AITA for thinking today’s “cycles” are basically homeopathic?

[Ron OG Mouse]

Alright, I’m ready to be judged by the jury of bros. Am I the asshole here, or am I just old?

For context: when I first came up, my first cycle was 500mg of test and 400mg of EQ. That was considered… normal. Conservative even. Nobody threw a parade, nobody clutched pearls. It was just, “Cool, eat more and train harder.”

Later on? I’d often run 750mg of test with 500mg of tren. Again—pretty standard for the era. Not saying it was smart, not saying it was healthy, not saying anyone should do that now. Just saying that’s what the landscape looked like back then.

Fast-forward to today and I read cycle logs that look like this:

• “Thinking about 120mg test”
• “Might add 50mg of something if sides are okay”
• “Basically TRT+ but I call it a blast”

And everyone’s shredded, tracking biomarkers, wearing CGMs, quoting PubMed, and talking about longevity. Meanwhile I’m sitting here thinking, “Is this a cycle… or a multivitamin?”

Don’t get me wrong—I actually respect a lot of it. Lower doses, better drugs, better food, better knowledge, fewer people wrecking themselves just to gain 8 lbs of water and ego. That’s objectively a good thing.

But part of my brain still does a double-take when I see numbers that wouldn’t have moved the needle back in the day. It’s like showing up to a barbell club and everyone’s maxing out with pink plates… perfectly executed, pristine form, bloodwork on point… and I’m the dinosaur in the corner muttering, “Back in my day…”

So yeah—AITA for laughing a little when I see these minute doses compared to what we ran? Or is this just the natural evolution of the game, and I’m officially the old guy yelling at clouds?

Fire away.

 

[bananafeet]

Alright, I’m ready to be judged by the jury of bros. Am I the asshole here, or am I just old?

For context: when I first came up, my first cycle was 500mg of test and 400mg of EQ. That was considered… normal. Conservative even. Nobody threw a parade, nobody clutched pearls. It was just, “Cool, eat more and train harder.”

Later on? I’d often run 750mg of test with 500mg of tren. Again—pretty standard for the era. Not saying it was smart, not saying it was healthy, not saying anyone should do that now. Just saying that’s what the landscape looked like back then.

Fast-forward to today and I read cycle logs that look like this:

• “Thinking about 120mg test”
• “Might add 50mg of something if sides are okay”
• “Basically TRT+ but I call it a blast”

And everyone’s shredded, tracking biomarkers, wearing CGMs, quoting PubMed, and talking about longevity. Meanwhile I’m sitting here thinking, “Is this a cycle… or a multivitamin?”

Don’t get me wrong—I actually respect a lot of it. Lower doses, better drugs, better food, better knowledge, fewer people wrecking themselves just to gain 8 lbs of water and ego. That’s objectively a good thing.

But part of my brain still does a double-take when I see numbers that wouldn’t have moved the needle back in the day. It’s like showing up to a barbell club and everyone’s maxing out with pink plates… perfectly executed, pristine form, bloodwork on point… and I’m the dinosaur in the corner muttering, “Back in my day…”

So yeah—AITA for laughing a little when I see these minute doses compared to what we ran? Or is this just the natural evolution of the game, and I’m officially the old guy yelling at clouds?

Fire away.

It's the final result of people lying about their doses and gas lighting everyone into thinking 250mg of testosterone is a blast.

People like vigorous Steve saying they took 25mg of tren a week etc.

I started a cycle log taking 500mg of test E and 500mg deca and got the same sort of comments.

This is a harm reduction forum so no one is going to recommend grams of gear.

Theres a pro here called Mac11 on low doses and Misha on 4 grams of test E. So it's all over the place. You've got other people take 200mg of tren ace a day....

But generally people are running trt plus cycles. I don't know if they are wasting their time or multi gram cycles are overkill. This industry is such a head fuck.

