posted Thu, 07/23/2026 - 21:14
112
First cycle while already on TRT — Test only or add another compound?
ad
Hey everyone,
I’m looking for some guidance from people who have experience with this situation.
I’m 31 years old, 6’4, 205 lb, around 15% body fat and I’ve been on physician prescribed TRT (125 mg/week testosterone cypionate) for a little over a year.
My question is about what people generally consider the most appropriate approach for someone who’s already been on TRT for over a year.
Would you recommend a first cycle be testosterone only (just increasing the testosterone dose) or is there any rationale for introducing a second compound from the start because I’m already established on TRT?
Thanks in advance for any insight.
- Bookmark
- 0
- 0
For what it’s worth. I’d only nudge it up to 300-350 and run for 14 long estered test.
I’ve been doing this too many years and ran silly number. I’ve just ran 250 test with 300 primo smidge of gh and Reta and just had the best cycle ever.
It’s really not the amount of gear you use. It’s diet, sleep, training. Consistency. Your body will lap up 300 test and you will blow up.
I’m obviously quite sensitive to test and 250-300 is more than enough for me but I’m not trying to become a monster. I’m too old and my joints won’t thank me.
If you’re going to blast and cruise, why rush it?
Start low and trust the process. It’s the food man. Trust me
Noted, thank you for the advice and guidance I truly appreciate it
I tried to ‘out drug’ the lack of a consistent diet and sleep etc for years when I was younger. It really doesn’t work. It’s surprising how much you can gain on just a little juice.
Nail the basics and a reasonable cycle will get you everything you want and more.
Fail to nail the basics and take tons of gear and you’ll finish in second place every time.
Take your time. Find your base test level that your body will tolerate well without loosing your shit or becoming a toxic environment to grow. Then go from that base to the next level.
Good luck. Marathon not a sprint etc etc
Thank you for all the solid advice
Thats great advice right there
Test only. You need to know where your bloodwork/hormones are at on each compound, need to know what causes the sides as well.
I did not, I was on a therapeutic dose of deca for previous shoulder issues and trt, my first cycle I upped both and through another compound in the mix. It took some serious guidance from someone way more experienced/knowledgeable than I to get myself dialed in with bloods while still finishing out the cycle. You dont want to have to keep going back every 2-3 weeks 200 bucks a pop trying to figure out whats going on as well as the possibility of really jacking your shit up.
Trt bloodwork doesn't really cut it either, you want to be checking igf, apo b, shbg, full lipid on top of your normal bloods. There are more im forgetting
Yeah I figured most likely better to just start off with test, did you ever get any trouble from your clinic when it came to bloodwork reviews with them once you went cycle? I always do bloodwork review with my clinic every 4 months so if I go on cycle and my bloodwork looks drastically different from being on therapeutic levels then I’ll have to have that conversation. Thank you for the bloodwork tip
Na, I initially used a clinic, then my ortho surgeon had me try deca. Then I got interested in other stuff, quit the clinic and I monitor my own bloods while cruising or on a cycle. I have a script for therapeutic phlebotomy so I give whole blood 1x month to keep rbc in check. I would highly advise you to never tell your Dr or clinic when/if you ever do use aas.
How did you go about getting your script for therapeutic phlebotomy?
When I was on trt my rbc was high and the clinic I was using sent me to one blood a couple times, lady at one blood gave me a form for the clinic to fill out. Started at once every 8 weeks, then 6 then once every 4 weeks for whole blood before my stuff got under 18. They only have to fill it out once then you can schedule whatever frequency they decided.
Now my hemoglobin stays around 14.5-15.5, hematocrit around 46-49. They won't take my blood if im below 13 hemoglobin but never had that issue. My initial hemoglobin was 24 when I first started tho so it was way up there.
Awesome man.
Noted, thank you
Test only.
125mg/wk is legitimate TRT territory, probably putting you somewhere in a normal range.
Cranking that up to 500mg/wk will be a completely different animal in terms of gains and potential sides that may need to be mitigated. Adding a second compound will muddy the water if sides arise.
You won't know.
With your stated stats you should be able to make some very good gains on a test only blast if your gym and diet game are locked in, and give you a clear picture about how you respond to heaps of testosterone.
Appreciate the feedback and guidance, so you think 500mg/wk? Or would 250mg/wk be a better starting point?
250/wk is still kinda in that higher end cruise range.
Not to say you wouldn't have great results there, and there's no harm in taking it very slow and starting there. So more power to you if that's the route you take.
If it were me and my first blast, I'd probably start somewhere around 350-400 for 12-16 weeks. But that's just me, and of course everything hinges on your blood work and health.
Got it, thank you for all your advice I truly appreciate it