Precycle Planning - TRT and blast with Test, Anavar

[texas.redneck]

I'm mid-forties, 5'11", 195lbs, ~15% body fat. Before starting the cycle I did last Fall, my total testosterone 358 (per the clinics free in-house) and free testosterone is 10.1 (per labcorp).. Here's link to my cycle log from last Fall (or this might be in my signature already):

https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/2025-cycle-log-body-recomp-journal.105995/

In short, I finished that cycle at the end of October with six weeks of PCT that wrapped up ~12/19/2025 with my last doses of clomid and tamoxifen.

My original plan was that I was going to cycle off until April while training for a half Ironman in March 2026. Then hit a spring bodybuilding cycle starting in April 2026 and just stay lean for summertime. This plan fit in well with the general rule of thumb that time on equals time off.

The problem is I am just not motivated at all for this half Ironman training, and I don't think it's entirely hormone related. I knew the timing of this race was bad because it is the first race of the season and places peak training in the middle of winter which is not a time of year that I'm typically excited about 3 hour Saturday morning bike rides, 2000+ meter swims, 2 hour runs and shit (plus trying to squeeze in at least 2x week strength training to maintain muscle mass). Also, Two guys I ride in a group with got hit by car and killed just before Christmas, so now I have that in the back of my head when I'm out riding, so been doing more indoor trainer rides. And honestly, I'm just not that into triathlons anymore (the actual race experiences) it was a bit of a phase and I had fun and made a lot of new friends.

At any rate, I'm going to get this race done in March since it's paid for, it's 10 minutes from my house and all the local tri-clubs I cycle and swim with are doing it.

So this is the audible I was considering (week 1 would be next week on this plan):

Weeks 1 to 7: Go on TRT dose of 150mg/week of cyp (At least optimize my T, and take hormones out of the equation, and possibly give me a mental boost in motivation to get me through the rest of this Half Ironman training)

End of week 7 is half ironman race day

Weeks 8 to 16: Blast 300mg/week of cyp (now I can get back to what I've been more into lately - bodybuilding); Aromasin 6.25 eod'ish

Weeks 11 to 16: Anavar 40mg (preworkout)

Weeks 1 to 16: HCG 250iu 2x week (I've now done cycles on HCG and one without HCG. I felt better on HCG is only reason here. I understand it doesn't do anything for PCT and all that)

Then I want to go PCT and get off testosterone again completely. So I'll do the standard clomid, tamoxifen, HCGenerate, etc. from perfect PCT

What do you all think? I just thought with this above plan I get best of both worlds - I can optimize my testosterone for the race prep training, then have a short bodybuilding phase afterwards.

 

[LevButlerov]

I'm mid-forties, 5'11", 195lbs, ~15% body fat. Before starting the cycle I did last Fall, my total testosterone 358 (per the clinics free in-house) and free testosterone is 10.1 (per labcorp).. Here's link to my cycle log from last Fall (or this might be in my signature already):

https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/2025-cycle-log-body-recomp-journal.105995/

In short, I finished that cycle at the end of October with six weeks of PCT that wrapped up ~12/19/2025 with my last doses of clomid and tamoxifen.

My original plan was that I was going to cycle off until April while training for a half Ironman in March 2026. Then hit a spring bodybuilding cycle starting in April 2026 and just stay lean for summertime. This plan fit in well with the general rule of thumb that time on equals time off.

The problem is I am just not motivated at all for this half Ironman training, and I don't think it's entirely hormone related. I knew the timing of this race was bad because it is the first race of the season and places peak training in the middle of winter which is not a time of year that I'm typically excited about 3 hour Saturday morning bike rides, 2000+ meter swims, 2 hour runs and shit (plus trying to squeeze in at least 2x week strength training to maintain muscle mass). Also, Two guys I ride in a group with got hit by car and killed just before Christmas, so now I have that in the back of my head when I'm out riding, so been doing more indoor trainer rides. And honestly, I'm just not that into triathlons anymore (the actual race experiences) it was a bit of a phase and I had fun and made a lot of new friends.

At any rate, I'm going to get this race done in March since it's paid for, it's 10 minutes from my house and all the local tri-clubs I cycle and swim with are doing it.

So this is the audible I was considering (week 1 would be next week on this plan):

Weeks 1 to 7: Go on TRT dose of 150mg/week of cyp (At least optimize my T, and take hormones out of the equation, and possibly give me a mental boost in motivation to get me through the rest of this Half Ironman training)

End of week 7 is half ironman race day

Weeks 8 to 16: Blast 300mg/week of cyp (now I can get back to what I've been more into lately - bodybuilding); Aromasin 6.25 eod'ish

Weeks 11 to 16: Anavar 40mg (preworkout)

Weeks 1 to 16: HCG 250iu 2x week (I've now done cycles on HCG and one without HCG. I felt better on HCG is only reason here. I understand it doesn't do anything for PCT and all that)

Then I want to go PCT and get off testosterone again completely. So I'll do the standard clomid, tamoxifen, HCGenerate, etc. from perfect PCT

What do you all think? I just thought with this above plan I get best of both worlds - I can optimize my testosterone for the race prep training, then have a short bodybuilding phase afterwards.

welcome back @texas.redneck happy you sharing with the EVO family again!

I personally dont think ironman is really needed for you, how about bodybuilding in general?

do you have your bloods now? before we talk big cycles we need bloods and more clarity how you came off.

@BeMe @HarleyGuy @s.gentz
@Allupfromhere @Pigsy @Dreamer @Freki @R.AP
@waggat @Coolguy @Trenhead3cc @Kopite67

 

[texas.redneck]

do you have your bloods now? before we talk big cycles we need bloods and more clarity how you came off.

Not yet, but I will get the full TRT panel before taking any injections.

Yeah honestly thought about just not doing the Ironman since my heart isn’t in the training, but I’ll regret it. It’s really a life experience having it right in my backyard and it’s the first time they are doing it in Dallas area. The thing is 6-8 weeks from now it’s beautiful spring weather and my whole attitude will be different and then I’d regret not doing it. Right now I’ve been cooped up inside in an ice storm earlier this week. So Saturday my training plan had me supposed to do a 3 hour 15 min ride with 30 min run. So normally I’d get started on that by 8 am. Well this Saturday it was 19 degrees out with streets covered in ice. So I just doddle around all morning till about 11 am and then just did a 1.5 hour ride on my indoor trainer.

Edit: it’s just not my usual routine because normally this time of the year I’m inside the gym lifting more than late spring and summer outside doing bike rides and swimming more. So it’s just a training schedule thing got back ass wards on me.

 

[Dreamer]

I'm mid-forties, 5'11", 195lbs, ~15% body fat. Before starting the cycle I did last Fall, my total testosterone 358 (per the clinics free in-house) and free testosterone is 10.1 (per labcorp).. Here's link to my cycle log from last Fall (or this might be in my signature already):

https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/2025-cycle-log-body-recomp-journal.105995/

In short, I finished that cycle at the end of October with six weeks of PCT that wrapped up ~12/19/2025 with my last doses of clomid and tamoxifen.

My original plan was that I was going to cycle off until April while training for a half Ironman in March 2026. Then hit a spring bodybuilding cycle starting in April 2026 and just stay lean for summertime. This plan fit in well with the general rule of thumb that time on equals time off.

The problem is I am just not motivated at all for this half Ironman training, and I don't think it's entirely hormone related. I knew the timing of this race was bad because it is the first race of the season and places peak training in the middle of winter which is not a time of year that I'm typically excited about 3 hour Saturday morning bike rides, 2000+ meter swims, 2 hour runs and shit (plus trying to squeeze in at least 2x week strength training to maintain muscle mass). Also, Two guys I ride in a group with got hit by car and killed just before Christmas, so now I have that in the back of my head when I'm out riding, so been doing more indoor trainer rides. And honestly, I'm just not that into triathlons anymore (the actual race experiences) it was a bit of a phase and I had fun and made a lot of new friends.

At any rate, I'm going to get this race done in March since it's paid for, it's 10 minutes from my house and all the local tri-clubs I cycle and swim with are doing it.

So this is the audible I was considering (week 1 would be next week on this plan):

Weeks 1 to 7: Go on TRT dose of 150mg/week of cyp (At least optimize my T, and take hormones out of the equation, and possibly give me a mental boost in motivation to get me through the rest of this Half Ironman training)

End of week 7 is half ironman race day

Weeks 8 to 16: Blast 300mg/week of cyp (now I can get back to what I've been more into lately - bodybuilding); Aromasin 6.25 eod'ish

Weeks 11 to 16: Anavar 40mg (preworkout)

Weeks 1 to 16: HCG 250iu 2x week (I've now done cycles on HCG and one without HCG. I felt better on HCG is only reason here. I understand it doesn't do anything for PCT and all that)

Then I want to go PCT and get off testosterone again completely. So I'll do the standard clomid, tamoxifen, HCGenerate, etc. from perfect PCT

What do you all think? I just thought with this above plan I get best of both worlds - I can optimize my testosterone for the race prep training, then have a short bodybuilding phase afterwards.

