How did your starting period go?

Hi there. Just wondering what period of lock up time you all started with.. my gf and I have only been doing this on and off for about a year, but my lock up time seems to be getting longer and longer from the last. Did you all start off with a day or two at a time, and slowly make your way up to weeks or months?? I know there’s some veterans on here that have been locked for years, but there’s no way they just got locked one day and that amount of time went by, is there? I’m starting to go up to a week locked up before I get a release for a thorough cleaning, but experience discomfort some days. Is this normal? Does it get easier and does my body eventually acclimate to my cage and discomfort? Did you long term guys have a period of discomfort and “bad days” of pain at times when they first started out? I’m loving this life style, and bought a custom cage JB from MM with 3 adjustment so far, but the one I like the most will cause burning on random days. It doesn’t last forever but it becomes legit painful. But the next size up seems like is too big, and I could easily pull out of it if I wanted on some days when I’m saggy and soft. Just wondering if this is all normal, or if I have yet to find my perfect fit. Seems like depending on the day my cage fits differently. Just really hoping this is all normal and after a while my body and privates will get used to this all and I’ll stop having random days of hurting. Any input or advice from you all would be greatly appreciated. I’ve been loving reading all your stories and threads and feel like this was the right forum to join to learn about this lifestyle that me and my gf are a newbie at. Thanks in advance for any replies!