Jonflesh Blue Gene Log to the 2nd Power

[jonflesh]

This is my 2nd run with Blue Gene. I ran a sponsered log bg log a little less than a year ago and really enjoyed it (thanks again PT). This time the log is unsponsered but I am hoping to get similar results from BG (see below post for last years final review). The cycle will be 60 days (two bottles).


Blue Gene FAQ
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=109879141

THE STATS
Height- 6'1
Starting Weight- 185 lbs
Age- 29
Bodyfat- Around 9% (haven't measured in a while but 6 abs are clearly visible).

THE STACK
Creatine Mono
Myofusion
sportpharm multi
cotsco joint complex
Fish Oil
Blue Gene

DIET
3000-3500 cals a day; 300 grams of protein...most carbs coming from whole wheat pasta, whole wheat bread, rice, oats, fruits and veggies.

ABOUT ME
I am 29 years old and living in DC. I have been lifting seriously for around 3-4 years. Before that I lifted mainly for basketball purposes but now that I am out of school my bball days are pretty much behind me, I lift mainly to look/feel good.

I have no desire to ever step on stage and compete in a bodybuilding competition. I have tremendious respect for those that choose to compete but it is not something that I wish to do. However, simply because I don't want to compete, does not mean I am not serious about lifting/dieting. I want to live a long healthy life and while somethings in terms of health are out of my control, lifting and eating are two areas that I can control and hopefully can help tip my life in a healthier direction. Basically I want to be in better shape than I was yesterday.

Also I plan on doing some races this summer. Nothing too serious, 5ks or 10ks and hopefully the warrior dash (google it if you've never heard of it, it looks badass). I'm def not a runner and will not be trying to win these races, merely just get a good workout and see if I can beat my own personal best times. As of right now I have never competed in a race.

WHAT I HOPE TO GAIN FROM BLUE GENE

Basically I hope to get what I got last time out of BG. Here is what I expected last time (copied and pasted right from the log), and I feel the supp delievered. Hence, why I'm using the product a second, this time footing the bill myself.

Being that I probably will never compete in a bodybuilding comp, I don't "bulk" or "cut" in a typical bodybuilder fashion. I am bascially in a 24/7, 365 day a year recomp. I may try and shave off or add on a couple pounds here and there but I don't like the way I feel when I bulk or cut so I have stopped doing both and probably will never do either one again in my life. My goal is to constantly gain muscle and lose fat (yes, it is possible to do both at once despite what you have heard). Since I started lifting I have gone from 165lbs to 185lbs all while staying at 9% bf.

THE WORKOUT
I change up my workouts every two-three weeks or so. For the first part of the log it may look like a typical bodybuilder workout, ie doing one muscle group a day. However, throughout the log I will mix in circut training, drop set workouts, german volume training, full upper body/lower body workouts and some other stuff throught the 60 day log.

I also do cardio 3-4 times a week. It will be a variety of different cardio. Although it will mostly involve running on a treadmill it will also include tennis, basketball, elliptical, and swimming.

Lastly, I stick to the basics in my logs. Although I've been a member at bb.com for sometime I still do not know how to jazz up the logs with pictures or videos or anything cool like that. So if you readers feel like throwing up an inspirational photo or two be my guest.

[jonflesh]

Here was my final BG review from last october

FINAL BLUE GENE REVIEW

Starting Weight- 185lbs
Finishing Weight- 186lbs

Pumps- Overall this product had delivered much more in the pump department than I anticipated. Through the first bottle of the product (30 days) the pumps were on par with any of the leading NO products that I have tried to date. The pumps did diminish a little over the course of the 2nd bottle but were still solid. I wasn't expecting this product to deliver much in this department and was pleasantly suprised with this aspect.

Endurance- Not only was I able to lift more weight (discussed more under "strength" below) but I was able to get more reps on most exercises than I was before I started taking BG. This was impressive because my weight did not change throughout the 60 days and yet I was still getting more reps then I was without BG.

Soreness- I didn't really notice much in terms of recovery from soreness. I was feeling about the same on a soreness level after my workouts whether I was on BG or not. There are two ways of looking at this: 1) the product did not aid me in recovery or 2) the product helped since I was lifting more weight and completing more reps while on BG but was not more sore than normal (the bulldogz theory). Which ever theory you chose to believe I will say if the sole reason one is to by this product is to have very little or no soreness after a workout than the product did not do this for me. I was never too sore where I couldn't work out I just didn't notice much of a difference whether I was on BG or not in terms of soreness the next day.

Joints- As I mentioned in my midway review I decreased my OT intake from 6 pills to 4 pills a day when I began taking BG and I did not notice any more joint pain. This receives a thumbs up on the joint catagory.

