Dave's Unsponsored Month Long Journey

[WorkingOnTheDream]

Preface
I've decided to log a month+ long run of a combination of supplements that I've just purchased.

In July, I quit my nicotene addiction, and gained back a bit of the weight I'd so proudly lost since January.

Also, I've hurt my shoulder twice this year, resulting in well over a month away from the weights. All things considered, I'm surprised I haven't gained back more of the weight I'd lost!

Here are the supplements I've purchased, along with the reasoning (where I can think of any ) behind getting them:

• Appetite Suppression/Weight Loss
  
  • Scivation LipidFX - I was pretty happy with my Melting Point experience awhile ago, but simply need the extra Appetitue Suppression that's been attributed to LipidFX.
    
  • Controlled Labs Red Acid GEN 2 - the pills are really pretty Actually, I'm hoping the appetitue suppression will combine with that of LipidFX, get some synergy goin'!
    
  • Primaforce ThermalRage - just thought it'd be a nice little pick-me-up, where necessary.
    
  • Controlled Labs Yellow nEuphoria - will use it any time I get a serious desire to hit the nicotene again, or the chips machine when needing the nicotene.
    
• Muscle Maintenance (Growth?)
  
  • Controlled Labs Purple Wraath - using it during fasted early AM cardio, and before and during PM weights. Hopefully will prevent muscles disappearing due to lack of calories.
    
  • Controlled Labs Green Mag - used only pre-PM Weights. For non-lift days, I have some KA creatine.
    
• Joint Support
  
  • USPLabs Cissus RX
    
  • Primaforce Elastamine
    

Goal
Fat loss and lifting weights without injurying my shoulder again.


Additional Supplements

• NOW Adam
  
• NOW Omega-3

Dosing Schedule

• Red Acid GEN2
  
  • 2 prior to fasted AM cardio, 2 prior to dinner
    
• LipidFX
  
  • 2 with breakfast, 2 with dinner
    
• Thermal Rage
  
  • As necessary to keep myself awake. Melting Point/Sesamin had me amazingly tired, so I'm taking steps to hopefully avoid that this time.
    
• Purple Wraath
  
  • Heaping scoop taken during fasted AM cardo
    
  • Heaping scoop taken 30 minutes prior to PM weights
    
  • Heaping scoop taken during PM weights
    
• Green Mag
  
  • Scoop taken 30 minutes prior to PM weights
    

Workout Schedule

• Weights (at roughly 8:30 PM
  
  • Chest/Tri
    
  • Back/Bi
    
  • Shoulders
    
  • Legs
    
  • Off
    
  • Repeat
    
• Cardio
  
  • Upright stationary bike (about 5:30 am), at least 4 days per week.
    

Diet
I'm shooting for the following:

• 2000 to 2500 calories
  
• Fat/Carb/Protein of 20/40/40

I'll be writing each day in a journal--all of my food will go into FitDay.

The following day, I'll upload the journal contents here.

I'll be weighing myself every 3 or so days.


That's it for now; hopefully the supps will help me stay the course, and my staying the course will help the supps do their job.

Take it easy,
Dave.

[TT22]

Lookin good! Decent amount of supplements and alot of Fat burners! Good luck!


Jdub

[WorkingOnTheDream]

Thanks Jdub! Here's hoping that they all do what the manufacturers claim

Lookin good! Decent amount of supplements and alot of Fat burners! Good luck!


Jdub

[WorkingOnTheDream]

Day #1, 9 Dec 2006

Stats

• Height: 6'2"
• Weight: 309.5 lbs
• Fat%: 36.3%
• BMI: 40.3

Yes, I've got a long way to go, but I feel outstanding that I've recovered enough from my addiction and recurring shoulder injury to begin this journey

Appetite Suppression
Outstanding (I won't attribute any of these reports to supps--RAGEN2 and LipidFX are suppose to affect appetite, but there's really no way for me to prove it).

Here's the Food hit for the day:

• Calories: 2122
• Fat: 110
• Carbs: 143
• Protein: 145

Two of my food choices bumped the fat higher than I had intended to go. In both cases I didn't realize until after I entered the foods into FitDay. But they were good, and I'll probably do it again some day

I need to increase my protein intake, but I'm about out of whey, so I'll have to do without shakes for awhile.

Supplement Notes

• Red Acid GEN 2: At 2 pills, I get no energy from this supplement at all. If you like the ingredients, but also need stims, then be sure to have a supplemental stim for your supplement on hand. Try it by itself first, and addon the stim if it doesn't meet your energy needs.
• LipidFX: Nothing of note, as expected.
• ThermalRage: Only slightly more energy than Red Acid GEN 2. Barely more.
• Controlled Labs Yellow nEuphoria: N/A (didn't take it, no issues needed chemical solving today)
• Purple Wraath: Took it as noted in intro post. I used to think it tasted merely ok, until I tried TPs BCAA Boost product--never has a nastier tasting product passed my lips!. Wraath is outstanding!
• Green Mag: Took it as noted in intro post. Nothing to report.
• USPLabs Cissus RX: Taking religiously. Hopefully doing what it's suppose to do.
• Primaforce Elastamine: Taking religiously. Hopefully doing what it's suppose to do.

