NP: Now, I’ve got to ask…Why a children’s book? It seems to be a very divergent move from your conventional supplement company. Can you tell our readers what was the catalyst or the creative spark that lead to the creation of Russel The Mussel?

MP: Well, I am an observer of the world as well as someone with a burning desire to change things for the better. Having grown up in one of the first generations surrounded by fast food, I saw the toll it took on my own body when I was young. It seems that in this insanely competitive and busy society, surrounded by rich, calorie dense foods and endless entertainment available at our fingertips, the generation of children growing up now are surrounded by an obesity epidemic with little or no information that they can understand to fight against it. A lot of my customers are teachers and parents, and they have expressed their frustration in trying to teach WHY they take care of themselves and go to the gym. So, I pulled Russel the Mussel out of my files – a story that was written with this exact purpose in mind – and used my resources to publish it.

NP: Was proper nutrition and exercise a big part of your childhood?

MP: As I mentioned, when I was growing up fast food and sugar-cereals were becoming pervasive, constantly bombarding us from the TV. My family was never really into healthy eating – and these were the habits I picked up. I lost my father to colon cancer when I was 9, and watched my own belly start growing. I knew something wasn’t right with this disposable, fried, crème-filled way of living.

NP: How long did it take you to write Russel The Mussel and what were some of your greatest challenges in bringing this to fruition?

MP: Well, unless I wanted to try to present a book loaded with stick figures, the biggest challenge was finding an artist that was able to take the vision in my head and make it real. An Anthropomorphized shellfish with muscular development and definition isn’t the easiest thing in the world to picture – but the artist I hired, John Grosvenor, came from a graphic novel background (www.grosvenordesigns.com) and made the transition effortlessly. The other big challenge is trying to make a viable product, in this industry dominated by the “get huge, get ripped, screw health” mentality, offering a useful and moral message.

NP: What would be the greatest compliment or sense of accomplishment you could receive from this body of work?

MP: The greatest sense of accomplishment in my mind would be 10 years from now, meeting a teen that is into fitness and obviously taking care of himself telling me that “Russel the Mussel” made him think and gave him a tangible figure to see in his head and reject the seductive siren-song of the fast food , sedentary lifestyle.

NP: Russel The Mussel has a profound and potentially life changing message for the health of our youth, how do you plan to promote this message to the public?

MP: We are working closely with the Jayden Deluca Foundation, in partnership with the American Heart Association, to donate some of the proceeds from the book to research and prevent Childhood Heart Defects. We will be expanding this model to include other charities for the benefit of children, especially in the area of childhood diabetes – one of the most insidious thieves of health and longevity. We are also starting a program of donations to Elementary School libraries across Ohio, and hopefully someday across the world. We’ll be working hard to try and get the book picked up by Scholastic as well.

NP: Is there a tip you can offer the public to help increase awareness of healthy lifestyles for our youth? How can we make our homes more proactive and health centered?

MP: As parents, it is not enough to just try tell your kids…you have to teach by example. It doesn’t have to be lifting weights or running on a treadmill, eating boiled chicken breasts and broccoli constantly…but you should be making an effort to listen to the message being “sold” to kids, and contrasting it with the truth. Take the family on walks together, get them away from the TV and X-box. Buy water or juice instead of soda. But again, teach by doing.

NP: Do you have any plans to continue writing?

MP: I am a rabid insomniac, and my mind never stops churning. I drive my wife nuts with constant ideas – especially about new books. I am enlisting the help of my 3 kids (who I sometimes let “help” package Java Lather to earn some money and teach them the that if they work, they get to spend their money on fun things) to make a Russel the Mussel Activity, which will give especially the younger kids a chance to participate in helping Russel and the rest of the colony make wise choices. It will have things like Mazes, word searches, and games. As of current count, I have about 28 stories in various stages of completion, and the second book – Ricky the Raincloud – is going into illustration right away. Writing is my first love, and I will never stop.

NP: Any sneak peaks on up-and-coming products in the RPN line you can share with our readers?

