Booneman's Optimum Alpha (-)-Epicatechin log

[booneman77]

Welcome all, to my first venture into the (-)-epi world!

I will be logging optimum alpha's 250mg pure (-)-epicatechin product. From their website:

(-)-Epicatechin by Optimum Alpha improves muscular and cardiovascular endurance, and strength. (-)-Epicatechin is a natural herbal extract shown to increase the body's natural oxidative capacity and energy reserves. Taken in conjunction with physical activity, (-)-Epicatechin increases aerobic metabolism, strength, endurance, lean muscle development, and reduces body fat. In addition, (-)-Epicatechin has been shown to reduce Myostatin levels and increases Follistatin in the body. Extracted from green tea, (-)-Epicatechin is a natural antioxidant that provides many added health benefits including improved cholesterol levels and reduced blood pressure. (-)-Epicatechin is a safe natural supplement, that when taken regularly, has shown to increase performance in the gym and on the field. All Optimum Alpha products are cGMP certified to ensure the highest quality.

My goals for this log will be mostly to explore the world of epi and get a feel for how it treats me. I would like to lean out a bit further as the last few weeks my body comp has been slipping a bit.

I will be running a half marathon October 4th so my training until that point will be tapering down a bit (currently running a 5 day PHAT routine) as my running tapers up.

I will be following this split until the race (am/pm):
Mon- off/run
Tues- back+shoulders/run
Weds- legs
Thurs- chest+arms/run
Fri- off/run
Sat- pull power/long run
Sun- push power/ long run

Diet is very simple, IF style where I typically have my first meal (shake) at 3pm and dinner around 6-7pm, followed by a pre-bed meal. I eat typically 1600-1700kcals psmf style all but weds/sat which are 2700-3000kcal refeed days where I tend to include plenty of cheat foods as well as my normal bro foods.

First dose was taken this evening to give me an initial boost, first workout dose will be with tomorrow's workout.

Feel free to ask questions, post thoughts and such as we go!

 

[datsthat]

Subbed for above. I am interested in how this product works for others.

Personal experience: (-)-Epicatechin is awesome for increasing endurance.

 

[Jebrook]

Subbed

 

[booneman77]

day1 front

day 1 side

Starting weight: 179.7lb

For reference, the lowest I've gotten this summer was 174lb and was significantly tighter. Vacation two weeks ago paired with the cardarine I had been taking and the subsequent lessening of my running has seemed to put a stark halt to fat loss and even recomp or maintenance.

I would like to see myself tighten up a bit more during this run and at least up until my race begin to lose weight again.

 

[booneman77]

Day 1 in the books. Pull power (first week with no power legs work). Nothing to note.

 

[booneman77]

A little refeed day food porn:

 

[davidmma]

A little refeed day food porn:
View attachment 123977View attachment 123978View attachment 123979

Holy that looks good. Just subbed.

 

[AlphaCommandr]

Good stuff Boone! The endurance aspect of the epi is fantastic, I have a lot of endurance athletes that started taking it that are having amazing results. Very excited to see your progress!

 

[booneman77]

Day two down. Strength was a bit low today and weight went down slightly even after that refeed.

 

[booneman77]

Off day from the gym today... Mondays are almost always travel days for work for me. Lower back has been bugging me so I'm not running this evening either. Gonna rest up.

Taking my dose with dinner in a bit. Huge cheat coming on wednesday with a 3lb burger challenge plus over 1lb of poutine. Prob gonna have a few misc other treats as well while I'm having a blowout... pretty much just as much food as I can stomach.

Plan is to low carb/fat/cal everyday until about thursday of next week leading up to my half marathon (except weds) to really deplete and then I will load up carbs leading into race day. Training will stay the same except next week I'll be skipping legs totally and running more instead.

Hoping to begin seeing/feeling a little extra pump with tomorrow morning's workout (will be day 5 on the epi)

 

[booneman77]

Food for thought: be careful what spices you buy in Canada

 

[Jebrook]

Food for thought: be careful what spices you buy in Canada View attachment 124049

Lol

 

[tyga tyga]

Subd ninja

 

[booneman77]

Very interesting workout this morning (back/shoulders hyper). Wasn't feeling all that great, tired and just generally lazy but I was able to hit all of my reps and sets at the normal weights. Really felt like it was just mentally draining more so than physical. Nothing to note as far as pumps or real endurance, but recovery between sets may have been better considering my condition.

Last night was also zero carb (as will be tonight) so tomorrow should be a rough one.

 

[puccah8808]

I'm herrrrrrrrre!!!!!!

Looking good so far!

 

[booneman77]

That feeling when your pre workout cocktail comes out looking like the ninja turtles secret ooze...

 

[Hyde]

In my man

 

[booneman77]

Had the weirdest nights sleep last night... Friggin HICCUPS had me waking up every 5 min for no reason... Slept like crap, hadn't eaten hardly anything... Legs this morning was already planned to be tapered down but ended up being just a complete bs workout. Just went through some motions really.

