Is 500mg Test only cycle mandatory for first cycle?

[xstah]

6’3” male, 205 lbs, BF 18%. Workout 5 times per week, PPL intervals, plus 2-3 weekly sessions of light to moderate cardio. Calories are in check, though quality could be better. I’ve been on doctor Rx’d TRT for 10 weeks due to low Test numbers. Started at 150mg/week, up to 200mg/week. Added 50mg Var for the past four weeks and will continue it another 4.

I’ve never felt much on Test other than an increased sex drive. Never needed an AI. My Var is Rx’d and dispensed from a US Pharmacy, so assuming it’s legit. Never “feel” the Var, however. No massive pumps, no significant strength gains, etc. Waiting for my bloodwork to come back as we speak to see where I’m at with my test, lipids and things.

All that to get to my question. I’d like to run an actual cycle now. I see many recommendations for a 16-20 week test only cycle at 500mg/week for your first cycle. i understand the theory of leaning to dial in your E levels. I worry that perhaps I’m a low responder and will be dissatisfied with the cycle. Very well could just be my expectations are not in line with reality. But I don’t want to waste 20 weeks on a cycle then 20 weeks off. Would you suggest the test only cycle as a first real one or should I add anything else? I have AI and SERMs on hand already.

 

[tommygunz]

Test only is just for simplicity to gauge your response to AAS.

 

[Bolan]

Test is best!!
Normally yes, 1st cycles are done with testosterone.
500mg is more than enough to grow like a weed if your diet and training is in check!
Your pulling bloods 1st which is a good thing.... then in about 2 months in.... Do bloods again and see
how your body responds to the testosterone.

 

[Jbswole40]

Ofcourse it is...
Bcus 450mg just isn't going to cut it..
Just kidding..
If u at 200 now upping to 350-400 is plenty, u r doubling what u r already taking,so ai may b needed..bloodwork is important

 

[Broserker]

The only thing that’s necessary in early cycles imo is using the absolute least amount of drugs to grow as possible. If you grew off of 200 test, you can grow off of 250-300 and more food etc…

Food is always going to be the driving factor first and foremost, bodybuilders don’t push drugs nearly as hard to grow. It just isn’t as necessary when your body is full of food.

 

[JC33]

Old way of thinking. Shit I’d stay on 350 test for a year for your first cycle and slowly bump up by 25-50mgs if needed. Can put 10-20lbs on this way safely.

 

[xstah]

Thanks for the reply all. I’ll stick to Test only. Going to do 16-20 weeks at 500mg/week and will see how it goes. I think I’m just impatient, but need the marathon mentality.

 

[Meetketchup]

If u at 200 now upping to 350-400 is plenty

If you grew off of 200 test, you can grow off of 250-300 and more food etc…

Old way of thinking. Shit I’d stay on 350 test for a year for your first cycle and slowly bump up by 25-50mgs if needed. Can put 10-20lbs on this way safely.

You guys tried!

I also would have said 300-350mg, but it's your world dog! Good luck.

 

[xstah]

You guys tried!

I also would have said 300-350mg, but it's your world dog! Good luck.

Didn’t mean to come off as dismissive to all the recommendations. I have no experience with a blast, but 300-350 doesn’t seem like much of a cycle. Seems like a slow burn to get results at a dose not much higher than my TRT. I’ve read with test more is more and results are proportional to dose up to around 600mg. Total bro science I’m sure, but I guess I’m hoping for an actual cycle with definitive results At the end of the cycle rather then “350 for a year”. That seems like a hella long time.

I’m here for recommendations though, not to just tell how I want to do it. So what’s the actual advantage of only going up to 350 when my trt is 200 vs 500? Seems like sides and E control could be a factor at each one. What am i missing?

 

[Laxman3221]

You want to use the least amount of any AAS to make gains. Better on you health and less sides.

 

[Meetketchup]

I’m here for recommendations though, not to just tell how I want to do it. So what’s the actual advantage of only going up to 350 when my trt is 200 vs 500? Seems like sides and E control could be a factor at each one. What am i missing?

You always want to run the lowest most effective/efficient results for obvious sides and health reasons, which will leave room for you to use lessor dosages for future cycles. A jump from 200mg to 500mg is overkill and you will see extremely similar gains from just the 350mg. This is assuming you have diet, training and recovery dialed in. Your body can only grow so fast. Using more than you can handle when you don't have to for optimal growth doesn't make sense.

I would do something like this:

Start your cycle at 350mg and ride that out for 8 weeks and if you're still growing, which you will...you keep riding that dosage. Evaluate at 10 weeks and then 12 weeks. If at any time you feel the need to increase the dosage, you can. You always evaluate during the cycle. You up food before gear. When your body is not responding to increased food well, that's an indicator that you may have to increase dosages.

Also, think of it like this...

If you start at 500mg, then where do you start your next cycle? 600mg?

You can start your first cycle at 350mg and your next could be only 400mg or 500mg. It's a long game.

Just a recommendation. Your body man.

 

[KrossOut]

6’3” and 205 lbs 18% body fat.

You’re not far into your actual training. You’re not going to see much out of the cycle unless you first fix what’s wrong. It’s either the food (ratio of macros is way off if I had to guess) or it’s the training (likely not pushing yourself hard enough to make progress). Or both.

Diet down to 10% to 15% before running the cycle. That will take discipline and you’ll also learn how to eat. Figure out what’s off in your training. At 6’3” you should really be above 225-230 lb and <15% bf before going on cycle.

Fix it now and you’ll know how to get hooooge moving forward. If you don’t fix it, you’ll continue to get mediocre results. There’s no such thing as a “non-responder” to testosterone.

 

[Battousai]

Yes but how about starting with 25mg a day (175mg a week) and go up from there.