First Cycle

[NrgJake]

Been lifting for about 6 years, with just a few dips in intensity due to a few years going back to school for getting my masters. Been back in full force lifting hard for the last 2 years. Just starting my first cycle. Keeping it relatively simple. I'll be getting mid-cycle labs sometime in the 5th week. (Note: I'm already 2 weeks into this cycle)

Age: 32 years old
Ht: 5'5"
Wt: 165 lbs

I'll be doing 4 day split for training. Lifting Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. I'll be doing active rest on Wednesday and Saturday (e.g light cardio at gym, running, something active outside)

I'll be eating roughly 3,500 calories on lifting days, and 3000 on non-lifting days. It will be approximately 35% Protein, 35% Carbs, and 30% Fats. I'm using eatthismuch.com to track my calories and nutrients.

My pre-cycle labs are the following:

• Testosterone, Serum 778 ng/dL (Reference Range 348 - 1197)
• Free Testosterone(Direct) 11.3 pg/mL (Reference Range 8.7 - 25.1)
• LH 4.0 mIU/mL (Reference Range 1.7 - 8.6)
• FSH 1.4 Low mIU/mL (Reference Range 1.5 - 12.4)
• Estradiol 34.1 pg/mL (Reference Range 7.6 - 42.6)

Other labs included in the panel​

• TSH 1.540 uIU/mL (Reference Range 0.450 - 4.500)
• DHEA-Sulfate 374.6 ug/dL (Reference Range 138.5 - 475.2)
• Insulin 2.9 uIU/mL (Reference Range2.6 - 24. 9)

My Plan for the Cycle:

• Week 1 - 10: 500mg Testosterone Enanthate (250mg twice a week)
• Week 11-13: 100mg Testosterone Propionate every other day (running this for 2.5 weeks while waiting for the Enanthate to clear)
  
• Week 1 - 13: 250mg HCG twice a week
  
• Week 1 - 13: 0.25 Arimidex every other day (may increase to 0.5mg)
  
• Week 14 - 16: 50mg Clomid every other day
• Week 16 - 18: 20mg Nolvadex every other day
• Week 16: 0.5 Arimidex for a few days starting on the last day of Nolva

Note: Running Clomid first without any Nolva to take advantage of Clomid's sensitizing effect on the pituitary in the GnRH-stimulated release of LH. Don't want Nolva to compete for receptors. Will bridge to Nolva in week 16 and drop the Clomid dose to 25mg in week 16. I'm considering, not using Nolva at all, but keeping it an option if Clomid starts giving me "mood" issues.

I also have Aromasin and Letro on hand if needed.
​

 

[Cmxer32]

Looks pretty solid, nice to see you did your homework before taking the dive

 

[NrgJake]

Sorry, a few corrections to make.. the Clomid (50mg) and Nolvadex (20mg) are going to be every day not every other day. Not sure how to edit the post.

 

[NrgJake]

So I am two weeks in. I don't feel terribly different, but my workouts have been very solid. I feel like my muscles are much more solid, and a coworker commented that my arms are looking bigger. Subjective of course.

The first pin of testosterone enanthate 250mg had a fair amount of post injection pain, but I think my technique was a bit rusty. Subsequent pins have been very mild in regards to PIP.

Now that I'm tracking my calories and nutrients more, I realize in the past I thought I was probably eating 3000 calories but it was more like 2000 or 2500. It's very helpful to actually map your nutrition plan out using something like eatthismuch.com Trying to eat clean, lots of veggies, complex carbs, meat. I feel like eating has become my second job!

 

[gr8whitetrukker]

Much respect brother getting your masters and all.

Just remember you dont necessarily need adex unless you have sides. I would respectfully suggest not taking until estrogen sides pop up

Those t levels are very good you wouldn't want to ruin them

Btw who's your src?

 

[NrgJake]

Source is Naps. Geneza Test E and Test P. I know some on this board don't like Naps. We shall see what the mid-cycle blood work says.

 

[Northern Nutrition]

Your pre-cycle bloods are almost perfect.

 

[Fouts]

Dude if this is your first cycle and you did your homework obviously mad props! A lot of people go in blind don't even have pct on hand and have no idea what they're doing! Perfect first cycle and I hope naps turns out good for u man nice to see somebody is on top of shit! Maybe that masters has something to do with it?? Keep us posted on those week 5 labs!

