Am I ready for the darkside?

[1999TL]

So I've been researching my first cycle for awhile now, and I keep reading that people should hit their genetic max before cycling. I'm not quite sure I've reached it, but I know I eat and train like a madman and I am having a tough time getting any more gains without adding fat. In this pic, my abs are fatter than they were a couple months ago because I was tinkering with my diet going all the way up to 5k calories.

Stats:
5'9"
weight 172-175
BF: ~13% according to calipers.
Age: 26

Bench: 205X5
Squat: 225X10
Deadlift: 295X4

Not sure what maxes are, because I never do them. These are either my 2nd to last set or my last set.
Been training for about 7 yrs, on and off though. I guess I would always hit a plateau and then I would fall off. Been at it hard for the last few months.

By looking at my pictures, it seems I may not be ready by everbody's standards. I read that Guardian posted that he thought another person that was 5'10" should be 200 lbs b4 juicing. Hell, that would probably take me a decade and I might not even get there.

Anyways, let me know what you guys think.

 

[1999TL]

No back pic cuz I took it myself. I need work on my back and lats anyways.

Plus, I would like to stroke my ego by doing 2 plates on bench, and 3 plates on Deads. But I just can't get there, as of right now.

 

[dabuffguy]

you're 26?

go for it. just run some test @ 250-500. easy, clean, and you'll make big gains.

 

[1999TL]

Yes, I'm 26. But if you ask me tomorrow, Ill be 27. Damn I'm getting old.

errr, the dreaded debate. Was thinking of doing primo 400 mgs/week 1-10, 30 mg dbol wk 1-4. Or just 250 mg test E week 1-12, been leaning towards the primo though for no water bloat for the summer. Then my next cycle would just test+primo.

 

[drsketch]

Nice weight for that height. However looking at your body structure I thnk you could add more.

Have you been switching your routine up in the gym when you been hitting points you cannot get past?

 

[1999TL]

Well, this past week I started going for 10 reps instead of the 5X5 routine. I'm also incorporating 45 second rest intervals. My workout partner is out of the country for a month so I figured it would be a good time to change things up. the 45 sec rest intervals really kick my ass too, even with the lighter weight.

I can't even start a cycle until August anyways, so I'll probably order my gear in the next week or two and see how I do for another month or two.

 

[ironcheif1984]

No back pic cuz I took it myself. I need work on my back and lats anyways.

Plus, I would like to stroke my ego by doing 2 plates on bench, and 3 plates on Deads. But I just can't get there, as of right now.

So you cant rep 225 on flat bench and you cant rep 315 on deads correct.

 

[1999TL]

So you cant rep 225 on flat bench and you cant rep 315 on deads correct.

Sadly, No.

 

[ironcheif1984]

Sadly, No.

So what are you working out with right now. And have you tried upping the weight slowly

 

[1999TL]

I was doing 5X5, but now I switched to a 10 rep routine. Yes, I've tried upping the weight slowly. Kind of sucks not having a workout partner though. I think it may be messing with my mental side.