First cycle advice coming from peptides

[drlambo]

I’ve been improving my body for a bit over a year now. I came from being a fat fuck at 128 kg (even hit 143 kg back in 2019 ) and I’m now sitting around 100 kg.
Started training in 2023, stopped for a while, then got back at it around Nov 2024.


Obviously I’ve put on a decent amount of muscle since then, which also helped accelerate the fat loss.
At first I ran completely natty, then I discovered the magic of “meds” and used semaglutide, tirzepatide (finally looks like it’ll be sold here), and now retatrutide. On top of that I added GH secretagogues, which I think helped at least a bit on the muscle side, for what they can do.


Lately I paused the secretagogues (tesamorelin + ipamorelin) because they were making me feel tired. Might resume later.


Now, towards the end of 2025, I’ve been talking with a friend who runs Test + Masteron + Primobolan, and it got me thinking about trying a cycle: ~200 mg test plus the other two, maybe adding 2–4 IU of GH.
He told me to just do 500 mg test, but that sounds like a lot. I’m still around 29% BF and I feel like I’d aromatize like crazy on that much test.


Metabolically I’m solid: cholesterol and triglycerides very low, good insulin sensitivity, total test around ~500, BP 100/60. Everything dialed in. I used to be prediabetic but that’s fixed now, thankfully.


The reason I’m considering gear is that I think I’ve hit the limit of recomp. For a while now I haven’t been able to add weight on some muscle groups. My FFMI comes out around 33.
Legs and back I’ve added a bit, but not much. Shoulders actually feel weaker sometimes.


Why do I think I’m at the limit? Besides empirical experience, also because of the FFMI number.

Or is it bullshit that you can’t grow muscle without a calorie surplus?


I don’t want to bulk because I still need to lose more fat. That’s my dilemma.
Options I see:

• keep cutting down to ~80 kg and then lean bulk as a natty, or
• run a cycle now without eating in surplus (protein around ~140 g), then do a hard cut after, probably ending at a higher bodyweight than otherwise.

What do you guys think? I hope I was clear enough

 

[adrenalytic]

get leaner. 10-12% bf. blasting while fat should be illegal.

 

[shredded.lyfe]

Continue losing fat, take it from someone who blasted 500 test at 20% bodyfat (I'm a powerlifter/strongman) I definitely feel like it was somewhat wasted.

I learned alot and definitely got stronger as I got leaner, but you're gonna absolutely hate the bloating and chewing on aromasins more than you'd expect at 29% bodyfat.

 

[thejumpingsheep]

Given that FFMI, your 100kg weight, and BF 29%, you would need to be 5-1... are you really 5-1 or is there an error in the math? You would need to be like a bowling ball of all muscles... but it doesnt sound like it from your account.

Why not start a bit slower instead of jumping straight into a cycle? Pull bloods including your E2 and T scores, see where they are. If they are off, optimize them 1st? See how that feels and what it does before going higher?

 

[drlambo]

Given that FFMI, your 100kg weight, and BF 29%, you would need to be 5-1... are you really 5-1 or is there an error in the math? You would need to be like a bowling ball of all muscles... but it doesnt sound like it from your account.

Why not start a bit slower instead of jumping straight into a cycle? Pull bloods including your E2 and T scores, see where they are. If they are off, optimize them 1st? See how that feels and what it does before going higher?

sorry it is 23, not 33, typo. my test is 553. E2 I did not get

 

[lipzz17]

If i was you i would use more primo than test, maybe 200 test and atleast 300 primo for estradiol control.. disregard others about waiting for lower bf, you just need to control e2 and do blood work and will be fine. I did the same when i was with higher bf, never had a problem and motivated me to keep going further

 

[Lodvig]

You are not stuck. You are just overfat and impatient.
At 29 percent body fat more drugs will not fix leverage estrogen or conditioning.
Your aromatase will work harder than you do.
Cut first. Get lean. Learn how your body actually responds.
Blasting now just means more side effects for less return.
Do it right or do not do it at all.

 

[Slowww]

No way you hit a limit of recomp at such a high body fat. Keep working bro you lost a lot of weight but don’t fool yourself into thinking youre even at the hard part. If you have 20kg more to go, really no point in using anabolics.

Hard hard hard cut until youre lean enough. Then once youre there you can reconsider if you will use AAS.

For you since you were extremely obese, I would recommend learning how to bulk without getting super fat before AAS use. You need a much better working knowledge of what body fat is appropriate for what calories and how to manage food before you take steroids.

 

[Turkeybuilder]

the real truth which is what you’ll get from 90% of people here is that you don’t need anabolics at that high of a BF%. You’re just going to do more harm than good.

All you need is reta (if you insist on using a peptide) and a disciplined diet. Stop trying to have your ideal physique tomorrow. Lose the fat first. Then you can start planning a cycle.

