TRT and cruise duration
I initially posted this in the TRT section, but after 61 views and several days, no response, so I thought I would punt this to the General Forum, in case there is more traffic here that could provide some answers. Pardon me if it tis the wrong move. Thanks in advance for your thoughts. Here's the cut and paste:
I'm 39 yo, 5'9", 187 pounds and about 12% BF on my current bulk. I've been on TRT at about 175mg/wk for a year after testing below 200. This was totally a surprise and not a result of AAS, as I had done a couple of cycles with appropriate PCT 20 years ago and had made plenty of progress since.
Since I've been on TRT for about a year and have obsessively kept my training and diet on point since I was 13 I decided to start my first blast. I figured now that my natural test is shit canned I might as well have some fun. This is after 25 years of natural training, getting leaner each year but topping out at about 195-198 at 12-14% BF. I could never seem to get my BF down lower without dropping significant muscle, no matter how precisely I planned, measured and calculated.
I decided to go with TestE/ Equipoise, mostly because I could bring it home easily from a trip overseas. I'm doing quite well and have gone up 7 pounds since starting 5 weeks ago (I was actually almost 195 at 14% 6 months ago, but had a month of fieldwork in the bush and just couldn't get in enough calories--I'm trying to get back my old weight as goal number 1.) The gains have been accelerating, as I understand happens with the Eq.
My plan is to run 16-18 weeks of the Eq at 600mg/wk and continue the 500mg/wk of Test E for an additional 2 weeks. So far I'm tolerating it perfectly and except for some lessons with PIP and Testoviron Depot, I've had an easy time.
My questions are:
1. How long do you guys like to come down to maintenance TRT levels between blasts?
2. Does it depend on the meds chosen or is a range of weeks off pretty much good for an all-purpose cruise? (4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, etc)
3. Should I consider upping my HCG while on or right after a cycle? My doc has me on 1200U per week in a divided dose as maintenance.
Thanks, amigos. I am so happy to have found this board.
TD
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mr127superdeemy doctor did nort prescribe me hcg with my trt and he has me on 200mg a week....? is hcg neccessary if you are on test permanently
my doc didn't give me hcg either, but my lh and fsh were all in the normal levels. But i am seeing an endo, not a uro.
I don't think it is a requirement, but he asked me if I would be unhappy if my testicles atrophied and when I said I would he added the HCG as a weekly routine.
tread-mLittle large on the hcg for my liking. As to time off at least time on is a good rule minimum. Are you running low dose AI and a prostate health saw pallmetto or super beta prostate etc? Big on water low on salt? I could recommend some carb work for the extra bf post bulker here if you like.
Treadm-
How much is too much sodium? And for those that say drink water like crazy- what's the least amount of water to drink that's wont hurt-
Just don't wanna be pissing all the time-
Thanks for the response and the offer. I'm interested in whatever pearls, dietary or otherwise, you'll offer.
Yeah, I've had a couple of people say the HCG is high when I posted on the cycle forum. I'm not sure why my TRT MD put me on that dose, but I've been on it for the whole year I've been doing TRT. He put me on it to maintain testicular size. I'm happy to move it down if it seems wasteful. Or shift it to a higher dose at the post-cycle period.
But to let you know, I make very little T. My pre-TRT T level was just over 200, my labs show I didn't respond to clomiphene and all this after being clean for over 20 years. And I only did 2 short cycles with good PCT when I did them. So waiting for my T to come back seems like a lost cause. Nobody knows why this happened to me, as I've had the full workup.
So the question in my mind is, how long before receptors bounce back? Or whatever intangibles there are that make time off between cycles valuable for the next one.
Do you think 18 weeks off is useful/ necessary if I'm on TRT? It seems like overkill if I'm not waiting to get my natural testosterone production to bounce back all the way. I'm open to it, I'm just trying to get a feel for the way to do this, since I can't ask my TRT doc...
As to the other questions, I'm on arimidex and I take finasteride for hair loss/ prostate health. My diet is on point--no extra salt (I actually don't like it) and very low dietary intake in the foods I eat (no packaged food other--really. I prepare everything from scratch) and I drink about a gallon of water a day. I'm one of those types that doesn't enjoy cheating at all. No joke.
I'm also a super health nut, so my overall diet/ supplement/ lifestyle stuff is all lined up to optimize my health as well as my gains. But I appreciate you asking--I imagine there are a lot of younger guys that are all about gains, health be damned, so it might get overlooked.
FYI, I already cycle carbs/ fat/ calories depending on workout day/ non-workout day. 30% over maint and low fat on training days and at maint and 50-75 g carbs on non-training days. When I wasn't on the cycle I used to do 10% under on no training days. But I have to admit, I'm just winging it in terms of how to set dietary goals since I've not used gear for 20 years. I imagine it is a bit different. So whatever you have to offer is much appreciated.
I count every macro and calorie and log it. I'm so obsessive I've been calculating my maintenance calories every time I weigh a pound heavier for three straight days.
I'm 5 weeks in and weighed 9 pounds up this morning and BF hasn't moved noticeably. I'm really pleased so far.
Again, big thanks for your time and attention. SOrry if this is wordy. I wanted you to have all the info that might be useful.
tread-mT I apologize I don't track replies so I just stumbled back on this. Lets get a convo kickin in PM and I'll do what I can here and see if I can help kill that last bit of bf and talk about a few othr things. I'll check friend status now.