bigarms
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Hello everyone, my name is Frank. I’m 33 years old, 6’2”, 216 lbs, and I’ve been lifting off and on since high school. I’ve been on TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) for about 3 years now after struggling with several issues, including low energy, joint pain, low libido, and extremely long recovery times after training. For context, it would often take me 7-8 days to recover from a single session at the gym, leaving me with debilitating soreness and stiffness.
After getting my hormone levels tested, it turned out my total testosterone was below 300 ng/dl, and my estradiol levels were almost nonexistent. Since starting TRT, I’ve been on 200mg of test cypionate per week. Initially, I was doing weekly injections, but I found that after about 5 days, I started to feel sluggish and low energy again. After a couple of blood tests, my doctor and I decided that EOD (every other day) injections would be the best approach for me, given how quickly my levels would drop off.
Why I'm Running a Cycle
Now that I’ve been on TRT for a while and feel a bit more stable, I’ve decided to try a cycle to address some lagging body parts (arms, legs, and overall muscle balance). After researching various compounds, Nandrolone Phenylpropionate (NPP) caught my attention due to its potential benefits for joint health, especially since I’ve been dealing with joint pain, likely worsened by my past use of Accutane (which I had to take for several months due to severe back acne while on TRT).
Here’s the breakdown of what I currently have on hand:
- Test E (250mg/ml) — 20ml
- NPP (200mg/ml) — 20ml
- Winstrol (25mg tabs) — 200 tabs
- Anavar (25mg tabs) — 200 tabs
- Cardarine
- Nolvadex (for possible gyno)
- RU 58841 (for androgenic alopecia, just in case)
- Peptides: Omnitrope (5mg/ml), Ipamorelin (2.5mg/ml), MGF, CJC 1295
I'm not running all of this at once, but these are the compounds I have on hand, and I’m considering incorporating them as I move forward, based on how my body reacts. As of now, I’m in week 4 of the cycle, and here's what I’ve done so far:
Cycle Progress and Dosing
Week 1:
- Test E: 300mg/week (EOD injections)
Week 2:
- Test E: 350mg/week (EOD injections)
- NPP: 100mg/week (EOD)
Week 3:
- Test E: 400mg/week (EOD injections)
- NPP: 200mg/week (EOD)
Week 4:
- Test E: 450mg/week (ED injections)
- NPP: 300mg/week (ED injections)
I’ve been adjusting to the higher injection volumes. As a newbie to this, I’m still figuring out how my body is responding, but the injections themselves aren’t too painful, though the volume is getting a bit tricky.
Plan Moving Forward
Week 5-8:
- Continue with Test E (450mg/week) and NPP (300mg/week)
- Add Winstrol: 25mg daily (with liver support supplements)
Week 9:
- Lower Test E to 400mg/week
- Lower NPP to 200mg/week
Week 10:
- Drop Winstrol
- Lower Test E to 300mg/week
- Lower NPP to 100mg/week
Week 11:
- Keep Test E at 300mg/week
- Keep NPP at 100mg/week
Week 12:
- Drop NPP
- Lower Test E to 250mg/week
Week 13:
- Return to my TRT dose of 200mg/week (EOD injections)
Additional Considerations
I’m taking a gradual approach to monitor my body’s reaction and minimize side effects. I’ve also planned out Nolvadex for potential gyno issues (though I don’t aromatize much), and I have Aromasin and Cabergoline on hand just in case.
For my training, I’ve been using more of a Mike Mentzer-style approach, training less frequently with fewer sets, but hitting each set to failure. I’m also considering switching to higher reps/lower weights towards the end of the cycle to improve stamina and avoid burning out.
Questions
1. Injection volume: I’ve been adjusting to larger injection volumes as I increase my doses. Any tips for dealing with injection volume or soreness, especially as I move into higher doses?
2. Cardarine: I’m thinking about incorporating Cardarine for lipid control, as I’ve heard it can help with endurance and fat loss. Has anyone had any experience using it, especially during cycles like this? Any advice or potential risks?
3. Nolvadex during cycle: I’m aware that Nolvadex is usually used for PCT, but I’m thinking of using it during the cycle in case of estrogenic sides. Should I start taking it earlier or wait until I notice symptoms?
4. Peptides: I have Omnitrope, Ipamorelin, MGF, and CJC 1295 on hand. Are any of these worth incorporating during this cycle, or should I wait until after the cycle ends for recovery purposes? How do you feel about using peptides for fat loss and recovery during cycles?
5. Training adaptations: Has anyone else tried Mike Mentzer’s high-intensity approach while on cycle? I’m curious how it has worked for you in terms of recovery, strength, and muscle growth, especially with increased volume.