Anyone who tells you otherwise is either unexperienced or an 18 year old looksmaxxer who shouldn’t be advising other people

 

[Lodvig]

One more thing. Be careful with growth hormone. Everybody responds differently.
I learned that the hard way. I have a partially functioning thyroid from birth.
Thought 2 to 4 IU would be easy. It was not.
Mood crashed. Progress stalled. Took almost a year to feel normal again.
Not saying do not use it. Just saying for some people HGH can be worse than test and primo.
Do your research and pay attention to how you feel.

 

[Barney67]

I’ve been improving my body for a bit over a year now. I came from being a fat fuck at 128 kg (even hit 143 kg back in 2019 ) and I’m now sitting around 100 kg.
Started training in 2023, stopped for a while, then got back at it around Nov 2024.


Obviously I’ve put on a decent amount of muscle since then, which also helped accelerate the fat loss.
At first I ran completely natty, then I discovered the magic of “meds” and used semaglutide, tirzepatide (finally looks like it’ll be sold here), and now retatrutide. On top of that I added GH secretagogues, which I think helped at least a bit on the muscle side, for what they can do.


Lately I paused the secretagogues (tesamorelin + ipamorelin) because they were making me feel tired. Might resume later.


Now, towards the end of 2025, I’ve been talking with a friend who runs Test + Masteron + Primobolan, and it got me thinking about trying a cycle: ~200 mg test plus the other two, maybe adding 2–4 IU of GH.
He told me to just do 500 mg test, but that sounds like a lot. I’m still around 29% BF and I feel like I’d aromatize like crazy on that much test.


Metabolically I’m solid: cholesterol and triglycerides very low, good insulin sensitivity, total test around ~500, BP 100/60. Everything dialed in. I used to be prediabetic but that’s fixed now, thankfully.


The reason I’m considering gear is that I think I’ve hit the limit of recomp. For a while now I haven’t been able to add weight on some muscle groups. My FFMI comes out around 33.
Legs and back I’ve added a bit, but not much. Shoulders actually feel weaker sometimes.


Why do I think I’m at the limit? Besides empirical experience, also because of the FFMI number.

Or is it bullshit that you can’t grow muscle without a calorie surplus?


I don’t want to bulk because I still need to lose more fat. That’s my dilemma.
Options I see:

• keep cutting down to ~80 kg and then lean bulk as a natty, or
• run a cycle now without eating in surplus (protein around ~140 g), then do a hard cut after, probably ending at a higher bodyweight than otherwise.

What do you guys think? I hope I was clear enough

In regards to GH secretagogues, do the math and you’ll find that it’s cheaper to do 2-4 IUs of GH rather than whatever secretagogue you’re using (assuming Chinese). Not to mention it is also way more effective for whatever you want it compared to secretagogues.

 

[shredded.lyfe]

All you need is reta

This guy is right, you're gonna have a way more enjoyable time and actually get productive results from using tirz or reta and getting experienced in how they work.

Testosterone 500 you'll just be playing whack a mole with bloating and estrogen symptoms while also drying out your joints.

I can guarantee if you were obese your liver is fucked and so are your lipids so throwing 500 test at that is going to make it worse.

Whereas reta and tirz will move the needle towards fixing those things which will set you up to be able to utilise androgens much better later on

 

[drlambo]

One more thing. Be careful with growth hormone. Everybody responds differently.
I learned that the hard way. I have a partially functioning thyroid from birth.
Thought 2 to 4 IU would be easy. It was not.
Mood crashed. Progress stalled. Took almost a year to feel normal again.
Not saying do not use it. Just saying for some people HGH can be worse than test and primo.
Do your research and pay attention to how you feel.

My plan is to start with 2IU and keep testing. My igf1 was 130 which is pretty low for my age, and I boosted it to 173 with secretagogues, which is still low. I do not want enlarged organs, joint pain or other sides so I will indeed take it easy. It has helped me with visceral fat though so one upside there.

 

[drlambo]

This guy is right, you're gonna have a way more enjoyable time and actually get productive results from using tirz or reta and getting experienced in how they work.

Testosterone 500 you'll just be playing whack a mole with bloating and estrogen symptoms while also drying out your joints.

I can guarantee if you were obese your liver is fucked and so are your lipids so throwing 500 test at that is going to make it worse.

Whereas reta and tirz will move the needle towards fixing those things which will set you up to be able to utilise androgens much better later on

my entire bloodwork is perfect. I do have xp with reta, been on it since march.
thanks for the comments everyone, I think I will BUY my AAS, but hold off until my bf drops to at least 15%, so around june/july. I will try HGH in the meantime, maybe SLU-PP to help cutting. I've been patient in all, best not to despair now