Livinonlava Xtreme: Will ActivaTe make the difference? [Archive]

livinonlava

07-20-2007, 08:30 PM

So yes, this is another sponsored log for Designer Supplements' new product, ActivaTe Xtreme. :)

I was fortunate to recently be selected by the DS crew to record my experiences with this new product. This is an exciting time in my training life as I'm now beginning the final cut-down process as I head toward my first competition in November.

I have to start by saying that I'm generally skeptical of most supplements, and I prefer to hang my hopes on hard training and sound nutrition instead. With that said, there are a few products that I have encountered that have allowed me to take my training to a new level, so I am always open to innovation. This DS product is one that prompted my closer inspection, and I'm anxious to test its efficacy and report my experiences in this log.

About Me
Age: 30
Sex: Male
Height: 6'2
Weight: 228
Training Experience: 12+ years

Starting Progress Pics

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r315/livinonlava/JulyFrontDoubleBi.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r315/livinonlava/JulyRearDoubleBi.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r315/livinonlava/JulyMostMuscular.jpg

Current Training Protocol

I'm currently using a variation on the P/RR/S program. I actually rotate training styles as P/S/RR in the course of 3 week mini-cycles. I have a 5 day split as follows (my resting days are really "active recovery"):

Day 1: Chest
Day 2: Back/Calves
Day 3: Shoulders/Traps
Day 4: Rest/Cardio/Abs
Day 5: Bi's/Tri's
Day 6: Legs
Day 7: Rest/Cardio/Abs

Diet

With the start of this log, I'm initiating a cutting diet in preparation for my show in November. I have had success with a carb-cycled approach while cutting and adding mass, so I will be using a variation of that plan again. I'm 14 weeks out right now, so I will begin with a moderately restrictive diet and will increase the intensity every 2-3 weeks, depending on progress. My starting program is as follows and coincides with the training split above:

Day 1: Moderate Carb (2690 kcal - 290g pro, 270g carb, 50g fat)
Day 2: High Carb (3710 kcal - 290g pro, 525g carb, 50g fat)
Day 3: Moderate Carb (2690 kcal - 290g pro, 270g carb, 50g fat)
Day 4: No Carb (1710 kcal - 290g pro, 25g carb, 50g fat)
Day 5: Moderate Carb (2690 kcal - 290g pro, 270g carb, 50g fat)
Day 6: High Carb (3710 kcal - 290g pro, 525g carb, 50g fat)
Day 7: No Carb (1710 kcal - 290g pro, 25g carb, 50g fat)

As you can see, I'm keeping my protein constant at around 1.3g/lb of bodyweight. Fat also remains constant at around 50g. I will be cycling carbs and subsequently varying my calories as appropriate to allow a daily average of 2700 kcal/day over the course of a week. Rest/Cardio days will be carb-less, and my lagging bodypart days (back/legs) will get the carb-ups. Eventually, when things tighten further, I will likely convert one of the moderate carb days to another no carb day.

Supplementation

In addition to DS ActivaTe Xtreme, I will be continuing my use of the following supplements.

Dymatize ISO-100 Whey Isolate
Multivitamin
HFS EFA's
Controlled Labs Green MAG
Scivation Xtend
MuscleTech GAKIC
MuscleTech Aplodan
Ergopharm AMP (on cardio days only)

I have at least 3 months of continuous experience with each of the above products, so the ActivaTe will be the only variable in terms of supplementation.

ActivaTe Xtreme - Log Focus Points

During the course of this 30 day log, I will be attempting to monitor my experience as it pertains to the following focus areas:

* Strength
* Endurance
* Libido
* Body Composition

Obviously, all these areas are subject to effect from my dieting. However, I have prior experience with dieting and my current training protocol, so I will attempt to note things that I perceive are unique to the supplement addition. Measures of strength and endurance will be noted by comparing prior weeks and a simple (++) or (--) system to indicate increase or decrease in weight (first plus/minus) and repetitions (second plus/minus). Measures of libido will be subjective and noted by perceived levels libido. Measures of body composition will be noted by weekly weigh-ins, measurements, and progress pictures.

So, this should officially kick this log off. I will begin supplementing in the morning as I begin a Shock week with Chest (Day 1) and Moderate Carb (Day 1). Starting weight and measurements will be posted later. I hope this will be helpful to any who read along. :)

40-Yard Dash_2

07-21-2007, 12:58 AM

Your diet is interesting. Looking forward to your results.

deserusan

07-21-2007, 01:06 AM

Skull Crusher Chris

07-21-2007, 04:11 AM

Looking good man, scribed.

Big_Tom(tk)

07-21-2007, 04:25 AM

subscribed! Good Luck!

livinonlava

07-21-2007, 09:43 AM

Your diet is interesting. Looking forward to your results.

Hmmm... Not sure what to make of "interesting"... I have a tendency to out-think myself, so if you see some holes or areas I could revise, please share them.

in

cool... :)

Looking good man, scribed.

subscribed! Good Luck!

Thanks guys. I'm primed and ready to go.

livinonlava

07-21-2007, 10:30 AM

These measurements should be updated every Saturday. I expect a rapid weight loss during the first week -- it should be mostly water. If things are going well, we should see the chest and waist measurements change the most because that's where I hold most of my fat.

Weight: 228lb
Chest: 45.25"
Waist: 36"
Bicep: 17.25"
Forearm: 13.25"
Thigh: 24.5"
Calf: 16.25"

I'll make my regular daily entry this evening after I've gotten my workout in and most of my eating finished.

Sldge

07-21-2007, 04:59 PM

livinonlava

07-21-2007, 07:27 PM

Your chest is very thick, good arm structure. How many weeks out are you and what is your normal workout sched. I saw the "shock" not for the workout so I was just wonderig what your normal routine is.

Thanks for sticking your head in and for your comments. Chest, shoulders, and arms are my genetic strong points. Lats and legs leave much to be desired. But, I keep improving little by little, so I just need to be patient. As of yesterday, I'm 14 weeks from my November 2 show date. I don't have any unrealistic expectations since this is my first time, but I'm looking forward to the challenge. The diet isn't going to get aggressive until about 10 weeks I think, because I'd like to try to keep building on the legs and lats -- hopefully ActivaTe will help in that department. :)

The "shock" workout was in reference to the P/RR/S (Power, Rep Range, Shock) training program. You can find more info here (http://www.prrstraining.com/) if you're interested. I've used a variation of this program in the past with good results. You can find more details about my split in the first post.

livinonlava

07-21-2007, 10:48 PM

Workout (Chest - Shock)

Incline DB Press ss/w BB Bench Press
80's x 12, 185 x 12 (+=,-+)
80's x 12, 185 x 7, 135 x 5 (=+,=+)
80's x 10, 185 x 6, 135 x 5 (=+,+=)

Flat DB Press ss/w Pec-Deck
75's x 12, 180 x 10 (=+,+=)
75's x 10, 180 x 10 (==,+=)
75's x 10, 180 x 10 (=+,+=)
* Bonus *
80's x 7, 190 x 8

Hammer Strength Iso-Wide
230 x 10, drop 140 x 10 (=+,-+)
230 x 8, drop 140 x 9, drop 90 x 10 (==,=+,==)
230 x 10, drop 140 x 8, drop 90 x 10, drop 50 x 10 (=+,==,==,==)

Notes
Good tempo. I allowed very minimal rest between super/drop sets. Weights aren't impressive but felt stronger than the last shock workout. Good energy and endurance.

Diet (Moderate Carb)

Meal 1
Waffles (ground OATS, egg whites, cottage cheese, cocoa)

Meal 2
Grilled chicken, brown rice, salsa

* Workout *

Meal 3
Skim milk, Labrada Pro V-60

Meal 4
Grilled chicken, brown rice, bbq sauce

Meal 5
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 Whey, egg whites

Daily Macros

Calories: 2691
Fat: 35g
Carbs: 272g (Fiber: 27g)
Protein: 308g

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan, 8 GAKIC before workout
1 Aplodan before bed

No significant effects to report for the first day.

uhockey

07-22-2007, 04:38 PM

Looking good. Been swamped. I shall catch up.

dvsness

07-22-2007, 06:09 PM

I'm so excited you're going to compete, Tim! :)

What's the name of your show?

livinonlava

07-22-2007, 07:29 PM

Looking good. Been swamped. I shall catch up.

No problem -- you are one busy guy. I hope you're able to stop in from time to time, though.

I'm so excited you're going to compete, Tim! :)

What's the name of your show?

Ah, Ness, it seems like it's been a hundred years... :o Yeah, I finally got the stones to give it a go. The show is the Paradise Cup. There are really only 3 significant shows in Hawaii: The Stingray Classic, The Hawaiian Islands, and The Paradise Cup. Besides trying to get my butt in condition, I have so much to learn. I hope to work with a local pro on the posing and routine stuff. I'm really looking forward to this challenge :)

EDIT: http://www.theparadisecup.com - Not much info on this year's show, but it will be coming I hope...

ncangey0513

07-23-2007, 04:40 AM

Oh yeaaaaaah... count me in! :cool:

I'm LOVING the ss DB/BB bench. I did that once and it was a real treat!

nni

07-23-2007, 06:32 AM

aboard. so were you unhappy with your smile in the first pic, but not in the 3rd pic? :D

livinonlava

07-23-2007, 09:12 PM

Workout (Back - Shock)

Wide Lat Pulldown ss/w CG Pulldown (Neutral)
210 x 10, 210 x 10 (+=,+=)
210 x 10, 210 x 9 (+=,+-)
210 x 10, 210 x 10 (+=,+=)

T-Row ss/w Low Row (Reverse Grip)
125 x 10, 190 x 8 (+-,+=)
125 x 10, 190 x 8 (=+,+=)
125 x 10, 200 x 8 (=+,+=)

Rotary Lat Pulldown
190 x 12, drop 115 x 12 (+=,+=)
205 x 10, drop 130 x 10, drop 100 x 10 (+=,+=)
205 x 10, drop 130 x 10, drop 100 x 10, drop 85 x 10 (+=,+=,==,==)

Back Extensions (Machine)
225 x 12, drop 165 x 10 (+=,+-)
245 x 12, drop 185 x 10 (+=,+=)
245 x 12, drop 185 x 10 (++,+=)
245 x 10, drop 185 x 10 (+=,+=)

Notes
WOW! Kick-butt back work today. I can feel my lats from up under my arms all the way down to my hips. I missed the back workout last week due to my family vacation, so this one was well-rested and kept very intense. I had a kid join me during the workout, and I always seem to push harder with a partner. Tempo was quick -- very minimal rest between super/drop sets. Form was pretty controlled through most of the movements, though I did lean back a bit much during some of the CG pulldowns. I had really great energy and endurance throughout the workout -- so far no ill effects from the reduction in calories. I should be good in that department for another 4-5 weeks.

Diet (High Carb)

Meal 1
Waffles (ground OATS, egg whites, cottage cheese, cocoa, peanut butter)

Meal 2
Labrada Pro V-60, HFS EFA's

Meal 3
Grilled chicken, brown rice, bbq sauce

* Workout *

Meal 4
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 Whey

Meal 5
Thai chicken sateh, brown rice

Meal 6
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 Whey, egg whites

Daily Macros

Total: 3471 kcal
Fat: 55g
Carbs: 345g (Fiber: 40g)
Protein: 381g

Calories a bit low for the target, but that's ok. Fats were where I wanted them. Protein was higher than projected, but that's just fine at this stage of the game. I still have plenty of stored glycogen, so I didn't really need the refeed. All in all, energy was excellent and the workout was awesome, so I'd say the day was nutritionally a success.

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan, 2 AMP before workout
1 Aplodan before bed

Still no real supplement-related commentary to offer. Energy has been good and gym performance still as expected. I hope to begin experiencing benefits within a few days.

livinonlava

07-23-2007, 09:15 PM

Oh yeaaaaaah... count me in! :cool:

I'm LOVING the ss DB/BB bench. I did that once and it was a real treat!

It's humbling, though, when you can barely fight up 135lb by the 3rd set... Thanks for sticking your head in :)

aboard. so were you unhappy with your smile in the first pic, but not in the 3rd pic? :D

Yup... :o Made one goofy-arse grin in that first pic. I guess my grin was pretty stupid in the second as well, but the first was more than I could look at... Thanks for joining.

ncangey0513

07-23-2007, 09:52 PM

livinonlava

07-24-2007, 12:15 AM

Workout (Shoulders & Traps - Shock)

DB Lateral Raises ss/w Front BB Raises
30's x 12/12, 65 x 12 (+=,-+)
30's x 10/10, 65 x 10 (+=,+=)
30's x 10/10, 65 x 10 (+=,+=)

Reverse Pec Deck (rear delt) ss/w DB Upright Rows
160 x 12, 30's x 12 (+-,+=)
160 x 10, 30's x 10 (+-,+-)
160 x 10, 30's x 12 (+-,+=)

Seated Rotary Shoulder Press
115 x 12, drop 70 x 10
130 x 10, drop 70 x 10
130 x 8, drop 70 x 6, drop 60 x 4

DB Shrugs
130's x 12, drop 100's x 10 (+=,+=)
135's x 12, drop 105's x 10 (+=,+=)
140's x 10, drop 110's x 10 (+-,+=)
140's x 12, drop 110's x 10, drop 95's x 10 (+=,+=,+=)

Notes
I had a loooong day of sitting around at a car dealership, so my meals were all screwed up, and I was a bit dehydrated once my jug ran dry. As a result, I had very little motivation when I had to hit the gym too late at night. However, I think I dug pretty deep and powered out a decent workout. There was no "bonus" work tonight, and I didn't have the stamina to hit my internal/external rotation drills. However, I believe I got a nice shoulder pump, and the shrugs just blasted my traps. A very solid workout given the lack of food and water prior.

Diet (Moderate Carb)

Meal 1
Waffles (ground OATS, egg whites, cottage cheese, cocoa)

Meal 2
Grilled chicken sateh, brown rice

Meal 3
Labrada Pro V-60

* Workout *

Meal 4
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 Whey

Meal 5
Grilled chicken, brown rice, salsa

Meal 6
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 Whey, egg whites

Daily Macros

Calories: 2718
Fat: 33g
Carbs: 274g (Fiber: 34g)
Protein: 317g

Considering the disruptions to the day's schedule, I'm pretty pleased with the overall numbers. I prefer to not have so many shakes, but it was a day to take what you can get...

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before workout
1 Aplodan before bed

Frankly, today was entirely about survival, so I don't think too much could be expected in the way of supplement response. I will say that I might be having a slight rise (no pun) in libido, but it's nothing concrete at this point. I'll continue to monitor.

livinonlava

07-24-2007, 12:17 AM

Love the WG / RG lat pulldown superset. I did that today, actually. Your shock training is VERY similar to mine. A few other nice supersets for the lats are pulldowns + lat pushdowns, or pulldowns + triangle grip pulldowns. Stimulate the old lats to hell, and the pumps are wicked!

I've done the wide pulldown/straight-arm pulldown superset as well -- awesome as well. My lats definitely lag, but it's not for lack of trying...

deserusan

07-24-2007, 12:18 AM

Did TP set up your cal rotation?

livinonlava

07-24-2007, 12:24 AM

Did TP set up your cal rotation?

Nope. I tried to build this one on my own. I asked him to help me with the "dry run" along the way and the final weeks of preparation. I ought to run my current approach by him to see what he thinks. Anything good or bad jump out at you?

deserusan

07-24-2007, 12:28 AM

The only thing I'd change is that amount of fat on the no carb day. This will help keep your endogenous test up. Otherwise it looks good.

livinonlava

07-24-2007, 12:31 AM

You think I should run closer to 75g of fat and maybe knock the protein down a touch? I'd really like to keep that calorie count at about 1700 to start.

deserusan

07-24-2007, 12:32 AM

You think I should run closer to 75g of fat and maybe knock the protein down a touch? I'd really like to keep that calorie count at about 1700 to start.

Yeah..I'd keep the cals the same but just adjust the fat to protien ratio.

40-Yard Dash_2

07-24-2007, 04:50 AM

You think I should run closer to 75g of fat and maybe knock the protein down a touch? I'd really like to keep that calorie count at about 1700 to start.

Definitely. What are your current sources from?

Maybe this will help.

Monounsaturaed Oils
Olive, Canola, and Peanut

Polyunsaturated Oils
Safflower, Sunflower, Corn, Soybean, and Cottonseed

Omega-6
Leafy veggies, seeds, nuts, grains, veggie oils (Safflower, Sunflower, Corn, Soybean, and Cottonseed), and poultry fat

Omega-3
Oils (canola, flaxseed, soybean, walnut, wheat germ; liquid or soft margarine made from canola or soybean oil) Nuts and seeds (butternuts, flaxseeds, walnuts, soybeans)

EPA and DHA- Fatty coldwater fish (mackerel, salmon, bluefish, mullet, sablefish, menhaden, anchovy, herring, lake trout, sardines, tuna)

uhockey

07-24-2007, 05:17 PM

Never followed one of your logs before. GREAT detail.

