Posts by slydriver52

ironpanther3 said:Alright, thanks everyone. I heard some rumors on Craigslist that certain proteins aren't legit. Can someone drop 2 or 3 links to Elite Whey or Gold Whey listings that you've actually ordered from and worked well for you? Thanks.

You've been misinformed. That kind of nonsense usually comes from people running local supplement shops here in the States. Most of the stuff you see on those marketplaces is shipped straight from Canada and comes in the original factory packaging.

Richard Fox7 said:Two weeks ago, I placed an order on bodybuilding.com from the USA for about $40 worth of stuff, and it showed up today without any extra fees.

Yesterday, I ordered 5 lbs of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey for $45 plus $10 shipping from a shop in Canada. I'll let you know when it arrives...

There is no way you can get Optimum Nutrition in Canada for 41 euros!🤦
Give me the specifics. What exactly did you buy from bodybuilding.com? You claim there were no customs or "extra costs," and somehow it arrived in just two weeks. Normally, you're looking at a three-week wait minimum.

redranger82 said:It’s honestly a waste of money trying to order protein from Canada because customs will absolutely skin you alive.

If everyone had the same access to those Canadian prices, we’d all be doing it, but that's just not how it works.

I usually just buy my supplements from guys who travel from Washington, D.C. to Canada to pick them up, then flip them on forums and marketplaces.

Basically, I can snag some Gold Whey for about $45 instead of paying $55+ at our local stores.

Bottom line: if you want a deal, stick to gym forums and Craigslist. Trying to import directly from Canada will likely end up costing you more in the end.

Our local shops don't carry Optimum Nutrition for less than $167, and it'll probably hit $80 soon once global market prices spike.
On top of that, finding anyone with Optimum Nutrition in stock for $117 on the classified ads is nearly impossible now that the Canadian prices have already climbed.

ironpanther3 said:It's $41.47, but I think customs is about 33%. How am I supposed to pay $70-$80?

You've got your wires crossed. You're looking at the price before tax. Their price for Optimum Nutrition is actually $44.99.
It isn't just a matter of paying customs; you have to deal with sales tax too. That percentage is applied to the combined total of the item plus shipping. So, if the product is $44.99 and shipping to Charleston is, say, $9, then the customs and sales tax are calculated based on that $53.99 total.

ironpanther3 said:So, if I order some product from Canada—either Optimum Nutrition Gold Whey or Elite Whey—and it costs an extra $40, I’m wondering if I'll be hit with customs fees or sales tax. It's coming from Charleston, so I assume it'll arrive via FedEx or something similar. Thanks.

Where on earth are you finding Optimum for only 40 bucks? As far as I know, they go for at least $44 everywhere else.
You're looking at a total cost of roughly $70-$80 for that package because you have to factor in customs and sales tax applied to the combined price of the goods and the shipping.

shadowhound8 said:Optimum Nutrition has about 6% more protein, but you’re paying a 10% premium for that 1kg tub. On the other hand, Twinlab offers a 1.5% higher protein content. It’s like anything else in life: you get exactly what you pay for.*😉
Explain to me where all these conspiracy theories actually come from. I honestly don't get it. How could anyone possibly believe that a multi-billion dollar corporation would have the audacity—or the sheer stupidity—to lie directly on its official disclosures? It’s nonsensical.🙂
If the label doesn't list soy, then there’s no soy in there—and there's certainly no way it hits 20%. We aren't talking about 60% protein; we're looking at 74%. These two brands actually sit at 75% and 80%. Look, if this guy actually takes your advice and runs his own tests, I’d be more than happy to see him confirm exactly what you're saying.

The point of this post is simple.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, including you, but please spare me the childish comments and the constant emoji spam.
The label says there's soy in it, but it doesn't specify the exact amount. That’s the problem—with Dymatize, that percentage is usually high, and if you aren't okay with that, you're going to hate how it mixes. It clumps constantly. I'm talking strictly about standard protein powder here. There are plenty of lab tests available online if you actually bother to look. Clearly, you're one of those naive types who just buys whatever is on the shelf without checking the specs, so I won't waste my breath explaining it further.

I’d definitely stick with Optimum Nutrition or Twinlab. Avoid Dymatize at all costs—it's loaded with junk and roughly 20% soy. If you don't believe me, grab a tub of Dymatize and take it straight to the FDA for testing; you'll see what I mean😉. Not to mention, their powder is only about 60% protein, making it the worst performer out of the three brands mentioned here.