 

[Mus4]

One thing I have realized is that if you know your prone to gyno, you might need to do arimidex 0.5 ED.
When I first did EOD I have realized that my nip area was getting a bit puffy, so I just did ED and nips looked better, and my mid-cycle blood(a must!) showed ED was correct because estro was in range.

 

[arbitrage]

You are obviously mature and wise enough to be using AAS. I wish you the best of luck and great gains.

 

[lucabratzi]

Looks like you laid this out well and should get good gains. Will be following.

Btw I'd kill for those numbers pre cycle. Shit I'm 28 and only like 420ng.

Goodluck

 

[NrgJake]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Mus4 & gr8whitetrukker: I was a chubby kid, but never had any gyno issues. However, I should have cut/dieted a little bit more prior to this cycle. My goal was to get down to 15% body fat, but only made it to about 17-18%. I have a lot of travel coming up in December, so I had Sept-November to dedicate to the cycle so I went ahead and started. Hence, definitely watching the aromatase inhibitor dose, as I know body fat can increase aromatase activity, the strength of the test is unknown at this point, and this is my first cycle. I am feeling that I probably won't end up using the Aromasin or Letro, but always good to have it on hand! Very interested in what the mid-cycle labs say.

Fouts: My masters is in healthcare administration. I work in quality improvement research and I'm a registered nurse.

 

[Mus4]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Mus4 & gr8whitetrukker: I was a chubby kid, but never had any gyno issues. However, I should have cut/dieted a little bit more prior to this cycle. My goal was to get down to 15% body fat, but only made it to about 17-18%. I have a lot of travel coming up in December, so I had Sept-November to dedicate to the cycle so I went ahead and started. Hence, definitely watching the aromatase inhibitor dose, as I know body fat can increase aromatase activity, the strength of the test is unknown at this point, and this is my first cycle. I am feeling that I probably won't end up using the Aromasin or Letro, but always good to have it on hand! Very interested in what the mid-cycle labs say.

Fouts: My masters is in healthcare administration. I work in quality improvement research and I'm a registered nurse.

If you work in a lab and have chance to use UV-Vis spectrophotometer then you can check your oils with it to know the concentration.

 

[hotdog23]

I thought clomid DEsensitized pituitary to gnrh... I think you should start both SERMs at the same time. I wouldn't worry about them competing for receptor sites as they have different mechanisms of action. Clomid to stimulate gnrh and nolva to stim LH/FSH

 

[NrgJake]

I've read conflicting studies on this. (desensitizing versus sensitizing) I've read articles that say clomid is desensitizing and nolva is sensitizing and then some articles that say the exact opposite. One of the articles that shows Clomid is desensitizing is utilizing a 150mg dose which is way too high. Most studies show 25-50mg of Clomid is sufficient and tolerated at long intervals. I've read other articles that posit high doses of any anti-estrogen will have desensitizing effects in regard to GnRH's effect on gonadotrophs.

Where I'm coming from is that..... Estradiol a has sensitizing effect on gonadotrophs to GnRH. Clomid is has both anti-estrogen and direct estrogenic effects, meaning it can be effective in sensitizing gonadotrophs to GnRH. Nolva does not have the same direct estrogenic effects.

I'm hoping moderate administration of both medications with a week bridge between the two will be effective. I accept that this will not be some or most people's preference.

 

[hotdog23]

Do you bro. Glad to see you did your research

 

[NrgJake]

Week 3. Injections going well.
Great chest and tricep workout today.

I tried not taking any Arimidex for about 5 days, but my nipples felt a little sensitive (no puffiness or itching) today so I decided to just go back on 0.25mg EOD just in case. Could have been all in my head.

 

[Hendrix91]

Better safe than sorry! In for results

 

[ruckin]

This is almost exactly what my first cycle is likely gonna look like one day. I'm looking forward to seeing how you progress!

 

[NrgJake]

Adding back the arimidex 0.25mg EOD halted the "sensitive nips" issue. So I'll stay on that dose but I'll be monitoring if I need to increase or not..

6th injection today. Leg day. Great workout, great energy. New best on my 1 rep max for squats. 350lbs. Not too shabby for a 5' 5" guy. Did abs at the end of the workout with TRX bands. T-shirt was drenched. The endorphins are flowing!! I'm exhuasted but feeling great.

I've noticed, I'm looking a more "pumped" in general. Not necessarily new muscle mass, but kinda like you look after a good gym session, but during non-workout days as well. I also feel like some stubborn lower back fat is a tiny tiny bit smaller...