great weight gain but no strength gain?

[wtfmansloth]

im running 600mg test E and 600mgEQ. i frontloaded both the first week and now im halfway through week 4 and im up over 15lbs but have barely had any strength gains. shouldnt the test have kicked in by now? noticed a tiny bit of acne and a slight increase in shedding and i trust my supplier so im certain the gear is legit.

im also using 4mg of finasteride daily. could this be the reason? i know DHT can reduce gains so could that be it?

ive put on maybe 20lbs on bench but thats about it. pretty much all my other lifts are the same.

 

[MeatHead96]

im running 600mg test E and 600mgEQ. i frontloaded both the first week and now im halfway through week 4 and im up over 15lbs but have barely had any strength gains. shouldnt the test have kicked in by now? noticed a tiny bit of acne and a slight increase in shedding and i trust my supplier so im certain the gear is legit.

im also using 4mg of finasteride daily. could this be the reason? i know DHT can reduce gains so could that be it?

ive put on maybe 20lbs on bench but thats about it. pretty much all my other lifts are the same.

The test should be mostly kicked in by now. EQ takes longer. I do know dht can reduce gains so this could be possible. DHT has a lot to do with the aggression side effects. Aggression is part of what helps increase your strength. Also, could be your training. What do your workouts look like?

 

[wtfmansloth]

The test should be mostly kicked in by now. EQ takes longer. I do know dht can reduce gains so this could be possible. DHT has a lot to do with the aggression side effects. Aggression is part of what helps increase your strength. Also, could be your training. What do your workouts look like?

back, shoulders, traps, calves
chest, arms
quads, calves, abs
back, shoulders, traps
hamstrings, calves
chest, arms, abs
off

and cardio whenever i can. im recovering pretty well from these but strength is still getting nowhere. think i should cut down on the finasteride?


edit: ive noticed less aggression compared to my last cycle and less libido as well. i have no problem getting a hard on but im just not popping boner every 10 minutes like i used to.

 

[MeatHead96]

back, shoulders, traps, calves
chest, arms
quads, calves, abs
back, shoulders, traps
hamstrings, calves
chest, arms, abs
off

and cardio whenever i can. im recovering pretty well from these but strength is still getting nowhere. think i should cut down on the finasteride?

As far as strength goes, without really knowing how many sets, etc. you're doing for each workout...this is too much. For mass and strength you should really only be working out 4 days a week. Look at the 5x5 sticky in the training section. This is a very good routine. This would be good...

Legs, abs
Chest, tris
off
back,bis
shoulders,traps,calves
off
off

Do 5 sets of 5 on your compound movement for the first 5 sets of your workout. Take 2-3 minutes rest between heavy sets for strength. Keep accessory work to a minimum.

 

[NastyNate500]

Six days a week? You couldn't take enough gear to work out six days a week and still recover properly to grow. You're overtraining. Stop breaking down your workouts into body parts. You're hitting shoulders 4 times a week as well. Maybe not directly but any chest work is going to hit your shoulders, too. Shoulders are easily overtrained and can cause serious problems.

Look into a powerlifting style of training. Three days a week. Check out the 5x5 program.

 

[wtfmansloth]

yea i was wondering about that too. i usually do 4-5 days a week max but i thought id try this out on this cycle.

i did 5 days a week(2 5x5, 3 with higher volume) last time and made great gains but i wanted to try higher volume training.

lesson learned i guess. if it aint broke, dont fix it.

 

[cashout]

No need to take 4 mg of fina daily. 1 mg - 1.25 mg daily is more than sufficient to mitigate any androgen-induced hairloss.

 

[wtfmansloth]

No need to take 4 mg of fina daily. 1 mg - 1.25 mg daily is more than sufficient to mitigate any androgen-induced hairloss.

i read some stuff on several forums that recommended 1.25mg for every 250mg of test. isnt the effects on 5AR suppression with fina dose dependent?

also, would it be better to spread the dosage out through the day or take it all at once since fina has a half life of 4-6 hours?

 

[Matthew121]

I cant believe no one has asked this yet, How is your diet?

 

[wtfmansloth]

I cant believe no one has asked this yet, How is your diet?

~800kcal above maintainence.

meal 1: whey, 8 egg whites, oatmeal
meal 2: 8oz chicken breast
workout
meal 3: 16oz tilapia, oatmeal
meal 4: 8oz chicken, baked potato
meal 5: 16oz top round steak, 2 baked potatoes

also another 4 scoops of whey throughout the day and veggies whenever i can


i know my diet is good so i figured it was either the finasteride or the training.

 

[NastyNate500]

Wow. What a boring diet.

 

[wtfmansloth]

Wow. What a boring diet.

well what did you expect? caviar and filet mignon?

 

[NastyNate500]

well what did you expect? caviar and filet mignon?

