The Quest

Joy L Frestedt , John L Zenk , Michael A Kuskowski , Loren S Ward  and Eric D Bastian

Nutrition & Metabolism 2008, 5:8doi:10.1186/ 1743-7075- 5-8

Published: 27 March 2008

Abstract (provisional)

Background
This study evaluated a specialized whey fraction (Prolibra, high in leucine, bioactive peptides and milk calcium) for use as a dietary supplement to enhance weight loss.

Methods
This was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-arm, 12-week study. Caloric intake was reduced 500 calories per day. Subjects consumed Prolibra or an isocaloric ready-to-mix beverage 20 minutes before breakfast and 20 minutes before dinner. Body fat and lean muscle tissue were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Body weight and anthropometric measurements were recorded every 4 weeks. Blood samples were taken at the beginning and end of the study. Statistical analyses were performed on all subjects that completed (completer analysis) and all subjects that lost at least 2.25 kg of body weight (responder analysis). Within group significance was determined at P<0.05 using a two-tailed paired t-test and between group significance was determined using one way analysis of covariance with baseline data as a covariate.

Results
Both groups lost a significant amount of weight and the Prolibra group tended to lose more weight than the control group; however the amount of weight loss was not significantly different between groups after 12 weeks. Prolibra subjects lost significantly more body fat compared to control subjects for both the completer (2.81 vs. 1.62 kg P=0.03) and responder (3.63 vs. 2.11 kg, P=0.01) groups. Prolibra subjects lost significantly less lean muscle mass in the responder group (1.07 vs. 2.41 kg, P=0.02). The ratio of fat to lean loss (kg fat lost/kg lean lost) was much larger for Prolibra subjects for both completer (3.75 vs. 1.05) and responder (3.39 vs. 0.88) groups.

Conclusions
Subjects in both the control and treatment group lost a significant amount of weight with a 500 calorie reduced diet. Subjects taking Prolibra lost significantly more body fat and showed a greater preservation of lean muscle compared to subjects consuming the control beverage. Because subjects taking Prolibra lost 6.1% of their body fat mass, and because a 5% reduction of body fat mass has been shown to reduce the risk of obesity related disease, the results have practical significance.

Well for the most part all is well…haha the only thing is, I want to drop another 5 kg or 10 lbs (of fat of course) while retaining my muscle mass. I started loading up on Scivation Xtend…I have read that BCAA helps retain lean tissue during extreme dieting.  The Scivation makes it easy to take the BCAA because you can pretend you are having cordial (Kool Aid) hahaha.  I am also using Fusion Sub Q for my fat burner.

This week I am suppose to squat for 6 min. I will post on that AFTER I accomplish it.  But I started using the Smith Machine or the Hammer Strength V Squat machine for this workout because I found that free squatting at such high repetitions is exhausting of course but I also become disoriented (I sometimes close my eyes or wobble with the weight) Therefore to provide some support and avoid injury…I chose to switch to the machines. What do you think? 

Today was at 5 min…did 172 reps for squats (so I did not increase from the reps I did at 4:40) and then after 5 min took 20 sec rest and did 15 reps because I wanted to hit about 185 reps for the 5 min mark.  Also, I used the Smith Machine for the squats for the first time.

I think what effected my rep range was lack of sleep, poor nutrition and mucking about on Saturday night instead of going to bed like a good athlete should. hehehe

We only have 7 wks !  Yes thats the panic that fills my mind as I look at my pre contest physique. LOL….I do have to laugh a bit because the people at the gym think I look great, but they have not seen the competition !  You see its easy to say you look great for a "gym" body, where you are not standing next to someone in a critiqued line up as in a contest situation.  So, you have to keep pushing hard so that you wont be disappointed come contest day and you can rest assured you did the best job you could given the resources you have available.

My Hungarian Squats are up to 5 min. now whoohoo….

I skipped a day of squatting due to hamstring soreness from an interval training session…but now I am back at it tomorrow.  The one thing I might change however is that I will likely do Smith Machine Squats instead of traditional free squatting because now I am getting near 200 reps with 60kg or 135 lbs…and I find that near the end of the session I have a tendency to close my eyes or lose form.  I figure by doing it with the Smith Machine it might offer a bit of safety?  What do you think?