• 💪 Hello, please SIGN-UP FOR A FREE account and become a member of our community!
    You will then be able to start threads, post comments and send messages to other members. Thanks!
  • 🔥 Kits4Less.com #1 MOST LAB-TESTED SOURCE — 25% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER! 🔥

First Cycle Advice - 40 yrs old

byzantinehash

Registered
Joined
Jul 29, 2026
Messages
8
Reaction score
2
Points
11
## New Member, Looking for Feedback on My First Blast

Hey everyone, new member here. I am 40, 6'0", roughly 200 lb, and have lost 120 lb of fat over the last 1.5 years. My goal is a recomp, with fat loss remaining the priority. I am here to learn and get feedback on my current approach.

I started TRT at 200 mg/week for about 2 months, then increased to 300 mg/week for the last 2 months. I just got my labs back and am not sure whether my ranges are too high or if I am a hyper-responder.

I just jumped into a blast and am debating whether I should back off. I do not have any noticeable sides. My blood pressure is usually around 117/78 when I check it daily.

I am gaining muscle quickly, and all my lifts are increasing substantially week to week. I have included static holds and daily stretching for my tendons and joints to help avoid tears from the large strength increases.

40M, 6'0", approximately 200 lb. Recomp goal, with approximately 20-30 lb of fat to lose. On TRT, first blast.

---

## Bloodwork

Drawn fasted through Quest while on 300 mg/week Test C with daily injections plus hCG 1,500 IU/week, before primo was added.

### Hormones

  • Total T, LC/MS: 2,467 (250-1,100), high
  • Free T, dialysis: 840.1 (35-155), high
  • Estradiol, ultrasensitive LC/MS: 235 (≤29), high
  • SHBG: 29 (10-50)
  • Prolactin: 11.0 (2.0-18.0)
  • LH: <0.2
  • FSH: <0.7
  • DHEA-S: 220 (93-415)
  • PSA: 0.50 (≤4.00)
  • IGF-1: pending

### Blood Counts

  • Hematocrit: 48.2% (39.4-51.1)
  • Hemoglobin: 15.7 (13.2-17.1)
  • RBC: 5.15
  • Platelets: 236
  • WBC: 4.7

### Lipids, Fasted

  • Total cholesterol: 177
  • HDL: 54
  • LDL, calculated: 110, high
  • Triglycerides: 52

### Liver, Kidney, and Metabolic

  • AST: 35 (10-40)
  • ALT: 33 (9-46)
  • ALP: 60
  • Bilirubin: 0.8
  • Creatinine: 0.88
  • eGFR: 111
  • Glucose: 73
  • HbA1c: 4.7%
  • Fasting insulin: 1.9

### Other

  • Ferritin: 25 (38-380), low. Iron supplementation was just started.
  • TSH: 1.89
  • Free T3: 3.5
  • Morning BP: 121/81

---

## Current Protocol

Since that draw, I switched to:

  • 500 mg/week Test C, daily pins
  • 250 mg/week primo
  • Arimidex 0.25 mg every 4 days
  • hCG unchanged at 1,500 IU/week

I have not donated blood. My ferritin is low, which I assume is related to red blood cell production.

---

## Lipid and Weight-Loss Context

I was previously prediabetic and had very high lipids. I have lost 120 lb of fat in the last 1.5 years.

These are the best my lipids have ever been, although I know they are not perfect yet.

---

## Pre-TRT Bloodwork

Labcorp, fasted. This was my true baseline before testosterone started.

  • Total T: 368 (264-916) ng/dL, low-normal at age 40
  • Estradiol: 34.2 (7.6-42.6) pg/mL, Roche ECLIA
  • Hematocrit: 44.4% (37.5-51.0)
  • Hemoglobin: 14.5
  • RBC: 4.92
  • Platelets: 241
  • Glucose: 75
  • Creatinine: 1.11
  • eGFR: 86
  • BUN: 22
  • AST: 21
  • ALT: 31
  • ALP: 56
  • Bilirubin: 0.6
  • PSA: 0.5 (0.0-4.0)

---

## Diet

Recomp with fat loss as the primary goal. Approximately 3,000 calories base.

