First Cycle Review For an Old(er) Guy
By old(er), I mean 36. I'm 6', about 175lbs, and naturally very lean/slim. I've been training very hard for a couple of years, and have noticed that my recovery capability isn't quite what it used to be. I eat quite cleanly, but there is a little room for improvement, which I will do during this cycle. I'm trying to keep my first cycle on the simpler side, while still managing my hormones/health appropriately. The only supplements that I have ever taken are protein, multivitamins, and creatine. Is it okay to continue taking creatine while on cycle, or is it completely not needed?
I have no expectations for gains - what I get is what I get - fitness and health are the most important things to me during this cycle. That said, I'm not sure if it's a pipe dream, but I want to run a 12 week cycle and minimize fat/water gain. I will be travelling to a tropical destination right at the end of the cycle, and do NOT want to end up looking like a bloated mess! 
I take great pride in always looking rather conditioned.
Suggestions/tweaks are very welcome, especially considering my desire to end up looking fairly lean at the end of the cycle.
[CYCLE]
{Week 1-4}
Test Enanthate 500mg/wk
Dbol 20-30mg/wk
Aromasin 6mg ED
{Week 5-12}
Test Enanthate 500mg/wk
HcG 500UI/wk (might start this as week 3)
Aromasin 6mg ED
[PCT]
{Week 13-14}
HcG 1000UI/wk
{Week 14-17}
Clomid 50mg ED
Nolva 20mg ED
I also have enough Nolva on hand to deal with any issues that pop up while on cycle.
Thanks guys!
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Progress:
Today is day 1 of week 5, and things are going well. Pinning 250mg Test E E3D, alternating between quads, with no issues since I switched from the gear that was giving me crippling PIP. I also started 250iu hcg E3D on day 1 of week 4, and have continued with 6.25mg aromasin ED. For the rest of this cycle, I think I will avoid another compound and just stick with ~600mg/week of Test E. If I decide to run another cycle, I'll add in something for a kickstart to get things moving sooner.
Negative sides:
I've had an increase skin oiliness, and a little bit of acne on my chest/back, but I often get that mid-workout-program since I spend 2-3 hours in the gym drenched in sweat. I haven't noticed any water retention at all, and my weight is up about 5-7lbs. I'm also getting night sweats, and some slight sleeping problems. If anyone can suggest a mild supplement to help with sleep, I'm all ears.
Positive sides:
My libido is great, but off-gear I have the sex drive of Rocco Siffredi anyway, so not much change there. The biggest change that I have noticed is that I can eat a lot of carbs without bloating up. My body typically responds with heavy bloating when I eat an average macro ratio, but that doesn't seem to happen on gear, so I'm keeping up a relatively high intake of carbs. I'm hoping that this will also help pack on the muscle, as I'm typically too vain to gain much fat when I'm bulking.
Lifts are up only slightly, but my endurance seems to have the biggest improvement - I can keep pushing hard even after 3 hours of heavy training. I've also noticed a significant decrease in DOMS, which is usually pretty much omnipresent during the programs I run.
Overall, I'm happy with how things are going now, and am looking forward to seeing what the next few weeks bring!
I'm fairly certain that my first Test E was just dirty - I've since tried two other brands, and PIP was almost undetectable. I'm speaking with the supplier, and hopefully they sort it out. I understand that shit happens, but this bad experience right off the bat doesn't give me much faith in internet suppliers.
The other types of Test E that I tried were smooth as hell, and I think I've settled on 250mg every 3 days, or 583mg/week. I am considering running some Anavar in the last 4-6 weeks to tighten up near the end. Since I will have been running just the test E for so long before the var, I don't feel that I will be complicating things too much, and will still be able to discern what is causing any possible negative sides. Input is still appreciated on the var, though!
For glutes try this: take a warm bath first to loosen muscles, then stretch a bit, then prepare pin and area, then pin taking care to inject slowly for 30 or so seconds. This should help.
