Hey all,

This has been discussed a trillion times around the forum and anywhere else obviously, so I will be just one more guy considering his first AAS cycle, asking the same questions, but you know how it is. Some insight is always valuable.

I am 32 y/o male and I have been weight lifting consistently without any significant pause (other than a couple of days) for about 12 years, and I have added a good amount of muscle, but I would still want much more out of it considering the passion, commitment, and effort that I have put in it (never satisfied).

I am an ectomorph body type at 1.90cm height (6"3 ft) , when I started training at 20 y/o I was around 72kgs (154 pounds) and now I am 85kgs (187 pounds) at about same body fat around 14%.

I am always super consistent with my training, nutrition, sleep, supplementation, blood work etc. I am a picky and perfectionist person, very much into overall wellness, health, and fitness.

So discipline is not a problem at all.

I have also gained a substantial amount of knowledge about nutrition and training, by reading tons of books and research papers, apart from my 12 years experience experimenting myself.

My normal T is around 400-500 ng/dl, so very average, and I tend to have a little higher cortisol, although i have managed to regulate it by changes in training, sleep, caffeine reduction and stress.

So the above genetics are not really helping in building naturally, and I tend to lose muscle easier during cuts, even with perfect macros and slight calorie deficits.

Ideally I would like to make a first cycle of Test C or E, about 16 to 24 weeks, depending on blood work, results, and tolerance of side effects. Followed by a proper PCT. I would have a professional to manage me as needed.

Of course all that can be adjusted and researched further. The most important is to decide if I want to go for it, or not, firstly.

My main considerations are:

1) Will I be able to hold onto at least most of the gains I will make, even if I never do another cycle? (Of course discipline is there and has always been, so training lifestyle will all be as good as possible afterwards).

2) Will my natural testosterone production return to normal after only 1 cycle with proper pct?

3) Even after only one cycle, is there a permanent benefit vs a natural athlete? Talking about nuclei etc.

I would like to jump onto the next level by making some more gains with AAS help, but i would not like to get into the vicious cycle of blasting and cruising for life. Or needing TRT already.

As a disclaimer if it matters, I am already settled professionally, and I have a family. Not looking to make more kids.

Happy to hear your opinions based on your experience and knowledge.

Thanks!