KASR5277’s BodyBlog

Well, it’s hump-day: the halfway mark of the rest week. after the 5×5 workout/stack, I decided that our bodies needed a rest - and boy was I right! My right shoulder and my left knee immediately starting aching and giving me some hassles - so the recuperation is a true blessing. I’m also not being as strict on the eating this week - so I’m in full-on cheat mode!

But it’s no big deal, becuz starting this coming Monday - we’re tackling a modified superset High Intensity Training workout that I devised (insert evil laughter here).

Like most HIT workouts, it includes a single set of exercises with the entire workout being down twice a week.
My spin is to throw in some heavy super-setting - to really push us over the edge and get our metabolisms going berserk and drive our bodies into some insane anabolic states. Here’s the routine: (most everything is anywhere from 82-90% of the 1-rep max range)

Monday/Thursday:

Warmup: Goblet Squats 2 x 12
Squats (heavy) Super-Set 1 x 8
Leg Extensions (heavy) 1 x 15   

<strong />Leg Curls (heavy) Super-Set 1 x 8
Stiff-legged Deadlifts (heavy) 1 x 10-12 

Warmup: dumbbell press 2 x 10
Seated Bar Press (heavy) Super-Set 1 x 8
Lateral Raises 1 x 15      

Warmup: Push-ups 2 x 20
Bench Press Super-set 1 x 8
Dumbbell Pullover (heavy) 1 x 12       

Warmup: Pulldown (med-grip) 2 x 15
Negative Chins Super-set) 1 x 5 (20 secs down)
Barbell Row (heavy) 1 x 8      

Warmup: dumbbell curl 2 x 12
Seated barbell (heavy) curl 1 x 8

Warmup: tricep press 2 x 15
Negative Dips Super-set 1 x 5 (20 secs down)
Seated Dumbbell Tricep Press 1 x 15    

Weighted Crunches 2×30
Medince Ball Routine 1 x 15 all 

So, on our Wednesday, we’re going to switch over to plymo-exercises coupled with some intense interval aerobics to balance everything out. It looks like this:

Wednesday:
General Warmup
Warmup: Body Squats 2 x 15
Warmup: Medicine Ball Twists 2 x 15
Warmups: Burpees 2 x 15
Warmup: Punching Knee Ups 2 x30’s

Plyo-Vertical Jump (fast) Super Set: 3 x 10
Plyo-Squat Jumps (weighted vest - starting at 10lbs): 3 x 10

Plyo-Medicine Ball Throw up (lying) Super Set: 3 x 10
Plyo-Pushup Claps: 3 x 10

Weighted Punching (start at 10lb dumbbell) 3 x 45secs
Shadow Boxing Intervals: 40 seconds light - 20 seconds hardcore x 5

Ab stretch

Needless to say, I’ll have puke buckets standing by: sorry, C.J. & Tony….
On top of that, my work has lunch time yoga for 20-30 minutes every Thursday, so I’ll be doing that too.
Damn…..I’m gonna be a fitness junkie next week for sure…but what else is new? 

So we’re done! The 4th week of the 5×5 workout is completed and it was a fun one! Like I’ve mentioned in the last few posts, I was able to increase weight in most every lift - which is a huge gain considering that we did maxes the week before I started this workout and stack. The workout packed on some great bulk - which gets me ready for cutting.

The supplements you ask? Well, I’m glad you did: becuz of the intensity of the workout and the short rest periods between sets, I am convinced that I would have NEVER been able to finish any of the sets without the Cytogenix stack - it really did give me the focus and recovery to muscle past all of the heavy sets and left me wanting more. C.J. and I even dosed Tony with some Cytonox and he breezed through the workout. The next time he hit the same lifts (this time without the NOX) and he was having problems muscling past the third set!

Did I notice faster recovery and leaner, denser muscle mass while using cytocell - yes, yes I did. In fact, I noticed my muscle really starting to bulk out after the two and half week mark. During the weekend (which is my 3 day rest period) I could flex my chest and it would be rock hard as if I had just finished a set of bench press. This was very unusual for me. So it was like the quality of my muscle mass was being retained when not exercising, which was kinda nice for a change.