Burger challenge night (last legit cheat until post race next weekend)- crushed this 3lb burger and 2lb poutine challenge in 30min

 

[Hyde]

I'm going to rep you when I'm back on my desktop. You in Canada w the poutine?

 

[AlphaCommandr]

That looks AWESOME man!!! Got me beat tonight, but this was about 1.5 hours following a shake after an insane 2 hours and 45 minutes leg destruction, so at least I earned it haha

 

[tyga tyga]

Dang lol I need to try a food challenge ... Gotta be where the gainz are at

 

[booneman77]

I'm going to rep you when I'm back on my desktop. You in Canada w the poutine?

Yes sir. Been up here most weekdays for the past few months for work.

 

[booneman77]

That looks AWESOME man!!! Got me beat tonight, but this was about 1.5 hours following a shake after an insane 2 hours and 45 minutes leg destruction, so at least I earned it haha

View attachment 124127

Nothing like a big chunk of meat and sweets to satisfy... One questions tho... Who burned your steak?! haha...That better be a serious sear job

 

[booneman77]

Dang lol I need to try a food challenge ... Gotta be where the gainz are at

are you anywhere near the Tenn border/Memphis? If so, I'll be there in a few weeks and if we can find a night that works, we can find something! Maybe a tag team challenge. I have et to try one like that since no one I live near can eat like a big boy.

 

[tyga tyga]

are you anywhere near the Tenn border/Memphis? If so, I'll be there in a few weeks and if we can find a night that works, we can find something! Maybe a tag team challenge. I have et to try one like that since no one I live near can eat like a big boy.

Negative. I'm smack dab in the middle of Missouri do you ever travel this way for work?

 

[Hyde]

Negative. I'm smack dab in the middle of Missouri do you ever travel this way for work?

Only when he's looking to restock his roadkill opossum supply

 

[booneman77]

Negative. I'm smack dab in the middle of Missouri do you ever travel this way for work?

I'll have to look and see if we have any factories out that way... Doubt it though

 

[tyga tyga]

I'll have to look and see if we have any factories out that way... Doubt it though

If you do, or if you can get closer than ten-a-key, I'd be down to drive a distance to meet up and get a team challenge in. May even be able to get Hyde in as well!

 

[AlphaCommandr]

Nothing like a big chunk of meat and sweets to satisfy... One questions tho... Who burned your steak?! haha...That better be a serious sear job

It was an organic 28oz ny strip so I cooked it medium rare on high heat on the grill, I wanted a little char last night, idk why haha. I always cook them medium rare, sometimes fast (char), sometimes slow (no char), just depends on my mood.

 

[Hyde]

If you do, or if you can get closer than ten-a-key, I'd be down to drive a distance to meet up and get a team challenge in. May even be able to get Hyde in as well!

I doubt it as I moved to mid IL for now, but it's a possibility if I have some other reason to go to STL for a few days. I suck at eating challenges anyway. My real strength lies in my ability to put down many feedings in a day. 8/day was not uncommon when I was working on airplanes. 6am, 9:30am, 11:30am, 2pm, 4pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm, 10:30pm counting 3 powder-based meals lol

 

[AlphaCommandr]

Nice Hyde, I do 8 meals everyday (every 2.5hrs), unless I'm cutting for a show, if I'm doing no carbs I've been known to do 10 meals (every 2 hours). But I'm a 6'1" 245lb ectomorph that maintains 7%bf or so, it takes a lot to fuel this tank lol

 

[Hyde]

Nice Hyde, I do 8 meals everyday (every 2.5hrs), unless I'm cutting for a show, if I'm doing no carbs I've been known to do 10 meals (every 2 hours). But I'm a 6'1" 245lb ectomorph that maintains 7%bf or so, it takes a lot to fuel this tank lol

I bet, you must need over 6k calories daily to gain weight huh?
I can gain weight very easily but my bf is so high it's mainly just more fat when I gain. I maintain somewhere between 3-4k/day.

 

[booneman77]

Man I am so jealous of you guys that have to eat a ton... 1600 calories isn't even that low for me after a while on a diet. Never been above 3k without just getting fat within weeks

 

[Hyde]

Man I am so jealous of you guys that have to eat a ton... 1600 calories isn't even that low for me after a while on a diet. Never been above 3k without just getting fat within weeks

Well you can see my bodyfat in my log so don't say I didn't warn you if you decide to start eating for a squat belly.

 

[AlphaCommandr]

I bet, you must need over 6k calories daily to gain weight huh?
I can gain weight very easily but my bf is so high it's mainly just more fat when I gain. I maintain somewhere between 3-4k/day.

Yep, about 6000 to grow, 5000 to maintain and I do about 3500 when cutting haha

 

[booneman77]

Yep, about 6000 to grow, 5000 to maintain and I do about 3500 when cutting haha

The jealousy I have towards you is unreal ha

 

[Hyde]

The jealousy I have towards you is unreal ha

Gotta ditch the abs and you too can eat like that. Bulk and cut. The trick is not to let your body get too sloppy. If you get much over 15% you'll start packing on more and more fat/lb. Lean gaining is for the genetically blessed and noobs.

