20y first ever cycle!!

[pollos999]

Wasup,

i'm 20 years old and I have been in the gym for about 1 and a half years. I started with 55kg bodyweight ( yea very skinny) and now I'm at ca. 74kg because I basically bulked through the whole time, but my abs are still visible and I have that "shredded" look. I'm also 177cm tall.

I really wanted to do a cycle for my whole time in the gym now but I wanted to wait and gain experience first but now I'm at a time where I'm gonna be home for some time and now would be the best time to start really.

My diet at the moment: 5000-6000 kcal, 196g protein, 256g carbs and 70g fat per day

I'm still not 100% sold on how my first cycle should completely look like and I'm also open for tips or advice in general.

But this is what I came up with at the moment:

12-15 week cycle
500mg test enanthate (split into two 250mg injections on monday and thursday) per week

250iu HCG 2x week (on the same day as the test injects)

Arimidex 0.5mg only if side effects (maybe start that anyway at week 3-4 just because)

Nolvadex 10-20mg a day Only if gyno is an issue (I have now very very slightly puffy nipples so maybe thats gonna be a problem)

For PCT:

Weeks 14-16 Nolva 40mgs a day
Weeks 17-18 Nolva 20mgs a day

And of course I'll do bloodwork before cycle and between weeks 5-6 and post cycle !!

Any thoughts or improvements ?

 

[pollos999]

Oh I forgot

The goal is to build around 6-14 kg of overall mass (preferably muscle only haha). I also don't care about water retention as long as it doesn't really affect my look thaaaat much. I go for a bulky and full but still shredded look - just big yk. It's not about getting the leanest for now.

 

[Donvitosharkone]

Oh I forgot

The goal is to build around 6-14 kg of overall mass (preferably muscle only haha). I also don't care about water retention as long as it doesn't really affect my look thaaaat much. I go for a bulky and full but still shredded look - just big yk. It's not about getting the leanest for now.

Bro, let me level with you. You’ve only been in the gym for a year and a half, and in that time you went from 55 kg to 74 kg, stayed lean, and you’re eating 5–6K calories like nothing. That alone tells me you’re responding insanely well. Most guys train for years and don’t grow half as fast as you are right now.

You’re 20. You’re basically sitting on the hormonal equivalent of rocket fuel already. Touching gear right now doesn’t turn you into a superhero, it just shuts down something that’s working perfectly and isn’t even fully stabilized yet. Once you break that system, you don’t always get it back the same way.

And honestly, your plan shows the typical first-cycle hype syndrome: numbers copied from YouTube or Reddit, but not enough understanding of how your own body works yet.

500 mg test for a first cycle? With borderline puffy nipples already? Not ideal, bro.

You still don’t have the basics fully built. Your joints, tendons, movement patterns, strength foundation… all of that is still developing. Gear pushes the muscle faster than your structure can handle, and that’s how injuries happen.

Let’s be real about your goals too.

Going from 74 to around 80–82 kg lean doesn’t require PEDs at all. You can do that naturally with the calories you’re putting down and a correct macro setup.

Speaking of macros: 5000–6000 kcal with only 70 g fat is not doing your hormones any favors. That needs to come up massively. Something like:

• 200+ g protein
• 350–450 g carbs
• 120–150 g fat

Much healthier base, and your training will skyrocket long before you need drugs.

If you actually wait another year or so, get your big lifts up, build consistency, fix your macros, keep growing like you already are, then a small test-only cycle at 250–300 mg/week will hit you much harder and much cleaner. And you’ll be doing it with a foundation your body can handle.

To answer your questions quickly:

Cycle length? 10–12 weeks if you ever run test only.

How long between cycles? Time on = time off + PCT. Ideally more.

Add another compound? No. Not on a first cycle. Ever.

Home bloodwork kits? Depending on your country, yes. Otherwise go to a lab. Way more accurate.

Look, I get the excitement. Everyone wants to speed things up. But you’re already doing incredibly well naturally, and you’re nowhere near your limit. You’ve got the genetics and the drive, don’t burn them out early. When you eventually touch gear, you’ll be in a far better place.

If you want real guidance, drop your training plan, full diet, bloodwork and pics, and I’ll help you set this up in a way that keeps you growing without wrecking anything at 20.

Shark

 

[pollos999]

Alright, thank you for the elaborate response bro! Really appreciate it!

And I actually got the numbers a bit wrong on my diet there, ion know why I didn't check them again when I wrote the entry.
I actually eat 153g of fats, 756g carbs (which I almost never rlly hit fully) and 275g of protein. sry for the mix up there.

