Well you guys might laugh but I have three weeks to go on my 8 week first cycle and started out with 200mgs test 25 mgs anavars. The last few hits I bumped the test up to 300mgs and 40 mgs anavars. I have gained a total of at least 15 lbs solid. I am still between 5-6% BF. I can't really see any water retention. I have a four pack instead of a six but I am also consuming a tremendous amount of cals. I believe untill you know how your bod is going to react why try hitting it full force??? I would think each cycle is an experiment, but none like your first cycle. Give yourself a few weeks or halfway throught the cycle and then bump it up. This is coming from someone who is no where near his "genetic potential". Maybe someone whom is closer to that would have to hit it a lot harder to begin with.