Kicking off 2017 with Iron Legion Invictus and Virtus!

[AntM1564]

First, I would like to thank you to the Iron Legion team. I have read great things about these two products and I am beyond excited to stack them and give my honest feedback. I have never used a Iron Legion product and excited I get to run this stack. My goal is to lean bulk. I have not received the products yet, unless they are in my mailbox now, but I wanted to get this up for when I do get the products. My dosing will be Invictus: .5ml AM + .5ml PM Virtus: .5-1ml AM, initially.

Training

I follow a hybrid PPL/PHAT routine. Due to the effects of Laxogenin, I may incorporate more dropsets due to increased recovery.

Sunday - Push Hypertrophy
Monday - Pull Power
Tuesday - Lower Hypertrophy
Wednesday - Off
Thursday - Push Power
Friday - Pull Hypertrophy
Saturday - Lower Power

Diet

I carb cycle. I have two high days, two moderate days and three low days. I will post my daily diet so you can see macro breakdown and calorie breakdown. In addition, if I do not gain weight in a particular week, I increase each day by 25 cals, but adding 6 grams of carbs to each day.

Other Supplements

Orange Triad
Zinc
Magnesium
OxiOmega
NOW Vitamin D 5,000 IU
NOW Vitamin C 1,000
PowerMax XT
Various Pre workouts, only stims 3 days per week and non stim 3 days. Depending on how heavy my heavy days are, I will consume a product higher in stims
PES Select (no more than 1 scoop per day)
LCLT
Alpha GPC,
L Tyrosine
Beta Alannine

My expectations

A drying effect
Increase in strength and body comp

[somm]

Looking forward to keeping up with your log! I'm curious to see how well these two supps work! (Invictus and Virtus)

[AntM1564]

January 15, 2017
Push Hypertrophy

Weight - 155.6

Weight is the same from last week. I am going to increase calories by 25 each day, in the form of carbs. I am also beginning a stack of Iron Legion Invictus and Virtus today.

Today's session was surprisingly good. I say that because my chest was a touch sore from Thursday. I hardly ever get DOMS in my chest, especially DOMS that lasts several days. Don't know what it was, but it didn't influence me, at least I don't believe it did. I also did not feel any tightness in my shoulder again! I think it is due to getting rid of behind the neck presses, an addition to my warmup and a new a new stretch I am doing post workout. Again, like last Sunday, I had a very good pump compared to the previous month or so on this particular day. I think it is because my pre workout meal is closer to training.

Tomorrow will be interesting with how my legs feel and I have a 9x1 on deadlifts.

Training

Incline Smith/Flat DB Press

Incline - 120x10,10,10 (does not include weight of the bar)
Flat - 65x10,10

Seated Smith Shoulder Press

85x10,10,10,10

Weight does not include the bar, just plates

Incline Hammerstrength Chest Press

145x10,10
140x10

Incline Skull Crushers

70x10,10,10

Seated Hammerstrength Shoulder Press

140x12,10,10

Straight Bar Cable Pressdown

44x10,10,10

Nutrition

High Carb Day

Cals - 3,075
Carbs - 408g

• Fiber - 50g

Protein - 226g
Fat - 64g

• Sat. - 25g
• Poly. - 8g
• Mono. - 12g

- - - Updated - - -

Initial thoughts:

The products do not smell that great. i wish they were odorless. I would suggest putting something on the mask the scent. Application is easy. I tried two different methods. One, I put the liquid on my hand and rubbed it on the area. The other way I tried was to slowly drip the liquid on the application site and rub it in that way. I think I prefer putting it on my hand first. Also, I think this would be a lot easier to apply if the liquid was not water like and more of a cream or gel. Lastly, I noticed that this leaves your hands looking greasy, make sure to run them under water after.

[AntM1564]

January 16, 2017
Pull Power

Today was a killer workout. Had a 9x1 going on. If you're new to my log, I programmed two 9x1 sessions, but not going for a PR. After the second 9x1, I take a deload week than attempt a new PR. My goal on the 9x1 days are to get as close to my PR as possible. My PR the deadlift is 440. I hit 435. It was an extreme grinder. I think I hitched it a little, but I'll count it. Getting to knee level was not hard, but the lockout was killer. I thought one of a few things would happen; one, I would need to drop it, two, my head was going to pop like a pimple or three, I was going to poop my pants! In 5 weeks, my next 9x1, I am going to stick with 435, since I don't want to set a new PR, but I am going to see if it goes up easier. The workup sets will be the same. I will also try to hit some higher weight on the way down.

