Review of PES Erase Pro

Two bottles of Erase Pro used (6 February to 30 May 2012)...

What is it?



* [Test-Estro-Cort]
* High Affinity AI
* Hard | Dry | Lean

For more information on the product, please review PES :: ERASE PRO

Estrogen Levels: N/A. Although I would have liked to see the changes in my Estrogen levels from pre to post-Erase Pro, I did not have bloods done. I would like to note that during the time I have used Erase Pro, I have had regular monthly menstruation - and yes, it IS UNusual for a female to do so when leaner, but just another example of how different my body is, given that I do not generally bleed if I am above 12% bodyfat (which I have not been for a long time now).

Testosterone Levels: N/A. Although I would have liked to see the changes in my Testosterone levels from pre to post-Erase Pro, I did not have bloods done.

Cortisol Levels: N/A. Although I would have liked to see the changes in my Cortisol levels from pre to post-Erase Pro, I did not have bloods done. That said, stress is an accepted "fact" in my life (in everyone's life) and mine are pretty much perpetually HIGHER than high. Add to that, the time over which I used Erase Pro has been the most stressful and disruptive months of my life [to date] and you have a recipe for complete disaster - however, despite everything, and yes, there WERE times when I noticed changes in my midsection, I DID maintain under 9.2% bodyfat the entire time, which says something (especially given some of the months re nutrition and training).

Muscle Hardness: Actually, my muscle hardness was pretty good. Definitely becoming more and more noticeable during training, with definition a lot stronger the last few months than it ever has been.

Water Retention/Dryness: This has been up and down, with a high dependence upon my nutrition - which has not always been the best over the last few months (for the first time since I started using the Lean Gains' 16-hour fast/8-hour feeding window in May 2011, I diverted from it and went back to eating ALL the time for several weeks in March/April, before getting back on track), and water intake - there have been surprisingly a lot of days when I have struggled to get my [UK] galleon of water in (not drinking enough definitely affects how I feel, especially when I have extra-high carbohydrates).

Body Composition: Fluctuating between 7.8-9.2% bodyfat over the course of my usage of Erase Pro, currently at 8% bodyfat. Recomping, with periods when aiming at leaning down more than simply "maintaining" or letting my body "be". Starting Erase Pro, I was a month back into training after extended time out from multiple injuries at the end of 2011, during which I had lose the muscle mass that I had worked so hard to rebuild in my delts and arms - said muscle mass which I have managed to build back up (for the THIRD time), to BETTER than what it was pre-time-out, which I am pleased with. That said, I have been using my "staples" for the better part of my time with Erase Pro, as well as tried a couple of "new" products in there as well, all of which have had a contributing factor in my body composition changes (along with nutrition, training, and recovery - since those have also differed from my "norm" over the last few months).

Overall: I enjoyed my usage of Erase Pro, and although it helped contribute to rebuilding my [upper] body back up, I actually prefer the ORIGINAL Erase than Erase Pro. Erase Pro is a good product, but I experienced more "drying" and less water retention when using JUST the original (hence why I stopped using Erase Pro the week prior to my photoshoots in April and the two weeks prior to my photoshoot in May).

Would I use again? Likely.

Would I recommend? Yes, although depending on the individual's goal, I might recommend the original over Erase Pro, or possibly stacking them.

Day 327: Recovery Complete & Goals Achieved

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Nothing that happens in your life is insignificant…God never wastes anything. He would not give you abilities, interests, talents, gifts, personality, and life experiences unless he intended to use them for his glory." – Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life

GOALS & PROGRESS

"Recovering from a double fracture in my left wrist...my main priority is to get back to MY normal training levels as soon as possible..."
I have now completely recovered from the double fracture in my left wrist - in fact, this happened at least a month ago, and my left wrist has not given me any issues for quite some time now.

"Secondary goal is recomping to maintain my current muscle mass and lean down to 7-8% bodyfat!"
I have recomped and leaned down to under 8% bodyfat - although I started at 8.8% bodyfat, it went up and down and I ended up at a final 7.9% bodyfat. I gained back ALL of the muscle mass I lost when I was unable to train because of my left wrist, and then some. The BIGGEST part about all of this though is the fact that - not for the lack of "intending to", I might add - I did it all withOUT dieting, my diet "normal" for me ("normal" is what everyone ELSE considers a "cheat" ALL the time!)

"Since I could not compete in July as planned...I am looking at competing in late October..."
I did not compete (for reasons explained when it came to make that decision), but my body is now more proportional than it has ever been - in fact, it is almost perfectly symmetrical on both sides re upper AND lower body, which it has never been before, and any muscle size discrepancies that were created because of what I could - and couldn't - do [when I started training again] re left wrist are now gone, and I have SURPASSED the aesthetic physical condition I was in PRIOR to my injury!

OTHER NOTES

Going forward, as I said in my last update, I am going to be doing my best to MAINTAIN the lower body composition that I have attained - usually, I would maintain between 8-10% bodyfat, but knowing how I feel and look at different stages, I now feel rather UNcomfortable at anything too much more than ~9% bodyfat, and so desire to maintain something closer to ~8% bodyfat, aiming to "allow" myself to go now higher than ~8.2-8.3% bodyfat from now on.

As far as training, I have trained for athletic performance purposes - strength, power, speed, endurance; I have trained for muscle growth - gains in upper body; I have trained for leaning - no different than training for anything else, honestly. I no longer have any focus on athletic performance and I am quite ok with the muscle mass that I now have in my upper body - in fact, I wouldn't mind LOSING some more from my lower body, and "slimming" up my lower back, because the muscle there seems to "bulge" out because of my scoliosis (something that becomes more noticeable the leaner I get). Therefore, training from now on is simply going to be working on maintaining the current muscle mass and leanness that I have, but also on improving several areas of my body - for example, no more work for Legs, because they are big enough already; and cutting work for Chest and Back down to only what is done in my weekly Full-Body session, because working my Back is making it wider and thicker all over, and I need to work on "slimming" the mid to lower region up. As far as strength goes, I am not too concerned with what I am lifting - so long as what I am doing is challenging me and making my body work and scream.

