Day 235: Day Off

Training

Been looking forward to a day OFF for several days now!

Comments

Stimulant Effects: None felt.

Metabolism: Definitely works better when having 4 caps of NeoVar Recomped first thing and last thing.

Body Composition and Look: Made my comments yesterday - "118lb at 10.7% bodyfat. So, made surprising progress this week. I can see the fat loss in my upper body, but my lower body measurements have NOT changed from last week - which is odd, since my pants have been feeling LOOSER. At this weight and body composition, I am only 3-4 weeks away from my goal composition."

Other Effects: Thirsty as always - but then again, it HAS been unbearably HOT. Continuing to burn up as well (so maybe that has something to do with the thirst, too).

Other Notes: Will be using 6 caps of FREE TEST tomorrow to finish up the bottle.

Day 221: Day 8 of Alpha-T2

Training

It's my scheduled Day OFF today - and boy am I glad! My body definitely needs it; I hurt all over, like a huge bruise.

Comments

Stimulant Effects: None felt.

Metabolism: Working fine.

Body Composition and Look: 116.2lb at 11.9% bodyfat. So, not much of a change in body composition, but given the week just been with lack of both eating and training (for the most part), is SOMEthing . . .

Other Effects: Still thirsty as anything, my mouth and throat feeling dry all the time.

Other Notes: Dosed only 2 caps of Drive with my "first thing" supplements today. No nausea experienced. I can only conclude that while I may have started off with food poisoning, the higher dose of Drive with FREE TEST exacerbated the issue and continued to cause the nausea, and therefore am dropping back to using only 4 caps of Drive daily.

Day 210: When did I become such a Stim Junkie?!

Training

HIIT Cardio:

a. 4 min jogging

b. 8 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy

c. 4 min jogging

Stretch 11 min.

Gym (45 sec recovery between sets):

1. Wide-Grip Lat Pull-Downs 5 x 8RM

2. Incline DB Bench Press 5 x 8-9RM

3. BB Romanian Deadlift (plates to floor) 5 x 8RM

4. Close-Grip BB Bicep Curls 5 x 8-9RM

5. Hanging Straight-Leg Raises 5 x 8-9

Post-Weights Cardio 20 min.

Stretch 14 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: Sleep has not really been a happening thing lately.

Mood/Aggression: Calm and chilled (for the most part). All the aggression I had on FREE TEST is GONE.

Energy: It's there.

Stimulant Effects: Today was a huge stack of stims and NOTHING. Unless it's a hefty dose of stims, I no longer feel any 'stimulant effects', really. However, just because I don't feel 'stimulant effects' doesn't mean that the stims I'm using aren't working, because I know damn well that they ARE. When did I become such a stim junkie, dependent on stims just to be functional?!

Mental Focus and Clarity: There.

Stress: Been listening to soothing tunes, trying to 'still' myself and not let it bother me.

Libido: My body can't handle the demands my mind is making (sigh).

Endurance: Good.

Strength: The last few days I've decreased my energy intake. Yet my strength is maintaining or even better than last week, which shows definite improvement.

Pump: Not that much - then again, my weights and reps are not really 'pump' material. I used Anadraulic Pump today, though, so thought that perhaps I might feel SOMEthing more than I usually do for this session - and I usually get mad bicep pumps, but even that didn't happen. Interesting.

Vascularity: Got better as my resistance session continued.

Quality of Training: HIIT was ok; mid-to-lower back ached throughout it, hence the shorter session . . . Resistance session was pretty good. Performance is gradually progressing, which is all I can ask for . . .

Recovery: I need it, but not from TRAINING, LOL.

Notes: BC+EAA has been a lifesaver for me over the last week or so, especially with my hectic professional schedule, and dosing them immediately post-training has also helped a great deal with my recovery.

Day 186: The Journey Continues . . .

Time to start Competition Preparation

Having been back training for 6 weeks now after a forced 13-week break from training, my fitness is slowly returning. Training has been different the last 4 weeks - a lot less than Maintenance, but enough for my body - and I've made some interesting progress. But now, it's time to step it up a bit - when my body crashed, I had to forego the competition I'd planned on doing, making the first one I will be taking the stage for in just under 13 weeks. Although I'm still trying to get back to my normal level of fitness, I'm going to be hard on myself and demand that I be in competition shape within the next 4-7 weeks, giving me plenty of time to make any adjustments, etc. as required.

For two weeks pre-FREE TEST, I used T-911 and Anadraulic State GT to 'kickstart' me back into training. So starts my competition preparation, and giving a longer review on T-911 and Anadraulic State GT, as well as observing the effectiveness of the T-911/Drive/IGF-2 stack.

Goals

What I am aiming for over the next 4-7 weeks:
* Body Composition of 7% bodyfat (8% bodyfat is acceptable, but if I can get leaner, then I want to be leaner)
* Resting Pulse of 30-32 beats per minute

Training

Training is going to continue for a bit along the lines of what I have been doing the last 4 weeks, which is still very much a 'Back to Basics' routine.