Everything else progressed with weight or reps. I did weighed pullups, despite being the same weight. For was great, this shows me I am getting stronger. Normally, when I do this weighted, I lack on the contraction; I do not pull myself up high enough. That was not the case here. My hamstrings are dead now. Tomorrow will be interesting.

Ome other thing worth noting. I changed my pre workout meal, on this day, last week. Today, instead of swwet potatoes, I had white rice. Today was the first deadlift day in a long time which I did not feel like I was going to puke during any set. I may stick with white rice from now on pre workout on this day.

Training

Deadlift 9x1 @ 90%-99% of 1RM (396 - 339 lbs)

405x1
415x1
425x1
435x1
415x1
415x1
415x1
415x1
415x1

Rack Pulls

370x5,5,5

Knee level

Weighted Wide Grip Pullups

2.5x6,6,6

Close Grip Neutral Grip Pulldowns

120x7,7,7

Wide Grip Neutral Pulldowns

120x8,7
122.5x6

Neutral Grip Seated Cable Row

120x7,7,7

Reverse Pec Deck

145x6,6,6,6

Nutrition

Low Carb

Cals - 2,575
Carbs - 265g

• Fiber - 49g

Protein - 226g
Fat - 77g

• Sat. - 20g
• Poly. - 11g
• Mono. - 11g

[Cdsnuts]

January 15, 2017
Push Hypertrophy

Weight - 155.6

Weight is the same from last week. I am going to increase calories by 25 each day, in the form of carbs. I am also beginning a stack of Iron Legion Invictus and Virtus today.

Today's session was surprisingly good. I say that because my chest was a touch sore from Thursday. I hardly ever get DOMS in my chest, especially DOMS that lasts several days. Don't know what it was, but it didn't influence me, at least I don't believe it did. I also did not feel any tightness in my shoulder again! I think it is due to getting rid of behind the neck presses, an addition to my warmup and a new a new stretch I am doing post workout. Again, like last Sunday, I had a very good pump compared to the previous month or so on this particular day. I think it is because my pre workout meal is closer to training.

Tomorrow will be interesting with how my legs feel and I have a 9x1 on deadlifts.

Training

Incline Smith/Flat DB Press

Incline - 120x10,10,10 (does not include weight of the bar)
Flat - 65x10,10

Seated Smith Shoulder Press

85x10,10,10,10

Weight does not include the bar, just plates

Incline Hammerstrength Chest Press

145x10,10
140x10

Incline Skull Crushers

70x10,10,10

Seated Hammerstrength Shoulder Press

140x12,10,10

Straight Bar Cable Pressdown

44x10,10,10

Nutrition

High Carb Day

Cals - 3,075
Carbs - 408g

• Fiber - 50g

Protein - 226g
Fat - 64g

• Sat. - 25g
• Poly. - 8g
• Mono. - 12g

- - - Updated - - -

Initial thoughts:

The products do not smell that great. i wish they were odorless. I would suggest putting something on the mask the scent. Application is easy. I tried two different methods. One, I put the liquid on my hand and rubbed it on the area. The other way I tried was to slowly drip the liquid on the application site and rub it in that way. I think I prefer putting it on my hand first. Also, I think this would be a lot easier to apply if the liquid was not water like and more of a cream or gel. Lastly, I noticed that this leaves your hands looking greasy, make sure to run them under water after.

You don't find working shoulders on the same day as chest negatively effects your chest workout?

[Maxout777]

You don't find working shoulders on the same day as chest negatively effects your chest workout?

FWIW, I've always done the same. Never really had any problem with chest workouts and always felt like they are some of my best lifts (even with my long ass arms).

[AntM1564]

January 22, 2017
Push Hypertrophy

Weight - 154.4

Weight is the down 1.2 pounds from last week. This may be a little misleading though since I used the bathroom more during the night (use your imagination). I am still going to increase my calories though by 25 each day, in the form of carbs.

Training went very well today, but the day as a whole was meh. I wanted to play my PS4 since I barely get to and usually only can on weekend, on a limited basis, and days off from school. I started a new game yesterday and wanted to play it some today, but everything went to hell after the gym. For some reason, my phone was constantly restarting when I launched some apps. By the time I got to the cell phone store (which moved locations, but I did not know) and I figured out what was going on, the day was shot. I had some factory reset the phone and now I need to put all my apps back on it.

Today has marked one week since I started the Virtus and Invictus stack. Here are my notes thus far. I really do not like the smell of the products, but in the end, if they work well, I can see past that. Application is very easy, I just dislike how greasy your hands get from the liquid. Again, not a big deal though. I don't know if it is the way I squeeze the dropper or what, but I always measure out .5ml, my desired amount, every single time. That is very convenient. Regarding what I have noticed, two nights last week, Wednesday and Thursday, I woke up erected two or three times during the night. Rarely do I wake up once or more with an erection. I have not had one since Thursday though, waking up with one that is. Recovery seems a tad better, I will focus on this during the week. I also notice a new vein, one that I have never seen before. It was in my side of my left lower/mid pec. This was first thing in the morning, no food or water, so that was cool.

