First time SARM cycle, IRC/MAresearchchems

[Soundwizard]

Hey guys first time poster, long time lurker. I hope I am doing this correctly and appropriately. If not I apologize and let me know!

Basically, after some research and reading and some time thinking; I’ve decided to research SARMS, MK-2866 in particular.

A little bit about my self:

25 years old
185-187lbs
18-20% bf
Been lifting for a year, before that I lifted when I was in high school.

Mainly want to research this compound for the weight loss or recomp benefits as well as healing benefits. Strength gains and some musculature would be ok with me as well.

I have one bottle of MK-2866 from IRC. I have read great things about them and also they’re proven to have upstanding customer service.

Also, I have GW and some Clomid on the way as well from MAresearch. I have done much less reading on them but this group seems to like them so I trust the source.

I am a bit indecisive as to how much and for how long I should use the MK. The thought of being suppressed or shut down seems scary. I am thinking of running it as long as the bottle lasts me if it’s dosed at 25mg ED.
The bottle is 30mg/ml. So I’m guessing maybe 15mg for 8 weeks is better. I suppose I could also start at a low dose and then ramp up to 20 or 25mg. ****, I should’ve bought two bottles lol. Oh well, it’s what I got now.

From MAresearch I got GW and Clomiphene on the way. That I can figure out quite easily on the PCT.

I wouldn’t need an AI would I?

Maybe I could run the osta and GW at the same time? But perhaps better to have it for PCT because of its “anti-cortisol” properties.


Anyway, what do you think bros? There’s lots of info out there and everyone IS different and I just want to be extra cautious about this stuff even if it might not a big deal to many of you on here.

 

[Whisky]

Hey bro, would be remiss of anyone to not point out that with your current year of lifting plus bf at 18-20% you can probably make as much improvement natty (by nailing diet and training) as you will with osta.

I’d even say a natty anabolic (vector, x gels etc) would give you as much (mainly through the focus of being on something)....

Also, I’ve used gw and I like it, on cycle it’s great for lipids but osta isn’t harsh enough for that to be a concern. I’ve found it useful in pct so would start it towards the end of the cycle and run through that. You say you haven’t researched it much though and you should - there is talk around cancer links, personally I looked at all the studies and was ok with it but you need to make that call yourself, don’t just go with what a bunch of roid heads on a forum say.

Having not run osta personally others are better placed to comment on cycle length etc but from what I’ve seen 8 weeks at 15 is probably your best bet but don’t expect much from it to be honest.

You shouldn’t need an ai. Some will say you don’t even need clomid for pct (I wouldn’t say that but again it’s mixed, people are low dosing osta in pct now).

Again, personally I’d suggest saving it and not running it at all. If you are determined then run it with a proper pct as a good practice before you undoubtably move onto stronger compounds

 

[Soundwizard]

Hey whiskey.
Thanks for your reply.

I’ll look into vector and x gels whatever they are. I see you’re point and yes I have considered going natural for longer. Probably will.

Training and diet has been going great. Ive been in a 600 calorie deficit and keeping track of my macros. Making an effort to keep everything balanced. Really hard to do with my lifestyle.

I will read up on GW more, I have heard about the cancer stuff. What I’ve read on that is more like anything I’ve read on any sarm. Not enough information. But maybe there’s more to be found.

I don’t want any crazy results, if i could just lean out a bit while putting on a bit of lean muscle would be great. Ive read about people that got pretty good results on 20mg of osta for 4 weeks with detailed documented routine.

 

[Whisky]

Hey whiskey.
Thanks for your reply.

I’ll look into vector and x gels whatever they are. I see you’re point and yes I have considered going natural for longer. Probably will.

Training and diet has been going great. Ive been in a 600 calorie deficit and keeping track of my macros. Making an effort to keep everything balanced. Really hard to do with my lifestyle.

I will read up on GW more, I have heard about the cancer stuff. What I’ve read on that is more like anything I’ve read on any sarm. Not enough information. But maybe there’s more to be found.

I don’t want any crazy results, if i could just lean out a bit while putting on a bit of lean muscle would be great. Ive read about people that got pretty good results on 20mg of osta for 4 weeks with detailed documented routine.

Glad to hear your looking at staying natty bro.

For context my first cycle was last year and came after 4 years of proper training. I was also sub 15% bf.

