First cycle question - 300mg or 500mg test to start

[MunichMarc]

Hello. Long time reading this forum, first post here. I am planning my first cycle and have done a lot of research. I have test e ready. I am 26 years old and have been training for 4 years. I read that some say start at 300mg to see how you respond, others say 500mg is the standard and going lower is wasting your time. I have anastrozole on hand and nolvadex for PCT. Should I start lower and see how I feel or just go with the standard 500mg? I want to do this properly.

[Marc NL]

500mg and you are well prepared with the PCT already sorted. One thing I would add - keep a log of everything. Weight, mood, energy, libido, strength on main lifts. Your first cycle data is valuable for planning future runs. You will want to compare how you felt at 500mg test versus anything you add later.

[Davo]

500mg is the standard for good reason. At 300mg you are still suppressed but getting less benefit. If your diet and training are dialled in, go 500. Split it twice a week, Monday and Thursday. The anastrozole - have it on hand but do not start it pre-emptively. Wait until you have symptoms or bloods showing elevated E2. A lot of first timers crash their estrogen by taking an AI they did not need.

[Beantown Rick]

500mg is the answer. 300 is just not worth the suppression. Make sure your diet is dialled in before you start - the gear amplifies what you are already doing, it does not fix a mediocre diet. Eat a clean 500 cal surplus, train hard, sleep 8 hours. Simple as that. Good luck with it.

[Jock]

500mg. 300 is a waste of your suppression. You are shutting yourself down either way so you may as well get the full benefit. Test only is the right call for a first cycle. Get your bloods done at week 6 to check E2 and hematocrit. Do not touch the adex unless you have actual high E2 symptoms. Nolva for PCT, standard 4 week protocol.

[Mick AU]

500mg and do it properly. Get bloods at week 6. Eat in a surplus but keep it clean. Do not go crazy with food thinking more is better - you will just get fat. First cycles are special, you respond well to everything at that stage. Enjoy it and use it to build habits that carry through all your future runs.

[Dutchman]

I would suggest 500mg with the caveat that you monitor E2 carefully at the mid-cycle bloodwork. Some individuals aromatise heavily on 500mg test and benefit from a low anastrozole dose of 0.25mg twice weekly. Others run 500mg with no AI needed at all. The only way to know is bloods. Have the anastrozole ready but treat it as a conditional tool, not a routine addition. Good preparation overall - the fact you already have PCT sorted before starting puts you ahead of most first timers.

[BERLINER]

I also start at standard dose. My advice is do not change anything else when you start - same training, same food, just add the test. This way you know what the compound is doing. If you change diet and training at same time you do not know what is causing what. Isolate the variable.

[NYCgains]

500mg no question. 4 years training is enough of a base. Get bloods at week 6, week 12, and 4 weeks post PCT. Keep a log of your weight, lifts, and how you feel each week. First cycle data is valuable and you will want it when planning future runs. Welcome to the game.

[FLbodybuilder]

500mg bro. I ran 400 on my first and wish I had just gone 500. You are young, 4 years training, PCT ready. Just do it properly. Eat at a solid surplus, train hard, sleep 8 hours. The gains will come. Check in here with updates, this forum has a lot of experienced guys who will help you along the way.