Expert Answered Test and HCG first cycle at 29 - worth it?

[maorizio]

I am planning my first cycle starting with 200 mg of Test E or C spread into two doses per week.

I've been doing different forms of weightlifting for 5-6 years, not that all years count. I would say that the real structured training phase has been only the past 1,5 years with proper workout plan, recovery and diet, however most of it was recomposition.

Currently sitting at 13-14% bf, doing my real first caloric surplus cycle since I started working out properly - back then it was either in deficit or maintenance at most.

Of course body dysmorphia catched up and I'm utterly dissatisfied with my current sleeper build, deeply craving a more massive look.

I track everything - macros, sleep, supplements (currently Omega 3, Zinc, K2+D3, Magnesium, Creatine). I do macro timing to a level of obsession. Tracking all my lifts, created my own app to track progressive overload and weight progress, protocols and recovery in order to keep them in line and test current strategy.

I already had a blood test with all the necessary markers, basically giving a "green light" for the test cycle, which means everything is in an optimal range (so it's time to screw them up).

Being an analytical person I would track the planned 12-16 weeks cycle with the same attitude. Planning to do HCG alongside after the first 2-3 weeks of the cycle. Would keep an AI at hand. And would prepare for the PCT (stacking the necessary items)

But the question remains. Is it worth it? I like controlling variables but I'm rather terrified of life changing choices of this kind and if it can get out of control, however I deeply want the results it "might" give. Just to put into perspective I don't smoke, drink or do (and did) anything else and very conscious when it comes to anything that goes in or on my body. But it seems that the desire is stronger than sense with this matter.

 

[edwardrichtofen]

Honestly, mate, I think whether it’s worth it depends entirely on your own perspective and what you’re comfortable with. It’s subjective, and at the end of the day, it’s your body and your decision. Nobody else can make that choice for you.

If you’re comfortable with injecting a substance that you don’t medically need, knowing that it can affect your natural hormone production, fertility, cardiovascular health and potentially your long-term health, then that’s something you have to weigh up for yourself. You also have to consider whether the results you might achieve are worth those potential risks.

From what you’ve described, you seem very analytical and disciplined, which is a good thing. However, even with thorough research, blood work and careful planning, you can’t guarantee that everything will go according to plan. Things can become complicated, and having HCG, an AI or a PCT ready doesn’t automatically prevent or solve every possible issue.

Personally, I’d recommend waiting until some experienced, medically knowledgeable people have responded to your post. Take their advice into consideration, ask questions about anything you don’t fully understand, and give yourself time to think it through without rushing into anything.

You’ve explained your goals, your current physique, your training history and your concerns pretty clearly. Now I’d take a step back, listen to what the experts have to say, and ask yourself whether the potential benefits genuinely justify the risks for you.

If their explanations align with what you want and you still feel comfortable with the decision after understanding the risks, you can think about your next steps with a clearer perspective. Just remember that no amount of tracking or preparation can make a cycle completely safe.

At the end of the day, mate, it’s your body, your goals and your decision. Just make sure it’s a decision you’re making with a clear head rather than one driven by dissatisfaction with your current physique.

 

[maorizio]

Thank you for the reply. I might have concentrated too much on my internal conflict and less on the actual question. So let's assume that I'm dedicated towards the cycle.

The goal of the cycle is purely more muscle mass than what can be achieved in a natural phase.

The question really is: In my current anabolic state - roughly putting on 1,5 kgs of weight each month, with linear strength gains (based on my progress history) assuming that of that weight 0,5 kg is muscle (ideally), would a starting dose of 200 mg of Test E or C lead to significantly more muscle mass gain and can these gains be protected by the end of PCT, while keeping side effects at bay (considering the low dose). Also would the use of HCG make the PCT easier and lead to more muscle retention?

I want to understand the risk-to-reward ratio of the cycle and compare it to the natural path in my given state.

The idea behind the lower dose is that I'm still in an elevated anabolic state, and it would be te first time for me using exogenic sources.

Also due to many conflicting information: what would be the ideal PCT approach given my plan for cycle?

 

[Sam Bjorn]

I am planning my first cycle starting with 200 mg of Test E or C spread into two doses per week.

I've been doing different forms of weightlifting for 5-6 years, not that all years count. I would say that the real structured training phase has been only the past 1,5 years with proper workout plan, recovery and diet, however most of it was recomposition.