Personally I ran a 1/4/epiandro stack - bit of a classic first stack and one I’d reccomend. Low on sides but solid gains and recomp effect.

 

[Soundwizard]

Thanks for your input man.
I’ll still decide on it soon, as I haven’t made up my mind yet.

I am always willing to learn more. Is that stack a ph? I heard those have terrible effects on your lipids and liver enzymes.

 

[Whisky]

Thanks for your input man.
I’ll still decide on it soon, as I haven’t made up my mind yet.

I am always willing to learn more. Is that stack a ph? I heard those have terrible effects on your lipids and liver enzymes.

It is a ph stack but a mild one (and bear in mind that many ph’s have at least been around a while and the sides are known, many sarms haven’t been, but osta is one of the most studied to be fair)

 

[Soundwizard]

Alright, so today I decided that I was going to do Osta. I thought, “why not? I already bought it.” Probably a dumbass idea on my part but what’s done is done. I’ll try and keep a little log for myself and anyone else that wants to read or chime in.

Day 1
15 mg dosed in the morning.
The bottle reads 30mg/ml, so I took .5ml for 15mg. It was 2pm.
Suspended in ethanol and PEG400.
Tasted like smell of freshly chlorinated pool water yum.

4 hours later, I took my pre workout (I’m trying out MuscleTechs brand pw. Took it with high volume by PES and some D Aspartic acid.)

I hit the gym and hit new PRs on bench. 255 for a double and 230 for 5. And that was after benching in my normal routine. I’m not chalking it up to the osta just yet.

About half hour after the gym, I start feeling this brain fog over me. I don’t feel retarded or anything but the feeling is unsettling. Not unlike coming off of High Volume PW. Went to the Walmart to buy deodorant and jumped on the blood pressure machine.
I always knew my blood pressure was around 130/80 or something to that. A bit high. It’s mostly genetics, and simply the sodium I eat in the day, I know it. It read kind of high maybe 137/90 which isn’t great lol I know but it could be anything. I just got done working out, I had the equivalent to like 3 or 4 cups of caffeine In one dose, and I feel a cold coming on. It could be anything. So I didn’t chalk it up to the osta. I got out with my speed sticko and ate some fish oil and a multi for good measure.

3 hours after that I eat lightly and drink a bottle of water and , here I am laying in bed with this brain fog that hasn’t gone away. And I have this slight worry that maybe it only gets worse from here.

We will see how tomorrow goes. I’ll have to keep checking my blood pressure for peace of mind, don’t know if the osta affects it or not.

GW and Clomid on the way in the mail.

Overall great work out with great pumps. New PRs. But I am getting sick with a cold I think. I have brain fog. I am worried about blood pressure.

 

[Soundwizard]

Day 1 sleep was terrible. My body was burning up. Caffeine and Flu didn’t let me sleep. When I did fall asleep around 230am, I had to get up to piss like 3 different times.
Went to work anyway.

Day 2
Took the osta 15mg at 2pm. In the following hours felt lethargic. Didn’t want to stand, move, talk. Skipped out on the gym because of flu. Sleep was better.

 

[Soundwizard]

Day 3
Feeling better. Less sick.
Administered 15mg
Skipped the gym again

Lethargy was less pronounced

Night 3:
Sleep was good.

 

[Jeremyk1]

Since you’re still taking the ostarine, sounds like it may be the preworkout that messed you up. Keep an eye on that.

 

[Soundwizard]

Honestly, that’s exactly what it was. I’m only taking half a dose now with a pump non stim.

 

[Soundwizard]

Day 4
15mgs At 2pm

Hit the gym, I felt like I could go forever. Pump and recovery is the same.

Went out and had some drinks. Got a little out of hand. Feels bad man.

Anyway, nothing yet. As I suspected.
Lethargy is still there, heavy brain fog could be because of being sick still. Idk. I’ve had it before through natural causes so I know how to cope. No anxiety or anything like that. Although I am slightly more irritable but I could attribute that to the whole “I don’t want to do anything at all” mood.

I’m going to do the GW and bump the dose to 21mg on day 7.

 

[Wobmarvel]

Okay I'm not a know all sarms expert but I will say that you will not feel the effects of ostarine at all on day one. Week one or possibly at all through the whole cycle so what happened to you was probably a combination of reaction to the pre and mind playing tricks. Placebo had you hitting prs and you maybe gave your cns a bit of a shock bringing on flu like symptoms.

