First Cycle Checklist

Hi guys, first time poster here. Looking to run my first cycle of test E only and looking for feedback on my checklist please.

Stats: age:33. Been training hard natty for 11 years consistently. 5’ 8” 172lbs. I train 5 days a week upper, lower, rest, chest back, shoulders arms, legs.

Checklist: week 1-12 test E at 300 mg a week.
Aromison on hand in case needed but not expecting to need it at a low test only cycle. Will have Nolva on hand as well for PCT. No HCG. Will get bloodwork (female hormone panel every time) and have bloodwork two days before starting cycle, mid cycle, and two weeks after cycle. Will have syringes and alcohol pads on hand as well obviously.

Planning on eating at 3500 calories consistently through out entire cycle.

Any feedback is welcome and please criticize me if I have anything stupid going on, thank you.

Are you a female? Would strongly reconsider AAS use if so

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Thank you for the reply. No I am a male, but I head heard that everyone uses the “Female Hormone Panel” to get their bloodwork test results and then they just put themselves down as being male in the sign up sheet for it. Main reason being that that panel is cheaper than the male panel.

Sorry I should have clarified that I was a male in my post.

Is the female hormone panel going to cover >1500ng/dL TT? I have doubts that it will.


RE Feedback…
How lean are you?
What are your goals for this cycle? Bulk? Cut?
^What does your diet look like?

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I would need a panel for 1500 at mid cycle or later? I was told pre cycle that doesn’t matter and in general for a first cycle you don’t need one that will go over 1500. What do you recommend for a blood work panel to get?

Likely mid-cycle and as long as you are running 300mg/wk. Pre and post cycle you are correct that you shouldn’t need it to read above 1500.

It doesn’t really matter if it’s your first cycle or not, what you want is:

  • your baseline (pre) Total Test (TT) and free Test (fT) so you know when your levels have returned to normal (or how much of your natural T production you lost due to cycling)
  • your TT, fT and probably e2 (estrogen, total) ON cycle
  • your TT, fT and e2 post-cycle (to make sure you PCT properly back to your natural production

^Anyone else here is welcome to edit/adjust this list as needed.

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Gotcha, thanks for helping me out man.

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Anyone else who is willing to pipe in is welcome.

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It’s a pretty good plan Imo. Hindsight tells me to run more to make it worth it. Just a bit more like 4-500.

I’d use HCG while waiting for the test to clear out before pct. Not advice, and I’ve only blasted and cruised since starting TRT. I’d do like 500 iu EOD for three weeks, then do the PCT.

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I’d like numbers on my SHBG, HCT and thyroid panel, just for future reference in case in an unlikely event, something goes wrong later down the road.

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So use HCG for two weeks straight two times a week two weeks before I start pct? And up the test dose to 500 for the last three weeks? Cool cool. Thanks

Do you have a specific panel you would recommend brother?

Pretty much everything @Andrewgen_Receptors stated. So testosterone panel (shbg, total and free test), thyroid panel aswell as e2 and HCT would be some basic pre-cycle bloodwork that you can reference to farther down the line. The list can be broadened but I wouldn’t shorten it if it were me.

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Cool thank you. And you recommend getting bloodwork two days before starting injecting, mid cycle, and immediately after being done with injecting test (end of cycle)?

Yes

I believe the general consensus is to wait 4 weeks after you’re last day of PCT to give your hormones the time they need to stabilize as to avoid any false results.

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Not quite.

Run the test dosage you pick for 12 weeks. I’d pick 4-500 mg/wk for the first go.

Once the 12 weeks is up, start taking HCG at 500 IU every other day (EOD). Do that for 3 weeks.

Once those three weeks are up, stop the HCG. Start taking the Nolva. How do you plan on doing that? There are a few “standard” ways.

This is what I would do if I wasn’t always on Testosterone. Not medical advice, what I would do.

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I recommend getting LH and FSH tests before and after your cycle as well.

The HCG thing seems to be kinda differing opinions across the board. Some say end of cycle, some say during. I think it will just have to be an experiment of sorts to see what works, but be sure you have some AI on hand because it has the possibility of making you aromatase more

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Thank you!

I was hoping to skip using an AI if I can but I will have Aromasin on hand for AI. HCG I was hoping to skip altogether just as it’s more injecting and I’m already not looking forward to it from the test. But I understand HCG is beneficial. HCG can make you aromatise more?

It can. Theres no saying if it will for you or not, which is why if you do decide to take it, have the AI ready.

Maybe more experienced members can chime in about the HCG but my understanding is it can speed up pct/recovery. As for more injecting, HCG can be done subQ with insulin pins which is nothing.

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