Workouts
For PM Weights, my strength was really off, for whatever reason. I found myself beginning to jerk the weight, and when my shoulder began to twinge ever so slightly, I decided to stop it right there--hated doing that, but it was necessary.

• AM Fasted Cardio
  
  • Stationary Bike, 16 minutes, Lvl 6, 97 cals burned
    
• PM Weights (BACK/BI)
  
  • Lat Pulldown (wide grip): 100/10, 150/10, 170/5, 170/5
    
  • Lat Pulldown (narrow grip): 130/10, 130/10, 130/10
    
  • Routine terminated at this point.
    

Notes

• Had really bad heartburn about 2 hours after taken Red Acid GEN 2 in the morning and evening. Heartburn in AM was about 9 am.
• Super tired at 10:30 am. Took 2 ThermalRage at 11:00 am, and in 20 or so minutes was just barely tired. Acceptable.
• For calories, I am not adding any nutrtional info from my supps. So fish oil, etc., are not included.

That's it, first day is in the books.

[WorkingOnTheDream]

Day #2, 10 Dec 2006

Appetite Suppression
Outstanding--emotional, frustration eating at night, though.

Here's the Food hit for the day:

• Calories: 3026
• Fat: 128
• Carbs: 290
• Protein: 172

Went to a business party tonight, free booze, free buffet. I think without the supps I would have eaten and drank and been merry (with enough booze, maybe even Mary). Anyway, I made it home without having enjoyed all of that yummy food and drink and had a much healthier meltdown. Sure, I did overcompensate for not eating the goodies I was smelling throughout the party, but I still ate better than I otherwise might have eaten.

Supplement Notes

• Red Acid GEN 2: Nothing new to report.
• LipidFX: Nothing new to report.
• ThermalRage: Nothing new to report.
• Controlled Labs Yellow nEuphoria: Took 2 earlier in the day. Noticed no effects whatsoever. Will bump up to 3 for next dosing, whenever that may be.
• Purple Wraath: Nothing new to report
• Green Mag: Nothing new to report
• USPLabs Cissus RX: Nothing new to report
• Primaforce Elastamine: Nothing new to report

Workouts
Only did fasted cardio today. Was Shoulders for PM weights, and thought with twinging yesterday that it'd be best if I held off a day.

• AM Fasted Cardio
  
  • Stationary Bike, 20 minutes, Lvl 6, 133 cals burned
    
• PM Weights (OFF)

Notes

• No heartburn today, which is great!
• Tired again around 10:30ish.
• I'm really going to have to spend some time thinking about meals 2, 4, and 6. Right now they suck nutritionally.

Ok, off a bit on calories, AND on a day without weights. That's the trouble with holidays, too damn much cheer. Bah humbug!

[pu12en12g]

Nice format !!! Subscribed !

[WorkingOnTheDream]

Nice format !!! Subscribed !

Thanks for dropping by!

I'm trying to make it as easy to read as possible, and easy to get at any info people might be interested in.

[WorkingOnTheDream]

Day #3, 11 Dec 2006

Appetite Suppression
Outstanding--STILL emotional, frustration eating at night, though. Nothing worse than having a delicious looking and smelling home-cooked meal, but for everyone else, as you have to eat boring stuff. Arghhh!

Here's the Food hit for the day:

• Calories: 2802
• Fat: 137
• Carbs: 226
• Protein: 161

The day was pretty good. No real hunger to note at all--the supps seem to be helping in this regard!

As noted above, though, nights are particularly difficult for me--not because of hunger, but some other reason I haven't been able to determine. Workout nights, it's not so much a problem, though

Had an odd pain under my lowest left rib for most of today. I'd really notice it when slouching at work. Weird!

Supplement Notes

• Red Acid GEN 2: Just wish this had a little bit more kick to it; this combined with LipidFX, though, are doing wonders for my hunger throughout the day
• LipidFX: Nothing new to report, other than appetite suppression when combined with RA GEN2 kicks some serious butt!
• ThermalRage: Nothing new to report--you know, for the name of the product, I'd have expected a lot more kick to it...
• Controlled Labs Yellow nEuphoria: Took 3 today, a full normal dose. The only thing I noticed was a little bit of tingling between my lower lip and chin--almost felt wet. That's it. Again, I'll have to go beyond normal dosage due to stupid body-weight.
• Purple Wraath: Still a nice cover-up flavor to Amino Acids. Really nice to sip on during fasted AM cardio!
• Green Mag: Nothing new to report. I haven't been taking this on non-weight days, but I've also not been taking my KA Creatine. Gotta make myself a sticky note somewhere to help remember.
• USPLabs Cissus RX: Nothing new to report, but hopefully it's doing its job. Stupid shoulder.
• Primaforce Elastamine: Nothing new to report, but hopefully it's doing its job. Stupid shoulder.

