I'm 30, 185lbs, ~20% Body Fat, and while I've lifted on an off for about 13 years now, I've only been on four months, after about over a year off.
The difference is that between 18-28 I'd need to lift because I was too thin (145lbs @ 6'0") whereas now I'd like to keep the weight while changing what it's comprised of.
Strength and a more defined look are secondary and more medium-term goals.
A long-term goal (~1 year) would be SMT Hyperplasia from my HGH cycle, or possibly some IGF-1 cycle down the road (assuming that's possible).
I've been doing a lot of research, including reading many of the stickies on this thread (sometimes twice), and I realize people generally recommend two years straight of training before your first cycle. I'm not willing to wait that long, and I accept the risk.
My training routine consists of three days of full body workouts. It's a little odd, and I mostly do it out of habit at this point, but I'm willing to change it up.
-Bench: 8/10/12 @ 155lbs
-Pullups: 7/8/10 @ BW - 20lbs
-Deep Squats: 8/10/12 @ 145lbs
-Dumbbell Flies: 7/8/10 @ 45lbs
-Those Triceps exercises where you dip a dumbbell behind your head while sitting: 8/10/12 @ 45lbs
-Curls: 7/8/10 @ 30lbs
-Rows (machine): 7/8/10 @ 155lbs
-Deadlift: 7/8/10 @ 175
-Depending on time, I'll then do some random ab, shoulder, calf, rotator cuff, forearm sets, and/or a few minutes of cardio.
After reading the first sticky in this topic I realize how odd this routine is, especially the ascending number of reps. Basically, when I can do 7/8/10 without failing on the last set I go up to 8/10/12, and when I can do that I go up weight.
Like I said, I'm open to suggestions.
Now for the gear:
One thing that probably differentiates me from many people here is that I would be less tolerant of Androgenic effects. The main reason for that is that I'm supposed to be slap-head bald by now, like every other guy on both sides of my family. With a combination of oral 5ar-Inhibitors and Topical antiandrogens (mostly spiro) over the last 12 years I've kept literally all my hair. This is not imagined hair loss, as I was diagnosed by a derm who examined my scalp under magnification, and my baseline in this regard includes some slight temple recession.
Please respect my priorities in this regard. Given a choice, I'd rather keep my body if changing it with gear necessitated going bald. I would not look good bald at all, muscles or not.
This is one of the reasons I'd like to include HGH in my first cycle.
A secondary reason would be to prevent damage to connective tissue. As recently as two years ago I was still able to put on strength quickly, even without gear, and even with that funky routine. Despite good form and all that, I still would occasionally twinge something, especially in my shoulders. Never anything serious, but it felt like something "almost popped" and was kinda scary.
So without further ado, here's what I'm thinking based on some considerable research I've done to date:
GH: Weeks 1 - 24 (or maybe 36)
M,W,F -- 2IU AM / 3IU PM
T,Th -- 1IU AM / 2 IU PM
Sa,Su -- 2IU PM
(25IU/week)
S-4: Weeks 1 - 11, Weeks 14 - 24
ED: 20mg AM / 20mg PM
(possible increase to 25/25 or 30/30 weeks 9-11 and 23-24)
Anavar: Weeks 5 - 11, Weeks 18 - 24
ED: 35mg
I did read the sticky about the 8/2 method, but I figured SARMs might be mild enough that I could increase dose a bit to compensate for AR downregulation, and 8 week Anavar cycles might be too rich for my blood.
I'm also planning a T3/Clen stack with the Anavar, but I haven't researched that quite enough to have decided on dosing yet.
I have some Milk Thistle for liver protection, which I assume I should take in the months when I'm not using Anavar, since if it works, it probably but again, I need to look more into it as of right now.
The reasons I think a regimen like this one would be good for someone like me include the low androgenicity (see above), it's relatively mild all around, no IM injections (just not a fan of that concept), and it's pretty unlikely I'll rip off my own arms doing a Clean and Jerk like in the "Steroids Olympics" sketch from "In Living Color".
Still, I'm not married to this framework I've outlined in any way, so as always I'm open to suggestions.
Thanks in advance.
EDIT: Was also thinking that I should probably consider an AI, since I use dutasteride, and have next to no DHT, but I figured it would be possible to hop on at the first signs and reverse it. Gyno can be reversed, and does on its own for a lot of us during puberty, so why wouldn't it reverse itself in adulthood if you use an AI? I've heard of DHT cream which would probably work well in addition to an AI for stubborn gyno.
EDIT II: Also, I'm not sure about HCG. I assume permanent endogenous T decrease (or shutdown!) only happens if you use very high doses, right? I also heard it can give you a "one week boost" if you use a bit mid-cycle. Considering I have a relatively low dose of Anavar and a normal dose of S4 in mind, is it worth the time and trouble?
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