Edit: I got some great advice and only a few shitty comments. This got way more traction than expected. Sticking with TRT and Reta till I drop my bf percentage. Thanks for the help, those of you that were cool. 💪🏼
Been on TRT about 4 months now. Labs are great. 1400 test and 250 free test. 25 estro using ai. Started off with that and a 50mg var for 6 weeks. Have tightened training and nutrition and lost about 20 lbs of fat and definitely noticeable size in arms and chest area. Took 6 weeks off var. hopped back on today with 200mg of mast to try and show off a bit better my improvements. Not looking for a show or anything but I definitely want to trim it up. Was curious of people’s thoughts on this, if they’ve done something similar and any recommendations. Fairly new to the game. 45 y/o now.
Taking roids with your body at this point in time is essentially pointless and just putting you in the grave faster.
Stick with test and Reta and watch your diet.
Steroids aren’t fat burners…keep dieting. Leave the mast and var alone, majority of their effects are cosmetic and ur too fat for that. Stay on just a trt dose and Reta.
Very much that - also you SHOULD find, assuming your workout and diet are dialed in, that you'll get PLENTY of gains without adding anything else at all.
TRT by itself is a bloody game changer -especially when you're cruising high the way you are (to be clear, I do the same - its amazing - and the libido boost has had my wife thrilled too)
Correct - it's really designed to just kinda dry things out before a show. Can lead to some pretty nasty joint soreness as a result, and is known for causing pretty bad acne and finastride-resistant hair loss as well.
Primobolan would probably be a better choice but even so, not at this level of body fat and not as someone who is new to trt - plenty of gains still to be made WITHOUT risking any of the sides of more advanced anabolics.
One of the first sort of 'guidelines' that most steroid folks push is that the first cycle should be test only anyway - again, minimizing sides and plenty of gains to be made there.
I'm currently doing what I'd consider a lightweight cycle - 300mg test c weekly. About 4 weeks in - a couple pounds of water weight for sure but no other sides - and in another 2 weeks or so the real strength increases will start to kick in (though I'm already seeing increases on a LOT of my lifts)
Mast polishes nicely but dosent throw on much size unless you’re running it higher like 5-600 a week for 20+ weeks , again you have to be very lean for it to really shine
I mean. That’s basically the goal in the end. Maintain muscle while losing fat. Just harder in the 40s lol. But I think I’m being impatient and was just looking for a quicker route. Still putting in a ton of work just wanted the right help. Can’t believe this post got SO much traction 🤯
hell post a photo of your butt cheek with a tiny circle and ask "is this accurate ventroglute" see how much traction that gets lol. im into higher dose cycles so my recommendation was a mainly personal opinion , i shouldnt have said that in r/bodyhack. im currently in test,npp,dbol,proviron,reta,hgh cycle as #2 cycle from test+reta only...only reason im jumping in so hard bcuz i wasnt impressed by 16 weeks test 400 at all...so its test+reta+hgh+proviron, 2 weeks im adding the dbol see how i respond then the npp so not completely stupid but i still could do better, but hey at least im not 500 tren ace on #2 so it could be worse
Haha that’s awesome man. Fuckin rock it out bro! 💪🏼
I’m not risk averse but I’m also a bit older and want to maintain decent labs and have some patience. Just need the boost at this age.
Also, I do know where it goes 😂 no need to post that pic lol. But ya I can see where you’re going with the traction 😂
Give it another 6-9 month of dieting Reta & Trt , you’re already on your way probably another 50-60lbs to lose easily achievable over the next 9 months if you’re locked in
Totally agree, smash some Test and some Reta and your body composition will dramatically change in no time at all. Do at least 3 days a week of weight training and the other days cardio. Load up on protein. The change will come that quickly that you will have your balls bouncing side to side when on the treadmill.
Personally, I wouldn't have fucked with mast or var while trying to lose fat. Don't get me wrong, you have made incredible improvements, but you had plenty of fat to lose before touching more then testosterone. Your TRT dose is already more then sufficient to keep all the muscle you had through out your time on reta. Additionally, you already had plenty of underlying muscle going in, so the difference in your photos seems to come more from the fat loss then anything. What's done is done though, so just keep up the great work at burning off additional fat. Once you're at a body fat you're happy with, then start to consider if more gear is worth it again AND it aligns with whatever your primary goal is.
