I am a 19-year-old college student who has been lifting for 16 months, and I’m preparing to start a 250mg Test Cypionate cycle for 18–20 weeks.

Honestly, I never thought I would take an anabolic this early in my lifting career. However, it’s something I’ve considered for a while, and after extensive research, I’ve decided it’s worth it for my goals. Since day one, I’ve tracked all my lifts, progressively overloaded, and strictly hit my macros (starting at 1g/lb for protein and 2g/lb for carbs, now up to 2.5–3g/lb for carbs). I’ve been very happy with my progress.

Around four months ago, I started Retatrutide at a low dose (1.6mg/week) to shed that stubborn last bit of fat and reach 10–11% body fat. I dropped 15 lbs in two weeks (160 lbs to 145 lbs) without losing strength. I achieved this by staying highly active (lifting, golfing, running, cycling) to hit 20k steps daily, alongside eating 1,900 calories with about 250g of carbs. After reaching my goal, I hopped off the Reta and transitioned to a clean maintenance diet of 2,600 calories, eating up to five highly satiating meals a day. I’ve always been meticulous about recovery, tracking my sleep with my Apple Watch and maintaining my cardiovascular health to optimize hypertrophy.

Alongside Reta, I’ve experimented with other peptides, including GHK-cu, Glutathione, KPV, Semax, KLOW, and my favorite: IGF1-LR3. I understood the risks with IGF1 and researched heavily, starting at 30–40mcg and working up to 80–90mcg. I’m currently on week 6, tapering off until I stop completely at week 8. I’ve loved the experience, making sure to eat 80g of carbs pre-workout and 100g post-workout. I found pinning post-workout before my meal to be the most advantageous. Currently, I train 5–6 times a week on an Upper/Lower split (3x upper frequency), and my strength or reps are increasing almost every session.

I’m in a great place physically and mentally. I get compliments on my physique and don’t suffer from body dysmorphia—I don’t feel small or think steroids are the "only" way. However, I’m a second-year undergrad in a frat planning to go to med school in two years. I don’t want to wait until I’m 25 to get jacked when my main priority then will be getting my doctorate. I’ve done my pre-cycle bloodwork and hormone panels, and everything is in range or optimized except my TSH, which I am actively addressing with lifestyle changes.

For the cycle, I plan to pin Test Cyp 2x a week IM using a 1-inch 26g needle, rotating my ventrogluteal muscles and delts. I’ll likely use MCT carrier oil to minimize post-injection pain (PIP). I have bloodwork scheduled four times: pre-cycle (done), week 7, week 15, and post-PCT. I’ll have Arimidex on hand in case my E2 spikes and I turn out to be a hyper-aromatizer. For PCT, I plan to take Nolvadex for about 4 weeks after the Test clears my system.

My Questions:
What should I avoid to reduce side effects and bloating as much as possible?
Does anyone have resources or suggestions on proper injection methods to avoid PIP entirely?
Should I add hCG to my stack/PCT? I don’t care about fertility for the next 10+ years, but I’d like to prevent testicular atrophy.

Any further info is appreciated. I’m researching heavily before ordering gear to stay as physically and mentally healthy as possible while minimizing aesthetic side effects. Thanks!

TL;DR: 19yo lifting for 16 months with diet, sleep, and training completely dialed in. Starting my first cycle: 250mg Test Cyp for 18–20 weeks. Need advice on minimizing bloating/sides, avoiding PIP, and whether to add hCG just to prevent testicular atrophy.