Cycle took a stumble

[malfeasance]

Well, at least the beginning was screwed up - seems to be sailing more smoothly now. The whole story of why it stumbled is a several page thread elsewhere in this section.

Age 43
Height 6
Weight 195
Previous Cycle Experience None
Years Working Out Decades
Bodyfat 12-14% (estimated)


I used to be younger and stronger and heavier (and better looking!). As I age, I was finding that I was running up against a ceiling, and it was a lower ceiling than when I was younger. My guess is that test levels are lower than when I was 28-30 (which is when I was at my stongest). I thought I might cycle.

I had a surprise in store for me, however.

My cycle was intended to be 10 weeks of Sustanon, 600 mg weekly, 30 mg D-bol daily for the first few weeks. The sustanon came in a high dosage UGL form, 300 mg/ml. The effects came on rather quickly, but there were some adverse effects, too. The injection sites swelled, red, hot to the touch, and became so painful I could hardly walk, sit down, stand up, or climb in and out of bed. I also felt "off" and was not wanting to workout or eat. This obviously had its consequences in terms of strength and weight gain. By the way, it turned out not to be an infection, but just my body's response to this particular gear. Each injection site cleared up after about a week or so, but it looked grotesque. The glutes swelled up so bad you could see it when I was wearing pants!

I am now using test C, 600 mg/week, pinning x2 (300 mg each).


Here it is:



Week 1 Sust 300, 600 mg (300 mon, 300 Th); 30 mg dbol ed

Weight 186 pounds on day 2



Week 2 Sust 300, 300 mg Mon - stopped it after the third pin of the cycle. Stopped the dbol for two days, too. As the swelling and pain subsided, started the dbol and working out again.

Weight 193 pounds on day 8



Week 3 dbol 30 mg ed

Weight 191 pounds on day 16



Week 4 Test C. Impatient of the delay in weeks 2 and 3, and having already missed Monday a.m. pinning, pinned 2.6 ml Tuesday, 1.5 ml Wed, and another 1.5 ml Friday. Total of 1120 mg.

Resuming regular M and Th next week.

Weight 194 pounds on day 22



Week 5 Test C 1.5 ml (300 mg) Mon a.m.
This is week 5. Will pin again Thurs. 30 mg. dbol ed. Have a week of dbol left at this dosage. Will continue pinning 600 mg weekly of test in coming weeks. Hopefully this cycle will continue better than it started.

Weight yesterday 195 pounds (on day 29).





I will post before and after pics when I can figure out how to do so without linking to a photo hosting account somewhere.

Strength and weight took a stumble in week 3 and 4, kind of screwed up the beginning of the cycle. Grrr! Stay away from high dosage UGL stuff.
​

 

[TGB1987]

The UGLs don't always use the safest practices while producing gear. You really have to be careful. You will always be much safer using HG. One good thing for you is that you are much better off using test cyp over sust. anyway. You will get much better results. Sust creates fluctuating blood levels that are not desired. Also sust has short esters in it so it can sometimes cause test flu symptoms. I don't know why everyone insists on using sust. Anyway sounds like you got yourself back on track now. Are you using an AI while on cycle? Do you have a good PCT setup? Is your diet in check?

 

[malfeasance]

you are much better off using test cyp over sust. anyway.

Experience has me inclined to agree with you.

Are you using an AI while on cycle?

No. Nolva and clomid on hand, but not taking aromisan or arimidex. I have thought about starting one anyway, mostly due to reading here, but so far the only sides are a little minor acne on my back - something I would not have even noticed if I had not been expecting it and looking for it. I can get it in a few days if I change my mind. I was thinking at this level it is certainly not a necessity.

Do you have a good PCT setup?

Good and simple. Following what has been outlined by others here (except I will now be starting it sooner than 21 days after the end of the cycle since switching from sust).

Is your diet in check?

My diet kicks butt. Once I got it sorted out, I added 20 pounds to my bench, naturally, before starting the cycle. I was stalling out again when I started the cycle.

 

[malfeasance]

I would be interested in opinions on the length of the cycle. As I said in the original post, the plan was to do ten weeks. Given the stumble early on, and the fact that I am technically in the fifth week now, but only started the Test Cyp last week, would you, in my position (considering the totality of the circumstances in the original post) stick with ten weeks overall or extend it to 12 weeks or what?

I almost feel like I have barely started given the situation that occurred at the beginning - although I realize I am up 9 pounds.

 

[tigershark1]

Most people say 16 weeks is the longest you will want to cycle for. So considering you're on you're 5th week you could do 11 more and be fine. Remember time off = time on so you will have a long stretch between cycles if you decide to run the full 16 weeks.

 

[keith1569]

I think you will do well on a 16 week cycle. I prefer between 14 and 16 week ones myself

 

[SUPERFLY1234]

test only run it 16 weeks plus.

