Day 355: Stim-Dependency

Quote of the Day

"One day at a time - this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering." - Unknown

Training

None. Against myself, my body made this this week's day OFF . . . GRRR . . .

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: Still not falling asleep until ~0600, but sleeping longer and longer, waking just after 1400 today! NOT cool, and explainable, when thought about.

Energy: I've had nothing for anything but doing what I have to. The problem is that I've been withOUT any real stimulants for quite some time now, and it's definitely affecting EVERYthing - as I have said before, I'm NOT (well, barely, at any rate) functional withOUT a LOT of stimulants (and yes, I know it is something that I have to kick OUT of - FAST)!

Stress: Higher than ever.

Recovery: Fatigued and no good for anything.

Day 283: Double HIT

Training

HIT - Skip/Box:
2 rounds (no recovery between rounds) -
1. Skip 1 min
2. Straight Punches 1 min
3. Skip 1 min
4. Hooks 1 min
5. Skip 1 min
6. Uppercuts 1 min
7. Skip 1 min
8. Pitter-Patter 1 min
9. Skip 1 min
10. Plank 1 min

HIT - V-Burn Challenge Circuit:
2 x rounds (no recovery between exercises; 1 minute recovery between rounds) -
1. Jumping Split Squat x 10 per leg
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 per side
7. Handstand Push-Up x 10
8. Squat Thrust (jump and reach) x 10

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: The 'first' day of training was tough - I slept for EIGHT hours!

Mood/Aggression: Mostly up, with some HIGHLY aggressive sections.

Energy: I have been a non-stop, running Energizer Bunny since I got up.

Mental Focus and Clarity: Top of the line.

Stress: High. And I am highly pissed off as well.

Libido: The body wants it.

Endurance: Excellent.

Pump: None.

Vascularity: Only after my carbohydrate meals.

Quality of Training: HIT was GREAT!

Recovery: Feeling it when I was finally able to stop and breath a little - six hours after my night shift started.

Body Composition and Look: Midsection looks great in the bathroom mirror - not as good in the gym, though. It must be the lighting, because my arms look better and way harder and defined in the gym mirrors than at home.

Other Effects: A couple of blemishes have appeared - nothing Flawless: IDRT and Eviscerate can't take care of.

Eviscerate Smolder Notes: When I get warm or hot, I can feel that smolder - otherwise, nothing, which is GREAT.

Other Notes: I woke late today - so late meant that I would not have time to do today's training and be back home in time to head to my night work, so I did Saturday's session instead (and Saturday's nutrition), and will do today's training tomorrow and go from there . . . Although no resistance training today, I used GlycoCarn-GPLC. Nothing. Pump and vascularity were zilch. It seems that using NO products has the OPPOSITE than intended effect on me, and I don't even get the usual decent pump and vascularity that I would get withOUT them. Interesting . . . Also, finally got my Primordial products, so started EndoAmp Max and Organic Vitaberry today . . . AND this is the longest I have been without using a creatine product in seven years, and after this week, my muscle creatine threshold levels will be back at baseline, when I start CreaPure (since it didn't arrive yet) . . .

Completing the Female Terminator's REMODEL

19 weeks since I started training again, ~6 weeks since I have been back at Maintenance training levels.

I have just competed in my debut US Figure competition, where I placed third. I had initially planned on competing at the Worlds in November. However, I have reconsidered, deciding that I want to do 1-2 more competitions before stepping up to the World stage (IF I decide I want to continue competing in this arena).

I was not as lean as I wanted to be for my competition, and there is NO reason for me NOT to continue on the intense preparation that has occurred over the last week or so to get to the leanest and ULTIMATE conditioning of my life! I am giving myself one month maximum to lose 1% bodyfat (the leaner one gets, the harder it is to lose bodyfat, and a slower rate of loss will also mean a higher rate of being able to maintain that leanness) and ~2 inches from each my hips, and thighs (since I have gained muscle mass in those areas, I am not sure how much I will actually lose with losing some muscle mass - although I don't mind some going from my legs) - a loss of 1% bodyfat is going to make a dramatic difference to my physique.

Matt Cahill at Driven Sports wants a female perspective on Triazole - I am logging my experience so that other women can see effects and have some idea of what to expect, etc. should they consider using this product.

I am also using Slin-Sane - this is replacing NeoVar Recomped as my nutrient repartitioner/insulin mimetic.

AND I am one of the privileged who get to try the new Eviscerate Smolder betas!