Ostarine definitely works, I have run it a few times usually at 25mg per day for up to twelve weeks. It is very mild though with regards to effects. If your diet is nailed and your workouts are spot on and your physique is already moving in the right direction it will help speed up the process. It will not give you a 4 week transformation however. I feel it helps with nutrient partitioning and protein synthesis at a relatively mild level so will make a good diet plan work even better to achieve your goals.

It's one of the most popular sarms but also the one that is most acused of being bunk because a lot of guys who are not progressing due to poor diet and workout regimes get frustrated when after a few weeks they look the same. It will not mask lackluster workouts and poor diet with nitrogen retention like a harsh prohormone.

 

[Soundwizard]

Okay I'm not a know all sarms expert but I will say that you will not feel the effects of ostarine at all on day one. Week one or possibly at all through the whole cycle so what happened to you was probably a combination of reaction to the pre and mind playing tricks. Placebo had you hitting prs and you maybe gave your cns a bit of a shock bringing on flu like symptoms.

Ostarine definitely works, I have run it a few times usually at 25mg per day for up to twelve weeks. It is very mild though with regards to effects. If your diet is nailed and your workouts are spot on and your physique is already moving in the right direction it will help speed up the process. It will not give you a 4 week transformation however. I feel it helps with nutrient partitioning and protein synthesis at a relatively mild level so will make a good diet plan work even better to achieve your goals.

It's one of the most popular sarms but also the one that is most acused of being bunk because a lot of guys who are not progressing due to poor diet and workout regimes get frustrated when after a few weeks they look the same. It will not mask lackluster workouts and poor diet with nitrogen retention like a harsh prohormone.

Yeah, definitely. I’m not expecting much at even 4 weeks. And I agree it’s possible all that you mentioned with the effects.

To be honest my diet can use some help lately. I’ve been In The process of moving lately and I haven’t had time to properly cook appropriate meals between work and packing and of course the gym.

It’s only day 5 so I’m not too worried or expecting anything just yet. I’ve recently read that osta has been proven not to I crease bone density according to Gtx. That is the opposite of what I’ve been reading everywhere else.

 

[Wobmarvel]

For cutting I recommend eating the same foods every day. Then it's easier to lower the calories as needed and remove the guesswork. Also make sure it's food you crave. The best diet is the one you stick too.
I've said this elsewhere on the forum but when I dropped 40lbs last year my diet consisted of...

Breakfast. Protein shake with 2 scoops whey, a whole banana, soy milk (I now use almond milk), water, instant oatmeal, peanut butter, creatine and cinnamon. I would mix two of these upon waking so they are ready to go. I would eat an apple with this. That's 50gms protein right there.

Lunch would be chicken legs or thighs cooked on the bone, skin on with bbq seasoning. 2 to 3 pieces depending on size plus another apple. About another 60 to 70 gms protein. These would again be cooked upon waking and eaten cold or if your willing heat up in the microwave at lunch time.

Mid afternoon would be the other shake already made up.

Dinner would be 2 slices of white bread with fried ham, mushrooms on top then cheese, 2-3 fried eggs, ketchup and salt.

Workout would be an hour or so after this and post work out would be Greek yogurt with a scoop or 2 of whey, peanut butter and raisins. I wouldn't have this on non workout days. I worked out 3 days per week.

I still eat like this now. Its all food I look forward to, no plain chicken breast with rice, no plain egg whites. The only real downside of this is that if you always double scoop the whey you are using 6 scoops on a workout day and a tub doesn't last long but that's about 250 grams of protein in a day which is arguably too much anyway for a bodyweight of 180lbs so even at single scoops your lowering calories by 375 and protein is still 160 to 170gms. Then it's just a case of weighing in every morning. Weigh 3 days in a row and calculate the average to see if your dropping weight, if so keep diet the same, if not start by removing the fats, dead easy. Remove the peanut butter from one of the shakes. Weight over the next three days. Check again and remove the peanut butter from the other. Then the next step for me was no cheese in the evening meal, then no oatmeal in the shakes etc.

And thats it. I also used a multi, fish oil, vit d3, fat burners, preworkout and bcaa/eaa drinks but these are all optional. With no peanut butter or cheese and single scoops of protein I ended up eating about 1800 cals a day at a bodyweight of 168.

