You
don't grow in the gym. You don't get big when you're lifting. That's
when you destroy. No, you grow when you rest, when you recover. And no
time is better for that than shuteye. And no supp is better for that
than Animal PM.
“What else can I say but the fact that Universal/Animal hit another one
out of the park. This product fully works and delivers the results you
want. After the product fully worked its way into my system, it was
game on. I never felt better after training then I did when using this
product. Since I have been off of the product, my soreness levels have
def. increased. I train hard all the time, and to have such a solid
product that can help with my recovery, I couldn't be happier. This
product delivers results, but as I have said many, many times before,
could you expect anything less from such a great company. Animal PM
will def. be in my supplement arsenal from here on out. Hands down,
Animal PM has my full on approval.”
-Anthony S., Middlesex, NJ
Training,
nutrition and supplementation are all the subject matter of lengthy
tomes, journals, technical discussions and scientific studies, each
with their own gurus and practitioners spouting on about the latest,
greatest theory or technique. No doubt these are absolutely crucial
cornerstones of the bodybuilding lifestyle, but none of them are
exclusively the final word.
Rest and recovery. That old
R&R is perhaps the most overlooked and least considered element of
the mass building equation. But without it, you're cooked. Serious
training leaves you wasted and as we've all come to understand over the
years, you're only as good as you can recover. Supplements and
macronutrients play a critical role in accelerating healing. But with
the crushing stresses of heavy iron and the toxic environment that
surrounds us in this crazy world, eating right and doing your due
diligence with your Pak and protein powder only go so far.
If you can't sleep properly and maximize the recuperation opportunities
that come with your down time, you'll never build the physique you
desire. Period. You can train like a maniac, but the growth you seek
happens outside the gym. Sleep time, put quite simply, equals growth
time. With the busiest of schedules strained by work, family, training
and commuting--the first thing to get cast to the side is adequate
sleep. This is an unacceptable fact if your training goals are a top
priority.
Problem is, few of us reside in a perfect world, living a utopian
existence simply predicated on optimizing our growth as bodybuilders.
Our resources, be they monetary or time-related, are finite. As such
we've got to get all we can while the getting is good and above all
else be efficient. Efficient in our training, efficient financially and
efficient with our time. For the busiest among us, we must manage our
time to in all things get the best bang for our hard-earned buck. This
is the case when it comes to muscle recovery. If all we can manage to
allot for is six hours of sleep, bet your ass it needs to be the best
six hours humanly possible. If quantity can't always be within grasp,
our quest for quality must take on even greater significance.
It was in the pursuit for optimizing rest to promote maximum recovery
that the hard training fellas in Animal R&D decided to push the
envelope, searching for any void in what is the most hardcore and
comprehensive line in the game. What did they come up with? Only the
most complete, ideal nighttime recovery supplement, something to lend
that elusive edge to the most serious brothers in the game-those that
regularly toe that fine line between training intensity and insanity.
For them, no element of the recovery equation can be left to chance.
For them, there is Animal PM.
Loaded with relaxation and sleep enhancers, immune support, essential
aminos and patented recovery agents, a single pack of Animal PM taken
prior to bedtime delivers a potent dose of nutrients designed to lock
you in to the muscle building zone during slumber. Promoting
tranquility, deeper sleep, enhanced protein synthesis and robust immune
function, the Animal PM formula is designed to make more efficient
recovery use of your nightly periods of shuteye. To reduce soreness,
facilitate healing and generate fresh growth during typical “down time”
hours of rest and repose-this is the express intent of Animal PM.
Upon popping your pre-bed pack, the first portion of the Animal PM
formula to kick in is its Sleep & Relaxation Complex. Hectic
personal lives, work stress, relationships, worries and other shit can
weigh heavily on your brain right when you want to get your Z's in. You
definitely don't want to spend your valuable sleep time wrestling with
life's great questions. Couple this with the extreme physical demands
of your hard training routine, and it means you really need to find the
time to rest and recuperate so that you can tap into your body's full
potential. If your mind is keeping you up at night, the key is to find
a way to reduce the outside forces and stresses that are making you
restless.
Animal PM contains powerful herbs like valerian root and chamomile
which have been used for centuries because of their ability to
naturally promote relaxation, reduce anxiety and help to combat
insomnia. Coupled with L-Theanine, an amino acid that is found
naturally in green tea and is known for its ability to reduce stress
and anxiety while also improving sleep quality and enhanced mental
acuity, and humulus lupulus, also known as hops, which has been used
traditionally for nervous disorders as well as helping to reduce
anxiety and enhance overall sleep quality.
