Turkeybuilder's first cycle! SUBQ ONLY!

[Cman90]

I appreciate the advice and another perspective. You really think i’ll loose gains on a cut even if i’m on 200test a week, hit my protein, and train hard?

I only planned on doing a small maintenance period before a cut

You are doing the most important things correctly, monitoring your health. As long as you keep that up you can run as many cycles as you like.

If you end up cutting down to 8-10% body fat and realize you should have listened to these guys, well, just run another bulking cycle at 500. You'll be fine.

I totally understand your desire to cut right now, I personally like to stay leaner. My goal isn't to be a meat head (kind of a sin to say that on this forum lol). But it's my goals and what works for me.

 

[superfluous]

Sure he can do things incorrectly if he wants but I’d assume because he posted in this forum he wants advice on how to do things right he just has to take our advice.

Fair enough, but his experiments put me off going sub-q on my first cycle though, so he's at least added to the collective good

Also while I'm here (I'm going towards finishing my 4th week on my first cycle) - you say don't stop until week 20 if things are going good. How can you tell things are going good in the bloods - no mad E2 or whatnot? My own biggest concern is killing the ability to return to natural T production if I keep going for too long.

 

[Cman90]

Fair enough, but his experiments put me off going sub-q on my first cycle though, so he's at least added to the collective good

Also while I'm here (I'm going towards finishing my 4th week on my first cycle) - you say don't stop until week 20 if things are going good. How can you tell things are going good in the bloods - no mad E2 or whatnot? My own biggest concern is killing the ability to return to natural T production if I keep going for too long.

You need to do a lot more research man. Should have done that before you started. All the information you are looking for exists in this forum. Use the search function. You can start by searching for "blood work" and "pct".

Here, I'll even throw you a bone

Thread 'Pcp bloodwork'

Jan 12, 2026

Hey guys so gonna be going in to see my pcp phlebotomist for some annual bloodwork. What all am I able to ask for without raising any suspicion, when it comes to what I want tested?

• Savagen8v
• Replies: 4
• Forum: Serum Blood Testing

If you're concerned about natural T production remaining, don't do steroids. When you PCT off you're going to lose all the gains any way.

 

[superfluous]

I think my question sounded more naive than I am. I've done my bloods before I started and I think all my markers are very healthy - going to do them again at 6 weeks into cycle. I was wondering what in particular would put you off having an extended cycle from 16 to 20 weeks, rather than what in general to look out for in blood results. I will continue searching the forum though - and I will be studying my 6 week results.

Anyway I'm hogging this dude's thread talking about myself

 

[Turkeybuilder]

You are doing the most important things correctly, monitoring your health. As long as you keep that up you can run as many cycles as you like.

If you end up cutting down to 8-10% body fat and realize you should have listened to these guys, well, just run another bulking cycle at 500. You'll be fine.

I totally understand your desire to cut right now, I personally like to stay leaner. My goal isn't to be a meat head (kind of a sin to say that on this forum lol). But it's my goals and what works for me.

I think my question sounded more naive than I am. I've done my bloods before I started and I think all my markers are very healthy - going to do them again at 6 weeks into cycle. I was wondering what in particular would put you off having an extended cycle from 16 to 20 weeks, rather than what in general to look out for in blood results. I will continue searching the forum though - and I will be studying my 6 week results.

Anyway I'm hogging this dude's thread talking about myself

i have no problem with you talking about yourself in this thread!
I think the disconnect in advice about me not listening to the advice of “just extend your cycle bro” is that I have different end game goals than others. Im not interested in being a mass monster at 5’7

Im also pretty burnt out and its affecting me mentally and affecting my training, otherwise I legit wouldve done a whole year cycle if my bloods were fine. I’m very happy with the progress i’ve made thus far, my biggest concern now is just optimizing to retain my gains so it looks like i’ll be doing an extended maintenance phase before committing to a cut.

Then obviously from there i plan on doing a second cycle, but atleast this time i’ll be starting from a leaner physique.

