NO-SHOTGUN™
Even your girlfriend could benefit.

So I was checking the VPX discussion board this morning for any new posts when I stumbled upon a very good question from one of our members, and it went something like this:

How will using NO Shotgun affect women who are training?

First of all, what the heck is NO-SHOTGUN™ anyways? Simply stated, NO-SHOTGUN™ is a pre-workout drink mix containing branch chain amino acids, Beta-Alanine Ethyl Ester, Creatine Ethyl Ester HCl, L-Glutamine Ethyl Ester HCl, Methyl Hydroxy Chalcone Polymer (MHCP), Arginine Ethyl Ester HCl, and last but not least, Redline® energy technology. These ingredients were combined in Shotgun™ with a vision of greater pumps, bigger lifts, extreme energy and focus, and increased muscle/size gains. So far; so good.

The Ingredients

Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)
BCAAs have been shown to promote lean muscle mass by increasing protein synthesis and nitrogen retention in muscle tissue. Not only that, but BCAAs are excellent in reducing fatigue and Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). Recall a previous article I have written about how to treat DOMS:

A study in the Journal of Nutrition by Shimomura et al, examined the effects of BCAA supplementation on muscle soreness and muscle fatigue induced by squats in humans. Results showed that BCAA supplementation prior to squat exercise decreased DOMS and muscle fatigue occurring for a few days after exercise – suggesting that BCAAs may be useful for muscle recovery following exercise. BCAAs – or branched chain amino acids – are comprised of the three essential amino acids L-leucine, L-isoleucine, and L-valine. How are BCAAs different from all other amino acids? They act as nitrogen carriers which assist in synthesis of amino acids needed for anabolic muscle action. During intense weight training – when DOMS is likely to follow – the body is normally in a highly catabolic state. At this time, glycogen stores are being rapidly depleted, and protein catabolism is taking place. The addition of BCAAs, especially during times of stress, may stop protein catabolism and promote protein synthesis thus reducing DOMS altogether.

Beta-Alanine Ethyl Ester
ß-alanine is the only naturally occurring beta amino acid; however, it is not used in the biosynthesis of any major proteins or enzymes. What it does do is buffer the build-up of hydrogen ions (H+). Basically, it neutralizes the pH of your blood allowing you to train harder and longer. Another one of those nutrients that delays fatigue!
Creatine Ethyl Ester
Creatine is already such a praised supplement because of its ability to put on lean muscle tissue quickly and efficiently. The addition of the Ethyl Ester just makes this creatine compound even greater at permeating the cell membrane; reduces the need for sugar to transport creatine into muscle, instead ethyl ester is transporting the compound. This means that up to 98% can enter the muscle compared to regular creatine where only 4% makes it into the muscle! Creatine and ß-alanine = a winning combination! A study done at the College of New Jersey found that “creatine plus ß-alanine supplementation appeared to have the greatest effect on lean tissue accruement and body fat composition.”

L-Glutamine Ethyl Ester HCl
To me this is a wonder supplement; why you ask. Because first of all, it is the only amino acid that can actually replace glycogen stores in the muscle almost as efficiently as carbohydrate itself. This is quite a feat especially when on a moderate/low carbohydrate diet and you still need the energy to get through your workouts. The glycogen stores in your muscle and liver is what provides the energy to get thru your training and if you are not consuming an adequate amount of carbohydrate post-workout, you will likely have less energy for the rest of the day, and worse the next workout. Glutamine can actually replace glycogen stores without you having to consume carbohydrate. Perfect! Glutamine increases protein synthesis (muscle building) and decreases protein catabolism (the breakdown of muscle tissue). Furthermore, glutamine boosts your immune system making recovery quicker and reduces your risk of illness and DOMS. Again, recall a previous article written about DOMS:

Glutamine supplementation may also be an ideal addition to your daily routine. Because intense exercise and DOMS will decrease your immune function, it is ideal to keep your immune system as healthy as possible on a daily basis. Even though our body does synthesize glutamine on its own, it may be beneficial to supplement with it – a lowered plasma glutamine concentration contributes to the decreased immune response due to physical activity. Glutamine is a non-essential amino acid that makes up almost half of the muscles’ amino acid pool. Like glycogen depletion, glutamine depletes due to strenuous activity. Therefore, repleting glutamine stores with supplementation may increase recovery time contributing to a smaller incidence of DOMS. The best way to maximize absorption of any nutrient is to consume it when your body needs it most – first thing in the morning and post-workout. Another beneficial time would be one hour before you workout and on your off-training days before you go to bed.

Methyl Hydroxy Chalcone Polymer (MHCP)
MHCP improves cellular glucose utilization and increases the sensitivity of insulin receptors. Since insulin helps transport amino acids and glucose into muscle tissue, the other ingredients in Shotgun™ are amplified.

Arginine Ethyl Ester HCl
The mechanism of action is boosting nitric oxide (NO) production which amplifies the effects of all muscle building compounds. Boosting nitric oxide in muscle tissue can have many anabolic effects including increased nutrient transport and vasodilation (increased blood flow which leads to massive pumps!). Arginine may even boost natural Growth Hormone (GH) levels.

Redline® Energy Technology
If you haven’t yet tried Redline® then you do not know what you are missing. If you have, then you definitely can attest to the intense energy and focus fueling your workouts as well as the fat loss benefits offered from this awesome supplement. The addition of Redline® to NO-SHOTGUN™ is what fuels the intensity of your workouts. The greater the intensity and drive for you to lift and train hard, the more progress you will see; thus, only enhancing every ingredient found in Shotgun™. Because of this, you do not need to take an energy drink with this pre-workout shake – bigger bang for your buck!

It would not be fair if only the guys could use this awesome product. Women are looking to train harder, build more muscle, and recover faster too! To answer the question above, NO-SHOTGUN™ is an excellent addition to a female’s training/diet regimen. This will only help you to have more efficient workouts and your progress will increase. With Shotgun™ there is no need to load, but as a woman I would suggest beginning with ½ of a scoop to assess your tolerance. Be wary of the time you consume Shotgun™ because it contains Redline®, and if you take it too late in the evening, it is likely you will have trouble getting to sleep.

Keep you eyes out for a brand new version of NO-SHOTGUN™!! Delicious flavor and the addition of a post-workout mix, stimulant free!