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Volcom's Optimus PRIME Log

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I chose to rest again today, but it was more physically coerced then a cut & dry decision.

I'm going to blame a bad nights sleep and maybe a lack of an "appropriate" amount of rest. I felt both lethargic and apathetic today. I drove myself to the gym, doing everything in my power to get the drive to get inside, but the lethargy and apathy was a bit overwhelming. It felt much like week 4 for something like Junglewarfare or 3-AD. I don't believe PRIME-drol causes any direct lethargy, so I decided was probably due to some bad sleep last night (I left my window open, so I was freezing, but too tired to get up and close my window, and I was tossing and turning and waking up from the cold) and the one day rest was most likely not sufficient for as hard as I've been pushing and exerting my muscles. Thus, it was probably best I rested up today.

This PRIME-2-dione experience has been great so far in terms of apparent results, but I think all that extra strength boost really puts my body into overdrive and therefore, I require more then a days break after a 6 day, 8 workouts run, on a strength regiment.

I doubt there are many people who would not. I most definitely would.
 
I doubt there are many people who would not. I most definitely would.

Snag warned me of overtraining while on PRIME. He suggested I keep very conscious about my R&R's (in particular with this PRIME-drol experience, because Snag preaching appropriate R&R isn't out of the ordinary), and of course he's usually right and I don't usually listen until I have to. I have a bad habit of only resting once I've breached point horizon and choice is no longer a choice.

Listen to Head Chef Snag kids Invalid Link Removed

Speaking of Chefs, the new season of Top Chef is 4 episodes deep and I'm loving it. It's actually one of my favorite reality shows, the ingenuity these Chefs have to muster to overcome the curve balls the show throws at them is outstanding and worthy creative admiration. However, this is not my favorite season so far because there are no particular cast members I find all that likable or memorable, at least not memorable in a positive way.

Cheers to Top Chef, Season 5 Invalid Link Removed
 
..overtraining while on PRIME. He suggested I keep very conscious about my R&R's..

R&R is critical bro..

Listen to Head Chef Snag kids Invalid Link Removed

:D

Speaking of Chefs, the new season of Top Chef is 4 episodes deep and I'm loving it.

You got me watching the cooking shows now too man! All kinds of cool stuff..

Cheers to Top Chef, Season 5 Invalid Link Removed

Oh killer avi Sam. I hate it when my food tries to run away from me!
 
Top Chef you say.... hmm sounds like a good study break :D In between all the Christmas movies that is lol

R&R is often overlooked by BB'ers. Good idea to keep it in mind. Do you do deloading weeks/periods in your training schedule?

I'm a horrible hypocrite when it comes to telling people to not overtrain. I haven't taken a full week off training for over 16 months now!! I haven't missed a single scheduled workout in that time. That's my "secret" to making gains even at my age.

I now do a DC type hybrid routine where every 8 weeks or so I take a 2 week "cruise" period where I back of the poundages significantly. No going to failure. Not even close, really. This is considered an "active-layoff" of sorts and is very beneficial to recharging the recuperative abilities of the body. I highly recommend that people at least incorporate these sub-maximal intensity breaks every now and then. :thumbsup:
 
I just want to weigh in on the point about overtraining and Prime. Volcom your right on the money the extra intesity just makes your more tired. You have to rest as hard as you train. I only train 3 times a week and I am just getting by. I rest well, I sleep well but I need every bit I can get after these intense workouts.

After watching my son and reading the logs that were out I was really prepared for this mentally. I resigned not to try to do too much extra volume of frequency when on Prime as I wanted to try a long run and it just was not going to happen if I wasn't carefull. I am glad I have stuck to my plan.
 
I'm a horrible hypocrite when it comes to telling people to not overtrain. I haven't taken a full week off training for over 16 months now!! I haven't missed a single scheduled workout in that time. That's my "secret" to making gains even at my age.

I now do a DC type hybrid routine where every 8 weeks or so I take a 2 week "cruise" period where I back of the poundages significantly. No going to failure. Not even close, really. This is considered an "active-layoff" of sorts and is very beneficial to recharging the recuperative abilities of the body. I highly recommend that people at least incorporate these sub-maximal intensity breaks every now and then. :thumbsup:

I was guilty of that, but usually exam period hits and there's 3 or 4 days where I can't hit the gym. This summer when I had gum surgery I had to take a week off the gym (Well the dentist said 2 minimum :lol:). I find as much as I hate it, when I get back in the gym I am way more focused and typically see great progression.


Dreamweaver, that neutral grip is great for low-rows I find. However my gym had it lost/stolen over 3 weeks ago and I miss it dearly :frustrate We will probably not even be getting a new one!
 