Mucuna pruriens is then added for its ability to promote deep sleep by
elevating the production of l-dopa, an amino acid that converts into
dopamine. Dopamine is an essential component of our body and it's
required for proper functioning of the brain. The blood carries
dopamine into the brain, where it naturally increases HGH production
from the pituitary gland, important for recovery and well being. What
Animal PM works to do is facilitate a calming state of being prior to
bed so that you can more easily fall asleep and stay in deep sleep.
Next up in Animal PM is the GH Boosting Complex. This complex consists
of specialized natural growth hormone (GH) boosters. What is growth
hormone? Growth hormone is a protein-based polypeptide hormone made up
191 amino acids that is synthesized and secreted by cells in the
anterior pituitary called somatotropes. GH plays a vital role in
several complex physiological processes, including growth and
metabolism. How does GH benefit athletes? GH is a highly coveted
anabolic hormone that stimulates growth in most body tissues, including
skeletal muscle tissue, primarily due to increasing total cell numbers.
Protein synthesis and the transport of amino acids are increased when
GH is naturally increased. These effects are mediated by insulin-like
growth factor (IGF-1), another highly anabolic hormone produced in the
liver and other tissues in response to GH increase. Growth hormone also
helps to increase the use of fat as a primary fuel source, which in
turn, helps build a more lean physique. GH has also been shown in a
number of studies to increase mood, memory, immune health, increase
cardiac function, better sleep and increase oxygen uptake. Being able
to naturally tap into the effects of GH can be a major key to
maximizing recovery and muscle repair during the nighttime recovery
period.
In terms of GH support, Animal PM contains a key support blend of the
following amino acids-Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), arginine
alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), ornithine HCl, l-tryptophan-and the
phospholipid, alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine (alpha-GPC). GABA is main
inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. It aids in helping the brain
to relax as well as balance excitation with inhibition. In addition to
GABA's relaxation effects, studies have shown that it also stimulates
the natural production of GH.
Arginine and ornithine are two other well studied and highly touted
aminos that can increase the release of GH. Arginine, in particular,
also has potent modulating effects on the immune system, improving
immunologic responses, accelerating recovery and reducing the chance
for infection. So not only are these ingredients helping to boost
natural GH levels, which has its own set of benefits, the secondary
anti-catabolic benefits are very helpful to bodybuilders and strength
athletes as well.
Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that has a role in increasing
natural GH production and decreasing cortisol (stress) levels. It is a
precursor for serotonin, an intermediary to the synthesis of melatonin,
which plays a key role in the regulation of mood and sleep patterns.
The complex is then rounded out by the patented alpha-GPC, a naturally
occurring phospholipid precursor and metabolite derived from lecithin.
Alpha-GPC has been shown to potentiate the effects of growth hormone
releasing hormone and increase growth hormone secretion. Other benefits
of alpha-GPC include improved metal focus and liver health, no doubt
functions of value to the bodybuilder set.
Last but not least is the Immune and Recovery Complex, also bolstered
by robust doses of potent and versatile aminos. What does immune health
have to do with recovery? For starters, if you're sick or your health
is compromised in any way, you can't expect to recover and grow, let
alone train at the intensity needed for gains in strength and
performance. Suppressed immune function can basically bring your gains
to a complete halt, preventing an iron athlete from ever performing
optimally or achieving peak condition.
On the recovery side, if your body isn't recovering from the constant
stresses being placed on it-weight lifting, dieting, work, etc, you
just can't expect your body to progress further. Animal PM takes this
into account with its unique Animal Nitro EAA Blend, a combo of the
100%pure uncoupled essential amino acid (EAA) blend found in the
popular and effective post-workout amino acid recovery supplement,
Animal Nitro. This blend supplies the body with only the purest amino
acids needed for recovery-the EAAs. To enhance and maximize recovery,
supplementations with the right form of amino acids are a must for hard
training athletes. The targeted use of EAAs can heighten the anabolic
process and hasten muscular repair.