I’m still relatively new to cycles and want to make sure I’m taking the right approach. Any advice or input from people who have experience with similar cycles or issues would be greatly appreciated. I’m looking to make progress with minimal sides, and I’d love to hear about your experiences, especially with handling injection volumes, potential side effects, and post-cycle recovery.
Thanks in advance!
After getting my hormone levels tested, it turned out my total testosterone was below 300 ng/dl, and my estradiol levels were almost nonexistent. Since starting TRT, I’ve been on 200mg of test cypionate per week. Initially, I was doing weekly injections, but I found that after about 5 days, I started to feel sluggish and low energy again. After a couple of blood tests, my doctor and I decided that EOD (every other day) injections would be the best approach for me, given how quickly my levels would drop off.
Why I'm Running a Cycle
Now that I’ve been on TRT for a while and feel a bit more stable, I’ve decided to try a cycle to address some lagging body parts (arms, legs, and overall muscle balance). After researching various compounds, Nandrolone Phenylpropionate (NPP) caught my attention due to its potential benefits for joint health, especially since I’ve been dealing with joint pain, likely worsened by my past use of Accutane (which I had to take for several months due to severe back acne while on TRT).
Here’s the breakdown of what I currently have on hand:
- Test E (250mg/ml) — 20ml
- NPP (200mg/ml) — 20ml
- Winstrol (25mg tabs) — 200 tabs
- Anavar (25mg tabs) — 200 tabs
- Cardarine
- Nolvadex (for possible gyno)
- RU 58841 (for androgenic alopecia, just in case)
- Peptides: Omnitrope (5mg/ml), Ipamorelin (2.5mg/ml), MGF, CJC 1295
I'm not running all of this at once, but these are the compounds I have on hand, and I’m considering incorporating them as I move forward, based on how my body reacts. As of now, I’m in week 4 of the cycle, and here's what I’ve done so far:
Cycle Progress and Dosing
Week 1:
- Test E: 300mg/week (EOD injections)
Week 2:
- Test E: 350mg/week (EOD injections)
- NPP: 100mg/week (EOD)
Week 3:
- Test E: 400mg/week (EOD injections)
- NPP: 200mg/week (EOD)
Week 4:
- Test E: 450mg/week (ED injections)
- NPP: 300mg/week (ED injections)
I’ve been adjusting to the higher injection volumes. As a newbie to this, I’m still figuring out how my body is responding, but the injections themselves aren’t too painful, though the volume is getting a bit tricky.
Plan Moving Forward
Week 5-8:
- Continue with Test E (450mg/week) and NPP (300mg/week)
- Add Winstrol: 25mg daily (with liver support supplements)
Week 9:
- Lower Test E to 400mg/week
- Lower NPP to 200mg/week
Week 10:
- Drop Winstrol
- Lower Test E to 300mg/week
- Lower NPP to 100mg/week
Week 11:
- Keep Test E at 300mg/week
- Keep NPP at 100mg/week
Week 12:
- Drop NPP
- Lower Test E to 250mg/week
Week 13:
- Return to my TRT dose of 200mg/week (EOD injections)
Additional Considerations
I’m taking a gradual approach to monitor my body’s reaction and minimize side effects. I’ve also planned out Nolvadex for potential gyno issues (though I don’t aromatize much), and I have Aromasin and Cabergoline on hand just in case.
For my training, I’ve been using more of a Mike Mentzer-style approach, training less frequently with fewer sets, but hitting each set to failure. I’m also considering switching to higher reps/lower weights towards the end of the cycle to improve stamina and avoid burning out.
Questions
1. Injection volume: I’ve been adjusting to larger injection volumes as I increase my doses. Any tips for dealing with injection volume or soreness, especially as I move into higher doses?
2. Cardarine: I’m thinking about incorporating Cardarine for lipid control, as I’ve heard it can help with endurance and fat loss. Has anyone had any experience using it, especially during cycles like this? Any advice or potential risks?
3. Nolvadex during cycle: I’m aware that Nolvadex is usually used for PCT, but I’m thinking of using it during the cycle in case of estrogenic sides. Should I start taking it earlier or wait until I notice symptoms?
4. Peptides: I have Omnitrope, Ipamorelin, MGF, and CJC 1295 on hand. Are any of these worth incorporating during this cycle, or should I wait until after the cycle ends for recovery purposes? How do you feel about using peptides for fat loss and recovery during cycles?
5. Training adaptations: Has anyone else tried Mike Mentzer’s high-intensity approach while on cycle? I’m curious how it has worked for you in terms of recovery, strength, and muscle growth, especially with increased volume.
I’m still relatively new to cycles and want to make sure I’m taking the right approach. Any advice or input from people who have experience with similar cycles or issues would be greatly appreciated. I’m looking to make progress with minimal sides, and I’d love to hear about your experiences, especially with handling injection volumes, potential side effects, and post-cycle recovery.
Thanks in advance!
