7 weeks in to first cycle so far

dday76 · Feb 23, 2009

Okay. So I'm 7 weeks in to Test E only cycle. I'm up in weight (water weight mostly I'm sure) from 190 lbs to 225 lbs currently. Just recently the strength gains have started kicking in. Mostly I've noticed them in squats and deadlifts. Prior to cycle I could only squat 315 lbs for 2 -3 good "parallel" reps. Lat week I attempted to do as many as I could and I knocked out 9 good parallel reps. I think were I to have had someone there screaming at me to do one more I could have done a few more reps. Working out by myself I let my minds limitations get the best of me sometimes. LOL. My low rack deadlift prior to cycle was 515 lbs for 1 rep and 2 weeks ago I pulled 515 lbs. for 3 reps, and then 1 more rep in a last set. Other lifts are up as well, but these are the most noticeable I can tell from.

I feel I have a small problem now though. I can't seem to eat enough clean food. I get to full. I always, always make sure i am getting 300-400 grams of protein. But the overall calories just don't seem to be what I think they should be. I am adding Olive Oil to almost everything I can. Eggs, protein shakes, meals. I also started doing short 12 minute Interval sprints on the treadmill. One to combat a little fat gain, and two I'm hoping it will stimulate my appetite a little bit.

More importantly I'm not worried about getting huge Olympia style. I just want to keep 50 - 75 % of my gains. Otherwise I will feel like my cycle was for nothing. Of course I know the water weight will come off, but I'm hoping to be a decent - solid 200 lbs when I am done. At a height of only about 5'8" I think a solid 200 lbs looks pretty good. Then again I may have "small-itis". LOL

Any comments, suggestions, approvals, or disapprovals welcomed.

Tom · Feb 23, 2009

pct to keep gains

are you prepared to do a proper pct after your last injection? pct is probably the variable that will help keep gains. other than that you seem to be doing very good. i'm thinking this is a 12 weeker? that's what i'd do.

Ali · Feb 23, 2009

dday76 said:
Okay. So I'm 7 weeks in to Test E only cycle. I'm up in weight (water weight mostly I'm sure) from 190 lbs to 225 lbs currently. Just recently the strength gains have started kicking in. Mostly I've noticed them in squats and deadlifts. Prior to cycle I could only squat 315 lbs for 2 -3 good "parallel" reps. Lat week I attempted to do as many as I could and I knocked out 9 good parallel reps. I think were I to have had someone there screaming at me to do one more I could have done a few more reps. Working out by myself I let my minds limitations get the best of me sometimes. LOL. My low rack deadlift prior to cycle was 515 lbs for 1 rep and 2 weeks ago I pulled 515 lbs. for 3 reps, and then 1 more rep in a last set. Other lifts are up as well, but these are the most noticeable I can tell from.

I feel I have a small problem now though. I can't seem to eat enough clean food. I get to full. I always, always make sure i am getting 300-400 grams of protein. But the overall calories just don't seem to be what I think they should be. I am adding Olive Oil to almost everything I can. Eggs, protein shakes, meals. I also started doing short 12 minute Interval sprints on the treadmill. One to combat a little fat gain, and two I'm hoping it will stimulate my appetite a little bit.

More importantly I'm not worried about getting huge Olympia style. I just want to keep 50 - 75 % of my gains. Otherwise I will feel like my cycle was for nothing. Of course I know the water weight will come off, but I'm hoping to be a decent - solid 200 lbs when I am done. At a height of only about 5'8" I think a solid 200 lbs looks pretty good. Then again I may have "small-itis". LOL

Any comments, suggestions, approvals, or disapprovals welcomed.

You have gained 35 pounds in 7 weeks? That is pretty insane? What dose are you running, and how long to you plan on running this cycle? Its crazy how diet has everything to do with it, becuase i am on my 5th week and have gained a few pounds only, but i'm eating extremly clean and looking to do more of a recomp...when you look at those numbers thats insane...good luck bro..keep us posted

klowndog · Feb 23, 2009

DAMN

Biceps are monstrous. I guess youre one of the few who really maximizes natural potential gains before hitting the sauce. Seeing your biceps I would have assumed you had done at least a few cycles to get ther. Great Job!

I have the same problem with not being able to eat enough. Try eating 2-4 prunes before you go to bed each night. Helps me keep the system rolling.

Ali · Feb 23, 2009

klowndog said:
Biceps are monstrous. I guess youre one of the few who really maximizes natural potential gains before hitting the sauce. Seeing your biceps I would have assumed you had done at least a few cycles to get ther. Great Job!

I have the same problem with not being able to eat enough. Try eating 2-4 prunes before you go to bed each night. Helps me keep the system rolling.

