Approved Log Testosterone only TRT cycle Log

[toddthelineman]

Hey Team

New here, I thought I would start a log to keep myself accountable and have a record for myself as I haven't really logged any of my training for years, and also would love some input and tips from people who have been in this game longer than me.

Background

I've been lifting for about 10 years now, did a few shows in my first 2 years of training but haven't stepped on stage since 2016. I also competed in Outrigger Canoeing for the past 7 years as well as jiu-jitsu for the past 4, so needless to say, programming rest into my training program has been a challenge.

Previous anabolic use:
I have rather limited experience with anabolics, I did a short 12 week cycle (Sept-Nov) last year of 250mg Test E/wk (split into 4 does taken throughout the week)
Baseline Bloodwork was all normal (I can upload screenshots of bloodwork if anyone is curious)

Testosterone Pre cycle - 11.4nmol (328.89ng/dl)
Testosterone during (7nweeks in) - 21.2nmol (611.62ng/dl) -questionably low considering I was taking 250mg/wk, possibly under dosed and/or I'm a fast metabolizer?
Testosterone Post cycle (11wks post cycle) - 14nmol (403.9ng/dl)

Despite the low Test reading on my bloods, I still put on 12kg over that time (100kg-112kg), so the gear was still effective, so to speak.
In hindsight I do wish I had taken progress photos for that, hence taking the time to log this time around.

Plan

This time around I'm planning on starting at 250/wk for the first couple of weeks, possibly going as high at 350 depending on how I feel and getting bloods done after 8 weeks or so.

Currently eating around 4000-4400 calories (Mon-Thurs) while I'm at work, and 3000-3500 (Fri-Sun).

May increase calories 10% or so depending oh how weight gain goes, I did notice blood pressure increased 10-15 points with the rapid weight gain last time, so I will try take it slower this time around and see if that helps.

Currently weighting in at 104kg.

Supplement wise I don't really take much, just the daily 5g creatine (pre bed), 30g Zinc (pre bed) and 4g Beetroot extract (pre workout).

I have found the beetroot has helped with BP (dropped 10 points on average since I started taking it), I probably should start taking magnesium again too as I naturally run BP on the higher side (usually 124-130 / 60-70). Open to other suggestions re BP supps.

Training split generally looks like :
Mon - Jiu-jitsu ( I use this as a rest day, light drilling for the most part )
Tue - Lift (following a PPL split)
Wed - Jiu-Jitsu
Thurs - Lift
Fri - Jiu-Jitsu + Paddle or cardio
Sat - Jiu-Jitsu + Lift
Sun - Paddle/Cardio + Lift

Paddling frequency will increase of the next few months as I am going to be training for a race in Hawaii in October.

In addition to training mentioned above I also try get a 45 minute walk in every day too.

As far as goals are concerned, I would like to gain a bit more size (not too much before October though), after that I am thinking about getting back on stage next year.


Cheers

Wow dude. You’re really big, and really ripped. Is it possible that you placeboed yourself on your previous cycle, and since you thought you were on gear, you turned everything up to 11 and got results? The last blood test I took at 250mg had me around 2000 mg/dl, but I was also taking hcg.

You have the type of physique that people already are going to assume or accuse you being a steroid user. If you do take enough to get some high blood levels I think you’re going to transform rapidly, and really enjoy it.

I’m very interested in seeing this play out!

 

[LevButlerov]

Update :

 Got a bit sick this week (mon-wed) interesting to see a possible corelation between BP and illness, about 12 hours before i started feeling off, BP increased and remained elevated whilst i was sick (got up to 150-80) and immediately normalized once I felt better.

Food :

Weight - 108.5kg

Weight gain has finally slowed (only up 0.5kg on last week) So I've increased daily cals about 250-300, mostly from extra carbs.
Total daily calories are now approx 4400 mon-thurs and 3600 Fri-Sun, so we'll see how we respond this week.

To be fair total calories may even be slightly higher, as I have been a little bit more loose food wise this week, body composition is still trending leaner though so I'm not too fussed at this stage.

I've been slack on taking progress photos, but I'll try get some up over the weekend, if I remember later.

