sokurovsky
New Member
Howdy Meso,
Been a member here for a few months, and was initially mostly interested in sourcing peptides. A bit of my story is in my intro post.
So my partner has been on female HRT for a while now due to some medical issues, and I watched how HRT and GLP-1s completely transformed her body and life. Just over a year ago, I was in a fucking miserable place, and have no doubt my test was completely bottomed out. I was grouchy, overweight, sedentary, isolating, pallid, struggling with libdio, drive, motivation, no ambition, irrational fear, chasing dopamine, unhealthy mind state, all of it.
So less than a year ago, made the leap to GLP-1s (sema at first, tirz next, and just started low dose reta for maintenance and the metabolic boost.) Within a few months, once I'd gotten down to my pre-pandemic weight, started training/lifting in earnest. Also jumped down the nootropic rabbit hole, trying to find alternatives to pharma stims (vyvanse) which I've been prescribed on and off since my mid 20s for ADHD.
Stims can be great, but they really wreak havoc on the brain and body with long term use. But the more I dug into this topic, and the more peptides and compounds I tried, the more the hormone question came up. Checked my levels (just total test from GP panel) back in Feb, and my levels were ~600.) So I thought, "I'm good, no need to go on TRT just yet."
The training intensity and focus really ramped up around this time. Also started using more peps, GH, dialed in the nutrition, natural test boosters, and started ALL the injectable pre-workouts (carnitine, ATP, AMP, carnosine, choline, b vitamins, blends, etc.) Basically, was doing everything but hormones, thinking I could put it off for a few more years and make up the difference with l-carnitine and tongkat ali (lol). However, as my body started to change, and I started to put on honest muscle for the first time in my life, I just kept feeling like the "core" of what I was doing was missing. Even though recovery was solid with GH, other peptides and nutrition, performance at my day job was super inconsistent. Plus, I have a whole other career in the arts outside of the day job.
Decide to do a much more in depth hormone panel through Private MD Labs, and my test was about half of what it had been a few months prior. LH and FSH also low, even estradiol on the low side. I have many theories about why this could be the case (prolonged use of fadogia agrestis for one), but it's ultimately not that important. I'm at the age where I just had to accept that my test wasn't going to get any better. And with how much I was training, and working two separate careers, I was getting closer to making the leap to TRT. And since I'd become so comfortable with injecting, it was probably time to consider it in earnest.
Fast forward a bit, and started HCG monotherapy to gauge my response. And within a few weeks, titrated up the dose to ~600iu, 3x/week. Noticed a significant improvement in baseline health, mood, well being, libido. I start to remember what 'spontaneous joy' feels like. Decide it's time to try TRT.
Start working with Ryan's clinic (HFM - this is not a shill post) despite having ordered a few kits of oils (Sust 250 and Test E) from GGB. Realize the CN oils are likely laden with solvents, and decide to wait for the pharma test cyp to start TRT in earnest. Fast forward to today, and decide today is the day (since this is part of my normal HCG dosing protocol.)
First injection went smooth. Dorsol gluteal. Starting on an actual TRT dose (160mg/week - split MWF.) since this is my first time w/ exogenous androgens. Went for a long bike ride after and definitely feeling that dull PIP up and down my leg, so I know I hit muscle. (Feels a lot like doing a quad shot, which I'm not a fan of.) First time doing an oil based injection, so was expecting to feel some PIP as the muscle adjusts. Will likely rotate through ventrogluteal, dorsal gluteal and deltoids (quads not worth it.)
No real changes to report yet, but I'll likely maintain this post as some sort of public journal. Not sure if I'll continue the HCG, but will prob take the dose down to 250iut, 3x/ week if I do.
Did have a question for you all:
Since I stocked up on oils (Sust 250 and Test E) which I will filter before use, was wondering what you guys think about using different esters like this when first starting TRT. My gut says it's not a good idea, and I should just dial in for a few weeks on pharma test cyp. I've just always been so curious about sustanon, and have read that Test E is a much simpler ester, and likely more effective that test cyp. Wdyt?
