My first 300mg cycle

[Scorpion0922]

You say observations, but what do you mean? Is this your suggestions for me to look into or information you gathered based on what I stated?

I need to better understand AI and HCG to know when to optimally implement them so more research will be done on my end. With my diet, an average day consists of ~2800 calories putting me at a slight surplus to gain .5lbs a week. (says cronometer). This is a very rough estimate on portions for the meals. I just bought a food scale and will be more onto of serving sizes and how much I consume. This is also what I would typically eat when I am at home, but since I am traveling with work I eat what I am offered from Campus cafeterias or I will go for the grilled chicken/beef/veggies. With the listed diet, I try to stick with it throughout the week and only allow myself 1 cheat meal/less strict day a week. I am very tough on myself for eating out.

Breakfast: Overnight Oats (old fashioned oats 1.5servings, Chia seeds, 1 serving, Raspberry Jam 1 serving, Greek yogurt 1 serving. With that I will drink black coffee with half a serving of my high protein mass gainer to help with protein and carb intake.
Pre-Work out: Onion bagel 1 serving, Turkey bacon 2 serving, 2 Eggs, 1 serving 1/3 fat cream cheese. or 5 Eggs and shredded hash browns
Lunch: Ground beef/turkey 2 servings, broccoli 2 servings
Dinner: Ground Beef/Turkey 2 servings, broccoli/Green beans 2 servings, Rice or some type of carb

For dessert I will have Either A sweeter cereal, but lately its been 3 fudge stripes. My sweet tooth is killer. I will also have a can of Tuna with sriracha sauce at some point in the day. At the end of the day, I flaw in portion control and my sweet tooth. I realized after I got the scale, my portions were larger than I thought so hopefully that will allow me to better dial in. I also watch the oils I put into my food heavy. I know the high density of fat they contain, especially vegetable oil, and how caloric dense they are.

I appreciate the full honesty and help. I created this post to expand my knowledge in hopes to better myself with or without steroids. I graduated high school around 145lbs, I know that was a long time ago, but I always felt it was hard for me to gain mass and still is. I did realize when I really focused on my diet around 1 year ago big improvements were made.

1 serving / 2 servings doesn't tell us help. This is an example of a meal plan (using my current plan)

Meal 2
8oz lean meat (choice of chicken breast, white fish, 93% lean ground turkey)
6-8oz of greens (green vegetables (choice of spinach, cukes, broccoli, etc.)
4oz of guac or 1 tbls. of olive oil

Meal 3
8oz salmon or lean red meat (I choose London Broil)
8oz of white potatoe (no skin, remove potato on non training days)
6oz greens

ETC.
ETC.

A few diet sodas and/or crystal light will help satisfy your sweet tooth.

We all love swets but you will have to incoroprate a new level of discipline with AAS.

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1 serving / 2 servings doesn't tell us help. This is an example of a meal plan (using my current plan)

Meal 2
8oz lean meat (choice of chicken breast, white fish, 93% lean ground turkey)
6-8oz of greens (green vegetables (choice of spinach, cukes, broccoli, etc.)
4oz of guac or 1 tbls. of olive oil

Meal 3
8oz salmon or lean red meat (I choose London Broil)
8oz of white potatoe (no skin, remove potato on non training days)
6oz greens

ETC.
ETC.

A few diet sodas and/or crystal light will help satisfy your sweet tooth.

We all love swets but you will have to incoroprate a new level of discipline with AAS.

My apologies, I supplied with what I thought to be as accurate as possible, but I realized after reading your remark that it does not supply much information since every serving size is different based on its contents lol. Here is a picture of one my days I inputed into cronometer. Hopefully this helps. Ive only had my food scale for a few days so this input is me eyeballing, but it was not far off based on what I learned from weighing my foods. If anything it was slightly more than I inputed.

[Scorpion0922]

My apologies, I supplied with what I thought to be as accurate as possible, but I realized after reading your remark that it does not supply much information since every serving size is different based on its contents lol. Here is a picture of one my days I inputed into cronometer. Hopefully this helps. Ive only had my food scale for a few days so this input is me eyeballing, but it was not far off based on what I learned from weighing my foods. If anything it was slightly more than I inputed.

