IronBrother
New member
Hey all,
I’m starting a new cycle and wanted to share my journey here. I’m looking for some advice and to connect with others on similar cycles. Any tips, feedback, or experiences would be greatly appreciated!
Basic Info:
- Age: 39
- Height: 6'
- Weight: 240 lbs
- BMI: 30%
- Experience: 20 years in training
- Cycle: 1st
Cycle Goal:
My main goal is to get leaner, more vascular, and add size to my arms and legs, all while minimizing the risk of side effects.
Background:
I’ve been training since high school, but over the past 5 years, I lost some of my drive and discipline. Hormonal imbalances (low T) played a big role in my struggles to maintain muscle mass and keep fat off, especially around my stomach. I’ve been on and off with serious training over the years.
About a year ago, I started getting serious again after meeting a friend who helped me understand the importance of addressing hormone issues. I got on TRT at a clinic, but my doctor was hesitant to go higher than 100mg of Test Cyp per week, which didn’t have much impact. I also recently started taking tirzepatide at 7.5mg, which helped me drop 25 lbs. I’ve been pushing hard since January 1st this year—very strict diet, no processed foods, zero alcohol, and a focus on insulin sensitivity.
Diet & Nutrition:
- Starting Date: January 1, 2025
- Diet Focus: High protein, whole meats, veggies, minimal carbs (except a bit of sweet potato 1-2 times/week).
- Protein Goal: 150-200g/day
- Calories: 2,000-2,200/day
- Eating Window: Intermittent fasting (3-4 hours per day before bedtime)
- Cheat Meals: 1 cheat meal in 2024 (birthday: prime rib and sweet potato with pita chips and cheese)
I’m focusing on nutrient-dense foods to improve insulin sensitivity and support fat loss.
Training:
- Cardio: 3x per week
- 2 days: 30-60 min of fast walking (heart rate around 130-140 BPM)
- 1 day: HIIT (usually running + push-ups)
- Weight Training: I switched from a 5-day split (Chest, Back, Legs, Shoulders, Core + cardio) to a Push/Pull/Legs (PPL) split.
- I aim for failure on 10-12 rep sets, sometimes using rest-pause sets.
- I’ve started adding in arm days when recovery feels good.
I’ve been consistent with lifting heavy and pushing my limits. Recovery has been great with my new routine, and I’m seeing some solid progress.
Sleep:
- I’ve always been an early riser, but I’ve made sleep a priority and aim for 8.5 hours every night.
- I use a CPAP and recently upgraded to a high-quality mattress, which has made a huge difference in my sleep quality.
- No alcohol = no more terrible sleep.
Supplements:
- Creatine: 5g/day
- Tadalafil (sublingual): 5mg/day (pre-workout)
- Vitamin D with K2: High dose (prescribed due to deficiencies)
- CoQ10 (Ubiquinol): 500mg/day
- Berberine, Red Yeast Rice, Fish Oil, Magnesium, Zinc, Niacin, Milk Thistle
- Liver Support Complex (with NAD+)
These are my regular supplements, mainly focused on health, recovery, and improving free testosterone.
Planned Cycle:
I’ll be going for blood work next week to review my current TRT levels with my doctor. If possible, I’d like to increase my Test Cyp dosage to 200mg/week. If my doctor doesn’t approve, I’ll adjust the dose on my own (with help from this forum).
Once my levels stabilize at 200mg, I’d like to increase it to 300mg/week and stick with that for a while.
- Future plan (around mid-year): Add Deca (200mg/week) and Anavar (30mg/day) for 8 weeks towards the end of the year.
- I’m also considering adding peptides like Sermorelin or other GH-related compounds to improve recovery and muscle-building.
I’m starting a new cycle and wanted to share my journey here. I’m looking for some advice and to connect with others on similar cycles. Any tips, feedback, or experiences would be greatly appreciated!
Basic Info:
- Age: 39
- Height: 6'
- Weight: 240 lbs
- BMI: 30%
- Experience: 20 years in training
- Cycle: 1st
Cycle Goal:
My main goal is to get leaner, more vascular, and add size to my arms and legs, all while minimizing the risk of side effects.
Background:
I’ve been training since high school, but over the past 5 years, I lost some of my drive and discipline. Hormonal imbalances (low T) played a big role in my struggles to maintain muscle mass and keep fat off, especially around my stomach. I’ve been on and off with serious training over the years.
About a year ago, I started getting serious again after meeting a friend who helped me understand the importance of addressing hormone issues. I got on TRT at a clinic, but my doctor was hesitant to go higher than 100mg of Test Cyp per week, which didn’t have much impact. I also recently started taking tirzepatide at 7.5mg, which helped me drop 25 lbs. I’ve been pushing hard since January 1st this year—very strict diet, no processed foods, zero alcohol, and a focus on insulin sensitivity.
Diet & Nutrition:
- Starting Date: January 1, 2025
- Diet Focus: High protein, whole meats, veggies, minimal carbs (except a bit of sweet potato 1-2 times/week).
- Protein Goal: 150-200g/day
- Calories: 2,000-2,200/day
- Eating Window: Intermittent fasting (3-4 hours per day before bedtime)
- Cheat Meals: 1 cheat meal in 2024 (birthday: prime rib and sweet potato with pita chips and cheese)
I’m focusing on nutrient-dense foods to improve insulin sensitivity and support fat loss.
Training:
- Cardio: 3x per week
- 2 days: 30-60 min of fast walking (heart rate around 130-140 BPM)
- 1 day: HIIT (usually running + push-ups)
- Weight Training: I switched from a 5-day split (Chest, Back, Legs, Shoulders, Core + cardio) to a Push/Pull/Legs (PPL) split.
- I aim for failure on 10-12 rep sets, sometimes using rest-pause sets.
- I’ve started adding in arm days when recovery feels good.
I’ve been consistent with lifting heavy and pushing my limits. Recovery has been great with my new routine, and I’m seeing some solid progress.
Sleep:
- I’ve always been an early riser, but I’ve made sleep a priority and aim for 8.5 hours every night.
- I use a CPAP and recently upgraded to a high-quality mattress, which has made a huge difference in my sleep quality.
- No alcohol = no more terrible sleep.
Supplements:
- Creatine: 5g/day
- Tadalafil (sublingual): 5mg/day (pre-workout)
- Vitamin D with K2: High dose (prescribed due to deficiencies)
- CoQ10 (Ubiquinol): 500mg/day
- Berberine, Red Yeast Rice, Fish Oil, Magnesium, Zinc, Niacin, Milk Thistle
- Liver Support Complex (with NAD+)
These are my regular supplements, mainly focused on health, recovery, and improving free testosterone.
Planned Cycle:
I’ll be going for blood work next week to review my current TRT levels with my doctor. If possible, I’d like to increase my Test Cyp dosage to 200mg/week. If my doctor doesn’t approve, I’ll adjust the dose on my own (with help from this forum).
Once my levels stabilize at 200mg, I’d like to increase it to 300mg/week and stick with that for a while.
- Future plan (around mid-year): Add Deca (200mg/week) and Anavar (30mg/day) for 8 weeks towards the end of the year.
- I’m also considering adding peptides like Sermorelin or other GH-related compounds to improve recovery and muscle-building.