FINAL VERDICT:
This stack really delivered the goods. If anything, I was skeptical about the cytocell claims - but even that product made a noticeable difference in my post-workout recovery and performance. As mentioned in several messages above, I really responded well to the Cytonox - it gave me just the right amount of intensity, focus, and blood-pumping drive to get through each and every rep of my 5×5 workout.
The pump it gave me felt natural - not artificial. I’ve mentioned how other products have made me feel like I was going to have a panic-attack….Cytonox didn’t make me feel that at all - and for the last two weeks I was hitting 3 scoops and everything felt completely natural.

In fact, having increased weight 4 times during the course of the workout - the stack was responsible for me increasing no less than 15lbs and as much as 20lbs on each and every exercise that I performed. On many lifts, that translated to about 8% to anywhere near 20% gains in only 4 weeks! That’s huge! (remember, we maxed before the 5×5/stack 4-week plan - so the workout was designed and set to work inside our failure range….and instead of hitting faliures, I was INCREASING)

Physique: now that I’m at the end, I have noticed a huge difference in mass and explosive power. My soft (weak) spots are now coming forward and I truly believe the stack gave me the edge I needed to tackle my weak areas with confidence.

So a picture can tell a thousand words - well, here goes (as promised).

Day 0, Week 1: I took this picture the night before beginning the workout and Cytogenix Stack:

This is the picture taken from last night (end of week 4):

Marked improvement in mass and muscular definition. Here are few other images I took last night that outlines mass gains and physique improvements:

The stack gave me the mass I needed to go into my cutting phase with confidence:

The stack and workout (single sets of 50 bi’s/tri’s every workout) added some arm meat for me!

The Cytogenix Cytonox kept my veins popping throughout the entire 4 weeks - here at rep 35, my arms keep trucking as I am able to maintain focus and intensity:

Cytonox kept me really focused and amped for every lift - most of the time during my lifts, I was looking like this:

The stack keep my energy levels high for body weight type exercises - here we are doing vertical jumps 2ft 8 inches (although I am certain I could’ve cleared 3 feet, no problem) 5 sets of 5

I still have over half a tub of the cytonox - however, the Cytocell goes by much quicker! On a 4week workout, doing 3 days a week - one tub of Cytocell will last alittle over 4 weeks. If what I say is true - if the stack did ALL this and more, then what proof could I offer that I’m not just blowing wind up your skirts???

I ordered my Cytocell replenishment yesterday - Cytogenix made a believer out of me - so much so, that I am gauging which Xenadrine product I should use for my cut.

So there it is! It was a blast, I loved the product, I loved the results and I loved the workout! (If anyone wants a copy of the workout, I have it in dynamic excel spreadsheet form - just plug in your 1RM and it spits your working set numbers.) The hardest part of the routine was the diet! I managed the entire 4 weeks without a beer and only a few sodas! With that said, I’m going out to lunch today - I think I’ve earned it!!!

Thanks for great products Cytogenix!

Ok, so I know I’ve neglected my blog entries for the Cytogenix stack - but it isn’t without reason! We’ve launched a massive project at work about a week ago, so I’ve been totally immersed in development, late nights and managing.

BUT! I have not missed but one workout - which is pretty amazing in itself! Another bonus is that I’ve also got a few more weight room goodies: a weight attachment belt thingee…you know, something to weigh me down when I’m doing chest dips and pullups/chins. I also got a set of curl bar/dumbbells that take olympic weight plates. Next on the list is another set of 25lb plates to balance out the dumbbell set.

OK, so how’d the 3rd week go? It went great, actually - I had some solid lifts and 5lb increases on the 5×5 workout for EVERY lift, except one.    On my 5th set of military press I was unable to push the last rep out without assistance. DARN it all! Looks like I’m doing that weight again for week 4 - but there no shame in that! We increase twice in that area, so I was happy with the gains (especially since my shoulders are a weak spot for me).

