Hi Shark, thank you for the detailed reply, and sorry for not providing enough background, you're right.
To answer some of your questions, I've been training for 3 years now, but to be completely honest, only 1 year I was absolutely locked-in and focused, that's where I gained most of my current muscle, the other 2 kinda went on and off (I never stopped training, but definitely didn't give it the same amount of priority, because of irl stuff, so I didn't push the weights, etc). I'll attach some recent physique pics to the post.
In the first cycle I ever ran, I did 500mg test E + 100mg NPP + dbol weekly. Bloodwork was fine, I didn't need any AI's, nor I had any side effects from it besides a little bit of acne, but nothing too serious either. Other than that, the only thing that was a little off on my bloodwork was high creatinine and low glomerular filtration by a little bit, which could indicate a kidney problem (which is normal, since I had acute rhabdomyolysis before, but I take really good care of my kidneys so no worries here, really). I ran this for 3-4 months. I don't think the compounds were bad quality since I definitely felt them working.
In terms of dieting, when bulking, I try to just keep it a 200-300 calorie surplus above maintenance, so I don't get too fatty, 3 meals a day (hard to do more than 3 because of work), 180g protein, and I try to really push carbs up as much as I can. I also take supplements, zinc, omega-3, ashwaghanda, creatine, etc.
In regards to lifting, I do a PPL-UL split, 5 days a week. Nothing much else to say about weights, since i'd say I'm pretty average, and I try to always use machines instead of free weights. But for reference I think my strongest lifts are barbell rows, 100kg for 5-6 reps, and maybe OHP, 80kg 5 reps.
Now in regards to the cycle, I was planning on upping the test as you said, when pushing past the 90's kgs, not before. Altho I didn't had any side effects as mentioned staying on 500test /w 3 months, I think there's no need to push it further.
For the GH, I haven't used it before but while I was investigating, everyone was saying that before bed was the best time, as it can help you build much more muscle, since muscle growth happens during sleep, after all.
As for anavar, I wasn't planning on using it 6 months straight, since its highly hepatotoxic, so I'd use it at the end of the bulk just for the aesthethic look it usually gives.
I know IGF-1 is overlapping with the GH and MK, however, its a very strong compound in muscle gaining, so I wanted to give it a go. I'll keep it low and simple as you said, I'll keep an eye on how my body reacts, and I'll drop it if necessary. If using just a few times per week, when do you think it would make more sense to pin? Before a heavy weight day, for example?
And finally regarding MK, I don't think I'll go higher than 10mg if it gives me the apetite increase which is mainly why I want to use it.
Here's some pics of my physique. Excuse the bad quality, they are screenshots of a vid I took recently.
Edit: It appears that imgur is blocked in the forum, this is the link: imgur.com/a/IyqynZw . If its not allowed please let me know where else I can upload the pics.
Alright, thanks for taking the time to write all that out, this helps a lot and puts things into perspective.
First, on your background and the pics.
Three years training with one truly locked-in year actually explains a lot. You are not a beginner, but you are also not someone who has fully squeezed what their base can give yet. From the pictures you linked, you are lean, athletic, good structure, decent shoulder to waist ratio, but you are still very much in the “early growth” phase, not a finished bulked physique. That is not a negative at all, it is actually a very good place to be because your response ceiling is still high.
Now, about your past cycle: 500 test, low NPP and dbol for a first run working well is not surprising. The fact that you did not need an AI and had only mild acne tells me you aromatize reasonably well and tolerate androgens decently. The kidney markers you mentioned are important though. A history of rhabdo means you must be more conservative long term, not more aggressive. That alone is a reason to simplify, not stack.
Diet and training: A 200 to 300 kcal surplus is fine, but at your bodyweight and with your metabolism, that is only going to work if consistency is rock solid. Three meals is not ideal, but I get the work constraint. In that case, carbs around training become even more important. Machines only is also fine, but progression must be real progression. Numbers going up, reps cleaner, load controlled. Right now your lifts are decent, but they also tell me you are nowhere near capped out naturally or hormonally.
About your current thinking on the cycle: You are absolutely right about not pushing test higher before pushing bodyweight. That is one of the smartest things you wrote. 500 is already more than enough for where you are. There is no magic jump between 500 and 750 that suddenly unlocks new muscle if food, sleep and training are not already maxed.
HGH timing is where a lot of people overthink things. GH does not build muscle because you sleep. It builds muscle because it improves recovery, connective tissue health, nutrient partitioning and long-term tissue quality. Bedtime pinning is fine if sleep is not affected, but it is not superior for hypertrophy. Morning or split dosing often feels better for most people. Secretagogues are not useless, but they are not GH either. MK is the only one that really does something noticeable, and even then, appetite is the main benefit.
Anavar: Your idea of using it only at the end makes sense. Anavar is not a bulking drug. It is a polishing tool. Strength, pumps, dryness, aesthetics. Running it short and purposefully is the right mindset.
IGF-1 LR3: This is where I want you to slow down mentally (to me this is an obvious overkill!) LR3 is not just “extra growth”. It is powerful, yes, but it requires timing, food availability and understanding of how your body reacts to insulin sensitivity. Daily use is rarely necessary. If you insist on testing it, a few times per week before your hardest sessions is the only context where it makes sense. And even then, it is optional, not mandatory (OVERKILL!! Hahaha)
MK-677: At 10 mg, appetite support only, fine. Do not treat it like a growth drug. Watch water retention, fasting glucose and lethargy. If it helps you eat, great. If it makes you feel flat or bloated, drop it without hesitation.
Here is the key message I want you to REALLY absorb (Shark attack
)
You are not underdeveloped because you lack compounds.
You are underdeveloped because you only recently started doing everything consistently.
Right now, your best return will come from fewer tools, not more. One anabolic base, food pushed intelligently, progressive training and time. Adding overlapping compounds too early just makes it harder to know what actually works for you and increases risk without increasing results proportionally.
You are clearly motivated, you are thinking, and you are asking the right questions. That puts you ahead of most people already. Just do not rush the “advanced” stuff before your base has fully matured.
If you want to continue this properly, next useful info would be:
- Your weekly average calories during the bulk, not just target.
- How bodyweight has moved week to week.
- Sleep quality.
- Rest days.
And clearer physique shots front, side, back in neutral lighting.
Once that is clear, building something that actually fits you becomes very straightforward.
Keep pushing mate!
Shark