Re nutrition, the last 10 weeks have taught me more than ever what it is important for me to minimize - and ideally AVOID! - as far as food, and I need to take more heed of this for health reasons, which I will do. I have also continued to adapt my own modification of the Lean Gains nutritional protocol so that it is "perfect" for ME, and will continue on using such a method, albeit being better with WHAT I eat.

There you have it - the last 10 weeks have taught me a lot. Not just about my body and training and nutrition, etc., but about BALANCE - my life has become a little more balanced and I am starting to enjoy it a little more, albeit still stressed as anything (just not quite as much). I am growing and developing more as an individual, and I am slowly starting to accept myself, which is a HUGE deal - almost as huge as getting below 8% bodyfat. So, it has been an INvaluable journey - although VERY upset when I refractured my left wrist, it really was a BLESSING, and although I knew at the time that it happened for a reason, to teach me something, now I understand more fully just WHAT that reason was!

Through it all, though, it was never done on my own strength, and any Glory for what I have done and achieved over the last 10 weeks goes to God and Him alone - I am only a living testament to His Grace and Power, to show that ANYthing is possible if you but have Faith and Desire and the Willingness to JUST DO IT!

Day 275: Work Only for the Best

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. Live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you!" - Christian D. Larson

TRAINING

This was my third week back in training withOUT any support for my left wrist. The pain has not been as bad this week, with only a twinge here and there, which is AWESOME!

Training completed this week:

Shoulders/Hamstrings (1 min recovery between sets - 6 sets per exercise):
1. Behind-the-neck BB Military Press
2. BB Military Press - more reps per set than last week, so improvement
3. Lateral Raises
4. Stiff-Legged BB Deadlift (BB to touch ground)

Arms/Abs (1 min recovery between alternate sets - 6 alternate sets):
Alternate Set A -
1. EZ Bar 21s Bicep Curls
2. Dips - more reps per set of this than last week, so getting better
Alternate Set B -
3. Zottoman Curls - added these in and wrist was ok, which was great
4. Alternate Hammer-Bi Curls
5. Rope Crunches - 100 reps in total only

Chest/Back (1 min recovery between alternate sets - 4 alternate sets):
Alternate Set A -
1. Incline BB Bench Press - more reps at the same weight as last week, which is progress
2. BB Bent Over Rows - back to usual lifting weight, which is a smile
Alternate Set B -
3. Push-Ups (feet on bench, hands on DB) - wrist a little better this week
4. Reverse Rows - heavier weight and more reps than last week

Improvements and progress on EVERY exercise and session from last week to this week, with strength improving rapidly, which is awesome! Pain was the bare minimum this week, with only a few dull aches here and there. No Full-Body session and no second Abs session either - because of work and things going on, even though it killed me to do it, I had to "let" these sessions go and know that next week I will be back to "normal" with them.

Definitely feeling the increase in body mass during my running the second half of the week - NOT cool at all!

From next week, training will be back to being first thing, first thing being in the morning, very close to the same times as it was when I was home in New Zealand - yay for that!

OTHER NOTES

Body Composition has gone back up to 8.8% bodyfat, body mass rocketing to 115.2 pounds over the last week. I know that a lot of the extra mass is food (I have not quite recovered from the eating every ~2 hours when traveling on Wednesday, especially given the food I was eating) and water (I have not been drinking enough the last few days) weight, but some of it is fat (can see and feel it from my waist to my knees - waist, hip, and thigh girths have increased 1-2 inches in a week!) and a small amount of muscle mass (can see it in my shoulders and arms). Only having three training sessions this week has not helped at all, nor the long hours working and getting used to a new environment re climate, but next week training will be AT Maintenance, and I have every confidence my body will have acclimatized by next week.

So, yes, spent literally ALL day on Wednesday driving to Texas - left at 0030 and arrived at the final destination at 2359! It was a long trip and I was shattered from not sleeping at all on Tuesday, so there was ~1.5 hours  of stops during the trip. Relieved to arrive, but it has taken some time to get used to it - still not really, and will be another week to really "settle" into work and training.

Used the last of the Green Apple Assault on Tuesday, which is fine, because yesterday I found two tubs of Blue Arctic Raspberry (my favourite Assault flavour) of the ORIGINAL formula with Suma Root in, which made my day! Ran out of Shred Matrix in the middle of the week and won't be getting more until middle of next week. This was also my last week of this bottle of Battle Fuel - I have another, but not sure if I will use it after a week off it - I just want my ERASE to arrive so I can use that again, because I miss it like mad and notice the difference withOUT it!

My wrist is continuing to get better. Again, the noting of PAIN the day AFTER my day OFF, which is interesting.

Today is decision time re competition. This last week has brought a few things to light (i.e. recent information on 7-KE) and made clear some of my concerns re time to better physique (i.e. realistically, I do NOT have enough time to gain back all the muscle mass I lost over the last few months and lean out as I need to before competition). So, I have decided NOT to compete at the end of October, and I will not be competing at all this year; instead, I am going to give myself adequate time to build my shoulders and arms back up again, and work on "slenderizing" my lower body, making sure that the physical package I bring to the stage the next time I step on it is the best that it can possibly be. Disappointing in some ways, but not in others, and really, doing the best thing for me at this stage.

Travel is looking hot for November - a couple of trips to Florida, which I am looking forward to. As well as eight photoshoots over a 3-week period at the end of November - so not competing means I will just concentrate on getting into the condition I need to be for those.

