What is Creatine?

We recently just launched Creatine13 and a lot of people have been asking what it is!

Creatine is a naturally occurring chemical in every human being. It is stored in muscle cells and a small amount is stored in your brain and kidneys. Creatine is one of the most studied and tested supplements in the world. It's role is to help produce ATP in the muscle cells- ATP is energy used by the muscle. By taking creatine13, you can increase your body's ATP production. A higher ATP production in your muscle cells, fibers, and muscle bellies- you will increase your muscle strength, muscle endurance, etc. More strength = larger muscle cells = more gains. 

Some common FAQs of creatine:

When should I take it? 

There is no "best" time, you just need to take it consistently 

Does this replace PRE?

This not a pre workout but it can be combined with PRE

Will yours dissolve?

Yes it dissolves in water or added PRE

Will it aid in weight loss?

More muscle mass = more calories burned = weight loss. It will not create a calorie deficit in your body but if you are in a calorie deficit, adding creatine13 will not cause weight gain

Will it cause me to hold water?

Creatine13 helps pull water into your muscle which can give a puffy appearance. It is highly recommended to drink a gallon of water a day, especially when using creatine. If your body becomes dehydrated- one of the first lines of defense is to store excess water in your face- giving you a puffy look and feel. Again, this is easily avoided by drinking enough water throughout the day 

Can women take this product?

Men and women will both see amazing results from supplementing with creatine13 if you are weight training 

Order today: https://bowmarnutrition.com/products/creatine13

Traveling With Supplements- My Tips!

We travel- A LOT. In fact, I am writing this in 12D on my O’hare flight. I am on roughly 50-70 planes a year, 1-2 cruises, 5 months of roadtrips, and extended stays in foreign countries. As we all know- food varies- especially on international travel. It can also be difficult to keep up on your training. But you literally have no excuse to not remain diligent on your supplement regiment. 

If you are new to my blog, welcome. I have another blog post titled “supplement checklist” and it detailed when I take my supplements as well as a link to each product that further explains in detail what each one does as well as a link to order. 

Now that the formalities are out of the way- let’s get to the good stuff

As I stated- I am on almost 75 planes a year. Many of those trips I do not bring a checked bag so I am limited on space in my carry on. My clothes usually make up 1/2 my bag, shoes 1/4 and supplements the remaining 1/4. 

On Domestic flights- there are NO limits on powders. Literally none. You could bring 45lbs of powder through TSA if you were so inclined. I have NEVER had a powder taken from me from my carry on on either a domestic or international fight. There are very rare cases that a tub of product will trigger an alarm in which TSA will swab in and return it to you. This happens to me maybe 5% of the time I fly. There are very, very few instances in which they will take a product from you and that only is when the swab detects something on the outside of the tub (it could be a multitude of things ranging from soap, perfume, gun powder, etc). If you are worried about TSA, simply check your bag and put your supplements in there. For international fights- it is recommended you contact the airline directly to discuss powder restrictions for your specific itinerary. 

So, how do I pack my supplements? It depends on how long I am going to be traveling for. Our shaker cups come with containers that can fit 10 scoops of PRE in them. If I will be traveling for longer than 10 days, I will simply pack the entire container of PRE instead of packing multiple tiny containers. To save room on the way back, I will only pack the exact number of scoops I need if I am packing the entire container so I can recycle it when I am done with it instead of lugging it all the way back home. The same goes for all powders. Our pills (probiotics, fish oil, and Joint 16) can all fit in the pill container portion of our shaker cup containers). Some people also use plastic baggies but we are very committed to limiting our waste contribution so the reusable containers can really come in handy instead of using a ton of plastic baggies that will just be thrown away. 

For short trips, I will pick 1 flavor of protein and pack the 1lb tub and use only that flavor for the time I am traveling. For a trip that warrants a checked bag, i will either pick a 5lb tub or multiple 1lb tubs of different flavors. I also bring 1 bar per day that I will be gone- including travel. 

Now, let’s talk water. I highly recommend bringing an empty gallon through TSA or an empty shaker cup and filling it up by your gate. Flying can be extremely hard on your body and I recommend 10oz of water for every 1 hour you are in the air (as a general rule of thumb)

The same rules also apply for cruises- we pack all our supplements for the exact number of days we will be on our trip + travel! It is always recommended to contact the specific cruise line but I have been on just shy of ten cruises and have never had an issue- just might take an extra hour or two to get your bags!

I truly hope these tips helped with traveling with supplements! 

PRE Workout

This blog is a few weeks overdue but we launched Bowmar Nutrition PRE during the week of the Arnold and then 10 days later took our top performing BN athletes of 2018 on a cruise!

It's safe to say we have tried several dozen different pre workouts on the market- both stimulant based and non stimulant based

We have been using pre workout for almost a decade and started taking notes of what we liked and what we would improve on

In 2019, we formulated the best stimulant based PRE the world has ever seen. On top of it's amazing benefits of a pump pre, it is stimulant based which can help with energy and focus and overall mood. There are also 17 of the most powerful, clinically dosed, ingredients that are proven to improve your workout and recovery. You can order here: https://bowmarnutrition.com/products/pre-workout

In later 2019, we released our line of non-stimulant PRE (removed the caffeine) for those who lift late night or those who have negative side effects of caffeine. That line can be found here: https://bowmarnutrition.com/products/pre-workout-stimulant-freehttps://bowmarnutrition.com/products/pre-workout-stimulant-free

The new question- who needs PRE? No one NEEDS any supplement but our products can help take your workout from a 7 to a 10 which will obviously increase your overall results

When? PRE is best 15-30 minute before your lifting workout. As it is a stimulant based product, taking it directly before cardio only is not recommended. However, taking PRE, lifting, and then doing cardio should be fine

As with every stimulant based product, it is recommend to start slow and work your way up based on your tolerance. And NEVER take more than recommended

Fiber

We introduced Fiber to the Bowmar Nutrition family! Let’s talk about fiber! 