Currently sitting at 13-14% bf, doing my real first caloric surplus cycle since I started working out properly - back then it was either in deficit or maintenance at most.

Of course body dysmorphia catched up and I'm utterly dissatisfied with my current sleeper build, deeply craving a more massive look.

I track everything - macros, sleep, supplements (currently Omega 3, Zinc, K2+D3, Magnesium, Creatine). I do macro timing to a level of obsession. Tracking all my lifts, created my own app to track progressive overload and weight progress, protocols and recovery in order to keep them in line and test current strategy.

I already had a blood test with all the necessary markers, basically giving a "green light" for the test cycle, which means everything is in an optimal range (so it's time to screw them up).

Being an analytical person I would track the planned 12-16 weeks cycle with the same attitude. Planning to do HCG alongside after the first 2-3 weeks of the cycle. Would keep an AI at hand. And would prepare for the PCT (stacking the necessary items)

But the question remains. Is it worth it? I like controlling variables but I'm rather terrified of life changing choices of this kind and if it can get out of control, however I deeply want the results it "might" give. Just to put into perspective I don't smoke, drink or do (and did) anything else and very conscious when it comes to anything that goes in or on my body. But it seems that the desire is stronger than sense with this matter.

Hi Maorizio,

Thanks for writing here. For us, it shows a high level of trust on your part.

After carefully reading everything you wrote, I’d say you shouldn’t use anything you have doubts about. The thing is, there’s always a fundamental difference between medicine and biohacking — medicine tries to fix defects, illnesses, or problems that you already have. If you don’t have them, then there’s no medical indication to use anything. Biohacking, on the other hand, always involves risk, and that risk should be taken as consciously as possible.

Judging by your description, you seem to have fairly pronounced health anxiety, and once you start a cycle, nobody can guarantee that your own mind and doubts won’t cause psychological discomfort. A steroid cycle is something you have to believe in — then it carries you forward and you progress. But even if you’ve calculated everything correctly, if there are doubts in your head, it won’t work the way you’d like it to.

I remember my first cycles — it felt like flying, and I’m sure part of those feelings came from my own psychological mindset.

I don’t want to get into things like “energy” in an esoteric sense, but I do think it matters too. This is going to sound completely unscientific, of course, but still, when you “load” your syringe with belief in your own progress, that’s the force you’ll be moving in resonance with. At least from a psychological perspective, you’re programming yourself for success, and with that thought you don’t just go to the gym — you live with it. I think that’s an important part of what shapes your overall mindset and progress.

 

[Sam Bjorn]

Thank you for the reply. I might have concentrated too much on my internal conflict and less on the actual question. So let's assume that I'm dedicated towards the cycle.

The goal of the cycle is purely more muscle mass than what can be achieved in a natural phase.

The question really is: In my current anabolic state - roughly putting on 1,5 kgs of weight each month, with linear strength gains (based on my progress history) assuming that of that weight 0,5 kg is muscle (ideally), would a starting dose of 200 mg of Test E or C lead to significantly more muscle mass gain and can these gains be protected by the end of PCT, while keeping side effects at bay (considering the low dose). Also would the use of HCG make the PCT easier and lead to more muscle retention?

I want to understand the risk-to-reward ratio of the cycle and compare it to the natural path in my given state.

The idea behind the lower dose is that I'm still in an elevated anabolic state, and it would be te first time for me using exogenic sources.

Also due to many conflicting information: what would be the ideal PCT approach given my plan for cycle?

And essentially, the only question you want answered is whether it’s worth it. But we can’t answer that question. Nobody can.

What we can do on our side is help you reduce the risks, help with bloodwork, compounds, dosages, and share all the experience we have so that your cycle suits you as well as we can possibly influence it. But I believe the decision has to be yours, and you should make it before we start recommending anything.

And there’s one more important point — I’d say it’s critically important. If you’re progressing naturally and currently gaining 1.5 kg per month, then even if you firmly decide to use steroids, it makes no sense to do it now. I would never give up the opportunity to keep progressing naturally. You can’t even imagine how valuable that is.

I would only come back to this question after a few years at the earliest.

 

[maorizio]

And essentially, the only question you want answered is whether it’s worth it. But we can’t answer that question. Nobody can.

