FlexOnEm
New member
Hey everyone,
I'm new here, so please bear with me. I’ve been following the forum for a while and have learned a lot from all of you. Now that I'm about to take the plunge into my first cycle, I wanted to share my plan and get your feedback. Any advice, critiques, or suggestions would be really appreciated!
Personal Details:
- Location: USA
- Height: 5'10"
- Weight: 158 lbs (post-cut)
- Body Fat: Around 8% (not measured, but going off what others have said)
- Training Experience: About 1 year of consistent training, typically 6 days a week with a body part split. I’m open to suggestions on the best approach for mass gain at this stage.
Current Diet:
- Calories: 2585/day
- Macronutrients:
- Carbs: 300g
- Protein: 200g
- Fat: 65g
I focus on whole foods as much as possible but would love any meal planning tips. With 6 kids, my life gets pretty chaotic, so anything I can do to simplify meal prep while staying lean and healthy is a win!
# Meal Breakdown:
- Pre-workout (4:30 AM): Banana or protein bar
- Post-workout Breakfast: Organic oats or oat bran with a scoop of whey isolate. I sometimes add an apple with cinnamon for extra carbs.
- Mid-morning Snack: Beef jerky or other high-protein snacks
- Lunch: High-fiber pasta or sweet potatoes with grilled chicken, canned chicken, or turkey breast
- Afternoon Snack: Protein bar or shake
- Dinner: Lean protein like ground turkey, chicken breast, or seafood with veggies, and some healthy fats (avocado oil, MCT oil, grass-fed butter).
I’ve just finished a 4-month cut where I lost 30lbs, and these calories are new for me (I was only eating about 1500 calories during my cut). Now that I’m transitioning to a mass gain phase, I’m not sure how quickly I should increase my calorie intake. I feel like I still need more food to bulk up effectively.
Supplements:
- Brain MD Brain & Body Power MAX
- Tongkat Ali
- Fadogia Agrestis
- Creatine (5g/day)
- Whey Protein Isolate (Isopure or 1st Phorm)
- Transparent Labs Bulk Black Pre-workout
- Vitamin D (2400 IU)
- Finasteride (1mg/day) and Minoxidil (5% topical) for hair thinning (thanks, Dad)
Cycle Plan – Seeking Guidance:
I’ve been prescribed TRT due to low total testosterone (259 ng/dL) and free testosterone (44 ng/dL). My doctor recommended 200mg of Testosterone Cypionate per week (100mg on Mondays and Thursdays). This is my first time venturing into hormone therapy and steroid use, so I’m trying to be as informed as possible before starting.
While I understand that many people recommend starting with just testosterone for the first cycle, I’m looking for a solid, safe way to bulk up as quickly as possible while keeping the gains sustainable. I’m not interested in competing, just want to put on mass and keep it long-term.
I’ve considered running Primobolan (300mg/week) and Anavar (50mg/day) alongside the TRT dose, but it feels like a pretty mild stack for the price. Another option I’ve thought about is adding Anadrol (50mg/day) with Nolvadex as an estrogen blocker and using an AI (aromatase inhibitor) as needed. I’ve also got TUDCA (1000mg) and NAC (200mg) on hand for liver support.
Some Questions I Have:
1. Cycle Duration and Dosage: Should I stick with the TRT dosage (200mg/week) or increase it for a period to maximize mass gain before tapering it back down? What would be a good starting point in terms of total test dosage and duration for bulking?
2. Cycle Additions: Do you think adding Primo and Anavar is a good option at the recommended doses, or would you recommend something different?
3. Estrogen Control: How aggressive should I be with estrogen control during the cycle? Do you think Nolvadex is enough, or should I be using an AI from the start?
4. Liver Support: Is my liver support stack (TUDCA + NAC) sufficient, or would you recommend adding anything else?
5. PCT: Since I’ll be on TRT, I’m not sure if I need a full PCT. Do I still need to consider post-cycle therapy even if I’m staying on TRT throughout?
I’d love to hear from anyone who has experience with similar stacks or who has done TRT-based cycles and how you managed the bulking phase. What did you do to keep your gains after the cycle, and did you have any surprises along the way?
Thanks in advance for any input. I’m looking forward to hearing your experiences and learning from the community here!
