First Cycle - Looking for Input

[Varbieslayer69]

So, I’ve been on TRT for about 9 months now - Originally at 100mg pinned once a week (Fucking awful suggestion by the HRT clinic)

Switched it up to twice a week for the same 100mg/wk, and as of recent - pinning EOD 150mg/wk for seven days tomorrow

I’ve done a lot of reading around here, and what I’m thinking for first cycle is:

• Add an Oral (Anavar)
• Blast 300-500mg then cruise back at 150-200mg
• Do both

I’m sitting at 175lbs at 5’6 with 20% BF

My diet is good (Whole Foods no powders or processed) and I hit my macro goals pretty much on the head every day

I've posted my most recent labs (Light hormone panel and missing free test which I didn’t realize when I ordered)

My labs before this showed 676 total and 20 free

I’d like to cut some body fat so I can actually see all the work I’ve been putting in/some real vascularity without the fat in the way

However, I’m not opposed to bulking to 200lbs then cutting after

Anyway - I would love some experienced suggestions/input on what I should run and how I should run my first cycle

 

[dick_starbuck]

Cut first. You want to be as lean as possible when you start a growth phase so you have as much runway as possible to push.

I'd bump up to 300mg test and add mast or primo as a secondary anabolic. Once you reach your goal, go back on your trt dose and "maintain" for a short period of time and do bloodwork. Then push your calories up and ramp the dosages back up with either mast/primo/npp until you reach your new destination.

What are your current macros?

 

[Varbieslayer69]

Cut first. You want to be as lean as possible when you start a growth phase so you have as much runway as possible to push.

I'd bump up to 300mg test and add mast or primo as a secondary anabolic. Once you reach your goal, go back on your trt dose and "maintain" for a short period of time and do bloodwork. Then push your calories up and ramp the dosages back up with either mast/primo/npp until you reach your new destination.

What are your current macros?

450 Carb/80g Fat/275g Protein - 3620 Cal

I’ve added some pics for body composition too

I’ll carb cycle on rest days which are still active (0-150g carbs depending on how I’m feeling) and ramp up the fat to compensate for energy

Can I go carnivore while adding Mast/Primo or NPP? Not sure how those would affect my lipid profile if I’m already cutting out carbs entirely

And would that even be beneficial? As I’d be sapping my muscles of fullness and glucose as I’m trying to grow while dropping fat

 

[dick_starbuck]

450 Carb/80g Fat/275g Protein - 3620 Cal

I’ve added some pics for body composition too

I’ll carb cycle on rest days which are still active (0-150g carbs depending on how I’m feeling) and ramp up the fat to compensate for energy

Can I go carnivore while adding Mast/Primo or NPP? Not sure how those would affect my lipid profile if I’m already cutting out carbs entirely

And would that even be beneficial? As I’d be sapping my muscles of fullness and glucose as I’m trying to grow while dropping fat

Great pictures bro, you've definitely got a good base to progress on!

I would definitely not go carnivore. I did that back in 2021 when it was all the rage. I definitely got lean but was flat 24/7 and definitely loss some muscle. The best I looked was when I'd momentarily lose my discipline and down a pint of ice cream and wake up looking lean, veiny, and full af. Just eat the carbs.

Just follow a carb cycling plan with high days, medium days, and low days. And slowly lower the carbs and fat weekly/biweekly till you reach your goal bf%. I like 1.2g x body weight for protein at a minimum, 1-3gx bw for carbs depending on low/med/high days, and .3-.5gx bw for fat to start with and work down from there.

 

[Varbieslayer69]

Great pictures bro, you've definitely got a good base to progress on!

I would definitely not go carnivore. I did that back in 2021 when it was all the rage. I definitely got lean but was flat 24/7 and definitely loss some muscle. The best I looked was when I'd momentarily lose my discipline and down a pint of ice cream and wake up looking lean, veiny, and full af. Just eat the carbs.

Just follow a carb cycling plan with high days, medium days, and low days. And slowly lower the carbs and fat weekly/biweekly till you reach your goal bf%. I like 1.2g x body weight for protein at a minimum, 1-3gx bw for carbs depending on low/med/high days, and .3-.5gx bw for fat to start with and work down from there.

Thanks for the input man - definitely very helpful and I think that’s exactly what I’m going to do

If I wasn’t going to go Anavar, my second thoughts were Mast or Primo - So that’s definitely in line with what I want

That’s my worry with the carnivore - losing fullness and just looking flat. I want to be lean but definitely not lose any 3D to my muscles

Definitely think I’m gonna keep ramping the test up 50mg+ a week over the next three to hit 300mg/wk - then run Primo or Mast for a few weeks and taper back down to 200mg test

 

[dick_starbuck]

Thanks for the input man - definitely very helpful and I think that’s exactly what I’m going to do

If I wasn’t going to go Anavar, my second thoughts were Mast or Primo - So that’s definitely in line with what I want

That’s my worry with the carnivore - losing fullness and just looking flat. I want to be lean but definitely not lose any 3D to my muscles

Definitely think I’m gonna keep ramping the test up 50mg+ a week over the next three to hit 300mg/wk - then run Primo or Mast for a few weeks and taper back down to 200mg test

A few weeks isn't going to do what you want it to do. Maybe 10 or 15 weeks of the mast/primo with dieting will put you where you want to be. There is a reason bodybuilders diet for 16-20 weeks for a show, these things just take time. Plan for a longer process and you'll get the results you want.

