21 - 4 Years lifting looking into GH peptides/reta/possible first cycle

[cX1s]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on evolutionary, so please let me know if I'm doing anything wrong post-wise.

21yo uni student looking into starting on some peptides (possibly a first cycle in the future as well) just looking for some advice. Currently 185lbs bw (cutting from ~195 down to 175 ish atm), with 4-5 years of lifting experience.

I've done a decent bit of reading into gh-boosting peptides, and am currently looking into starting CJC-1295 & Ipamorelin, possibly with a very small dose of reta as well. However, I've seen quite a few threads on here where people recommend straight HGH over these two.

Due to being a uni student I can likely only afford 2-3 compounds at a time, unless I'm able to find a cheaper source (Canadian too, so sources seem much more limited)

Any advice would be hugely appreciated!!

 

[waggat]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on evolutionary, so please let me know if I'm doing anything wrong post-wise.

21yo uni student looking into starting on some peptides (possibly a first cycle in the future as well) just looking for some advice. Currently 185lbs bw (cutting from ~195 down to 175 ish atm), with 4-5 years of lifting experience.

I've done a decent bit of reading into gh-boosting peptides, and am currently looking into starting CJC-1295 & Ipamorelin, possibly with a very small dose of reta as well. However, I've seen quite a few threads on here where people recommend straight HGH over these two.

Due to being a uni student I can likely only afford 2-3 compounds at a time, unless I'm able to find a cheaper source (Canadian too, so sources seem much more limited)

Any advice would be hugely appreciated!!

Hey mate, welcome to Evo.

You look really good, particularly for only 21. Good amount of muscle and lean.

What is your goal? If it's to pack on as much muscle as possible, I find most people self sabotage by also wanting to be lean.

Everyone is going to want more information before they can provide recommendations. The big one is probably diet. How consistent are you with that? Can you give macros and a typical day of food.

 

[cX1s]

Hey mate, welcome to Evo.

You look really good, particularly for only 21. Good amount of muscle and lean.

What is your goal? If it's to pack on as much muscle as possible, I find most people self sabotage by also wanting to be lean.

Everyone is going to want more information before they can provide recommendations. The big one is probably diet. How consistent are you with that? Can you give macros and a typical day of food.

Thank you!!

As of now, my main goal is putting on muscle - I bulked up to about 195 in the fall and want to cut down to give myself a lean-ish starting point for my next bulk, especially if I'm going to start experimenting with some research chems/compounds. Over the foreseeable future, I'd love to see 10-15lbs more lean mass at a similar bodyfat % (estimating myself around 16-18% atm).

As a side goal, I'm currently chasing a 405lb squat, but definitely a side goal to bodybuilding (have 315 bench, would love 315/405/495).

For diet, I'm using the RP diet coach app, and it has me at around 2700 cals on rest days, 3000 on lifting days (lifting 5 days/week, PPL + Upper/Lower split), and I'm consistently hitting 8-12k steps per day.

As a side note, I'm in a fraternity so heavily surrounded by drinking/party culture. I've quit nicotine recently-ish and heavily brought down the drinking in the last few months (<5/week atm and plan to bring this down to zero or near-zero), with the intention of pursuing lifting much more seriously.

Standard day of eating (5 meals) might look something like:

195P/95F/~250C

8:30am: ~600cal, 45P/30F/40C

3 eggs
2 slices protein toast
15g pb
bit of milk w coffee


11:30am ~650cal 40P/25F/65C

165g lean ground beef
350g potato (baked)
100g onion/bell pepper mix


2:30pm (pre-lift) ~320cal 30P/5F/40C

Fairlife protein shake
2 rice krispies


6pm ~650cal 40P/25F/65C

165g lean ground beef
350g potato (baked)
100g onion/bell pepper mix

9pm 600 cal 40P/??F/??C

whatever healthy-ish snacks I have on hand, either protein ice cream + protein shake, this one heavily depends.

 

[R.AP]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on evolutionary, so please let me know if I'm doing anything wrong post-wise.

