First cycle

[amindzeye]

Hi all, I too am succumbing to the darkside. I am doing a 12 week cycle of 500mg/week Test E. I have been a dedicated lifter for 2 years. 5 days a week with a few deloads here and there. Before this I was lifting for about 8 months a couple years earlier. Before that was 9 years earlier for about 6 months. So a little over three years total lifting experience.

About me:
33 year old Male
5'6"
151 lbs before first pin
17%-20% B.F. (I think)

I was eating around 1800-2000 calories as maintenance, before first pin. I am one who puts fat on easily. I am thinking within a couple hundred calories surplus. Last July-Oct I cut about 20 lbs with a diet around 1550 cals a day. At first with a rate of 2 lbs a week for the first few, then around 1.5-1.2 lbs for a few more, stalling to around .3 lbs by the end of October. Here is my plan:

Week
1 250mg/2xweek Test E, 100mcg/4days Kisspeptin-10, 100/200mcg/5days cjc1295/ipamorelin
2 250mg/2xweek Test E, 100mcg/4days Kisspeptin-10, 100/200mcg/5days cjc1295/ipamorelin
3 250mg/2xweek Test E, 250iu 2x/week HCG, 100/200mcg/5days cjc1295/ipamorelin
4 250mg/2xweek Test E, 250iu 2x/week HCG, 100/200mcg/5days cjc1295/ipamorelin
5 250mg/2xweek Test E, 250iu 2x/week HCG, 100/200mcg/5days cjc1295/ipamorelin
6 250mg/2xweek Test E, 250iu 2x/week HCG, 100/200mcg/5days cjc1295/ipamorelin
7 250mg/2xweek Test E, 250iu 2x/week HCG, 100/200mcg/5days cjc1295/ipamorelin
8 250mg/2xweek Test E, 250iu 2x/week HCG
9 250mg/2xweek Test E, 250iu 2x/week HCG
10 250mg/2xweek Test E, 250iu 2x/week HCG
11 250mg/2xweek Test E, 250iu 2x/week HCG
12 250mg/2xweek Test E, 250iu 2x/week HCG
13 250iu 2x/week HCG
14 250iu 2x/week HCG
15 250iu 2x/week HCG
16 250iu 2x/week HCG
17 50mg/ed clomid, 20mg/ed nolva
18 50mg/ed clomid, 20mg/ed nolva
19 25mg/ed clomid, 10mg/ed nolva
20 25mg/ed clomid, 10mg/ed nolva

I started the cycle on 7-12. I increased my caloric intake a couple hundred calories. I am up 6lbs. Obviously water weight. Here is my diet.

Breakfast
Oatmeal 1/2cup - 150 calories / 23g carbs / 5g protein / 3g fat
Honey 1 Tbsp - 60 calories / 12g carbs
Dried Cranberries 1/8 cup -65 calories / 15g carbs
Protein powder 1 scoop - 90 calories / 4g carbs / 15g protein / 1.5g fat
Pineapple + Blueberries 1/2 cup - 30 calories / 8g carbs
Peanut powder 1Tbsp - 30 calories /1.5g carbs / 3g protein / .75g fat

Post workout
Oatmeal 1 cup - 300 calories / 46g carbs / 10g protein / 6g fat
Honey 1 Tbsp - 60 calories / 12g carbs
Dried Cranberries 1/8 cup -65 calories / 15g carbs
Protein powder 1 scoop - 110 calories / 3g carbs / 20g protein / 1.5g fat
Pineapple + Blueberries 1 cup - 60 calories / 16g carbs
Peanut powder 1Tbsp - 30 cal / 1.5g carbs / 3g protein / .75g fat
Yogurt - 80 calories / 3 carbs / 12g protein / 2g fat
Buds - 26grams - 61cal / 10g carbs / 2.75g protein / .6g fat


1191 Calories / 170g carbs / 70.75 protein / 16g fat

Rice 1/2 cup - 170 calories / 38g carbs / 4g protein
Broccoli 6oz - 58 calories / 6g carbs / 5g protein
1 can Tuna - 110 calories / 26g protein / 1g fat