Who needs fiber?

Practically every single person on this planet unless you are the perfect amount of fibrous fruits and vegetables that you have grown yourself

Diets that include quality sources of insoluble fiber have been proven to promote regularity and help the body remove toxins from your colon. Diets that include soluble fiber may help heart function and support healthy cholesterol levels. Bowmar Nutrition fiber has both kinds to ensure the best results possible

If you feel bloated or irregular- you should consider supplementing with fiber. 

Why ours?
Bowmar Nutrition has formulated this fiber to be the most effective and the best tasting. We use strong flavors to mask the taste and texture of the high quality fiber. We will guarantee you will not find a better tasting fiber on the market 

How much?

We recommend having a combination of fiber from your diet and fiber from supplements each day. You should be intaking roughly 14g of fiber for every 1,000 calories you eat

When?

Fiber is the only natural substance that triggers satiety (the feeling of fullness) without having calories. Therefore, taking it in the morning can reduce cravings throughout the day! 

If you are interested, you can order ours here: https://bowmarnutrition.com/products/fiber-supplement

Collagen!

We have officially launched collagen through Bowmar Nutrition and I wanted to provide some insight as a lot of people have been asking about this supplement

Collagen is fairly new in terms of supplements but the benefits are truly amazing

Why Bowmar Nutrition?
Our collagen supplement is a fine powder that is tasteless, odorless, and do not clump or get gooey. We use 1 simple ingredient and our collagen is sourced from ethically treated bovines. Our product is dairy free, gluten free, and sugar free. We also are the most competitively priced on the market- we do not believe in charging more just to make more. We want to offer the best collagen to our customers at the best price!

Why collagen?
Collagen is a great way to get in more protein while simultaneously increasing your joint health, overall skin vitality, hair/nail health, and digestion quality.

When?
Collagen can be used any time of day. We recommend mixing it in your coffee, smoothies, or paired with Bowmar Nutrition greens!

Order today: https://bowmarnutrition.com/products/collagen-peptides-protein


I can personally attest that my skin, nails, and joints have NEVER felt better since I started using our collagen. I know you will have amazing results from it as well too


Published medical journals to validate the use of oral collagen supplements:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23949208
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5707681/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18416885
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26362110

No More BC For Me

After almost 15 years on the pill, I decided it was time to stop being a science experiment and just be ME. The hormones in BC were affecting my mood swings, weight gain, ability to have a normal period, sex life, etc. So- it was time to end the dependency of that little pill that I put in my body every single day for almost half my life. As a warning- you should always do your own research and consult with your doctor. I decided to keep a journal of what happened when I stopped cold turkey, so, here we go

Week 1: Like everyone on the pill, you start your weeks on Sundays and your period usually shows up around day 1 or 2 of the brown pill week (off week). I decided to stop taking my pills the Monday before my period week. Wednesday rolls around and I had the worst cramps every, my mood was terrible, and I got my period (almost a week ahead of schedule). I am sure this is completely unrelated, but my breath has been HORRIBLE as well this week

Week 2: The cramps only lasted about 2 days from my period in week 1! I also have ordered a NFP and it is on it's way! The one I ordered can be found HERE. This week I seem to be getting a ton of headaches but have had some really amazing lifts at the gym! I do notice a few more breakouts than usual but we have had a lot of family things happen in the past few weeks so I am not sure if it is from stress or the lack of BC

Week 3: The worst week of all. I will say though- my skin has cleared up and reverted back to normal, my headaches have went away, and I feel more clear. That being said- I have been bleeding for five days straight. And cramping extremely bad. I am still 2 weeks away from what is supposed to be my period, but at this rate- I might need a blood donor

Week 4: No update for this week. Everything went really well. My skin is still clear, my mood is extremely high, my workouts have been better, I feel like I can finally lose weight again, etc!

Month 2: Periods have started to become more normal, however- the ovulation cramps are intense and very painful

Month 3: I seem to be losing fat quicker and gaining muscle much easier. My boobs have felt more sore about my period but that is about it!

Helpful Articles:
https://drbrighten.com/post-birth-control-syndrome/

Probiotics

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for you, especially your digestive system. We usually think of these as germs that cause diseases. But your body is full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are often called "good" or "helpful" bacteria because they help keep your gut healthy. Their job- at the end of the day- is to improve gut health

Who needs them? 
Anyone who experiences the following issues:

• Digestive issues like bloating, gas or diarrhea. These are the hallmark symptoms of gut dysfunction
• Sugar cravings
• Bad breath
• Food allergies or sensitivities
• Moodiness, Anxiety and Depression
• Skin problems like eczema
• Diabetes
• Autoimmune disease and suppressed immunity

Why Bowmar Nutrition?

Our product is comprised of 12 different strands of probiotics. Many companies use 1 or 2. Using a dozen strands like we do maintains flora and provides amazing benefits to your body as different strands perform different functions in the body. 

It has also been speculated that the strands used in our probiotics can help repair and restore your body's natural gut biome if you drink 1-2 diet sodas a day or other acid beverages

Order here: https://bowmarnutrition.com/products/probiotics

Why do yours smell?

Many companies use chemicals to remove the odor associated with the probiotics. We have decided to keep ours in their truest form