First Cycle Thoughts Needed

[OnceNatty]

Hello!
56yr old, 5-9, weight fluctuates from 153 on stage to 175 off season...looking to go on for the first time. I've debated for years, been natty all my life, now it's my turn. Pic below is last year, 156 I believe. Anyway, been training since I was 14 but finding it harder to keep, let alone gain, muscle.
I've done a pretty fair amount of homework and think I want to just start out easy/mild with 300mg test E for 10 weeks. I'll add 20mg Var on my next cycle but for starters I'll keep it simple to access sides.

I think I want to have Aromasin/Exemestane on hand. What's your thoughts on running a micro dose of like 3mg per day all cycle long? Just thinking of keeping estrogen at bay before anything even arises.

I believe I want to do Noladex for my PCT at the typical 40/40/20/20. Could I get away with less?

I've been taking 100mg DHEA daily for the last 10 years byt have read that I should stop this while on cycle and restart with PCT.

Anyway, along with your thoughts on the above, I have a couple other questions if I may:
--- Needles...what do I use. I've read about drawing needles and pinning needles...what size is each?
--- I plan on doing 150 every 3.5 days...is this good? I want to try to keep my levels as even as possible.
--- Do I start my Nolva 14 days after my last pin? 10-14 days?

I'll do bloods before, at week 5 and week 10. Very excited to see how I respond.


Thank you all; looking forward to hearing some experienced replies!

OH! I wanted to add, I get the whole risk/reward thing. I know this is mild and short but I'm ok with less reward for less risk if that makes any sense.

 

[Admin]

Don't know why this got tagged. But its fixed now.

 

[OnceNatty]

Don't know why this got tagged. But its fixed now.

Much appreciated!

 

[BBiceps]

I would do 400mg Test C or E a week for 12 weeks, 300mg might be a little low and not enough to see any real results.
I would do 2 shots a week, Monday and Thursday to make it simple. I would do 1mg Adex on pinning day. I would do Clomid for PCT and start 1 week after last pin with 50mg for 2 weeks and then 25mg for 6 weeks (8 weeks total) to make sure you recover. You could wait another week to start your PCT if you want, I just like to start early.

If you want a shorter cycle use Test P instead and pin eod.

Btw if you want you can finish the last 6 weeks with Var.

 

[gphagan1]

I agree with Bbiceps on his cycle advice. Test at 400 a week for 12 weeks should be a good cycle for you and will give you an idea of how it treats you. And like he said if you do add Anavar, which is one of my favorite orals, add it the last 4 to 6 weeks. Oh and I draw with an 18 GA and pin with a 25 for my TRT, FYI.

 

[OnceNatty]

Thanks guys...great info!

 

[jfigliuolo]

Only thing I'll add... knowing only what I read.

Seriously consider that this will likely not be a one and done for you. As long as you have been working out, you are likely at yout natural potential. I'd expect any gains you make enhanced will go away if you get off the AAS train. No judgment, just something to consider.

 

[Stacks1]

I would do 400mg Test C or E a week for 12 weeks, 300mg might be a little low and not enough to see any real results.
I would do 2 shots a week, Monday and Thursday to make it simple. I would do 1mg Adex on pinning day. I would do Clomid for PCT and start 1 week after last pin with 50mg for 2 weeks and then 25mg for 6 weeks (8 weeks total) to make sure you recover. You could wait another week to start your PCT if you want, I just like to start early.

If you want a shorter cycle use Test P instead and pin eod.

Btw if you want you can finish the last 6 weeks with Var.

This is pretty much exactly what I would recommend.

Could you use nolva instead of clomid? Yes. But I just tend to prefer clomid.

Can you use exemestane instead of adex? Yes. But some people prefer adex. I actually prefer exemestane though.

But overall this is the best way to kick off an initial cycle. I also like to kick off my PCT early but that's just another preference.

 

[Smont]

Only thing I'll add... knowing only what I read.

