CONTEXT/BACKGROUND: At 29 years of age I have 14 years of training under my belt, during which I went from a scrawny 125 pounder to 190 (5'7", under 10% bodyfat). I bench close to 400 pounds and squat over 500. Given what are considered by many as "less than ideal" genetics (grew up in a third world Asian country, not really big-boned relative to Caucasians given my Asian heritage, etc.), walking around with 17-inch arms is something I consider an accomplishment. I already took in 200 grams of protein, and creatine helped push me from 180 to my new 'setpoint' of 190 pounds. But I've been stuck at 190 for 3-4 years, and I thought I had maxed out. I tried different training methods, eating 500-1000 cals above maintenance, etc., and all that happened was I gained lots of fat and not much muscle. I also tried all the latest new fad supplements out there (myostatin blockers, NO2, etc.) without any measurable results to speak of. I keep detailed logs of my diet and workouts, and as a Ph.D. statistician/economist I know all about controlled experiments and monitoring for possible interactions, etc.

After reading pretty much all the material on this board and others, I decided to do my first PH cycle with 300mg ED of 1-AD for only two weeks, just to get a feel of things and not have too many sides (have a history of male pattern baldness and propensity for hypertension). Goal was to bulk up as much as humanly possible, before going on a cutting cycle starting in May.

I may just be an "easy gainer" on PHs, but I packed on 16 pounds in this short two week cycle. Body composition wise, I gained 13 pounds of muscle and 3 pounds of fat, my waist increased by half an inch but I also gained an inch on my chest and 1/2 inch on my arms; the pumps were tremendous - at one point my arms measured 18.5 inches pumped (they are now 17.5 inches cold). I now weigh 205.5 (first thing in the morning), 207/208 through the day as I gorge myself with food to keep my new size well-fed.

After 10 days of PCT with 6OXO (600mg for 4 days, 400mg for 3 days and 200mg for 3 days), I've kept all of my gains. No sides (not even hair loss) except for some lethargy, which was very manageable with an E/C stack for workout days (limited my E/C consumption to maximize gains).

I am so very happy with my results and I just want to say thanks to all you folks at 1fast400 -- especially Mike and prolangtum for the very specific advice -- for tremendously helpful advice and support.

I'll update this log with experiences in subsequent cycles. I will be finishing up PCT today and will take a break from training from March 25-28. I will then begin another 2 week cycle, this time with 400mg ED of 1-AD and 600mg ED of 4-AD. I have not even reached the oft-recommended "starting" level of 600mg ED of 1-AD and 900mg ED of 4-AD! I realize there will be diminishing returns with repeated PH use, also given 'genetic constraints,' but here's hoping I do reach the upper limits of what's possible. After this 2-week cycle I plan to run 6OXO for 15 days (600mg for days 1-5, 400mg for days 6-10, 200mg for days 11-15), and then 'consolidate gains' by laying off PHs for at least 6 weeks.

The methyls (M1T and the new ones) have generated much interest but I won't be using any of them until I've had 6 months or so of PH experience. Not until I'm convinced that I've maxed out on what I can gain from my 1-AD/4-AD stack will I experiment with the new stuff. And of course I have Nolva on hand in case of possible gyno. I've been at the iron game for a long time and I'd like good long-term gains so I'd like to think I can be patient (even if I stock up given the PH ban and have the methyls in my cupboard tempting me!).

Thanks again to everyone for all the help. Would appreciate comments as well! This is a great community. Hope I can give back somehow.

Thanks to Loki for the superquick reply regarding my inquiry about possible ways to address high blood pressure during a cycle!

congradulations on your success. I rarely rant about anything but m1t is good.
I'm glad to hear about the 6oxo also. I'll being trying it for the first time.
Give m1t a shot next time.
FWIW, do it right the first time, don't dilly-dally around with the little things.

Thanks, damien18794. Read your other post and it looks like M1T really worked for you.

Nice work victory. I finally read your report. Thanks for your post to mine.

Thanks to Kow for superquick feedback regarding yet another question from sort-of-newbie me!

I started my second PH cycle yesterday with 400mg ED of 1-AD and 600mg ED of 4-AD. Supplementing with 100mg of CoQ10 ED to help with increased blood pressure. Almost from the get-go my appetite was up. 4-AD definitely helping with energy levels; I do not need a supplementary E/C stack to get a boost in my workouts unlike my previous cycle with only 1-AD.