The last day of the 3rd week was missed cuz I had to work late - so I picked up that workout this last monday…and nothing has changed: C.J. still hates heavy lunges! LOL!!!

We also hit some insane incline dumbbell curls with the 30lbs (sure it doesn’t sound like much….till you hit number 25 on your way to 50!!!!) Those single sets of 50’s are killer!!!!! Two days later and my biceps are still tweaked!!
So about the cytogenix stack….here’s the thing:  I’m completely sold on it. Between the NOX and the CELL, it’s been a great routine for me to get into. There were little to no side effects, the gains are obvious and the visible difference in my musculature are obvious.

During non training days and even on the weekends, I totally feel a difference in muscle hardness and fullness. Like I’ve mentioned before, usualy I can feel alittle soft on weekends, but no so on this stack.

The Cytonox has really given me a natural feeling intensity that I am able to keep with me throughout the entire workout. With NOXplode, the sensation was borderline-panic attack. Not so with this current stack.
At the end of week 4, I’m gonna post the end of the schedule picture along with a picture I took on the first day of week one. Trust me, there is a difference.

Fansuperman sent me an accumeasure (thank you!!!) and I was pretty discouraged by what that thing said. So I’m making a BLOOD PACT right now! (That’s right, a blood pact! I’ve got the knife, I’ve already sliced my hand and squeezed blood on to a goats head….)

Ok, not really - but I’m pretty resolved about the next 4 weeks - TIME TO CUT LIKE A MOFO!!!

So my plan is to incorporate a two-day high intensity workout (sorry, C.J. … you thought you were in hell now, guess again. We’re gonna be breaking out the puke-buckets! LOL!) and then put 30-45 minutes of interval cardio at the end of each workout with Wednesday being solely cardio and plyometrics. Since I’m supremely impressed with how Cytogenix products helped me hit some new highs, I’m gonna get me some Xenadrine Hardcore RFA-X ot start burning away this annoying body fat count I’ve accumulated.

Ok, so I know that the program and supplements are only part of the equation - let’s take caloric intake: I know that I’ve been packing on the protein, with a balance share of carbs - but if I’m gonna get this body fat number down (or atleast to a number where I can see my abs again) I’m gonna have to ramp up the protein, cut back dramatically on carbs and then take a MASSIVE hit on my calories. We’re talking rice cakes and peanut butter, we’re taking chicken breast 3 times a day with a side of tuna!!!

Thank God I’m not on Gilligan’s Island, cuz I’m taking a huge step back from practically every fruit that I hold dear. (yes, that means cutting back big on pineapples….no sweet tasting semen! LOL!) So this week, marks the end of guilty food goodness - I have yet to explain this to my wife….hehehe…I’m wondering how she’ll handle the menu change?

Day two of week 4 tonight! Picking up week 4, day 1 with the 4th increase on all exercises! Loving it!

Can cytogenix help me push through? These answers and more - in THIS edition of

MY CYTOGENIX STACK LOG! 

OK, maybe nothing that dramatic - but the gains and muscular confidence I’ve been gaining in my lifts have been VERY dramatic…..so I guess it IS that dramatic after all!

Two scoops on time and C.J. and I hit the weights for the third day of week two on the modified 5×5 workout. Since we were only able to hit two of the three lifting days from last week - this lifting day was uncharted territory - so we don’t have any increases to brag about - just some heavy-weight to be slung!!!

The day begins with incline dumbbell press warmups: man, I can feel the effects of Monday and Wednesday all across my chest - and the overall feel of my chest is tight and swollen. I’m really liking the effect of this stack!
We pump out 5 sets of incline. After the first set I realize that i am going to be able to hit every set with nooooooo problem. So instead of repping them out real fast, i decide to go nice and easy - getting a big stretch at the bottom of the range and flex hard while pushing up. Maaaaaaan, that felt nice! The last set, my muscle begin to fatigue - but it’s too late: the last rep of the 5th set is kicked out and I am victorious!!! We increase in that one for sure!!! Next up: long bar row

No, this exercise would typically be deadlift - but since we hit a nice stiff-legged deadlift on Monday, renengade rows on Wednesday - I was feeling a nice heavy compound movement could benefit us (one that was NOT deadlift). We pile and the weight and eventually end up with 170lb on one end and rep out the sets. The first rep on all sets felt really heavy, but after that it was a breeze!

