Beginner cycle diary

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This is my very first cycle with naughty things (except creatine, teehee) and I’m super excited. I started my log on another forum but am continuing/finishing here because the other forum was a nightmare, couldn’t search, couldn’t edit posts, yadda yadda.

Beginning baselines:
37 years old
5’8” 158lbs
~10% body fat

Ultimate goal is to be 175lbs lean. Not really concerned with strength, just aesthetics. CrossFit already done made me look like a barrel.

Cycle details:
-12 weeks, 9/27-12/19
-PPL 6 on 1 off (sometimes 3 on 1 off)
-2900 calories (30/45/25 p/c/f)

-Test cyp 300mg/wk (possibly upping to 400)
-Anavar 50mg/day week 7-12 (MAYBE)
-Arimidex .5mg EOD (MAYBE)
-pretty much every cycle support supp for kidneys liver heart etc.

The maybes:
-Anavar: I kinda want to get cut up toward the end cuz I want to look good for a trip in February. I’ve heard conflicting advice here, this being my first cycle.
-Arimidex: seems like everyone agrees don’t take an AI unless I get high E sides and a mid cycle blood test says to. I’m starting week 3 and have not taken an AI yet.

PCT: (starting 10 days after last pin)
Clomid 50/50/25/25

I also have HCG, nolva, and Aromasin on hand. Curious to hear what you guys think about HCG in my PCT. I pretty much got talked out of HCG during my cycle.

Pre cycle blood work and borderline nsfw glamour shots attached. This stuff will make my peen bigger too right?

View attachment Nsimoy pre cycle blood.pdf

87e8ff4a50e5223bb3a9431ac38cdcba.jpg

12ad1c483c65389ab7d3b8c1f7332eb7.jpg

4426caf9bf68387ead28c7560897ad82.jpg



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  • Nsimoy pre cycle blood.pdf
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Good job getting bloodwork before you start.

Your natural test levels are above 900! That's awesome! Are you sure that you want to even run a cycle? Most guys go on 150-200 mg/test just to get to your natural levels.

So if you want to run the cycle still, you should think about raising your weekly dose up to 400-500. The 300 mg/week will suppress your natural testosterone production, just to get your testosterone levels to around 1,500-2,000 (just a guess). See how that's a lot of effort for minor reward?

If your goal is to gain lean muscle then don't be afraid to eat. You gain by eating. Whether it's lean muscle mass or fat will depend more on what you eat. Calculate your current calorie requirements and add 500+ calories to it. That will allow you to grow, and remember that as you grow you will need to up the calories again and again. You only grow by eating. Guys spin their wheels because they don't feed themselves enough to grow. You can take all the steroids in the world and your body won't build muscle from thin air.

Don't worry about the anavar, save it. It's not going to produce any additional effects that the first cycle of testosterone won't blow away anyhow. If you do it right with the diet and training, the "after" photo should blow you away compared to the current pics. If you don't eat right or train hard, you'll be underwhelmed by the after pics.
 

CJ

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Good job getting bloodwork before you start.

Your natural test levels are above 900! That's awesome! Are you sure that you want to even run a cycle? Most guys go on 150-200 mg/test just to get to your natural levels.

So if you want to run the cycle still, you should think about raising your weekly dose up to 400-500. The 300 mg/week will suppress your natural testosterone production, just to get your testosterone levels to around 1,500-2,000 (just a guess). See how that's a lot of effort for minor reward?

If your goal is to gain lean muscle then don't be afraid to eat. You gain by eating. Whether it's lean muscle mass or fat will depend more on what you eat. Calculate your current calorie requirements and add 500+ calories to it. That will allow you to grow, and remember that as you grow you will need to up the calories again and again. You only grow by eating. Guys spin their wheels because they don't feed themselves enough to grow. You can take all the steroids in the world and your body won't build muscle from thin air.

Don't worry about the anavar, save it. It's not going to produce any additional effects that the first cycle of testosterone won't blow away anyhow. If you do it right with the diet and training, the "after" photo should blow you away compared to the current pics. If you don't eat right or train hard, you'll be underwhelmed by the after pics.
^^^100% agree with this.

Also, you have to drop the CF mentality that more(meaning volume/frequency) is better. It's not, trust me. I've smashed my face into that wall before over and over again. Avoid junk volume!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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Good job getting bloodwork before you start.

Your natural test levels are above 900! That's awesome! Are you sure that you want to even run a cycle? Most guys go on 150-200 mg/test just to get to your natural levels.

So if you want to run the cycle still, you should think about raising your weekly dose up to 400-500. The 300 mg/week will suppress your natural testosterone production, just to get your testosterone levels to around 1,500-2,000 (just a guess). See how that's a lot of effort for minor reward?

If your goal is to gain lean muscle then don't be afraid to eat. You gain by eating. Whether it's lean muscle mass or fat will depend more on what you eat. Calculate your current calorie requirements and add 500+ calories to it. That will allow you to grow, and remember that as you grow you will need to up the calories again and again. You only grow by eating. Guys spin their wheels because they don't feed themselves enough to grow. You can take all the steroids in the world and your body won't build muscle from thin air.

