My little Hercules'

Well it has happened.
I have become a dad.
Feeling awesome, powerful and emotional all the time.
I am now the proud daddy of two little Hercules' these boys though premature, are strong and very quickly on their way to coming home.

Hardest thing right now is going to be getting my gymlife and family life balance right.

At the moment, I'm sailing on cloud nine and taking a week to rest and energize as much as possible for what will be the biggest disruption to my life since 4am gym wake ups! But like my early gym wake ups this disruption is welcomed and will be so benificial to my health and life.

But, the weekend will bring a chance to smash out a few power gym sessions and tickle that fitness bone.

Am I worried? Nope, for the last few months I have mantained a great track of workouts and started up training my pupil again. So one week off is not going to worry or effect me, in fact gainz and PBs will be most likely increased due to this break.

What am I doing food wise? I'm not being too strict on myself. Sometimes you have to eat what you can find close to places you are stuck in, my case,  a hospital. But where I can, I've tried to eat healthy. Where I am staying, well, being well looked after for tea and breakfast, but always healthy!

Next week I'll participate in some of the family fitness activities. This will keep me going till the next oportunity to gym sesh!

Till my next post.
Keep it fit and healthy!

Obligatory pic of the boys

New workout music!

I'm always on the hunt for good cardio, pumped up, jacked up music to train to. If you don't see me boppin my head... the music hasn't got me!

Epic Gainz Review

A little while back but not too long ago,  I stumbled across a supplement touting itself as a natural alternative to breaking the genetic hold back that stops many from advancing in muscle growth.

Well after a lot of research and some deliberation,  I decided to get my hands on this supplement and test it and record my findings far better than the current reviews for the product.

Current reviews lacked good continuity,  injuries,  very relaxed and poor wording,  limited measurement to actually gauge the results and a poor level of convincing before and after shots. Further to that, some of the guys were just coming off a "cycle" which meant that they were not trying this as natty BB's to begin with.

I am natural in that I do not AND will not do steroids of any kind. And further to that,  my reviews are thorough.

Sunday morning will mark day one!
Let the gainz begin? !

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, last words on the Epic Gainz...

After posting my review to the Facebook page of Epic Gainz/wicked supplements I received a call by the end of the day to talk with Kirk from the company. 

Here is the email response after the phone conversation. 

To: Kyle Johansson

Subject: Re: [Wicked Supplements] epic gainz

Hi Kyle,

Good speaking with you, as said your tanita electric scale is never going to be accurate it sends an electric pulse up one leg and down the other, measuring the resistance of the electric pulse. If you are well hydrated, have eaten more salt or have sweaty feet this effects the reading, it also effects the reading if you are dehydrated, have not eaten enough salt and have dry feet etc, this is why my reliable methods are always preferred like a dexa scan.

Based on your scale these were the results:

Lean Body Mass Results:

Day 1) 89kg 13.2% bf gives you a lean body mass of 77.252kg Day 7) 87.5kg 13.2% bf gives you a lean body mass of 75.95kg a loss of muscle tissue of 1.302kg Day 20) 89.3kg 14.2% bf gives you a lean body mass of 76.61kg a loss of muscle tissue from the first weigh in of 642g

Fat Mass Results:

Day 1) 89kg 13.2% bf gives you a fat mass of 11.748kg Day 7) 87.5kg 13.2% bf gives you a fat mass of 11.55kg Day 20) 89.3kg 14.2% bf gives you a fat mass of 12.6806kg a gain in fat from the first weigh in of 932.6g

I believe and I think you can agree with me here that your measurements are all incorrect and thus are not very forgiving in your review of our product. It is not possible to loss this amount of muscle tissue within 7 days let alone 20 days if as you say your diet and training have been in order. It is also impossible for you to gain nearly a whole kg of fat in only 20 days if as you say your diet and training are in order, thus your review is VERY unforgiving on the product.

As said we had 1 person in a trial before the product was a product that had zero response, everyone else responded. You can see his comments here:  

http://www.bodybuildingforums.com.au/supplement-reviews/4762-epicatechin-anyone-herd-of-this.html his username is Dutch

As also said Olympus Labs EP1C and Black Lion Research's product Follidrone also have listed a failure rate from 3-5%...some people simply are non responders with no possible explanation. Olympus Labs are currently looking into a transdermal cream to try and get it working for everyone. As said we also have a gel carrier but have not put it into use at this time....it may happen in the future.

