Maximuscle Affiliate Blog

Well the big day has come at last for Luke our lucky affiliate winner and the Maximuscle team, the 1st test at the ABSA stadium in Durban between the Springboks and the Lions. The team has been announced with no huge surprises but will be interesting to see how the scrums and kicking game compare.

A quick morning swim was followed by breakfast in the hotel and we caught some of the NZ vs France game to wet the appetite before the big match. We all met at 11.30am all in the red and white Lions shirts we had got for Luke and our guests and made our way to the stadium. Unfortunately one of our ‘pack’ was given some ropey directions and it was only when we crossed over 6 lanes of traffic did we realise we were in between motorways but managed to frantically flag down a helpful taxi to take us all to the game!

We drove past the new Moses Mabhida stadium, still being built in time for the 2010 World Cup. If initial impressions are anything to go by it will be absolutely spectacular! It is a stones throw from the ABSA stadium and home to the Natal Sharks, and at this point Luke and I saw the sheer numbers of red and green jerseys making their way in.

The hospitality tent was a brand new facility that we made our way to, and were immediately greeted by champagne and cold beers with canapes on our table. Willie John McBride a Lions legend made a stirring speech to increase the feeling of anticipation as we enjoyed a three course dinner before kick off.

As we made our way to the ground I had never seen so many supporters swell into the stadium, all chanting and singing and in great spirits. The atmosphere was absolutely amazing with Lions and Springboks sitting amongst each other and sharing beer and friendly banter all the way. The game proved to be a classic, if only Ugo Monye managed to convert those chances but the way they came back was very heartening for the next game and showed our products are keeping them fit and strong!

After the game we went back to enjoy some more hot food in the hospitality tent and some photos with former rugby stars. At the same time the entire crowd spills out into the surrounding fields and car parks to enjoy Braai BBQs, food served in hospitality huts and out of the back of people’s cars. It was an atmosphere I would struggle to see anywhere back home with a live band and music, impromptu games of rugby, fans singing away and both sets of fans drinking and enjoying themselves! At one point we couldn’t believe it when one loopy away fan climbed up the goalposts and saluted the crowd, completely naked! Him struggling to slide back down was one of the funniest things I had ever seen!

Finally as numbers were dying down very late in the evening we followed some well oiled supporters back to Joe Cool’s again to drown our sorrows after the defeat. It didn’t dampen anything though and with the place rammed with Lions and Bok supporters again all drinking and dancing it was absolutely brilliant. I think the highlights were Luke dancing with a guy in a Lions nylon all in one outfit gimpsuit, so all in one his head was completely covered plus James turning up with a beautiful union jack coat!

We partied till the early hours to round off one of the best days and weekends we ever had before reluctantly heading home when all the bars in the club ran out of beer and spirits!

All in all a brilliant time - any suggestions for the next sporting incentive, day at the Ashes maybe ?  Please let me know what you would suggest at smusk@maximuscle.com

After enjoying a few Castle beers the night before, a relaxing day on the beach was required and the sun duly obliged. Games of beach rugby, football, beach volleyball were the order of the day while Luke was intent on his loopy idea of diving with sharks!!

There was a giant Lions shirt on the beach that was being signed by all of the tourists, having already done the rounds in the UK with hundreds of signatures already collected! We understood it was going to be ultimately auctioned off for charity - not sure where you will be able to put it though, over your house?!

Some of the guys popped to the team hotel and we caught up with Maximuscle ambassador Shane Williams for a quick chat. Not quite in the side for the Durban game but he tells us he is fighting hard for a place in the lineup for the 2nd test no doubt. Ps lovely pink top there Mark!

We headed back to Florida street for a bite to eat and it was absolutely packed with British fans all in high spirits, and we found a thai restaurant just round the corner. Pudding was missed to make sure there was more room for a drink or several, and called in at the Fiddler, an Irish bar with a chap on a violin prompting rugby song after song!

After one of the party managed to come back from the bar with 10 beers and 2 local ladies, these local lasses insisted that we all head off to Joe Cool’s, the local nightspot on the beach. It didn’t disappoint, again with red Lions shirts everywhere and fans and Bokkers enjoying a few beers and banter about the game tomorrow.

 You can definitely feel the excitement building up and Luke and I absolutely cannot wait for the game in the morning. Come on the Lions!

The winner of the British Lions incentive to win a trip to Durban, SA was Net Media Planet and Luke was the lucky representative to jump on the flight. Luke joins myself, our Facebook fanpage competition winner Colin and leading Telegraph sports blogger Eric Janssen with some of the Maximuscle team for the trip to see the Lions in action.

On arriving at Heathrow it was clear that everyone was really excited, and even an 11 hour flight to Jo’burg and a short change to Durban wouldn’t dent spirits! When we finally made it there, we were greeted by warm sunshine and a warm South African welcome from our hotel near the beach.

Little time was spent before catching a few rays by the pool then a trip to the enormous North Beach for lunch. Managed to navigate 4 large dollops of anchovy paste that were ordered, the local cat liked them though!

