Real Power Can't Be Given

[realsoundjim]

hey, man, even 10 pounds in 9 days is great, although we can best say it is water. still, good signs man. havent began posting my log yet, i will thgough and keep u posted. good luck.

[Cardinal]

Day 11
August 4, 2004

Bodyweight: 205
Sleep: 7 hours
Food: 4000 calories
Midworkout BP: 122/68

Pullups
210x2x5 (stronger), 210x4 (hit failure)
High Pulls
115x4x7 (no change)
DB Curls
50x8, 50x5
HS Low Rows
200x2x12, 200x11
SLDL
295x7
*Finished with 10 minutes incline walking

Observations

Modest increase in pullup strength. Those sets didn't come easily though. I should have trained the deadlift first. High pulls weren't quite agreeing with me (form issues), so I cut the deadlifting sets a bit short.

Tommorrow will be a day off from training. I am working on a 3 on, 1 off approach at the moment. I still need to work on hitting 8 hours sleep a night. Usually makes possible strength gains a reality for me.

[Cardinal]

Day 12
August 5, 2004

Bodyweight: 205
Sleep: 7.5 hours
Food: 3700 Calories
Training: Off

Notes

This last three day training cycle left me with some expected DOMS. However, in addition, I am feeling a level of general achiness in my joints/muscles that is a bit more than I would normally expect. I am also feeling a bit like I have a mild headcold, minus the runny nose/sore throat etc. Basically, mild/moderate body aches and stiffness with a bit of mental fuzziness. Nothing too severe. On the positive side, muscle cramping has diminished quite a bit (due to muscle recovery I believe).

I am going to make a couple of minor alterations over the next couple of days, cutting down food volume (not cals) and getting a bit more rest. I have a feeling my diet may be causing some of the aches. Part of the achiness may also be due to the fact that I am carrying around a lot more bodyweight than I am used to.

I plan to run the M1T through the end of my next training cycle, Sunday totalling 15 days worth. I am basically going to give it a couple of days and see how I feel. This second week 'on' is turning out to be interesting re: its effects. I want to see how/if I can manage them for the better.

-Cardinal

[Cardinal]

Day 13
August 6, 2004

Bodyweight: 212 lbs
Sleep: 8 hours
Food: 3500 Calories

Training

Squat
195x5, 205x5, 215x4, 225x3, 235x2, 245x1
Leg Press
360x12 (easy), 450x7, 470x4, 490x4 (20 lb PR)
Leg Curls
85x3x6
DB Curls
50x2x9, 50x8

Observations

Stronger. Again.

Woke up feeling kind of crappy. In an ill-fated attempt at getting out of bed at 6 a.m., my right oblique cramped up. Weird. I added another 7 lbs of bloat and water retention. 2lbs heavier than my previous high of 210 last cycle. It feels odd holding this much water. Dietary changes over the next couple of days will help this somewhat.

As the day progressed, I started feeling much better. Took 2 green tea capsules (~200mg caffeine) along with some nicotine gum and drastically reduced my food consumption early on. Both helped out immensely.

I noticed some slight puffiness and a tad bit of nipple irritation today also. Probably a bit more than a placebo effect. Could be from the M1T or the higher dose of 4AD. As a precautionary measure, I am going to take 30mg nolva until it subsides completely, reducing the nolva drastically as soon as symptoms abate.

Re: training, I am slightly stronger on the squat than my peak last cycle. Depth was decent but not quite to parallel. My form seems to change more to a powersquat as the weight moves up. I generated quite a nice pump from only three sets of curls.

Cold like symptoms are not noticeable but I still have some achiness in my joints overall and it took me quite a while to warm up today. I also had to be careful getting into position for squatting so I didn't induce a cramp right during the set. That would not be cool. For reference I will summarize my experience with M1T at the end of the first couple of weeks. Suffice it to say right now that I experience a number of the common sides reported in a very individualized way.

[Cardinal]

Day 14
August 7, 2004

Bodyweight: 200 lbs
Sleep: 8 hours
Food: 3500 Calories
Blood Pressure Postworkout: 118/62

Training

Incline Bench
170x2x5 (+ 5lbs), 165x5
CGBP
180x5 (no change), 175x5
DB Overhead Press
60x8 (+2 rep), 60x3x7 (+1 rep)
HS Dips
260x2x9 (+10 lbs)
Tricep Pushdowns
70x2x8 (+5 lbs)
DB Tricep Extensions
30x8, 30x7 (+1 rep)

Notes

Stonger. Weight increases in everything save CGBP. 10 lb drop in bodyweight overnight. Took 40mg Tamoxifen, decreased food volume and worked lawn care for about 1.5 hours yesterday evening. I feel markedly better than I did 2 days ago overall minus some of the food bloat and water retention. Cold-like symptoms are gone. Cramping was still a major problem training chest today.

