Log #41
Started my new stack today, felt great! Here is my workout. Posting a few new reviews/stack information soon.
- Seated Dumbbell Presses, 4 Sets, 7/7/7/4 Reps per Set, 50/55/60/65 Pounds each Arm [Personal Record]
- Twisting Dumbbell Presses, 4 Sets 7/6/6/5 Reps per Set, 45/50/50/50 Pounds each Arm [Personal Record]
- Lying Rear Deltoid Dumbbell Raises, 4 Sets, 20/10/10/6 Reps per Set, 30/37.5/40/40 Pounds each Arm [Personal Record]
- Helicopters, 4 Sets, 7 Reps per Set, 70 Pounds
- Dumbbell Extensions, 4 Sets, 7 Reps per Set, 40/50/50/50 Pounds [Personal Record]
- Barbell Deltoid Upright Rows, 4 Set, 7/6/6/6 Reps per Set, 110 Pounds [Personal Record]
- Side/Front Alternating Dumbbell Raises, 4 Sets, 10 Reps per Set, 25 Pounds each Arm
- Bench Dips, 4 Sets, 10 Reps per Set
- Cable Push Downs, 4 Sets, 6 Reps per Set, 65 Pounds
Final Purple Wraath Lemonade Review
This is my final reflection about Purple Wraath Lemonade. Please look at my initial review: http://yanyanxu.com/2008/03/24/purple-wraath-review-lemonade/
Past to Present
I am sitting here trying to think of how to begin this final review. I have no idea where to start. This past month has been a crazy ride. I've been lifting for three years. My first year lifting I improved my lifts from the bar to two 45 pound plates on each side after half a year. This was all without supplements and whey protein. Lifting makes me feel good and I like seeing the changes in my body. My second year lifting was at college. I hit about 165-175 bench and plateaued for the entire year. I only took whey protein at this time. Halfway through my third year lifting I realized my plateau of 165 bench has not changed, I was not getting stronger, and there were no more changes in my body. My noob gains days were over. At this point I realized I needed to change my life around. I hit my nutrition HARD. I researched endless hours to get it down perfect.
Present
I felt fairly burnt out after three years of lifting. I needed something to lift me up, this is where I started looking at supplements for help. I found Controlled Labs to be a highly reputable company. It all started with the free Purple Wraath and Green MAGnitude samples. Because of their generosity, I gave the company a chance and have since fallen in love with their products.
Here is where the review starts...
My stack is composed of White Flood and Purple Wraath. White Flood has revitalized my energy at the gym. Purple Wraath has pretty much reduced my DOMS and fatigue to nil. I rarely get lactic acid buildups anymore nor do I get really tired at the gym. I have good solid energy throughout with little side effects. The only reason I am not able to put the weight up anymore is that I simply can't. Not because I'm tired, but simply because my body won't push it any higher.
Purple Wraath Lemonade tastes amazing. It helps me get up in the morning when I have to do fasted cardio. In the past this was the toughest workout, but now it has been very enjoyable. One thing I noticed about Purple Wraath is that it eliminated my morning hunger pangs. It also is great at curbing appetite. This is great for people on a cut. Since I am on a bulk, it isn't as useful. My solution is just to start eating and the hunger will catch up with me.
Since starting my CL stack, I've improved each one of my lifts by incredible amounts. I've added up to 30-50 pounds to some lifts. I broke my bench plateau and have hit 225 consistently for reps. I've added dead lifts and squats to my workout. I have learned so much from this seemingly simple log. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity. I hope to continue this and keep hitting PRs every day!
I will now provide some basic information about Purple Wraath that some people still do not know, this will help clarify what Purple Wraath really is.
Why should you take Purple Wraath?
FREE FORM Amino Acid powders like Purple WRAATH are designed with a specific dose timing in mind so it's perfect for cutting, bulking, or a recomp. The FREE FORM Amino Acids overlap the training window with the recovery window. The caffeine-free ergogenics enhance athletic performance / endurance / stamina / recovery between sets.
Train harder....
Stimulate more often...
Recover between sets....
