My First Cycle: Planning and Executing a Successful First Cycle

[devil-1986]

Check the supplement section buddy. This thread if for steroid cycling. But they do not slow gains at all.

yeah ... sorry austini

[devil-1986]

in pct :

1.should i take each one of clomid (75 mg) and nolva (40 mg) into one dose or split it throughout the day ?
2.should i take both at the same time ?

[austinite]

One dose is fine. If you feel any irritation, split it. Either way is effective. The half life is too long for that to matter.

[devil-1986]

at this week (week two) of my cycle i have no libido and no sex drive even if i see the porn my p**** don't erection is this normal ?

[austinite]

No, not normal. Get blood work.

[vincentj13]

Great read before I start my first cycle. Answered most of my questions before I even had to post. Now where do I go to find out if my first cycle is good or where to improve?

[Docd187123]

Great read before I start my first cycle. Answered most of my questions before I even had to post. Now where do I go to find out if my first cycle is good or where to improve?

Does it follow the outline presented here by Austinite? If so it's a safe bet that it's a good cycle. Otherwise make a thread and post up your stats, training and diet, and proposed first cycle.

[devil-1986]

No, not normal. Get blood work.

hi austinite i do bw and today i get my results :

prolactin 14.5 ng/ml (1.8-20)
testosterone 27.8 nmol/l (10-28)
estradiol 25.1 pg/ml (7-42)
i have three question :
1.up until this week (week 2) of my cycle i take 7 shot of 100 mg/ml of test-p and my testosterone results one week before start the cycle was 15 nmol/l ,and today After two weeks my testosterone is 27.8 nmol/l, my question is about my staff , is it legit or ugl or fake ? because i take some pro hormones about 1 years ago and do blood work after do blood work and get the results my testosterone was 44 nmol/l just for taking pro hormone and now after two weeks on 100 mg/ml of test-p my testosterone is 27.8 nmol/ !
2.my estradiol result before start the cycle was 51.5 and high than normal range
i take 0.625 mg of letro after 3 shot of test -p in week one and take another two dose of 0.31 mg eod in this week and one dose was on yesterday, was i do blood work on that day , my question is this dose ok for me (0.31) eod to get throughout my cycle or must increase it to 0.625 after 3 shots ?
3. my nipples are puffy and i haven't any gland or gyno , just only puffy my question is , can this puffy nipples come frome my current prolactin level 14.5 ng/ml (1.8-20)? if yes then what should i do ?

[austinite]

You're taking a pro-hormone? Why? I don't give advice for pro-hormones, devil.

2. If your baseline serum estradiol is hovering above range, then that is normal for your body. This means you need to keep it on the higher end of the range to function normally as your body is already adapted to higher serum E2. So 25.1 pg/ml may be too low for you. So you want to make an attempt at adjusting your AI dose to accommodate higher serum E2.

[austinite]

Guys, please stay on topic. This thread is designated to folks who wish to follow the protocol outlined. If you are not following the recommendations in the original post, please start a new thread for advice.

[devil-1986]

Guys, please stay on topic. This thread is designated to folks who wish to follow the protocol outlined. If you are not following the recommendations in the original post, please start a new thread for advice.

sorry austini but evrey time i start new thread no body answer my questions .for that reason I appreciate you for answer my question in your thread .

[devil-1986]

ok i ask this questions in new thread ,can you answer my questions ?
many thanks and appreciate if you answer

[JuiceBox7]

great post

[stocktrainer]

^

1. Either way is fine.
2. Considering you're still aromatizing during the 2 weeks, I prefer you stay on.
3. 8 week cycle of prop is fine. 8 weeks of prop will not produce more lean muscle than 12 weeks of Enanthate .
4. Yes, but the difference is pretty negligible.

There really is no reason (for me at least) to compare long and short esters other than 2 reasons:

- Speed of results
- Injection frequency

Those are the only 2 things that really need to be considered. And either one is fine.

Austinite - Thanks for an informative thread. May I jump in here with a quick question regarding a 8 week test prop cycle vs a 12 week test e cycle. Would you suggest running the same pct protocol for both cycles as prescribed in your thread above. Wouldn't the time for pct be less for test prop and the protocol different?

