Cholesterol crushed after 8 weeks on cycle - looking for feedback

[BatmanVAR]

Looking for feedback on cholesterol changes from my cycle.

Background. This my cholesterol from 3/7/25 when I was completely natural (no anabolics or peptides or anything):
Total cholesterol: 154
HDL: 38
LDL: 96
Triglycerides: 102

My HDL has always been lower than I'd like despite proper diet and supplements. It's never been above 42 my entire life. So other than that I was happy with the numbers.

I started TRT (180mg a week) in May. In July I added 2mg of Reta a week. In September I added HGH 4IUs a day (titrated from 2 to 3 to 4). I wanted to do a blast so got labs beforehand and they were really good:

11/26/25
Total cholesterol: 127
HDL: 42
LDL: 63
Triglycerides: 134

So I started the blast 12/1. 500mg of Test C a week and 50mg of Anavar a day for 4 weeks (front loading Anavar wasn't my smartest move, I know that now).

Got new labs after 4 weeks of that on 12/27/25:
Total cholesterol: 129
HDL: 28
LDL: 88
Triglycerides: 62

HDL took a hit as expected. I stopped the Anavar then so I assumed it would go back up. However, I added some other compounds during this time which likely fucked that up. On 12/28 (the day after these labs) I added 250mg of EQ a week, and on 1/15 I added 20mg of Tren Ace per day (so 140mg a week).

Then got new labs on 1/24/26:
Total cholesterol: 97
HDL: 23
LDL: 63
Triglycerides: 44

Yikes. I'm assuming that it's Tren crushing my total cholesterol and HDL, but it's only been 9 days, so is that possible? If I was a smart man I would have gotten labs before added Tren but I didn't. Lesson learned.

My plan:
- add lots more dietary fat (avocados, walnuts, olive oil, etc,)
- discontinue citrus bergamot
- add 20mg of Pregnenolone per day
- considering dropping tren entirely
- retest in 4 weeks. My planned cycle end is in 12 weeks, so I will consider ending early if the labs don't improve.

Thoughts? I know this was not a well planned cycle and I made some missteps, so I don't need any comments reminding me of that. Looking for constructive feedback on moving forward.

Thanks.

 

[Dial It In]

Looking for feedback on cholesterol changes from my cycle.

Background. This my cholesterol from 3/7/25 when I was completely natural (no anabolics or peptides or anything):
Total cholesterol: 154
HDL: 38
LDL: 96
Triglycerides: 102

My HDL has always been lower than I'd like despite proper diet and supplements. It's never been above 42 my entire life. So other than that I was happy with the numbers.

I started TRT (180mg a week) in May. In July I added 2mg of Reta a week. In September I added HGH 4IUs a day (titrated from 2 to 3 to 4). I wanted to do a blast so got labs beforehand and they were really good:

11/26/25
Total cholesterol: 127
HDL: 42
LDL: 63
Triglycerides: 134

So I started the blast 12/1. 500mg of Test C a week and 50mg of Anavar a day for 4 weeks (front loading Anavar wasn't my smartest move, I know that now).

Got new labs after 4 weeks of that on 12/27/25:
Total cholesterol: 129
HDL: 28
LDL: 88
Triglycerides: 62

HDL took a hit as expected. I stopped the Anavar then so I assumed it would go back up. However, I added some other compounds during this time which likely fucked that up. On 12/28 (the day after these labs) I added 250mg of EQ a week, and on 1/15 I added 20mg of Tren Ace per day (so 140mg a week).

Then got new labs on 1/24/26:
Total cholesterol: 97
HDL: 23
LDL: 63
Triglycerides: 44

Yikes. I'm assuming that it's Tren crushing my total cholesterol and HDL, but it's only been 9 days, so is that possible? If I was a smart man I would have gotten labs before added Tren but I didn't. Lesson learned.

My plan:
- add lots more dietary fat (avocados, walnuts, olive oil, etc,)
- discontinue citrus bergamot
- add 20mg of Pregnenolone per day
- considering dropping tren entirely
- retest in 4 weeks. My planned cycle end is in 12 weeks, so I will consider ending early if the labs don't improve.

Thoughts? I know this was not a well planned cycle and I made some missteps, so I don't need any comments reminding me of that. Looking for constructive feedback on moving forward.

Thanks.

