First Cycle/Test E only/PCT

[OpusPv]

Hey guys, so I've been lurking in this forum since around August/September soaking up as much information as I can and finally decided to do my first cycle. Just wanted to see what you guys thought about it and I'm planning on adding brief weekly updates to this and perhaps pictures if I figure out how to do it properly. I've thoroughly read the FAQ thread along other informative stickied threads. I think I got it down. By the way, I'm two weeks into my cycle already. My goal is to reach 185 lbs and stay there while building a body focused around aesthetics.

Stats:
5'10
167 lbs
29 years old
13.5%bf (Measured with a body fat monitor. Did 3 readings and got the average)

Cycle:
week 1-12: Test E 500mg/wk (pin M & Th mornings)
week 1-14: Arimidex .25mg EOD
week 16-19: Clomid 75/50/50/50
week 16-19: Nolvadex 40/20/20/20

The FAQ thread strongly recommended hCG because of the benefits it has, but I purposefully chose not to run it this time just so I could get a first hand experience as to what it was like not running a cycle with hCG. I will be doing it permanently though after this cycle is over.

Pre-Cycle Blood Work:
View attachment 563586

 

[Megatron28]

What time of the day were those labs run? You are almost Hypogonadal if it was first thing in the morning.

Why not skip the AI and PCT too just to see what it is like to not run them? I would recommend running hCG from Day 1 rather than doing your silly experiment.

If you do run PCT, start it three weeks after your last injection, not four.

Make sure to get mid-cycle blood work.

Body fat monitors are pretty useless. Get a body pod scan or post pics for an estimate.

18lbs of muscle gain on this cycle is an unrealistic goal.

I am concerned about this cycle. Your height, weight and estimated body fat % indicate that your training and diet are not effective. Can you speak to this please?

 

[OpusPv]

The bloods were collected at 10:48am after a 12 hour fast. I work out 6 days a week sometimes 5 depending on the workload for that day. What do you suggest I do? I'm not really familiar with hypogonadism so I will do further research today.

A majority of places where I researched didn't recommend hCG, and most people who spoke about their experience with their cycles didn't really mention or suggested the use of hCG. I just wanted to see for myself the difference. I know you're joking, but skipping AI and PCT would basically be suicide lol Sorry for my ignorance, but I didn't see skipping hCG as being a huge factor. I will run it from now on though.

I'm definitely planning on getting mid-cycle blood work and post as well. I'll look for an alternative for calculating my body fat percentage as well.

I have my PCT starting at two weeks after my last injection as advised on this thread steroidology.com/forum/anabolic-steroid-forum/656959-my-first-cycle-planning-executing-successful-first-cycle.html that was linked from "Ology FAQs" thread. Is it outdated or should I start 3 weeks after my last pin instead of 2 weeks? I pretty much got my cycle from that thread.

I'm training 5-6 days a week. My split is Mondays (chest/tris), Tuesday (back/bis), Weds (legs), Thurs (chest/shoulders), Fridays(back/bis/tris), Saturdays (legs). Sometimes I'll skip Saturdays if I'm called into work. Workout from 6:00am-7:30am sometimes I'll end at 7:00am.

Diet consists of 4,000 calories everyday with 4800 calories on leg days. If I miss my training on Saturdays then on Sunday I will bring my calories down to 2,700 for that day around my estimated maintenance calories so I wont be taking in excessive calories. But I rarely miss my Saturday workouts.

Breakfast: eggs, rice, and tuna. (For leg day I add 2 oatmeal packets with 5 eggs on top of this)
Lunch: chicken and rice.
Dinner: chicken and rice.
Snacks throughout the day: cottage cheese with a banana, 4 tablespoons of peanut butter, and protein shake with coconut oil.

I can be more specific if you like regarding my diet and exercise.

I didn't know 185 lbs was unrealistic so I'll make it my new goal to get as close to that without compromising gaining excessive fat.

Thanks for the feedback Mega, much appreciated.

Edit: I looked into hypogonadism and it looks like I may have secondary hypogonadism. The symptoms and causes associated with hypogonadism sounded like what I was dealing with before I started my cycle. When I was about 1 year old my parents got into a bad car accident and I had to be admitted into a hospital for potential head trauma. Head trauma was one of the causes which may affect the pituitary gland from what I read. Doesn't help that I cracked the back of my head open roller blading when I was around 8-9 years old and was taken to hospital to get stitches, and perhaps even got a concussion from it. I'm thinking about seeing a doctor after my cycle is over and my test levels are back to my natural base line. A doctor specializing in TRT may be the way to go.

 

[Megatron28]

Your lowish T very likely could be the reason you are not making more progress in the gym. Just to cover the bases though, what are your diet macros? Something is wrong if you are really eating 4-5K calories daily and you only weight 167lbs. Something doesn't add up. I can't remember your blood work, but did you check your thyroid (TSH)?

I would follow up with a doctor and look into your hormone levels. Although you unfortunately jumped the gun and already started your cycle. That is going to make it more difficult to get the ball rolling on TRT or whatever else may be the issue.

Definitely run the hCG to help minimize testicular atrophy on cycle. You can't afford to lose more testicular function at your TT levels.

And by the way, 10:48 is too late in the day to check your Natty TT levels. Go earlier next time.

Some of the stickies are outdated. There are PCT Calculators online that you can find. But given the half life of Test E, three weeks is better for waiting to start PCT after your last injection.

 

[OpusPv]

My current macros are around 400c/110f/275p. Leg days they're about 600c/110f/300p. I did not check my thyroid, but I'll add it to my list of things to get checked.

Just a quick brief history on my weight. Back in early August I weighed 152 lbs then raised my calories by 500 when I plateaued. Got to 156 lbs by the end of September where I plateaued again and again raised calories by 500. By the end of October I got to 160 lbs and remained at 160 lbs throughout November, and end of December because I was experimenting with carb cycling so I could get a lean bulk. The carb cycling was helping me lose fat while gaining weight, but I wasn't gaining weight at my desired speed so I dropped it and went back to just a pure bulk. I will go back to carb cycling soon as I reach my desired weight and just maintain. I increased my calories by 500 again to get it to 4-5k in the beginning of January and this is where I'm at now. I haven't increased calories yet since I haven't plateaued, but as soon as I see my weight stagnate I plan to raise it by 500 again. Also, I raise calories by 500 when I see my weight remain the same for 2.5-3 weeks.

I didn't know I had an actual potential problem with my hormones otherwise I would have ordered the hCG as well. I thought I was at a normal range. I'll look for hCG and add it mid-cycle hopefully that wont be a big issue.

I'll make sure to go as early as possible for my next lab appointment as well, and I'll modify my PCT so I can start it 3 weeks after my last pin.

Thanks again Mega.

 

[Megatron28]

Have you calculated your TDEE?

 

[OpusPv]

My TDEE is 2,900 calories. Although I've set a new more realistic goal for this year and that is to maintain at 170-175 lbs and build as much muscle as I can. I'll make 2017 the year I go up to 180 lbs. It will give me a lot of time to focus on a weight that I'm basically at right now so I wont be rushing and gaining excessive fat as I try to reach 185 lbs. Should be fun.