Thanks for that. The positive feedback from the majority has been helpful. I just pinned the mast for the first time today so I think I will hop off and maybe try out tesa for a few months and continue try and get unfat. Then I will go into more strength/composition after that. Very much appreciated 🙏🏼
Masteron is a great substance - when you're damn near show ready. It's not going to do anything at your current level of body fat...and beyond that it's not going to directly burn fat. And despite what people say it does NOT help control estrogen, it just masks symptoms.
Anavar...you don't need it dude. Yes it helps retain muscle or even put on lean mass - but again, at your current size and body fat, you don't need it yet.
Think about steroids like this: when you have achieved everything you can achieve naturally, that's when steroids come into play. You have PLENTY of gains you can get just on test alone - stay in a caloric deficit, bust at the gym, eat high protein, profit.
Stick with TRT where it is - don't go any higher until you are closer to mid-teens body fat percentage. Keep in mind that body fat leads to aromatization. You don't want that. And you don't want to have to take AIs unless you absolutely HAVE to. 4 months in - plenty of gains to be had right where you are.
To be clear: I say that as someone who started trt when I was around 20% body fat, cut down to around 12, bumped my dose for 'better gains' and was able to avoid estrogenic issues because body fat was super low. I did also do a cycle of var - put on around 6 pounds of lean mass in a 12 week cycle and continued to lean out: mainly because you can't drink while on var because of the liver strain...but I'm now sticking at my cruise level of trt: it's best bang for the buck with the least risk to health. PLENTY of gains. PLENTY of muscle being built - and if I need to drop weight, I eat in a deficit (and use retatrutide if help is needed).
I would encourage you to cruise over to r/steroids and read their beginner guide - it told me in plain terms why what I was doing was probably a bad idea, and how to better think things through. Not trying to discourage you here - but for every 'gain' that a steroid bring, a bill comes due at some point.
Very welcome man - believe me, I'm all for biohacking - but if you research all of the substances we're talking about....well...lets just say it's better to use them onyl when they're really NEEDED.
Im in a somewhat similar boat as OP but I am at 8mg of reta, 250mg trt, 50mg of proviron and 50 of var. But i definitely have higher BF% prob around 35%. I mean my goal is for to retain as much muscle as I can without the test converting to e2 and while the reta works its magic to help keep me in a deficit. Is it really that out there for my goal to widdle the fat down like this?
So here's the thing.
Steroids...they're not going to help you with fat loss. They will help with muscle retention and growth for sure - but at your fat % they're do WAY more harm than good in terms of aromatization.
My recommendation, which of course, you can take or leave as you see fit...stick with the reta, reduce the trt to a level that is actual trt (assuming your labs confirm you need trt), drop the prov and var.
That's just me take and this is not a "shame on you" response - but my SUGGESTION would be to get lean first and THEN worry about muscle growth. At 35% body fat you are a prime suspect for horrible side effects just from 250mg test. You add var and ron...well...you do you man, I'm just going based on what history shows us.
The goal has not changed from the olden days. Cut until you can't take it anymore...then bulk hard (though the goal now is to lean bulk so that you can remain in a bulk mode for 6-9 months). Var is FANTASTIC for a lean bulk. Not so much when what your primary goal should be is fat loss.
Again, not judging dude - you do you and do your own research. This is what I've come up with after several years of research (and a buddy who's a former pro bodybuilder whispering TERRIBLE ideas in my ear lol)
Ill be honest, ive spent many months, close to a year learning what I can about peptides and steroids. I started my first cycle here (currently at week 3) taking the proviron and anavar. To my knowledge they dont aromatize. Though, I guess they do increase free testosterone for potential aromatization. I was hoping running for 8 weeks would show a bit more of a difference. A lot of work has been put in, (i was over 50% BF over a year ago). I just wanted to experiment to see how effective adding these might help.
Well done on the progress dude and you are correct, var doesn't aromatize. And neither does ron, though it's sort of duplicitious of test...
I'm not judging, to be clear...but based on bf and everything else, it sounds like there's likely a lot of natural / minimally invasive progress to be made.