Dont know much about ironman - what does it entail?

 

[texas.redneck]

Dont know much about ironman - what does it entail?

So it’s a half Ironman:

1.2 mile swim (takes me about 50-55 min)
56 mile bike (takes me about 3:15-3:30)
13 mile run (I will speed walk this in probably 3:30 because I don’t like running anymore. It’s real hard on my back and just melts away muscle mass)

I did a full Ironman in 2022 and just kept swimming and cycling as part of my routine since then. I’ve done a couple 100 mile bike races.

They’re fun. It was a nice change a few years ago from always doing strength training in the gym. I cut back my strength training routines to just 2-3 day 45 min workout routines.

this past year I got back more into bodybuilding and was having fun with that.

 

[LevButlerov]

Not yet, but I will get the full TRT panel before taking any injections.

Yeah honestly thought about just not doing the Ironman since my heart isn’t in the training, but I’ll regret it. It’s really a life experience having it right in my backyard and it’s the first time they are doing it in Dallas area. The thing is 6-8 weeks from now it’s beautiful spring weather and my whole attitude will be different and then I’d regret not doing it. Right now I’ve been cooped up inside in an ice storm earlier this week. So Saturday my training plan had me supposed to do a 3 hour 15 min ride with 30 min run. So normally I’d get started on that by 8 am. Well this Saturday it was 19 degrees out with streets covered in ice. So I just doddle around all morning till about 11 am and then just did a 1.5 hour ride on my indoor trainer.

Edit: it’s just not my usual routine because normally this time of the year I’m inside the gym lifting more than late spring and summer outside doing bike rides and swimming more. So it’s just a training schedule thing got back ass wards on me.

when can you get bloods? it's #1 urgent here, can you do it this week? @texas.redneck

 

[Kopite67]

I'm mid-forties, 5'11", 195lbs, ~15% body fat. Before starting the cycle I did last Fall, my total testosterone 358 (per the clinics free in-house) and free testosterone is 10.1 (per labcorp).. Here's link to my cycle log from last Fall (or this might be in my signature already):

https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/2025-cycle-log-body-recomp-journal.105995/

In short, I finished that cycle at the end of October with six weeks of PCT that wrapped up ~12/19/2025 with my last doses of clomid and tamoxifen.

My original plan was that I was going to cycle off until April while training for a half Ironman in March 2026. Then hit a spring bodybuilding cycle starting in April 2026 and just stay lean for summertime. This plan fit in well with the general rule of thumb that time on equals time off.

The problem is I am just not motivated at all for this half Ironman training, and I don't think it's entirely hormone related. I knew the timing of this race was bad because it is the first race of the season and places peak training in the middle of winter which is not a time of year that I'm typically excited about 3 hour Saturday morning bike rides, 2000+ meter swims, 2 hour runs and shit (plus trying to squeeze in at least 2x week strength training to maintain muscle mass). Also, Two guys I ride in a group with got hit by car and killed just before Christmas, so now I have that in the back of my head when I'm out riding, so been doing more indoor trainer rides. And honestly, I'm just not that into triathlons anymore (the actual race experiences) it was a bit of a phase and I had fun and made a lot of new friends.

At any rate, I'm going to get this race done in March since it's paid for, it's 10 minutes from my house and all the local tri-clubs I cycle and swim with are doing it.

So this is the audible I was considering (week 1 would be next week on this plan):

Weeks 1 to 7: Go on TRT dose of 150mg/week of cyp (At least optimize my T, and take hormones out of the equation, and possibly give me a mental boost in motivation to get me through the rest of this Half Ironman training)

End of week 7 is half ironman race day

Weeks 8 to 16: Blast 300mg/week of cyp (now I can get back to what I've been more into lately - bodybuilding); Aromasin 6.25 eod'ish

Weeks 11 to 16: Anavar 40mg (preworkout)

Weeks 1 to 16: HCG 250iu 2x week (I've now done cycles on HCG and one without HCG. I felt better on HCG is only reason here. I understand it doesn't do anything for PCT and all that)

Then I want to go PCT and get off testosterone again completely. So I'll do the standard clomid, tamoxifen, HCGenerate, etc. from perfect PCT

What do you all think? I just thought with this above plan I get best of both worlds - I can optimize my testosterone for the race prep training, then have a short bodybuilding phase afterwards.

Love the opening to this log @texas.redneck . Ironman is some heavy duty training and preparation brother. I am looking forward to following this journey and see the different style of training required to do this.

 

[Dreamer]

So it’s a half Ironman:

1.2 mile swim (takes me about 50-55 min)
56 mile bike (takes me about 3:15-3:30)
13 mile run (I will speed walk this in probably 3:30 because I don’t like running anymore. It’s real hard on my back and just melts away muscle mass)

I did a full Ironman in 2022 and just kept swimming and cycling as part of my routine since then. I’ve done a couple 100 mile bike races.

They’re fun. It was a nice change a few years ago from always doing strength training in the gym. I cut back my strength training routines to just 2-3 day 45 min workout routines.

this past year I got back more into bodybuilding and was having fun with that.

Oh hell, thats some serious fitness needed for that, I would struggle with the swim, but respect brother your a true athlete.

 

[stevesmi]

I'm mid-forties, 5'11", 195lbs, ~15% body fat. Before starting the cycle I did last Fall, my total testosterone 358 (per the clinics free in-house) and free testosterone is 10.1 (per labcorp).. Here's link to my cycle log from last Fall (or this might be in my signature already):

https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/2025-cycle-log-body-recomp-journal.105995/

In short, I finished that cycle at the end of October with six weeks of PCT that wrapped up ~12/19/2025 with my last doses of clomid and tamoxifen.

My original plan was that I was going to cycle off until April while training for a half Ironman in March 2026. Then hit a spring bodybuilding cycle starting in April 2026 and just stay lean for summertime. This plan fit in well with the general rule of thumb that time on equals time off.

The problem is I am just not motivated at all for this half Ironman training, and I don't think it's entirely hormone related. I knew the timing of this race was bad because it is the first race of the season and places peak training in the middle of winter which is not a time of year that I'm typically excited about 3 hour Saturday morning bike rides, 2000+ meter swims, 2 hour runs and shit (plus trying to squeeze in at least 2x week strength training to maintain muscle mass). Also, Two guys I ride in a group with got hit by car and killed just before Christmas, so now I have that in the back of my head when I'm out riding, so been doing more indoor trainer rides. And honestly, I'm just not that into triathlons anymore (the actual race experiences) it was a bit of a phase and I had fun and made a lot of new friends.

At any rate, I'm going to get this race done in March since it's paid for, it's 10 minutes from my house and all the local tri-clubs I cycle and swim with are doing it.

So this is the audible I was considering (week 1 would be next week on this plan):

Weeks 1 to 7: Go on TRT dose of 150mg/week of cyp (At least optimize my T, and take hormones out of the equation, and possibly give me a mental boost in motivation to get me through the rest of this Half Ironman training)

End of week 7 is half ironman race day

Weeks 8 to 16: Blast 300mg/week of cyp (now I can get back to what I've been more into lately - bodybuilding); Aromasin 6.25 eod'ish

Weeks 11 to 16: Anavar 40mg (preworkout)

Weeks 1 to 16: HCG 250iu 2x week (I've now done cycles on HCG and one without HCG. I felt better on HCG is only reason here. I understand it doesn't do anything for PCT and all that)

Then I want to go PCT and get off testosterone again completely. So I'll do the standard clomid, tamoxifen, HCGenerate, etc. from perfect PCT

What do you all think? I just thought with this above plan I get best of both worlds - I can optimize my testosterone for the race prep training, then have a short bodybuilding phase afterwards.

@texas.redneck ironman are very fun, man, especially for those of us who get bored with just a straight road race. I used to enjoy doing them back in the day.

 

[Trenhead3cc]

Respect for the iron man competitors , I swim worse than the tourists on Bondi beach. (Reality tv )

Is it tested comp? Would thing GW50156 and Eq would be a good combination to help with competing

 

[Mobster]

I'm mid-forties, 5'11", 195lbs, ~15% body fat. Before starting the cycle I did last Fall, my total testosterone 358 (per the clinics free in-house) and free testosterone is 10.1 (per labcorp).. Here's link to my cycle log from last Fall (or this might be in my signature already):

https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/2025-cycle-log-body-recomp-journal.105995/

In short, I finished that cycle at the end of October with six weeks of PCT that wrapped up ~12/19/2025 with my last doses of clomid and tamoxifen.