Earl10022

07-24-2007, 08:07 PM

Subbed. What is your bf now?
Good luck in your show. God, I wished I lived in Hawaii. THe weather/water/islands are so beautiful. How did you wind up there or did you always live there?

livinonlava

07-24-2007, 09:03 PM

Definitely. What are your current sources from?

My fats come mostly from oats, nuts, nut butters, and olive oil at this point. I also take an EFA supplement. I actually study nutrition (pursuing an MS in Sports Nutrition), so I have a handle on most of the basics including where to get fats from. It's just the fine-tuning for each individual that I'm still learning. I mean, at what point does the level of fat intake begin to effect the test levels to which des referred? You have to strike a delicate balance between maintaining overall calorie deficit and achieving optimal nutrient ratios. Fat's role in athletic performance and body composition might end up as my thesis one day... :o

Never followed one of your logs before. GREAT detail.

Thanks. I guess I feel like some of the conclusions from a log should be drawn by the reader in addition to those presented by the logger. In order to reach those conclusions, I believe it's helpful to have access to as much of the surrounding circumstances as possible. Knowing the details of a person's training, diet, and supplemental regimine can also help you assess the validity of their opinions.

Subbed. What is your bf now?
Good luck in your show. God, I wished I lived in Hawaii. THe weather/water/islands are so beautiful. How did you wind up there or did you always live there?

Though I haven't had my BF measured for awhile, I would ballpark it at around 10-11% ATM. I have a ways to go to get show-ready... :o I've been in Hawaii for about 7 years -- I basically was running from a bad breakup with my college girlfriend. There just isn't any place on earth like this... :)

ncangey0513

07-24-2007, 09:21 PM

I actually wanted/want to go to college in Hawaii. Not really for the education, though. I guess I just want a vacation. :o Still, seriously considering it in a few years.

livinonlava

07-25-2007, 12:26 AM

Rest (Cardio & Abs)

Kneeling Cable Crunch Twists
100 x 30
100 x 30
100 x 30

Leg Lifts
+5lb x 15
+5lb x 15
+5lb x 15

Seated Ab Machine Crunch
100 x 30
110 x 30
110 x 30

Cardio (Stepmill)
40 minutes, level 8

Notes
I don't usually detail my ab/cardio day. Perhaps the above will be interesting to read. Nothing spectacular about the day. I did sweat like a hooker in church -- must have lost 4lb of water alone.

Diet (No Carb)

Meal 1
Egg whites, whole egg, EFA's

* Workout *

Meal 2
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 Whey, egg whites, cocoa powder

Meal 3
Grilled chicken, almonds

Meal 4
Grilled chicken, reduced fat swiss, EFA's

Meal 5
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 Whey, egg whites, peanut butter

Daily Macros

Calories: 1730
Fat: 60g
Carbs: 23g (Fiber: 6g)
Protein: 261g

I made an effort to increase fat a bit today. It's really tough to keep the cals down with the additional fat. As a result, I felt quite a bit more hungry today. A nice grilled chicken breast is a lot more filling than a few EFA capsules or a tablespoon of pb... Overall, I'm pretty pleased with the day's nutrition.

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
2 AMP before workout
1 Green MAG after workout (I've been forgetting to note this)
2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 4
1 Aplodan before bed

OK, after 4 days, I think I can safely say I'm noticing an increase in libido. I'll keep the details of that assessment to myself, but I feel pretty confident this is beyond the usual highs and lows. I'd like to see that increase in libido translate into strength and endurance at the gym, so I'll be paying close attention during the coming workouts.

nni

07-25-2007, 05:51 AM

good info.

dvsness

07-25-2007, 06:40 AM

I did sweat like a hooker in church -- must have lost 4lb of water alone.

Lol.

livinonlava

07-25-2007, 10:52 AM

good info.

I hope to have more supplement-related after I finish my first week.

Lol.

:D

livinonlava

07-26-2007, 01:36 AM

Workout (Bi's & Tri's - Shock)

Standing BB Curl (wide grip) ss/w Seated Alternate DB Curl
95lb x 12, 45's x 10/10 (+=,==)
95lb x 10, 45's x 10/10 (+=,=+)
95lb x 12, 45's x 10/10 (++,=+)

Standing DB Hammer Curls ss/w Reverse Grip BB Curl
45's x 10/10, 50lb x 10 (+=,+=)
45's x 11/11, 50lb x 10 (++,+=)
45's x 12/12, 50lb x 10 (++,+=)

Seated Preacher Curl (narrow grip)
100 x 10, drop 60 x 10 (+=,+=)
100 x 10, drop 60 x 10, drop 40 x 10 (+=,+=,bonus)
110 x 8, drop 70 x 8, drop 50 x 8, drop 40 x 10 (+-,+-,+-,bonus)

RAWRRRR

Reverse Grip Pressdown ss/w Pressdown
100lb x 12, 120lb x 10 (+=,+=)
100lb x 10, 120lb x 10 (+=,++)
100lb x 10, 120lb x 5, drop 110lb x 5 (+=,+-)

Skull Crushers (decline bench) ss/w Close Grip Press
105 x 12, 105 x 12 (+=,+=)
105 x 10, 155 x 6 (+=,+-)
115 x 10, 135 x 8, drop 85 x 10 (+=,+-,bonus)

Tricep Extension (Machine)
110 x 12, drop 80 x 12 (baseline)
130 x 12, drop 100 x 10, drop 80 x 10 (baseline)
150 x 10, drop 100 x 10, drop 90 x 10, drop 80 x 10 (baseline)

Notes
OK. Very interesting things today. I forgot to check my log to get the weights from my last shock arm workout. So, I was in the gym trying to go by feel. On filling in the details afterward, I was blown away from some of the differences. Now, that either means I was sandbagging last time, or I was cheating this time. I suppose it could mean I experienced a huge strength fluctuation. The other variable is that I was lifting with a young kid today, so I might have pushed just a touch harder just to make sure I stayed well ahead of him ;) Overall, excellent muscle stimulation and really great energy. I'm not quite a week into the diet, but I am very pleased with energy levels and drive so far.
.
Diet (Moderate Carb)

Meal 1
Waffles (ground OATS, egg whites, cottage cheese, cocoa, cinnamon, ginger)

Meal 2
Grilled chicken, brown rice, salsa

* Workout *

Meal 3
Dymatize ISO-100 whey, skim milk, egg whites

Meal 4
Grilled chicken, brown rice, corn, peas, salsa

Meal 5
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 Whey, egg whites, peanut butter

Daily Macros

Calories: 2645
Fat: 42g
Carbs: 246g (Fiber: 33g)
Protein: 307g

Diet was close to target today. I let carbs run lower because I'm still feeling great at present levels. I'm ok with the fat level given the moderate level of the day, though I know many would suggest running it higher.

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
8 GAKIC, 2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before workout
3 Xtend during workout
1 Green MAG after workout
1 Aplodan before bed

Interesting. Libido has been in check today (thank goodness), but I did have really great energy in the gym. I'm still skeptical of the bizarre strength increases today explained above. However, I was definitely feeling more alert, more energized, and more sustained inspite of the reduced food intake of the last several days. Continuing to monitor...

dvsness

07-26-2007, 04:27 AM

Strength while cutting is always a good thing!

Ginger waffles?

nni

07-26-2007, 06:17 AM

excellent.

ncangey0513

07-26-2007, 01:38 PM

Lovin' your workout, bro! Lots of interesting stuff I've never supersetted in here, which is HARD to come by! Reading your log is revving up my routine! :D

excellent.

That reminds me of Mr. Burns.

5Six

07-26-2007, 01:57 PM

I am somewhat late on this, I gather. But sub'd, nonetheless. I always enjoyed your logs.

uhockey

07-26-2007, 04:14 PM

Diet kicks ass, lots of variability.

livinonlava

07-27-2007, 12:30 AM

Strength while cutting is always a good thing!

Ginger waffles?

Woot woot for strength gains. I should be able to continue making them for at least another 4-5 weeks before the dieting starts to take hold.

And yes, those are some yummy waffles. Pretty simple too. I just toss some OATS in the blender to grind em, whip some cottage cheese and egg whites, mix the ground OATS with splenda, baking powder, cinnamon, and ginger, and stir everything together. I enjoy them just plain, but it's really great on my higher calorie days when I can spread peanut butter on them... :o

excellent.

gracias :)

Lovin' your workout, bro! Lots of interesting stuff I've never supersetted in here, which is HARD to come by! Reading your log is revving up my routine! :D

That's a high compliment man, thank you. I'm constantly learning and borrowing/adapting, so I always hope someone reading my logs and journals walks away with something to take them further in their own training.

I am somewhat late on this, I gather. But sub'd, nonetheless. I always enjoyed your logs.

Good to see you again. I'm usually just a lurker except when I'm journaling, so I recognize many more people than recognize me... :o

Diet kicks ass, lots of variability.

Coming from the self-proclaimed "diet nazi" that is high praise ;) Thanks for the encouragement, Mike.

livinonlava

07-27-2007, 12:43 AM

Workout (Legs - Shock)

Leg Extensions ss/w Leg Press (Low, narrow foot position)
175 x 12, 680 x 10 (+=,+=)
175 x 10, 680 x 10 (+=,+=)
175 x 10, 680 x 8 (+=,+-)
* bonus *
205 x 7, 730 x 6 (+-,+=)

Seated Hamstring Curl ss/w Walking Lunges (Barbell)
100 x 15, 80 x 24 paces (-=,+=)
130 x 12, 80 x 24 paces (==,+=)
140 x 10, 80 x 24 paces (+-,+=)
* bonus *
140 x 10, 90 x 20 paces (==,+=)

Hack Squat (Wide Stance)
270 x 10, drop 180 x 10 (==,==)
290 x 10, drop 200 x 10 (+=,+=)
290 x 10, drop 200 x 10, drop 90 x 15 (+=,+=,bonus)

Seated Calf Raise (toes out) ss/w Standing Calf Raise on Platform (toes in) ss/w Standing Calf

Raise
125 x 15, BW x 15, BW x 15
135 x 15, BW x 15, BW x 15
145 x 15, BW x 15, BW x 15
145 x 15, BW x 15, BW x 15

Notes
I really thought today would be the day... The day I would honestly throw up in the gym. :o I drink Xtend while working out (one, for general hydration; two, for the BCAA/CM benefits while hypocaloric), and the combination of a big gulp and that bonus superset of extensions and leg press almost came back to visit the gym floor. As I hopped out of the sled, I was literally overwhelmed by the simultaneous rush of a stomach convulsion, light-headedness, quad pain, lactic acid burning, and a stupid, unexplained euphoria -- and I had only begun the workout... :cool: Seriously a good day. Nice increases on several
of the movements. DOMS are guaranteed -- I only hope they don't last 7 days like after last shock day....

Diet (High Carb)

Meal 1
Pancakes (ground OATS, egg whites, cottage cheese, cinnamon, apple), peanut butter

Meal 2
Grilled chicken, brown rice, black beans, corn, peppers, bbq sauce, apple

* Workout *

Meal 3
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

Meal 4
Low carb wraps, grilled turkey, reduced fat swiss cheese, lettuce, mustard

Meal 5
Grilled chicken, brown rice, salsa

Meal 6
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 Whey, egg whites

Daily Macros

Calories: 3519
Fat: 56g
Carbs: 420g (Fiber: 75g)
Protein: 349g

Well, now I know that my body is adjusting to the lower calories -- I just wasn't very hungry today, and felt completely satisfied (even over-full) with my food intake. I enjoyed several of my favorite foods in decent quantities, and I still came in a few calories short of the day's target. Fat was in a decent range, protein was high, and I came nowhere near the target carb number. Again, I'm ok with that at this stage, because my body is still performing well at current levels.

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
8 GAKIC, 2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before workout
3 Xtend during workout
1 Green MAG after workout
1 Aplodan before bed

I have begun to develop a bit of acne on my chest and shoulders. It's nothing I'd panic over, but this could be further signs of some hormonal shifts. Energy has been solid, and I am developing a growing sense of well-being. I'm sure some of this is due to the start of this diet and preparation for my competition because I'm just pretty darn excited with the process. However, I'm physically feeling better and more energized, and that contributes positively to my mental state as well. Let's see how cardio feels tomorrow -- the cals will be cranked down again... :)

40-Yard Dash_2

07-27-2007, 03:54 AM

Everything looks good.

Keep up the great work!

5Six

07-27-2007, 07:10 AM

Crazy ass workout. And great numbers also.

Big_Tom(tk)

07-27-2007, 07:43 AM

Awesome work out.. Like you said, guaranteed DOMS..

ncangey0513

07-27-2007, 08:10 AM

Sick workout (pun intended). I guess you do have plus sized gonads. :D I threw up ONCE in the gym, after the hack squat / back squat superset I told you about. I plan on doing it again. Perhaps I'll try a leg press with either extensions or hack squats today. How did those black beans taste on the way up?? :p

Sldge

07-27-2007, 01:55 PM

Strength while cutting is always a good thing!

Ginger waffles?

It sure is.

livinonlava

07-27-2007, 04:45 PM

Everything looks good.

Keep up the great work!

Thanks. I'm pouring my guts into this one.

Crazy ass workout. And great numbers also.

Meh, the numbers are a little hard for me to see -- superset training is very humbling. I have to remind myself that this is about making muscle grow -- not my ego :)

Awesome work out.. Like you said, guaranteed DOMS..

Oh, I can feel the hint of them now in my vastus medialis, glutes, and calves... I'm sure I will have a shock when I get up to pee in the middle of the night :o Why do I love the pain so?

Sick workout (pun intended). I guess you do have plus sized gonads. :D I threw up ONCE in the gym, after the hack squat / back squat superset I told you about. I plan on doing it again. Perhaps I'll try a leg press with either extensions or hack squats today. How did those black beans taste on the way up?? :p

Thankfully, I didn't actually bring anything up. I was scared, but it was just a great heaving. It was such a strange rush of intense emotion as well -- I thought for a minute I might cry or something... How's that for some weird crap? I'll have my eye on your log to see what you did with legs :)

It sure is.

Very pleased so far. I have really started to develop some annoying acne on my chest and shoulders, but this was to be expected I think. I'm really looking forward to week two as my training style changes and my body responds more to the ActivaTe.

livinonlava

07-28-2007, 01:47 AM

Rest (Cardio & Abs)

Kneeling Cable Crunch
100 x 20
120 x 12
130 x 10
130 x 10

Seated Machine Crunch (Oblique focus)
110 x 15/15
130 x 12/12
130 x 12/12

Hip Raises (Dumbell)
+10 x 25
+20 x 20
+20 x 20

Cardio (Stepmill)
40 minutes, level 8

Notes
I seem to be sweating even more than usual lately. Maybe this is a reduction in the carbs? In any case, a solid day of recovery. Legs are really starting to tighten up now.

Diet (No Carb)

Meal 1
Hard-boiled egg whites (1 yolk), EFA's

* Workout *

Meal 2
Cottage Cheese, Labrada Pro V60

Meal 3
Grilled chicken breast, almonds

Meal 4
Grilled chicken breast, lettuce, oil/vinegar dressing

Meal 5
Grilled chicken breast, reduced fat swiss cheese

Meal 6
XF Ultra Peptide

Daily Macros

Calories: 1827g
Fat: 64g
Carbs: 28g (Fiber: 7g)
Protein: 274g

Poor planning led to an overshoot of about 100 calories. I could have skipped my final shake, but I was hungry and wanted something in my belly while I sleep. I don't mind going over with lean protein.

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan after workout
3 Xtend during workout
1 Green MAG after workout
1 Aplodan before bed

I'm tired, and there is nothing new to report on the supplement front. :o Goodnight.

ncangey0513

07-28-2007, 10:10 AM

What flavor UP are you using?? I still haven't gotten around to trying it, yet. Will be in an upcoming order here sometime soon.

livinonlava

07-28-2007, 11:01 AM

What flavor UP are you using?? I still haven't gotten around to trying it, yet. Will be in an upcoming order here sometime soon.

It's the chocolate. I wouldn't bother spending your money. It just happens that I have the stuff lying around from several months ago. The flavor is so-so, and I've come up with a much better concoction: Take a half cup of cottage cheese, a scoop of whey isolate, and a scoop of egg whites (I used Rose Acre Farms dried egg whites) and blend with a little water and some ice. I'll toss in a bit of stevia and some cocoa if I want a more "desserty" shake before bed. I love the texture (nice and thick like a milkshake), and I think you're better off getting a blend of protein sources with the addition of egg and whole dairy.

Big_Tom(tk)

07-28-2007, 11:10 AM

It's the chocolate. I wouldn't bother spending your money. It just happens that I have the stuff lying around from several months ago. The flavor is so-so, and I've come up with a much better concoction: Take a half cup of cottage cheese, a scoop of whey isolate, and a scoop of egg whites (I used Rose Acre Farms dried egg whites) and blend with a little water and some ice. I'll toss in a bit of stevia and some cocoa if I want a more "desserty" shake before bed. I love the texture (nice and thick like a milkshake), and I think you're better off getting a blend of protein sources with the addition of egg and whole dairy.

