Hey all, I posted on a VAAM thread a few weeks ago and indicated I ordered 10 packs of VAAM to use as a trial on myself. This is my take on it.
If you're considering using VAAM, first consider if you can afford a $20+/week habit. 10 packs cost $30.30 delivered, you can get 30 packs for $84.00 and save a few bucks per pack.
I've used 8 packs so far. I noticed no effect my first two runs, a little energy the third run but that could have been just a good run, the fourth run I noticed a significant increase in energy about 15 minutes into a 7 mile run. To put it in perspective, the increase in energy is about 35% of what you would get from a energy gel w/caffeine, but the increase in energy was even and lasted the remainder of the run. At the end of my fourth run I did feel less fatigued than usual. I felt it kick in around 15-20 minutes on my 5th, 6th, and 7th runs, but nothing that special. My 8th pack today gave me a good buzz, great 7 mile at a faster than normal pace. Having read some testimonials on the VAAM website, it seems that several people didn't feel anything the first several times they used it.
These are the benefits of VAAM as claimed on the VAAM website (www.vaam-power.com), my comments are below each bullet point.
Benefits of taking VAAM
- Increase endurance
*Yes, pretty even energy until the end of the workout
- Reduce muscle fatigue and cramping
*A little less fatigued during and after, never had problems with cramping so I can't say
- Reduce lactic acid build-up
*I haven't reallly pushed hard enough to tell
- Transforms reserves of body fat into long lasting energy
*Increase of energy outlasts what a energy gel would
- Lose body fat when exercising/training (VAAM helps transfer fat into energy)
*Haven't noticed any significant change in my body weight
- Makes exercising easier
*I'm able to do workouts at a slightly faster pace
- Maintain proper hydration during activity
*Didn't notice
- Enables possible sudden bursts of energy
*I imagine it could, but I haven't done any hard workouts to test it
Other things:
*The taste is tolerable, but I prefer to gulp it down instead of sipping it.
*I took VAAM as recommended, 0-30 minutes before my workout on an empty stomach. It did not bother my stomach at all
* I immediately felt a little extra energy when I'd drink VAAM, but I'm guessing it is from the carbs. On average it seemed to take about 15 minutes to kick in
* A poster on a thread said that VAAM just made him crap alot. I guess I maybe take an extra dump a day now, but I probably wouldn't have noticed if I didn't read that comment.
Overall:
I get enough benefit out of using VAAM, so I ordered more. I may be more or less enthused about VAAM depending on how my Spring marathon goes.
I hope that using myself as a human guinea pig was able to help some of you make a decision for/against buying VAAM.