Been a member here for a few months, and was initially mostly interested in sourcing peptides. A bit of my story is in my intro post.
So my partner has been on female HRT for a while now due to some medical issues, and I watched how HRT and GLP-1s completely transformed her body and life. Just over a year ago, I was in a fucking miserable place, and have no doubt my test was completely bottomed out. I was grouchy, overweight, sedentary, isolating, pallid, struggling with libdio, drive, motivation, no ambition, irrational fear, chasing dopamine, unhealthy mind state, all of it.
So less than a year ago, made the leap to GLP-1s (sema at first, tirz next, and just started low dose reta for maintenance and the metabolic boost.) Within a few months, once I'd gotten down to my pre-pandemic weight, started training/lifting in earnest. Also jumped down the nootropic rabbit hole, trying to find alternatives to pharma stims (vyvanse) which I've been prescribed on and off since my mid 20s for ADHD.
Stims can be great, but they really wreak havoc on the brain and body with long term use. But the more I dug into this topic, and the more peptides and compounds I tried, the more the hormone question came up. Checked my levels (just total test from GP panel) back in Feb, and my levels were ~600.) So I thought, "I'm good, no need to go on TRT just yet."
The training intensity and focus really ramped up around this time. Also started using more peps, GH, dialed in the nutrition, natural test boosters, and started ALL the injectable pre-workouts (carnitine, ATP, AMP, carnosine, choline, b vitamins, blends, etc.) Basically, was doing everything but hormones, thinking I could put it off for a few more years and make up the difference with l-carnitine and tongkat ali (lol). However, as my body started to change, and I started to put on honest muscle for the first time in my life, I just kept feeling like the "core" of what I was doing was missing. Even though recovery was solid with GH, other peptides and nutrition, performance at my day job was super inconsistent. Plus, I have a whole other career in the arts outside of the day job.
Decide to do a much more in depth hormone panel through Private MD Labs, and my test was about half of what it had been a few months prior. LH and FSH also low, even estradiol on the low side. I have many theories about why this could be the case (prolonged use of fadogia agrestis for one), but it's ultimately not that important. I'm at the age where I just had to accept that my test wasn't going to get any better. And with how much I was training, and working two separate careers, I was getting closer to making the leap to TRT. And since I'd become so comfortable with injecting, it was probably time to consider it in earnest.
Fast forward a bit, and started HCG monotherapy to gauge my response. And within a few weeks, titrated up the dose to ~600iu, 3x/week. Noticed a significant improvement in baseline health, mood, well being, libido. I start to remember what 'spontaneous joy' feels like. Decide it's time to try TRT.
Start working with Ryan's clinic (HFM - this is not a shill post) despite having ordered a few kits of oils (Sust 250 and Test E) from GGB. Realize the CN oils are likely laden with solvents, and decide to wait for the pharma test cyp to start TRT in earnest. Fast forward to today, and decide today is the day (since this is part of my normal HCG dosing protocol.)
First injection went smooth. Dorsol gluteal. Starting on an actual TRT dose (160mg/week - split MWF.) since this is my first time w/ exogenous androgens. Went for a long bike ride after and definitely feeling that dull PIP up and down my leg, so I know I hit muscle. (Feels a lot like doing a quad shot, which I'm not a fan of.) First time doing an oil based injection, so was expecting to feel some PIP as the muscle adjusts. Will likely rotate through ventrogluteal, dorsal gluteal and deltoids (quads not worth it.)
No real changes to report yet, but I'll likely maintain this post as some sort of public journal. Not sure if I'll continue the HCG, but will prob take the dose down to 250iut, 3x/ week if I do.
Did have a question for you all:
Since I stocked up on oils (Sust 250 and Test E) which I will filter before use, was wondering what you guys think about using different esters like this when first starting TRT. My gut says it's not a good idea, and I should just dial in for a few weeks on pharma test cyp. I've just always been so curious about sustanon, and have read that Test E is a much simpler ester, and likely more effective that test cyp. Wdyt?
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