First Cycle Log: 14 Weeks Deca+Test

[Optimal]

Hi guys! Going to be doing my first cycle and wanted to share my experiences so decided to post it up here.
Not going to be super-serious as I try to limit my computer time these days, just small updates here and there (more in beginning though).

Going to be running:
Test-c @ 200mg/wk
Deca @ 600mg/wk
HCG 2x/wk @ 250iu
Aromasin @ "6.25" mg/day
The lab is BOSS since I know the question will come up

PCT: lol pct

Goals:
- Get sex drive back (been at pretty much 0 for the past 6 months after a slow decline for 2yrs prior)
- Get rid of snap/crackle/pop in knees & wrists (doc's tests showed some "lesions")
- 17-17.5" arms & calves depending on changes in bodyfat %
- 120x5 DB press (+20)
- 280x8 chinup (+55)
- 375x5 squat (+70)
Note: Numbers are for a complete 3-5 sets, not just a single set and then die

Starting stats:
Weight: 190lbs, ~16-18% BF (5'9)
Macros: 190-230p, 500-600c, 50-70f

Arms: 15.8-16.3" depending on pump
Thighs: 26.3" thickest part, 25.2" @ midpoint
Calf: 16.25" flexed
Chest: 42.5"
Waist: 34" above hips, 31" at smallest section

Other supplements:
- Fish oil
- Basic Multi
- Vit D3
- Creatine
- Maybe citrulline malate but will probably save it for off cycle
- Coffee

Updates are going to be a bit behind as I was slow/lazy in putting this up and I'll just post them at regular speed anyway.

 

[Metalhead]

Low test/high deca. Interested to see how it works for you. Are you not running prami or caber alongside? Best of luck to you

 

[Optimal]

Low test/high deca. Interested to see how it works for you. Are you not running prami or caber alongside? Best of luck to you

Caber ready in case it's needed but hopefully it won't be as long as I keep E in check.
And yeah, I'm not so hot on anything with a relatively high androgenic component so I'm gonna try things out with just TRT-ish doses for now and see how far I can get.

 

[smittiot]

I'm with Metal on this one. Please keep up updated and will follow.

 

[GilaMonstaXXX]

Going to need DopAgonist to avoid progesterone receptors from being too tickled by that Nandrolone. If not, then I understand why you will be in love with 19Nor. Shit, we love them anyways.

 

[Optimal]

Day 0:
Trained full-body today, as this is my first session after my deload, so wanted to minimize downtime.

Going with a bit of a frontload route with 0.8cc test-c + 2cc deca, right quad. Knew this would be a tough one going in to put so much into one shot but honestly I've taken tons of shots for other things and never had much pain so I wanted to try out the "worst case scenario" to see what my reaction would be.
I know it's probably a dumb idea but I enjoy making an "experiment" out of myself, lol.

Put the oils in some warm water to heat them up a bit, went in nice & smooth. Did it very slowly to minimize pain and it was all good!
Strange thing was that I actually got a bit of knee soreness for a few hours but I was sitting down watching TV while it did its thing.

Around 6hrs after first shot, leg started spasm'ing a bit, slowly getting worse as the night went on. By bedtime, it would hit every 10-20 seconds with every 10th or so being quite painful.
Only got about 6hrs of sleep. Only the actual spasms were painful, not a whole lot of actual PIP besides that.

 

[Optimal]

Day 1-2:
Woke up at 189.6lbs with quite a bit of leg soreness the first day. Also really stiff, doesn't want to bend at the knee. Just did some stretches and band work.
Second day, PIP is a lot better, mostly just a bit stiff. Still occasional muscle twitches but only like 20 throughout the entire day. Hit arms/chest/delts (no change in strength or weight yet of course).

 

[Optimal]

Day 3:
Pain & stiffness almost completely gone. Hit back & chest today (didn't feel like I did enough for chest yesterday).

Day 4:
Switched to chest for second round, split it up into two shots: one for each pec... or at least that was the plan. Started out with left one and it just started freaking me out halfway through... something about stabbing right into the chest that just seems wrong, even though my first pin ever on day 1 didn't bother me in the slightest. Anyway I decided to just suck it up and keep going... but then I shifted the pin and think I got a bit too close to a vein because I got this suddenly chill, crazy sweats and lots of dizziness.
Pulled it out with 0.2mL left and switched to lat for the second shot. That one felt amazing, didn't feel a thing. Afterwards, the pain from the chest started getting crazy & spreading. First went into my shoulder, then elbow & even wrist. Hurt like a FUCKER!! Went away completely after a few hours though.
Just worked arms & delts today, no change in performance yet.