My original plan was that I was going to cycle off until April while training for a half Ironman in March 2026. Then hit a spring bodybuilding cycle starting in April 2026 and just stay lean for summertime. This plan fit in well with the general rule of thumb that time on equals time off.

The problem is I am just not motivated at all for this half Ironman training, and I don't think it's entirely hormone related. I knew the timing of this race was bad because it is the first race of the season and places peak training in the middle of winter which is not a time of year that I'm typically excited about 3 hour Saturday morning bike rides, 2000+ meter swims, 2 hour runs and shit (plus trying to squeeze in at least 2x week strength training to maintain muscle mass). Also, Two guys I ride in a group with got hit by car and killed just before Christmas, so now I have that in the back of my head when I'm out riding, so been doing more indoor trainer rides. And honestly, I'm just not that into triathlons anymore (the actual race experiences) it was a bit of a phase and I had fun and made a lot of new friends.

At any rate, I'm going to get this race done in March since it's paid for, it's 10 minutes from my house and all the local tri-clubs I cycle and swim with are doing it.

So this is the audible I was considering (week 1 would be next week on this plan):

Weeks 1 to 7: Go on TRT dose of 150mg/week of cyp (At least optimize my T, and take hormones out of the equation, and possibly give me a mental boost in motivation to get me through the rest of this Half Ironman training)

End of week 7 is half ironman race day

Weeks 8 to 16: Blast 300mg/week of cyp (now I can get back to what I've been more into lately - bodybuilding); Aromasin 6.25 eod'ish

Weeks 11 to 16: Anavar 40mg (preworkout)

Weeks 1 to 16: HCG 250iu 2x week (I've now done cycles on HCG and one without HCG. I felt better on HCG is only reason here. I understand it doesn't do anything for PCT and all that)

Then I want to go PCT and get off testosterone again completely. So I'll do the standard clomid, tamoxifen, HCGenerate, etc. from perfect PCT

What do you all think? I just thought with this above plan I get best of both worlds - I can optimize my testosterone for the race prep training, then have a short bodybuilding phase afterwards.

The audible??

`If I wasn't motivated to do something, regardless of if it's paid for, I wouldn't do it. I'd focus on what I AM motivated to do

 

[ceo]

I'm mid-forties, 5'11", 195lbs, ~15% body fat. Before starting the cycle I did last Fall, my total testosterone 358 (per the clinics free in-house) and free testosterone is 10.1 (per labcorp).. Here's link to my cycle log from last Fall (or this might be in my signature already):

https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/2025-cycle-log-body-recomp-journal.105995/

In short, I finished that cycle at the end of October with six weeks of PCT that wrapped up ~12/19/2025 with my last doses of clomid and tamoxifen.

My original plan was that I was going to cycle off until April while training for a half Ironman in March 2026. Then hit a spring bodybuilding cycle starting in April 2026 and just stay lean for summertime. This plan fit in well with the general rule of thumb that time on equals time off.

The problem is I am just not motivated at all for this half Ironman training, and I don't think it's entirely hormone related. I knew the timing of this race was bad because it is the first race of the season and places peak training in the middle of winter which is not a time of year that I'm typically excited about 3 hour Saturday morning bike rides, 2000+ meter swims, 2 hour runs and shit (plus trying to squeeze in at least 2x week strength training to maintain muscle mass). Also, Two guys I ride in a group with got hit by car and killed just before Christmas, so now I have that in the back of my head when I'm out riding, so been doing more indoor trainer rides. And honestly, I'm just not that into triathlons anymore (the actual race experiences) it was a bit of a phase and I had fun and made a lot of new friends.

At any rate, I'm going to get this race done in March since it's paid for, it's 10 minutes from my house and all the local tri-clubs I cycle and swim with are doing it.

So this is the audible I was considering (week 1 would be next week on this plan):

Weeks 1 to 7: Go on TRT dose of 150mg/week of cyp (At least optimize my T, and take hormones out of the equation, and possibly give me a mental boost in motivation to get me through the rest of this Half Ironman training)

End of week 7 is half ironman race day

Weeks 8 to 16: Blast 300mg/week of cyp (now I can get back to what I've been more into lately - bodybuilding); Aromasin 6.25 eod'ish

Weeks 11 to 16: Anavar 40mg (preworkout)

Weeks 1 to 16: HCG 250iu 2x week (I've now done cycles on HCG and one without HCG. I felt better on HCG is only reason here. I understand it doesn't do anything for PCT and all that)

Then I want to go PCT and get off testosterone again completely. So I'll do the standard clomid, tamoxifen, HCGenerate, etc. from perfect PCT

What do you all think? I just thought with this above plan I get best of both worlds - I can optimize my testosterone for the race prep training, then have a short bodybuilding phase afterwards.

Bro, you're throwing out a lot of good ideas and also I like that you're gonna do a race. You should add that to your log and go with it. I like the setup. You can always change things as you go.

 

[Ulter]

I'm mid-forties, 5'11", 195lbs, ~15% body fat. Before starting the cycle I did last Fall, my total testosterone 358 (per the clinics free in-house) and free testosterone is 10.1 (per labcorp).. Here's link to my cycle log from last Fall (or this might be in my signature already):

https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/2025-cycle-log-body-recomp-journal.105995/

In short, I finished that cycle at the end of October with six weeks of PCT that wrapped up ~12/19/2025 with my last doses of clomid and tamoxifen.

My original plan was that I was going to cycle off until April while training for a half Ironman in March 2026. Then hit a spring bodybuilding cycle starting in April 2026 and just stay lean for summertime. This plan fit in well with the general rule of thumb that time on equals time off.

The problem is I am just not motivated at all for this half Ironman training, and I don't think it's entirely hormone related. I knew the timing of this race was bad because it is the first race of the season and places peak training in the middle of winter which is not a time of year that I'm typically excited about 3 hour Saturday morning bike rides, 2000+ meter swims, 2 hour runs and shit (plus trying to squeeze in at least 2x week strength training to maintain muscle mass). Also, Two guys I ride in a group with got hit by car and killed just before Christmas, so now I have that in the back of my head when I'm out riding, so been doing more indoor trainer rides. And honestly, I'm just not that into triathlons anymore (the actual race experiences) it was a bit of a phase and I had fun and made a lot of new friends.

At any rate, I'm going to get this race done in March since it's paid for, it's 10 minutes from my house and all the local tri-clubs I cycle and swim with are doing it.

So this is the audible I was considering (week 1 would be next week on this plan):

Weeks 1 to 7: Go on TRT dose of 150mg/week of cyp (At least optimize my T, and take hormones out of the equation, and possibly give me a mental boost in motivation to get me through the rest of this Half Ironman training)

End of week 7 is half ironman race day

Weeks 8 to 16: Blast 300mg/week of cyp (now I can get back to what I've been more into lately - bodybuilding); Aromasin 6.25 eod'ish

Weeks 11 to 16: Anavar 40mg (preworkout)

Weeks 1 to 16: HCG 250iu 2x week (I've now done cycles on HCG and one without HCG. I felt better on HCG is only reason here. I understand it doesn't do anything for PCT and all that)

Then I want to go PCT and get off testosterone again completely. So I'll do the standard clomid, tamoxifen, HCGenerate, etc. from perfect PCT

What do you all think? I just thought with this above plan I get best of both worlds - I can optimize my testosterone for the race prep training, then have a short bodybuilding phase afterwards.

T-bol would be a great option for endurance training and so with equipoise. Those would be the two that I would do. And then growth hormone as well.

 

[2Thick]

I'm mid-forties, 5'11", 195lbs, ~15% body fat. Before starting the cycle I did last Fall, my total testosterone 358 (per the clinics free in-house) and free testosterone is 10.1 (per labcorp).. Here's link to my cycle log from last Fall (or this might be in my signature already):

https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/2025-cycle-log-body-recomp-journal.105995/

In short, I finished that cycle at the end of October with six weeks of PCT that wrapped up ~12/19/2025 with my last doses of clomid and tamoxifen.

My original plan was that I was going to cycle off until April while training for a half Ironman in March 2026. Then hit a spring bodybuilding cycle starting in April 2026 and just stay lean for summertime. This plan fit in well with the general rule of thumb that time on equals time off.

The problem is I am just not motivated at all for this half Ironman training, and I don't think it's entirely hormone related. I knew the timing of this race was bad because it is the first race of the season and places peak training in the middle of winter which is not a time of year that I'm typically excited about 3 hour Saturday morning bike rides, 2000+ meter swims, 2 hour runs and shit (plus trying to squeeze in at least 2x week strength training to maintain muscle mass). Also, Two guys I ride in a group with got hit by car and killed just before Christmas, so now I have that in the back of my head when I'm out riding, so been doing more indoor trainer rides. And honestly, I'm just not that into triathlons anymore (the actual race experiences) it was a bit of a phase and I had fun and made a lot of new friends.