Yea, no kidding..if you acheived that physique naturally i can't imagine what you will look like after a few cycles...you look great from what i can see

bboveri · Feb 23, 2009

Up 35 lbs? WOW. I'm sure a lot of that is bloat, but with those kind of gains it seems like you are eating PLENTY.

dday76 · Feb 23, 2009

I am doing 500mg/week split in to 2 weekly injections of 250 mg every Sunday and Wednesday. I should mention that I had just come off a low carb - moderate fat cut where I was doing cardio 5 days a week. Two weeks before first injection I came off the low carb diet, and basically stopped all cardio. It didn't take long for me to "bulk up" especially since I tend to be very sensitive to carbs in general. My overall - long term goal is to be about 220 lbs @ about 8-10% bodyfat.

POWER HOUSE · Feb 23, 2009

NICE GUNS!!!!

dday76 · Feb 23, 2009

Thanks to all so far. I have been lifting for about 7 -8 years natty. No sauce until January of this year. I am sure if I tried harder I could have gained more naturally, but 7 years natural is longer than pretty much anyone I know from the gyms I have worked out in. I have been accused of "juicing" for the last 3-4 years now anyway. LOL

Really and truly I'm not that big. My legs are the definite lagging part, but I have been hitting the squats, front squats, and leg presses hard, high rep, and heavy prior to and during this first cycle.

h8tr3d · Feb 23, 2009

damn bro, looking good. 220ish is what im shooting for to at 5'8

dday76 · Feb 23, 2009

Tom ----
My plan was a 12 weeks, but I have a few extra amps on hand so I may run it as far as 15-16 weeks. I'm worried that may be to long of a run, but so far I have just minor atrophy / shrinkage. Not like I thought I would have.

As for PCT I have Nolva on hand that I am thinking of starting because I notice my left nip getting a little puffy, however I know that could be due to the water weight. I have Clomid for my standard PCT. I did so much research and asking around at my local gym. Most everyone told me from their experiences that hCG wasn't necessary. Now I am debating whether or not they were right. I'm thinking of going ahead and running the cycle for about 15 weeks, and using hCG and Clomid . From all the research I've done I can't get a clear precise answer on whether or not hCG is needed to keep gains.

My plan is to start the Clomid about 4-5 days after my last injection, hit the creatine to keep some of the weight gain on and hopefully keep my lifts up there, and keep my diet very high protein and maybe up my carb intake for 4-6 weeks after coming off.

Any opinions on this? Good or bad?

klowndog · Feb 23, 2009

If you want to run hcg, do it during cycle, not after. Google "swale's protocol", and you will find info from an hrt specialist and how he recommends using hcg. You will find this very helpful.

jstforme · Feb 23, 2009

just curious if any coworkers or friends have asked if you are on anything. my first cycle i had a pretty big jump in size as well. oh my friends loved to make fun of me(tried to at least) and coworkers were always asking what i was on.

dday76 · Feb 23, 2009

Thanks for the google tip. I will do that now.

As for co-workers asking / teasing. Yes they all do. My own boss teases me. Right now on his big dry erase board he has one task listed. "Tease about steroid abuse" on there for me. Funny thing is they have been teasing me about it since summer of last year when I was still natty. I just took it as a compliment that I must be doing something right. LOL.

Now of course it's different, but at the same time they see me eating every 2 hours or more, and always mixing/drinking protein shakes with olive oil. So they know that I have greatly increased my calorie intake.

dday76 · Feb 23, 2009

So after reading "Swales Protocol" it seems i should have done the hCG at start of the cycle, and starting it now wouldn't really be all that beneficial? Or am I missing the point completely.

Now I wonder how I missed this important info while I was doing all my research.

Tom · Feb 23, 2009

swale....hcg

yes i second that advice on swale and hcg. clomid is fine for pct if you can tolerate it as far as making you emotional. personally my preference would be nolva for 4 weeks at 40, 40, 20 ,20 but you should be good to go.

klowndog · Feb 23, 2009

dday76 said:
So after reading "Swales Protocol" it seems i should have done the hCG at start of the cycle, and starting it now wouldn't really be all that beneficial? Or am I missing the point completely.

Now I wonder how I missed this important info while I was doing all my research.

dday, don't sweat it. I missed it on my first cycle of test and deca, and I actually did use it after my first cycle to get things going again, due to severe shutdown from deca. I would just have some on hand in case you do shut down hard post cycle, for a kickstart to your nuts, then you'll have some on hand for next cycle. You said no atrophy so far, so don't sweat it.

dday76 · Feb 23, 2009

Thanks for all the advice. I've been lurking around for years on many different forums. This one is by far the best on most honest.

Kudos to all.

Thor · Feb 23, 2009

dday

dday76 said:
So after reading "Swales Protocol" it seems i should have done the hCG at start of the cycle, and starting it now wouldn't really be all that beneficial? Or am I missing the point completely.

Now I wonder how I missed this important info while I was doing all my research.

man you look great, good guns for sure. If I were you I would start that hcg pronto, and hit it twice a week til the end, then do your pct. Kudos to you for doing so good naturally first, it will pay off in the long run.