Gonna have to try this! Thanks for the tip! ;)

ncangey0513

07-28-2007, 11:17 AM

livinonlava

07-28-2007, 12:31 PM

Weight: 220.8 lb (-7.2)

Chest: 45.25" (=)
Waist: 35.75" (-.25)
Bicep: 17.25" (=)
Thigh: 24.75" (+.25)
Calf: 16" (-.25)
Forearm: 13.25" (=)

OK, the weight drop from week one was expected and largely water, I'm sure. This should level off to about 1.5lb this next week.

I'm most pleased with the .25" inch in the waist as this was after a full breakfast even.

The .25" added on the thigh has got to be a result of residual pump from cardio yesterday or something -- my legs just don't grow, and certainly not when I'm hypocaloric.

The .25" lost on the calf is curious -- maybe a bad measurement to start or this time around. I'll keep an eye on it.

uhockey

07-28-2007, 02:02 PM

Ooooooor, maybe with ActX your legs DO grow? ;) We shall continue to monitor.

dvsness

07-28-2007, 04:16 PM

.25 on the calf is just weird. Maybe you measured at a different level???

livinonlava

07-29-2007, 01:24 AM

Workout (Chest - Rep Range)

Flat Bench Press
265 x 12 (+=)
270 x 11 (++)
270 x 10 (++)
275 x 8 (+=)

Incline DB Press
95's x 10 (+-)
95's x 9 (+-)
95's x 9 (+-)
100's x 8 (+-)

Precor Pec Fly
260 x 12 (+-)
280 x 10 (+-)
280 x 9 (+-)
280 x 9 (+-)

Biangular Incline Press
135 x 10 (-+)
135 x 10 (+=)
140 x 10 (+=)
145 x 8 (bonus)

Notes
Today felt pretty depleted. I had great strength, but my endurance was lagging. It's odd because it really wasn't an "energy" problem as I felt like I could have kept going after the workout was finished. Rather, muscles were just failing in the second and third sets of each motion. I was trying to push heavier across all the lifts, so I shouldn't expect superman... I think I'm going to try to have one more carb meal before working out on Saturdays and Wednesdays because following the no carb cardio days might be leaving me a little punched out.

Diet (Moderate Carb)

Meal 1
Waffles (ground OATS, egg whites, cottage cheese, cinnamon)

Meal 2
Grilled chicken breast, Yama sweet potato

* Workout *

Meal 3
Skim milk, Dymatize ISO-100 Whey, powdered egg whites

Meal 4
Low carb wraps, grilled turkey breast, reduce fat swiss cheese, lettuce, mustard

Meal 5
Grilled chicken breast, brown rice, bbq sauce

Meal 6
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites, EFA's

Daily Macros

Calories: 2682
Fat: 47g
Carbs: 243g (Fiber: 44g)
Protein: 333g

The diet is beginning to settle into place. I'm consistently running carbs a bit lower than I initially planned because I'm feeling pretty good at current levels. I will admit, though, that I'm looking forward to tomorrow's carb up -- I really want a couple bowls of OATS! I think I'm going to shuffle the timing of the carbs I get though, as per my workout note above.

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
8 GAKIC, 2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before workout
3 Xtend during workout
1 Green MAG after workout
1 Aplodan before bed

Today was a bit run down in general. Libido was down, and overall energy was lower. Strength was good, but endurance was poor. I think a good night's rest and a solid carb-up tomorrow should get me back in the game! :) Chest/shoulder acne is continuing to be a side that I must attribute to the ActivaTe. Hopefully it is also at work to improve my body composition per the numbers above.

livinonlava

07-29-2007, 01:29 AM

Ooooooor, maybe with ActX your legs DO grow? ;) We shall continue to monitor.

I just don't want to make a claim like that until I see consistent results over several measurements. I'm not opposed (I'm actually hopeful) to that being the case -- I just don't want to get all hyper over what might just be an anomaly. I'm a born skeptic, but I'll give credit where it's due :)

.25 on the calf is just weird. Maybe you measured at a different level???

I tried several spots up the calf to try to replicate the initial measure, but with no change in the result. My standard practice is to take measurements several times to ensure I get the same numbers before recording. Measuring yourself is always tricky though...

uhockey

07-29-2007, 01:43 AM

:) I was joking, but cool, nonetheless. Enjoying the log.

deserusan

07-29-2007, 01:48 AM

Did you drop your cals a bit? I dropped mine so really get the party started. As a bonus I added some macadamia nuts instead of always using almonds.

livinonlava

07-29-2007, 01:56 AM

:) I was joking, but cool, nonetheless. Enjoying the log.

I know man :) I was only sayin...

Did you drop your cals a bit? I dropped mine so really get the party started. As a bonus I added some macadamia nuts instead of always using almonds.

I'm still holding steady at about 2700 averaged out over the week. I dropped a little better than 7lb this week, so I don't want to get carried away. I'll keep an eye on next week's number and adjust as necessary.

PS. Hawaii is the place to get the mac nuts -- I can go up to a farm on the north shore and get em' fresh ;) They also have a lot of macadamia-related products like salad/cooking oils. Hmmm... Now I want to go get some.

dvsness

07-29-2007, 06:56 AM

Did you drop your cals a bit? I dropped mine so really get the party started. As a bonus I added some macadamia nuts instead of always using almonds.

Wow, strong nut budget. :o Those babies are pricey!

livinonlava

07-30-2007, 02:10 AM

Workout (Back - Rep Range)

Wide Grip Pulldowns
220 x 12 (+=)
230 x 10 (+=)
230 x 11 (++)
240 x 9 (+-)

DB Bent Row
90's x 10/10 (+=)
90's x 11/11 (++)
95's x 10/10 (+=)
95's x 10/10 (++)

Straight-Arm Pulldown
100 x 12 (+=)
100 x 11 (++)
100 x 11 (++)
110 x 9 (++)

Rotary Lat Pulldown
220 x 10 (+-)
220 x 9 (+-)
220 x 9 (+-)
220 x 10 (+=)
235 x 8 (+=)

Hyperextensions (Barbell)
BW x 20 (==)
80 x 10 (+=)
80 x 8 (+-)
80 x 8 (+=)
80 x 8 (+=)

Notes
Oh do I love food... With plenty of carbs and the water needed to form glycogen, I had a great workout today -- really challenged the back, I believe. This is leading me to reconsider my diet stategy even further. I'm going to stay the course for at least another week before I start making changes though. You need to give an approach time to prove itself.

Diet (High Carb)

Meal 1
Waffles (ground OATS, egg whites, cottage cheese, cinnamon), peanut butter

Meal 2
Grilled chicken breast, brown rice, peas, bbq sauce

Meal 3
Low carb wraps, grilled turkey breast, reduce fat swiss cheese, lettuce, mustard

* Workout *

Meal 4
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

Meal 5
Grilled chicken breast, brown rice, bbq sauce

Meal 6
Skim milk, Labrada Pro V60, almonds

Daily Macros

Calories: 3572
Fat: 79g
Carbs: 412g (Fiber: 72g)
Protein: 317g

Today didn't even feel like a diet. I ate till I was full at every meal -- not stuffed like a few weeks ago when I was finishing the bulk, but very satisfied. Of course, my plan numbers were again off target. A few pieces of fruit during the day would have been in order. Oh well... I will be shredded, I will be shredded, I will be shredded, I will be shredded... :)

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
8 GAKIC, 2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before workout
3 Xtend during workout
1 Green MAG after workout
1 Aplodan before bed

After one week of supplementing with ActivaTe Xtreme I have noted the following:

Strength: Increases have been made, but not so dramatic as to run screaming around the room that I'm superman

Endurance: This area has been struggling all week, but I believe this is more due to the diet. I may tweak my diet plan for the final two weeks to see if the reallocation of carbs will produce better endurance

Libido: By far, the strongest effects of the AX have been on my libido. I have been more tweaked out than when I was in college. Interesting.

Acne: Chest and shoulders have been hit hardest. I've only developed a few minor blemishes on my face.

General Feelings: I have noted an increase in my confidence and overall positive outlook. I haven't felt like I was dieting all week. Hunger has been present but manageable. Mood has been positive. I'm pleased... :)

dvsness

07-30-2007, 04:57 AM

This libido thing seems to be consistant to the other logs I've read. Tell Des to stay home. :p

Big_Tom(tk)

07-30-2007, 06:21 AM

Everything looks great man!! Would you mind posting up you waffle recipe? My mouth waters every time I read about them in your log.

livinonlava

07-30-2007, 12:17 PM

This libido thing seems to be consistant to the other logs I've read. Tell Des to stay home. :p

LOL! Your only hope is that he shouldn't be drinking -- at least there's a chance his good sense will take over before the Horny Goat Weed runs wild... :D

Everything looks great man!! Would you mind posting up you waffle recipe? My mouth waters every time I read about them in your log.

No problem man. They are super easy (even I can make em, and I'm not what you'd call the cooking type). I may a few different variations based around a basic batter. I've gotten addicted to them as a nice way to get my oats but also the protein from the eggs and cottage cheese -- plus they taste good :)

Basic:

1 cup OATS (I've used steel cut, quaker old fashioned and instant)
6 x-large egg whites
1/2 cup cottage cheese (I use lowfat, but you could use nonfat too)
3 packets splenda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Variations (Added to the above):

1/4 tsp ginger
1 Tbsp Hershey's cocoa

- OR -

1/4 tsp ginger
1/2 apple

- OR -

1 medium banana (very ripe)
1/4 cup walnuts

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Toss the OATS in a blender in grind them at a medium speed until they look like flour. Put this flour into a large bowl and mix in the splenda, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon (or other dry ingredients in the variations).

Separate your egg whites and chuck em in the blender with the cottage cheese (add apple or banana here). Blend until smooth. Pour this mixture into the dry stuff from above. Mix it with a fork, and you're good to cook. This batter works equally well for pancakes or a waffle iron :)

For me, the above recipe makes about 10 eggo-sized waffles. Macros for the basic batter are:

Calories: 492
Fat: 6g
Carbs: 59g (Fiber: 9g)
Protein: 48g (from a nice combination of quality sources)

------------------------------------------------------------------

EDIT: Forgot that I actually took pictures of these once... lol

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r315/livinonlava/DSC00243a.jpg

dvsness

07-30-2007, 12:26 PM

Calories: 492

Nice to be big. That's almost 1/2 my cals for the day. :mad:

ncangey0513

07-30-2007, 12:36 PM

Solid one week impressions, bro!

I'll be trying those waffles for sure! Thanks for the recipe. :D

livinonlava

07-30-2007, 12:52 PM

Nice to be big. That's almost 1/2 my cals for the day. :mad:

Heck, that's my cutting version... :cool: When I was bulking, I would add another half cup of oats and double the peanut butter/bananas. I had them near 1000 calories back then... :(

Solid one week impressions, bro!

I'll be trying those waffles for sure! Thanks for the recipe. :D

Just call me Martha Stewart... :rolleyes:

AgeRage

07-30-2007, 03:36 PM

Hey how did I miss this place? :p

my supp log gets hidden too

Subbed of course

livinonlava

07-31-2007, 01:24 AM

Workout (Shoulders & Traps - Rep Range)

Cable Lateral Raises
40 x 12/12
45 x 10/10
45 x 10/10
45 x 10/10 (baseline)

Precor Rear Delt Fly
160 x 12 (+=)
180 x 10 (+=)
180 x 10 (+=)
180 x 8 (+-)

DB OH Press
55's x 15
65's x 12
65's x 9
65's x 10 (baseline)
75's x 7

Chest-Supported Rear DB Fly
25's x 10 (+-)
25's x 10 (+-)
25's x 10 (+-)
25's x 10 (+-)

Barbell Shrug
315 x 15 (==)
365 x 12 (+=)
365 x 12 (==)
365 x 12 (==)
385 x 9 (bonus)

Cuff Work (Internal/External Rotation)
6 continuous sets internal/external, cable, 30lb, 10 reps each side

Notes
I don't normally note "pump" because I usually get a decent though unremarkable pump during every workout. However, today's shoulder work make me feel like I was wearing pads. By the time I got to the db presses, I wasn't sure I had the range of motion to get the dbs over my head! Good workout all around. Good energy. Poor focus, but that didn't seem to detract from the workout.

Diet (Moderate Carb)

Meal 1
Waffles (ground OATS, egg whites, cottage cheese, cinnamon)

Meal 2
Grilled chicken breast, brown rice, bbq sauce

* Workout *

Meal 3
Skim milk, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

Meal 4
Grilled chicken breast, brown rice, salsa

Meal 5
Low carb wrap, grilled turkey breast, reduce fat swiss cheese, lettuce, mustard

Meal 6
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites, peanut butter

Daily Macros

Calories: 2635
Fat: 40g
Carbs: 251g (Fiber: 38g)
Protein: 315g

I must need to tighten up my diet, because this is just going too easily. :cool: I feel great. I love the mood I'm in these days. Can't wait till the progress starts to show.

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before workout
3 Xtend during workout
1 Green MAG after workout
1 Aplodan before bed

As mentioned in the workout notes, I may have experienced some ActivaTe-related pumps during my shoulder work. I'm not one to note these sorts of things (at least not in any way that causes me to pay attention), but it was a great feeling to be very in tune with the muscles I was training. It just really enhanced the all important mind-muscle connection. My mood also continues to be really positive, and if that is connected to the supplementation, then it might just be worth your dollar.

dvsness

07-31-2007, 05:00 AM

However, today's shoulder work make me feel like I was wearing pads.

http://www.always.com/index.jsp

:confused:

nni

07-31-2007, 06:16 AM

shoulder pumps, nice.

livinonlava

07-31-2007, 02:24 PM

http://www.always.com/index.jsp

:confused:

I also had that "not so fresh" feeling by the end of the workout... What do you think it all means??? :D lol!

shoulder pumps, nice.

Agreed. Usually followed by some nice shoulder DOMS, and my rear delts are feeling like I might have some tomorrow :)

livinonlava

08-01-2007, 01:22 AM

Rest (Cardio & Abs)

Kneeling Cable Crunch Twists
100 x 30
105 x 30
105 x 30

Seated Ab Machine Crunch
120 x 30
120 x 30
120 x 30

Leg Lifts
+5lb x 20
+5lb x 20
+5lb x 15

Cardio (Stepmill)
20 minutes level 8, 20 minutes level 9

Notes
Sweat never looks as cool as it feels. I was drenched again today, and it felt great. My legs are actually still sore from last Thursday (ouch), but they really got pumped on that stepmill. I really would like to incorporate some weight into this routine so I'm thinking of a backpack or maybe buying a weighted vest. Good day :)

Diet (No Carb)

Meal 1
Egg whites, whole egg, EFA's

Meal 2
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 Whey, egg whites, cocoa powder

* Workout *

Meal 3
Grilled chicken, almonds

Meal 4
Grilled chicken, reduced fat swiss, mustard

Meal 5
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 Whey, egg whites, peanut butter

Daily Macros

Calories: 1686
Fat: 51g
Carbs: 22g (Fiber: 5g)
Protein: 271g

Hunger was pretty high today. I actually had to leave the house and go to Walmart just to take my mind off being hungry :o Still, I felt good -- energized, not lethargic at all. Breakfast tomorrow can't come too soon, though... Wooeee!

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
2 AMP before workout
1 Green MAG after workout
2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 4
1 Aplodan before bed

OK, the acne is beginning to get out of hand! My chest is looking like a swarm of bees had their way with me. Grrr. Other than that, I should note that my mood and mental state has just been fantastic through this first 2 weeks of my cut. I really think I have to credit some of that to ActivaTe as I really am naturally a moody son-of-a-gun :D Also (and I'm sure this is an optical illusion) my physique really seems to be "hardening" nicely for being so early in the cut. I swear I'm gaining definition daily -- and I still have 13 weeks to go!!! Very cool.

nni

08-01-2007, 05:44 AM

excellent.

your a big guy, instead of a vest for the stepmill, just throw one of the small guys at your gym onto your back. its not like they can do anything, they will just have to accept it.

5Six

08-01-2007, 07:35 AM

excellent.

your a big guy, instead of a vest for the stepmill, just throw one of the small guys at your gym onto your back. its not like they can do anything, they will just have to accept it.

LOL. I like this idea.

Both you and Andrew have me thinking of trying Activate in the future. The mental aspect that it offers holds real interest to me.

livinonlava

08-01-2007, 11:06 AM

excellent.

your a big guy, instead of a vest for the stepmill, just throw one of the small guys at your gym onto your back. its not like they can do anything, they will just have to accept it.

I like where your head's at with this idea... But maybe I use one of the cute ladies instead? :D

LOL. I like this idea.

Both you and Andrew have me thinking of trying Activate in the future. The mental aspect that it offers holds real interest to me.