 

[marsupial]

The influencers claiming TRT doses (ie sub 150) are all big fat liars. I cruised on TRT doses for a year thinking I’d make progress. Now that I’m on a mini blast of 315, I’ve made more progress in a month than the last year. At least I preserved my health, but it’s almost as if it wasn’t much better than natty, and makes me wanna come off entirely once the blast is done for a month or three, and then maybe even do a real dose like 500

 

[Isrrike]

I just can’t believe people are shooting oil subq. I can’t wrap my head around it for some reason

 

[Ron OG Mouse]

I just can’t believe people are shooting oil subq. I can’t wrap my head around it for some reason

Yea that also freaked me out lol. I can remember shooting test prop and fina(Tren) ED and having to get creative on injection spots to avoid scars. Now what I just shoot it in my stomach. What a crazy world.

 

[Ron OG Mouse]

Theres a pro here called Mac11 on low doses and Misha on 4 grams of test E. So it's all over the place. You've got other people take 200mg of tren ace a day....

But generally people are running trt plus cycles. I don't know if they are wasting their time or multi gram cycles are overkill. This industry is such a head fuck.

Ronnie sized cycles always scared me. I have ran 1200mg a week 1 time and to me that was high but not crazy high.

Honestly, I can't say these TRT sized blast are not working it's just weird coming from thee oldschool mindset. Normally I run that all year long as prescribed by my doctor on my TRT. I just feel weird seeing it called a "blast".

 

[Juicedhead]

I know I blame more plates more dates for this 250mg of test a week bullshit cycle thats not a cycle. Youre shutting yourself down and chaning your hormones for that? Fuck no not worth it to me I need at least 500mg test a week to consider that a cycle.

 

[Ron OG Mouse]

I know I blame more plates more dates for this 250mg of test a week bullshit cycle thats not a cycle. Youre shutting yourself down and chaning your hormones for that? Fuck no not worth it to me I need at least 500mg test a week to consider that a cycle.

Everytime I hop in I feel like I'm watching some daytime soap opera reading moreplatesmoredates. I think these guys must have gyno with all the E2 in their system. Bro get your shit together and maybe go see a psychologist instead of pouring your heart out in here to these trolls who are just gonna roast ya anyway.

 

[shredded.lyfe]

These tiny androgenic loads have perpetuated the internet.

Sure I guess if you have fucked natty test levels the 250mg might seem like a blast.

The water is making the frigging frogs gay.

 

[VidMc]

All true. Most of the younger guys are not interestet in becoming massmonsters. Its more about being shredded these days and being considered natty. Different rolemodels, different times.

 

[Juicedhead]

Everytime I hop in I feel like I'm watching some daytime soap opera reading moreplatesmoredates. I think these guys must have gyno with all the E2 in their system. Bro get your shit together and maybe go see a psychologist instead of pouring your heart out in here to these trolls who are just gonna roast ya anyway.

hahaha whaaaaaat?

 

[Juicedhead]

Everytime I hop in I feel like I'm watching some daytime soap opera reading moreplatesmoredates. I think these guys must have gyno with all the E2 in their system. Bro get your shit together and maybe go see a psychologist instead of pouring your heart out in here to these trolls who are just gonna roast ya anyway.

the reason i said that is because the 250mg cycle was not a thing before that dude started calling that a cycle.

 

[Psy-chonaut]

All true. Most of the younger guys are not interestet in becoming massmonsters. Its more about being shredded these days and being considered natty. Different rolemodels, different times.

May I add, most of 'these' younger guys it doesn't seem like they are interested in training at all - just drug's N looks.

 

[dinfaralt]

most

emphasis on "most", not "all"!

 

[readalot]

Alright, I’m ready to be judged by the jury of bros. Am I the asshole here, or am I just old?

For context: when I first came up, my first cycle was 500mg of test and 400mg of EQ. That was considered… normal. Conservative even. Nobody threw a parade, nobody clutched pearls. It was just, “Cool, eat more and train harder.”

Later on? I’d often run 750mg of test with 500mg of tren. Again—pretty standard for the era. Not saying it was smart, not saying it was healthy, not saying anyone should do that now. Just saying that’s what the landscape looked like back then.

