Fitness

True Nutrition Whey Flavor #38 – Chocolate Banana

/ hsoi

I bought the TrueNutrition.com 38 Flavor sample pack.

Chocolate Banana

Wife said this reminded her of childhood. Had a lot of that sort of “takes you back” feeling with these flavors, because they do have that sort of candy-like taste to them.

This was alright, but again the banana flavor is that “Now and Later” candy flavor, which just isn’t my favorite (maybe sour apple instead?? well, at least of Now and Later… not sure how well that’d work as a whey flavoring). Wife didn’t like the aftertaste, but she’s even less a fan of artificial sweetener than I am. Really, this isn’t bad, just yet another on the list of not to our personal preference.

But… that was #38. Last packet. Stay tuned for my final assessment.

 

2012-07-30 workout – Wendler 5/3/1 program, cycle 12, Squat/Bench Press 2

/ hsoi

Monday is International Chest Day. Literally everyone in the gym this morning was benching in some manner or other.

“Week 2”

  • 3 reps – Squat (working max: 280#)
    • 2x5x45 (warmup)
    • 1x5x115
    • 1x5x140
    • 1x3x170
    • 1x3x200 (work)
    • 1x3x225
    • 1x5x255
  • 3 reps – Bench Press (working max: 225#)
    • 2x5x45 (warmup)
    • 1x5x95
    • 1x5x115
    • 1x3x135
    • 1x3x160 (work)
    • 1x3x180
    • 1x8x205 (PR)
  • Asst. #1 – Shoulder-width pronated grip, lat pulldowns
    • 3 x 10 x 130
  • Asst. #2 – Back Raises (hands behind head)
    • 3 x 15 x BW
  • Asst. #3 – DB Bench Press
    • 3 x 10 x 120
  • Asst. #4 – Face Pulls
    • 3 x 12 x 70

I did not want to go to the gym today, but those are the days when you must go. Of course, it wound up being a great workout. I felt strong. I powered through my squats. Yes the last set was a little sloppy, but I worked hard on my form through all other sets. I felt ass hitting grass. Stomach out into the belt, neck pressed into the bar, upper body tight, hands squeezing the bar. And when I came out of that hole I powered the hell out of the thing… tho I need to work on getting arm drive in there at the same time (instead of after I’m half way up). Still, that was really good.

I didn’t realize it until I got home, but 8 reps @ 205 is a rep PR for me on bench press. Still not an extraordinary amount of weight, but things are feeling good. I did something different on that last set: I wore my belt, cinched as tight as I do for squats. I’m also thinking some about form, but not killing myself over it… are my feet placed well and I’m getting drive? fine, don’t sweat minutia of positioning. And I just pressed. I am going to wear my belt more often. I see little reason to not wear my belt for my work sets on all the big 4 lifts (bench was the last holdout).

I do need to up the assistance work a bit… I could go to 135 on pulldowns, add some weight on back raises, go to 130 on db press. But I’ll wait and up them next cycle. Next week is 5/3/1 week so little point in upping things at this point.

Only bummer is my old ankle injury just won’t stop flaring up. 😦 Really bums me. I’m not yet convinced there’s any point in seeing a doctor as I know what I can tell them and I know what they’ll say to me. I could probably see a sports specialist and get MRI’s and all sorts of expensive things done, but I still bet I’ll hear the same thing and my wallet will be a lot lighter. But I am keeping an eye on it. No sled dragging until it’s better because I just don’t need the abuse. 😦

True Nutrition Whey Flavor #37 – Double Chocolate Mint

/ hsoi

I bought the TrueNutrition.com 38 Flavor sample pack.

Double Chocolate Mint

This wasn’t too bad… kinda reminds you of Girl Scout Cookie “Thin Mints” but just not as strong a minty flavor. I doubt they could actually put mint oils in here, so it’s not going to be as wonderfully intense a mint flavoring, but really for what it is? Not bad. Mixed in milk and it’s a bit of cookie-like indulgence.

 

True Nutrition Whey Flavor #36 – Chocolate Orange

/ hsoi

I bought the TrueNutrition.com 38 Flavor sample pack.

Chocolate Orange

Not a fan of any sort of chocolate and orange mix, so I’m not surprised I’m not a fan of this. It wasn’t offensive tho, and tasted exactly like I expected it to taste. Just not a fan of this flavor in any regard in any venue.

True Nutrition Whey Flavor #35 – Bananas and Cream

/ hsoi

I bought the TrueNutrition.com 38 Flavor sample pack.

Bananas and Cream

This was like other “banana” flavors, that Banana Now and Later candy flavor, but this had that hint of creaminess/smoothness to it. I am starting to wonder what they add to make the “cream” flavor.

True Nutrition Whey Flavor #34 – Peaches N Cream

/ hsoi

I bought the TrueNutrition.com 38 Flavor sample pack.

Peaches N Cream

Apart from being a little on the sweet side, this was pretty good. I can’t place much difference between it and the Luscious Peach… sweeter, perhaps, but I just can’t recall the exact details well enough. Something nags at me tho that the Luscious Peach is more to my preference.

I think I’m liking the “peach” flavors tho because while flavorful, they’re mellow and not overpowering.

True Nutrition Whey Flavor #33 – Creamy Peanut Butter

/ hsoi

I bought the TrueNutrition.com 38 Flavor sample pack.

Creamy Peanut Butter.

Hrm. I have actually been looking forward to trying this one mixed in milk, and I felt a little disappointed. I suppose I was looking for a really good nutty, natural or real peanut butter flavor. Instead… I guess it’s more like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup style of peanut butter, and not very strong flavored either.

It’s not bad… I didn’t feel grossed out, just let down. But then, most of these flavors feel closer to artificial candy-like flavors than the real thing, so I shouldn’t be surprised. Don’t get me wrong. It’s OK for what it is, I just set up a particular expectation and that’s my fault.

Tho I must say… it starts to make me wonder about mixing your own flavors. Get some of these more base flavors, like this peanut butter and one of the strawberry ones for a “PB&J” style flavor that isn’t grape jelly, y’know? I reckon you could have a lot of fun with this.

Richard Hawthorne on Deadlifting

/ hsoi / 2 Comments

Until I saw this video I had no idea who Richard Hawthorne was. Now I’m happy to know. Pound-for-pound he’s obviously one of the strongest men out there, deadlifting nearly 5x his bodyweight. 😯

Just awesome.

Here’s the video:

And yes, while it’s got “iPhone portrait” going on, I think that’s fine given the vertical nature of the subject matter.

What struck me the most from this? The lock out. That it’s not a hinge, it’s a thrust. That’s interesting. I stood up and tried it. Lacking a bar and weights I can’t get a full feel of it, but there’s certainly a big mechanical difference. I think I shall experiment with it.

True Nutrition Whey Flavor #32 – Luscious Peach

/ hsoi / 1 Comment

I bought the TrueNutrition.com 38 Flavor sample pack.

Luscious Peach

I figured this would taste pretty good in milk, and I was right. Sure it’s still that artificial flavoring type of peach, but I really dug it.

This might be running #2 behind the Dutch Chocolate Fudge.

True Nutrition Whey Flavor #31 – Banana Bash

/ hsoi

I bought the TrueNutrition.com 38 Flavor sample pack.

Banana Bash

Bash is right… this flavor hits you pretty hard. It’s a very intense banana flavoring, like an intense Banana Now and Later candy. Not bad, but a little overwhelming for me.