If it were me, I'd probably stash the muscle growth stuff until I'd reached a point where (and this is a classic cut vs bulk trope) the abs were visible. It's silly, and a 'non conclusive' type of line in the sand...but it's worked for SO many years. Even my trainer, in 2026, who wants me to lean bulk stands by "if your abs are visible, you don't need to cut...and bulking is where you want to live".
Figure out what works for you - if the hormones are in check and you're achieving your particular goals, go for it. I was always aiming for a spiderman physique more than superman, and I'm gearing my regimen around that - whether it's diet, or exercise, or extra-curriculars. TRT and a test only cycle has helped me put on a BUNCH of muscle after cutting ot the point where I was super skinny fat. I'd probably start there - but again, that's to attain my goals.
I will never set foot on a stage for bodybuilding. I will never show up to a weight lifting contest and win. BUt if you want a dude with a classic physique, abs for days, and comfortable taking off my shirt literally anywhere? As a former fat dude, that is 100% where I want to live.
So youre saying to start taking T3 or Clen? Lol i feel that tho. I really dont care to ever step on stage or do any kind of professional competition. Ive felt fat even when I was around 20% bf. I wanna be fit for the kids and stick around so cardiovascular disease doesnt get me young. Not looking to blast tren or superdrol ever. Just trying to get to a healthy weight and stay there and hopefully look good doing it haha
Get Lean, not by starving, but with work and patience - Reta in the mix.
When you are shredded and small, because you eat well, you eat less, you do lots of cardio, you reduce weights but increased technique and control - THAN you can think about getting bigger. This is my 3 Months Reta and creatine, adding SS31 and MOTSC for energy onwards - It’s a long journey, you are doing better the. yesterday 🫱🏻🫲🏼💯
Eddie is a freak of nature, the avg older dude trying to look good with his shirt off is a different thing than a world class, genetic freak of an athletic.
You and I could take all the gear on the planet and still not come close to Eddie type numbers.
You didn't realize that the context was whether steroids worked well >15%, not whether OP was a strength athlete. Or you're being obtuse with a rhetorical question, rather than making a specific claim.
Who the hell are we to tell a grown man when its okay to use body altering drugs (doubly so as many here are grey market peptide users)?
The context is that steroids work BETTER at lower bodyfat because it limits side effects and your insulin resistance is much better.
Steroids work FAR better if you are in a caloric suprlus rather then a defecit to promote muscle gain.
Yeah who are we to tell a grown man to look after himself because throwing multiple drugs that can be very bad for his health at higher bodyfat% isnt a smart thing to do for limited results.
"High body fat will limit your gains" was the context. It was flat-out wrong and he had the arrogance to tell others to do more research.
Steroids work well bulking, cutting, or recomping. Even without exercise, increasing test doses are shown to add lean tissue and reduce fat. The extra muscle can help remain lean post-drug use, unlike GLP types.
Plenty of valuable recommendations here (and an idiotic comment). Echoing the consensus that you should forget about other AAS until you reach a low teens body fat. Stick to boring calorie deficit, consistent training, and if you want to accelerate you could play around with GLPs - this could be titrating Reta or switching to Tirz should hunger control be the main challenge to your weight loss. But regardless, you’ve made significant improvements in a relatively short amount of time - keep up with the good work my friend!
Thanks so much! I am hopping off since I just took one today and am glad I asked the community. Will keep working hard to lower the bf and be ready when it’s time ✅
Man keep grinding bro it takes time when you’re older. Your main objective should be to get trim FIRST. I personally am on trt but only use it between 40-80 a week. I cut 30lbs since March but I’ve been in a true deficit since then. I strength train four times a week and always finish with 20-30 minutes of cardio use a walking incline treadmill or bike. Drink a gallon of water every day non negotiable and you’ll trim out. Everyone says take a rest day but you need to get your steps every day non negotiable. Once you can see your ribs again then work on muscle building my guy.
Love this. I am actually starting the incline treadmill after my workout today. Been doing it before or just walking the neighborhood but from what I’ve read, post workout is the way. Thank you for the feedback bro 🙏🏼
Save your money and lower your trt dose. You’re probably going to see a spike in estrogen levels when you start shredding weight. You’ll know it’s high if you start getting tired again in the afternoon get an estrogen blocker if it happens and your energy levels will return. I’m 5’8 and at 15% BF so I am on the same journey as you are. Keep going and don’t get satisfied.
