Evening gents,
The purpose of this thread is to make an ALL-IN-ONE, consolidated list of important particulars for MESO members and non-members alike in reference to “things to think about before starting your first cycle of AAS.”
DISCLAIMER:
I am by no means an AAS specialist, quite the opposite. I recently finished my first cycle and made many mistakes along the way; some very serious and some very minor...but many nonetheless.
If this thread serves to save even 1% of first-timers from making the same mistakes that I made, then I would consider my efforts worthwhile! Feel free to add-on! (I’m sure I haven’t covered everything)
1. KEEP IT SIMPLE
Start with a small dose and stick with one, yes ONE compound(TEST IS BEST). I gained 35lbs(20lbs quality muscle) on my first cycle of 500mg’s of Testosterone Cypionate. I’m fully convinced that I could have obtained near-identical results from HALF of this dose(with the added benefit of having less side-effects)…but there's no telling now.
(While results will vary person-to-person based on a large variety of factors including-but-not-limited-to height, weight, age, diet, training, body composition, metabolic health, etc.)-You MAY NOT need a very large dose to achieve desirable results, despite what the “bros” on Reddit tell you.
On to running one compound; The last few weeks of my cycle I added several oral AAS simultaneously…this was a critical error. If serious health problems are to occur while you are on multiple compounds(as they did for me), you will have no way of identifying the problematic compound in any definitive manner. DO NOT presume to know how a certain compound will affect you based on the anecdotes of other people. You are not other people, you are you. Keep it simple.
2. DON’T START UNTIL YOU HAVE EVERYTHING ON HAND
Scrambling around last minute for proper PCT meds is as stressful as it is STUPID. I had no way of knowing that my PCT pack would get seized by customs. There is ALWAYS a risk of seizure associated with buying meds both internationally and domestically(no matter how small that risk may be). Sitting there with a seizure letter, crashed testosterone, and your dick in your hand is not a good position to be in.
Having your PCT meds and AI’s IN YOUR POSSESSION before taking your first dose of AAS is of the utmost importance; Don’t start until you have everything on hand.
3. DON’T CHEAP OUT
By now you know that pharmaceutical-grade PCT, AI’s, and other meds can be 2-3x(even 4x) more expensive than UGL-grade meds. Considering that your entire quality of life rests solely upon you being able to restore your natural hormone production post-cycle; paying the extra money is worth it to have legitimate and properly dosed medication. This should be fairly obvious. Don’t cheap out.
4. PRE-CYCLE BLOODWORK
I recently scheduled an appointment to get bloodwork so that I can determine whether or not my hormone production has fully recovered and returned to normal. There’s just one dilemma; I don’t know what “normal” is…because my know-it-all ass didn’t get pre-cycle bloodwork done.
*Shakes head in disappointment*
Luckily, I was able to dig up some partial bloodwork from a year prior by contacting and old doctor of mine, so at least I have some sort of reference range for my natural hormone production and other general health markers. But don’t be that idiot; Get pre-cycle bloodwork.
5. SHORT ESTERS
Keep in mind that if you use Testosterone Cypionate or Testosterone Enanthate(because of the elimination half-lives of these esters), you will have to wait 4-6 weeks after your last injection to start your PCT, and even longer (6-8 weeks) for Testosterone Undecylenate and other longer esters.
The 5 weeks that I had to wait before running my SERMS were some of the most grueling weeks I have every experienced in my lifetime, and the bouts of depression that I went through were very concerning to myself, my friends, and my family… to say the least.
While not everyone will be affected in this manner; YOU MAY save yourself a lot of trouble and avoid this crash completely by running shorter esters like Acetate, Propionate, or Phenylpropionate for the duration of your first cycle(This will make it possible for you to start your PCT 2-12 days after your last injection).
Another option is just switching to short esters for the last 4-6 weeks of your first cycle, depending on the former ester in question.
6. SLEEP ON IT, AND THEN SLEEP ON IT SOME MORE
I don’t regret running my first cycle of AAS at age 23. But, if I could do it over, I would’ve spent way more time(like years more) researching and expanding my knowledge of AAS before ever using. It certainly won’t kill you to wait a little while longer, having some patience and doing your due-diligence will only enhance the safety and efficacy of your first go-around with anabolic steroids.
If you’re my age(or younger), just ask yourself…Are you sure that you want to use AAS? Are you really sure? You better be just as sure of it as you are sure that the sky is blue. Have you done enough research? Are there gaps in your knowledge? Can you make more natural progress? No? How do you know that? Have you increased your caloric intake significantly?
Sleep on it, and then sleep on it some more.