Sunday: HIIT Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes

Monday: 20-40 min Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes + Gym

Tuesday: HIIT Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes

Wednesday: 20-40 min Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes + Gym

Thursday: HIIT Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes

Friday: 20-40 min Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes + Gym

Saturday: V-Burn Challenge Circuit + Stretch 20-30 minutes

I might change a few things, like when HIIT is done (as it seems to work better for me pre-gym), but in essence, I will be doing 20 minutes of both cardio and stretching a day, as well as 3-4 resistance sessions a week.

Supplements

(in alphabetical order):

Anadraulic State GT: 1-2 scoops 40-60 min pre-training (and sometimes 1 scoop immediately post-training).

BC+EAA: 3-4 x 10.5-21 grams daily.

Bio-Mend: 2 caps post-breakfast.

BLACK CATS: 2 caps first thing and 2 caps 6-8 hours post-Dose 1.

Drive: 2 caps first thing and 2 caps pre-bed.

IGF-2: 3 caps first thing and 3 caps pre-bed.

LipoBURN: Application post-post-training shower and post-pre-bed shower.

Lipotrophin-PM: 2 caps first thing and 2 caps pre-bed.

MyoFusion: 1-2 scoops daily.

NeoVar Recomped: 4 caps pre-bed.

T-911: 1 tab 30-60 min pre-training. (I may increase to two tabs daily, either as one dose, or split into two doses; we'll see).

Udos Choice 3-6-9 Oil Blend: 2-4 tablespoons daily.

Vitamin C: 1 gram first thing, 1 gram immediately post-training, and 1 gram pre-bed.

I will also throw in some Anadraulic Pump and Postal sometimes, just to try them out.

Comments

Please note, that I may or may not comment on all the factors listed below in each 'update', and since I have used each supplement before, comments will generally be more specific towards T-911 and Anadraulic State GT.

Sleep - Time and Quality
Mood/Aggression
Energy
Stimulant Effects
Mental Focus and Clarity
Stress
Libido
Endurance
Strength
Pump
Vascularity
Quality of Training
Recovery
Body Composition and Look
Sides
Other Effects

Review of Applied Nutriceuticals' FREE TEST

A few notes about my nutrition and training whilst on FREE TEST:
Weeks 1 and 4 were next to perfect re nutrition and training.
Weeks 2 and 3 were not the best - nutrition was terrible, due to my poor sleeping (or lack of) schedule and long and busy work hours; training was even lower than usual, due to it taking my body a bit longer to recover, from just starting back into it.

My 'scores' re each effect are based predominantly on my experience/progress during the time that my nutrition and training were spot on, with some small influence from my bad times there as well.

Mood/Aggression: 8/10. My mood has not actually been better or worse whilst using FREE TEST, but remained a constant fluctuation on a daily basis. I have been a lot more aggressive than usual, though, especially the last week of using it, and this has actually been commented on by others.

Libido: 9/10. There was a definite increase in libido and my body's readiness. This was rapid in the first week of use of FREE TEST, leveling out during the next two weeks, and rising again during my last week of use.

Endurance: 8/10. I use resting pulse as a measure of my fitness and sometimes as an indicator of my endurance. Pre-FREE TEST, it was 43 beats per minute; post-FREE TEST, it is 40 beats per minute - fitness and endurance have both improved, and I am fast on my way back to my usual endurance level . . . Re endurance during training, this gradually improved over the course of my use of FREE TEST . . .

Strength: 9.5/10. Despite ~13 weeks off training, my strength did not actually suffer that much, and I started back training at almost my pre-break weights. Therefore, my strength gains each week were great - for pretty much every exercise, I was able to increase my 4-5RM and 8-9RM respectively by a minimum of 10 pounds per week, which, considering the weights I was using, is beyond reasonable. FREE TEST definitely shined here.

Muscle Hardness/Density: 8/10. My muscles have become noticeably harder since using FREE TEST, which is not surprising since I also started training again. However, muscle density has increased, especially in my arms, and also in legs (not that I need more muscle in my legs).

Body Composition and Look: 9/10. Pre-FREE TEST I was 124.6lb at 14.3% bodyfat (BF). Post-FREE TEST I am 117.4lb at 12.6% BF. Although my body composition pre to post-statistics is not very impressive, only losing 1.7% BF overall, the two weeks - week 1 and week 4 - that both my nutrition and training were as they should be, I made progress by leaps and bounds, losing 0.1% BF per day! The BF loss is most noticeable in my midsection . . . I am going to make a small note re WEIGHT here: Loss over the first week was 7.8 pounds, and the last week, it was 7.2 pounds - yes, I regressed a lot over weeks 2 and 3, but once I was back on the wagon, the loss was RAPID, the fastest ever of any product that I have ever used when all factors are spot on . . . Re girths, overall just over an inch was lost from my waist and hips, and just under an inch was GAINED in my arms (whilst skinfolds DEcreased). I am highly pleased with the increase in muscle mass in my arms, and this has been the most rapid growth that I have ever made in my arms (which, coincidentally, is a 'lagging' bodypart).

