First Cycle, started today

[Bork]

2-3” gain on trap muscles (flexed) within 6 weeks. Big gain on back muscles but this is the weakest part of me.

 

[Bork]

Caught pneumonia… which explains all the problems in the last week or two. Oh well, there goes my cycle. I may just keep going and see where that leads me but I’m so fucking exhausted.

 

[Bork]

Man… I’m not feeling good at all with this pneumonia.

That said, I am not yet giving up on this cycle. To avoid overly-exerting myself, I’m switching to 3x15 from 4x15-5x15.

Today:

4x15 lat pulldowns (slightly lower weight, more reps)
3x15 seated low rows (slightly lower weight, more reps)
3x1 (Lol) deadlifts
3x15 benchpress (+10lbs)
3x15 bar curls (+10lbs)

I am still spacing all sets 2 minutes apart, but each different exercise type comes with 5 minutes of rest.

Came close to passing out twice. Continuously monitoring oxygen levels in case they drop below 94.

Should have antibiotics tomorrow unless it’s determined to be a virus. Multiple negative covid tests and I’m vaccinated, so who knows. Might be RSV. Might be something…

 

[Bork]

Ok, so hydrating is extremely important. We all knew that, right? However, I am not able to properly hydrate on this cycle. It’s really bad, and I’m always thirsty, so I went to the doc and asked what’s up.

I’m extremely dehydrated, very low on potassium, etc. So the doc recommended these electrolyte tablets that dissolve in water. I’ve had a few so far. Other than the walking pneumonia, I’m feeling good again. Very good.

Plain water doesn’t cut it for me on this cycle. If you’re having hydration problems, try electrolyte tablets. I swear they work.

 

[wsmwannabe]

Ok, so hydrating is extremely important. We all knew that, right? However, I am not able to properly hydrate on this cycle. It’s really bad, and I’m always thirsty, so I went to the doc and asked what’s up.

I’m extremely dehydrated, very low on potassium, etc. So the doc recommended these electrolyte tablets that dissolve in water. I’ve had a few so far. Other than the walking pneumonia, I’m feeling good again. Very good.

Plain water doesn’t cut it for me on this cycle. If you’re having hydration problems, try electrolyte tablets. I swear they work.

Nuun tablets and liquid IV are pretty great. However, potassium deficiency sounds like a diet issue. You can gets tons of potassium from potatoes, spinach, fruits, red meat or even using nu-salt if you have to. Proper potassium levels also help keep blood pressure in check.

But aside from that, I agree with the sentiment that the electrolyte tablets work well.

 

[Bork]

Nuun tablets and liquid IV are pretty great. However, potassium deficiency sounds like a diet issue. You can gets tons of potassium from potatoes, spinach, fruits, red meat or even using nu-salt if you have to. Proper potassium levels also help keep blood pressure in check.

But aside from that, I agree with the sentiment that the electrolyte tablets work well.

Thanks. Yes, it’s a diet issue. Too much salt. Multiple 4-5 meat-layer cheeseburgers, etc.

I’m cutting the salt out of my diet and switching to a cleaner bulk. Dirty bulking brought my blood pressure up to 142/84. Doc was like “wtf, m8? Drop salt and caffeine, hydrate.”

So now I understand why people bulk on chicken, broccoli and rice. Haha… so I’ve got like a dozen Nuun tablet containers without caffeine and I’m knocking them back as needed.

Diet needs something else… I don’t know how to bulk without being dirty.

 

[wsmwannabe]

Thanks. Yes, it’s a diet issue. Too much salt. Multiple 4-5 meat-layer cheeseburgers, etc.

I’m cutting the salt out of my diet and switching to a cleaner bulk. Dirty bulking brought my blood pressure up to 142/84. Doc was like “wtf, m8? Drop salt and caffeine, hydrate.”

So now I understand why people bulk on chicken, broccoli and rice. Haha…

So keep in mind that sodium is paramount to proper body function and muscle function, to include strength. Cutting back on or eliminating the processed foods to eliminate SOME sodium from your diet is an excellent idea (it’ll fix more than just sodium imbalance). Eliminating ALL sodium from your diet is an absolutely terrible idea.

 

[Bork]

So keep in mind that sodium is paramount to proper body function and muscle function, to include strength. Cutting back on or eliminating the processed foods to eliminate SOME sodium from your diet is an excellent idea (it’ll fix more than just sodium imbalance). Eliminating ALL sodium from your diet is an absolutely terrible idea.

Thanks for that. I’ll make sure to have a balance then.

 

[bigpoppachump2]

Yeah I think I mixed them up. It’s likely the 25 that I’m good with.

I use strictly 28 gauge slin pins at this point. Takes a little longer to draw, but pinning ED, it makes a big difference

I split the difference and stick with 27g nipro. Half inch for quads and 1.25in for glutes.

 

[Bork]

750mg of test per week.