Another highly esteemed critical amino acid, l-glutamine, is added to
the mix. L-glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the plasma,
constituting over 60% of the total intramuscular amino acids. Glutamine
is a precursor to glutathione and has antioxidant effects by increasing
intracellular glutathione content. Glutamine is used at a high rate by
a number of cells of the immune system-neutrophils, lymphocytes and
macrophages-and is essential for the viability and normal functioning
of these important cells. Glutamine may also be an important modulator
of growth hormone, increases protein synthesis and is highly
anti-catabolic amongst other things.
The final two parts of this complex are two, unique patented
compounds-Immunolin® and HumanofortTM. The premium shit that pushes
what is already a powerful rest and recovery formula in the
stratosphere-but that is what you've come to expect from Animal.
Immunolin® is a purified immunoglobulin isolate that contains
beneficial growth factors, immune-regulating cytokines as well as other
immuno-proteins. These proteins, or antibodies, are naturally produced
by the immune system and are key for preventing illness and infection.
Think of it this way… Immunolin® provides the immune system with more
of its own natural resources to defend itself.
Last but not least in this complex is a very unique ingredient called
Humanofort™. Humanofort™ is a proprietary embryonic peptide matrix
yielding naturally occurring IGF-1, IGF-2, FGF (Fibroblast Growth
Factors), NGF (Nerve Growth Factors), EGF (Epidermal Growth Factors)
and CTGF (Connective Tissue Growth Factor). Humanofort is a native
oligopeptide extract containing naturally occurring growth factors
.These oligopeptides (essential amino and short amino acid chains)
assist the body in normalizing numerous cellular processes by
activating important cellular receptors. When this occurs, healing is
accelerated and a variety of cellular processes are stabilized.
Humanofort™ may help the body increase natural testosterone levels,
heighten libido, boost endocrine function, raise adrenal hormone
levels, combat cortisol, decrease recovery time and promote deep sleep.
This single ingredient so clearly touches on several of the core
intents behind the Animal PM formulation.
All in all, Animal PM is the most complete sleep product on the market,
and the only one tailored specifically to the unique needs of
balls-to-the-wall training bodybuilders. It's not a relaxation product.
It's not an anti-catabolic supplement. It's not a GH booster. It's not
an immune support supplement. It's not a recovery product. It's all of
these products, efficaciously dosed and wrapped up into one convenient,
pre-dosed pack. It's complete sleep support for the hard training
athlete. Add Animal PM to your nighttime repertoire and reap the
results. Rest, recover and grow, with Animal PM.
required for
• Athletes who have trouble falling asleep
• More efficient recovery
• Better quality sleep
• Decreased muscle soreness
Take
a single pack 30-45 minutes before bed. For best results, take on an
empty stomach. If you use an evening protein shake allow 30 minutes for
digestion before taking Animal PM. Animal PM can be stacked with any
other product in the Animal line, including foundational staples like
Pak, Flex and Omega and cycled products such as Stak or Test. For more
stacking information, go to www.animalpak.com.
Animal
PM is a staple supplement that can be taken year round to promote
optimum recovery. To take full advantage, try using it as part of “The
Ultimate Recovery Stack.” Pair it up with other staples, Animal Pak and
Animal Nitro to maximize your body's ability to recover. Take Pak with
breakfast, Nitro immediately post workout and PM right before bed.
Remember to take in the necessary whole food calories and protein to
support such a hardcore stack, and be sure to put an emphasis on sleep.
Train hard and sleep hard and you'll be on your way to making serious
gains in strength, performance and size in no time.
American
Chemical Society (2005, January 4). Chamomile Tea: New Evidence
Supports Health Benefits. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 2, 2010, from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/01/050104112140.htm
Bailey R. Relaxation and “De-stressing” the Japanese way. Nutraceuticals World.1999:36-37.
Balderer G, Borbely AA. Effect of valerian on human sleep. Psychopharmacology [Berl].1985;87:406-9.
Borsheim E, et al.Essential amino acids and muscle protein recovery
from resistance exercise. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2002;283(4):
E648-57).
Bowtell JL, Gelly K, Jackman ML, et al., Effect of oral glutamine on
whole body carbohydrate storage during recovery from exhaustive
exercise. J Appl Physiol 1999 Jun; 86(6):1770-7.
Calder PC, Yaqoob P. Glutamine and the immune system. Amino Acids. 1999;17(3):227-41.
Castell LM, Poortmans JR, Newsholme EA. Does glutamine have a role in
reducing infections in athletes? Eur J Appl Physiol Occup
Physiol.1996;73 (5):488-90.