Training

Incline Smith/Flat DB Press

Incline - 130x8,8,8 (does not include weight of the bar)
Flat - 70x8,8,8

Seated Smith Shoulder Press

90x8,8,8,8

Weight does not include the bar, just plates

Incline Hammerstrength Chest Press

145x10,10,10

Incline Skull Crushers

70x11,10,10

Seated Hammerstrength Shoulder Press

150x10,10,10

Straight Bar Cable Pressdown

44x12,10,10

Nutrition

High Carb Day

Cals - 3,100
Carbs - 414g

• Fiber - 50g

Protein - 225g
Fat - 63g

• Sat. - 24g
• Poly. - 8g
• Mono. - 12g

- - - Updated - - -

You don't find working shoulders on the same day as chest negatively effects your chest workout?

No. Ever since I started following a push, pull, leg routine, my body has gotten used to it. Could I moved a little more weight, perhaps. But it doesn't affect the other group too much. Plus, volume is low since I hit the muscles 2x per week.

[moleculargainz]

In for this log! Whenever I use their transdermals I apply the liquid and rub it around with the tip of the dropper then use my forearms to mix in the rest. This works very well for me and I don't have to worry about any of it being wasted from washing it off. Looking forward to seeing how these products treat you!

[AntM1564]

January 23, 2017
Pull Power

Pretty good session today. I will post my last 5x5 below this. I wanted to go for a 7th rep on the 355 set, but I did not want to strain too much. I can't exactly remember, but I feel like the 6 reps today were smoother than last time. Warmups felt great, as soon as I hit that 315 set, that is when my hamstrings said, we're not ready! Everything else went smoothly. I saw some small increases from last week. My lower back was a tad tight after the rack pulls. I think it was from over extending on the lockout on deads and rack pulls. I have a bad habit of doing that.

I'm also looking for some suggestions here. Last week, my meals leading up to the pre workout meal were the same as today, but the pre workout meal was different and I did not have as much time last week to digest compared to this week. With that said, last week, with less time between my meal and lifting, I felt fine versus today, I felt like I was going to puke. This is a common theme when I do not deadlift fasted.

My carb source last week was white rice and this week, sweet potatoes. My pre workout meal during the week is the same since I have it at work, 225 grams of greek yogurt, 150 grams of strawberries and sweet potatoes (amount varies on the day, but today was only 215 grams) and this was 2 hour before lifting.

Here are some options I am thinking about, let me know what you might try:

1 - Keep everything the same, but swap out the sweet potatoes for rice
2 - Keep everything the same, but eat my lunch earlier, then have a protein shake when I would normally have my lunch. Usually my second "meal" is just a shake, but I could swap those.
3 - Keep meal one and two the same, but when I have lunch, have a protein bar with some fruit.

Last 5x5 12/19/16

315x5
325x5
335x5
345x5
355x6

Training

Deadlift 5x5 @ 90%-99% of 1RM (308 - 352 lbs)

315x5
325x5
335x5
345x5
355x6

Rack Pulls

380x3,3,3,3,4

Knee level

Weighted Wide Grip Pullups

2.5x7,7,6

Close Grip Neutral Grip Pulldowns

120x8,7
122.5x6

Wide Grip Neutral Pulldowns

122.5x7,7,6

Neutral Grip Seated Cable Row

120x7,7,7

Reverse Pec Deck

145x7,7,6,6

Nutrition

Low Carb

Cals - 2,600
Carbs - 271g

• Fiber - 50g

Protein - 227g
Fat - 76g

• Sat. - 20g
• Poly. - 11g
• Mono. - 11g

[AntM1564]

January 24, 2017
Legs Hypertrophy

Training.

Reverse Hammerstrength V Squat

270x8,8,8,8,8,8

Leg Press

500x8,8,8,8

Seated Hamstring Curl

180x11,10,10

Lying Hamstring Curl

90x12,10,10

Leg Extensions

145x12,12,11,10,10.

Seated Calf Raises

120x12,12,11,11,11

Standing Calf Raises

200x12,11,10,10,10

Nutrition

Moderate Carb

Cals - 2,850
Carbs - 340g

• Fiber - 50g

Protein - 225g
Fat - 70g

• Sat. - 17g
• Poly. - 12g
• Mono. - 19g