 

[malfeasance]

Woke up this morning aching, running nose, stuffy, sore throat. Did not pack my gym bag when I left the house, but I thought, what the hell, go hit one heavy set of bench, incline, and bar dips, and if I feel like it, do arms back at the house later tonight.

I stepped on the scale, and was shocked as I kept sliding the weight up. Got off the scale, emptied my pockets, off the shoes, step back on, 198 on day 31, up three more pounds from two days ago, 12 pounds overall in 30 days.

After warmup, added ten more pounds than last time on the bench and did one more repetition than the last workout with 10 less pounds. Incline press, added ten pounds and did three more repetitions. Bar dips, added ten pounds and did more reps . . .

Wow.

And this is a day when I feel like I am coming down sick.

 

[malfeasance]

Different scale showed me over 200 pounds this weekend. Still have a cold, but still charging ahead on the workouts. I reduced the volume some, but the weights keep going up.

Dbol runs out today, so we will have to see if the cycle takes a stumble this week due to the dbol being out of the equation.

 

[TGB1987]

You should keep gaining with the test.

 

[malfeasance]

You should keep gaining with the test.

I guess I wondered about whether I would stall because of being on this most recent test only a couple of weeks, although with the frontloading in week 4, I feel like my blood levels are up.

Interestingly, I had acne on my upper back following the frontloading, and one or two on my face, but since a week at a regular dose (600/wk), all of the acne cleared up. I guess it was just the high dose for that first week that caused it, which tells me the blood levels were up.

 

[keith1569]

i like the gains from inj's vs orals..i mean the fast gains r nice but i like a little more slow and steady..but hey thats just me..glad to hear you switched to the cyp..shoot man sounded like you were on the verge of getting infections or atleast havin bad reactions to those sust shots

 

[malfeasance]

Stopped the dbol today. Here is a summary of my cycle:

Weeks 1-5 30 mg dbol ed
Weeks 1 600 mg Sust
Weeks 2 300 mg Sust
Weeks 3 no test
Weeks 4 1,120 mg Test C
Weeks 5-10 600 mg Test C

Here is my bodyweight:

Week 1 186 pounds on day 2
Week 2 193 pounds on day 8
Week 3 191 pounds on day 16
Week 4 194 pounds on day 22
Week 5 195 pounds on day 29, 198 pounds on day 31
Week 6 196 pounds on day 37

Progress: Benched 275 for 5 at beginning of cycle, benched 295 for 7 today. Other weights are going up, too, especially legs. My skinny little chicken legs are starting to fill out.

Note: The only side effect I experienced was some acne on the upper back, nothing major, two zits on the face, following the more than a gram of test in week 4. That all cleared up once the regular 600 mg weekly dose (300 x 2) was in place. No acne now.

No AI, but considering starting aromisan as a preventative on the advice of others here for remainder of cycle and PCT.

 

[phosphor]

Looking good Mal! Although you had a stumble at the beginning, looks like everything is working out for you. Keep hitting it hard and keep us in the loop. Good thread.

 

[malfeasance]

Looking good Mal! Although you had a stumble at the beginning, looks like everything is working out for you. Keep hitting it hard and keep us in the loop. Good thread.

Thanks, phosphor. I hope the new summary is easier to read.

 

[malfeasance]

Drat! Still 197 today. Strength still going up. Eating chicken and brown rice right now. Odd that I am getting stronger but the bodyweight is not surging ahead. Maybe related to the dbol ending at the end of week 5. I am now in week 6.

 

[bb16]

Drat! Still 197 today. Strength still going up. Eating chicken and brown rice right now. Odd that I am getting stronger but the bodyweight is not surging ahead. Maybe related to the dbol ending at the end of week 5. I am now in week 6.

Where you using tiger pharma?

 

[malfeasance]

Where you using tiger pharma?

dbol? Yes. Why?

 

[malfeasance]

Here is my bodyweight updated today:

Week 1 186 pounds on day 2
Week 2 193 pounds on day 8
Week 3 191 pounds on day 16
Week 4 194 pounds on day 22
Week 5 195 pounds on day 29, 198 pounds on day 31
Week 6 196 pounds on day 37
Week 7 199 pounds on day 43

Oooh! A reliable 200 lbs is so close I can taste it!




My hope is to put enough weight on to keep 200 pounds after cycle and PCT. My hope.

Isn't it funny how you can put on weight so quickly with AAS but still feel impatient and that it should be even quicker! LOL!

 

[malfeasance]

Benched 275 for 5 at beginning of cycle, benched 295 for 7 today. Other weights are going up, too, especially legs. My skinny little chicken legs are starting to fill out.

Bodyweight was only 198 today, but I benched 305 for 5 reps! Man. I feel good! No shoulder pain or elbow pain. I am grinning from ear to ear like an idiot. Not a bad number for a middle aged man.

 

[ManInBlack]

Bodyweight was only 198 today, but I benched 305 for 5 reps! Man. I feel good! No shoulder pain or elbow pain. I am grinning from ear to ear like an idiot. Not a bad number for a middle aged man.