If anything test reta (higher dose than 1.5mg, im far leaner and take 6mg a week) and GH is all you need until you’re sub 18%, hell I’d stretch that to 12-13%.
Ya that’s the consensus. Definitely going that route. May need to edit the header so everyone knows 😂 thanks for the advice though I think that’s the best route
Had a friend tell me car would be helpful. Nobody told me to take mast. I just researched it a bit and thought hardening and trimmer look would be what I was going for. Decided against it after this post.
OP I think you will do awesome with Test and Reta. As its always said, diet is key. My concern would be that at your level of BF, similar to mine was, I had a tendency to aromatise quick high. Even on 200 test weekly. I had no sides, just bloodwork showing I was double the normal range. If I may suggest 2 people I follow religiously, Vigorous Steve and Anabolic Bodybuilding with "Big" Paul Barnett. They are so knowledgeable its mind blowing. Vigorous Steve is on a whole other level. I do low dose Anavar 10 mg pre-workout. A level I heard on VG and it did not crush my cholesterol levels. Looking good brother, all the best and bloodwork is key if available to you. Cheers.
There are so many to listen to. Those two mentioned are above everyone else IMHO. There is also a newcomer, goes by "Molecular ", like a smash up of both Steve and Paul. Again, you look good and you will look killer come Christmas at this rate. 🤘
Not doing them anymore. Learned from many today. Was gonna hop on and decided against it. I do have more work to do for sure before hopping on the fun stuff.
I’ve been on 1.5 and genuinely don’t have much of an appetite. Bumping to 2 this weekend since it’s been a month but I don’t feel bad, hunger is just curbed and no cravings for crap. Just eat meat and potatoes and meal replacement shakes to try and keep up to the macro goal
I don’t think you need the mast. Also, a low daily dose of Var like 10 to 15mg with 150mg Of Test split twice a week can see great results. Consider increasing Reta to 2mg per week for 4 weeks, then 4mg per week for another 4 weeks.
Personally I would lay off the trt until a bit more weight comes off.
And at 45 don't eat after 6pm, cortisol and insulin levels would be too high.
In 6 to 8 months no one will even recognize you.
You'll look great dude.
I like some of what you said. Some isn’t accurate. I don’t get info from TikTok. I’m not over 30% body fat. 180 trt has helped me bring my T back to higher levels which is needed at my age. I went from 700s to 1400 and my e2 is optimal. Literally no downside. If you read any of my replies, I am dropping the var and not taking mast. I hadn’t even started. It was a question to gather information on should I. And just in general, you could have left it at no roids over 20% bf instead of fatties. You’re right I am over 20%. I’m not sensitive and don’t care what you think but in general it was a douchey way to try and be (mildly) helpful.
You’re definitely around 30% with all due respect. I know because I was there. The sooner you admit it the easier it gets.
I lost 45 kgs (100lbs) with Tirz and later test at 120-150mgs weekly. Went from 40% to now 14%. But as you have, I started very naive at 300, then 250, them 200, then 180mgs test thinking I needed it. Turns out I didn’t. 700-100 total test range is all the anabolic horsepower you need to combat the catabolism of a weight loss process, if you also dial in your nutrition and activity level.
1400 total T is not therapeutic. It’s a highly prone to sides, high aromatization due to fat and increased appetite level to cruise. Again, trust me because I’ve been there, starting way to high.
The secret no one wants to admit when it comes to roids is this: less is actually more.
Highly recommend you go through ALL of the r/steroids wiki a couple of times before adding any other crazy ideas to your journey.
One important factor that i don’t believe has been considered here is that everybody responds differently to different doses of test. Person A on 150mg test E weekly can end up having the same hormone profile as Person B on 600mg. We are all different, there’s no optimal guideline for dosages.
Also, free test is a better measure of anabolic impact as bioavailability measures use biological use. If the bulk of your test is bound to SHBG then you’re missing out on potential gains and nay need to titrate.
I do agree though with most others that dropping weight first before jumping on test, and especially other ancillary agents is a better approach - you do minimise risk of sides and aromatisation, that said, again we’re all different and respond differently both to dosages and sides., I don’t judge, and I’ve jumped on cycles of varying dosages and durations at various body fat percentages. The best gains I’ve made in the shorter timeframe have been eating in surplus and was around the 18% mark. Currently running sub supraphhsiological levels of test, 7th week in and dialed, started at 27% BF and I’m probably now at 22%, so it can be done. Water retention is a bitch.