Fast-forward to today and I read cycle logs that look like this:

• “Thinking about 120mg test”
• “Might add 50mg of something if sides are okay”
• “Basically TRT+ but I call it a blast”

And everyone’s shredded, tracking biomarkers, wearing CGMs, quoting PubMed, and talking about longevity. Meanwhile I’m sitting here thinking, “Is this a cycle… or a multivitamin?”

Don’t get me wrong—I actually respect a lot of it. Lower doses, better drugs, better food, better knowledge, fewer people wrecking themselves just to gain 8 lbs of water and ego. That’s objectively a good thing.

But part of my brain still does a double-take when I see numbers that wouldn’t have moved the needle back in the day. It’s like showing up to a barbell club and everyone’s maxing out with pink plates… perfectly executed, pristine form, bloodwork on point… and I’m the dinosaur in the corner muttering, “Back in my day…”

So yeah—AITA for laughing a little when I see these minute doses compared to what we ran? Or is this just the natural evolution of the game, and I’m officially the old guy yelling at clouds?

Fire away.

Why use more than your genetics will utilize productively (assuming all else dialed in, a big IF). The logical approach would start low and titrate up. Then monitor positive benefits vs negative sides and do the tradeoff based on individual goals.

Makes much more sense than blanket recommendation to full send 500 mg/week of Test to someone who stepped in the gym for the first time 2 weeks ago.

 

[eery]

Good subject.

I think it comes down to what their goal is, and how well they respond.

Are you trying to have a competitive physique or are you just trying to enhance your quality of life and get some added results?

i think the latter is the people that stick to the <1000mg a week and 2-4iu gh, meanwhile the former, you see a wide range of doses. From 1-5 grams pr week and 5-20iu gh pr day.


I think we know that most people can get more out of less now though and we know that the response can vary A TON from person to person as well, so starting low and titrating up to see your personal response and needs makes sense.

 

[glpfun]

This thread a circle jerk of bad advice except for @readalot

The reality of what’s going on here is people feeling insecure about their own dosing decisions trying to shut down other approaches that seem to be working for people. People have different goals and different ideas of what looks good or what it means to be strong.

 

[just some dude]

everyone responds to different doses differently but generally speaking from a longevity focused standpoint yes people are realizing that you really don’t need that much

 

[readalot]

Also this. It has been around for quite some time. Most are going to look like shit (compared to professional BB standard) no matter what they take. So for vast majority of us body dysmorphics doing this because of mental illness just use minimum effective dose as you are only competing against yourself. Minimize damage. Less is definitely more for most.

R

Post in thread 'Is William Llewellyn book with it?'

Jan 18, 2024

True, though while I regard Duchaine's USH II as required reading for everyone, it contains a ton of outdated info with respect to available compounds. A lot of it is opinion, also.

Holding up pretty well over 30 years later (1989)...

• readalot

• 
• 
• 

Also, #1 really breaks down as one gets older on average. Plus you can't grow well if you are dead or can't piss cause you did stupid stuff for years.

 

[Slowww]

It’s good that people are concerned with longevity in the sport imo, and are being conservative, unless they have serious aspirations and take what is needed for good results while managing risk. We just had another guy in the country Im living die at 30 largely from abusing gear and whatnot. Nobody wants to see that, nobody wants to be that guy.

Im not saying we need to run 250 test and call it a blast, but if that is keeping teenagers especially from blasting their shit to hell when they’re younger after all the bullshit social media glorifies juicing and stuff, it’s fine. It’s ok to gatekeep potentially harmful compounds and protocols. It’s not for everyone, and most dudes probably don’t need to be blasting gear, or shouldn’t be. Mainstream population doesnt really need to know a handful of competitors are running 2-3g of gear and what that entails. If a man wants to lie about how much sauce hes on, I don’t care. It’s not gonna make me use more or less cus I know how I respond and it is what it is.

If another man wants to micromanage 50mg of testosterone, I don’t care, have fun as an hobby optimizing away and if someone says Im running too much, I also don’t care. Theres nothing wrong with it and if it keeps guys out of the emergency room, good. People are allowed to be more and less risk averse.

It’s not a pissing contest