So, I did my first pin - 2ml of 250mg/ml test E - 5 days ago and the PIP is nearly unbearable. I used a 21AWG needle in my glute, and am sure I hit the right spot. I aspirated, but I definitely didn't do a good job of keeping the needle steady (man, the glutes are difficult to do on your own). I was extremely cautious with cleanliness, and warmed the oil first. 24 hours later the PIP was mild, and I thought that people may just be exaggerating its possible severity, but 5 days later I am swollen and VERY sore. I'm not sure if it's a reaction to the Teragon gear, or if PIP can really be this painful for a newbie. I still do my leg workouts, since nothing short of incapacitation will keep me from completing every set, but I am walking with a limp, and having trouble sleeping...
I will be using 25AWG from now on, and pinning twice a week with 1ml each injection - hopefully that helps out.
bro, split that into two pins (EX: Mon/Thurs)
As stated below, I started splitting into two 1ml injections, with the exact same results.
Most people wont get any pip from a low dose of test e because the crystals have a low melting point. The only thing I can think of is you injected too quick or you might be allergic to EO or the oil is dirty. 2ml should take you like 30 seconds to inject. Take a permanent marker and put a dotted line around the outline of the red area. If it is hard, hot and red, and grows overnight, you might have an infection and will want to go get some antibiotics.
I forgot to mention that I injected the whole 2ml in probably 15 seconds. That said, today is the first day that the PIP has started to get better. Thanks for the tips on infections - I will be monitoring it closely for any signs of that.
I used a 25G to do another 1ml in my quad today - I took about 75 seconds to get it all in. I couldn't even feel the injection, and I'm hoping that this pin yields significantly less PIP. I don't see any reason to ever use a 21G canon again!
Can anyone offer an idea of how long PIP can last? I couldn't find any mention of the typical length of time it lasts in any of my searches. I'm not particularly worried about it, but I'd feel more comfortable knowing that a week or so is not terribly uncommon.
BTW oveesteer, I'm a huge car guy, that builds heavily modified cars for fun. I'm assuming that your name indicates that you are a gearhead as well.
Absolutely. Built my first truck frame up and worked in a classx restoshop. Now im into cummins trucks. Anyway pip for me avgs 4 days, pain starts improving on day three. If its getting better already its not an infection but due to the length of time im wondering if you allergic to Eo. Some sources make oils without it
Cool. I'm a highly-modified sports-car kind of guy - think eating Ferraris and Lambos with a built turbo car - but am into anything with an engine. And a corner of my heart is always reserved for modified diesels.
My test says that it's 2% BA, 15% BB, and cottonseed oil. I'm not sure what an allergic reaction to injecting this stuff is like, but my symptoms are nothing like any allergic reaction I've had - there is no itching at all.
I am 100% sure that my technique and cleanliness were good on my quad pin, and now two days later, I can barely walk! It doesn't feel like an infection or an allergic reaction; just an extremely painful bruise (although there's barely any colouring - just some mild redness). To the touch, it feels like a rather large knot, but it's hurts a helluva lot worse that one. I'm thinking of just finding another source, because I can't go on like this while still completing my workouts, which consist of heavy legs every day...
It doesn't sound like there is EO (ethyl oleate) in that so it could be you got dirty gear. Like I said, not familiar with that brand. If you want to PM me I will tell you the sources I have used that I know have clean gear.
And imagine a 3/4 ton 5.9l 24 valve cummins dumping black smoke all over the Ferrari 360 it just ate for breakfast :-D like 9- and 10- second 1/4 miles
Hey bro, welcome to EROIDS!! Have you gotten pre-cycle blood work, yet? Great answers down below from the members, too!! It is okay to keep taking the supplements you stated above, while on cycle. You have some good drugs to start with, too. You don't really need the hCG, until you use a 19-nor compound. However, if you do use it, drop the dosage to 250iu x2 injections per week. Use it the last 6-8 weeks of the cycle, and make sure the last injection is about a week before you start PCT.
Before you get started, do you have a cardio regimen that you will incorporate into your weight lifting program? And, have you calculated your BMR, so you can meet your goals? In addition, do you have any BF% calipers?
