Thinking about a mini blast/recomp any thoughts, feedback?

[GFA]

Hey guys,

I am thinking of bumping up my test dose to 200mg a week (Sun/Wed 100mg each). Ai would be increased to .5mg ldex 2x a week (1mg total).

The goal would be to add some decent mass while maintaining or even losing some fat. This would hopefully improve my body composition by adding LBM and maintaining or decreasing BF. I am border line skinny fat. If I maintained my weight but added some muscle, that would be ideal. I would do this for 8-12 weeks then lower dosage back down to normal.

Currently doing 100mg a week + 500 iu HCG (250 x 2), .5mg ldex a week. Total test around 1044 and slightly elevated E2 (before taking an AI).

My calories/macros would be

40/40/20 (pro,carb,fats) and around 2000-2200 cals a day.

I lift 3-4x a week focusing on heavy compound exercises (squats, deads, bench, overhead press, dips, incline press and so on).

Anyone do this before and have success? Any feedback, comments on this?

Current stats

41 Y/O
5'10
207 lbs
~25% BF?

Bench 205 for sets
Squats 245 for sets
Dips BWx12 for sets
OH Press 115 for sets

Also I have never done a cycle, never did prohormones.

[Brohim]

You recomp by adjusting your diet. If you are 25% you diet is waay off. Get a diet/workout/cardio plan and stick to it. Test level at 1,000 is more than enough to get in awesome shape. The rest is sticking to a diet and hard work.

[GFA]

My diet is decent now. Dropped 20 lbs so far since starting TRT (approx 9-10 weeks ago) and around 5" off the waist. My concern is losing muscle mass as I continue to drop weight. I dont have alot of mass on my arms as it is and forget about hard gainer on arms, Im a NO gainer haha.

As for cardio, I am following the couch to 5k program, on week 6 day 2 now. I do that 3x a week along with 10 mins cardio pre workout and 10-20 mins post workout on lifting days.

Whats the general consensus on BF% before blasting? Sub 15%? Although my proposed blast is technically a high TRT dose @200mg a week as Im more interested in a recomp than tons of mass gain.

[AnabolicBoy1981]

who cares about total test whats your free test?

[Bill_boy2005]

Even at the "high" trt dose you stand a chance of side effects. Personally I feel that if you've only been loosing weight and on trt for that short of a period and at 25% bf you should focus on your diet. If your loosing lean mass you're probably in need of a cleaner diet and a few more grams of protein than extra test.

[GFA]

@anabolic , not sure, will be getting new BW soon. Doc only ordered total and e2. Next BW ill get total, free, e2, lipids.

Even at the "high" trt dose you stand a chance of side effects. Personally I feel that if you've only been loosing weight and on trt for that short of a period and at 25% bf you should focus on your diet. If your loosing lean mass you're probably in need of a cleaner diet and a few more grams of protein than extra test.

I dont believe I am losing LBM as my strength is still going up moderately. As my calories come down more who knows what will happen.

So from the feedback above it sounds like I should just focus on cutting or adding mass but not both. Im not in a rush thats why I was curious about doing a recomp and try to accomplish both at the same time (drop 20-30 lbs fat, add 5-10 lbs muscle for example).

Anyways Ill focus on dropping another 20lbs in the next 2-3 months then reevaluate.

[V-ROID]

Agree with all above. Focus on diet and drop BF. Have you ever been at a lower BF say 10-15%? Reason I ask is some people who have not, and lose a lot of fat, think they are losing muscle when they find out how non-muscular they really are under their fat. Your strength isn't dropping which is good. Should be fine on current dose of Test to reach your goal. Strength will probably increase as well if you push a little harder and are eating right. Good progress keep it up.

[kelkel]

Use the scale sparingly if at all. Judge your progress by the mirror. And you can cut fat and gain muscle at the same time. Train hard, eat correctly and give it time. Visit the nutrition forum for a lot of great advice. You can post your entire diet and get great feedback if you so choose. Good luck!

[GFA]

Agree with all above. Focus on diet and drop BF. Have you ever been at a lower BF say 10-15%? Reason I ask is some people who have not, and lose a lot of fat, think they are losing muscle when they find out how non-muscular they really are under their fat. Your strength isn't dropping which is good. Should be fine on current dose of Test to reach your goal. Strength will probably increase as well if you push a little harder and are eating right. Good progress keep it up.

I know my LBM is low. Ive had low test for a long time and now getting things in order (my test was 86ng/DL at the start of this year (350-1200 range). My guess at my current LBM to reach say 10% BF I would have to get down to 160lbs. I have no desire to be 160 lbs. Id rather be 180 and 15+% than 160 and 10%. Another reason why I am curious about recomp since I don't want to get down to 160 before bulking.

@kelkel, yep I go by mirror/waist measurements, I dont care what the scale says either thats why I was wondering about recomping which is less about scale weight and more about body comp/BF%. 200 lbs 15% BF > 180 lbs 20% BF

I did a bunch of research in the nutrition section as well, lots of good info there. My diet is around 200g protein a day now and I consume no alcohol.

For example today I had the following

Morning protein shake (I do this for convenience)
2 scoops whey
1 banana
ice
1 TB NPB
coffee
500 cals, 60g protein

Morning Snack
Greek Yogurt or Cottage Cheese
150 cals, 15g protein

Lunch
Can of tuna on toasted whole wheat with 1TB light mayo, Hard boiled egg
slice white cheese
1 TB spicy NPB (yes spicy peanut butter! found in NYC this weekend)
500 cals, 50g protein

Afternoon snack
cliff builder bar 250 cals, 20g protein

Dinner
6oz Grilled chicken, broccoli
30g protein, 250 cals

PWO Shake
2 scoops whey
1 TB NPB
400 cals, 60g protein

Around 2k cals and 230g protein

And of course ton of water.

BRB after 20 more lbs of fat loss.

[HRTstudent]

200mg per test would never offset a lackluster diet... at worst you will introduce new and exaggerated sides. at best you will experience a slight increase in recovery, slight strength and maybe improved fatloss. these results will be 5% compared to what you could get if you legitimately ate a fat loss diet and added cardio. I say that because you estimated your bf at 25%... but that does say a lot.

getting that bf down will also help with aromatase and that will naturally improve your T.

[GFA]

200mg per test would never offset a lackluster diet... at worst you will introduce new and exaggerated sides. at best you will experience a slight increase in recovery, slight strength and maybe improved fatloss. these results will be 5% compared to what you could get if you legitimately ate a fat loss diet and added cardio. I say that because you estimated your bf at 25%... but that does say a lot.

getting that bf down will also help with aromatase and that will naturally improve your T.

Pre TRT I was 20 lbs heavier, no energy, now I have more energy and hitting the gym hard and already cleaned up diet. Down 20 lbs in past 2 months. I'm already doing a bunch of cardio, 5x a week, 3 days of couch to 5k along with 30 mins treadmill (1 hr cardio days) and 20-30 mins of treadmill on lifting days.

My question was more around recomping using additional testosterone , if it was possible and if others have done so with success (moderate LBM gains and fat loss at same time).

Maybe Ill put up some progress pics this weekend from first week of feb and from this week. I am definitely looking better and my waist has shrunk 5" so far.

It appears the consensus is do one or the other (fat loss, muscle gain) and not try to do both at the same time.

Ill revisit the topic in 2 more months after I drop another 20 lbs of fat.