Recover between workouts... GROW!!!
Free WRAATH samples (USA / Canada):
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=5471593
What are BCAA's?
Branched chain amino acids (BCAA's) are of special importance for athletes because they are metabolized in the muscle, rather than in the liver. These aminos can either be used to build new proteins or as fuel to produce energy.
What are EAA's?
This is where people often get confused, because the EAA's include BCAA's... and then some. Unlike non-essential amino acids, the Essential Amino Acids cannot be "synthesized" by the body in "optimal" quantities for the bodybuilder / athlete. There are 9 essential amino acids: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and valine.
Why EAAs over BCAAs? I think it's a solid blend, but is there research out there that points to this over BCAAs?
J Nutr. 2006 Jan;136(1 Suppl):234S-6S.
Modulations of muscle protein metabolism by branched-chain amino acids in normal and muscle-atrophying rats.
Kobayashi H, Kato H, Hirabayashi Y, Murakami H, Suzuki H.
Applied Research Department, AminoScience Laboratories, Ajinomoto Co., Kawasaki, Japan. hisamine_kobayashi@ajinomoto.com
It has been shown that BCAAs, especially leucine, regulate skeletal muscle protein metabolism. However, it remains unclear how BCAAs regulate muscle protein metabolism and lead to anabolism in vivo. We examined muscle protein synthesis rate and breakdown rate simultaneously during BCAA infusion in muscle atrophy models as well as in normal healthy rats. Corticosterone-treated rats and hindlimb-immobilized rats were used as muscle atrophy models. Muscle protein synthesis rate and breakdown rate were measured as phenylalanine kinetics across the hindlimb. In anesthetized normal rats, BCAAs stimulated muscle protein synthesis despite low insulin concentration and did not suppress muscle protein breakdown. In corticosterone-treated rats, BCAAs failed to restore inhibited muscle protein synthesis, but reduced muscle protein breakdown. Immobilization of hindlimb increased muscle protein breakdown within a day. BCAAs did not change muscle protein metabolism, although essential amino acids (EAAs) suppressed muscle protein breakdown in hindlimb-immobilized rats. We also evaluated changes of fractional synthesis rate (FSR) of skeletal muscle protein during infusion of leucine alone or EAAs for 4 h in anesthetized normal rats. FSR showed a transient increase at 15-30 min of leucine infusion and then declined, whereas FSR stayed elevated throughout EAA infusion. We concluded that
1) BCAAs primarily stimulate muscle protein synthesis in normal rats independently of insulin
2) EAAs are required to maintain the BCAA stimulation of muscle protein synthesis and
3) The effects of BCAAs on muscle protein metabolism differ between atrophy models.
Ergogenic mean?
"Increasing capacity for bodily or mental labor especially by eliminating fatigue symptoms"
Final Summary
Purple Wraath is by no means a miracle supplement. It won't make you bigger, it won't make you leaner. What it will do is give yourself the motivation and drive to push yourself to the limit. As a wise man* once said... The war against genetics starts here... the war against genetics starts NOW....
FINAL PICTURES
Abdominals aren't as predominant since I am on a bulk. I get a lot of compliments because people that haven't seen me in a long time are amazed at how big I've gotten.
CL Log #40
Wow I can't believe it is log #40 already! The time sure flies by fast. This has been quite an adventure with PW and WF.
Today I took WF and GG for the first time. What a workout! It was the perfect way to end this log. GG gave me some crazy pumps and insane vascularity. I was seeing veins that I never knew existed!
- Machine Flyes, 4 Sets, 7 Reps per Set, 170/190/210/210 Pounds [PR]
- Bench Press, 6 Sets, 7 Reps per Set, 225/225/205/205/185/185 Pounds
- Incline Bench Press, 4 Sets, 7/7/7/5 Reps per Set, 145 Pounds
- Hammer Curls, 4 Sets, 10 Reps per Set, 50 Pounds Alternating
- Barbell Curls, 4 Sets, 7 Reps per Set, 80 Pounds
- Concentration Curls, 4 Sets, 7 Reps per Set, 85 Pounds
- Palms Down EZ Barbell Wrist Curls, 1 Set , 20 Reps, 50 Pound Each Arm
- Palms Up EZ Barbell Wrist Curls, 1 Set , 20 Reps, 50 Pound Each Arm
CL Log #39
Dosed with Thermadrene + PW for fasted morning cardio. Huge energy and great endurance. Love it!