Of course not. But munching on chicken breasts and oatmeal all day every day will wear you out. Unless you're just generically listing your diet and you use marinades, sauces, mix with vegetables, etc.

And where's your fats? You've got plenty of protein and carbs, but there isn't a single fat listed. Not even one. No peanut butter, no avocado, no almonds, etc.

Make some pasta with a meat sauce. Or make some chicken fajitas with peppers, onions, avocado. Marinate some chicken breasts and eat them over some rice.

Having a boring diet is what makes people cave. There are a lot of ways to spruce up a meal without making it unhealthy.

 

[cashout]

i read some stuff on several forums that recommended 1.25mg for every 250mg of test. isnt the effects on 5AR suppression with fina dose dependent?

also, would it be better to spread the dosage out through the day or take it all at once since fina has a half life of 4-6 hours?

There is a very marginal increase in 5-AR suppression above 1 mg daily and 5 mg daily (per the study, 85% inhibition and 91% inhibition). No need for anything more than 1 mg a day.

The half-life of the drug is 8 hours but it takes a significantly longer period of time for the body to re-manufacture the 5-AR to the pre-administration level. Therefore, once daily is fine for maintaining a significantly reduced level of the 5-AR.

 

[wtfmansloth]

Of course not. But munching on chicken breasts and oatmeal all day every day will wear you out. Unless you're just generically listing your diet and you use marinades, sauces, mix with vegetables, etc.

And where's your fats? You've got plenty of protein and carbs, but there isn't a single fat listed. Not even one. No peanut butter, no avocado, no almonds, etc.

Make some pasta with a meat sauce. Or make some chicken fajitas with peppers, onions, avocado. Marinate some chicken breasts and eat them over some rice.

Having a boring diet is what makes people cave. There are a lot of ways to spruce up a meal without making it unhealthy.

lol yea i do use a lot of spices and seasoning. especially for the chicken and fish. i take a couple tablespoons of olive oil when i can and some assorted nuts here and there.

There is a very marginal increase in 5-AR suppression above 1 mg daily and 5 mg daily (per the study, 85% inhibition and 91% inhibition). No need for anything more than 1 mg a day.

The half-life of the drug is 8 hours but it takes a significantly longer period of time for the body to re-manufacture the 5-AR to the pre-administration level. Therefore, once daily is fine for maintaining a significantly reduced level of the 5-AR.

so youre saying there would be no difference in 5AR suppression on the 1mg of of finasteride whether you took 500mg of test or 1000mg of test? i think ive read the study youre talking about but that was done on men who were not on test correct?

thx for all the help over the past few months btw bro. sincerely appreciated.

 

[cashout]

lol yea i do use a lot of spices and seasoning. especially for the chicken and fish. i take a couple tablespoons of olive oil when i can and some assorted nuts here and there.




so youre saying there would be no difference in 5AR suppression on the 1mg of of finasteride whether you took 500mg of test or 1000mg of test? i think ive read the study youre talking about but that was done on men who were not on test correct?

thx for all the help over the past few months btw bro. sincerely appreciated.

The amount of test is not relevant in the equation b/c the availability of the 5-AR enzyme is the limiting factor. If the enzyme is not present in a high enough concentration, it doesn't matter how much test is in your system it can't be converted to DHT.

 

[TheMilkMan]

20lbs in 4 weeks = over 200lbs in the year... I would take that all day everyday.

 

[supersafado]

You might be over training. You don't need to be in the gym 6 days a week. Try 4 intense workouts and more rest. opinion my opinion.

 

[wtfmansloth]

The amount of test is not relevant in the equation b/c the availability of the 5-AR enzyme is the limiting factor. If the enzyme is not present in a high enough concentration, it doesn't matter how much test is in your system it can't be converted to DHT.

i see. so there no mechanism that would upregulate the expression of the 5AR given a supraphysiological dosage of test?

ive had way less aggression and sex drive lately. i know fina can do that but its 600mgs of test. could this also be a symptom of overtraining? i feel pretty good most of the time but ive been training balls to the wall for over a year without a break.

20lbs in 4 weeks = over 200lbs in the year... I would take that all day everyday.

lol it went up 20lbs in two workouts and stayed there for the next two.

You might be over training. You don't need to be in the gym 6 days a week. Try 4 intense workouts and more rest. opinion my opinion.

yea im takeing the next few days off and cutting down of frequency and volume.


edit: thanks for all the help guys.

 

[cashout]

i see. so there no mechanism that would upregulate the expression of the 5AR given a supraphysiological dosage of test?

ive had way less aggression and sex drive lately. i know fina can do that but its 600mgs of test. could this also be a symptom of overtraining? i feel pretty good most of the time but ive been training balls to the wall for over a year without a break.

No mechanism that has been reported in the literature.