Daily totals:
approximately 2,984 kcal, 269 g protein, 306 g carbs, 66 g fat
Lifting days:
add one plain bagel, approximately 3,234 kcal

### Meals

1. Pre-training: 2 scoops whey plus 1 banana
2. Post-workout shake: 2 scoops whey, 8 oz pea milk, 1 cup berries, 35 g dextrose
3. Breakfast: 2 whole eggs, 200 g egg whites, 1 plain bagel
4. Lunch: 5.5 oz chicken breast, 290 g white rice, 100 g broccoli, 1 tbsp olive oil
5. Dinner: 5.25 oz 90/10 ground beef, 350 g potato, 100 g broccoli, 28 g mozzarella

### Supplements

  • Creatine: 10 g/day
  • L-citrulline
  • NAC daily
  • Multivitamin
  • Fish oil
  • Citrus bergamot
  • Psyllium: 5-10 g/day
  • Iron: 50-60 mg every other day, due to ferritin of 25
  • Electrolytes
  • Approximately 1 gallon of water per day as a goal, though I am currently closer to 1.5 gallons

---

## Other Relevant Context

  • Retatrutide: 12 mg/week for appetite suppression. Fat loss is the goal, so I am eating to hit my protein target rather than eating based on appetite.
  • Zero alcohol
  • Zero caffeine
  • Zero smoking
  • Training: 6 lifting sessions per 8-day rotation
  • Walking: approximately 5 miles daily
 
You need to reign in that e2. 235pg/ml is very high.
Stay on TRT until you lose the weight. 30lbs may seem like nothing because of where you started but it needs to come off before "blasting"
You also need to figure out why tf your ferritin is alarmingly low before you blast you havent given blood and your ferritin is a 25?! Starting a blast now is foolish what happens if your hct climbs rapidly? Youll be stuck not able to donate. Its not a race figure your shit out before jumping into a cycle. Youre not physically ready health wise.
 
Why are you taking 12mg of Reta but wanting to blast? I assume you are taking that much as you are still trying to lose weight. Which if that is the case you should lose the weight first then blast.
 
Congratulations losing all that weight. It looks like you have a training and diet structure in place. Test/Primo is my preferred choice. I make sure I have enough estrogen when using Primo and feel best ~50ish. I would use a cycle-> TRT-> cycle-> TRT-> repeat pattern with blood work to adjust. Most of the advice you will get on a forum will be questionable. the best approach is trial and error and take notes on your lab rat's results and remember always that your lab rat is you.
 
## New Member, Looking for Feedback on My First Blast

Hey everyone, new member here. I am 40, 6'0", roughly 200 lb, and have lost 120 lb of fat over the last 1.5 years. My goal is a recomp, with fat loss remaining the priority. I am here to learn and get feedback on my current approach.

I started TRT at 200 mg/week for about 2 months, then increased to 300 mg/week for the last 2 months. I just got my labs back and am not sure whether my ranges are too high or if I am a hyper-responder.

I just jumped into a blast and am debating whether I should back off. I do not have any noticeable sides. My blood pressure is usually around 117/78 when I check it daily.

I am gaining muscle quickly, and all my lifts are increasing substantially week to week. I have included static holds and daily stretching for my tendons and joints to help avoid tears from the large strength increases.

40M, 6'0", approximately 200 lb. Recomp goal, with approximately 20-30 lb of fat to lose. On TRT, first blast.

---

## Bloodwork

Drawn fasted through Quest while on 300 mg/week Test C with daily injections plus hCG 1,500 IU/week, before primo was added.

### Hormones

  • Total T, LC/MS: 2,467 (250-1,100), high
  • Free T, dialysis: 840.1 (35-155), high
  • Estradiol, ultrasensitive LC/MS: 235 (≤29), high
  • SHBG: 29 (10-50)
  • Prolactin: 11.0 (2.0-18.0)
  • LH: <0.2
  • FSH: <0.7
  • DHEA-S: 220 (93-415)
  • PSA: 0.50 (≤4.00)
  • IGF-1: pending

### Blood Counts

  • Hematocrit: 48.2% (39.4-51.1)
  • Hemoglobin: 15.7 (13.2-17.1)
  • RBC: 5.15
  • Platelets: 236
  • WBC: 4.7

### Lipids, Fasted

  • Total cholesterol: 177
  • HDL: 54
  • LDL, calculated: 110, high
  • Triglycerides: 52

### Liver, Kidney, and Metabolic

  • AST: 35 (10-40)
  • ALT: 33 (9-46)
  • ALP: 60
  • Bilirubin: 0.8
  • Creatinine: 0.88
  • eGFR: 111
  • Glucose: 73
  • HbA1c: 4.7%
  • Fasting insulin: 1.9

### Other

  • Ferritin: 25 (38-380), low. Iron supplementation was just started.
  • TSH: 1.89
  • Free T3: 3.5
  • Morning BP: 121/81

---

## Current Protocol

Since that draw, I switched to:

  • 500 mg/week Test C, daily pins
  • 250 mg/week primo
  • Arimidex 0.25 mg every 4 days
  • hCG unchanged at 1,500 IU/week

I have not donated blood. My ferritin is low, which I assume is related to red blood cell production.