Now don't do this diet if you hate peanut, hate chicken etc. Workout what you would crave everyday and build around that.

 

[Soundwizard]

For cutting I recommend eating the same foods every day. Then it's easier to lower the calories as needed and remove the guesswork. Also make sure it's food you crave. The best diet is the one you stick too.
I've said this elsewhere on the forum but when I dropped 40lbs last year my diet consisted of...

Breakfast. Protein shake with 2 scoops whey, a whole banana, soy milk (I now use almond milk), water, instant oatmeal, peanut butter, creatine and cinnamon. I would mix two of these upon waking so they are ready to go. I would eat an apple with this. That's 50gms protein right there.

Lunch would be chicken legs or thighs cooked on the bone, skin on with bbq seasoning. 2 to 3 pieces depending on size plus another apple. About another 60 to 70 gms protein. These would again be cooked upon waking and eaten cold or if your willing heat up in the microwave at lunch time.

Mid afternoon would be the other shake already made up.

Dinner would be 2 slices of white bread with fried ham, mushrooms on top then cheese, 2-3 fried eggs, ketchup and salt.

Workout would be an hour or so after this and post work out would be Greek yogurt with a scoop or 2 of whey, peanut butter and raisins. I wouldn't have this on non workout days. I worked out 3 days per week.

I still eat like this now. Its all food I look forward to, no plain chicken breast with rice, no plain egg whites. The only real downside of this is that if you always double scoop the whey you are using 6 scoops on a workout day and a tub doesn't last long but that's about 250 grams of protein in a day which is arguably too much anyway for a bodyweight of 180lbs so even at single scoops your lowering calories by 375 and protein is still 160 to 170gms. Then it's just a case of weighing in every morning. Weigh 3 days in a row and calculate the average to see if your dropping weight, if so keep diet the same, if not start by removing the fats, dead easy. Remove the peanut butter from one of the shakes. Weight over the next three days. Check again and remove the peanut butter from the other. Then the next step for me was no cheese in the evening meal, then no oatmeal in the shakes etc.

And thats it. I also used a multi, fish oil, vit d3, fat burners, preworkout and bcaa/eaa drinks but these are all optional. With no peanut butter or cheese and single scoops of protein I ended up eating about 1800 cals a day at a bodyweight of 168.

Now don't do this diet if you hate peanut, hate chicken etc. Workout what you would crave everyday and build around that.

That’s pretty much what my diet is. Honestly. I’m at 2500 cals daily is I want to drop 1 lb of weight every week. It seems to be working at a slower pace but I’m ok with that. Soon I’ll go to 2400. I usually load up on protein. 50% protein, 30 fat, and the rest carbs. Sometimes I switch the carbs for the fats and alternatively I cycle the 50% for fat and carbs some weeks to see how I do. All in all lately I’ve been trying to have everything in a balance. 33% across the board on macros. I do need to work on my salt intake.

 

[Soundwizard]

Day 8
Used a little bit above 7.5ml of osta which comes to about 22.5mg. Used 2ml of the Cardarine from MAresearch. That’s 20mg. Tasted much better than the osta lol kind of sweet actually. Also, it had small particles in the solution. Idk what it was, it wasn’t bubbles. Anyone know what It could be?

Anyway I did that around 3pm since I got busy with work instead of the normal 2pm.

I have noticed the brain fog and lethargy are gone. I’ve been getting some deep sleep, Luke I haven’t had in a while. A little more tightness and vascularity. With that, I’ve always known my nips were a bit puffy since I was an adolescent. But this time I’m noticing a little bit more than usual. No itchiness or pain. Maybe it’s just me. I’ve got Clomid on hand just in case and some otc estrogen blocker. Should probably invest in some AI.

Very mild strength gains. I definitely feel stronger. Weight has stayed the same even with caloric deficit

 

[Soundwizard]

Day 14

Noticeable testicular shrinkage.
I’ve been feeling my balls settle for some while now. They are more tender and softer.

Weight has stayed pretty much around the same. 185-189. That’s with food and pw and water in the system. I think if anything I’ve gained weight. I haven’t done my BF% but I will soon. I do look more muscular though, maybe slightly. I should have taken a before pic.

