Pump HD Pre Workout

Since I've started going to the gym alot more, i decided to take the plunge into the supplements market and get myself a pre workout.
The geek that i am, i spent many hours browsing the web looking for the perfect supplement for me.

I came across alot of good reviews for the Pump HD Pre Workout, so i took the plunge.

When it arrived just in time for chest day, i was pumped (pun intended) to give this a go and see what all the fuss was about.
With any powdered supplement the first thing you always notice is the Mixability and i was not impressed to say the least. as you start to swill the powder around in the water, it instantly goes a beautiful blue colour, but ass soon as you stop stirring, you notice alot of the white powder floats to the top of the glass, and i constantly found myself swishing the glass as i was drinking it, which is no big problem, but you expect a powder to at least mix into the water.

Ok so mixability wasn't the best, but Taste was amazing for a supplement!
I had the blue ice lemonade flavour, and that 100% gets the thumbs up from me.

Onto the results of this supplement, and i was very surprised at just how much of a 'pump' you got from Pump HD.
On my bench press i felt i had that extra oomph, and i could just push out that extra rep at the end of the 5th set. And also my recovery time was alot quicker between sets, normally i would have 90 seconds between sets, but when i have used Pump HD i have been able to cut that 90 seconds almost in half, and as I'm in the gym before work and on a strict schedule, that's a big deal for me, and i would suspect alot of other early morning gym goers.

Verdict

This is a great supplement and i have incorporated it into my array of different supplements, but specifically for Chest day.

I would definitely recommend Pump HD if you have hit a plateau with your previous pre workout, or if its your first time in the pre workout market.

8 out of 10

This Is Insanity... Week 3 Review

As week 3 began, i cant begin to tell you how pumped up i was for the 2nd fit test.
I just wanted to get home from work, get my gym gear on and press play on the Fit Test!

The fit test as you will already know, consists of 8 exercises that you have to do as many repetitions as you can, in 1 minute.

here are my results for the second fit test. (numbers in brackets are results of my first fit test)

Switch Kicks          (90)... 120
Power Jacks           (58)... 64
Power Knees          (80)... 110
Power Jumps          (35)... 55
Globe Jumps            (8)...  11
Suicide Jumps         (11)... 15
Push up Jacks         (30)... 40
Low Plank Oblique (50)... 52

As you can see my results in the space of 14 days have gone up by rather alot, and it makes me wonder where i can improve when the next fit test rolls around.

Coming to the end of the test i felt a slight twinge in my knee and that set the tone for the week really, and i felt like i had to hold back on most workouts.
If you've ever seen the episode of Family Guy where peter trips over and hurts his knee...
Well yea, that's how i felt.

I have got to admit i am slightly disheartened that I'm not seeing great results around my stomach, but i am only 3 weeks in.
I'm just going to have to stick to this and hope results do get better.

On Friday i decided to treat myself to two new products on my fitness journey, the Polar Loop and the Polar H7 heart rate monitor. Initially i was very worried with having to cut the loop's band, but you get a measurements card with it and its quite easy to work out your size and to readjust the clasp.
After i completed the set up and synchronised both devices with my phone, my god i was happy with the results of this product! the data that it gives back is just what i was looking for, and its all so simple to read, and analyse.

I will point out the data from above was on Sunday (rest day) and I'm not always that lazy.

Once i have more than a few days data, i will write more on my experience with the Polar Products

Over the next week i plan to stop weight lifting as i am experiencing excruciating pain in my forearm, so I'm hoping to put all my energy into Insanity, and see if that can help with my results before the recovery week.

This Is Insanity... Week 2 Review

C'MON YALLLLLL, LETS GOOOOOOOOOO!!!

With the words of Shaun T ringing in my ear, week 2 was a massive triumph for me.
I felt 10 times stronger than the first week, and i think that showed in how much further i was able to push in each workout.

Because im a little bit OCD when it comes to things like this (and i love to write a list), in the old exercise log i decided to draw a table showing my calories burned, and my Average Heart Rate for that particular workout.

As you can see each workout I'm burning an average of 500 to 600 Calories, and also in the second week, my average heart rate has decreased dramatically, even though i feel I'm putting more effort in.
So that only means one thing, my cardiovascular performance is getting better!!

On Thursday it was Cardio Recovery, but i felt so good, i decided to do another insanity workout before the Cardio recovery.
Insanity Fast & Furious.
Now this was a real workout! you would do a brief warm up, and then go into 15 minutes of full pace, high intensity super sets. And my oh my was that tough!
I think in week 3 i will be doing the Fast and Furious DVD a lot more, whilst still doing the insanity program.

Saturday came around quickly, and another week completed was on the horizon, but Insanity decided to step it up a gear and called for 2 programs on the same day for the first time (i know i had done 2 on Thursday but this was on another level)
Pure Cardio was first up and that was followed by INSANE Abs.. I put insane in capitals, because it was bloody insane!!
If you've ever seen the Alien films with Sigorny Weaver, well i felt like one of those aliens was going to burst out of my stomach after 3 minutes of the ab workout! It was that excruciating.
My nan came running into the room thinking i was having a heart attack.

When i stood on the scales this morning, i didn't know what to expect, after putting on weight the previous week.
But to my Surprise, the scales smiled up at me and said 185lbs, so that's 2.8lbs down this week.
But not only that, the definition in my shoulders is really coming through, and my chest is starting to feel tighter, which is a really big deal for me!!


Thanks for Reading and i hope you all have a great week!!

This Is Insanity.. Week 1 Review

Boy Oh Boy.. was that first week tough!!

My journey began with the fit test, and that in itself really lives up to its name.
even with just the warm up, i found sweat dripping from places i didn't know sweat could accumulate!
But i pushed through and got to the first of the 8 exercises that you must complete in order to finish the fit test, the 8 exercises are as follows ;


By the time you get to the suicide jumps, push up jacks and the low plank obliques, your body is screaming for you to drop to your knees, roll around on the floor and cry for Shaun T to stop this madness!

THUS WE POWER THROUGH!!

After you survive the fit test and manage to pull yourself out of bed the next day you get to look forward to the rest of the week which includes 4 of your DVDs.

Plyometric Cardio Circuit    (my least favourite so far)
Cardio Power & Resistance
Cardio Recovery
& Pure Cardio


Results

So now down to the nitty gritty.
And this may surprise you.... But i actually put on 3lbs!
My starting weight was 184lbs and when i weighed myself on Monday of week 2, i was 187lbs.
But not to be discouraged, i am solely putting this down to water and sodium retention, from such an intense week of physical exertion, after not being this active in a while.
yes, I may have 'gained' 3lbs, BUT i can see a difference in appearance already!
I can see that fat is being stripped from my body, and i am seeing more muscle definition, and veins that i didn't know i had!
So this just goes to show, its not all about the scales, but how you feel inside.

I feel great!!
Yes ok, the first few days my body was like a jittering mess, but i have so much more energy throughout the day, my mood is better, my motivation is through the roof and i feel like i'm on the right path.

This Is INSANITY

So i haven't written much recently as I've been so busy with work and and my new workout routine,
so let me fill you in.

I'm still doing weights 5 times a week, but now i have incorporated Insanity workout into my lifestyle.

Insanity is a 60 day program (well its actually 63) and its instructed by a guy called Shaun T.
Shaun is brilliant, Let me just get that in there straight away!
if you are looking for someone to motivate you, look no further. He pops up with words of encouragement none stop through each of the 10 workout DVDs, and it really helps you push through when your body is on the verge of physical and mental breakdown.

Every week i will write a short review of the previous week and share my journey through insanity with you.
and i hope it can inspire you to take on a program like insanity.