Hey guys,

Figured I’d drop a proper intro and share what I’ve been up to lately.
I’m 190 cm tall, sitting around 95 kilos at roughly 15 % body fat. I work full-time as a day trader, so most of my day is spent glued to monitors, managing risk and reading charts. It’s mentally draining, so the gym is where I reset; the one place where the noise stops and I can just grind.

I’ve been lifting seriously for years, with a few breaks here and there when trading got hectic. Lately, though, I’ve been more consistent than ever and decided to push for a lean bulk. I’m not chasing a stage look; just trying to build a thicker, denser physique while keeping my midsection tight.

The Plan:

My main focus is strength and shape, not just scale weight.
Calories are around 350-400 over maintenance. I eat 5 meals a day: eggs, chicken, rice, oats, red meat twice a week, and plenty of olive oil for fats. I keep junk food low but allow myself a cheat meal when I hit weekly goals.
Protein target sits near 200 g a day - simple and consistent.

Training-wise, I’m running a push/pull/legs split, usually five days a week:
Push: bench, incline DBs, dips, shoulders, tris
Pull: deads, rows, pull-ups, curls
Legs: squats, leg press, RDLs, calves
I keep the reps in the 6-10 range and log every session. I also throw in light cardio post-workout, just enough to keep my ticker healthy.

Right now I’m running something moderate: Test Cyp at 400 mg/week with a low-dose EQ at 400 mg/week. I’m in week 6 and feeling strong; strength climbing steady, recovery sharp, appetite up (thanks, EQ).
Mood’s solid most days, though I do catch myself a bit short-tempered at times, trading stress doesn’t help there either.
Blood pressure’s fine so far; I’m drinking 4 L of water daily and keeping sodium in check. Planning full bloods next week to see where everything stands.

Sleep is hit or miss, screens mess with my head at night, but I aim for 7-8 hours. I use magnesium glycinate before bed and it helps.
Supps are basic: creatine 5 g daily, fish oil, multivitamin, and whey post-lift.
I’m not trying to play doctor, so I stay on top of labs and have everything ready for PCT (Clomid + HCG once the cycle wraps).

What I’ve learned from trading and training is that consistency beats emotion.
Both require patience, discipline, and the ability to stick to a plan even when results don’t show immediately. One bad trade or one skipped session doesn’t ruin you, quitting does.
This lifestyle is all about balance: push hard, rest harder, and don’t let ego call the shots.

I’ll probably post some updates along the way, maybe a current physique pic soon once the lighting’s right.
Anyone else here juggling a full-time job and a cycle? How do you manage recovery and sleep? Always open to hear what’s working for others.

Stay disciplined and lift heavy,
Alex