48 and going strong (Hello)

[RoxRunner]

Hi all,
I’ve been a lurker for many, many years and finally decided to join and get involved. I guess first thing is a little bit about myself:

48 (soon to be 49)
5’ 11”
200 lbs.
15-17% bf right now on the way to 10-12 clean
Decent strength and size.

I ran an oral cycle about 13 years ago and saw some good strength gains but nothing size related given the amount of gear I had. I then ran another cycle (pin this time) about a year later but it didn’t do crap. I think that was because the gear was questionable quality veterinary grade out of Mexico.

I’ve spent pretty much the last decade as an endurance athlete. Ironman racing (full and 70.3) and ultra-distance marathons. Even then, I lifted a couple of times a week to not waste away and my trainer was really good about keeping some strength on me. Recently I had to have my Achilles repaired and got back into lifting a lot prior to surgery for recovery. I didn’t realize how much I missed. Even at my age, strength gains are happening pretty regularly given my knowledge, proper form and finally and clean diet.

About 10 years ago, I started TRT using AndroGel . Absorption was pretty low so my urologist recommended sub-Q pellets. So for the past seven years or so, I’ve been doing a pretty decent dosage of semiannual pellet insertion given my activity level. I do BW prior to each insertion just to make sure everything looks good. To offset side effects, I take 1mg a week of Anastrozole. I also donate blood regularly to keep it from getting so thick.

I’m looking at all my options for the next cycle and haven’t made any decisions so any recommendations would be appreciated. I know that’s asking a lot since everyone has their favorites and opinion. My goal is to get rock hard and bulk up slightly and get strong. I’m at the age where I’d much rather have a killer dad bod instead of massing up to 230. My lifestyle is such that weighting 190-205 seems to be ideal.

A question I have that I really haven’t been able to find so far is this:

If I cycle again, since I’m on a very controlled TRT already, would my PCT be nil or would I have to make some adjustments to the Anastrozole?

TIA

[bethdoth]

I am not an expert on PCT because I am on HRT and once a cycle is done I just drop back to it. I do increase my exestamane when I am on cycle. I have done research on the pellets and I feel you will have to be careful with the timing of your cycle. From what I understand your total test is higher when the pellets are first inserted and pretty low toward the end. With that I would start a cycle right after insertion, but you will still have to add testostorone into your cycle because your normal TRT will not be enough. I go from 140mg a week (70mgE3.5D) to 200mg a week. Most go way more than that, but I like to cycle with the less is best theory.

[almostgone]

Your would.just drop to your TRT levels like rhoag posted, but if you're on 1mg of anastrozole/week, I would very diligent about monitoring E2 levels and keep your extra T doses low until.you have a pretty good idea of how much additional a.i. you might need.
Welcome.to the forum! I'll be 54 years old this year. There are more than several in the 45+ years old club here.

[kelkel]

Where does you E2 land while on 1 mg of adex per week? I ask as it's more than most take for a 500 mg cycle. Don't just as a matter of routine donate blood. Know that as men age they become more prone to anemia when they routinely donate. Keep an eye on things.

[RoxRunner]

Thanks for the information and advice guys. To answer your question kelkel, my e2 runs close to 20 pg/mL (my last 3 labs). I had a couple of labs prior to those that were way out of range (55 & 71 and before those results, the trend was on the rise) so that's when my Urologist started me on AI. I donate blood to keep my Hemoglobin and Hematocrit in normal ranges. Living at 5600+ (Colorado) it doesn't help given the altitude bonus of additional RBCs. If I don't donate my crit levels get really high.

I considered weekly/bi-weekly test treatments but given my activity level, the sub-q seemed to be more inline with my lifestyle. I started with Testopel but my crappy insurance would only pay for 6 pellets per insertion. I was burning 10-12 every 3 months. So we switched to a European made synthetic that is double the dose and size. I'm still using 10-12 but they last 6 months. My test spikes ~3 weeks after insertion and remains pretty high for about three months and as described starts to decline. I typically spike at 1100-1500 ng/dL and at the end of the 6 months, I'm down to ~200 (so yes, really really low). We try to re-insert when I'm in the 300-400 range but since my burn is based on my activity level, it's like nailing jello to the wall.

[kelkel]

Interesting Rox. Were those labs pulled when at peak T levels or not?