GOALS

* Body Composition of 7% bodyfat (or as lean as physiologically possible - I want to be able to use myself for an anatomy chart!)
* Maintain Resting Pulse of 30-32 beats per minute

I'm starting this log at:
* Body Composition of 8% bodyfat
* Resting Pulse of 32 beats per minute

TRAINING

Monday: HIIT Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes + Full-Body + 20 min Post-Weights Cardio

Tuesday: 20 min Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes + Full-Body + 20 min Post-Weights Cardio

Wednesday: HIIT Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes + Upper Body + 20 min Post-Weights Cardio

Thursday: 20 min Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes

Friday: HIIT Cardio + Stretch 20-30 minutes + Shoulders/Arms/Abs + 20 min Post-Weights Cardio

Saturday: HIT + Stretch 20-30 minutes

Sunday: Day OFF

A second cardio session (either am or pm) will be added in 2-4 days a week as well.

My training does not stay the same re exercises, order, sets, reps, or weight used, each week, but varies. 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 am not going to do any specific work for my legs - aside from a few exercises for my hamstrings each week - as my lower body overwhelms my upper body. If I train legs, I gain muscle mass despite what I do (as has been shown over the last 8 weeks), and more muscle mass in my legs is NOT what I want or need.

I train first thing in the morning, since this is the most effective for me.

And for any given week training can be changed and adapted, based on how my body is feeling, recovery, etc.

NUTRITION

I am going to be doing a week-pre-competition diet every second week. Every first week I will allow myself a cheat meal either once every 3-4 days or once a week (on my Day OFF), depending on how I'm feeling after training, etc.

I will be having 5-6 meals daily, 2-3 hours apart.

I will continue to drink 1-2 galleons 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.

CreaPure: 2.5g 60 min pre-training and 2.5g immediately post-training.

EndoAmp Max: first thing, post-training, and pre-bed.

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

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

MuscleGels: 1-2 daily.

Organic VitaBerry: 5g first thing and 5 g post-Meal 1.

Slin-Sane: 1 cap 15-20 min pre-Meal 1, and 1 cap pre-bed (as well as 1-2 caps 15-20 min pre-meal containing high carbohydrates).

Topicals: Eviscerate Smolder applied post-shower once daily.

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

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

I'll also be using GlycoCarn-GPLC (4.5g ~60 min pre-training) and PlasmaJet (10 caps 1-2 hours pre-training) on and off.

COMMENTS

Please note that I may or may not comment on all the factors listed below in each 'update'.

Sleep - Time and Quality
Mood/Aggression
Energy
Mental Focus and Clarity

Stress
Immune System
Libido
Joints
Endurance
Strength
Pump
Vascularity
Quality of Training
Recovery
Body Composition and Look
Other Effects

So, going to be a lot of fun over the next four weeks!

Review of Performance Enhancing Supplements' Alpha-T2

I've been using Alpha-T2 for nine weeks now. I've gone through two bottles and are currently on my third, and it's time to give a review on my experience . . . I want to thank Josh for giving me this opportunity and for supporting me in my US debut competition preparation (and yes, you got a mention in my Bio that they read at Finals)


What is it?



* Targets fat loss
* Increases fat burning and decrease fat storage
* Increases metabolism
* Optimizes thyroid activity
* No jitters or unwanted side effects

For the product write-up, please review Performance Enhancing Supplements: Alpha-T2.


Body Composition: 7/10. Pre-Alpha-T2 I was 118.2lb at 12.1% bodyfat. Post-Alpha-T2 I am 107lb at 8% bodyfat. So a loss of 11.2lb and 4.1% bodyfat. My rate of loss was just 5.7lb of fat and 5.4lb of lean body mass - most of that lean mass being food and water in the last week pre-competition when I actually DID diet strictly. However, there was a small amount of muscle loss - from my arms, which I am NOT happy about, given how hard I worked to gain that only a few months ago . . . Re girths, I lost two inches from my waist, hips and thighs, taking me back to my usual size re waist and about an inch bigger than usual everywhere else (and this will be back to normal in 1-2 weeks as well!), and 1-2 inches from all other areas of my body.

Fat Loss: 8/10. I lost 4.1% bodyfat, which averages out at a loss of ~0.5% bodyfat per week - this is the safe and recommended rate of fat loss, and considering the fact that I only dieted during the ninth week, is actually quite impressive. For more, see comments under "Body Composition" above.

