One of the major issues that puts people off when it comes to training and exercise is the recovery period – people can't handle the sore tired muscles that result from a good work out. BCAA's or Branch Chain Amino Acids have a large role to play when it comes to recovery, unfortunately however many people overlook this key area of supplementation – the body can't manufacture BCAA's, they must be supplied through diet and supplementation.

There are 3 main essential amino acids that are responsible for anti catabolic (Stopping the breakdown of muscle and tissue) and anabolic (increasing muscle growth) activity.

• Leucine – Increases muscle mass, repairs muscle tissue, regulates blood sugar.
• Valine – Repairs muscle tissue, is used for treatment of gallbladder and liver disorders.
• Isoleucine – regulates blood sugar, aids repair of muscle tissue.

It doesn't matter what exercise you do; gardening, weight training, cleaning, or running, muscle soreness can occur from all forms of movements. Not many people know this but the muscle fatigue and pain one experiences from training is actually the muscle fibres being broken apart, this sensation can last as long as 3–5 days (DOMS – delayed onset muscle soreness). The good news is though that once these muscle fibres have been broken they grow back stronger – this is exactly why when we exercise our muscles we grow stronger and build muscles. It is in this stage of rebuilding the muscle fibres that BCAA's have an important role to play, the faster you recover, the faster you can get back to training!

Continue reading...

I am stoked to announce the winner of our huge $1000 Fitness & Nutrition prize pack is… Drum roll please… Amanda Smith!! Congratulations!

Thanks to our sponsors; Musashi, Mutant, Optimum Nutrition, Horleys, Adidas, Reebok, Sting, and Firefly for all the awesome prizes!

Remember guys stay tuned for more Fitness & Nutrition information and deals coming right to your inbox every week!

Hey guys and gals, this just a reminder that there is less than two weeks left until we draw our $1000 Fitness & Nutrition Prize Pack! So tell all your mates and get subscribing to­day!

The competition closes at midnight on October 31st.

I'm super excited to be writing this!

The BSN Supplement range has officially landed at Mighty Ape! So we thought to celebrate we'd give you 10% off the entire range! But get in quick, this offer will only be available for a limited time!

Since 2001 BSN has been creating world class supplements for the likes of you and I, receiving over 35 Sports Nutrition Awards in the past 6 years alone is testament enough to this. With sponsored athletes like Rich Froning – the fittest man in the world 3 years running, Cain Velasques – the current UFC Heavy Weight Champion, and Roelly Winklaar – an IFBB Professional Body builder who shocked the world in 2010 when he won the IFBB New York Pro in his rookie year, you can be sure that BSN Supplements work and are a force to be reckoned with.

Whether you're looking to lose weight, gain mass, or want a pre-work out boost, BSN has you covered!

Try the Syntha-6 Chocolate Peanut Butter – it's one of the best tasting supplements I've ever had!!

Continue reading...

With the ITM Cup finals coming up this weekend I'm pleased to say all our teams are in the finals! Who are you supporting?

• Canterbury or Auckland?
• Wellington Lions or Counties Manukau?
• Tasman Makos or Southland?
• Otago or Hawke's Bay?

Make your call a statement with our Rugby and League Replica Jerseys today! Save up to 40% off!

Also for all you rugby league nuts, it's less than two weeks until the Rugby League World Cup kicks off! Check out our full Kiwis Supporter Range and get behind the boys as they prepare for the biggest title defence rugby league has seen!

Continue reading...

Everyone needs a little motivation every now and then, and what's more motivating than $1000 worth of training gear to get you kicking into summer?!

For the month of October subscribe to the Fitness & Nutrition newsletter and you will automatically go in the draw to win over $1000 worth of training gear and supplements to get your body operating at its full capacity!

The prize pack includes:

• 1× Horleys Ripped Factors 3kg
• 1× 100% Whey Gold Standard 2.2kg
• 1× Sting Quick Wrap
• 1× Sting Armalite SAS Boxing Bag Mitts
• 1× Sting Armalite SAS Focus Mitt
• 1× Adidas Sped Rope
• 1× Reebok Resistance Tube
• 1× Reebok Gym Ball
• 1× Reebok Yoga Mat
• 1× Musashi Electrolyte Replacement Drink
• 1× Musashi Muscle Recovery BCAAs
• 1× Musashi L-Glutamine
• 1× Musashi Creatine Recovery Stack
• 2× Firefly Recovery Strap
• 1× Firefly Knee Strap
• A Mutant gym bag and t-shirt
• Plus a whole heap of Optimum Nutrition and Mutant samples and shakers!

