Hello, fellow T-Nationers,
What’s the best way to utilise steroids to maximise retention and stay healthy?
Summary at the end might make this an easier read
First Cycle: I’m 26, lifting for ten years, and last year I did my first cycle of Test-E 300mg for 6 weeks, then 500mg for 6 weeks (the plan was 300mg for ten weeks, and I was enjoying it). I wanted to try it out. From what I read, it makes you feel more content, energetic, powerful, and direct, giving mind-boggling strength and hypertrophic gainz. I took 0.5mg Arimidex every three days to minimise the effects of test aromatising to estrogen and causing gyno, mood swings, and water retention. Then I added clomid after 3 weeks off the Test-E at 100mg for 2 days, 50mg for 3 weeks, then 25mg for 3 weeks. That seemed to be alright.
My training was 6 days a week about 20-25 sets per muscle group with supersets and drop sets. I went from 87kg to 93kg lean.
Cycle Two: Twelve months later, this year (2023), I’ve decided to try it again. This time I wanted to stack something else in there, so I chose Dianabol, the breakfast of champions. I was gonna go for 10mg a day for 2 weeks and up it to 20mg a day for another 4 weeks but the 50mg pills are hard to split. So, 3 days in I started taking 25mg a day, split 12.5 morning and afternoon. By week 4 I’d gained close to 4kg (including water weight but good going). I then upped it to 37.5mg eod nd 25mg for 2 weeks, then in week 7 I stopped the Dbol nd just continued with the test.
The test I was taking was Test 400 consisting of 150 enanthate (4.5 day half-life), 150 cypionate (8 day half-life), and 100 propionate (2.5 day half-life). This mixture of different branches of Test means with 2-3 injections a week test levels will be more consistent. The Test propionate peaks after hours but the other two are still rising, as then propionate decreases the enanthate is peaking, then the cyprionate is peaking as the enanthate is dropping. It still takes about 5 weeks to reach steady state if taking the same amount each week. I decided to take 250mg in week 1, then 400mg in weeks 2-5, then 500mg in weeks 6-11. I want my PCT to start in the first week of Christmas and be about three weeks after I finish, so this makes sense.
I decided to take HCG alongside this stack as well because my balls shrank a lot last year and HCG retains some testicular function so recovery is faster afterwards. I started the HCG in week 2 at 250IU twice a week, then upped it to 250IU three times per week in week 4. I’m considering upping it again to 300IU three times a week, but I don’t want to desensitise. I will be using 750IU eod twice then 500IU eod 6 times, and then 250IU twice so it lasts basically 3 weeks.
Training was Arnolds 8 day split for 3 weeks:
Chest and back I, legs I, shoulders and arms.
Chest and back II, legs II, arms.
Then changed to for 3 weeks:
Chest, back, legs, arms (tricep focus), rest, arms (bicep focus), rest.
Now running Smolov Bench more to bench more and will finish by reducing the bench and increasing deadlifts and squats to peak them after bench.
Started this cycle at 95.6kg, I am currently 101.4kg and still have 3 weeks left.
My previous bench max was 127.5kg, arse up, could barely do 115kg for a triple, now 120kg for 10 sets of 3 smooth, will finish on 125kg 10x3 then 140kg for 1-3 reps. + Pull-ups from 12 reps at 95kg to 16 reps at 101kg.
Summarisation Wrapping up that’s roughly 400mg Test-E for twelve weeks. with Armidex added in during the cycle. A small PCT with Clomid and Arimidex. Then for the next year 450mg Test E/C/P mix for 11 weeks with 25mg Dbol for the first 6 weeks. With HCG, Arimidex, and Nolva added in during the cycle. For post-cycle HCG, clomid, and arimidex.