Cortisol Levels: N/A. Although I would have liked to see the changes in my cortisol levels from pre to post-FREE TEST, I was not able to get bloods done this time. I WILL note, though, pre-FREE TEST I was highly stressed and was for the first time in my life experiencing some cortisol build-up in my midsection; over my time on FREE TEST, although my stress has remained high - and has in fact gotten HIGHER than it was pre - when my nutrition and training were fine, the stress has been manageable, and cortisol decreased noticeably those weeks.

Testosterone Levels: N/A. Although I would have liked to see the changes in my hormone levels from pre to post-FREE TEST, I was not able to get bloods done this time.

Overall: 9/10. I am making my overall grade based on the progress/results experienced predominantly with body composition and strength when ALL factors were spot on - indicating what FREE TEST is capable of with all factors near perfect, and also, although I made some incredible progress over the 26 days of using FREE TEST (progress re strength and endurance were still made in weeks 2 and 3, even if I regressed re body composition), I stacked it with Drive and IGF-2, and I believe that they were a result of using all three products. Despite that, my results show that if you have the important factors (i.e. nutrition and training) correct, then using a supplement like FREE TEST can enhance your progress just that much more.

Would I use again? Yes. One bottle is definitely not long enough to get the full benefits of FREE TEST, so next time, I am going to use TWO bottles back-to-back (i.e. 8 weeks).

Would I recommend? Yes. FREE TEST provides solid results re improvements in overall fitness, especially when everything else is spot on, and is worth using for the individual wanting an extra edge on top of their nutrition and training.

Day 182 - Day 26 (last day) of FREE TEST

Training

HIIT Cardio:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 26 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy
c. 7 min jogging

Stretch 25 min.

Gym (30 sec recovery between sets):
1. BB Front Squats 5 x 5RM
2. Flat Close-Grip BB Bench Press 6 x 4-5RM
3. Close-Grip Supinated Reverse Rack Pulls (feet on bench) 5 x 5RM
4. BB Push Press 5 x 5RM

Post-Weights Cardio 20 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: I was SO ready for bed when I got home from work last night, and managed to sleep for a solid 4.5 hours!

Mental Focus and Clarity: A complete turnaround from yesterday; I am so alert and focused that it's unbelievable - but good, since I have a LOT to get done today.

Energy: My aggression was fueling my energy today.

Mood/Aggression: Mood is not one to be trifled with. My aggression is like a simmering volcano ready to erupt. All the sh*t from the last few days, especially yesterday, has me so pissed off that I want to lash out at anything and everything. I am, however, controlling myself rather well, the exterior deceptively calm.

Endurance: My speed endurance has definitely improved re HIIT/running, making it a bit more enjoyable than feeling like I am just trying to move a dead body.

Strength: Slight improvement from this session last week.

Quality of Training: HIIT was great - and I didn't even mind the uphill sprints today . . . Resistance training was also productive. Aggressive and angry, I piled the weight on, and just gritted out the pain . . . SO aggressive that I did some hard and fast post-weights cardio to try and vent some of it . . .

Recovery: Amazing what a small bit of sleep can do.

Pump: Actually got it quite bad in my biceps after the Close-Grip Supinated Reverse Rack Pulls.

Vascularity: Good.

Muscle Hardness/Density: Arms.

Body Composition and Look: A little heavier than I have been . . . On a random note, for some reason my skin is GLOWING (interesting).

Overall Sense of Feeling: I will get my Final Review done over the weekend . . .

Other Notes: Another completely random note, but the voting for the second round of the FLEX Bikini Model Search Online begins today. Votes can be cast at http://www.flexonline.com/flexmodelsearch/vote/. I am in this round - you can find me first on the 13th row down - and all and any support for this would be awesome :)

Day 181

Training

Cardio 5km Run.

Stretch 28 min.

Gym (45 sec recovery between sets):
1. Wide-Grip Lat Pull-Downs 5 x 8-9RM
2. Incline DB Bench Press 5 x 8RM
3. BB Romanian Deadlift (plates to floor) 5 x 8RM
4. Close-Grip BB Bicep Curls 5 x 8RM
5. Hanging Straight-Leg Raises 5 x 8

Post-Weights Cardio 20 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: I have not had any sleep yet - not for lack of trying.

Mental Focus and Clarity: Not the best. I can feel my tiredness, like an ache in my head that won't go away.

Energy: I trained and had the energy for it. I still have energy, although at the same time I feel shattered.

Mood/Aggression: A little crabby from lack of sleep and having to deal with other people's issues. VERY aggressive, and I need to wok on calming myself down before work (either that, or I'm going to be so tired, I'm not going to care and just want to finish as early as I can and get home and try to sleep).

