Still pulling GH 8 weeks out or running it all the way to show day - what is actually working in 2026?

Used to pull my GH every prep at 8 weeks out - was convinced the water retention was going to bury my conditioning in the final weeks. Ran all the way through to show day this last prep at 3-4 IU fasted AM and the final result was measurably better. No retention issues, kept the body composition improvements right up to the end rather than losing that edge coming in. Curious who here is still pulling early and actually has a solid reason for it in 2026 or whether it's just habit at this point.

Pulling GH early was always about water retention close to show day, but at 3 to 4 IU that just isn't the problem people make it out to be. I run mine straight through to show day now, fasted first thing before cardio, and the conditioning in the last few weeks held better than any prep where I pulled it at 8 weeks out. Only thing I'd add is get an IGF-1 test about 4 weeks in. If you're paying GH money you want to know it's actually dosed right before you build a whole prep around it.

Good thread. Running GH straight through prep is the standard now, the old logic about pulling it early for water retention rarely holds at 3-4 IU. If you are paying GH prices, get an IGF-1 test a few weeks in so you know the product is real.

GH through prep has been the move for a while now. 3 IU fasted AM for older guys, 4 IU as the show closes for the younger lot. Bloodwork at week 4 is non-negotiable at GH prices.

I did tried to pull out HGH (pharma Genotropin) 2 weeks out and 10 days out.
2 weeks out: 4.5iu/ day (1.5iu morning, 3iu pre bed)
10 days out: 6iu/day (2iu morning, 2iu preworkout, 2iu pre bed).
No issue to get rid of the water in both case.
Also think dosage frequency might play a role in holding water factor.
If you take in one single dose pre-bed that will lead to higher GH pulse = more water retention= need more time to get ride
That’s my two cents on it

The bit that surprised me running 4 IU fasted AM all the way to show day was how clean the water management actually was. Old logic said you would smooth out close to peak week but at 4 IU it never showed, drained out the same as if I had pulled at 8 weeks. IGF-1 at week 4 of prep is non-negotiable for me now though, paying GH prices and running on faith is dumb when a single blood test confirms what you are actually injecting.

Switched to fasted am two preps ago and never looked back. The water retention thing is overblown at 3-4 iu, the only guys I've seen blow up on gh prep were running 6+ iu without bothering to check igf-1. Pulled an igf-1 at week 4 last prep and it came back at 380, that's where you want to be on 4 iu for show prep. Anything under 250 and you're getting bunked gh, anything over 500 and you're pushing into water territory. The test is cheap and tells you exactly what's happening.