My Road to Pro Card Log

TheIronKing

New member
Hey! I hope you’re all doing well.
This log will track my progress on the road to obtaining my IFBB Pro Card. I’ve committed to a multi-phase approach, with a major focus on my upcoming bulk. I anticipate this bulk phase to last around 26 weeks (roughly 6 months), with a potential mini-cut at maintenance calories around the halfway mark, depending on how my body responds. I’ll reassess my calorie needs during the bulk, aiming to make adjustments as I go.

Why this approach?
I understand the concerns around a 26-week cycle, but after carefully considering my long-term goals, I’m ready to make this commitment to get my physique where it needs to be. I’m already on TRT for life, so this is a natural progression in my bodybuilding career. I've used all the compounds in my cycle before and am familiar with how my body reacts, so I’m comfortable moving forward with this plan.
I’m not using any oral steroids during this cycle, except for anti-estrogens (AIs). I’ve opted not to stress my liver or kidneys further, especially with the high-protein diet I’ll be following and the extended use of PEDs. I also don’t recommend this kind of high-dose PED use for anyone else, as it can lead to long-term health issues. That being said, I am fully aware of the risks and am committed to making the necessary sacrifices to achieve my Pro Card.

Cycle Goals & Expectations
My main goal for this bulk is to gain 15-25 lbs of lean muscle. I’m confident that with heavy weights, high volume training, and a strict diet, I can hit this target. As most of you know, diet and recovery are paramount in muscle growth, so I plan to keep my cheat meals to a minimum—maybe once every two weeks. My calorie intake will be between 3500-4000 on training days and around 3000 on non-training days, depending on my energy levels and body composition. I’ll be keeping carbs liberal (400-600g on training days) to fuel my workouts, and my fats will be capped at 100g per day to avoid excessive fat gain.

Training Plan
I’ll continue to follow a classic Push/Pull/Legs (PPL) split, but with a slight modification. I’m dropping the dedicated shoulders and arms day in favor of reintegrating a second leg day. I’ve noticed my legs lagging behind, so it’s time to prioritize those "tree trunks" and push for some serious growth in the lower body.

Current Stats
- Age: 26
- Height: 6’0”
- Weight: 226 lbs
- Body Fat: 10-12%
(See attached photos for reference)
Cycle Breakdown

*Weeks 1-10*
- 400mg Test E / week
- 500mg Deca / week

*Weeks 10-26*
- 600mg Test E / week (may increase further based on progress)
- 500mg Tren A / week

Ancillaries
- Aromasin / Arimidex (as needed for estrogen management)
- Caber (for prolactin control)
- Proviron (for muscle hardness and free testosterone boost)
- Cialis (for blood flow and overall vascularity)
This is my blueprint, and I’m excited to see how my body responds to this extended bulk. I’m open to any feedback, suggestions, or insights you all may have, especially if you’ve run similar cycles or have experience with longer bulking phases.

Thanks for following along, and let’s get this journey started!
 
Hey everyone,
Checking in at week 9 of the bulk, and things are getting real. Strength is climbing, fullness is up, and the pumps are starting to get borderline painful (in the best way). I’ve officially wrapped up the first 8-week phase (Test + Deca), and I’m now transitioning into the heavier-hitting second phase with Tren A and higher Test. Thought I’d drop a full update and share some insights so far.

Cycle so far has looked like this:
Weeks 1–8: 400mg Test E / week and 500mg Deca / week.
This stack has treated me well. Smooth, consistent gains, minimal side effects, and recovery has been excellent. Deca did what it’s supposed to—joints feel amazing, and my knees are loving the extra volume. Libido dropped a bit around week 6, but adding Proviron at 50mg/day brought it right back and helped with overall mood and dryness. No major water retention. Slight facial puffiness here and there, but nothing concerning. Arimidex 0.5mg EOD kept estrogen under control.

