First time - planning things out in advance

ek5.56

Member
Oct 25, 2017
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**sorry, this is a long post. Thank you in advance to those who don't mind and read through**coffe11

What’s up everybody. My initial purpose for this thread is to just get the gears turning, and start the relationship with you all prior to closing on the my first pinnings. From here on out, I'll be welcoming any feedback and criticism, advice on all areas, suggestions, questions and comments, as well likely asking plenty of questions myself. I plan to have a log going once things take off to for my own reference and for the hell of it. As a newb to these boards, and to AAS, I don't want to be one of the people that comes in here and says "hey bros I'm starting a cycle tomorrow what do you all think?" without KNOWING they have all their ducks in a row. This will be my first cycle, and while I feel I'm pretty knowledgeable, I know there's still a lot I don't know. The way I see it, the better you prepare, the better you'll do and the safer you'll be. I'm still new here, some may have seen my intro post already. If not here's the quick info:

ek5.56 said:
Age: 29
Build: Athletic - mesomorphish
Height: 5'8"
Strong points: Back/Shoulders
Weak point: calves, leg max strength, upper chest
Goals: changes throughout the year. currently getting back in to the swing of things. looking to cut a little bf naturally and get my lean mass back up some before jumping in things. Focusing on stretching more as well to retain and improve an active athletic mobility.

The scale at the gym last night said 196 but I'm not sure how accurate that scale is as I still wear the size 32 or 33 jeans that I've worn since I was mid 180#s. I need to find a scale that's accurate that I can use first thing in the am and not at night at the gym, if anyone has recommendations. The ones with batteries that I've used tend to be erratic when the batteries get old. That being said, maybe my summer indulging and the stress and life changes I've been dealing with the past 8 months has packed a couple more #s on than I thought. I can say for sure that my diet wasn't great. Highest my weight has been was 192 after I did a cylce of 3wks DMZ/6wks (one wk overlap) of Havoc (Epistane) during a lean bulk/recomp. And I know... two methyls. I was protecting my liver and drinking a shit ton of water. Slight BP elevation and some back pumps a couple times but no sides otherwise. That being said, I wouldn't run two again. I knew the risk of damage to the liver, but looking back, I think I could have made the same gains with one of the compounds. I added about 12-15 pounds and stayed in the same waist size, slightly leaner than when I started. Bodyfat% no idea, ordered calipers to get a better handle that, but I know I want to cut some bf for sure prior to starting anything. I guess I need to add some more cardio other than my 10 minute warm up before lifting. This will likely be the stairmaster and the Torque TANK prowler. Might also incorporate some kettlebell work/battle rope circuits. I can already hear the curse words...

Diet will be basic and clean. I like to stick with the KISS approach, or the meat and potatoes if you will. I find that the old fashion basics work best for me especially with my diet. Over complicating things just adds too many variables to think about. Staples in my diet will be chicken, lean beef, sweet potatoes, brown rice and oats with some occasional wheat wraps, as well whole grain waffles w/ breakfast. Fats will come from PB, almonds and almond butter and avocados if the sum bitches are on sale... I love me some guacamole (no salt). I just track macros. PB is a fat sources, I don't add the few grams of protein from that. Beef is a protein source, I don't add the little bit of fat that might be left as I'll be buying 92-98% lean beef. So I wont be SUPER strict. I'll figure out what I need to eat in terms of net macros each day and figure out my portions from there. I'm going to try something I haven't before, and get all, or the majority of my carbs in in the few 2-3 meals. Leaving the last 2-3 meals being low carb (final meal being no carb). In the past, although I made good lean gains, my carbs were spread out through all meals but the last one. I feel like this may have prevented me from being as lean as I could have been. As far as the macro set up, I'm not sure if ill go higher fat, or lower fat, with the appropriate ratio to carbs. I have to look back on my last diet records and see how exactly I structured things.