At any rate, I'm going to get this race done in March since it's paid for, it's 10 minutes from my house and all the local tri-clubs I cycle and swim with are doing it.

So this is the audible I was considering (week 1 would be next week on this plan):

Weeks 1 to 7: Go on TRT dose of 150mg/week of cyp (At least optimize my T, and take hormones out of the equation, and possibly give me a mental boost in motivation to get me through the rest of this Half Ironman training)

End of week 7 is half ironman race day

Weeks 8 to 16: Blast 300mg/week of cyp (now I can get back to what I've been more into lately - bodybuilding); Aromasin 6.25 eod'ish

Weeks 11 to 16: Anavar 40mg (preworkout)

Weeks 1 to 16: HCG 250iu 2x week (I've now done cycles on HCG and one without HCG. I felt better on HCG is only reason here. I understand it doesn't do anything for PCT and all that)

Then I want to go PCT and get off testosterone again completely. So I'll do the standard clomid, tamoxifen, HCGenerate, etc. from perfect PCT

What do you all think? I just thought with this above plan I get best of both worlds - I can optimize my testosterone for the race prep training, then have a short bodybuilding phase afterwards.

i think this is going to be trial and error. see how you do on gear. and then make changes as you go
and if you don't feel like doing the ironman, then don't do it. maybe go to it and watch it and see if you feel like doing it

 

[texas.redneck]

when can you get bloods? it's #1 urgent here, can you do it this week? @texas.redneck

I will go tomorrow or Monday. I might wait till Monday just because I just now got back on track with sleep hygiene, no nicotine, and no sugary deserts after a little hiccup the last two weeks. So I want to give it through the weekend just to get a few extra days in to try to get an accurate read on my natural T levels.

Oh hell, thats some serious fitness needed for that, I would struggle with the swim, but respect brother your a true athlete.

Yes, i was not a swimmer at all but found a good adult group swim class 10 minutes from my house and just show up to those consistently 1-2x week, and several times a year the same group goes to practice open water swim at the lake. So now I don't mind the swim. It's fun, and honestly the shortest part of the whole race. LOL.

`If I wasn't motivated to do something, regardless of if it's paid for, I wouldn't do it. I'd focus on what I AM motivated to do

yes, been considering this strongly. I'm going to give it another week with some better consistency with sleep and diet before making any rash decisions.

Part of the problem is I think I set my Functional Threshold Power (FTP) on my bike too high and that hasn't been helping the mental game, because I look at data after bike rates and it makes me feel like I am not pushing myself hard enough. So when you train for these distance cycling you train in these wattage power zones based on the FTP. I've left my FTP setting at 212 even though my actual FTP tests haven't been 212 since January 2024. My most recent FTP tests have been coming in at 206, 203, 207, for example, and I kept telling myself it's just because I didn't mentally push myself as hard as I could during the test, or I'll be back in shape in a month so why lower it. I'm moving FTP down to 207 based on threshold test I did today, which should give me more mental "wins" because it will make the workouts a little easier.

 

[texas.redneck]

Bro, you're throwing out a lot of good ideas and also I like that you're gonna do a race. You should add that to your log and go with it. I like the setup. You can always change things as you go.

Thanks. I thought it was a reasonably thought out plan to TRT for the last 7 weeks of race prep, then blast the next 9 weeks to bodybuild leading into summer. Makes for a neat and clean 16 week cycle on Test.

I also like coming off of the Test in summer time when I'm good at keeping up with my diet and exercise. This last cycle I came off the beginning of November which was brutal with daylight savings giving me seasonal depression; it's cold out and I'm kind of on Winter maintenance workouts mode; Holidays and I'm wanting to eat junk food; generally just not be as phsyically active in winter. With all those factors in November/December, it just didn't feel like the ideal time to transition from superphysiological testosterone to normal, from a psychological standpoint. LOL.

T-bol would be a great option for endurance training and so with equipoise. Those would be the two that I would do. And then growth hormone as well.

Yes, I've used T-bol before with great results. It's definitely an under rated compound. I actually think I may have liked T-bol better than anavar. I've been avoiding EQ just because last year on my testosterone only cycle, running 300-400mg/week of test, my HTC was creeping up to the max end of the acceptable range. I just went to Carter blood center and donated blood but still didn't want to use a compound that's known for creeping up that HTC even more. I also never liked what I read about EQ staying around in my system for so long. I'm still not ready to commit to TRT for rest of my life, so I like to cycle off and get back all natural.

Anyways, that's why I was just going more the TRT route in my proposed plan just to support that race training and recovery, not really trying to truly PED the race if that makes sense.

 

[ROIDDERS]

I'm mid-forties, 5'11", 195lbs, ~15% body fat. Before starting the cycle I did last Fall, my total testosterone 358 (per the clinics free in-house) and free testosterone is 10.1 (per labcorp).. Here's link to my cycle log from last Fall (or this might be in my signature already):

https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/2025-cycle-log-body-recomp-journal.105995/

In short, I finished that cycle at the end of October with six weeks of PCT that wrapped up ~12/19/2025 with my last doses of clomid and tamoxifen.

My original plan was that I was going to cycle off until April while training for a half Ironman in March 2026. Then hit a spring bodybuilding cycle starting in April 2026 and just stay lean for summertime. This plan fit in well with the general rule of thumb that time on equals time off.

The problem is I am just not motivated at all for this half Ironman training, and I don't think it's entirely hormone related. I knew the timing of this race was bad because it is the first race of the season and places peak training in the middle of winter which is not a time of year that I'm typically excited about 3 hour Saturday morning bike rides, 2000+ meter swims, 2 hour runs and shit (plus trying to squeeze in at least 2x week strength training to maintain muscle mass). Also, Two guys I ride in a group with got hit by car and killed just before Christmas, so now I have that in the back of my head when I'm out riding, so been doing more indoor trainer rides. And honestly, I'm just not that into triathlons anymore (the actual race experiences) it was a bit of a phase and I had fun and made a lot of new friends.

At any rate, I'm going to get this race done in March since it's paid for, it's 10 minutes from my house and all the local tri-clubs I cycle and swim with are doing it.

So this is the audible I was considering (week 1 would be next week on this plan):

Weeks 1 to 7: Go on TRT dose of 150mg/week of cyp (At least optimize my T, and take hormones out of the equation, and possibly give me a mental boost in motivation to get me through the rest of this Half Ironman training)

End of week 7 is half ironman race day

Weeks 8 to 16: Blast 300mg/week of cyp (now I can get back to what I've been more into lately - bodybuilding); Aromasin 6.25 eod'ish

Weeks 11 to 16: Anavar 40mg (preworkout)

Weeks 1 to 16: HCG 250iu 2x week (I've now done cycles on HCG and one without HCG. I felt better on HCG is only reason here. I understand it doesn't do anything for PCT and all that)

Then I want to go PCT and get off testosterone again completely. So I'll do the standard clomid, tamoxifen, HCGenerate, etc. from perfect PCT

What do you all think? I just thought with this above plan I get best of both worlds - I can optimize my testosterone for the race prep training, then have a short bodybuilding phase afterwards.

I think you should run some T-bol ahead of your iron man. Add it to your TRT. That will help and also if you can do maybe one or two IU's of growth hormone a day, that would be very optimal as well.

 

[ballin2504]

So it’s a half Ironman:

1.2 mile swim (takes me about 50-55 min)
56 mile bike (takes me about 3:15-3:30)
13 mile run (I will speed walk this in probably 3:30 because I don’t like running anymore. It’s real hard on my back and just melts away muscle mass)

I did a full Ironman in 2022 and just kept swimming and cycling as part of my routine since then. I’ve done a couple 100 mile bike races.

They’re fun. It was a nice change a few years ago from always doing strength training in the gym. I cut back my strength training routines to just 2-3 day 45 min workout routines.

this past year I got back more into bodybuilding and was having fun with that.

That would be impressive to be able to do man. But if my heart wasn’t in it I couldn’t do it.

 

[waggat]

I'm mid-forties, 5'11", 195lbs, ~15% body fat. Before starting the cycle I did last Fall, my total testosterone 358 (per the clinics free in-house) and free testosterone is 10.1 (per labcorp).. Here's link to my cycle log from last Fall (or this might be in my signature already):

https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/2025-cycle-log-body-recomp-journal.105995/

In short, I finished that cycle at the end of October with six weeks of PCT that wrapped up ~12/19/2025 with my last doses of clomid and tamoxifen.

My original plan was that I was going to cycle off until April while training for a half Ironman in March 2026. Then hit a spring bodybuilding cycle starting in April 2026 and just stay lean for summertime. This plan fit in well with the general rule of thumb that time on equals time off.

