Bulk Pre-Workout
$49
Pros
- Contains proven ingredients
- Optimal doses of L-Citrulline Malate and Caffeine
- No proprietary blend
- Huge serving 22.9 grams
- Overall it is one of the top pre-workout supplements
Cons
- Some ingredients lack scientific backing
- Not the cheapest
Welcome to the best BULK pre-workout review on the world wide web.
Bulk from Transparent Labs is a pre-workout supplement that contains 19 different ingredients with a 22.9-gram dosage per serving. Bulk pre-workout was designed to help build muscle mass, increase performance, and support natural testosterone levels. Bulk contains optimal doses of Citrulline Malate and Beta-Alanine. Bulk also contains BCAA and ingredients designed to support natural testosterone production.
Whether you’re just starting to take your training more seriously or you’ve been a committed gym monkey for several years, the chances are you’ve heard of pre-workout. A miracle supplement designed to help you get the most from your workouts and take your physical gains to the next level.
The problem? Navigating the world of nutritional supplements is murky at best and darn right dangerous at worst. There are so many different manufacturers competing for your business that they will do and say almost anything to convince you to choose them. That means product descriptions full of superlatives and marketing jargon and very little information of any substance actually to help you make a decision.
That’s where we come in. This Transparent Labs Bulk review aims to give you nothing but the cold hard facts, supported by the latest scientific research, so that you can make your mind up as to whether this particular product is for you!
No hidden agendas, no skewed product reviews!
About Transparent Labs
“At Transparent Labs, we strive to live up to our name. With our supplements, you’ll always find 100% formula transparency, with included science-backed ingredients at clinically effective dosages….”
“Preseries BULK was developed to be the best “bulking” pre-workout supplement available. With… a potent testosterone support complex (vitamin D3, boron and zinc), Preseries BULK is most effective for serious athletes and bodybuilders looking to gain size and increase muscle mass. There’s a reason why Preseries BULK comes in jumbo-sized bags! Each serving exceeds 21 grams and includes 19 active ingredients that are designed to increase nitric oxide (“pump”) and focus while working out, reduce fatigue and muscle soreness, all while enhancing overall physical performance.”
A typically vague and generic brand and product description, but 19 key ingredients and a total serving of over 22 grams are certainly not to be sniffed at. Whether these ingredients are actually useful and included at clinically effective dosages as suggested, we will soon find out!
BULK pre-workout ingredients
| Serving size: 1 Scoop (22.9grams) | Amount Per Serving | %Daily Value |
| Vitamin D3 | 75mcg | 380% |
| Vitamin B6 | 5mg | 270% |
| Vitamin B12 | 100mcg | 4170% |
| Zinc | 30mg | 270% |
| Sodium | 150mg | 7% |
| Potassium | 100mg | 2% |
| Boron | 3mg | * |
| Citrulline Malate | 6000mg | * |
| Beta-Alanine | 4000mg | * |
| BCAA 2:1:1 | 4000mg | * |
| BetaPure™ Betaine Anhydrous | 2500mg | * |
| Taurine | 1300mg | * |
| L-Tyrosine | 1000mg | * |
| L-Theanine | 360mg | * |
| AlphaSize® Alpha GPC | 300mg | |
| Caffeine Anhydrous | 180mg | |
| Theobromine | 50mg | |
| Infinergy™ (DiCaffeine Malate) | 30mg | |
| Astragin | 25 mg |
Transparent Labs make a pretty big song and dance about their products only containing 100% transparent formulas, so it should be no surprise that there isn’t a single proprietary blend in sight!
That means you know exactly how much of each active ingredient you are consuming per serving, and it makes it much easier for us to tell you whether BULK contains effective quantities of each of them!
Citrulline malate (6g)
One of the hottest nutritional supplement ingredients on the market is citrulline, which can have tangible effects on your exercise performance. By increasing your blood levels of an amino acid called arginine, supplementation with citrulline enhances your nitric oxide production, which in turn leads to greater vasodilation. This improved circulation and increased blood flow to working muscles during intense exercise, helping to delay fatigue.[1] BOOM!
Most scientific research into this ingredient suggests that the optimum dose is 6-8g, 30-60 minutes before your workout.[2] That means the 6g serving per scoop is pretty much bang on and will definitely be of tangible benefit to your exercise performance. A great start to the ingredients analysis of our BULK pre-workout by Transparent Labs review!
Beta-alanine (4g)
Perhaps, beta-alanine is the most widely researched and clinically effective nutritional supplement currently available other than creatine monohydrate. Dosed at the right levels, beta-alanine helps to increase your muscle stores of something called carnosine. Carnosine plays a critical role in the buffering of lactic acid in your muscles during anaerobic activity.[3]
The more efficiently you can remove lactic acid from your muscles, the greater the delay until fatigue and the better your anaerobic performance!
The wealth of studies suggest that a daily serving of 4-6g for a period of at least 2 weeks is adequate to raise muscle carnosine stores sufficiently to generate a tangible performance benefit.[4] That means the 4g serving in Preseries BULK is bang on the lower end of this estimate and will certainly be worth taking! Another huge positive to our BULK pre-workout review!