Metabolism: N/A. Considering my caloric intake and activity level, I generally have a reasonable - most people say fast - metabolism. It did not change a lot using Alpha-T2, but since this is only a feeling and not fact, I cannot give a specific answer for sure. Let me tell you though, that my high calories did not seem to have much impact at all on my fat loss (i.e. I was able to effectively and successfully lose fat even at ~4,300 calories daily - except for the week-pre-competition).

Thyroid: N/A. Although I would have liked to see the changes in my Thyroid Hormone levels from pre to post-Alpha-T2, I did not have bloods done.

Stimulant Effects: 10/10. No unwanted "stimulant" effects such as jitters, crash, etc. were experienced, even though Alpha-T2 helped a little with the energy and focus, etc. of a stimulant.

Other Effects: 8/10. I was constantly thirsty and feeling like I was living inside a furnace for the majority of the time that I was on Alpha-T2.

Overall: 8/10. For the first seven weeks of my usage of Alpha-T2 I stacked it with Shred Matrix and DermaTherm (it definitely stacks with anything!), so therefore my results cannot be solely attributed to the Alpha-T2 alone. However, Alpha-T2 definitely made a difference to my progress - everything plays a part in the whole. To be honest, the change in diet over the last week (the only week that my calories did not average out at ~4,300 calories daily) did not make too much of a difference in the effectiveness of Alpha-T2 - it worked regardless of calorie/carbohydrate consumption. I was also very happy that Alpha-T2 worked WITH my body and not against it, like all the other thyroid boosting fat burners I have tried in the past. For a brand new company, Performance Enhancing Supplements have produced a winner that is going to be a staple in my future fat loss stacks!

Would I use again? Yes. I was originally going to use only ONE bottle, and I am on my THIRD! I am also going to be stacking this in the future with Erase, to see how that goes.

Would I recommend? Yes. Not all thyroid boosting products work for everyone. I am one of the rare few for whom Mitotropin does NOT work - it actually has the OPPOSITE effects with me than intended. Therefore, for those who want to use a "thyroid boosting fat burner", then I highly recommend using Alpha-T2. Alpha-T2 is like my IGF-2 (the only Growth Hormone booster that works with my body instead of against it), but for thyroid boosting fat burners.

Day 268: Descending into the Fourth Circle of Hell

Training

Cardio 20 min.

Posing Practice 10 min.

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: Actually slept late today, waking up several times before I could get up - last night I was so fatigued, I passed out a few times before waking up, staying up, and then passing out a final time.

Stimulant Effects: None.

Mood/Aggression: Motivation was hard to find today.

Mental Focus and Clarity: Solid day of work.

Metabolism: Fine.

Quality of Training: Easy.

Body Composition and Look: After yesterday, I just feel is TOO FAT, are highly self-conscious, and NOT very comfortable.

Other Effects: Dry mouth, but thirsty.

Other Notes: Yesterday did a serious number on my head, and I have to remind myself of my philosophy, the mantra of a champion. I CAN do this. Failure is NOT an option! A Champion is a WARRIOR. I am a WARRIOR!

Day 261: Seven Weeks of Alpha-T2 Down

Training

None - Day OFF.

Posing Practice 10 min.

Comments

Stimulant Effects: Still nothing - Alpha-T2 is mild when it comes to this.

Metabolism: Working great - the 2-4 apples a day I've been having seems to be helping as well.

Body Composition and Look: 9.5% bodyfat, so only a loss of 0.1% bodyfat this week - seems to be making a pattern of 0.1% a day loss for two weeks and then a 0.1% loss for a week, and so on (???) I LOOK a lot leaner than last week though, despite the minimal loss, which is something. Definition in midsection and legs is really starting to become more noticeable, and I can see four 'bricks' without effort. Arms are also leaning up. So 1-2 weeks to 8% bodyfat. I don't know if I will get to 7% bodyfat for THIS competition, but I will TRY - and if I don't, well, I'll get as close as I can to it for Worlds definitely!

Other Effects: Thirst has not been as paramount as it was, albeit for the first few days this week I was consuming ~2 galleons of water - has subsided back to a galleon over the last few days . . . Body not feeling as hot as it was . . .

Other Notes: Last day of DermaTherm today. I'm also stopping use of all other topicals until after this competition . . . Tomorrow starts my pre-competition week practice run-through week . . .

Day 254: Six Weeks of Alpha-T2 Down

Training

Day OFF.

Posing Practice 10 min.

Comments

Stimulant Effects: None.

Metabolism: Fairly reasonable, considering the abuse it's been given.