Honestly, and this is difficult to definitively separate from the possibility of placebo, the mental effects have been the greatest impact on my daily life. Physically, I don't believe I've experienced a great strength or endurance gain yet. However, I do really "feel" more balanced, happy, confident, and motivated to workout. This mental well-being is actually worth more to me than 5 extra pounds on the bench, especially now that I'm dieting and tend toward moodiness anyway. I'm fairly pleased so far -- definitely worth buying a bottle to try for yourself.

livinonlava

08-02-2007, 01:08 AM

Workout (Bi's & Tri's - Rep Range)

Standing Wide Grip Curl (EZ Bar)
125 x 12 (+=)
130 x 10 (+=)
130 x 10 (+=)
135 x 9 (+=)

Seated Alternating DB Hammer Curls
55's x 10/10 (+=)
55's x 10/10 (+=)
55's x 10/10 (+-)
55's x 11/11 (+-)

Standing Alternating DB Curl
50's x 10/10 (=+)
50's x 10/10 (=+)
50's x 8/8, drop 45's x 4/4 (=?)
50's x 10/10 (==)

Straight Bar Cable Pressdown
140 x 10 (+-)
140 x 10 (+=)
150 x 10 (+-)
150 x 10 (+=)
160 x 8 (+=)

Tricep Extension Machine (Neutral Grip)
70 x 15
75 x 15
80 x 15
85 x 15

Skull Crushers (Flat Bench, EZ Bar)
125 x 10 (==)
125 x 10 (=+)
125 x 9 (==)
125 x 10 (==)

* Still had a bit of energy left, so I decided to go for some exhaustion sets *

Preacher Curl (Close Grip)
50 x 50

Rope Pressdown
50 x 50

Notes
Today's was a tough workout. It was very hot in the gym, and heat tends to sap my strength if not my stamina. On top of this, as I've mentioned several times, coming off the no-carb day leaves me quite depleted during the day after. I'm quite certain I'll be swapping my carb rotation this weekend. The good news is that I swear my arms were looking very full and showing nice separation between the bi's and delts. My tri's were also making an appearance. I'll say it again, but my physique really seems to be hardening up nicely and ahead of my own schedule. I'm continuing to be happy about this :)

Diet (Moderate Carb)

Meal 1
Waffles (ground OATS, cottage cheese, egg whites, cinnamon, cocoa)

Meal 2
Grilled chicken, brown rice

Meal 3
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

* Workout *

Meal 4
Egg whites

Meal 5
Canned chicken :(, brown rice, bbq sauce

Meal 6
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites, almonds

Daily Macros

Calories: 2667
Fat: 40g
Carbs: 249g (Fiber: 31g)
Protein: 318g

I managed hunger much better today. I was in fairly good spirits and continued to feel pretty positive. However, again I confirmed that the day following the no-carb day is really difficult for training. I will absolutely be changing my carb rotation starting on Saturday. I'll post up that revision by Friday.

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
8 GAKIC, 2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before workout
1 Green MAG after workout
1 Aplodan before bed

Nothing really significant to report here except what was said under the workout notes -- in the mirror I seem to be showing a good deal of tightening and fullness in my chest, shoulders and arms. I know it's still very early in the cut, but I'm really encouraged and look forward to similar results around my middle...

40-Yard Dash_2

08-02-2007, 03:50 AM

You like the effects of glucosamine? You ever tried Cissus?

dvsness

08-02-2007, 04:24 AM

I was in fairly good spirits and continued to feel pretty positive.

Who are you? Where is Tim? I'm not used to this whine-free version.

You know, I never knew chicken even came in cans until I joined this forum.

I know it's late for asking, but can you desipher the +=- coding for me? No comprende.

livinonlava

08-02-2007, 11:39 AM

You like the effects of glucosamine? You ever tried Cissus?

Honestly, I don't think I respond to the glucosamine itself. I take this supp because it contains MSM in addition to the glucosamine. The combination seems to have done more to alleviate my elbow and shoulder pain than just glucosamine/chondroitin which I've tried in the past. I've experimented with a Cissus product, and it didn't do anything for me -- which is annoying because I know so many people that have benefited from it.

Who are you? Where is Tim? I'm not used to this whine-free version.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h238/RSUNTR8/invasion_of_the_body_snatchers_1978.jpg

:D

You know, I never knew chicken even came in cans until I joined this forum.

For those of us that can't stand tuna but need a portable protein source...

I know it's late for asking, but can you desipher the +=- coding for me? No comprende.

It's just my little over/under system for comparing a workout to a previous similar workout. For instance, yesterday's arm workout was compared to the rep range arm workout from 3 weeks ago. The comparison is two-part:

The first symbol compares the weight used (+ is more weight, - is less weight, = is same weight)

The second symbol compares reps performed (+ is more weight, - is less weight, = is same weight)

Ideally, at least one of the symbols is a plus, meaning I tried a little more weight or did a few more reps. In most cases, I want the other symbol to be at least equal, meaning that the additional weight was performed for the same number of reps or vice versa. In some cases, I sacrifice the number of reps by one or two to attempt a higher weight. If we start seeing (--), it means the diet is taking a toll. There should be alot more (==) going forward, but I still seem to be making small strength increases in the early stages. ActivaTe??? :)

uhockey

08-02-2007, 03:48 PM

The mood effects you are noting are VERY similar to the way I think of ActivaTe. As good as it is for the anabolic action, the cognitive aspects are what do it for me.

AgeRage

08-02-2007, 04:35 PM

we have some heads in the gutter........your journal's gettin' a little dirty! :eek: LOL

I must have missed the +-= explanation before, so now I understand :)

great workout ya stud ;)

livinonlava

08-02-2007, 04:49 PM

we have some heads in the gutter........your journal's gettin' a little dirty! :eek: LOL

It's about time! I'm feelin a little spunky lately, so bring those dirty minds on!!! :D

AgeRage

08-02-2007, 04:52 PM

It's about time! I'm feelin a little spunky lately, so bring those dirty minds on!!! :D

yea I know!! I 'hear' your libido is UP :eek: ;)

ncangey0513

08-02-2007, 09:30 PM

Looks like everything is going great in here, bro. Keep up the awesome work. I totally agree with you on the mood aspect thus far. It is possibly placebo, but I also feel great 90% of the time. I'm still moody, like always, but I lately I have a sense of well-being that I'm not accustomed to. Interesting, to say the least.

livinonlava

08-03-2007, 01:22 AM

Workout (Legs - Rep Range)

Leg Press (Low, Narrow Foot Position)
810 x 12 (+=)
860 x 10 (+=)
860 x 9 (+-)
860 x 10 (+=)

Leg Extension
190 x 12 (+=)
205 x 10 (+=)
220 x 8 (+-)
205 x 9 (++)
205 x 8 (=+)

Prone Hamstring Curl
130 x 12 (+=)
135 x 10 (+=)
140 x 10 (+=)
140 x 8 (+-)
140 x 7 (+-)

Walking Lunges (barbell)
110 x 22 paces
110 x 22 paces
110 x 20 paces
110 x 18 paces

Seated Calf Raise ss/w Platform Calf Raise ss/w Floor Calf Raise
135 x 15, BW x 15, BW x 15
135 x 15, BW x 15, BW x 15
135 x 15, BW x 15, BW x 15
135 x 15, BW x 15, BW x 15

Notes
Our gym's AC continues to be broken. It was hotter than hades in that place, and I was in a wicked sweat even before I finished my warmup biking. I was pleased with my performance in all movements except the leg extension. For some reason, I couldn't seem to get them moving. Leg press was solid, and I really pushed myself on the lunges. I thought I might pass out again. :) However, as with food, things are about to get shaken up dramatically... :eek:

Diet (High Carb)

Meal 1
Waffles (ground OATS, cottage cheese, egg whites, cinnamon, cocoa), peanut butter

Meal 2
Grilled chicken, brown rice, salsa

Meal 3
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

* Workout *

Meal 4
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

Meal 5
Grilled chicken, brown rice, bbq sauce

Meal 6
Cottage cheese, cocoa, almonds

Daily Macros

Calories: 3466
Fat: 68g
Carbs: 375g (Fiber: 49g)
Protein: 330g

I didn't really try to hit the macros today, and I'll share the reason here in an upcoming post. Things have just gotten interesting :cool:

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
8 GAKIC, 1 Aplodan before workout
2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Green MAG after workout
1 Aplodan before bed

My libido was in full effect again today -- it has been oscillating over the last few days. My outlook and confidence took a bit of a hit today as a result of learning what changes will need to be made in my program. However, I bounced pretty quickly, and now I'm really excited again as I'm entering the most agressive phase of my preparations to date. ActivaTe, don't fail me now!!! :D

livinonlava

08-03-2007, 01:25 AM

The mood effects you are noting are VERY similar to the way I think of ActivaTe. As good as it is for the anabolic action, the cognitive aspects are what do it for me.

Honestly, if I could continue this feeling for the next 13 weeks, I think this preparation would be cake (mmmm, how I'd love some cake...) I'm already a little bummed about having to cycle off in a few weeks. :o

yea I know!! I 'hear' your libido is UP :eek:

double :eek: It's like being all dressed up with no place to go... :o

Looks like everything is going great in here, bro. Keep up the awesome work. I totally agree with you on the mood aspect thus far. It is possibly placebo, but I also feel great 90% of the time. I'm still moody, like always, but I lately I have a sense of well-being that I'm not accustomed to. Interesting, to say the least.

Indeed. Now I need to find a cutting agent with similar effects that I can take for longer than four weeks :mad: :D

livinonlava

08-03-2007, 01:39 AM

Well folks, things are about to get turned upside-down...

I just met with the guy will be handling the final details of my training and preparations for November. He is a competitive bodybuilder here in Hawaii who has competed in and won several shows in the last 4 years. As such, I've decided to put my body in his hands, and I will be doing exactly as he tells me for the next 13 weeks. I confess, I have many ideas about nutrition and training, but I have never taken it to the competitive level. His ideas are contrary to some of the ways that I would have proceeded, but I'm willing to take his experience and trust it.

What does that mean for this log? Most significantly, my diet and training schedules will be flipped all around. I don't really see this as a detractor from the logging process. In two weeks, I have experienced a nice mental lift while supplementing with ActivaTe. Going forward, it will be difficult to accurately record relative strength performance because my workout structure is changing pretty extensively. So, I will have to offer more subjective commentary than comparitive figures -- likewise with the endurance tracking.

We will certainly be able to see if the positive cognitive effects continue and if my body composition continues to improve. Please stay tuned :)

Because I don't have all the details of this new program just yet, I can't write anything up just yet. I should be able to update by tomorrow evening.

5Six

08-03-2007, 01:51 AM

That sounds like a great opportunity man! I am interested to see how it is going to pan out.

uhockey

08-03-2007, 04:53 AM

nni

08-03-2007, 06:37 AM

good luck with your prep.

livinonlava

08-03-2007, 12:29 PM

That sounds like a great opportunity man! I am interested to see how it is going to pan out.

Thanks! This is really a very exciting time for me, and I can't wait to see how far I can take this thing.

Not really a fan of switching up midstream in one of our logs as it clearly influences results, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Good luck.

Mike, I completely understand your feelings, and I sincerely apologize. Please check the original tester thread for my proposed effort to make this right with DS.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpost.php?p=66008623&postcount=469

good luck with your prep.

Thanks for the encouragement. This will be a challenging 3 months :)

Big_Tom(tk)

08-03-2007, 02:08 PM

Good Luck!!

uhockey

08-03-2007, 03:54 PM

No apology necessary, sir, as I posted in the tester thread. I understand and didn't mean to imply that I was "mad" or anything.

"We cool."

ncangey0513

08-03-2007, 09:20 PM

"We cool."

I always knew you had a little gangster, street thug, Dr. Dre-type mentality in ya.

BTW, lol, what you proposed is very big of you. I have the utmost respect for you. I also would like to wish you the best with your new diet.

uhockey

08-04-2007, 02:05 AM

I always knew you had a little gangster, street thug, Dr. Dre-type mentality in ya.

BTW, lol, what you proposed is very big of you. I have the utmost respect for you. I also would like to wish you the best with your new diet.

Ask anyone, dan (deserusan) and I rapped Nuthin but a G thang in Columbus at Otani last year. :) He's a much better karaoke singer than I though.

5Six

08-04-2007, 07:49 AM

Ask anyone, dan (deserusan) and I rapped Nuthin but a G thang in Columbus at Otani last year. :) He's a much better karaoke singer than I though.

I want to see a video :D

livinonlava

08-04-2007, 09:57 AM

AM Cardio

40 Minutes Walking

Workout (Chest)

Flat DB Press
110's x 12
110's x 11

Incline DB Press
85's x 12
90's x 11

Flat DB Fly
60's x 12
60's x 12

DB Pullover w/ CG DB press
40 x 15, 20
50 x 12, 15

Notes
This will take some adjusting to... I'm so accustomed to volume, volume, volume... I've never really done such a compact workout. I got a good pump, but just don't feel like I went to the wall at all. Again, I'm committed to doing what this guy tells me and trusting that he knows his business. We'll see in 13 weeks :)

Diet (Low Carb)

* Cardio *

Meal 1
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

Meal 2
Grilled chicken breast, Almonds

Meal 3
Lean beef brisket, salsa

Meal 4
Egg whites, peanut butter

* Workout *

Meal 5
Grilled chicken breast, Asparagus

Meal 6
Turkey breast, EFA's

Meal 7
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites, EFA's

Daily Macros

Calories: 2165
Fat: 59g
Carbs: 84g (Fiber: 17g)
Protein: 312g

Not sure what to make of the new diet plan. 5 low carb days and two refeeds. The low carb days are higher than my previous ones, and the calories get to move up a bit as well. I'm anxious to see how I respond over this next week :)

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before workout
3 Xtend during workout
1 Green MAG after workout
1 Aplodan before bed

Nothing new to report regarding the ActivaTe Xtreme.

livinonlava

08-04-2007, 10:02 AM

I want to see a video :D

x2 :D

livinonlava

08-04-2007, 10:47 AM

5Six

08-04-2007, 10:53 AM

It is good to see that ActivaTe is not only for bulking, but aids in cutting up. Congrats on the progress, Tim.

livinonlava

08-04-2007, 11:34 AM

It is good to see that ActivaTe is not only for bulking, but aids in cutting up. Congrats on the progress, Tim.

For the confidence and other mental aspects alone, it is brilliant for cutting. And, it really seems to be very positively affecting my body composition with the right measurements going down while the others are holding steady.

40-Yard Dash_2

08-04-2007, 03:52 PM

uhockey

08-05-2007, 01:37 AM

I want to see a video :D

It is good to see that ActivaTe is not only for bulking, but aids in cutting up. Congrats on the progress, Tim.

For the confidence and other mental aspects alone, it is brilliant for cutting. And, it really seems to be very positively affecting my body composition with the right measurements going down while the others are holding steady.

Anything enhancing free Test should be both anticatabolic AND beneficial in partitioning, so it is ideal for a recomp/cut.

As for the video....don't got one, but here is a pic attached.

livinonlava

08-05-2007, 03:05 AM

Workout (Back)

Wide Grip Pulldowns
230 x 12
230 x 12

T-Bar Row
135 x 12
145 x 11

Underhand Cable Low Row
190 x 12
200 x 12

Rotary Lat Pulldown
205 x 12
220 x 12

DB Bent Rows
85 x 12/12
90 x 11/11

Hyperextensions (Machine)
245 x 12
265 x 12
270 x 11
270 x 11

Notes
I started the day with a bit of a headache, and I was fearing a little for my time in the gym. However, I got in there hot and hungry, and I think I really pushed it out. I'm actually liking the compact style of training. I can really pour everything into completing the two sets for each movement rather than subconsciously thinking that I need to save something for a 3rd or 4th set. Of course, the true test will be holding on to the muscle over the long run... :)

Diet (Low Carb)

Meal 1
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

Meal 2
Grilled chicken breast, almonds

Meal 3
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

* Workout *

Meal 4
Turkey breast, EFA's

Meal 5
Canned chicken breast

Meal 6
Ground turkey, asparagus

Meal 7
Ground turkey, EFA's

Daily Macros

Calories: 2065
Fat: 60g
Carbs: 69g (Fiber: 14g)
Protein: 309g

It's strange, but this new diet is simultaneously more strict and yet more relaxed. Is that possible? For instance, I get to have my precious OATS twice every day. Granted, it's a very small quantity compared to what I'm used to, but just getting the taste seems to really balance my brain. Hunger hasn't been a problem at all, and cravings have remained minimal. More than ever, I know I can do this!!!

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
8 GAKIC, 1 Aplodan before workout
3 Xtend during workout
2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Green MAG after workout
1 Aplodan before bed

I'll let the results of my measurements this morning speak for my supplement commentary on the day. I'm so jazzed that my bodyfat seems to be dropping rapidly while strength, energy, and muscle mass appear to be remaining.

livinonlava

08-05-2007, 03:09 AM

Can't complain about those results. Congrats man!

Complain? Dude I was so I happy I do the dance of joy...

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s20/ukiedoug/DanceofJoy.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z303/chantalstlouis/prod_802_23741.gif

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t41/gonja44/cat-1.gif

As for the video....don't got one, but here is a pic attached.

That's great! :D Is that Steve with you? How much alcohol was involved in this evening, and who else got to witness this?

uhockey

08-05-2007, 06:12 AM

Complain? Dude I was so I happy I do the dance of joy...

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s20/ukiedoug/DanceofJoy.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z303/chantalstlouis/prod_802_23741.gif

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t41/gonja44/cat-1.gif

That's great! :D Is that Steve with you? How much alcohol was involved in this evening, and who else got to witness this?

That is Dan (deserusan.)

