A Young Man and His First Cycle
Hello:
Firstly: I'm new to this forum, and would firstly just like to say I'm glad to be here and appreciate all advice and experience ahead of time. I by no means am an expert on anything AAS, and therefor highly appreciate the accumulation of knowledge from a forum like this.
Stats: Natural, 5'11", 190 lbs (8-9%/10.5 weeks out), goal weight 175 (dehydrated morning weight the day of the show), Lifts: Flat BB Bench: 225x14, 275x5-6 (after), Squat: 315x14, 365x5 (after). I don't deadlift as I orient my lifts much more around aesthetic, and train in correlation with my goal of doing physique and eventually classic physique.
Question: I spent approximately 4 hours last night (couldn't sleep) reading over forum after forum post, and kept seeing very similar advice. "Do not take steroids in your teens or early twenties." However, I'm going to be asking the age old question of "Can I start at the age of 20." I would appreciate if you'd hear me out however before jumping to conclusions or flaming me for even asking.
Background: As stated above, I'm currently in a prep for a natural show. I'm about 10.5 weeks out and am weighing in at 189.4 lbs to be exact. I have counted macros consistently for years now, as my first competition I competed at the age of barely 17. I have what I would consider an expansive knowledge of training in relation to muscle hypertrophy and frequently watch/read articles from the industries leading "Gurus" such as George Farah and Hany Rambod. At the age of 16 (a week before my seventeenth birthday) I had been powerlifting for about a year and pulled 495 (sumo), pause benched 315, and squatted 405 for 5 (ass to grass). I was then convinced by an older gentleman to compete in a bodybuilding show because I had a good foundation and he though I could do well for my age. 3 months later and a massive drop in weight (210-172 morning of the show) I came in flat, deprived, and won the teen (4 total competitors, I was the second youngest) but was deservedly destroyed in the open. Flash forward almost 3 years and I'm looking to compete at only three pounds heavier but an absurd amount fuller, more symmetrical, and more educated. I'm doing my own prep (carb cycling 2 low one high currently) and would consider myself far more educated then the average reckless teen. I will also be giving myself 2 weeks (3-4 days off of training) off after my show (low protein, medium fats, high healthy and organic carbs) in attempts of helping my body regulate itself post show and pre first cycle.
Proposal:
Note: Understand that unless you have a science backed or personal experience based opinion, I would appreciate if you kept broscience/flaming/hatred to yourself. That will not dissuade me.
I have done research (and plan to continue to put in tens of more hours of research before following through with this plan) and have come to the conclusion that the best cycle for me to start off with will be a 500mg of test e (tues/fri split) while also taking aromasin at 12.5mg every other day for. I intend to come off (or attempt to) for 3 months post cycle, and therefor will be running an hcg for the last 4 weeks of the cycle. My reason for doing this rather than trt is that I'm 20 and would like to see how my body handles a cycle and what my test levels do post cycle and also to see how prone I am to side effects. My PCT I was looking into consisted of nolvadex and clomid, but admittedly I am not definite in the dosage for these.
Diet/Training On Cycle:
I will be starting with 4000 calories and be raising that intake biweekly by 250 calories. I will also be progressively increasing my cardio training (starting at 15m 3 times a week of LISS and ending with 30 minutes 3 times a week LISS). The macro split I intend to pursue is 20% of calories from fat, a protein of approximately 1.3-1.5g per lb of body weight, and fill in the remaining calories with carbs.
Progression:
w1: 4k cals, 89f, 570c, 230p (weight low 180s, 7-8% weeks post show) (15m LISSx3/w)
w2-11: Steady increase of calories and cardio throughout
w12: 5250 cals, 117f, 770c, 280p (weight around 210-215lbs) (30m LISSx3/w)
Training: (I don't want to include the entire routine here, though if somebody would like to see it I can include the entire pre planned routine later. Note: I'm very back/quad dominant and am training for aesthetics and proportions, not just pure mass everywhere. I also will do throw in a brief core/calves routine once a week on a day I don't do cardio, and will be alternating between shoulder and arm feeder workouts at night)
Ex of Split: 1-Push, 2-Pull, 3-Arms, 4-Lower, 5- Upper, 6-Arms, 7-Off. (no direct arm training on push/pull/upper days)
Ex of workout: Push
Incline Barbell Bench: 5 sets Pyramided in Weight (minimum of 4 reps)
Decline Dumbbell Bench: 5 sets of 12
Weighted Chest Dips: 5 sets of 15
Flat Dumbbell Flyes: 4 sets of 15
Standing Lateral Raises: 5 sets of 12
Machine Lateral Raises: 4 sets of 15
Wide Upright Bar Rows supersetted with Alternate Front Raises: 4 sets of 15/12 ea
One Last Note:
Before we get the influx of trolls regarding my age, inexperience, and the lack of development in somebody my age both mental and physical I would like to simply say this: I am young in relation to others who have taken, yes. I am inexperienced, yes. I however am not some ignorant child who is taking to get big. My goal with this is to consistently grow and become increasingly more knowledgable as to the drug aspect of the industry. I intend to keep elevating my physique with the goal of reaching ifbb pro status. I love this sport, and consider it my largest passion by far. I understand the ramifications of my actions (or as much as one can prior to actually taking that step). I can live with trt for the rest of my life if that's what it takes (if my hcg and pct are unable to spike my natural testosterone levels) and understand that is part of the risk. Sorry for this being so long, but I wanted to include as much information as possible to help gain the most well advised information. I know I'll be hearing an almost unanimous "Don't do it" but look forward to seeing the advice, and experiences of others.
