12 week Clear Muscle Cutting Log

[jdmoe37]

MuscleTech Clear Muscle: Cutting log

***First of all, I want to thank Muscle Tech for allowing me to log Clear Muscle for 12 weeks!! There has been a lot of discussion, controversy, and drama surrounding CM in recent weeks, so I am excited to see for myself what the hype is all about.

Current Stats & Goals

Currently cutting, and have been doing so for the last 10 weeks. Down to 205 from 225, with only minimal drop in strength. The one thing dieting hurts for me is straining endurance and stamina; I cannot do nearly as many sets per body part when cutting. So, I am hoping the CM may allow me to train for a little longer and a little harder.

Stats:
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 205
BF: 15%?
Bench = 250
Squat = 345
Dead = 450


Diet & Macros

I usually fast until about 2pm when I will have a high carb/protein meal, train at 6pm, and then eat two smaller meals at night, typically higher in fat/protein. I try and stick to mostly "bro/clean" foods, but will have 1-2 cheat meals per week.

Macros
2400-2600 cals
65-85g fat
125-175g carbs
225-250g protein


Training

I have been on a P/P/L rest & repeat for a while now, and while I enjoy this split, I will be using the training protocol used by the subjects in the study. I tweaked my back about 3 weeks ago, so I will have to go lighter on deads or supplement with another movement, an I am open to suggestions for this. The exact breakdown of the training split can be found here: http://www.muscletech.com/trainhard/

Other Supplements

Fish Oil: 2600mg EPA/DHA/day
Protein: MT Platinum Vanilla, Giant Banana, Mint Chip Cor Whey, Select CnC
D3: 5,000IU/day
Magnesium Glycinate: 400mg ED or EOD (whenever I remember to take it)
Forskolin: 100mg/day, split into two 50mg doses
Ephedrine: 50-75mg/day, split into three doses, avoiding any food 2 hours before and 2 hours after
Caffeind/Y Source: Genomyx Decimate Powder, MT HydroxyCut powder, Alphamine
Pre: LGI Fully Loaded (1.5 scoops) or Giant MBS (2 scoops) + 3g GMS
Other: If I want something flavored to sip on at work I have Genomyx Protocol, Genomyx CreIgnite, or MP Amino1

Pics

I think that covers everything, excited to get this started. I will try and update as frequently as possible, and I will definitely hit the 1-2x a week per the test team rules.

Edit: Top pic is 1 week old. The bottom 3 pics are a bit outdated (taken at the beginning of my cut, i will try and get some new ones soon).

[Marshall28]

In!

[E_P_C]

Good start man, good luck with log/goals

[Tanphil]

Great log! Hope to see more and hope you check mines out as well!
Subbed.

[jdmoe37]

In!

Good start man, good luck with log/goals

Great log! Hope to see more and hope you check mines out as well!
Subbed.

Thanks for stopping by, I'll make sure to check out your logs as well. First few servings taken today, excited to start training tomorrow!

[jdmoe37]

Had my first training session with the CM protocol and it went pretty well. It will take some getting used to as far as adjusting the weights and finding what works. I am used to low reps, high number of sets with long rests in between, so these 60 second rest periods were quite a shock to my system. That combined with a caloric deficit resulted in me tiring very quickly.

Dosing for Clear Muscle is as follows:

7:00am: 25mg ephedrine + C/Y source of choice + 50mg forskolin + 1.2g TTA (forgot to include TTA in the OP) + 2 caps CM
11:00am: 12.5-25mg ephedrine + C/Y source of choice
5:30pm (Pre workout): 12.5-25mg ephedrine + 50mg forskolin + PWO of choice + 2 caps CM
Pre bed: 2 caps CM + 500mcg melatonin

I should also mention the beta testers have posted initial 30 day reviews for Clear Muscle, which can be found here: http://reviews.bodybuilding.com/MuscleTech/Clear_Muscle

Interested to keep following my progress and the other logs

[Tanphil]

Looking pretty good there man. Keep it up!

[Marshall28]

Will be interesting to see if you expereince the same effects I have or seem to be feeling

[razkaz248]

Another clear muscle log?



Another IN!