---

## Lipid and Weight-Loss Context

I was previously prediabetic and had very high lipids. I have lost 120 lb of fat in the last 1.5 years.

These are the best my lipids have ever been, although I know they are not perfect yet.

---

## Pre-TRT Bloodwork

Labcorp, fasted. This was my true baseline before testosterone started.

  • Total T: 368 (264-916) ng/dL, low-normal at age 40
  • Estradiol: 34.2 (7.6-42.6) pg/mL, Roche ECLIA
  • Hematocrit: 44.4% (37.5-51.0)
  • Hemoglobin: 14.5
  • RBC: 4.92
  • Platelets: 241
  • Glucose: 75
  • Creatinine: 1.11
  • eGFR: 86
  • BUN: 22
  • AST: 21
  • ALT: 31
  • ALP: 56
  • Bilirubin: 0.6
  • PSA: 0.5 (0.0-4.0)

---

## Diet

Recomp with fat loss as the primary goal. Approximately 3,000 calories base.

Daily totals:
approximately 2,984 kcal, 269 g protein, 306 g carbs, 66 g fat
Lifting days:
add one plain bagel, approximately 3,234 kcal

### Meals

1. Pre-training: 2 scoops whey plus 1 banana
2. Post-workout shake: 2 scoops whey, 8 oz pea milk, 1 cup berries, 35 g dextrose
3. Breakfast: 2 whole eggs, 200 g egg whites, 1 plain bagel
4. Lunch: 5.5 oz chicken breast, 290 g white rice, 100 g broccoli, 1 tbsp olive oil
5. Dinner: 5.25 oz 90/10 ground beef, 350 g potato, 100 g broccoli, 28 g mozzarella

### Supplements

  • Creatine: 10 g/day
  • L-citrulline
  • NAC daily
  • Multivitamin
  • Fish oil
  • Citrus bergamot
  • Psyllium: 5-10 g/day
  • Iron: 50-60 mg every other day, due to ferritin of 25
  • Electrolytes
  • Approximately 1 gallon of water per day as a goal, though I am currently closer to 1.5 gallons

---

## Other Relevant Context

  • Retatrutide: 12 mg/week for appetite suppression. Fat loss is the goal, so I am eating to hit my protein target rather than eating based on appetite.
  • Zero alcohol
  • Zero caffeine
  • Zero smoking
  • Training: 6 lifting sessions per 8-day rotation
  • Walking: approximately 5 miles daily
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2247.jpeg
    IMG_2247.jpeg
    585 KB · Views: 15
  • IMG_2245.jpeg
    IMG_2245.jpeg
    612.4 KB · Views: 15
12mg of Reta? Damn.

Please post a physique pic. Way too many variables without knowing where you are physically.
Dropped a pic, I probably should drop that dose down now that most the weight is cut. It’s certainly hard to eat the 3k calories.
 
Why are you taking 12mg of Reta but wanting to blast? I assume you are taking that much as you are still trying to lose weight. Which if that is the case you should lose the weight first then blast.
I have been on it for a while and just never titrated down, after you guys brought it up I am going to start tapering it down. Also to make it easier keeping all this food down.
 
Congratulations losing all that weight. It looks like you have a training and diet structure in place. Test/Primo is my preferred choice. I make sure I have enough estrogen when using Primo and feel best ~50ish. I would use a cycle-> TRT-> cycle-> TRT-> repeat pattern with blood work to adjust. Most of the advice you will get on a forum will be questionable. the best approach is trial and error and take notes on your lab rat's results and remember always that your lab rat is you.
Appreciate the feedback
 
Dropped a pic, I probably should drop that dose down now that most the weight is cut. It’s certainly hard to eat the 3k calories.

You are still carrying a good amount of body fat. Diet down to an ab outline then reassess running a cycle. Otherwise you are wasting gear and your health for no reason.
 
You are still carrying a good amount of body fat. Diet down to an ab outline then reassess running a cycle. Otherwise you are wasting gear and your health for no reason.
Preaching gotta love it. Health should come first.
 
Preaching gotta love it. Health should come first.
Thank you for all the support and advice. Making a plan to cut, dropping back down to my 200 mg TRT dose until I get BF down. Will report back in a few months once I get there. Once it’s all done I am sure I will have a blast.
 

Latest threads

Back
Top