Total: Calories 1556 / 214g carbs / 105.75g protein / 17g fat


Meal 4
Popcorn 2 tbsp - 100 calories / 20g carbs / 4g protein / .5g fat
Chicken Breast bnsl 4.5oz - 212.25 calories / 39.7g protein / 1.8g fat
2 slices bread - 160 calories / 26g carbs / 6g protein / 2g fat
onion
Tomato
kale

Total: 1795.3 calories / 260g carbs / 155.45g protein / 21.3g fat


Dessert -
1 serving Artic zero ice cream - 1/2cup(58g) - 5g carbs / 1g protein / 0g fat
1/2 cup pecans - 2g carbs / 6g p /40g fat


TOTAL: 2269.5 calories / 267g carbs / 162.45g protein / 61.3g fat

I may not eat popcorn, or swap out blueberries with a banana in one of the meals. I may swap out chicken for hamburger now and then. Also egg whites instead of protein powder for breakfast. I have been adding an extra half cup of rice for that meal. I also have been eating 2 cans of tuna for that meal the least couple days. I use low calorie sauces g.hughes brand. So max 100 calories from that.

 

[Jestopherson]

So are you looking for critiques?

The problem is you started your cycle before posting.

My first suggestion would've been cut first as you're going to be well into the 20% fat range by the end and you're gunna have a fuck ton of fat to cut.

What's your lifting program? Currently 1rms? Are you going for size or looking to max out your lifts

I notice you're not really eating much actual meat. Now I consume a lot of whey. But you're only getting 66g of protein from whole food meat sources. I'd try to up that if you can. Toss egg whites into your shakes, smash a steak

Aside from that it looks well thought out. I honestly don't know what those 2 additions to your cycle are so I'll need to look them up. For your hcg post last pin I'd up that to a couple thousand ius Lee

 

[amindzeye]

So are you looking for critiques?

Always up for constructive criticism.

Yeah I know the body fat percent is on the higher side. Hopefully I won't gain too much fat percentage. I am going for reasonable size, hopefully a little recomp, and strength gain.

As far as lifting program, I am trying out slingshot pyramid. 5 day split.
Monday - Chest
Tuesday - Legs
Wednesday - Arms
Thurs - Back
Fri - Shoulders

I may switch back and shoulders depending on how my back feels from leg day.
1rm:
Squat 285
Deadlift 354
Overhead press 130
Bench press 252

 

[Jestopherson]

Always up for constructive criticism.

Yeah I know the body fat percent is on the higher side. Hopefully I won't gain too much fat percentage. I am going for reasonable size, hopefully a little recomp, and strength gain.

As far as lifting program, I am trying out slingshot pyramid. 5 day split.
Monday - Chest
Tuesday - Legs
Wednesday - Arms
Thurs - Back
Fri - Shoulders

I may switch back and shoulders depending on how my back feels from leg day.
1rm:
Squat 285
Deadlift 354
Overhead press 130
Bench press 252

I'll say decent starting lifts for your size and lifting experience.

Saw a guy awhile ago who had a 155 bench wanting to do his first cycle. I was worried it'd be a repeat of that. Best of luck dude! Report bsck if you have any issues

What do you have for AI?

 

[amindzeye]

What do you have for AI?

Aromasin 25mg. I will wait until I get bloods done at week 6 to see where I am at, then go from there. Barring red flag symptoms. Upon which case I'll start at 6.25mg 2x/week.

 

[Themassterplan]

As mentioned earlier, you should probably up those post final pin HCG dosages.
I would say at least 1000-1500ius, 3x/week. I would personally do 2000-2500 X3 the final week before you start your serms, but that’s just what I would do.

 

[amindzeye]

So then for weeks:
15 1000ius/3x week
16 2000ius/3x week

This would be effective?

 

[Jestopherson]

So then for weeks:
15 1000ius/3x week
16 2000ius/3x week

This would be effective?

Week 13-16 run 1000-2000 ius 3x weekly. 1500 would be good cause then It'd essentially be 1 vial a week. Don't cheap out on getting your hpta going dude. It's costly but worth it, however if it's too costly I'd suggest a new hobby.