Day 5:
Hit legs & went camping for the night. Lat is a bit sore but all good besides that.
Something I've noticed is that I've had HOURS of sex dreams the last few nights in a row, been a while since I've had any real sense of libido. Probably just coincidence since it's so early but really hope it continues to ramp up even more, I miss it!!

 

[Optimal]

Catching up a bit...

Day 6:
Getting a bit of a lump in the chest but it actually just makes it look bigger so I'm not complaining, lol. Arms/delts again since gym was closed by the time I got back.

Day 7: 192.6lbs
Mostly back today, tiny bit of chest just to test strength. Back feeling super strong, chest is meh. Did another lat injection on the other side and it felt good.
Woke up at 192.6lbs, so up a tiny bit already. Possibly a tiny bit of water weight already since I've been frontloading, but could also just be a random fluctuation.

Day 8:
Lump in chest is looking pretty darn big now, it's like I have a full-on implant. Doesn't hurt or anything though so I expect it will start diminishing. Hit arms/delts & a bit of chest again because yesterday didn't feel like enough.

 

[Metalhead]

My shoulders do that lump shit when I inject anything over 1ml. Usually subsides in a few days. Fucking weird to look at though lol

 

[Optimal]

Week 2: Days 9-15
All sites started getting a weird reddening, even my leg from the very first shot which already had one that went away. Wtf relapse? Thought I might be allergic to the carrier oil but did the skin test and thankfully turned out fine. Big relief! Didn't want all that stuff to go to waste because I wouldn't keep using it if I was. Being allergic to many things throughout life, I know how they only get worse & worse the more you get exposed to the allergen and can possibly end in anaphylactic shock if you press it. Still no heat or itchiness though so it's all good.

Going to try less injection volume on 3rd week by splitting it up into 3 shots instead of just 2 because I think it's the amount that's really causing the issue. Also dropping the frontloading a bit early and just going right to expected amounts, should still get some benefit from what I've done already though hopefully.

Had a really bad shot on the 14th, first time in left thigh & it seems to be loaded with nerve endings. It took 4 fucking false pokes until I found a place that didn't scream of pain on entry. Very strange because all the previous ones have been fine for the initial poke, just sore afterwards. Realized afterwards that I miscalculated the injection amount and ended up about 100mg too low on the deca but not too worried about it. Started HCG, really like these insulin syringes more.. they just seem to plunge more consistently than the Terumo.

My shoulders do that lump shit when I inject anything over 1ml. Usually subsides in a few days. Fucking weird to look at though lol

Sounds... much more noticeable there, lol

 

[smittiot]

My shoulders do that lump shit when I inject anything over 1ml. Usually subsides in a few days. Fucking weird to look at though lol

I find that keeping them to 1.5 ml or less makes a huge diff. More shots but less pip. Personal choice.

 

[Optimal]

Week 3: Day 16 - 196lbs morning weight:
Fucking beautiful shots today. Was a bit anxious from the last thigh shot but this time I did the right side instead & didn't feel a damn thing, no pip, nothing. 1.1cc's. Starting to feel a lot better about it now, actually excited for next time cus I feel great about it.

Hit arms & legs and had some strange pumps, it's like my whole leg was bursting to the skin. Felt like they were gonna explode out but in a good way. Lower back had it a bit too and I don't think I've ever felt it working on squats before.
No real gains in size or strength yet, just some water weight.... well I guess arms & back are a bit stronger, but that could just be normal gains. Looking forward to it really kicking in next week though. Getting a small amount of acne but fine besides that.

Week 3: Days 17-21
Definitely starting to feel a bit more "alert" and pumped up in the gym. No real strength boosts yet but everything overall is feeling a bit easier & the sessions are not so gruelling to get through. Definitely seen some improvements to sex drive, I suspect it's largely due to the frontloading to have that kick in so quickly... though it was so low previously that probably any amount of increased blood levels would have helped that out.
Holding on to some water for sure, up to 200lbs morning weight without any real changes to diet.

 

[FivePower]

Great progress - plz do continue with the reports. Very encouraging. Have you considered changing injection site to just abbove your buttock? Muchless pai ful, and you can phmp up to 3ccs easily. Pain goes awag in a day at most.