Body Composition and Look: 9.6% bodyfat - so a 0.5% bodyfat loss. Pretty average, but there's no point dwelling on it. Should EASILY be 8% bodyfat in two weeks - will I be able to get to 7% in 3 weeks is the question . . .

Other Effects: Aside from several clammy, cold and feverish sweats and getting the chills, along with the extreme feeling of nausea - which I'm not even sure are related to the product - there has not been much. Heat and thirst have subsided over the last week.

Other Notes: I do my practice pre-competition week next week - a week before the real thing is cutting it close, I know, but until now I don't feel like I've been lean enough to notice if it makes a difference if I'd done it before now, and rest assured I know I won't need to do another practice one before the Worlds . . . Training is going to change a little now. I will be training as I will be during my pre-competition week for each of the next three weeks. It is going to be INTENSE and my body had better HANDLE it!

Day 248: No More 'Getting Away With It'

Training

Day OFF.

Posing Practice 10 min.

Comments

Stimulant Effects: Alpha-T2 does not feel like a stimulant.

Metabolism: The high calorie/carbohydrate meals continued over the last week, and my body dealt with them reasonably ok.

Body Composition and Look: 10.1% bodyfat. So, instead of the 0.1% bodyfat loss per day of the last couple of weeks, it was 0.1% bodyfat loss over the entire WEEK! SHOCKING. And completely UNacceptable. Christine is right - there is no time left for doing anything BUT what I HAVE to do!

Other Effects: Haven't been as hot as I was, but still thirsty all the time.

Other Notes: From now on, there will be no more 'getting away with it because I usually can'; it's 'all or nothing' now - so it's going to be straight up RIGID DIET AND EVEN HARDER TRAINING!

Day 241: On Target!

Training

None - scheduled day off for this week. Doesn't mean I didn't get SOME exercise in though - I did two hours of intense yardwork this afternoon in the heat (would be nice if the gold returned to my skin, LOL).

Posing Practice 5 min.

Comments

Stimulant Effects: None experienced.

Metabolism: Has been good - especially considering some of the high calorie/carbohydrate meals I have been forcing down!

Body Composition and Look: 113.6 lb at 10.2% bodyfat. Have been losing bodyfat at a rate of 0.1% per day. Definitely on track re target body composition - I will definitely be as lean as possible, and only 5lb more to lose before I am in the 'safe' weight zone for competition. Not too happy with the changes in my body this time around re fat loss, though - I have lost my natural hourglass shape and are starting to look more like a pear (NOT cool)!

Other Effects: Constantly thirsty and feeling like I am on FIRE!

Other Notes: Today my bottle of Bio-Mend ran out until I get a new one . . . I also finished my first bottle of Alpha-T2 (have two more to use) . . . And have decided to adjust my training schedule to fit the pattern I have been using the last two weeks, since it has worked out rather well (and for me, training is primarily what determines my rate of fat loss) . . .

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 228: Day 15 of Alpha-T2

Training

None. Scheduled day Off - although I DID mow the lawns, and that took me an hour . . .

Comments

Stimulant Effects: None - not even 3 caps of BLACK CATS does much anymore!

Metabolism: I think I have a fairly fast metabolism - at least, when I'm training as I should be.

Body Composition and Look: 116.4lb at 11.7% bodyfat. So, again not a lot of change re body composition. SLOWLY losing the bodyfat, which is a good thing - needs to happen a little faster, though, so DIET AND TRAINING on track for next week, and things will HAPPEN!

Other Effects: I am definitely more INtolerant of the heat, and my body feels like a constant furnace I am that hot . . . Thirst is also a constant, nagging feeling, and yet drinking doesn't quench it . . .

Day 227: Punishment is the Answer?!

Training

HIIT Cardio:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 4 x 20 sec effort/40 sec easy
c. 4 min jogging

Gym - Upper Body (30 sec recovery between supersets):
Superset A -
1. EZ Bicep Curls 4 x 10
2. Dips 4 x 10
Superset B -
3. BB Military Press 4 x 12
4. DB Lateral Raises 4 x 12
Superset C -
5. Push-Ups (on fists) 4 x 10
6. Supinated Close-Grip BB Bent Over Row 4 x 12
Superset D -
7. Ab Rollout 4 x 10
8. Bicycle 4 x 15 per side

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: When I resort to drinking - something I literally canNOT stand - to try and get to sleep, there is a SERIOUS problem!

