Choosing The Right Animal "Stack" Combo
Every month, thousands of dedicated lifters call or email us, asking about customized Animal supplement "stacks". Some are preparing for a bodybuilding show, others are gearing up for a powerlifting meet. But the majority of lifters just want to know how they can increase their performance and reach their goals faster. Well here are a couple of combo stacks that me, my lifting buddies, and some of the guys here use.
Stack #1: The Natural Lean Mass Stack
Stack #2: The Basic Anabolic Stack
Stack #3: The Pre-contest Cutting Stack
Stack #4: The Quick 3-week Definition Stack
Stack #5: The Natural Anabolic Stack
Stack #6: The Off-season Mass Gaining Stack
Stack #1: The Natural Lean Mass Stack
Goal: For competitive lifters seeking to maintain mass and size while increasing deep cuts. This triple stack can help increase the anabolic drive and promote muscle size, overall conditioning, and a freaky “onion-skin” look.
Tools:
Schedule:
- Animal Pak: 1 packs daily, with breakfast
- Animal Cuts: 2 packs daily, once in the morning before breakfast and another in the early afternoon, allowing for at least 3-4 hours between each pack
- Animal M-Stak: 1 pack daily, 30-45 minutes prior to training.
Note: Don’t take the Cuts and the M-Stak simultaneously, but stagger them. And always take the M-Stak before you lift. In other words, if you lift at 6pm, take the Cuts first thing in the morning, and again before lunch. Take the M-Stak at 5:15pm or so. But if you train in the morning, take the M-Stak before you lift, the first Cuts before lunch, and the second Cuts before dinner. Try to stagger the Cuts and the M-Stak at least 4 hours apart.
Tips: When taking M-Stak by itself or in any combination, be sure to get at least a gram of protein per pound of bodyweight. Let its “nutrition-partitioning” effects work for you. By taking in cleaner calories and cutting out the junk, this triple stack will work more effectively.
Stack #2: The Basic Anabolic Stack
Goal: This is a basic, minimal stack designed for all intermediate to advanced lifters looking for an anabolic edge. These athletes train hard and eat clean throughout the year. Due to the potent nature of this stack, however, it isn't recommended for all athletes, especially those athletes who are drug-tested or under the age of 25.
Tools:
Schedule:
- Animal Pak: 1 pack with either breakfast, lunch, or dinner
- Animal Stak 2: 1 pack 30-45 minutes prior to weight training or cardio. On non-weight training days, take a pack approximately the same time as you would if you were training.
Tips: With Animal Pak, you not only get a great nutritional foundation, you also get a supplement that makes the Animal Stak 2 (and other supplements) work better. Combined with 4-6 balanced meals per day, this simple double stack will produce nice results in a short period of time. Make sure your body is getting enough quality calories and protein. Remember, calories are the fuel which will drive growth.
Stack #3: The Pre-Contest Cutting Stack
Goal: For elite and competitive bodybuilders seeking to increase striations and vascularity. This triple stack can increase muscle hardness, overall conditioning, and deep cuts. Several cycles can be used consecutively in the weeks of contest prep prior to a show.
Tools:
Schedule:
- Animal Pak: 2 packs daily, with breakfast and dinner
- Animal Cuts: 2 packs daily, once in the morning before breakfast and another in the early afternoon, allowing for at least 3-4 hours between each pack
- Animal Nitro: 2 packs daily, 30 minutes prior to lifting, within 30 minutes after lifting
Note: This plan assumes that you're training in the evening. If you train first thing in the morning, for example, take your Animal Nitro first, followed by an Animal Cuts pack 3-4 hours later, and a second Cuts pack 3-4 hours after that.
Tips: Drink plenty of water. If doing both weight training and cardio during the same session, always hit the weights first, followed by cardio. Anaerobic activity is fueled by glycogen, and after weight training, the cardio will tap into fat stores more efficiently. When performing cardio, the intensity level should not be too high as entering the anaerobic threshold encourages carb utilization, not fat oxidation.
Stack #4: The Quick 3-Week Definition Stack
Goal: For athletes looking for deeper cuts in a shorter period of time. This double stack is also perfect for those athletes who tend to hold excess water, as well as subcutaneous fat, especially around the abs.
Tools:
Schedule:
- Animal Pak: 1 pack daily, with a meal
- Animal Cuts: 2 packs daily, one in the morning, another in the afternoon
Tips: For maximum results, take your first Animal Cuts pack on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning, followed by 30-45 minutes of cardio. All this should take place before your first meal. If you don't have time in the morning, and you do cardio in the evening, then take the Animal Cuts pack in the morning, the Pack in the afternoon with lunch, and the second Animal Cuts pack 30-60 minutes before cardio. Once again, be sure to drink plenty of water as drinking water actually reduces water retention. Water retention is often due to the body hoarding water when not enough is taken in.
Stack #5: The Serious Anabolic Stack
Goal: Perfect for serious lifters looking to maximize performance and strength. This triple stack is ideal for frequent, heavy lifters who need more help reducing recovery times.
Tools:
Schedule:
- Animal Pak: 1 pack daily, with a meal
- Animal Stak 2: 1 pack 30-45 minutes prior to training
- Animal Nitro : 1 packet within 30 minutes after training
Tips: If your training is particularly tough, you can also take a second Animal Nitro packet during the day. We like taking it first thing in the morning in this stack.
Stack #6: The Off-Season Mass Gaining Stack
Goal: This powerful triple stack is perfect for strength athletes looking for quality weight gain in the off-season, those bodybuilders looking to maximize their muscle size, and traditional "hardgainers."
Tools:
Schedule:
- Animal Pak: 1 pack daily, with breakfast, lunch, or dinner
- Animal Stak 2: 1 pack daily, 30-45 minutes prior to training
- Animal M-Stak: 1 pack daily, 3-4 hours apart from the Animal Stak 2
Note: Be sure not to take the Animal Stak 2 at the same time you take the Animal M-Stak. Stagger each. For example, if you train and take the Stak 2 in the morning, take the M-Stak in the afternoon, and vice versa.
Tips: In addition to the above supplement stack, aim for 5-6 six meals daily, every 2-3 hours. Include generous helpings of lean red beef, tuna, chicken, pork, and turkey. If you eat clean, you won't need to add any fat because you'll get them naturally from your food. Consume protein with every meal, at least a gram of protein per pound of bodyweight per day. If you want, you can supplement with some essential fats in the form of nuts, safflower oil, natural peanut butter, flaxseed oil, or borage oil. Stick to low glycemic index carbs and make sure you get enough of them as glycogen fuels anaerobic training.
