BPI A50 8wk Cycle Log (6wk A-HD/SOLID 'pct')

[jakeoh5]

I got a bottle of BPI's A50 from our regional rep, and promised him I'd run a log on it to show my gratitude. I plan to run A50 for 8 weeks (3 caps per day with meals; dosed according to bottle), followed by 4-6 weeks of BPI's A-HD (1 scoop powder in morning on AM workouts, 1 cap in morning on PM workouts and off days; dosed according to bottle), and I will also use BPI's SOLID during the final 2 weeks of my A-HD 'cycle'.

I don't know much about A50, aside from that some studies show puerarin can be a potential 5-HTC agonist. Some other studies have shown it might affect all 5-HT class receptors. I'm interested how it will affect me as I do not consume soy. I'm assuming I'll experience increased appetite, sense of well being, and more restful sleep. (These claims are most certainly not found on the bottle, this is my own research into the subject. The BPI rep declined to answer my questions about the 5-HT receptors, so someone jump in if you've seen more literature please)

My supplements will not in any other way deviate from the previous 6 months. In my 'arsenal' I have Whey protein (blend of concentrate, isolate, hydrolyzed - custom blend ~85% - ~90% protein by weight), Monster Milk (mostly post w-o), Monster Mass (mostly post w-o), True Mass (mostly post w-o; yech) Carnivor 'Blue Flavor' (rarely used - mostly w/ meals; I s*** the green dye for 3 days, seriously), Optimum Egg Protein (rarely used - mostly w/ meals), and Ovaltine 'classic malt flavor' (source of maltose =P)

My workout nutrition usually looks something like this:

15-30mins Pre W-O:
- (One of the following): NO shotgun, NO-Xplode, 1M.R. (old formula), 1M.R. (new formula), ACG3 (old formula), C4, EXT GO, Alarm, Jack3d; mostly use NO-Xplode/C4
- 3-4 x Cellucor NO3 caps
- 3-5g L-Arginine (free-form)
- 500mg Acetyl-L-Carnitine / 200mg Alpha-Lipoic-Acid
- 1600-2000IU Vit. D3

Intra W-O:
- 1-2 scoops Aminox (sipped through heavy sets for main muscle group that day)
- 1/2-1 scoop Pre w-o (occasionally I take a half or 2nd intra w-o depending on the training intensity/volume, but not always)
- ~60-80oz Water

Immediately Post W-O:
- (One of the following): Monster Mass, True Mass, Monster Milk; typically I use Monster Milk, lower carbs means GH stays elevated an extra hour vs. the gainers 'hi-GI'

1hr Post W-O:
- ~40g protein
- ~60-80g Simple Sugars (maltose/dextrose, occasionally sucrose)

2-3hr Post W-O:
- 8-10oz Animal Protein (chicken/steak)
- 16oz Sweet Potatoes
- 2tbsp Smart Oil - omega 3/6
- 2-3 stalks green onions
- 400IU Isomer E

or

2-3hr Post W-O:
- 6-8oz Chunk Tuna
- 2 cups brown rice
-2 tbsp. Smart Oil - omega 3/6
-1 white/yellow onion
-400IU Isomer E

[jakeoh5]

This is a mass gain phase. I'm looking to increase the cross sectional diameters of my muscle bellies; that is to say this is about hypertrophy! SIZE! and lots of it. My goal is to gain enough mass, while preserving symmetry/aesthetics, to compete in a show in April.

I'm a mesomorhpic-ectomorph, so admittedly I gain muscle easily, but its very, very lean. although I've never tipped the scales much over 205, I've never held more than 8% body fat in MY LIFE. (at 205 I was 6.5% according to NCAA testing, high for me, typically in season I was closer to 195 at 4.2%). The goal of this cycle will be to exceed that limit; I wholeheartedly believe with proper diet and supplementation I can easily exceed 200lbs in 8 weeks, while keeping my body fat at 10% or less.

Check my BodySpace for my current body stats, or to see my previously mentioned numbers.