This is an example of one day?

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This is an example of one day?

Correct, this is one day. I tend to eat the same things and keep the portions very similar so they stay consistent with each day and they do not vary much. Here in the next week or so I will be able to fully know what I am intaking due to portion control and weighing everything by the gram. I have not been tracking as often since I am traveling for work and most cafeterias I am allowed to eat at surprisingly does not provide a nutrition label for the foods provided. Without the label, I use my best judgement and eat clean as I can and not in a massive excess.

[Scorpion0922]

This is an example of one day?

This is not enough food for a guy 5'10/195, you are very likely in a catabolic state. You can very likely accomplish your goals with a caloric increase.

For this you likely need a nutrition coach.

[Honkey_Kong]

This is not enough food for a guy 5'10/195, you are very likely in a catabolic state. You can very likely accomplish your goals with a caloric increase.

For this you likely need a nutrition coach.

^^^ A good nutrition coach is more valuable than running gear. OP you'll bust through plateaus, you'll put mass on AND you'll feel better once you have a diet that supports growth.

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^^^ A good nutrition coach is more valuable than running gear. OP you'll bust through plateaus, you'll put mass on AND you'll feel better once you have a diet that supports growth.

I have been more focused on diet in the last year simply because of my energy levels. Just over a year ago I was crashing terribly around 2pm, but when I introduced more complex carbs and more salt into my diet I was able to sustain energy for longer periods in the day. Introducing the surplus also helped. Around the start of COVID-19, I started drinking heavy and obtained a body composition that I was not proud of so I think that memory left an impression leaving me iffy to really eat to a surplus, plus eating around 3000+ per day felt like a whole job along with my busy schedule. They may just be excuses, but I am at the point where I am willing to do what it takes to reach that next level before especially before using enhancements. The drive for AAS is there, but the want to do it correctly and as best as possible to soak up every bit of gains has a bigger drive.

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This is not enough food for a guy 5'10/195, you are very likely in a catabolic state. You can very likely accomplish your goals with a caloric increase.

For this you likely need a nutrition coach.

I have been wanting to talk with a nutritionist, but the ones available (for free) are less educated than myself, but it wouldn't hurt to try. My BMR is roughly 1876 calories based on the calculator I used online. I do lift 6 times a week, capping each lift to 1 hour, with an incline walk for 20 minutes 3 times a week. The lifts are two muscle groups a day except for legs and shoulders, I couldn't get an efficient workout when I split those groups with something else. I felt like when I was eating the High 2800s-2900s I was gaining slightly with little fat but I will totally look into a nutritionist and see if they can better my schedule. I would assume a better surplus with less fats and more protein will allow for better growth. The university I work for also has a DEXA scan so hopefully I can get some time in there to better understand my rates and overall body composition.

[Scorpion0922]

I have been wanting to talk with a nutritionist, but the ones available (for free) are less educated than myself, but it wouldn't hurt to try. My BMR is roughly 1876 calories based on the calculator I used online. I do lift 6 times a week, capping each lift to 1 hour, with an incline walk for 20 minutes 3 times a week. The lifts are two muscle groups a day except for legs and shoulders, I couldn't get an efficient workout when I split those groups with something else. I felt like when I was eating the High 2800s-2900s I was gaining slightly with little fat but I will totally look into a nutritionist and see if they can better my schedule. I would assume a better surplus with less fats and more protein will allow for better growth. The university I work for also has a DEXA scan so hopefully I can get some time in there to better understand my rates and overall body composition.

You have to HIRE a nutrition expert, that means pay.

I'd advise a show prep coach, a qualified one not some joker who did 2 shows and thinks they're a coach. Competing may not be for you but this particular coach will be the best bet to help yo with your goals.

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You have to HIRE a nutrition expert, that means pay.

I'd advise a show prep coach, a qualified one not some joker who did 2 shows and thinks they're a coach. Competing may not be for you but this particular coach will be the best bet to help yo with your goals.

Sadly, I knew that was the harsh truth. I have been a struggling student who barely gets paid during graduate school so I am a cheap bastard, but I greatly appreciate that advice and I will look into one!! Thank you