[TrevHoff]

Austin,

Thank you for this AMAZING post, appreciate it A LOT. Can't express how nicely laid out this is!

Question regarding PCT:

"Remember to continue taking your AI during those 2 weeks."

Is this 2 week period the same amount that one is taking during the cycle - Adex - 0.25mg EOD? OR...

Also, my endocrinologist has me on hCG for low-t with 1800 iu's a week. Should I follow your recommendation of "hCG - 250 iu every 3.5 days (500 iu/week total)" OR can I kick it up a notch to my endo's prescriptions... thoughts?

Much thanks in advance!!

Side note my doc's other prescriptions for low-t for me are as follows (wondering if you have any input comments on what should be done with these while on first cycle):

• HCG - 900 i/u's twice a week
• DHEA - 50mg/Day
• Pregnenalone - 10mg/Day
• Progesterone - 40 mg/Day

[austinite]

Trev,

Yes, the 2 weeks references the time between your last injection and the day you start PCT, this would be for the Enanthate or Cypionate esters.

There's no need for such high doses of hCG on cycle. You just need enough to keep the testes functioning while you're shut down.

Check the HRT section for advice on your TRT protocol. This can't really be answered without knowing your history, stats and blood work. However, DHEA and Pregnenolone is great for anyone on TRT. hCG mono therapy is not something I recommend for anyone. Progesterone is dependent on blood work and look into adding Vitamin (hormone) D.

Best of luck.

[TrevHoff]

Thanks Austin,

So JUST to confirm; take 0.25mg of Arimidex EOD during this 2 week period (followed by PCT - Notably I will be taking Enanthate )? Just want to make 100% sure on the recommended dosage for this 2 week period as I had developed adolescent gynecomastia , and last thing I want to deal with again!

Thank you for the notes on the hCG usage while on cycle, I will most definitely take the recommended dosage (hCG at 250 iu every 3.5 days (500 iu/week total)). NOW question! I read your your thread on "HCG: Why you should use it on-cycle only..."; particularly focusing on "Why You Should NOT Use hCG Post Cycle:". With hCG being my main HRT, how/when would you recommend I incorporate it back to my endo's prescription dosage he has me on?? Would after the 4 week PCT be suffice??

Based on my many blood tests, doctor did note I was low in all areas and why prescribed me the DHEA, Preg, and Prog. I will continue with these prescriptions during my cycle.

Thanks in advance appreciate your input immensely.

[oginatrix]

The responsible ones will read it - so about 2 people a year. lol

Great post! many thanks. you can add me to the 2ppl/yr counter :P

[EquilibriumZ]

I know younger ones must not use steroid . i m curious tho does HCG apply to someone that is 18 years old for example?

[TrevHoff]

I know younger ones must not use steroid. i m curious tho does HCG apply to someone that is 18 years old for example?

Highly suggest if low testosterone is a concern to see a doctor. At age 18 I simply could not see it happening but MAYBE.

[austinite]

Thanks Austin,

So JUST to confirm; take 0.25mg of Arimidex EOD during this 2 week period (followed by PCT - Notably I will be taking Enanthate )? Just want to make 100% sure on the recommended dosage for this 2 week period as I had developed adolescent gynecomastia , and last thing I want to deal with again!

Thank you for the notes on the hCG usage while on cycle, I will most definitely take the recommended dosage (hCG at 250 iu every 3.5 days (500 iu/week total)). NOW question! I read your your thread on "HCG: Why you should use it on-cycle only..."; particularly focusing on "Why You Should NOT Use hCG Post Cycle:". With hCG being my main HRT, how/when would you recommend I incorporate it back to my endo's prescription dosage he has me on?? Would after the 4 week PCT be suffice??

Based on my many blood tests, doctor did note I was low in all areas and why prescribed me the DHEA, Preg, and Prog. I will continue with these prescriptions during my cycle.

Thanks in advance appreciate your input immensely.

Yes for the first part.