Seriously consider that this will likely not be a one and done for you. As long as you have been working out, you are likely at yout natural potential. I'd expect any gains you make enhanced will go away if you get off the AAS train. No judgment, just something to consider.

It's actually the opposite in my opinion, when someone has trained for years and knows what there doing they have a much better chance at maintaining gains. No he will not maintain everything, and eventually you will lose everything but that goes for anyone who runs a cycle and then comes off. This is a person who's gone through real bulks and real cuts and competed in competitions he knows what he's doing. If he ran two cycles per year I don't see any reason why he couldn't maintain a good amount in between cycles. I was 30 when I got hurt, came off gear, started drinking heavy and slacking off in the gym and it took a few years before I looked completely back to square 1, and there was no PCT, just Jack Daniels and a pool table for the first 6 months lol.

Hello!
56yr old, 5-9, weight fluctuates from 153 on stage to 175 off season...looking to go on for the first time. I've debated for years, been natty all my life, now it's my turn. Pic below is last year, 156 I believe. Anyway, been training since I was 14 but finding it harder to keep, let alone gain, muscle.
I've done a pretty fair amount of homework and think I want to just start out easy/mild with 300mg test E for 10 weeks. I'll add 20mg Var on my next cycle but for starters I'll keep it simple to access sides.

I think I want to have Aromasin/Exemestane on hand. What's your thoughts on running a micro dose of like 3mg per day all cycle long? Just thinking of keeping estrogen at bay before anything even arises.

I believe I want to do Noladex for my PCT at the typical 40/40/20/20. Could I get away with less?

I've been taking 100mg DHEA daily for the last 10 years byt have read that I should stop this while on cycle and restart with PCT.

Anyway, along with your thoughts on the above, I have a couple other questions if I may:
--- Needles...what do I use. I've read about drawing needles and pinning needles...what size is each?
--- I plan on doing 150 every 3.5 days...is this good? I want to try to keep my levels as even as possible.
--- Do I start my Nolva 14 days after my last pin? 10-14 days?

I'll do bloods before, at week 5 and week 10. Very excited to see how I respond.


Thank you all; looking forward to hearing some experienced replies!

OH! I wanted to add, I get the whole risk/reward thing. I know this is mild and short but I'm ok with less reward for less risk if that makes any sense.

Looking awesome by the way.

I would run something like 300-450 testosterone and I would have a AI on hand. Id break my doses up to EOD but even 2x week should be fine.

At 56 id seriously look into HGH when it's time for a second compound.

You could make a nice off-season cycle with test and HGH to grow, (@56 you should consider TRT because recovery may be very challenging)

450 test and 2-4units of HGH for the off season and then use some test and anavar into your next contest.

I don't mean to use the word safe like there's no potential risks, but if you're going to use small to moderate doses of gear and you stick with test HGH and VAR you shouldn't have many problems. Save the orals for the end of contest prep

 

[OnceNatty]

This is all incredibly useful information gents!
Much appreciated! Really; and I understand everything said.
And thank you for the kind words too.
I don't plan on this being the only cycle...it's only just begun I am finding it harder to maintain now and my love for the sport is taking me in this direction. Not that I have to, but because I want to ...like all of us.

 

[Stacks1]

It's actually the opposite in my opinion, when someone has trained for years and knows what there doing they have a much better chance at maintaining gains. No he will not maintain everything, and eventually you will lose everything but that goes for anyone who runs a cycle and then comes off. This is a person who's gone through real bulks and real cuts and competed in competitions he knows what he's doing. If he ran two cycles per year I don't see any reason why he couldn't maintain a good amount in between cycles. I was 30 when I got hurt, came off gear, started drinking heavy and slacking off in the gym and it took a few years before I looked completely back to square 1, and there was no PCT, just Jack Daniels and a pool table for the first 6 months lol.

Looking awesome by the way.

I would run something like 300-450 testosterone and I would have a AI on hand. Id break my doses up to EOD but even 2x week should be fine.

At 56 id seriously look into HGH when it's time for a second compound.