Mood/Aggression: I'm tired. I'm exhausted. I have no motivation. I can't be bothered. I'm highly pissed off and stressed . . . And my answer is to shove my body through another brutal training session that it's not equipped to quite handle just yet . . . Fcuking genius . . . NOT!

Energy: I have NOTHING right now.

Stimulant Effects: None.

Mental Focus and Clarity: If I COULD turn my mind off, I WOULD!

Metabolism: Good.

Appetite: I've gone from wanting to inhale everything in sight to not even wanting to know about food.

Stress: The pressure just KEEPS ON BUILDING . . .

Libido: None.

Endurance: Ok.

Strength: It was an effort just to do what I did today.

Pump: Not as much as usual. Odd.

Vascularity: Getting stronger as resistance session went on - I want it HIGHER though . . .

Quality of Training: Seriously don't know what I was thinking - actually, yeah, I do: Training is the ONLY way I can even remotely have a chance at staying sane, but sometimes even that doesn't help me . . . HIIT was not the best. Still shattered, and the third time I've had to STOP during a session for "recovery" (WTF???!!!) . . . Resistance session was ok. Felt so slow, like I was moving in slow motion, and in the end, just wanted it over and done with, glad when I finished . . .

Recovery: My entire body aches today. AND I have a huge pressure migraine . . .

Body Composition and Look: Could be 100% better - but that's my own fault from the last two weeks.

Other Effects: None.

Other Notes: Honestly, the last two weeks have sucked balls. My body - and mind - have gone through a rollercoaster. As I mentioned above, "I'm tired. I'm exhausted. I have no motivation. I can't be bothered. I'm highly pissed off and stressed", and "When I resort to drinking - something I literally canNOT stand - to try and get to sleep, there is a SERIOUS problem!" I have NOT been myself the last two weeks, and almost none of what has happened is very conducive to anything. I have all the reasons for being the most motivated person in the world, and yet I am seriously struggling to find a sliver of it. Training is NOT an option, but instead of making things better right now, all it's doing is compounding on everything else. . . I'm only 26, and I'm tired of life . . .

Day 226: Just going through the motions today . . .

Training

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

Gym - Upper Body (30 sec recovery between supersets):
Superset A -
1. EZ Bicep Curls 4 x 15
2. Incline Dips 4 x 15
Superset B -
3. Military Press 4 x 15
4. Lateral Raises 4 x 15
Superset C -
5. Push-Ups (on fists) 4 x 15
6. Supinated Close-Grip Lat Pull Down 4 x 15
Superset D -
7. Ab Rollout 4 x 15
8. Bicycle 4 x 15 per side

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: A solid 6 hours!

Mood/Aggression: HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF!

Energy: It's like I just can't be bothered today, especially after yesterday, and it's a real effort to WANT to move to do anything . . .

Stimulant Effects: None.

Mental Focus and Clarity: There and not wanting to be.

Metabolism: Fine.

Appetite: I don't even want to LOOK at food today, let alone eat anything!

Stress: I can literally feel it rising by the minute . . .

Libido: Good.

Endurance: Ok.

Strength: Pretty much NONE of my sessions are about strength anymore, even though I DO lift as heavy as I can for the given reps.

Pump: More pain.

Vascularity: Disappeared, today.

Quality of Training: Just going through the motions today, since training was the LAST thing I wanted to be doing (well, that and work, which I have tonight; oh joy - NOT).

Recovery: No aches today.

Body Composition and Look: I don't even want to THINK about it, let alone look at it, after yesterday!

Other Effects: Well, at least I know what caused the nausea today (seriously, I need a good kick in the head!)

Day 225: It's been a LONG day . . .

Training

Cardio 20 min.

Gym - Full-Body (30 sec recovery between supersets):
Superset A -
1. Weighted Crunch 4 x 10
2. Knee-Ins (on bench) 4 x 15
Superset B -
3. EZ-Bar Bicep Curls 4 x 10
4. Dips 4 x 10
Superset C -
5. BB Military Press 4 x 10
6. DB Lateral Raises 4 x 10
Superset D -
7. Push-Ups (feet on bench, hands fists on floor) 4 x 10
8. V-Bar Seated Rows 4 x 10
Superset E -
9. Jumping Split Squats 4 x 10
10. Squat Jumps 4 x 10

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: For the first time in weeks I actually fell asleep BEFORE 0500, and slept a very restless 3 hours, waking close to when I wanted to. Made for a very LONG day, though . . .

Mood/Aggression: Ok mood. I am just EXHAUSTED!