Ronald Cox96 said:Is anyone actually using Jack3d? It’s supposedly one of the most hyped supplements out there. I want an honest review from someone who actually takes it.🙂

We're talking protein here.
I've used Jack3d, but you didn't specify what exactly you're looking for. When I'm in a cutting phase trying to drop weight, it works great—that's usually when I reach for it. It provides a solid energy boost and acts as a thermogenic. The catch is the tolerance; you'll feel the kick hard the first few times, but after that, even if you bump up the dose (which is mandatory), that initial rush disappears. Occasionally, I'll take it when work or life gets exhausting just to get myself dialed in before a workout.

rustyowl4 said:then I don't get why you're even bothering. Just walk from one supplement shop to the next looking for a "gluten-free" label, or just search for the specific model online and call it a day.

@Richard Cook2
I hear you, but I see what you mean. Look, I know these aren't high-tech, sterile laboratories, but even if there were trace amounts (which I highly doubt), we're talking about tons of whey being processed daily. It's statistically impossible for a single package to contain enough residue to trigger an actual reaction.🤷

You shouldn't play games with this stuff, and don't give advice if you haven't done your homework.
I'm not entirely convinced that whey is inherently "pure" of gluten, especially since it can act as a hidden additive—serving as a thickener or a binder, as someone else pointed out earlier.
I actually use it when I'm baking rye bread.
A "gluten-free" label isn't some clever marketing gimmick; if companies lied about that, they'd be buried under a mountain of lawsuits and go bankrupt overnight. This industry wouldn't dare mess with those labels. It’s not all just "marketing" like you seem to think.😉

rustyowl4 said:Stop acting like you're all geniuses here... I just Googled gluten (2.link), looked up the food lists, and basically found out that dairy products are almost entirely gluten-free > which means any whey protein works fine, so just grab whatever whey you see since it comes from milk—and milk doesn't have gluten.

-Cut the lecturing; this isn't about deep expertise or some complex theory.
-It takes two minutes of effort if you actually use your brain.

Nobody is "acting smart." You can't just tell someone to grab a random whey if they might have a gluten allergy unless you are absolutely certain it’s safe. For people with those sensitivities, the label has to explicitly state it's gluten-free so the manufacturer can actually guarantee the product is "clean."
Do you honestly think the powder you buy is nothing but pure whey?
Depending on the brand, there's all kinds of filler junk in there.
Do you really think manufacturers slap a "gluten-free" label on their whey for no reason?
Usually, you'll see that label on isolates and hydrolysates, whereas with those concentrate and isolate blends, I couldn't tell you for sure—and frankly, I don't care enough to find out.

Betty Williams91 said:I appreciate you offering to do me a favor, regardless of 🙂
Let’s just reset this conversation. Even though I found what I was looking for, my conciliatory tone isn't some play for a discount. I simply have no interest in bickering on an internet forum. 🙂
First off, I am female.
Secondly, I specifically asked for protein formulated for women.
Thirdly, I cannot consume gluten, which is why I requested gluten-free options.

I assumed there was a higher level of expertise here regarding protein, but clearly, that's a misconception. You might know your stuff, but only within the narrow confines of what you personally use. Think about it: the moment you suggested soy might or might not contain gluten, you proved you don't actually understand gluten. Consequently, you aren't in any position to offer advice on gluten-free proteins.
And the other "advice" I received was to just Google it—not from you, obviously.
Look, I know how to use Google. The reason I ask questions here is because I assume someone actually knows more than the average person.

My advice? Stick exclusively to products that explicitly state "gluten-free" on the label. Why would they bother labeling whey that way if it weren't necessary? Enlighten me, since apparently, none of us know anything. I know which foods contain gluten, but that's irrelevant to my question. As I mentioned before, I read somewhere online that soy might contain it, but I'm not claiming that as absolute fact.
You live and learn. 😉
To be blunt, I don't claim to be a walking encyclopedia of supplements; I just happen to use them and sell them, and I've been in the industry for over a decade. Honestly, nobody has ever posed this specific question to me before. It’s actually a valid question because it made me stop and look into it myself. However, it would never occur to me to seek out advice only to turn around and belittle the person giving it. That’s ungrateful and unprofessional, but that's your prerogative.

Betty Williams91 said:Look at you, the absolute experts here. 🤣

And no, soy doesn't contain gluten. Soy by itself—zero.

