My thanks to @delsolrob for providing me with the opportunity to log Icon One and the Transdermal Melatonin beta test product.
Like many of us, I have been working from home for the last year. For me, that has resulted in longer hours worked, and less time away from the computer. My “workouts” have been limited to cardio (exercise bike).
Since July, I have been spending most of my non work hours taking care of my Mother’s estate, disposition of her financial assets, non-financial assets, auto, home, etc. My Mom passed away in July 2020. Her home (the one I grew up in) sold in February, but that involved a lot of time making and coordinating repairs, repainting, etc. The good news is the house sold quickly and for an amount that exceeded the listing price.
So, here I am, much more out of shape and heavier than I have been in some time (12.5 lbs up from one year ago), and a bit snarlier than usual. Work stress has turned sleep into a routine of sleeping for three of four hours, waking up after some sort of "can't get there from here" dream, and then trying to find some means to fall back asleep. This despite taking sublingual melatonin and an OTC (Costco) sleep aid. It probably does not help that I am one of the older member of this forum. While aging sucks, it seems much better than the alternative.
On March 29th I decided to revert back to a high (healthy) fat, high protein diet. I do and feel much better on this diet, but since it tends to take some additional coordination with my wife and takes up time I haven’t had recently, I had not been following this diet recently (OK, for a long time). I am now also monitoring calories, shooting for a slight reduction. In terms of caloric reduction, my focus has been on avoiding the easy to grab and eat carb-based products. If I said I didn’t miss the peanut butter filled pretzels, I would be lying.
So, sleepy and somewhat disguised with having replaced legitimate muscle with “table muscle”, here I am:. My objectives in using the Icon One and the Transdermal Melatonin product (along with the high fat/high protein/low carb diet) are:
• Lose weight/more lean mass/reduce body fat/reduce waist diameter
• Increase strength
• Improve emotional outlook
• Improve sleep/more energy
• At least maintain (and hopefully increase) libido.
The Icon One and the Transdermal Melatonin arrived on Friday, April 2nd.
Since then I have applied 5 pumps of Icon One each day, mostly to my shoulder blades, chest area and ribs. Shortly after application, my chest and arm muscles appear more full and more vascular. 5 days in, at this point, my weight has dropped about 1.5 lbs. I ‘think” I am generally feeling a bit more optimistic, but I generally “seem to feel better” whenever I increase healthy fats (odd?). Libido seems about the same.
Icon One, like the other Iconic Formulations TD products I have used, is easy to apply, dries quickly and does not leave an objectionable smell. Once it is dry, there is no wet or greasy feeling. There is also no skin irritation.
As to the Transdermal Melatonin: Friday night, I applied ½ ml (5 mg), split between my inner forearms. While I fell asleep easily, and slept longer than usual, I was pretty darn groggy most of Saturday.
Beginning Saturday night (and continuing through Monday night) I reduced the amount to 0.25 ml, split between both inner arms. Each night I pre-cleaned the area, applied a small amount of DMSO, and then applied the TD by putting it on my wrists, and rubbing my wrists against the inner arm (of the opposite arm). After it dried, it has a nice “earthy” TD smaller, and was absorbed well (no greasy feeling). I waited about 20 minutes after it dried, and then applied a light coating of a menthol/aloe gel (doing so is supposed to increase TD absorption).
Since cutting back to 0.25 ml (2.5 mg) the ability to fall asleep easily continues but without any grogginess the next day. Regardless of the amount (i.e., 0.5 ml or 0.25 ml) my dream activity has continued about the same as it was previously. I have not also been taking zinc and magnesium pre-bed, but I would imagine the combo of TD melatonin, zinc and magnesium might result in a dream (or nightmare) filled night’s sleep.
So far, that is my initial reaction. Product quality is good, it applies and dries easily and so far – placebo or not – seems to be making a positive impact. More to follow.
Like many of us, I have been working from home for the last year. For me, that has resulted in longer hours worked, and less time away from the computer. My “workouts” have been limited to cardio (exercise bike).
Since July, I have been spending most of my non work hours taking care of my Mother’s estate, disposition of her financial assets, non-financial assets, auto, home, etc. My Mom passed away in July 2020. Her home (the one I grew up in) sold in February, but that involved a lot of time making and coordinating repairs, repainting, etc. The good news is the house sold quickly and for an amount that exceeded the listing price.
So, here I am, much more out of shape and heavier than I have been in some time (12.5 lbs up from one year ago), and a bit snarlier than usual. Work stress has turned sleep into a routine of sleeping for three of four hours, waking up after some sort of "can't get there from here" dream, and then trying to find some means to fall back asleep. This despite taking sublingual melatonin and an OTC (Costco) sleep aid. It probably does not help that I am one of the older member of this forum. While aging sucks, it seems much better than the alternative.
On March 29th I decided to revert back to a high (healthy) fat, high protein diet. I do and feel much better on this diet, but since it tends to take some additional coordination with my wife and takes up time I haven’t had recently, I had not been following this diet recently (OK, for a long time). I am now also monitoring calories, shooting for a slight reduction. In terms of caloric reduction, my focus has been on avoiding the easy to grab and eat carb-based products. If I said I didn’t miss the peanut butter filled pretzels, I would be lying.
So, sleepy and somewhat disguised with having replaced legitimate muscle with “table muscle”, here I am:. My objectives in using the Icon One and the Transdermal Melatonin product (along with the high fat/high protein/low carb diet) are:
• Lose weight/more lean mass/reduce body fat/reduce waist diameter
• Increase strength
• Improve emotional outlook
• Improve sleep/more energy
• At least maintain (and hopefully increase) libido.
The Icon One and the Transdermal Melatonin arrived on Friday, April 2nd.
Since then I have applied 5 pumps of Icon One each day, mostly to my shoulder blades, chest area and ribs. Shortly after application, my chest and arm muscles appear more full and more vascular. 5 days in, at this point, my weight has dropped about 1.5 lbs. I ‘think” I am generally feeling a bit more optimistic, but I generally “seem to feel better” whenever I increase healthy fats (odd?). Libido seems about the same.
Icon One, like the other Iconic Formulations TD products I have used, is easy to apply, dries quickly and does not leave an objectionable smell. Once it is dry, there is no wet or greasy feeling. There is also no skin irritation.
As to the Transdermal Melatonin: Friday night, I applied ½ ml (5 mg), split between my inner forearms. While I fell asleep easily, and slept longer than usual, I was pretty darn groggy most of Saturday.
Beginning Saturday night (and continuing through Monday night) I reduced the amount to 0.25 ml, split between both inner arms. Each night I pre-cleaned the area, applied a small amount of DMSO, and then applied the TD by putting it on my wrists, and rubbing my wrists against the inner arm (of the opposite arm). After it dried, it has a nice “earthy” TD smaller, and was absorbed well (no greasy feeling). I waited about 20 minutes after it dried, and then applied a light coating of a menthol/aloe gel (doing so is supposed to increase TD absorption).
Since cutting back to 0.25 ml (2.5 mg) the ability to fall asleep easily continues but without any grogginess the next day. Regardless of the amount (i.e., 0.5 ml or 0.25 ml) my dream activity has continued about the same as it was previously. I have not also been taking zinc and magnesium pre-bed, but I would imagine the combo of TD melatonin, zinc and magnesium might result in a dream (or nightmare) filled night’s sleep.
So far, that is my initial reaction. Product quality is good, it applies and dries easily and so far – placebo or not – seems to be making a positive impact. More to follow.