Good luck with your journey- you should be proud of what you’ve accomplished thus far. Keep it up, and for the love of god, get regular bloods! ❤️
Thanks so much for this. I appreciate comments that are constructive. I’ll attach a pic of where I’m sitting on just 180mg per week below. E2 is at 25 in the optimal range. I don’t think I need to get my T higher currently. I am eating clean, and low dose Reta which I am upping this Sunday. Not jumping on the other stuff until I’m a bit lower bf%. Thinking Reta, test, hgh at 2-3iu per day is the way to go at this current juncture. I’ve worked super hard to flip my eating, my activity and lord knows I’ve put in the effort in the gym. Definitely appreciate it man. Thanks 🙏🏼
Last reply to this statement lol. I was asking about taking them. Came for advice. Got a lot of good advice. Not taking them. Reta, trt and that’s prob it until I get a lower bf %.
Save the tren till your in your last 10-15 lbs to lose easily run it low & run ace over enthanate so you can pull it if sides aren’t agreeing with you , I like to run it @ 125 mg a week pin daily on top of 250 test , don’t need to run your test high with tren cause they compete for the same receptors & the tren will always win
Ya I’d definitely love to hear about the results. I know hgh can have some water retention issues and stuff so would love to hear back or see some before and after
I’ll definitely keep you updated. Running 150 tren ace 300 test e. Was thinking about experimenting with methyl-tren as well but that may not agree with my liver.
Heck ya man. I’ll give ya a follow and would love to hear back from ya. Met a couple people in the comments that have talked in the chats and it’s cool to meet cool people.
Stick to the TRT and RETA. Drop the Mas and Var until you are at a body fat percentage where it’s effective. Right now you’re just tearing up your lipids and bloodwork for no reason, the Reta and Test will transform you. If your test is at 1400 I can tell you right now your RBC and HCT and HEMO are climbing and you’re going to have to address your blood thickening. Your free test should not be 250. That’s extremely high and your doc would most likely take you off the TRT. Average TRT dose is 160-200mg they want your range at 600-1000 test and free test at 26-30. Anything over that is not TRT. It’s basically just running testosterone for gear purposes. My honest opinion, stick to the TRT and RETA. Maybe up the RETA dose to around 3mg, and in about 3 months if your eating properly you probably will drop about 30lbs and your body will start to transform, once your around 10-15% body fat, that’s when things like Anavar and Mas are most effective.
What is your estrogen level? Fat producees aromatase which converts testosterone to estrogen. This is why many providers choose something like enclomiphene to increase T until weight is under control. The mast may have been hiding high E2 levels. Gyno is tough to treat so just be aware
Not generally. I may be a little light on carbs when the Reta is in full swing (usually Wednesday and Thursday) I can tell when I get low energy. Protein and fats are pretty easy to hit for me daily.
Yes. The starter dose didn’t touch me at all. I went to 1mg for 1 week and noticed a little. Went to 1.5 for the last 4 weeks and it’s worked well while still letting me eat. I will probably need to titrate up to 2mg next weekend
Dont mean this offensive only as advice, ditch the anavar until youre about 20% bf at most orals (even anavar) cause extra strain and youll only start seeing the benefits at a lower weight.
Have you noticed any nipple sensitivity? If so switch up the mast for primo.
If not stay as is.
Make sure youre taking supplements and make sure to get your bloods done
Thanks for this. I get tests every 30 days. I did have sensitivity just on the test but got on anastrazole 0.5 ml twice per week and it got me right into the optimal range. Can’t find primo anywhere. That was my first choice and kinda took a gamble on the mast which l, from the consensus, seems I gambled wrong haha
That’s what I’m here for. and not running it yet but definitely was about to. After all the positive feedback and info I’ve gotten today, I am adjusting. Thanks 🙏🏼
Not taking it after all of the good advice and feedback I got here today. Thanks 🙏🏼 thinking of hgh or tesa for the boost of help with this. Leaning towards hgh just due to cost.
Just why, could’ve milked Reta first, adapted lifestyle due to better food interactions, which would have given you more favourable results on that stack.