[guyver79]

I have been on a P/P/L rest & repeat for a while now, and while I enjoy this split, I will be using the training protocol used by the subjects in the study. I tweaked my back about 3 weeks ago, so I will have to go lighter on deads or supplement with another movement, an I am open to suggestions for this. The exact breakdown of the training split can be found here: http://www.muscletech.com/trainhard/

Hey OP, I was a Lil concerned about taxing my lower back so when I went in on Monday just to get a rough idea of numbers, I swapped squat for legpress, full deads for rack pulls and barbell rows for seated machine rows.

Inb4 squat nazis.

Or muscletech reps, I don't know if you have to follow the training protocol to the T OP!

[jdmoe37]

Looking pretty good there man. Keep it up!

Thanks bro

Will be interesting to see if you expereince the same effects I have or seem to be feeling

I am interested too. My DOMS have been pretty bad lately - I notice them way more when cutting.

Another clear muscle log?



Another IN!

Thanks for checking it out

Hey OP, I was a Lil concerned about taxing my lower back so when I went in on Monday just to get a rough idea of numbers, I swapped squat for legpress, full deads for rack pulls and barbell rows for seated machine rows.

Inb4 squat nazis.

Or muscletech reps, I don't know if you have to follow the training protocol to the T OP!

Yea those would all be great replacements. I don't have to follow their training program but I would like to if I can make it work for me. Going to go real light until I get the rep schemes down and get my lower back to 100%.

[jdmoe37]

DAY 3

Today was a rest day but I went in and did some cardio and light ab work. Nothing to report as far as clear muscle is concerned. I am a little curious to see when people start noticing effects as we do not have much to go off since it is so new.

Macros

Cals: 2,150
Fat: 57g
Carbs: 181g
Protein: 234

I have some wiggle room left so I will probably have a serving of proats with some almond butter to finish off the night. Always nice to have discretionary calories at the end of the night!

[jdmoe37]

Week One Update

Starting week 2 today and wanted to check in here with some feedback:

-Still getting used to the training protocol. I did 3x full body split when I first started, and while I enjoy this training style, I must admit I like a little more volume and hitting each bodypart 2x per week, so this has been an adjustment getting back to more frequency

-My DOMs are still pretty bad, probably a combination of a new routine and maintaining a caloric deficit

-I have noticed more fullness this week without adding any additional carbs (I actually dropped them a bit during the week last week). Since the study reported the weight gain as "LBM gains," which includes muscle/water/glycogen, I am almost wondering if CM cause glycogen supercompensation? It will be interesting to continue to follow.

-Weighed in at 203 on Saturday, so down 2lbs fro the previous week, but I am sure the binging this weekend equaled things out a bit.

-I am hoping this week I become more consistent with the weights used for the new split, and I am hoping I see some reduction in DOMS

[thors5]

Week One Update

Starting week 2 today and wanted to check in here with some feedback:

-Still getting used to the training protocol. I did 3x full body split when I first started, and while I enjoy this training style, I must admit I like a little more volume and hitting each bodypart 2x per week, so this has been an adjustment getting back to more frequency

-My DOMs are still pretty bad, probably a combination of a new routine and maintaining a caloric deficit

-I have noticed more fullness this week without adding any additional carbs (I actually dropped them a bit during the week last week). Since the study reported the weight gain as "LBM gains," which includes muscle/water/glycogen, I am almost wondering if CM cause glycogen supercompensation? It will be interesting to continue to follow.

-Weighed in at 203 on Saturday, so down 2lbs fro the previous week, but I am sure the binging this weekend equaled things out a bit.

-I am hoping this week I become more consistent with the weights used for the new split, and I am hoping I see some reduction in DOMS

Interesting about the DOMS. This routine is new for me and I usually get DOMS, especially with high intensity. So far though I've had amazing recovery, probably due to the surplus of calories. I wonder how much this is being affected by the CM vs calorie configurations..

Edit: Lol don't know why that quote is in white or even how to fix it.

[jdmoe37]

Week Two Update

I have been doing exactly as described in the OP - 2 upon waking, 2 PWO or 5pm on rest days, and 2 right before bed. Cals have been the same, hovering around 2400-2500/day. I do my weekly weigh-in on Saturday mornings fasted, and I came in at about 201.5 last Saturday, so I was down half a pound since the previous week.