MP: We have been doing a LOT of research in the area of Probiotics and their effect on overall health – especially in children. We are working with my production wizard to encase the KE-99 strain used in Gut Health in a tart candy carrier, in order to help children’s immune system become heartier and possibly prevent some of the long term disorders we see. Things like allergies and asthma, not to mention LONG term illnesses like colon cancer are starting to be connected to imbalances in intestinal flora. We will also be releasing a hairloss treatment, a nootropic formula, as well and a very ENTICING masculine pheromone soap, called Renegade. We are also going to expand the FidOmega line, which seeks to take the things we have learned about supplementation and applying the things that work to improve the health and lives of Man’s Best Friend.

NP: It is quite obvious that RPN is not your traditional supplement company! Many companies fail to take the proactive approach of educating and promoting a healthy lifestyle; especially for young children who need it the most in this culture of mass childhood obesity and fast-food obsession. Matt, thanks again for taking time to share your story with us. We wish you and RPN the best and continued success!

MP: Thanks, Sam…I am just glad there are companies like Nutraplanet out there, willing to support the smaller supplement companies – and who actually takes the time to evaluate the quality of the lines you sell, rather than simply looking at the bottom line.

NP: Androsterone sounds like an extremely potent hormone as a standalone. How did you raise the bar with 3-AD, and can you explain why you included some of the other ingredients in your formulation?

MC: The bigger picture. Androsterone is a good compound but the entire 3-AD formula combines to provide the best legal anabolic available. 3-AD also addresses the shortcomings of all other products in this category, the androgen receptor. The more androgen receptors you have the better the anabolic effect will be. PLCAR increases the amount of androgen receptors, which is why it’s included in 3-AD.

NP: We noticed one of the ingredients in 3-AD is considered a “pheromone”. Can you further explain to our readers the actions and roles of pheromones and how it relates to muscle? Obviously we’re not talking about a “sex in a bottle” scent that will have women fighting over you (sorry guys).

MC: Of course not, and don’t be fooled into thinking that pheromones are exclusive to sexual attraction – some creatures use them to let others know where food is, where home is, whether a predator is coming and quite a few more. The sexual pheromones are typically released in relation to a female’s monthly cycle (i.e. if she’s ripe for breeding), and from men in order to persuade the female that they’re worthy enough of procreating with. With these being tied tightly to the reproductive system and sexual characteristics, it is no surprise that the structure of pheromones typically reflect that of androgens. The only real requirement from that is, and which is applicable in the case of 2-androstenol, to ensure it’s orally bioavailable, and that’s been accomplished with the acetate ester.

NP: Wow, this truly sounds like a potent lineup of formidable ingredients! So are there any side effects associated with 3-AD such as hepatoxicity, hypertension, adverse estrogenic effects, etc…?

MC: There is no risk of hepatoxicity because neither androsterone nor 2-androstenol are methylated. Hypertension shouldn’t be a cause for concern, although hormonals in general can increase red blood cell count or lead to slight water retention. Neither compound aromatizes, so there is no direct conversion to estrogen and therefore no anticipation of estrogenic-related side effects. I have however, seen some compounds that alter mineral levels which can cause slight water retention. The obvious side effects are all possible though, which is to be expected – acne, slight aggression and maybe mild shedding, suppression of natural testosterone production. Each user is different, but these are all possible. Some steroid users use Finasteride to overcome the shedding issues, but in this case 5AR inhibitors will not have any effect on either compound as they are already 5-alpha reduced.

NP: Is post cycle therapy (PCT) required for 3-AD?

MC: Absolutely. 3-AD is hormonal so I highly recommend everyone that uses it has adequate post-cycle therapy on hand from the get-go. I used and would recommend AX’s Advanced PCT, along with Activate Xtreme.

NP: How should one cycle 3-AD for optimal results?

MC: The dosing listed on the bottle is what will work best. Some users depending on bodyweight (220+lbs) may need a slightly higher dose but no one should assume they need it. Users should start at 2 caps twice a day for at least 7 days before increasing the dose to 2 caps- 3 times per day.

NP: How would you cycle 3-AD for maximum growth with minimal side effects?

MC: I think beginners should follow the dosing I’ve recommended until they know how they will respond to 3-AD. For experienced users I’ve always preferred high dosing for short periods of time. I feel this best mimics the way people grow, in short bursts. With 3-AD I would expect great results with 6-8 caps per day for no more then 24-28 days, followed by a 3 week PCT off period.

