we have the opportunity to take care of business with one simple scoop of Breach Ballistic. On the other hand, some people are very sensitive to stimulants. With a stim-free product like Breach, those people still have the opportunity to enjoy the anabolic benefits of BCAAs. It would be good practice to keep both on-hand for every occasion!
Breach Ballistic is the answer for those of us who find ourselves dragging throughout the day. This is not the go-ahead for you to abandon sleep and start chugging this product. It is imperative that we get an adequate amount of rest. Unfortunately, even getting 6-8 hours of sleep can still leave us tired. This is a result of the day-to-day stress we experience. Whether it comes from school, work, at home, or even physical stress from the gym, it definitely affects us all. That is the nice thing about Breach Ballistic; it can literally benefit everyone. You do not have to be a gym rat to consume amino acids; your body will still utilize them! And of course, that extra energy and focus will help get you through your strenuous day. And fitness junkies, we all love our BCAAs due to their recovery benefits. Now, we have a delicious opportunity to enjoy our aminos and get in the zone, mentally and physically, with Breach Ballistic. Lift on my friends!
]]>Recovering from a brutal workout relies heavily on proper nutrition and rest. Once those two factors have been accounted for, the cherry on top would be incorporating excellent supplements. A protein source, such as Isotope, and an amino product like Breach, or Breach Ballistic (Caffeinated) are excellent examples. These products would be most beneficial post-workout. After intense activity, this is when our body is most in need of nutrients. Breach is fantastic, as it incorporates the three EAAs I previously described as being the most valuable when it comes to recovery. Each has a unique job, and together they form the perfect package.
Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine play the biggest role of all aminos when it comes to muscle growth/recovery. They stimulate protein synthesis, regulate blood sugar levels, and even give a slight boost in energy. Leucine is the biggest player of the three in promoting protein synthesis. For this reason, you will find Breach packs a phenomenal 2:1:1 ratio of these aminos (2 parts Leucine, 1 part Isoleucine, and 1 part Valine). Think of your muscles as a “building” you are looking to construct. You have all of the materials to build your idea, now you just need someone to put it all together and oversee the project. We can view these three EAAs as being the team for the job. They signal for the muscle to grow/repair, and help you maintain an anabolic environment throughout your body. Anabolic means “muscle building state”, whereas if we were to be lacking the described EAAs, we would more often than not find ourselves in a catabolic situation, or “muscle loss state”. Being anabolic is ideal for not just men, but women too! Both can benefit from taking these EAAs. With Breach, you will get all of the benefits from these aminos, and, a little extra.
Muscle recovery is critical, but so is proper hydration. As an added bonus, Breach also contains coconut water powder and electrolytes to help you stay adequately hydrated. This makes it a perfect product for not just post workout, but all day long! Many successful bodybuilders and athletes drink amino acids throughout the day. This ensures a constant muscle building and properly hydrated state. This solves one of the biggest complaints in the fitness industry; muscle soreness.
I absolutely love being sore. That is my sign that I had a killer workout the day prior. For those of you that have tattoos, think of it like when you are in the process of getting inked. Yes, it hurts, but it is a “good” hurt! I feel that same way about muscle soreness post workout. Not everyone feels the same, and they need a solution to help ease their troubles. There really is no absolute, orthodox solution to being pain free after an all-out lift or sporting event (like a football game). This being said, if you are looking to help alleviate this in any way possible, an amino acid product like Breach will undoubtedly help. When we put our bodies through strenuous activity and put tension on our muscles for long periods of time, our muscle fibers will literally tear. For those of you new to the gym life, do not be alarmed. These are tiny breaks in the muscle tissue, nothing that is going to need medical attention. Over time, these rips in the muscle fiber fill back in with NEW muscle, and this is where we experience muscle gains, and more strength! Adding Lecuine, Isoleucine, and Valine into our diet in order to help facilitate this growth and repair is crucial. With the added hydration/electrolyte benefits, this also allows for optimal function within our muscular system. If you are still on the fence on incorporating aminos into your regiment, allow me to introduce a not-so-good hormone, Coritsol.
Cortisol is a stress hormone, and it can be very destructive to our body, particularly our muscles. This nasty hormone actually binds to receptors in our muscles, and can cause the dreaded catabolic environment to set in. Additionally, cortisol actually breaks down amino acids. To make matters worse, cortisol levels elevate during stress. This includes both mental and physical stress. Essentially, we are fighting an up-hill battle when we go to the gym when it comes to cortisol. With an EAA product like Breach, we can stop trying to walk “up” the “down” escalator and get back on track to providing our bodies with the proper environment needed for maximum recovery.
Recovery is the key to success. It does not matter what walk of life you come from. Whether you are an athlete, a bodybuilder, cyclist, runner, weekend warrior, etc, any and everyone can benefit from essential amino acids. There is not a single person who is maintaining an active lifestyle that would not like to see better, faster, and overall, more efficient results. When thinking about recovering and optimizing your bodies’ potential, there are three things you must be aware of at all times; proper nutrition, sleep, and supplementation. After nailing your diet and making sure you get sufficient rest, the last component is finding the right supplements. When it comes to recovery and growth, adding an amino product like Breach would be the perfect addition to your daily routine. Lift on my friends!
-Garrett Skurnit
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