I think of it this way. We can not talk about healthy since we do what we do. But we can minimize risk! And the risk exists even when TRT doses are being administered. In many cases it might not make a big difference but technically speaking, less risky is not the same as risk free. Even technicality putting aside and looking at simple physics it still makes sense. For example, Your optimal RBC is 14 by nature. Now on Blast its 16. I don't care if it is still within the normal range it is increased form the baseline which it was 14 (YOURS individual base by nature and most OPTIMAL) Now you reduce to TRT and that number falls to 15 in 4 weeks time. But, if you use no test at all, RBC goes down to your OPTIMAL 14 in one week time. Thus, you body uses this 3 week time to keep HPTA from going dormant, keep control of Homeostasis, thinner blood will flow which is a lot better and I myself can tell you that there is a big difference even in 2 points. Thinner blood = less stress on heart which is already in overdrive due mass increase. Those 3 weeks might not seem much but if you count you have to do 4 blasts a year that's 12 weeks (REMEMBER those numbers are as example and might be even more depending on how quick body goes from higher numbers to OPTIMAL)
I assume your numbers are related to Hemoglobin and not RBC, but same point. You are making 2 big assumptions though, neither of which are necessarily correct:
1. You assume that levels go back to normal faster coming off compared to TRT
2. You assume one's natural levels are optimal.
Regarding the first, this is not necessarily so. As shown by my blood work my HDL was back to 48 within 3.5 weeks of 100 Test E + 100 Mast E, and that HDL level is where I am normally at. Without the Mast E (only tried that once with the TRT but wouldn't again) it may have gotten back to that even faster, so at least in my experience it's similar, although I won't say it's exactly as fast....but it seems close enough to make nearly no difference.
Also, if I was doing 4 cycles per year I wouldn't even bother with TRT because you'd really only be able to be off for 4 weeks or so in-between those cycles meaning you'd still have TRT (or higher) levels of AAS in your system so adding TRT on top of that would be unnecessary to keep levels up.
Regarding your second assumption, just because the body is naturally at one level does not mean it is optimal for that person, hence why many people try to change what they are naturally at when it comes to Hb/Hct/RBC, blood pressure, T levels, etc. For instance if you look at my blood work my hemoglobin levels are actually low, and I have had blood work off cycle showing low Hb/Hct/RBC (and other blood work showing low-normal for these values). That is not necessarily a good thing and many doctors would say that low or too much lower would be less healthy compared to middle range for various reasons (one could google anemia to find those reasons). Same with blood pressure, if my natural blood pressure is 90/60 and TRT brings it up to 100/70, for example, that does not mean it is worse. In fact it could be healthier up to a point. So, again, the body's natural set points of values is not necessarily the healthiest or any healthier than other values within a certain range (of course there are points where it does become less healthy, but I have not gotten close to those with TRT personally).
With all that said again I understand that some people will not accept this because it contradicts their goals of bodybuilding. I myself was in the same boat 10 years ago, I was in self-denial. I was told this by a 58 year old guy who himself used AAS for over 30 years. Not only he spoke from experience but as a Doctor of Sports Medicine. He's been long on TRT and he told me to do my best as too hold off my use, however I didn't listen to him. His words were simple: If I don't make a living off my look I shouldn't play this game. I too thought that this is for life and he insisted I take at least yearly break for 3-4 months. I didn't listen and this break consisted of 150mg of test. Did it make it more "unhealthier"? Judging from my diagnostic last year, probably it was "unhealthier". Judging from how I felt on TRT and how I feel now - 100% positive I am more healthier now. Judging from my European friends who take breaks - they look just as good when on but with functional HPTA, no athlete's heart or enlarged livers (I used orals only twice and last time was 8 years ago). So judging from my overall experience - YES it is better for me to take breaks from now on if I decide to use PED's again.
Ok, I thought that you did cycles only with no TRT and total time was about 2 years behind your belt. Did I miss something?[/B]
Been on TRT in between cycles 2-3 times now, comparing to ~4 times coming completely off
No I don't plan anything for that. I was told by a doc that it will come back (if there was anything in the first place). In case it doesn't come back he said HCG, HMG and clomid will make it work.
OK cool, glad to hear he doesn't seem too concerned about it and it shouldn't be an issue.
Used orals only twice. Dbol and Drol. Per recommendation of my friend (old doctor who uses AAS) I stopped all orals 8 years ago. From injects it was anything under the sun. From Primo to Tren. My liver values were the worst on Tren.
How high did you take your doses over the years? I occasionally get tempted to throw tren back in the mix for sure, but my blood work showed it crashed HDL pretty hard and even though it was an injectable it raised my liver enzymes too, so I will have to avoid it along with the orals.
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