Upon waking, I still felt the ab/oblique cramping. I believe this is what most people are referring to when they mention the lower back pain. For me it is not pain like you would get from doing heavy hyperextensions for example, but more of an internal sort of pain that radiates through to the abs. Tough to describe but I think I can reliably add that to my list of side effects now.

I mixed up a new batch of trans 4-AD yesterday as well. Got 10 grams to dissolve in the 120 mL T-Gel bottle. Wasted a good 1/2 gram in transfer though. I would indeed make a horrible chemist. Lord help me if I ever try more complicated homebrewing.

[Cardinal]

Day 15
August 8, 2004

Bodyweight: 198
Sleep: 8 hours
Food: 3500 Calories
Blood Pressure Post w/o: 124/62

Training

Pullups
198x10 (PR), 198x8,7,6
Neutral Chins
198x8
Partial Deads
315x5 (knee), 335x5 (knee), 315x6 (mid-shin)*
*Strength increase noted by how easy it was to go much lower with the weight.
Farmer's Walks
110's x 3 trips
DB Rows
100x6
Curls
50x7
DB High Pulls
55x9, 50x2x10

Observations

Still hitting some PR's. My abs, chest and shoulders cramped up too much after the farmer's walks to do machine rows and bothered me doing curls also. No problems with pulling muscles. All pushing muscles cramping to some degree.

Tomorrow will be my last day on M1T (tough for me to give it up!). The 1-Test transdermal should be kicking in within the week and I'll be adding M5AA as planned.

[Cardinal]

Day 16
August 9, 2004

Bodyweight: 198
Sleep: 7 hours
Food: 4200 cals
Training: Nope, sat on my ass and ate

Day 17
August 10, 2004

Bodyweight: 203 lbs
Sleep: 6.5 hours
Food: 4000 cals

Training

Squats
195x5, 215x5, 225x5 (+20 lbs, tough), 245x2, 225x4
Leg Press
360x10, 450x5, 470x5, 500x4(+10 lbs), 510x3
Leg Curl
85x3x7(+1 rep)
Curls
50x10
DB Rows
100x9
Pullups
203x6

Notes

I ate too much last night and didn't sleep well or much at all. Woke up feeling somewhat crappy and spaced out. Wasn't expecting a good workout.

The last 2-3 days my joints have felt much better. I believe the 1-Test has/is kicking in somewhat. This effect was noted last cycle as well. When I got to the gym and started warming up the weights felt incredibly light. After this workout I am officially in PR range on the squat. I woosed out on on the 245 and didn't quite make depth on the double, stopping a few inches shy. The work at 225 was solid. I basically already hit my goal with this lift which was to workout with 225 consistently at a good rep range. Did I mention how good it feels to not have joint pain!

Did a little pulling work at the end of the session and hit some PR's there too indicating nearly full recovery at the 48 hour mark after a pretty intense session. I have snuck in a few extra sessions and I think I may do this a bit more often. More growth opportunities.

Stopped the M1T yesterday. Tonight I am starting the M5AA. I think I may go ahead and run it a bit more agressively at 50mg/day. Definitely feeling motivated about strength training at this point.

-Cardinal

[Cardinal]

Day 18
August 11, 2004

Bodyweight: 204
Sleep: 7 hours (solid rest)
Food: 4000
BP: 139/62 (kind of high for me)

Training

Incline Bench
175x5(+5 lbs), 175x2x4
HS Dips
270x10(+10 lbs), 270x2x9
DB OH Press
60x8(easy), 65x5, 65x2x6(PR)
Tricep Extensions
30x12, 30x2x10(+2 reps)
Laterals
30x2x10(stronger)
Pushdowns
70x2x10
HS Decline
140x8, 140x7

Notes

Chest cramped up again, making it difficult on the inclines. I had a slight headache going into the workout and felt like my blood pressure was a bit high. Turns out is was a bit high! I took extra rest between sets and it didn't bother me much after that. I can only imagine what it feels like for some folks that get high blood pressure on M1T...that must be rather annoying and a bit dangerous.

Training Addendum:

I was fiddling around with my COC#1 Grippers. Got 13 clean reps with right hand and 12 shady reps with lefthand! I'll see if such progress continues. I want to hear the click of that #2 soon!

