Review of ThermoGum LLC/Genomyx's Performstrips VB-12

PerformaStrips VB-12 can be used by anyone, anywhere, at any time . . .


What is it?



* Effective, portable and potent
* Energy production
* Nerve regeneration
* Cellular growth

For the product write-up, please see ThermoGum LLC: PerformStrips VB-12.


Taste: 9/10. Tastes like cherries, with a bite of peppermint.

Energy: 10/10. I experimented with using PerformaStrips VB-12 in several scenarios: Immediately pre-cardio, pre-training, immediately pre-resistance training, at work, and at random whenever mental or physical energy was required. Personally, the BEST time for me pre-training to use a PerformaStrip VB-12 is immediately pre-CARDIO, especially HIIT, and especially if I'm dragging my feet to get going, since I notice that I am almost instantly more alert and focused, and my efforts seem to be a lot better re intensity.

Nerve Regeneration: N/A.

Cellular Growth: N/A.

Other Effects: 10/10. PerformStrips VB-12 provide that mental alertness as well, which is a definite plus, meaning that they can be used at times other than just when smooth energy is wanted . . . Like gum or a breathmint, PerformaStrips VB-12 give you a rush of freshness . . .

Convenience: 10/10. PerformaStrips VB-12 are small enough to fit into a pocket, and not bulky like a packet or tub of gum.

Overall: 10/10. PerformStrips VB-12 can be used in myriad situations for many different effects. They are cheap and convenient, effective, potent, and portable.

Would I use again? Yes.

Would I recommend? Definitely!

Day 301: Recomping

Quote of the Day

"If you think small and expect little...little will be achieved. If you think big and expect big things to happen...barriers are broken down and dreams become realities!" - Ben Booker

Music Video of the Day

Five Finger Death Punch - Dying Breed

Training

Cardio 20 min.

Gym - Upper Body (30 sec recovery between supersets):
Superset A -
1. Close-Grip BB Bicep Curls 4 x 8, 8, 6, 6
2. Dips 4 x 6
Superset B -
3. Alternate Hammer Curls 2 x 15 per side
4. Overhead Rope Tricep Extension 2 x 15
Superset C -
5. BB Military Press 4 x 10
6. Lateral Raises 4 x 15
Superset D -
7. Supinated BB Bent Over Rows 4 x 10
8. Push-Ups (with torso rotation) 4 x 10
Superset E -
9. Ab Rollout 4 x 15
10. Bicycle 4 x 30

Post-Weights Cardio 20 min.

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Mood/Aggression: Spent time with family. Went out on the pontoon for the first time and had fun.

Energy: Definitely awesome. The PerformaStrips are best taken immediately pre-CARDIO.

Mental Focus and Clarity: Going to be spending most of the rest of the evening doing assessments.

Stress: High.

Endurance: Great.

Strength: Working back up.

Pump: Right from the start of my resistance session.

Vascularity: Strong.

Quality of Training: Training was pretty good all round today . . .

Recovery: Woke up feeling the effects of training and working nights the last few days, but didn't take long to be full of energy and no issues.

Body Composition and Look: The Supinated BB Bent Over Rows have helped add mass to my biceps, and the Hammer Raises have helped add mass to my anterior and lateral delts - hence the stretchmarks that suddenly appeared in both areas a few days ago (makes sense). Another observation to back it up is the fact that definition in both areas is a lot more pronounced and even better than when I was LEANER.

Day 298: CreaPure

Quote of the Day

"The only things that stand between a person and what they want in life are the will to try it, and the faith to believe it's possible." - Rich Devos

Music Video of the Day

3 Doors Down - It's Not My Time

Training

HIIT Cardio:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 8 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy
c. 4 min jogging
d. 8 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy
e. 6 min jogging

Gym - Full-Body (30 sec recovery between supersets):
Superset A -
1. BB Good Mornings 4 x 8
2. Single-Leg Deadlifts 4 x 10 per leg
Superset B -
3. Push-Ups (feet on floor, hands on fists) 4 x 8
4. Supinated BB Bent Over Rows 4 x 6
Superset C -
5. BB Military Press 4 x 8
6. Hammer Raises 4 x 10
Superset D -
7. Alternate Hammer Curls 4 x 12 per side
8. Overhead Rope Tricep Extensions 4 x 12
Superset E -
9. Hanging Straight-Leg Raises 4 x 8
10. Reverse Curls (on floor) 4 x 10

Post-Weights Cardio 20 min.

Stretch 21 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: A solid four hours, before waking up, only to go back to sleep for another four hours.