 

[MisterSuperGod]

Always up for constructive criticism.

Yeah I know the body fat percent is on the higher side. Hopefully I won't gain too much fat percentage. I am going for reasonable size, hopefully a little recomp, and strength gain.

As far as lifting program, I am trying out slingshot pyramid. 5 day split.
Monday - Chest
Tuesday - Legs
Wednesday - Arms
Thurs - Back
Fri - Shoulders

I may switch back and shoulders depending on how my back feels from leg day.
1rm:
Squat 285
Deadlift 354
Overhead press 130
Bench press 252

Not a huge bro split fan. Even as natty your muscles don't need a full week off to recover.

Add steroids to that and it's like putting the highest octane fuel into your car and never going over 20 MPH.

 

[amindzeye]

Thanks for the reply. Will adjust to what you recommended.
Weeks :
13 1500iu 3x/week
14 1500iu 3x/week
15 1500iu 3x/week
16 2000iu 3x/week

 

[amindzeye]

Not a huge bro split fan. Even as natty your muscles don't need a full week off to recover.

When I was 20, I hit muscle groups multiple times a week. I figured since I started training again at 29, then 31 that it was best for the age. I have only known bro splits. I will look into optimal setup for PPL.

 

[Jestopherson]

When I was 20, I hit muscle groups multiple times a week. I figured since I started training again at 29, then 31 that it was best for the age. I have only known bro splits. I will look into optimal setup for PPL.

I've been running John meadows creeping death 2 ppl program and aside from frequent exercise changes I've been enjoying it substantially

 

[conqueror]

Hmm... next time for a 12-week cycle on plain testosterone I suggest you do:

Weeks 1-12: Testosterone enanthate @500mg weekly | HCG @250-500IU every other day | Anastrozole (or Letrozole) in hand as needed
Weeks 13-15: HCG @250-500IU every other day | A daily standard dose of any ONE SINGLE Aromatase Inhibitor or SERM

I really don’t get the rationale for splitting your dosages throughout the week. It only means serum levels of AAS will build up slowly as opposed to front loading. Just think about it. After your first dosage of 250mg of testosterone enanthate I wake up the next day with higher levels than you after my first 500mg dose of the same. Only then you play catch up at the middle of the week with another 250mg dose. Lower the levels, double the injection pain, twice the syringes and needles wasted... To me the idea is just plain stupid. But that is just me...

Now unto HCG... it has a half-life of 36 hours according to the package insert from products manufactured in India (Ovidac). You really think two dosages alone will suffice for an entire week? How many hours in a week? 7days*24hrs=168hrs. With my suggested doping schedule I strive for consistent blood levels to achieve consistent testicular functioning.

You also ran PCT for two full months after administering HCG throughout your entire cycle! 3 weeks after your last testosterone enanthate injection all that exogenous testosterone is out of your bloodstream and it doesn’t take long for Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) to secret normally once again in its absence. Testicular sensitivity is your only concern at this point, not bringing Hypothalamic/Pituitary back into gear. And not even that since you maintained testicular function somewhat throughout the cycle. So an extra 2-3 weeks of HCG along with a daily therapeutic dose of tamoxifen citrate was all you really needed, if full recovery of testicular function was what you had in mind. HCG is a substitute for LH and to a lower degree FSH on-cycle. It won’t magically make you secret more LH/FSH post-cycle. Front loading a strong SERM alongside a relatively weaker one doesn’t make much cost-efficient sense neither.

 

[amindzeye]

I really don’t get the rationale for splitting your dosages throughout the week.

I asked about this when I first started looking into AAS. The general consensus is it keeps stable hormone levels throughout the week. What you say makes sense, but why is the gospel 2xweek?

You really think two dosages alone will suffice for an entire week?

Same as my first statement. Your point makes sense, but I don't know why the gospel is 2xweek.

You also ran PCT for two full months after administering HCG throughout your entire cycle!

I seen @Mac11wildcat suggest this timing, since he's almost at pro status, I took his word for it.

It won’t magically make you secret more LH/FSH post-cycle.

Do you think kisspeptin-10 would be a beneficial replacement during this period then?