I'm new here, so please bear with me. I’ve been following the forum for a while and have learned a lot from all of you. Now that I'm about to take the plunge into my first cycle, I wanted to share my plan and get your feedback. Any advice, critiques, or suggestions would be really appreciated!
Personal Details:
- Location: USA
- Height: 5'10"
- Weight: 158 lbs (post-cut)
- Body Fat: Around 8% (not measured, but going off what others have said)
- Training Experience: About 1 year of consistent training, typically 6 days a week with a body part split. I’m open to suggestions on the best approach for mass gain at this stage.
Current Diet:
- Calories: 2585/day
- Macronutrients:
- Carbs: 300g
- Protein: 200g
- Fat: 65g
I focus on whole foods as much as possible but would love any meal planning tips. With 6 kids, my life gets pretty chaotic, so anything I can do to simplify meal prep while staying lean and healthy is a win!
# Meal Breakdown:
- Pre-workout (4:30 AM): Banana or protein bar
- Post-workout Breakfast: Organic oats or oat bran with a scoop of whey isolate. I sometimes add an apple with cinnamon for extra carbs.
- Mid-morning Snack: Beef jerky or other high-protein snacks
- Lunch: High-fiber pasta or sweet potatoes with grilled chicken, canned chicken, or turkey breast
- Afternoon Snack: Protein bar or shake
- Dinner: Lean protein like ground turkey, chicken breast, or seafood with veggies, and some healthy fats (avocado oil, MCT oil, grass-fed butter).
I’ve just finished a 4-month cut where I lost 30lbs, and these calories are new for me (I was only eating about 1500 calories during my cut). Now that I’m transitioning to a mass gain phase, I’m not sure how quickly I should increase my calorie intake. I feel like I still need more food to bulk up effectively.
Supplements:
- Brain MD Brain & Body Power MAX
- Tongkat Ali
- Fadogia Agrestis
- Creatine (5g/day)
- Whey Protein Isolate (Isopure or 1st Phorm)
- Transparent Labs Bulk Black Pre-workout
- Vitamin D (2400 IU)
- Finasteride (1mg/day) and Minoxidil (5% topical) for hair thinning (thanks, Dad)
Cycle Plan – Seeking Guidance:
I’ve been prescribed TRT due to low total testosterone (259 ng/dL) and free testosterone (44 ng/dL). My doctor recommended 200mg of Testosterone Cypionate per week (100mg on Mondays and Thursdays). This is my first time venturing into hormone therapy and steroid use, so I’m trying to be as informed as possible before starting.
While I understand that many people recommend starting with just testosterone for the first cycle, I’m looking for a solid, safe way to bulk up as quickly as possible while keeping the gains sustainable. I’m not interested in competing, just want to put on mass and keep it long-term.
I’ve considered running Primobolan (300mg/week) and Anavar (50mg/day) alongside the TRT dose, but it feels like a pretty mild stack for the price. Another option I’ve thought about is adding Anadrol (50mg/day) with Nolvadex as an estrogen blocker and using an AI (aromatase inhibitor) as needed. I’ve also got TUDCA (1000mg) and NAC (200mg) on hand for liver support.
Some Questions I Have:
1. Cycle Duration and Dosage: Should I stick with the TRT dosage (200mg/week) or increase it for a period to maximize mass gain before tapering it back down? What would be a good starting point in terms of total test dosage and duration for bulking?
2. Cycle Additions: Do you think adding Primo and Anavar is a good option at the recommended doses, or would you recommend something different?
3. Estrogen Control: How aggressive should I be with estrogen control during the cycle? Do you think Nolvadex is enough, or should I be using an AI from the start?
4. Liver Support: Is my liver support stack (TUDCA + NAC) sufficient, or would you recommend adding anything else?
5. PCT: Since I’ll be on TRT, I’m not sure if I need a full PCT. Do I still need to consider post-cycle therapy even if I’m staying on TRT throughout?
I’d love to hear from anyone who has experience with similar stacks or who has done TRT-based cycles and how you managed the bulking phase. What did you do to keep your gains after the cycle, and did you have any surprises along the way?
Thanks in advance for any input. I’m looking forward to hearing your experiences and learning from the community here!