Others in attendance were Steve (Twin Peak), Vanessa (dvsness), Bernie (Bernie), Chuck (njmuscle), Chuck's girlfriend, and Heather (Jinx me).

Great workout. The widegrip pulldowns are especially impressive.

ncangey0513

08-05-2007, 11:20 AM

Glad to see eveyrthing is going to plan thus far. Congrats on the gains/losses, bro! :p

LOL @ the karaoke pic. :D Woulda loved to see that.

livinonlava

08-06-2007, 01:28 AM

Workout (Shoulders & Traps)

Seated Lateral Raises (Machine)
100 x 12
110 x 12

Precor Rear Delt Fly
180 x 12 (+=)
180 x 12 (+=)

Cable Front Raises
70 x 12
75 x 12

Upright Rows (Ground Base High Pull)
90 x 15
110 x 12
130 x 12

Rotary Shoulder Press
175 x 12
175 x 10

Barbell Shrug
365 x 12
365 x 12

Notes
Odd, but with all the carbs I've taken in today, I felt more lethargic than any of the previous depletion days. It could also be a case of the lazy Sunday's as well... :D Also, with the rearranging of my workout schedule, I will be hitting shoulders again on Wednesday, so mentally I didn't feel like I need to kill it. Tomorrow begins the new split, so I better get my head in gear!

Diet (HIGH Carb!!!)

Meal 1
Waffles (ground OATS, egg whites, cottage cheese, cinnamon, cocoa), peanut butter

Meal 2
Low carb wraps, turkey breast, lowfat swiss, lettuce, mustard, apple

Meal 3
Grilled chicken breast, red potatoes, dijon mustard

Meal 4
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

* Workout *

Meal 5
Grilled chicken breast, ground turkey, brown rice, salsa

Meal 6
Ground turkey

Meal 7
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

Daily Macros

Calories: 3309
Fat: 70g
Carbs: 302g (Fiber: 54g)
Protein: 380g

I didn't think it possible, but I believe I failed at carbing up. I just couldn't convince myself to let the carbs run free -- I sure ate a buttload of chicken and ground turkey though :) All the same, I feel filled and ready to attack the new week.

Side note: I discovered that dijon mustard mixed with a bit of stevia makes for a very tasty sauce for grilled chicken -- honey mustard-esque :)

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before workout
1 Green MAG after workout
1 Aplodan before bed

The crazy libido has fallen off some in the last 2 days. This isn't a bad thing as it was beginning to annoy me :D I'm still feeling quite energized and content. Confidence is fairly high.

uhockey

08-06-2007, 07:48 AM

What is the exact recipe (measurements) for those waffles?

5Six

08-06-2007, 08:05 AM

Barbell Shrug
365 x 12
365 x 12

Crazy!

Hopefully the lethargic feeling passes. Also, do you use any spices or seasonings for your chicken breast?

Big_Tom(tk)

08-06-2007, 10:20 AM

What is the exact recipe (measurements) for those waffles?

I asked for it too. Here it is. I noticed he even added a picture.

No problem man. They are super easy (even I can make em, and I'm not what you'd call the cooking type). I may a few different variations based around a basic batter. I've gotten addicted to them as a nice way to get my oats but also the protein from the eggs and cottage cheese -- plus they taste good :)

Basic:

1 cup OATS (I've used steel cut, quaker old fashioned and instant)
6 x-large egg whites
1/2 cup cottage cheese (I use lowfat, but you could use nonfat too)
3 packets splenda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Variations (Added to the above):

1/4 tsp ginger
1 Tbsp Hershey's cocoa

- OR -

1/4 tsp ginger
1/2 apple

- OR -

1 medium banana (very ripe)
1/4 cup walnuts

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Toss the OATS in a blender in grind them at a medium speed until they look like flour. Put this flour into a large bowl and mix in the splenda, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon (or other dry ingredients in the variations).

Separate your egg whites and chuck em in the blender with the cottage cheese (add apple or banana here). Blend until smooth. Pour this mixture into the dry stuff from above. Mix it with a fork, and you're good to cook. This batter works equally well for pancakes or a waffle iron :)

For me, the above recipe makes about 10 eggo-sized waffles. Macros for the basic batter are:

Calories: 492
Fat: 6g
Carbs: 59g (Fiber: 9g)
Protein: 48g (from a nice combination of quality sources)

------------------------------------------------------------------

EDIT: Forgot that I actually took pictures of these once... lol

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r315/livinonlava/DSC00243a.jpg

Sldge

08-06-2007, 10:34 AM

When youve been on reduced carbs for awhile a quick influx of carbs will create the lethargy. Your body would need to have the carbs for a couple days in a row to go back to using more sugar for energy instead of carbs.

Tricking your body out of quasi-ketosis with a green apple then working out, then carbing up would also help.

livinonlava

08-06-2007, 11:29 AM

What is the exact recipe (measurements) for those waffles?

Whew! Tom was quick on the draw. See his quote above :)

Crazy!

Hopefully the lethargic feeling passes. Also, do you use any spices or seasonings for your chicken breast?

I'm quite certain it was temporary and probably more mental. Because I'm resetting my workout schedule, my actual shoulder day will be on Wednesday -- I just couldn't bring myself to do nothing yesterday, so I hit shoulders. I'll be ready for a full-on attack by wed.

Regarding the chicken: I typically use a little lemon pepper or just plain pepper. I'm not opposed to salt at this stage, I've just never really used it much historically.

I asked for it too. Here it is. I noticed he even added a picture.

Good catch man! Don't you love the big pool of PB sitting in the middle of the plate :D Hope you guys give them a try -- they're pretty tasty.

When youve been on reduced carbs for awhile a quick influx of carbs will create the lethargy. Your body would need to have the carbs for a couple days in a row to go back to using more sugar for energy instead of carbs.

Tricking your body out of quasi-ketosis with a green apple then working out, then carbing up would also help.

You know, I didn't really think about it, but I've had some of my best workouts when the pre-workout meal was only an apple. I love my OATS and protein, but I might just switch to the plain apple given your advice. Thanks.

dvsness

08-06-2007, 11:37 AM

Nice progress, Tim. What's this, 'now I know I can do this"??? I've known it all along! ;)

5Six

08-06-2007, 01:43 PM

I'm quite certain it was temporary and probably more mental. Because I'm resetting my workout schedule, my actual shoulder day will be on Wednesday -- I just couldn't bring myself to do nothing yesterday, so I hit shoulders. I'll be ready for a full-on attack by wed.

I am sure it was all psychological also.

Regarding the chicken: I typically use a little lemon pepper or just plain pepper. I'm not opposed to salt at this stage, I've just never really used it much historically.

Check out the seasoning called "Mrs. Dash" it has no sodium and zero calories. It also comes in a variety of flavours. It kept me sane when I was cutting.

livinonlava

08-07-2007, 02:48 AM

Workout (Quads)

Seated Leg Press (Machine)
400 x 15
350 x 25
350 x 26

DB Stationary Lunges
25's x 15/15
30's x 12/12
30's x 12/12

DB Front Squats
50 x 25
50 x 25
50 x 18
50 x 17, 8

Leg Extensions
90 x 25, drop 60 x 15, drop 40 x 12
80 x 20, drop 50 x 15, drop 30 x 12

Cardio (Stepmill)
30 minutes, level 8

Notes
I'm embarrassed at how difficult this workout was. Still no AC. There were at least two occasions when I thought I might actually lose consciousness. I threw up a little in my mouth during the pathetic extensions. I don't know what else to say but that this was one of the toughest workouts in my life. It probably didn't help things that I only did legs last Thursday and had a killer workout then -- I was still pretty sore today, but this was just a rotation of the split. Want to go sleepy now... Wake me up when it's 2008... :)

Diet (Low Carb)

Meal 1
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

Meal 2
Grilled chicken breast, mustard, almonds

Meal 3
Grilled chicken breast, lettuce, oil/vinegar dressing

Meal 4
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

* Workout *

Meal 5
Grilled chicken breast, asparagus, mustard

Meal 6
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

Daily Macros

Calories: 2062
Fat: 54g
Carbs: 77g (Fiber: 17g)
Protein: 306g

Hunger was elevated today, I'm sure because I was coming off a higher carb/calorie day yesterday. Cravings weren't bad, though -- just a slight pang between meals. That one-two punch of high rep legs and stepmill cardio really left me feeling depleted though. "Ripped up" here I come! :D

Side note: My trainer suggested taking vinegar before bed. I did a little google research on the idea, but I was wondering if anyone reading has any opinions on the efficacy of this.

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
8 GAKIC, 2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before workout
3 Xtend during workout
1 Green MAG after workout
1 Aplodan before bed

By the time my cardio was finished, there was no mood-saving supplement that could bring me back to life. I trust that when I wake up my energy will be up with me. I don't know about anyone else, but the acne on my chest is getting to be painful -- I don't ever remember having them this bad when I was a teenager. Small price to pay if that means things are at work, but it's just an unusual side. Still going strong :)

livinonlava

08-07-2007, 02:52 AM

Nice progress, Tim. What's this, 'now I know I can do this"??? I've known it all along! ;)

Eh, I always have my doubts -- it's just my nature... :o But thanks as always for your support, ness. With our shows being so close (in time anyway) it would be cool to get a pic with you, both of us all shredded. Too bad we live on two very different islands :D

Check out the seasoning called "Mrs. Dash" it has no sodium and zero calories. It also comes in a variety of flavours. It kept me sane when I was cutting.

I go through love/hate with Mrs. Dash. Sometimes I think it is the best tasting seasoning, but other times I think it is too heavy on the garlic. Closer to the end when salt matters, I'll probably make the switch to the Mrs. again.

nni

08-07-2007, 05:34 AM

chicks dig pimply chests. its all good.

dvsness

08-07-2007, 07:57 AM

Eh, I always have my doubts -- it's just my nature... :o But thanks as always for your support, ness. With our shows being so close (in time anyway) it would be cool to get a pic with you, both of us all shredded. Too bad we live on two very different islands :D

I go through love/hate with Mrs. Dash. Sometimes I think it is the best tasting seasoning, but other times I think it is too heavy on the garlic. Closer to the end when salt matters, I'll probably make the switch to the Mrs. again.

Closer to the end is sodium loading in your plan?

As far as pics, are you going to the O?

chicks dig pimply chests. its all good.

I prefer pimply backs, personally.

nni

08-07-2007, 08:07 AM

I prefer pimply backs, personally.

you would love me then. looks like a topographical map of the sierra nevada. ;)

5Six

08-07-2007, 08:11 AM

you would love me then. looks like a topographical map of the sierra nevada. ;)

Use of "topographical" pushes that image to new boundaries I dare not dream of.

haha

dvsness

08-07-2007, 08:19 AM

you would love me then. looks like a topographical map of the sierra nevada. ;)

Pfft. That's what you say to all the girls.

Sldge

08-07-2007, 03:04 PM

Weight: 222 lb (+1.2) (-6.0 total)

Chest: 45.0" (-.25) (-.25 total)
Waist: 35.0" (-.75 :eek: ) (-1.0 total)
Bicep: 17.125" (-.125) (-.125 total)
Thigh: 24.75" (=) (+.25 total)
Calf: 16" (=) (-.25 total)
Forearm: 13.25" (=) (= total)

Once again, some curious measurements.

First, rather than drop 1.5lb, I almost gained that. Not a big deal, because I assume it was a water thing in one of the 3 comparitive measures. Still down a solid 6lb in two weeks, and I'm pleased :)

Well, I'm beyond pleased with the waist measurement! Another .75" gone this week and I can't even begin to interpret that (in light of weight gain). That makes 1.0" total lost in 2 weeks! Yippee skippy :D

The calf seems to have leveled off, and I'm happy to have kept the mystery .25" on the thigh. Chest and arms have finally started to come down a touch, but nothing drastic yet :)
In my exp. an inch lost usualy equates to a loss of about 10lbs. Now youve got some measurements going up with a loss of about 6 lbs overall. Sounds like you may have added a lb or two of muscle with the drop in fat. Good job.

You know, I didn't really think about it, but I've had some of my best workouts when the pre-workout meal was only an apple. I love my OATS and protein, but I might just switch to the plain apple given your advice. Thanks.

Hope it helps. How far out are you from the contest again?

livinonlava

08-08-2007, 12:18 AM

Workout (Chest)

Flat Bench Press
225 x 25
205 x 23

Incline DB Press
60's x 20
55's x 20, drop 45's x 10

Precor Pec Deck
120 x 30
140 x 25
160 x 25

Hammer Strength Iso Wide Chest Press
180 x 20
180 x 20, drop 90 x 15

Biangular Incline Press
90 x 15
70 x 20

Notes
The good news is that there was a big crane at the gym, and it looked to be hoisting a giant new air conditioning unit onto the roof. Yippee! With the gym being as hot as it has, I should have lost like 20lb in just this past week alone. Hopefully it will be running by tomorrow as it's another cardio fun-day. As for the workout itself, I thought it was pretty solid. I don't often do rep work above 20, so this was a nice pump-up. I'm really having to push ego out the door as the weights are pretty pathetic. But at this point, ego is just more fat I've got to cut :)

Diet (Low Carb)

Meal 1
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

Meal 2
Grilled chicken breast, Almonds

Meal 3
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

* Workout *

Meal 4
Ground turkey, mustard

Meal 5
Grilled chicken breast, asparagus, mustard

Meal 6
Turkey breast, EFA's

Meal 7
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

Daily Macros

Calories: 2100
Fat: 59g
Carbs: 72g (Fiber: 15g)
Protein: 312g

Wow, yesterday's depletion left me feeling good and hungry today. My legs are soooo sore as well. Still, I wasn't overwhelmed by cravings, and it was fairly easy to maintain the diet. I'm really enjoying the nice little bit of carbs I get to have every day -- as much for psychological reasons as anything. We're coming up on 12 weeks out!!!

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
8 GAKIC, 1 Aplodan before workout
3 Xtend during workout
1 Green MAG after workout
2 Activate Xtreme before meal 5
1 Aplodan before bed

Nothing exciting or new to report with ActivaTe. I am, however, about to take a picture of the nasty mess that has formed in the center of my chest. Any of you teens can recommend a good acne product? I thought I was beyond those days... :o

livinonlava

08-08-2007, 12:29 AM

chicks dig pimply chests. its all good.

Ewww... I used to date a girl that had a weird obsession with popping pimples that would sneak up on a shoulder or something. Bizarre...

Closer to the end is sodium loading in your plan?

Yeah, he says that he wouldn't usually bother, but with a natural it's a trick you have to try.

As far as pics, are you going to the O?

I'm working on that. I'm heading to Panama soon, but I don't have the exact dates. If possible, I'd like to make it out there for that weekend. That'll be just about a month out from showtime, so all 3 of us should be lookin' good :cool:

I prefer pimply backs, personally.

That's just nasty...

you would love me then. looks like a topographical map of the sierra nevada. ;)

Ewww x 2 :D

dvsness

08-08-2007, 04:46 AM

I'm working on that. I'm heading to Panama soon, but I don't have the exact dates. If possible, I'd like to make it out there for that weekend. That'll be just about a month out from showtime, so all 3 of us should be lookin' good :cool:

I will be 4 weeks, you will be 5, Dan will be 7. Am I the only one keeping track of all this? :D

That's just nasty...

LavaGirl says:

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e263/dairygirl87/a-magical-time-in-every-girls-life.jpg

nni

08-08-2007, 05:58 AM

no pimple pics please.

get proactiv, jessica simpson tells me it works wonders! :D

those oxy pads maybe?

5Six

08-08-2007, 06:54 AM

Damn, that is some serious volume and intensity there, Tim.

uhockey

08-08-2007, 11:44 AM

The key to acne management is daily scrubbing with a soft cloth to remove oil/dirt before bed. The H2O company makes a really fantastic soap free cloth that has worked wonders for 4 people I know.

livinonlava

08-08-2007, 06:55 PM

I will be 4 weeks, you will be 5, Dan will be 7. Am I the only one keeping track of all this?

LOL! I'm leaving my prep details entirely in your hands. :D Please make sure I show up on Friday night, November 2nd. If you tell me at least a day ahead, I'll have time to shave and fake tan... :p

LavaGirl says:[QUOTE]

Oh no! The lavagirl bashing is back... :D

[QUOTE=nni;67471113]no pimple pics please.

get proactiv, jessica simpson tells me it works wonders!

those oxy pads maybe?

Yeah, I'll spare you the pics... Do they still make those oxy things? Sheesh I thought I was past all this.

Damn, that is some serious volume and intensity there, Tim.

Thanks man! I'm trying to continue to push hard even with the change in routine and diet. I'm gonna make this thing happen -- over my own dead body :)

The key to acne management is daily scrubbing with a soft cloth to remove oil/dirt before bed. The H2O company makes a really fantastic soap free cloth that has worked wonders for 4 people I know.

