Hi folks,
I'm new to this board.. Great forums here. The best around.
I'm 40, not new to weightlifting.. training since age 16. Competed as Junior in P/L (1984). Never used gear until 6 weeks ago.
Entering first BB contest September.
I decided to do mild cycle: 40 mg/d OT / 30 mg/d Anavar
Liv.52 / Milk Thistle and the recommended Supps.
5'11" 210 lbs.
start: about 20% bf. most all around midsection/trunk.
workouts: high intensity / 5 days per week. do some drop sets, some pyramids, and recently some X reps. Each bodypart per week, yet abs / calves and recently legs getting extra work
Observation:
1st week: not much, but better pumps at gym
2nd week: fat loss noticeable
3rd week: strength improvements noticeable.
4th week: strength levels definitely up, plus able to stack 6 plates on the t-bar barbell rows for 3-5 reps, plus a personal best since Junior P/L on rack pulls (400 lbs)
5th week: good workouts, muscle mass definitely up, vascularity improvements (diet clean.. trying to keep at around 2,800 cals, carbs down around 150 - 200 grams/d)
My questions are these:
1. My muscles feel very tight.. even when not working out. I even felt like my trap stiffens up while turning my head slightly sleeping! Is this common on gear?
2. On Sunday, I strained an adductor doing lunges.. It wasn't even half the amount of weight I could have used and only on the second set. I figure the tightness is now causing injury. Adductor strain is slight, but will keep me off legs for a week or two.. and possibly off heavy squats for even longer.
3. I tapered off OT, keeping Var on. Reasoning: had significant bruising problems with OT. The dreaded headache went away. Read about these sides, so was prepared. But didn't like the big ugly bruises all over the place. Just grabbing the plates in front of me shoving into my forearms (doing Roman chair extensions) gave me big ol reddish purple uglies. I don't normally bruise very easily. Also one night I had cut my hand on kitchen knife and took all night to stop bleeding.. This could be dangerous, IMHO.
I've added PCT (3,6,17-Androstenetrione) at night. To run with Var (another 3 weeks), then continue (Adrostenetrione) on its own for another 3 weeks.
I'm bummin on the strain as loving these strength increases.. and desiring to attack the iron... but having to keep some reserve. frustrating!
Any comments appreciated!! Eg: Should I have more rest days in between? Some have suggested a Mon-Wed-Fri only.. with cardio on the off days. I run stairs (up to 750) for cardio. I can't stand whirling along on some tinny machine. If I'm not adding to muscle while burning fat, I feel it's a waste. Should I up my carbs? Need to cut this fat off faster..and don't want to use Clen or any other ancillary.
Thanks everyone.
I'm new to this board.. Great forums here. The best around.
I'm 40, not new to weightlifting.. training since age 16. Competed as Junior in P/L (1984). Never used gear until 6 weeks ago.
Entering first BB contest September.
I decided to do mild cycle: 40 mg/d OT / 30 mg/d Anavar
Liv.52 / Milk Thistle and the recommended Supps.
5'11" 210 lbs.
start: about 20% bf. most all around midsection/trunk.
workouts: high intensity / 5 days per week. do some drop sets, some pyramids, and recently some X reps. Each bodypart per week, yet abs / calves and recently legs getting extra work
Observation:
1st week: not much, but better pumps at gym
2nd week: fat loss noticeable
3rd week: strength improvements noticeable.
4th week: strength levels definitely up, plus able to stack 6 plates on the t-bar barbell rows for 3-5 reps, plus a personal best since Junior P/L on rack pulls (400 lbs)
5th week: good workouts, muscle mass definitely up, vascularity improvements (diet clean.. trying to keep at around 2,800 cals, carbs down around 150 - 200 grams/d)
My questions are these:
1. My muscles feel very tight.. even when not working out. I even felt like my trap stiffens up while turning my head slightly sleeping! Is this common on gear?
2. On Sunday, I strained an adductor doing lunges.. It wasn't even half the amount of weight I could have used and only on the second set. I figure the tightness is now causing injury. Adductor strain is slight, but will keep me off legs for a week or two.. and possibly off heavy squats for even longer.
3. I tapered off OT, keeping Var on. Reasoning: had significant bruising problems with OT. The dreaded headache went away. Read about these sides, so was prepared. But didn't like the big ugly bruises all over the place. Just grabbing the plates in front of me shoving into my forearms (doing Roman chair extensions) gave me big ol reddish purple uglies. I don't normally bruise very easily. Also one night I had cut my hand on kitchen knife and took all night to stop bleeding.. This could be dangerous, IMHO.
I've added PCT (3,6,17-Androstenetrione) at night. To run with Var (another 3 weeks), then continue (Adrostenetrione) on its own for another 3 weeks.
I'm bummin on the strain as loving these strength increases.. and desiring to attack the iron... but having to keep some reserve. frustrating!
Any comments appreciated!! Eg: Should I have more rest days in between? Some have suggested a Mon-Wed-Fri only.. with cardio on the off days. I run stairs (up to 750) for cardio. I can't stand whirling along on some tinny machine. If I'm not adding to muscle while burning fat, I feel it's a waste. Should I up my carbs? Need to cut this fat off faster..and don't want to use Clen or any other ancillary.
Thanks everyone.
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