- Pull Ups, 4 Sets, 7 Reps per Set
- 20 Minutes, LISS
- Captains Chair, 20 reps.
- Weighted Obliques, 20 reps, left side.
- Weighted Obliques, 20 reps, right side.
- Incline Abdominal Sit Up, 20 reps.
- Incline Abdominal Oblique Twist Sit Up, 20 reps, alternating.
- Lower Ab Workout, 20 reps.
Getting ready for class...
CL Log #38
Champaign weather right now is BEAUTIFUL. Since my log is coming to an end, I decided to gradually start taking some of the supplements that I have been waiting to try. I will post a final reflection once the log hits 40. I am going to log another CL product, which will probably be some sort of GG stack. I will continue my log even after the final update as well just because I enjoy it.
Today I took OT for the first time. I am doing th 2-2-2 dosing scheme to better partition nutrient uptake. I am taking it for breakfast, noon meal, and dinner.
I chilled Purple Wraath overnight and took it today with one pill of Thermadreme [natural fat burner], I'm trying this stack for cardio because it will give me energy as well as endurance from the Purple Wraath. I had great energy and it was one of the funnest workouts. I'm going to step up the dosage of Thermadreme once this log is completely over. Right now I'm just easing my body into it.
- 30 Minutes, Jump Rope mixed with Burpees
- Pull Ups, 3 Sets, 7 Reps per Set
- Circuit x 3
- AB Stretch/Vacuum between Circuits
CIRCUIT [No rest]
- Lower AB Crunch on Incline Bench
- Hip Raise on Incline Bench
- Side Crunch on Incline Bench
- Knee Up on Incline Bench
- Lying Crunch on Floor with Foot on Bench
I am excited to try some new supplements out and tomorrow this log will officially hit #40 =)!
CL Log #37
I was so tired today! Was a pain staying awake through 4 hours of Accy. I took some WF and PW right after class and immediately my energy levels shot through the roof while walking to the gym. Good stuff right there.
I used the smith machine for most my lifts today. I'm not a huge fan of it because the bar is so big that my hands don't really fit around it [Yes I'm small]. It did help me work on my squat though.
- Dead Lifts, 5 Sets, 7 Reps per Set, 90/180/180/180/180 Pounds
- Barbell Shrug, 4 Sets, 20/15/10/10 Reps per Set, 140/160/160/160 Pounds
- Calf Raises, 4 Sets, 10-15 Reps per Set, 100 Pounds
- Squat, 8 Sets, 10/10/10/9/8/7/7/6 Reps per Set, 100/150x7 Pounds [I love this exercise, it gets me all sweaty and worked up.]
- Bent Barbell Rows, 4 Set, 10 Reps per Set, 100 Pounds
- EZ Bar Shrugs, 1 Set, 50 Reps per Set, 100 Pounds
- DB Shrugs, 4 Sets, 20 Reps per Set, 60 Pounds each Arm
- Pull Ups, 4 Sets, 10 Reps per Set
- Dips, 4 Sets, 10 Reps per Set
- Wide Grip Pull Downs, 4 Sets, 7/7/7/7 Reps per Set, 60 Pounds
- Dual Pulley Rows, 4 Set, 7 Reps per Set, 60 Pounds
- Leg Press Machine, 3 Sets, 7 Reps per Set, 270/320/320 Pounds
- Super Horizontal Calf Machine - Straight, 4 Sets, 20 Reps per Set, 320 Pounds
- Super Horizontal Calf Machine - In, 2 Sets, 20 Reps per Set, 320 Pounds
- Super Horizontal Calf Machine - Out, 2 Sets, 20 Reps per Set, 320 Pounds
One SICK workout. I am going to feel it like crazy tomorrow.