Back to being busy as all hell, with little time to breathe, but I WILL make it work! Thankful for all the realizations and revelations over this last week, and just working on being the best that I can be - inside AND out!

RCS NEWSLETTER

Since, if left to its own devices, my body perpetually recomps, I thought it was only fitting to have a Recomp Edition of the RCS Newsletter! THE RECOMP EDITION contains tips on how to train for a successful recomp and information on - including the key points of - Lean Gains. Check out the October 2011 edition out HERE.

God Bless! Have Faith. Always!

Day 65: Reassessment and Change of Plan

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right time." - Arnold H. Glasgow


TRAINING

HIT:
a. Treadmill @ 12.8 km/hr 1 min
b. Treadmill @ 14.4 km/hr 1 min
c. Side-to-side Plyometric Bench Jumps 1 min
d. Treadmill @ 14.4 km/hr 1 min
e. Deadbugs (with medicine ball) 1 min
f. Treadmill @ 14.4 km/hr 1 min
g. Burpees (with push-up) 1 min
h. Treadmill @ 14.4 km/hr 1 min
i. Weighted Crunches (knees at 90 degree flexion) 1 min
j. Treadmill @ 14.4 km/hr 1 min
k. Plank 1 min
l. Treadmill @ 14.4 km/hr 1 min
m. Side-to-side Plyometric Bench Jumps 1 min
n. Treadmill @ 14.4 km/hr 1 min
o. Deadbugs (with medicine ball) 1 min
p. Treadmill @ 14.4 km/hr 1 min
q. Burpees (with push-up) 1 min
r. Treadmill @ 14.4 km/hr 1 min
s. Weighted Crunches (knees at 90 degree flexion) 1 min
t. Treadmill @ 14.4 km/hr 1 min
u. Plank 1 min
v. Treadmill @ 14.4 km/hr 1 min
w. Treadmill @ 16 km/hr 1 min

Stretch 20 min.


COMMENTS

Sleep - Time and Quality: Was still wide awake at 0230 - sleeping schedule not getting off to the best of starts. Tomorrow I am getting up at ~0430 regardless, period, no matter what time I go to bed and sleep, because I HAVE to get back into a schedule! I do better when I am on routine.

Mood/Aggression: Feel good after training.

Energy: Definitely there.

Mental Focus and Clarity: I am focused. Reassessed everything, figured out the best plan of action.

Stress: Decreased somewhat, based on today's decisions.

Libido: High.

Joints: Left wrist clicks and cracks on and off, but there is barely any pain now.

Endurance: Fine.

Pump: In legs!

Vascularity: Blue lines just under my skin.

Quality of Training: First time back doing this kind of HIT session. Thoroughly enjoyed it. My face was bright red, like I'd been sunburnt badly at the end of it, which was a surprise, since my face hasn't been so red during training in a LONG time - in fact, it usually goes WHITE with intense training! It felt great to be pushing my body like that again!

Recovery: Yesterday I was shattered, but today I was fresh. I will probably feel the effects of today's training tomorrow if I do.

Appetite: Working on getting under control - it's been off the wall the last couple of weeks. Even Sean commented yesterday that I've been worse than usual, and for someone who calls me the "human garbage disposal" that's something, LOL (NOT laughing, though).

Body Composition and Look: 127.8 pounds at 11.6% bodyfat. So, a minimal decrease of 0.1% bodyfat. My body is still recomping, with a gain of 1.1874 pounds of lean body mass (and also 0.0126 pounds of bodyfat). Whilst a recomp is good, right now it's not really desirable.

Competition Notes: Knowing what the last couple of weeks have been like, I made the decision yesterday to be honest with myself and my ability to achieve the size I need to be in the timeframe that I have for the competition on 16 April, once I knew my body statistics re my figure today. Yes, I have gained a good amount of muscle mass in my upper body over the last eight weeks, with an extra inch in my deltoids and arms, and two inches in my back. However, for those gains, I have added a further FOUR inches to both my hips/glutes and thighs - all of which I need to LOSE. Kicker: I want to lose the extra mass and girths in my lower body withOUT sacrificing any of the muscle mass that I have gained in my UPPER body. A very hard thing to do. Hard, but not impossible. Definitely not realistic in 5-6 weeks though, since I know I can lose ~1cm a week re girths in my lower body with perfect nutrition and training, and I need to lose 11-13cm (at least, to fit into my posing suit)! The next competition I had planned for 2011 was the INBF Southwestern Natural Championships on 16 July - this is ~18 weeks away, which is a more realistic timeframe to lose the lower body mass and girths, whilst maintaining as much of the upper body muscle as I can. Therefore, I have decided to forego the April competition and make the July competition my first of the year - the longer competition preparation will ensure that I can bring in the best physique possible re leanness and size. However, this is not to say that I can be slack about getting back into a routine, or with nutrition and training - I have a photoshoot 14 April and several more throughout April and May, so I still HAVE to get lean and into shape! I am still going to do my best to get as lean as I can in the next 5-6 weeks, but if I don't lose all of the lower body size that I need to for competition before the photoshoots, it's not as big of a deal - and be better in the long term in being able to maintain the leanness that I want to.

Review of Genomyx's DCP/H.E.A.T. Stack

Body Composition: Pre-DCP I was 119.4 pounds at 11.2% bodyfat. On finishing up H.E.A.T. Stack, used with DCP, I was 123.2 pounds at 11.2% bodyfat. In the time that I stacked DCP with H.E.A.T. Stack I had a HUGELY successful recomp, with a final gain of 3.8 pounds at a ratio of 8 to 1 increase in lean mass (+3.4 pounds) and bodyfat (+0.4 pounds) respectively, whilst maintaining 11.2% bodyfat.

