gling2's picture
gling2
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Low dose test cycles

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Age: 30
Height: 2.07m
Weight: 235lbs (kinda still slim)
BF: 14%
Goal: 10lbs
Test levels within normal range for my age
No aas history

I've been doing research on low-dose test cycles and have found people to have gained reasonable muscle this way.

I know different things work on different people's bodies, however; is 200-300mg of test e per week sufficient enough?

Does anyone have experience with low doses?

- K A P S I Z E -'s picture

Theoretically elevating your testosterone above supraphisiological levels will help put on muscle. But elevating it just slightly over that threshold at the cost of inhibiting your own test production isn't worth it IMO. If your going to shut yourself down may as well get the most out of it and raise levels much over threshold. I like low test cycles but that is assuming I'm blasting high amounts of other compounds (tren, eq, npp, anadrol ect) and using the test just as a base. This being your first cycle I wouldn't advise that. But I'd run test only but at a higher amount than what you originally specified. 500mg/week is the rule of thumb starting dose for a first time user. I'd start there. I think you would be underwhelmed running it at 200-300. Just my .02

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Makwa's picture

Depends how low you go and what you are really trying to do. To low and all you are doing is replacing your natural levels or just slightly elevating them for a short time and shutting down your natty production that you now need to recover and you will be worse off then when you started. I personally wouldn't bother with 200-300. You will be slightly elevated for a short time but not much, so if you are going to shut your natty production down and risk never being able to recover your pre-cycle test levels I would opt for getting more elevated levels when on cycle and really shoot for making significant gains.

What really has me worried here though is your training protocol and what you are really trying to do. Sounds like you want to gain a good chunk of muscle and loose some fat. Don't we all. Pick one or the other, otherwise you are chasing two squirrels at one time and you won't get either one of them. Here is a little more elaboration on that

https://www.eroids.com/forum/general/general-talk/spinning-your-wheels

Three days of weight training isn't going to cut it either. There are alot of good mass building programs in the training forum so I suggest you take a look at those if you are serious about building some quality lean mass. Bulking doesn't mean looking like the marshmallow puff man. It means putting on the maximum amount of muscle and minimizing fat gain. You will gain some fat but that is just the nature of the beast but the lean mass gains far out weigh the fat gains so the overall body composition change is a plus. Many ways to go about this and here are a couple.

https://www.eroids.com/forum/general/general-talk/i-know-my-tdee%E2%80%A...

https://www.eroids.com/forum/general/general-talk/the-key-to-quality-mas...

MedDx's picture

I know different things work on different people's bodies, however; is 200-300mg of test e per week sufficient enough?

Have u ever gotten bloodwork? You say ur test is in normal range....whats the number?

For you, since u never cycled
or used AAS, low-dosed, single compound test MIGHT help you gain muscle. But, your lifting regimen, diet and lifestyle make a difference, too. You could gain mass on 100mg per week.

Post macros....

gling2's picture

Yes blood work done

Hormones
TESTOSTERONE 14.8 nmol/L (Range 7.6 - 31.4)

MedDx's picture

Thanks. Have you calculated your BMR with Harris Benedict Equation?

Whats your body type? Endo..? Endo/Ecto? Not mesomorph...

How are u measuring your BF%?

gling2's picture

2355 BMR which means I need 4300kcal to maintain.

Im kind of this weird ecto/endo type,

Bf% 14-15

MedDx's picture

The best ester for u to experiment with will be cypionate, or enanthate. And, kap and makwa gave sound advice, especially for first cycle...i wouldnt do it any other way....reason being is u will be able to guage your rate of aromatization and get a better feel how testosterone in that ester reacts to ur body...realistically, 500mg=375mg..some srcs are better.than.others... Smile

gling2's picture

Thanks bro appreciate it.

MedDx's picture

Thanks..

gling2's picture

Thank for your advice bro Smile Ill send a request and pm you a little later

VIKING EVOLUTION's picture

Just reading down the thread.... again i notice the OP is wanting to gain but still doing cardio,

gling2's picture

You also must of read that I play sports in my spare time, so I do cardio to stay in shape ;)

This is my dilemma.

VIKING EVOLUTION's picture

Bodybuild or sports fitness........... flip a coin (heads or tails)......... Smile

gling2's picture

Not here to be a bodybuilder, not interested in substances my body doesn't already produce.

Right now just looking for advice for a road I'm contemplating taking due to plateaus.

And if I'm not mistaken the Sports fitness world there is aas everywhere.

so... ill go with tails ;)

BigThing's picture

There are ways to move past plateu without roids. If you're not into hardcore bodybuilding I would skip it. Sure you'll get some results quickly but there is a lot more to it. For those 8-12 weeks you will be a superman, but after that it's no fun. Recovery seems pretty easy in theory but it does not always work. Loss of libido, depression and regress are all part of the game. Any pre-existing conditions, bp, prostate, hair loss. Not trying to scare you, but you have to realize that even a small dose that you are thinking about using will shut down your natural production and you will have to reboot the whole system. Infertility is also a risk you hsve to consider.
My suggestion would be try different routines, supplements, nutrition and you probably can push forward. Give yourself some time and when you will reach the age when your natuarsl levels go down, reconsider using hormones. This will also give you time to educate yourself about different compounda and cycles. Mastering your nutrition and training will also help with cycles. Good luck buddy

gling2's picture

thanks for the advice

Makwa's picture

Are you plateauing in regards to weight gain? If so, first and best option is to increase cals. AAS won't bust those plateaus if you still aren't eating enough.

irongame427's picture

You want to gain muscle and build youre body up, thats pretty much what it means to be a bodybuilder. You dont have to compete to be a considered a bodybuilder. You have to compete to be considered a competetive bodybuilder.

