Final week of Hdrol 75/75/75/75/75/75 - General Feedback

Hey guys,
 
On my final week of my first PH cycle. I ran (am currently running) Hdrol with cycle assist and Milk Thistle. My goal was to gain lean muscle mass and also drop a little bf. Started the cycle at pretty much bang on 14 stone (6ft 1in) and I'm a very hard gainer as I spent the majority of my younger days as a long distance runner and was thus built like one - tall / slim(ish). I'd been lifting (seriously) for about 2 years and had gained just over a stone of lean muscle in that time but the gains had ground to a halt and so decided to run a mild PH cycle. I upped my protein intake to around 300 a day and also completely stopped jogging. Just thought I'd write this account for reference for anyone considering running a cycle - take it or leave it - just thought I'd put it out there.
 
Strength
 
Strength gains were for noticeable around 3 weeks into the cycle. Especially in my legs - I've moved my leg presses up by 30 kg and feel I could lift a lot more however, the press machine only runs up to 220kg and I didn't want to risk a reoccurring injury which I have done with squats in the past. Every aspect of my training improved in terms of increased, controlled strength and I feel a lot stronger and also quite "mean/evil" (lol) with it too when in the gym - it's very hard to explain but in the gym there's an evident, controlled but intense aggression that I didn't have before. So - strength, from week 3 has gone through the roof. There's one thing though that I think doesn't get mentioned enough in advice and posts about PH cycles - your strength is going to go through the roof - but it won't make you structurally any stronger i.e. cartilage / smaller muscles like the rotator cuffs etc - so it's easier to injure yourself as I found out 4 weeks in whilst PB'ing on the bench - although the weight felt completely manageable - my shoulder struggled and I've got SLAP tear for my troubles… I can work around it whilst building up my shoulder again but worth bearing in mind – be careful.
 
Sides/ Psychological
 
Ok – where to start… from the first week until now I experienced headaches. These were bad in weeks 1, 2 and 3 and have since subsided a little. I was/am drinking around 5 litres of water a day and taking cycle assist as well for blood pressure. This leads me onto my second point, my blood pressure is running high – despite introducing hawthorn berries – but then my blood pressure is naturally a bit high. From week 1 I’ve also experience a slight throbbing pain around my kidney on the right hand side of back – nothing too bad – but noticeable. From around week 3 I’ve had terrible lethargy – low motivation, constantly tired despite sleeping around 10 hours a night (I usually sleep 7-8). My mood has been up and down throughout the cycle – bouncing from being on top of the world to feeling very depressed… I’m usually a very upbeat, happy guy too! I’ve not had no acne or gyno to report. I’ve also noticed at times that I’m feeling quite aggressive and moody. But to be honest – I was expecting and ready for everything above other than the lethargy… it’s affected my ability to perform my job!  My libido died around week 2 much to the disgust of my girlfriend.
 
Gains
 
So I gained 8 pounds in the first two weeks although – if I looked in the mirror – I couldn’t see any real changes in my physique. However, this changed around weeks 4/5 and I’ve had scores of comments about how big I look – even been asked a number of times if I’m taking anything “naughty” to aid my progression at the gym. Around weeks 4/5 I’ve lost quite a bit of BF but only lost around 1 pound of the 8 gained so I’ve put around 6-7 pounds of muscle on I’d say! Nice. This is despite me suffering a SLAP tear in week 4 on my right shoulder and having to drop most chest / push exercises – I’m only able to do dumbbell flies (very, very carefully)! So I started at around 14 stone and I’m now 14 stone 7/8 pounds.
 
PCT
 
PCT starts this week and I’ll be running Reversitol V2 and Activate Xtreme.  I’ll also be reintroducing creatine and increasing weight and dropping reps throughout.
 
Conclusion
 
For me, personally, the sides were a heavy price to pay but the gains are good and probably worth it -  I just hope that I can now keep the gains through PCT. I hope this post is of use to someone. Would I do it again…… the jury is out on that one… probably.
 
Cheers and if you are considering running your first cycle be aware of the possible sides and also be careful with what you can “suddenly lift with relative ease”.
 
 

Good feedback.

Fingers crossed your PCT goes smoothly.

Thanks Gents - appreciated. Quick update - just weighed myself at the gym. I'm 14 stone 10 - so that's 10 pound of gains and considerable bf loss.