Energy: I am seriously dead and dragging my feet. I have been wanting to sleep since ~1400, but have not been able to sleep, and right now I am almost asleep, but not. I will most probably pass out not long after finishing this . . .

Stimulant Effects: None.

Mental Focus and Clarity: Have been with it, but right now I just want to be passed out.

Metabolism: Ok.

Appetite: Was starving at work, and ate a whole lot - food that I definitely should NOT have been eating (SPANKINGS!) and felt quite sick to my stomach afterwards. I need to learn to EAT my food and not INHALE it!

Stress: Higher than ever!

Libido: Fine.

Endurance: Great, considering the way I was feeling.

Strength: This session was NOT about strength - and actually, for me, the weights today were LIGHT, and definitely felt like a "girl" in the gym - NOT a feeling I like!

Pump: Most certainly. It was PAINFUL.

Vascularity: Out of this world. Especially after the food at work, and the after-work drink (I know, more bad!)

Quality of Training: I was simply shattered and in so much pain today that I just forced myself through training with lots of grimaces and cursing. Seriously SHATTERED after the last superset - shorter recovery periods not helping either . . .

Recovery: I ache all over, especially my rhomboids and anterior deltoids.

Body Composition and Look: Better today. Seeing definition well pm.

Other Effects: Felt nauseous in the gym today during resistance training, so forwent my post-weights cardio.

Other Notes: Got my textbooks, bike and cycling stuff, and some of my clothes today. I will unpack my bike tomorrow, and definitely glad to have my textbooks with me again! . . . So shattered at work. Didn't want to be there, to be honest, and was dragging my feet, when normally I am the Energizer Bunny, whipping here, there, and everywhere . . . Had a drink after work as well. Had an allergic reaction to it - burned up, and entire body about 10 minutes later was bright red, as if I'd been sunburnt or applied Eviscerate all over, and burning up real bad, my head pounding more than ever. I have had more alcohol in the last 7 days than I have in the last 7 YEARS! WTF??? I DON'T even like drinking - just like I don't like ice-cream, and I've been eating galleons of it lately . . . I definitely do NOT like this heat. It makes me feel like the walking dead, especially after hammering myself training . . .

Day 224: Full-Body Assault!

Training

HIIT Cardio:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 8 x 20 sec effort/40 sec recovery
c. 4 min jogging

Gym - Full-Body (30 sec recovery between alternate sets):
Alternate Set A -
1. BB Good Mornings 4 x 12
2. Side-to-side Plyometric Bench Jumps 4 x 12 per side
Alternate Set B -
3. Supinated-Grip BB Bent Over Row 4 x 12
4. Push-Ups (feet on bench, hands on DB) 4 x 12
Alternate Set C -
5. BB Military Press 4 x 126. DB Lateral Raises 4 x 12
Alternate Set D -
7. DB Bicep Curls 4 x 12
8. V-Bar Tricep Push-Down 4 x 12
Alternate Set E -
9. Hanging Straight-Leg Raises 4 x 10
10. Rope Crunch 4 x 15

Post-Weights Cardio 45 min.

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Mood/Aggression: Better once in the gym and training.

Energy: Endless momentum carrying me through the day.

Stimulant Effects: None.

Mental Focus and Clarity: I've been so focused today that it feels like time has barely gone by at all, and yet when I looked at the clock, it was mid-afternoon already!

Metabolism: Fine.

Appetite: Feel like I want to eat everything in sight, but I have to control myself. I will NOT let myself be beaten in the kitchen; I CANNOT!

Stress: Still higher than higher.

Libido: Great training sessions mean higher libido later on . . .

Endurance: Excellent. I DO need to work on my running endurance again, though, since it is KILLING me!

Strength: Considering that my resistance session wasn't about strength, it was ok for what it was.

Pump: Definitely.

Vascularity: The best it's been in a long time.

Quality of Training: HIIT took so much out of me each effort, that after the second effort, I literally stopped - more firsts for me, since I don't stop, no matter what - and waited out the 40-seconds, gasping and almost collapsed on the floor. All sprints were full speed and excellent re quality, only feeling my body slowing somewhat on the last effort . . . Resistance session was good. I was sweating buckets, and feeling the burn . . .

Recovery: Well, nothing hurts from yesterday, so that's a good sign.

Body Composition and Look: I mowed the lawns today, and that 50 minutes in the sun made me brown! Man, if I spent like an hour in the sun a day, I'd be as tanned and bronze as I was when I first came to the US, but I can't really sunbathe nude here like I did back home - wouldn't want to give the neighbours or passers by a heart attack, LOL.

