posted August 17, 2000 10:14 AM               

MY BACKGROUND:
I'm 27 and have been lifting naturally for about five years (although I have used all the andro products). I generally train very intensely and heavy in lower rep ranges (8 � 4). I'm also a big believer in efficiency over volume � I always strive to get the maximum benefit from the least possible stimulus. In other words, I make every set count and don't overtrain my muscles on a consistent basis. I stick primarily to multi-joint exercises and round out with isolation exercises where it makes sense. The core of my workouts center around squats, deadlifts, dips, pullups and standing presses. I use a workout split of four days on, three days off, with legs on day 1, chest on day 2, off on day 3, back on day 4, shoulders day 5, day 6 and 7 off, arms on day 1 of the following week. Repeat workout cycle. While on my cycle, I adjusted this to 5 days on, 2 days off, using the same split, less one rest day.

Prior to lifting, I weighed about 175 lbs. During the time I have been training naturally, the heaviest I've been is 217 lbs. (with about 17% bodyfat) my average has been about 203 lbs. @ 14%. Prior to starting this cycle, I was 195 lbs. @ 13% bodyfat. I stand 5'11". Over the years I've made good progress.

GOALS:
I decided that for my first cycle I would try a two-week cycle as advocated by Bill Roberts. I have several reasons for this protocol. My goal with this cycle is not to add a lot of mass, but to add between 6 lbs. � 10 lbs. of quality muscle that I could keep on after the cycle � while keeping water retention to a minimum and perhaps shedding some fat. With this type of protocol, you can do up to nine cycles a year. So even at just six pounds a cycle, the potential exists to add 54 pounds of quality, maintainable muscle over the course of a year.

My primary concern is health. I know there are other cycles that would add mass a lot faster, but I felt that by keeping it in the two-week range, that I would: a) avoid my natural hormones shutting down, b) avoid increased cortisol levels that result from prolonged cycles, c) be able to add muscle that I could keep, d) be a little safer easier on the system than a prolonged cycle � hit 'em hard and get out, just like the gym!

In this same vein, I chose to use only human drugs and narrowed my selection to two specific cycles. Either a deca/winstrol stack or a primo/d-bol stack. I ended up with the latter of the two because that's what my source was able to provide at the time.

The benefits of this drug selection in my mind was that d-bol would act as a "kicker" to the cycle and would compliment primo � which is very low androgenic qualities � nicely. The primo would remain active in the system for two or three weeks and naturally taper. I chose to add clomid in to further limit water retention and to act as a safety guard.

THE CYCLE:
As I mentioned above, the stack is primo/d-bol/clomid. For the cycle, I procured 800 mgs of primo, 500 mgs of d-bol and 600 mgs of clomid. Here's how it looks:

Day ---- Primo ---- D-bol ---- Clomid
1--------200 mg----40 mg ----N/A
2 --------N/A ---------40 mg-----50 mg
3--------N/A-----------35 mg-----N/A
4--------N/A ----------35 mg-----50 mg
5 -------- 200 mg----35 mg-----N/A
6 -------- N/A----------35 mg-----50 mg
7 --------N/A-----------35 mg-----N/A
8-------- N/A-----------35 mg-----50 mg
9 --------200 mg----35 mg-----N/A
10-------- N/A----------35 mg-----50 mg
11--------N/A----------35 mg-----N/A
12 -------- N/A---------35 mg-----50 mg
13 --------200 mg----35 mg-----N/A
14 -------- N/A----------35 mg-----50 mg
15-19-----N/A----------N/A---------50 mg

THE RESULTS:
After one week, I have gone from 195 lbs. @ 13% bodyfat to 200 lbs. @ 10.9% bodyfat.

Visually I am much bigger, the muscles are fuller and abs tighter. I have a constant pumped feeling. Water retention is minimal, if any. Strength increases have been minimal but endurance is up. Psychologically, I have been on cloud-nine � I am positive and feel great! Hopefully week two goes as well, I am happy with the added muscle, but would like to see better strength increases. It looks like 6 lbs. � 10 lbs. should be easily achievable on this cycle. Overall, a positive experience.

Stay tuned for week two results!

posted August 17, 2000 12:42 PM               

I'll give you that there could be some variance in conditions from bodyfat test to bodyfat test that might skew the numbers, but I would maintain that the above stated numbers are pretty close. Maybe it's only a 1.7% decrease -- whatever, I would hazard to say that, at most, we're talking within half a point.

As for water retention, yes, I COULD be holding more than I think I am -- but I know my body pretty well, I think I'm pretty close. It's not a perfect science.

Efficiency of the cycle -- this type of cycle and drug selections have been pumped up by Nelson Montana, Bill Roberts, Brock Strasser and a number of others. I believe that Roberts even did at least one case study (although I couldn't find the reference on mesomorphisis).

I've got no reason to distort the facts. I'd report it just the same if it was a giant failure. There's no shame in failure, just in not trying. To me, it's just about spreading the knowledge and experience. I know I've benefited quite a bit from others.

So far, I'm quite happy with the results of this cycle (although I'd like to see more strength, as I stated above). Time will tell if the overall goals are met. I'll keep you posted.

Later.

posted August 18, 2000 09:29 AM               

The rationale behind doing the primo/d-bol this way (which may prove to be incorrect) is that because primo is active for 2 - 3 weeks after the last shot and takes at least a week to kick in, the d-bol kick starts the cycle and about the time your going off the d-bol, the primo is starting to kick in at about 400 mg a week. In effect, your doing a 4-week cycle (2 of d-bol, followed by 2 of primo ((with a little overlap in the middle) -- even though your only taking the drugs for 2 weeks.

I don't think 400 mgs of primo a week for a couple weeks is a waste. It is my hope that it will "solidify" gains and maybe add a couple pounds. Time will tell...