Has anyone done this?

[Override00]

So ive been reading for a while, i'm actually going to start my first cycle ever when my order arrives (test-e, aromasin, clomid) and after going through all the "stickys" i have a questions that i haven't been able to find yet and so hopefully one of you guys have or know of someone with in my same situation.

I'm 30, 5'11 165lbs. I work out moderately 3 to 4 times a week (will go more often once i'm on it) usually after work at 6pm, i'm average thin and always have been (no weight problems in my family or myself).

I eat twice a day relatively big meals (lunch and dinner) and rarely have breakfast or snacks in between (unless 2 cups of coffee a day counts as snack).

So before i started reading about the different diets posted here, my plan was to continue my regular eating habits (lunch: Subs, pollo tropical, Chipotle, chinese, gyros, etc. Dinner: chicken w/rice and beans, steak with rice and salad, pasta, etc) and add two or 3 protein shakes throughout the day (breakfast, before workout, and before going to bed if i get hungry).

So now here's why i thought that was a good idea and i'm slightly confused due to all the information in the forum.

I believe its agreed in the community that based on your TDEE if you want to gain you add more calories and if you want to cut you undercut it by a 500 calories a day or whatever is appropriate for you.

From that point on what you add or subtract needs to follow a recommended, healthy % of proteins, carbs and fat.

So my question is.... if i already seem to have a baseline in which i dont lose or gain weight by eating what i'm already eating (even if its not the most clean of diets), wouldn't commons sense suggest that by me adding more protein (in the form of shakes) to my diet it would offset my calories intake (to compensate for my faster metabolism) and help me gain muscle mass while still maintaining my carbs and fat levels within a proven threshold that my body is able to handle (meaning i should gain more muscle and my BF remain the same or very close to what it is now, if not maybe go down a bit).

Now before anyone gives me the "Do it right" speech, i believe the questions is still valid and i'm just wondering if anyone else has done something similar and what were the results. After all, not because it makes sense it means its going to work exactly like that.

So please feel free to chime in.

Thanks!

[digsy1983]

hi, override.
well done for seeking advice before starting your cycle! and just because your order arrives doesnt mean you should start taking them straight away!! my understanding is that steroids work reguardless of diet, but for the strain you are putting on your body and also the price of your cycle stack and also the PCT (assuming you have one set due to you reaching it???) you would be very very silly not to spend a tiny bit of time and effort to make a good diet that will give you a solid foundation for the steroids to build upon. to me, it would be like trying to build a house on quick sand rather than a solid base. you just wouldnt do it, or at least i wouldn't!!! i'm no expert, i'm on here to learn as much as i can and a good diet is central to just about everything! one of my mates has a saying, "you dont get big in the gym, you get big in the kitchen!"
read the threads of guys aking about bulking diets to get an understanding of what you need to be eating.

[Override00]

Thanks Dig,

I'm only going to start using them when i get them because... well i cant think of a good reason to wait lol. I'm healthy, got my PCT, i already workout regularly... if you can think of something let me know.

Also i should mention my goal is not to get "big" but to trim a bit of fat and gain muscle mass. I see a lot of diets that are to gain as much as possible and put on 15-30 lbs and be huge, however that's really not what i'm trying to accomplish.

I started working 2 years ago only at age 28 and though i have gotten a lot of definition (i had none before) i've found it hard to grow my muscles without the help of that healthy rush of testosterone we get in our late teens and early 20's.

So the plan is to not devour everything in sight as i dont want to gain as much and hopefully my faster metabolism along with cardio and weight training can get rid of that little bit of fat around my stomach area and of course start looking and gain maybe another inch around my arms and maybe 4 on my chest.

I'm also looking at the nutritional information here and getting a list foods to quickly change if i see its not working out well withing the first 4 weeks.

[digsy1983]

No probs! If you are going to do as you said and just use shakes to boost up your protein, I'd mix about 40-60g oats into your pre workout shake just to give you plenty of energy during your workout and have about 30 mins b4.
Also at 5'11 and 165lbs you shouldn't have too much excess fat to lose?? Do you know you bodyfat %? Prob a good diet would achieve both the goals you are aiming for. Gud luck either way!