Appetite: Appetite was normal for me on the DCP/H.E.A.T. Stack stack.

Overall: Although a successful recomp, the period over which these results occurred was very short at only a week, and a few more weeks would be required to see if such a rate of recomp would be continued, and to get a true idea of "final" body statistics.

Would I use again? Yes.

Would I recommend? Yes. If you want a recomp, DCP/H.E.A.T. Stack is definitely a stack to consider adding to your supplement arsenal.

Review of Genomyx's H.E.A.T. Stack

My first bottle of H.E.A.T. Stack finished . . . I started out using it standalone, to see how it affected me, before stacking it with other products that I have previously used. I ended up using H.E.A.T. Stack for ~3 weeks (instead of the planned one week only) standalone before finishing my last week on it with DCP . . .


What is it?



* Increases lipolysis and enhances fat loss
* Improves mood
* Appetite suppression
* Aids in nutrient repartitioning
* Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pain reducing benefits
* Blood pressure regulating effects

For more information on H.E.A.T. Stack, review Genomyx - H.E.A.T. Stack.


Fat Loss: I actually did NOT have any fat loss when using the H.E.A.T. Stack. In saying all that, the goal during the period I was using H.E.A.T. Stack was NOT fat loss, but a RECOMP, and so therefore, for what I was trying to achieve, I WAS SUCCESSFUL . . . Going over the individual weeks of usage of H.E.A.T. Stack, the changes were: Pre-H.E.A.T. Stack I was 115.2 pounds at 9.8% bodyfat; one week into H.E.A.T. Stack I was 126 pounds at 11.6% bodyfat (+10.8 pounds and +1.8% bodyfat); two weeks in I was 120.2 pounds at 11.2% bodyfat (-5.8 pounds and -0.4% bodyfat); three weeks in I was 119.4 pounds at 11.2% bodyfat (-0.8 pounds and no change in body composition; after four weeks - I started using DCP at the end of week three - I was 123.2 pounds at 11.2% bodyfat (+3.8 pounds and no change in body composition) . . . Overall, with H.E.A.T. Stack standalone, I gained 4.2 pounds and 1.4% bodyfat, at a ratio of 1:1.3 bodyfat to lean body mass . . . Adding in DCP made a huge difference, and I maintained my body composition whilst losing body mass, ending up from start to finish of H.E.A.T. Stack gaining 8 pounds - that mass gained at a ratio of 1:2 re bodyfat to lean body mass with + 2.5 pounds of bodyfat and +5.5 pounds of lean body mass (both to 1 d.p.) . . .

Mood: My mood had its high moments interspersed with periods of extreme aggression, which was all more to do with what was going on at the time than H.E.A.T. Stack (or any supplement that I was using).

Appetite: Appetite was not quelled at all when using H.E.A.T. Stack. However, I was not trying to restrict my caloric intake either, given that I was RECOMPING.

Nutrient Repartitioning: N/A.

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Pain Reduction: My wrists and back gave me a lot of issues over the time that I used H.E.A.T. Stack, but this is not because of the product - I was also not using Erase when I started H.E.A.T. Stack, starting it about the same time I started DCP, and so it is only to be expected that my joints were in pain.

Blood Pressure: N/A.

Overall: Since H.E.A.T. Stack is a non-stimulant fat burner, designed more for fat loss than the [successful] recomp that I used it for, I do not feel that I gave it a fair trial as far as the purpose it was designed for, and therefore cannot assign it an "overall" score.

Would I use again? Yes, because I feel and know that I did not really give H.E.A.T. Stack a decent chance at showing me what it was capable of doing, and I want to do this, because H.E.A.T. Stack has an excellent formulator, an ingredient profile backed by science, and multitudes of positive feedback.

Would I recommend? I would recommend stacking H.E.A.T. Stack with DCP - a great option, as seen from my results. Otherwise, I would need to give it a fair trial before I could recommend it for fat loss from a personal perspective . . . I WOULD recommend it as an addition to any recomp stack, though . . .

2010: Day 51

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let us down, probably will. You'll have your heart broken and you'll break others' hearts. You'll fight with your best friend or maybe even fall in love with them, and you'll cry because time is flying by. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, forgive freely, and love like you've never been hurt. Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, no second chances. You just have to live life to the fullest, tell someone what they mean to you and tell someone off, speak out, dance in the pouring rain, hold someone's hand, comfort a friend, fall asleep watching the sun come up, stay up late, be a flirt, and smile until your face hurts. Don't be afraid to take chances or fall in love and most of all, live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness you can never get back." - Unknown


MUSIC VIDEO OF THE DAY

Daft Punk - Aerodynamic



An old song, but I love the instrumental, and sometimes it's just good to listen to something uplifting and different.


TRAINING

Ended up having today off.


COMMENTS

Sleep - Time and Quality: Probably close to ~10 hours - WTF? Passed out on the couch during a movie, and woke up at 0519, which is ideal - even earlier! - to get up, had a shower, and went to bed for a few hours.

Mood/Aggression: Pretty blah today.

Energy: I actually don't have much energy today - not like a few days ago when I couldn't stop bouncing around!

Recovery: Feel it in anterior delts a little from yesterday.

Body Composition and Look: 124.8 pounds at 11% bodyfat. I have not remained as low re body composition as I desired, but the upper body mass re shoulders and arms from the last five weeks is noticeable - as is the mass gained in my LOWER body. I am the largest I have EVER been - upper AND lower- re girths, and the lower body mass is NOT WANTED! Therefore, I am going to do my BEST to lose that lower body mass withOUT stripping the hard-earned muscle from my UPPER body! I have ~3-4% bodyfat to lose - and whilst I know that scale weight is not really important, for this competition, I will have to lose ~15-20 pounds (not something I am proud to admit, since I usually simply do NOT let myself get this big, but this is all about accountability, right), the lean mass lost mostly from food and water weight no doubt (and lower body, since I don't mind it going from there). It's time to turn my body back into the LEAN machine that it is used to being!