Don't worry about the anavar, save it. It's not going to produce any additional effects that the first cycle of testosterone won't blow away anyhow. If you do it right with the diet and training, the "after" photo should blow you away compared to the current pics. If you don't eat right or train hard, you'll be underwhelmed by the after pics.

My thought process was exactly the same when I saw my natural T level, I just had no clue how 300mg/week exogenous test cyp would equate to total circulating T in ng/dl. Totally makes sense though so I think I’m gonna up my dose next week.

Thanks for the great advice on eating too I could probably eat more.


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^^^100% agree with this.

Also, you have to drop the CF mentality that more(meaning volume/frequency) is better. It's not, trust me. I've smashed my face into that wall before over and over again. Avoid junk volume!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Definitely dropped that. My cardio now is 20 min walk on incline treadmill. Can’t think of anything less CrossFit.


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Week 3 starts today. Got a good push workout in this morning.

So far my workouts have been going great. I have been moving up in weight and/or reps every day since the start.

Weighed in at 162.9 (+4.8lbs).


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what did you do?

Push B
Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 9:59 AM

Bench Press (Dumbbell)
Set 1: 60 lb × 10
Set 2: 60 lb × 10
Set 3: 60 lb × 10
Set 4: 60 lb × 10

Cable Crossover
Set 1: 15 lb × 20
Set 2: 20 lb × 16
Set 3: 25 lb × 16
Set 4: 30 lb × 10
Set 5: 35 lb × 10
Set 6: 30 lb × 10

Chest Dip
Set 1: 12 reps
Set 2: 12 reps
Set 3: 12 reps

Triceps Extension
Set 1: 38 lb × 14
Set 2: 38 lb × 8
Set 3: 38 lb × 8
Set 4: 38 lb × 10

Shoulder Press (Machine)
Set 1: 75 lb × 14
Set 2: 85 lb × 10
Set 3: 95 lb × 10

Lateral Raise (Dumbbell)
Set 1: 22.5 lb × 20
Set 2: 22.5 lb × 16
Set 3: 22.5 lb × 16

Kneeling Vacuum
Set 1: 1:00
Set 2: 1:00

Running (Treadmill)
Set 1: 1 mi | 20:00


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Push B
Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 9:59 AM

Bench Press (Dumbbell)
Set 1: 60 lb × 10
Set 2: 60 lb × 10
Set 3: 60 lb × 10
Set 4: 60 lb × 10

Cable Crossover
Set 1: 15 lb × 20
Set 2: 20 lb × 16
Set 3: 25 lb × 16
Set 4: 30 lb × 10
Set 5: 35 lb × 10
Set 6: 30 lb × 10

Chest Dip
Set 1: 12 reps
Set 2: 12 reps
Set 3: 12 reps

Triceps Extension
Set 1: 38 lb × 14
Set 2: 38 lb × 8
Set 3: 38 lb × 8
Set 4: 38 lb × 10

Shoulder Press (Machine)
Set 1: 75 lb × 14
Set 2: 85 lb × 10
Set 3: 95 lb × 10

Lateral Raise (Dumbbell)
Set 1: 22.5 lb × 20
Set 2: 22.5 lb × 16
Set 3: 22.5 lb × 16

Kneeling Vacuum
Set 1: 1:00
Set 2: 1:00

Running (Treadmill)
Set 1: 1 mi | 20:00


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Couple things to consider.

Dumbbell bench press: You did 4 sets of 10. Could you have done more? Would you have been able to press more weight if you only needed to warm up and then do 2 sets of 10?

Cable crossovers: assuming you’re warmed up at this point, why start at 15 and work up to 35? Just start at your working weight.


Chest dip: same with barbell press, could you have done more than 3 sets of 12?

Tricep extensions: do same number of reps

Shoulder press: no need to warmup. Just go right to the working weight.

☝️ I pointed that out to you because that kind of stuff is just fluff. Look at Paul Carter’s Instagram page @liftrunbang he does a great job of providing free information. Muscles grow because of mechanical tension and that is most effective when taking sets to failure in the 6-10 rep range. The five reps right before failure are the ones that are effective for hypertrophy, whether that’s failure at 25 or 8 reps so it makes more sense to select weights where you will maximize that (failure in the 6-10 rep range).

Volume doesn’t drive hypertrophy as much, unless you are reaching failure within the prescribed amount of volume. With 4 sets of 10, it’s much harder to finder the proper weight where you will fail in the last set.
 
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Gonna follow, see your in week 3 so you should start seeing changes every workout, that's about when I started seeing big changes.
 
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Couple things to consider.

Dumbbell bench press: You did 4 sets of 10. Could you have done more? Would you have been able to press more weight if you only needed to warm up and then do 2 sets of 10?

Cable crossovers: assuming you’re warmed up at this point, why start at 15 and work up to 35? Just start at your working weight.


Chest dip: same with barbell press, could you have done more than 3 sets of 12?