Notes:

-I am still noticing a nice fullness despite cutting - continuing to lead me to believe that Clear Muscle causes some glycogen retention.

-Even though I only dropped .5 pounds, I feel way leaner and have vascularity popping in my delts, to the point where my roommates notice even when cold/no pump. Also getting small cut lines towards the bottom of my mid section.

-Starting to have much better workouts now that i am more familiar with the routine.

-I have not noticed much in the way of strength gains yet, but my stamina and endurance has been improving. I have had some awesome workouts the past week despite not getting the best sleep and lots of stress at work.

-Zero side effects - no GI distress, sleeplessness, joint pain, etc. (things some people notice with different supps).

-I am really going to dial in the training in the next week to see of I can't get some strength gains going.

[jdmoe37]

Week 3 Update

Weighed in at 199 yesterday, so I am down a total of 26 pounds since the beginning of March. Down about 5-6 pounds since starting Clear Muscle. I am happy with the way my cut has been going, I have not lost nearly as much strength as last year.

Notes:

-Fullness/vascularity is still looking real nice, especially now that I am starting to get tan. I can't say I have noticed much additional fullness since I first mentioned it in the second week of the log, but it is still there nonetheless.

-I ran the normal 3 days of the prescribed training program this week, but I lifted on Saturday and Sunday with a buddy I hadn't trained with in a while. We did more volume/classic BB type training, and I had two awesome sessions.

-Endurance was amazing as we were in the weight room for a good two hours doing tons of reps/super sets/drop sets. I felt awesome after both sessions, and have to attribute some of that endurance to Clear Muscle; it was noticeable outside of what I would consider normal for myself.

-I am thinking about switch back to my regular split for the last two months after this weekend. Not only did I preform very well, but I had a lot of fun in the process. I did ICF novice 5x5 when I first started lifting which was a 3x per week full body split. It was great to run that for almost a year when I was first getting back into lifting, but it does get old and I prefer a little more volume and a little less frequency (each body part 2x per week. I am going to finish out the last week of this part of the program and then make a decision about switching.

-Will be posting another pic next week as well since the frst month will be coming to an end, looking forward to continued progress.

[Marshall28]

Sounds like you are responding well to clear muscle!

[jdmoe37]

Sounds like you are responding well to clear muscle!

Absolutely. Saturday was on of the most intense shoulder workouts I've done and I had zero DOMS/soreness the next day.

[Marshall28]

Absolutely. Saturday was on of the most intense shoulder workouts I've done and I had zero DOMS/soreness the next day.

Awesome! Your nudez you sent me were quite nice

[jdmoe37]

Week 4 & 5 Updates

I am in the middle of moving into a new house so I have not had much time to update my log. Also, my eating/sleeping schedule has been messed up so my progress has stalled a bit. However, I am sitting right about 198 now, so I have still lost a bit of weight, and still look leaner/more defined.

Notes:

-Have not noticed any extra fullness since I first noted that during the beginning of the log. I am not sure if I was just imagining a fuller look, or if the glycogen retention caps off at some point. I do not think it is diet related as my carb intake has remained relatively consistent during the last 3 weeks.

-I have had some awesome training sessions lately. I am able to finish all prescribed sets and have been going in for extra sessions lately due to needing to blow off steam after work. It is really hard to sit at a desk for 10+ hours per day and then go train, especially when my sleep hygiene has been so poor, but i am pushing through. Endurance stamina is definitely noticeable, but not to the point where I am blown away (in regards to Clear Muscle.

-Strength has increased in some areas and remained stagnant in others. My 5x5 for bench is up 5 pounds since beginning the log, and my squat is up, bit not consistently every training session - which I attribute to being more sleep deprived on some days. Note: my best training day is Monday after catching up on sleep over the weekend, and they consistently get worse throughout the week. Although, stress at work contributes to this as well. Overhead press/BB row is about the same, but finishing all prescribed sets has become easier. DB shoulder press is up 5 pounds as well (on most days lol).

Overall, I am happy with my continued progress, and hope to continue to consistenly drop weight once I am fully moved in. Progress pics (lighting/posing sucks but oh well):









Edit: cold/no pump in any of the pics