TE 500mg in divided doses of 250mg each injection about three days apart for weeks 1-12 is great and should be the only AAS incorporated into your first cycle. I do Wed/Sat. Exemestane (Aromasin) is a wonderful AI that can be initiated and administered around the third or fourth week, as stated below. During your cycle, monitor for signs and symptoms of high estrogen, like gynecomastia, edema in the ankles, acne, and lethargy to describe a few. At the 6-week mark, get mid-cycle blood work.
Around 18 days after your last TE injection you can start you PCT. This time frame is debated by many some people start 14 days, and I have even seen some wait 21 days. I like 18 days and it is what worked for me, as well as, several other members. Also, continue your AI through these 18 days.
You can run your PCT two ways. One is with Aromasin (12.5/12.5/6.25/6.25)/Nolva (20/20/10/10)/Clomid (100/100/50/50) and the other is with Nolva (40/40/20/20)/Clomid (100/100/50/50). The latter is standard and well accepted in PCT recovery. The initial one is newer and current research reveals that Exemestane use during PCT helps achieve better results in HPTA recovery. I read this on one of the EROID forums.
Six weeks after PCT, get your post-cycle blood work. If you have recovered your blood work data will reveal the information. And, if you want to start another cycle, I suggest you wait another six weeks.
If you need more information regarding your cycle, EROIDS is the best place to make that happen.
I will have my blood work done tomorrow - it's important for me to know what my before/after levels will be, and maintain my health.
I don't do much dedicated cardio, but I do lead a fairly active lifestyle. My work outs are geared toward athletic performance and not strength/mass building, so there is plenty of exercises that could be considered cardio. I think I might incorporate some hill running and/or jogging in there as well. I don't have BF calipers, but I don't think it's terribly difficult to determine your BF% within a few percent - I'm sitting at around 10-11% right now, and I'd like to hit 8% at the end of the cycle.
Your advice on the HcG and PCT is noted. I will be sticking with just the Test E and Aromasin on cycle, so will PCT appropriately.
Thanks for all the help, guys!
Thanks guys. I'll be sticking with the Test E, and dropping the dbol. I looked into an avar, and it sounds great, but holy hell is it expensive! If I'm rather bloated near the last few weeks, I'll track some down, otherwise I'll leave it for next time.
My only concern now is running the aromasin so much, and drying out my joints. I do have some joint issues/injuries, and really don't want them interfering with the cycle. I already have the aromasin, so I'd prefer not to source something else - any input on changing the dosage or schedule to keep the joints in mind?
Anon0.6 ed is fine, thats a low dose that should have little effect on your joints. Start it from week 3/4, unless u get sensitive nips before this. Yup var is expensive lol. Keeping your diet clean wil keep bloat down, but on 500 a week bloat shouldnt be too much of a problem.
I just finished my first cycle at 500mg Test E ew, adex .25 eod with an 8 week anavar 100mg ed finish and a proper PCT of course. Loved the Var! Check into it. It'll get you ready for da beach.
Thanks bigtoe - a friend also advised to drop the Dbol, so I think I will do that. Would replacing it with EQ be okay? I'm not sure I should bother with only a 12-week cycle; and, I can always save the EQ for next run. Is there anything else simple that I can add in, cycle wise, without changing everything else?
Maybe I'm over-thinking it (man, is there a lot to read out there!), and a simple run of test E with proper PCT is good enough.
AnonToo true buddy, so much out there to read and overcomplicate a simple cycle. 500 mg test a week is sweet, your main gains come from week 4 onwards. Nice and steady so no sudden jump and not too much of a shock to the system. I just finished a cut with a var taper and if u want to add anything i would look into that. As already said var is nice for that hard vascular look. Leave the eq for another time and stick to the 12 week test e, its your first run so you will see the best gains from this.
I would stick to the test only this cycle. That really is the only way to know how your body reacts. If you stack substances, you won't know what is causing problems if they arise. You will do great on test only.
AnonLooks like an ok first run, many would say to leave the dbol out for your first cycle, but its entirely up to you.
No need to up the hcg at the end, just keep it at 500 ew and start it week 5 or 6 as dbol wil produce estrogen and hcg increases estro too. So best to keep the two clear of each other.
Double your clomid and nolva weeks 14 and 15.
So eat clean and train hard and you wil get some nice gains.