Guidance for 1st cycl
Hello all,
I've been a lurker on here for a while and decided to take the plunge and create an account and make my first post. I'm trying to do research on my first cycle beforehand so as to minimize and side effects.
A little about me: I'm 27yo, 5ft10in tall currently about 185lbs. I've been lifting off and on since I was 15yo, played football all through hs and a little bit in college. Been pretty athletic and active most of my life. I took some time off from lifting few years ago due to a back injury and then a knee injury. I'm not new to lifting by any means and don't plan on jumping into "gear" without understanding it completely first. I'm pretty confident that my training and diet is in order. Diet wise I've been able to bulk up to about 205lbs pretty cleanly with not much fat gain and I cut back down to ~180-185lbs where Im at now. Training wise I've done Rippetoe's SS program, Bill Starr/Madcow's 5x5, and Rippetoe's TM. I've made outstanding gains on each but looking to take it to the next level. My goals are primarily strength and some size. I dont mind a little water weight and fat gain but I'm not looking to down 8000cal a day either lol.
What I was thinking of doing as my FIRST ever cycle was test enanthate and maybe adding some dbol. I've looked into getting my bloodwork done at privatemdlabs and am thinking of doing it before and after the cycle unless its only needed afterwards. So on to the cycle:
test E weeks 1-8 500mg/wk (250mgx2 Mon & Thurs)
dbol weeks 4-8 40mg ED
and then PCT which is where I'm confused as all hell haha.
I've heard of people doing the dbol in the first weeks as a kickstart but I think I'd rather it towards the end to finish strong. Regarding PCT I've seen a thousand contradicting opinions and realize its not an exact science but more what works for each individual user. What I'm looking for is guidance to steer me in the right direction. my main questions would be:
1) I've read about HCG and helping to recover my boys size and test production. But one person says run it on cycle, another says on cycle and PCT and yet another says for PCT. Do I need HCG for this type of cycle and it being my first? If I do, I'm thinking 250iusx2 a week would suffice but during the entire cycle or what?
2) Arimasin, Arimadex, Nolva, clomid etc. Everyone has varying opinions of the usefulness and/or necessity of each of these. I understand I need some PCT support but how much and of what? THis would be a first cycle and from what I've seen not a very agressive one at that.
Sorry for the long ass post haha but I always research things before doing them and this is no exception. I know test is not a magic potion and I don't expect it to be one. I've been reading a lot about all this and I've seen thoughts in all directions. Looking for more guidance than a cookie cutter prescription for me. Thanks in advance
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tread-mLooks like you have this covered as I read through. X2 to the others as to drop the dbol. Let me address your dbol close as I don't see it addressed and I want you to have it out of your head in the future as well. "I like to finish strong" was your comment as to wanting the dbol close. Dbol brings on much in terms of water and the potential for crap. So to close with it you only didn't "finish stron" you finished weak in that your pct and off cycle now has a harder time dialing to success as a result. Its use in. a close can increase wate, estrogen and shbg which trigger many negatives and to have all that to fight during pct .akes your path even tougher IMO. Closers would be more along the line of tbol, var, primo...these help close the cycle with quality and drive down all the negatives I touched on. Think quality period and while dbol will kick a cycle I still prefer prop given the quality benefit possible if dialed in on diet. I know you claim diet is "dialed in" but I want you to keep an open mind here. You won't be on cycle at all times so you have to understand if you are wanting your body to change diet may have to change, even if you have a great cookie cutter diet you found and its very healthy. If you are extremely happy with what you see in the mirror then 6ou're dialed in. If you want whats in the mirror to change then you are not dialed in. Diet is what changes the body. Yes compounds and gym with different workouts help that but they depend on diet to achieve the goal not the other way around. So diet has to be off cycle pertinent to holding what you gained on cycle. If you achieve with compounds with current diet you will still likely begin to go back to the current you without some change. So if you're getting 4000 clean calories right now that has to increase off cycle if you want the mirror to change. That does not mean you need 8000 it just means there has to be change...its action getting reaction and with no change you won't hold any change that occured in cycle.. good advice below , follow it and keep it simple and look to diets of people who have what you want brother, diet is the beginning , the middle and the end here.
Ok got it brother. Thanks. I knew not to use it unless needed and until I know how my body reacts but my main question was whether to continue its use once started for the rest of the cycle. Thanks again!
I';ve decided to drop the dbol like Ollie said and will run just test e 500mg/wk to start. I think you guys have helped me nail down a solid PCT so thank you for that. I know not to cut corners on PCT so as not to lose my gains and shut my body down. For the Aromasin, only use it if symptoms show up, but I think I read somewhere that once I start using it, if I need to, that I have to run it for the rest of the cycle. Is that correct? I think I'll extend the cycle to 10wks as I'll have enough for that long. THanks for the advice
56tooYou cld drop the dbol and do the test e for 12 wks. go with test prop the first 4-5 wks til the test e kicks in. This way you're only dealing with one thing (test). Worked good for me. Good luck
Decided to drop the dbol and will probably go with 10wks for test. Not realy looking to add the test prop as I've heard that requires daily injections. Not that I'm scared of pinning (pinning has never bothered me at the doctors and my sis is diabetic so I've had to pin her insulin for years) but I'd be more at ease at first just doing 2pins a week. Thanks man
Excellant brother RR nothing more to add!! job done the guy just nailed himself a fantastic first cycle