How do you decide in your cycle duration?

[OldManLogan]

Ok here’s the context- I’m not a competitor, so using an event date is not a factor in determining my cycle length. However, I understand the need to cycle then cruise for a length of time to allow the body to recover before doing it again.

So my question is, in order to learn more- what factors do you use to determine your own cycle duration and how long to cruise (assuming you do that), and what your rationale is. Is it determined by your competition schedule primarily? Or personal goal?

Is it simply determined by bloodwork? Any guidelines or rules you follow?
Looking forward to learning from y’all.

 

[Dens228]

My cycles are easy and basic now that I'm older. Grab a pen and paper.......................
Ready?
50 mg of Test E per day, every day, forever.

 

[Flocci]

I go by how i feel, progress, body composition, health/bloods. If thats 12 weeks or 32 weeks, it doesnt make sense to pick an arbitrary timepoint to me. I might not even cruise, just bridge with something like 300-600mg combined AAS depending on what my diet and training is focused towards at that period of time. Im not saying this is how things should be done or that its optimal for longterm health, but we all have our own values and vices in life that makes us take more or less risk. I guess im more on the risky side of things.

Though, lately its been something like titrating up a blast over 20-24 weeks and cruise/bridge for 6-10 week depending on how im responding. Ive heard multiple people talk about their max length where they can push hard is around 20 weeks and from my own experience, thats usually when i notice things begin to stall more, your body is feeling less responsitve, more sluggish and you end up with a less productive couple of weeks versus dialing things back a bit and giving your body some rest, or just a change in direction.

I would look at what your longterm goals are, what you can or cannot sacrifice for the goals you want and assess what you need to keep in check to get there over time without ruining your health and life. It really depends.

 

[GRIM REAPER]

However, I understand the need to cycle then cruise for a length of time to allow the body to recover before doing it again.

The need to cruise is determined by blood work.

So my question is, in order to learn more- what factors do you use to determine your own cycle duration and how long to cruise (assuming you do that), and what your rationale is. Is it determined by your competition schedule primarily? Or personal goal?

None of the above.

When you say "cruise" I think you really mean true "trt".

Those are not the same in our world.
A "cruise" to most that are really in this lifestyle is a minimum anabolic load that allows for health parameters to be reestablished.

Is it simply determined by bloodwork? Any guidelines or rules you follow?
Looking forward to learning from y’all.

Yes. Blood work, progress and how you feel (your tolerance) are the biggest factors.


The short answer as to when to cruise is progress.
Why would anyone discontinue a protocol when it is still producing results?
In my opinion If blood work is good and you feel good, then continue until you plateau.

 

[luki7788]

Ok here’s the context- I’m not a competitor, so using an event date is not a factor in determining my cycle length. However, I understand the need to cycle then cruise for a length of time to allow the body to recover before doing it again.

So my question is, in order to learn more- what factors do you use to determine your own cycle duration and how long to cruise (assuming you do that), and what your rationale is. Is it determined by your competition schedule primarily? Or personal goal?

Is it simply determined by bloodwork? Any guidelines or rules you follow?
Looking forward to learning from y’all.

first of all, answer us the question what your "blast" looks like because I think that's the most important thing

 

[OldManLogan]

first of all, answer us the question what your "blast" looks like because I think that's the most important thing

Oh, I wasn’t specifically asking this for my specific cycle, it was more to understand how you guys think and what you are considering when you decide- knowledge of best practices as it were.

I mean, if you want to give me an opinion, I’ll take it! I’m currently doing 360 Test C, 270 Mast, 150 Primo, 37.5 Anavar preworkout. Just drew bloods today so will have some data soon. I am finally seeing growth and lifts are all going up.

On a side note, decided to add 90 mg Deca a week ago to see if I can get some joint relief in a few weeks, but am now considering pulling it and not risking Deca dick…

 

[luki7788]

Oh, I wasn’t specifically asking this for my specific cycle, it was more to understand how you guys think and what you are considering when you decide- knowledge of best practices as it were.

I mean, if you want to give me an opinion, I’ll take it! I’m currently doing 360 Test C, 270 Mast, 150 Primo, 37.5 Anavar preworkout. Just drew bloods today so will have some data soon. I am finally seeing growth and lifts are all going up.

On a side note, decided to add 90 mg Deca a week ago to see if I can get some joint relief in a few weeks, but am now considering pulling it and not risking Deca dick…

To be honest, it looks like you’ve been listening to too many podcasts and online “experts” — no offense. But this whole setup is way overcomplicated.

Just keep it simple:
Use something like 400 mg of testosterone and 200–300 mg of either Masteron or Primobolan.
No need to use both at the same time.