VIKING EVOLUTION's picture

Alright bro...................... good luck Smile

Dacky's picture

I was busy typing a long reply below and referenced your input to see you've already given it lol!

freedom1981's picture

man you are tall , honestly , how long you have been training ? what is your diet looks like ? about what doses ? depeneds on how long your are training , what is your diet , and how long you rest ?
you have long muscles to fill it you need more than you think food , the AAS would help you but not without your diet . as a doses i think 400 mgs per week or 500 maximum for first cycle good , specially for tall one like you , but please before you start consider about your diet in first place or all what you will get in cycle you will lose it after , and put your pct stuff before start your cycle .

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gling2's picture

Lol yeah bro I like my veggies when I was young. Been training mostly 6 yrs I was a toothpick back then kinda filled out over the years with training and sports.

Diet is good 4000+ calories/day, a lot of nuts/olive oil to increase calories.

Dacky's picture

At your height you're going to have to eat a lot more than 4000 calories per day to see real progress adding mass with or without aas. I calculate 4000 calories is your maintenance level. So before even running a cycle I suggest you take this to 5000 per day and focus our training on heavy low rep compound movement training. See how you go with that for a couple of months and then revisit. If you see you're gaining weight fast then adjusts your calories up further.

Edit: make sure you rest a lot. So possibly applying a one day on one day off approach may be useful.

gling2's picture

I said 4000+. so 4000 is usually my minimum, however; Ill try a consistent 5000 kcal.

My workout
mon on
tue off
wed on
thur on
fri cardio
weekend off

I'm just worried the extra muscle will also come with fat.

It will add excess fat to areas on my body I don't need. I play sports in my spare time and can't afford fat gains.

Dacky's picture

Well when you're bulking and I mean truly bulking you will gain muscle and fat. It's inevitable. There are things you can do to minimise the fat gain - like applying a cyclical bulking approach (search for a member named Makwa and look at his forum) but this will not be as effective as adding the mass over a long term bulk. Remember that mass allows you to move more weight and more weight allows you to build more mass. From a bodybuilders perspective this is not really an issues as the fat comes off applying a properly designed cutting diet possible supported by a cutting aas cycle. I'm hoping others may chime in here as there are more senior members like our GURU brother Viking who explains this much better than I do.

However it sounds like you're not after bodybuilder type mass gains so then you need to ask yourself if you can get the gains you do want and limit the fat gain with proper diet and training and not resort to aas use. Certainly healthier and less risky.

gling2's picture

I only really do cardio on Fridays.

I bulked up to 247lbs a few years back heavier lifts and high calories, but my fat was too high and it was tough to move my weight while playing sports due to fat. So when I hit the cutting phase I dropped to my current weight but on a 6ft 9in frame it doesn't look like much lol

Right now I am just looking for info, AAS use is last resort. That's why I'm asking about a low dose because I'm not looking for bodybuilder gains

Thanks for your advice

Dacky's picture

Can the comment asking for Vikings input. I see he's already given it.

VIKING EVOLUTION's picture

i just wanted to get an idea of his goals bro, theres nothing much i can help him with, he is way to active for the Anaerobic protocols i have to offer.

gling2's picture

What about the summer when I'm off and my activity drops. What advice would you give about bulking and then maintaining it when I resume activity the following winter?

The Impastable's picture

Bulking = minimal aerobic activity. It's just how it is. If you plan on doing a serious bulk, it shouldn't be a one cycle type thing. Plan a bulk over the next year, hell even two. Post cycle you'll need to increase your intake to help maintain the new maintenance requirement, and even more so to keep bulking well into the off cycle part...

What do you mean activity? You're only hitting the gym as you're on cycle and bulking? Then what's the point... You're going to Yo-yo. Been there, done that. Either you're diving in headfirst, or you're not doing it at all. There's no one foot in the door here brother.

gling2's picture

By activity, I meant sports activity, not weights. lifting is always constant.

Dacky's picture

For sure bro. I was trying to help but like you I have little to offer here.

Dacky's picture

Take a look at this thread - https://www.eroids.com/forum/general/general-talk/what-should-my-numbers... - you will probably find a lot of useful information in there to help you make a decision as to staring dose of test for your first cycle.

My personal view is 300mg per week should be enough to see solid and steady gains for a first cycle. Others will say just go to 500mg.

What will your diet and training look like for this cycle?
How long will you run the cycle for? What's your pct plan? Any thoughts and plans for estrogen control (lower the dose the less likely this will be needed but worth having a plan)? Glad you have a base line. Any plans for on cycle blood work?