NP: So what’s the overall consensus on this revolutionary product? What types of gains should one expect to see with 3-AD?

MC: The feedback has been unbelievable! We’ve been seeing gains of anything from 3-18lbs over a four week cycle, with the average being around 12lbs. Side effects have been pretty much non-existent. So obviously I’m very excited about 3-AD and can’t wait to see how everyone else responds to it.

NP: So obviously 3-AD is great for packing on slabs of quality muscle, but is it also beneficial for recompositioning?

MC: Of course! The formula combines a very strong anabolic blend that is ideal for preserving muscle mass while trying to reduce fat stores and PLCAR. PLCAR is clinically proven to enhance the shuttling of fatty acids into muscle cellular mitochondria to be burned as a fuel source for greater energy production and is one of the reasons people feel warm when they take 3-AD.

NP: So what’s next on the horizon for you, Matt? Any other new compounds in the works…any sneak peaks for our subscribed readers?

MC: Yes, actually. We’re working on a follow-up to the hugely successful Glucophase XR product, only we’re taking it up a few notches. Of course it will cover insulin control for near-perfect calorie partitioning like its predecessor but finally we will introduce an actual IGF-1 promoting component that I’m sure will catch everyone’s interest…

NP: Sounds Great! We’re looking forward to the release of the new GXR! Matt, it was great talking to you my friend! NutraPlanet wishes both Designer Supplements and Anabolic Xtreme continued growth and success, and we are proud to partner with these great companies!

MC: Thank you for having me, it has been my pleasure.

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NP: Can you explain why X-Factor makes you more sore, and why that is a good thing for your muscles? Some might instinctively think that the soreness is bad for growth.

WL: Actually, it all goes back to the old saying, “No Pain, No Gain”. Soreness is an excellent indicator of workout productivity, and is directly tied to the muscle’s response to training. Via its local conversion to chemical messengers known as prostaglandins, Arachidonic acid is actually the core thermostat for this soreness/repair/growth response. It is released from your muscles while you are training, and increases local sensitivity to anabolic hormones like testosterone, IGF-1, and insulin. So it is used by the body to direct its repair actions to only those damaged tissues that need it. This explains why training your arms only causes your arms grow, and not your chest, legs, etc. The soreness you tend to notice on X-Factor is generally of the “I had a great workout yesterday” type, and not so much that it is determent to your training.

NP: So among other things, arachidonic acid makes your muscles use more testosterone. Does it also increase testosterone levels?

WL: No, it doesn’t appear to do so, only the sensitivity to this hormone. I like to view this as a good thing though, as it works extremely well without altering your hormone levels. So there is no “crash” when you stop taking it. The gains are very well retained. It also opens the possibility of stacking. Many consumers like to stack X-Factor with their favorite testosterone booster, for example, and usually report this to be a strong combination. It honestly stacks well with most muscle building supplements, as again, it increases the very core anabolic response. Other supplements tend to support muscle growth by altering downstream events, so there is little overlap, and good opportunity for synergy.

NP: What are the best gains you’ve seen with X-Factor alone?

WL: Well I’d have to say the best gains I’ve seen from X-Factor were on a guy that added 25 pounds of weight from one cycle. It was largely muscle, but he was on a heavy bulk and gained some fat too. I’d like to tell you those gains were typical, but short of steroids nothing legitimately delivers gains like that consistently. We usually see between 7 and 15 pounds of lean muscle gain. For a natural product, I’d like to say these numbers of unprecedented.

NP: Wow. Those are certainly impressive numbers. It makes me ask if any natural competitive bodybuilders use the product? 

WL: Yes. It is definitely growing in popularity among natural competitors. Just as an off the top of my head example, Jeremy Vargas just won the Mr. New Jersey and Mr. Long Island titles using X-Factor for his contest prep.  We talk to a lot of guys that are using it in their pre-contest prep actually, both to gain bulk, and closer to show time, to retain muscle mass during calorie depletion.

NP: Is it very good for maintaining mass during calorie restriction?

WL: Definitely. Admittedly calorie restriction is not the best environment to support muscle mass. But even so, we’ve actually had some guys report not only muscle retention, but even mild gains (a few pounds) during calorie deficit. I confess, this is one of the responses that took me by surprise at first. I even dismissed the first reports of this type. Eventually I had to concede it was really happening. Can’t explain it except to say that this is indeed a very strong anabolic nutrient. Under the right conditions it really fine-tunes the body’s anabolic response to training.