21yo uni student looking into starting on some peptides (possibly a first cycle in the future as well) just looking for some advice. Currently 185lbs bw (cutting from ~195 down to 175 ish atm), with 4-5 years of lifting experience.

I've done a decent bit of reading into gh-boosting peptides, and am currently looking into starting CJC-1295 & Ipamorelin, possibly with a very small dose of reta as well. However, I've seen quite a few threads on here where people recommend straight HGH over these two.

Due to being a uni student I can likely only afford 2-3 compounds at a time, unless I'm able to find a cheaper source (Canadian too, so sources seem much more limited)

Any advice would be hugely appreciated!!

Test and GH brother. You're going to spend the money on compounds to boost your GH, then you might as well spend money on GH. Keep your cycle design bio-identical and get help from a coach to ensure your nutrition and training are absolutely dialed in.


You've an awesome physique bro, and are still young! Keep cycle design simple and health-oriented.

 

[Nasser1997o2]

I’ll be honest bro, those growth hormone releasing peptides, in my opinion, do fuck all.

Plus you’re young so your natural hgh levels will be excellent already.

I would normally NEVER recommend steroids to someone so young.

But you have a great physique and clearly know what you’re doing.

A $65 bottle of test is going to blow the ass out of any peptide at any dose.

A first cycle of 250mg test for 10 weeks is going to be more than enough to dramatically enhance your physique.

You probably won’t even need an AI being so lean.

 

[Dreamer]

I will come from the other side, at 21 I dont think you should yet be going down this path, look at what you have achieved so far natty, your last comment aswell around living in a drinking culture and cutting down - these things dont co exist, you need to pick a poison.

Your body, your choice, I think a few more years of maturing and getting your natty gains in, and honing your discipline will be the best way forward.

That said - if its going to be anything, I agree Test and GH

 

[LevButlerov]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on evolutionary, so please let me know if I'm doing anything wrong post-wise.

21yo uni student looking into starting on some peptides (possibly a first cycle in the future as well) just looking for some advice. Currently 185lbs bw (cutting from ~195 down to 175 ish atm), with 4-5 years of lifting experience.

I've done a decent bit of reading into gh-boosting peptides, and am currently looking into starting CJC-1295 & Ipamorelin, possibly with a very small dose of reta as well. However, I've seen quite a few threads on here where people recommend straight HGH over these two.

Due to being a uni student I can likely only afford 2-3 compounds at a time, unless I'm able to find a cheaper source (Canadian too, so sources seem much more limited)

Any advice would be hugely appreciated!!

welcome to the EVO family @cX1s you're really young but you look ripped.
To start off, why do you want to do hgh or retatrutide? you're already lean and if we talk any other peptides we need to first get a log from you up.
We can’t help you properly without a log because right now we don’t know your day to day training, calories, sleep, recovery, or how you’re actually cutting.
Post a proper training and diet log ASAP with bodyweight, macros, lifts, cardio, and sleep and the EVO family can guide you on peptides or HGH instead of guessing. 15min of your time to start.

HOW-TO LOG?

Why is a Log Journal important?

• Doing a log will actually help you way more than just dropping random updates. When you lay it all out week by week you start to see patterns in your body that you won’t catch otherwise.
• Other guys here run logs all the time and there’s no privacy issue, nobody is asking for your name or anything personal, it is just training, diet, and how the compound feels.
• The feedback you get is also way better because people can follow along and spot things you might miss. It also helps the next guy who is thinking about running the same compound so you are giving back while you learn.
• Even if you think you might not stick with it, just starting the log makes it easier to come back and add quick notes. That way you get more out of what you are running instead of keeping it all in your head.