Soft cloth eh? Heck, I'll try anything. It's odd that the acne has maintained primarily in the dead center of my chest -- at least 30 individual spots. Shoulders have had 1 or two odd ones, but my face has remained pretty constant. Guess I'll just have to avoid the beach for a few more weeks :o

livinonlava

08-09-2007, 02:07 AM

Workout (Shoulders & Traps)

DB Lateral Raises
15's x 25/25
20's x 25/25
20's x 25/25

Precor Rear Delt Fly
120 x 25
120 x 18, drop 100 x 7

Cable Front Raises
40 x 25
45 x 25

DB Upright Rows
20's x 25
25's x 25
25's x 15, drop 20's x 10, drop 15's x 10

Seated DB OH Press
40's x 25
40's x 20
40's x 15, drop 30's x 10

DB Shrug
120's x 12, drop 100's x 12, drop 90's x 12
120's x 12, drop 100's x 12, drop 90's x 12
120's x 12, drop 100's x 12, drop 90's x 12

Cuff Work (Cable External Rotation)
25 x 25/25
20 x 20/20
20 x 20/20

Cardio (Stepmill)
10 minutes level 8, 20 minutes level 9

Notes
Hooray for the AC being fixed!!! I still managed to soak through another shirt... Have I mentioned I'm a sweaty SOB? :D Shoulders got a wicked pump today. The high reps really inspired some pain, but it sure blew up my shoulders. I felt good energy throughout the session, but my strength was lower. Of course, this is a completely different kind of workout than I normally do, so it's a little tough to guage where I should be with it. At this point, however, being strong is nowhere in my sights. Right now is about getting lean and holding onto some heavily striated muscle. Onward!!!

Diet (Low Carb)

Meal 1
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

Meal 2
Grilled chicken breast, mustard, almonds, EFA's

Meal 3
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

* Workout *

Meal 4
Ground turkey, egg whites

Meal 5]
Grilled chicken breast, mustard, asparagus

[b]Meal 6
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

Daily Macros

Calories: 2121
Fat: 54g
Carbs: 74g (Fiber: 15g)
Protein: 321g

Nothing special to say about food today. I've fallen into a nice little rhythm, and I'm comfortable with the foods I'm eating. Hunger has been well controlled. I'm definitely looking forward to taking in some carbs tomorrow. I might even bake myself a little bread :)

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
1 Aplodan, 2 AMP before workout
1 Green MAG after workout
2 Activate Xtreme before meal 5
1 Aplodan before bed

I continue to be really impressed with the mental calm I've been experiencing this far in the diet. But, now almost 3 weeks into the process, I'm really liking the body composition effects. I can pretty comfortably say that I'm losing inches around the middle while having actual weight loss remain moderate. As Matt suggested, I might even be putting on a little finishing muscle in the early stages of this cut. Not bad at all... :cool:

dvsness

08-09-2007, 04:38 AM

Holy high reps, Batman! :eek:

40-Yard Dash_2

08-09-2007, 10:51 AM

Holy high reps, Batman! :eek:

Yeah, the drop set shrugs are in!

Big_Tom(tk)

08-09-2007, 11:16 AM

Yeah, the drop set shrugs are in!

I just started doin them. I think I love them.. :D

Great WO too!! Glad to hear you are liking the new set up..

dvsness

08-09-2007, 12:49 PM

Yeah, the drop set shrugs are in!

I miss shrugs. :(

uhockey

08-09-2007, 04:08 PM

My AC is fixed too! Great workout.

ncangey0513

08-09-2007, 10:34 PM

My AC is fixed too! Great workout.

My gym doesn't turn on the AC! :mad: Cheap bastards!!

Solid workout all around, bro. Lovin' the high reps, especially the drop set shrugs. Ever since Des recommended them to me I can't get enough of 'em. Possibly my favorite exercise now-a-days.

livinonlava

08-10-2007, 01:42 AM

Workout (Bi's & Tri's, Abs)

Standing Wide Grip Curl (EZ Bar)
75 x 25
75 x 25

Seated Alternating DB Hammer Curls
25's x 25/25
30's x 25/25
30's x 25/25

Crossover Station High Curls?
25 (each side) x 30
30 (each side) x 25
35 (each side) x 20

Preacher Curl (close grip)
70 x 25
70 x 25

Straight Bar Cable Pressdown
70 x 25
80 x 25
80 x 25

Tricep Extension Machine (Neutral Grip)
90 x 30
100 x 25
110 x 25

Skull Crushers (Flat Bench, EZ Bar)
75 x 25
75 x 25

Dips
BW x 25
BW x 22 (pause) 3

Cable Crunches
110 x 15
130 x 10
130 x 10
130 x 10

Hip Raises (with dumbell)
25 x 20
25 x 20
30 x 20
30 x 20

Notes
This might have been the greatest arm workout of my life -- and I'm not even sure why I feel that way. The high reps were tiring, but the pump and burn were extraordinary. I had a ton of energy, and I felt like I was going to shoot through the roof -- I was actually unconsciously rocking as I waited to catch my breath for the next set (I became conscious of it when one of my friends asked if I was ok -- said I looked like Rainman). Attribute it to the extra carbs. Say it was because of ActivaTe. Heck, call it the effect of the moon's gravity. This was just an awesome workout, and I don't care how it happened. :)

Diet (High Carb)

Meal 1
Waffles (ground OATS, cottage cheese, egg whites, cinnamon, ginger), peanut butter

Meal 2
Grilled chicken, brown rice, corn, black beans, green/red peppers, salsa

Pre-workout
Apple - Thanks Matt :)

* Workout *

Meal 3
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

Meal 4
Ground turkey, mustard, red potatoes

Meal 5
Wraps, Ground turkey, lowfat swiss cheese, raspberry jam

Meal 6
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites, EFA's

Daily Macros

Calories: 3400
Fat: 69g
Carbs: 378g (Fiber: 70g)
Protein: 327g

Well, I made an effort to honor this high carb day. I went ahead and took Matt's suggestion to save the big carbs for after the workout. I only had an apple pre-workout, so I was a bit hungry going in. However, if you read above, you saw that I had a fantastic workout. A little psychological trickery? Perhaps, but I'll take a placebo effect anyday if it allows such an intense training session.

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
8 GAKIC, 1 Aplodan before workout
1 Green MAG after workout
2 Activate Xtreme before meal 4
1 Aplodan before bed

Things continue to be going well. I really never would have expected to be having such an easy time with this cut so far. My mood has been excellent. My energy has been fairly high with the exception of the leg/stepmill day. I continue to lose fat, but my weight isn't dropping drastically. Can't wait for the bloody acne to go away though... :(

deserusan

08-10-2007, 01:53 AM

I've had a few pimples here and there too. Hey, at least we know it's working. :p

livinonlava

08-10-2007, 01:58 AM

Holy high reps, Batman! :eek:

Yeah, I'm making this a serious depletion week. Next week should return to a more familiar range -- unless I'm told to do otherwise ;)

Yeah, the drop set shrugs are in!

Puh-lease... I've been doing the dropset/superset routine for years -- I think I may have invented them :D

I just started doin them. I think I love them..

Great WO too!! Glad to hear you are liking the new set up..

Thanks man! It's always a good idea to mix up your workout style and exercises. Keep the body guessing, and you just might get it growing. I'd recommend alternating between the dropset approach and some nice heavy bb shrugs from week to week.

My AC is fixed too! Great workout.

Woot Woot for breathable air!

My gym doesn't turn on the AC! :mad: Cheap bastards!!

Solid workout all around, bro. Lovin' the high reps, especially the drop set shrugs. Ever since Des recommended them to me I can't get enough of 'em. Possibly my favorite exercise now-a-days.

Meh, I don't get too excited about them. I just like to mix up the bb shrugs, and since I needed to go for higher reps this seemed like a fun way to get them. I do have some nice shoulder DOMS to show for my efforts though :o

livinonlava

08-10-2007, 02:01 AM

I've had a few pimples here and there too. Hey, at least we know it's working. :p

Well, we know it's doing something. I'm not sure if that is part of the hoped-for effects :D It's really strange that it seems to be contained in my chest area. My face hasn't been affected much nor has my back. I've had one or two random spots on my shoulders, but for the most part it's dead center in my "cleavage" :o

deserusan

08-10-2007, 02:06 AM

Well, we know it's doing something. I'm not sure if that is part of the hoped-for effects :D It's really strange that it seems to be contained in my chest area. My face hasn't been affected much nor has my back. I've had one or two random spots on my shoulders, but for the most part it's dead center in my "cleavage" :o

Maybe you should try aiming "it" somewhere besides your chest? :D

livinonlava

08-10-2007, 02:12 AM

Maybe you should try aiming "it" somewhere besides your chest? :D

Naw, it's good for you :D

Question

I've heard somewhere that semen is good for a woman's complexion. Is this just an old wives tale, or is there some truth behind it?

Answer

It seems that it just may be good for skin and complexion. In addition
to the resource Pink mentioned in the comments, I have came across
another which says that semen contains protien, which tightens the
skin helping with wrinkles. Also, "contains an abundance of natural
lipids and essential amino acids and prostaglandins, natural
substances which aid in skin repair and increase blood flow bringing
in more nutrients to the to the skin."

:D

(no homo)

5Six

08-10-2007, 09:44 AM

BRB. Getting my GF to read that! :D

Big_Tom(tk)

08-10-2007, 12:49 PM

Crazy WO! My arms hurt from reading that! :D

uhockey

08-10-2007, 05:43 PM

Crazy WO! My arms hurt from reading that! :D

Agreed........I'll ignore the other commentary. :)

livinonlava

08-11-2007, 01:37 AM

EDIT: Bumped to next page :)

livinonlava

08-11-2007, 01:40 AM

Crazy WO! My arms hurt from reading that! :D

Highly recommend giving it a try just for a shock one week. I rarely get DOMS in my arms anymore, but I am wicked sore tonight!

Agreed........I'll ignore the other commentary. :)

Des started it... :p

livinonlava

08-11-2007, 01:42 AM

Workout (Back)

Wide Grip Pulldowns
150 x 25
150 x 25

Underhand Cable Low Row
120 x 30
130 x 25
140 x 25

T-Bar Row
90 x 20
90 x 25

Straight Arm Pulldown
50 x 30
60 x 25

Rotary Lat Pulldown
130 x 25
130 x 25
145 x 20

Back Extensions (Machine)
170 x 30
190 x 25
190 x 20
190 x 20

Cardio (Stepmill)
10 minutes level 8, 20 minutes level 9

Notes
My trainer didn't show today -- that kind of left me in a funky mood. I decided that I was going to punish the gym for it... :D The weights aren't impressive again, but I got such a rediculous pump in my lats. Though they don't really seem to fatigue, my lats start to burning like heck after 12-14 reps at any weight. I had great determination to ignore that pain today. In a couple cases, I pushed the weights a little higher with each set, determined to go until fatigue knocked me out. There were some pretty intense moments right off the bat. The low rows were awesome. I couldn't believe I still had the spit and vinegar for cardio after all that. This was a great day in the gym -- too bad my trainer couldn't be a part ;)

Diet (Low Carb)

Meal 1
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

Meal 2
Grilled chicken breast, almonds

Meal 3
Ground turkey, asparagus, EFA's

Meal 4
Grilled chicken breast, mustard

Meal 5
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

* Workout *

Meal 6
Ground turkey, Mustard

Meal 7
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites, EFA's

Daily Macros

Calories: 2114
Fat: 60g
Carbs: 73g (Fiber: 15g)
Protein: 312g

Only slight hunger issues today, likely because I just came off the feasting yesterday. All in all, it was a day on plan, and I'm satisfied :) Keep this up for 12 more weeks, and I'll be a lean, mean dieting machine!

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
2 AMP, 2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before workout
3 Xtend during workout
1 Green MAG after workout
1 Aplodan before bed

I didn't want to comment earlier, but after about a week of changing my supplement schedule, I think I've noticed something. For the first two weeks, I was taking a serving of ActivaTe (2 caps) on waking and then another server (2 caps) about 5-6 hours later before my workout. During this time, the libido affects were most prominent. I have in the past week moved my second server till later in the afternoon -- about 10-12 hours after the first serving. Now, the acne and general mood enhancment has continued, though the extreme confidence and positivity has eased with the libido. What I conclude from this is that at my weight (roughly 220-225) I should probably dose ActivaTe at 3 servings (6 caps) per day, separated by about 5-6 hours for maximal effect. Of course, this was the instruction by Matt early on, but I wanted to let the log run for 30 full days (not possible on one bottle at that dosage). So, the point is that for those interested in trying this that are a bit on the heavier side, I'd recommend the second bottle to run a full cycle at 6 caps per day. Just my observations... :)

uhockey

08-11-2007, 02:18 AM

The 6 cap dose definitely seems to be doing it for the bigger guys. I'm pretty small and the 4 cap dose is plenty. I know its not the divanil that is weight based, but the others very well may be.

Those high reps are crazy. :)

livinonlava

08-11-2007, 01:22 PM

Weight: 220.0 lb (-2.0) (-8.0 total)

Chest: 45.25" (+.25) (= total)
Waist: 34.5" (-.5 :eek: :eek: ) (-1.5 total)
Bicep: 17.125" (=) (-.125 total)
Thigh: 24.75" (+.25) (+.5 total :eek: )
Calf: 16" (=) (-.25 total)
Forearm: 13.25" (=) (= total)

OK, I think it's possible I suck at measurements, but I took these several times to be sure.

The overall weight loss appears to be back on track with a good 2lb's gone this week. Accounting for initial water loss, 8lb in 3 weeks is solid if not a little rapid.

The real kicker is that I somehow managed to add .25" back to my chest (probably a measurement error last week) and ANOTHER .25" to my thigh (still puzzled by this) -- all while losing .5" from my waist???

I'm gonna have to label this another very successful week!

uhockey

08-12-2007, 04:10 AM

I hope you are measureing well, for you sake. GREAT results.

gountilfailure0

08-12-2007, 04:14 AM

nice just got my activate extreme ordered yesterday so ur goal is to maintain and loss fat i assume?

livinonlava

08-13-2007, 01:27 AM

Sorry this entry is a bit late...

Workout (Hamstrings/Calves/Abs)

DB SLDL
65's x 12
85's x 10
85's x 10

DB Prone Leg Curls
30 x 12
30 x 12
35 x 10

Hack Squat (High, narrow foot placement)
180 x 15
180 x 15

Standing Single Leg Curls
50 x 12/12
50 x 12/12
50 x 10/10

Seated Calf Raise ss/w Platform Calf Raise ss/w Floor Calf Raise
135 x 15, BW x 15, BW x 15
145 x 15, BW x 15, BW x 15
145 x 15, BW x 15, BW x 15
145 x 15, BW x 15, BW x 15

Cable Crunch Twist
90 x 35
100 x 30
100 x 30

Hanging Knee Lift
BW x 20
BW x 15
BW x 20

Notes
Never really isolated my hamstrings in a workout before -- maybe that explains why they are my weakest muscle group. :rolleyes: I really don't have an accurate way to measure performance on these things yet, so we'll see what happens in the weeks to come. I am pretty darn sore now...

Diet (Low Carb)

Meal 1
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

Meal 2
Grilled chicken breast, almonds

Meal 3
Ground turkey, mustard

Meal 4
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

* Workout *

Meal 5
Grilled chicken breast, mustard, asparagus

Meal 6
Dymatize ISO-100 whey, peanut butter

Daily Macros

Calories: 2143
Fat: 61g
Carbs: 73g (Fiber: 16g)
Protein: 313g

Not my favorite day... :(

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before workout
3 Xtend during workout
1 Green MAG after workout
1 Aplodan before bed

Nothing significant to add. Refer to this week's measurement updates for results :)

livinonlava

08-13-2007, 01:30 AM

I hope you are measureing well, for you sake. GREAT results.

Thanks! I couldn't be more pleased so far. I really feel like I'm maintaining (even gaining???) more lean mass than during my last cut. One more week to take this for all it's worth.

nice just got my activate extreme ordered yesterday so ur goal is to maintain and loss fat i assume?

Yes sir. I'm cutting for my first comp later this year. I'm hoping to strip as much fat and retain as much muscle as possible. Good luck with the ActivaTe -- I think you'll be most pleased as long as you have your nutrition and training program in order. :)

livinonlava

08-13-2007, 01:35 AM

OK. This is creepy... I just got finished watching the movie "the Number 23." And, as I'm typing this entry, I realize that this is the 23rd day of my log... If you've seen the movie, you're grimmacing now :D

Anyway, I'm happy to report that today was a day of complete rest. I did no cardio. I did no training. I did eat alot of carbs. All this was planned because I have been going hard for the last 12 days. Tomorrow I will be well rested, well fed, and well just plain ready to continue the assault on my fat!!!

This is the final week of ActivaTe, so I'm looking for maximal efforts across the board.

40-Yard Dash_2

08-13-2007, 02:23 AM

Big_Tom(tk)

08-13-2007, 10:01 AM

Sldge

08-13-2007, 10:45 AM

uhockey

08-13-2007, 04:18 PM

Rest and food are always a good thing. :D

Im on my last week as well. I am going to do another 4 though so I can see the max effect from AcT-X. Good luck! I look forward to your end results.
Nice! on the measurements btw!

Awesome

Its crazy to think what you would have done had you ran this at 6 caps per day for the 3 weeks. Great measurements by the way.

And no kidding.

livinonlava

08-13-2007, 06:56 PM

lol. I've yet to watch, as it's just sitting on my DVD shelf, but I can imagine.

