First Test E Only Cycle - Critiques Welcome.

[jcj5000]

Hey Guys, I'm a new member here. Getting ready to start my first cycle, and I'm hoping to learn some things on the forum.

29M, 6'1" 210lbs ~15% BF, I've been training weights with a purpose for 15 years, albeit with occasional periods of not working out with as much structure as I'd like due to work. Over the years, I've made great strength and hypertrophy gains that have slowed down. I have run ostarine, moderate dose, for 8 weeks at a time, twice in the past 10 years and I received mild, but positive results. I've been able to maintain those gains from the ostarine for the most part. Natural test now is around 500ng/dl

My Planned Cycle:16 weeks long
Test E 250mg/week (125 E3.5 days)
-Looking out for any bad reactions after the first pin
-More comprehensive blood work will be done just before starting, half way through, and after PCT

On hand I will have Nolva and Aromasin
-For any High-E symptoms, my first response will be 12.5mg Asin E3.5 days
-Second response will be 20mg Nolva EOD
-Anti-E will continue until High E sides go away

For PCT I will be using Nolva and HCG
-Nolva 20mg/day for 6 weeks
-HCG Run for ten days 1000IU EOD

Pros:
-I think this will be overall on the mild and less risky side of cycles, and I want the flexibility to increase/decrease the dosage of Test E to find the sweet spot, without having to use AI/SERM on cycle.
-Having HCG for PCT also gives me some confidence in coming off cycle properly

Cons:
-I ordered all of these items on a website that was recommended to me by word of mouth, and I have no way of knowing if they are actually legit. If I go and try to treat High-E symptoms on cycle, and it turns out that my SERM or AI is underdoses, then I am screwing myself.

Questions:
250mg/week too high or too low? I do not want to start with 500mg per week in case of side-effects. Is my gear even real?
How can I confirm that my SERM, AI, and HCG is good to go, before assessing though the resulting bloodwork? I am happy to go into detail on the products, or pictures. (Olympian Anabolic Aromasin and Nolvadex. ZyHCG in the packaging. Eurochem Laboratories Enanject 250) Am I fucking myself here

Thank you all, looking forward to learning some stuff.

 

[SenorSuperdrol]

250 isn’t a cycle, basically a waste of time, definitely not worth shutting yourself down for. Barley even above trt.

If 500 scares you, do 499 so you actually make results.

Cycles based on “16 weeks” is silly. Should be based on bloodwork and ran for as long as bloods allow. More like around a whole off season of 9 months.

If you don’t think your source sold you legit stuff why did you buy from them?

 

[BabaJagga]

i would go for 500mg (did 300 for 4-5 weeks, then 500, i should go for 500 right from start), with aromasin start with 1/4 pill and adjust as needed.

 

[BigDadd7]

500 (499!). First sign of e2 symptoms, get blood work. Don't just guess and pop some AI.

 

[jcj5000]

250 isn’t a cycle, basically a waste of time, definitely not worth shutting yourself down for. Barley even above trt.

If 500 scares you, do 499 so you actually make results.

Cycles based on “16 weeks” is silly. Should be based on bloodwork and ran for as long as bloods allow. More like around a whole off season of 9 months.

If you don’t think your source sold you legit stuff why did you buy from them?

Thanks for the advice, makes sense. 500 doesn't exactly scare me, I just had heard that you can use your first cycle to titrate up to a "sweet spot" of making gains without having to use AI's.

For the source, I had made the purchase before learning about often bunk gear get sold online. I am also trying to look around to see if any of these products have been tested for purity.

 

[jcj5000]

i would go for 500mg (did 300 for 4-5 weeks, then 500, i should go for 500 right from start), with aromasin start with 1/4 pill and adjust as needed.

Thank you

 

[jcj5000]

500 (499!). First sign of e2 symptoms, get blood work. Don't just guess and pop some AI.

Awesome, thanks

 

[krvuxn]

Thanks for the advice, makes sense. 500 doesn't exactly scare me, I just had heard that you can use your first cycle to titrate up to a "sweet spot" of making gains without having to use AI's.

For the source, I had made the purchase before learning about often bunk gear get sold online. I am also trying to look around to see if any of these products have been tested for purity.

There’s nothing wrong with using an AI, don’t fall for the YouTube personalities and their bullshit. No one ever got big from using the methods they preach.

500mg per week, AI if you need it (after blood work). Train hard and eat well, you’ll have a great first cycle.

 

[magnuss88]

I’m going to be the opposite of everyone. 250 is fine for a first cycle. It’s what I did…put me at over 2500 when I got my bloodwork. 250 is like 3-5x what a man produces naturally. True TRT is like 150 and that’s for someone with a substantial amount of muscle. I’m a big believer in the lowest effective dose, especially if you’re going to be in this game for a while. It will keep you healthy and you’ll be able to learn your body and adjust to side effects a lot easier. You could always start low and progressively add as you stall throughout your cycle.

Just my .02.

 

[PermaBlastingTren]

once you have everything dialed in throw in an oral as a finisher. teaches you how to use orals

 

[ThinBulk]

An actual TRT dose for me is around 100mg. I still really enjoyed 500mg for my first cycle with zero sides.