You could make a nice off-season cycle with test and HGH to grow, (@56 you should consider TRT because recovery may be very challenging)

450 test and 2-4units of HGH for the off season and then use some test and anavar into your next contest.

I don't mean to use the word safe like there's no potential risks, but if you're going to use small to moderate doses of gear and you stick with test HGH and VAR you shouldn't have many problems. Save the orals for the end of contest prep

While I agree it's pretty much never one and done, you're 100% right that a seasoned guy like OP will definitely maintain their gains much longer than 99% of the people who just jump into gear.

 

[LeanEngineer]

This is all incredibly useful information gents!
Much appreciated! Really; and I understand everything said.
And thank you for the kind words too.
I don't plan on this being the only cycle...it's only just begun I am finding it harder to maintain now and my love for the sport is taking me in this direction. Not that I have to, but because I want to ...like all of us.

I'm surprised you haven't already jumped to the dark side at your age! Most of the time I see people start at mid 30s to early 40s.

 

[OnceNatty]

I'm surprised you haven't already jumped to the dark side at your age! Most of the time I see people start at mid 30s to early 40s.

I've been wanting to for a long time. Not to toot my own horn but I had built a pretty decent natty physique, especially for my age, and was placing well in natty shows so I just ran with that for years. I've won 4 pro cards over the years as a natty but that's coming to an end. I had shoulder surgery the first of the year and don't see me getting as muscular as I want to be without converting.

 

[Smont]

I've been wanting to for a long time. Not to toot my own horn but I had built a pretty decent natty physique, especially for my age, and was placing well in natty shows so I just ran with that for years. I've won 4 pro cards over the years as a natty but that's coming to an end. I had shoulder surgery the first of the year and don't see me getting as muscular as I want to be without converting.

HGH is going to be what extends your career.

Check out anabolic bodybuilding on YouTube. Paul Barnett brought his stage weight from 187 to 250 in 3 years and he's pushing 50 years old. I'm not saying that's going to happen, he is an extreme outlier. But he's got tons of great gear advice for older lifters and all the guys I know that are older and really into BB will tell you HGH is the game changer for old guys. I just turned 40 and HGH is now part of my cycles and I think it will be there as long as I can afford it. i have a few older buddies that still compete in there 60's and still run old School cycles and tren in contest prep and they never look as good as the other guys I know that avoid the young man drugs

 

[OnceNatty]

HGH is going to be what extends your career.

Check out anabolic bodybuilding on YouTube. Paul Barnett brought his stage weight from 187 to 250 in 3 years and he's pushing 50 years old. I'm not saying that's going to happen, he is an extreme outlier. But he's got tons of great gear advice for older lifters and all the guys I know that are older and really into BB will tell you HGH is the game changer for old guys. I just turned 40 and HGH is now part of my cycles and I think it will be there as long as I can afford it. i have a few older buddies that still compete in there 60's and still run old School cycles and tren in contest prep and they never look as good as the other guys I know that avoid the young man drugs

I'll definitely look into HGH for my next, if this first goes well.
And I'll check out that YouTube channel; thanks

 

[OnceNatty]

Check out anabolic bodybuilding on YouTube. Paul Barnett brought his stage weight from 187 to 250 in 3 years and he's pushing 50 years old. I'm not saying that's going to happen, he is an extreme outlier. But he's got tons of great gear advice for older lifters

I just watched a few of his vids...great stuff! I really like how clear and consice he is with his info. And I'm a "less is more" type of guy so I agree/like his appraoch as well.

 

[Smont]

I just watched a few of his vids...great stuff! I really like how clear and consice he is with his info. And I'm a "less is more" type of guy so I agree/like his appraoch as well.

Id say over the past few years I've watched 90% of his stuff and I agree with about 90% of what I hear. When he first started his videos were very short and to the point, but now he's acquired a pretty knowledgeable roundtable of guys and has so very good 1+ hr podcasts and interviews with Dr.s, pro bodybuilders, top tier trainers and even a few dr.s that are also body builders! You get a wide spectrum of knowledge from a smart group of people