We strongly stand behind all of our products, we have always felt supplements should work, results should be quantifiable and if blood work can be completed or dexa scans etc we always welcome them we want people to get the results they deserve and not a placebo good feeling effect.

I think we have been vary fair in giving you a refund so I am politely asking that you remove the review from your blog and please do let me know how your friend goes with his bottle. You are also more than welcome to contact anyone on the forums who has used it for a follow up or through facebook etc....as said the product does work it just seems it wont work for a small number of people. You are now the 2nd person we have heard from about it.

Cheers

Kirk McWade

Managing Director Wicked Supplements

Righto. So. Sadly I cannot take the review down. I must keep my integrity for my followers. I believe I have been fair in my measurements. Yes I agree that the body fat % reading cannot be taken as gospel, however on previous cutting cycles the same scales have shown significant drops in the %, so as a tracking tool this has been suffice. The reason for adding this stat in this review was to make sure that the weight gained couldn't be attributed to massive fat gains instead. The other reviews of the product I had read only made suggestions that the gains were "lean" with no tracking or before and after bf% readings. Take that away from the test and the results are still the same. No appetite change,  no size change in a month in body parts measured and no Kg's gained. 

I'm interested to see more reviews and will continue to hunt and read. Perhaps I am the 5% they speak of. Could this be attributed to my blood type? AB+ is only 3% of the population and since this supplement is supposed to be all about blood, muscle and nutrient absorbtion...it could be linked?

I appreciate the refund as originally I was ready to write it off as a tried and failed. 

I hope if anyone else trys the supplement they have better results, but if you only read the good reviews, you may not be prepared for the potential for failure and may think you did something wrong to not acheive the results. When the truth is it could just be that the product wont work on you!

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Day 30. 

Final day of trial. 

Honest opinion of Epic Gainz? More like Epic Fail!

Not only did I not gain extra mass in dimensions but I also remained just as lean and weight almost 100% the same as I did a month ago. 

I would not recommend this supplement to anyone serious about "getting big"  

I dare Wicked Supplements to put this review on their site/page!

Let's see, not a single super hunger feeling (maybe the people that were having this just were not eating enough before? ), never threw around extra heavy weights (perhaps the previous weights this guy was lifting was down in the 10kg and under section, perhaps this is why he gained 2 extra Kilos) I didn't feel anymore swollen during the day after exercise and by itself it made no difference to recovery time. 

Is the secret im the SEDDS system they use? Perhaps people are taking this and getting a better effect from the other supps they are taking lile preworkouts, protein powdes and such. I feel like it may have effected my L Glutamine effectiveness, lord knows I was feeling it when I ran out of the Glute. 

Taste was ok, till you left it in your mouth as prescribed. Then the taste went a little weird sort of like the taste of failure...

Re measured my body

 Wednesday  28/1/15

Upper arm - 39cm (40 flexed)

Fore arm - 32.5

Chest - 112cm

Upper leg - 59cm (61 flexed leg lifted)

Calf - 39cm

Waist - 84cm

Shoulders - 127cm

actually lost size in the biceps and that was AFTER an arms day!?

No point in posting a pic to visually compare...because it all looks the same. 

I will spare you all another picture in my undies. 

Well that's it, I'm not going to use that supplement and perhaps I was naive to think that the results could be soooo dramatic. 

Onward and upward. 

Stay tuned to see what I can do with a special stack that I'm going to recommend for those looking to hit the gym hard for big results!

Kdawg out!

______________________________________________

Day 20 - notes and measurements

Weigh in - 16/1/15 - 89.3kg 14.2%bf

Measurements...same as before...oh I grew 1 cm in the calf. 

Notes: No extreme hunger (most reviews rave about this "hunger" and "being hungry") No crazy strength gainz (again, read the reviews on the product page, one guy proclaims throwing the weight around on day 1) No super swolen feeling through the day (this supplement is supposed to have your muscles retain nutrients etc. Making them stay fuller) And recovery has not been effected (a review from a "fitness guru" says that it helped recovery...).

Perhaps at the 2/3 mark I'm too synical? I cant wait for the day 30 compare shots, but here is one from day 20. You decide.