 

[Darkdon44]

Cut first. You want to be as lean as possible when you start a growth phase so you have as much runway as possible to push.

I'd bump up to 300mg test and add mast or primo as a secondary anabolic. Once you reach your goal, go back on your trt dose and "maintain" for a short period of time and do bloodwork. Then push your calories up and ramp the dosages back up with either mast/primo/npp until you reach your new destination.

What are your current macros?

Mast is good support on a first cycle test mast anavar.

 

[aimanabolic]

I love carnivore but it's hard to get enough to still build muscle, I've opted for more of a keto-vore while trying to drop fat.

Carnivore seems to be better for people who don't have the discipline to regulate the amount they eat and have no intention of building a lot of muscle.

Shawn Baker is pretty jacked for Carnivore but I can't afford that much ribeye steak daily

 

[Darkdon44]

I love carnivore but it's hard to get enough to still build muscle, I've opted for more of a keto-vore while trying to drop fat.

Carnivore seems to be better for people who don't have the discipline to regulate the amount they eat and have no intention of building a lot of muscle.

Shawn Baker is pretty jacked for Carnivore but I can't afford that much ribeye steak daily

Performance in the gym also suffers without the carbs. I use carnivore with small amount of fruit to cut.

 

[aimanabolic]

Performance in the gym also suffers without the carbs. I use carnivore with small amount of fruit to cut.

Definitely true, for me it was about 10% weaker on most lifts.

 

[Darkdon44]

Definitely true, for me it was about 10% weaker on most lifts.

My next cut will be basically carnivore

 

[Gbunk]

Mast is good support on a first cycle test mast anavar.

Are you kidding? Yeah 2-3 new compounds for a first cycle so that if sides occur it’s a no brained what is causing it…

 

[Darkdon44]

Are you kidding? Yeah 2-3 new compounds for a first cycle so that if sides occur it’s a no brained what is causing it…

His first cycle should be hcg and arimidex but he’s not going to do that

 

[Gbunk]

Oh and you speak for OP? Then convince him it’s not a good idea to run a bunch on new compounds on a first cycle.. that is stupid logic.

 

[Darkdon44]

He is going to add stuff whether we say to or not. Anavar and Masteron are pretty safe. I’d rather steer him in that direction. You’re not a tough guy btw. Every forum has someone like you who thinks they know all post your opinion for OP and move on. You are not a cool tough guy on a steroid forum.

 

[Darkdon44]

I won’t be replying to anything else you say. You’re not smart enough. Good luck in your cycles

 

[Gbunk]

He is going to add stuff whether we say to or not. Anavar and Masteron are pretty safe. I’d rather steer him in that direction. You’re not a tough guy btw. Every forum has someone like you who thinks they know all post your opinion for OP and move on. You are not a cool tough guy on a steroid forum.

Then that’s on him, don’t be the one who suggest him ideas and then if he gets screwed up he was just following your advice. Let everyone on the forum tell him not to and then if he does, he went against the advice of everyone. Giving him info just because he won’t follow good advice is like giving a helmet to someone who is suicidal and isn’t going to listen to you anyways when you tell them not to go out in traffic. Am I tough or cool? No. But I’ve been at this a while and I believe in telling it how it is. My apologies if I’m a little annoyed with this post but it is all too common anymore for people without knowledge to be handing out information or just handing out incorrect information. Just because you don’t think OP will listen doesn’t mean you should recommend something else. If he wants to screw himself up, that’s his own issue.

 

[Gbunk]

So, I’ve been on TRT for about 9 months now - Originally at 100mg pinned once a week (Fucking awful suggestion by the HRT clinic)

Switched it up to twice a week for the same 100mg/wk, and as of recent - pinning EOD 150mg/wk for seven days tomorrow

I’ve done a lot of reading around here, and what I’m thinking for first cycle is:

• Add an Oral (Anavar)
• Blast 300-500mg then cruise back at 150-200mg
• Do both

I’m sitting at 175lbs at 5’6 with 20% BF

My diet is good (Whole Foods no powders or processed) and I hit my macro goals pretty much on the head every day

I've posted my most recent labs (Light hormone panel and missing free test which I didn’t realize when I ordered)

My labs before this showed 676 total and 20 free

I’d like to cut some body fat so I can actually see all the work I’ve been putting in/some real vascularity without the fat in the way

However, I’m not opposed to bulking to 200lbs then cutting after

Anyway - I would love some experienced suggestions/input on what I should run and how I should run my first cycle

The best advice for a first cycle is to stick to one compound- test.
1. You don’t know how your body will react to a high dose of test
2. You should get plenty of gains from your first cycle with only test
3. If you run into sides, you won’t know what drug is causing what issue with multiple news drugs.

 

[Darkdon44]

Then that’s on him, don’t be the one who suggest him ideas and then if he gets screwed up he was just following your advice. Let everyone on the forum tell him not to and then if he does, he went against the advice of everyone. Giving him info just because he won’t follow good advice is like giving a helmet to someone who is suicidal and isn’t going to listen to you anyways when you tell them not to go out in traffic. Am I tough or cool? No. But I’ve been at this a while and I believe in telling it how it is. My apologies if I’m a little annoyed with this post but it is all too common anymore for people without knowledge to be handing out information or just handing out incorrect information. Just because you don’t think OP will listen doesn’t mean you should recommend something else. If he wants to screw himself up, that’s his own issue.

Your advice to OP is not wrong