Test Only 500mg/wk (FIRST EVER CYCLE)

[grey]

Is it normal that I don't really feel any different to before I started my cycle on this dosage?

So... this part varies. Personally I NEVER feel anything but the sides no matter how much hormone I jam in there. Even TNE and/or TrNE do not act as any sort of stimulant for me. Some other people certainly do feel a difference though.

I will however see a difference in recovery time, muscle mass increases, and food absorption without fat gain.

As @Just Fish says, you should be seeing some results in the gym, no matter the subjective feelings experienced...

 

[Just Fish]

Is it normal that I don't really feel any different to before I started my cycle on this dosage? I mean, do I need to get my test levels significantly higher to really see/feel differences?

Hmm it could be like I said in a previous post, that my amps usually come out at about 0.8-0.9 ml in my syringe instead of 1 ml like they should be. Might switch to bottle next time instead of amps so I can measure out my own dosages.

Shit man, I figured you would have blown up and been killing it by now. You are a little too young but you had a good foundation to begin with. Post some progress pics. You have to have put on some muscle by now. Even if it was bunk gear you would have put on some muscle by now

 

[gr8whitetrukker]

Sorry I actually meant nmol, not mmol. Just used a conversion tool so my test levels work out as 2634 ng/dL.

HTC is 0.507 L/L. Apparently normal range is 0.37 - 0.50.

2634÷500mg/wk=5.3
I usually score a 4. So based on MY labs i would be happy with that. It seems everything is in order.

 

[grey]

DIET:

Starting off on 3,200 kcal/day.
This is a slight surplus for me.

Did you bump this up beyond the 3,400 you talked about at some point?

Again... bear in mind this perf graph from earlier:

Test Only 500mg/wk (FIRST EVER CYCLE)

and the actual (not broscience) effects of AAS.

You were already far along the right hand side of the asymptotic curve. The AAS injections simply put you more towards the left again (provided you are fueling it).

AAS won't make you strong or big.

Lifting weights won't make you strong or big.

It is RECOVERY from lifting weights that makes you big and strong. AAS gives you more recovery capacity potential, but the additional fuel component must also be provided.

 

[Jamie Sutherland]

Another thing is that I could just be being hard on myself and expecting more.

I'm on week 8 now and I'm 20 lbs up. I've been eating about 4,200 calories per day. I've definitely been gaining strength and had more endurance. It's just been steady, nothing crazy. I think I was expecting crazy strength gains in a short period based on how I've heard other people speaking about it.

I've gained a little fat but am definitely still lean. Will try get a progress pic up over the next few days.

 

[grey]

I'm on week 8 now and I'm 20 lbs up.

I think you are probably right in the normal range as far as gain rate then.

 

[MFMC]

Sorry I actually meant nmol, not mmol. Just used a conversion tool so my test levels work out as 2634 ng/dL.

HTC is 0.507 L/L. Apparently normal range is 0.37 - 0.50.

pretty nice level for growth without going crazy-- I recently peaked at 2391 during cycle bloods--- may have been a bit higher but now resting comfortably around 1100---

 

[Jamie Sutherland]

Here's one pic of how I'm currently looking.

Took a few progress pics but not gonna post all of them as I got pretty pissed because I think I look smaller and fatter than when I started even though I've gained 20 lbs

 

[Meanstreetscleansheets]

Here's one pic of how I'm currently looking.

Took a few progress pics but not gonna post all of them as I got pretty pissed because I think I look smaller and fatter than when I started even though I've gained 20 lbs
View attachment 78245

I see you got a tattoo and didnt change the hand towel! Lol traps lookin thick tho!

 

[batespcm]

I don't think you look smaller

Keep us updated

 

[Jamie Sutherland]

Found this pic from a few weeks before i started cycle (left) and this one from 8 weeks in (right). Roughly 20 lbs difference. Haven't been able to train for almost a week now due to this annoying as fuck flu I've picked up. May not be able to train for last week of cycle either. Have had to take off work and everything

So that little pic is gonna most likely be my first cycle transformation. 8 weeks on test cyp.

 

[macabremitch]

Found this pic from a few weeks before i started cycle (left) and this one from 8 weeks in (right). Roughly 20 lbs difference. Haven't been able to train for almost a week now due to this annoying as fuck flu I've picked up. May not be able to train for last week of cycle either. Have had to take off work and everything

So that little pic is gonna most likely be my first cycle transformation. 8 weeks on test cyp.

