A n00bs first cycle - Test E

[hammertime]

Hey guys so here it is, my first cycle log. After reading others' logs I've seen how helpful they can be so decided to do my own for my first cycle starting Monday.

Some background etc:

Age: 35
Height: 5'9
Weight: 164lb

Lifting/medical: Been lifting on and off for 3 years, always do microcycles - pretty much Jim Stoppani's Shortcut to Size programme. Train 4 times a week M/T/T/F. Have suffered from a prolapsed disc resulting in sciatica and left glute/leg numbness for the best part of 6 years and had emergency surgery to remove part of a disc just over 12 months ago after developing cauda equina syndrome. Now starting to develop similar symptoms on the opposite side of my spine although no sciatica yet.

Reasons for cycle: I know some of you will say max yourself natty first but my reasons for this cycle are 3-fold and my decision is made. 1: Obviously more gains, 2: I'm struggling with core/lower back strengthening and I want this area to be strong as fuck quick as fuck to support my spine as I DO NOT want to go through what I went through previously. 3: I have a long history of depression, it sucks big time. I work from home by myself all day every day so this isolation doesn't help. From what I've read, TRT can help hugely and if it does I'm fully prepared to cruise on it. This to me is probably more important than gains tbh.

Diet: I'm a firm believer in tracking macros and I follow IIFYM although I lean towards eating clean but don't beat myself up about eating junk now and then as long as it hits them macros, I'd go insane eating pure clean 24/7. Current macros are 406c/128p/45f. Track everything in MFP and realise adjustments will be required as I gain weight. I also train fasted and do carb backloading, I just can't train after food it makes me so tired and sluggish.

Test: I asked my GP for a blood test for T and got it done a few months ago. For me the result came back on the low end at 14.6 nmol/l but because it was in the 8-29 average range I didn't qualify for prescribed TRT. Bummer.

Supps: Gold Standard Whey, ZMA, KreAlkaline, CLO, Vit D, Mens Once Multivit, the odd sildenafil citrate for that nitric oxide to dilate the blood vessels and get those nutrients in. May increase intake of this when on gear.

Planned Cycle:

Weeks 1-12: 300mg Test E once per week + 300mg HCG twice a week. Arimidex I am going to wing but probably start off at 0.25 E3D and see how it goes. I think I am susceptible to bitch tits so will be keeping a close eye on it.

Week 14: 40mg Nolva/day, 100mg Clomid/day
Week 15: 30mg Nolva/day, 50mg Clomid/day
Week 16: 20mg Nolva/day, 50mg Clomid/day

Any feedback, thoughts, comments, advice very much welcome.

 

[dmt31]

14.6 is like 500 something TT from my math right? That's actually pretty good at your age. Your rationalization of wanting to be on trt is kinda invalid, you just want to do gear, and there's nothing wrong with that. Just sayin. .....

 

[BIGMESC]

I am definently not in the camp of "you should be at your natural max" for the recreational user.
Especially for the older guy 35+ it will allow you to reach your natural max while you still have one.

But going into it with the idea of going on trt, if it helps, is a self fulfilling prophecy.
It is going to help, you will feel great, younger, get stronger and have a libido like you are in your early 20's
With a 14.6 which is 420's you are in the normal range and could probably cycle fine, pct is a pain but 40 more years of trt would suck as well.

I am ok with 300mg a week of pharm gear but on ugl you had better double that to get the same blood levels. If you go with 300 a week and it underdosed you will be on a trt dose shutting yourself down for no good reason, with 600mg a week if its underdosed you will still have a mild/fair cycle and if its correctly dosed then you will have a great first cycle and still be in a moderate dose range.

PCT you need min 2-3 weeks between last pin of Test E and start of PCT otherwise looks fine.

check out this calculator @dmt31

http://www.endmemo.com/medical/unitconvert/Testosterone.php

 

[Colt44]

I think it's also important to note if you have struggled with depression in the past, coming off cycle and transitioning into PCT may exacerbate that condition. I'm not saying don't come off or jump on a regimen of self TRT that appears to be highly unnecessary. You should speak with your doctor about the ramifications of mixing cycling with bouts of depression. I would get your head on straight before you worry about introducing PEDs. Just my thoughts. You do what you think you can handle I guess.

 

[ocman]

I would get your head on straight before you worry about introducing PEDs.

this ^^^^

 

[hammertime]

14.6 is like 500 something TT from my math right? That's actually pretty good at your age. Your rationalization of wanting to be on trt is kinda invalid, you just want to do gear, and there's nothing wrong with that. Just sayin. .....

Trust me this aint a decision I've taken lightly. Have been 100% against PEDs in the past but having done my research realised that they aint as bad as they are made out providing they are not abused. I wouldn't just take gear for the sake of it, the reasoning for taking the plunge is legit bro.

 

[hammertime]

I think it's also important to note if you have struggled with depression in the past, coming off cycle and transitioning into PCT may exacerbate that condition. I'm not saying don't come off or jump on a regimen of self TRT that appears to be highly unnecessary. You should speak with your doctor about the ramifications of mixing cycling with bouts of depression. I would get your head on straight before you worry about introducing PEDs. Just my thoughts. You do what you think you can handle I guess.