If you are really concerned about it then stop adding compounds and go into a trt cruise until it bounces back. Then keep the diet clean and cardio consistent. You are going to struggle trying to fix it if you keep adding good cholesterol crushing compounds. So my advice, go to trt for 12 weeks or so. It’s your decision if health or gains are more important. But at least you know it’s fucked cause you checked.

 

[Ateam2023]

Looking for feedback on cholesterol changes from my cycle.

Background. This my cholesterol from 3/7/25 when I was completely natural (no anabolics or peptides or anything):
Total cholesterol: 154
HDL: 38
LDL: 96
Triglycerides: 102

My HDL has always been lower than I'd like despite proper diet and supplements. It's never been above 42 my entire life. So other than that I was happy with the numbers.

I started TRT (180mg a week) in May. In July I added 2mg of Reta a week. In September I added HGH 4IUs a day (titrated from 2 to 3 to 4). I wanted to do a blast so got labs beforehand and they were really good:

11/26/25
Total cholesterol: 127
HDL: 42
LDL: 63
Triglycerides: 134

So I started the blast 12/1. 500mg of Test C a week and 50mg of Anavar a day for 4 weeks (front loading Anavar wasn't my smartest move, I know that now).

Got new labs after 4 weeks of that on 12/27/25:
Total cholesterol: 129
HDL: 28
LDL: 88
Triglycerides: 62

HDL took a hit as expected. I stopped the Anavar then so I assumed it would go back up. However, I added some other compounds during this time which likely fucked that up. On 12/28 (the day after these labs) I added 250mg of EQ a week, and on 1/15 I added 20mg of Tren Ace per day (so 140mg a week).

Then got new labs on 1/24/26:
Total cholesterol: 97
HDL: 23
LDL: 63
Triglycerides: 44

Yikes. I'm assuming that it's Tren crushing my total cholesterol and HDL, but it's only been 9 days, so is that possible? If I was a smart man I would have gotten labs before added Tren but I didn't. Lesson learned.

My plan:
- add lots more dietary fat (avocados, walnuts, olive oil, etc,)
- discontinue citrus bergamot
- add 20mg of Pregnenolone per day
- considering dropping tren entirely
- retest in 4 weeks. My planned cycle end is in 12 weeks, so I will consider ending early if the labs don't improve.

Thoughts? I know this was not a well planned cycle and I made some missteps, so I don't need any comments reminding me of that. Looking for constructive feedback on moving forward.

Thanks.

Imo, I would definitely drop the TREN, and since you were running the TREN A which saturates pretty fast because of the short ester that could absolutely be a factor, I think where you also derailed yourself is by adding two different compounds in at the same time, therefore not really knowing which one of those compounds could be the culprit, I know this is not a real detailed response , but that's just from the outside looking in , but TREN is known to crush lipids,, up to a 50-90% , and EQ can reduce lipids up to 20-50%, of course this is all dose dependent,

 

[Sampei]

I don't think you have any idea on what numbers you should achieve and look for.

Your last cholesterol test is the best you had compared to the previous.

Read more and study more on the subject

 

[BatmanVAR]

I don't think you have any idea on what numbers you should achieve and look for.

Your last cholesterol test is the best you had compared to the previous.

Read more and study more on the subject

LDL and triglycerides were great, but total cholesterol at 97 and HDL at 23 are extremely low.

Can you elaborate why you think those are good?

 

[Sampei]

LDL and triglycerides were great, but total cholesterol at 97 and HDL at 23 are extremely low.

Can you elaborate why you think those are good?

What's the issue with total. Cholesterol? I don't get it. I never had a total. Cho over 100 on mh whole life most of the time 75/80.

HDL will always be low on steroids, your issue us high LDL and tryg.

Keep your LDL below 50 and your tryg low and you will be fine. Check your APOB / APOA / LPA too

 

[BatmanVAR]

What's the issue with total. Cholesterol? I don't get it. I never had a total. Cho over 100 on mh whole life most of the time 75/80.

HDL will always be low on steroids, your issue us high LDL and tryg.

Keep your LDL below 50 and your tryg low and you will be fine. Check your APOB / APOA / LPA too

Everything I've read said that cholesterol below 100 isn't good. Considering mine was 258 5 years ago (when I wasn't eating right or training good) it's just more shocking than anything.

But my biggest concern is the HDL but yeah that hit was expected.

I'm also surprised you think my LDL is high, because under 100 is considered good and mine is 63. Same with triglycerides - mine are 44 and anything below 150 is considered good. Where are you getting your food and bad ranges from?