I was guilty of that, but usually exam period hits and there's 3 or 4 days where I can't hit the gym. This summer when I had gum surgery I had to take a week off the gym (Well the dentist said 2 minimum :lol:). I find as much as I hate it, when I get back in the gym I am way more focused and typically see great progression.


Dreamweaver, that neutral grip is great for low-rows I find. However my gym had it lost/stolen over 3 weeks ago and I miss it dearly :frustrate We will probably not even be getting a new one!

How much does it cost to buy... maybe you could just buy it yourself...
 
How much does it cost to buy... maybe you could just buy it yourself...

$20 at my local Dick's Sporting goods..

Haha, I tried to spell 'dick's' and it censored me originally, had to circumvent the process w/ bold type.. feel sorry for any guy on here named Dick, he'll never get to put his name on this site in normal fashion like the rest of us, lol..
 
$20 at my local Dick's Sporting goods..

Haha, I tried to spell 'dick's' and it sensored me originally, had to circumvent the process w/ bold type.. feel sorry for any guy on here named Dick, he'll never get to put his name on this site in normal fashion like the rest of us, lol..
That's hilarious. The same thing happpened to me one time. I was telling someone about some bar attachments at Dick's. Too funny!! :lol:
 
I'm a horrible hypocrite when it comes to telling people to not overtrain. I haven't taken a full week off training for over 16 months now!! I haven't missed a single scheduled workout in that time. That's my "secret" to making gains even at my age.

I now do a DC type hybrid routine where every 8 weeks or so I take a 2 week "cruise" period where I back of the poundages significantly. No going to failure. Not even close, really. This is considered an "active-layoff" of sorts and is very beneficial to recharging the recuperative abilities of the body. I highly recommend that people at least incorporate these sub-maximal intensity breaks every now and then. :thumbsup:

I've long done my own 'cruising' period, lower intensity, in cycling long before I had ever heard of DC. It's a great way to refresh body & mind. However, total extended rest periodically for the natty guy is a necessity imo, the physiological impact of such cannot be overemphasized..
 
Day 10: Strongest Chest Session YET!

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What a difference a good night's sleep makes. No monologue intro today, the results speak for themselves.

Flat Bench
225lbs x 10 reps
295lbs x 10 reps (+2 reps PR, not ALL TIME, but it's been a long time)
305lbs x 6 reps
315lbs x 5 reps

Incline Bench (Remember how pathetic I was the last time I re-introduced incline movements. This was very good for a second exercise, following such a monster of a first exercise)
185lbs x 10 reps
205lbs x 10 reps (this was nice, PRIME-tastic)
225lbs x 6 reps

Incline Hammer Press
230lbs x 10 reps
240lbs x 8 reps
250lbs x 6 reps

Hammer Wide Press
270lbs x 10 reps
290lbs x 8 reps
310lbs x 6 reps

Free Weight Loaded, Hammer Dips (performed in a manner that draws heavily from the lower chest)
230lbs x 10 reps
250lbs x 8 reps
250lbs x 8 reps

I was very pleased with my performance and I'm very excited about my returning ability to perform incline movements, as incline press was my bread and butter for chest development, more so then flat. I used to have a stronger incline then flat. When I was 18, I could press 315lbs on the incline for 6 reps, before I could hit 315lbs on the flat for 3 or 4 reps. I always started on incline, as the emphasis on incline press was ingrained into me via readings of The Mighty Oak (pathetic governor), but a huge influence on my adolescent years of bodybuilding.
 
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Top Chef you say.... hmm sounds like a good study break :D In between all the Christmas movies that is lol

R&R is often overlooked by BB'ers. Good idea to keep it in mind. Do you do deloading weeks/periods in your training schedule?

I don't taper within the same phase, meaning, I won't taper down during a strength phase, I continually increase the weight throughout, however, I do taper down in between transition stages when I move from hypertrophy focused and strength focused routines.
 
I have to go run an errand for "Tha Firm," so I haven't neglected some of the other posts, I'm simply on the run. I'll be back to give a more thorough reading of everybodies posts.

Top Chef plug, Food Network.
 
Make sure you keep getting your rest...your about 2-4 days from a power explosion I think.
 
YESSIR! 295 for 10 on the flat, ehh.. good stuff Volcom! :thumbsup:

Thanks Sang, I skipped over 275 and bumped up to 295 as my first working set. I'd like to eventually hit 315 for 10, but we'll see how things progress.

I've hit 315 legitimately for 6 reps before, 8 with a clean & jerk spotter, so that doesn't really count.
 
damn homie, numbers are look'n good!
 
Question,

Does PRIME cause lethargy? I don't see why it would, but I've felt very lethargic toward the late afternoon these past 3 days. I felt great this morning because I got a great nights sleep and I felt good into the afternoon. However, past 2pm is when this lethargy has been setting in and I'm not certain what it's from. If it is from PRIME, then I'd like to know so I can better equip myself with some Stims to combat.
 
