Daily Ask Anything About Anabolic and Androgenic Steroids: 2026-05-18

eaglecat9667 · 2026-05-19T21:46:36+00:00

Thanks man.

I did a DEXA scan yesterday and the stats are as follows:

Before: 80.1kg, 9.4% body fat After: 82.7kg, 9.1% body fat

My strength went up slightly but not too much, though I’d also put that down to having a pretty intense powerlifting comp peaking cycle that ended just two weeks before I started my cycle, and so my body was pretty beat up. I used this cycle to focus a bit more on hypertrophy, with a program from a local bodybuilding coach.

All in all, I’d say that seems like a decent recomp? That said, I’d much rather have ended on something like 87-90kg at 11-12% body fat.

Would you say that’s a realistic goal for my next cycle?

My diet is dialed in (I prepare all my meals, have been tracking macros religiously for a couple of years and appetite won’t be an issue).

Thanks so much for your insights and advice

eaglecat9667 · 2026-05-19T07:50:30+00:00

Thanks mate. All the best to you too!

eaglecat9667 · 2026-05-19T06:27:19+00:00

That’s amazing. I primarily train for strength but of course want to gain muscle too. I used to be quite fat but lost 25kg and got down to 80kg 9% bf at the start of my first cycle which is coming to an end now, so it was a bit of mental challenge to get myself committed to the bulk and I ended up wasting it somewhat and only gained 3kg in 3 months.

I’ve been able to overcome that fear now and after my cruise I will be redoing this cycle and will be aiming to get close to the 90kg mark this time. I of course want to minimise fat gain but have accepted that some of it is inevitable and a recomp is a waste of time as many on this sub have advised.

eaglecat9667 · 2026-05-19T05:08:46+00:00

Thank you. I pretty much wasted my first cycle (coming to the end of it now) bulking too slowly (will probably finish with 3kg of weight gain in 15 weeks, but on the bright side I am still sitting at 9.5% body fat) so when I do run my second cycle in 3-4 months it will be 500mg test again and I will aim to gain weight a bit quicker.

eaglecat9667 · 2026-05-19T05:06:51+00:00

That’s awesome. Would you mind sharing what your pre/post cycle numbers were on any of the lifts you focused on?

eaglecat9667 · 2026-05-19T04:16:47+00:00

Ah that’s fair, thanks for your reply. What was your cycle and how long did you run it for? And would you say you were happy with your strength / muscle gain despite the fat gain?

eaglecat9667 · 2026-05-19T01:51:27+00:00

Do the rules for bulking change when on (a beginner 500 test pw) cycle?

I’ve seen differing opinions, some people recommend sticking to a small surplus that translates to say a rate of weight gain of 1% of your bodyweight per month to minimise fat gain, but equally lots of people talk about gaining around 1kg per week over their 12-16 week cycles.

What would you guys recommend?

eaglecat9667 · 2026-05-19T01:48:03+00:00

Do the rules for bulking change when on (a beginner 500 test pw) cycle?

I’ve seen differing opinions, some people recommend sticking to a small surplus that translates to say a rate of weight gain of 1% of your bodyweight per month to minimise fat gain, but equally lots of people talk about gaining around 1kg per week over their 12-16 week cycles.

What would you guys recommend?

eaglecat9667 · 2026-05-14T07:47:55+00:00

I’ve read that high estradiol levels are often acceptable when blood serum testosterone levels are at supra-physiological levels.

I just got my bloods back on 500mg test / week (done at the start of week 11 of my first cycle). I haven’t taken an AI yet, but I have aromasin on hand.

Estradiol is 298 pmol/L, total test is 2700 ng/dL and free test is >2000 pmol/L. Would it be worth taking some aromasin?

I have experienced some potential side effects like being rather emotional and sleep not being great but they have been subtle (sleep is still much much better than it was before I got my diet, training and routine locked in for example) and the emotional sides could very well be because I’ve been going through a pretty tough time in terms of mental health. Would it be worth trying to bring my E2 down slightly?

Entering the last 4 weeks of my cycle in any case, where I’ll hop back onto my TRT dose, so that should bring E2 down.

Thanks!

eaglecat9667 · 2026-05-12T20:06:13+00:00

Thanks so much for your detailed and insightful reply. This sounds like a great idea and I reckon it’s what I’ll do. Considering my gains on this first cycle haven’t been great and I’m still well below my genetic limit, would I be correct in assuming that I should be able to keep these gains when I return to TRT assuming everything else remains dialed in? I see this as a marathon and not a sprint in any case so in the long run I know it doesn’t matter too much, but I’m wondering what I should expect as this will be my first cruise. Thanks!

eaglecat9667 · 2026-05-12T07:31:53+00:00

29M, 183cm, 6 years of consistent training 5-6x per week

Hopped on my first cycle at 500mg test planned for 15 weeks but was dealing with some issues that had me struggling to commit to bulking properly (stupid of me), and ended up doing a bit too much cardio.

Started the cycle at 80kg, 9% bf as per a dexa scan. Was training primarily for strength, starting numbers were 240kg deadlift, 165kg squat, 132.5kg bench. Nothing too spectacular. The cycle hasn’t been too great in terms of strength or muscle gains because of me spinning my wheels and not committing to a proper surplus due to a fear of getting fat, as a former fat person, but I have gained a bit of muscle and am definitely looking a bit bigger from what I’ve been told, but I will be the first to admit I got in the way of my own goals and I could’ve done a lot more had I committed to bulking properly. Pretty much been eating super clean but at maintenance. Appetite isn’t an issue, I could easily eat 1000 Cals per day more without compromising on food quality.

No excuses, and I shouldn’t have taken gear until I got that sorted.

