for a long while i was thinking that the new pre-workout mix had some funky ingredients that weren’t entirely compatible with my body. i still think that might play a factor. however, what i think is the larger factor is that my body has adapted to the ingredients in both the new pre-workout and the old pre-workout. they are essentially the same. i started noticing about 2 months before the old pre-workout ran out that i was experiencing lots of disruptions. i have slowly been changing the mix of my other supplements, specifically by reducing them for the most part. there are also external variables putting pressure on the system, specifically work and life stresses, changes in workout habits and changes in nutrition. overall there are too many variables to juggle. the biggest side effect is the lack of the ability to sleep effectively. 5-7 hours of sleep is simply not acceptable. lying in bed for 3 hours before sleeping and then only sleeping for 5 hours is not acceptable. too many variables and too little sleep makes me very very cranky. so i’m going to reduce the number of variables and push back and give less quarter to the stressful people in my life. everything was going so well. this is typical. external and internal forces are fighting for control. this time, i’m maintaining control. i’m getting hold of my emotional state. this is just like a hurricane. the winds are blowing. stop feeding the hurricane and let it pass. the river is raging. lets the waters subside. you’ve got plans. revise them as necessary. don’t throw them out. don’t panic. don’t get scared. don’t let fear take hold. drop the pre-workout. it’s the most likely candidate causing the lack of sleep. okay? okay. no more pre-workout. keep everything else the same. keep going to the gym. get hold of the diet. this is your conscience. this is your voice of control. this is the voice of reason. it’s okay to trust me. i’ve always been here. you just couldn’t hear me over the sound of the blowing winds. those awful coworkers have always been awful. they will continue to be awful. calm. calm. keep calm. it’s going to be okay. no more pre-workout. more sleep. no more nervous twitching. release the anxiety. release the chemical fear. it’s okay. go back to sleep. get some rest. calm. no more pre-workout.