If you’re in a growth phase, go with Primobolan.
If you’re in a cutting phase, choose Masteron.
You can easily run a cycle like this long-term. If your health markers are fine, I wouldn’t worry about any serious long-term side effects.

Let’s be real — a setup like this can be maintained for years without any issues

 

[GRIM REAPER]

it was more to understand how you guys think and what you are considering when you decide- knowledge of best practices as it were.

Best practices is goal driven.
Best practices is always as it applies to you, individually.
Blood work should have heavy influence on your approach and decisions.

I’m currently doing 360 Test C, 270 Mast, 150 Primo, 37.5 Anavar preworkout. Just drew bloods today so will have some data soon.

I predict your hdl will be lower, much lower.

This stack is too dry.

Why mast and primo?

Why not take anavar every day? The way your doing it is certainly not sparing your blood work.

I am finally seeing growth and lifts are all going up.

Well that's what happens when you're doing everything else right and you increase your dose. So no surprise there.

On a side note, decided to add 90 mg Deca a week ago to see if I can get some joint relief in a few weeks, but am now considering pulling it and not risking Deca dick…

Given your current stack, 90mg of deca a week is not very likely to give you any dick issues.

Joint pain does not surprise me with the combination that you chose.
Like I said above, your stack is very dry.

 

[buck]

For me my cycle length, compounds, dose is determined by the amount of risk to my health that i am willing to take for the goal i am shooting for. Depending on side effects and bloodwork changes can be made.

 

[dimethyl11]

Blood work

 

[madg]

Every thread i go to post @luki7788 has covered everything

Feels good to just read

 

[pins]

My cycles are easy and basic now that I'm older. Grab a pen and paper.......................
Ready?
50 mg of Test E per day, every day, forever.

never go off!

 

[pins]

Ive been juicing since the early 90's and tried every cycle theory known.NEVER going off is the ONLY way!
I once trained with a bodybuilder that competed at the national level. I asked about cycles he said"Never go off"

 

[KingOfSushi]

Goals, progress, bloodwork

 

[null88]

Is blasting 6 out of the 12 months really healthier than taking moderate doses year round?

 

[KingOfSushi]

Is blasting 6 out of the 12 months really healthier than taking moderate doses year round?

So much more context is needed that giving any blanket statement answer to this would just be impossible.

 

[massephase]

what factors do you use to determine your own cycle duration

I have set myself a period of time where I want to give as much as I can to bodybuilding. Let's say roughly a period of ten to fifteen years ... at five years, I plan to reconsider whether my progress was good enough and whether I want to continue. Same thing after ten. At some point in the future, I want to reduce my gear use down to a minimum ... definitely don't want to blast at 58. At least this is the plan.

So my cycle length is 5-20 years. After that it's time for the cruise

 

[dieselbuilder]

On a side note, decided to add 90 mg Deca a week ago to see if I can get some joint relief in a few weeks, but am now considering pulling it and not risking Deca dick…

I use around that much Deca per week. It helps my joints tremendously and I have the opposite of deca dick. It helps me a lot. Try keeping it and seeing how YOU respond. I would have tried deca before (started over a year ago) but I was worried about deca dick…

 

[OldManLogan]

Why mast and primo?

Why not take anavar every day? The way your doing it is certainly not sparing your blood work.

Given your current stack, 90mg of deca a week is not very likely to give you any dick issues.

Joint pain does not surprise me with the combination that you chose.
Like I said above, your stack is very dry.

A couple of things here, to give you context-

1) From what I’ve learned, these two compounds seem to have the lowest side risk profiles and are relatively easy to manage. I also am looking for a leaner, dryer look, either some anabolism- but not looking to put on a lot of size.

2) my thought process was that by not taking Anavar daily, I’d get less of a lipid hit. I really really love how it feels when I work out, I love the touch of aggression and strength boost. I ain’t touching Anadrol because I’ll bet I’d love it.

3) Good deal on the Deca, let’s see. Hopefully I won’t get worse moobs either (the price of severe weight loss is loose chest skin, gotta blow my chest up to fill that out better)

4) I should clarify that my shoulder joint issues are due to wear and tear, old age etc., not a new issue due to the compounds. Matter of fact, I can say that it’s improved a bit since I started TRT as well as this initial cycle. That’s why I thought I’d take the potential risk with Deca, since it’s proven to help with that. I’ve heard that EQ might have similar properties, but I am not sure about that. Haven’t done the research dive yet.

 

[dieselbuilder]

. I’ve heard that EQ might have similar properties, but I am not sure about that. Haven’t done the research dive yet.

A few months ago I combined eq and deca. My joints feel so good as do I. 100mg of deca EW and 320mg of eq EW. Try them out on their own so you understand how you feel with them.