And to your advice: Yea I know that 500mg test was a bit high and that I maybe should start with 250-300 like you said. I just wanted to see what an "expert" on here thought of that yk.

Moreover, I don't really believe in the aspect of "reaching your natural limit" or "train minimum of like 5 years before hopping on".
I think personally that when you figured out your training plan, your diet and if you rlly Love the gym then you can think about stuff like this imo.
I want to maximize myself and feel the best I can and I think hopping on right now would be a huuge improvement to my workouts and my overall life so why not do it. I understand that you shouldnt do anything stupid and thats part of the reason why I came on here.
That "philosophy" may be stupid to some but I like to use cheat codes in life when I get the chance and this is a big one.
I'm not saying all this to convince anybody but so people understand my position.
If I had doubts or anything I wouldn't write dis right now yk.

Anyway, 250-300 it is then (starting 250 of course)!

Oh and I do the bro split and I know that a lotta people find that pretty dumb aswell haha but I worked wonders for me for some reason and I love training like this
More specifically: 5-6 days a week (usually 6)

Mon: Back (lower and upper)
Tue: Arms and Shoulders (triceps, etc. aswell)
Wed: Chest (sometimes I can't train on this day)
Thu: Legs (everything legs)
Fri: Back again
Sa: Arms and SHoulders again
So: Rest, but if I didn't train on Wed then it's Chest day again


And pics? Sure, why not I have some at hand. I'll drop em here:

 

[pollos999]

And thats what I started with haha

 

[SalvatoreCorvus]

Hello.

In fact, the real depth of having experience or having exploited and explored your natural potential is simple.

Bodybuilding is a sport that requires 20 years of training to consider yourself at an advanced level. Many people are beginners between 0 and 5 years of training.

Which means that you don't know how to train effectively yet, no matter the training program I speak from experience.
Especially since the training format doesn't matter too much, what matters is the whole progression strategy that you put in place over the weeks, months and years.

So any use of steroids before a certain experience is just wanting to put a turbo in a 1990 Renault clio. It will be a high cost and risk for little result. There is a lack of learning about intensity, how to manage it, the muscle-brain (neurological) relationship, know your limits, your strengths and weaknesses, etc. You will only gain 10% speed at your level when a person with experience will gain 50% more for example.

It's your body and your decision of course I understand the craze and the passionate side but your way of thinking is still a bit immature and you just want to go faster (or at least try to find a way to go faster). You're the only one you're trying to convince that it's ok .
(young people who have not progressed more with steroid, I have seen thousands of them for years).
It's your decision in the end And I'm not going to try to convince you, I'm just giving you the reality of things and we'll help you according to your need.


That's it for the steroid and training experience part.

For the program you have put in, for me and your experience, one muscle per week is not suit able or the best way.
You are young and you need frequency to learn quickly. Without needing 6 days a week of training, which is far too much.

 

[xccdf]

Alright, thank you for the elaborate response bro! Really appreciate it!

And I actually got the numbers a bit wrong on my diet there, ion know why I didn't check them again when I wrote the entry.
I actually eat 153g of fats, 756g carbs (which I almost never rlly hit fully) and 275g of protein. sry for the mix up there.

And to your advice: Yea I know that 500mg test was a bit high and that I maybe should start with 250-300 like you said. I just wanted to see what an "expert" on here thought of that yk.

Moreover, I don't really believe in the aspect of "reaching your natural limit" or "train minimum of like 5 years before hopping on".
I think personally that when you figured out your training plan, your diet and if you rlly Love the gym then you can think about stuff like this imo.
I want to maximize myself and feel the best I can and I think hopping on right now would be a huuge improvement to my workouts and my overall life so why not do it. I understand that you shouldnt do anything stupid and thats part of the reason why I came on here.
That "philosophy" may be stupid to some but I like to use cheat codes in life when I get the chance and this is a big one.
I'm not saying all this to convince anybody but so people understand my position.
If I had doubts or anything I wouldn't write dis right now yk.

Anyway, 250-300 it is then (starting 250 of course)!

Oh and I do the bro split and I know that a lotta people find that pretty dumb aswell haha but I worked wonders for me for some reason and I love training like this
More specifically: 5-6 days a week (usually 6)

Mon: Back (lower and upper)
Tue: Arms and Shoulders (triceps, etc. aswell)
Wed: Chest (sometimes I can't train on this day)
Thu: Legs (everything legs)
Fri: Back again
Sa: Arms and SHoulders again
So: Rest, but if I didn't train on Wed then it's Chest day again


And pics? Sure, why not I have some at hand. I'll drop em here:

So I agree with the above, but you are progressing extremely nice. At 20, you are in your prime. I took my first "cycle" then, which was a mistake and ended up with low test and life long ED issues just running a Sustanon 250 blend.

