This post has been nothing short of informative and quite interesting. I can see thru my monitoring of this post, a lot of people have done their homework that is good. But, as we all know, only thru research can we possibly attempt to acquire knowledge. (Keep Building, Heavyiron, Gator, and Unrealmachine have admitted such) (Good work one and all!!!!)The only problem is the realm of (INTERNET) body building is a world without a lot of physical evidence and no one person is held accountable for his or her advice, nor is required to obtain a degree to post information. The only information we can pass on is by, and I hate this “I have heard or I have read” Can we or should we believe everything that we read (I should hope not!!!!!) especially when it comes to AAS use. But then again, you might ask, how we may obtain information that may be more reliable, partisan and accurate than reading. I say and know there is an answer and it is the most simple and reliable one there is. Do some blood work!!!!!!!! To some this may not be a very scientific method, But I like to look at it this way. If I am going to put blind faith into something I am reading, (scientific studies, reports, charts etc) I would prefer to read that information which is on a piece of paper that has been generated as a result of those scientific studies, reports and charts pertaining solely to me by a lab that has run tests on me, not somebody else. To those that say blood work does not matter, think again!!!!!!! If we are truly serious about enhancing our bodies and our minds, this IS THE ONLY VIABLE OPTION. Think about it, the pros do blood work weekly and are advised by a person with an extensive medical back ground in sports medicine. We are hearing that we are wrong for believing those things that are being written and posted on the net, for there is no physical evidence to support it except for charts, graphs and reference materials by doctors. Yet another individual can read a book and claim that he is right and we are not. Once again NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE except charts, graphs and reference materials by doctors. Well, to put an end to it, I did the blood work a few yrs back. When these books 1st came out I too read them and for a short time fell victim to information that I read. I then questioned the validity of this information, Could Arnold, Franco Columbo, Frank Zane, Tom Platz, Sergio Olivia (The heroes of my day, I started lifting in 1975, the yr Arnold took his 6th Mr. Olympia title) all be cycling wrong. I just had to know. I took this info to my doctor and questioned him (He is aware of what I do and specializes in sports medicine and HRT he also weight trains)He told me the thing that is wrong is the time it takes for Test E to reach the saturation point in the body. For only when the free testosterone in the body has reached the saturation point and is maintained do we start to reap the benefits of testosterone. I said but Doc, look at all these studies, this can’t be wrong. And this is what he told me and this is no **** ”Do you believe everything you read” he informed me that I am experimenting in a area that the medical field is just now becoming informed of the dangers and benefits of long term steroid use. But, he did say it will be 3-4 wks before you will truly get anything from the test. The blood work on his HRT patients in regards to their free testosterone levels showed this when using long acting ester testosterone. (And the ester doesn’t matter? Hmmmmmm) But, I was stubborn and although I think at the time it was an insult to his intelligence, I told him I wanted to run blood work to find out anyway. So, the mission began, and let me tell you, this type of blood work is not for the financially challenged. To insure accuracy, I had to run both total and free testosterone levels, each test ran cost $83 for total testosterone levels and another $43 for free testosterone levels, plus $50 for the clinic visit. ($176/visit) I ran the tests EOD for the 1st 30 days after commencement of therapy. The Doc was able to get my medical insurance to cover the 1st wk, but after that, I was on my own. So, to shorten up the post, I will not relate my tested levels daily only weekly. For as you will see it shows the total and free test levels and how they increased. My injection protocol was as follows: Test E (250mg/ml)(750mg/wk) 1ml injected on Mon, Wed, Fri. (All results are ng/dl) Starting base line Total test 985, free 19.7. End Wk 1 TTL test 1815, free 36.3. Wk 2 TTL test 2250, free 67.5. End Wk 3 TTL test 2875, free 106.25. End of Wk 4 I had pretty much hit my saturation point TTL test 3150, free 94.5. What was interesting was that my free test increased by approx 2% weekly (about normal) until wk 3 where it went up 3.5%, but then again dropped back to 3% in wk 4. Tested it again about 3 months in was staying around 3000 ng/dl total and free at about 90. Also, you will notice the largest increase in my total test and free was during the 1st wk . Blood work is critical to achieving our maximum potential in this sport. I have also done it running no PCT and that you do not want to do. TTL test 2 wks in was 12. Yes not a typo 12. Also have run it using high liver toxic chemicals (Anadrol,D-bol, Halotestin) too without liver protections and then next cycle with. And there is a considerable increase in Ast and Alt values without using natural liver supplements (Milk thistle, Liv-52, Liveraide, Etc) Also blood work for cholesterol values using Anastrozole as opposed to using Tamoxifen as an ancillary. Cholesterol levels are much more in range when running Tamoxifen. The only time I will use Anastrozole is on cycles pushing 1.5 grams of test a wk. So, there we have it, 2 different theories on Test E and absorption time. One using scientific evidence backed up by well, all I can say is scientific evidence that was in a book. 2nd theory backed up by scientific evidence and physical evidence as a result of blood work. And in closing all I can say about esters not mattering is that if I run Deca it will be up and running in my system as fast as Durabolin. Have run both and I don’t think so. Just had to get this post out there so as not to mislead our younger members on proper gear use and safety’
BBdude
Age 51
Lifting experience about 34 yrs
Gear experience, more than 5 cycles
