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badexilw
𝙉𝙀𝙐𝙍𝙊𝙏𝙔𝙋𝙄𝘾𝘼𝙇 𝙉𝙊𝙒
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- Jan 24, 2025
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BEGINNER FAQ
Can I Just Do An Oral Only Cycle?
You can. Should you? Absolutely not. Oral steroids are going to suppress your natural Testosterone production hard.ALL steroid cycles need to be taken together with a base of Testosterone to replace your natural production, which will be shut down.
Without a Testosterone base, you will feel weak, tired, depressed, low libido, erectile dysfunction, muscle loss and weakness—all the symptoms of low testosterone.
As you won't have any Testosterone to support the muscles you're building, you'll lose all your newfound, hard-earned gains just after you've gotten them.
What About A Prohormone Or Designer Steroid Cycle?
Again. You can. Should you? Probably not. Prohormones & Designer Steroids are going to suppress your natural Test pretty hard.You need to take ANY CYCLE* together with a base of Testosterone to replace your natural production, which will be shut down. Without a testosterone base you may find you don't feel the best or you feel symptoms of low testosterone.
Prohormones & Designer Steroids are no better (or even worse in some cases) than using a traditional oral steroid. The supplemental PCT crap they sell with these Prohormones is predominantly bogus stuff and if you choose to do a Prohormone / Designer Steroid cycle, you should at least look into getting a SERM (like Nolvadex/Clomid or the sorts) for a real PCT. You should consider reading through this Wiki and doing a real cycle, complete with Testosterone, as you'll find better results, as well as feeling better overall too.
I don’t feel anything from it.
You won’t necessarily feel different on gear. I don’t, regardless of what compound/dose I’ve used, I always feel the same, laid back and easy-going. When you read about people feeling superhuman when they start injecting a bit of Testosterone, the chances are they’ve suffered from low Test without necessarily realising for their whole lives and are finally experiencing normality, which they think feels fantastic.But I’m not getting any side effects!
Good. That’s what you want. You don’t have to suffer from side effects for your gear to be legitimate. Consider yourself lucky. Would you prefer to be covered in acne, bloated and balding to help confirm you’re actually injecting hormones? If you’re asking this question in the first place, the chances are you’re new to using PEDs and using moderate doses of 1-2 mild compounds. It’s more common not to suffer sides at all than it is to be riddled with them with this kind of cycle.I’ve not gained any weight/have gained very little weight!
What’s your maintenance calorie intake? How did you reach this figure? Please don’t say you used a shitty generic online calculator. How active are you day to day? How many calories do you burn during training? Are you doing cardio? Combine all of this. That’s your maintenance calorie intake. If you want to gain weight, you need to be in a calorie surplus daily. Don’t think you’re a special snowflake who will do an insane recomp at maintenance calories during your first cycle. You’ll spend the whole cycle spinning your wheels and have nothing or very little to show for it at the end.But I’m eating roughly 2300-3300 calories every day and still not gaining
Roughly won’t cut it. It needs to be consistent. If you’re spending half of your days at -500 calories and half at +500 calories, you’re at maintenance over the course of the week and that’s why you’re gaining next to nothing. Your surplus needs to be consistent over the week if you wish to gain consistently.My bench press hasn’t suddenly shot up by 50KG..
It won’t. Sure, you’ll gain strength faster than you would naturally. But you’re not going to turn superhuman overnight or even during one full cycle. You need to tailor your routine so it’s focused on progression and work on adding small increments in weight, extra reps or additional time under tension to your lifts each week over the course of the cycle. The small and consistent increments will add up and it’s possible to boost your numbers considerably in 15 weeks, but you’re not going to turn in to Larry Wheels. Look at the volume and frequency of your training and make sure it’s right for you and you’re able to recover in between sessions. Focus on progression. Get rid of all of that junk volume where you’re lifting with little to no intensity and aimlessly trying to pump the muscle thinking it’s going to explode. That kind of training might work for a select few with superb genetics, but you’re better off focusing on the bread and butter and getting stronger over low to moderate volume.I don't feel extremely horny 24/7 and don't want to shag every woman in sight, this must be bunk, right?
