Not gaining on first cycle(s)

[D.Diggs]

Hi,

Been lurking the site and board for a while now and registered to make this post. I'm on my second attempt at a "first" cycle and I'm not seeing any significant gains to muscle mass. (more on this later) Post will be long, so I'm including headings for those who want to hop around.

Background:
28 years old, 6 foot 216lbs. Estimated body fat at 22%

Was a competitive rower in high school and college. While I was in good performance shape, I never looked like a guy who worked out 12- 15 hours a week, retaining more fat and accumulating less muscle than most would expect. I thought this might be due to the endurance aspects of training, but as I went to shorter distances of cardio and more strength based lifting, I came to close to the same results. In particular, gains seemed to be slow to come and were noticeably quicker than average to dissipate.


I made the decision about a year ago to try my first cycle after wading through all the anti-steroid propaganda. I should mention my goals are pretty modest, I have nothing close to contest aspirations, just want to move from a below average to above average physique.

Cycle history:

I did what I thought was right. I spent a solid 3 months focusing solely on the form for "big" lifts so I would minimize potential for injury, posting videos on sites for critique. I researched side effects so I could better spot warning signs. I read multiple sources on how to inject. Got my novaldex for PCT (clomid scared me with a history of depression in my family and my already bad eyesight) First cycle was:

400mg of QV 250 test enth (200mg twice a week)

I got this through a manager at my work who was a former(maybe current) user from a friend of his who was obviously well above his natural limits.

I started making some gains in strength but plateaued fairly quickly (Like when I was lifting not on cycle) The mass was not at all like I see posted by first time users on these boards. I noticed an initial boost in sex drive but not the way some people describe it. It also sort of plateaued. After 7 weeks only putting on a few pounds of muscle I got nervous that what I was putting in to my body wasn't what it said it was, stopped using, and went on a modest PCT.

About 6 months later, I ran in to an old friend I know used regularly and always had a bodybuilder's physique. I decided to give another shot. Though I'm sure my source believed it legit, maybe the stuff I got the first time was fake or under dosed? Maybe I was injecting wrong?(Is this really even possible?) Maybe I was deluding myself and I was missing more days than I admitted, or was slacking on a weak program or doing too much cardio. I'm now on that cycle.

Current cycle, just took 6th shot.

400mg DK test 400 once a week
200mg QV Deca once a week

I KNOW that at least this Test is legit by a remarkable increase in sex drive. (I have the browser history and rap sheet of questionable decisions at last call to prove it) I've gained 4-5 pounds since starting. I'm not really any noticeably leaner, so I'd say 6 pounds is the maximum amount of muscle I've gained and probably less.

Questions:

I'm coming here to find any possible explanation as to why the gear I'm trying doesn't seem to be working.

Is something wrong with me? Is there some rare, super catabolic condition in some people that I've been cursed with?

Is it possible I've bought fake stuff twice? (Though the sex drive increase undermines that)

Would it be hypothetically possible to "miss the muscle" multiple times and inject in to gluteal fat and just see little to no results?




I've averaged over 250 grams of protein a day, with it never being below 160 in over 30 days. Any flaw in my diet would be the addition of too many empty/ low value calories, which shouldn't be an issue for gaining mass. I've been on the German volume training program to make sure I get enough volume in. (Possible, though unlikely issue on my first cycle) The program has splits of chest and back, Legs/Abs and an arms day. Ideally you do each split once every 5 days, but even with a couple disruptions I've hit each part at the very least once a week. I've done virtually no cardio this cycle.

Anyone have any possible advice or anything I should look in to? Thanks for any help you can provide.

I'll post my stuff in a latter post if people think it may be fake.

[Someguy123]

maybe you should get some bloodwork done, to see where your levels are.

[crawdaddy]

maybe you should get some bloodwork done, to see where your levels are.

^^agreed, but it wont show you much if you don't have a baseline from the before you started although it will help somewhat. As for anyone here telling you your gear is fake, i think thats impossible for us to determine. I had similar experiences my first 3 cycles and still am not sure what the reasons where however after fine tuning my diet, workout, rest and SOURCE(confirmed by bloodwork before, during and after cycle) I have had great success and results with my last cycle.
Remember the stuff we get is not regulated my any govt body to ensure quality(and even then i wouldn't trust it) so your source may be good but the gear itself may be counterfeit without there knowledge. Nothing is guaranteed......except for death and taxes.

[corsa5000]

im in your position aswell bro, first cycle isnt really showing me any gains to speak of, just making me feel good thats about it.

But when its done im going to try and put this behind me, fine tune my diet and routine like craw said, get some new gear from a new source, and pray that things start working for me next time round. Blood work is always worthwhile too bro, i think im going to get mine done before i start my next cycle so i can see if my test levels go up on cycle. Good luck

[Someguy123]

^^agreed, but it wont show you much if you don't have a baseline from the before you started although it will help somewhat. As for anyone here telling you your gear is fake, i think thats impossible for us to determine. I had similar experiences my first 3 cycles and still am not sure what the reasons where however after fine tuning my diet, workout, rest and SOURCE(confirmed by bloodwork before, during and after cycle) I have had great success and results with my last cycle.
Remember the stuff we get is not regulated my any govt body to ensure quality(and even then i wouldn't trust it) so your source may be good but the gear itself may be counterfeit without there knowledge. Nothing is guaranteed......except for death and taxes.

yes, before and after is optimal. but its possible, he is really test sensitive. and gets high estrogen from small doses. so some bloodwork, could show if any levels are way out whack from what is considered normal.

[stevey_6t9]

why are u taking AAS. Your body fat is way to high.

[NMacFar]

EAT EAT EAT AND EAT! DOUBLE OR EVEN TRIPLE YOUR CALORIC INTAKE!!!!

[chuckt12345]

you are expecting to much,, you have no clue if your dropping fat or gaining muscle,, your on week 3 and you gained 5lbs,, give it time

[Mooseman33]

i just cant respond, my mood is way to bad today.

agree with Chuck..

[chuckt12345]

i just cant respond, my mood is way to bad today.

agree with Chuck..

lol,, moose its friday

[dec11]

200mg deca a wk is useless, test should be shot x2 a week, say mon and thurs, id bump the test to 500 250x2 and the deca to 400 200x 2. most important is your diet, without this ur trying to drive a lambo with no petrol in it

[chuckt12345]

200mg deca a wk is useless, test should be shot x2 a week, say mon and thurs, id bump the test to 500 250x2 and the deca to 400 200x 2. most important is your diet, without this ur trying to drive a lambo with no petrol in it

i disagree with the dosing,, some people rock and roll on 250 a week

[dec11]

i disagree with the dosing,, some people rock and roll on 250 a week

dunno personally, but 500mg seems to be optimal and most who start 250mg 1st cycle usually end up wishing they'd hit 500mg, most experienced guys agree with this

[stefanman]

the sum of all fears!

[dec11]

the sum of all fears!

your a bit weird, arent u?