Other Notes: Started back on Alpha-T2 and Erase today. Also started using Shift - I will dose once pre-bed.

Competition Notes: Seven weeks to competition. Six weeks maximum to get into competition shape. Five weeks ideally to be in the shape I want to be in. Time to kick myself into HIGH gear, returning to 2-a-day training sessions 2-4 times a week, ensuring pre and post-weights cardio is completed, and ALL sessions are as INTENSE as possible!


FIT TIP OF THE DAY

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler." - Henry David Thoreau

Day 44: Becoming! War Face On!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Life is not having and getting, but being and becoming." - Matthew Arnold


MUSIC VIDEO OF THE DAY

My Darkest Days - The World Belongs To Me



A Warrior is a Survivor. You never know what Life is going to throw at you, and a Warrior deals with it, even when no one else has faith that they can make it. Be strong. Hold to that inner strength. Be a Warrior.


TRAINING

Cardio 20 min.

Stretch 20 min.


COMMENTS

Mood/Aggression: Battle ready! I fight against myself on a daily basis, but the next eight weeks is going to be something else altogether!

Energy: Still feeling drained, but working on ignoring it and just DOING.

Libido: HIGH.

Endurance: Ok.

Quality of Training: Seems like my body is wanting 'recovery' this week

Body Composition and Look: 123.2 pounds at 11.2% bodyfat. My body composition has been 11.2% for the last three weeks - whilst maintaining it is ok, it's not really acceptable. Training the last two weeks has not been very high, with only two resistance sessions a week, which is definitely affecting my progress.

Other Notes: I ended up doing a 4-week recomp as initially planned because of training over the last week or so, but from now, it is all CUTTING! It's time to get LEAN!

Competition Notes: I was going to wait until I got below 10% bodyfat until I started posing practice, but I am going to start this tomorrow, for 5-10 minutes a day.


FIT TIP OF THE DAY

"Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it." - Lou Holtz

Day 347: Will LG's New Topical 7-keto DHEA become a Staple in the Female Terminator's Arsenal?

DISCUSSION

The last few weeks have still been somewhat on and off re training. I really want to get back into a consistent training schedule by the start of 2011.

I am one of the few selected to beta test LG Sciences' new 7-keto DHEA topical. I personally LOVE topical 7-keto, and DermaTherm (the original) is the best fat loss topical that I have ever used, and now that it is gone, there are no topicals containing 7-keto DHEA. I am very interested in seeing how this is going to go - at 12 sprays each use, the beta testing bottle will last until the end of the year, which is about perfect.


GOALS

I am going to CONTINUE TO RECOMP whilst maintaining 8-10% bodyfat (preferably closer to 8% bodyfat), focusing specifically on:
* Capping my delts and adding a little more mass to my arms
* Regaining my strength
* Returning to a decent level of fitness



TRAINING

Weights

Day 1: Shoulders

Day 2: Arms

Day 3: Full-Body

Day 4: Full-Body

Day 5: Upper Body

Resistance sessions get done in this order each week. I have a day of just cardio - which will be done where my body feels that it needs it (although I will endeavour to do it on Thursday), and a day OFF ALL training each week (usually Sunday).

I use lower reps - not just so that I can lift heavier, but because lower reps at a heavy weight for me personally means improved strength, more mass, and definite leaning. I always lift as heavy as I can for the reps I set out to do each session, and I use 30 seconds to 1 minute recovery between sets/supersets/trisets/giant sets.

I do not do any specific work for my legs as my lower body overwhelms my upper body. If I train legs, I gain muscle mass despite what I do and more muscle in my legs is NOT what I want or need. ANY Legs work (i.e. Full-Body days) is going to be specific to Hamstrings, and I will deliberately use lighter weights, bodyweight, or plyometric exercises only.

Cardio

Day 1: HIIT Cardio

Day 2: 20 min Cardio

Day 3: HIIT Cardio

Day 4: 20 min Cardio

Day 5 HIIT Cardio

Day 6: 20 min Cardio

Cardio sessions get done in this order each week. Note that the days do not "match" the same numbered resistance day.

Flexibility

Stretch 20-30 minutes every training day (i.e. six days a week).


NUTRITION

My nutrition does not play as much of a role as my training does in my conditioning - however, I am working on making it better, so that it COMPLIMENTS my training and works WITH my body, instead of constantly making everything more difficult.

I generally follow a calorie cycling method, with 5-6 meals daily, 2-3 hours apart.

I drink 1-2 UK galleons (a UK galleon is 4.54 litres) of water a day, with the only other liquid that I consume re drinks being herbal or green tea.


SUPPLEMENTS

(in alphabetical order):

Alpha-T2: 2 caps first thing and 2 caps ~8 hours post-Dose 1.

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

BLACK CATS: 3 caps first thing and 2 caps 6-8 hours post-Dose 1.

EndoAmp Max: 1.1 gram first thing and 1.1 gram post-training.

Erase: 2 caps first thing, 2 caps 6-8 hours post-Dose 1, and 1 cap pre-bed.

IGF-2: 2 caps first thing, 2 caps ~40 min pre-resistance training, and 2 caps pre-bed.

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

MuscleGels: 1-2 packets daily.

Organic VitaBerry: 5 grams post-Meal 1 and 5 grams post-Meal 3.

Recompadrol - 1 cap immediately post-training, 1 cap either first thing or ~30 min pre-Meal later in the day, and 1 cap pre-bed.

Shred Matrix: 3 caps 30-45 min pre-Meal 1 and 3 caps either 30-45 min pre-Meal later in the day or pre-bed.