View attachment 78484

hell yeah brother you definitely look bigger! arms chest and traps all look full and solid, im sure shirts are fitting much snug on you.

 

[Ironlord]

....you look good, but idk... I was expecting more from a first cycle of test at 500/week. The changes aren't that different in your photos - mildly fuller in arms and traps although that could just be the lighting...

Not knocking your progress, it's just most first cycles are huge transformations. Maybe because you were already in great shape before you started....

How was your eating?

 

[grey]

The changes aren't that different in your photos - mildly fuller in arms and traps although that could just be the lighting...

I have the feeling that the 20 pound difference would be more obvious if he had pictures taken in sideways profile instead of front-on.

 

[Jamie Sutherland]

....you look good, but idk... I was expecting more from a first cycle of test at 500/week. The changes aren't that different in your photos - mildly fuller in arms and traps although that could just be the lighting...

Not knocking your progress, it's just most first cycles are huge transformations. Maybe because you were already in great shape before you started....

How was your eating?

I completely agree with you man. Being 100% honest I'm kind of disappointed with the results I got. That's why I posted here a few times through the cycle saying about how I didn't think the test had kicked in yet.

I gained 20 lbs in 10 weeks but to be honest I would say atleast half of that is easily fat/water. I definitely don't feel as lean anymore. I gained strength but nothing crazy. Basically I would sum it up by saying that I think I could have achieved very similar results without even taking anything.

Not trying to sound cocky either but my diet and training was almost perfect. I ate 4000-4500 calories a day. More than enough protein. Focused hard on progressing gym performance with every single session.

I think the main reason I'm disappointed is because I see people in my gym all the time that do a cycle and get crazy results. People that I know for a fact know nothing about how to train and eat correctly or that put in the amount of time and effort that I do.

Anyway, with all that being said, I'll definitely be planning out another cycle after some time off to see if I can make better progress next time around.

 

[Southeastbeast1]

20 lbs in 10 weeks seems about right. I started in similar fashion to you, exactly at 170 lbs and also lean. My cycle was longer, but also chopped up and not a straight bulk because I competed near the end of mine. I spent the first 7 weeks adding size though and went from 170 lbs to 185 lbs (then cut for my show for 5 weeks, before finishing the last 4 weeks post show adding size again which really just cancelled each other out for the most part...which is fine, I'm not complaining or anything).

Like you I also felt underwhelmed and like you said also felt this was something I could do naturally, the only huge difference being I was able to do it much quicker.

It's possible we were underwhelmed because we were already lean so visually while we both did add size it didn't look as impressive a transformation.

Strength improved but nothing dramatic relative to what I'd expect from a normal bulk up 15 lbs. Anyway, just posting so you know you aren't alone in the feeling/results. And honestly my bloods had my test even higher than yours at 3400. I spent a lot of time searching others results on test only cycles due to feeling like we felt and from what I could tell 20 lbs for 10-12 weeks seemed fairly standard.

 

[Jamie Sutherland]

Hi people,

Sorry I just kind of dropped off the forum and never updated on anything. It's now been almost 7 weeks since I finished up the cycle. I started the cycle at 169 lbs and got up to 189. I kept up the high calorie diet after finishing the cycle but still dropped down to 182. However I've now levelled off at 182 and have been maintaining that weight for a few weeks so total gain has been 13 lbs.

After my last pin I waited 3 weeks until I started PCT (nolva). I hate to say this but I've been so inconsistent with pct. I forget to take my nolva tabs often. So I've been taking 40mg nolva roughly every other day instead of every day. That being said I feel pretty good... Sex drive is there, no low test or high oestrogen sides.

All in all, I'd say the cycle didn't really do that much for me. I was able to train with a little more intensity and strength did go up a bit but after coming off it's dropped just a little. I just feel like i could be where I am now if I had stayed natural. That being said, I'm already thinking about my next cycle

 

[Jamie Sutherland]

Pic is from 4 weeks after I finished cycle. I'll maybe take another one at 8 weeks after.

 

[Trenhrd]

Some people see more drastic results from test only cycles because their natural test is likely on the lower end to begin with. You start pinning when your test is 300 naturally then it jumps to 2500+ That will make you grow quickly. That being said, solid work!

 

[Maneuvers]

What was your essential fat intake during the cycle? I think it's the most overlooked aspect of bodybuilding. It is a key ingredient for building muscle, burning fat and overall health.