Stress: HIGH.

Libido: Not had much the last day or so.

Endurance: SLOWLY improving.

Strength: There's always a day somewhere (usually once a week) where you just feel like crap and nothing gets better, and this was that day - same weights as last week for this session.

Quality of Training: 5km run was ok. Slowed down quite a bit in the second half, though. Definitely need to get FITTER ASAP! . . . Resistance session was ok. Actually felt like I was going to drop the weights a few times, and heart was pounding after several sets, but pushed on through, and even forced myself to do post-weights cardio . . .

Recovery: My body is fine. I just feel sh*tty.

Pump: Rapid and lasting.

Vascularity: More lines visible today.

Muscle Hardness/Density: Arms.

Body Composition and Look: Right now, the mirror is just depressing me, and I have to keep reminding myself that I am going to be back to normal and feeling a whole lot more comfortable and better about it in 4-5 weeks.

Other Effects: I am working VERY hard at controlling myself re diet, since my appetite is still raging.

Other Notes: Last day of FREE TEST tomorrow . . .

Day 172

Training

HIIT Cardio:
a. 4 min skip
b. 8 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy
c. 8 x 50 sec effort/20 sec easy
d. 8 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy

Gym (30 sec recovery between sets):
1. Underhand-Grip BB Bent Over Rows 5 x 4RM
2. Overhead BB Squats 4 x 5RM
3. Weighted Dips 4 x 5RM
4. BB Ab Rollout 4 x 5

Post-Weights Cardio 20 min.

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Mental Focus and Clarity: Getting better - almost back to where it is getting hard to turn my mind off.

Energy: ~15-20 minutes after dosing BLACK CATS, I am good to go.

Stress: Noticing that my cortisol levels are starting to rise a little again.

Endurance: I could have kept on training today.

Strength: Strength is still increasing - my 4-5RM on all exercises has increased by~20 pounds on average from the first week of using FREE TEST.

Quality of Training: HIIT was quite rough on my lower legs; for some reason, I was feeling the IMPACT a lot more than usual, almost as if my legs have started becoming very 'tender' again . . . Resistance session was great. Strength gains all round, so pleased. Sometimes I feel as if I'm not working all that hard with the lower reps, despite the heavy weight, but I know that I am, because it takes so much out of me for the next day . . .

Recovery: It was a day OFF yesterday, so I was fresh today (and did yesterday's training before today's sessions).

Pump: In shoulders and lower legs during HIIT.

Vascularity: The blue lines are getting more noticeable because my skin is getting more golden again.

Muscle Hardness/Density: Legs are SOLID.

Other Effects: Thirst is increasing . . . I hope that appetite goes back to being close to nada - like it was the first week - from now on . . .

Day 171 - 2-Week Overview of FREE TEST

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.

Day 170 - Day 14 of FREE TEST

Training

Gym (30 sec recovery between sets):
1. BB Front Squats 5 x 5RM
2. Flat Close-Grip BB Bench Press 5 x 5RM
3. Close-Grip Supinated Reverse Rack Pulls (feet on bench) 6 x 4-5RM
4. BB Push Press 5 x 5RM

Post Weights Cardio:
V-Burn Challenge Circuit (no recovery between exercises; 1 minute recovery between rounds):
3 x rounds -
1. Jumping Split Squat x 10
2. Hand Walkout (from toes) x 10
3. Single-Leg Deadlift (with twist and lateral reach) x 10 per side
4. Push-Up (with alternate side rotation) x 10
5. Jumping Jacks x 10
6. Side Lunges (with over head reach) x 10
7. Handstand Push-Up x 10
8. Squat Thrust (jump and reach) x 10

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: I am sleeping now - just NOT when I WANT to be. I may have to rethink my schedule and change it to something close to what my body seems to have fallen into.

Mental Focus and Clarity: Definitely there and top grade.

Energy: Smooth, focused energy during training. And continuing on for a long working night ahead of me.

Endurance: Good.

Strength: Better than it was last week for this gym session.

Quality of Training: So yes, another day off yesterday, and doing yesterday's session before today's one . . . Resistance session was fine. Pleased with strength progression . . . V-Burn Challenge Circuit was an improvement on last week. Although still intense, I did not struggle as much. Next week, the number of rounds completed is going to INcrease . . .

Recovery: I'm noticing aches and pains more from work than from training - having a day off every other day has also helped re recovery this week (but has to stop next week; I NEED to train pretty much DAILY)!

Pump: Pump achieved swiftly during the V-Burn Challenge Circuit.

Vascularity: Vascularity quite noticeable through chest and in legs.

Muscle Hardness/Density: Arms.

Other Effects: Appetite is HIGH!

