Problem #1
Your expectation of what NO is and what it does is wrong. You do not FEEL anything. It is very subtle. More on that later.
Problem #2
Caffeine is addictive and adaptive...it is what gives you the "mental focus" and "rush" feeling...however it is also an anti-anabolic.
Problem #3
AMOUNTS of Ingredients of these supplements are hidden from consumers so they can not determine proper dosage.
You see, the response from Arganine or Beta Alanine or any other performance enhancer are
dose dependant...meaning there is a minimum dose necessary to elicit the desired training effect!
Lets look at NO shotgun as an example:
---------------------------------
Proprietary BCAAEX-NV (Branched Chain Ethyl
Ester Amino Acid Matrix) 5,350mg
-L-
Leucine -L-2-Aminopentanoic Acid (L-nor-Valine)
-L-Leucine Ethyl Ester HCl
-L-
Valine Ethyl Ester HCl
-L-
Isoleucine Ethyl Ester HCl
Proprietary Muscle Volumizing, NO2,
Insullnotropic and Glutamine Matrix 10,952mg
-Methyl Hydroxy Chaicone Polymer (MHCP 80%)
-CEX (
Creatine Ethyl Ester HCl)
-AEX (
Arginine Ethyl Ester HCl)
-GEX (
L-Glutamine Ethyl Ester HCl)
-Di-L-
Arginine Malate
-
Citrulline Malate
-BPOV (Bis Picolinato Oxo Vanadium)
Power, Speed, Strength and Endurance Matrix -KIC (Ketoisocaproic Acid Calcium)
-Guanidiopropionic Acid (GPA)
-Orotic Acid
-
Creatine Magnesium Chelate
-BAEX (
Beta-Alanine Ethyl Ester HCl)
-Glycine
-
Creatine Monohydrate
-Phosphates
RedLine Energy Technology 220mg -L-TEX (L-
Tyrosine Ethyl Ester HCl)
-Evoburn (Pure Evodiamine)
-Vinpocetine
-
Caffeine Anhydrous
-Folate (as Folic Acid)~100%
--------------------
or No- explode as an example
----------------------
N.O.-Xplode™'s Proprietary Blend 20,500mg **
(Contains A Patented Nutrient Suspension Matrix & Efforsorb™ Delivery System)
N.O. Meta-Fusion™(Patent Pending) **
L-
Arginine AKG,
L-
Citrulline Malate,
L-
Citrulline AKG,
L-
Histidine AKG,
RC-NOS™ (Rutacarpine 95%),
Gynostemma Pentaphyllum (Gypenosides 95%),
NAD (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide)
Muscle Volumizing Creatine Matrix(Patent Pending) **
CEM3™ (
Creatine Ethyl Ester Malate), Di-
Creatine Malate), Trimethylglycine, Glycocyamine, Guanidino Proplonic Acid, Cinnulin PF® (Aqueous Cinnamon Extract), Ketoisocaproate Potassium
Ener-Tropic Xplosion™(Patent Pending) **
L-
Tyrosine,
L-
Tyrosine AKG,
Taurine,
Glucuronolactone,
Methylxanthine (Caffeine),
MCT's (Medium Chain Triglycerides),
Vinpocetine 99%,
Vincamine 99%,
Vinburnine 99%
Phospho-Electrolyte Replacements™ **
Di-Calcium Phosphate, Di-Potassium Phosphate, Di-Sodium Phosphate
Glycerol Hydrating Polymers™ **
Potassium Glycerophosphate, Magnesium Glycerophosphate, Glycerol Stearate
--------------------
You have no idea how much of the key performance enhancers are in there, because they obscure the amounts in bogus terminology. I am guessing you have no idea what these ingredients are really suppose to do and are taking it because its suppose to help you get results?
Yea...well l-Arganine can promote NO productio which will relax the blood vessels and allow them to carry more blood. Citrulline and antioxidants enhance this behavior. It also acts as a very powerful antioxidant.
Beta-Alanine (3-6 grams) and creatine monohydrate (~5 grams) can increase performance if each is taken at a sufficient dose...otherwise...they have minimal effect.
However some other ingredients like caffeine crank you up
if you don't normally use it, it also suppresses the appetite and makes you piss.
Some of the other ingredients simply give you a flushed feeling. No kidding.
Lots of fancy sounding stuff with a nice price tag...but you really don't know what all is in there.
Does it work? To do what..what were you expecting? Are you telling me you bought into the expensive ad campaigns they put out?
Ok enough spanking...lets talk about the reality.
L-Arganine (4-6 grams) works even more powerfully when L-Citrulline (200-1000g), Vit C (500mg), Vit E (200iu), Folic Acid (400 - 800 mcg) and Alpha Lipoic Acid (10mg)
per day are taken as well. Most of this is covered in your multivitamin or antioxidant.
Your diet can positively or adversley effect NO production.
Best times to take L-Arganine are pre bed or pre workout.
For a deeper understanding of its use and history you can read a very simple book on L-Arganine by the doctor who won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for discovering the importance of Nitric Oxide to the cardiovascular system, Dr Ignarro:
No More Heart Disease If you want more focus, try taking a week off caffeine and drink green tea before you train.
Then maybe take creatine an hour out, then essential aminos just before you train...
If you want to boost NO (which you will not feel) take L-Arganine and maybe even Citrulline.
L-Arganine <---- the pure stuff...much better price and you know what you are getting.
If you want even more performance boost, look into beta alanine.
http://www.discussbodybuilding.com/m_177727/mpage_1/tm.htm#179724