That’s one thing that I have noticed - and I’m not certain if it’s just the muscle freaking out or the supplement kicking in (I’m gonna say it’s the supplement, becuz both C.J. and I agreed that this is a new sensation): we’ll unrack the weight or hit the first rep and our body and mind will be saying: “Holy crap - that’s really freaking heavy!!!!”
But then we’ll move to the push or pull part of the motion (where you contract) and the muscle kicks it right out. When the 2nd rep comes around, the muscle is recovered and starts hitting this rhythm that I had never had before…and before I knew it - the 5th rep was kicked out.

So I think there are a few things that i am experiencing with the stack -
* First, the focus: once i unrack weight and feel the heaviness - I am able to stay motivated and on task - opposed to be feeling discouraged. The past two weeks, there was never a time where I pick up weight and thought: “oh my God….I’ll never be able to do 5 sets of this!” If it ever were to happen, it would have been on the heavy sets of stiff legged deadlift (215lb) or full squats - mostly becuz I have bum knees (dislocated patella from wrestling back in the day).

* Second, the fatigue/recovery equation: usually a heavy set leaves me wasted - but with the stack I am noticing blistering fast recovery times. If C.J. wanted to, we could go set after set behind each other with no rest and I think we’d still hit it. I’ve been forcing him and I to take atleast 30 seconds between each set/switch…and we’re nailing it!

Did I mention the bum knees? Yea….wrestling tournament - torn knee ligment and dislocated patella…that was the end of my wrestling career and I didn’t get the corrected surgery - so lifting heavy on my legs has always been a soft spot for me. Up until I get focused about getting my legs in shape (they’ve always been scrawny!) Well, since I’ve started the 5×5 and the cytogenix stack, I’ve never had second thoughts that my knee couldn’t handle the weight….until today. Barbell lunges at 45% of our squat 1RM. yikes!

First rep - I can feel the lactic acid hit my thigh….second rep, I can feel my ass muscles getting into it all….third rep: it all went away and my muscles remembered that they are connected to the same frame that has been muscling out all the other heavy weight for the past 14 days - powered up and motivated, so they had better have a good showing as well!

And they did!

The last set of heavy lunges and I was victorious -AND I will be going up in weight! Isn’t that a kick in the head!!!

I won’t bore you with the rest of the lift- but suffice it to say: another workout knocked out of the park with increases on EVERY lift for next week. I’m only two weeks in, but I gotta say: that the cytogenix stack certainly has given me the edge to push out some pretty insane sets at a pace that I wouldn’t have been able to nail 10 weeks ago.

I’m looking hard and long at the Xenadrine product now - I’ve been wanting to cut and adding that to my stack might get me looking less like a ‘bulking phase’ and start chiseling out my definition. I just may have to pull the trigger!!!

I’ll hit the progress up on Monday with my third week on 5×5 with the stack - so far, I couldn’t be happier!!! I will also be taking new measurements to compare physical growth changes.

Here’s today’s menu: (off-day)

Waking: 1-scoop cytocell, 5oz water
First meal: Boost protein drink: 12g protein
Mid-morning snack: 1-cup cottage cheese: 30g protein
Lunch: Beef pho soup: 35g protein
Lunch supplement: 1x GNC Men’s sport multivitamin, 1x GNC Fish oil chew
Mid-afternoon snack: 1-cup pineapple, 1/2 large sweet potato: 1g protein
Afternoon snack: protein bar: 15g protein
Late afternoon snack: whey shake, peanut butter, banana, 2 cups soy - 82g protein
Dinner: 6oz Tuna on 7-grain bread: 40g protein
Pre-bedtime: 1-scoop cytocell
30 minutes later: 1-cup cottage cheese: 30g

Total protein intake: 245g

Thanks for reading!