I’m not entirely sure what kind of profound poetry you were aiming for there, but if that satisfies your ego, be my guest......................

Forget about asking for favors. I have no interest in doing anyone any favors, especially people like you. You could have used me to snag a discount on that whey
http://www.gatorade.com/?page_id=3...product_id=412
But since your only goal was to be provocative, go ahead and pay the premium price. :-)
By all means, enlighten us, since we clearly know absolutely nothing.🤦

Shoot me a DM if you're interested.

Betty Williams91 said:Soy is gluten-free...

I read somewhere that it does contain some, but I put that in quotes just like I did before to indicate it's hearsay.

Betty Williams91 said:Let me throw a question out there to see how much you guys actually know about protein...
I need gluten-free protein for my wife (she’s in a cutting phase). I want it unflavored because I can't stand artificial sweeteners or fake flavors in these things.
Any ideas?

That’s a tricky one. People claim soy contains gluten, and plenty of powders use soy as a filler. In theory, whey should be gluten-free, but cross-contamination is a massive issue. Most facilities that process whey are also churning out all sorts of other blends on the same equipment.

http://biprousa.com/

I did a quick search for you, though you could easily do the same thing yourself......................

Emily Moore47 said:Go ahead and let them know if they’re actually going to walk away with an extra 72.57 grams compared to everyone else. 🤣 🤣

I told the guy to stop getting lost in the supplement jungle. Why would I hand my cash over to someone selling a pile of garbage disguised as powder when you can get actual quality for the exact same price?

Emily Moore47 said:just grab any...

If you’re having a hard time putting on mass—which seems to be the case here—then I’d suggest looking into a weight gainer to hit your goals. Just search for them online. 👍

Don't just grab anything. Please, stop handing out advice like that.
If you want my take, stick with Gold Standard from Optimum Nutrition or EAS whey.
If you're watching your wallet, go with Twinlab. You could also look at Olimp; they have great solubility and likely use the fewest artificial sweeteners, given that the taste is quite blunt—almost bitter—but that’s usually a sign of quality. Cytosport is one of the heavy hitters in the US; their Muscle Milk is everywhere, though it isn't pure whey. They do sell pure whey, but I wouldn't recommend it because the price tag is ridiculous. Like EAS, Cytosport carries the NSF certification for product control.
http://eas.com/pro-certified/nsf
Steer clear of Dymatize (unless you pick up their natural whey, which actually surprised me with its ingredients; it's one of the few options available locally without artificial sweeteners since it uses stevia extract). That said, I still have doubts about the actual protein percentage and the ratio of concentrate to isolate, which you can tell by the powder's texture and how it dissolves in milk.
Avoid Universal Nutrition. They’re famous mostly for their animal products and used to be big on amino acids, but their protein quality is questionable at best. Their BCAA capsules are an absolute disaster.
Labrada is overpriced for the quality they deliver, and Weider is essentially selling you a brand name while providing inferior products at premium prices.
Muscletech gets a lot of hype, but they don't offer anything special that justifies their price point, much like BSN.
My recommendation? Stick to Optimum, EAS, or Olimp (if you don't mind a somewhat bland taste). I've used them myself and have been consistently satisfied.

Michael Perez7 said:Just hit three different exercises per muscle group. Rotate them weekly or every other week. Keep adding weight so the muscle isn't just doing the same repetitive motion. You can also throw it a curveball by messing with your rep ranges and total sets..

I didn't come here to soak up unsolicited training advice. I have a specific question regarding this supplement..

Based on everything I've read in your posts, you don't need any of that.
Go grab some whole foods and a textbook...................
No offense.👍

Emily Moore47 said:There are far too many guys out there who genuinely believe they’re "massive," when in reality, they’re just fat. 😁
You’d see types like that hanging around the entrances of the big-name nightclubs in Vegas. 🤣

That’s exactly what I’m talking about, though honestly, I don't even bother going out much anymore.
I see types like that in the gym all the time.🙂
Some of them look that way by choice because they refuse to be seen as "small," but most just lack the fundamental knowledge or the sheer willpower required to actually clean themselves up.

Michael Perez7 said:I feel like I'm repeating myself here...

Has anyone actually used the stimulator M2000? If so, give me the breakdown—what’s your experience been like and what can you tell me about the product itself?

I haven't touched that thing myself, but I have to ask: why exactly would you want to use it?
How long have you been training, and what does your typical routine look like?