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Help with next mini cycle please

T

Tobit

Member
Sep 17, 2024
38
20
***Looking for thoughts on my next AAS cycle. Long read, apologies just trying to be thorough.

***DETAILS***
Male, 49yo, 6.1ft, ranging from 92-94kg presently, rough 22% BF. 3200-4000 per day presently, 3 day hypertrophy split per week, but of cardio.

Newby, learning as I go so be kind. Never coming off TRT and presently experimenting with AAS Cycles and various compounds for muscle gains and health, so no PCT necessary as when I come off I’ll drop back to 175-200mg split in 2 pins per week.

Began Test E 28 weeks ago, allowing the body to get used to things and going slow, running sports panel labs to check levels and health markers at each change as well as monitoring BP & E2 symptoms regularly.

Here’s where I started…
1. 125mg split in 2 pins Test E for almost 6 weeks. (TRT)
2. 150mg for many weeks split in 3 pins for a time, moved to 200mg per week split into 4 pins for 4 weeks. (TRT)
3. 200mg split into 4 pins for just over 9 weeks. (Outside of natural Test on labs, so CYCLE)
4. 250mg split into 3 pins for 1 week (CYCLE)
5. 300mg in 3 pins for the last almost 7 weeks.

Last labs at 200mg everything in the best shape ever health wise, also 1200ng/dL total T, 38ng/dL free T, E2 71pg/mL, Prolactin higher but in range.

Been on 300mg per week split into 3 pins for almost 7 weeks, definitely feel better as well as can see slight gains but nothing serious. Little nip sensitivity in the first 2 weeks but went away and also slight acne breakout which keeps on coming but nothing serious. Will run full labs again sometime after 8 weeks to check health markers and levels and if ok I hope to keep experimenting.

I’m wanting to experiment with more Test first and or additional compounds. I’ve got lots of time to go slow and get all my blood work data to find out how I’m responding and seeking thoughts from the more experienced members if they can contribute to building more muscle over time from the point that I am at given my history and your experiences, mistakes etc.

My thoughts presently which you can feel free to scrutinise, challenge my thinking or change as open to learning are these possibilities. I haven’t given a duration as I haven’t thought that far tbh and if I stabilise and respond ok I might titrate up or add other stuff. More mini some say ‘pathetic/ useless’ anabolic cycles lol…

1. 350mg Test E per week in 3 or 4 pins

2. 350mg Test E per week & 100mg NPP (never taken before) for joint health as I creak a bit these days, as well as any other mild benefits

3. 400mg Test E per week in 3-4 pins

Very open to your thoughts and or changes on this, just wanting to go slow to allow my body to adjust and get good data for my future as I start considering larger amounts and stacking compounds.

I’ve used Anastrozole in small doses before, and aware I’ll possibly be up over 110pg/mL E2 on this first cycle and will need to tame it a bit with an Ai or Tamoxifen.

Apologies for the length of the post just wanted to make sure I’d communicated the necessary frills to help you better understand my specifics, all comments, corrections, thoughts welcome, appreciate it. Cheers
 
Yohimbe

Yohimbe

Member
Feb 27, 2024
70
58
From a general view, it looks like you've just been increasing your test dosage up 25mg-50mg every few weeks, starting with 125mg and landing on 300mg per week for the past 7 weeks. (When you say "split into 'x' number of pins, I'm assuming you mean you're splitting the weekly dosage up between that many injections) From what I'm reading, it looks like it's going well. Especially staying on top of your blood work and keeping everything monitored and in the desired ranges.

You mentioned never coming off TRT and i don't see any other history with test prior to your starting point 28 weeks ago, so I'm assuming starting test E 28 weeks ago was the beginning of your TRT, and you're planning on basically "blasting and cruising" for lack of a better term for the foreseeable future. I don't see anything wrong with bumping it up and adding in some NPP to see how it goes if that's the plan, but what I would suggest is planning out some kind of definitive timeframe for your "blasting period" and up your dosages accordingly vs. just arbitrarily raising the dosages over a long period of time without seemingly having a plan of where the eventual ceiling will be for this particular "cycle". I only mention that because, as you said you haven't really put much thought to a specific duration. In my experience, it's easy to get carried away and continue upping the dosage, adding/switching out different compounds and before you know it you realize you haven't been blasting and cruising, but just blasting lol.