As for measurements of strength:
-Lying Leg Press (no heavy squats, I suffered a serious infection in my left knee a while back, and ever since fluid collects in the joint and causes me extreme pain under heavy weight. It seems lying with my legs above my body causes some of the blood/fluid to be able to drain easier, even while supporting heavy loads. chill bro, I still do squats
-Deadlifts
-Seated Barbell Press
-Barbell Bench Press (haven't maxed in a while due to a SLAP/biceps insertion tear, I may recant this and the BB press based on how it reacts)
-Thrusters (lack of crossfit aside, this is one of my new favorite power moves as its easier on my shoulder than snatch/clean and jerks)
-Barbell Rows

I'll post numbers based on the previous six months, and where I stand today as I complete the individual lifts through my split.
I start on A50 tomorrow, I can't wait a whole week to get through one more training cycle, which is why I'll post some markers of strength from previous months.
here we go!

[jakeoh5]

Lying Leg Press - 450x6
Deadlifts - 225x6
Seated BB Press - 95x8
BB Bench Press - 185x6
Thrusters - 95x6
BB Rows - 135x6

[jakeoh5]

As I probably should have expected, the first day on A50 I've felt sleepy, not yet sure if its truly binding of 5-HTc receptors, or if it's placebo. My appetite hasn't increased, I'm still hitting all my meals pretty regularly at 3 hour intervals. Total caloric intake is still consistent, I guess you can't expect huge results the first day.

Weights in the gym weren't anything impressive either. I felt like I could control the same weight better -although I still failed in the same rep ranges- but I admit this is probably neuromuscular adaptation as I've lost a lot of strength from where I once was.

The first night on A50 I had VERY vivid dreams, possibility another indicator of 5-HT activity?

[jakeoh5]

Pressed for time, so less rest intervals and overall volume. I went for more of a dog crap approach due to my time constraints, with a couple light, energy saving w/up sets and then a couple higher intensity working sets. First time I've pressed 500 on a leg press in a long time! Even if it was only 3 reps on strip set, still a great workout!

Eagle Leg Press - 250x20w/up, 250x15w/up, 300x8w/up, 500x3---strip---->400x6
Paramount Lying Leg Curl - 50x13w/up, 70x8w/up, 100x8w/up, 130x17
Life Fitness Leg Extension - 50x20w/up, 70x12w/up, 100x8w/up, 200x8, 200x8, 200x8
Cybex Seated Leg Curl - 110x12w/up, 130x12w/up, 130x8w/up, 150x5, 150x7fail, 150x5fail
Life Fitness Leg Extension - 150x15
Paramount Inner Thigh Squeeze - 170x20, 170x17

[jakeoh5]

Definitely sleeping deeper, or maybe just having such vivid dreams makes it seem like I'm sleeping deeper. I'm still tired and groggy in the morning despite taking an extra hour of sleep to grow, but again this is sort of what I was expecting with increased serotonin activity. Appetite remains the same, meals every 2-3 hours like clockwork. I hardly ever deviate from the diet, right now I'm hitting 7 meals a day, not counting supplements or cheat calories, for roughly 4,000 calories. Weight is actually up a little bit, day 1 I was 172 on the gym scale, today I'm about 174. Strength is up a little bit too, check it out

Shoulders, Arms
-Thrusters - w/up, 95x5ez, 100x5ez*, 100x6*, 100x6*.
-Arnold Press - 35x12, 40x10max*, 40x10max*, 40x8fail
-Behind the Back Lateral Raise - 25x8, 25x8, 25x8
-EZ Curls - 70x10, 70x8, 90x8*, 100x7*, 100x6*
-Decline DB Skull Crushers - 35eax8, 35eax8, 35eax5fail
-Bench Dips - 12, +90x7, +90x8 (two 45 plates on lap)
-Cable French Press Straight Bar - 130x8max, 130x9*, 135x8*
Post-w/o
-Monster Milk Variation
-30mins Hot-Tubbin @ 102.2degrees
Glut-4 Pump
-Bicep Machine - 70x10, 70x10, 70x10
ss. Tricep Machine - 70x10, 70x10, 70x10

New max' on 4/7 lifts, not bad that's some rapid progress if you ask me! happy with the lift

[jakeoh5]