Not necessarily, no. It's all a fine balancing act. Your Test could be sky high but your E2 or a range of other different hormones could be slightly out of whack, creating a ratio that your body doesn't like and having a negative impact on your libido. Over time, you'll learn what levels/ratios work for you and help you feel on point and you'll be able to achieve them through a proper dosing schedule/can use blood work to dial them in. Not only that, but your Test levels aren't the only thing that will impact your sex drive. Are you stressed at work? Hate your job? Anxious? Depressed? Worried about the cost of living increasing? Having trouble sleeping? Think your Mrs is having an affair with your mate? You're hardly going to want to shag every woman within a 2 mile radius while you've got dozens of issues and stress bubbling away under the surface. There's more to a healthy libido than Testosterone levels.I haven't been able to replicate (fitness influencer)'s physique even though I've used the same cycle as them, my gear must be bunk!
There are a million things separating your physique from theirs other than your cycle. Your height, weight, frame, insertions, muscle bellies, muscularity, body fat percentage, body fat distribution, calorie/macro/fluid/mineral intake, training volume/frequency/intensity/style and countless other factors will differ from theirs. And what's to say they are being honest about their cycle and dose to begin with? It's common for somebody in the public eye to downplay their cycle/doses to pay homage to their work rate, genetics and consistency. You are naïve if you think you will mimic somebody's exact physique by simply copying their gear protocol.I don’t feel anything, I have zero side effects, my training and nutrition is perfect and I’ve still not gained a single pound
Get bloodwork while on cycle and post your results. If the gear is bunk or severely under dosed, your blood work will show this quite clearly and then we can all agree that the gear is indeed bunk. I’ve been blasting and cruising for upwards of 8 years and I can’t ever recall using any gear that was blatantly bunk and I’ve used every lab under the sun, so I don’t think it’s as common as the constant bunk gear threads are suggesting. If you’re using a compound which won’t show on a blood panel, send a sample to Janoshik or a similar lab for testing. That will identify the exact contents of your gear and you'll know if it's accurately dosed, under dosed or bunk. Most of the time, it’s a training/diet issue and people are blaming it on the gear before accepting they might not be ticking all the boxes. If in doubt and you’re doing everything right, get a blood test or a lab test and you’ll know for sure.Don’t go in to this with your expectations too high. If your diet consists of one solid meal a day and 5 snacks that are fit for a primary school student’s lunchbox, you’re not going to look like Nick Walker any time soon. In fact, you’ll probably never look like him, or even a low level IFBB Pro. Your genetics will dictate 95% of your potential and even if you do EVERYTHING perfectly, you’ll finish your first cycle looking like a slightly thicker, fuller, stronger version of your natural self with slightly rounder delts, more prominent traps and a couple of extra veins running down your upper arm when you’ve got a good pump. Maybe 1 in 50 of you will be a great responder and finish the cycle looking dramatically different, but you’ll never need to ask this question because it’ll be clear your gear is real from the offset.
The Basic Bulk
The Basic Bulk, that is recommend, is a 12–20 week cycle of Testosterone while running a moderate calorie surplus with emphasis on gaining as much lean muscle tissue as possible and progressively adding weight to your lifts.Testosterone is a powerful tool, if used correctly and can put on a good +4-8 lbs of LEAN mass (excluding water and fat gain) over the course of 16 weeks. Testosterone is a relatively mild compound that causes little to no issues with side effects. Again, most potential side effects can be avoided entirely if the cycle is followed correctly and the proper precautions are taken. We expect 20ish pounds to be gained on average over the course of a cycle. 5-8lbs will drop off at the end (water retention and glycogen), and hopefully the rest will be a split of fat and muscle gain.
What You Will Need
Essentials
- Testosterone Enanthate or Cypionate - 4 x 10 mL Vials (generally dosed 250-300mg per mL)
- An Aromatase Inhibitor (AI) like Arimidex or Aromasin
- PCT Medication
Recomended PCT - Syringes and Needles
|--- Luer Lock Syringes
|--- 21g Needles (0.5" to 1.5") for drawing
|--- 25g-31g Needles (1" to 1.5") for injecting Glutes
|--- 25g-31g Needles (0.5" to 1") for injecting anywhere else (Not necessary if only injecting Glutes.)
|--- Alcohol swabs
Optional Items
- An Oral Steroid
- HCG
|--- Bacteriostatic Water - SERM in case of a gyno flair-up
|--- Raloxifene
or
|--- Nolvadex
Why 4 Vials of Testosterone?