[Cardinal]

Day 19
August 12, 2004

Bodyweight: 207
Sleep: 6 hours
Food: 3800 cals
Preworkout BP: 124/61 (normal)

Pullups
208x3x6
Partial DL's
315x5, 335x4(lost grip, easy weight), 355x3
HS Iso-Lateral Pulldowns
200x3x9
DB Armpit High Pulls
50x9, 55x9, 60x9
Curls
55x6, 55x5
Calves
385x3x15
Forearms
35'sx3x8, 35x2x20

Notes

Woosed out on doing farmer's walks, and substituted some wimpy forearm curling movements instead. Felt strong on the deadlift. The 20 lb jump was a bit much to pull 5 reps with though. Felt good handling the 55's on curls toward the end of the workout. Goal now is to get to 70's. I usually make good progress on the pulling movements and I think I can make it close to that.

I still noticed what felt like increased blood pressure in my head and neck region. I especially notice it when I lay down. That is the reason for only 6 hours sleep last night. I am back taking hawthornberry so maybe that will help.

[Cardinal]

Day 20
August 13, 2004

Bodyweight: 210
Sleep: 8 hours
Food: 3400 Cals
Training: Off

Day 21
August 14, 2004

Bodyweight: 198
Sleep: 8.5 hours
Food: 3600 cals
Blood Pressure pwo: 124/63

Training

Squat
215x5, 230x5(+5), 225x3x5
Leg Press
450x8, 500x4, 450x7
Curls
55x7
DB Rows
110x2x7(PR),
Leg Curls
90x2x7(+5lbs)
Calves
2x12

Notes

Solid workout overall, good focus. 225 felt very comfortable on the squat. Good depth and overall control. About 5lb strength gain from last workout 4 days ago. My lower back was feeling a little funky presumably from the deads done day b/f yesterday. Leg presses didn't help that any either.

[Cardinal]

Day 22
August 15, 2004

Bodyweight: 197
Sleep: 8.5 hours
Food: 3600 Cals

Training

DB OH Press
60x8, 65x4x7(+1 rep)
HS Dips
280x5, 280x5, 280x9, 280x8, 275x8
DB Laterals
30x2x10
Tricep Pushdowns
75x7
Tricep Extensions
35x7, 35x6, 30x13(+1 rep)
HS Decline
140x9(+1 rep), 140x8

Complaints

Cramping in chest very bad once again. Couldn't bring the bar down to do incline bench and barely managed dips after several failed attempts at doing a proper set. Decline again seemed to bother it least. I'll try first in routine next go round. Overhead pressing not a problem and progressing nicely still. That is my training focus on pressing anyhow. Looking forward to tomorrow's pulling workout.

To deal w/cramping, I am adding even more K+ and Mg+ along with supplemental Ca+. Still shooting for 6-8 liters H20 ED.

[Cardinal]

Day 23
August 16, 2004

Bodyweight: Not Taken
Sleep:7 hours
Food: 4000+
Blood Pressure Evening: 124/62, same as always taken on different machine at Sam's.

Training

Pullups
199x9, 199x8(no change), 199x8
DB Rows
100x7(no change)
HS Isolateral-Pulldowns
205x10(+5 lbs), 205x9
Curls
55x6
DB Ab Work
80's x 14, 12, 10
1set Hanging Leg(make that knee) Raises
DB High Pulls
60x10, 65x2x7

Notes

First training session since day 6 that I haven't noticed strength increases. I was on a roll too. To adjust for this I am upping my cals to 4000+ for my next training cycle. Sleep has been good the last few days so I don't think that is the problem. If I don't notice anything from M5AA within the next few days, I will bump the dose from 50 to 70 mg ED.

[Cardinal]

Day 24
August 17, 2004

Bodyweight: 200
Sleep: 7 hours
Food: 4500+
Training: None

Day 25
August 18, 2004

Bodyweight: 203
Sleep: 9.5 hours
Food: 4100

Training

Squats
215x5, 230x2x5(tough), 245x3(+1rep), 255x1
Leg Press
450x8, 500x4, 450x8
Curls
55x8(+1 rep)
Leg Curls
90x7, 95x7(+5 lbs)
DB Rows
110's x 9 (+2 reps!)
HS Isolateral Pulldowns
210x12
Weighted Crunches
35x3x12
HKR
1x12

Notes

Didn't notice any quad cramping today. Chest didn't cramp up too much reaching to grab the barbell on squats as it has every time in the past. Good signs.

No strength increase on leg work from last workout. That was a bit disappointing giving I felt great overall and definitely recovered coming into the workout. Pulling work still progressing nicely as it always does. I am using the biggest DB they have on the rows. Feels good. I really wish they went up to 150's as I really enjoy using the dumbells.