Training - heavy. I incorporate weak point training in to my schedule (extra sets, added movements, etc). For example I hit my rear delts first, and last on shoulder days. I do shrugs on shoulder days, and few more shrugs on leg days. All my compound movements I go heavier and/or do more sets. Rep ranges are in the 5-8 range. Final sets are 3-5 to near failure. Isolation movements I tend to stick to 6-12 rep range depending on the muscle group. All sets are near failure, final set is to absolute failure with a couple assisted reps when possible (I train solo 99% of the time) to really finish things off. If its a movement that isn't one handed like DB preacher curls, allowing me to assist the weight up myself, I'll squeeze out half reps if I can and then resort to a couple dropsets.

Now that the nitty gritty is out there, I'll start by saying I'M NOT READY TO START A CYCLE. My diet isn't in check and dialed in yet and I'm not going to skimp here and end up unhappy with my results because I was lazy with my diet. I'm also working to get my strength up a bit more and get my body comp back to where it was or close to it first. I want to start planning this out now though. I want to learn anything and everything I can prior to poking any vials. This is my first rodeo, there's things I don't know, I don't know how I will respond, and I want to make sure I have my T’s cross, and I's dotted. I believe if you make the decision to use AAS, then you owe it to yourself to do your homework, do it right and get the most out of it in as healthy of a way as possible. Going in to it in a hurry, without the smarts about what you're doing, I think, is setting yourself up for potential regrets. I want to get the most I can out of this experience. I'm not getting hasty about it, I'm in no rush but ready to start planning and soaking up the info.

Currently, the plan for this eventual cycle, my first AAS cycle, is simple. Test. No added substances, not over complicating things. No trying to bite off more than I can chew. Test prop to be exact. I have some Red gear on hand and those items are as follows:
-Test Prop x8
-Aromasin x2
-Nolva x1
-Anavar x1 (I may add this in depending on how things go on just the test)

I think this should be sufficient for the immediate concerns, but I do not feel like this covers everything however so feedback is appreciated. I plan on picking up some clomid as well. Outside of the gear, I will be making a shopping list of support supplements for general health and protection. I know the basics for liver and BP health, and cardio support, but if there are items you think are worth getting please let me know.

Why did I decide on this for a cycle? Because test. I believe test should be included in all AAS cycles. I also believe that if you've never dabbled with something, it makes no sense to pile on multiple things. If you experience sides, how are you to determine what is causing it? Which is why the var has a big question mark. If all goes well with the test, maybe I'll run it. If not, I'll hang on to it for a rainy day. Why test prop? Because I have had it embedded in my mind that you won’t bloat up as much with the shorter ester. I know test is test and many many people believe that the bloat is caused by lack of AI and diet, but it’s still imprinted in my thought process. I know this means more pinnings and everyone says it can suck but... I think if you choose to use AAS, pinning is part of the game and a price you pay when you make this decision. Will I go back on this and decide frequent pinnings suck balls? Yea, I very well might. But I also believe that determining the difference between prop and say, enenthate, is negligible, is going to come down to seeing for myself

My initial uncertainty is test dosing and cycle length. I understand esters and half lifes, I know longer esters take longer to kick in to high gear, and longer to clear the body, and some people kickstart those. My current intention is 12 weeks of Test Prop. Dosing, I've always understand that 500mg/wk is the ideal dose for test. Specifically test alone. Recently I've been seeing more test cycles being ran at 400/wk and I'm wondering if 500 of prop is totally necessary. I know these can be pretty anecdotal and dependent the quality of gear and the individual. The prop is 100mg/mL so 400 would be easier to measure out - 1cc each shot rather than having to pull that extra .25mL, but its it’ll make all the difference then that’s what I’ll do. What say you? Is 500 vs 400 that much more advisable? Is 400 running it a little too low for optimal blood levels?