TRAINING :

Friday -

Am - lift
Legs (quads/glutes)

Warm up

Hip thrust machine
40 for 15
80 for 17
Ss Weighted hip aeroplane
15 10-12 x2

Smith squat (1 sec pause at bottom)
40 for 15
60 for 15
80 for 10 - 10+1

Pendulum squats (ATG 3/4 up)
30 for 15
40 for 12
50 for 7 ds 30 for 10 (ouch)

DB BSS
16 for 15
16 for 16
16 for 15
RT knee not loving these - heavy forward lean

Smith calf raises (ease the ankles back into it, slow+control)
Empty for 25
20 for 21x2
Ss sissy squat
Bw - 1 sec hold and negative for 5x3

Pm - Jiu-jitsu - easy 50 minutes or so drills and light rounds

Saturday :

Am - Paddle - 1.04.51 - 11.35 km - felt good, moderate easy pace

Pm - Lift
Back

Warm-up
Seated rears FB fly
9 for 15-16 x3

Bb shrugs (forward lean, RT trap still not 100%, can't do upright)
60 for 21
90 for 15 x3

Bentover bb row
60 for 15
90 for 10 - 10 - 11 - 10

Bentover DB row
36 for 15 x3

Chest supported row
50 for 10
55 for 10
60 for 8 ds 40 for 10

Iso-lateral low row
30 for 15
40 for 12
45 for 10
45 for 8 ds 30 for 10

Lat pulldown
67 for 15
77 for 10+1
77 for 10

Single arm cable pullover
6.25 for 15
11.25 for 15
13.75 for 7-5-5-5 (btb)

Standing cable curl
15 for 25
17.5 for 21x2

Preacher curl machine
15 for 12x3

Feeling a bit meh, still got in and got it done though

Sunday

Am - Cardio - 32k on the bike - 1hr

Pm - lift

Legs (hammies)

Warm up
Lying leg curl (singles)
15 for 10
7.5 for 15 or so

Standing leg curl
15 for 21
20 for 15 x2

2" deficit RDL
60 for 17
100 for 12
100 for 15 x2

Single leg RDL
32 for 12 x3

Core
Ab wheel
10

Tri-set x3
Lying leg raise - 10
Dragon flag negative - 3
Toes to bar -5 +5 leg raise

Single leg press
80 for 15 x2

Lying leg curl singles
15 for 5-5-5-5-(duo slow till faliure)


Good pump
Really felt the single db RDL's today

Monday
Am - 45 minute walk
Pm - (sick, 5k walk, try to sweat it out)

Tuesday
Am - rest
Pm - lift
Chest

Warm-up
Incline upside-down kettle bell single arm press
12.5 for 25 x2

Flat bench
60 for 21
100 for 10
120 for 6
140 for 2
150 for 1
155 for 1
120 for 12
120 for 10

Incline db
40 for 12 x2
40 for 12 ds 30 for 12+3

Nautilus Incline press machine
20 for 15
30 for 12
35 for 9 ds 20 for 10

Dips
Bw for 12 x3

Baby incline db fly
17.5 for 15 - 15 - 17
Ss Seated db laterals
10 for 15 x3

OH Tricep ext
30 for 14 - 15x2

Cable pushdown
100 for 25
120 for 21
150 for 15+1
150 for 15 ds 100 for 10 - 70 for 15

Still feel a bit under the weather but happy with how the weight moved
Left forearm was not happy after Flat bench though for some reason, RT wrist felt a little niggly too

Wednesday
Am - Rest
Pm - Paddle - 1.15.46 - 12.24km - easy pace, wrapped up warm and tried to sweat it out again

Thursday
Am - 15 minute walk
Pm - Lift
Back

Smith bentover row
30 for 15
60 for 15
80 for 10
90 for 8
90 for 80 ds 60 for 10 - 30 for 21


Single arm.DB row
40 for 12
46 for 10 x3

Iso-lateral low row
45 for 12
50 for 10
50 for 10 ds 35 for 15

Iso-lateral lat pulldown
40 for 10 x3

Lat pulldown (wide neutral grip)
77 for 12x3
Ss Lying cable upright row
26 for 17
33 for 15 x2

Seated alt db curl
16 for 12 x3
Ss Seated db rears fly
8 for 15 x3

Cable curl
21.25 for 15
21.25 for 15 ds 11.25 for 17

Smith shrugs (forward lean, RT trap still not 100%)
70 for 15 x4

Solid back pump, probably the best I've had in a long time to be fair

welcome back I see you doing a lot of flat bench, you do any push ups? how about pull ups? not seeing it here. @rish

 

[rish]

Wow dude. You’re really big, and really ripped. Is it possible that you placeboed yourself on your previous cycle, and since you thought you were on gear, you turned everything up to 11 and got results? The last blood test I took at 250mg had me around 2000 mg/dl, but I was also taking hcg.

You have the type of physique that people already are going to assume or accuse you being a steroid user. If you do take enough to get some high blood levels I think you’re going to transform rapidly, and really enjoy it.

I’m very interested in seeing this play out!

