Archie's First Ever Hdrol Cycle Journal - ideal reading for Newbies

With the aim of both helping others and keeping record, this journal will detail my first ever cycle on Hdrol.
 
It all started here:
 
http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/tm.aspx?high=&m=3616741&mpage=2#3632359

The background behind the cycle concerns training which has reached a bit of a plateau and needs a little extra 'something'.

Having trained for two years my progress has been reasonably good.  I've lost quite a lot of body fat and increased strength.  But my SIZE is bothering me.  I might be strong, but not big enough.

My training sticks to the basic principals of Full Body workouts, and compound moves.  In brief:

Squats
Deads
Bench
BOR
MP

I decided upon Hdrol having spent a lot of time researching here and on other internet sites.  As a 'milder' DS it seemed like a logical one for a first attempt.

I did rather fancy a go with SD (Superdrol) but this seemed a little more hardcore for a first timer.  Hdrol also appealed to me as it seems to have fewer side effects.

After a lot of advice and consideration I purchased Hdrol and to assist my cycle invested in:

Milk Thistle 250mg Capsules
Hawthorn Berry 525mg Capsules
Vit B Complex

..........and in preparation for PCT (Post Cycle Therapy):

OTC Advanced PCT
Nolva

In preparation of the cycle I took 500mg (two capsules) of Milk Thistle a day ONE WEEK before starting.  I wanted to give my Liver some added support in readiness.

So, on Saturday 3rd October 2009 my cycle got underway.

I decided to take 50mg of Hdrol (that is two 25mg capsules) for the first two weeks and take note of any sides.  One capsule in the morning and one in the evening - effectly drip feeding it into my body.

To assist the cycle I have increased the Milk Thistle to 1000mg (1g) per day.

So far I have had no sides whatsoever.

If anything a somewhat 'placebo' effect has lifted my spirits so far and weirdly my lifts in the gym have increased by 5 to 7kg.  No joke.  I added 5kg to my Bench and 7kg to my Squat.  (In saying this I have increased my calorie intake in recent weeks and this may be the reason).

Superb start mate, subbed!!!

Up to you mate but i find it good to take before measurements/weight, etc, so you can compare after and it gives watchers a more indepth look at how hdrol has worked for you.

Last but not least GOOD LUCK!!! This is going to be good

Muscle Finesse Board Representative

Must be the hdrol already mate, 5kg increase wouldnt happen becasue of increased calories. But its hard to see how the hdrol has kicked in already but hey, your not complaining :)

Muscle Finesse Board Representative

I'll be checking this thread daily !! Good luck dude....

I'll be reading this pal, good luck

Good luck with this mate

Uplift is likely placebo - an amazing effect really, shows us all how much control the mind has over what we can lift

Well it's Day FIVE and the workout this eveing went well.  I am just about maintaining the marginal increase in weight lifting, so I feel it confirms the therory of the placebo effect.

I thought I should add that I am taking my Hdrol capsules AFTER a meal.  That is one after Breakfast, and one after my evening DINNER.

With no sides appearing at all I am a happy man.  I had read some stories of testicles shinking, headaches and sore nipples but there has been absolutely nothing to speak of thus far.

Okay, for the newbie bulkers amongst us I thought it might be good to detail my diet.  This is what I've today and is typical of most days:

7.45am  BREAKFAST
100g of Porridge made with water and a scopp of protein thrown in and stirred at the end.  I also add a small handful of raisins.

11am Mid MORNING SNACK
In a blender I mix 50g oats, two large tablespoons of yogurt, whole banana, three teaspoons of peanut butter, tablespoon of Milled Flax, good pint of milk and two scoops of whey.  Mix and drink.

1pm LUNCH
Can of tomato soup and two large wholemeal pitta's filled with tuna, advacodo, baby spinnach and tomato.

3.30pm Mid AFTERNOON SNACK
Large tuna sandwich made with wholemeal bread and advacado.  Apple.   (Sometimes have same as Mid Morning Snack)

7pm PWO SHAKE
Two scoops of whey and two scoops of Ultra Fine Oats.

8pm DINNER
Sirlion steak and mixed green salad with soy beans and olive oil dressing.
 Followed by a cartoon of Alpro Soya Milk - chocolate flavour.

9.45pm/10pm (yet to have) EVENING SNACK
Usually nuts or cottage cheese, or yogurt with a scoop of flavoured whey mixed in.

BEFORE BED
Usually same as above - or one from the list.

Throughout the day I drink Green Tea and around 3 to 4 litres of water.

Costs so far........

