L
loafy777
New member
- Awards
- 0
Hey all.
I have been reading various posts on the site for hours at a time for the past month or so. During that time, I got the itch to start my first epistane cycle and had some questions. Hopefully, this will be a landing zone for those questions in addition to the actual cycle log. I'm thinking that I will start in 2-3 weeks with the pre-cycle, so 4-5 weeks out on the epistane.
Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and my apologies for the ensuing novella.
QUESTIONS
GOAL
Recomp. I also wouldn't hate it if that recomp involved packing on slabs of lean mass.
Previously: 185 lbs @ 18.4% bf (Roughly 2.5 years ago)
June 25, 2012: 180.7 lbs @ 10.67% bf
October 5, 2012: 175.7 lbs @ 8.84% bf
November 26, 2012: 188.1 lbs @ 7.74% bf
I apparently carry ALL KINDS of visceral fat because I don't see how the numbers are accurate compared to other people. For example, my upper abs are barely visible, if at all. The referenced comps are professionally done however, so I really shouldn't have any reason to doubt them. I guess that's just the way that I am though...
PLANNED DOSING
NUTRITION
Honestly, this is the area where I'd most like some feedback.
I'm currently running IF, most closely resembling LeanGains. The freedom that it provides is, for me, a much nicer lifestyle than some of the other nutrition plans I've implemented over the years.
That said, I'm not sure the benefits of intermittent fasting will be as pronounced on a cycle versus the more natural approach. I don't know...
Target Macros: Averages. Might be slightly more or less each day.
BLOOD WORK
I have been reading various posts on the site for hours at a time for the past month or so. During that time, I got the itch to start my first epistane cycle and had some questions. Hopefully, this will be a landing zone for those questions in addition to the actual cycle log. I'm thinking that I will start in 2-3 weeks with the pre-cycle, so 4-5 weeks out on the epistane.
Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and my apologies for the ensuing novella.
QUESTIONS
- Is there any compelling reason that different brands of epistane cannot be used simulataneously?
Specifically, I'm thinking of snagging 2 bottles of Havoc by RPN and 1 bottle of Ep-Stane by Dynamic Formulas. The rationale is to (a) have the flexibility of the varied dosages per pill and (b) a sort of backup plan in the event that one formulation or the other is less effective.
UPDATE: Meh... epstaneman appears to be getting great results out of the Ep-Stane and it's much more economical. I'm just going to snag 3 bottles of that and do 2 cycles assuming positive results.
- What is the "standard" pre-emptive dosing of taurine?
I've seen people mention 3g - 10g daily, though the manufacturer dosing recommendations say not to exceed 3g/day
UPDATE: Based upon some additional digging, I'm going to shoot for 3g pre and another 3g post workout.
- Is it overkill to pre-cycle with CEL Cycle Assist, extra Hawthorn Berry and Liv.52?
It would be my intention to continue them all through the six week cycle (total of 8 weeks).
UPDATE: Perhaps it is overkill, but I'd rather play it safe.
GOAL
Recomp. I also wouldn't hate it if that recomp involved packing on slabs of lean mass.
Previously: 185 lbs @ 18.4% bf (Roughly 2.5 years ago)
June 25, 2012: 180.7 lbs @ 10.67% bf
October 5, 2012: 175.7 lbs @ 8.84% bf
November 26, 2012: 188.1 lbs @ 7.74% bf
I apparently carry ALL KINDS of visceral fat because I don't see how the numbers are accurate compared to other people. For example, my upper abs are barely visible, if at all. The referenced comps are professionally done however, so I really shouldn't have any reason to doubt them. I guess that's just the way that I am though...
PLANNED DOSING
Daily supplements: [COLOR="#99000"]Weeks 1 - 16, unless otherwise noted[/COLOR]
- Opti-Men Multivitamin (1 pill, 1x daily... I seem to piss it out at that dosage much less the recommended 3 pills)
- Fish Oil (6g or so daily)
- Whey Protein (25g - 100g+ to meet minimum 1g protein/day)
- Xtend BCAAs (5g - 10g)
- Vitamin D (5000IUs)
- Himalaya Liv52 DS (130mg of capparis spinosa) (1 pill, 2x daily) UPDATE: Going daily after epstaneman's elevated levels. Playing it safe isn't bad in this case.
- CEL Cycle Assist (4 pills, 2x daily)
- Hawthorn Berries 565 mg (1 pill, 2x daily)
- Epistane @ 45/45/45/45/45/45
Week 1 will ramp 15mg, 30mg, 30mg, 30mg on days 1 - 4 respectively - Taurine @ 3g? ...or whatever is recommended per the question [#2] above
- CEL Cycle Assist (4pills, 2x daily)
- Hawthorn Berries 565 mg (1 pill, 2x daily)
- Research Nolva @ 20/20/10/10/-/-/-/-
- Erase (standard/non-pro) @ -/-/3/2/2/1/1/-
- PES Alphamine @ -/-/-/-/3/3/3/3
Ramping dosages per manufacturer, ie. 1 scoop morning / 1 scoop 5-6 hours later to assess tolerance - DAA @ 3g/3g/3g/3g/-/-/-/-
NUTRITION
Honestly, this is the area where I'd most like some feedback.
I'm currently running IF, most closely resembling LeanGains. The freedom that it provides is, for me, a much nicer lifestyle than some of the other nutrition plans I've implemented over the years.
That said, I'm not sure the benefits of intermittent fasting will be as pronounced on a cycle versus the more natural approach. I don't know...
Target Macros: Averages. Might be slightly more or less each day.
- Protein = 225g (40%)
- Carbs = 225g (40%)
- Fat = 50g (20%)
- Total Calories = 2250
Updated nutrition info here. ↑
BLOOD WORK