Considering first cycle after upcoming competition.

[JM1219]

Hey fellas,

I'm a natural competitor, seven weeks out at the moment. I'm strongly considering doing my first cycle and moving to NPC competitions after my upcoming natural competition. I'm 21, 5'9, and about 173-176lbm. I'm not trying to get huge quickly, I just would like to run a basic cycle to help add mass, while keeping fat gain to nothing or very little.

Thinking something like...

15 weeks
300mg Test E (Considering using Test Prop)
250iu HCG e3d
Arimadex on hand

and adding something like 25-50mg T-bol or Winstrol to help stay lean. Possibly even a low dose T3 throughout the cycle to increase protein synthesis, and continue keeping fat off.
Mid cycle blood work to check values, and post blood work done after PCT.

 

[ROCKEDUP]

Congrats on doing your first show. It's a great experience. How long have you been training? I'm thinking the vets are going to tell you to give it another couple years. JMO obviously.

 

[JM1219]

Congrats on doing your first show. It's a great experience. How long have you been training? I'm thinking the vets are going to tell you to give it another couple years. JMO obviously.

This will be my second show. First was the NPC Atlanta in '09 as a teen/ novice competitor. Loved the experience, so I came back for another round.

I started lifting at 12 or 13 for sports. Got serious about bodybuilding in the non-competitive sense at about 16 or 17, and finally got it in my mind to compete at 18.

The vets are probably right. Again, it was just something I was considering. I don't think I need it by any means, but the dark side is just so temping... haha

 

[Flex2019]

I applaud you for going at your first contest prep naturally. It's great to learn how your body responds to diet etc before you add hormones. I did the same thing years ago and I'm glad I did. Having a good understanding of training and nutrition will make things even better if you do decide to follow the "other path" down the road.

 

[ROCKEDUP]

My fault JM, I misread your post. No doubt a smart move to get a couple competitions under your belt naturally. And you are right, the darkside is tempting haha. Got any pics? Who is doing your prep?

 

[JM1219]

I applaud you for going at your first contest prep naturally. It's great to learn how your body responds to diet etc before you add hormones. I did the same thing years ago and I'm glad I did. Having a good understanding of training and nutrition will make things even better if you do decide to follow the "other path" down the road.

Thanks Flex, I'll have three competitions under my belt as a natural when this prep is over. It really is a huge learning experience. I've gotten to try out most dieting methods and really tweak the ones I like to fit my body chemistry.

My fault JM, I misread your post. No doubt a smart move to get a couple competitions under your belt naturally. And you are right, the darkside is tempting haha. Got any pics? Who is doing your prep?

It's all good. I do have pictures, but I know some people frequent this board and I don't want my natural status to come into question until after I'm settled on the decision to go on. I was working with Layne Norton for several months, but now I'm doing my own prep. Using a CKD diet called the Ultimate Diet 2.0, but with a few tweaks to fit my metabolism.

 

[JM1219]

After doing some more reading, I've revised my plan a bit:

Weeks 1-12 Will consider extending this to 15 weeks, since it's such a low-dose cycle.
Test Prop – 75mg EOD
HCG - 200iu Twice per week
T3 - 25mcg/day
Long igf-1 LR3 – 20mcg/day
Arimadex - .25mg/day

Weeks 13-17
PCT:
Toremifene: 120/80/40/20
Novedex XT: 1/1/1/1
Fenugreek: 2/3/4/5
Bio Forge: Directions on bottle
Lean Xtreme: Directions on bottle
-Considering adding Bromocriptine

A very light, safe cycle. Again, I'm not looking to gain 30lbs of mass in three months, I know I would just loose half of that during PCT. Just a solid 10-12lbs of LBM over 12 weeks while keeping bodyfat under 10-12% would be plenty for me. I don't mind doing injections EOD, or even ED as I've had to pin myself up to three times per day for several weeks in the past for health reasons. Didn't bother me a bit.