The weather is fantastic here for supposedly a winter’s day, warm sunshine but sun goes down around 5 ish, just in time for a nice meal and a few drinks! We decided to explore down the beachfront and our jaws dropped when we bumped into half the Lions squad surfing and enjoying some time off on the tour. 

Just the other side was a beach bar full of Lions supporters and the full Lions coaching team including Ian McGeechan and Warren Gatland! What an amazing start to the trip.

We ate at the Butcher Boys, a shrine to meat eating Lions supporters. It was absolutely packed and great food and company, and the odd Lions song or two. Warming up nicely for Saturday!

One of the key sports nutrition products being used by the British Lions and the England cricket team is Promax whey protein - to boost recovery and aid muscle strength and mass.

While there’s a good chance you’ll be glued to the TV screen - you can still train hard and make your own Summer of sport a success with 1-2 servings of Promax every day.

Use it to aid muscle recovery after exercise and sport, or to support muscle growth and strength in combination with weight training and a nutritious diet.

For a limited time only we have a fantastic offer on Promax:

Buy 2 x Promax for £49 Save £18.98
http://www.maximuscle.com/eshots2009/jun09promax2for49.html

The suitcase is near packed for the trip to Durban to watch the Lions take on the Springboks in the first test on Saturday! There are mixed feelings of excitement and nervousness for the trip, plus a little confusion over which way the eggball will bounce. One thing is for sure it is all set to be a massive game and should be a fantastic atmosphere inside the Sharks stadium.

The lucky winner of the Affiliate incentive is representing Net Media Planet and will be joining myself and some other Maximuscle staff members, plus our Facebook fanpage winner and a leading blogger on rugby and nutrition. Keep your eyes on some further sport-themed incentives coming your way soon!

Thanks for all the entries so far, just a reminder there is still over 3 days left to enter the draw for this superb competition prize!

Here are some behind the scenes shots of rather large rugby players at the training camp in South Africa. If you would like any creatives made for you to make your life easier just let me know! This MPU and others are available on our programme on TD and AW ..

Win a Trip to see the Lions in South Africa!

To celebrate being the Official Supplier of the British and Irish Lions, Maximuscle would like to offer one affiliate the amazing chance to join the Maximuscle team to see the first test in Durban!

This will include all travel from Heathrow, accommodation and hospitality as well as giving you the chance to get to know Sam and the Maximuscle team even better!

Maximuscle ambassador and winger Shane Williams will autograph a Lions shirt for one lucky runner up, and 3rd / 4th place both get a Maximuscle goodie bag worth £100.

This trip will be from Weds 17th June returning early on Mon 22nd June so please ensure you are free!

There are two ways to win. The first is a prize draw from Wednesday 3rd June until Wednesday 10th June where each sale you drive on the Maximuscle programme will count as one entry.

The second is to either reply on the A4U thread, post on our Blog – www.maximuscle.com/blog or email me smusk@maximuscle.com with a link or screenshot of some extra promotional work you are running based on Maximuscle and the Lions and this will earn you 5 entries into the draw!

Lions creatives are available through your TD or AW accounts now for you to promote – so all you have to do is place one of these on your site in order to earn 5 entries!

The lucky winner will be selected on Thursday 11th June.

To help promote we have 20% extra on Cyclone chocolate and have also just launched a new offer on one of the products the Lions are using in SA:

Buy 2 x Creatamax Extreme tubs for £59 Save £19.99
http://www.maximuscle.com/eshots2009/jun09creatamaxex2for59.html

The British and Irish Lions kicked off their SA tour on Saturday,  their superior fitness and endurance wore down the opposition to grind out a 37 - 25 victory. The squad uses Viper to boost endurance and aid lean muscle, plus Creatamax Extreme is used for muscle growth.

Buy 2 x Viper 1kg tubs for 29 Save £16.98

http://www.maximuscle.com/eshots2009/jun09viper2for29.htm
Viper contains 3g of BCAAs per serving. These potent amino acids have a number of exciting benefits, including:

- helping muscles to repair and recover after exercise.
- providing vital fuel for a healthy immune system, meaning that illness or infection will be less likely to interfere with training.
- helping to reduce muscle loss during exercise.
Buy 2 x Creatamax Extreme tubs for £59 Save £19.99

http://www.maximuscle.com/eshots/jun09creatamaxex2for59.html

What is creatine?
Creatine is naturally produced in the body or obtained from food about 95% is stored in your muscles, while the rest is found in the brain, heart and other organs. Simply put, the creatine pool stored in your muscle is needed to create ‘instant-energy’ during maximal exercise (such as weights or sprinting).

Creatine supply is limited and it’s a big reason why we get fatigued so quickly when lifting heavy weights or running the 100m. By safely boosting creatine levels with creatine products, it’s possible to increase high intensity performance (you can get creatine from foods like beef, but it would mean eating about 50 steaks!).