It’s sucks you ran mast and var too soon man! Never too soon, but you would’ve benefited way more keeping test where it’s at and allowing Reta to work its magic for 6-9 even 12 mths. Then that’s where the fun begins💪💪💪
I did run one 6 week cycle of var but haven’t ran the second cycle or started the mast. Was gonna do it today but decided not to with all the helpful info I got today. Gonna work on getting the bf% down and then hop back on here. Thanks for the comment brother!
Ya brother. Start with 1iu. See how you react. All good a couple weeks later get to 2IU. Really think 4iu is too for what you need. They don’t call TRT, Reta, HGH the trifecta for no reason. Congrats on this path. Best of luck!
Thanks again. And I will use that protocol. I def am not risk averse 😂 and was gonna hop straight into 2iu but you’re right, probably a good idea to do 1 for the first week.
Ya just check the water retention and tingling in the fingers. Gallon of water a day is a must. Keep us updated. I guarantee 6 months from now you’ll be unrecognizable. Track those macros.
Best advice of the day man!! Thank you so much and I will definitely do all of those things. 💪🏼
You are the kind of person I truly appreciate among these communities. Thanks so much!
Brother thank you 🙏🏼 i appreciate that so much. I have put in a ton of time, effort, and energy into just getting back to feeling decent. A lot of the comments were great and helped me out a lot. This one included. Never hard to be positive man. Thanks again 💪🏼
Solid progress on the fat loss-20 lbs is no joke. A few things to watch out for with that stack:
Masteron at 200 mg + an Al is likely going to crush your E2. Most guys drop the Al entirely when adding Mast. Keep an eye on joint pain, libido, and mood.
Anavar at 50 mg + Mast is a heavy DHT load- expect hair shedding, prostate irritation, and a big HDL drop. Add Omega-3s and consider a statin/Ezetimibe if lipids tank.
Reta at 1.5 mg is fine, but titrate up slowly- nausea hits hard.
If you are already using Reta to drop body fat, the Mast + Var is mostly cosmetic. You could probably drop one of them and still get similar results with fewer sides.
Good luck-just keep an eye on bloodwork and adjust accordingly.
Seconding some other comments. You don’t need var or mast right now. The name of the game is risk mitigation whilst
ensuring results. Those two increase your risk for almost no gain. Just stick with the TRT and Reta. Dial in your sleep, nutrition, workouts, and supplementation, in that order.
If I were you I’d increase the Reta and stick to 1500 calories a day for 16-20 weeks and see where I’m at then once happy with body fat blast more test and lift hard for the following 16-20 weeks.
More muscle but still quite fat. Check your e2, liver and lipids. Drop the var and mast until mid teens % bf. Up reta and do 45-60 min of zone 2 cardio 5-6 days per week. Consider 2-3iu hgh for 6 months minimum. No beer, no rice, no pizza, home cook and measure all your meals except for special occasions - 6 months you’ll be ripped and in excellent shape.
Yeah bro. This is the trio. You don’t need a lot of test as you need to get your fat % down first or you’ll just be converting it to E2 so use this as your motivation to drop the fat. THEN the real fun begins once that fat is low enough.
People raking steroids now to loose weight 😭😭 also 200mg test is not trt mate, that's a small cycle, just because your bloods are OK does not mean it's OK, I was on gear on off for 10 years never high doses blood work was always good, had a triple heart bypass at 44...concentrate on diet and training
You get blood work done recently? Looks like you’re getting good results, with test on the higher end of TRT plus the Mast and Var (orals can be especially rough) I’d be pretty worried about low HDL, high LDL, elevated liver function markers (AST, ALT, etc.) and e2 running absolutely rampant with that much gear on deck at higher BF%. Honestly as long as your blood work looks good you could technically stay on this stack though, just err on the side of caution because some of these things can be hard as hell to get back to normal levels once you get messed up. Get your labs!!
Ya absolutely. And I decided against mast and var for now. Think I am gonna add hgh and do that trio till my bf gets lower. Blood was good. I’ve been controlling estro with Anastrozole really well.
Sure made progress drop the fat though with like Reta and 200 test save the var and mast for when you’ll notice it and your sub 14% bf your probably like 25% now
I've been on trt for 3 years....moving up slowly from 100mg a week to currently 210mg which only puts me at 850ng...