Day 167 - Day 11 of FREE TEST

Training

HIIT Cardio:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 8 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy
c. 4 min jogging

Gym (45 sec recovery between sets):
1. Wide-Grip Lat Pull-Downs 5 x 8-9RM
2. Incline DB Bench Press 5 x 8-9RM
3. BB Romanian Deadlift (on box, plates to floor) 5 x 8-9RM
4. Close-Grip BB Bicep Curls 5 x 8RM
5. Hanging Straight-Leg Raises 5 x 8

Post-Weights Cardio 20 min:
a. Spin Bike 10 min @ 100-102 rpm
b. Spin Bike 10 min @ 108-110 rpm

Stretch 30 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: I've gone from sleeping every second or third day to every day, but falling asleep when I want to be getting UP (sigh). My body HAS to settle down SOON . . .

Mental Focus and Clarity: Been completely there.

Energy: Once I get myself going re training, I am fine. Energy was pretty awesome today.

Mood/Aggression: I am a perfectionist, and sometimes this is a good thing, and sometimes it is not. Sometimes I need to learn when to say "Enough!"

Stress: Still high on the radar, but more manageable than it was.

Endurance: Slowly returning.

Strength: To be honest, I'm not really too concerned with my strength levels at the moment - more focused on getting my ENDURANCE back to where it was. However, strength is gradually improving - the way my resistance training is structured will allow for this.

Quality of Training: HIIT Run was a huge explosion for the first few efforts, petering out over the later sprints . . . Resistance session was pretty good. I'm getting stronger re lifting the heavier dumbbells up by myself (I never have a problem DOING the exercise, but 'throwing' the heavier dumbbells up is an issue for my wrists), which I am pleased with.

Recovery: I had yesterday off (and did yesterday's session today before today's sessions). Not sore this week, like I was last week - could be that this is the second week of this training, and I have had two days recovery already . . .

Pump: Strong pump today, especially in my forearms - they were so hard that it was PAINFUL.

Vascularity: Reasonable.

Muscle Hardness/Density: Muscles don't actually look as hard today as they were - recovery days have a small impact.

Other Effects: I have definitely established a pattern re appetite - to get any appetite suppression, I have to dose BLACK CATS twice daily at 2 caps per dose; if I only have BLACK CATS once daily, then I am like a ravenous, unstoppable animal re appetite.

Day 165

Training

HIIT Cardio:
a. 4 min skip
b. 8 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy
c. 8 x 40 sec effort/20 sec easy
d. 4 min skip

Gym (30 sec recovery between sets):
1. Underhand-Grip BB Bent Over Rows 4 x 5RM
2. Overhead BB Squats 4 x 5RM
3. Weighted Dips 4 x 5RM
4. BB Ab Rollout 4 x 5

Stretch 21 min.

Comments

Mental Focus and Clarity: Still a little 'fuzzy', but needing to be on the money.

Energy: Good re training.

Mood/Aggression: Mood better than it has been, but still highly disappointed in myself. Aggression remains high.

Libido: 'Overtime' is an [I]under[/I]statement.

Joints: Niggles in my knees.

Endurance: Resistance sessions are so unbelievably and uncharacteristically short that my cardio sessions are going to have to be [I]longer[/I].

Strength: Increase from last week.

Quality of Training: HIIT was fine - definitely sprints better, though . . . Resistance session was good. Considering that [I]my[/I] usual recovery period between sets is one minute, and for such heavy sets, the [I]general [/I] usual recovery period is 2-5 minutes, I think I'm doing pretty well . . .

Recovery: I ended up making yesterday a Day Off, and I'm going to have to schedule one in a week - most probably going to be on Sunday; which means that Sunday's HIIT session will be done on Monday pre-weights.

Pump: During HIIT yes, but not during weights.

Vascularity: Average.

Muscle Hardness/Density: Arms.

Body Composition and Look: 13.2% bodyfat, which is a loss of 1.1% bodyfat over the last 8 days.

Day 160

Training

Gym (45 sec recovery between sets):
1. Wide-Grip Pronated Pull-Ups 2 x 5, 3
2. Wide-Grip Lat Pull-Downs 4 x 8RM
3. Incline DB Bench Press 5 x 8RM
4. BB Romanian Deadlift (on box, plates to floor) 7 x 6-8RM
5. Close-Grip BB Bicep Curls 5 x 6RM
6. Hanging Knee Raises 5 x 8

Post-Weights Cardio 20 min:
Stepper @ 8 floors/min.

Stretch 24 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: Actually having trouble sleeping. After my one hour of sleep yesterday, I slept briefly for three hours this morning. Could be the second dose of BLACK CATS that I've started having in the afternoon - to get me through the rest of the day.

Mental Focus and Clarity: My mind will NOT shut off!

Energy: As I said, I've started dosing BLACK CATS twice daily, as the little amount of training that I have started doing (and "little" is right - resistance sessions are HALF (if that) of the time I would normally spend lifting weights, and I'm only doing three of them a week (as opposed to 4-5), with cardio gone back to one 20-min session daily) is taking quite a lot out of me come mid to late afternoon. Energy DURING training is fine, though - although, today it wasn't, and during post-weights cardio (let's not do that again - cardio always BEFORE weights works better for me), I was EXHAUSTED.