What we can do on our side is help you reduce the risks, help with bloodwork, compounds, dosages, and share all the experience we have so that your cycle suits you as well as we can possibly influence it. But I believe the decision has to be yours, and you should make it before we start recommending anything.

And there’s one more important point — I’d say it’s critically important. If you’re progressing naturally and currently gaining 1.5 kg per month, then even if you firmly decide to use steroids, it makes no sense to do it now. I would never give up the opportunity to keep progressing naturally. You can’t even imagine how valuable that is.

I would only come back to this question after a few years at the earliest.

Thank you for the answer, it's really nice to receive such a thoughtful answer.

As for the psychological or esoteric aspect you mentioned, I have to say that feeling of flying is exactly what I'd expect from my first cycle.
I am health conscious indeed, but that consciousness is already purely surrounded around one thing, which is gaining as much muscle as possible - I could lead a much healthier/enjoyable lifestyle if I just worked out and ate healthy in an objective sense.
Progressing in the gym is my only true happiness or enjoyment in life currently, hence my intention to biohack. I am gaining on a natural level well still, but my mind is constantly around what if I could do it twice as fast and elevate that feeling of flying even more.

The conflict in me is not if I want to do it, it's more if I understand this whole thing the way it should be understood. I'm unsure whether if it's 50/50 chance of no significant gains with all the side effect or super gains with minimal effects, that's why I wanted to jump in with a structured plan to at least control the variables I can control to know if I can mitigate the risk and maximize the positive effects or it's just the luck of the draw.

 

[Sam Bjorn]

Thank you for the answer, it's really nice to receive such a thoughtful answer.

As for the psychological or esoteric aspect you mentioned, I have to say that feeling of flying is exactly what I'd expect from my first cycle.
I am health conscious indeed, but that consciousness is already purely surrounded around one thing, which is gaining as much muscle as possible - I could lead a much healthier/enjoyable lifestyle if I just worked out and ate healthy in an objective sense.
Progressing in the gym is my only true happiness or enjoyment in life currently, hence my intention to biohack. I am gaining on a natural level well still, but my mind is constantly around what if I could do it twice as fast and elevate that feeling of flying even more.

The conflict in me is not if I want to do it, it's more if I understand this whole thing the way it should be understood. I'm unsure whether if it's 50/50 chance of no significant gains with all the side effect or super gains with minimal effects, that's why I wanted to jump in with a structured plan to at least control the variables I can control to know if I can mitigate the risk and maximize the positive effects or it's just the luck of the draw.

Yeah, no problem. I try to answer the way I’d want someone to answer me — honestly, as it is

Could you send a few photos of your physique — before you started training, at different stages of your training, and your current physique? That would help give me a broader picture. I also need to understand what kind of physique you ultimately want to achieve (you can use a photo from the internet as an example or something like that).

To answer your question — it’s partly a matter of luck and partly a matter of having a properly structured protocol. The thing is, we only ever control part of this game — our knowledge of bloodwork, blood pressure and other diagnostics, our understanding of our own body, how we train, how we eat, and so on. But we only control part of it. What always remains unknown to us is genetics and the reactions and side effects that we simply can’t track through blood tests. So there’s really no way to fully weigh up the risks.

Maybe you’re genetically lucky enough to respond to minimal doses of steroids and grow while avoiding any significant side effects. There are simply an endless number of factors that can influence this, and I’d get tired just listing the ones I know about, never mind the ones I don’t know about or that even science as a whole doesn’t know about yet.

Or maybe you’ll get nothing except acne and gynecomastia. And actually, that wouldn’t be the worst outcome, because you’d most likely decide it’s not worth it and stop right away.

But it could also go differently — your blood tests could always look pretty good, and you might not even suspect that a venous blood clot is already forming inside you. And nobody may ever know the true reason why it formed — maybe it’s genetics, maybe steroids contributed to it, or maybe you had a serious arm or leg fracture, and after surgery and a long period of immobility, clots formed there.

Basically, what I’m trying to say is that you’ll never be able to assess every risk, and nobody else will be able to do that either.

 

[Sam Bjorn]

I’ll repeat the mantra for you — if you’re still progressing naturally right now, I wouldn’t even think about steroids. There’s no point. 1.5 kg a month is really great.