Taste the Rainbow

Hey Hey Hey!

Can I just say that I've just been having the best few days EVER! I'm talking walking around here like I've won the lottery or something! I've just been feeling on top of the world and getting excited that I have just 16 days until my show! It's unbelievable how quickly this time has flown by, almost like a blink of an eye!

I've had some grrrrreat workouts this week, too! One in particular is that on Tuesday (Back/Bis) I lowered the assisted weight once more for wide-grip and close-grip pull-ups. YAY! Granted, I could only do six but those were after four sets of 12, alternating wide-grip with close-grip at 105#. They were hard and my arms were shaking, but regardless, I am darn proud of myself. See:

Hey, sometimes you are your only cheerleader!

I think next time I'll start with lower assisted weight and see how many I can do before doing my usual weight. Also, today was Chest/Tris and I have a feeling I'm definitely going to be sore tomorrow! I increased my reps for Chest Presses to 3 sets of 30# with reps of 12, 12, and 5 (ha!). I finished off with another set of 12 lifting 25#s because I like ending on an even number....(I know, I'm such a weirdo!)

Oh, and look at my new little weight training journal and "fun pens" I bought. Nothing wrong with jazzin' up your workout gear and bringin' a bit more pizazz to the place!. I bring some fierce estrogen to the 'Testosterone Box" hehe

Today I was so focused and energized (which is good because *again* I could NOT SLEEP last night. Ughhh!) and I think it may have something to do with the new "kid" in town. I decided to try Jack3D .

You probably remember that I am already taking OxyElite Pro, which is manufactured by the same company. I take it in the morning to "wake up" and get me through my cardio session (which varies in intensity, but usually 70-85%). Sometimes I take it in the afternoon, too, if I feel I need an additional "boost". I like it and never feel jittery, only focused and "in the zone". It also makes me feel "peppy" HA! I started adding one scoop (they are tiny scoops) of Jack3d to my workouts yesterday. I didn't really notice much, but I also took an OxyElite Pro pill so I don't know which gave me the energy. However, today, I tried *two* scoops of the stuff and have to say it really helped me push harder in my workouts and feel a lot less fatigued after sets. Again, I never feel jittery and my head certainly didn't pop off my body from energy, but I felt uber-alert and I liked it:)

Please don't worry that I am relying on stimulants too much, because I don't take them every single day. For instance, on the weekends when I get more sleep, I usually skip them because sometimes all you need is a restful night's sleep to get all the energy you need! I am going to stop taking both products in 2 weeks after my show and give myself a month or more to cycle off any type of "energy aid". (Well, aside from coffee. You don't want to know what happens if you take away my coffee. I'm just sayin') As I said in the beginning, I am only taking these pre-workout energy supplements during prep when I feel I need extra umphh!, and lemme tell ya, working out three times a day now definitely leaves me needing some help! You are supposed to "cycle off" products like these and I look forward to a good, old-fashioned restful sleep to give me all the energy I need throughout my days post comp.

Anyway, the other day I paid my monthly pilgrimage to The Vitamin Shoppe because I had a coupon and I am a sucker. I just had to go so I could get that discount. I had to. Had to. I bought the following:

Right there in the center is my main squeeze, Mr. Jay Robb. When I tried the Pina Colada whey protein powder for the first time a few weeks ago, I fell head over 5" heels in luuuurve with it! I was so happy to purchase a canister and even today when I opened it and made a shake, I found myself licking the blender so not to waste a single drop of that yummy goodness. Gosh, it's good stuff!

My shake consisted of:

• 1 cup of Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze
• 1 scoop Pina Colada Whey Protein Powder
• 1 heaping tbsp of Nutra Fiber Flakes (I wrote about them here)
• 1 heaping tablespoon (9grams) of Sugar Free Fat Free Lemon Pudding mix (dry)
• ginormous handle of ice (or two handfuls if you have doll hands like I do)

Oh, mitochondria! It was soooo good! The entire time I was chugging it sipping it ladylike, I kept thinking that it tastes exactly like ________ <--- ??? That's right, I could not put my finger on it, but it did really taste exactly like a certain type of candy I've had. Oh man, it was like drinking melted...um...Skittles, maybe? Whatever it was, I definitely could "taste the rainbow" yaknowwhatImean?

Adios, amigos!

T♥

Questions:

1) What exercise progress have you made recently? (ex., increased weight, resistance, mileage, strength, etc.)

2) Do you take any energy supplements? What do you recommend or not recommend?