______________________________________________

Day 14 - notes and measurements 

Notes: still no hunger. Ran out of my L-glutamine this week. The DOMS are back full force now. So the Epic Gainz has been doing nothing special there except maybe allowing the L-Glutamine to absorb more? I try and take the morning dose before gym on an empty stomach, as it is suggested to do so, this leads to a sick feeling while working out. 

______________________________________________

Day 7 - notes and measurements

For body measurements...see day 1 measurement list. Because there have been nil changes. 

Weigh in 2/1/15 - 87.5kg 13.2 bf%, so weight lost and body fat not effected. This was 5 days in. 

Notes: still no case of the super munchies. Still no weights being thrown around, though this new week when I compare the same types of exercises I might get a surprise. I have been trying to eat more with each meal just to see how I feel. Disappointed at the moment with no grow, but it has only been 1 week and 1 set of workouts for the muscle groups. I will take some comparison photos this week near the middle. But I would say that without measurement changes there wont be much to see and compare. Perhaps I'm expecting too much from this supplement too soon? The only thing that I may hae noticed is DOMS seem less to none, perhaps this is the secret?  Quicker recovery means one could train more and build faster than normal?

______________________________________________

Day 1 pics and messurements, plus notes from the experiences so far at day 4. 

*Body Measurements*

Upper arm - 40cm (41 flexed)

Fore arm - 33

Chest - 113cm

Upper leg - 59cm (61 flexed leg lifted)

Calf - 38cm

Waist - 84cm

Shoulders - 127cm

*Weigh in stats*

28/12/14 - 89kg 13.2 bf%

Notes: no case's of throwing extra heavy dumb bells around the gym (as one review read on day one of taking the supplement). My focus at the gym seems to be only slightly more than usual and that's because of my subconscious knowledge that I've got to give it all I have to make sure I'm giving the supp a good run. No extra special pumps, I've felt more buzz from pre workouts, and this has not got that effect. No exceptional hunger, I try and eat 7- 8 meal portions a day anyway... maybe I'm not noticing it? Will hold reserve judgement on "muscles feeling fuller " till first week re measure and new photos. 

Is this supplement for me?

If you have ever been to a supplement tasting booth or seen a supplement shop lately you will have noticed mountains of options, from pre workouts to intra, protein powders and BCAA's.

Do you need them all?  Probably not.

Ok. So here are my tips for the "non bodybuilding" fitness goers in regards to supplements.
🔸preworkouts - if you exercise after work, or feel lethargic while working out, a pre might be a good idea. They can create focus and have you running longer or pushing yourself that bit further past failure, rather than reaching failure. Try and get free samples from your local supplement shop before investing your hard earned coin into a full tub. Many people react differently to the chemicals in these pre's so some might flop, while others might just make you itch.
🔹intra workouts - yeah nah, unless you are looking to marathon run or spend 2-3 hours at the gym (like a bodybuilder might) why u need dis? 40mins to an hour of workout does not require anything special throughout besides some good quality H2o. Don't waste your money on an intra unless you get it for FREE.
🔸Protein powders - do you hate steak? Do you hate chicken? Do you hate fish?  If you said yes to all of these questions and you are not a bodybuilder, then maybe you should get a protein powder. This is a supplement after all. It is designed to supplement elements that are missing from your diet. Include chicken, steak, fish, etc. with your normal meals... and you shoukd be sorted.
🔹BCAA's - these are great...but not 100%needed for a non bodybuilder. Again these are supplements of Branch Chain Amino Acids, which, you guessed it! Apear in your foods on a regular basis. However extra supplementation can be good to give your body the tools to repair quicker and more efficiently. This means less soreness over the dreaded DOM dayz.
🔸Fat Burners - this might cause controversy... DO NOT BUY!!! these all have chemicals toting fat burning properties that mobilize fat or magic fat away... all have been tested... and all have failed to produce conclusive results. All you will get is instructions to pop a pill or two, three times a day on an empty stomach. This leads to a funny feeling in the gut and no fat lost.

As for those going for a body building supplementation plan... that's a whole nother story!

What are you waiting for?

So maybe your gym is shut for the holiday break, or maybe with all of the commitments that this time of year brings, you are busy traveling.

Also this time of year brings over eating,  food comas and a level of loathing and lethargy that can have you saying,  "I'll start again next week..."