Topicals: 50-100mg of 7-keto DHEA applied post-post-training shower.

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


I am planning on making 2011 a BIG year for me.
But, it's still 2010 and there's just under three weeks left until the end of the year . . .
I'm going to make the MOST of them!

Review of Performance Enhancing Supplements' ERASE

One bottle of Erase down . . . And many more to come! . . .


What is it?



* Erase Cortisol!
* Increase Testosterone!
* Erase Fat Storage!
* Increase Fat Loss!
* Increase Muscle Mass!
* Increase Sex Drive!
* Increase Recovery!

For more information on the product, please review Performance Enhancing Supplements: ERASE


Body Composition: 8/10. Every week I have been using Erase, my training has been BELOW Maintenance training, whereas my diet has not changed, which tells you how effective Erase was. There was a gradual increase in body composition to 9.9% bodyfat over the first two weeks, but the final week using Erase saw a decrease in body composition back to 9.5% bodyfat at 116 pounds, leaving me with a final gain of one pound at a ratio of 9.6 to 1 increase in lean mass (+ 0.905 pounds) and bodyfat (+ 0.095 pounds) respectively, and technically "no" change in body composition. Considering my training and nutrition, this is interesting AND impressive . . . My arms grew whilst using Erase - even though not a lot, it makes a difference re look, and the stretchmarks just above my elbow crease and biceps insertions, as well as increase in arm girths, are testament to that . . . Note that the final week my Erase dosage was 5 caps daily - with one cap pre-bed, as opposed to the 3-4 caps and no pre-bed dose that it was during the first and second weeks respectively . . .

Cortisol Levels: N/A. Although I would have liked to see the changes in my Cortisol levels from pre to post-Erase, I did not have bloods done. I will note that my stress levels are ALWAYS HIGH, and the last three weeks have been more stressful than most, and yet my body composition has remained "unchanged".

Testosterone Levels: N/A. Although I would have liked to see the changes in my Testosterone levels from pre to post-Erase, I did not have bloods done.

Recovery: 8/10. My recovery has been interesting - bear in mind that, although training was just under Maintenance, it WAS a new training split I was using . . . Adding in the dose pre-bed gave me the best sleep - deeper and more restful than ever . . . Do note that I was also using IGF-2, which plays a huge role in my recovery, so Erase cannot be solely attributed with effects here . . .

Libido: 11/10. Even BETTER than when I was using T-911 - my libido has been INsatiable during the last three weeks, despite the circumstances (which is interesting in itself). My body has been ready and responsive, and it's been the most and best sex ever!

Other Effects: 10/10. The most noticeable effects of Erase - aside from those already mentioned - were on my joints and with water retention prevention . . . Even though I started Erase immediately after finishing Triazole, my joints started getting better (they were not the best - very dry), and also as it got colder and my dose of Erase increased, my joints kept improving considerably re looseness. I noticed the effects on my joints the best at 5 caps (i.e. 125mg of 3,7-keto DHEA) daily, which is interesting, considering that decreasing cortisol generally means negative effects re joints . . . When I started dosing Erase pre-bed, the lack of water retention to the following day got more noticeable, especially since I have the bulk of my carbohydrates and a LOT of carbohydrates in the few hours pre-bed. Do note that I was also using Shred Matrix - although effects were definitely more noticeable when using 5 caps and a pre-bed dose of Erase . . . Strength also increased as I was using Erase - but one of my training focuses was ON gaining strength . . .

Overall: 9.5/10. Erase is an excellent recomp product! I actually noticed the best results re body composition and joints with Erase when I was dosing at 5 caps daily and added the extra cap in pre-bed. Interestingly enough, at 5 caps daily, my joints were better than they were when I was using Osteo-Sport, which says a LOT. Erase gets "extra" points for the positive effects re joints and sleep . . . The only downside to the product for me personally is that I have to use 5 caps to make the progress I want, which means a bottle will only last 18 days . . .

Would I use again? Yes. I actually want to Erase as a STAPLE!

Would I recommend? Definitely.


My Thoughts on Performance Enhancing Supplements Performance Enhancing Supplements is a young company with only TWO products. However, those two products are EFFECTIVE and BOTH of them I have used with excellent results. Performance Enhancing Supplements proves that you don't need to have an extensive line-up to make an impression - their products speak for themselves re results, and the company name and recognition will only get bigger and better. Already, Alpha-T2 has become a STAPLE in my supplement arsenal, and Erase is going to be!

Review of Genomyx's Eviscerate Smolder

I was one of those who used the very FIRST Eviscerate Smolder betas, and I had two small tubes of it . . .


What is it?



* Burn Fat, but without the "Burning" Sensation
* Reduce Stubborn Fat Deposits
* Reduce The Appearance of Cellulite
* Enhance Definition
* Shed Excess Water
* Increase Vascularity

For more information on the product, please review Genomyx: Eviscerate Smolder


Smell: 8/10. Smells the same as Eviscerate - strongly like coffee.

Feel: 9/10. This is where Eviscerate Smolder shines over the original Eviscerate. On application, there was an icy wind across my skin where I applied the Eviscerate Smolder, and later a faint icy burn/smolder, and then nothing. When I got warm or hot, I could feel that faint smolder - otherwise I felt nothing, which was GREAT. The second bottle/tube of Eviscerate Smolder had the same icy feeling blow on the application areas as the first one did, but there was NO smolder or burn with it.

Spreadability: 10/10. Eviscerate Smolder spread over my skin quite well. There was no residue after application. I used four pumps - one for the front of my midsection, one for the back of my core, and one for each thigh. My first tube lasted me ~2 weeks, after which I got better at applying the minimal amount to cover the greatest area, and the second tube lasted me TWICE as long (which technically makes it using LESS Eviscerate Smolder during the second tube) - the Eviscerate Smolder in the second bottle was also more runny than it was in the first, which makes a difference in how much each pump spread.