Recovery is fast, I only wait like a day or maybe one night and I can go again.

I do admit my diet has been bad because I haven’t been home. Fleas are everywhere because of these damn cats and I have been making periodic visits for treatment.

Strength has been going up steadily. As compared to before, I wasn’t making any progress in strength because of the cut.

I think I should bring up why I chose sarm over, let’s say, test. As a first cycle, test seemed reasonable but the possible sides were too much. I don’t think I would be able to handle any arising issues because of my lifestyle and work. Blood tests and levels and lipids and liver values and all this other stuff? It just didn’t seem worth it to me. I pretty much work 24/7, I don’t have insurance at the moment and the pay hasn’t been great this year. Doing T would take a great amount of effort and stress that I wasn’t going to put up with. Sarms on the hand, when I saw they had minimal suppression and sides with the mild gains I would want, it was too perfect. I didn’t want to take test and then all of a sudden blow up and have my family and friends ask questions. And then on top of that worry about my health and money.

Ostarine and GW was a good choice for me.

GW has been in my system for about 5 days? I haven’t noticed anything. Maybe, warmer than usual. Again, I have seen these small particles in the flask, don’t know what that means.

Nipples are ok.

 

[Soundwizard]

So this is the end of Week 5
Week 6 is tomorrow. But I may end it here, the bottle is almost empty anyhow.

Definitely feeling the suppression, some days worse than others.

I will admit that my rat has gone full drunktard while on this chemical, only during weekends, so bare that in mind.
Stupid I know, but drinking is over anyhow. Its not as amusing as I used to think. Chalk it up to age, idk.

So starting between week 3 and 4 I noticed more emotional, or at least more sensitive. Emotions that normally wouldn't bother me, have bothered me to an extent of almost anxiety and nervousness. Rumination and depressing thoughts have become more apparent. Also, lethargy has been a thing lately and depressive episodes like laying in bed and not wanting to get up and do anything, or complaining about going to the gym or work, has been acknowledged. Im not sure if any test boosters will help because of the androgen receptors already being occupied. Only makes sense, correct me if I am wrong. Been taking DAA in my pw with some improvement, but only in the gym mostly. All of this is to this day. I should mention that with the suppression, my testes have also shrunk to about half their size.


ex drive hasn't changed, the only time it kind of fluctuated was during week 2-4 in which I had more sex drive than normal.
Strength gains have been pretty good. was at a plateau for about 4-5 months on my bench specifically before. Have added 30lbs on that lift. Joints don't hurt as much from mislifts on squats and deadlifts. And if ever become sore it only lasts about a day, two days if had crap sleep.


My diet has been **** as well but slowly coming back to better.

I had fleas in my house and had to move out for about a month. That set my diet pretty far back since the place I was staying at didn't have all my utensils or ingredients, I pretty much ate for free and home cooked meals everyday right after work. Some foods prepared were high in carbs or fat and protein so it was really hard to keep track on anything, I thought it was less stressful to just not worry about it and just kick ass in the gym. Blood pressure is about the same. Pre-hypertension stage 1 lol


Weight start at around 186 with about 20% body fat. During the first 2 weeks I dropped about 2 or 3 lbs. I am now at about 190-193lbs and body fat seems to be the same if not even lower I have yet to check. Im am certainly looking beefier, wider, more muscular than before. Family has noticed it and has commented on it. Possibly started as a cutting cycle but ended up a bulking cycle instead lol. My friend mentioned I looked wider. Definition is more "there" per say. Im pretty happy at where I am at. Now if only I could make my legs look as nice as my chest hmmm
..


Anyway, I am looking for PCT advice at this point now. I have clomid ready (from IRC, solution), I don't have any AI because I don't think estrogen will be a prob. I may quit soon, I don't like the way I am feeling and maybe I am scared when I know all will be fine.

Ive heard a standard dose of 50/50/25/25 of the clomid is best but, seeing as the osta has been mild in comparative terms to harsher or stronger chemicals I also think it may be overkill. Again, correct me if I am wrong please.

Overall, I don't think I will be doing this any longer 6 weeks. This experience has definitely made me more aware of how I may react with other chemicals or compounds.

So yeah
Mostly looking for advice on PCT to have ready, and maybe some other thoughts or comments.

 

[Soundwizard]

I stopped GW between week 2-3