Definitely sleeping better and longer, the crazy dreams are still there haha. Despite new lifts and more reps, my arms don't even feel sore. I had a huge Steak+Spaghetti dinner last night, and I tend to digest spaghetti really well, so I wound up eating 150g carbs at my 3hr post w.o meal! Usually I only hit 80-100g. Plus a nice 10oz Filet. Life is good. I don't know if it's grounds to call it increased appetite, my other meals throughout the day haven't increased. I definitely am starting to experience the enhanced sense of well-being, I'm a lot more mellow and calm despite some hectic things happening in my personal life. Usually in reaction to stress in the workplace or trouble in paradise my cortisol shoots up and I lose a couple lb's of mass. This hasn't been the case despite all hell breaking loose around me. In fact, I've gained weight! Check it out I weighed in today 175lbs, looking lean as usual abs obliques and serratus all sharp, no change in waist or hip size. My arms actually feel awesome, despite new poundages and higher reps yesterday, I wound up doing a couple sets at the end to pump them up after a short chest w/o (Chest is a strong point, and is out of proportion to my shoulders and arms so I'm holding back on chest training somewhat... kind of)

again, strength is up!! Which is AWESOME! seriously some of these lifts I was just like 'wtf', 10+20lb increases and it's feeling easy

Chest Day
-Pec-Dec - 150x8w/up, 150x8w/up, 200x8, 200x8, 200x6
-Strive Chest Press (cam 1) - 200x7w/up, 200x7w/up, 230x5max, 240x6*, 240x6*, 240x7*
-Incline DB Flys - 35x9, 35x8, 35x8
-Reverse Curls - 70x10max, 90x10*, 90x10*
ss. Reverse Press Down - 70x10max, 90x10*, 90x15*wtf
-Seated Reverse French Curl - 100x10, 100x10, 100x10 (opposite of french press ROM, overhead curl)
ss. French Press Straight Bar - 100x10, 100x10, 100x10

Post-w/o
Hot Tub - 30mins @ 102degrees

[jakeoh5]

Didn't sleep so great last night because I was waking up to eat every hour or two! I wound up sleeping with a box of triscuits (not on the diet) next to the bed and when I woke up they were straight empty, hilarious. At this point I can confirm, appetite is definitely up. I went from +500 over baseline to +700 over baseline and I'm still hungry. Usually my problem is getting all the calories in, now I'm finding I'm holding back to keep unwanted bodyfat off! If I'm still hungry by the end of week 2 I might jump up to +1000 over baseline, but even saying that sounds like a really, really bad idea haha. Remember shakes, supplements, and cheat snacks don't count into my caloric intake, or my +700. It's only quality calories I track. Weight is 176, literally waking up bigger everyday this is kinda nuts. This stuff was definitely designed to make you feel like you're on something, I'm eating, sleeping, and lifting way more than usual. No noticeable fluid retention beneath skin or in joints (not sure why the hell I'm even looking for that, it wouldn't make sense). So far I'm pleased with the results I'm having and can't wait to see the end result. Anyone who laughed at my goal of gaining 40lbs, I have bad news =)

[jakeoh5]

Recovering so well I decided to switch to whole body routines for 2 weeks. I'll probably go 2 on, 1 off, and do whole body, arms, off, whole body, legs, off. I might do an extra micro-cycle where back gets its own training day to work on rear delts, traps, and v-taper. I need to do something with all these extra calories, I feel my midsection widening. No real jump in sub-q bf by calipers, Abs and obliques look good, but I think I might be building visceral fat - something not so easily measured except what the tape measure says. I'll start tabata intervals for cardio and add ab/core work in twice a week from here on out.

Pre-W/O

Whole Body HST (minus arms)
-Seated BB Press - w/up, w/up, 95x13*, 115x10*, 135x6*
-Behind-Back Side Laterals - 25x12*, 25x12*, 25x10*
-Rope Face-Pulls - 130x10, 130x10, 130x10
-Wide Pull Downs - 100x10, 160x10, 120x10, 160x9
-Narrow Cable Rows - 160x8, 140x9, 140x10
-Pec-Dec - 200x8, 200x8, 250x8*, 250x8*
-DB Bench Press - 50eaw/up, 70eax8*, 70eax8*max, 70eax8*fail
-Lying Leg Press - 450w/up, 500x8,* 600x8*, 650x3* strip 600x3 strip 500x4, 600x8*
-Seated Leg Curl - 130x12*, 150x8*, 150x8*, 150x8*
-Leg Extension - 200x8, 200x8, 200x8

Post-W/O

[jakeoh5]

Just felt the need to do something with the extra strength I was feeling yesterday, so I decided to go do some arm sets today before I eat my bodyweight tomorrow.