 

[tyga tyga]

Gotta ditch the abs and you too can eat like that. Bulk and cut. The trick is not to let your body get too sloppy. If you get much over 15% you'll start packing on more and more fat/lb. Lean gaining is for the genetically blessed and noobs.

Slow and steady wins the race diet down and treat your metabolism right when reversing out and watch the calories rise and the lbm grow

155lb I was eating the same kcal I am now at 145lb I'm leaner and stronger now will bump my kcals again once I get this cast off and can train properly again

 

[booneman77]

Gotta ditch the abs and you too can eat like that. Bulk and cut. The trick is not to let your body get too sloppy. If you get much over 15% you'll start packing on more and more fat/lb. Lean gaining is for the genetically blessed and noobs.

I've been trying that for the last 3 years... My cuts just get more and more miserable. This year I'm trying to stay at a lower bf much longer and hoping to lower my natural threshold so it's not so insanely difficult to maintain a reasonable bf. I can go from 10 to 15% in a month or so even at only 3000 cals. I'm just made to be 15-20 so it's really a struggle to hold lower

 

[booneman77]

Really short chest/arms workout this morning as I was pressed for time. Strength and endurance were barely even tested simply due to the timing and what I wanted to get accomplished. This should be the last of the shotty workouts for awhile. Gonna really go hard tomorrow and Sunday, then lots of running and heavy carb depletion until Friday. Then a good 3 day carb up before my race, and then it's all gains all the time!

 

[booneman77]

Finally well rested, well fed, and well preworkouted ha. Absolutely feeling good when I went in to the gym for my power pull day. Kinda freewheeling it at this point since no legs this week before my race has forced me to change up.

Went for heavier loads but very controlled and worked more for endurance and feel than anything.

Pumps are officially non existent due mostly to low carbs. I had hoped the epi might start hitting me in this aspect but no such luck this far.

Endurance seemed good, but it's hard to compare since I've felt like trash this last week +. Tomorrow will tell the true tale.

 

[Hyde]

Yeah I imagine if the carbs are gone you're just gonna not get pumped. At 400g/day w low fats and I get pumped looking at weights on this -epi

 

[booneman77]

Yeah I imagine if the carbs are gone you're just gonna not get pumped. At 400g/day w low fats and I get pumped looking at weights on this -epi

They'll be back starting Friday but lifting prob won't be too heavy until Monday.

 

[booneman77]

Push power this morning. Once again, well fed, well slept and ready to roll. Workout was once again a bit of a free for all, but I still was surprised how good I felt even on low cals and carbs. Still no pumps or really much in the way of endurance, but as I've said, the diet will be a huge factor in this and I don't expect to see much until next week

 

[booneman77]

Travel/off day today. Body is actually feeling really good though considering the almost zero carbs the last three days. As of today my only carbs will be trace amounts in chicken, quark or Greek yogurt, and a scoop of oximega greens. Gonna focus workouts the next 3 days on total depletion and then begin the carb up on Friday and continue until the race on Sunday morning.

Gonna try to take a good run tomorrow and Wednesday then prob go easy thurs before fri-sat of some light pump work just to allow/stimulate the muscles to absorb max glycogen during the refeeding period.

 

[puccah8808]

Boone, is a traveling job as awesome as it sounds?

 

[booneman77]

Boone, is a traveling job as awesome as it sounds?

I'd say mostly yes. I don't get to do much except work and eat during the weekdays (which for me are pretty much my only hobbies anyways ha) and am almost never home to use any of the things I've bought over the last few years (car/truck/motorcycle/hockey toys/etc) but I have almost zero bills and get to see a bunch of places and meet people k never would otherwise.

Only really bad part is that I don't get to enjoy social life too much. Because most of my free time is at a hotel in the evenings (alone usually) and doing laundry, misc errands and repacking on the weekends there just is t much else going on. I'm not much of a socialite anyways though so it suits me.

I can say this, if you cherish time out with friends, family, or other people in general, it might not be the right choice. If you enjoy mostly "me time", it's perfect. No one will bother you

 

[puccah8808]

I'd say mostly yes. I don't get to do much except work and eat during the weekdays (which for me are pretty much my only hobbies anyways ha) and am almost never home to use any of the things I've bought over the last few years (car/truck/motorcycle/hockey toys/etc) but I have almost zero bills and get to see a bunch of places and meet people k never would otherwise.

Only really bad part is that I don't get to enjoy social life too much. Because most of my free time is at a hotel in the evenings (alone usually) and doing laundry, misc errands and repacking on the weekends there just is t much else going on. I'm not much of a socialite anyways though so it suits me.

I can say this, if you cherish time out with friends, family, or other people in general, it might not be the right choice. If you enjoy mostly "me time", it's perfect. No one will bother you

Thank you! I think it'll be perfect for me!

 

[booneman77]

I could t resist and did legs today ha. Just some higher rep depletion sets but really working the contraction and squeeze. Weights were light as focus was on the squeeze. Feeling really energized still even with zero carbs. Chicken for days.

 

[booneman77]

If anyone is interested in meet ups at some point: http://anabolicminds.com/forum/showthread.php?t=273479