Caffeine (180 mg)
Without a doubt the most commonly used stimulant ingredient in pre-workout supplements, and for a good reason. There is a huge body of research to highlight the ergogenic benefits of caffeine consumption, including a boost to energy and mental focus and even improved fat-burning potential.
This research points to caffeine being effective at doses as low as 100 mg and safe to consume at levels as high as 400 mg per day.[5] That means the 180 mg contained within Preseries BULK is definitely going to be of benefit. It is a little shy of our preferred 250 mg serving and will not be enough for the hardened stimulant users out there!
Having said that, if you’re looking for a slightly more gentle introduction to stimulant-based pre-workouts, then this could be the perfect option, especially given the quality and dosages of other key ingredients included!
BCAA’s (4g)
BCAA’s or branch chain amino acids are a group of 3 amino acids (Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine) thought to improve endurance, reduce mental and physical fatigue and limit muscle soreness in the aftermath of intense activity.[6] Sounds pretty useful to us!
Most studies seem to agree that BCAA’s should be consumed in a 2:1:1 ratio of Leucine: Isoleucine: Valine, which BULK does. However, the recommended total dosage for optimum effect seems to vary quite a bit, with most agreeing that between 5-20g has benefits.
BULK contains a total of 4g, which means it comes up just short of the bottom end of this recommended range. Is this dose going to be of benefit…? It’s hard to say. Is it going to do you any harm…? Absolutely not!
Betaine (2.5g), Taurine (1.3g), Tyrosine (600 mg), etc.
Beyond the 4 core ingredients we’ve already been through, this Preseries BULK pre-workout contains another 15 or so ‘key components.
There is, however, very little if any scientific research to support their efficacy for exercise performance, and certainly nothing like the evidence that exists to justify the use of ingredients such as citrulline, beta-alanine, and caffeine!
As a result, our Transparent Labs BULK review will not waste your time considering their inclusion in any more depth!
BULK pre-workout side effects
There are probably 2 ingredients included in this product that can cause some minor side effects.
Beta-alanine tends to cause a mild tingling sensation on the skin’s surface (particularly the face), which can last up to 20 minutes. The good news is this symptom is completely harmless and can actually be taken as fairly categorical evidence that you are consuming an effective serving of beta-alanine and not something entirely useless. The 4g dose in BULK is definitely large enough to produce such a side effect.
When consumed in large quantities, caffeine can also generate symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, jitters, and even anxiety. Having said that, the 180 mg serving in this product is unlikely to present too many issues for most users. If, however, you are new to pre-workout products or have a particularly low tolerance to caffeine, then it may be a good idea to test the waters with an initial half serving!
Pros and Cons of BULK pre-workout by Transparent Labs
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Pricing: how much does Preseries BULK pre-workout cost?
At $49 on the official Transparent Labs website, Preseries BULK comes in at $1.63 per serving. This does put it at the more expensive end of the pre-workout market. Still, given its optimal dosing of both citrulline malate and beta-alanine (two extremely effective ingredients), it is arguably worth the price tag!
Flavor options
There are only 4 flavor options to choose from: Strawberry Lemonade, Blue Raspberry, Green Apple, and Orange, which means if you are particularly fussy about the taste of your pre-workout, then you may struggle; to find an option to your liking!
BULK pre-workout: where to buy?
In addition to the official Transparent Labs website, Preseries BULK can also be purchased at the global online retail giant Amazon, so be sure to shop around for the best price!
Summary
All in all, this is a very positive BULK pre-workout review. Optimum doses of citrulline malate and beta-alanine and an effective dose of caffeine mean that this supplement can compete with some of the best pre-workouts on the market. In addition, the transparency of the supplement label is to be commended and means it is simple for us and you to know exactly how much of everything is being consumed per scoop.
The only major negative appears to be the inclusion of multiple ingredients with limited, if any, scientific research to support their efficacy for exercise performance, ingredients such as betaine, taurine, and tyrosine. We would always much rather see larger and more effective doses of ingredients proven to be of tangible benefit.
Whilst 4 flavor options are rather limited as far as taste goes, if you are choosing a pre-workout, or any supplement, for that matter, based solely on taste, then you’re probably not taking it for the right reasons. Obviously, the taste is an important factor, but a slight lack of options should not detract from an awe-inspiring product.
$1.63 per serving is obviously pretty expensive and there are undoubtedly cheaper pre-workout options available. Arguably, however, the optimum doses of 2 of the most impressive amino acids available as far as exercise performance goes, in citrulline and beta alanine, are worth the price tag!. Our advice, give this Preseries BULK product a go, and you’re unlikely to be disappointed!
References:
[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124046306000531
[2]Pérez-Guisado, J., & Jakeman, P. M. (2010). Citrulline malate enhances athletic anaerobic performance and relieves muscle soreness. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 24(5), 1215-1222.
[3] beta-Alanine supplementation augments muscle carnosine content and attenuates fatigue during repeated isokinetic contraction bouts in trained sprinters- J Appl Physiol (1985). 2007 Nov;103(5
[4] International society of sports nutrition position stand: Beta-Alanine- J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015; 12: 30.
[5] Fat burners: nutrition supplements that increase fat metabolism- Obesity Reviews 2011
[6] Administration of branched-chain amino acids during sustained exercise–effects on performance and on plasma concentration of some amino acids- European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.
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