I am not sure if it is directly related to the 4-AD but my libido is way up. I have to 'get a hold of myself' twice a day now to relieve matters, not counting the almost nightly romps with the significant other. I wonder if any 'protein lost' will interfere with my gains!

A question to anyone who might know: I wonder if I am doing things right by progressing my cycle dosage in this manner. As I outlined above, my first cycle went like this:

Cycle 1: 300mg ED 1-AD, 14 days. 10 days PCT with 6OXO

I am planning to do these next two cycles:

Cycle 2: 400mg ED 1-AD, 600mg ED 4-AD, 14 days. Then PCT
Cycle 3: 600mg ED 1-AD, 900mg ED 4-AD, 14 days. Then PCT

I will take a 4 week break after cycle 2 to allow my body to recover. As I seem to respond very quickly to 1-AD, with results apparent in 5-7 days, I plan to bump into my 3rd cycle if my 2nd cycle dosages are not working, running the entire 'merged' cycle for a total of 21 days. I try to keep my cycle lengths short given my tendency for high blood pressure and male pattern baldness.

My question is this: Am I taking things too slow? Others recommended the cycle 3 dosages (600mg ED of 1-AD, 900mg ED of 4-AD) for beginners, and here I am waiting till my 3rd cycle to implement it. I know that this is all really up to how my body responds, and some have said I should be thankful that I get such good results from pretty low dosages. Some have said, though, that androgen receptors eventually downregulate, making them less responsive: Does this imply that I should up my dosages and get as much "bang for my PH buck" before my ARs downregulate, instead of taking things nice and easy as I seem to have the patience to do?

Thanks for whatever help you can offer.

You can't really take things too slow, at least from the safety perspective. Any tolerance to the effects of androgens that occurs will be proportional to the dose used.

How necessary is the 6-OXO post cycle? I've read in a few places that one of the main benefits of 1-AD is that the OXO is not necessary...is there any truth/validity to this?

Just finished my 2nd cycle last Sunday and now doing PCT. This time I am trying out Nolva. Took 400mg ED of 1-AD and 600mg ED of 4-AD, and went from 204.5 to 210 pounds.

Didn't quite get as good results as my first cycle, but other things may have gotten in the way: By my 2nd week I may have begun fighting a respiratory infection (colds, maybe flu?). I went from 204.5 to 210 in the first week, and then a guest from overseas stayed with us and she had colds. Lost a bit of appetite so had to force myself to gulf down enough cals, also had to ease up on training a bit so that I don't come down with full-blown colds (still fighting it right now). Gains screeched to a halt at 210 and didn't gain anything else in my 2nd week.

I am still very happy with how this cycle went: 5.5 pounds in two weeks, all of it lbm since I take body composition measurements regularly. If I am able to hold onto it after PCT I will have gone from 190 to 210 in this first 2wk-on/2wk-off/2wk-on cycle, all at relatively low dosages of 1-AD and 4-AD.

Thanks to everyone for their advice and support!

Day 10 of PCT. Kept all my gains both in terms of LBM and strength, all that on top of a cold I am now fighting.

victory:

Nice to read about your gains.
How many days during each of the 14 day cycles did you lift for?
Any cardio during the cycle as well?
On off days did you dose the same ammount?

A very thorough & educated way about adding in PH's.
Breathe of fresh air in contrast to all these other fuktards I'm hearing about lately.

bump

Finished PCT almost a week ago; colds have steadily gotten worse, but cannot tell if exacerbated by (1) possible seasonal allergies and/or (2) weakened immune system from PH/PCT. Maybe both? Weight steady at 210 (209 some mornings, 211 in others); strength levels still progressing incrementally and I haven't had to miss a day in the gym because my affliction remain as head colds (no body weakness or fatigue), etc. I am blowing my nose quite a bit though and I wonder how much bigger or stronger I could be or could have been had I not been hit with this cold during my cycle / PCT.

I am altogether still very happy with my gains, and as far as this week has showed it looks like they're here to stay. I will see how far I progress during the month of May without any PH cycles, and then begin a cutting cycle in June. I want to make sure PHs remain a supplement for me (albeit an important one), not a crutch.