I've reviewed a sample of Excel before (
http://www.muscletalk.co....x?m=4429711&high=) but recently bought 2 tubs of orange flavour while it was on offer and have been using it for all my workouts and during rugby training/matches so thought I'd post a fresh review having used it for a few weeks now.
I've always bummed Scivation Xtend massively as it tastes so good in every flavour, the only downside is that some flavours are a bit sweet and kill my appetite a little bit, making post-workout meals a bit of a struggle sometimes. I find I don't get this at all with Excel and this is a pretty big plus point in Excel's favour. It just tastes like orange squash and is really refreshing intra-workout. I usually drink it until I've got about a quarter of the shaker left and then refill it with water. Occasionally you might get a hint of the taste of BCAA powder but it doesn't bother me at all.
It doesn't mix quite as quickly as Xtend but if I put it a shaker with water just as I'm leaving work for the gym, by the time I reach the gym it's all mixed and just looks like an orange drink.
As we all know it's difficult to comment on the effects of BCAAs but I do think it helps with recovery and that's really important when I'm weight training close to my maxes 5/6 times a week as well as having 2 rugby training sessions and a match on Saturday so I use it for every session as well as having a scoop in the afternoon between meals.
The bottom line is, I've finally been converted! I probably won't bother with Xtend anymore (don't really feel any affinity to the company since Marc Lobliner left anyway...) and one of the major factors for me is that what I mentioned before about Excel not being as sweet and thus doesn't affect my appetite at all so I can get home and demolish a pound or two of beef
