Sleep - Time and Quality: My sleeping patterns are still out of whack, but at least they are settling down into something - albeit not the schedule I WANT, but it is better than either not sleeping or sleeping excessively.
Mental Focus and Clarity: Due to the nature of my working commitments, I have HAD to be focused and have complete concentration. There have been a few days where I have been unable to deal with much for long periods of time, but for the most part, I have been locked on target.
Energy: My energy levels have been good. I have the energy to get through training and very active night work, as well as not being able to 'shut down' until the mid hours of morning.
Mood/Aggression: Mood has been up and down over the last couple of weeks, more a product of circumstances and environment than anything else. Aggression, though, has been higher than the usual high, and has provided a good source of motivation for training.
Stress: Stress is still high, but it has been more manageable, as I attempt to NOT let it affect me as much.
Libido: This is one of the predominant effects, with my body being ready pretty much ALL the time (which, yes, can be a little annoying sometimes), even if my head is NOWhere near that train of thought.
Joints: My left wrist aches on and off still, more on than off . . . My knees have actually gotten better over the last two weeks . . . My back is only affected after certain heavy days of lifting . . .
Endurance: My endurance has changed. In the gym, I am having only 30-45 seconds recovery between sets, as opposed to 1-3 minutes. Cardio sessions are not really been long enough to notice an improvement in endurance, but re speed endurance, I have been able to do longer efforts with HIIT Cardio.
Strength: Although I am not too focused on strength gains, I have been able to increase my weights each session in the gym, indicating improvement re strength.
Quality of Training: The first week of FREE TEST, I trained EVERY day, which was quite demanding on my body. However, I thoroughly enjoyed almost every session, and the sessions done were reasonable. The second week of FREE TEST, I only trained four days, but EVERY training session planned for the week was completed, and I actually feel that the higher training volume per day works better for my body.Recovery: The first week of FREE TEST, I was so sore that by the end of the week I was moving like an ancient crone with every joint problem imaginable. The second week of FREE TEST was a pleasant walk in the park, with the almost complete elimination of DOMS (and yes, having every other day as a recovery day helped as well).
Pump: My resistance training has not been the rep-range ideal to elicit a pump. Pump has been created fast during Cardio and the V-Burn Challenge Circuit though.Vascularity: Vascularity has gradually been improving.
Muscle Hardness/Density: This is the most noticeable in my arms. Legs - which generally remain fairly hard all the time - have become more dense due to the extra work being done for them.
Body Composition and Look: I am now 12.9% bodyfat. Although only a small decrease in body composition over this last week, that is a total of a 1.4% loss in bodyfat over the last two weeks, averaging out at 0.7% bodyfat loss per week. Considering that the first week on FREE TEST was almost next to perfect re execution of nutrition and training (reflected in bodyfat and weight loss) and the second week was subpar at best (less training and a voracious appetite that I attempted to satiate), this is decent re results.
Overall Sense of Feeling: I definitely feel BETTER. I know that I CAN achieve my desired body composition in ~5 more weeks. All I need is 100% DISCIPLINE with my nutrition and training 6-7 days a week, and I WILL get there! Motivation is high. Dedication is renewed. It's good to be training again!
Other Effects: The first week of FREE TEST, I had next to no appetite, but this last week, it has been INsatiable, and I have been easily consuming my Maintenance of ~4,300 calories - if not MORE - daily.
