Thinking about first cycle, 21M

[Shromo]

Good evening, everyone - I'm brand new on the forum, and mainly made an account looking for advice, and answers.

First and foremost, my name is Jay, and I'm 21. I've been overweight for a while, but about two years ago decided to get on the grind. I lost 70 lbs naturally, putting me at 250, which is where I'm at now. I strength train 6x a week and do fasted cardio 7x a week.

Aside from all that, I take Retatrutide, 5-amino-1AQ, and starting on Tesamorelin. Been taking the Reta for ~2 months.

I'm extremely committed in the gym and fuckin love it. It's a way of life for me now. I've been delving deep into AAS, PEDs, SARMs/SERMs, etc, and I can say I'm fairly knowledgeable about the basic facts now.


What I'm mainly seeking is advice. Overall advice on what type of cycle I should do for my first time, if at all. I have a vial of Test CP (250MG/ML) sitting in my room, on standby.

Just got blood tests as well. My total test is 494, and my free test is 10.2, lipids are perfect, IGF is 235 - I'm looking to continue cutting fat while putting on good size. I think I may want to compete eventually, but for now, I want to dip my toes in the water and see how this goes.


Thank you all in advance for any answers/advice you're willing to write up, I know this is a long post. Have a great day/night, and again, thank you.​

 

[BigDadd7]

A lot of your test is aromatizing to estrogen. Guess where your body makes aromatase enzymes? In your fat cells. Keep cutting and shed that fat so you can keep more of the t you have.

 

[krvuxn]

Personally I think 21 is too young but that’s just like, my opinion man.

But in all seriousness, if you don’t truly know what it’s like to train with intensity then steroids are a bit of a waste. I’d wait another few years, see where you can get just with the reta keeping you insulin sensitive. Then start thinking about steroids when you’re a little older and more experienced.

 

[Shromo]

A lot of your test is aromatizing to estrogen. Guess where your body makes aromatase enzymes? In your fat cells. Keep cutting and shed that fat so you can keep more of the t you have.

I should mention my estradiol is 21.7 - I've got gyno from when I was younger though, which is really fucking annoying, but c'est la vie. I know test could only potentially exacerbate it. Just wanted some thoughts/opinions. I appreciate you my man. Not stoppin for shit, the grind continues.

 

[Shromo]

Personally I think 21 is too young but that’s just like, my opinion man.

But in all seriousness, if you don’t truly know what it’s like to train with intensity then steroids are a bit of a waste. I’d wait another few years, see where you can get just with the reta keeping you insulin sensitive. Then start thinking about steroids when you’re a little older and more experienced.

Heard that. I mean, when I train, I train with some pretty decent intensity. Always drenched when I leave the gym, and spend atleast an hour on my workout, then the rest of my time there for cardio. I know some people are in the gym for 2-3+ hours, but it's hard for me to be in there that long with work and such. I appreciate the advice brother.

 

[ripper908]

I'd wait until 25 minimum to be honest. I started at 27 and had a great natural physique up until that point where people who know little about lifting already assumed I was on gear.

And get lean naturally first despite age if you are gonna do it regardless. Will get way better results starting lean

 

[Shromo]

I'd wait until 25 minimum to be honest. I started at 27 and had a great natural physique up until that point where people who know little about lifting already assumed I was on gear.

And get lean naturally first despite age if you are gonna do it regardless. Will get way better results starting lean

Preciate that man. Just focusin on losing weight as of right now. I may start a progress log thread.

 

[readalot]

Welcome to MESO!

The best welcome gift I can humbly muster for you.

R

Thread 'Considering a first cycle....all your confusion cleared up here.'

Dec 28, 2023

So you want to dabble with AAS for body dysmorphia or cosmetic reasons?

Step 1. Understand the basic workings of hpt(g)a - hypothalamic pituitary testicular (aka gonadal) axis. Control theory. Where does testosterone exhibit negative feedback? H or P? How about estradiol?

Step 2. Understand PCT. What is it? Is it necessary? When is it necessary?