I have other questions, and I’m sure as time goes on I'll come up with more, but I'll save them and ask them when the topic comes up. (ie AI time, timing to stop AI, PCT start, SERM usage (one or both), and potential gyno sides and treatment). I will say, when I was younger I developed the puffy nips at an early age. Mild pubertal gyno? Maybe? Regardless, it makes me a bit more neurotic about the gyno side effect than some. Since this is a test cycle, any gyno side would be estrogen caused, having a suicide AI makes me more at ease about it since there’s no rebound, but nonetheless, still a concern for me.
Again, sorry for the very long read, I hope some of you were kind enough and patient enough to read through it and to those who did, thank you.
 
" Staples in my diet will be chicken, lean beef, sweet potatoes, brown rice and oats with some occasional wheat wraps, as well whole grain waffles w/ breakfast. Fats will come from PB, almonds and almond butter and avocados if the sum bitches are on sale... I love me some guacamole (no salt). I just track macros"

Where's the "Fibrous" Veggies....???

I simply cannot emphasize enough, the "power" of Fibrous" vegetables, { Raw preferred, or. Blanched at most} it goes a long way towards keeping ya regular,. "And" there is a calorie expenditure to be had when doing so, as well as adding certain nutrients//enzymes to.the whole digestive process.

Will keep you lean, provided satiety if dieting, +( keep.this in mind,. If your intestinal.was are all plugged up with gunk and undigested matter. { How then are you going to "assimilate" the necessary nutrients, and Macros needed to bring up those weak points, and have clearance for the next feed about 2 & a half to three hours later.

And water, colder the better...!

Sone grossly underestimate the amount, and quality of their meal intake.

Also, genetics too however play a big role In progress.

But food, regardless of how "complicated" , or simple may be, is just so Anabolic in nature to settle the stage for aquiriring muscle .

Get Dem veggies...! A plaster lined digestive track isn't going to parlay into gainz if "assimilation" isn't at peak.


MotorCity
 
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" Staples in my diet will be chicken, lean beef, sweet potatoes, brown rice and oats with some occasional wheat wraps, as well whole grain waffles w/ breakfast. Fats will come from PB, almonds and almond butter and avocados if the sum bitches are on sale... I love me some guacamole (no salt). I just track macros"

Where's the "Fibrous" Veggies....???

I simply cannot emphasize enough, the "power" of Fibrous" vegetables, { Raw preferred, or. Blanched at most} it goes a long way towards keeping ya regular,. "And" there is a calorie expenditure to be had when doing so, as well as adding certain nutrients//enzymes to.the whole digestive process.

Will keep you lean, provided satiety if dieting, +( keep.this in mind,. If your intestinal.was are all plugged up with gunk and undigested matter. { How then are you going to "assimilate" the necessary nutrients, and Macros needed to bring up those weak points, and have clearance for the next feed about 2 & a half to three hours later.

And water, colder the better...!

Sone grossly underestimate the amount, and quality of their meal intake.

Also, genetics too however play a big role In progress.

But food, regardless of how "complicated" , or simple may be, is just so Anabolic in nature to settle the stage for aquiriring muscle .

Get Dem veggies...! A plaster lined digestive track isn't going to parlay into gainz if "assimilation" isn't at peak.


MotorCity

Thanks MC. Thought I mentioned the veggies. Veggies will be lots of leafy veggies. Spinach, kale, lettuce (not iceberg), broccoli, brussel sprouts. I also throw in carrots and celery in my egg scrambles as well. Veggies I always go with as a "free food" and allow myself an unlimited amount. I also eat a lot of berries as well. And this time of year, clementines are fully stocked and on sale lol. Love me some clementines.
 
It is long. I tried to get what I could think of in one post to hopefully answer some questions that typically come up. If you don't care to read it though then hey, its all good. I know its a long one.
 
It is long. I tried to get what I could think of in one post to hopefully answer some questions that typically come up. If you don't care to read it though then hey, its all good. I know its a long one.

