Why does it take so long to feel or see the effects of testosterone

[Test Monsterone]

Mr. BBs response is correct if you were low on T you'd feel the effects pretty quickly.

For cycles it is not about going from a deficient state to normal. It is going from normal and trying to elicit a response from your body to go above normal. Testosterone reaches cells and activates a bunch of genes, this is called transcription. These responses increase nitrogen retention, increase protein synthesis, they affect your adrenal system so you have less catabolism et.c. They do not happen instantly. You also have to keep in mind that max effects start when you have reached the desired levels of testosterone in your blood, that would take 5-6 weeks with a long ester. 6-8 week cycles are definitely doable just use short esters, the ester breaks down much quicker and you get high levels of test quicker.

EDIT: A point I forgot to make about the effects of testosterone. Once the testosterone has done all this and the effects have taken effect on the inside, you have to train, eat and recover to make any gains to begin with. The high test will just amplify the response to training. How can you expect to look bigger just because you went on cycle? No stimulus = no growth, AAS just enhances the stimulus.

I wondered this a lot during my first cycle and asked tons of people and this is what I got from them and from my own researching, hope it helps.

That cleared up a few things for me, I appreciate it! I realize that the body will take a while to change, even with optimal/higher test levels. I plan on doing just a TRT dose to see how I feel on it. I can't say I'm not tempted to go into it with a cycle and then taper down to a TRT dose, but I guess that wouldn't be "smart." I'm planning on doing bloods 2 months into the TRT program, and see how I feel after that. I'm at a total level of 471 ng/dl, which isn't horrible, I guess.

I wonder if I could kick start the TRT (since I ordered Test-C and Sustanon) with the Sustanon because of the shorter ester in there? Maybe I should just keep it simple. I am really curious about the mental effects of TRT doses.

We have a researcher on the board who has written an excellent guide for TRT. Check it out:
https://forums.steroid.com/hormone-r...rting-trt.html

He mentions subq being superior due to a slightly slower absorption rate, leading to more stable levels. Stable levels = feeling great with no dips. If you get dips, you up the dose, the problem here is your peak goes higher to make up for the trough. Higher dose = side effects, like higher hematocrit, needing an AI, eventual prostate issues for older people. Why use more than you need if you can feel the same with stable levels?

Hmm... that sounds like a very good reason to do sub-q, esp. on small doses. I've heard that larger sub q doses are not that great with absorption, possible swelling.

What ester is your test? If it’s try prescribed I’m assuming cypionate? I had the exact same question during my first cycle with enanthate 500. I only had crazy dreams, and constant stronger erections ending of week 2. Didn’t notice much gains or feel psychologically different until week 5. All of a sudden I began putting on weight and held a hell of lot more glycogen, energy was through the roof with a greater sense of well being, if it’s your first you’ll definitely notice the difference, just be patient it will come to you I promise.

You're right, it's cypionate. Yeah man, a lot of questions going in for sure. I am tempted to start off with a cycle, but I'm kind of doing an experiment to see how I'll feel on a TRT dose. How I'm thinking, I never wanted to cycle steroids, because I always thought that would be pointless to put my body through those ups and downs. I'd rather get on TRT and do a blast once in a blue moon for a vacation or something. My natty levels right now are 471 (down from 880 when I was 20). I'm very curious about the sexual effects as well, although at TRT doses they may not be that great. Thanks for that timeframe/breakdown of the effects I'll feel, that makes a lot of sense!