Strength- PT described this as a plateau breaker and I would say this description is spot on. I had been stuck on almost all my lifts for quite some time and with the usage of BG I was able to increase most of my lifts. While the increases were nothing crazy I steadily did improve and it was a great feeling to increase some lifts I had been stuck on for so long. I set the goal of a 300lb smith machine bench at the begining of the log and I reached the goal around day 45 (actually i did 295 because my gym didn't have 2.5 pound plates but nevertheless). I was thrilled with the results I had in the strength department from BG.

Libido- By far the biggest change while taking BG was the increase in sex drive. Even though I said I increased my stregnth and reps the results weren't earth shattering, however, the increase in sex drive was huge. I haven't really taken any other products that claim to increase sex drive/libido but it would be tough to imagine one that had a bigger effect on this department than BG.

Side Effects- None that I can see or felt.

Will I purchase in the Future- Yes. I will probably run another 60 day of BG early next year or so (feb-march of 2010). I would rank this product in the x-factor catagory as a good "extra type supp." I don't think BG will be a staple of mine taken all of the time like creatine or fish oil, but I keep the list of supps I take very short as you can see by my intro into the log. However, I occasionally do try and throw in an extra supp every once in a while and BG will be one of the supps that is in this constant rotation. Overall, I really enjoyed the product.

Thanks again to PT and all the guys at CL for letting me try 30 days of this product it was a great experience.

[jonflesh]

First day on BG was solid. Had a good pump but nothing really else ground breaking to report. I remember most of the benefits of this product take a couple weeks to kick in. This is why I would def recommend doing 2 bottles back to back. Once the BG gets going you don't want to have to suddenly stop. I did chest yesterday so the BG log started today with ....

Bis/Tris/Shoulders

I did the same sequence for every exercise. Starting light on the first set then progress heavier up until the 4th set and then immediately into a drop set for weight slightly lighter than the first set for a 5th set drop set.

Alt Dumbell curls
Cable Curls to head
Lying on back cable curls (only did 3 sets)
Triangle pulldown
Reverse grip triangle pulldown
Dip Machine
Standing Arnold press
Plate front raise
Machine Military Press
Forearm curls

Cardio- None. I went to swim laps at my apt pool but it was packed. Full of families and a lot of children.

Tomorrow i'm off from lifting but will running on the treadmill and maybe throw in some abs.

[jonflesh]

Cardio Day

4.5 mile run


Abs- crunches, flutter kicks, frog crunch (not sure of the real name but it's the exercise where you bring your knees to your chest while seated).

Nothing much to report with regard to BG since I did cardio only today. However, in an unrelated note I did wear a pair of underarmour compression shorts today for the first time and I'm not sure how I ever ran without these. They are amazing. They stay tight the whole time to avoid any chafing and the material doesn't get sweaty like my normal boxer briefs. Amazingly comfortable and I won't be doing significant cardio without them anytime soon.

[Robboe]

Bis/Tris/Shoulders

I did the same sequence for every exercise. Starting light on the first set then progress heavier up until the 4th set and then immediately into a drop set for weight slightly lighter than the first set for a 5th set drop set.

Alt Dumbell curls
Cable Curls to head
Lying on back cable curls (only did 3 sets)
Triangle pulldown
Reverse grip triangle pulldown
Dip Machine
Standing Arnold press
Plate front raise
Machine Military Press
Forearm curls

Why shoulders done last?

[jonflesh]

Why shoulders done last?

Not usually the norm. I usually will give shoulders it's own day but I will be kinda crunched for time this weekend so I tried to fit shoulders in on arm day when I realized I had time to kill at the end of my arm workout. shoulders were kinda dead by the point I got around to them.

[pu12en12g]

IN !!!

[jonflesh]

IN !!!

Nice! Glad to have you aboard!


Leg Day

I kept the same format as my other muscle groups. Generally 4 sets and then a 5th set drop set of really light weight where I went to failure. I will keep this workout plan for all bodyparts for the rest of this week and all next week and then will change it up.

Squats (gym has gotten a squat rack since my last log-no more smith machine squats ftw)
Leg Press (with feet above head)
Lunges with bb across back
Hamstring curls
Calf Raises (just did 5 sets no drop set)

Abs- Decline situp with and w/out a 25 pound plate

Overall felt really good. It's still a little early to start raving about bg, since it usually doesn't fully kick in for me until the 2nd or 3rd week or so.

