Cut in PCT, Then Fourth Cycle: Lean Gains Approach

AlphaWolf98

New member
Hey everyone, I’ve been off the forums and training for a bit towards the end of my second cycle, but I’m now gearing up for my fourth cycle. I wanted to get some feedback and opinions from those with experience. Below is a breakdown of my previous cycles, body composition, strength gains, and current goals.

Current Situation:
- PCT Status: 2 weeks into PCT
- Bloodwork: Will get bloodwork in 6 weeks
- Current Protocol:
- 1.5 IU HGH daily
- 20mg Tamoxifen daily
- 25mg Clomiphene daily

Stats:
- Age: 39
- Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
- Weight: 87 kg (191 lbs)
- Body Fat: 15% (estimated)

Goals for This Cycle:
- Lean gains (focus on muscle growth with minimal fat gain)
- Continued strength increases
- Fat reduction (would like to drop a bit more fat for summer while maintaining muscle mass)

I've been keeping my calories higher during PCT to avoid muscle loss, but it’s resulted in adding a bit of fat. Given this, I’m wondering at what point post-cycle it makes sense to start cutting or going into a slight calorie deficit, if at all. I’ve already dropped from 25% to 15% body fat over the last year, but I’m hoping to trim a few more percent before summer. I’m open to suggestions on whether it’s better to cut on-cycle or off-cycle.

Also, I’m looking for advice on a strong combo for lean gains, especially considering this is my fourth cycle and I’d consider myself an intermediate lifter at this point.

Previous Cycles:

First Cycle
- Duration: 8 weeks
- Protocol:
- Test Pyramid (125 mg → 375 mg per week)
- HGH (3 IU daily, taken first thing in the morning)
- Clomiphene (50 mg)
- Results: Basic introduction to gear, moderate gains in muscle and strength.

Second Cycle
- Duration: 8 weeks
- Protocol:
- 4 weeks: 30mg Turinabol daily (morning)
- 500 mg Test per week
- 10mg Cardarine daily
- Results: Leaner physique, significant strength increases, cardio improvements with Cardarine.

Third Cycle
- Duration: 8 weeks
- Protocol:
- 500 mg Test per week
- 10mg Cardarine daily
- Results: Solid strength gains and noticeable muscle retention during fat loss phase.

Body Composition:

- Current Weight: 88 kg (194 lbs)
- Muscle Mass: +11.5 kg (25 lbs)
- Fat Loss: -5.5 kg (12 lbs)

DEXA Body Fat Percentage:
- 9/8/22: 25.1%
- 13/10/23: 15.0%

I’m pleased with the progress in terms of fat loss, but I want to focus more on lean mass gains while continuing to trim fat.

Strength Gains (Last Year):

- Squat: +120%
- Row: +120%
- Lat Pulldown: +80%
- Bench Press: +80%
- Shoulders (Overhead Press): +70%
- Bicep Curl: +80%
- Triceps Pushdown: +70%

Strength gains have been solid, and I’ve seen noticeable improvements across all major lifts, which I’m really happy about. I’m aiming to keep pushing these numbers while staying lean.

Diet:
My diet is solid, and I’ve been targeting around 3500 calories per day with a good balance of protein, carbs, and fats to support muscle growth and recovery.

- 7:00 am: 6 eggs, 2 bananas, 200g Greek yogurt
- 10:00 am: 400g fresh fruit (berries, melon, mango, papaya, etc.)
- 1:00 pm: Fresh seafood, chicken, or lean meat with vegetables and salad
- 6:00 pm: Fresh seafood, chicken, or lean meat with vegetables and salad
- Throughout the day: 120g protein powder or bars

I don’t track macros down to the gram, but I make sure to hit my protein targets and keep carbs moderate for energy. I do plan to tweak my diet to be more precise with my intake for this upcoming cycle.

Sleep:
- 8 hours per night on average. Sleep quality has been solid, which is crucial for recovery.

Exercise Routine:
I train 4 days per week in the gym and incorporate 1-2 days of swimming or cycling. My off-cycle activity is good, but I plan to increase my cardio sessions when I’m in a cut phase. Here’s a quick breakdown of my routine:

- Gym: Upper/lower split, focusing on heavy compound lifts with accessory work.
- Cardio: Swimming and cycling on rest days, aiming to improve cardiovascular fitness and burn extra fat.



I’d really appreciate hearing from others who are in a similar stage or have experience with this kind of cycle. Feel free to share your thoughts, recommendations, or personal experiences!
 
Hey guys, quick update since my last post on March 5th.

Post-PCT check-in:


I’m about 6 weeks post-cycle now and just got bloodwork done—waiting on results, hoping everything’s back in range. Overall, I’m feeling alright. Libido and energy are decent, not as sharp as on-cycle but nothing too rough. Just typical post-cycle stuff.


Still running 1.5 IU of HGH daily. Recovery’s been solid and sleep is better than usual, so I’m definitely keeping it in. Dropped Clomid last week, and I’ll taper off Tamoxifen over the next week or so.

Fat loss vs muscle retention:


Kept calories high during PCT to hold onto as much muscle as possible, but as expected, I gained a bit of fluff. Sitting around 16% body fat now at 88.5kg. Not crazy, but I’d like to tighten things up before the next blast. Strength in the gym has held up well, so I think I found the balance.


I’m thinking about going into a small calorie deficit for the next 4–6 weeks. Nothing major—just 200-300 calories below maintenance to drop a bit of fat while keeping muscle. The goal is to start the next cycle leaner and dialed in.

Next cycle plans:

Looking at late May or early June for my 4th cycle. The goal this time around is lean gains with minimal sides. Here’s what I’m thinking for now:

  • Test E: 350mg/week
  • Primo E: 600mg/week
  • HGH: bumping up to 2 IU/day
  • Optional: Cardarine (10-20mg/day) for cardio/endurance

Leaning toward Test + Primo again since I responded well last time and didn’t have many sides. Probably skipping orals altogether this run. At 39, I’m just not chasing crazy size anymore—want to grow slow and stay healthy long-term. If things feel good mid-cycle, I might bump the test slightly, but I’ll play it by ear.


Training and diet:

Bumping training to 5 days a week. Still sticking to an upper/lower split but adding more volume to arms and delts since those are lagging a bit.
Cardio will be more consistent this time—short bike sessions after lifting (15–20 min) 3 times a week to help manage fat gain.
Diet’s currently around 3600–3800 calories. Starting to track a bit more precisely now. Protein around 230g, carbs ~400–450g, fats ~80–90g. Cutting down on protein bars and powders and focusing more on whole foods.

Mindset:

This year’s all about tightening things up—less guessing, more structure. I’ve made mistakes before pushing food too hard or not taking recovery seriously. Trying to keep things cleaner and smarter now. No need to blow up just to cut later.

Goal is to hit 90kg lean by the end of the year, ideally under 12% body fat. If I can pull that off, I’ll be happy.
If anyone’s running a similar setup (Test + Primo, or using HGH), would be good to hear how you’re structuring it. Especially if you’re around the same age and trying to stay lean while making solid gains.
Will post another update once bloods come in. Let’s keep it moving.
 
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