Mood/Aggression: Frustrated.

Energy: Smooth and focused.

Mental Focus and Clarity: Work, training, more work, and study.

Joints: Lateral right knee tight during HIIT Run, as well as left anterior delt niggling.

Endurance: Great.

Strength: It's going to be interesting to see how this improves now that my muscle creatine threshold levels have been at baseline for about a week, and will start to rise again.

Pump: Very strong.

Vascularity: Also very strong.

Quality of Training: Battling the wind (that reminded me a lot of where I grew up, reminiscent of my cycling training) during HIIT Run. Did two sets of efforts today. Shouldn't take too long to get my running fitness back . . . Resistance training was fine. Painful, but fine. I'm definitely preferring the ~40-minute sessions far better than the 2-2.5 hour sessions . . . Post-Weights Cardio has become a part of my Maintenance training, and so I do it, even if I don't want to . . .

Recovery: When I woke up, I was feeling the last couple of days' resistance sessions (lifting heavier than what I have been makes a difference as well).

Other Notes: Finally got my CreaPure and started today. It's been exactly SIX years since I last used powdered creatine - I prefer capsules for convenience. It also makes it exactly a month since I last used creatine - the first time since I started using creatine that I have had a deliberate break from it - and will take ~3 weeks for my muscle creatine threshold to be reached (I'm not going to load) . . . From tomorrow, I am going to change my EndoAmp Max dosing/timing (yes, again), since I am not completely comfortable using a cortisol control product only ONCE daily. I will be using 1.1 gram (i.e. half a scoop) first thing and 1.1 gram immediately post-training, when my cortisol levels are the highest . . . And I've noticed that I feel better when I have my second dose of Shred Matrix pre-bed, so will continue doing this from now on . . .

Eviscerate Smolder Notes: On Monday I started on my second beta test bottle. The Eviscerate Smolder in the second bottle is a little more runny than it was in the first. The second bottle has the same icy feeling blow on the application areas, but there is no smolder or burn with it. Interesting.

PerformaStrip VB-12 Notes: I have been using these for nine days now. I have changed the times of usage up over that time, experimenting with different situations: I have used it immediately pre-cardio, immediately pre-resistance training, at work; one, two, and three hours after having stimulants. The strips have a cherry taste, and leave my tongue red. They provide clean energy. An interesting thing to note is that I find myself getting quite warm, sweating more, and I am hot at work when everyone else is cold.

Day 294: Update

Training

I've only done one 20-minute cardio session since Tuesday. Not only is my body being unresponsive to training, but it seems like it is using this week even more as a "Week Off" than it did the week immediately post-competition (where I still did two resistance sessions and five days of cardio) - this week I will have only done two resistance sessions and three days of cardio.

Not that I have been doing nothing - on waking it has been work, then study before very active night work, and then more study until I am too tired to concentrate.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: I have been passing out ~0530 and waking between 1200-1300 the last few days. Too much sleep . . .

Mood/Aggression: I've been very stressed the last few days, and had more than my fair share of angry moments.

Energy: If I pushed the issue, the energy would be there to do what I have to, but the desire to push the issue is nowhere to be found . . .

Mental Focus and Clarity: I've just spent the last three days starting and working on an assessment I had SIX weeks before that to work on, and handing it in was a relief. Also started and completed another assessment - not due for another three weeks - this morning before going to bed, to "make up" for wasting all that time for the other one.

Stress: HIGH! Having that first assessment done is a relief, though. I definitely have to stop procrastinating my study, because when I get into it, I DO get into it. Time management is of the essence, especially as November approaches, because it's going to be one of the most - if not the most - busiest month of the year for me, with training, clients, study, and several other jobs.

Libido: My body has been very responsive, even when I'm not even thinking about it.

Joints: My knees have been better, although when I bend down it is still done slowly.

Endurance: My night work is pretty much go-go-go from the time I walk in to he time I walk out (and is probably more intense than most people's cardio re pace), and I haven't faltered this week, as I usually do towards the end of the week, especially on a Friday or Saturday night. I've also NOT used any stimulants and been slipping a PerformaStrip VB-12 on my tongue once during my work shifts.

Vascularity: Reasonable.

Body Composition and Look: The last three weeks have NOT gone to plan re nutrition and training (more comments below), and the last two weeks have taken the biggest toll on my body. Yes, I HAVE gained some bodyfat and I can see it - even a few pounds of extra WEIGHT make a HUGE difference on my short frame - and although I am NOT happy with it, I know that I have done it to myself, and so I accept it and move on, determining to LOSE it all again as fast as I can.