The problem is I am just not motivated at all for this half Ironman training, and I don't think it's entirely hormone related. I knew the timing of this race was bad because it is the first race of the season and places peak training in the middle of winter which is not a time of year that I'm typically excited about 3 hour Saturday morning bike rides, 2000+ meter swims, 2 hour runs and shit (plus trying to squeeze in at least 2x week strength training to maintain muscle mass). Also, Two guys I ride in a group with got hit by car and killed just before Christmas, so now I have that in the back of my head when I'm out riding, so been doing more indoor trainer rides. And honestly, I'm just not that into triathlons anymore (the actual race experiences) it was a bit of a phase and I had fun and made a lot of new friends.

At any rate, I'm going to get this race done in March since it's paid for, it's 10 minutes from my house and all the local tri-clubs I cycle and swim with are doing it.

So this is the audible I was considering (week 1 would be next week on this plan):

Weeks 1 to 7: Go on TRT dose of 150mg/week of cyp (At least optimize my T, and take hormones out of the equation, and possibly give me a mental boost in motivation to get me through the rest of this Half Ironman training)

End of week 7 is half ironman race day

Weeks 8 to 16: Blast 300mg/week of cyp (now I can get back to what I've been more into lately - bodybuilding); Aromasin 6.25 eod'ish

Weeks 11 to 16: Anavar 40mg (preworkout)

Weeks 1 to 16: HCG 250iu 2x week (I've now done cycles on HCG and one without HCG. I felt better on HCG is only reason here. I understand it doesn't do anything for PCT and all that)

Then I want to go PCT and get off testosterone again completely. So I'll do the standard clomid, tamoxifen, HCGenerate, etc. from perfect PCT

What do you all think? I just thought with this above plan I get best of both worlds - I can optimize my testosterone for the race prep training, then have a short bodybuilding phase afterwards.

The plan looks good to me mate.

 

[LevButlerov]

I will go tomorrow or Monday. I might wait till Monday just because I just now got back on track with sleep hygiene, no nicotine, and no sugary deserts after a little hiccup the last two weeks. So I want to give it through the weekend just to get a few extra days in to try to get an accurate read on my natural T levels.

lets go monday get bloods done @texas.redneck

 

[ceo]

Thanks. I thought it was a reasonably thought out plan to TRT for the last 7 weeks of race prep, then blast the next 9 weeks to bodybuild leading into summer. Makes for a neat and clean 16 week cycle on Test.

I also like coming off of the Test in summer time when I'm good at keeping up with my diet and exercise. This last cycle I came off the beginning of November which was brutal with daylight savings giving me seasonal depression; it's cold out and I'm kind of on Winter maintenance workouts mode; Holidays and I'm wanting to eat junk food; generally just not be as phsyically active in winter. With all those factors in November/December, it just didn't feel like the ideal time to transition from superphysiological testosterone to normal, from a psychological standpoint. LOL.

bros seem like you over complicating things. You can see how you do on this and then switch things if needed.

 

[Ulter]

Yes, I've used T-bol before with great results. It's definitely an under rated compound. I actually think I may have liked T-bol better than anavar. I've been avoiding EQ just because last year on my testosterone only cycle, running 300-400mg/week of test, my HTC was creeping up to the max end of the acceptable range. I just went to Carter blood center and donated blood but still didn't want to use a compound that's known for creeping up that HTC even more. I also never liked what I read about EQ staying around in my system for so long. I'm still not ready to commit to TRT for rest of my life, so I like to cycle off and get back all natural.

Anyways, that's why I was just going more the TRT route in my proposed plan just to support that race training and recovery, not really trying to truly PED the race if that makes sense.

That's good that you're donating, that will go a long way at thinning out your blood.

 

[texas.redneck]

lets go monday get bloods done @texas.redneck

I just got them done yesterday (friday). It was easiest on my training routine to go fasted because Monday morning I have a swim group that meets.

I just got Testosterone free and total, LH/FSH, CMP, and CBC. I was going to do the order through privatemd because I like they're men's hormone package better because for same price it had thyroid, IGF and some other stuff but it was a pain in ass to checkout because they didn't accept my zip code and also they only go to Quest and the quest near me are freaking packed all the time. I'm talking usually standing room and if you want to make an appointment a week out. We should get enough of the same markers to compare to where I was last July before I did that 3 month cycle last year.

I actually poked my head in the Quest just to see and it was standing room only so I placed the order through healthlabs.com, faxed order to Clinical Pathology labs, Walked downstairs in same building Quest is in to CLP, and got my blood drawn all that in the span of 20 minutes from checkout on healthlabs.com website.

 

[texas.redneck]

I think you should run some T-bol ahead of your iron man. Add it to your TRT. That will help and also if you can do maybe one or two IU's of growth hormone a day, that would be very optimal as well.

Is Anavar known for jacking with any kidney markers? I didn't think much of it on my last cycle when I saw my Creatine, efgr and BUN were high or abnormal because I've had labs not on a cycle where my creatine and efgr were abnormal. But those values did jump last fall compared to the precycle CMP. And Looking back it was after 4 weeks of anavar when I did the blood work.

 

[LevButlerov]

I just got them done yesterday (friday). It was easiest on my training routine to go fasted because Monday morning I have a swim group that meets.

I just got Testosterone free and total, LH/FSH, CMP, and CBC. I was going to do the order through privatemd because I like they're men's hormone package better because for same price it had thyroid, IGF and some other stuff but it was a pain in ass to checkout because they didn't accept my zip code and also they only go to Quest and the quest near me are freaking packed all the time. I'm talking usually standing room and if you want to make an appointment a week out. We should get enough of the same markers to compare to where I was last July before I did that 3 month cycle last year.

I actually poked my head in the Quest just to see and it was standing room only so I placed the order through healthlabs.com, faxed order to Clinical Pathology labs, Walked downstairs in same building Quest is in to CLP, and got my blood drawn all that in the span of 20 minutes from checkout on healthlabs.com website.

waiting to see the bloods

 

[ROIDDERS]

Is Anavar known for jacking with any kidney markers? I didn't think much of it on my last cycle when I saw my Creatine, efgr and BUN were high or abnormal because I've had labs not on a cycle where my creatine and efgr were abnormal. But those values did jump last fall compared to the precycle CMP. And Looking back it was after 4 weeks of anavar when I did the blood work.

any steroid can mess with kidneys

 

[texas.redneck]

I don't know what to make of these labs, except that my total testosterone must still be artificially high because I haven't been off Clomid long enough because it came back at 748 and it was 358 last July. My last testosterone injection was on 10/26/2025 and my last clomid was 12/20/2025 (so only ~6 weeks).

LH and FSH aren't back to where they were but they are not out of the standard ranges (screenshot below also):
*LH is 2.5 on 1/30/2026 compared to 5.6 on 7/28/2025
*FSH is 1.8 1/30/2026 compared to 2.5 on 7/25/2026.

I believe I'm comparing apples to apples as far as the ng/dl measurement scale. The 358 ng/dl on 7/25/2025 was the in-house results in 15 minutes at a Men's T clinic and the 748 ng/dl is the one I just did on 1/30/2026. I think the latter one is more accurate than the in-house but that doesn't account for 2x as much testosterone. I'm putting screenshots of both so you all can check me.


Here's the labs I did on 1/30/2026 (last Friday):

All my CBC and CMP was all back to standard ranges except for RDW was [H} 16.6 (range was 11.5-15.0%). Creatinine, efgr, and BUN all back to normal.


here is the labs the Men's Testosterone Clinic took in house back on 7/25/2025 before I did that cycle last year:

Here is the data side by side from before my August to October 2025 cycle (see the two July 2025 columns) and then after (see January 2026 column). Notice that my LH and FSH are not recovered as high as they were before but not flagging as abnormal as they are within the acceptable ranges:

Here's all my hormone related labs (you can tell when I'm on and off cycle). You can see even when I was 37 years old my testosterone was only 517. The April 2017 labs would have been 3.5 months off of a cycle, but I probably did Clomid for a month so 2.5 months off the Clomid PCT. July 2018 I probably took too close to when I stopped Clomid PCT to be accurate (~1 month of taking Clomid):

 

[texas.redneck]

waiting to see the bloods

See above post. meant to quote or @LevButlerov you.

 

[texas.redneck]

any steroid can mess with kidneys

well good news is creatinine, BUN and efgr all back to normal on these labs from 1/30/2026. I'm not entirely convinced the Anavar was even the culprit to jacking those up. I've traditionally not been the best at timing these when I'm not coming off intense training, or drinking a gallon of water before taking the labs. I wasn't doing anything too extreme in my week of workouts leading up to this CMP and I remembered to down a bunch of water the couple of hours leading up to these bloods. I also haven't been doing 250-300 grams of protein a day for last several months like I was on the labs these were high on.