I am getting a bit impatient and am bumping the M5AA up to 70 mg/day. Gonna see what this stuff can do at the higher dosing. When I run out of 10mg tabs, it goes up to 80 =D

Shooting for 10 hours sleep tonight. Already hit my calorie total for the day. Bodybuilding is a tough lifestyle let me tell you.

-Cardinal

[Cardinal]

Day 26
August 19, 2004

Bodyweight: 202
Sleep: 10 hours (mission accomplished!)
Food: 4200 Cals

Training

DB OH Press
65'sx7, 65x2x8(+1 rep), 65x9(+2 reps)
HS Dips
280x9(no change, tough on shoulders), 275x10
DB Laterals
30x12(+2 reps), 30x10
Tricep Extensions
35x2x8(+1 rep), 35x6
HS Decline
140x2x12
Farmer's Walks
1 set w/110's
JM Press
155x6

Notes

Almost all cramping gone! What a relief. Probably placebo, but I definitely felt more aggressive than usual and was able to crank out a few more reps out of nowhere. Methinks the M5AA is kicking in gear.

[Cardinal]

Day 27
August 20, 2004

Bodyweight: 200
Sleep: 7.5 hours
Food: 4000

Training

Curls
55x8(no change), 55x7
DB Rows
110x10(+1 rep)
HS Isolateral Pulldowns
220x9, 230x7, 230x6
DB High Pulls
65x2x7
Forearms
115x2x20, 135x20, +1 set w/40's
Leg Curls
95x7(not recovered)

Notes

Nothing much to report. Strength gains were minimal, didn't notice any increased aggression/focus. Only thing I took pre-workout was M5AA, no caffeine in my system. Trying to test out to see what effect it is having.

[SJA]

Yes. They are the nature's own double fiber loaves. I just made a bunch of sandwiches yesterday and ate them while I was studying throughout the day. It comes to about 40 slices bread total.

I am going to use more protein and fat meals today and skip out on the bread. Only major downside I have noticed so far is that it takes a lot of time to eat that much all day long. I am experiencing more soreness in my jaw than any other muscles at this point. Today will be my off day so to speak =D

Do you think that the bread may lend to even more bloating?

Your progress looks good. How much M5AA are you taking?

[Cardinal]

Thanks for stopping in SJA!

This is probably more information than you are looking for but...I think the extra fiber causes quite a bit of acute stomach distention (obviously), but nothing notable in the way of increased sub-c water retention. I have noticed significantly more sub-c water retention with the near 400mg 4AD I am using now compared to the 200mg I used in my last 1-T/4AD cycle. I 'think' I may be able to tell when I am getting too much estrogen conversion b/c I notice increase bloat and puffy nipples concomitantly. Now I am back to taking 10mg nolva each day, as I noticed more puffiness than usual once again. I have a strong feeling it is due primarily to the 4AD at this point.

I think someone with a wheat intolerance would be more likely to notice extra bloat from all that bread. Compared to an equivalent amount of cho from another non-fructose source, I haven't noticed more bloat. A lot of people seem to pin excess sub-c water retention on fiber. I don't see by what mechnism that could occur. Rather it just seems like the fiber would draw more water into the colon, creating bulk that way and enhancing regularity.

In addition to the 100+ grams fiber/day, I have consumed quite a few polyols that function as osmolar laxatives. I can handle up to about 200grams sorbitol/starch hydrolysate if I am careful. Lots of distention/gas but no sub-c water retention. I figure that is b/c they aren't as readily stored as glycogen etc.

I am taking 70-80mg M5AA each day. I have some 10mg tabs from sledge and lots of 20's from cnw. I want to see if I notice an effect on strength greater than I noticed using just 1-T/4AD alone. So far, I can't say anything definitive. My strength gains were better when dosing 5mg M1T actually than now. My next training cycle starting tomorrow should be telling as to whether the increase dosage from 50-70+ will yield results.

-Cardinal

[SJA]

How are you dosing your M5AA? Preworkout or spaced throughout the day? I found that if I took 20mg in the morning (~8 hours pre-workout) and then another 40mg about 1.25 hours pre-workout that I noticed strength and agressiveness in the gym....far more than just 30-40mg preworkout.

[Cardinal]

Interesting. I have been taking 20mg first thing in the morning and 30mg about 20 minutes pre-workout. I take a final dose or two in the evening to make up the total. Maybe I should try it more like 1 hour preworkout? I'll try that to see if there is an effect one way or another. Can't hurt.

[cr4ytonic]

Can't wait to hear how that goes, I am debating the two ways of taking it when I start in a week or two.