Again, I don't recommend hCG mono-therapy. I would find another doctor.

[Saleem.fr]

Austin iwant to know is hcg is intramuscular or intraskin injection because hcg is insulin isn't it

[austinite]

Austin iwant to know is hcg is intramuscular or intraskin injection because hcg is insulin isn't it

IM or SubQ is fine. hCG is NOT insulin . Learn about hCG here...

HCG: Why you should use it on-cycle only & how to prepare your hCG for injections

[TrevHoff]

Yes for the first part.

Again, I don't recommend hCG mono-therapy. I would find another doctor.

Reason for the hCG mono therapy was he "did not want to shut down my natural production completely" as I was too young and would potentially like to have kids one day and risk of that with testosterone ? Make ANY sense to you? I trusted his opinion as he is the professional, vs. the bro-science that I have been accustomed to know since researching steroids over the last few years.

I will try and make a long story short; my mental mind clarity was extremely fuzzy, get these "hot flashes" with prickly skin feeling, my sex drive was completely depleted, I don't say I was depressed but everything was grey (just no emotion neither happy or sad). I went to 2 doctors for this and they checked my blood work (notably NO testosterone levels were checked!) Over time I PERSONALLY thought my T levels might be the case. SO I went to a doctor and had to specifically ask for my T levels to be checked, resulting with:

• 11.1 nmol/l or believe 319 ng/dl

I thought this had been EXTREMELY low and asked the doc about it and said I was fine and fell within range. SO went to another doc had my levels checked and they came back with even lower numbers. Discussed with the doctor and said the levels were fine. Fed up I did some research for endocrinologists available in my area (Calgary, CANADA) and found this doctor. Had my test levels checked and fell around this exact same range. FINALLY a doctor that admitted these levels are quite low for a 32 year old. Discussed options and ended up with the prescriptions of:

hCG - 1000 i/u's twice a week
DHEA - 50mg/Day
Pregnenalone - 100mg/Day
Progesterone - 40 mg/Day

Now a rarity in Canada I had to pay for this doctors services $400 initial visit and $150 each visit to him there after. Did NOT care as was willing to do anything about the low-t side effects mentioned. After first few weeks on hCG doc checked my test levels and was in the 780's ng/dl; I started feeling way better; mind clarity, sex drive, energy. Thus, I was happy, happy, happy.

NOW, for me to find another doctor here in Canada that will actually listen to me and to find a GOOD one I am at a loss for words and frustrated even thinking about it, but I will give it another go around. Also note, even if I do find a doctor that agree's I have low-t they would then have to refer me to a specialist (just how it works in Canada!).

Sorry to ramble on and hopefully you are still with me, can not appreciate the input enough!

Thanks Austin!

[austinite]

Trev. Love your passion, but I want to keep this thread on topic, my friend. Please take advantage of the HRT section.

Thank you.

[Tx81]

Well I have done a few cycles some years back and I wanted to read what this post had to say with me thinking about doing a cycle. I've been out of the fitness game for a bit since exiting the military and this was a good read for me even though I've done a few cycles. It's kinda humbled me some and made me understand I need to get my routine and myself back in-like before I go ahead and start another cycle. Thanks for the post to put a reality check on myself.

[andrew722]

hey, I have my first cycle in hand test E for 12 weeks , I couldn't get arimidex so I had to settle for aromasin . my question is would 12.5mg daily be sufficient well on cycle ? I also have nolvadex and Clomid for pct. my stats are age 24, 5'8, 176lbs as of today, bf12-14% and have been training and dieting for 4.5 years consistently. thanks for any advice I love reading any of your posts !

[austinite]

hey, I have my first cycle in hand test E for 12 weeks , I couldn't get arimidex so I had to settle for aromasin . my question is would 12.5mg daily be sufficient well on cycle ? I also have nolvadex and Clomid for pct. my stats are age 24, 5'8, 176lbs as of today, bf12-14% and have been training and dieting for 4.5 years consistently. thanks for any advice I love reading any of your posts !

No. I don't recommend 12.5mg of aromasin . Minimum, 25mg daily. It's a good AI, but a weak one. Arimidex is best.