Body Composition: 8/10. To understand how good my body composition effects actually were, you have to see what my training was like over the time using Eviscerate Smolder (since it is my training and not my nutrition that predominantly determines my leanness): 1. The week post-competition I did two resistance sessions and four cardio sessions; 2. The second week post-competition I did Maintenance training; 3. The third week post-competition I did four resistance sessions and six cardio sessions; 4. The fourth week post-competition I did Maintenance training; 5. The fifth week post-competition I did four resistance sessions and six cardio sessions; 6. The sixth week post competition I did Maintenance training. When I started Eviscerate Smolder, I had just been dieting for a week, training for several weeks at levels well over Maintenance training - which is why I used my body statistics at the end of the first week post-competition as my 'baseline' to go from. 'Baseline' was 111.4 pounds at 9% bodyfat. For two weeks my scale weight and body composition increased, coming out at 122.4 pounds and 10.1% bodyfat at the end of my third week post-competition. The next two weeks saw a body composition decrease, coming out at 115 pounds and 9.5% bodyfat. The last two weeks on Eviscerate Smolder saw a gradual increase again in body composition, bringing me out at 9.9% bodyfat at 119 pounds, leaving me with a final gain of pounds at a ratio of 3 to 1 increase in lean mass (+ 5.845 pounds) and bodyfat (+ 1.755 pounds) respectively, making for a reasonable recomp with not much fat gain . . . My girths did not change at all, with my clothes fitting BETTER, which is interesting . . . Please note that for the first four weeks of using Eviscerate Smolder, I was also using Triazole, and the last three weeks, I was using Erase, so not all of my results can be attributed solely to the Eviscerate Smolder . . .

Diuretic Effects: 9/10. Eviscerate Smolder definitely exerts a diuretic effect, and unlike the original Eviscerate, there was minimal to NO water retention while I was using it, despite my very high carbohydrate consumption during the majority of my time using it.

Vascularity: 5/10. As with the original Eviscerate, Eviscerate Smolder did not make a difference to my vascularity, and did not increase it either on application or during exercise - NOT an issue though, since I did not use Eviscerate Smolder for this purpose.

Other Effects: 10/10. I used Eviscerate Smolder with the Flawless/Flawless: IRDT (once my original Flawless had run out). When I started using the Eviscerate Smolder/Flawless combination, I had quite bad burn marks on my stomach from using a scalding hot wheatie almost daily for a couple of months prior (due to my painful and upset stomach during that time). After 11 days, the burn marks had lightened considerably, fading them almost to nothing in two weeks, and after 5-6 weeks of applying this combination once daily, the burn marks were GONE!

Overall: 9/10. The period in which I used Eviscerate Smolder was very UNcharacteristic of me, and I was UNcommonly inconsistent, with my training and nutrition unusual and all over the place - Maintenance one week and barely anything the next re training and eating well one week and terribly the next re nutrition. NOTHING went as planned and everything was readjusted and readjusted again over that period from what my goals, etc. were at the start of my usage of Eviscerate Smolder. Although I do not feel that I gave Eviscerate Smolder a fair trial, those six weeks that I used it have allowed me to see what effects it has in an IMperfect situation, and re body composition - which is the predominant reason for using Eviscerate Smolder - show that the product DOES indeed work, and that, in a PERFECT environment re training and nutritional control, it would give even better results, withOUT the unwanted effects (even though they only lasted whilst using the product and went away within a few days of stopping it) that the original Eviscerate had . . .

Would I use again? Yes. No hesitation. With the original DermaTherm no longer being available, Eviscerate Smolder is the best "fat loss" topical on the market, IMO - not only does it provide the effects of Eviscerate (which I considered the best topical on the market once the original DermaTherm was no longer available), but it does not burn and have the other effects such as water retention that the original Eviscerate did.

Would I recommend? Generally I would NOT recommend a topical fat loss product for those looking at "cutting" (unless one is relatively lean to begin with and just wants to lose that last 1-2% BF, then I wouldn't recommend at all) - I would recommend making sure that their NUTRITION was targeted at fat loss, with their TRAINING structured appropriately, before considering a fat loss supplement/product. In saying that, if diet and exercise were right, then just that little something extra could be recommended . . . As also shown with my results, I would recommend Eviscerate Smolder to anyone looking at RECOMPING or minimizing fat gain during a "bulk" . . .

Comparison to the original Eviscerate. Eviscerate Smolder is a lighter colour than Eviscerate. Goes on just as easily as Eviscerate, albeit a little runnier (i.e. without as much thickness/body). Unlike Eviscerate, it left an ICY wind across the skin where it was applied, with a faint icy burn and that is it - no extreme burning and feeling like I want to roll around naked outside in the snow like there was with the original Eviscerate (from my second tube on - there was NO burn with my FIRST tube and experience of it, which is interesting).

The REVOLUTION CONTINUES with ERASE

DISCUSSION

The last five weeks did not go as planned and have a been a huge reality check for me, hitting home more than ever how important it is that I start taking care of my HEALTH.

Training is something that I do for ME, initially because I loved it and wanted to, but now that I have a love-hate relationship with it (as I grew to have with my cycling), I do it because I HAVE to. Training is more than just an obsession or compulsion for me - it has been, is, and HAS to be my way of life, and plays a dominant role in the maintenance of my physiological (and mental) health.

Having the last five weeks not go as planned, with the constant adjusting and redirection re my body's responses and reactions, I have had to carefully reconsider my goals. I have not yet decided whether I will compete again or not - although I am leaning towards it, because I want to see what I can do if I REALLY put the effort in; plus, it helps to have a dated end-goal to work towards, AND I hate losing - but I AM going to work on a few areas that if I DO compete again (I will have made this decision by the end of the month), will help present a more balanced figure and the complete package that is desired.