To really guide you we need more info from you:

• Please share your diet, training, cardio, sleep, supplements etc log with us in a NEW thread, full log journal so our guidance is based on facts you provide.
• It will take 15-20 minutes max.
• We have 100s of years of experience between us, so you need to post a LOG Journal with your stats (weight,height,age, years training, cycle history) diet, training, cardio, supplement, sleep details. If you don't log what you eat or train now, open NOTES on phone and start recording it there and paste here. Very easy.
• Please post a Log Journal asap for us

Please click the anabolic forum
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/forums/anabolic-steroids-and-peds.2/
top RIGHT, you see: +POST THREAD
click that

in Title: write your cycle name, like> My _____ Cycle Log
___ = the name of your log
example: My Training Nutrition Lifestyle Log
in body: write your planned cycle or cycle you doing now, your diet, training and we will help you along on your cycle

here are examples of LOG Journals
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/first-testosterone-cycle-log.104133/
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/sustanon-trenomast-deca-dbol-cycle-journal.105881/
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/s-gentz-2025-26-growth-phase-log-with-psl.106514/
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums...var-bpc157-beligas-pharmaqo-cycle-log.104843/
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums...g-log-sponsored-by-purity-source-labs.103669/
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums...erone-cycle-and-beginner-training-log.106310/
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/average-trt-back-to-savage-cycle-journal.106252
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums...-testosterone-masteron-primobolan-deca.105348
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums...odybuilding-log-masters-55-competitor.102611/
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums...ron-npp-tren-anadrol-log-to-stage-2025.102590

P.S. are you listening to our podcast? if not, you should; this podcast is about steroids, sarms, peptides, and bodybuilding:
https://www.evolutionary.org/podcasts/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolutionary-bodybuilding-radio/id1798623410
https://open.spotify.com/show/53q1RFTgG4h6TQHsJ4xY6Z

P.P.S. download our eBooks and learn more:
https://irongorillas.com

 

[stevesmi]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on evolutionary, so please let me know if I'm doing anything wrong post-wise.

21yo uni student looking into starting on some peptides (possibly a first cycle in the future as well) just looking for some advice. Currently 185lbs bw (cutting from ~195 down to 175 ish atm), with 4-5 years of lifting experience.

I've done a decent bit of reading into gh-boosting peptides, and am currently looking into starting CJC-1295 & Ipamorelin, possibly with a very small dose of reta as well. However, I've seen quite a few threads on here where people recommend straight HGH over these two.

Due to being a uni student I can likely only afford 2-3 compounds at a time, unless I'm able to find a cheaper source (Canadian too, so sources seem much more limited)

Any advice would be hugely appreciated!!

Hopping on some growth peptides is really not going to do much for you except boost your appetite and give you more sleep. If that's what you're aiming for then you can do it. Just keep in mind you may not get a lot of value out of it versus focusing more on eating a better diet.

 

[cX1s]

welcome to the EVO family @cX1s you're really young but you look ripped.
To start off, why do you want to do hgh or retatrutide? you're already lean and if we talk any other peptides we need to first get a log from you up.
We can’t help you properly without a log because right now we don’t know your day to day training, calories, sleep, recovery, or how you’re actually cutting.
Post a proper training and diet log ASAP with bodyweight, macros, lifts, cardio, and sleep and the EVO family can guide you on peptides or HGH instead of guessing. 15min of your time to start.

HOW-TO LOG?

Why is a Log Journal important?

• Doing a log will actually help you way more than just dropping random updates. When you lay it all out week by week you start to see patterns in your body that you won’t catch otherwise.
• Other guys here run logs all the time and there’s no privacy issue, nobody is asking for your name or anything personal, it is just training, diet, and how the compound feels.
• The feedback you get is also way better because people can follow along and spot things you might miss. It also helps the next guy who is thinking about running the same compound so you are giving back while you learn.
• Even if you think you might not stick with it, just starting the log makes it easier to come back and add quick notes. That way you get more out of what you are running instead of keeping it all in your head.