Mood/Aggression: A smile crept out . . .

Libido: My body is in OVERdrive!

Joints: Nursing my left wrist after resistance session today . . . And back - going heavy on BB Romanian Deadlifts, I may as well be doing regular BB Deadlifts, as they have the same effect on my back and really does a number on me; I'll feel that tomorrow, guaranteed.

Endurance: Not really there.

Strength: It wasn't a strength-strength session today, but my strength was there on all but Wide-Grip Pronated Pull-Ups - which is why I finished my sets/reps with Wide-Grip Lat Pull-Downs. I do NOT do assisted pull-ups, but do them completely on my own, and right now I am definitely noticing the extra 10-12 pounds (and also doing Wide-Grip Pronated Pull-Ups - I usually prefer Close-Grip Supinated Pull-Ups).

Quality of Training: Resistance session really got me working. So much so, that I was exhausted and barely walking in a straight line afterwards - it was sheer willpower and determination NOT to miss any more training sessions that got me through cardio afterwards.

Recovery: My core has never been so sore in my entire life! The BB Ab Rollouts (and probably the Overhead BB Squats as well, since they are a "new" exercise) from Monday hit me today, and it hurts to move - doing the Hanging Knee Raises was almost torture.

Pump: Not much of a pump going today.

Vascularity: Vascularity was ok, better after training than during (I am noticing how pale I am - when I am darker, my vascularity seems a lot higher).

Muscle Hardness/Density: Legs and a little arms.

Body Composition and Look: Still so very far from where I want to be.

Other Effects: BLACK CATS has annihilated my appetite - definitely useful. It didn't take long at all - yesterday I suddenly realized that I had no desire to eat whatsoever. For those that know me, this is a very rare thing for me - I have been called everything from a bottomless pit to a food vacuum, been compared and concluded as 'worse' than the Cookie Monster or a garbage disposal unit, because of the frequency and quantity of food that I usually consume, and more, LOL - and I am going to make good use of it whilst it lasts!

Day 159

Training

HIIT Cardio:
a. 4 min skip
b. 8 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy
c. 8 x 40 sec effort/20 sec easy
d. 4 min skip

Stretch 23 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: Only slept from ~0230-0330 this morning. Felt like I had been asleep for ages, though.

Mental Focus and Clarity: BLACK CATS kicked this into high gear soon after waking and getting up. Working to keep it early afternoon. Have to stay on the ball for a long shift at work this evening.

Energy: I definitely have energy, despite my aching body.

Mood/Aggression: Up and down.

Stress: Still in the red warning zone.

Libido: Definitely responsive.

Endurance: Better than this training session on Sunday, but still needing to be quite a bit HIGHER.

Quality of Training: HIIT was fast and furious this morning. I had a lot of energy - surprising for so little sleep, and was eager to get it out. Worked up quite a hot sweat.

Recovery: DOMS in legs and core from yesterday's session - looking forward to having NO more DOMS in about a week.

Pump: Lower legs and arms.

Vascularity: Vascularity isn't as high today as it usually is during training (and throughout the day).

Muscle Hardness/Density: It doesn't take much for my legs to harden back up again.

Body Composition and Look: Down another 1.4 pounds from yesterday - making it a loss of 5 pounds from baseline to date. This loss will slow down by the end of the week though, as most of it will be from food and water weight, no doubt, with a little fat. And then it'll be burning the fat from me.

Other Effects: I've had quite the upset stomach the last couple of days - the first few days on Drive (from the Icariin), and it should be gone by the end of the week.

Day 158

Training

Cardio 20 min:
Spin Bike @ 112 rpm

Gym (30 sec recovery between sets):
1. Underhand-Grip BB Bent Over Rows 5 x 4RM
2. Overhead BB Squats 4 x 5RM
3. Weighted Dips 5 x 4RM
4. BB Ab Rollout 4 x 5

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Mental Focus and Clarity: ~15 minutes after dosing BLACK CATS, I am wide awake and ready for anything.

Energy: I definitely had energy today, and prepared myself for an interesting training session.

Mood/Aggression: Mood has picked up, and can only get better with training again.

Stress: Unbelievably high.

Libido: My head may match my body today.

Endurance: My training sessions are not going to last as long as they would usually. However, I will be noting endurance re cardio, more specifically my SPEED endurance, since this is what Drive does for me.

Strength: It was the first of a new and different resistance session today - as all of this week will be - so technically, this week is setting baseline levels to make comparison to in further weeks.

Quality of Training: Pre-weights cardio was good. Legs were feeling it a little, and I was sweating a lot . . . Resistance training was interesting. VERY different to what I am used to. First time I have added Overhead Squats to my training (I have actually only done them once before today), and it was weird, to say the least. Recovery was fine. A short session - half as short as usual. The change in training style should be productive for my body.