 

[conqueror]

Do you think kisspeptin-10 would be a beneficial replacement during this period then?

If you mean post-cycle, then no. And the reasons too me are various. I’m judging on a simple human study involving Type-2 diabetes patients. [1]

1. Kisspeptin-10 is too short-acting as a KISS1R agonist inducing LH secretion (see figure 1: horizontal axis).
2. GnRH agonists seem more potent in inducing LH secretion than KISS1R agonists (same graph: vertical axis), but eventually desensitize the pituitary gland via receptor downregulation and are prescribed almost exclusively for such purpose.
3. Functional self-restoration of your hypothalamus and pituitary gland will normally occur post-cycle and LH/FSH secretion re-commence. This is of no issue. The purpose of administering an analogous substance to LH/FSH post-cycle (i.e. HCG) is to compensate for the testicular “sensitivity” lost to LH/FSH on-cycle due to prolonged absence of testicular stimulation then.

On a second look, I see you sought to maintain testicular sensitivity on-cycle with HCG, and on week 1 and 2 with (needless) concomitant administration of kisspeptin-10. You should’ve gone for either one, preferably HCG. How did you take the kisspeptin-10 during those weeks? The correct timing and method of administration of kisspeptin-10 following the study would be on-cycle, intravenously, on an hourly basis (see figure 2).


Figure 1: “Serum LH responses to intravenous bolus of 0.3 mcg/kg of kisspeptin-10 (a) and 100 mcg GnRH (b) in healthy volunteers (squares) and hypotestosteronaemic men with type 2 DM (circles). Comparable ΔLH were observed following GnRH and kisspeptin-10 in both groups. Please note the difference in scale between graphs.”

Figure 2: “Serum LH profile at baseline (open circles) and during kisspeptin-10 infusion (closed circles) in hypotestosteronaemic men with type 2 diabetes (a–d). Each of the panels represents a study subject. Mean LH increased from 3·9 ± 0·1 IU/l to 20·7 ± 1·1 IU/l. (P = 0·03 n = 4). LH pulse frequency increased from 0·6 ± 0·1 at baseline to 0·9 ± 0 pulses/h (e) (P = 0·05). Total testosterone increased from 8·5 ± 1 nmol/l at baseline to 11·4 ± 0·9 nmol/l (f) (P = 0·002).”

[1] https://doi.org/10.1111/cen.12103

 

[conqueror]

I asked about this when I first started looking into AAS. The general consensus is it keeps stable hormone levels throughout the week. What you say makes sense, but why is the gospel 2xweek?

That is pretty much true. However, achieving perfectly stable hormone levels is more of a worthwhile endeavor in Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) where a bi-weekly prescription of 250mg of testosterone enanthate (or 200mg testosterone cypionate) will have the patient oscillating between supra-physiological hormone levels during the first two to three days immediately following an injection and infra-physiological levels towards the next injection; potentially leaving room for all the accompanying symptoms of experiencing both high and low testosterone levels during therapy. So 100mg-150mg weekly of either injection becomes more desirable to avoid lousy therapy results.

 

[amindzeye]

On a second look, I see you sought to maintain testicular sensitivity on-cycle with HCG, and on week 1 and 2 with (needless) concomitant administration of kisspeptin-10. You should’ve gone for either one, preferably HCG. How did you take the kisspeptin-10 during those weeks?

I am only in week 2. Next Tues I'll start HCG. I realize I wrote a typo in regards to k-10. It's supposed to be 10mcg not 100mcg.

 

[conqueror]

I am only in week 2. Next Tues I'll start HCG. I realize I wrote a typo in regards to k-10 and cjc1295/ipamorelin. It's supposed to be 10mcg not 100mcg.

Oh, wait. So I read you wrong. First two weeks: Kisspeptin-10. From there on HCG. Correct?

 

[amindzeye]

Yes

 

[amindzeye]

I didn't take pre cycle pics. Here are pics on the day of 4th pin, but before hand.
I included both flex and non flex so my fat displacement is more obvious. As stated I am up 6 lbs by this time. At the time of the pics I am in a fasted state without any kind of bloat.