Cauffield JS,Forbes HJM.Dietary supplements used in the treatment of
depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Lippincott's Primary Care
Practice. 1999;3 (3):290-304.
Cavagnini F, et al. Effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid on growth hormone
and prolactin secretion in man: influence of pimozide and domperidone.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1980 Oct;51(4):789-92.
Ceda GP, et al. Alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine administration
increases the GH responss to GHRH of young and elderly subjects. Horm
Metab Res 1992; 24(3): 119-21.
Cropley M, Cave Z, Ellis J, Middleton RW. Effect of kava and valerian
on human physiological and psychological responses to mental stress
assessed under laboratory conditions. Phytother Res.2002;16:23-7.
Di Luigi,L, et al. Acute amino acids supplementation enhances pituitary
responsiveness in athletes. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 31, No. 12,
pp. 1748-1754,1999.
Donath F, Quispe S, Diefenbach K, Maurer A, Fietze I, Roots I. Critical
evaluation of the effect of valerian extract on sleep structure and
sleep quality. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2000;33:47-53.
Effects of Oral Administered Humanofort on Steroid Hormones Level and
on Oxidative Stress” by Prof. Gh. Mihaescu, T. Stoica, F. Oancea,
Medicine Pharmacy University Bucharest, Romania
Escobales N, Rivera-Correa M, Altieri PI, Rodriguez JF. Relationship
between NO synthesis, arginine transport, and intracellular arginine
levels in vascular smooth muscle cells. Amino Acids. 2000;19(2):451-68.
Granger N, Kevil CG, Grisham MB. Recruitment of inflammatory and immune
cells in the gut: physiology and pathophysiology. In: Johnson LR,
Barrett KE, Merchant JL, Ghishan FK, Said HM, Wood JD. Physiology of
the gastrointestinal tract. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2006
Gyllenhaal C. Efficacy and safety of herbal stimulants and sedatives in sleep disorders. Sleep Med Rev. 2000;4(2).
Hartmann E (1982). Effects of L-tryptophan on sleepiness and on sleep. Journal of psychiatric research 17 (2): 107-13.
Johnson R. Inhibition of growth by pro-inflammatory cytokines: an integrated view. J Anim Sci 1997;75:1244-55.
Juneja LR, Chu D-C, Okubo T, Nagato Y, Yokogoshi H. L-theanine-a unique
amino acid of green tea and its relaxation effect in humans. Trends
Food Sci Technol. 1999;10:199-204.
Kobayashi K, Nagato Y, Aoi N, et al. Effects of L-theanine on the
release of alpha-brain waves in human volunteers. Nippon Nogeikagaku
Kaishi . 1998:72:153-157.
Kohli R, Meininger CJ, Haynes TE, Yan W, Self JT, Wu G. Dietary
L-arginine supplementation enhances endothelial nitric oxide synthesis
in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J Nutr.2004 Mar;134(3):600-8.
Leathwood PD, Chauffard F. Aqueous extract of valerian reduces latency to fall asleep in man. Planta Med. 1985;(2):144-8.
Mackinnon LT. Chronic exercise training effects on immune function. Med
Sci Sports Exerc 2000 Jul;32 (7 Suppl ):S369 -7632:S369-S376.
Maurer, Richard."Extract from green tea improves sleep."Original Internist. June 2004.
Meneguello MO, Mendonca JR, Lancha AH Jr, Costa Rosa LF.Effect of
arginine, ornithine and citrulline supplementation upon performance and
metabolism of trained rats.Cell Biochem Funct.2003 Mar;21(1):85-91.
Mihaescu, Gh. et. al.,“The Effects of Orally Administered Humanofort on
Steroid Hormone Levels and on Oxidative Stress of Rugby Players”
Medicine and Pharmacy University, Bucharest, Romania 1997.
Mihaescu, Gh.et. al.,“Procedeu de Obtinere a Unui Extracte Embrionare cu Efecte Stimulante.”Brevet OSIM 112, 102;1997.
Miller AL. Altern Med Rev.1999 Aug;4(4):239-48.Therapeutic considerations of L-glutamine: a review of the literature.
Mittendorfer B, Volpi E, Wolfe RR.Whole body and skeletal muscle
glutamine metabolism in healthy subjects. Am J Physiol Endocrinol
Metab. 2001 Feb;280(2):E323-33.
