Yeah I would definitely agree with that, problem was I wasn't lean when I started, should have dieted first, got lean then done my cycle.
I wasn't super lean when I started, maybe 12%. But I kept my diet in check and kept the cardio/conditioning and actually lost visible fat while putting on a few pounds, so it can be done.
I didn't think that you were too fat when you started, but I think that your diet went to hell almost immediately. That, and the booze. Gotta control that shit, man!