2/5/09 Menu (working on my lunch right now!) lifting day:

Waking: Boost high Protein drink: 12g protein
Morning: 1half sweet potato - 0g protein
Mid morning: 1 cup cottage cheese: 30g protein
Lunch: 2x baked Salmon portions with 2x lemon slices: 78g protein
Lunch-time supplements: 1x GNC Men?s sport multivitamin, 1x GNC Fish Oil Chew
Mid afternoon snack: 1 Boost protein drink: 12g protein
Afternoon: 1-cup pineapple, protein bar: 15.5g protein
Pre-workout: 1 scoop Cytonox
Post-workout (immediately): 1 scoop cytocell
Post-workout (15 minutes): Whey protein, 2-cup soy milk shake: 72g protein
Dinner: Chicken breast with spinach salad: 45g protein
Before bed 1: 1 scoop cytocell
Before bed: 1cup cottage cheese: 30g protein

Protein total: 294.5g

I love me some SALMON! Hmmmmm….

Ok, day two of week two and things are progressing nicely - atleast I think so! I’ll start this entry with my menu first:

Waking: Boost high Protein drink: 12g protein
Morning: Protein Bar - 14g protein
Mid morning: 1 cup cottage cheese: 30g protein
Pre-Lunch: 1-cup Pineapple - 0g protein
Lunch: 8x turkey slices, 3xwhole wheat bread, light mayo, 3xbutter lettuce: [/b]30g protein
Lunch-time supplements: 1x GNC Men’s sport multivitamin, 1x GNC Fish Oil Chew
Mid afternoon snack: 1 Boost protein drink: 12g protein
Afternoon: protein bar: 14g protein
Pre-workout: 1 scoop Cytonox
Post-workout (immediately): 1 scoop cytocell
Post-workout (15 minutes): Whey protein, 2-cup soy milk shake: 72g protein
Dinner: Whole wheat, BLT - 2 x pepper jack cheese, 1x cooked egg: 52g protein
Before bed 1: 1 scoop cytocell
Before bed: 1cup cottage cheese: 30g protein

Protein total: 266g

The second item is that i have noticed in the last couple of days that when I wake up - my hands and forearms are TOTALLY asleep - or atleast feel like they are. This has happened only a few times before and each time it was when i noticed considerable gains in strength and size associated with heavy lifting regimen and/or plateau breaking routines in my lifting. If I had to guess what causes this weird sensation is that my muscles are actually growing and squeezing my vascular system a little - so while they are catching up, they are getting squished alittle (in the meantime) and it always goes away.

I am taking this as a great sign - becuz this means I’m breaking into new ground physically. Tonight is day two of the lift - weight still going up!

Still maintaining a clean-eating/protein rich diet for the Cytogenix stack. Here’s today’s menu (no training today):

Waking: 1-scoop Cytocell
Morning: Boost high Protein drink: 12g protein
Mid morning: 1 half sweet potato: 1.5g protein
Pre-Lunch: 1 cup cottage cheese: 30g protein
Lunch: Chicken breast (shredded) in rice, 1oz cheddar (shredded) w/ 1tbs. picante saunce: 40g
Lunch-time supplements: 1x GNC Men’s sport multivitamin, 1x GNC Fish Oil Chew
Mid afternoon snack: 1cup pineapples, 1 Boost protein drink: 13g protein
Late Afternoon: protein bar: 20g protein
<strong />Dinner: Chicken breast with broccoli: 45g protein
Before bed 1: 1 scoop cytocell
Before bed: 1cup cottage cheese: 30g protein

Total Protein:  191.5g

OK, day one of week two is down in the books - here’s how the cytogenix stack went:

As I mentioned in my sponsored log entry for last night, I had stayed home not feeling well and decided to rest up and work from home. All day I felt just kinda "bleh" … so before I go into the workout and the supplements, I want to preface with: No, the cytogenix stack is not a panacea. It didn’t make me grow that extra 2 inches in height that I’ve always wanted, it didn’t move any furniture for me and it hasn’t cured my brother’s drinking problem.

