Ask Sam1976

[ALEX.18 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ALEX.18]

Original plan was

Wk 1-17: 50mg test p eod
Wk 1-17: 200mg test e e4d
Wk 1-17: 200mg eq e4d
Wk 8-17: 100mg var ed
Wk 1-19: 12.5mg aromasin e3d
Wk 20-23: 40/20/20/10mg nolva

The new plan is:
Wk 1-17: 50mg test p eod
Wk 1-17: 200mg test e e4d
Wk 1-17: 300mg eq e4d
Wk 8-17: 50-100??? var ed
Wk 1-19: 12.5mg aromasin e3d
Wk 20-23: 40/20/20/10mg nolva

[EthanWS6 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close EthanWS6]

Sam, could use your input on a couple of things here. This cycle seems to be yielding some odd results haha. I'm doing as follows (as per your recommendation a couple of months ago):

1-16 test e 500mg/wk
1-15 deca 350mg/wk
1-4 anadrol 50mg/day
1-16 hcg 250iu 2x/wk
1-16 caber .5 2x/wk
1-18 adex .5 eod

I'm on week six now and so far, I'm looking dry as hell. No bloating, no extra water retention, and my body fat % is dropping. Physically I look bigger, but my weight is only up 7lbs or so. I would think that by now I would look like a damn water balloon haha but I've had people at the gym telling me that I look "cut as fuck" because I'm so dry right now haha.
Question 1: Do you think that the fat loss is from the hcg? I wouldn't think so at that dose, but I don't really know for sure.
Question 2: I noticed that as of a couple of days ago, my nips started getting puffier than usual. Do you think this could be because of the deca since it is just now starting to happen? And if so, should I up the caber to 3x/wk instead of 2?
Question 3: I got blood work done before this cycle. My test levels were in the low 300's. I know the "Normal range" goes up into the mid/high 800s. Do you think I should be doing more than 500 test a week for my next cycle? I know that 500mg/wk doesn't translate to just adding 500 to your current test levels(i believe those are rated at mcg/100ml? but whatever).

Thanks in advance for your input bro. As always, it is much appreciated.

[sam1976 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sam1976]

i like that eq dosing better. personally, i suggest 600 mg a wk. 800 mg for guys that have been around the block. some do just fine with less though. we have a couple guys on the board who swear by 400mg wk. more power to them. for the var, yea, why not knock it down to 60mg. as far as timing goes, if you want to run it at the end of the cycle, why not start it a couple wks later and then, because the half life is so short, you could run it right up to your pct.

Original plan was

Wk 1-17: 50mg test p eod
Wk 1-17: 200mg test e e4d
Wk 1-17: 200mg eq e4d
Wk 8-17: 100mg var ed
Wk 1-19: 12.5mg aromasin e3d
Wk 20-23: 40/20/20/10mg nolva

The new plan is:
Wk 1-17: 50mg test p eod
Wk 1-17: 200mg test e e4d
Wk 1-17: 300mg eq e4d
Wk 8-17: 50-100??? var ed
Wk 1-19: 12.5mg aromasin e3d
Wk 20-23: 40/20/20/10mg nolva

[sam1976 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sam1976]

what your natural test level is wont have much to do with how much gear you use on cycle. once you start using gear, your natural production shuts off. for you and your level of experience, 500mg should be just fine. you say you're very dry. it makes me wonder if the adex is too high, but i also see your mention (and saw your other thread )about possibly suffering from gyno. if you have gyno issues, lowering the AI isnt going to be a good idea. just "puffiness is kinda hard to go by though...i addressed this in more detail in that thread...

lets step away from the chemicals for just a minute here and look at diet. if im not eating enough on cycle, i start to take on the look you described. so lay it one me, what is your carb, fat. protein intake? weight, height? we'll get to the bottom of both of these issues.