On another side note though I did try a grean tea energy drink by celsius and was very impressed. I would rank this thing way ahead of monster/rockstar/red bull or any other that I have tried in the convience store variety. Smooth energy, no jitters, no crash, excellent taste and didn't mess up my stomach. The fact it was not carbonated was a nice touch.

[illilian]

Here for sure, man!

[Robboe]

On another side note though I did try a grean tea energy drink by celsius and was very impressed. I would rank this thing way ahead of monster/rockstar/red bull or any other that I have tried in the convience store variety. Smooth energy, no jitters, no crash, excellent taste and didn't mess up my stomach. The fact it was not carbonated was a nice touch.

Link me?

I used to drink ABB's green tea drink, i forget what it was called. Tasted great and gave a decent kick despite the low caffeine content.

[jonflesh]

Here for sure, man!

Awesome!

Link me?

I used to drink ABB's green tea drink, i forget what it was called. Tasted great and gave a decent kick despite the low caffeine content.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/celsius/celsius.html

I tried the raspberry in the celsius and it was excellent.

I liked the ABB green tea as well, although i haven't had it in over year. Both are superior to the gas station type energy drinks imo. Those kill my stomach.

[bull.dogz]

Following as well!

[Robboe]

Awesome!




http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/celsius/celsius.html

I tried the raspberry in the celsius and it was excellent.

I liked the ABB green tea as well, although i haven't had it in over year. Both are superior to the gas station type energy drinks imo. Those kill my stomach.

Ahh, this has caffeine added.

I still wanna try it tho!

[jonflesh]

Following as well!

Welcome!



Back

Same lifting format as I've been doing and will do for another week or so. Starting light, getting heavy and then a drop set. 5 sets total (4 and the drop).

Pullups (4 sets-unweighted, 25 lb plate, 25 lb plate, unweighted)
Bent Over BB Rows
Chin ups (palms faced toward me) (4 sets unweighted, 25lb plate, 10lb plate, unweighted)
Lat Pulldown
Cable Rope Pull (toward me low to high)
Cable row
T-bar Row.

Overall strength felt really good. Esp on the pullups. I usually don't do weighted pullups/chinups because there is only one belt to hook the weights too and I can never find the thing. However, found it today and was suprisingly very strong on the pullups. Pump was decent, not as good as the day I did arms but overall a better workout.

Tomorrow I'm going to try and wake up early and do some cardio. Hopefully I will make it to the gym as I need to apartment search all day tomorrow since my lease is ending. Also I would like to catch the US world cup game and I think the yankees/dogers is on fox tom night.

[Robboe]

Welcome!



Back

Same lifting format as I've been doing and will do for another week or so. Starting light, getting heavy and then a drop set. 5 sets total (4 and the drop).

Pullups (4 sets-unweighted, 25 lb plate, 25 lb plate, unweighted)
Bent Over BB Rows
Chin ups (palms faced toward me) (4 sets unweighted, 25lb plate, 10lb plate, unweighted)
Lat Pulldown
Cable Rope Pull (toward me low to high)
Cable row
T-bar Row.

Overall strength felt really good. Esp on the pullups. I usually don't do weighted pullups/chinups because there is only one belt to hook the weights too and I can never find the thing. However, found it today and was suprisingly very strong on the pullups. Pump was decent, not as good as the day I did arms but overall a better workout.

Tomorrow I'm going to try and wake up early and do some cardio. Hopefully I will make it to the gym as I need to apartment search all day tomorrow since my lease is ending. Also I would like to catch the US world cup game and I think the yankees/dogers is on fox tom night.

The Yankees win! The Yankees win!

How many working sets was that workout?

[jonflesh]

The Yankees win! The Yankees win!

How many working sets was that workout?

Big homer by a-rod last night and a great game by CC.

I think around 28 sets. early 30s if you count the drop set as another set. More than I usally do as you can see by my other workouts. But felt good.

Cardio- 5 mile run and swimming (5 laps)

The run felt great, the swim not so much. I have never really swam much before and I am terrible. I swam 5 laps and was gassed. I don't use my legs nearly enough and use primarily my upper body (which was dead after 5 laps). Also I don't stay in a perfectly straight line in the lane and kind of zigzag all over the place. It was frustrating getting dusted by some out of shape 60 year old in the lane next to me. However, there is no way for me to get better than to practice. My girlfriend is doing a tri-athalon coming up and I now know for sure there is no way I could compete in the swimming portion of the race (actually I couldn't "compete" in any portion but I could complete the other 2). Overall though I am a big fan of shocking the body with new workouts and even though it was a quick swim I think it was worth the time.

Oh and I never really answered this before but I am taking all 5 bg pills around 45 minutes prior to my workout.