As far as the compounds (Test E and NPP) and dosages you mentioned, I personally think are just fine. Everyone tolerates compounds differently. I think it's great your taking it slow, monitoring your blood work and paying attention to your health in the process.

There are some super smart folks here, so someone else may chime in with some better/smarter advice lol. But, from my perspective the biggest suggestion I'd give would be to put a game plan together, so you don't end up arbitrarily changing things up over a longer period of time than you initially intended.
 
Yohimbe

Yohimbe

Member
Feb 27, 2024
70
58
On a side note, if your E2 starts to get significantly elevated, Anastrozole would work, but in the realm of AIs, I'm personally more a fan of Exemestane (Aromasin). Seems to be a better fit for me if E2 starts becoming a big issue and helps with keeping it managed. There are several other ways to mitigate negative effects of elevated E2 with various compounds like Primobolan or Masteron, but that could end up being an entirely different discussion throwing in a lot more variables than you're currently working with. Just some other things to think about as you go through your research.
 
T

Tobit

Member
Sep 17, 2024
38
20
From a general view, it looks like you've just been increasing your test dosage up 25mg-50mg every few weeks, starting with 125mg and landing on 300mg per week for the past 7 weeks. (When you say "split into 'x' number of pins, I'm assuming you mean you're splitting the weekly dosage up between that many injections) From what I'm reading, it looks like it's going well. Especially staying on top of your blood work and keeping everything monitored and in the desired ranges.

You mentioned never coming off TRT and i don't see any other history with test prior to your starting point 28 weeks ago, so I'm assuming starting test E 28 weeks ago was the beginning of your TRT, and you're planning on basically "blasting and cruising" for lack of a better term for the foreseeable future. I don't see anything wrong with bumping it up and adding in some NPP to see how it goes if that's the plan, but what I would suggest is planning out some kind of definitive timeframe for your "blasting period" and up your dosages accordingly vs. just arbitrarily raising the dosages over a long period of time without seemingly having a plan of where the eventual ceiling will be for this particular "cycle". I only mention that because, as you said you haven't really put much thought to a specific duration. In my experience, it's easy to get carried away and continue upping the dosage, adding/switching out different compounds and before you know it you realize you haven't been blasting and cruising, but just blasting lol.

As far as the compounds (Test E and NPP) and dosages you mentioned, I personally think are just fine. Everyone tolerates compounds differently. I think it's great your taking it slow, monitoring your blood work and paying attention to your health in the process.

There are some super smart folks here, so someone else may chime in with some better/smarter advice lol. But, from my perspective the biggest suggestion I'd give would be to put a game plan together, so you don't end up arbitrarily changing things up over a longer period of time than you initially intended.
Yes correct, I started on trt after a 2.5year fight to avoid it due to hypoganism. I hit the wall at 45yo and was physically broken, not healing, didn’t want to get outa bed, depressed, no libido, and the worst was how much energy it took to ‘think’. I would walk to the shed to get a 10mm spanner which was 5 metres away from the car and I would stand there wondering why I was there. So I spent 2,5 years trying to recover myself with everything natural and herbs and so on, no cigar. I reluctantly injected 62.5mg of test E and within 14 hours I had my mind back. It blew me away how much it resolved in me and the benefits have since been continuing to come.

Now however I’m wanting to play a bit more for anabolic gains and life and health optimisation.

I was planning 16weeks on 300mg per week with bulk eating to see what I could achieve but almost 8 weeks in on 300mg and my BP is up a tad which im watching. Slight acne and a tad more hair loss but micro dosing finasteride and hair routine. Im not running an Ai, but I think I’d need to throw 0.25mg of Anastrozole in twice a week, but more interested in where my E2 spillover is and will work it out from there.