Sam, could use your input on a couple of things here. This cycle seems to be yielding some odd results haha. I'm doing as follows (as per your recommendation a couple of months ago):

1-16 test e 500mg/wk
1-15 deca 350mg/wk
1-4 anadrol 50mg/day
1-16 hcg 250iu 2x/wk
1-16 caber .5 2x/wk
1-18 adex .5 eod

I'm on week six now and so far, I'm looking dry as hell. No bloating, no extra water retention, and my body fat % is dropping. Physically I look bigger, but my weight is only up 7lbs or so. I would think that by now I would look like a damn water balloon haha but I've had people at the gym telling me that I look "cut as fuck" because I'm so dry right now haha.
Question 1: Do you think that the fat loss is from the hcg? I wouldn't think so at that dose, but I don't really know for sure.
Question 2: I noticed that as of a couple of days ago, my nips started getting puffier than usual. Do you think this could be because of the deca since it is just now starting to happen? And if so, should I up the caber to 3x/wk instead of 2?
Question 3: I got blood work done before this cycle. My test levels were in the low 300's. I know the "Normal range" goes up into the mid/high 800s. Do you think I should be doing more than 500 test a week for my next cycle? I know that 500mg/wk doesn't translate to just adding 500 to your current test levels(i believe those are rated at mcg/100ml? but whatever).

Thanks in advance for your input bro. As always, it is much appreciated.

[EthanWS6 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close EthanWS6]

well, last cycle I was hitting 4500 calories and was putting on a lot of fat so this cycle I wanted to cut it down a bit so I don't retain as much fat. The way I see it, there is no reason to have such a caloric surplus that you start storing it and never using it lol. As of right now, I've been hitting 3200-3500 calories, 300-320 carbs, 230-260 protein, and I'm not sure on fats, don't really keep track of it in my logs. just doing the math on caloris/gram of each protein, carb and fat, I'd say that I'm only getting 100-130g/fat per day, but that's just a guess. For the past 6 days or so though, I have had the flue and not been able to stay on track with my diet or training at all. I've lost a little bit of weight from that, but I'm feeling better now so the diet will be set straight. I'm guessing since I'm starting to lose some body fat, It would probably be a good idea to up the calories a little more? Oh, and I'm 6' 180lb ~8.5% bf

[sam1976 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sam1976]

thats pretty low. i wouldnt worry about counting calories. they arent all created equal, so for me, i find it makes more sense to understand exact numbers on proteins, carbs and fats. for you, i would up all of them. IME, you should be taking in at least 300g protein (at least 200 from solid foods) and the more you grow, the more you'll need. if you are this lean now, i would uoo the carbs to 500, focusing larger carb portions, first thing in the AM and around the time you train, before and after. right now, i'm getting 130 carbs in my post training meal. i would also try to work more fats into your diet. if you're getting 130 now, i would push that to 200g. nuts, natty p butter, EVOO, mac oil, avocado.

this is just a start. i would add these changes and look at yourself again in a month. you have a ton of room to grow bud. just keep your food on the cleaner side and i bet you wont put on much fat.

[EthanWS6 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close EthanWS6]

Right on, I'll start upping everything today. I've noticed that since taking the anadrol, it's hard to eat though. Even though I've been off of it a few weeks, my appetite still hasn't really come back yet :/ Is there anything that will make me want to eat more? It just sucks having to force myself to eat when I don't feel hungry at all haha

[sam1976 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sam1976]

i dont like drol for that reason. it really messes with ability to put food down. if i cant eat, i cant grow! have you taken any liver meds? liver care and milk thistle at 1000mg would possibly b helpful. also, lots of water to help flush your system

[EthanWS6 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close EthanWS6]

I've been taking milk thistle at 1g/day since I started the cycle. I usually drink between 1-1.5 gallons of water a day as well. They only time I don't drink water is at breakfast and I usually have milk lol. I think having finished cutting my bf% down before starting this cycle made it hard on me as well. I don't think I have fully adjusted to eating a lot again lol

[ALEX.18 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ALEX.18]

i like that eq dosing better. personally, i suggest 600 mg a wk. 800 mg for guys that have been around the block. some do just fine with less though. we have a couple guys on the board who swear by 400mg wk. more power to them. for the var, yea, why not knock it down to 60mg. as far as timing goes, if you want to run it at the end of the cycle, why not start it a couple wks later and then, because the half life is so short, you could run it right up to your pct.