To really guide you we need more info from you:

• Please share your diet, training, cardio, sleep, supplements etc log with us in a NEW thread, full log journal so our guidance is based on facts you provide.
• It will take 15-20 minutes max.
• We have 100s of years of experience between us, so you need to post a LOG Journal with your stats (weight,height,age, years training, cycle history) diet, training, cardio, supplement, sleep details. If you don't log what you eat or train now, open NOTES on phone and start recording it there and paste here. Very easy.
• Please post a Log Journal asap for us

Please click the anabolic forum
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/forums/anabolic-steroids-and-peds.2/
top RIGHT, you see: +POST THREAD
click that

in Title: write your cycle name, like> My _____ Cycle Log
___ = the name of your log
example: My Training Nutrition Lifestyle Log
in body: write your planned cycle or cycle you doing now, your diet, training and we will help you along on your cycle

here are examples of LOG Journals
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/first-testosterone-cycle-log.104133/
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/sustanon-trenomast-deca-dbol-cycle-journal.105881/
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/s-gentz-2025-26-growth-phase-log-with-psl.106514/
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums...var-bpc157-beligas-pharmaqo-cycle-log.104843/
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums...g-log-sponsored-by-purity-source-labs.103669/
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums...erone-cycle-and-beginner-training-log.106310/
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/average-trt-back-to-savage-cycle-journal.106252
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums...-testosterone-masteron-primobolan-deca.105348
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums...odybuilding-log-masters-55-competitor.102611/
https://www.evolutionary.org/forums...ron-npp-tren-anadrol-log-to-stage-2025.102590

P.S. are you listening to our podcast? if not, you should; this podcast is about steroids, sarms, peptides, and bodybuilding:
https://www.evolutionary.org/podcasts/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolutionary-bodybuilding-radio/id1798623410
https://open.spotify.com/show/53q1RFTgG4h6TQHsJ4xY6Z

P.P.S. download our eBooks and learn more:
https://irongorillas.com

Started a log here: https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/cx1s-natural-cut-log.108820/

I've been looking into Hgh/peptides for both the enhancement and recovery perspectives, since I've been lifting consistently for quite a while and it has become incredibly important to me, hence why I'm looking at stepping things up a little. As for reta, I've heard a lot of good things in terms of making cuts easier, as well as a lot of other benefits with seemingly not-too-worrisome side effects. This being said, I'm looking for advice, hence why I came to EVO, so super eager to listen & learn.

 

[LevButlerov]

Started a log here: https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/cx1s-natural-cut-log.108820/

I've been looking into Hgh/peptides for both the enhancement and recovery perspectives, since I've been lifting consistently for quite a while and it has become incredibly important to me, hence why I'm looking at stepping things up a little. As for reta, I've heard a lot of good things in terms of making cuts easier, as well as a lot of other benefits with seemingly not-too-worrisome side effects. This being said, I'm looking for advice, hence why I came to EVO, so super eager to listen & learn.

In my mod que will check within 24 hours

 

[Mobster]

Check out our approved Canadian sources inc Nordic and @pur-pharma-canada

 

[ceo]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on evolutionary, so please let me know if I'm doing anything wrong post-wise.

21yo uni student looking into starting on some peptides (possibly a first cycle in the future as well) just looking for some advice. Currently 185lbs bw (cutting from ~195 down to 175 ish atm), with 4-5 years of lifting experience.

I've done a decent bit of reading into gh-boosting peptides, and am currently looking into starting CJC-1295 & Ipamorelin, possibly with a very small dose of reta as well. However, I've seen quite a few threads on here where people recommend straight HGH over these two.

Due to being a uni student I can likely only afford 2-3 compounds at a time, unless I'm able to find a cheaper source (Canadian too, so sources seem much more limited)

Any advice would be hugely appreciated!!

Bro, I don't think at your age you need retatrutide. That's something you should wait to use when you get older.

 

[Ulter]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on evolutionary, so please let me know if I'm doing anything wrong post-wise.

21yo uni student looking into starting on some peptides (possibly a first cycle in the future as well) just looking for some advice. Currently 185lbs bw (cutting from ~195 down to 175 ish atm), with 4-5 years of lifting experience.

I've done a decent bit of reading into gh-boosting peptides, and am currently looking into starting CJC-1295 & Ipamorelin, possibly with a very small dose of reta as well. However, I've seen quite a few threads on here where people recommend straight HGH over these two.

Due to being a uni student I can likely only afford 2-3 compounds at a time, unless I'm able to find a cheaper source (Canadian too, so sources seem much more limited)

Any advice would be hugely appreciated!!

You can certainly start messing around with some peptides and SARMS, but I wouldn't try reta. You're too young for that.