 

[Optimal]

A bit behind on this but oh well

Week 4: Days 22 - 28
201lbs in the morning as of now, think I've gained all the bloat I'm going to. From now on, it's all legit gains.
Upped calories by 100 anyway though because I sort of stalled at 201 for about 6 days.

Acne starting to break out around back/chest/shoulders, creating a sort of ring around.
Shots are going smooth as butter, don't even feel them anymore.
Gave up aspirating on lats though because I just end up restabbing myself repeatedly due to the awkwardness.

Feel more "mind muscle connection" on some lifts, especially chest & calves which I previously couldn't really feel anything at all, they've always been sticking points for me. Bis & delts have this constant feeling of being pumped with minor doms, very strange as I don't really get doms in them normally.. except it doesn't even feel like doms, it's more the "burn" feeling of IOMS but 24/7. Probably just placebo though.

Starting to get some stretch marks showing, haven't had that in a while... though I'm also at the peak of my bulk to begin with so in hindsight it was kinda stupid but oh well, it's nice to have those large shirts feel too tight again.
Been pretty damn "active" with the GF this week, way more aggression & thankfully she is loving it.

Great progress - plz do continue with the reports. Very encouraging. Have you considered changing injection site to just abbove your buttock? Muchless pai ful, and you can phmp up to 3ccs easily. Pain goes awag in a day at most.

For sure will keep it up man.

Have no interest in trying glute shots, seems too awkward to reach on my own & the GF is terrified of needles.
I looked into it when I was first choosing spots & as it turns out, the American Medical Association doesn't even recommend it anymore due to some nerve that they kept hitting, as well as increased chance of infection.

I even talked with a nurse (grandma) and she confirmed that there were a lot of infections even IN the hospital from glute shots, seems to be a lot better now that they switched ventro glutes. I might try those out eventually.
Thankfully she's too old & senile now to figure out why I was asking, lol!

 

[Conscious Progression UK]

Why are you injecting in so many different sites?

Sounds like your going to end up hitting a nerve sooner or later if your not careful.

Stick to you glutes!

Good luck.

 

[Optimal]

Why are you injecting in so many different sites?

Trying them to find out what I like the best. It's not many though, just 3. I want to have at least two different places (going with lats/quad sweep) to rotate sites to avoid scar tissue

Sounds like your going to end up hitting a nerve sooner or later if your not careful.

I'm extreeeemely careful man, I look up at least 10 different pics/tutorials before going anywhere new.
And anyway, hitting a nerve is probably going to happen to anyone eveeentually so might as well learn now.

Stick to you glutes!

Nah, no way, already explained why.

Good luck.

Thx bro!


Update:

Week 5&6: Days 29 - 44
Got ..sort of? sick? Kind of annoying... surprising that it's so mild though because it's just a bit of sniffles and sore throat in the morning but nothing else, feel perfectly awake & everything. Could just be allergies or maybe the deca is helping out with the immune system? Dunno... kind of annoying but took it easy for a few days anyway though to help get over it and that seemed to do the trick.

Morning weight up to 203-204 now. Acne really kicked up a notch, just exploded all over upper back.

Strength starting to inch up a bit, nothing too crazy though but I was sort of stuck around the same numbers for the past couple months, so this seems pretty decent in 6 weeks:
Changes since day 1:
DB press +5lbs & +2reps
Lever row +20lbs
Squat +15lbs

 

[Optimal]

Week 7: Days 45 - 51
Strength still slowly going up... at least on upper body. Really frustrating that these squats aren't really going anywhere though.
209.5lbs in morning & growth going steady. Arms at 16.5 & 16.2 without a pump now, calves at 16.9 at the thickest part. Legs at 25" at midpoint, 27.5" at thickest portion. Dunno about chest, it's annoying to measure.
Waist is growing a bit too but not in proportion to the other measurements.

 

[Optimal]

Week 8&9: Days 52 - 62
Arms finally hit 17" with a pump!! Not exactly amazing or anything but it's the first time I've seen that # so I'm glad about that. Strength still coming steady and lower body starting to catch up finally. +40lbs on squat so far, hopefully I can pull out another 30 before the end. Leg press somehow just jumped up by 90lbs in a week, wasn't expecting that. Hopefully things keep going on this way!

 

[smittiot]

Great progress.