Other Effects: Today is the first time in 2 weeks that I haven't felt nauseous, and not when training - which is great!

Other Notes: I get my bike tomorrow (SO looking forward to that)!

Day 223: Energizer Bunny!

Training

Cardio 20 min.

Gym - Arms (1 min recovery between alternate sets and supersets):
Alternate Set -
Close-Grip Pull-Ups 4 x 15, 13, 9, 6
2. Weighted Dips 4 x 12
Superset A -
3. Zottoman Curls 4 x 15
4. Flat Close-Grip BB Bench Press 4 x 12
Superset B -
5. EZ-Bar Bicep Curls 4 x 21s
6. Incline Dips 4 x 8

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: Fell asleep when I should have been GETTING up! Sleeping patterns are worse than ever - WHEN I can sleep - and seriously annoying the hell out of me!

Mood/Aggression: Pissed off and highly aggressive.

Energy: I'm the Energizer bunny!

Stimulant Effects: None.

Mental Focus and Clarity: Couldn't be better.

Metabolism: Fine.

Appetite: RAVENOUS!

Stress: Higher than higher.

Libido: Some.

Endurance: Great.

Strength: Good.

Pump: From the first exercise, burning and making my arms feel so much bigger than they are.

Vascularity: Decent.

Quality of Training: Excellent. Couldn't be happier with this session.

Recovery: Not feeling yesterday's sessions, so it's all good.

Body Composition and Look: I HATE being soft!

Other Effects: Just thirsty all the time.

Day 222: "Who the hell has time for pain?"!

Training

HIIT Cardio:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 2 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy
c. 3 min jogging
d. 2 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy
e. 3 min jogging

Gym - Shoulders (1 min recovery between supersets):
Superset A -
1. Behind-the-Neck BB Military Press 4 x 6
2. DB Lateral Raises 4 x 12
Superset B -
3. BB Military Press 4 x 8
4. DB Bent Over Rear Raises 4 x 8
Superset C -
5. Hanging Straight-Leg Raises (toes to touch bar) 4 x 8
6. DB Shoulder Press 4 x 8

Post-Weights Cardio - Treadmill:
a. 2 min @ 14.4 km/hr / 1 min rest
b. 3 x 1 min @ 14.4 km/hr /1 min rest
c. 1 x 1 min @ 16 km/hr

Stretch 25 min.

Comments

Mood/Aggression: Interesting . . .

Energy: YES!

Stimulant Effects: I took 2 caps of Alpha-T2 this morning - and will keep doing so from now on (change noted in post #1) - and definitely noticed a difference to using only 1 cap. Almost a tight feeling in my chest, that took a while to pass . . .

Mental Focus and Clarity: There.

Metabolism: Good.

Appetite: Last night was another FORCED meal, and I don't think I've ever eaten so slow, nor never finished what I started (guess there IS a first time for everything)! Today, appetite has gone KAPUT . . .

Stress: HighER.

Libido: Body is ready.

Endurance: Fine.

Strength: Noticed a decrease in strength from the last time I was doing some of these exercises in the gym - but not a big deal; I'm just going to have to let my ego go . . .

Pump: Some.

Vascularity: I want it to be BETTER (and yes, not because it does anything, but because it looks nice, LOL)!

Quality of Training: HIIT was INTENSE. My efforts took so much out of me that I HAD to go easy - if I'd kept going for 8 reps per effort set, every other effort after my first two would have been just fast running and not full-on sprints. As it was, I had to stop for ~30 seconds after the second effort of my second set, because I almost - ALMOST - threw up again, and because I could barely breathe . . . Resistance session was ok. Painful, but ok . . . Had to stop after the tenth minute of post-weights cardio, and made my way to the bathroom with my towel over my mouth and my stomach heaving (so very NOT cool) . . .

Recovery: Definitely feels better to be training hard and intense again! I know I'm going to feel it, though . . . But, as Duke said in G. I. Joe: Resolute, "Who the hell has time for pain?"!

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 220: Burn, baby, burn!

Training

HIT - V-Burn Challenge Circuit (no recovery between exercises; 1 minute recovery between rounds):
7 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 per side
7. Handstand Push-Up x 10
8. Squat Thrust (jump and reach) x 10

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: Working on it, but that's to be expected . . .

Mood/Aggression: Disappointed in myself for not being where I SHOULD be, but knowing that I can and WILL be where I want to be when the time comes . . . Mood will probably pick up as the day goes on . . .