 

[powerdiesel]

This John Jewett video on "maintenance phases" popped up on my feed and is worth a watch. I thought he made some good points that are relevant for your situation. He argued maintenance phases aren't really needed when transitioning from bulk to cut....unless, you are beat up and aren't going to be able to enter the cut with maximum training effort (our #1 tool for muscle retention in a cut). Seems like that might fit your current state.


View: https://youtu.be/j-M7AVeH89k?si=sNCMiG3AdZU-DImQ

 

[Billbo98]

Fair enough, but his experiments put me off going sub-q on my first cycle though, so he's at least added to the collective good

Also while I'm here (I'm going towards finishing my 4th week on my first cycle) - you say don't stop until week 20 if things are going good. How can you tell things are going good in the bloods - no mad E2 or whatnot? My own biggest concern is killing the ability to return to natural T production if I keep going for too long.

So I’m gathering you don’t plan to blast and cruise for life after this? Just one and done?

You know things are “good” by a healthy lab panel with EVERYTHING not just estrogen.. and if BP is in good range, training feels good, sleep feels good, digestion feels good, mental feels good etc.

 

[Billbo98]

i have no problem with you talking about yourself in this thread!
I think the disconnect in advice about me not listening to the advice of “just extend your cycle bro” is that I have different end game goals than others. Im not interested in being a mass monster at 5’7

Im also pretty burnt out and its affecting me mentally and affecting my training, otherwise I legit wouldve done a whole year cycle if my bloods were fine. I’m very happy with the progress i’ve made thus far, my biggest concern now is just optimizing to retain my gains so it looks like i’ll be doing an extended maintenance phase before committing to a cut.

Then obviously from there i plan on doing a second cycle, but atleast this time i’ll be starting from a leaner physique.

If you’re burnt out then obviously time to stop. I didn’t see you mention that before. Just that you felt fat and need to cut which is really really dumb

 

[superfluous]

So I’m gathering you don’t plan to blast and cruise for life after this? Just one and done?

You know things are “good” by a healthy lab panel with EVERYTHING not just estrogen.. and if BP is in good range, training feels good, sleep feels good, digestion feels good, mental feels good etc.

Thanks for the advice.

I suspect I'll be tempted to go again at some point but I'll see how I feel at the end of the bulk. I was thinking if I did it regularly it would be a January ritual, as I go dry for a month and tend to spend the whole month in the gym (replacing one addiction for another). I could then let my natural hormonal balance come back for the other 2/3rds of the year.

 

[Billbo98]

Thanks for the advice.

I suspect I'll be tempted to go again at some point but I'll see how I feel at the end of the bulk. I was thinking if I did it regularly it would be a January ritual, as I go dry for a month and tend to spend the whole month in the gym (replacing one addiction for another). I could then let my natural hormonal balance come back for the other 2/3rds of the year.

This life ain’t for you just stop while you’re ahead and PCT now honestly. Once you pct gains will drop off and be gone after a few months. Cycling is not just 1 a year. Also after 20weeks it’s gonna take you almost 3-6 months for your HPTA to recover most likely AFTER PCT is done. Pct just helps you not feel absolutely horrendous when dropping off a massive flux of hormones. Your mindset is a child’s in this game and extremely naive to put it nicely man. The guys who are successful with cycles are blasting and cruising on TRT OR TRT+ for life

 

[superfluous]

Different strokes for different folkes. I'm fairly content not committing myself to life long pinning a few weeks into my first cycle. If I find the post cycle downsides so shit that it's not worth it, then I'll just stop. No big deal.

 

[Cman90]

Different strokes for different folkes. I'm fairly content not committing myself to life long pinning a few weeks into my first cycle. If I find the post cycle downsides so shit that it's not worth it, then I'll just stop. No big deal.

Haha what a lovely idea. Come back and let us know how your PCT went when you are weaker and smaller than you started and feel like shit.

Many of us here have had to PCT off for one reason or another. Almost always ends the same. Nothing new, you're not special. We know it's a bad plan from experience.