Step 3. Understand basics of pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics for the drugs you are considering

Step 4. What's your plan? Inject some stuff and come back to the forums in 10 to 12 weeks and ask what to do next? Short, medium...

• readalot
• harm reduction pct help testosterone cypionate testosterone enanthate
• Replies: 10
• Forum: Steroid Forum

• 

 

[Shromo]

Welcome to MESO!

The best welcome gift I can humbly muster for you.

R

Thread 'Considering a first cycle....all your confusion cleared up here.'

Dec 28, 2023

So you want to dabble with AAS for body dysmorphia or cosmetic reasons?

Step 1. Understand the basic workings of hpt(g)a - hypothalamic pituitary testicular (aka gonadal) axis. Control theory. Where does testosterone exhibit negative feedback? H or P? How about estradiol?

Step 2. Understand PCT. What is it? Is it necessary? When is it necessary?

Step 3. Understand basics of pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics for the drugs you are considering

Step 4. What's your plan? Inject some stuff and come back to the forums in 10 to 12 weeks and ask what to do next? Short, medium...

• readalot
• harm reduction pct help testosterone cypionate testosterone enanthate
• Replies: 10
• Forum: Steroid Forum

• 

I just read the whole thing, and a lot of the comments - certainly very informative and for that, I appreciate you bro! I think in the mean time, I'll forget about the urge to get on this shit ASAP, focus on what I'm already taking, and get a thread goin for my progress. Then, when I'm at my goals/desired look/weight/bf%/etc, I'll revisit the topic and reconsider. Still, I do love to be informed. Thanks a lot dude.

 

[readalot]

 

[hard_gains]

I would wait man. I didn't touch gear until I was 31. And even then I wasn't really educated enough to be doing it.

21 is still very young. And if you have the drive you'll keep progressing without it. Circle back after a few years and reevaluate.

 

[220]

Welcome. Congrats on the weight loss and change of lifestyle. I would continue doing what you are doing and make sure this is still what you want to do a year down the road.

I would commit to leaning out and perfecting diet, training, recovery, etc. You can still recomp and progress in the gym as a natty.

Just know that if you decide to go the enhanced route you will spend $ on not only gear, but bloodwork, quality food, and ancillary drugs that go with the lifestyle.

I wish you the best.

 

[Slowww]

I think you have a lot more weight to lose before gear. What you did is an amazing start but you could get much better results from a leaner starting point. Natural weight loss is very easy, putting on weight with gear is better imo. Even if e2 isn’t bad, your cholesterol, heart health etc is already going to be something less than where jt could be, and gear is going to influence that stuff for the worse.

For your health you really don’t need it. Idk what your goals are but unless you plan on competing seriously youre going to also be putting your potential for a future family at risk, and this is a serious repercussion. It might not be worth speeding up something youre already gonna succeed at.

Start a log too! Would love to see the progress on the weight loss and transformation too. Good luck bro

 

[sionnach]

I just read the whole thing, and a lot of the comments - certainly very informative and for that, I appreciate you bro! I think in the mean time, I'll forget about the urge to get on this shit ASAP, focus on what I'm already taking, and get a thread goin for my progress. Then, when I'm at my goals/desired look/weight/bf%/etc, I'll revisit the topic and reconsider. Still, I do love to be informed. Thanks a lot dude.

Welcome to meso

 

[Shromo]

I would wait man. I didn't touch gear until I was 31. And even then I wasn't really educated enough to be doing it.

21 is still very young. And if you have the drive you'll keep progressing without it. Circle back after a few years and reevaluate.

100% have the drive. I've certainly re-evaluated at this point and plan to proceed with what I'm already doing. Thank you, man.

Welcome. Congrats on the weight loss and change of lifestyle. I would continue doing what you are doing and make sure this is still what you want to do a year down the road.

I would commit to leaning out and perfecting diet, training, recovery, etc. You can still recomp and progress in the gym as a natty.

