Diet tweaking while on 1st "real" cycle

[PJNasty]

I say "real," because I have experience with M1T, 4ad, and Epistane. I've been training 10+ years, with breaks here and there.

I'm 2.5 weeks into this right now, loving it, but kept the cals high for these weeks, and don't like the water retention as of now:

12 wk Test cyp @ 400-500mg/wk (2X 200-250mg)
- Front-loaded with 900 mg on week 1
4 week Epistane 20mg/day
- pct is nolva, clomid, hcg

Goals for summer (not necessarily end of cycle): 16.5 inch biceps, 350 bench, 8-9% bf, 175 solid lbs.
Pre cycle: 15 inch biceps, 260 bench, 13% bf, 160 lbs

2.5 weeks in (Here's the problem)
15.7 in biceps, 295 bench, 14% bf 187 lbs

- Strength is going up so rapidly that I'm deliberately holding back, but I feel like I'll hit 350 bench and 16.5 biceps by week 6 (higher bf than desired).

Training: all good. light cardio 2 day/wk
Blood pressure is low: 123/73

Diet: been lax w/ calories - making sure to get 40-50g protein 6-8 times/day, but other cals are clean, but much higher than maint.

Keeping summer goals in mind, how would you tweak the diet? I've had great results with carb cycling in the past (not on juice). I've been thinking I'll lower carbs significantly, now that it's clear I've got more water retention than expected.

My initial impulse is to lower cals to just above maint for remainder of cycle, ad light cardio 3-5 day/wk get through pct, then worry about fat later. Getting the gains I want shouldn't be a problem, so don't want to end up fatter than necessary. nolva and arimidex are options, but I'd rather cut water through low carbs, if possible.

I know my juice theory well, but want to hear other's experiences in similar situations. I did not expect this much water retention this early. On the bright side, I feel like ****ing superman.

[redz]

You may have high estorgen or be taking in too much sodium. Either cut the sodium or take an ai like adex. How tall are you?

[bjpennnn]

go hit up the diet section

[NVR2BIG1]

forget about bf% right now, what you need to do is keep your cals high, your protein and fats high, and lift big weight. Nobody likes water retention, but so many guys dont see the big picture of this game. Thats what it is, its like a game. Your taking a step backwards to take another one forward. Like right now, your planning on how you want to look by the end of the summer, and its only Feb. Bodybuilding and steroids is a double edged sword. There are highs, there are lows, things we dont necessarily want to do but we do them in order to get to that point, that point when we look in the mirror and say Holy shit!! So with this in mind, my advice is to eat your ass off right now and stay focused on what you really want!! Otherwise your spinning your wheels

[PJNasty]

Thanks for the input. I'm 5'5" ...so am not shooting to weigh 220 or anything like that. I feel huge pushing 190lbs.

I'll read more in the diet section, but I know "eat like there's no tomorrow" is the general advice for first cycles. This is exactly what I've been doing.

I'd rather not complicate things by adding adex/nolva, but will if necessary and/or annoying estrogen-related sides emerge.

I thought it would be more gradual. It seems like the day I hit 2 weeks and it kicked in, I morphed to feeling and looking like a beast overnight.

Being ripped is important to me in the long run, but the long run is not the short run.

Is 30 lbs (high water) in 2-3 weeks typical for such a light cycle? I thought you could expect such things on an anadrol, 750mg test, 600mg EQ type of cycle, but not a low dose, beginner's one?

I should note, I've been large and benching 315 in the past (2 years back on M1T/4ad), so part of this is old muscle coming back on easily.

In any case, even though I've read everything under the sun on juice, I didn't think I'd love it this much!

[NVR2BIG1]

no, 30 lbs in 2-3 wks is not typical, its actually hard to even believe someone could do that on just test e. I could see maybe 20-30 lbs within 12-15 wks, but in 2-3 wks?

[redz]

30lbs is alot but it happened to me the first time around. For me it was too much sodium causing it.

[PJNasty]

I've got to admit, making gains this fast is f-ing with my head to the point where I'm starting to wonder if I'm the exception to the rule, i.e. can gain muscle and lose fat in a cycle.

My knowledge base tells me to make huge gains, make it through pct minimizing loss -then, later in the summer do something like 12 wk test 1-5 anavar, 8-12 winstrol, exclusively focused on cutting.

For the record, I don't want to compete, just want a physique that can't be gotten naturally.

[PJNasty]

30lbs is alot but it happened to me the first time around. For me it was too much sodium causing it.

@redz

Did you cut sodium and add adex, or just do one of the two?

[redz]

I ran some adex and dropped a few things from my diet. The sodium was definitely the main cause.

[PJNasty]

no, 30 lbs in 2-3 wks is not typical, its actually hard to even believe someone could do that on just test e. I could see maybe 20-30 lbs within 12-15 wks, but in 2-3 wks?

@NVR2BIG1 Are you a pro bb?

I'd imagine I've got my food/protein intake and sleep down better than most. It took me years to figure out that this is the closest thing to any bbing "secret" out there. I have not been watching sodium up until now though.

I know y'all don't think highly of the grey market stuff like epistane, but it does something for gains, although I agree it's not comparable to real juice.

[Phate]

you shouldn't use hcg during pct

what was your blood pressure pre-cycle?