Today is my last day on Driven Sports' Triazole.

Tomorrow I start using Erase - a product in the same category as Triazole. Once again, I am the FIRST female to use this product, logging my experience so that other women can see effects and have some idea of what to expect, etc. should they consider using Erase.

GOALS

The readjusted goal post-competition was: "To do is to get back below 9% bodyfat, then 8% bodyfat, and then LEANER, with the eventual focus to maintain 8-9% bodyfat once I achieve the lowest level of leanness I possibly can."

Because of everything that has happened - especially in the last two weeks - I am no longer going to pressure myself into getting as lean as physiologically possible, because right now my body is fighting every attempt to do that, doing instead what it does best: RECOMPING.

Therefore, looking at what has been, what is, and what will and might be, the more realistic goal is to CONTINUE TO RECOMP whilst maintaining 8-10% bodyfat, with a few other specifics:
* Work on capping my delts and adding a little more mass to my arms
* Build my strength back up
* Get back to a decent level of fitness

I'm starting this log at:
* Body Composition of 9.5% bodyfat
* Body Mass of 115 pounds
* Resting Pulse of 32 beats per minute

TRAINING

I really need to get back into a rigid structure with my training.

Weights

Day 1: Shoulders

Day 2: Arms

Day 3: Full-Body

Day 4: Full-Body

Day 5: Upper Body

Resistance sessions will get done in this order each week. I have a day of just cardio - which will be done where my body feels that it needs it (although I will endeavour to do it on Thursday), and a day OFF ALL training each week (usually Sunday).

I am going back to lower reps, so that I can lift heavier - which means improved strength, more mass, and leanness easier to maintain. I always lift as heavy as I can for the reps I set out to do each session, and I use 30 seconds to 1 minute recovery between sets/supersets/trisets/giant sets.

I do not do any specific work for my legs as my lower body overwhelms my upper body. If I train legs, I gain muscle mass despite what I do and more muscle in my legs is NOT what I want or need. ANY Legs work (i.e. Full-Body days) is going to be specific to Hamstrings, and I will deliberately use lighter weights, bodyweight, or plyometric exercises only.

Cardio

Day 1: HIIT Cardio

Day 2: 20 min Cardio

Day 3: HIIT Cardio

Day 4: 20 min Cardio

Day 5 HIIT Cardio

Day 6: 20 min Cardio

Resistance sessions will get done in this order each week. Note that the days do not "match" the same numbered resistance day.

Flexibility

Stretch 20-30 minutes every training day (i.e. six days a week).

NUTRITION

It's more important than ever now though, that I DO stop or minimize the foods that I am sensitive and have intolerances to, since my body can no longer handle the weekly fluctuations of 10-15 pounds gain and then loss - sometimes over only a few days - in scale weight.

Even though I will be calorie cycling, LISTENING to my body on a daily basis and adjusting my nutrition (as I do my training) as required is KEY.

I have 5-6 meals daily, 2-3 hours apart.

I drink 1-2 UK galleons (a UK galleon is 4.54 litres) of water a day, with the only other liquid that I consume re drinks being herbal or green tea.

SUPPLEMENTS

(in alphabetical order):

Alpha-T2: 2 caps first thing and 2 caps ~8 hours post-Dose 1.

BC+EAA - New Watermelon-Kiwi Flavour: 3-4 x 10.5-21 grams daily.

BLACK CATS: 3 caps first thing and 2 caps 6-8 hours post-Dose 1.

EndoAmp Max: 1.1 gram first thing and 1.1 gram post-training.

Erase: 1 cap first thing and 1 cap 6-8 hours post-Dose 1.

IGF-2: 2 caps first thing, 2 caps ~40 min pre-resistance training, and 2 caps pre-bed.

MuscleGels: 1-2 packets daily.

Organic VitaBerry: 5 grams post-Meal 1 and 5 grams post-Meal 3.

NeoVar Recomped: 2 caps ~60-min pre-training, 2 caps immediately post-training, and 4 caps pre-bed.

PerformaStrips VB-12: 1 strip pre-training.

Shred Matrix: 3 caps 30-45 min pre-Meal 1 and 3 caps either 30-45 min pre-Meal later in the day or pre-bed.

Topicals: LipoBURN applied post-post-training shower and Eviscerate Smolder applied post-pre-bed shower.

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

Let's get ready! NO PRISONERS!

Day 209: My body loves to RECOMP

Training

HIIT Cardio:
a. 4 min easy
b. 24 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy
c. 4 min easy

Stretch 21 min.

Comments

Mood/Aggression: Actually, in a REALLY good mood - and actually relieved that I have a few days off my night work (more time to use to do my other work and study and try and chillax somewhat - if that's even possible).

Energy: Not starting out the day great, but picking up speed as it goes along . . .

Stimulant Effects: Man, it would take an awful LOT of stims to give me any "stimulant" effects nowadays - my body is too used to them and I keep dosing higher and higher . . .

Mental Focus and Clarity: Like my energy, didn't start out great, but picked up pretty quick after BLACK CATS and then the Anadraulic State GT/T-911 dosing.

Libido: I don't know if my body can handle the volume it's wanting, LOL.

Endurance: Great.

Quality of Training: HIIT was pretty good. I DID consider taking today to give my body a rest, since it seems like forever since it had one, but my mind knows better, and I did what I had to do . . .

Recovery: Feeling a little sore, but not from training.

Body Composition and Look: I'll let my final body statistics do the telling, but from what I can see and feel, I have achieved another successful recomp, as opposed to a cut (which is fine; I still have some time - but not much, and after this I will be straight outright cutting).