Contemplating a low dose first cycle

[Powerbutt]

Hello there Elite Fitness,

I'm newly registered here and this is my first post but I've been reading this and other AAS forums for almost a year now trying to get a good, rounded knowledge of steroid use.

I've been doing resistance training on-and-off for about 7 years. I've been training very consistently for just over 2 years now with a focus on strength.

Current Stats
25 years old
6'4"
215lbs
~12% bodyfat

Lifts
Squat 365x5
Bench 195x5
Deadlift 425x1
OHP 140x4

I've had a lot of problems building mass and putting weight on my lifts but programs like Starting Strength and the Texas Method have been working well for me but progress has always been very slow. I feel at this point that I've put in enough work and done enough bulking and cutting cycles to be prepared for my first cycle.

Since my main focus isn't mass but strength (although mass is a goal) I'm thinking a longer, low-dose cycle of Test-E would be good for me since it can give me some tailwind in training without too many sides.

Bloodwork

I should mention that I had a blood test not too long ago and my lipid levels were basically perfect but my Testosterone levels were very, very low (~290ng/dl or 10 nmol/L). I know this is technically in the normal range but these were also optimal testing times, 11am after a good nights rest and while I was bulking with lots of carbs and good fats, I have a sneaking suspicion that my levels at maintenance or cutting drop much, much lower.

Hypothetical Cycle
Weeks 1-12
Testosterone Enthanate
Administered 125mg every 4 days

PCT (15 days after final shot)
Clomid
Day 1 200mg
Day 2-21 50mg
Total 1300mg

Letrozole/Femara (on hand in case of sides)
2.5mg every 2 days

PCT
Day 1 5mg
Day 2-10 2.5mg
Day 11-21 2.5mg EOD

Any help or advice you guys could give me would be very appreciated, I'm not going to even think about ordering stuff until I'm 100% sure I know what I'm doing. If I've left anything out it's not because I haven't thought about it, it's just because this post is already massive

 

[oxymoron]

U deserve a lot of credit man. Usually these posts are some douche that has been researching that day.

What's ur diet been like over the past years while u've had trouble making gains?


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[Kbordner]

Well thought out! The Test is fine... Honestly I don't think you will see a whole lot in strength gains. I would add a D-Bol kicker for the first 4 weeks then 4 weeks off then again the last 4 weeks. 40-50mg ED. You will thank me.


55 and still fucking dangerous

 

[Powerbutt]

U deserve a lot of credit man. Usually these posts are some douche that has been researching that day.

What's ur diet been like over the past years while u've had trouble making gains?


Sent using the elitefitness app.

Haha thanks man, I like to be informed.

My diet is very old school bodybuilding style.

A typical bulking day might be something like

Breakfast
3-6 eggs
Toast w/ butter or peanut butter
1L Milk

Lunch
2 cans of tuna w/ olive oil/mayo/srirachi in a tortilla
1.5L Skim Milk
Spinach Salad

Post Workout Shake
60+ grams Whey
Assorted fast carbs, I'll usually treat myself to something nice and anabolic PWO like Ice Cream or whatever.
Bananas, oats, sometimes straight olive oil or flax seed if my fat quota is low.

Supper
400-800 grams of meat
I usually alternate between Pork and Beef loins and roasts and try and get a mix of white and red meat in there.
Vegetables (Beans, carrots corn etc)
Starch (Either brown/Basmati rice or a starchy vegetable like sweet potatoes)

After
If it's a workout day sometimes I'll continue snacking a little into the night, I try and get 3-4L (1 Gallon) of Milk on workout days, less on off days.

When I'm cutting I tend to drop some of the milk and the starchy carbs with dinner and stick with meat and vegetables.

I should add that I used to be about 290lbs and dropped down to 195 over about a year with dieting and lifting so I've probably only been lifting while on a caloric surplus for ~10 months of the 24-28 months I've been training. I also get flabby really easily if my diet isn't in check, partially because of my former fatness.

Well thought out! The Test is fine... Honestly I don't think you will see a whole lot in strength gains. I would add a D-Bol kicker for the first 4 weeks then 4 weeks off then again the last 4 weeks. 40-50mg ED. You will thank me.


55 and still fucking dangerous

I was thinking of doing an oral to kick off the cycle but heard that a test only first cycle is a good idea and I'm kind of worried about liver troubles. It's definitely something I am considering though.

 

[Powerbutt]

One last question; if I'm using Letrozole do I need to worry too much about HCG? Letrozole causes Luteinizing Hormone to upregulate, right? So I shouldn't really need to worry too much about another Aromatase Inhibitor and Letro + Clomid should be fine for PCT? I'm also just trying to be cost effective on this and I'm trying to avoid wasting money on Clomd+Nolva+Letro+HCG all at once.

 

[joeblow12345]

As far as the cycle goes I like the low dose test idea but I would add in an oral kicker as the test won't start adding strength gains for about 4+ weeks. Since you naturally add fat easily I wouldn't go with dbol as it will bloat you. A ph like epistane or katana v3 will give you nice strength and not bloat you. Or you could run some var which will add lots of strength, but it's pricey. As far as pct goes clomid dose is way too high 25 mg is plenty and letro is unnecessary. For pct run it like this

Clomid 25 mg day
Post cycle/ unleashed
Forma
Daa

On cycle run hcgen and do an hcg blast before pct. letro is only for gyno reversal it's too strong to use on cycle. It will hinder gains so instead use adex or aromasin for gyno prevention.


Use code joeb15 for 15% of at Ntbm.

Use code TEAM1001 at ruthless supps for a $50 off discount on transaderm and phytoserms.

 

[Soulthief]

Throw in some N2 Guard or Forged Liver. Nice thought out cycle. A lot of people think they need 500/wk even on a first run. I wish I had researched like you have on my first cycle.

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[auslifter90]

personally... i would not even bother shutting myself down for a dose that low
strongly believe its a waste of time and money

 

[joeblow12345]

personally... i would not even bother shutting myself down for a dose that low
strongly believe its a waste of time and money

I highly disagree as my first cycle I ran 250 mgs week and gained over 20lbs and my bench went up 50 lbs In 12 weeks. With that low dose the only side effect I had was a little acne. I think it's wise to start small and gradually build up, instead of getting in over your head.


Use code joeb15 for 15% of at Ntbm.

Use code TEAM1001 at ruthless supps for a $50 off discount on transaderm and phytoserms.

 

[Jack steel]

I highly disagree as my first cycle I ran 250 mgs week and gained over 20lbs and my bench went up 50 lbs In 12 weeks. With that low dose the only side effect I had was a little acne. I think it's wise to start small and gradually build up, instead of getting in over your head.


Use code joeb15 for 15% of at Ntbm.

Use code TEAM1001 at ruthless supps for a $50 off discount on transaderm and phytoserms.

Same. I've had great success with low doses.