Cycle Advice – Test, EQ, Var
Would appreciate your wisdom on this, have done research… but feel free to rip it apart.
Planned Cycle:
Test week 1-20 at 200
EQ - Week 1&2 Front-load 1.6g per week, Week 3-18 at 800
Adex week 2-21 at around 1mg per week as needed
Var – week 12-20 80 mg
Goals in order: (recomp? & endurance)
• Lean gains / more on the lean than gains, want to go down from 14% to 10%
• Gain strength
• improve endurance – up my pace and push distance to the half marathon
Stats:
• 39, 5’9” 185 lbs
• Around 14% body fat (guess)
• Can run 10 miles, work out 3-4 times a week
History - Couple of cycles LGD SARMS cycles and test, currently on TRT (not steroid related)
Considerations:
•Gained 20 lb on TRT and gym the first 6 months (and lost probably 5% fat) have been on TRT for 9 months and leveling out now. Don’t really want to be all the much bigger maybe up to 200 lb but clearly I’m not a bodybuilder and don’t want be freakishly big just well cut.
•On TRT, usually 120 a week, anything above 120 and I have to control estrogen because of water retention using adex, prefer not to take it while cruising
•I have a full head of hair at 39 but apparently my test has always been low (300 ish)… have noticed some receding now on TRT may have MPB hence the choice of compounds
•I’m on low carb most of the time, sometimes eat carbs but the body is well adapted to this over the years.
Substance choice rational:
Thought behind EQ is it’ll has less aromatization than test and I’m sensitive to this anything over 120 and I start to bloat, also it boosts endurance so that’ll help my cutting goals, help increase distance, easier on hairline, and helping to preserve muscle. Var is obviously to help in the aggressive cut faze of the cycle where I will restrict calories on keto and hit cardio hard (if the pumps aren’t too bad).
I upped the test to 200 from my TRT dose of 120 assume that’ll help prevent any sexual sides.
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i8bobOK, thanks for the feedback, point taken. Need to scale this back alot then.
I'll drop the var
Not concerned about using an AI on cycle, just don't want to be using it year round on TRT, sorry should have been more clear on that.
Still have the concern of hair line and speeding up MPB... what if I did something simple like 200 test c, 200 eq for 20 weeks?
Do like the idea of endurance benefits on EQ
200mg EQ per week won't do anything, dose is too low. Stick to a simple test cycle.
i8bobWhy though? I get the argument on number of receptors & sides etc. and have dialed it back.
But what's the rational for everyone using test as the first cycle and not something with milder sides...understand a test base is needed since AAS are suppressive, but I don't see why it HAS to be test on the first cycle. Why not var or eq or....?
Is that why I see so many bald muscle men at the gym? ;)
I'll be honest, outside of your TRT regime I can't see why you're considering using steroids to begin with! Any "improved endurance" as you put it from EQ will be temporary whilst on cycle. Also carrying more muscle certainly isn't going to improve your distance running. Talk me through here so I can understand your train of thought.
In terms of the other aspects, I think that again relates back to the above. Your situation is a little unusual and different from the normal "I want more muscle" etc. Steroids may well not be the path you need.
i8bobGood thinking Catalyst...
From what I'm reading AAS are generally not good for endurance, I think that much seems clear, and the pumps are a pain in the ass. (or the calves in my case)
My thinking goes like this:
I would like to increase strength and add some size to max of 200 so an additional 15 or so lb's
I would also like to speed up on fat loss (strict deficit) I guess this i called a recomp?
The additional cardio possible with EQ would help in the cutting, more oxygen = more fat burn
Also figured the fast twitch muscle would help increase speed on hills, short distance etc.
Will no doubt assist the recomp in terms of preserving muscle whilst cutting fat. All about your diet here really mate, that's where you'll need to be disciplined.
As I said, your case is a little different to the usual new member. I wouldn't do it the way you're proposing personally but you're not running stupid doses and not blindly diving in without any thought. Considering that you've had to use AI control on a low test dose, one could argue that the risk of running higher test alone with estro conversion in your case is an argument for using EQ.....
Good luck whatever you decide to do.
i8bobThanks for the input, still not entirely decided but was definitely on the wrong track with the above cycle..
RustyhookerGearhead below is spot on. If trt helped the way it did then a simple small raise in test with ai will do you right.
My first cycle was only 300 mg and I gained 15 lbs after water drop. So, you hitting 300-400 and dial in estro is more than enough for recovery values.
LoL No worries there bro. A cycle of steroids is not even going to get you close. I'm not going to cosign a multiple compound cycle for a beginner. There is no reason for you to be opposed to taking an AI and perhaps increasing your Test while on a keto diet. If you really do a keto diet and don't cheat, you should attain your BF goals no problem. Cutting is all about diet not drugs. Keto diets are intrinsically muscle preserving to begin with.
i8bobGearHead, yes keto has been very effective and also very difficult to maintain, takes a lifestyle change to keep it up. Is cutting "all about diet"? I've read studies that show test and other AAS taken without any exercise increase muscle AND reduce fat. Maybe you mean to a certain point? %BF then diminishing returns?
I assumed AAS would help to speed up cutting when you are on a cutting diet plan.
The anabolics are there really only to prevent muscle wasting while you are on a diet. Yeah, keto is a lifestyle change. I do it all the time for competitions. When I read that from you I just smh and think how bad does he want it? I'm familiar with some of those studies you allude to. Certainly true in geriatric patients. LOL
i8bobThanks for the info GearHead, appreciate it. Some days, walking up after a big session I certainly feel like a geriatric!
X 2. Bump up test a bit and dial it in with AI. All EQ and var will bring to your endurance is BP problems and muscle cramps likely.
Well said gear!
Is this your first cycle?