On a lot of forums the first cycle advised to new steroid users is 10-12 weeks. 10 weeks is slightly too little. 12 weeks is fine, but you will have Test left in the vial. For this reason, you may go up to 16–20 weeks. Given this is your first cycle and will likely yield some of the most dramatic results, (assuming diet, training and rest are on point) you want to strike a balance between maximizing your gain and minimizing the time it will take to recover from the cycle and any potential side effects. It is always recommended to at least PCT for your first cycle vs. Blast & Cruise (this is explained in the PCT section of this page below).Testosterone Enanthate Or Testosterone Cypionate?
What's The Difference?Approximately nothing. Definitely nothing that is going to make a difference in choosing one or the other for our purposes. Read the specifics below:
- The ester weights are almost identical, with Cypionate being ever so-slightly heavier.
Meaning there is ever so-slightly more actual testosterone hormone (~1%) in Enanthate. - The terminal half-life is also almost identical.
Enanthate is 4.5 days.
Cypionate is 5 days.
This will result in ever so-slightly more stable bloods with Cypionate. - For some, they may experience a slight difference in potential Post Injection Pain (PIP). This is due to Cypionate having a higher melting point than Enanthate, making Cypionate more prone to being able to cause PIP. This all depends on how your Testosterone was brewed by your source/supplier
Testosterone Peaks
Blood serum concentrations quickly rise to supraphysiological levels.
- Testosterone Enanthate levels have been shown to peak as soon as ~6-10 hours after injection.1
- Testosterone Cypionate has been shown to have pharmacokinetics very similar to the pharmacokinetics of Enanthate, with peak serum concentrations occurring shortly after injection.1
- Just because your T levels are high doesn't mean you'll transform into The Hulk overnight. Enhanced protein synthesis is directed from the cell nucleus and is a long-term recursive metabolic process.
- Testosterone E and C both take between 14-19 days to fully saturate, depending on your individual metabolism.
- You probably will start noticing enhanced recovery and mild weight gain around Weeks 3–4.
- You probably won’t notice much aside from greater recovery unless you had low T levels to begin with.
- Arimidex or Aromasin?
- If you choose Arimidex: Just be aware the blood levels of Arimidex can drop a bit when used alongside Nolvade
- f you choose Aromasin: TAKE IT WITH FASTS
How Much AI Do I Need?
Hopefully none!How much AI is required can vary from person-to-person, as a guide it advised you get bloodwork to dial in your dose. You will basically need to use trial and error to find your ideal AI dose to get your Test:Estrogen balance at your personal ‘sweet spot.’ There is no universal test:estrogen ratio, as everyone has different conversion rate, receptor population and density, metabolism of the hormones, etc. Some users don't need any AI at all. For users that do have elevated estrogen issues confirmed by side effects and/or bloodwork, MOST users will find 0.5 mg of Arimidex or 12.5 mg Aromasin E3D or E3.5D to be a good dose. Some may need more frequent (EOD) dosing. Some may even need less than E3.5D. But never take AI pre-emptively.
Some don't need any AI at all. This is something that varies widely from person-to-person.
REMEMBER: Get bloodwork to dial in the AI dose you may need.
When Should You Start Your AI?
There are two different trains of thought:- Dose preventatively (i.e., before you get high bp, spicy nips, etc.)
- Dose only when you start to notice sides (acne, bloating/water retention, high blood pressure, nips that are a bit zesty) (PREFERRED)
Putting It All Together.
- Assuming you are a healthy eugonadal male
- Assuming you’re using Test E or C
- Assuming you are of decent BF% (ideally less than 15%)
- Assuming that you are a young male (20s-30s).
- Assuming pre-cycle blood work did not show that you have borderline out-of-range high E₂ to begin with.
- You would typically start to experience high estrogenic sides somewhere after your third injection.
If you're injecting on Mondays and Thursdays:
- You do your first AAS injection on Monday
- You would start your AI only if showing unambiguous sides on or after the following Monday's injection
Injecting Your Gear
- Use A Draw Needle: Without one, you will dull your pin needle to the point that it'll be very painful and potentially give a pip.