Pre-W/O

Arms
-Closegrip Bench - 135x10, 155x8*, 185x5*, 185x3fail*, 155x8*,
-Decline DB Skull Crusher - 35x8, 35x8, 35x9*fail
-Bench Dips - +90x8, +90x6, +90x8
-Straight Bar Cable French - 115x12, 145x8*, 145x8*
-Straight Bar Cable Push Down - 145x10, 190x6*, 190x5* strip 130x3,
-EZ Curls - 70x10, 90x8*, 100x7*, 100x6*
-DB Hammer Curls - 40eax8, 50x7*, 50x7*,
-Reverse Cable Curls - 130x7, 130x7, 100x10

Post-W/O
Hot-Tub 30 minutes @ 102.2degrees

[jakeoh5]

Exercise___________Week 0___________Current
Lying Leg Press......... 450x6 ................. 600x8, 650x3
Seated BB Press........ 95x8 ................... 135x6
Thrusters................. 95x6 ................... 135x3
Pec-Dec*.................. 200x8 .................. 250x8
Closegrip Bench*....... 135x8 ................. 185x5

The last two weren't part of my original benchmarks, but thought they would be worth watching anyway.

In the first week of this cycle I've gained 10-semi-solid lbs, and increased strength EXPONENTIALLY. +200lbs on leg press, +40lbs on Military Press, +40lbs on Thrusters, +50lbs on Pec-Dec, +50lbs on Closegrip Bench. If I can keep up this kind of progress for even a FEW of the 8 weeks I'm using this stuff I'll be a very happy meathead.

[jakeoh5]

I won't disclose what exactly I ate today, because I honestly I didn't log it (one of the few days of the year I don't log anything). I ate cleaner than I have in past years, but I still ate A TON. felt like way more than my week 1 average, which was already +700 over baseline!! If I felt like I was getting bloated before it's in full gear now; ergo I'll wait a couple days before I recheck bodycomp. Need to lose some extra sodium and sugar haha. No training today, infact hardly any moving at all aside from the dinner table to the couch and back.

[voyce]

bump 2 show interest haha

[sameer1987]

Hi all ,

Sorry to interrupt in your ongoing thread. Your help would be greatly appreciated .

I have been training since 6 months but not able to see substantial results as a matter of fact I am not taking proper diet / busy in office . Beginning season 2013 , I want to monitor my progress . Please advise on the below supplements : I want to build a lean physique ;;age -25 , weight -86kg Height -171

target weight is 70-72kg which includes muscle mass

1)On 100% whey gold standard ( post workout )
2)Casein ON ( bed time )
3)L-carnitine or CLA ( Fat loss) .--->not sure abt fat loss supplement

---Do note I will be taking supplement for the first time .I dont believe in steroids . .. any helpfull guidelines will be appreciated .

[jakeoh5]

WOAAAAH holy s*** guys sorry to go AWOL in the middle of a Log!!! don't worry the stuff didn't kill me!! got my internet cut off last month and was too lazy/cheap to do anything about it for a couple paychecks. Strength gains have slowed down, and mass has plateaued around 195, which is still about 23lb GAIN!!!!! I took about 2 weeks (~10 days I think) off from training around christmas to let my joints heal up, which I consider a wash out period to re-sensitize to the A50, but I DIDN'T LOSE ANY OF MY GAINS despite going off my supplements. I was getting so strong, so fast that my connective tissue wasn't happy. I've resumed my 8week A50 cycle, closing in on the 6week AHD/AHD powder cycle. my supps are still the same, and all other variables have been controlled. I'll update the log tomorrow so you all can see what i've been up to. That's why I keep a detailed journal I guess!

Y'ALL WILL NOT BELIEVE THE GAINS I'VE MADE ON LYING LEG PRESS ALONE.... seriously. You just wont believe the s***. That's why I got some videos to post 8-)

+23lbs, +~1.0% BF, 400% stronger.... WTF??? =)