Nice review Benchpress,just started first PH cycle myself,so will keep an eye on not getting carried away when the strength kicks in,should imagine it would be very hard not to test it out.Reading up on training while on PH's ect,the general concensus is to increase volume rather than weight,and to start to go heavier after cycle.
Sounds like you had a very good run though,bloody shame about the shoulder injury,hope it heals up quick.
one thing ive had only one week in,is my hunger has gone through the roof,i'l be on week four at xmas,so with all the extra food on offer,hopefully it will go to good use.

Sounds like a great cycle, well done buddy. Good luck with pct.

Thanks for the review mate. There's not enough in depth ones. Will be running this next year. Much appreciated

Nice cycle review, particularly helpful for other beginners! 

Coming up on 2 weeks since I completed the cycle.
 
Within 2 days I started feel myself again - more motivated / less lethargic / no more throbbing pains around the base of my back. I was quite surprised that I've kept the majority of my strength gains! Perhaps lost 5% strength. Unfortunately I can't say the same for my weight gains - lost 4 of the 10 pound gained so far. Oh well - was expecting that but doesn't make it any less of a p*sser.

Just coming up to the end of PCT of Reversitol V2 and Activate Xtreme. Strength has generally stayed with me - perhaps lost 10%.  I've increased the lifting weights across the whole of my routine with lower reps with the onset of PCT. Introduced creatine and mesomorph with PCT. Also re-introduce cardio (no marathons! just 2-3 miles gentle pace two or three times a week). Continued with high water intake - 3 litres per day. Libido is still DEAD... no interest in sex what-so-ever. I've gone from 14 stone 10 pounds at the end of the cycle to 14 stone 1 pound. That's a 9 pound loss of the 10 gained.
 
My final conclusion - for me personally - never again. Not worth it. Others may / will have different experiences as I'm sure it differs from person to person and have read plenty of accounts of guys keeping 80-90% of gains. Not for me - good luck guys! Hope your cycles have a happier ending than mine.
 
Cheers.

Good review & very helpful. Maybe worth looking into other PHs as may experience less side effects if you consider running another one?

Cheers for the review, bit gutted for you really, any ideas how you'll get your libido back?
 

Nice write up mate, but very sorry to hear you lost 9lbs out of 10lbs gained. 
 
Get your hands on some DAA and see if that helps with your libido. 

A serm pct may have helped with keeping of your gains.
 
But hey at least you've kept strength increases.

Vibora


A serm pct may have helped with keeping of your gains.

 
x2. Do you feel like your diet was on track throughout the cycle? Too few calories could have been another reason why you lost the weight.
 
Hope the libido is back soon, I know how it feels to look at a massive pair of sopping tits in the same way you'd look at an oak table. Not fun.

Vibora


A serm pct may have helped with keeping of your gains.

But hey at least you've kept strength increases.

Sure it would made a difference.

I don't think I'd want to do another cycle - but never say never I guess.  The sides were far too heavy a price to pay. What I will say is although I've lost a lot of weight - when bumping into people I've not seen for a month or two they are still mentioning my physique!?!
I was actually told by the company that I bought the PH from that SERM wasn't required for HDROL. But I guess everyone is different and if there is a next time it will be a different PH - perhaps EPI (I understand this is quite mild) and also a proper SERM for PCT. As for the sex drive - traveling SE Asia for a month next week so the sight of all that scantily clad skirt on the beach should have the trouser-tent twitching. :)
 
Cheers guys.

i have just read the initial post.
kidney pains, strained shoulder, deppressed state.
 
that's put me right off!
 
Cheers,
Karl.

Ok - sorry to drag this post out guys but I felt I had to post about this! About 5 weeks since I finished my cycle and just finished PCT. This week in the gym something completely unexpected has occurred. My controlled strength has shot up - probably backup about 10%!!! Seriously noticeable change in strength and only onset this week! It almost feels like it did when the Hdrol started to kick in! I'm lifting as much and in some exercises MORE than I was on cycle!?!?! Thought it was a one off on Monday - but this continued yesterday and today in the gym across all exercises! I thought I'd weight myself as well - 14 stone 4 pound (this could be attributed to all kinds of factors I know but still 3-4 pounds up on 8 days ago)!?!?! I'm guessing this is all due to my hormones balancing out and my natural test kicking back in? Libido also making a return (much to the relief of my gf).

Hows your Appetite did you start eating  more ? Libido being backs a good sign !