 

[LevButlerov]

I don't know what to make of these labs, except that my total testosterone must still be artificially high because I haven't been off Clomid long enough because it came back at 748 and it was 358 last July. My last testosterone injection was on 10/26/2025 and my last clomid was 12/20/2025 (so only ~6 weeks).

LH and FSH aren't back to where they were but they are not out of the standard ranges (screenshot below also):
*LH is 2.5 on 1/30/2026 compared to 5.6 on 7/28/2025
*FSH is 1.8 1/30/2026 compared to 2.5 on 7/25/2026.

I believe I'm comparing apples to apples as far as the ng/dl measurement scale. The 358 ng/dl on 7/25/2025 was the in-house results in 15 minutes at a Men's T clinic and the 748 ng/dl is the one I just did on 1/30/2026. I think the latter one is more accurate than the in-house but that doesn't account for 2x as much testosterone. I'm putting screenshots of both so you all can check me.


Here's the labs I did on 1/30/2026 (last Friday):

View attachment 178104
View attachment 178109
View attachment 178110
All my CBC and CMP was all back to standard ranges except for RDW was [H} 16.6 (range was 11.5-15.0%). Creatinine, efgr, and BUN all back to normal.


here is the labs the Men's Testosterone Clinic took in house back on 7/25/2025 before I did that cycle last year:

View attachment 178103

Here is the data side by side from before my August to October 2025 cycle (see the two July 2025 columns) and then after (see January 2026 column). Notice that my LH and FSH are not recovered as high as they were before but not flagging as abnormal as they are within the acceptable ranges:
View attachment 178121

Here's all my hormone related labs (you can tell when I'm on and off cycle). You can see even when I was 37 years old my testosterone was only 517. The April 2017 labs would have been 3.5 months off of a cycle, but I probably did Clomid for a month so 2.5 months off the Clomid PCT. July 2018 I probably took too close to when I stopped Clomid PCT to be accurate (~1 month of taking Clomid):
View attachment 178106

well good news is creatinine, BUN and efgr all back to normal on these labs from 1/30/2026. I'm not entirely convinced the Anavar was even the culprit to jacking those up. I've traditionally not been the best at timing these when I'm not coming off intense training, or drinking a gallon of water before taking the labs. I wasn't doing anything too extreme in my week of workouts leading up to this CMP and I remembered to down a bunch of water the couple of hours leading up to these bloods. I also haven't been doing 250-300 grams of protein a day for last several months like I was on the labs these were high on.

View attachment 178147

Looking at your bloods now I would redo a mini pct imo @texas.redneck
5 caps HCGenerate ed https://www.needtobuildmuscle.com/pct/hcgenerate-n2generate/
10mgs tamoxifen ed
4 weeks

 

[texas.redneck]

Looking at your bloods now I would redo a mini pct imo @texas.redneck
5 caps HCGenerate ed https://www.needtobuildmuscle.com/pct/hcgenerate-n2generate/
10mgs tamoxifen ed
4 weeks

Can you share your thought process? Are we still concerned that LH and FSH didn't get back to where they were last July? And you are thinking straight tamoxifen not even Clomid?

What was your thoughts on why that total testosterone number is the highest it's ever been when I'm not on a cycle?

EDIT: and lastly, I'm assuming these results are telling me don't get back on testosterone yet unless I want to commit to TRT fully.... Stick to the original plan of doing another Cycle in April...

 

[texas.redneck]

Looking at your bloods now I would redo a mini pct imo @texas.redneck
5 caps HCGenerate ed https://www.needtobuildmuscle.com/pct/hcgenerate-n2generate/
10mgs tamoxifen ed
4 weeks

Do you think this is the equivalent of clinical pathologies bioavailable? Because then my total testosterone numbers are literally exactly 358 in July 2025 and last week. Here's another screen shot and I put reference ranges on this one to compare

Do you think that's comparable to this line item not the top total testosterone? The above does clearly say "total testosterone" not bioavailable.

 

[stevesmi]

I don't know what to make of these labs, except that my total testosterone must still be artificially high because I haven't been off Clomid long enough because it came back at 748 and it was 358 last July. My last testosterone injection was on 10/26/2025 and my last clomid was 12/20/2025 (so only ~6 weeks).

LH and FSH aren't back to where they were but they are not out of the standard ranges (screenshot below also):
*LH is 2.5 on 1/30/2026 compared to 5.6 on 7/28/2025
*FSH is 1.8 1/30/2026 compared to 2.5 on 7/25/2026.

I believe I'm comparing apples to apples as far as the ng/dl measurement scale. The 358 ng/dl on 7/25/2025 was the in-house results in 15 minutes at a Men's T clinic and the 748 ng/dl is the one I just did on 1/30/2026. I think the latter one is more accurate than the in-house but that doesn't account for 2x as much testosterone. I'm putting screenshots of both so you all can check me.


Here's the labs I did on 1/30/2026 (last Friday):

View attachment 178104
View attachment 178109
View attachment 178110
All my CBC and CMP was all back to standard ranges except for RDW was [H} 16.6 (range was 11.5-15.0%). Creatinine, efgr, and BUN all back to normal.


here is the labs the Men's Testosterone Clinic took in house back on 7/25/2025 before I did that cycle last year:

View attachment 178103

Here is the data side by side from before my August to October 2025 cycle (see the two July 2025 columns) and then after (see January 2026 column). Notice that my LH and FSH are not recovered as high as they were before but not flagging as abnormal as they are within the acceptable ranges:
View attachment 178121

Here's all my hormone related labs (you can tell when I'm on and off cycle). You can see even when I was 37 years old my testosterone was only 517. The April 2017 labs would have been 3.5 months off of a cycle, but I probably did Clomid for a month so 2.5 months off the Clomid PCT. July 2018 I probably took too close to when I stopped Clomid PCT to be accurate (~1 month of taking Clomid):
View attachment 178106

once FSH starts bouncing it will help LH bounce harder. give it more time. clomid should also be boosting lh and fsh. are you using hcg? cause if you are that will cause lh and fsh to lag too

 

[texas.redneck]

once FSH starts bouncing it will help LH bounce harder. give it more time. clomid should also be boosting lh and fsh. are you using hcg? cause if you are that will cause lh and fsh to lag too

I’m not on anything right now. I’ve been off Clomid and tamoxifen since 12/20/2025 ~6 weeks.

 

[stevesmi]

I’m not on anything right now. I’ve been off Clomid and tamoxifen since 12/20/2025 ~6 weeks.

so when you came off the clomid and nolva your lh and fsh would have taken a step back which is normal. now it has to rebound. your body has to rebound from here.

 

[texas.redneck]

so when you came off the clomid and nolva your lh and fsh would have taken a step back which is normal. now it has to rebound. your body has to rebound from here.

Yeah, what I’m leaning towards is these labs confirm my PCT worked but I just need to give everything more time. So to the point of this entire thread, which was asking if it was too soon to get back on testosterone to get a little kick for the half Ironman training, I think the labs are saying it’s too soon unless I plan to fully commit to TRT. But nothing is really broken right now. Edit: Is that right thinking?

 

[LevButlerov]

Do you think this is the equivalent of clinical pathologies bioavailable? Because then my total testosterone numbers are literally exactly 358 in July 2025 and last week. Here's another screen shot and I put reference ranges on this one to compare
View attachment 178175
View attachment 178179

Do you think that's comparable to this line item not the top total testosterone? The above does clearly say "total testosterone" not bioavailable.

View attachment 178178

it's possible this is the level you get to naturally, everyone has an equilibrium, maybe 357-358 your range @texas.redneck but I would still use some test boosters

 

[Mobster]

Can you share your thought process? Are we still concerned that LH and FSH didn't get back to where they were last July? And you are thinking straight tamoxifen not even Clomid?

What was your thoughts on why that total testosterone number is the highest it's ever been when I'm not on a cycle?

EDIT: and lastly, I'm assuming these results are telling me don't get back on testosterone yet unless I want to commit to TRT fully.... Stick to the original plan of doing another Cycle in April...

I'd agree with this. It appears that, even with the lower number (which is barely below the bottom line area of 350) you're ok. It'd hope, of course, that the high later number is the one you feel better on

 

[stevesmi]

Yeah, what I’m leaning towards is these labs confirm my PCT worked but I just need to give everything more time. So to the point of this entire thread, which was asking if it was too soon to get back on testosterone to get a little kick for the half Ironman training, I think the labs are saying it’s too soon unless I plan to fully commit to TRT. But nothing is really broken right now. Edit: Is that right thinking?

i mean over time as you get older your HPTA might not recover. luckily you can do TRT.

as far as the ironman i mean it wouldn't be good to go into it with low T

 

[ceo]

Bros, I wouldn't worry about it. Your levels may not bounce back and if they don't just do TRT as the guy said above.