[jonflesh]

Cardio and playing card workout

Did 45 minutes on the elliptical then did a workout done with a deck of playing cards. Basically the card workout is this: flip over 5 cards and add up the total of the cards (numbered cards equals the number on the card, face cards equal 10 and aces equal 20). This number is the number of reps performed (ie a 5, king, ace, 2, and 10 would be 47 reps). Then choose 3 exercises (today i chose pushups, crunches and flutter kicks) each set of 5 cards equals the number of reps for 1 exercise. So the 47 mentioned before could be for pushups, then flip over 5 more cards and this will dictate the number of crunches. You should be left with 7 cards at the end and then add up the number of the 7 cards and do all three sets for this number.

Good workout, even had to fire off a set of 70 pushups and was able to do it (thankfully it came early in the workout).

[5Six]

I'm not to sure on how I missed this, but I'm sub'd dude!

[Robboe]

Cardio and playing card workout

Did 45 minutes on the elliptical then did a workout done with a deck of playing cards. Basically the card workout is this: flip over 5 cards and add up the total of the cards (numbered cards equals the number on the card, face cards equal 10 and aces equal 20). This number is the number of reps performed (ie a 5, king, ace, 2, and 10 would be 47 reps). Then choose 3 exercises (today i chose pushups, crunches and flutter kicks) each set of 5 cards equals the number of reps for 1 exercise. So the 47 mentioned before could be for pushups, then flip over 5 more cards and this will dictate the number of crunches. You should be left with 7 cards at the end and then add up the number of the 7 cards and do all three sets for this number.

Good workout, even had to fire off a set of 70 pushups and was able to do it (thankfully it came early in the workout).

If anything, that is certainly interesting!!

[jonflesh]

I'm not to sure on how I missed this, but I'm sub'd dude!

Cool!

If anything, that is certainly interesting!!

hopefully a lot of the workouts during this log will be different as time goes on.


CHEST

Same workout as last week. Going heavier each set until a drop set for the 5th set.

BB Bench
Incline DB Press
Pec Deck Machine
Reverse grip Smith Machine Press
Weighted Dips (25, 35, 45, 45, bodyweight)
Cable Flies (3 sets all real light weight, high reps)

Today was the 7th day while on BG and the first day doing chest on BG. I started with bb bench and felt a little weaker than normal. Last week (while obviously not on BG) I did 235 for 3 and prob could have gotten a 4th rep if I had a spotter. This week I struggled for 2 and felt really weak on all the sets. However, after the bb bench and throughout the rest of my workout, my strength returned to normal form. Felt really good and got several incline presses in using 75lb dbs which is good for me. Maybe I just needed to get the blood pumping and get warmed up. I also felt really strong on the dips and the pec dec machine (in which I was able to do the whole stack-220-this machine is really easy compared to others i have tried). Looking forward to next week when I change up the workouts from the typical bodybuilider, 1 muscle group a day workout.

[5Six]

I've always enjoyed the one muscle group a day approach. But it's still good to change 'er up

What are your first few days thoughts of BG?

[jonflesh]

I've always enjoyed the one muscle group a day approach. But it's still good to change 'er up

What are your first few days thoughts of BG?

I'm a big fan of changing up workouts. I prob won't do a workout plan for longer than 4-5 weeks without changing. I'm excited for the next workout phase I have coming.

The pumps have been excellent. I noticed this during my last run as well. I know it's not really marketed as a pump type product (ala white flood or gg) but for me the pumps are on par most pre-workout products around in terms of pump. Other than that I haven't noticed much in terms of libido/endurance/strength. However, I remember these factors kicking in big time around the 2nd or 3rd week last time, esp the libido.

[Robboe]

I'm a big fan of changing up workouts. I prob won't do a workout plan for longer than 4-5 weeks without changing. I'm excited for the next workout phase I have coming.

There are benefits to be had from keeping a routine the same (obviously providing you striver to add weight or reps each workout). Every time you do a movement, your CNS gets a little better at it. Once your CNS has mastered a movement the body can truly gain some strength, which result in muscle gain if the caloric environment is primed. This can last for months at a time in some cases.

[jonflesh]

There are benefits to be had from keeping a routine the same (obviously providing you striver to add weight or reps each workout). Every time you do a movement, your CNS gets a little better at it. Once your CNS has mastered a movement the body can truly gain some strength, which result in muscle gain if the caloric environment is primed. This can last for months at a time in some cases.

I always seem to hit plateaus when sticking with the same plan. For me the best way to set pr in most lifts is to change up the style in which i do the lift even if I keep the same exercise (ie change up rest time, add in drop sets, go real light or real heavy). Plus if I did the same exercises in the 8-12 reps range everyday I would become bored more easily. I do believe what you're saying though since most people stick to the same routine and have great success.