But what are you waiting for?  Turn that christmas overload of foods energy into gainz and a kick arse ends to 2014!!!

My top tip is to engage in gym time asap! The sooner you get back on the horse the better you'll feel and the less the numbers will be reflected in the dreaded scales!

Tip number two...  don't use the scales!  If you can help it,  wait for the end of your first week of fitness to jump on the scales. If you really have to,  don't be shocked or burdened by the numbers. If you have increased in weight,  it won't be long till its off again. Remember the kilos are not the main defining factor of your health or fitness.

Tip number three,  start your routine with something big!  Get stuck into a big leg session to really start kick off the fat burning process.

But whatever you do,  just get back onto it!!!

Shoulders maketh...

I believe there is a saying that shoulders maketh the man. It's even suggested that it's one of the top things that a female look for in a prospective partner. All that aside, I don't think it quite works the other way around. But who am I kidding, some guys have profound tastes. 

Either sex that you be, respect the shoulders!

Shoulders is a very broad statement though. It refers to any top section of the arm, this includes some chest, tris, biceps and some of the back muscles. But what most people are simply referring to is the deltoid group when speaking of shoulders. 

So why respect the shoulders (deltoids)? Well because they are so interconnected with all the other previously mentioned muscles, damage the shoulders, say goodbye to chest day, arms day and upper back day!!!

When it comes to training them you also have to be mindful of the front, middle and rear deltoid regions because not all shoulder excercises and other muscles that incorporate a bit of the deltoid with them hit all three sections evenly. 

The chest, bicep and tricep workouts that everybody loves, have a tendency to put strain on the front deltoid thus giving you more front facing mass to your shoulder. This can be detremental to the look of your body, causing pulled forwad shoulders and no width. So be mindful on shoulders training day to even out the playing field a bit if you do a lot of chest and arms work during the rest of the week. Hit the lateral raises more for width and ensure that you carry out rear deltoid raises (bent over or on a bench for support) to ensure an all over shoulder look that won't have you looking like Quasimodo. 

Gyms, gyms everywhere!

As I have been recently finding, the fitness industry as a whole seems to be everywhere. News programs are reporting on it, supplement stores are hundreds to choose from and every second gym rat is becoming a fitness model or competitor. The other thing that seems to be on the rise is gyms AND more importantly 24hr gyms. 

Driving through big cities it's not uncommon to see even three 24hr gyms side by side. In my own town area we have gyms AND training centres to please and appease all tastes. What kind of gym is going to suit you best and is it worth the dough to join?

Doing some research and even dropping in for a one time use of a gym is most advisable for those looking for the right gym. But if you aren't 100% sure if the gym you have chosen is right, before you sign your paperwork for membership, find out what it will take to bail out our leave the gym contract. 

Some gyms are better suited to certain workout goals, so entering with a plan of how you want to workout will help you keep an eye out for what the gym has to help you achieve your goals. Don't chose a flash gym with loads of cardio equipment and no free weights if you plan to focus on resistance training. Look at the group fitness timetable if this will be more your thing to see if it will suit your own work and life schedule. Check the opening hours to ensure that this also suits your chosen workout time. 

Is it worth the money? If you are starting to get into your fitness and jogging round the block isn't cutting it any more, gym is an answer, but it can be a dollar investment that might end up costing you if you don't use it or choose poorly. Now most gyms have done the hard work for you, to stay competitive in your area they will all have a very similar price for membership as the rest of the town. But a gym with little equipment might be worth driving past to get to another gym if the other gym will suit your needs better. Don't let the fact that a gym is open 24hr sway your decision to pay more, I've belonged to two gyms that where not 24hr and I've learnt to build my training days around this. If you are game, ask the front desk attendant of you can try the gym for a free session, most gyms don't have a problem giving you a free trial session to test the waters, they will probably give you the membership cost spiel at the same time.  

Lastly, what about niche gyms? I'm talking crossfit, boxing, boot camp styles of gyms... These might be a better option to break away from the normal gym type routine, but might not be as permanent a choice for some. These gyms have very target specific equipment and goals. If you don't plan to be a boxer, boxing training might not be for you, but if you don't try... You might never know!

One things for sure, there are many choices and options for those looking for a place to call home (for fitness) so no excuses!!!