So here is the deal. I am considering using Test. I did quite a bit of research. Originally wanted to do Anavar only, but heard a lot of negativity in reviews from veterans of lifting.
Here is a background on me. I was fit, strong, and fast. I served in the USMC for 5 yrs. But once I got medically DQ’d from reenlisting, I became a fat/lazy desk jockey in the civilian world. Once I noticed my disgusting state… I got off my pitiful ass and got to work. in 4-5yrs, I lost 100lbs of fat, and then put on some decent muscle. now I’m not fat. I am strong AND fat. still have some weight to lose, and am always looking to increase strength and mass. Recomp, if you will. thought I lost a lot of weight, the last of it is a nightmare to lose. I have been told that the training in the marine corps may have caused metabolic damage… wtf is that?! and how do you fix it?!
I figured if I try to get on test, and stick to my disciplined training, and improve/tweak my diet, I may finally get the body, strength, and stamina I want.
What is a good test-only cycle? how long? what dose? what PCT. please keep in mind, I am a beginner, and am not familiar with all terms and jargon.
ME:
36yrs old
6’ tall
265lbs
Bench - 225 5 reps
Squat - 405 5 reps (lower body is my stronger portion)
Pull-ups - none… YET
-PCT which will involve a SERM. I like to use clomid at 50mg a day for 4 weeks, personally, however other opinions will differ. Do some research and see which you think is best.
-an AI. This controls your oestrogen on cycle. It is muy importante but a lot of idiots skip it, which makes baby Jesus cry. The 2 most popular choices are arimidex and aromasin. I like aromasin, personally, but it’s a little harder to dose so you might be better with adex for a first run.
-potentially using hCG. It’s not absolutely essential, but it’s certainly desirable. A quick bit of googling’ll tell you all you need to know.
That should be enough to get you started. Have a read up on that and any questions you’ve got I’ll be happy to help.
Labs:
TT
FT
E2
LH/FSH
prolactin
CBC with hematocrit
AST/ALT
fasting glucose
fasting cholesterol
A1C
TSH
fT3
fT4 [please not T3, T4]
DHEA-S
IGF-1
CRP
Homocysteine
You mentioned over-training. That can change ones metabolism and hormones. Training when ill or injured can create damage. The stressors can include things like sub-optimal or low tyroid function.
Please read the sticky referenced above, then open a thread in the TRT forum. Only one thread there please, keep all of your “case” in one thread.
Your inability to get lean can be from low thyroid function, low T or adverse E2:T
In any case, your metabolism would seem to be low. This can be a factor of T, E2, thyroid and cortisol, perhaps HG.
Simply doing gear is not going to correct your metabolism.
Do you feel colder more easily now?
Have you always been using iodized salt? -or are you iodine deficient
Are your outer eye brows sparse?
You can eval your overall thyroid function by checking oral body temperatures:
when you first wake up, should be 97.7-97.8, higher is OH, 97.3 is a problem