But it did give me the motivation, pump and focus to pound out another stellar workout! LOL!

Ok, so I’m on the 5×5 modified - original numbers for each working set is 75-80% of my 1RM for each exercise (less abs). Typically, this is a pretty intense workout - I’ve allotted 45-90 seconds rest between sets for me and my partner - but we zoom along at a decent pace and I would say our rest between sets is about 30-45 seconds. So with very little rest between working sets within the 75-80% 1RM range - we should be hard pressed to hit the 5th set to completion.

Not so.

15 minutes after taking cytonox, I’m feeling pretty hyped up to get to working out. Unfortunately, our third partner calls and says he’s gonna be about 15 minutes late. I decide that we’ll give him the time and decide to just kick around waiting…..that lasted for about 5 seconds. The interesting thing about the Cytonox (in comparison to NOXplode, which I love) is that it didn’t give me the "I could have a panic-attack if I really thought about it" feeling. It was more of an eagerness to get it done - and then do more when I was finished! C.J. (who bummed a scoop off of me) was dying to get to lifting too - and he described it the same way - it was that he was tweaking, it was that he was just inspired to begin lifting. It’s like a swell of energy, but not in an artificial way. With Gakic, I felt motivated - but it was more of an alertness that I was experienced. With Cytonox, I actually felt MOTIVATED to lift … and remember, I was resting all day, not feeling so great.

Since we pounded out last week’s workout with ease, we had to increase the weight - surely, we would struggle with 5×5 @30-45sec. rest. Nope - we ran through the bench like demons possessed. The next exercise was weighted wide-grip pullups. Not for one second did I think I was going to fail - and albeit, the last set was killer - I still felt like I could do atleast 4 more sets of 5.

Squats were the real test - not 2 hours ago, I had engaged in leg-draining activities (read: sex) and I was worried that it would effect my legs ability to pound out the sets prescribed (having had that problem before). Would this be the same case here - do you see where this going?

Who ordered 5 sets of full-squats at increased weight from last week? Coming right up!!!

We really couldn’t figure it out - is the supplement really making THAT much of a difference? Were our gains really coming THAT fast (remember, we were just coming off of an 8-10 week workout routine and had done 1-Rep Maxes the week before the new workout numbers and cytogenix stack) All logic says that we "shouldn’t" be progressing this fast….yet, I was.

As reported before - recovery time is ridiculously low - even C.J. commented on how quickly he felt that he could jump right back onto the weight. Heavy sets of stiff-legged deadlights produced a light-headed feeling, but it was only becuz I was leaning forward and sitting back up fairly quick - with what my lower back and hams would consider "heavy" weight.

Only two sets of abs at increased weight - 2sets were on the menu - couldn’t done ALOT more. I was even able to actually complete the single sets of 50 for bicep and triceps in one go - where previously, I would have had to stop at about 25-35 for a rest pause and then squeeze out a few more….rest…and then finish. We’re obviously gonna have to increase weigt there too.

So immediately after the workout - I down the Cytocell - wait 15 minutes and then take my whey/soy drink - wait 20 minutes and then eat…..man, this is tough work! LOL! 3 hours later, it’s bed time and I take one more dose of cytocell and actually get a decent nights rest.

One that I did notice when I woke up (and this just could be the workout swelling) but my muscle in my armpits and elbow joints…the muscle in my back were just tweaking! I felt like I had been plyo-flexing all night and woke up in the middle of it. I had to reposition myself to get comfortable again, but it just felt like my muscles were flexing involuntarily. I don’t know of that’s normal - and it didn’t hurt….it was just odd. This morning, my muscle are swollen from the workout - but I can definitely tell a mass increase - pictures to come soon!

Side effects this time around: aside from the weird late night flexing and some minor gas - we’re good to go!
Thanks for reading and Wednesday can’t come quick enough!!!