Tricep extensions: do same number of reps

Shoulder press: no need to warmup. Just go right to the working weight.

I pointed that out to you because that kind of stuff is just fluff. Look at Paul Carter’s Instagram page @liftrunbang he does a great job of providing free information. Muscles grow because of mechanical tension and that is most effective when taking sets to failure in the 6-10 rep range. The five reps right before failure are the ones that are effective for hypertrophy, whether that’s failure at 25 or 8 reps so it makes more sense to select weights where you will maximize that (failure in the 6-10 rep range).

Volume doesn’t drive hypertrophy as much, unless you are reaching failure within the prescribed amount of volume. With 4 sets of 10, it’s much harder to finder the proper weight where you will fail in the last set.

Interesting. I was behind on my hypertrophy science. I’ll tweak my sets moving forward, thank you for the advice.


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Training felt good today, switched to a lower rep scheme but increased weight. My total load was greater than last pull session by about 4,000lbs.

I’m noticing WAY better recovery.. like I’m never sore and I’m always stoked to get back in the gym. My HRV has been staying near my baseline.

Some tweaks I’m making:
I’m getting my first mid cycle blood test on Tuesday to assess my e level among other things. My plan is to increase my test to 400mg next week and then if my blood comes back with high e, also introduce low dose Aromasin.

I started to notice last night after showering my left nip looked a little puffy/swollen. Looks normal if the nips are hard. Should I add like 20mg nolva until I get my blood test back in a couple weeks? Ideally I want to get my blood checked before ai.

Increased calories yesterday from 2900 to 3200

Pull B
Wednesday, October 12, 2022 at 10:55 AM

Lat Pulldown (Cable)
Set 1: 121 lb × 10
Set 2: 143 lb × 10
Set 3: 165 lb × 8
Set 4: 165 lb × 8
Set 5: 165 lb × 8
Set 6: 165 lb × 8

T Bar Row
Set 1: 65 lb × 8
Set 2: 65 lb × 8
Set 3: 65 lb × 8
Set 4: 65 lb × 8

Straight Arm Lat Pulldown
Set 1: 55 lb × 8
Set 2: 55 lb × 8
Set 3: 55 lb × 8

Shrug (Dumbbell)
Set 1: 70 lb × 18
Set 2: 70 lb × 18
Set 3: 70 lb × 22

Face Pull (Cable)
Set 1: 77 lb × 10
Set 2: 77 lb × 8
Set 3: 77 lb × 8
Set 4: 77 lb × 8

Preacher Curl (Machine)
Set 1: 120 lb × 8
Set 2: 120 lb × 8
Set 3: 120 lb × 8
Set 4: 120 lb × drop set

Hollow Rocks
Set 1: 20 reps
Set 2: 20 reps

Side Plank
Set 1: 1:00
Set 2: 1:00

Kneeling Vacuum
Set 1: 1:00
Set 2: 1:00

Running (Treadmill)
Set 1: 1 mi | 20:00


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Your natural Free T levels are 4.5x higher than my TRT levels on 200mg/week...
You are so blessed.
 
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Your natural Free T levels are 4.5x higher than my TRT levels on 200mg/week...
You are so blessed.

Weird thing is it has gone up over the years. 2012 it was in the 600’s, 2017 it was 840, now it’s 900. No idea why.


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How the HECK do you guys eat 3,000 calories my poor little tummy is always so full.


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Dear diary,

Today is usually my favorite day, leg day. I wasn’t the most pumped mentally today to get into the gym but once I got in everything felt light, like I could just keep going and going.

I upped my test dose this morning to 200mg, so I’ll be on 400mg/wk moving forward.

For the nipple thing, I’m now taking 20mg nolva every morning for a couple weeks while I wait for my blood test results. Current plan is to get on ai and taper off nolva assuming my e2 is actually high which I suspect it is. In fact I may just start the ai and taper the nolva right after I get back from my quest appointment.

Legs B
Thursday, October 13, 2022 at 12:44 PM

Lunge (Barbell)
Set 1: 45 lb × 12
Set 2: 125 lb × 10
Set 3: 135 lb × 10
Set 4: 145 lb × 8
Set 5: 145 lb × 8

Romanian Deadlift (Barbell)
Set 1: 215 lb × 8
Set 2: 215 lb × 8
Set 3: 215 lb × 8
Set 4: 215 lb × 8

Glute Kickback (Machine)
Set 1: 160 lb × 8
Set 2: 160 lb × 8
Set 3: 160 lb × 8

Leg Extension (Machine)
Set 1: 185 lb × 8
Set 2: 190 lb × 8
Set 3: 195 lb × 8
Set 4: 200 lb × 8
Set 5: 205 lb × 8
Set 6: 210 lb × 8
Set 7: 215 lb × 8

Calf Press on Leg Press
Set 1: 220 lb × 12
Set 2: 220 lb × 12
Set 3: 220 lb × 12
Set 4: 220 lb × 10

Crunch (Machine)
Set 1: 90 lb × 12
Set 2: 100 lb × 12

Running (Treadmill)
Set 1: 2 mi | 20:00


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