Second Cycle, Tips on Reducing Side Effects This Time Around?

Hey folks,
Im 37, pretty healthy and haven’t been on T in over a year.

I want to improve my overall lifestyle, mood and energy levels and performance in the gym.

My first cycle was Test-C 500mg/week with T-bol and Proviron.

My current test levels are about low-average.

I remember pretty bad facial bloating and water retention and mood swings, even after time adjusting to the chemicals.

Would you guys recommend a “milder” cycle? Should I just do some Test-E or try some different orals this time around?

I just want to feel more youthful and energetic in life and the gym.

I want to perhaps put on some lean mass but not looking to become too buff/fat.

My cardio is terrible so I could use some help in that are as well.

Thank you!

Perhaps just a nice TRT regimen is best for you? Higher Test is great for some and others is less ‘feel good’ than baseline. Orals can also make you feel like crap. If don’t want to try TRT and just want a cycle maybe try lower test this time ~400mg/wk without orals. Keep diet on point. Test E or C makes no difference.

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Thanks for the info brother…

Didn’t know orals can make me feel like crap

Test 400/week, pinned twice or just once a week?

Twice per week would be better for you. Some don’t notice a difference but if you are sensitive to hormonal swings it will be more even keel.

nice, what needle gauge do you recommend?

Would arimidex be necessary with a low dosage? I got a good amount left over from my first cycle last year

21g or 23g to draw, 25g to pin.

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If pinning shoulders or quads I use 25ga 1". If pinning glutes I use 23ga 1.5".

Likely not needed. Good to have on hand. If you choose to run it start with a low dose like .25mg with each injection.

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This right here is exactly why you start with one compound and add one at a time. If you do not know what is causing the issue, you cannot solve the problem.

With that said it cannot be undone (I point this out as more of a lesson for any follow on readers that have never cycled before) and I would follow the advice you have gotten on here. It is very sound advice.

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thanks for the advice,

since im doing glutes i’ll get 25g needles. Is there any difference between pinning shoulders/quads than glutes btw?

I can’t pin quads. Every time my quads swell and look infected. Same vial of gear can be used on my quads/glutes/delts and only my quads act up.

Apparently there are some minor differences in hormone diffusion rates from the oil based on the muscle injected, but I think it is trivial enough in this case that it shouldn’t be a factor in where you pin.

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I pin delts and lats with 1/2" slin pins (27 gauge). You need to be a bit lean to do this. So far lats have not had one injection with pip. Delts were rough for about a month for pip, but now they are used to it.

Glutes are my preferred spot and since you are only pinning 2x a week in a lowish volume of oil they should suffice without needing further spots. Pin right side on Sunday and left glute on Weds. I would still use a 23ga over a 25ga as the glutes are not sensitive. 25ga can be a bit tricky to push the oil through when you’re contorted around your backside but not so much when its in front of you (ie quads and delts etc).

Do you do quads? If so, did you notice a substantial difference in PIP from 23g to 25g?

Edit: Noticed you said draw with 23g, but perhaps you have pinned with 23g before?

Not iron_yuppie, but quads for me and many others is like Russian roulette. Some smooth as butter, others almost crippling.

I only do quads on cycles with a 23g. I do TRT in gluten. Was curious if the 23g to 25g in the quads helped at all. Though in truth most of my pain came with a specific brand of Test E I used which caused a hard lump and pain. After changing to another company, no further problems.

@geneticoverride I use 29 gauge 1" for all injections. Takes a tad longer to pull but no other issues. I rotate quads, glutes, delts, gives me six sites since I inject every day. Some minor pip in quads but I’ve found some spots of lateral quads are better than others. If I stay upper third and do it seated I’m much better off. Also compound used impacts pip. I never have pip with test C.

What does your diet and exercise regimen look like. Not wanting to get too “buff” is a touch of a red flag if you’re considering injecting yourself. Make sure you have your diet/training ducks lined well before doing this again.

May want to tag the OP as I am not he. I am actually the exact opposite of him as I dropped a lot of weight to put on more lean mass.

Thanks for the pin tips though. Definitely making note of it in my journal.

The most successful run of quad injections came from using 1/2” 28g insulin pins. Still had some bad ones but greatly reduced the amount compared to my normal 23g

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Really? No trouble drawing into the 28g? Honestly I have only used 23g because it is sourced from the same place I get the gear. Will definitely look into gauge sizes after everyone’s input.

Anything smaller than 23g I back fill.