So start the var on wk 10 and run it up to the day before i begin pct? Also, im thinking about throwing in some MHN. Into the mix, have you ever used this and how would i go about running it at 10-20mg/day? Seems pretty interesting to me

[SoooLucky Member Find all posts View Profile Close SoooLucky]

Sam, will you give me your input? Odb and xamo have given me their opinions which coincide. This is my first cycle and want to project my Second also.

Test c 500mg/wk for 12wks e4d
Nolva 40/20/20/10
Hcg 250iu e4d wk3-wk12
Letro on hand.

Any tweaks? 29yo, 6' 2", 15% bf maybe less.
Also
Planning on the same for 2nd cycle but should i switch to E or stick with C? Should i run ami at 0.5 ed too?

How about a test booster added to pct? Lg sciences formadrol?

Sorry so many questions. I've been researching since 2007. I'm nowhere near an expert but feel knowledge. Because i don't have experience I'm asking as many credible sources as possible that have experience.

[sam1976 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sam1976]

So start the var on wk 10 and run it up to the day before i begin pct? Also, im thinking about throwing in some MHN. Into the mix, have you ever used this and how would i go about running it at 10-20mg/day? Seems pretty interesting to me

i'd hold off to another cycle. i'd use MHN the way i'd use winny, for the last several wks of a cutting program, as a hardener

[sam1976 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sam1976]

ut oh, the pressure is on, haha. both those guys know what they're doing. i'm sure they both gave you good advice. that being said, there is more than one way to skin a cat.

for a first cycle, i would just stick to 500mg EW. no need for more. you want room to go up later. you're talking about almost a gram of test in a first cycle. thats a lot. i made good gains for yrs without running a gram of test. for your second cycle, i would use test e. i to always use a test thats different than the last one i've used.

im not a big believer in the OTC test boosters. im not sure of whats in formadrol but it sounds like a prosteroid which would keep you shut down. the hcg and nolva should do the trick.

also instead of letro on hand, i would have adex and use a small amount through the cycle to slow your test from converting to estrogen

Sam, will you give me your input? Odb and xamo have given me their opinions which coincide. This is my first cycle and want to project my Second also.

Test c 500mg/wk for 12wks e4d
Nolva 40/20/20/10
Hcg 250iu e4d wk3-wk12
Letro on hand.

Any tweaks? 29yo, 6' 2", 15% bf maybe less.
Also
Planning on the same for 2nd cycle but should i switch to E or stick with C? Should i run ami at 0.5 ed too?

How about a test booster added to pct? Lg sciences formadrol?

Sorry so many questions. I've been researching since 2007. I'm nowhere near an expert but feel knowledge. Because i don't have experience I'm asking as many credible sources as possible that have experience.

[EthanWS6 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close EthanWS6]

Sam, just wanted to update you on my progress since changing my diet as per your recommendation. I'm up around 4500cal, 475-500g carb and 275-300g protein per day and I've all ready gone up a consistent 6-7 pounds since changing everything. I think you found my problem haha. Thanks again for all your help bro!

[sam1976 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sam1976]

GOOD! try to shoot for closer to 300 consistently and you'll see quicker results. and now that you know whats working, keep your eye on your progress. you'll learn when its time to add more food to keep the weight coming on. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING!!

Sam, just wanted to update you on my progress since changing my diet as per your recommendation. I'm up around 4500cal, 475-500g carb and 275-300g protein per day and I've all ready gone up a consistent 6-7 pounds since changing everything. I think you found my problem haha. Thanks again for all your help bro!