Disappointed with 1st cycle results

[Jamie Sutherland]

Just finished up with my last pin of my first ever cycle today (500mg Test cyp). I got bloods done mid cycle which showed my test was at 2634 ng/dL so a pretty good level I think (based on feedback from others).

Have to say pretty disappointed with the results. I ran the cycle for 10 weeks but I barely got to train/eat properly the last 2 weeks as I got the flu & just as I was recovering from that BOOM food poisoning haha...

I did manage to gain 20 lbs over the first 8 weeks. However I can't say that its all solid muscle. Definitely a little fat added and probably water too. Strength increased slightly but nothing crazy. E.g. DB Shoulder press started out at 70lb for 8 and finished at 85lb for 8. Another thing is I went from eating 2300 cals a day (end of cut) to 4000-4500 cals a day when I started the cycle. So obviously I was always going to get a good strength/size rebound even if I didn't take anything.

I'll attach an 8 week transformation pic below also just so you can see visual results. Bare in mind I have a better pump in the 2nd pic as I was quite depleted in the 1st pic. My shoulder is also slightly more internally rotated in the 2nd pic making my arm appear slightly thicker and elevating my trap slightly. Might sound like I'm nit picking but im hard on myself and try to keep things honest.

Guess the point in this post is to get others opinions on whether they think this kind of progress is normal for the cycle I ran & if I'm having too high expectations, OR whether I should have got a lot better results, because I really can't think of anything I was doing wrong lol...

 

[Evom1]

Let's see where you are after pct also.

But if you were able to gain about 8-10 quality pounds I'd say the cycle was successful. Some people see guys who are great responders transform from a cycle, and wonder why they don't do the same.

Gaining 5-10lbs of stage weight, without using insulin and gh is respectable

 

[CdnGuy]

Considering you didn't go 12wks and got sick I'd be happy man! You can definitely see the gains you made from those pics. GL on the pct

 

[CJames]

Just finished up with my last pin of my first ever cycle today (500mg Test cyp). I got bloods done mid cycle which showed my test was at 2634 ng/dL so a pretty good level I think (based on feedback from others).

Have to say pretty disappointed with the results. I ran the cycle for 10 weeks but I barely got to train/eat properly the last 2 weeks as I got the flu & just as I was recovering from that BOOM food poisoning haha...

I did manage to gain 20 lbs over the first 8 weeks. However I can't say that its all solid muscle. Definitely a little fat added and probably water too. Strength increased slightly but nothing crazy. E.g. DB Shoulder press started out at 70lb for 8 and finished at 85lb for 8. Another thing is I went from eating 2300 cals a day (end of cut) to 4000-4500 cals a day when I started the cycle. So obviously I was always going to get a good strength/size rebound even if I didn't take anything.

I'll attach an 8 week transformation pic below also just so you can see visual results. Bare in mind I have a better pump in the 2nd pic as I was quite depleted in the 1st pic. My shoulder is also slightly more internally rotated in the 2nd pic making my arm appear slightly thicker and elevating my trap slightly. Might sound like I'm nit picking but im hard on myself and try to keep things honest.

Guess the point in this post is to get others opinions on whether they think this kind of progress is normal for the cycle I ran & if I'm having too high expectations, OR whether I should have got a lot better results, because I really can't think of anything I was doing wrong lol...
View attachment 78932

Your results are good, get your pct done. How much protein did you use to eat while you were on?

 

[JohnLong]

Just finished up with my last pin of my first ever cycle today (500mg Test cyp). I got bloods done mid cycle which showed my test was at 2634 ng/dL so a pretty good level I think (based on feedback from others).

Have to say pretty disappointed with the results. I ran the cycle for 10 weeks but I barely got to train/eat properly the last 2 weeks as I got the flu & just as I was recovering from that BOOM food poisoning haha...

I did manage to gain 20 lbs over the first 8 weeks. However I can't say that its all solid muscle. Definitely a little fat added and probably water too. Strength increased slightly but nothing crazy. E.g. DB Shoulder press started out at 70lb for 8 and finished at 85lb for 8. Another thing is I went from eating 2300 cals a day (end of cut) to 4000-4500 cals a day when I started the cycle. So obviously I was always going to get a good strength/size rebound even if I didn't take anything.

I'll attach an 8 week transformation pic below also just so you can see visual results. Bare in mind I have a better pump in the 2nd pic as I was quite depleted in the 1st pic. My shoulder is also slightly more internally rotated in the 2nd pic making my arm appear slightly thicker and elevating my trap slightly. Might sound like I'm nit picking but im hard on myself and try to keep things honest.

Guess the point in this post is to get others opinions on whether they think this kind of progress is normal for the cycle I ran & if I'm having too high expectations, OR whether I should have got a lot better results, because I really can't think of anything I was doing wrong lol...
View attachment 78932

were you taking any ai during cycle? what was your carb intake?
your traps are bigger

 

[Jamie Sutherland]

Let's see where you are after pct also.

But if you were able to gain about 8-10 quality pounds I'd say the cycle was successful. Some people see guys who are great responders transform from a cycle, and wonder why they don't do the same.

