ShadedNature’s BodyBlog

I’ve been doing some experimentation with Amy’s original idea of making Bodybuilder Ice Cream (Thank Amy!)  I’ve come up with a PERFECT replica of Jello Chocolate Pudding.  I swear if I put two of them side by side, you couldn’t tell the difference.  It’s perfect for a pre-bedtime snack that’s loaded with Casein protein.

1/2 Cup of Low Fat Cottage Cheese
1 1/2 Scoops of Optimum Nutrition Chocolate Supreme Casein Protein Powder
1 Packet of Splenda
Enough water to make it kind of watery

Mix together in a blender and blend thoroughly.  Pour into a container.  You didn’t make it watery enough if you need a scraper to get a majority of the batter out.  I used one to get small amounts off the side and bottom of the blender.  Freeze for 2 - 2 1/2 hours or so.  You’ll know it’s done when you shake it and the center moves and gelates to back to the center.

ENJOY!!!!  Wanted to thank Amy again for her creativity in making the BB’er diet easier.

So it’s finally starting to warm up around here as the days get longer.  I’m looking forward to sandy beaches and hot weather; for the most part.  It’s been a year, I just posted progress pictures and I see very little changes - Particularly in the lower gut area that doesn’t like to go away regardless of how much cardio I do or my low fat diet, and high metabolism should take care of.  Perhaps my changes are much more slow than others since I have so many things working against me:

1) I have a high metabolism.

2) I have very long limbs which make it alot harder to see results when compared to someone who’s short.

3) My last name is secretly Murphy - HA!

Perhaps I don’t see the changes because after all, it is my body - kinda see it everyday and won’t notice the changes when in contrast, someone who hasen’t seen me in 3 years might.  To say the very least, it’s discouraging; but nothing good ever comes easy they say!  I’m sticking to it that’s my story, end of discussion.

So I decided to check out the other WoW’s in my area and actually went to Waterford a couple times last week after work.  I was surprised to see the older equipment and new, yet old machines that i don’t have in the Groton gym like the French Tricep Extension.  The older equipment definitely make you work harder as it was clearly evident that I was limping around after my leg day there.  I also noticed that people in Waterford seem to mind their own business and keep looks to themselves in contrast to Groton where a new found nick name for some of the MUCH bigger people there was created - "Juicy Fruit".  Luckily, that’s stopped and I’m starting to get acknowledgment from some of them as I’m no longer deemed a "n00bie" to Groton WoW, they realize that I’m not some chump and I’m there to stay until I die.

Good for them, I’m not going anywhere.

I just purchased a tub of GlycerGrow from Controlled Labs because I’ve heard alot of good reviews about it from many people on the forums.  I didn’t start taking it on Friday considering my emotions at the time and my lack of sleep the night before so I took that Friday off and started it on Saturday.  I was able to swish 3 scoops down rather easily with the White Flood/Green Mag and started my shoulder routine.  Got through the shoulder routine rather easily, and did a few arm exercises to test the pump of it.  WOW!  My arms and shoulders, a day later, are still solid.  I was so wired and focused that one of the guys in the gym asked me: "What the **** are you on?!" I’ve been recommending CL products to anyone that I know that lifts weights.  I have to hand it to Controlled Labs.  Quality Products, Decent Price and Very Low Cost Per Serving!

I finally joined the WoW in Groton today!  I’ve kinda outgrown the free one in the troll basement of a police department.  Perhaps I’ll see someone from the BodySpace community there.  Keep your eyes open on Jan. 1st, I’ll be around lifting weights!

So I posted some pictures of myself so every bb.com’er has poof that I’m real(Even if it’s a terrible picture with a cheeseball smile coming from yours truly )  New progress pictures are up and I feel like my chest should be getting alot bigger.  I’ve recently altered my chest workouts and hope that makes a big difference.  I’ve gained 20 lbs so far this year and although I’m used to hearing that if you do everything right you should gain a 1lb a week.  I still feel like I can do better even if a rep from Universal Nutrition tells me that 20 lbs is astronmical growth.  I’m looking for more input from others about their opinion(s) regarding my 20lb a year growth or else I was gonna try out the Sciviation, free personal trainer program and see if they can help me.  I’d love to show pictures of my back for you guys!  My back has grown the most!  However, I have an original tattoo that I personally drew, has ALOT of meaning to me, and it’s sad to say that there will be ONE person on here that will think it’s cool, downloads it, and gets it inked onto them.
In other news, it’s week 2 of the new CL stack and it hasn’t lost it’s edge!  I’m hoping it won’t and I’ll continue to do well in the gym with it until I reach my goal.  I’ve reached the 50% done mark of my goal in 10 months of training.  Hoping to get 5 more lbs before the end of the year.

It’s been awhile ladies, gents; I’m back and better than ever!  During my BodySpace-less life, I haven’t quit just yet!  I’m starting fresh with new Supplements, I’ve changed my diet to reflect a BodySpace celeb - Nice_Edge and it appears to be working great!  I’ve dumped Gaspari as my primary source of NO/Creatine(Sorry, but CL works better, costs less and lasts me longer) and picked up:

• Controlled Labs - White Flood
• Controlled Labs - Green MAGnitude
• Controlled Labs - Purple Wraath

I’m also dumping Optimum Nutrition Pro Complex Gainer(once I run out ) since I’ve seen great results with cleaner eating and CL products (Thanks Nick!!!)  I’m replacing it with Optimum 100% Gold Standard Whey since it’s lower in fat, sugars, more carbs for a Ectomorph like me and a decent serving of protein.  I think a hard gainer’s true problem isn’t how much they eat, it’s their metabolism that’s eating away at the newly developed muscle tissue everyone here strives to gain.  Purple Wraath is loaded with BCAA/EAA’s that have been proven to protect muscle tissue during a lean out cycle.  I’m still eating clean, caloric dense meals - but I’m doing it smarter this time!  We’ll see how this shakes out, but I can’t help but notice the n00bie six pack that’s coming in nicely since eating cleaner.  Finally, I’m throwing out my scale!  It continually measures my weight and body fat% inconsistently!  I’ll stick to how I look in the mirror and figure out the body fat % through more accurate means.