Nah it definitely wasn't placebo, my test did still increase and my training didn't really change too much (at that point I was paddling a lot more and was only lifting 2-3x/week)
So that 12kg had to have come from somewhere!
I will be interested to see where my blood levels are at in the next few weeks this time round.

 

[rish]

welcome back I see you doing a lot of flat bench, you do any push ups? how about pull ups? not seeing it here. @rish

Yeah I do love me a bit of flat bench
I don't do that many push-ups, I usually cycle the into my training very periodically as a finisher at the end of a workout.
Pull-ups I do a bit more often, I did them the week before I started logging so I'm sure they'll make an appearance in my back workouts again soon

 

[LevButlerov]

Yeah I do love me a bit of flat bench
I don't do that many push-ups, I usually cycle the into my training very periodically as a finisher at the end of a workout.
Pull-ups I do a bit more often, I did them the week before I started logging so I'm sure they'll make an appearance in my back workouts again soon

Try to open with push ups you'll love it

 

[rish]

Progress pics

Weighed in at 110kg this morning (not fasted) so up another 1.5kg ish

(probably has something to do with the 3k cals worth of cheesecake I ate the last 2 nights...)

 

[Npcclassicphysique champ]

Progress pics

Weighed in at 110kg this morning (not fasted) so up another 1.5kg ish

(probably has something to do with the 3k cals worth of cheesecake I ate the last 2 nights...)

you can pose real good broly @rish i see back is HIT and thick and wide double Bi like a win

 

[rish]

you can pose real good broly @rish i see back is HIT and thick and wide double Bi like a win

Cheers bro
I'm gonna try work on my lat spreads and engaging my legs in my front double bi better

 

[Npcclassicphysique champ]

Cheers bro
I'm gonna try work on my lat spreads and engaging my legs in my front double bi better

you have an amazing wide lat play broly

 

[stevesmi]

Progress pics

Weighed in at 110kg this morning (not fasted) so up another 1.5kg ish

(probably has something to do with the 3k cals worth of cheesecake I ate the last 2 nights...)

@rish You are looking fantastic, man. Seems like you're putting on a little bit of size. I love cheesecake but my stomach doesn't love it.

 

[BodyMonster34]

Progress pics

Weighed in at 110kg this morning (not fasted) so up another 1.5kg ish

(probably has something to do with the 3k cals worth of cheesecake I ate the last 2 nights...)

@rish bro 110kg how much in american weight? i don't understand weird ass metric shit

 

[rish]

@rish bro 110kg how much in american weight? i don't understand weird ass metric shit

242.5 in freedom units bro

 

[Mobster]

Progress pics

Weighed in at 110kg this morning (not fasted) so up another 1.5kg ish

(probably has something to do with the 3k cals worth of cheesecake I ate the last 2 nights...)

And I bet you didn't even save me a fkin slice... c'mon lol

 

[ceo]

Progress pics

Weighed in at 110kg this morning (not fasted) so up another 1.5kg ish

(probably has something to do with the 3k cals worth of cheesecake I ate the last 2 nights...)

@rish bros cheesecake good. but us black folk got a hard time digesting dairy. gives me the shits. i gotta find dairy free cheesecake

 

[ROIDDERS]

Progress pics

Weighed in at 110kg this morning (not fasted) so up another 1.5kg ish

(probably has something to do with the 3k cals worth of cheesecake I ate the last 2 nights...)

@rish cheesecake will do it. they have some healthier cheesecake options made from nuts and fruit

 

[Ulter]

Progress pics

Weighed in at 110kg this morning (not fasted) so up another 1.5kg ish

(probably has something to do with the 3k cals worth of cheesecake I ate the last 2 nights...)

@rish You look fantastic buddy, just go easy on the cheesecake. There are some better options if you have a sweet tooth. maybe some raw maple syrup and protein pancakes

 

[2Thick]

Progress pics

Weighed in at 110kg this morning (not fasted) so up another 1.5kg ish

(probably has something to do with the 3k cals worth of cheesecake I ate the last 2 nights...)

@rish One of the things I like about you is your hard work and dedication. Don't worry about the cheesecake. You'll burn right through it. Make sure you do some facet cardio.

 

[BodyMonster34]

242.5 in freedom units bro

bro we use pounds and ounces. nobody here uses metric lol. that shit too complicate

 

[RoySimpson]

Progress pics

Weighed in at 110kg this morning (not fasted) so up another 1.5kg ish

(probably has something to do with the 3k cals worth of cheesecake I ate the last 2 nights...)

@rish looking incredible bro!

 

[ballin2504]

Progress pics

Weighed in at 110kg this morning (not fasted) so up another 1.5kg ish

(probably has something to do with the 3k cals worth of cheesecake I ate the last 2 nights...)

@rish looking killer big guy