Granted I didn't do my homework prior and did NOT pct correctly, but I think my genetics did not play in my favor.

There are possibly other ways that lean into the "safer" regions such as Enclomiphene (boosts natural Testosterone levels without shutting you down), MK-677 (technically not a SARM but increases GH).

Just take my advice when I say f'ing it up now and ending up with lifetime ED problems is ungodly terrible. Plus I'm on TRT for life (without it I'm at about 150ng/dl on a good day).

Stay safe, your looking great!

 

[Donvitosharkone]

Alright, thank you for the elaborate response bro! Really appreciate it!

And I actually got the numbers a bit wrong on my diet there, ion know why I didn't check them again when I wrote the entry.
I actually eat 153g of fats, 756g carbs (which I almost never rlly hit fully) and 275g of protein. sry for the mix up there.

And to your advice: Yea I know that 500mg test was a bit high and that I maybe should start with 250-300 like you said. I just wanted to see what an "expert" on here thought of that yk.

Moreover, I don't really believe in the aspect of "reaching your natural limit" or "train minimum of like 5 years before hopping on".
I think personally that when you figured out your training plan, your diet and if you rlly Love the gym then you can think about stuff like this imo.
I want to maximize myself and feel the best I can and I think hopping on right now would be a huuge improvement to my workouts and my overall life so why not do it. I understand that you shouldnt do anything stupid and thats part of the reason why I came on here.
That "philosophy" may be stupid to some but I like to use cheat codes in life when I get the chance and this is a big one.
I'm not saying all this to convince anybody but so people understand my position.
If I had doubts or anything I wouldn't write dis right now yk.

Anyway, 250-300 it is then (starting 250 of course)!

Oh and I do the bro split and I know that a lotta people find that pretty dumb aswell haha but I worked wonders for me for some reason and I love training like this
More specifically: 5-6 days a week (usually 6)

Mon: Back (lower and upper)
Tue: Arms and Shoulders (triceps, etc. aswell)
Wed: Chest (sometimes I can't train on this day)
Thu: Legs (everything legs)
Fri: Back again
Sa: Arms and SHoulders again
So: Rest, but if I didn't train on Wed then it's Chest day again


And pics? Sure, why not I have some at hand. I'll drop em here:

Bro, I hear you loud and clear. And I’m going to keep it real with you, the same way I would with someone I actually coach.

You’re clearly driven, you eat like a machine, you recover well, you train hard, and your results in a year and a half are way above what most people manage in five. That already tells me your genetics are good and your discipline is even better. So don’t take anything I’m about to say as hate. Take it as someone wanting to see you win long-term, not just for one flashy cycle.

The part where I’m not budging is this: you’re still rushing. Not in a stupid way, but in a “I know what I want so let’s go now” kind of way. And that mindset is strong, but it needs direction.

Your body at 20 is still a sponge. You respond insanely well to food, training, and recovery. You have barely scratched the surface of what your frame can build with minimal hormonal support. Starting with 250 mg Test is the smartest call you’ve made. At your current level, that dose will push you harder, fuller, stronger and more recovered than anything you’ve ever felt. You don’t need more than that yet. If you blast too hard now, you burn future room for progression. You also create sides that force you to “manage” instead of “grow.”

Gear doesn’t replace time under the bar, tendon maturity, and real training years. You’re building the foundation right now. Let it solidify. You’ve already put on 20+ kilos and stayed lean. That’s not normal. That’s potential!!!

And about your philosophy of using “cheat codes” when possible — I get you. Honestly, I do. But even cheat codes work better when the character is properly leveled. If you skip too many stages too early, the stats look good but the structure underneath is weak. Then when you try to push further, things start breaking instead of growing.

Your split? Not dumb at all. If bro split works for you, keep it. The best program is the one you actually love and attack with intensity. But intensity plus patience is what creates monsters.

So yeah, stay on the 250 mg. Run it clean. Build the base properly. You’ll grow like crazy if you keep eating and training the way you do. Later, when your body actually needs more, that’s when the bigger jumps pay off.

You’re already ahead of most guys your age. Slow down just a little so you can go ten times further later. If you want help structuring the 250 mg phase to squeeze every bit of progress out of it, I can walk you through everything.

Keep on rolling mate!

Shark

 

[dasmepo99]

why they start so early with peds Train 10-15 years without it and start in your 30‘s

 

[TrenReplacementTherapy]

why they start so early with peds Train 10-15 years without it and start in your 30‘s

there's something to be said about epigenetic changes and obviously if you are young your body can take more of a beating, not suprising that most pros start in their late teens...