5th week and gains slowing?

[pennypacker]

my friend just finished his fifth week of his first deca/dbol cycle. he made great gains (approx 4-5lbs/wk) for the first three weeks, but has been gaining only about one pound/week since week 4. He was 205 when he started, was 218 by the end of the third week, and is 220 now at the end of his fifth. Is this normal? He wants to up his calories, but from what I've read, it's normal for gains to slow after the first couple of weeks and increasing calories at this stage will only make him fatter. Is that right? I don't want to give him bad advice.

thanks.

 

[HUCKLEBERRY FINNaplex]

Tell him to up his PROTEIN...More often than not,that is the missing piece of the puzzle,the body speeds up its protein metabolism,but you're not feeding into the machinery enough to keep pace with what it's utilizing.

 

[FatFinaHead]

Dude, you have to be aware of your genetics. Not everyone can just keep putting on weight. All of us have rached plataus. You need to try changing up your training program. Shock your muscles. Make them grow. Dont just rely on the sauce.
Be happy that you have made some progress.
Bodybuilding is a slow process. Just dont let it frustrate you at times like these. Give it some time.

 

[pennypacker]

Thanks guys. I'll tell him to up the protein and to be patient.

 

[Slyder190]

Not bad really

15lbs in 4 weeks great. However, I think a lot of this is water. Is your friend using an anti-e? Even with Arimidex, D-bol tends to still make me hold water fairly fast. I agree with Huck about upping the protein. If your friend gets another 5lbs before his cycle is over, it seems he is in the normal range of bw gain, as most people report anywhere from 15 -20lbs on an eight week cycle, especially their first one.

 

[pennypacker]

slyder190 -- He isn't taking any anti-e's because he's only doing low doses (20mgs d-bol for 4 wks, 400mgs deca for 8 wks), so you're probably right that most of it is water. When you say 15-20lbs total, is this permanent gains? If so, wouldn't he need to gain closer to 30lbs before coming off? thanks.

 

[FatFinaHead]

Dude,
Even at those doses still would be a good idea to take an anti-e.

I gained 30 lbs. my first cycle ever, but needless to say not all of that was permanent.

Even taking the right ancillaries wont help with the loss. You are going to lose some of it if not all if you dont do it EXACTLY right. Facts one has to face when you use enhancements. Sorry to bust your bubble. Only over time will you finally keep a bit.

Work hard and prosper.