Blood work is in:

RBC	5.11
Hemoglobin	14.6
Hematocrit	44.9
Glucose	97 mg/dL
eGFR Non. Af. Amer.	87
eGFR If Afr. Amer.	101
BUN/Creatinine Ratio	8 (Low)
Sodium	142 mmol/L
Cholesterol Total	181
HDL	34 (Low)

LDL	123 (High)
Testosterone	5739 ng/dL
Free Testosterone	> 250 pg/ml (??)
Dihydrotestosterone	137 (High) (what is this?)
Estradiol	108.9
PSA	0.9
IGF-1	295
Protein	7 g/dL
VLDL	25 mg/dL
WBC	9.6

Hard to edit this on the phone. SHBG is 201.7 nmol/L.

Looks like I need to take some estrogen blockers. Come to think of it, I don’t think I need this much test. Will wait to see what my doctor suggests when he reads the report Monday.

 

[Bork]

Took an extra day’s break. Wish I had a better excuse than I’m tired/sick.

1x15 bar curl (previous week’s weight)
2x10 bar curls (+10lbs over last week)
4x10 lat pulldowns (+20lbs over last week)
4x10 seated low rows (curl inwards, +20lbs over last week)
1x15 benchpress (previous week’s weight)
1x10 benchpress (+10lbs over previous week)
2x10 benchpress (+20lbs over previous week)

During the exercise, I drank an 80g protein shake, 1 quart with 3 nuun electrolyte tablets in it.

 

[MindlessWork]

@Bork , if that's you in your avatar, you look pretty good I'd say. There's a lot of good advice in here and take them into consideration. If you been ill, best to not have run this cycle till you've recovered fully as otherwise you aren't going to get the full benefit.

 

[Bork]

@Bork , if that's you in your avatar, you look pretty good I'd say. There's a lot of good advice in here and take them into consideration. If you been ill, best to not have run this cycle till you've recovered fully as otherwise you aren't going to get the full benefit.

It’s halfthor. We share similar heights, that’s all lol.

I do think I’m looking good, but not that good yet. Goals! I’ve taken all the advice here and have modified my cycle, injection routine, etc.

However, I feel recovered after replenishing my electrolytes so now I’m feeling a LOT better. I appreciate your concern. In fact, I rested a lot more than usual and now I’m back at it and feeling better.

 

[MindlessWork]

It’s halfthor. We share similar heights, that’s all lol.

I do think I’m looking good, but not that good yet. Goals! I’ve taken all the advice here and have modified my cycle, injection routine, etc.

However, I feel recovered after replenishing my electrolytes so now I’m feeling a LOT better.

Ahh..so Halfthor's your dream physique? You sure got a good road ahead and hopefully you'll succeed.

Your health matters too, remember..

 

[Bork]

Ahh..so Halfthor's your dream physique? You sure got a good road ahead and hopefully you'll succeed.

Your health matters too, remember..

May be deluded, but I think the current halfthor is easily obtainable in a year or so. I feel like I’ve made decent progress there.

But his 450lb WSM physique? Nah… maybe I’ll skip that step. Thanks again for the concern. If my doctor asks me to come off, I will.

 

[MindlessWork]

May be deluded, but I think the current halfthor is easily obtainable in a year or so. I feel like I’ve made decent progress there.

But his 450lb WSM physique? Nah… maybe I’ll skip that step.

Yeah he was a beast in WSM that's for sure.

 

[Bork]

Lab updated results (copied the wrong report sections):

SHBG: 20.7
Free testosterone: 218 ng/dL
TSH: 7.29 (high, 0.45 - 4.35 reference range)

What the hell is up with TSH? Those values being high is something totally new, which only appeared in the first set of labs and in this one.

That means this is a recent development, before steroids. Gonna ask the doctor later.

 

[Bork]

I’ve decided to add lots of cardio to this cycle. Running makes me feel good. Starting tomorrow, I will run or bike for a mile every 2-3 days.

Cardio will be for overall health. At this point, I think I am not too worried about losing gains.

 

[wsmwannabe]

I’ve decided to add lots of cardio to this cycle. Running makes me feel good. Starting tomorrow, I will run or bike for a mile every 2-3 days.

Cardio will be for overall health. At this point, I think I am not too worried about losing gains.

Agreed. You won’t lose gains. I think very few people will lose gains from moderate cardio. For the most part I believe the only people that have to worry about that are bodybuilders, I.e. single digit body fat.

 

[Bork]

Agreed. You won’t lose gains. I think very few people will lose gains from moderate cardio. For the most part I believe the only people that have to worry about that are bodybuilders, I.e. single digit body fat.

Have any idea what my TSH is freaking out over? It seems to be from before steroids. Previous blood work and this one show high TSH. This is a very new development and I want to be sure that steroids aren’t the cause.

I did go through TRT a year prior, but only 200mg. My bloodwork was 7 months after ending TRT, and then now.