You will have to appreciate that the rules of this site do not allow me to mention where I have made purchases, however some have been online and other from popular health food stores.  Irrespective here is a breakdown of what this Hdrol cycle is going to cost:

Hdrol (60 capsules) £30
Milk Thistle (250mg 100 capsules) £20
Hawthorn Berry (525mg 100 capsules) £7
Vit B Complex (250 capsules) £15
OTC PTC (90 capsules) £28
Nolva - rather not say

Good going buddy, cool updates...will you weigh yourself once a week or what mate, what about measurments?

ps - enjoy growing :D

Muscle Finesse Board Representative

Yes mate, I'll make that my next post! (quite possibly tomorrow)

Having had a rather busy day I've not yet had time to carry out detailed measurements of chest, waist, arms etc - yet will do so very soon.

I did however, manage to weigh myself upon waking this morning using my 'highly accurate' Salter digital scales.  I can advise that I weigh exactly 13st 0.

It is going to be my intention to weigh myself weekly and I shall post my results here accordingly.

Nice job weighing yourself just the measurements now when you get time mate, i find it good to see what youve gained by taking before and after measurements and weight. I usually weigh in every week when on cycle too.

How many times a week do you carry out that FB routine mate, 2 or 3? How many sets would you do?

Muscle Finesse Board Representative

U gonna post up your weights sessions?

WEEK ONE COMPLETE

Yesterday saw the end of my first week of the cycle and in many ways I am pleased it has gone to plan.  In particular with no side effects - the benefits of a milder cycle I guess.

THE TRAINING

I train four times a week.  Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays (short session) and on Saturdays.

I will continue to do this throughout the cycle and into PCT.

To answer Dan's question (above) - YES!  I have given my workout schedule in a post above, however in a little more detail:

Squats 3 x 10 at 85kg
Deads  3 x 10 at 90kg
Bench  3 x 10 at 85kg
BOR  3 x 10 at 40kg (sometimes 45kg)
MP (standing) 3 x 10 with 16kg DB's in each hand

EXPECTATIONS

My workouts have certainly felt more 'intense' this last week, but I can not say that I have grown - or noticably so.  I am hopeful that the second week of my cycle will see something 'kick in'.  It would be great at the end of this to see some increased leg and arm size - my weakest looking body parts.

Nice update mate. You should see growth no problem mate, just eat big and train hard and watch your weight and lifts increase.

Whens your first weigh in mate?

Muscle Finesse Board Representative

To add to my liver support program I have also purchased Himalaya LIV.52, which I understand aids liver enzymes and also INCREASES appetite.  Let's see what difference that makes too!

(Measurements will soon follow incidentially)

Felt incredibly tired and lethargic today, despite an early night last night.  Could this be the Hdrol kicking in?

My workout this evening went (just) okay, but I did find myself yawning a bit in the gym.  I usually thrive on a good session but not today.

Weird mate, ive never heard of hdrol causing lethargicness.

Muscle Finesse Board Representative

^^ +1

I hope this goes well, im considering doing a h-drol cycle after my cut !

I fear gyno may have started!  Just my bloody luck.

A comment from my other half yesterday made me think about it.  Then today I have been much more aware about it.  Basically I appear to be 'growing' a bit too much on my chest. 

When I tense my pecs they are quite firm, but when relaxed they appear to stick out a little too much.  From comments I have read on this website 'bitch tits' would seem an adequet description.

I am now seriuosly worried and do not know what to do.

From the beginners pages I note that taking Nolva NOW is sometimes the answer to bring GYNO under control.  I quote:

Nolvadex (Tamoxifen citrate)
Nolvadex is not a steroid but a triphenylethylene with potent anti-estrogenic properties. Its clinical use is primarily in chemotherapy for cancer patients. It is very useful and successful in combination with a steroid regimen at reducing water retention and preventing gyno. Nolvadex is probably the most commonly used anti-oestrogen mainly due to its mostly positive effects, availability and low price. Controversy surrounds the fact that it anecdotally appears to reduce gains made on a cycle, mostly due to reduced water retention, but most users agree that losses, if any, are minimal and its always difficult to say what gains may have been made in its absence.
Dosing
An effective dose seems to be 10 to 20mg/day.
At first signs of a possible gyno, take 20mg/day until symptoms subside, then 10mg/day until completion of cycle and post-cycle Clomid therapy.


So the question I must now ask is 'do I start the nolva now alongside my cycle or ditch the cycle and commence with my OTC PTC and Nolva?

Help!

Gyno on H-drol

you sure your not just being paranoid?

10 Week Test-C Cycle
http://www.worldofselfimprovement.com/index.html

AWG


Gyno or H-drol

you sure your not just being paranoid?