Pump: Pump in legs after pre-weights cardio. Reps not high enough to get a pump during resistance training.

Vascularity: Vascularity was strong in the gym.

Muscle Hardness/Density: My upper arms actually feel harder today - most probably from the Weighted Dips.

Body Composition and Look: I am down 3.6 pounds from yesterday - training again definitely makes a fast difference re weight and body composition for me, and I am excited to be on my way back to being me!

Day 157: Day 1 of FREE TEST

Training

HIIT Cardio:
a. 4 min skip
b. 8 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy
c. 8 x 40 sec effort/20 sec easy
d. 4 min skip

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

***Just to give an indicator of where I am starting at (please note, that I may or may not comment on all the factors listed below in each 'update') . . .***

Sleep - Time and Quality: This has been one of the bigger issues for me, as I either have NOT been sleeping at all, or, when I do, sleeping for excessively long periods of time. My sleeping patterns have been out of whack since I arrived in the United States last July, turned inside out and back to front and everything else in between, and right now, the last few weeks, my body has settled into falling asleep between 0400-0600 and waking between 1200-1400, which is definitely far from ideal, and needs to be changed as soon as possible. I will be aiming to be waking/getting up at 0400 and falling asleep/going to bed between 2300-0000, a little different from my New Zealand schedule of waking at 0315-0330 and going to bed between 2030-2230, but close, and doable.

Mental Focus and Clarity: My mental focus and concentration have been largely affected by my energy levels and stress manageability. I have had to be on the ball for the most part, and this should improve greatly now that I am again using stimulants (i.e. BLACK CATS).

Energy: The last few weeks has seen me gradually get more energy - mostly due to the Anadraulic State GT and T-911 that I used two weeks prior to now. Before that, I barely had the energy to do anything, and any exertion I did make caused a compounding fatigue for days afterwards. Now that I am using stimulants again, I should 'wake up' and have the energy to get through the day as I should and need to.

Mood/Aggression: You don't want to know. However, my mood has been up and down and all over the place the last few weeks, due to many factors, and now that I am back training on a regular basis(albeit differently), I know that it is going to improve.

Stress: Whilst I am not going to be able to chemically see what is going on with my cortisol levels in my body re blood tests (since I am unable to get bloods done this time around - I miss New Zealand, where I was able to get - and having - bloods done weekly), I know my body well enough that I can tell what is going on by my physical appearance. Right now, I am so stressed that my cortisol levels are the highest they have ever been, and this is apparent through the changes that have occurred in my midsection over the last few weeks - although I have lost bodyfat overall, I have actually GAINED in my 'tyre', an indicator of cortisol.

Libido: My body reacts when my head does not. Usually, my libido is high, but over the last few weeks, the lack of training and not good high stress and circumstances have meant the fast on and off switch re desire. Back training again, and using several supplements that have shown to have profound effects in increasing libido might see a return to my 'normal' state.

Joints: Over the last few weeks, my left wrist has been giving me quite a bit of pain - the fact that I have started being active in a job that requires a lot of strain and pressure on my wrists has definitely affected this. And not just in my left wrist - which I broke in two places early last year - but also in my right wrist, and clicking, popping, and everything you can think of re pain, has been occurring on a regular basis in both . . . My knees are also bad - both of them, and bending/squatting, etc. is very painful . . . On top of that, I have perpetual issues with my lower back, from a back injury in 2004 that left me with crushed cervical vertebrae and a scoliosis to my right side. I pretty much have to 'click' my back back into place on a daily basis, relieving the pressure between my vertebrae . . . I stopped using any products for my joints a few months ago, but if this continues, I may start back on Osteo-Sport again.

Endurance: My endurance has suffered hugely - which is expected after so long not training. Drive should put an end to any issues here.

Strength: Despite my lack of resistance training, my strength has not actually suffered too badly - when it has, it is more due to issues that I have been having with my wrists. I'm also NOT training for strength. However, I DO lift as heavy as I am able for the sets/reps that I set myself each training session, so this should improve as I go along.

Quality of Training: I have only managed 2-4 training sessions over the last few weeks - and the ones that I HAVE done taking quite a bit out of me. HIIT has not been as explosive as it should be, albeit as fast as I have been able to make it. Resistance training has seen me lower my recovery time, in an attempt to make my sessions more intense, and that has been fine, although shorter than usual. Over the next few weeks, I expect this to improve significantly, where I am pleased with EVERY session that I do.

Recovery: I have suffered after almost EVERY session that I have completed over the last few weeks. The lack of IGF-2 in my supplement regime is a factor, as well as the fatigue. This will noticeably get better over the next week, and after that, I should be fine.

Pump: It's very easy to get a pump going when I am resistance training. My training over the next few weeks will not really be high enough reps to elicit a huge pump, but a hard pump should be got nonetheless some days.