The competition will be running from today (2/10/2013) until the end of October (31/10/2013) The winner will be selected at random and notified in the week of the 1st of November 2013. All you have to do is subscribe to Fitness & Nutrition and you're in to win! If you've already subscribed then don't worry – you're already in the draw!

One of the most commonly overlooked aspects of training in my opinion is one's grip strength. Grip strength is one area that when it comes to training no one seems to have any idea on how to do it. Well, one place to start is with our Reebok Hand Grips.

Grip strength limits one's ability to lift big weights, especially when it comes to pulling movements like deadlifts and rows. With an increase in grip strength movements like pull ups will also become immeasurably easier too. Grip strength also plays an important role when it comes to handshakes; how often have you gone to shake someone's hand only to be greeted by a slimy dead fish? Everyone appreciates a firm, confident handshake. Arm wrestling? The ultimate test of ones manliness – grip strength.

Ever since I was young I have always been fascinated with my dad's strong, rough, calloused hands from all the farm work and manual labour he did. I haven't yet managed to beat him in an arm wrestle, and I'm still inspired by his handshake. If you too can relate to anything I've been saying check out this awesome blog by the guys over at The Art of Manliness and get to training your grip now!

To keep us all training hard and recovering even harder we have some HOT deals from Musashi!

With every purchase of Musashi 1.9kg Recover Whey you will receive 60 capsules of Musashi ZMA+. This combo will have you back doing what what you love in no time at all, Recover Whey will aid in muscle growth, and repair. Mix this with the Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin B6 and Manganese found in the ZMA+ and you'll be smashing it before you even have time to feel the pain.

We also have a HUGE 20% OFF Musashi 2.28kg Bulk Mass Gain Protein Blend. This high calorie nutritionally balanced protein powder is ideal for people with increased energy needs such as growing individuals with fast metabolisms looking to gain weight. With Whey Protein concentrate and isolate both of which are high quality proteins; providing the body with essential amino acids including branch chain amino acids (BCAAs) to support muscle growth and repair, its no wonder this protein is one of the best out there!

To keep you in the gym, on the field, and pounding the streets we have a limited number of *Musashi training T-shirts* to give away with every Musashi product purchased to the value of $20 or more! This offer is only available while stocks last so get in quick to secure yours now!

Continue reading...

Ever tried getting back into training and suffered the next day? You know what I'm talking about, still legs that won't seem to move – stairs look like mountains, the hallway is never ending, and that crappy wooden chair has never looked so comfortable? Yes we all know the feeling. With all the awesome deals we are doing to kick off our Fitness & Nutrition category I'm sure lots of you are getting back into your training and are currently experiencing exactly what I'm talking about!

Never fear though! I'm really excited to introduce to you one of my favourite products right now; the Firefly Recovery Strap This exciting new product sends small electrical pulses through the nervous system in your lower legs to increase blood flow by around 300%! This increase of blood flow rapidly speeds up recovery time, especially after heavy training sessions or when getting back into training after a period of time off.

Now I know what you're probably thinking.. Electric shocks! Are you Crazy!? But trust me here, it is a weird feeling the first time you experience it but you get used to it after 5 minutes, I ended up falling asleep with them on once!

Now on a more personal note; about 2 months ago I started getting into Crossfit – “constantly varied, high-intensity, functional movement.” Now I've played rugby all my life and am relatively fit, but nothing could have prepared me for what I went through after that first session. I spent my next 3 days in agony, I could hardly get out of bed, stairs were a no go, I couldn't even back myself to drive. I was suffering from delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) like never before.

Continue reading...

Getting fit for summer is definitely a fight, score yourself a knock-out with our new range of MMA Gear here at Mighty Ape.

From being sold out of the back of a car in 1998, to being a 100 million dollar company in 2013 it's no doubt that Tapout is a major player in the MMA scene. With fighters like Chael Sonnen, Chad Mendes, and Stephan Bonnar its obvious that Tapout means business.

Ecko, another brand I'm sure you've heard of plenty of times, but did you know that it all started with a tin of spray paint and 6 t-shirts? From humble beginnings to the powerhouse it is today, Ecko has always remained true to the roots founder Marc Ecko built it upon.

Continue reading...