It was a pretty good flick. Kind of a different role for Jim Carrey, but he did well. Virginia Madsen is the hottest older woman...

Im on my last week as well. I am going to do another 4 though so I can see the max effect from AcT-X. Good luck! I look forward to your end results.
Nice! on the measurements btw!

I really need to stop by your log to see what kind of progress you've been making. I've been so caught up with life-support crap... :(

Its crazy to think what you would have done had you ran this at 6 caps per day for the 3 weeks. Great measurements by the way.

And no kidding.

Well, I've been quite pleased with the AX so far, and my current plan is to cycle off till I return from Panama (heading there in two weeks). That should give me 4 off, and then I think I'll try two bottles so I can run a full 6 caps per day right up until about 2 weeks out from the show. I'm in love with the mental edge... :)

dvsness

08-13-2007, 07:59 PM

livinonlava

08-14-2007, 12:12 AM

Workout (Quads/Cardio)

Hack Squat
270 x 15
360 x 12
360 x 12

Single Leg Press
200 x 12/12
300 x 12/12
300 x 12/12

DB Stationary Lunges
25's x 15/15
35's x 12/12

BB Squats
225 x 15
275 x 10

Leg Extensions
90 x 20, drop 70 x 15, drop 50 x 10
90 x 15, drop 70 x 10, drop 50 x 10
90 x 15, drop 70 x 10, drop 50 x 10

Cardio (Incline Treadmill)
30 minutes, incline 18, speed 3.8

Notes
Well, maybe I'm officially a weightlifter... :o I just did bb squats today for the first time in my training career. I've always avoided these because they tend to bother my lower back, and I'm fearful of injury. I believe you can get a solid quad stimulation from leg press and hack squats anyway, but I'm officially in "I'll do what you tell me" mode. The weights were pretty pathetic , but this was a nice little combination of different exercises that gave me a good pump. I don't really feel as if I went to the wall, but that may just be because the movements are different, and my body and mind haven't come together on how they should feel. I may hit legs again later in the week if I'm not feeling some pain within a day or two.

Diet (Low Carb)

Meal 1
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

Meal 2
Grilled chicken breast, mustard, almonds, EFA's

Meal 3
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

* Workout *

Meal 4
Grilled chicken breast

Meal 5
Grilled chicken breast, asparagus, mustard, EFA's

Meal 6
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites, EFA's

Daily Macros

Calories: 2046
Fat: 49g
Carbs: 74g (Fiber: 15g)
Protein: 314g

I felt way too energized today, so I'm guessing I was still riding the wave of carbs yesterday (I did break 400g for the first time in awhile). Hunger wasn't bad at all until evening -- now my belly is aching a little. Everything is just bouncing along very well. :)

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
2 AMP, 1 Aplodan before workout
3 Xtend during workout
2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Green MAG after workout
1 Aplodan before bed

Eh? The wild acne is starting to subside a little. Of course, I've been washing it feverishly because it has annoyed me so much. Other than that, my libido has been especially amped in the last day or two. I'm guessing that is fluctuating a bit with my diet now. Only a few more days left of ActivaTe... :(

livinonlava

08-14-2007, 12:14 AM

You are always going to interesting places. I want to be you when I grow up.

I do get quite a bit of travel with my job, no doubt. Timing is often annoying as I'd rather not have my preparation interrupted, but I'm not worried this time around. I just got back from Ecuador about a month or two ago, and south american food doesn't seem to trip me up as badly as German food does... :)

uhockey

08-14-2007, 01:44 AM

Well, I've been quite pleased with the AX so far, and my current plan is to cycle off till I return from Panama (heading there in two weeks). That should give me 4 off, and then I think I'll try two bottles so I can run a full 6 caps per day right up until about 2 weeks out from the show. I'm in love with the mental edge... :)

If you log it, I'll definitely follow.

Workout (Quads/Cardio)

Hack Squat
270 x 15
360 x 12
360 x 12

Single Leg Press
200 x 12/12
300 x 12/12
300 x 12/12

DB Stationary Lunges
25's x 15/15
35's x 12/12

BB Squats
225 x 15
275 x 10

Leg Extensions
90 x 20, drop 70 x 15, drop 50 x 10
90 x 15, drop 70 x 10, drop 50 x 10
90 x 15, drop 70 x 10, drop 50 x 10

Cardio (Incline Treadmill)
30 minutes, incline 18, speed 3.8

Notes
Well, maybe I'm officially a weightlifter... :o I just did bb squats today for the first time in my training career. I've always avoided these because they tend to bother my lower back, and I'm fearful of injury. I believe you can get a solid quad stimulation from leg press and hack squats anyway, but I'm officially in "I'll do what you tell me" mode. The weights were pretty pathetic , but this was a nice little combination of different exercises that gave me a good pump. I don't really feel as if I went to the wall, but that may just be because the movements are different, and my body and mind haven't come together on how they should feel. I may hit legs again later in the week if I'm not feeling some pain within a day or two.

Diet (Low Carb)

Meal 1
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

Meal 2
Grilled chicken breast, mustard, almonds, EFA's

Meal 3
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

* Workout *

Meal 4
Grilled chicken breast

Meal 5
Grilled chicken breast, asparagus, mustard, EFA's

Meal 6
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites, EFA's

Daily Macros

Calories: 2046
Fat: 49g
Carbs: 74g (Fiber: 15g)
Protein: 314g

I felt way too energized today, so I'm guessing I was still riding the wave of carbs yesterday (I did break 400g for the first time in awhile). Hunger wasn't bad at all until evening -- now my belly is aching a little. Everything is just bouncing along very well. :)

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
2 AMP, 1 Aplodan before workout
3 Xtend during workout
2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Green MAG after workout
1 Aplodan before bed

Eh? The wild acne is starting to subside a little. Of course, I've been washing it feverishly because it has annoyed me so much. Other than that, my libido has been especially amped in the last day or two. I'm guessing that is fluctuating a bit with my diet now. Only a few more days left of ActivaTe... :(

Shocked at the lack of bb squats in the past, really. If you stick with them, your numbers should FLY up there once you're back to gaining....I probably wouldn't expect huge strength gains while prepping for contest though. :)

I agree with fears about the back though.....its one of the few injuries where a small miscalculation could really set ya back bigtime.

livinonlava

08-15-2007, 12:34 AM

Workout (Chest/Abs)

Flat DB Press
130's x 10
140's x 8
145's x 5

Precor Pec Deck
330 x 6
330 x 7

Incline DB Press
100's x 10
110's x 6

Hammer Strength Chest Press
270 x 7
270 x 6

DB Pullover
60 x 15
70 x 12
85 x 10

Seated Crunch Machine
120 x 30
120 x 20
120 x 20

DB Weighted Leg Raises
5 x 15
5 x 15
5 x 20

Notes
Looking back over the workout, it just doesn't appear as intense as it felt. I really wanted to give some heavy weight a go because I've been on this high-rep scheme for several weeks. Well, this was the strongest I have ever felt during a workout. Every rep felt laser-honed in on my pecs. The 130's for 10 reps was a personal best as was the 140's for 8 (I did get a touch of help on the last rep). I would never have expected to feel this energized and powerful at almost 4 weeks into serious dieting. My joints felt fantastic, and my chest feels like it either already exploded or it soon will. This was the kind of workout where I don't want to wash my towel so that I can have a souvenir... :o OK, that last bit was going a little too far. :D It was awesome though!

Diet (Low Carb)

Meal 1
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

Meal 2
Grilled chicken breast, Almonds

Meal 3
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

* Workout *

Meal 4
Grilled chicken breast, lettuce, oil/vinegar dressing

Meal 5
Grilled chicken breast, mustard, EFA's

Meal 6
Cottage cheese, Labrada Pro v60, EFA's

Daily Macros

Calories: 2209
Fat: 61g
Carbs: 75g (Fiber: 15g)
Protein: 323g

My diet has been a little loose lately. I originally was targetting 2000 kcals for my 5 low carb days. However, I'm pretty sure that fitday has some bogus info on the chicken nutrition. It tries to tell me there are 7 grams of fat in a large skinless chicken breast. I'm just not buying that, so I tend to think the totals are off by a few hundred kcals with the amount of chicken I eat in a given day (6 breasts today). I'll see what mr. scale and mrs. tapemeasure have to say this weekend, and I'll adjust accordingly.

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
8 GAKIC, 1 Aplodan before workout
3 Xtend during workout
1 Green MAG after workout
2 Activate Xtreme before meal 5
1 Aplodan before bed

Wno knows what stars and planets aligned to once again give me such a fantastic workout today. I can say that I have had several really intense training sessions in the past month, and I have to credit many of them to the stronger state of mind I have maintained while supplementing with ActivaTe. It's really hard for me to guage the physical responses to the supplement because other than acne, I haven't experienced any strong physical effects. My strength hasn't exploded like a nooby lifter. My endurance hasn't suddenly enabled any marathon training sessions. But, I really feel I've had an edge for the last several weeks, and I do attribute that to ActivaTe. Only a few more days left... :(

livinonlava

08-15-2007, 12:40 AM

If you log it, I'll definitely follow.

I'll probably just include it in my current journal which I've been keeping to record my progress toward the competition. You're welcome to come by there if you don't mind some more off-topic ramblings from time to time.

Shocked at the lack of bb squats in the past, really. If you stick with them, your numbers should FLY up there once you're back to gaining....I probably wouldn't expect huge strength gains while prepping for contest though. :)

I agree with fears about the back though.....its one of the few injuries where a small miscalculation could really set ya back bigtime.

Pun intended... :D

Yes, I'm sure I could improve the numbers given time and familiarity. However, at my age, I'm a lot more concerned with preventing injury, especially in the big 3: shoulders, knees, and back. I'll probably never try to go really heavy with squats, but I may try some variations that I've seen people use with lighter weights and higher rep schemes (pulse squats from Des come to mind).

uhockey

08-15-2007, 06:57 AM

Off topic rambling is what I DO!

livinonlava

08-16-2007, 10:44 AM

Workout (Shoulders/Traps/Cardio)

Cable Lateral Raises
45 x 12/12
50 x 10/10
50 x 10/10

Precor Rear Delt Fly
200 x 10
220 x 8
220 x 8

DB Underhand Front Raises
40's x 10
40's x 10

Bent Fly's
15 x 12
15 x 12

DB OH Press
70's x 10
75's x 8

Hammer Strength Shrugs (3 front/3 rear)
450 x 12
450 x 10
450 x 10
-
450 x 8
450 x 8
450 x 8

Cardio (Stepmill)
10 minutes level 8, 20 minutes level 9

Notes
Meh, just an average workout. I got a pretty tight feeling in my shoulders early, but it wasn't as impressive as yesterday. I think I should just keep the reps super high with delts because I think I have plenty of size in my shoulders already. Legs were pretty sore, so the stepmill was a special treat :o

Diet (Low Carb)

Meal 1
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

Meal 2
Grilled chicken breast, almonds

Meal 3
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

* Workout *

Meal 4
Grilled chicken breast, hot sauce

Meal 5
ground turkey, asparagus

Meal 6
Ground turkey

Meal 7
Cottage cheese, Labrada Pro V60, EFA's

Daily Macros

Calories: 2153
Fat: 61g
Carbs: 76g (Fiber: 15g)
Protein: 317g

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
1 Aplodan before workout
1 Green MAG after workout
2 Activate Xtreme before meal 5
1 Aplodan before bed

Today was one of the lower days of the past 4 weeks. My energy levels were good and hunger was fairly constrained, but my confidence and focus were down. I've got some challenging decisions ahead about my career, my business, and continuing in my master's program. I think alot of it came together and stole a little of my thunder. After 4 straight weeks of rigorous dieting and training, a lower day was bound to happen. Not to worry, I'll be back :)

dvsness

08-16-2007, 10:55 AM

I think I should just keep the reps super high with delts because I think I have plenty of size in my shoulders already.

Careful with that. It is not THAT hard to lose muscle as a natty in caloric defecit.

After 4 straight weeks of rigorous dieting and training, a lower day was bound to happen. Not to worry, I'll be back :)

LG? Is that you? Where's my whiner?

livinonlava

08-16-2007, 11:05 AM

Careful with that. It is not THAT hard to lose muscle as a natty in caloric defecit.

I know what you're saying, but I tend to cheat if I try to go too heavy with shoulders. It's so easy to try to use momentum for raises or incorporate the chest for presses. At lighter weights and higher reps, I feel I can isolate better, and I believe my shoulders need isolation to balance them and improve symmetry. Still, I hear you, and I won't go crazy with it. I'll probably just avoid weights that give me less than 10 reps.

LG? Is that you? Where's my whiner?

I made the switch from whiner to wiener. :D

I'm telling you ness, I feel good about this one. I'm gonna do it better all around! :)

Big_Tom(tk)

08-16-2007, 11:12 AM

Your "ok" workout days still beat my Great ones any day. LoL

I had a question about the DB front raises. Do you like them better then the normal way, so to speak? Does it target a different area?

thanks.

uhockey

08-16-2007, 02:35 PM

ncangey0513

08-16-2007, 05:10 PM

Congrats on the gains/losses. How are you liking the new training style as opposed to your old?

livinonlava

08-17-2007, 02:02 AM

Workout (Bi's & Tri's/Abs)

Seated Alternating DB Curls
55's x 12/12
55's x 12/12
60's x 10/10

Standing Wide Grip Curl (EZ Bar)
115 x 12
115 x 12

Seated Alternating DB Hammer Curls
50's x 12/12
50's x 12/12

Preacher Curl (close grip)
120 x 10, drop 80 x 10, drop 60 x 10
120 x 8, drop 80 x 10, drop 60 x 10
120 x 8, drop 80 x 8

Straight Bar Cable Pressdown
150 x 12
150 x 12
160 x 8

Tricep Extension Machine (Neutral Grip)
160 x 12
170 x 10

CG BP (EZ Bar)
115 x 20
165 x 12
185 x 11

Reverse Grip Pressdown
120 x 12
120 x 12, drop 90 x 8, drop 70 x 10
120 x 10, drop 90 x 10, drop 70 x 10

Cable Crunches
120 x 15
130 x 10
130 x 10

Hip Raises (with dumbell)
30 x 20
30 x 20
30 x 20

Notes
Whew... I'm pooped. The arm work felt fairly strong, but it wasn't quite as muscle-focused as last week. I let the pace fall off some too, so I was in the gym far too long. Also, I'm not sold on 3 days of abs per week as my trainer instructed. The last two weeks have seen my ab strength and endurance fall somewhat, and I don't think I'm getting enough recovery time. I may return to just doing abs on Tuesday/Saturday. We'll see :)

Diet (High Carb)

Meal 1
Waffles (ground OATS, cottage cheese, egg whites, cinnamon, cocoa), peanut butter

Meal 2
Ground turkey, low carb wrap, red potatoes, mustard

Pre-workout
Apple

* Workout *

Meal 3
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

Meal 4
Grilled chicken breast, brown rice, bbq sauce

Meal 5
VPX Zero Impact bar

Meal 6
Ground turkey, mustard

Meal 7
Cottage cheese, Labrada Pro V60

Daily Macros

Calories: 3552
Fat: 86g
Carbs: 379g (Fiber: 54g)
Protein: 327g

OK, I ate too much today. My downfall was that stupid VPX Zero Impact bar. I just wanted to try it, but the bloody thing tossed my macro's all to heck -- high fat they are... Honestly, though, I don't care. I think my body needed what it took in, so I'm back on the horse tomorrow.

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
8 GAKIC, 1 Aplodan before workout
1 Green MAG after workout
2 Activate Xtreme before meal 4
1 Aplodan before bed

The carb up days are turning into the most sluggish of all. I'm loving learning even more about how differently I respond to dieting and training. This past year has been among the most rewarding in my long history of training. Nothing special to report on the supplement front.

uhockey

08-17-2007, 02:05 AM

I'm exactly the same way when carb cycling, high carb always makes me feel kinda "blah."

Great workout, and if a ZI bar is a "cheat" for you, then your diet is amongst the best anyhow. :)

livinonlava

08-17-2007, 02:06 AM

I had a question about the DB front raises. Do you like them better then the normal way, so to speak? Does it target a different area?

Hope my answers in your journal were helpful :)

Mental clarity is big in the gym. Workout aside, pay attention to life......it is way more important.

I would normally agree, but for the next 11 weeks the gym is life :) We'll see if I feel the same way in November when I'm homeless, jobless, and penniless...

Congrats on the gains/losses. How are you liking the new training style as opposed to your old?

The biggest difference is that I feel stronger in the later movements of the workout -- this should be common sense. When only doing 2-3 working sets instead of 4-5, I have that much intensity left over to hit the following exercises. It's had the most impact on my leg, chest, and back training. It's also really been doing wonders with my joints. I have less pain now than I have in the last 3 years! I feel like a training machine :D

Robboe

08-18-2007, 08:39 AM

If you will, please fill in this form upon completion of your log. This can be in addition to any normal summary you may do at the end of a log. A standard example is featured in italic. Remove these and fill in your own words. Thank you.

