No reports in the past few weeks - but I've added another inch

I can see from the blog's stats that I've got some return visitors... thanks to the both of you! :) As I type this, I'm laid up in bed trying to recover from a virus that's had me in bed on and off for 2 weeks. Needless to say this has interfered with the VJB training.

I think I'll start phase 2 all over again so as to recover any strength lost and then post results again. But in the meantime, I'll give you this - messing around with measurements in the gym a week into my second phase, I measured a standing double foot leap of 21 inches, meaning I've added a total of 2 inches to my standing double leg jump after 4 weeks on the program. Given that some ankle / achilles problems have prevented me from working out as effectively in the weights room as I'd have liked, 2 inches is great!!

N.O Xplode did nothing for my workouts for VJB

In a post a week ago, I mentioned I was starting on a supplement called N.O. Xplode as a 'Performance Igniter' (those are the manufacturers words, not mine) in addition to re-commencing my protein supplements. The idea behind this was that N.O Xplode would help me go harder in the gym and hopefully get gains in strength quicker by lifting more. I had high hopes for the product, as I'd read in forums that it had really lifted some people in the gym, but I have to say, I'm very disappointed.

I've followed the usage instructions exactly, yet on the workouts where I was taking N.O Xplode, I actually ended up feeling more fatigued than in the session I did today, where I had a protein shake about mid-morning, as I always do, but then hit the gym for weights at around 2pm without N.O Xplode. Maybe I'm one of the people who it doesn't work on, or maybe the benefits are all psychosomatic... I can't make that call.

At any rate, I'll keep using it for 4 weeks, and if at the end of that period I'm still not seeing positive results, I'll stop using it... and probably give it away to a reader if anyone's interested.

VJB Results: 3 Weeks In

OK, so it was actually 4 weeks in, as discusssed in a previous post. The results aren't exactly what I had hoped, but then again, I wasn't expecting large results for the first few phases, since I started on the Novice Plyo's and Weight Training program. I could probably have stepped right into the to start, so the gains I stand to make from doing a lower level of training are probably limited. Since I have had injuries in the past, I'm happy enough to take it slow and make sure my body is keeping up with the training.

It's also worth mentioning that results after 3-4 weeks of training mean nothing, as they are not representative of longer term gains - on my measurement day, there are a number of different factors that can effect the accuracy of my measurements of how much I've gained - did I have a heavier breakfast, did I have coffee instead of juice, am I a little dehydrated? Anyway, enough jaw flap - here are the....

RESULTS
Standing vertical leap: 20 inches
Running Vertical leap: 22 inches
Weight 213 pounds
Body Fat: ~10%

So as you can see, I've added 1 inch to my standing vert, yet my running vert remains the same. This tells me that my leg / back strength was probably the aspect that benefitted the most from the training. I've also managed to drop 2 pounds over the first phase, but again, this being the first measurement of the results from the training, the results don't really mean all that much yet - the true measure of success will come from being able to make great gains in my vert., so stay tuned for the results of upcoming months.

Week 3 - Starting with supplements for Vertical Jump Bible

This past week, I've been finding myself feeling a bit flat on the court during games. I originally thought it might be overtraining, but then again, I didn't the same feeling in the first 3 weeks of the program, when my conditioning would have been significantly less. I realised that the dip in my energy co-incided with me stopping using nutritional supplements pre- and post-workout, so now I'm going to be using the below as pre-workout primer / post-workout recovery aid to make sure I'm gettign enough nutrients to my body. Hopefully these items will give me back that energetic feeling:

Protein
I've chosen a soluble protein solution from Musashi, an Australian sports nutrition company. It's a bit more expensive than the bulk discount proteins you can get, but it comes recommended by a number of people I've spoken to, including personal trainers and my sister, who is a trained nutritionist and natural therapist. The protein in question is Musashi WPC blend. It's a high whey-protein, lo carb blend, which I'm going to be taking an hour before working out, then immediately after working out. This should help ensure my muscles have all the fuel they need to effectively finish my workout, aswell as all they need to repair themselves post-workout, and be ready to go for the next workout or game day. I chose the lo-carb blend, as I'd ultimately like to drop 2 or 3 kilo's of body fat to help with the hops. I'd been using Musashi's P30 formula prior to this which is much higher in carbs, so I'll see if reducing the amount of carbs consumed post-workout effects energy levels at all... I can always go back to the P30 :)

N.O-Xplode
In addition to the protein, I've chosen to go for a workout booster - NO-Xplode. This is the first time I've used one of these products - I've seen mixed reviews of N.O-Xplode online - it is effectively an energy booster, designed to help you mentally focus and have higher energy levels during your workout. BSN, the company who make it, call it a 'Performance Igniter' - after reading plenty of reviews on the web, many people seem to share that description of it. N.O-Xplode also has a whole bunch of synthetic substances in it too, and generally don't like the idea of using highly synthetic products, but I figure I'll give NO-Xplode a go to see if I can go harder during my weight sessions, and thus try for better results. I'll report back on the effects I see.

I've just finished the final week of Phase 1 of the Novice Plyometrics program and Phase 1 of the Novice Weights program - and I'm taking the weekend off before starting Phase 2 of both programs next week. You know what that means... time to measure!! I'll wait until tomorrow to measure, because my legs are thrashed, but be sure to come back tomorrow to see my gains from the first 3 weeks of training.