[RoxRunner]

Comparing my lab dates with appts, it looks like I was typically between week 6-8. So peak levels should have already occurred. From my research sub-Q insertion peaks around week 3. I see my Urologist again in late March- early April for another round so I'll dig a little deeper on the knowledge. Based on him, I'll also get my bw done at what he expects to "peak" to be. Luckily we're all in a category that isn't the "norm" in America. Fit individuals are by far the exception anymore. My dr. comments regularly that I'm way too active and it's hard to pin down my exact needs/dosage. Most of the studies on this are for older, sedentary, out of shape males. We are not that.

My last insertion in October 2017, my T & E2 were right where he wanted them at the end of a cycle and I had done very little running due to an Achilles's injury so he was happy that I didn't bottom out but he knew that if I was at my "normal" active, I would have needed more.

[kelkel]

Well, at least it sounds like you have a somewhat knowledgeable and forward thinking doctor. So many don't.

[BuzzardMarinePumper]

lol , You have many more years to be active and many more to lift if you live smart . E-2 levels have been a bigger concern for me than Test level and I have only been in TRT since 2012 . Oh , I am 58 and about to have shoulder surgery and Hip replacement 90 to 120 days later - so I can be back in the gym and backpacking by ..... hopefully May 2019 and get back to backpacking the AT before I hit 60 .

[GearHeaded]

An option for you to run a cycle or two is just to leave your TRT alone where its at. Then add non aromatizing compounds to your TRT.
examples -
run 50mg per day of VAR with your TRT
run 70mg per day of Tbol
run 800mg per week of Primo
run 600mg per week of Mast
etc.

none of those are going to mess with your current TRT or E levels much. BUT they will give you a good anabolic push and help you add muscle and Harden up.

no need to PCT from any of those , you simply run the drug and when done drop it and continue with TRT as normal

[RoxRunner]

An option for you to run a cycle or two is just to leave your TRT alone where its at. Then add non aromatizing compounds to your TRT.
examples -
run 50mg per day of VAR with your TRT
run 70mg per day of Tbol
run 800mg per week of Primo
run 600mg per week of Mast
etc.

none of those are going to mess with your current TRT or E levels much. BUT they will give you a good anabolic push and help you add muscle and Harden up.

no need to PCT from any of those , you simply run the drug and when done drop it and continue with TRT as normal

Thanks for the info. Thoughts on Deca ? I was thinking about it given the joint relief benefit. And since I'm recovering from Achilles surgery, think it would be beneficial to strengthening up my tendon.

[GearHeaded]

Thanks for the info. Thoughts on Deca? I was thinking about it given the joint relief benefit. And since I'm recovering from Achilles surgery, think it would be beneficial to strengthening up my tendon.

great compound . I'm on Deca or NPP almost year round. even if its just a low 250mg therapeutic dose to help with joints and inflammation and promote healing. OR if I'm trying to add a lot of size and running 1000mg of it.

you can add low dose Deca to your TRT and get benefits from it. just make sure to get blood work done and check hematocrit as it has a tendency to elevate that

[RoxRunner]

Thanks Gear! I'll keep researching a figure out a plan. My next TRT treatment is in late April-early May so I have some time to research and get what I want...

[kelkel]

Similar to GH I'm a big believer in low dose Deca and have been on it along side my TRT for probably close to 4-5 years now.

Read this:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4837307/

[RoxRunner]

Similar to GH I'm a big believer in low dose Deca and have been on it along side my TRT for probably close to 4-5 years now.

Read this:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4837307/

Great article. I may ask my my doc about doing some trials if they come along. It seems like there is a huge benefit within and outside TRT realm.

[RoxRunner]

GH and Kelkel, in your opinion, would 200mg a week be a good starting point for deca /NPP?

[tcw]

Great article. I may ask my my doc about doing some trials if they come along. It seems like there is a huge benefit within and outside TRT realm.

Hmmm...i thought Deca was no longer "legitimately" available (only UL)?

Am i right or wrong?

[RoxRunner]

Hmmm...i thought Deca was no longer "legitimately" available (only UL)?

Am i right or wrong?

There were a couple of posts recently where deca was prescribed for post surgical recovery.

[bonhamsurf]

Subscribed. Thanks