Yeah I've considered this but I'm thinking as long as I nail the PCT I should be fine. Plus I know if I look better I'm gonna feel better. I'm not manic or constantly depressed, I just have a history of it coming on every now and then, it usually coincides with being in constant pain from the back problems. If the TRT helps in this aspect then I'm gonna be golden.

Really appreciate the advice and concern though bro.

 

[hammertime]

I am ok with 300mg a week of pharm gear but on ugl you had better double that to get the same blood levels. If you go with 300 a week and it underdosed you will be on a trt dose shutting yourself down for no good reason, with 600mg a week if its underdosed you will still have a mild/fair cycle and if its correctly dosed then you will have a great first cycle and still be in a moderate dose range.

PCT you need min 2-3 weeks between last pin of Test E and start of PCT otherwise looks fine.

Yeah gonna send a sample of the gear I have for a lab test. In the meantime I'll stick to the 300mg and see how I react to that until the results come back. I really don't want to do too much on my first cycle but if I feel any sort of crash I'll up the dose.

Any recommended sources for pharm gear/PCT? Bare in mind I'm in the UK. I would 100% pay premium price for pharm gear.

 

[FuriousWO]

I think you should save your money on lab tests that you likely can't get legitimate results from and worry about blood tests and monitor where your TT levels are at whatever gear/dosage levels.
It's been said before but I'll say it again, ultimately you are setting yourself for failure. The changes running higher than normal test levels can subtlety feel great and during PCT it will definitely not feel great. It sounds to me like you are trying to use Testosterone as an depression solution and it's not that. Your fucking with your endocrine system that's working fine to solve depression. When you decide to fuck your system by doing a cruise your are going to compound your problems. At some point and it will be quick, your body will adjust to the elevated TT levels of cruising and guess what will come right back? Your depression problems. So now your have earned yourself a lifetime of TRT because you destroyed an endo system that was working fine and still have depression problems.
My advice, don't screw with this.

 

[hammertime]

Yeah gonna just do bloodwork midway through cycle instead.

Appreciate the concern guys but honestly, I know myself and I will be just fine

Off to prepare my first test shot, glute is gonna be first pin site. Decided to take the HCG shot tomorrow then every 5 days and start Arimidex straight away at 0.25mg E3D and see how it pans out.

Wish me luck.

 

[hammertime]

First pin done. Think I need a more jabbing motion when putting it in, I kinda put it next to skin and it took some force to break the skin. Found it a bit difficult to aspirate then had to push pretty hard when injecting. Gonna need to fix my balance out next time, pinned right glute so had right foot up on toes with weight on left leg but found myself wobbling a little. A little blood on way out but all-in-all there was no pain at all and seemed to go well. Will see how pip is tomorrow. Pin site looks a little dark like the beginnings of a bruise, is this normal?

Think I've fucked up with the Arimidex, didn't realise those bitches were so small so cutting them in 4 is gonna be a nightmare. Gonna need to order a pill cutter. Any advice on cutting them until then?

Off to gym...

 

[hammertime]

Just back from gym - Felt like a fucking madman and seemed to struggle to hit failure. If it's just placebo then it just shows how powerful the old grey matter is. Looking forward to tomorrows workout now.

 

[DrJekyll]

Definitely placebo but I felt the same way haha. your diet looks like you could drop some carbs and use more protein. just a suggestion sir.

 

[MEEKmlz]

What gauge needle are u pinning with?

 

[hammertime]

Definitely placebo but I felt the same way haha. your diet looks like you could drop some carbs and use more protein. just a suggestion sir.

It's crazy, this weeks workouts are in the 6-8 rep range, each week I drop reps and increase weight by 5kg and then start microcycle again after 4 weeks, today I honestly felt like I could have done an extra 10kg easily. Weird.

Yeah increasing protein and dropping carbs definitely an option, these macros are from iifym.com calculator but i presume they don't take gear into the equation

 

[hammertime]

What gauge needle are u pinning with?

23g buddy.

 

[MEEKmlz]

Try to draw with a 22g or smaller and inject with a 25g it takes a bit longer to get the oil in the muscle the smaller the gauge but the pain is almost non existent.

 

[MEEKmlz]

Also about the protein I have always gone with 2 grams of protein per pound of body weight when trying to build muscle. And 1.5 when cutting. Thats just me. U will hear alot of people say u only need 1 gram per pound of body weight but from my experience I notice growth more rapidly with 2.

 

[MEEKmlz]

Changing the needle after u draw is better as the needle is damaged. U cant see it but its there believe me. Better for sterility purposes as well.

 

[DrJekyll]

Try to draw with a 22g or smaller and inject with a 25g it takes a bit longer to get the oil in the muscle the smaller the gauge but the pain is almost non existent.

Also about the protein I have always gone with 2 grams of protein per pound of body weight when trying to build muscle. And 1.5 when cutting. Thats just me. U will hear alot of people say u only need 1 gram per pound of body weight but from my experience I notice growth more rapidly with 2.

Changing the needle after u draw is better as the needle is damaged. U cant see it but its there believe me. Better for sterility purposes as well.

All this x2