 

[2Thick]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on evolutionary, so please let me know if I'm doing anything wrong post-wise.

21yo uni student looking into starting on some peptides (possibly a first cycle in the future as well) just looking for some advice. Currently 185lbs bw (cutting from ~195 down to 175 ish atm), with 4-5 years of lifting experience.

I've done a decent bit of reading into gh-boosting peptides, and am currently looking into starting CJC-1295 & Ipamorelin, possibly with a very small dose of reta as well. However, I've seen quite a few threads on here where people recommend straight HGH over these two.

Due to being a uni student I can likely only afford 2-3 compounds at a time, unless I'm able to find a cheaper source (Canadian too, so sources seem much more limited)

Any advice would be hugely appreciated!!

If you are a poor student why do you wanna run these expensive compounds? Just stick to maybe a couple SARMs or maybe one peptide or something like that and focus more on your nutrition and your training.

 

[ROIDDERS]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on evolutionary, so please let me know if I'm doing anything wrong post-wise.

21yo uni student looking into starting on some peptides (possibly a first cycle in the future as well) just looking for some advice. Currently 185lbs bw (cutting from ~195 down to 175 ish atm), with 4-5 years of lifting experience.

I've done a decent bit of reading into gh-boosting peptides, and am currently looking into starting CJC-1295 & Ipamorelin, possibly with a very small dose of reta as well. However, I've seen quite a few threads on here where people recommend straight HGH over these two.

Due to being a uni student I can likely only afford 2-3 compounds at a time, unless I'm able to find a cheaper source (Canadian too, so sources seem much more limited)

Any advice would be hugely appreciated!!

I got mad respect at your age that you want to get serious about this game. The best thing you can do is start up a log and then go from there. Also GW would be far, far less of a risk than using reta.

 

[cX1s]

I got mad respect at your age that you want to get serious about this game. The best thing you can do is start up a log and then go from there. Also GW would be far, far less of a risk than using reta.

Interesting, GW (assuming this is Cardarine?) isn't something I've heard of before. Also, I wasn't aware that reta is that risky. I was more so thinking of using it at a very low dose to slightly help move the needle and reduce diet fatigue/the mental battle as I push further into the cut. What kind of risks would I be expecting at say, 1-2mg/week?

 

[ballin2504]

Looks like you done well for yourself. At you age I don’t think gh is needed. I’d say in the natural path until about 25

 

[cX1s]

I got mad respect at your age that you want to get serious about this game. The best thing you can do is start up a log and then go from there. Also GW would be far, far less of a risk than using reta.

Okay I did a little reading into Cardarine, seems very promising with minimal/no real side effects. Would you say there's any real downside to trying this as the cut progresses, say starting at 10mg/day?

 

[LevButlerov]

Okay I did a little reading into Cardarine, seems very promising with minimal/no real side effects. Would you say there's any real downside to trying this as the cut progresses, say starting at 10mg/day?

lets move all discussion to your log please @cX1s https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/natural-training-cutting-log.108820/

 

[ROIDDERS]

Interesting, GW (assuming this is Cardarine?) isn't something I've heard of before. Also, I wasn't aware that reta is that risky. I was more so thinking of using it at a very low dose to slightly help move the needle and reduce diet fatigue/the mental battle as I push further into the cut. What kind of risks would I be expecting at say, 1-2mg/week?

Retatrutide trot isn't risky in the way you think. It's risky because if you get on it and you come off you can get a rebound effect. It's one of those things where you want to use it later on in life when you really need it if that makes sense.

And GW is an awesome SARM-like drug. It's sold as a SARM but it's not a SARM. It will help with fat loss but more effectively it is amazing for endurance. It's my favorite thing out there for endurance.

 

[ROIDDERS]

Okay I did a little reading into Cardarine, seems very promising with minimal/no real side effects. Would you say there's any real downside to trying this as the cut progresses, say starting at 10mg/day?

No it's very safe but you'll get the most benefits from it at 20 mg a day and you can really get good results from it taking it before your fasted cardio. Just make sure it's legit. A lot of times sources will say it's all fake GW.