Volcom minus the last post this is a great log and from it i have decided that: You are a good person, funny, strong, and your log is interesting.
 
Question,

Does PRIME cause lethargy? I don't see why it would, but I've felt very lethargic toward the late afternoon these past 3 days. I felt great this morning because I got a great nights sleep and I felt good into the afternoon. However, past 2pm is when this lethargy has been setting in and I'm not certain what it's from. If it is from PRIME, then I'd like to know so I can better equip myself with some Stims to combat.
I recall another person reporting lethargy, but a search turned up nothing. Well not exactly nothing, I found out that you were tired of JW Invalid Link Removed !!!

I personally didn't experience any lethargy, but maybe once the MOA is determined we might have a better postulate. Pass the caffeine.
 
I recall another person reporting lethargy, but a search turned up nothing. Well not exactly nothing, I found out that you were tired of JW Invalid Link Removed !!!

I personally didn't experience any lethargy, but maybe once the MOA is determined we might have a better postulate. Pass the caffeine.

Thanks for the response Steveo. Maybe I should load the caffeine cannons just in case.

and yes, I recall JW doing a number on me.
 
So far i dont feel any lethargy from prime, but taking a 2nd look at it, im constantly skeeted on some type of geranium layden stimulant! :lol::thumbsup:
 
So far i dont feel any lethargy from prime, but taking a 2nd look at it, im constantly skeeted on some type of geranium layden stimulant! :lol::thumbsup:

Geranium seems to be the new thang. How many mg do you dose geranium at? 60mg? Are there any popular and effective compounds people are using Geranium with? Like ECG or something along the lines of an ECA.
 
Geranium seems to be the new thang. How many mg do you dose geranium at? 60mg? Are there any popular and effective compounds people are using Geranium with? Like ECG or something along the lines of an ECA.
Have you checked out the ingredient profile of USPLabs new Jacked? I have used it for the last 2 workouts now. It kicks some major arse bro. :thumbsup:

But you know me.....I toss some ECA and Y into the mix also!!
 
Awesome numbers by the way on that chest-assault big V!!! :head: :bb3:
 
Geranium seems to be the new thang. How many mg do you dose geranium at? 60mg? Are there any popular and effective compounds people are using Geranium with? Like ECG or something along the lines of an ECA.


Yea anywhere from 30-60mgs really. Yohimbe, sulbitiamine, pea,you can basicaly stack geranium with anything.
 
Damn I did one scoop of Jacked at 2pm yesterday didn't fall asleep till 1am (way past my bedtime) slept for only 3.5 hours woke up and I am still Jacked...

Yah I am hyper sensitive to stims but 1 scoop!! Hope I adjust to it, problem is I don't even drink coffee so I have no resistance.
 
Damn I did one scoop of Jacked at 2pm yesterday didn't fall asleep till 1am (way past my bedtime) slept for only 3.5 hours woke up and I am still Jacked...

Yah I am hyper sensitive to stims but 1 scoop!! Hope I adjust to it, problem is I don't even drink coffee so I have no resistance.

That's the kind of stuff that sells me Invalid Link Removed


I almost bought me a bucket on principle of it being so cheap, but I'll wait until the timing is appropriate.
 
Have you checked out the ingredient profile of USPLabs new Jacked? I have used it for the last 2 workouts now. It kicks some major arse bro. :thumbsup:

But you know me.....I toss some ECA and Y into the mix also!!

Haha, GEEZUS TG! You are officially the God Father of Stim Junkies and I kiss your ring to recognize you as Boss of the Stim Junkie family [God Father music playing in the background]

Invalid Link Removed
 
Lethargy

Boy, it was quite difficult to wake up this morning. It was exactly as i felt when i was 3 or 4 weeks into Junlgewarfare, so either:

A). The PRIME-drol is directly causing my lethargy
B). The PRIME-2-dione is indirectly causing my lethargy due to the extra energy I'm able to exert while at the gym.
C). I'm just getting lazy.
D). Only answers A and C
E). Only answers B and C
F). All of the above.
G). None of the above, stop being a douche.


Whether I am able to indicate a source or not, I am feeling all the signs of lethargy. VERY hard to get out of bed (even with 8 hours of good sleep), sluggish as heck during the day, lack of energy and general apathy as a result of the lethargy when its time to hit the gym.

Would adding caffeine to my experience be considered tainting the integrity of the "solo run" in your guys' opinions?
 
I vote 'G' there Sam, ahaa..

I never had any lethargy on Prime, more notably on my first run (where I was jacked all the time, but I was also on Recreate and some other goodies) than on my second, but honestly that's weird..
 
Hold off on the caffeine IMO. I'd give it a few more days to see if the lethargy persists. I know you've probably tried to analyze what other factors might be causing it, but this extra hard for us ;)

According to the write-up you should be feeling
*

* Incredible Euphoria – Feel Like Superman!