Starting this week (week 9), I’ve bumped Test E up to 600mg/week and introduced Tren A at 500mg/week, split into daily microdoses. Proviron stays at 50mg ED. Also added Caber at 0.25mg twice a week, just to stay ahead of prolactin issues, and switched over to Aromasin at 12.5mg EOD for estrogen management.

I’m keeping daily pinning for Tren, which has made it more manageable in terms of sides. So far, just a slight increase in sweating, especially at night, and some vivid dreams, but nothing crazy. Mood has been better than expected. I’ve also upped post-training cardio to about 15–20 minutes, nothing too intense, but it helps keep things under control.

Training is still a Push/Pull/Legs x2 split. I’ve added a second leg day focused more on posterior chain and hamstring development, while the first leg day emphasizes quads and knee drive. Progress in the gym has been solid. Hit 130s x 8 on incline DB press, 275 x 6 on Pendlay rows, 5 plates per side on hack squat for 10 solid ATG reps, and pulled 565 x 3 on deadlift with straps. Grip is starting to limit me, so I’ve begun alternating heavy pulls with RDLs.

Current weight is 239.2 lbs, up from 226 on February 12. That’s just over 13 lbs in 9 weeks, and body fat has only crept up to about 13%. Waist is up only half an inch, and I’m still holding some vascularity. Abs are a bit blurred but not gone. Muscle bellies are round and full, especially in delts and chest. Photos coming soon once I break the 245 barrier.

Diet-wise, I’m eating around 4,000–4,300 kcal on training days and about 3,200 on rest days. Carbs range between 400–600g daily, protein stays around 250g, and fats are kept under 100g. I’ve been sticking to a cheat meal every 10–14 days. Last one was sushi and a burger night, and somehow I woke up dry and 3 lbs heavier. Appetite is starting to dip now that food volume is up, so I’ve added more liquid meals and easy-digesting options. Still clean eating 90% of the time.

Supps are standard: whey isolate, EAAs during training, fish oil, vitamin D3, K2, magnesium, digestive enzymes, and of course, health support for liver, kidneys, and blood pressure.

Bloodwork is scheduled for Week 11 just to make sure everything is tracking okay before I move into the final stretch. I’m keeping a close eye on sleep and BP. So far, no signs of gyno, prolactin issues, or serious sides from Tren. If that changes, I’ll adjust the protocol.

Plan from here is to keep pushing food and training hard up to about 245–247 lbs, then reassess. If body fat creeps above 15%, I may run a quick 2-week mini-cut to keep things sharp and preserve insulin sensitivity. Otherwise, I’ll hold and continue clean gaining to around week 20 before backing off into cruise/PCT depending on bloods and physique condition.
This has been the most productive and smoothest start to a bulk I’ve ever had. Structure and pacing are dialed in, and the compound selection is giving me exactly what I was hoping for. Tren is going to turn things up, and I’m ready for the next level.
If anyone has experience with appetite dips on high-calorie Tren cycles, I’d love to hear what helped you push through. Any go-to meals that are easy to get down when your stomach starts fighting you?


Thanks for following the journey. More soon.
 
Last edited:
August 6th | Week 25 of Offseason Bulk
245 Hit, Bloods Clean, and the Next Phase Begins

Hey everyone,

Checking in at week 25 of this long-ass bulk, and we’ve finally hit the initial milestone: 245.4 lbs on the scale (morning fasted, after a high-carb training day). Still holding some separation in the quads and delts, abs are soft but visible in the right light, and vascularity is solid through the arms, chest, and even a bit in the lower abs when pumped.


No, I haven’t stepped on stage yet—and no Pro Card yet. This entire phase was about building, not cutting. That being said, I’ve already locked in a show date for April 2026, which will be my first serious national-level qualifier. We’re staying focused, long-term.

