Post Cycle Therapy Update (3 Months After Cycle)
Interesting news, got some blood work done.
First, things are going great. I've continued to lose weight by choice and I'm holding steady around 198, about 10lbs down. My strength has been holding at my original stats, bench 315 x 2. Went on vacation last week and it's the first time I've missed a week of lifting in about 3 years, so I only got 315 x 1, but it's coming back. All-in-all even though I weigh 10lbs lighter, I've been able to hold my original stats.
As for the blood work... It's been about 3 months since I've discontinued the Diabolix and about 2 or so months since I stopped my PCT. I did not take Clomid as originally planned and only followed up with about a month of Sup3r PCT. Sup3r PCT was a huge help with lethargy, likely from the DAA? Any morning I didn't take it I felt run down. I did take some choline and inositol for about a month and that also seems to have had some positive health benefits. Here's the blood work, all tests were taken around noon-1PM. Anything labelled "POST" is the most current test.
Under 40 Year-Old-Male - 5'9 - PRE: 208lbs ~20% BF / END: 210 +20% BF / POST: 198lbs -20% BF
Testosterone, Serum - PRE: 600's / END: 250's / POST: 650's - 348-1197 ng/dL
Luteinizing Hormone(LH), S - PRE: 10's / END: 4's / POST: 8's - 1.7-8.6 mIU/mL
FSH, Serum - PRE: 13's / END: 9's / POST: 12's - 1.5-12.4 mIU/mL
Estradiol - PRE: 14's / END: 17's / POST: 10's - 7.6-42.6 pg/mL
Triglycerides - PRE: 50's / POST: 40's - <150 mg/dL
Cholesterol, HDL - PRE: 80's / POST: 90's - >39 mg/dL
LDL is higher than it should be, but I run keto and question this number. Cholesterol/HDL Ratio is very good.
AST (SGOT) - PRE: 20's / END: 30's / POST: 20's - 0-40 IU/L
ALT (SGPT) - PRE: 20's / END: 20's / POST: 10's - 0-44 IU/L
White/Red/Blood counts all pretty much stayed the same PRE/END/POST, very slightly lower POST.
Overall good news. Using a more natural PCT my testosterone not only recovered to base 600, it increased into the 650's! Estrogen is optimal and lower than before at 10's. LH and FSH recovered well, probably wasn't the worse thing in the world to give them a break as they were HIGH out of the reference range before. It's my understanding that this is a normal sign of aging, but also shows the testies are being overworked and can burn out. Apart from the high LDL (which I argue needs LDL partitioning measuring while on keto) the numbers, ratio and risk are all very good, better than before I started. Wasn't completely unexpected, my cardio has improved with more intense training. PRE: 24m 5K / POST: 22m 5K.
THIS ISN'T A LICENSE TO TAKE ANABOLICS! I'm simply reporting my findings PRE/END/POST to the best of my ability. I could take blood work tomorrow and these numbers could be completely different. With that said, I do personally feel that a SERM or harsh PCT is not always the best option in all scenarios. I'd personally argue that a harsh PCT may even do more harm than good when talking about mild prohormones and natural recovery. Where to draw the line, what is mild, the pros and cons all need to be considered, but it's a good conversation to have. Mostly I'd point to my weight reduction having the overall highest benefit on hormone levels. The choline and inositol also probably helped. Not only did everything show improvements in liver function, but the improvements in cholesterol, and ultimately hormones all tied in together. My training also supported all of this and shows the importance of continued improved cardio.
Was the cycle worth it? Hard to say, question for another time. Just following up with my findings. I will say the increasing cardio and weight reduction had the biggest impact though.
Side note, I've had some G.I. issues lately, mostly resolving, may or may not be related to all this. Never had them before.
lol I have 2 bottles of it, not sure when I'll use it