 

[Ulter]

well good news is creatinine, BUN and efgr all back to normal on these labs from 1/30/2026. I'm not entirely convinced the Anavar was even the culprit to jacking those up. I've traditionally not been the best at timing these when I'm not coming off intense training, or drinking a gallon of water before taking the labs. I wasn't doing anything too extreme in my week of workouts leading up to this CMP and I remembered to down a bunch of water the couple of hours leading up to these bloods. I also haven't been doing 250-300 grams of protein a day for last several months like I was on the labs these were high on.

View attachment 178147

At the end of the day the bloodwork does not lie so you have to understand the how and the why and then from there you can do it. I can remember my first couple cycles. I got my blood work down and I was freaked out afterwards. My test was so low.

 

[texas.redneck]

I'd agree with this. It appears that, even with the lower number (which is barely below the bottom line area of 350) you're ok. It'd hope, of course, that the high later number is the one you feel better on

i mean over time as you get older your HPTA might not recover. luckily you can do TRT.

as far as the ironman i mean it wouldn't be good to go into it with low T

Bros, I wouldn't worry about it. Your levels may not bounce back and if they don't just do TRT as the guy said above.

At the end of the day the bloodwork does not lie so you have to understand the how and the why and then from there you can do it. I can remember my first couple cycles. I got my blood work down and I was freaked out afterwards. My test was so low.

I still feel like I’m missing something important here because everyone is talking at me as if I should be concerned. My total testosterone just came back at 748, the highest it’s ever been in the 9 years since my first testosterone lab. What am I missing?

Is it that concerning that LH and FSH levels aren’t back to where they were in July, even though they aren’t low either (at least per the standard reference ranges)?

 

[Ulter]

I still feel like I’m missing something important here because everyone is talking at me as if I should be concerned. My total testosterone just came back at 748, the highest it’s ever been in the 9 years since my first testosterone lab. What am I missing?

Is it that concerning that LH and FSH levels aren’t back to where they were in July, even though they aren’t low either (at least per the standard reference ranges)?

as your LH and FSH rise back your total test will drop a little bit. so where it settles is important. It's not that you should be concerned; it's that you're not fully recovered yet.

 

[texas.redneck]

as your LH and FSH rise back your total test will drop a little bit. so where it settles is important. It's not that you should be concerned; it's that you're not fully recovered yet.

Right. So I feel like I am tracking where I should be for someone that just finished PCT 6 weeks ago. LH and FSH are turned back on and likely will tick up some and total T will settle back down to where it was. Do labs again in another 4-6 weeks and see how everything is tracking.

 

[Ulter]

Right. So I feel like I am tracking where I should be for someone that just finished PCT 6 weeks ago. LH and FSH are turned back on and likely will tick up some and total T will settle back down to where it was. Do labs again in another 4-6 weeks and see how everything is tracking.

I would agree with that assessment.

 

[texas.redneck]

I would agree with that assessment.

And it was good I checked labs before making a knee jerk reaction to jump back into testosterone just because I’m mentally struggling getting prepared for the race I signed up for in March.

 

[ROIDDERS]

And it was good I checked labs before making a knee jerk reaction to jump back into testosterone just because I’m mentally struggling getting prepared for the race I signed up for in March.

This is one of the reasons why it's important to have a log because sometimes it's easy to confuse us into thinking something when that's not what you mean.

 

[ROIDDERS]

your FSH can be one of the last things to bounce. so wait till it bounces to run your next stack

 

[2Thick]

In my opinion you will be fine. Just take your time and recover properly. That will give you the best chance to avoid TRT as long as possible.

 

[stevesmi]

I still feel like I’m missing something important here because everyone is talking at me as if I should be concerned. My total testosterone just came back at 748, the highest it’s ever been in the 9 years since my first testosterone lab. What am I missing?

Is it that concerning that LH and FSH levels aren’t back to where they were in July, even though they aren’t low either (at least per the standard reference ranges)?

so your LH and FSH tell you the health of your pituitary glands. if it is lagging your total test it means your leydig cells are functioning well but the pit glands are struggling. when its the opposite and LH and FSH are high but test levels are low that tells you the leydig cells are the ones struggling
optimally you want BOTH humming strong

 

[Ulter]

And it was good I checked labs before making a knee jerk reaction to jump back into testosterone just because I’m mentally struggling getting prepared for the race I signed up for in March.

Definitely man, it's a good idea to go into the race when you are balanced.

 

[ceo]

I still feel like I’m missing something important here because everyone is talking at me as if I should be concerned. My total testosterone just came back at 748, the highest it’s ever been in the 9 years since my first testosterone lab. What am I missing?

Is it that concerning that LH and FSH levels aren’t back to where they were in July, even though they aren’t low either (at least per the standard reference ranges)?

Bros, no way you should be concerned. We just want to see your levels back to where they should be.

 

[ballin2504]

Looking at your bloods now I would redo a mini pct imo @texas.redneck
5 caps HCGenerate ed https://www.needtobuildmuscle.com/pct/hcgenerate-n2generate/
10mgs tamoxifen ed
4 weeks

I agree with lev on this one

 

[texas.redneck]

I did not do a mini pct or anything else but waited another 8 weeks and did labs again.

As of this blood draw it's 14 weeks since I stopped my clomid/tamoxifen PCT and 21 weeks since my last testosterone injection. LH still hasn't quite got back to where it was (inside reference interval still), test is still near all time highs, and FSH almost doubled in last 8 weeks (1.8 to 3).

I'm stumped if my endocrine is back to normal or not. The high levels of testosterone are throwing me off. It's possible I'm just healthier than I've ever been as far as stress, sleep, diet and exercise and maybe I'm just higher than before. It's also possible the Men's T clinic gave me some bull shit low result last July to get me on testosterone because they clocked me at 358 total testosterone and it was their in-house 20 minute lab result.

Also my creatinine and efgr were all fine again. Creatine high by Quest labs reference interval but would have been in range at CPL.

Quick recap:
The context of the above is that I did a 300-400/mg test cycle for about 13 weeks from August 2025 to October 2025. The above is in reference to my labs after that cycle and related PCT and also some discussion of my next cycle earlier in the thread. I've been comparing my test levels, LH and FSH back to some labs I had done before that cycle.

 

[LevButlerov]

I did not do a mini pct or anything else but waited another 8 weeks and did labs again.

As of this blood draw it's 14 weeks since I stopped my clomid/tamoxifen PCT and 21 weeks since my last testosterone injection. LH still hasn't quite got back to where it was (inside reference interval still), test is still near all time highs, and FSH almost doubled in last 8 weeks (1.8 to 3).

I'm stumped if my endocrine is back to normal or not. The high levels of testosterone are throwing me off. It's possible I'm just healthier than I've ever been as far as stress, sleep, diet and exercise and maybe I'm just higher than before. It's also possible the Men's T clinic gave me some bull shit low result last July to get me on testosterone because they clocked me at 358 total testosterone and it was their in-house 20 minute lab result.




View attachment 208190


Also my creatinine and efgr were all fine again. Creatine high by Quest labs reference interval but would have been in range at CPL.

Quick recap:
The context of the above is that I did a 300-400/mg test cycle for about 13 weeks from August 2025 to October 2025. The above is in reference to my labs after that cycle and related PCT and also some discussion of my next cycle earlier in the thread. I've been comparing my test levels, LH and FSH back to some labs I had done before that cycle.

your free test is high but i'm surprised at these numbers, tbh i'm more and more doubtful of blood work these days I'm not saying it in public but here I said it, I'm doubting USA labs now @texas.redneck with the kind of individuals hired I think many things are being mistaken
i'm sure 99.9% sure if you went to 3 labs you'd get 3 different results, i've had clients do this its nuts now

 

[Mobster]

It might be an idea to re-test in 6-8 more weeks

 

[stevesmi]

I did not do a mini pct or anything else but waited another 8 weeks and did labs again.

As of this blood draw it's 14 weeks since I stopped my clomid/tamoxifen PCT and 21 weeks since my last testosterone injection. LH still hasn't quite got back to where it was (inside reference interval still), test is still near all time highs, and FSH almost doubled in last 8 weeks (1.8 to 3).

I'm stumped if my endocrine is back to normal or not. The high levels of testosterone are throwing me off. It's possible I'm just healthier than I've ever been as far as stress, sleep, diet and exercise and maybe I'm just higher than before. It's also possible the Men's T clinic gave me some bull shit low result last July to get me on testosterone because they clocked me at 358 total testosterone and it was their in-house 20 minute lab result.




View attachment 208190


Also my creatinine and efgr were all fine again. Creatine high by Quest labs reference interval but would have been in range at CPL.