Week 1

You will begin to experience the power of USPlabs Prime™ during your workouts…
Weight will begin to feel lighter than normal and you'll begin to have great workout after great workout - even on days you don't necessarily enter the gym with the highest amount of intensity or energy.

Also the Terminelia Chebula is an adaptogen, so you really should be feeling sharper/more refreshed. Perhaps this is a sign you're over-training.
 
I definitely slept more on Prime (before Jacked) and it always seemed to take a lot of sleep to recover from my workouts. Even only training 3 times a week I would just get enough rest to make it through he next workout.
 
I vote 'G' there Sam, ahaa..

I never had any lethargy on Prime, more notably on my first run (where I was jacked all the time, but I was also on Recreate and some other goodies) than on my second, but honestly that's weird..

Hahaha, I figured as much.
 
Hold off on the caffeine IMO. I'd give it a few more days to see if the lethargy persists. I know you've probably tried to analyze what other factors might be causing it, but this extra hard for us ;)

According to the write-up you should be feeling


Also the Terminelia Chebula is an adaptogen, so you really should be feeling sharper/more refreshed. Perhaps this is a sign you're over-training.

That was one of my own theories as well, it just seemed out of the ordinary to have this degree of overtraining symptoms "SO SOON." Maybe I need to take a full 2 days rest as oppose to 1 (as suggested by the bottle and head chef Snag).
 
That was actually my first thought, still CNS issue.. but I didn't wanna be the guy beating his ideas into everyone's heads non-stop.. :hammer:

Sam just works hard as hell, and remains active thruout the day outside the gym, therefore, needs more rest imo.
 
That was actually my first thought, still CNS issue.. but I didn't wanna be the guy beating his ideas into everyone's heads non-stop.. :hammer:

Sam just works hard as hell, and remains active thruout the day outside the gym, therefore, needs more rest imo.

You might have hit the nail on its head. My training with the athlete's have been more intense as of late, such as 75 manually applied (by me) resisted sprints within 40 min. Last Saturday I ran 5 athletes through a circuit, 20 O. Snatches, 20 O. Cleans, 20 Thruster Squats, 20 Push Ups and 5 resisted sprints, for 3 rounds each, so I had to apply resisted sprints one after another. All that eccentric resistance put my legs on swell TO THIS DAY, I still have DOMS in my quads and shins from last Saturday morning.

I'm an extraordinarily proactive trainer. I ask for HIIT from my athletes, I perform it with them myself, sometimes multiple times a day with different groups.
 
True Story

Back to the resisted sprints, about half way through the resisted sprints, my right quad charlie horsed and started spasming. Clearly, I couldn't stop, so I would favor and plant with my left leg extra hard to keep my right leg from spasming. Thus, my left leg was sore beyond belief. It was hard to get in and out of my car hard and I had to walk with my knee's locked, like a midget walk because my quads muscles couldn't support my weight.
 
Whether I am able to indicate a source or not, I am feeling all the signs of lethargy. VERY hard to get out of bed (even with 8 hours of good sleep), sluggish as heck during the day, lack of energy and general apathy as a result of the lethargy when its time to hit the gym.

I felt the same way my whole prime run. I Invalid Link Removed in a thread asking if anyone else had felt anything like that, but youre the first person thats really mentioned it. I ended up only taking half of my second bottle just to stop the lethargic feeling all day. The second day I was off I felt noticeably refreshed when I woke up. No idea what it was, but it was killing me. Hope yours goes away, it sounds like you were having a good time on it before this.

Good luck!
 
I felt the same way my whole prime run. I Invalid Link Removed in a thread asking if anyone else had felt anything like that, but youre the first person thats really mentioned it. I ended up only taking half of my second bottle just to stop the lethargic feeling all day. The second day I was off I felt noticeably refreshed when I woke up. No idea what it was, but it was killing me. Hope yours goes away, it sounds like you were having a good time on it before this.

Good luck!

Thanks. Luckily for me, we're embarking on the Christmas Season where my schedule will be half as busy as it has been, so even if the lethargy continues, I can afford to endure it for its full run. However, I do hope it goes away!
 
Does Prime have an effect on carbohydrate uptake or anything like that? I doubt it would, but I'm just trying to make sense of the lethargy.

I HATE feeling like that. Epidrol killed me in that sense. I was always tired. Passed out. Taking naps. It was rough.
 
Does Prime have an effect on carbohydrate uptake or anything like that? I doubt it would, but I'm just trying to make sense of the lethargy.

I HATE feeling like that. Epidrol killed me in that sense. I was always tired. Passed out. Taking naps. It was rough.

I don't think so, I just think that the increased intensity on the CNS is the cause.
 
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