Eviscerate Smolder Notes: Finished my first tube of Eviscerate Smolder today, so each one lasts ~2 weeks, and have one more to go. The Eviscerate Smolder/Flawless combo has faded the burn marks on my stomach almost to nothing in only TWO weeks of use - by the end of four weeks, they will be GONE!

Other Notes: I started IGF-2 again today, and next week I will be starting CreaPure until I get some more NeoVar Recomped (which I never want to be withOUT again!) . . . As mentioned, the last three weeks have NOT gone to plan re nutrition and training - something I am NOT happy with, but know will only give me more determination and motivation to get back to where I was, eating and training as I should, need, and want to be to get the results I want. The last three weeks have given me time to reflect on the weeks leading up to and after the competition re what worked re nutrition, training, and supplementation, and what didn't . . . I am NOT a dieter - I never have been, and after the last three weeks of NOT following the "diet" that I set for myself has hit home more than ever that I do NOT have to diet or be stringent in my nutritional practices to get results if I continue to listen to my body and manipulate my daily nutrition to suit ME for results. I simply (and yes, this is embarrassing to admit) do not have the discipline with my diet as I do my training, and over the years I have learned to manipulate my training to "make up" for that - I generally also stay relatively lean, so that if I HAVE to diet for a week or so to get a little bit leaner, then I can and do. So yes, a few things that USED to work for me now do NOT, but I am finding ways around them so that I DO get the results I desire . . .

Day 290: A Nutrient Repartitioner really IS Magic for Me

Training

Cardio 20 min.

Stretch 21 min.

Gym - Full-Body (30 sec recovery between supersets):
Superset A -
1. Stiff-Legged BB Deadlifts 8 x 12-15
2. Single-Leg Deadlifts 8 x 12 per leg
Superset B -
3. Flat BB Bench Press 6 x 12
4. Supinated Lat Pull-Downs 6 x 12
Superset C -
5. Clean and Press 8 x 12
6. Bent Over Rearl Raises 8 x 12
Superset D -
7. EZ-Bar Bicep Curls 6 x 15
8. Overhead Rope Tricep Extensions 6 x 12-15

Post-Weights Cardio 20 min.

Comments

Mood/Aggression: All over the place.

Energy: There.

Mental Focus and Clarity: Need to start cracking down on the STUDY!!!

Stress: Unbelievably HIGH!

Endurance: Fine.

Pump: Strong.

Vascularity: Blue lines and knots.

Quality of Training: It was ok. Still feeling like I did yesterday - hence the supersets and shorter session. Didn't really want to do Post-Weights Cardio at all.

Recovery: Lower body feeling it a little.

Other Notes: After training I looked back through my progress spreadsheets and training journal to see where I have made the most progress re body composition over the last ~21 weeks. You're going to be surprised: The weeks when I lost the MOST bodyfat was when I was eating whatever I wanted (i.e. cheating) and only doing ~40-90 minutes of training (resistance sessions only 15-30 minutes!) daily for those weeks. The OTHER thing I noted was that this was also when I was using and dosing NeoVar Recomped at 12-16 caps daily (4 caps first thing, 2 caps pre-training, 2 caps immediately post-training, 4 caps pre-bed, and sometimes another 4 caps post a high carbohydrate meal - yes, I noted that dosing immediately AFTER the meal instead of 15-20 minutes before it made it more effective for me), stacked with Shred Matrix immediately post-training and pm (ironic thing is, only the other day at my night work, one of my colleagues was like, "That's not fair; you can take pills and get away with it", referring to my eating habits, and I was like, "No, I still have to train hard and do everything else right to see results", when in reality, they were technically right, going off the evidence in my training journal and progress over the last 21 weeks). Other interesting things I noticed was that the weeks when my training volume was excessive and extreme and my nutrition was pretty much perfect, I only lost ~0.5% bodyfat, compared to the 0.1% bodyfat per day in the lower training volume weeks with every day a 'cheat' day re nutrition. So, yes, whilst my body may love the higher volume of training, it's not necessarily what's going to get me the best results. I am considering going back to a similar training schedule as I was when I WAS getting the 0.1% bodyfat loss per week - it's a huge step down from what I'm doing now, but this week is really only intended for 7-10 days of overreaching before a photoshoot or competition and not to be followed for long periods of time. I'll finish this week out as initially planned and make adjustments on Sunday. Also think I'm going to stack in NeoVar Recomped and Shred Matrix again as soon as I can . . . Started using PerformaStrips VB-12 today, taken immediately pre-training . . .