I've been getting a lot of questions about how to run a first cycle and instead of responding to everyone, I'm going to just post something here. First off, you should do research. Google search anything you can think of when it comes to AAS - first steroid cycle, beginner steroid cycle, test and dbol cycle, proper pct for first cycle, etc. This is by no means a be all end all guide to running your cycle, but I'm going to post some things just to get people started in the right direction.

FIRST CYCLE

Your first cycle should be a relatively simple and straightforward one, meaning one, maybe two anabolic compounds, the necessary ancillaries, and a proper PCT. Do not over complicate this one as test will be the base for all your future cycles. Its good to find out how you react to it alone before you add on extra components. I do think running an oral kickstart for a first cycle is acceptable, as using a longer estered test (enanthate or cypionate) will take around 4 weeks before the test is "noticeable" in your system, so you can judge the effects of the oral independent of the testosterone.

**Can you run an oral only cycle? ** Yes you can, but its really really not worth, in most cases. Most people won't retain any of the gains they make off a 4-6 week dbol cycle - you'll blow up quick, but you won't have the extra time on cycle to get your body used to holding the extra mass while being in an elevated anabolic state. Also, all anabolic/androgenic compounds shut down your natural test production. Testosterone is a key component in your everyday functioning in life, and when you supplement your system with anabolics other than testosterone (that shut down your test production), you will feel the effects of the reduced testosterone.

Can I just run Deca or EQ or Tren by itself with no test for my first cycle - it will still be only one compound? No.... again, read above. Using these other anabolics still result in shutting down your natural production of testosterone and you will experience side effects of no testosterone - lethargy, depression, lack of libido, erectile dysfunction, etc.... not worth it. Yes, some people have run cycles with no test and have been fine, but that is generally the exception, not the rule. Much better to play it safe then "hope" you are the exception to the rule.

What's this about gyno? Testosterone (along with a number of other anabolics - deca, dbol) is an aromatizing compound meaning with elevated levels of it, you will have corresponding elevated levels of estrogen in your system. It is generally wise to combat these during cycle to avoid excessive bloating and the posisbility of developing breast tissue (gyno). Two ways of doing this: an Aromatase Inhibitor (AI) or a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM). In general, I think using an AI during cycle is better as it prevents the testosterone from aromatizing in the first place, whereas a SERM prevents the estrogen from binding to estrogen receptors. A popular and easily available AI for on cycle use is Anastrozole (brand name Arimidex); SERMs are generally used if gyno is already an issue on cycle, or for PCT.

PCT - what's that? Post Cycle Therapy - this is a necessity and not something that is optional or can be purchased over the counter in your local GNC. So all cycle long you've been injecting testosterone and you have lots of it in your system, much more than your body naturally produces. So what does your body do ? - it stops producing its own testosterone. As the long estered testosterone wears off at the end of the cycle (roughly two weeks from your last injection), you body realizes that it no longer has testosterone in it and decides to try to make some of its own. At the same time, your estrogen to testosterone ratio is high, meaning you have a lot of estrogen, but very little testosterone, and whats worse, as your body tries to start making testosterone, it converts some of that to estrogen so you have even more estrogen (very simplified explanation of whats happening). Long story short, you need a SERM, peferably Tamoxifen (Nolvadex brand name) to combat these estrogen levels and help your body get itself creating enough testosterone again to sustain your new muscle mass. Yes you can use an over the counter testosterone booster, but you MUST always use a SERM. Always.

Lastly, HCG? HCG is not always a must on your first, or lower dosed cycles, but it is highly, highly recommended. So remember how the testosterone you are injecting is telling your body to stop producing its own testosterone? Well HCG tells you body through a LH signal (I'm not going to go into specifics) to your testes to keep trying to produce testosterone. This will not only limit the amount of shrinkage you will occur on cycle in your boys down below, but it will drastically aid in how quickly you recover post cycle. Now remember, HCG is suppressive as well, meaning it must be discontinued before PCT as well. So this is only used during cycle up until several days before PCT, but will definitely help keep you ready to start producing testosterone again post cycle.

So... how does this all translate into an actual first cycle:

Weeks 1-10: 500mg Testosterone Enanthate per week (2 injections of 250mg, Sunday Morning Wednesday night)
Optional: Weeks 1-4: 30mg of Dbol per day (split in two doses, one pre workout, one 12 hours later)
Weeks 1-12: .5mg of Anastrozole Every other Day (EOD)
Weeks 4-12: 500iu's of HCG per week (2 injections of 250iu's, same days as test, but not in the same syringe)
PCT starts week 12, two weeks after last test shot
Week 1&2: 40mg Tamoxifen (nolva) per day
Week 3&4: 20mg Tamoxifen (nolva) per day

And that's it. Simple, straightforward and a great first cycle. Remember, time on + PCT = time off before cycle. So this whole cycle would take you 16 weeks, so you need to wait 16 weeks before your next cycle so your body is fully normalized in its natural hormonal state before doing another cycle.

**Note: * you could run the testosterone for two more weeks, Weeks 1-12, just move all the other times for the other compounds up by 2 weeks, so PCT starts week 14, HCG/Arimidex ends before you start PCT. Dbol dosage would still stay the same for 4 weeks.

Continued at: https://www.eroids.com/forums/steroids-qa/steroid-cycles/how-to-run-a-cycle