Bis/Tris/Forearms

As usual 4 sets getting heavier each set until a drop set on the 5th set. This was done for every excercise except the forearm work in which I went pretty light for high reps the whole time.

Hammer Curl with rotation at end of movement
Preacher Curl
Cable Curl (standing)
Reverse Cable Pulldown
Cable Kickbacks
Close Grip Bench
Overhead Dumbell raise (3 sets)
Reverse Curls
Wrist curls with wrists hanging off the end of a bench.


Great pumps during the workout today. I always have good pumps on arm day but today was esp good. Strength is steady, no real increases worth noting but endurance also felt really good today. Esp on the preacher curl.

I overslept and didn't do any cardio this morning. I slept for 10 hours last night which is a lot for me. Tomorrow is my off day and I was going to do cardio anyway, however if I wake up early I may do some light cardio and then legs in the afternoon (although I usually don't like doing cardio and legs in the same day so we'll see).

[5Six]

There's a fine line I find between when to switch programs and keeping on 'em, so I agree with you. From what I've read, staying on a program for 6 weeks to be about ideal. This is of course on what one's goals are

[pu12en12g]

The pumps have been excellent. I noticed this during my last run as well. I know it's not really marketed as a pump type product (ala white flood or gg) but for me the pumps are on par most pre-workout products around in terms of pump. Other than that I haven't noticed much in terms of libido/endurance/strength. However, I remember these factors kicking in big time around the 2nd or 3rd week last time, esp the libido.

Hell yea, so far so good

[jonflesh]

There's a fine line I find between when to switch programs and keeping on 'em, so I agree with you. From what I've read, staying on a program for 6 weeks to be about ideal. This is of course on what one's goals are

Do you have the articles that said 6 weeks was ideal? As I said I usually stick on them for somewhere in the 4-5 week range. Sometimes as long as 6-8 weeks but I'd like to read the articles if for nothing else than another point of view.

Hell yea, so far so good

Def. I'm feeling better every day!!

Cardio 5 mile run

If anyone followed my BG log last time, they may remember that one of my goals was to run 5 miles without stopping (seems pretty easy but I'm not a runner at all). I completed this goal by the end of the log and have since had several runs around the 5-6 mile mark with 6.5 being my longest. Today I ran 5 miles in 42 minutes, which pretty good time for me. I had enough gas left at the end of the run to sprint through the finish line the last quater mile or so, which is rare for me on anything over 3 miles. I've really been feeling good all day and kinda felt a good run coming.

I woke up this morning and felt/looked really lean. I hardly ever use a scale but since I looked a lot lighter I decided to weigh myself. I was still at 184 which I was happy with esp considering how lean i looked.

[5Six]

Do you have the articles that said 6 weeks was ideal? As I said I usually stick on them for somewhere in the 4-5 week range. Sometimes as long as 6-8 weeks but I'd like to read the articles if for nothing else than another point of view.

The articles were supplied to me by some professors and the head physio at my university. Sorry man.

[Robboe]

Do you have the articles that said 6 weeks was ideal? As I said I usually stick on them for somewhere in the 4-5 week range. Sometimes as long as 6-8 weeks but I'd like to read the articles if for nothing else than another point of view.

If you're aiming for more reps or heavier weight each workout then you are technically switching your training up. You are progressing, forcing adaptation.

And before you think that adaptation is a bad thing where your body gets used to it, adaptation is growth. When you see someone say they don't want their body to adapt to the routine they mean they don't want to stagnate. Adaptation is a good thing as it makes you better at it.

[jonflesh]

The articles were supplied to me by some professors and the head physio at my university. Sorry man.

No worries

If you're aiming for more reps or heavier weight each workout then you are technically switching your training up. You are progressing, forcing adaptation.

And before you think that adaptation is a bad thing where your body gets used to it, adaptation is growth. When you see someone say they don't want their body to adapt to the routine they mean they don't want to stagnate. Adaptation is a good thing as it makes you better at it.

Good points, I agree.

Legs and abs

Squats
Incline Leg Press
Lunges
Hamstring Curls
Calf Raises
Crunches with and without 25lb weight
Knee Raises

Felt really good again throughout the whole workout. Got 5 plates on each side on the leg press which is good for me and the weight was solid in the other exercises as well. Legs were already feeling a little sore after the workout as I walked up the stairs leaving the gym. Still looking very lean even mid day after eating and drinking water all day. Libido has been high today, not sure if that is blue gene related or just one of those days