Greetings, EliteFitness boarders!
I'm 28 years old, 6'4 and 205lbs, not sure what my bf% is but I'm definitely in the 12-15% range (I can see my abs!). I've been training religiously for the past 2 1/2+ years and making sure that I get enough clean calories that I should be putting on some decent lean mass, but I'm simply not! My arms have grown 1/2 inch this entire time and I'm at my wits' end...
My training is definitely in check, I started originally using a 3-day full body routine then when I saw after about 4 or 5 months that my gains were mediocre at best, I switched to a 4-day split. After a year-plus of that type of training, still making crappy gains, I stumbled across Layne Norton's Power/Hypertrophy routine (5-day split, Mon/Tue powerlifting style strength training and Thur-Sat hypertrophy training which consists of higher reps and utilizes mainly supersets, very high intensity stuff). I've always kept a close eye on my diet, been getting in 300+ grams of quality protein a day (mostly from solid food), just under 400g of carbs (sweet potato, brown rice, wholewheat bread, wholewheat pasta; if I up my carbs much more I start to get a belly...yes I know one will put on extra fat when bulking but I've tried higher carb diets for extended periods and all I put on was lard!) and between 40-60g of fat a day.
I've been on creatine pretty much the whole 2 1/2 years with a few short breaks here and there to try and actually feel whether the stuff actually makes some sort of difference (it doesn't, really). I take multivitamins to ensure that all of my bases are covered, ensure that I eat a big breakfast with lots of quality carbs pre-workout, then post-workout I take a mass gainer with more creatine. Exactly an hour and a half later I'll have a large chicken breast, two slices of wholewheat toast and a medium sweet potato (trying to take full advantage of the post-workout anabolic window).
I've tried drop-sets, negatives, you name it to take my muscles beyond the point of failure each workout, I've gone from training each bodypart once a week to twice a week; simply put, I work my ass off, harder than 95% of the other guys at my gym (a lot of whom are bigger than me). I have gradually gone from spending under 45 mins in the gym (cortisol and all that) to what I'm currently doing, which is anything from 1 1/2 hours - 2 hours, 5 days a week (since the whole short, intense workouts that they usually prescribe for natties hasn't worked for me, I've gradually built up the time I spend training).
The long and short of it, I've tried everything that I've been able to get my hands on to do this naturally; the only thing I can possibly think of that is hindering my progress in this way, is that I just have crappy genes for bodybuilding, so I've been researching over the past few months, the possibility of running my first AAS cycle.
The general consensus in these types of forums tends to be that a beginner should go for a simple cycle consisting of D-Bol (4-week kickstart), 400-500mg of Test per week (1-10 weeks), followed by PCT two weeks after the last Test shot (Clomid & Nolva). I've been reading up on HCG but from what I've gathered, it's not necessary on such a light cycle. The supplier who I've spoken to has suggested that I go for Test, Deca and Tren for my first cycle but this seems like a bit of a harsh one for a first cycle (especially Tren), so I'm seriously thinking I should just keep it simple and then add compounds as I progress through subsequent cycles (maybe next one I'll add Deca, next one after that Deca and Tren, and so on). Any thoughts?
Also, I really can't decide which type of Test to use; Test-E, Test-C, Test-P, Test300, Sustanon? My funds are a bit limited so I'd like to get as much bang for my buck as possible (and of course I'm not even willing to consider pinning without having PCT on hand). I am also prone to gyno, I would imagine, as I have a very mild case that developed during puberty. This is actually what's making me most apprehensive about doing a cycle as I'd hate to make things worse! My second worry is not getting my natural test production up in time to keep my gains post-cycle. I know that I've rambled on for quite a few lines here and haven't really asked any real questions, but I was just hoping that someone out there could give me some advice or share their thoughts to help me on my way?
Thanks for your time, guys, much appreciated!
I'm 28 years old, 6'4 and 205lbs, not sure what my bf% is but I'm definitely in the 12-15% range (I can see my abs!). I've been training religiously for the past 2 1/2+ years and making sure that I get enough clean calories that I should be putting on some decent lean mass, but I'm simply not! My arms have grown 1/2 inch this entire time and I'm at my wits' end...
My training is definitely in check, I started originally using a 3-day full body routine then when I saw after about 4 or 5 months that my gains were mediocre at best, I switched to a 4-day split. After a year-plus of that type of training, still making crappy gains, I stumbled across Layne Norton's Power/Hypertrophy routine (5-day split, Mon/Tue powerlifting style strength training and Thur-Sat hypertrophy training which consists of higher reps and utilizes mainly supersets, very high intensity stuff). I've always kept a close eye on my diet, been getting in 300+ grams of quality protein a day (mostly from solid food), just under 400g of carbs (sweet potato, brown rice, wholewheat bread, wholewheat pasta; if I up my carbs much more I start to get a belly...yes I know one will put on extra fat when bulking but I've tried higher carb diets for extended periods and all I put on was lard!) and between 40-60g of fat a day.
I've been on creatine pretty much the whole 2 1/2 years with a few short breaks here and there to try and actually feel whether the stuff actually makes some sort of difference (it doesn't, really). I take multivitamins to ensure that all of my bases are covered, ensure that I eat a big breakfast with lots of quality carbs pre-workout, then post-workout I take a mass gainer with more creatine. Exactly an hour and a half later I'll have a large chicken breast, two slices of wholewheat toast and a medium sweet potato (trying to take full advantage of the post-workout anabolic window).
I've tried drop-sets, negatives, you name it to take my muscles beyond the point of failure each workout, I've gone from training each bodypart once a week to twice a week; simply put, I work my ass off, harder than 95% of the other guys at my gym (a lot of whom are bigger than me). I have gradually gone from spending under 45 mins in the gym (cortisol and all that) to what I'm currently doing, which is anything from 1 1/2 hours - 2 hours, 5 days a week (since the whole short, intense workouts that they usually prescribe for natties hasn't worked for me, I've gradually built up the time I spend training).
The long and short of it, I've tried everything that I've been able to get my hands on to do this naturally; the only thing I can possibly think of that is hindering my progress in this way, is that I just have crappy genes for bodybuilding, so I've been researching over the past few months, the possibility of running my first AAS cycle.
The general consensus in these types of forums tends to be that a beginner should go for a simple cycle consisting of D-Bol (4-week kickstart), 400-500mg of Test per week (1-10 weeks), followed by PCT two weeks after the last Test shot (Clomid & Nolva). I've been reading up on HCG but from what I've gathered, it's not necessary on such a light cycle. The supplier who I've spoken to has suggested that I go for Test, Deca and Tren for my first cycle but this seems like a bit of a harsh one for a first cycle (especially Tren), so I'm seriously thinking I should just keep it simple and then add compounds as I progress through subsequent cycles (maybe next one I'll add Deca, next one after that Deca and Tren, and so on). Any thoughts?
Also, I really can't decide which type of Test to use; Test-E, Test-C, Test-P, Test300, Sustanon? My funds are a bit limited so I'd like to get as much bang for my buck as possible (and of course I'm not even willing to consider pinning without having PCT on hand). I am also prone to gyno, I would imagine, as I have a very mild case that developed during puberty. This is actually what's making me most apprehensive about doing a cycle as I'd hate to make things worse! My second worry is not getting my natural test production up in time to keep my gains post-cycle. I know that I've rambled on for quite a few lines here and haven't really asked any real questions, but I was just hoping that someone out there could give me some advice or share their thoughts to help me on my way?
Thanks for your time, guys, much appreciated!