Moretó, Miquel. Dietary Plasma Proteins Modulate the Immune Response of
Diffuse Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue… Grup de Fisiologia i Nutrició
Experimental, Departament de Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Institut
de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària, Universitat de
Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain; APC Europe, Granollers 08400, Spain;
and APC Inc, Ankeny, IA 50021
Morin CM, Koetter U, Bastien C, et al. Valerian-hops combination and
diphenhydramine for treating insomnia: a randomized placebo-controlled
clinical trial. Sleep 2005 Nov 1;28(11):1465-71.
Pedersen BK, Ostrowski K, Rohde T, Bruunsgaard H. The cytokine response
to strenuous exercise. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 1998;76:505-11.
Ruddick JP, Evans AK, Nutt DJ, Lightman SL, Rook GA, Lowry CA (2006).
"Tryptophan metabolism in the central nervous system: medical
implications". Expert reviews in molecular medicine 8 (20): 1-27
Schaechter JD, Wurtman RJ (1990). Serotonin release varies with brain tryptophan levels. Brain Res. 532 (1-2): 203-10.
Schaefer A, Piquard F, Geny B, Doutreleau S, Lampert E, Mettauer B,
Lonsdorfer J. L-arginine reduces exercise-induced increase in plasma
lactate and ammonia. Int J Sports Med. 2002 Aug;23(6):403-7.
Schellenberg R, Sauer S, Abourashed EA, et al. The fixed combination of
valerian and hops (Ze91019) acts via a central adenosine mechanism.
Planta Med 2004 Jul;70(7):594-7.
Schneider-Helmert D, Spinweber CL (1986). "Evaluation of L-tryptophan
for treatment of insomnia: a review". Psychopharmacology (Berl.) 89
(1): 1-7.
Shukla KK, et al. Mucuna pruriens Reduces Stress and Improves the
Quality of Semen in Infertile Men. Department of Biochemistry, King
George's Medical University, Lucknow 226003, India.
Shukla KK, et al. Mucuna pruriens improves male fertility by its action
on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis.Department of
BiochemistryC.S.M. Medical University, Lucknow, India.
Stevinson C, Ernst E. Valerian for insomnia: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Sleep Med. 2000; 1:91-9.
Volpi E, et al. Essential amino acids are primarily responsible for the
amino acid stimulation of muscle protein anabolism in healthy elderly
adults. Am J Clin Nutr 2003; 28(2): 250-8.
Walsh NP, Blannin AK, Robson PJ, et al., Glutamine, exercise and immune
function. Links and possible mechanisms. Sports Med 1998
Sep;26(3):177-91.
Weinstock C, Konig D, Harnischmacher R, Keul J, Berg A, Northoff H.
Effect of exhaustive exercise stress on the cytokine response. Med Sci
Sports Exerc 1997;29:345-54.
Wolfe R. Control of muscle protein breakdown: effects of activity and
nutritional states. Intl J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2001; S11: S164-S169.
Wolfe R. Effects of amino acid intake on anabolic processes. Can J Appl Physiol. 2001; 26 Suppl: S220-7.
Wolfe R. Regulation of muscle protein by amino acids. J Nutr 2002; 132: 3219S-3224S.
Wyatt RJ, Engelman K, Kupfer DJ, Fram DH, Sjoerdsma A, Snyder F. (1970
Oct 24). Effects of L-tryptophan (a natural sedative) on human sleep.
Lancet 1970 Oct 24, 2 (7678): 842-6.
Ziegenfuss, T.N., Landis, J., J.E. Hofheins. Acute supplementation with
Alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine augments growth hormone response T, and
peak force production during resistance exercise. The Center for
Applied Health Science Research, Division of Sports Nutrition and
Exercise Science, Fairlawn, OH. 44333.
Ziegler G, Ploch M, Miettinen-Baumann A, Collet W. Efficacy and
tolerability of valerian extract LI 156 compared with oxazepam in the
treatment of non-organic insomnia: a randomized, double-blind,
comparative clinical study. Eur J Med Res. 2002;25:480-6.
Ziegler TR, Benfell K, Smith RJ, et al. Safety and metabolic effects of
L-glutamine administration in humans. J Parenter Enteral Nutr.1990
Jul;14(4 Suppl):137S-46S.