Trial length (weeks): 4 weeks

Beginning body weight: 205lbs
Beginning body fat % (approx): 10%

End body weight: 210lbs
End body fat % (approx): 10%

Weight difference: +5lbs
Body fat % difference: No change

Give a basic description of your training and dietary approach:

Body parts training once per week, high intensity, moderate volume. Diet is high protein, moderate fat and moderate carbohydrates. Calories were 3575kcals per day - approximately 500kcals above maintenance. Six meals spaced out per day.

Please note any effects the product had on:

Strength

Strength progress on every exercise was significant, with several PRs set during the course of the trial.

Rating (1-10): 9

Energy

Energy was much improved throughout, as was endurance and stamina for cardiovascular work.

Rating (1-10): 9

Mood

Most days I was in a very positive mood.

Rating (1-10): 7

Sex drive

Sex drive was increased by the second week, and maintained for the remainder of the trial.

Rating (1-10): 8

Erection strength

Erection strength seemed better for the majority of the trial.

Rating (1-10): 7

Add anything miscellaneous here

Recovery between workouts was significantly reduced, and I had high anticipation for the next days workout for the entire trial.

Overall product rating (1-10): 9

livinonlava

08-18-2007, 11:03 AM

Workout (Back/Cardio)

Wide Grip Pulldowns
200 x 12
220 x 12

Underhand Cable Low Row (full stretch)
180 x 15
200 x 12
220 x 10

DB Bent Row
90's x 12/12
95's x 12/12
100's x 10/10

Straight Arm Pulldown (double pulley)
120 x 15
150 x 12
150 x 12

CG Pulldown (Neutral grip)
180 x 12
200 x 10
180 x 12

Posing Practice
I'm listing this as the workout because, DANG! it kicks your butt... I'm excited to finally learn the proper way to be executing my mandatory poses.

Cardio (Funky new-fangled stepper thingy)
30 minutes with all kinds of confusing speeds and settings... :confused:

Notes
The workout was a little tricky today because I was at a foreign gym with my trainer dude. The machines were newer and just felt a little different. Still, I think I pushed myself pretty hard and got some good lat stimulation. The DB rows were awesome, and I feel I pulled some good weight for reps -- form was pretty tight. The low rows were also making some good pain in the lat region. I like to really get the total stretch forward before drawing the weight back and pinching my shoulder blades. Killer way to get some pain!!! :D

Diet (Low Carb)

Meal 1
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

Meal 2
Grilled chicken breast, almonds

Meal 3
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

* Workout *

Meal 4
Grilled chicken breast, mustard

Meal 5
Ground turkey, Mustard

Meal 6
Cottage cheese, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites, EFA's

Daily Macros

Calories: 2114
Fat: 60g
Carbs: 73g (Fiber: 15g)
Protein: 312g

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
2 AMP, 1 Aplodan before workout
3 Xtend during workout
1 Green MAG after workout
2 Activate Xtreme before meal 4
1 Aplodan before bed

After doing some thinking, I'm going to start adding calcium and vitamin C to my postworkout supplementation. I think my diet is sufficiently restrictive to make some additional supplementation of these key items valuable. I really need to keep my immune system strong with the traveling I've got coming up as well.

livinonlava

08-18-2007, 11:04 AM

livinonlava

08-19-2007, 01:55 PM

Workout (Hamstrings/Calves)

Rotary Calf Press
250 x 15
310 x 12
310 x 12

Seated Calf Press
155 x 15
180 x 12
180 x 12

Standing Calf Raise
210 x 12
250 x 12
250 x 12

DB SLDL
85's x 12
90's x 10
90's x 10

Prone Leg Curls
90 x 12
90 x 10

Hack Squat (High, narrow foot placement)
180 x 15
270 x 12
270 x 12

Standing Single Leg Curls
35 x 12/12
50 x 10/10
50 x 10/10

Notes
I guess I'm still not a morning lifter. I tried to go train right after breakfast, but it just wasn't happening. I got a decent workout, but I didn't have the chutzpah to hit abs. I'll have to make them up on Sunday. My body just needs to wake up and get warm before I can think about pushing heavy stuff.

Diet (Low Carb)

Meal 1
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

* Workout *

Meal 2
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey

Meal 3
Grilled chicken breast, almonds, EFA's

Meal 4
Canned chicken breast

Meal 5
Grilled chicken breast, asparagus, mustard, EFA's

Meal 6
Peanut butter

Meal 7
Cottage cheese, Labrada Pro V60, EFA's

Daily Macros

Calories: 2096
Fat: 49g
Carbs: 79g (Fiber: 16g)
Protein: 319g

Whewee! Hunger was high today, and I picked up a headache that just wouldn't go away. Looking forward to getting some food tomorrow. Weight is just falling off :)

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before workout
3 Xtend during workout
1 Green MAG after workout
1 Aplodan before bed

No new supplement commentary today. Final day is tomorrow. Summary review will follow soon. :)

uhockey

08-19-2007, 05:07 PM

Damn low cals for such high intensity workouts....how is energy?

deserusan

08-19-2007, 05:12 PM

How's the acne? Mine is up which means something is working. :)

ncangey0513

08-19-2007, 06:18 PM

Still looking great, bro! Glad to see you're still shedding pounds. How is that Pro V60, and what flavor do you have? LaBrada makes some of the best proteins/MRP's on the market IMO.

livinonlava

08-19-2007, 07:34 PM

Damn low cals for such high intensity workouts....how is energy?

Energy has been surprisingly good. This is definitely one thing I will be mentioning in my review. I have been pretty tight on this diet for the last month, but energy and strength have not fallen off at all yet. There have been one or two days where stamina was a problem, but I think those were more due to mental stress (which I suppose is related to dieting as well).

How's the acne? Mine is up which means something is working. :)

There's still a war-zone on my chest. It's the only reason I'm looking forward to finishing the supp today. It's entirely vain, but it is incredibly annoying. I'm anxious to see how long it takes to dissipate because I'm going to run it again and don't want the acne around near the show.

Still looking great, bro! Glad to see you're still shedding pounds. How is that Pro V60, and what flavor do you have? LaBrada makes some of the best proteins/MRP's on the market IMO.

I think I enjoy the texture of the V60 more than its taste (chocolate ice cream or something like that). It mixes very thick, and combined with the cottage cheese in a blender, it produces a serious milk-shake quality beverage. I like to toss in a little extra unsweetened cocoa powder to make the taste a little richer. I agree that it's a good quality protein and very convenient when I can't make my special blend -- I'll be taking it with me on the road next week.

ncangey0513

08-19-2007, 08:39 PM

I think I enjoy the texture of the V60 more than its taste (chocolate ice cream or something like that). It mixes very thick, and combined with the cottage cheese in a blender, it produces a serious milk-shake quality beverage. I like to toss in a little extra unsweetened cocoa powder to make the taste a little richer. I agree that it's a good quality protein and very convenient when I can't make my special blend -- I'll be taking it with me on the road next week.
I've never tried V60 before, but, I've tried Lean Body and Lean Breakfast. Both taste amazing, and are also very thick. Best consistency I've found in a shake.

uhockey

08-20-2007, 01:31 AM

V60 is decent, but I only like the vanilla flavor.

livinonlava

08-20-2007, 02:12 AM

It seems almost anti-climactic, but my final day of ActivaTe was a rest day. This was a much needed rest, though, because my current training schedule has me going 6 days a week. Basically, I carbed up and tried to heal tired muscles -- it was a spectacular day :)

My final review of AX will be posted tomorrow with final measurements and comparison pictures.

Diet (High Carb)

Meal 1
Waffles (ground OATS, cottage cheese, egg whites, cinnamon, cocoa), raspberry preserves

Meal 2
VPX Zero Impact bar - dang these things

Meal 3
Grilled chicken breast, brown rice, black beans, salsa

Meal 4
OATS, Dymatize ISO-100 whey, egg whites

Meal 5 (Hold on to your jockey shorts!)
My special recipe pizza -- I make the 100% whole wheat crust from scratch and use lowfat/fat-free cheese and grilled chicken/green peppers as toppings.

Meal 6
Cottage cheese, Labrada Pro V60

Daily Macros

Calories: 3639
Fat: 51g
Carbs: 417g (Fiber: 62)
Protein: 363g

Pizza Component (Meal 5) Macros :D

Calories: 1300
Fat: 13g
Carbs: 162g (Fiber: 24g)
Protein: 119g

Pay attention youngsters... This is how to pull a serious re-feed :cool: OK, I might have gotten a little out of hand, but the total numbers still were in line with my planned allowances. I'm hoping I pushed leptin levels high enough to hold me through the week. This was a very satisfying day...

Supplementation

2 ActivaTe Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 1
1 Multi + 2 glucosamine after meal 1
2 Activate Xtreme, 1 Aplodan before meal 4
1 Green MAG before meal 5
1 Aplodan before bed

Final review on deck! :)

nni

08-20-2007, 07:18 AM

looking forward to your review.

uhockey

08-20-2007, 04:32 PM

Can't wait for the review. I'm making your waffle recipe tomorrow to celebrate.

livinonlava

08-20-2007, 08:36 PM

Trial length (weeks): 30 days

Beginning body weight: 228lbs
Beginning body fat % (approx): see pictures

End body weight: 218.2lbs
End body fat % (approx): see pictures

Weight difference: -9.8lbs
Body fat % difference: see pictures

Starting Measurements:

Chest: 45.25"
Waist: 36.00"
Bicep: 17.25"
Thigh: 24.25"
Calf: 16.25"
Forearm: 13.25"

Ending Measurements:

Chest: 45.00" (-.25")
Waist: 34.00" (-2.0")
Bicep: 17.00" (-.25")
Thigh: 25.00" (+.75")
Calf: 16.125" (-.125")
Forearm: 13.25" (=)

Comparison Pictures:

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r315/livinonlava/CompareFrontRelaxed.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r315/livinonlava/CompareFrontDoubleBi.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r315/livinonlava/CompareRearDoubleBi.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r315/livinonlava/CompareRearLat.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r315/livinonlava/CompareMostMuscular.jpg

Basic description of my training and dietary approach:

I train major body parts once per week with a 6 day split. Abs and calves are trained more frequently. I'm using a high intensity routine that rotates between moderate volume/rep range (10-12 sets @ 10-12 reps) and high volume/superset/dropset techniques (9-12 sets @ ~ 25 reps). Cardio was performed 3 days per week. Diet was fairly restrictive consisting of high protein/low carbohydrate 5 days per week with 2 refeed days. Calories were approximately 2100 on low days and 3400 during refeeds, spread out across 6 - 7 meals per day. Reference the following graphics for summary diet information:

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r315/livinonlava/DietSummary.png

Noted Product Effects On:

Strength

My strength did not seem to experience much positive change during the past month. However, I have been extremely hypocaloric, so I did not expect to make many strength increases. It is worth noting, though, that my strength did remain fairly constant in spite of the dieting, and that is positive for me.

Rating (1-10): 8

Energy

My stamina was not affected much, but my energy levels were greatly improved. Again, I have been working with very little carbohydrate (and food in general), but I have consistently felt energized and ready to train in all but 2 sessions in the last 30 days. This energy and focus was above my normal levels even while hypercaloric.

Rating (1-10): 9

Mood

Probably the most significant effect of this supplement for me. When dieting, my mood is typically all over the board. However, I was greatly impressed by my consistently positive outlook and work ethic over the last month. Dieting has actually been fun, and I've looked forward to my gruelling training schedule. Even if there were no other benefits than this from ActivaTe Xtreme, I would recommend buying it!

Rating (1-10): 10

Sex drive

Absent a girlfriend at the moment, I had no interest in a heightened sex drive. However, I was definitely more sexually charged during the course of supplementation. The effect was most pronounced after the first week, but it diminished some during the final week -- this could also be related to my reducing bodyfat in that time period.

Rating (1-10): 7

Erection strength

Nothing significant noted in this regard.

Rating (1-10): 5

Miscellaneous

As I stated throughout the log, I was very impressed with the mental impact of this supplement. My mood was positive and very well balanced. My confidence and focus were greatly increased -- which was incredible given my past experience with dieting. In addition, my body composition was very positively impacted during the past month. Of course I expected to drop weight because I'm dieting, but measurements and pictures would indicate that I lost almost entirely fat while possibly adding some muscle. The most impressive gains were in my legs which managed to grow almost an inch while losing 10lb of bodyweight. Reference the pictures as I am very impressed with those results. I would feel comfortable recommending this supplement to serious individuals, and I will purchase it again in the future.

Overall product rating (1-10): 8

livinonlava

08-20-2007, 08:39 PM

Can't wait for the review. I'm making your waffle recipe tomorrow to celebrate.

Dude that's awesome (about the waffles)! :)

I feel like my log was not in vain if I convinced at least one person to eat one of my little creations. Hope they turn out well for you.

ncangey0513

08-20-2007, 09:42 PM

livinonlava

08-20-2007, 09:50 PM

Awesome log and final review, bro! Very detailed and I can honestly say that I learned a lot from it. Sick progress as well. You're looking a lot leaner/fuller than previously. Let me know next time you start another log!

Hey thanks for your encouragement even before they chose us :)

I'm very pleased with the progress so far -- just under 11 weeks now to get everything in order :eek:

Big_Tom(tk)

08-21-2007, 12:05 AM

WoW! Excellent Review! Your progress is awesome too!! Its been great following along as well!!

uhockey

08-21-2007, 01:46 AM

Awesome log and final review, bro! Very detailed and I can honestly say that I learned a lot from it. Sick progress as well. You're looking a lot leaner/fuller than previously. Let me know next time you start another log!

WoW! Excellent Review! Your progress is awesome too!! Its been great following along as well!!

I echo both of these and am VERY impressed. Clearly diet/dedication/and will had a LOT to do with such awesome results, but I'm glad you liked the product as well.

Seriously, wonderful log, and I was glad to follow.

dvsness

08-21-2007, 04:45 AM

Well done, LG! :) Your new pics look great! 11 more weeks till the oily ones in briefs, eh? I bet Mike is very excited!

deserusan

08-21-2007, 04:49 AM

I bet Mike is very excited!

That's why they want to know about erection strength! :p Good job Tim!

uhockey

08-21-2007, 04:54 AM

Rob and Matt are ENTIRELY responsible for that survey...even I cringed at the erection question. I cringe more when I read people's answer of the question.

livinonlava

08-21-2007, 01:21 PM

WoW! Excellent Review! Your progress is awesome too!! Its been great following along as well!!

Thanks man. I really feel great about my first month into this project.

I echo both of these and am VERY impressed. Clearly diet/dedication/and will had a LOT to do with such awesome results, but I'm glad you liked the product as well.

Seriously, wonderful log, and I was glad to follow.

Thank you Mike. I continue to have good experiences with the DS team, and I hope to get the chance to have more in the future. Still waiting on that dang stim/fatburner... :p

Well done, LG! :) Your new pics look great! 11 more weeks till the oily ones in briefs, eh? I bet Mike is very excited!

Woo hoo for oily panty pictures! :eek: Thanks vanessa. I'm really looking forward to bringing this all together in the next 10 weeks and 3 days... ;) Heck, even my twiggy little legs might just make a showing after all...

Good job Tim!

Thanks man! It's not the 30lb you've melted off, but I think I'm tuning up nicely. I'll say it one more time, but even my legs seem to be trying desparately to get in the game -- I think I've got a world of improvement since this time last year.

nni

08-21-2007, 01:28 PM

excellent work! good luck!

dvsness

08-21-2007, 01:39 PM

Posing suit color picked yet?

livinonlava

08-21-2007, 02:15 PM

Posing suit color picked yet?

I'm not as concerned with color as I am cut. I'm still pretty self-conscious about those crazy french thingys -- I'd like something more "trunks-like." I'm probably gonna settle with a color like:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k245/hjlanda22/burgandy.jpg

I'm awaiting feedback from my trainer regarding the cut issue. :o

dvsness

08-21-2007, 02:23 PM

Please make sure they're not too loose. Diaper trunks look awful. :D

AgeRage

08-21-2007, 06:15 PM

umm you're gonna look amazing ;)

great review Tim!

did you say dieting was fun? :p :D

5Six

08-21-2007, 06:22 PM

Sorry I been away, Tim. But that is perhaps one of the best ever final reviews I have ever seen. Congrats on your progress.

How is the the new trainer/routine going?

PS - I did at double take at the "erection strength" and then skimmed over it. :p

livinonlava

08-21-2007, 06:44 PM

did you say dieting was fun?

What can I say, I love pain... So far this has been the most rewarding experience to date in my training history. :)

Sorry I been away, Tim. But that is perhaps one of the best ever final reviews I have ever seen. Congrats on your progress.

How is the the new trainer/routine going?

PS - I did at double take at the "erection strength" and then skimmed over it. :p

No worries mate! Thanks for the congrats -- I'm really proud of the results myself. I'm even a little surprised at the dramatic difference made in only 30 days. I've still got 10 weeks before the big day -- I'm going to kick some booty! :D

I'm enjoying the new routine though it is pretty grueling. I really like the exclusive hamstring day because that was always lacking in my focus, and my wimpy legs are the evidence. I'm working on that :cool:

Finally, that friggin question was Robboe's doing -- what a rediculous thing to have people comment on. Hope you don't think I just wanted examine that effect :o