My first cycle- looking for advice and support!

[mychops]

I have enjoyed lurking here for sometime, and have learned a huge amount of info, and am here now looking for input, advice (and maybe even encouragement) from the great and experienced posters around here. If I don't get any responses, I will put up an avatar of a good looking lady, and see if I do any better! (Lol.)

OK- so for stats- I am 5'9", 33, 160lbs., 11%BF. I trained hard core from when I was 23-31, and am reasonably knowledgeable about training methods in the gym. I was generally between 5-8%BF and weighed 155-165, and at my strongest was benching (1RM) 265, Squatting 405, and dead lifting maybe 450 or so... nothing super special, but enough to let you know I was working hard and had added significant strength from where I started.

I had a hard time gaining weight- typically I was eating 3500 calories or so a day... and though it was clear that I needed more (because I wasn't gaining weight) I was pretty satisfied with where I was - felt healthy and strong, so left things as they were. Typical diet would have been straight out of a BB magazine- 4-5 meals a day with lots of good carbs, protein from all kinds of meat - (actually most people would be jealous- I worked on a cruise ship, so I could have as much steak as I wanted whenever I wanted it for free!-) and shake or 2 depending. I really did try to gain weight- just felt like I was eating constantly- to the point I always felt a little bloated - felt like I couldn't eat any more or I would be sick (although, chocolate cake always sounded good... go figure!) I had really reached a point where I didn't know what to do to take things to the next level.

With a move, and major life changes I lost my steady environment and got away from that lifestyle. I have been eating whatever, whenever, and haven't lifted regularly in about 2 years. I have started back in- slowly at first- just trying to get back to a routine, and build back some strength.


My plan is to do 4-5weeks of general "rebuilding" and I think that I would like to then embark on a cycle to see if I can break past the previous "walls" I seemed to have hit.

I understand my # priority will be to up my calories enough to put some pounds on, and would love advice if any of you have been where I am and have experienced what I have related.

I have never used anything other that OTC supplements before, and what I have read seems to suggest that a starter cycle would a 8-10 week cycle with just testosterone 400mg/week, or maybe with DBol for the first few weeks.

My goal would be to at Christmastime, be about 180 at about 5-6%- being strong and shredded.

I would appreciate input from any and all- but especially those who have been in my shoes before- thanks in advance.

[newb23]

I would focus on diet first, make sure u have ur diet in order before thinking about AS

[LouHulk]

I'm 5'9" tall and if I was 11% body fat I'd still weigh more than you and I'm not even close to going on roids man. You probably have quite a bit of diet work to work on first. Also I have heard you need six months back in the gym before you even get your muscle memory back and your tendons are still going to be weak even after six months. Good luck.

Edit : If your having a hard time putting on weight then eat more than 3500 calories. Just keep upping the caloires till you start putting on LBM bro. Food works you just have to adjust how much you eat to your own body. If you burn cals fast eat more, plain and simple.

[mychops]

Thanks for the feedback guys-

As a lifelong "hardgainer" I know well that calories are king. Part of the trick for me has been physically being able to put enough in. I have been ridiculously strict about in the past- at one point 6 meals a day, plus waking up in the night for a shake. (Drove my GF nuts with that one.)

Any suggestions then how I can get more bang for my buck calorie wise without resorting to sugar drinks and fat?

I would post my previous eating schedule- but seems a little much (considering how long my initial post was.)

Perhaps, though I ought to spend a little longer getting things back up to speed. At this point in my life I am definitely NOT interested in an injury.

I would appreciate any more feedback... will be glad to post my eating schedule if anyone is interested.


Thanks again-

[mychops]

FYI- I guess you just have more LBM than me then- Most people figured I weighed 180+, no one could believe I was only 160 and dreaming of 165... don't know how that works actually.

There were plenty of guys who weighed more than me, even though I appeared "bigger"