this is my first few days without Xtend, a supplement i've found is extremely important for fast muscle recovery.  i'm in pain for a day longer than normal and the intensity of it seems greater without it.  unfortunately, my normal supplier is out of this brand so i'm switching to Universal Atomic 7.  hopefully it will be a decent substitute until i get my hands on the other.

even though the MP challenge is over, i'm still on the hunt for the Dymatize prize and i've got 33 days remaining.  at the moment, that feels like plenty of time but my goals are currently running into a cash challenge.  supplements are expensive here and business is slow.  i'm lucky to run my own business but unlucky that its performance affects my personal performance.  we'll see how things go but in the long run, i do hope i can get a sponsor and based on the fact that i'm one of very few americans here who speak fluent, conversational Thai....i think i should have a good chance for a company trying to build market share in Thailand.

i re-scheduled my shoot with the photographer from Bangkok because i'd like to get a bit more cut before i do it.  the past few days, i've cut down to 5 meals a day, eating every 3 hours and i've seen the results of that on the scale.  i'm down almost 2kg since my last weigh in (currently @ 86.3kg) and i'd like to be around 80kg and ~10% body fat for my first shoot.  i'll upload a phone pic to my gallery later, i can see the definition in my abs...it's like looking at another person when i'm in the mirror *lol* 

a full seven days since my last entry as real life grips hold and i have to focus on survival in the real world.  as i go through issues with my business, i continue to stick with my training and diet as those are the only things over which i have 100% control. at first i had doubts but what i'm seeing in the mirror and what others are noticing is now reality and that only motivates me to take it further.

yestereday, i picked up my shipment of supplements shipped from Phuket Health Shop.  it came right on time as i was on my last does of Anavite and i think that's a big part of what's keeping me healthy thru this whole process.  i'm amazed at how my immune system handles threats so much more efficiently now...and i'm still disappointed in myself for waiting so long to make this change.  new flavors of ON Whey and Casein also came so that will give me a welcome change in the protein department.

i've had some computer issues recently which is why i haven't uploaded my latest progress photos.  i'll upload last week's and the latest pics after i take more tomorrow evening.  today's a rest day but i'll be in the gym for some light cardio in the evening and i'm still successfully carb cycling so nothing much has changed.  see ya in a couple days...

i've been on Jack3d as my pre-workout supplement for some time now and didn't feel it made much difference until i hit the gym without it.  i ran out the yesterday and figured i'd just roll with the other supplements i have on hand but the difference is amazing.  i just wasn't getting that extra strength for heavier weights and longer sets!  it turns out, when i'm really looking to hit it hard, i feel like i need something and though Jack3d was doing its job, my normal supplier is out of stock....what to do??? is this the end of the line?  i just started being able to see the difference in the mirror and now this??

i visited a local coffee shop i'd discovered was selling supplements close to another gym.  i asked them what they had available (in Thai language to the best of my ability...i'm fluent, but...'pre-workout' hasn't been a necessary part of my vocabulary lol).  he didn't have anything on the shelf but asked me to wait while he went up to the gym to see what they might have.  i'm not sure if its fate or....what? but he came down and dropped the container in front of me and guess what it was?  MusclePharm Assault!  crazy....i'm in the MP Challenge and just when i need it, the sponsor's product drops in my lap!

unfortunately, the price tag dampened my elation at a whopping 2900 baht (~100USD) after discount.  wow...online i've seen the same container available for as little as 30USD, max 50USD.  shipping & import taxes are expensive but over 200% markup??? wow again.  i told'em to hold on to it while i consider my options.  i came back home and thought....yeah, its expensive. F*CKIN expensive but...if its going to get me there, i'll make it happen.  next time, perhaps i could get a friend to pick some up for me on the way into Thailand?  in any case, tomorrow's rest day and also the day i make an investment into my future.  based on what i've heard about 'Assault', it should be worth it.

i'll get off my ass and update stats within the next day or 2...see ya then.