Regardless of whether or not I decide to stay natural, I'll be taking a long off season to add some quality size. Probably 2-3 years of lean bulking with mini-cut phases to keep body fat at a decent level.

 

[Dave_19]

To be honest I really like it for a first cycle. I would just say as your first though keep arimidex on hand instead of taking it daily just to do so. It can be adding in later and a low dose but don't bother daily with such a low test dose. I think the dose is perfect though. You could experiment with bumping up to 100mg EOD the last few weeks if you would like.

After doing some more reading, I've revised my plan a bit:

Weeks 1-12 Will consider extending this to 15 weeks, since it's such a low-dose cycle.
Test Prop – 75mg EOD
HCG - 200iu Twice per week
T3 - 25mcg/day
Long igf-1 LR3 – 20mcg/day
Arimadex - .25mg/day

Weeks 13-17
PCT:
Toremifene: 120/80/40/20
Novedex XT: 1/1/1/1
Fenugreek: 2/3/4/5
Bio Forge: Directions on bottle
Lean Xtreme: Directions on bottle
-Considering adding Bromocriptine

A very light, safe cycle. Again, I'm not looking to gain 30lbs of mass in three months, I know I would just loose half of that during PCT. Just a solid 10-12lbs of LBM over 12 weeks while keeping bodyfat under 10-12% would be plenty for me. I don't mind doing injections EOD, or even ED as I've had to pin myself up to three times per day for several weeks in the past for health reasons. Didn't bother me a bit.

Regardless of whether or not I decide to stay natural, I'll be taking a long off season to add some quality size. Probably 2-3 years of lean bulking with mini-cut phases to keep body fat at a decent level.

 

[JM1219]

To be honest I really like it for a first cycle. I would just say as your first though keep arimidex on hand instead of taking it daily just to do so. It can be adding in later and a low dose but don't bother daily with such a low test dose. I think the dose is perfect though. You could experiment with bumping up to 100mg EOD the last few weeks if you would like.

Thanks Dave! That's what I was thinking, about bumping the propinate to 100mg EOD the last few weeks, but only if I wasn't making the gains I wanted. I'll have plenty, so upping the dose mid-cycle wouldn't be a problem.

Why wouldn't you use arimadex? I've read that with HCG use it's pretty much necessary throughout the cycle. I suppose I could try EODing the arimadex also, but again, I just want this to be safe.

BTW, your post from awhile back is what got me to implement intermittent fasting into this contest prep, haha. How are you looking these days?

 

[JM1219]

After some more reading I think I'll drop the Igf LR3 and add MGF (non PEG) at 100mcg post-workout. Seems that Igf LR3 is more for cutting and PCT while MGF is a bit more anabolic- at least from what forum member have said.

 

[ROCKEDUP]

jm you are fine tuning, it sounds like the decision has been made haha. Layne Norton huh, r u in Chi?

 

[JM1219]

jm you are fine tuning, it sounds like the decision has been made haha. Layne Norton huh, r u in Chi?

What/where/who is Chi? The decision hasn't been finalized. It will depend on how my competition goes. My first is an NPC competition, then competing with a natural organization. It's really up in the air as to whether or not I will, but I just like having everything researched and ready to go, so if I do make the decision all I have to do is pull the trigger.

Another change after more reading, no MGF. GHRP-6, maybe GHRP-2, can't decide. Run without CJC (money issues ) at 150mcg/day, dose divided up morning on an empty stomach and evening two hours after last meal.

 

[ROCKEDUP]

I think Layne is going to school in Chicago so I thought you might be there. How is your diet and preparation going?

 

[JM1219]

I think Layne is going to school in Chicago so I thought you might be there. How is your diet and preparation going?

He was in Chicago, but he graduated, got his PhD and has moved to Florida.
Diet is rough, y'know how it is. I'm on the last leg of the diet, feel like death warmed over most of the day. Hungry, lethargic, irritable, all the fun parts of dieting, lol. That's in part why I'm considering moving to non-tested shows. I think with exogenous hormones I'll be able to function more like a human during contest prep.