Hey guys. Has anyone considered using testosterone for this purpose? I'm starting up a pretty big cut right now into the summer supported by Retatrutide. I'm about 30% BF currently trying to get near 12% ASAP (I know..) with a good 5 years or so of lifting under my belt. I've been considering doing low dose testosterone (175-250mg/week) when cutting the final 10% to save myself what I'd project to be around 10-15 lbs of lean mass.
The goal obviously is for aesthetic improvement with optimal recovery capability. I'm looking into taking HCG while on, Nolvadex to recover, and am also researching hair loss prevention protocols. Not trying to become a lifer.
Advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
Stats:
23, 30% BF, 6'4", 280, no troublesome family medical history.
I’ll pretty much repeat what I said earlier, just shorter and clearer.
You’re honestly too young for gear. At 23 and around 30% BF, you can make insane progress naturally, especially now that GLP-1s exist. Cutting today is not the same suffering it was years ago.
Low-dose test won’t magically burn fat, especially at that body fat level. It can help preserve muscle, sure, but it also adds complexity, shutdown, recovery, hair stress, and now you’re planning HCG, Nolva, hair protocols… that’s a lot for something that isn’t even the main driver of fat loss.
If you’re dead set on testosterone, I’d personally keep it closer to a true TRT range, like 100-125 mg/week, not 250. But that’s your call.
On GLP-1s, I’d actually suggest Tirz over Reta for you. Not because Reta is bad, but because appetite suppression on Tirz is usually stronger, and discipline matters more than “theoretical superiority” right now. First couple weeks can be rough for protein intake, then it smooths out. Reta works too, but don’t be surprised if it oddly makes you crave sweets. Tirz usually kills that completely.
If your real goal is fast fat loss, health, and muscle retention, the no-BS setup looks like this:
1. Use GLP-1 (Tirz or Reta).
2. Run an RFL-style diet by Lyle McDonald (aka PMSF around here).
3. Train 3x/week with weights.
4. Skip the cardio if you want, just walk 10-12K steps a day.
That combo melts fat while keeping muscle, without gambling with hormones at 23. You can always add gear later. Fat loss windows close slower than endocrine damage.