Vascularity: Vascularity of late has been good. Regardless, I can see blue lines through my chest and legs at any time, and when training, ropes appear on my arms. As I get leaner, it will get even better.

Muscle Hardness/Density: The lack of and decreased resistance sessions have made a difference here - I definitely know when I am NOT training, as my muscles lose their hardness (and definition) throughout the day. It will be interesting to see what FREE TEST does here.

Body Composition and Look: Currently, I am the biggest that I have ever been in my life. Also the most uncomfortable. NOT training affects this factor the most, and training again will make a drastic difference in my physique in no time at all. I usually maintain 108-110 pounds at 8-10% bodyfat, but because of the last 13 weeks, I am embarrassed to admit that I start this phase at 124.6 pounds and 14.3% bodyfat.

Overall Sense of Feeling: This has been like the tide - high and low - over the last few weeks. Right now, I see myself as being at one of the lowest points I have ever been at in my life - and mentally, it is probably the lowest. However, when you hit the bottom, the only place to go is UP. I have great motivation, the best support crew, and a willpower and determination that will see me get back up, reach to where I was, and climb PAST it. My strengths became my weaknesses, and I learnt from that - yes, everything happens for a reason, even if we do not see it at the time - and now I am going to turn those weaknesses around, back into strengths, but different this time, so that I cannot fall like this again. There are major turning points and crossroads in everyone's life - this is one of mine.

The Next 4 Weeks: Train to FREE TEST

GOAL

My goal for this phase (will take 5-8 weeks to achieve) is to get back to my normal level of fitness, predominantly:
* Body Composition of 8% bodyfat
* Resting Pulse of 30-32 beats per minute

I'm starting at:
* Body Composition of 14.3% bodyfat
* Resting Pulse of 43 beats per minute

TRAINING

Training is going to be slightly different, considering the last 13 weeks, and how much I have been struggling over the last two weeks to start training properly again, as well as new working situations.

Sunday: HIIT Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes

Monday: 20-40 min Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes + Gym

Tuesday: HIIT Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes

Wednesday: 20-40 min Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes + Gym

Thursday: HIIT Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes

Friday: 20-40 min Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes + Gym

Saturday: V-Burn Challenge Circuit + Stretch 20-30 minutes

So, different to what I am used to - which is good; it will give my body a shock. Actually, re days, etc., it's more like I trained when I first started focusing on bodybuilding. So, it's pretty much a 'Back to Basics' time for me - with everything, including supplements.

SUPPLEMENTS

The only NEW supplement (i.e. supplement that I have not used before) that I am using is FREE TEST (although I was a beta tester for FREE TEST, the final version is nothing like the beta version I tested).

(in alphabetical order):

BC+EAA: 3-4 x 10.5g daily.

Bio-Mend: 2 caps post-breakfast.

BLACK CATS: 2 caps first thing and 2 caps 6-8 hours post-Dose 1.

Drive: 2 caps first thing and 2 caps 6-8 hours post-Dose 1.

FREE TEST: 4 caps first thing.

IGF-2: 2 caps first thing, 2 caps 40-60 min pre-gym, and 2 caps pre-bed (gym days); 3 caps first thing and 3 caps pre-bed (non-gym days).

LipoBURN: Application pre-bed.

Lipotrophin-PM: 2 caps first thing and 2 caps pre-bed.

MyoFusion: 1-2 scoops daily.

NeoVar Recomped: 2 caps 40-60 min pre-gym, 2 caps immediately post-gym, and 4 caps pre-bed (gym days); 2 caps pre-cardio, 2 caps immediately post-cardio, and 4 caps pre-bed (non-gym days).

Vitamin C: 1g first thing, 1g immediately post-training, and 1g pre-bed (gym days); 1g first thing, 1g post-dinner, and 1g pre-bed (non-gym days).

Catch-Up Time

I am getting around today to doing quite a few things that I have not had a chance to do over the past few days - in between bouts of extreme tiredness and falling asleep at random times. I'm still sleeping a lot lately, which is not conducive to being busy (guess my body is continuing to make up for all the days when I slept little, if at all), and certainly not the best when I need MORE than 24 hours to fit into a day as it is, if I were fully awake, to do everything I need to do.

Applied Nutriceuticals are preparing for the launch of FREE TEST - which is in two days. If you haven't read about it already, then check it out (there's a link on the right side down the page under the heading 'Applied Nutriceuticals') - it's a promising new product, that will have the world buzzing as much as The ONE. I will be adding this into my whopper stack in a few weeks - I'm waiting until I am able to train properly and consistently again, so not to waste the supplements and time.

Mood has been ok over the last few days, despite everything. Energy, as already indicated, is poor at best, but striving to work through it. Mental clarity - when I am awake - is fine. Training status is still a 'work in progress' and needs immense improvement.

Slowly getting there, everything coming together . . .