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 By: Bodybuilding.com
CASE STUDY WEEK #1
Well, the long expected case study is finally underway, and I will be reporting all progress and other findings weekly. A quick recap:
The aim of the study is to find out whether or not the all-hyped 1AD lives up to its promises. What are the gains, what are the side-effects, how does it stack with other prohormones and so forth. To that effect I set up a 4-man case study. The first thing I want you to note here is that all 4 participants are eating the same diet (measured in calories per pound of bodyweight and grams of protein per pound of bodyweight), sleeping the same amount of hours and roughly at the same time, workout at the same time of day and with equal amounts of sets and reps, order of exercises and so on. I left nothing to chance. We even take the same multi-vitamins and the same protein powders at the same time of day.
The division is such that 1 subject, myself in this case, is currently taking in Ergopharm 1AD and Ergopharm Norandro spray at the same time. 1 subject functions as the control group and is using only Norandro spray. This will allow for a distinction between what the Norandro spray is causing and what is the result of the 1AD. Thereby establishing the efficacy of both products without compromising the results. The Norandro spray trial will run for 3 weeks, the 1AD trial for 7 weeks. The first 3 will be in conjunction with the Norandro spray trial.
A 5th person, independent in this matter is conducting all measurements since I, as a test subject, am obviously biased in my judgment. Progress in terms of weight, strength and measurements will be conducted every week for the duration of 8 weeks (to establish the durability of the gains) and body-fat to weight ratios will be measured on a bi-weekly basis.
The First Week
I started on the 1AD and Norandro spray on a Thursday. The 1AD I am currently using at 900 mg a day in 3 evenly spread doses of 300 mg. The Norandro spray is used once after my shower (8 sprays) and once 12 hours later (7 sprays) totaling 600 mg of Nor-diol. Test subject B is currently taking the Norandro spray in similar fashion. All four subjects are currently consuming 16 calories per pound of bodyweight. This is rather low as I usually cycle between 18 and 22 calories per pound. But the first two weeks I wanted to assess what the results would be when used without an increase in calories.
The 1AD
The side-effects were more prominent obviously, as it's too early for the gains to be significant or plainly visible. 1AD comes with a warning label on the lid that you should take it with food. This was with good reason. I took my first dose of 300 mg with a very light breakfast (protein shake and corn flakes) and the gastro-intestinal upset in the lower intestines was unbearable.
It lasted roughly an hour and it was a nauseating feeling that constantly made me feel like puking and crapping at the same time, even though I did neither. Out of precaution I took my next two doses with a heavy meal and at lunch it bothered me slightly, and at dinner it didn't effect me at all. The second day I had my first dose with a light breakfast again and this time it did nothing. In the mean time I've already taken it twice without food and it didn't affect me then either. This would suggest that the GI disorders subside after a while. I contacted Ergopharm and they concurred.
In their initial trials they used 600 mg for the first two weeks, then progressed to 900 mg for three weeks. And now someone recommended starting at 300, then moving to 600 and 900 mg. Though this queasy feeling was nothing to laugh at, these measures are drastic. I used 900 straight away and it went away after two days. This would suggest that taking 300 mg for two days and 600 for two days before progressing to 900 mg is more than adequate to overcome this problem. And above all take it with a big meal the first week. The warning is no joke. I have a stomach that could handle molten lava, but that first day my lower intestines were in dire straits.
The second thing I noticed was an increase in trips to the bathroom as well as some painful urination. These would have been clear symptoms of a prostate problem, but after 2 doses? Later on I was informed that this is a quality inherent to the raw powder of 1AD, and not prostate problems or contamination as was first believed. It simply causes more and often painful urination. But here too the problem can be solved. It seems drinking more (the recommendation is 1 liter or more on top of what you normally drink) can and does prevent the pain. I can vouch for this. Two of the last 7 days I was consuming more liquid meals than normal and indeed, the pain subsided. The increase in trips to the bathroom remains however, but I think most people can live with that.
The Norandro Spray
At first it didn't seem to do a whole lot for either of us. But even though subject B gained no mentionable mass, he simply looked heavier in the shoulder and chest portions. Gigantic almost. I assume it's water buildup but it seems to be common for transdermal sprays. I myself got it too, but only in the shoulder region. It did not affect my chest as it did for Subject B.
I have been applying the stuff mostly to my inner thighs, and on occasion the armpits or the pits of my elbows. Once, after shaving, even on my chest. Subject B has been spraying mostly his armpits and inner thighs as well. What I noticed was that if you spray the stuff too close to your testicles the stuff makes your nuts feel real warm. Probably due to the alcohol content of the spray. Weird and unpleasant though, so be careful. We are now 8 days into the trial and around day 6 and 7 respectively we have been walking around with aching testicles. I don't know what the reason is, but both of us have a distinct but bearable pain in the groin region. Frankly it worries me a bit.
In terms of side-effects Subject B has been smoothing out a bit. I have not on the other hand, most likely due to the hardening action of 1AD. The first 3 days I did indeed look a bit harder, then the Norandro kicked in and I basically look like I always looked at this BF percentage. No other discrepancies to report at this point.
The Results
Because of the reduction in calories subjects C and D have not gained anything, and subject C even lost 0.4 pounds. This is not considered an actual loss, more of a fluctuation. But it goes to show that this diet is not the anabolic factor in this part of the case study. Subject B gained 1.5 pounds, most of it in the last three days when we started shifting our diet to contain more protein and less carbs. I myself have gained no less than 3.5 pounds in the first week. This certainly is amazing. This far outweighs any first-week gains I have ever made on an oral prohormone. I also noticed strong fluctuations.
My bodyweight is usually very stable and I noticed that my weight went up as much as four pounds by day 5, only to find I lost 1.5 pounds the next day and finished at 3.5 pounds yesterday, day 7. I don't know the significance of this yet, but I would theorize that this means it might be a bit harder than first thought to maintain the weight gained on 1AD.
I'm noticing a small increase in acne, but only one or two zits at a time usually around the upper chest and back, the shoulders and one on my face. Subject B has experienced no such increase, which would lead me to think it's a result of the 1AD.
The overall tone of the first week is good. I never in my life thought the first week results would even be worth mentioning. But of course I will reserve my judgment for later. Prior to the trial I lost some weight, due to an injury. I'm still 2.5 pounds off the mark for the weight I lost, and as you know it's considerably easier to gain weight you already had. And of course the first week is too early to have any data on actual androgen related side-effects such as prostate problems and hair loss. That's the one I'm worried about the most. But if these gains are maintained, 1AD indeed looks like it can live up to its promise. But it remains to be seen. More next week...
Click here for Weeks 2, 3 and 4!
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