This post is for the guys who have trained at least several years, who feel they have gone about as far as they are able natty, and want to take the next step of planning a safe and intelligent cycle.

If you're going to intelligently plan a cycle, you have to allow for the cost of everything and you need to have everything in hand well before the planned start of that cycle. The pieces I'll talk about here are not intended to be all inclusive, but are must-haves that nobody should start a cycle without.

**FOOD**

This is hands down the most important ingredient of any cycle. You can run all the gear you want in any amount you want. You can train til your skin splits from the massive pumps. But you will not grow without eating properly. There are a lot of very good goal specific posts on nutrition. IMO, this should be everybody's first area of study.

**PINS & SWABS**

This is the easiest variable in the equation. I always figure out how many syringes I need and add 50%. This ensures I don't run into any problems. I also prefer to draw with a large gauge needle and inject with a smaller needle. I figure four alcohol swabs per injection so I have plenty. I like the rule of two is one and one is none. Plan ahead and have all you need before your cycle starts.

**GEAR**

This one should be very simple. Don't get caught up in what the really huge guy at the gym says he is running. Designer stacks and exotic blends are an unnecessary extravagance that will leave you knowing no more about your body and its reactions to these compounds than you do now. Take the time to learn how individual compounds affect your body. The only way to do this effectively is by starting with test only cycles. Test is the base for ALL cycles. After a few successful cycles, if you like, add a compound that you have studied and understand. This will allow you to identify any adverse reactions and adjust accordingly. Don't worry. If you eat, you will pack on more muscle than you thought possible with a test only cycle. I just went from 212 lbs to 236 lbs in 12 weeks on mine.

**ANCILLARIES**

This is probably the hardest part of planning a cycle (for me anyway). Like everything else, its necessary to have everything you need, or may need, in hand before your cycle starts. This is particularly important with ancillaries because if you begin to have negative sides, then you do not have time to find, order, and wait for delivery on the products you will need to restore your body's balance. So make sure your AI, prolactin/gyno control and pct are ready and waiting long before that first pin.

So research it all right here, keep it simple, be very very careful, and eat, train, and grow! :))