A quick note about my waking supplement routine. I have a little tupperware container that I stick 2 Red Acid GEN2 pills in, along with a single Thermal Rage pill and a single Ester C pill (1 g vitamin C). Upon waking I down these with water, mix up my PW, and go back to bed. About a half hour later, I'm up enough to go down and workout. So far, this is working like you wouldn't believe!! Good stuff

Workouts
Again, only did fasted cardio today. With my shoulder twinging 2 days ago I thought it'd be best if I held off one more day.

• AM Fasted Cardio
  
  • Stationary Bike, 25 minutes, Lvl 6
    
• PM Weights (OFF)

Notes

• No heartburn today, again. So I'm thinking it was a fluke, or simply my body getting use to ALL of these darn supps.
• Not really tired today.
• I still need more protein, and still need a better nutritional plan. But I'll muddle through the best I can.

I plan on picking up weights again tomorrow.

Has anyone here used 5-HTP for emotional eating control? I'm wondering if that'd help me some...

[WorkingOnTheDream]

Day #4, 12 Dec 2006

Appetite Suppression
Outstanding again. I had a bit bigger of a breakfast--if you've ever been to the Maltby Cafe in WA, then you'll know what I was shooting for

Here's the Food hit for the day:

• Calories: 2418
• Fat: 110
• Carbs: 275
• Protein: 103

Odd pain under my lowest left rib was gone today. Getting old sucks (But the alternative sucks even more!)

I thought for sure I'd have blown my calories for the day, with that breakfast I had. Anyway, things weren't too grim. I still need to save up for whey.

Supplement Notes

• Red Acid GEN 2: It's just working it's little heart out waking me up in the morning and keeping me going at night.
• LipidFX: I actually forgot to take this in the morning. Was worried about hunger being a problem, but it wasn't.
• ThermalRage: Nothing new to report.
• Controlled Labs Yellow nEuphoria: Took 3 again today, this time prior to working out at night. Workout definitely had a bit more focus than usual.
• Purple Wraath: Nothing new to report.
• Green Mag: Nothing new to report.
• USPLabs Cissus RX: Shoulder felt better today
• Primaforce Elastamine: Shoulder felt better today

Workouts
Shoulder felt good enough for a full workout today.

• AM Fasted Cardio
  
  • Stationary Bike, 30 minutes, Lvl 7
    
• PM Weights - Shoulders
  
  • Seated BB Military: 60/10, 70/10, 80/10, 90/4
    
  • DB Side Raises: 15/7, 15/7, 15/7
    

My Military went up to 90 today. And I felt my delts really straining. Probably a stupid thing to have done--we'll see how my shoulders feel tomorrow...

My DB Side Raises actually went down. The delts felt like they were cramping--no pain in the shoulder joint, just muscular pain and tightness.

Notes

• Boy I need to spend some money on someone who'll just give me a list of foods to eat and tells me to eat it. I hate deciding what I should and should not eat every day. What a pain in the a$$! Of course, if I had that money, I'd be buying protein with it instead, lol
• So far, I'm pretty happy with how things are going. I need help on non-weight evenings to keep from snacking, but once I lick that problem, I should be golden.

I'm really very happy with my supp choices so far. I've always liked fasted cardio; I just need a chemical kick out of bed to do it (the Army had other means, lol). My supp choices are really working with my personality, and giving me the help I need.

Now, about that 5-HTP...

[anth28]

My experiences with Red Acid Gen2 is that there is not much in terms of enegry/appetite suppression. However, give it a week or so, and you should notice a nice kick when it comes to heat during a workout. I find I sweat alot more during my cardio, and I really do feel it has helped me keep off fat on the days I slipped in my diet. I would say I am about halfway into my bottle. Check out my progress pics to get an idea of how its worked for me so far. The changes are not huge, but I think there are subtle differences. I definitley notice my fat is alot softer...Good luck with your log!

[pu12en12g]

Sounding good so far !

[WorkingOnTheDream]

A quick note: my shoulder has ONCE again turned bad. I have an MRI scheduled for tomorrow (they have to stick a needle into the shoulder socket, which I'm just thrilled about).

I'm really hoping this is something that's not going to require surgery!

Since the shoulder started hurting again, I've stopped pretty much all supps, but continue to do fasted AM cardio.

[WorkingOnTheDream]

Ok, here's the deal so far on my shoulder:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=997834


Can still do my stationary bike in the morning, but I might have to temporarily call it quits on lifting. Once all of this gets straightened out, I'll be starting on this bandwagon again. It'll also give me a chance to put a helluva lot more thought into my diet.