Energy: Yes, thank you.

Stimulant Effects: None, really . . .

Mental Focus and Clarity: Absolutely . . .

Metabolism: Hard to say - the few times I HAVE eaten, I've felt completely horrible afterwards . . .

Appetite: Since being back on my feet on Thursday, I've pretty much been constantly on the go, eating the last thing on my mind until ~2330! Last night I actually had a carbohydrate fix, since I'd barely had a thing the day before and until then, and because I'd trained as well and definitely need the nutrients, but felt uncomfortable afterwards and wanted to be sick.

Stress: High.

Libido: There.

Endurance: Top notch.

Pump: If I didn't get a pump during THAT session, then there would have been something drastically wrong!

Vascularity: Actually, until now, it has not been the best at all; almost like my veins are hiding (WTF?), but it should get better as the day goes on.

Quality of Training: 7 rounds of the V-Burn Challenge Circuit and it felt like next to nothing today - so very different from the FIRST time I attempted it! I nearly did another few rounds - especially since I missed three days of training this week - but didn't.

Recovery: I can feel my hamstrings from Thursday.

Body Composition and Look: I hate the soft way I look right now!

Other Effects: Nausea continues, and earlier I nearly WAS sick, so really not sure what's going on there anymore . . .

Day 218: NO MERCY!!!

Training

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

Gym - Full-Body (30 sec recovery between supersets):
Superset A -
1. BB Good Mornings 4 x 12
2. Hand Walkout (from toes) 4 x 10
Superset B -
3. Push-Ups (feet on ground, hands on DB) 4 x 12
4. Underhand-Grip BB Bent Over Rows 4 x 10
Superset C -
5. Lateral Raises 4 x 12
6. BB Military Press 4 x 10
Superset D -
7. EZ-Bar Bicep Curls 4 x 12
8. Dips 4 x 10
Superset E -
9. Weighted Crunch (knees at 90 degree flexion) 4 x 15
10. Reverse Curl (on floor) 4 x 10

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: A few stolen hours after a long and restless day and night and almost all of the morning . . .

Mood/Aggression: I'm not going into it, but let's say my aggression was high . . .

Energy: Definitely there.

Stimulant Effects: Had a panic attack at work - not being able to breathe and heart beating fast and deep is no fun at all. Not even sure WHY, either, since I wasn't stressed, and wasn't upset . . . Also, I was quite hot and sweating a lot, and everyone else was like "it's cooler today than it's been in a while", so I still have a fever of sorts (or my body temperature is being increased) . . .

Mental Focus and Clarity: There, despite the pounding migraine I've had for the last few days, and dizziness every time I do more than sit or lie down . . .

Metabolism: I forced myself to eat last last night - and it was all carbohydrates, most of which don't agree with my body too well at the best of times, but I woke this morning and was fine!

Appetite: Actually have NO appetite - right now BC+EAA is getting me through.

Stress: High.

Libido: There.

Endurance: Pretty good.

Strength: The first session of a new training programme - so not the best day to tell re strength. However, from the last time I was doing these exercises for these reps I was pretty much using the weight I used today - and recovery was LESS by HALF the usual today as well.

Pump: Yup.

Vascularity: Decent.

Quality of Training: HIIT was good. Nearly rolled my left ankle in the third minute in, but caught it in time . . . Started feeling nauseous during the third set of my resistance session, and the feeling persisted throughout the session. I pushed through it, determined NOT to be sidelined by whatever has been bugging me for the last few days anymore. There was no mercy. I probably did more volume in today's session than I have in quite some time re weights . . .

Recovery: Started feeling my lower back later on from the BB Good Mornings.

Body Composition and Look: Midsection is definitely looking better.

Other Effects: Still feeling nauseous - although not needing to be curled into the smallest ball possible today, and able to exert effort without being sick . . . VERY thirsty. Throat and mouth are constantly dry, and my throat is still sore . . .

Other Notes: I did not take my dose of FREE TEST this morning - to see if that was possibly contributing to the nausea, since when I first used it I experienced some for a little while (although it was never bad enough to make me feel sick or stop me from training) and still felt nauseous, so it's not that . . . Had no BLACK CATS yesterday, but the nausea was still strongly present, so it's not them, either . . . Not sure WHAT is going on. SOMEthing is - just got to figure it out . . . Another note to add that I am just going to continue from here as planned - no trying to make up training, etc., since that's not going to be too conducive to anything. Just as I did in my cycling days - if I miss a session, don't make it up; just move on . . .