[andrew722]

ok thanks again

[Joey2Times]

Great post very thorough thanks for the good info.

[xraytech]

Hey Aust, can this protocol be used for leaning out?? Meaning using same protocol with clean diet??

[austinite]

Hey Aust, can this protocol be used for leaning out?? Meaning using same protocol with clean diet??

Yes, as mentioned in the article, if you're cutting, you would merely decrease caloric intake below TDEE.

[FapOLantern]

I made a post but the retarded spam filter is frustrating. I changed my post all over and even after censoring my speech and the way I wanted to express things it didn't work. I'd prefer a fecking captcha over this. So please refer to the link below to read my question:

hxxp://txt.do/t1do

Replace the xx's with t's (orly?).


Thanks!

[austinite]

Nice post. I already had my first cycle planned, and it looks similar. I want some feedback on it, though:


Week 1-4: Test prop @ 100 mg EOD. (350mg/week) - kickstart, wanna gauge any really bad reactions I might have before I get a longer ester in my blood
Week 1-8: Test Cyp @ 250 mg every 3.5 days (500mg/week total)
Week 1-8: hCG @ 500iu/week


PCT: Start 18 day after last injection:


Clomid @ 75/50/50/50 & Nolvadex @ 40/20/20/20


Side note: I heard that peps such as cjc1295/ghrp-6 stacked help maintain gains and get even stronger during PCT. Opinions?


Arimidex I started taking recently due to estrogen dominance (natural test increased after I started treating my thyroid, and so did aromatisation!) I'm taking 0.5mg/week because at the suggested .25mg EOD my E2 crashed to zero (love those blood tests). Being an over-responder is good in the sense I'll spend less money. So while on the juice I'll up it to that dose.


I was planning to do 12 weeks, but because of the myostatin increase and subsequent slowing down of gains around week 8 I cut it back. All the pals I spoke to agreed on the plateau you reach around that time. So instead of adding more compounds or increasing dosage, I prefer to save those four weeks of stuff for my next cycle, I might stack some anadrol with it, if I have a good reaction to test. Also less time on means less recovery time, not ready to cruise yet.


So, austin, you strike me as a very knowledgeable person, what is your opinion? I really love needles, I was thinking of pinning the prop everyday but I don't want too much scar tissue.


I'm also taking niacin @ 1000mg ED to lower cholesterol, and the B5, zinc and pycnogenol stack you recommended cause my skin is oily, just in case. I hope the AI stops any acne from occurring, though.


In my opinion all things are planned to the T and look beautiful. But I'm very open to suggestions, I am, after all, a n00b.

Please start a new thread. This thread is dedicated to first cycles only, and folks who wish to follow the protocol to the T. Be sure to provide your stats, no one will help without stats. There is also a supplement thread for your supplement questions.

Welcome to the board and best of luck.

[FapOLantern]

Please start a new thread. This thread is dedicated to first cycles only, and folks who wish to follow the protocol to the T. Be sure to provide your stats, no one will help without stats. There is also a supplement thread for your supplement questions.

Welcome to the board and best of luck.

A "yes" or "no" would have been easier, is my take.

But I get where you're coming from. I guess I just wanted reassurance, I know that the protocol is solid. Thanks!

[austinite]

A "yes" or "no" would have been easier, is my take.

But I get where you're coming from. I guess I just wanted reassurance, I know that the protocol is solid. Thanks!

Thanks for the input, my take is as stated. Your post cannot be answered with a yes or no, and anyone offering a "Yes or no" answer will be doing you a disservice. Thank you for understanding.

[sickdog]

Great info thanks a lot!

[lil johnny]

Amazing Post! Great read!!!

[TrevHoff]

Austinite,

With reference to:

- Week 1 to 12: Testosterone enanthate @ 250 mg every 3.5 days (500mg/week total)
- Week 1 to 12: hCG @ 250 iu every 3.5 days (500 iu/week total)

Both are being injected every 3.5 days, is this on the SAME day or off set on DIFFERENT days?

What do you recommend?

[austinite]

^ Does not matter.