Review: Ok, well here goes my 1st review....
Firstly i'd like to admit that BSN's NO-Xplode is the first pre-workout drink of it's type that i have tried, so i'm not able to cross-compare it with any of it's similar market rivals...
That said though, due to all the other factors in my nutritional, weight-lifting, cardio and supplemental programs remaining constant, from before taking NO-Xplode to during, i can certainly compare the effects of having this product as an addition to my existing stack, as opposed to not having it at all.
I've got to admit, i was rather sceptical about the claims of NO-Xplode, but as my energy levels were consistently low before and during workouts, despite keeping sound nutrition, i thought i would give it a try.
I was also intrigued to learn whether stimulating Nitric Oxide increases in my system (via Arginine) would indeed encourage my maximum muscle mass gains from my hard work in the gym....
... And would i achieve the 'skin ripping pumps' that people were going absolutely crazy about? They sounded great! So i had to try!

I chose the Fruit Punch Flavour, 1.81lb tub, which cost me approximately £.

For my very first serving i followed the manufacturers advice, by taking just 1 scoop in water, to assess my tolerance, about an hour before i planned to get stuck into the weights.
I must admit, i was expecting this stuff to taste pretty bad and, with my first tentative sip, it certainly crossed my mind that it was a good job i hadnt got my hopes up on that score! At that point a slightly bitter/sour aftertaste did seem to develop, BUT, after another sip, and then another, the taste really did start improving (or rather my reaction to it), and with each subsequent gulp the flavour grew on me a little more! In fact, after just two servings i was already starting to quite LIKE the taste!.. and i dont even notice any bitter aftertaste now, just a slight sharpness, which i find quite refreshing, a bit like sour apple. I detect a pinch of cinnamon in with its zingy, fruity flavour too, which is not overly sweetened which is a definite plus point for me.
Overall for taste, i would give NO-Xplode Fruit Punch a surprisingly good 8/10. (although i have no other similar drinks to compare it to, i still think it deserves a high score here, as it's really quite palatable, and i actually look forward to my daily dose now!).

Now, onto it's EFFECTS!.....

30 minutes after my first initial dose of 1 scoop mixed in water, i was a little disappointed that after assessing my tolerance, as per instructions, it appeared that i did need a further scoop, because i'd felt no obvious effects from the initial dose.
At this point i began to worry that i had wasted my money on an ineffective product, BUT, i was soon to see this wasn't the case.
When the total 2 scoops had chance to enter my system thoroughly, 30-40 mins later, i realised that somewhere along the last half hour i had started to feel, well, AMAZING! LOL, there's no other word for it!
Both physically and mentally i had started to feel really noticeably better in myself than before taking the NO-Xplode, and frankly, much better than id felt in a long time. This was a really unexpected bonus!
It's quite hard to describe, but for me, the energy increase NO-Xplode gave me from that 1st day wasnt hard to deal with at all.. not really intense as some had said on forums i'd read. There were no tingles/light-headedness/rapid heartbeat/palps/jitters/agitation/'hypo' feeling, nothing negative like that at all... rather, the energy feeling was (and still is) much smoother and more pleasant, with a real focused clarity and edge, and this wonderfully 'uplifting' psychological boost, which made me honestly feel ready for ANYTHING!
AS a woman who's suffered from depression and lethergy on and off throughout my life, i can assure you that to make me feel like this is no easy task!
From that point i KNEW that i was going to have a belter of a workout... and i was right. Without a doubt i was noticeably more charged and energised than my 'normal' self, after taking NO-Xplode for the 1st time, and i literally couldnt wait to get in the gym and start throwing some heavy weights around, and getting up a sweat.
Overall, for it's PRE-workout benefits (Energy, Focus etc), compared to just drinking a coffee or a Red Bull pre-wo, NO-Xplode gets a 9/10 from me... i'm more than satisfied!

Now onto it's performance DURING my workout...

Overall Rating: 9/10

Taste Rating:  N/A