I’m gonna run full labs just after the 8 week mark and take a look.

To be honest I’m hoping I can go up in test E and see where the roof is without adding much in, but I think I need 50mg at least of NPP for my joint health on top of whatever I run whether trt or a cruise.

I’m also thinking to experiment with 30mg of primo to see if I can drop my E2 instead of using an Ai too.

Plenty more experienced folk here than myself and I’ve gotta get the data on myself to work up if that’s where I’m going in the future, so interested in hearing others thoughts. Thanks heaps for your response it helps a lot.
 
T

Tobit

Member
Sep 17, 2024
38
20
On a side note, if your E2 starts to get significantly elevated, Anastrozole would work, but in the realm of AIs, I'm personally more a fan of Exemestane (Aromasin). Seems to be a better fit for me if E2 starts becoming a big issue and helps with keeping it managed. There are several other ways to mitigate negative effects of elevated E2 with various compounds like Primobolan or Masteron, but that could end up being an entirely different discussion throwing in a lot more variables than you're currently working with. Just some other things to think about as you go through your research.
Ok great, I haven’t tried aromasin but note a lot of folk prefer it over Arimadex or tamoxifen.

Yes, been thinking about the DHT derivative primo, but don’t want to lose my hair if I don’t have to and at 300mg weekly of Test E, started getting a wild itch and thinning, so trialling low as dose of finasteride to keep it in check, gotta run labs on my DHT too but hit extra on price. Same as E2 I love higher Estrodial, I feel great! But, I think I need to keep it around 60pg/mL not higher. A little Primo might be the answer.

I’ve got lots to learn and a lot of experimenting to do yet, that’s for sure. Cheers again.
 
genetic freak

genetic freak

VIP Member
Dec 28, 2015
3,336
4,547
Don't add more test, you already stated you started experiencing side effects at the dose you are it. Side effects are not a linear progression. If you experience minor side effects at this dose then adding in 50 mg a week might add 10x the sides.

The first thing I would do is pull labs at the dose you are on now. Next, I would likely add a DHT or go with NPP. If I added a DHT, I would likely keep the test the same as long as labs were okay. If I added in NPP, I would probably go back to the dose of test where I experienced no side effects.

The only issue for you a DHT may be the hair line. I want to make it perfectly clear DHT compounds DO NOT MAKE YOUR HAIR FALL OUT. They have already been 5-alpha reduced and have no impact on your hair. HOWEVER, they have higher binding affinity for the androgen receptor than test which will leave test with the option of converting to DHT or aromatizing. Since, most DHT's have AI properties, the test prefers to convert to DHT, which is why people lose their hair when running DHT compounds. How I have helped people combat this is by reducing their test to TRT levels and increasing their DHT. I have had clients who lose their hair at 500 mg of test a week, but I can put them on 200 mg of test and 1000 mg of masteron without any issues.
 
Last edited:
T

Tobit

Member
Sep 17, 2024
38
20
Don't add more test, you already stated you started experiencing side effects at the dose you are it. Side effects are not a linear progression. If you experience minor side effects at this dose then adding in 50 mg a week might add 10x the sides.

The first thing I would do is pull labs at the dose you are on now. Next, I would likely add a DHT or go with NPP. If I added a DHT, I would likely keep the test the same as long as labs were okay. If I added in NPP, I would probably go back to the dose of test where I experienced no side effects.

The only issue for you a DHT may be the hair line. I want to make it perfectly clear DHT compounds DO NOT MAKE YOUR HAIR FALL OUT. They have already been 5-alpha reduced and have no impact on your hair. HOWEVER, they have higher binding affinity for the androgen receptor than test which will leave test with the option of converting to DHT or aromatizing. Since, most DHT's have AI properties, the test prefers to convert to DHT, which is why people lose their hair when running DHT compounds. How I have helped people combat this is by reducing their test to TRT levels and increasing their DHT. I have had clients who lose their hair at 500 mg of test a week, but I can put them on 200 mg of test and 1000 mg of masteron without any issues.
Mate that’s fantastic advise I wasn’t aware of, thankyou kindly. Now I get why the increase in DHT, not through the DHT derived compound, rather through taking precedence in filling andro receptors leaving Test to do nothing but be processed by the aromatase enzyme or 5AR.