NP: OK, I think we have sufficiently covered the basics. Now onto the new stuff. First, what is the deal about AA and Fish Oil? I’ve seen mixed messages. Is it OK to stack the two?

WL: Yes, it is actually. At first, knowing that there are studies suggesting that Omega 3 fatty acids can compete with arachidonic acid for storage and conversion enzymes, we advised everyone to limit extra Omega 3 intake while taking X-Factor. We really just wanted to be sure it worked for everyone. After a lot of experimentation, and some new research, we have reversed this position almost completely. Unless you have a diet unduly excessive in Omega 3’s, they should not interfere substantially with X-Factor. In fact, we even tell people they can supplement Omega 3’s while taking X-Factor if they want. A couple of caps per day may even lend some synergy.

NP: What new research are you referring to?

WL: There have been a number of new studies on AA actually. The British Journal of Nutrition published an important one last year showing Omega-3 supplementations to have no effect on arachidonic acid levels. The subjects took a good dose of AA with their Omega-3’s too, about 850mg per day. This is only about 150mg shy of what we recommend at the maximum. There has been some additional data to suggest that low levels of added Omega-3’s might even increase the membrane uptake of arachidonic acid. At the very least, these studies, combined with our own observations, has led to us removing the “Limit Omega 3’s” recommendations.

NP: You guys actually funded a study on X-Factor yourselves. This is rare for sports supplements. You clearly had a lot of faith in it. How did that go?

WL: Yes, it was conducted by the Exercise & Sport Nutrition Laboratory at Baylor University. For a small study (only 15 people per side), we were extremely pleased with the results. The X-Factor group noticed greater gains on every measure of muscle mass, strength, and performance. Although individual variability can quickly blur the strength of such numbers with small group studies like this (they must maintain 95% consistency across groups to be considered, and both groups will make gains in training studies), we reached full statistical significance on a key measure of muscle performance called Peak Anaerobic Power, and statically strong measures on other anaerobic variables including bench press strength, anaerobic endurance, and average anaerobic power. This is looked at as the first clinical “proof” that arachidonic acid helps weight training performance. Following this success, you should expect to see more studies on arachidonic acid and its effects on sports performance. We’re really excited for what the future will hold for arachidonic acid, especially in the scientific arena.

NP: What about safety? Were there any side effects during the study?

WL: No, none at all. We asked Baylor to take extensive health measurements too. We also wanted to add to the safety data that was already available on arachidonic acid, not just repeat it. You see, years ago they approved this nutrient for use in baby formula, to aid infant development. To get this difficult level of approval extensive safety studies were conducted and presented to the FDA. So we had a lot to draw from already. But one of the key areas we asked Baylor to add to was the inflammatory response to arachidonic acid while training.  During their study the X-Factor group actually noticed a strong lowering of resting IL-6 levels. IL-6, or Interleukin-6, is a central regulator of inflammation. You expect elevated levels with increase inflammation. We believe that by improving local insulin sensitivity, X-Factor actually reduces systemic inflammatory markers. We don’t go as far to say that it is anti-inflammatory supplement though. Arachidonic acid can and will be used by the body to increase localized inflammation (as in our post-training anabolic response) when necessary, so if you have an inflammatory condition it may exacerbate symptoms. Likewise, we tell you not to take it if you have any inflammatory condition. You should definitely check with your doctor if you aren’t sure. It is also advised to cycle it (50 days on, 50 days off minimum).

NP: Well I see we’ve been going for a while now, and I don’t want to keep you. I know you have a lot going on now. I just want to say thank you on behalf of NutraPlanet. We’re excited to see all the positive feedback from X-Factor. And as our readers probably know, we were so interested in this nutrient that NutraPlanet licensed the rights for its sale under your patent. We appreciate your time and support Bill, and hope to have you back again soon.

WL: No thank you. It’s always great talking to my friends at NutraPlanet, and I appreciate the support you have given Molecular Nutrition.

NutraPlanet is the only store to carry both X-Factor and Bulk X-Factor!