Good goin man, glad you are getting stronger. I feel ya though, my weight is hovering at the same weight its been for the last couple of weeks but yet I am getting stronger and still eating a ton. Hmmmmmmmm

 

[malfeasance]

200!

200!

200!

Woo hoo!

I know that weight fluctuates, and I may be 198 again tomorrow, but the scale said it, and I am claiming it! Same scale, same time, same state of undress every weigh in. Even though weight fluctuates, there has definitely been a trend (see three posts up).

 

[jkelley69]

CONgrats!

 

[jkelley69]

Sounds like you worked for it

 

[malfeasance]

Thanks jkelley, I have been busting my butt and eating in a way that causes others to make fun of me . . .

I do not have any workout partners or friends that are into lifting. The gym where I lift (when not lifting at home) is a place where the squat rack goes unused until I use it again (except for maybe some dummy doing curls and moving the weight hooks down to mid-thigh level! Grrrr!). Lots of people "toning," doing lots of situps and hanging leg raises and walking on the treadmills, LOL! I shouldn't complain - gives me free range in the weightroom!

Now I just need to get far enough past 200 by the end of the cycle to see if I can keep 200 pounds after the cycle and PCT.

 

[ManInBlack]

Fuckin A buddy! no workout partner here either, where you at?? lol

 

[malfeasance]

Fuckin A buddy! no workout partner here either, where you at?? lol

LOL! Sent a PM, but if I recall correctly you are thousands of miles from me, and I need to workout a little closer to home than that!

 

[jkelley69]

I am trying to cut at least 15 pounds before I start my 1st cycle of DMZ I get lipped by the guys i work with every day for the crap i eat F EM thank god for salsa

 

[malfeasance]

Here is a summary of my cycle:

Weeks 1-5 30 mg dbol ed
Weeks 1 600 mg Sust
Weeks 2 300 mg Sust
Weeks 3 no test
Weeks 4 1,120 mg Test C
Weeks 5-10 600 mg Test C
Weeks 7-12 through PCT Aromasin 12.5 EOD

Added Aromasin as a preventative.

Weeks 12-16 Clomid 100/100/75/50, Aromasin 25/25/12.5/12.5

 

[malfeasance]

Ouch! May have injured something today!



Get to that in a moment, first, today is day one of week eight, so here is the cycle summary:

Weeks 1-5 30 mg dbol ed
Weeks 1 600 mg Sust
Weeks 2 300 mg Sust
Weeks 3 no test
Weeks 4 1,120 mg Test C
Weeks 5-10 600 mg Test C
Weeks 7-12 through PCT Aromasin 12.5 EOD

Added Aromasin as a preventative.

Weeks 12-16 Clomid 100/100/75/50, Aromasin 25/25/12.5/12.5[/QUOTE]

Here is my bodyweight updated through today:

Week 1 186 pounds on day 2
Week 2 193 pounds on day 8
Week 3 191 pounds on day 16
Week 4 194 pounds on day 22
Week 5 195 pounds on day 29, 198 pounds on day 31
Week 6 196 pounds on day 37
Week 7 199 pounds on day 43, 200 pounds on day 47
Week 8 200 pounds on day 50

So, about the injury. I got a little optimistic on the bench press, and I decided to put 3 plates on there.

My strongest ever was about 15 years ago, benched 315 four times. I was all natural (this is my first cycle), and I feel like I am bigger and stronger now than I have ever been (although I used to weigh 206 at my peak, I was not as lean as now). So, having done 305 last week for 5, I thought, let's throw 3 plates on each side (315 - it's only 10 pounds more) and see how it goes.

No spotter available. There was a girl on the treadmill and me on the bench. That was it.

So I started pressing after warmups. Reps one and two felt great. 315 felt surprisingly light. I thought, "Wow! I am going to do five reps!"


Then, as I was lowering for the third rep, something was not right. I felt a slight tearing pain in my upper left pec, near the shoulder. Of course, the damn weight is sitting on my chest now. I paused. No pain. My only choices were to dump the weight or press it, so I pressed it.

I felt the same slight (not major) tearing feeling all the way up. I racked it.

I get up. It hurts, but not badly.

I am a little ticked, because I can see in the mirror I am all pumped up. I look great. My body and brain are geared up for a workout and ready to go. Since I stopped short of what I felt like I could do, it felt like I wanted to get back down there and start bench pressing again with no rest.

Of course, I did not.

I tried to do my usual first warm up weight on incline press (135), but I felt the same slight tearing pain, so I called it a day.

It aches in there, but it is not that bad. It was hurting when I pushed on a certain area with my finger, but not anymore. It is just a dull ache in the chest/shoulder area now. Hopefully, this is something minor.

Tomorrow is leg day, so I can go full intensity without worrying about my chest.

Keep your fingers crossed that I can get back on chest soon . . .