I’ve been avoiding DHT derivative compounds thinking it was gonna thin my hair, and it sucked as some DHT compounds I’ve read are awesome.

Now I’ve got a clear picture of my next tests as a result, thank you kindly mate, appreciate this forum immensely and will post up how things go.
 
T

Tobit

Member
Sep 17, 2024
38
20
Just sharing an update on where I’m presently at.

9 weeks in on 300mg Test E (3pins of 100mg per week). Everything began settling at 9 weeks.

Acne stopped, Blood pressure went to normal and holding consistently as i check every day with 2 separate machines and morning and night.

I just returned a blood panel and I’m quietly surprised that I’m all in good health that I am aware.

Test 2630ng/dL
Free Test 98ng/dL
SHBG 24
Albumin 38
E2 89pg/mL
Prolactin 142mIU/L
Progesterone 1.7nmol/L
IGF-1
 
T

Tobit

Member
Sep 17, 2024
38
20
Just sharing an update on where I’m presently at.

9 weeks in on 300mg Test E (3pins of 100mg per week). Everything began settling at 9 weeks.

Acne stopped, Blood pressure went to normal and holding consistently as i check every day with 2 separate machines and morning and night.

I just returned a blood panel and I’m quietly surprised that I’m all in good health that I am aware.

Test 2630ng/dL
Free Test 98ng/dL
SHBG 24
Albumin 38
E2 89pg/mL
Prolactin 142mIU/L
Progesterone 1.7nmol/L
IGF-1
***EDIT***I hit the button to send too quick, here’s the full post


Just sharing an update on where I’m presently at.

9 weeks in on 300mg Test E (3pins of 100mg per week). Everything began settling at 9 weeks.

Acne stopped, Blood pressure went to normal and holding consistently as i check every day with 2 separate machines and morning and night.

I just returned a blood panel and I’m quietly surprised that I’m all in good health that I am aware.

Test 2630ng/dL
Free Test 98ng/dL
SHBG 24
Albumin 38
E2 89 pg/mL
Prolactin 142 mIU/L
Progesterone 1.7 nmol/L
IGF-1 19.4 nmol/L
GH 9.8 ug/L (huge increase)
Cortisol 307 nmol/L
DHEA Sulphate 3.4 umol/L
Haemoglobin 171 g/L
HCT 0.54
RBC 5.73
ALT 46 U/L
AST 54
HDL 1.4 mmol/L
LDL 3 mmol/L

I have significantly increased my white blood cell count which was always down prior to trt and even at 200mg it only lifted slightly.

I feel great on 300mg per week and have no noticeable sides any longer it seems at over 10 weeks on 300mg weekly. My understanding is my E2 should be kept under 100pg/mL if I have no sides but need that confirmed please.

I would very much like to try and find my ceiling with testosterone without the use of anything else such as an Ai which I didn’t run except early times in this cycle taking 0.25mg anastrozile 4 times over 2 weeks.

I am aware that if I go up my E2 will likely go above 100pg/mL and I will likely have to employ a small amount of Ai, but happy to continue learning from those here who know a whole lot more than myself.

Appreciate any feedback here if I am missing it, considering adding another 50-100mg of test to run for another 10 weeks as I haven’t received any of my other compounds at this stage.
 
Glycomann

Glycomann

VIP Member
Jan 19, 2011
1,557
1,793
Looks to me like you are dialed in. Go higher with test and your hematocrit, which is 54% now, might go higher. So will your estrogen. I would focus on diet, training and getting good rest. Those are the drivers for gains. Your hormone levels will support your efforts.
 
genetic freak

genetic freak

VIP Member
Dec 28, 2015
3,336
4,547
Your free test is crap, but that is because you are running test only and getting some binding. Even with a little bit of DHT that number would skyrocket. Usually see more tissue growth with higher free test, but also more side effects.
 
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