Note: If your syringes come with the needles already attached, order the drawing needle to come on them. Otherwise, you'll have to switch needles, more than necessary. Close up view of a needle after penetrations. - Clean The Vial: Wipe top of the vial with an alcohol pad/swab and let dry.
- Draw Air: Uncap the needle and fill the syringe with as much air as you plan to withdraw in liquid. (i.e. If you plan to inject 1.5 mL/cc of liquid, you will draw 1.5 mL/cc of air.)
- Inject The Air Into The Vial: Inject the air into the vial to create positive pressure inside the vial. This will assist and make drawing easier.
- Draw The Liquid: Draw your required mL/cc of liquid while ensuring to keep the needle point in the liquid.
- Change To Your Injection Needle: Cap the drawing needle and remove the drawing needle from the syringe. Attach your injection needle to the syringe.
- Clean The Area: Clean the area you want to inject with a new alcohol swab in an outward going circular motion and let dry. Uncap your injection needle.
- Inhale, Then Exhale Slowly: Inhale deeply, and while exhaling insert the needle. This serves to decrease the chances of muscle spasms.
- Insert The Needle: Insert needle in a fast and precise motion, push needle in until 2 mm or so is exposed.
- Aspiration (OPTIONAL): Gently draw (pull) back on the plunger by a few millimeters. If no blood enters the barrel, proceed. If blood pours into the barrel, see [Aspiration]( )
- Push The Plunger: Push the plunger on the syringe, injecting the liquid into the muscle slowly and smoothly.
Note: As a general rule of thumb, always inject slowly; take 30 seconds per mL. - Pull The Needle Out: Pull the needle out and cap it, then swab the area with a alcohol pad/swab.
- Legally Dispose: Dispose of your medical sharps (needles) properly.
Note: Find out how to legally dispose of your pins.
Suggested Orals
- Anavar (Var) is considered a dry compound, which means that it doesn't convert to estrogen. It also doesn't convert to DHT. Strength increases are common and mixed with less than dramatic weight gains. The compound is very beneficial to athletes participating in sports that have weight divisions, or where extra weight can be a hindrance.
- Turinabol (Tbol) is considered a "dry" compound, which means that it doesn't convert to estrogen. It also doesn't convert to DHT. It is also one of the most "side-effect free" compounds, but it is also not known for putting on as much potential mass as Dbol or Adrol. You should still review the compounds side effect profile. It does still affect lipids negatively, but most oral steroids do.
- Anadrol (Adrol) is considered a "dry" compound, which means that it doesn't convert to estrogen. Despite this, individuals using this compound will often report pronounced estrogen related side effects such as gynecomastia and water retention, among others. (Sides.)
- Dianabol (Dbol) is a very "wet" compound, which means that it converts to estrogen and at a high rate at that. It is highly recommended to use an AI from day one of this cycle in order to prevent heavy water retention, gynecomastia, and other high estrogen side effects. (Sides). Don't use Dianabol unless you know how to manage E2, or you can afford the extra time and attention to properly dial it in. For this reason it's oft-best left mid-cycle, or as a finisher when you have your E2 under control, unless you can commit to the added estrogen management from the start.
- For up to 6 Weeks: Anavar (Var), 30–50 mg, ED or
- For up to 6 Weeks: Turinabol (Tbol), 40–50 mg, ED or
- For up to 6 Weeks: Anadrol (Adrol), 50–100 mg, ED or
- For up to 6 Weeks: Dianabol (Dbol), 30–50 mg, ED
Dosing
- Weeks 1-15: Testosterone E or C, 250 mg every 3 or 3.5 days (E3D or E3.5D) for a total of 500 mg per week.
- Weeks 16-17: Nothing (This allows the exogenous testosterone to clear your body to a reasonable amount).
- Weeks 18-Til: Whatever PCT protocol you choose.
- Throughout Cycle (or at least on hand): An AI like Arimidex or Aromasin. Again, dosing is user dependent and you should get blood work to dial in your dose, but MOST users will find .5 mg of Arimidex or 12.5 mg Aromasin E3D or E3.5D to be a good starting dose. Some may need more frequent (EOD) dosing or some may even need less than E3.5D; this is really something that varies person-to-person too much. Watch out for signs of low or high estrogen - especially high estrogen, like excessive bloating or itchy nipples.