Gaining 5-10lbs of stage weight, without using insulin and gh is respectable

Considering you didn't go 12wks and got sick I'd be happy man! You can definitely see the gains you made from those pics. GL on the pct

I think I'm mainly disappointed because I hear everyone talking about how insane the results from your first cycle will be, but for me it didn't really feel that way.

 

[Jamie Sutherland]

Your results are good, get your pct done. How much protein did you use to eat while you were on?

were you taking any ai during cycle? what was your carb intake?
your traps are bigger

The calories/macros I was aiming for towards end of cycle were: 4500 kcals, 563g carbs, 225g protein, 150g fat.

As for the use of an AI, I used aromasin once during the first few days of cycle and then decided to stop. I didn't get any sides throughout the cycle and bloodwork showed my estrogen was normal so safe to say I was fine without it.

 

[Evom1]

I think I'm mainly disappointed because I hear everyone talking about how insane the results from your first cycle will be, but for me it didn't really feel that way.

Yeah but then step back and look at how many guys on here have run multiple cycles and are still 200 or less

 

[JohnLong]

i would be happy with the results you got. its a process. and you're lean af too... the body is always trying to adapt to what your putting it through.
im a couple weeks away from ending my first cycle. strength gains went up fast!
but only put on 14lb on scale.

 

[ScabbyJr]

If you keep 10 of that 20 as lbm, I'd call it a success for 8 weeks. Your quads show growth. That ain't easy.

 

[JohnnyD]

I think those are good results, what were you expecting? 30lbs ? 50lbs of solid muscle? This is a long term process, you are far better than most, you have a great foundation to build on

 

[MindlessWork]

I didn't expect that much my first cycle this past winter, so it's a good start and you got something to build on for next time. Just keep maintaining food intake and training all the way thru PCT and you should be able to keep much of the gains till you make your next cycle.

 

[penche]

You did good brotHa

 

[foxace36]

Anyone that says they gained like 30 pounds in their first cycle are just fat and bloated messes 99% of the time. Unless you’re on HGH + Slin and a hefty doses of anabolics, you’re lucky to gain 1 pound of quality lean tissue per week. I think your results are great for the time frame.

People grossly overestimate what is physiologically possible in terms of muscle growth.

 

[Test_Subject]

People grossly overestimate what is physiologically possible in terms of muscle growth.

This. People who are new to AAS think that they're going to do a cycle and look like Lee Haney.

Give it time bro.

 

[SuperMaroid]

This is a marathon not a short race. For only 8 weeks I see a big difference. I think you were expecting too much. Imagine you didnt get the flu and were able to finish the cycle strong. And you went 12 weeks instead of 10.

If your planning to cycle again do pct and take 10 weeks off then try it again and run 12 weeks. Train even harder and eat even more.

Update us after PCT, and how you feel working out again. Sometimes you dont realise how intense it was until you come off for awhile.

 

[AlwaysHungry]

Well all experienced bodybuilders I had talk over the years and also gym rats They say one thing “test only doesn’t do sh*t!”

You have some results gj but when I was to start my first cycle all the mates on the forum was telling me to do test only test only !
In the other side all my mates in real life were telling me don’t do test only it’s a waste. I think your best bet for first cycle is 1ml test 1ml deca and some dbol

 

[mands]

Well all experienced bodybuilders I had talk over the years and also gym rats They say one thing “test only doesn’t do sh*t!”

You have some results gj but when I was to start my first cycle all the mates on the forum was telling me to do test only test only !
In the other side all my mates in real life were telling me don’t do test only it’s a waste. I think your best bet for first cycle is 1ml test 1ml deca and some dbol

I don't necessarily agree with this at all.

Multiple compounds on your first cycle(especially nandrolone) is just asking for trouble. Not just for a beginner trying to recover and figure out PCT but also not knowing side effects for that individual.

Figure out one AAS before you start adding two and three IMO.

I would never recommend nandrolone for a beginner.

mands

 

[AlwaysHungry]

I don't necessarily agree with this at all.

Multiple compounds on your first cycle(especially nandrolone) is just asking for trouble. Not just for a beginner trying to recover and figure out PCT but also not knowing side effects for that individual.

Figure out one AAS before you start adding two and three IMO.

I would never recommend nandrolone for a beginner.

mands

I agree but I think with a small dose of test like 200-250mg it is a little higher than trt , well like that the nandrolone is the compound you add , what d you think ?

 

[mands]

I agree but I think with a small dose of test like 200-250mg it is a little higher than trt , well like that the nandrolone is the compound you add , what d you think ?

I agree not to run trt dose for your first cycle. I usually recommend 500mg a week and 600mg a week probably isn't far fetched. I believe with that dose no extra drugs are needed. Most can go without and AI at that dose.

The less variables the better.

But, adding dbol(low dose) wouldn't be that bad for a first cycle but definitely not Nandrolone. I will not advocate nandrolone for anyone that is doing a PCT. Recovery is just too hard. Blast and Cruise is a different story.

mands