 

[kaizoku]

I’m going to be the opposite of everyone. 250 is fine for a first cycle. It’s what I did…put me at over 2500 when I got my bloodwork. 250 is like 3-5x what a man produces naturally. True TRT is like 150 and that’s for someone with a substantial amount of muscle. I’m a big believer in the lowest effective dose, especially if you’re going to be in this game for a while. It will keep you healthy and you’ll be able to learn your body and adjust to side effects a lot easier. You could always start low and progressively add as you stall throughout your cycle.

Just my .02.

What’s 250 put your TT at these days?

My first cycle was 500mg, TT in the mid-3000s from dogshit Naps Test E. That was 10 or 11 years ago.

Now 200mg puts me between 800-900 and 250mg puts me at 1100-1200.

 

[BabaJagga]

I’m going to be the opposite of everyone. 250 is fine for a first cycle. It’s what I did…put me at over 2500 when I got my bloodwork. 250 is like 3-5x what a man produces naturally. True TRT is like 150 and that’s for someone with a substantial amount of muscle. I’m a big believer in the lowest effective dose, especially if you’re going to be in this game for a while. It will keep you healthy and you’ll be able to learn your body and adjust to side effects a lot easier. You could always start low and progressively add as you stall throughout your cycle.

Just my .02.

ive tried 300 for first 5 weeks i think, 1300ng/dl with C ester. everybody seems to react differently.

 

[magnuss88]

What’s 250 put your TT at these days?

My first cycle was 500mg, TT in the mid-3000s from dogshit Naps Test E. That was 10 or 11 years ago.

Now 200mg puts me between 800-900 and 250mg puts me at 1100-1200.

That was 2 years ago. Currently on my third cycle and to be honest with my location and bloodwork being near impossible to order on your own here , I haven’t been able to get it checked like I wanted. I save my yearly from my doctor to make sure I’m fully recovered after pct.

 

[bigboy420]

I would run 250mg whole year and never plan pct...

 

[xrayphoton13]

Biggest issue I see here is 15% bodyfat. You should not try to build muscle until you are 10% bodyfat. So diet down to 10% bodyfat first or do a recomp cycle and you could build a little muscle while you diet down to 10%. Then run your planned 250mg test bulk. The dose is low but you should still be able to build muscle at the intermediate level. I'm currently running 125mg test per week/50mg deca per week/25mg tren per week/12.5mg anavar per day with mod grf/ipamoralin before bed and making gains in a small deficit so it's definitely possible to progress without a huge steroid dose

 

[magnuss88]

Biggest issue I see here is 15% bodyfat. You should not try to build muscle until you are 10% bodyfat. So diet down to 10% bodyfat first or do a recomp cycle and you could build a little muscle while you diet down to 10%. Then run your planned 250mg test bulk. The dose is low but you should still be able to build muscle at the intermediate level. I'm currently running 125mg test per week/50mg deca per week/25mg tren per week/12.5mg anavar per day with mod grf/ipamoralin before bed and making gains in a small deficit so it's definitely possible to progress without a huge steroid dose

Another reason I think starting small is the way to go is because in my experience we all end up falling into the more is better mindset. Me personally, I start plotting all these different synergies and things in my head and it takes all my willpower to just slow it down a bit. If you’re going to be doing this for a long time, you have plenty of time to experiment with higher doses, multiple compounds, etc. For now, keep it tame so you have room to safely increase over time.

 

[Smokeythabear]

Biggest issue I see here is 15% bodyfat. You should not try to build muscle until you are 10% bodyfat. So diet down to 10% bodyfat first or do a recomp cycle and you could build a little muscle while you diet down to 10%. Then run your planned 250mg test bulk. The dose is low but you should still be able to build muscle at the intermediate level. I'm currently running 125mg test per week/50mg deca per week/25mg tren per week/12.5mg anavar per day with mod grf/ipamoralin before bed and making gains in a small deficit so it's definitely possible to progress without a huge steroid dose

How are your lipids so far on this low dose cycle? Seems like it would have minimal impact.

 

[xrayphoton13]

How are your lipids so far on this low dose cycle? Seems like it would have minimal impact.

Just started two weeks ago. Haven't checked yet but it's planned. I pretty much copied it from vigorous Steve. He has full labs here:
View: https://youtu.be/hztDjt_btTY?si=bQXkkeUDrS2UuABN

 

[Smokeythabear]

Just started two weeks ago. Haven't checked yet but it's planned. I pretty much copied it from vigorous Steve. He has full labs here:
View: https://youtu.be/hztDjt_btTY?si=bQXkkeUDrS2UuABN

Love that you’re running his experiment. It inspired me to run something similar. 140mg weekly dose spread across ED pins of Test E and Mast E for 12 weeks with 4iu of GH (split AM & PM). Then for the final 8 weeks add in 4mg daily of Tren Ace and 12.5mg Anavar twice daily. 20 weeks total. I just started a week ago. Keep us posted on how it’s going. Curious if you’ll “feel” anything from the Tren.