🚀 Progress & Performance​


Let’s talk numbers and lifts:


  • Weight: 245.4 lbs (up ~19 lbs from February, up ~6 from April)
  • Body Fat: ~14.5% (estimated via visual/waist + calipers)
  • Waist: 35.0" (up ~1 inch total from start)
  • Strength:
    • Incline DB Press: 140s x 7
    • Hack Squat: 6 plates per side x 8 ATG
    • RDL: 405 x 10
    • Barbell Row: 315 x 8 strict
    • Pull-Ups: Still banging out sets of 10 with bodyweight + 25 lbs attached

This is by far the heaviest and strongest I’ve ever been without turning into a bloated mess. The Proviron has helped keep me looking tight, and Tren A has made every training session feel electric. Pumps have been skin-splitting on high-carb days—especially chest and arms.


🧪 Bloodwork & Health​


Got bloods done at the end of Week 21. Key takeaways:


  • BP: 122/78
  • Resting HR: 62 bpm
  • ALT/AST: Mildly elevated (as expected), but within acceptable range for enhanced athletes
  • Lipids: HDL low (36), LDL slightly elevated (108), Triglycerides fine
  • Hematocrit: 50.8%
  • Prolactin + E2: Both in check thanks to Caber + Aromasin
  • Kidney Function: Creatinine 1.23, BUN in range, eGFR stable

No red flags—just typical PED markers. I’m continuing Tudca, NAC, omega-3s, and BP support daily. Also added citrus bergamot and CoQ10 recently to help lipid profile.


🥩 Diet & Appetite​


Appetite has dropped HARD around Week 20. The combo of high food volume + Tren was brutal for a while, so I made these changes:


✅ Switched to more liquid meals: Cream of rice + whey isolate + almond butter has become a go-to
✅ Reduced total food volume but increased frequency: 6–7 meals, lighter each time
✅ Added intra-workout EAAs + HBCD to sneak in ~70g carbs and 15g aminos
✅ Meal replacements post-leg day when digestion tanks (e.g., banana + whey + almond milk + EVOO smoothie)


Cals are currently ~4,300 on training days, ~3,200–3,400 on rest days. Macros:


  • Protein: 250–275g
  • Carbs: 500–650g
  • Fats: ~90–100g

Cheat meals are still 1 every 10–14 days. Last one was ribeye + mashed potatoes + cheesecake—and woke up leaner the next day. Tren magic?

💉 Current Cycle – Weeks 10–26​


  • Test E: 600mg/week
  • Tren A: 500mg/week (daily microdose)
  • Proviron: 50mg/day
  • Caber: 0.25mg twice weekly
  • Aromasin: 12.5mg EOD
  • GH: 4 IU/day (split AM + post-training) – started at week 17
  • Insulin (briefly added at week 20): Humalog pre-workout 4–6iu with carbs, 2x/week only. Now discontinued.

So far, everything has felt dialed in. Tren sides have been minimal—just elevated night sweats, dreams, and sometimes a shorter fuse if I’m not sleeping well. I added low-dose melatonin + glycine before bed, and sleep has been solid since.


🛠️ What’s Next?​


We’re now entering the last 2–3 weeks of the blast. At 245+ and ~14–15% BF, I’m right at the upper limit before things start to get sloppy. Plan is:


  1. Mini-cut (3–4 weeks) starting August 19th
    • Drop cals by ~800/day
    • Keep protein high
    • Maintain 4x/week cardio (30 min fasted)
    • Pull Tren, cruise on Test E at 200–250mg/week
    • Allow appetite, digestion, and blood markers to recover
  2. Cruise phase through Fall (September–December)
    • Focus on training quality, soft-tissue recovery, and mental reset
    • Stay leaner this time—hover around 230–235 lbs
    • Lock in show prep phase starting January 2026

Final Thoughts​


This has been my most productive offseason yet. Body is growing, strength is peaking, and the systems around training (recovery, food, health) are finally working together. No shortcuts here—just structure, consistency, and precision. No Pro Card yet, but I’m playing the long game. I’m not showing up until I’m undeniable.
To everyone who’s been following, dropping DM questions, or offering support—thank you. I’ll be sharing updated photos later this month post-mini-cut to show where the offseason left me.


Let’s finish strong. 💪
 
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