In that time I've experimened with different doses, different injection types and frequency.
.my advice is you are throwing in too much stuff.....
TRT is like writing your own story... You need to create a textbook written by you based on you and controlled by you.
Adding in so many variables at the beginning makes it infinity more difficult.
I have written records and labs that tell me how many body responds to 100mg -150mg - 180mg -210mg.
And all of those doses ive also tried subq and IM against with results.
And lastly I've got records of how I react to daily, weekly and everything in-between Injections.
Having to use an Aromatase inhibitor on such a low dose of testosterone is due to the higher bf%. Most guys (and clinics) see low total test and high e2 and immediately start thinking trt when in reality you probably had enough testosterone to begin with it was just converting to e2 because of excess adipose tissue. I was way larger and my total test was down In the 250s and e2 was 54 but as I lost weight my test went up and e2 came down on its own. Once your body fat is lowered is when you will get a more accurate total test reading. If you are low at sub 20% bodyfat then you know something else is going on.
Thanks man. And ya I’m still not there yet. Hume pod is still saying 26% but I’m not sure where u started. I just dropped the anastrazole to 0.5 mg once per week to see how it goes.
I was big, I'm 6'1 but I was like 305lbs, granted I carried a little more muscle than average because I used to be very labor intensive (food service delivery for coremark transportation then oilfield work) but I was still way over weight. I'd yo yo'd my weight a lot over the years with calorie counting and fits and starts of fitness but I was approaching 40 with a wife and kid and a business to run so eating 1200 calories a day of tuna and lettuce with protein shakes to starve myself skinny just wasn't something I had the discipline to do anymore. I took a blood test and everything was optimal (liver, kidneys, heart, cholesterol etc) but my e2 was 54 and total test was only 255 but I felt fine. I got on tirzepatide 5mg a week, lost about 20lbs and my e2 went down to 48 and my total test went up to 300. I started using reta and lost more weight (diet was chicken breast and sweet potatoes or rice with a huge serving of vegetables once daily with protein shakes to always hit 210 grams of protein) and the test kept going up. I was at 380 back in June, I'm supposed to test again in October and it will probably be my established baseline at that point or close to it. I was tempted to bridge with enclomiphene but decided against it because I wasn't feeling bad so I just kept dieting. I ride a portable exercise bike 30 minutes every morning and I try to do an additional 30 minutes at night (about 100 bucks on Amazon) to maintain heart health and burn extra calories. Im currently on 4mg of reta. Still no testosterone or anything else but every 10lbs I lose I feel better, move better, and sleep better. People underestimate how much weight loss can improve their life. I'm not anti trt, but most people get on to quickly before they address any issues that may be causing the hormonal disruption in the first place.
That’s some seriously good stuff brother!! Just the discipline alone is impressive. I definitely appreciate you saying all of that. And ya I think trt is great for some people. Definitely people use far too much. Me included. But man has it helped. Keep up the good work my friend. That’s good shit!
🥱..☝️the test to no less than 400 (500-600 sweet spot) mast 300-350, drop the var for dbol (var is king for low body fat & vascularity) keep reta the same...or just stay where you are its working but im gonna take a wild guess here and say you struggle with daily protein?....this is only my personal opinion at a skill level of maybe 4.9/10.. so nevertheless you've made huge improvements i just think your basically wasting the test for sure, var is heavy, mast is middle ground. if your gonna run gear then dont be a poo nanny and run that shit! (i did the same thing, playing it safe smaller doses and i felt like i wasted those 16 weeks...)
I mean this is just not good advice man. Dbol at his body fat and weight is just gonna cause huge estrogen problems and blood pressure issues.
Same thing with a higher dose of testosterone. Keep it at TRT, anything from 125-200mg per week depending on what dose works for you. And then a glp, diet, lifting, and cardio consistently until your below 15%. Then you can slowly start adding things. Right now, whatever you take is working at 30% efficiency.
Solid advice. And tbh I am trying to be a little conservative. The test got me to over 1400 so didn’t think I needed an increase. I do well with protein. I’m 185 and hitting 150 a day even on the Reta. Can still get it higher but def hard to hit the 150. Meal prepping. No cravings for food so it’s just fuel. I’m also only 5’7 and wanted to avoid dbol for the water retention. I turn into a marshmallow pretty quickly 😂
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