Just an intro..

[apollotrance]

So i am here now. It all started with someone at work mentioning peptides and sarms. I dove into that for about a year. Took a break then jumped on strictly peptides. Ran a few cycles and I am currently only on reta. Trying to recomp right now. I have been doing research for running a cycle since china went dark in September. Just sticking to the basics right now, going to stick to test c and an AI just in case. I have not ordered yet, but I will be in the next few days. Just been collecting all the items I need, such as AI and PCTs. So any help would be appreciated.

 

[Elektrobot]

How old are you

Whats your training like

Have you done bloodwork to know if / how much you need that AI?

 

[apollotrance]

39/M. I do hit the gym or ride my bike everyday. When I do hit the gym, I stick with a PPL routine. And sometimes I will rotate my leg day or rest day with a 20-25 mile bike ride. So I am active and have been with this for almost 2 years now. I dont lift super heavy since I am only sticking with reta and a high protein diet at the moment. I am just trying to lean myself out first, adjust my reta dose and see where I fluctuate too. I was using BPC 157 to help with some joint and specific areas of pain. But I am off of that ATM. I am going to get bloodwork done within the next month. I have not started test or anything yet, I was just trying to gather together what I plan on cycling before I start.

 

[Elektrobot]

I was just trying to gather together what I plan on cycling before I start.

Unless you are hormone deficient, it sounds like you just need good plan and to learn a lot about nutrition. There is no warranted reason to go from what you are doing now to jumping on an AAS cycle. You gotta do the in-between work first, or you will just end up a bloated sick mess who only looks a little bit better from your muscles holding more water and you will immediately lose it.

Get bloodwork done like you said. Check your natty test levels, IGF-1, lipid panel including apob and lpa. Don't settle for "in range" for general population. If you eventually have aspirations of using AAS, you need to have the most optimal lipid panel you can get. Because as soon as you start they will go to shit. HDL to 60, LDL below 70 and nuke your triglycerides. Check your genetic lpa.

If you are in a calorie deficit from using reta, your IGF will be low. If you really want to know your natty igf, test it after being in a calorie surplus for an extended time.

You will probably benefit more from a coach than AAS right now.

Start good habits of using a food scale and weighing everything you eat, tracking it in an app, and learning what foods fit into your plan and agree with your digestion. This is something to learn and optimize wayyyyy before you even think about using AAS. Imagine starting a cycle only to realize you never took the time to figure out your food.

I dont lift super heavy since I am only sticking with reta and a high protein diet

".... tells us that you have no idea what you are doing.

Focus more on learning about training and nutrition, don't worry about drugs right now.

 

[apollotrance]

What do you consider "extended time" for calorie surplus? Like a few months? I do eat clean, sticking with chicken, lean ground beef sometimes, fruit, veggies, protein powder to fill in the gaps when I am at work and cant eat correctly. As I stated, I am currently in a calorie deficit to get lean out a little bit more. But I do intend to get bloodwork next month to see just where I am at, and see what needs to be addressed. And I do appreciate the info you listed.

 

[Elektrobot]

What do you consider "extended time" for calorie surplus? Like a few months? I do eat clean, sticking with chicken, lean ground beef sometimes, fruit, veggies, protein powder to fill in the gaps when I am at work and cant eat correctly. As I stated, I am currently in a calorie deficit to get lean out a little bit more. But I do intend to get bloodwork next month to see just where I am at, and see what needs to be addressed. And I do appreciate the info you listed.

I would guess 10-14 days. Depends how long you have been in a deficit and how much of a surplus you switch to.

That will just help give you a good baseline representation of what your igf-1 is like, which may be part of your decision making in what compounds to use in the future.

Even if we assume it's low because you are 39, it will be helpful to know what number you are starting at. If you started 4iu of GH and only saw an IGF-1 of 200..... you would wonder if you are even taking legit GH. But if you knew that your natty baseline was 70..... you would know its working.

And if you are an outlier who has a natty igf-1 of 300+ for your age.... no need to take anything for it. Let it ride. Don't kill it until it's actually low.