 
I am totally confused.  My chest has certainly grown somewhat and would appear to stick out slightly.  It isn;t 'that' bad, but certainly enough to worry me.  I've stuck to 50mg a day thinking that would be a mild dose.
 
I'm going to try and upload a picture.

I think a picture would be helpfull yes

10 Week Test-C Cycle
http://www.worldofselfimprovement.com/index.html

Ok mate dont worry, never heard of gyno on hdrol, post up about this in the prohormone section mate and get advice from the experienced members. On Sd the first sign of gyno i got was an itchy nipple i started 20mg nolva straight away and that kept it under wraps.

I hope its not gyno mate but the others eg celt/daari would know more, if you get symtoms nolva should sort it, if youve missed it and theres a lump, is there? Then letro should sort that.

Muscle Finesse Board Representative

Also if you got time google hdrol gyno and see what you can find.

Muscle Finesse Board Representative

     
 
     

   
 
 
 
    

Cant really tell from that pic. I didnt think hdrol aromatised? but anyway is there any lumps behind the nipples? sorness? itchness?.

If not your probably being paranoid, water retention can cause the nipples to become puffy somewhat on cycle which really scares people into thinking they have gyno when they havent. Puffyness will reduce during pct.

Strictly business

Yeah agree with arnold hard to tell from pics bud.

Muscle Finesse Board Representative

arnold84


Cant really tell from that pic. I didnt think hdrol aromatised? but anyway is there any lumps behind the nipples? sorness? itchness?.

If not your probably being paranoid, water retention can cause the nipples to become puffy somewhat on cycle which really scares people into thinking they have gyno when they havent. Puffyness will reduce during pct.

 
Nope.  No soreness, no lumps or itchiness either.
 
Could it simply be water retention?  Quite possibly.  I am going to montior the situation over the next few days and see how I get on. 

It has been a few days since my evening  of panic concerning possible gyno.  I regret that I may very well have over-reacted.

I am going to put my concerns down to the comment made by my other half and severve DOMS from a previous mega chest session including heavy cable flyes.

Having visited my parents yesterday who haven;t seen me for three or four weeks, it was great to hear them comment that I was looking rather broad.  My mother said, quite positively, that I looked as if I'd bulked up a bit.

When standing in front of the mirror my shoulders certainly seem bigger, and I delighted to see that my arms are fractionally bigger too.

At weigh in this morning I am 13st 3.  That is 3 pounds more than last Friday. 

I am reasonably sure that the cycle has finally 'kicked in' and it will be from now that gains will be more noticable.  In fact I am now considering increasing the Hdrol to 75mg per day for the next two weeks.

With regard to side effects (apart from my unfounded panic the other night about gyno) there is nothing really to comment upon.  I have felt a little tired this last week, but work has been busy and I have been putting a lot into my workouts.

I propose to finally get round to posting measurements over the weekend.

Yeah dw mate i **** them when i got itchy nipples lol but nolva sorted that.

Nice weight gain so far mate.

Better take measurements soon casue your growing quick ;)

Upping to 75mg isnt a problem mate, assess the situation and up the dose if you wish.

Muscle Finesse Board Representative

Right it has been a while since my last post.

Just to update you guys, as of Saturday (17th October) I increased the Hdrol to 75mg per day.

I am now taking a capsule in the morning, after lunch and in the evening.

My weight seems to be increasing, but I have noticed my middle (stomach) is a bit bigger too.  I am going to continue to pile on the food and lift heavy for another 3 weeks - using Hdrol for an extra week too!  Afterwards I'll work on losing any additional fat - or might it be water retention?

Water retention has alot to do with your diet so celt tells me, but ive never heard people say hdrol was wet for them.

Muscle Finesse Board Representative

STOP the panic, you're worried about everything here man, you are doing well, you have a good base, HDROL will not aromotise or make you feel fat or bloated, gyno is sore, very sore, not just itchy you get real pain.

If you are eating you are growing and unfortunately you may add abit of chub, so to prevent that, lower fats increase carbs and proteins, but to be honest man, Chill, loose fat after the bulk, you are hardly obese or even chubby so relax and enjoy.

CONDOR


STOP the panic, you're worried about everything here man, you are doing well, you have a good base, HDROL will not aromotise or make you feel fat or bloated, gyno is sore, very sore, not just itchy you get real pain.

If you are eating you are growing and unfortunately you may add abit of chub, so to prevent that, lower fats increase carbs and proteins, but to be honest man, Chill, loose fat after the bulk, you are hardly obese or even chubby so relax and enjoy.

CONDOR I am sure you are right.  My panic has come to an end however. 
 
I am now focusing on enjoying my last two weeks on the cycle.