It’s all good man, I’ll read it when I get some more time. Nothing wrong with being thorough
 
It’s all good man, I’ll read it when I get some more time. Nothing wrong with being thorough

Thanks brother. A few years back I was a rep for Scivation and was very active on some different boards. Having been around different boards so much I've developed a bit of a pet peeve for complete laziness. It blows my mind how little research and effort some put in to things before doing them. Especially something that can cause actual health concerns if done irresponsibly. So because of that I've always made it my goal to put in the time to educate myself and not just make an account and let forum members literally 100% do it for me. I for one have more respect for people who are willing to do the work and do some research beforehand, so I carry the mindset that others probably do to. But I digress. Looking forward to your feedback lol
 
Not too long IMO we bash ppl for not doing intros and researching your just taking the proper steps...

Test alone for 12 weeks @500mg is what id go with if I were you. Just nail down the diet as that's the hardest part. The weights and drugs are the easy part. Its the day to day grind of eating 5-6meals and turning down the trips to the bar with friends and pizza at work parties etc that trips me up...

It will never be perfect just be as consistent as you can and if you mess up training/diet/gear one day don't let it effect your whole week...

Keep us updated as to when you start and all that. Good luck man your going to love it,,,no turning back once you pop this cherry lol...
 
Not too long IMO we bash ppl for not doing intros and researching your just taking the proper steps...

Test alone for 12 weeks @500mg is what id go with if I were you. Just nail down the diet as that's the hardest part. The weights and drugs are the easy part. Its the day to day grind of eating 5-6meals and turning down the trips to the bar with friends and pizza at work parties etc that trips me up...

It will never be perfect just be as consistent as you can and if you mess up training/diet/gear one day don't let it effect your whole week...

Keep us updated as to when you start and all that. Good luck man your going to love it,,,no turning back once you pop this cherry lol...

Thanks C. I’ll certainly be tracking things here and maybe on BOP once things take off. This thread for now will purely be for information purposes and for reference. I’ll start a log separately when the time comes
 
Sounds like you have a pretty good grasp of things.
What's your pinning protocol?
 
Sounds like you have a pretty good grasp of things.
What's your pinning protocol?

I think I’ve at least the basic stuff down. There are a couple things as I mentioned that I’m not 100% on.

Pinning will 125mg EOD. I was suggested M, W, F, Sat just to keep the days the same but I think I’d rather just do the EOD schedule. Our phones have calendars and reminders for a reason.
 
Ok.. I agree, EOD is better. You could do 1ml EOD and get good gains, too.

Which was one of my questions. 1cc eod would net out to 400mg/wk. 1.25cc bumps up to 500mg/wk. I’m not sure if the extra 25% would make a significant difference or not. To me, 25% increase SOUNDS like it would but I have no experience to speak from
 
1ml EOD(m-w-f-sun,etc..)is good. Especially for first cycle. A bigger concern is whether you'll be ok with EOD pinning? Have to use a few more muscles than your longer esters.
 
1ml EOD(m-w-f-sun,etc..)is good. Especially for first cycle. A bigger concern is whether you'll be ok with EOD pinning? Have to use a few more muscles than your longer esters.

I can’t honestly say I am or am not ok with eod pins. I guess we’ll see. The way I see it, pinning is a price you pay if you wanna go down this road. It may suck but if you put in the work, the end result is worth it. Or maybe I’ll do this and say fuck prop eod sucks dicks. My reasoning behind choosing prop is mentioned in my first post though. I’m thinking glutes delts and quads. That’s 6 sites. Think I’ll need more? I’m most nervous about the quads. That’s the one site that I know people personally that have hit a nerve.
 
Yeah, those are the same muscles I use and it's enough. I prefer pinning quads and never had an issue. Delts are more of a bitch. You'll get used to pinning. Probably will come to love pinning. I know I did.
I'll be following your log. Train hard.
 
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