Quick recap:
The context of the above is that I did a 300-400/mg test cycle for about 13 weeks from August 2025 to October 2025. The above is in reference to my labs after that cycle and related PCT and also some discussion of my next cycle earlier in the thread. I've been comparing my test levels, LH and FSH back to some labs I had done before that cycle.

@texas.redneck you're fighting age and you're fighting the damage you do every time you run a cycle but overall I'd say your numbers are really good. It can take a little while longer for things like LH and FSH to fully bounce back.

 

[ceo]

I did not do a mini pct or anything else but waited another 8 weeks and did labs again.

As of this blood draw it's 14 weeks since I stopped my clomid/tamoxifen PCT and 21 weeks since my last testosterone injection. LH still hasn't quite got back to where it was (inside reference interval still), test is still near all time highs, and FSH almost doubled in last 8 weeks (1.8 to 3).

I'm stumped if my endocrine is back to normal or not. The high levels of testosterone are throwing me off. It's possible I'm just healthier than I've ever been as far as stress, sleep, diet and exercise and maybe I'm just higher than before. It's also possible the Men's T clinic gave me some bull shit low result last July to get me on testosterone because they clocked me at 358 total testosterone and it was their in-house 20 minute lab result.




View attachment 208190


Also my creatinine and efgr were all fine again. Creatine high by Quest labs reference interval but would have been in range at CPL.

Quick recap:
The context of the above is that I did a 300-400/mg test cycle for about 13 weeks from August 2025 to October 2025. The above is in reference to my labs after that cycle and related PCT and also some discussion of my next cycle earlier in the thread. I've been comparing my test levels, LH and FSH back to some labs I had done before that cycle.

bros the SERMs gonna elevate numbers if they still in system. Once they are out of the system, the body will pick up from there.

 

[Ulter]

I did not do a mini pct or anything else but waited another 8 weeks and did labs again.

As of this blood draw it's 14 weeks since I stopped my clomid/tamoxifen PCT and 21 weeks since my last testosterone injection. LH still hasn't quite got back to where it was (inside reference interval still), test is still near all time highs, and FSH almost doubled in last 8 weeks (1.8 to 3).

I'm stumped if my endocrine is back to normal or not. The high levels of testosterone are throwing me off. It's possible I'm just healthier than I've ever been as far as stress, sleep, diet and exercise and maybe I'm just higher than before. It's also possible the Men's T clinic gave me some bull shit low result last July to get me on testosterone because they clocked me at 358 total testosterone and it was their in-house 20 minute lab result.




View attachment 208190


Also my creatinine and efgr were all fine again. Creatine high by Quest labs reference interval but would have been in range at CPL.

Quick recap:
The context of the above is that I did a 300-400/mg test cycle for about 13 weeks from August 2025 to October 2025. The above is in reference to my labs after that cycle and related PCT and also some discussion of my next cycle earlier in the thread. I've been comparing my test levels, LH and FSH back to some labs I had done before that cycle.

Your numbers may not ever get back to where they were before, especially as you get older, so it's important to realize that and accept it.

 

[ROIDDERS]

I did not do a mini pct or anything else but waited another 8 weeks and did labs again.

As of this blood draw it's 14 weeks since I stopped my clomid/tamoxifen PCT and 21 weeks since my last testosterone injection. LH still hasn't quite got back to where it was (inside reference interval still), test is still near all time highs, and FSH almost doubled in last 8 weeks (1.8 to 3).

I'm stumped if my endocrine is back to normal or not. The high levels of testosterone are throwing me off. It's possible I'm just healthier than I've ever been as far as stress, sleep, diet and exercise and maybe I'm just higher than before. It's also possible the Men's T clinic gave me some bull shit low result last July to get me on testosterone because they clocked me at 358 total testosterone and it was their in-house 20 minute lab result.




View attachment 208190


Also my creatinine and efgr were all fine again. Creatine high by Quest labs reference interval but would have been in range at CPL.

Quick recap:
The context of the above is that I did a 300-400/mg test cycle for about 13 weeks from August 2025 to October 2025. The above is in reference to my labs after that cycle and related PCT and also some discussion of my next cycle earlier in the thread. I've been comparing my test levels, LH and FSH back to some labs I had done before that cycle.

@texas.redneck not all situations are the same. Sometimes you'll notice things recover differently. A lot of that has to do with the way our bodies constantly are changing.

 

[texas.redneck]

bros the SERMs gonna elevate numbers if they still in system. Once they are out of the system, the body will pick up from there.

You don't think 14 weeks is enough time to clear SERMS from my system that my body is operating naturally yet? I guess that's the real question.

at any rate. my last cycle was 21 weeks from first injection to last SERM so instead of starting this next cycle this month I'm going to go ahead and follow the bro science and wait the full 21 weeks and not start till May. It works out good anyways because I'll be on gear mid may into august so covers the whole summer.

The only hiccup is I have a trip to Canada planned right in the middle of that time period for maybe up to a week (probably end up being ~6 days). Is customs going into canada going to give me problems if I preload my testosterone syringes and check them in bags? Or should I just take a bigger shot the morning I leave and on the day I come back and just not worry about packing syringes and crap.

The shot schedule I will be following is three times a week Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday. Three times because it's primo 100mg/ml and I don't want to be taking a bunch of cc each time. So when I go on this trip, let's say I leave Saturday and return saturday. Do I just for that particular week divide my three shots into two shots and just take it saturday when I leave and saturday when I get back, then go back to normal schedule.

Or any other suggestions.

 

[texas.redneck]

your free test is high but i'm surprised at these numbers, tbh i'm more and more doubtful of blood work these days I'm not saying it in public but here I said it, I'm doubting USA labs now @texas.redneck with the kind of individuals hired I think many things are being mistaken
i'm sure 99.9% sure if you went to 3 labs you'd get 3 different results, i've had clients do this its nuts now

yeah something still doesn't smell right. I also think these T centers play games. Like they like to get the free test numbers from the labs that do the reference intervals from 6.8 to 21.5 because a 10.1 on that range sounds terrible but it's really a ~62'ish on the 35 to 155 reference interval which doesn't seem that bad. I think the T centers play games with that shit. So I'm really doubting that original baseline total test number of 358 I got from them. I bet I was higher than that and so now that i'm coming in in 600s it's making it look crazy high when, say for example, I may have been 450 back then. .

 

[texas.redneck]

@texas.redneck you're fighting age and you're fighting the damage you do every time you run a cycle but overall I'd say your numbers are really good. It can take a little while longer for things like LH and FSH to fully bounce back.

That's why I don't get why Total T and Free T are still holding so strong 14 weeks off SERMS now. I was expecting those to be back closer to where they were. I do think these labs are all whacked out like Lev and me were talking about above.

 

[stevesmi]

That's why I don't get why Total T and Free T are still holding so strong 14 weeks off SERMS now. I was expecting those to be back closer to where they were. I do think these labs are all whacked out like Lev and me were talking about above.

as your pituitary glands and leydig cells balance out so will those numbers. a high LH and FSH isn't good either, it would mean that your leydig cells are cooked

 

[LevButlerov]

yeah something still doesn't smell right. I also think these T centers play games. Like they like to get the free test numbers from the labs that do the reference intervals from 6.8 to 21.5 because a 10.1 on that range sounds terrible but it's really a ~62'ish on the 35 to 155 reference interval which doesn't seem that bad. I think the T centers play games with that shit. So I'm really doubting that original baseline total test number of 358 I got from them. I bet I was higher than that and so now that i'm coming in in 600s it's making it look crazy high when, say for example, I may have been 450 back then. .

I dont trust labs these days like its a game now but i think you might be close and recovered for the most part @texas.redneck
are you ready to jump back on?

 

[ceo]

You don't think 14 weeks is enough time to clear SERMS from my system that my body is operating naturally yet? I guess that's the real question.

at any rate. my last cycle was 21 weeks from first injection to last SERM so instead of starting this next cycle this month I'm going to go ahead and follow the bro science and wait the full 21 weeks and not start till May. It works out good anyways because I'll be on gear mid may into august so covers the whole summer.

The only hiccup is I have a trip to Canada planned right in the middle of that time period for maybe up to a week (probably end up being ~6 days). Is customs going into canada going to give me problems if I preload my testosterone syringes and check them in bags? Or should I just take a bigger shot the morning I leave and on the day I come back and just not worry about packing syringes and crap.

The shot schedule I will be following is three times a week Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday. Three times because it's primo 100mg/ml and I don't want to be taking a bunch of cc each time. So when I go on this trip, let's say I leave Saturday and return saturday. Do I just for that particular week divide my three shots into two shots and just take it saturday when I leave and saturday when I get back, then go back to normal schedule.

Or any other suggestions.

Bros, that's a tough question you are asking for sure. I know for me I'm not gonna take any chances. I'm a big black dude; they are going to find any reason to arrest me.