Just know that if you decide to go the enhanced route you will spend $ on not only gear, but bloodwork, quality food, and ancillary drugs that go with the lifestyle.

I wish you the best.

Thanks a lot brother, the congratulations mean a lot. As mentioned, I'm strictly gonna focus on perfecting my diet, continuing this grind, and working my ass off to gain muscle. I know the enhanced route costs a good bit of $$ which I'd be willing to spend if I was truly unwavering about it, but I've had my mind swayed by a couple of gentlemen on here. Again, appreciate your reply bro.

I think you have a lot more weight to lose before gear. What you did is an amazing start but you could get much better results from a leaner starting point. Natural weight loss is very easy, putting on weight with gear is better imo. Even if e2 isn’t bad, your cholesterol, heart health etc is already going to be something less than where jt could be, and gear is going to influence that stuff for the worse.

For your health you really don’t need it. Idk what your goals are but unless you plan on competing seriously youre going to also be putting your potential for a future family at risk, and this is a serious repercussion. It might not be worth speeding up something youre already gonna succeed at.

Start a log too! Would love to see the progress on the weight loss and transformation too. Good luck bro

You're absolutely right - my bloodwork is currently very, very good, however, that's not something I want to fuck up right now, especially when I'm already doing so good as it stands. I certainly have thought deeply about the fertility risks, and was under the impression that if I was careful about what I did, it'd be unlikely, but just that risk alone is still something I have to think further about, for a while. I definitely want some mini-me's runnin around one day, haha.

I'm definitely gonna start a log! Probably going to make the post tonight. Thanks a lot for your response as well my man, I appreciate you.

 

[220]

You seem like you are open to taking advice and willing to do your homework. I’m glad you are asking questions and thinking about your health.
If you decide down the road to go enhanced one thing to consider is whether or not you are going to do PCT or go on TRT after your blasts. Have you considered that?

 

[Shromo]

You seem like you are open to taking advice and willing to do your homework. I’m glad you are asking questions and thinking about your health.
If you decide down the road to go enhanced one thing to consider is whether or not you are going to do PCT or go on TRT after your blasts. Have you considered that?

Yessir, and the advice is greatly appreciated. I care deeply about my health, hence why I'm not spontaneously doing shit that could harm me permanently, haha.

In the future - when you say TRT, do you mean the permanent version of test? Just taking it off-cycle indefinitely? I don't think so - my idea for it was to cycle Test alone, or with something else, then use a PCT to get the test levels back to normal. Wasn't planning on riding out the test indefinitely, if that answers your question. Still though, I've got no plans to do it as of now.

 

[readalot]

In the future - when you say TRT, do you mean the permanent version of test?

See you skimmed through the questions I had in the thread I linked. Now go back and read them 10 or 20 more times and have answers for those 10 points and all the other ones that weren't listed. Then come back to considering gear.

 

[Shromo]

See you skimmed through the questions I had in the thread I linked. Now go back and read them 10 or 20 more times and have answers for those 10 points and all the other ones that weren't listed. Then come back to considering gear.

Damn quick on ya toes man, haha. I mean, I know TRT is testosterone replacement therapy, but outside of that, I guess my knowledge is in fact lacking. I'll revisit the post now. Still, not considering gear after all that we've spoken about. Just focused now on what I need to do.

 

[Shromo]

And also, here's the link to my new thread if you want to give it a gander. Thanks again for the advice my man.

Thread 'My weight loss log/journey!'

Sep 19, 2025

Good evening, everyone. I hope all is well!

I've decided I finally want to start a public log of my progress thus far. This will be an informative post about my journey, where I'm at, and where I plan to be. I'm very excited to finally be putting it into words.

For some basic information, I am
- 21 years old, male
- Born and raised in South Florida
- 5ft 11"
- Majority muscle (with a fair amount of cellulite/visceral fat left + all the stretch marks to write home about!)
- Currently 236 LBs, down from 310 over the course of 14-15 months
- Diet is good, could use more protein...​

• Shromo
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Men's Health Forum

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