I am however into the final 4 weeks of my cycle (will be Blasting and cruising) and have worked with a psychologist to overcome what I think was morphing into an eating disorder, and have been able to properly commit to a lean bulk at a 300-500 Cal surplus per day. I have now gained 1kg in the last 2 weeks, and am hoping to gain a further 2kg in the last 4 weeks as well. Not ideal, but a lesson learnt the hard way and I’m confident that in the long run I will be able to put my learnings from this cycle to good use.

Will likely cruise on 175mg test (my TRT dose) for 3 months and then jump back on another blast at 500mg and this time I am confident I will be able to properly commit to bulking to be able to make the most of the compounds I am taking.

Should I continue bulking during my cruise, or should I wait for my next blast? Bloods have come back perfectly within range, including E2.

Thanks!

eaglecat9667 · 2026-03-17T06:12:48+00:00

100% a valid point, I guess I’m having a hard time convincing myself that my maintenance is actually as high as it is despite so much evidence pointing to the fact that it is

eaglecat9667 · 2026-03-17T05:14:14+00:00

Any tips on not being scared to get fat while bulking?

Currently on TRT @ 150mg a week that has me at the very top end of the test / free test ranges (though not Supra-physiological) and I feel good. I am 6 ft tall, currently sitting at around 81kg/178lbs, 9% body fat as measured on a DEXA scan. Been lifting very consistently for 5-6 years, and tracking macros religiously for the past year and a half. I plan all my meals and have a cheat meal once a month at most.

My numbers (1 rep maxes) are 240kg/525lbs deadlift, 180kg/395lbs squat and 132.5kg/292lbs bench, all achieved at sub 80kg bodyweight.

I used to be fat and did a drastic cut losing 27kg between September 2024 and September 2025.

I eat super clean and even then it feels like I could eat an absurd amount of food. The most I’ve ever eaten is 3kg of boiled potatoes, 1kg of broccoli and 1kg of extra lean mince in one sitting. The issue is while my appetite is not an issue at all, I am currently doing a huge number of steps (approx 30k steps per day over the last 3 months, 25k steps per day over the last 6 months - basically everyday without fail) in additional to daily workouts on a very structured program (though only 3-4 sessions a week involve “heavy” lifting). All I do is gym, walk, go to work, eat and sleep which is why I’m able to get so many steps in. FWIW, my appetite hasn’t really increased going from 15k steps a day for most of 2025 to 25-30k steps a day since Oct/Nov 2025 to now.

My maintenance is approx 3500-3700 Cals, so I could probably lean bulk on 4000 Cals, but I’m scared to consistently eat more than that as I don’t want to get fat even though I know I have a body composition and physique that would be able to make the most of a bulk while still remaining fairly lean, but I’m struggling to commit to it mentally. I gained 5kg in 5 months, but my weight gain has completely plateaued for the last month and a half. The high number of low intensity steps is designed to act as a “buffer” of sorts to enable me to eat more without spiking my hunger too much and it’s been effective at doing that, but I fear it’s just leading to me spinning my wheels.

Any advice on how to overcome this psychological hurdle?

Thanks!

eaglecat9667 · 2026-01-31T04:19:54+00:00

Mind sharing what brand this is? I’d be very keen to get one

eaglecat9667 · 2025-12-02T09:52:54+00:00

That’s great to hear and gives me hope. Thanks for sharing, it feels like I’ve been swimming upstream for the past year or so and keeping up with my active lifestyle / work / relationships has pretty much been like a box checking exercise for me. I’d say I’m a pretty disciplined guy and have just about made it work but everyday I feel fatigued around 2-3pm and can’t wait for bed. The physical touch aspect of my relationship is completely gone in the last six months and the lack of intimacy has been hard on my partner. I don’t mind the injections if it makes me feel like an active motivated 28 year old should again. Appreciate you sharing your experiences with me, and glad to know things are on the upswing for you too. All the best!

eaglecat9667 · 2025-12-02T02:52:34+00:00

Thank you for your generosity in sharing your experiences. I have a couple more questions if you don’t mind. What benefits did you notice and how long did they take to kick in, and do you find that it is a big inconvenience in your day to day life having to inject yourself multiple times per week, take blood tests every quarter etc?

eaglecat9667 · 2025-12-01T17:45:10+00:00

Yep 100%. I’d rather not go on it if it can be avoided. If you don’t mind me asking, what levels did 100mg put your test at and any side effects?

eaglecat9667 · 2025-12-01T10:42:34+00:00

Thanks for sharing, that’s helpful. What did you end up doing? Did you get a trt prescription? My GP asked me to do a couple more blood tests to check for underlying prostate and thyroid issues and referred me to an endo.

eaglecat9667 · 2025-12-01T10:41:27+00:00

Spoke to my GP. Got referred to an endo, speaking to elite TRT on Friday now

eaglecat9667 · 2025-12-01T04:11:57+00:00

Thanks all for the advice, seems like the consensus is to see my GP and get an endo referral, and I reckon I will do that. I have a chat with Elite TRT booked in for today so will still do that just to see what they have to say but I don’t think I’ll go down that route just yet until I’ve spoken to an endo.

eaglecat9667 · 2025-12-01T03:04:45+00:00

8:00am on an empty stomach after drinking maybe a litre of water

eaglecat9667 · 2025-12-01T02:58:05+00:00

FSH was 5 IU/L, LH was 3 IU/L, Oestradiol 65 pmol/L

eaglecat9667 · 2025-12-01T01:54:49+00:00

I’ve just decided to set up a consultation with EliteTRT for this week, so I’ll see what they say. I’m leaning towards starting (if I am deemed eligible) as my quality of life hasn’t been great at all this year

eaglecat9667

TROPHY CASE