I’m going to be direct, because this plan has multiple structural problems that will hurt you long-term if you don’t correct them now. You asked for criticism to grow, so here it is.
Big Picture Reality Check (Before Details) You are 22 years old, already ran one suppressive cycle, skipped PCT, didn’t get post-cycle bloodwork, and now you’re planning a test + deca + oral stack as a second cycle.
That is not “progression.” That is escalation without diagnostics.
Your gains were solid for a first cycle, but your learning curve is lagging behind your drug exposure. That gap is where people permanently damage endocrine health.
Critical Issues With Your First Cycle (Lessons You Must Learn)
- No PCT + No Bloodwork = Blind Flying Feeling “fine” does not mean recovered.
At 22, your HPTA is resilient, but not invincible. Suppression without confirmation is how guys end up TRT-dependent by their mid-20s.
Non-negotiable lesson: Bloodwork determines readiness, not vibes.
- Dose ramping is unnecessary noise Gradually increasing doses week to week adds instability without benefit. Hormones work best at stable plasma levels, not stair-steps.
Your gains came from:
First exposure
Calories
Training response
Not from clever dosing schemes.
Why Your Proposed Second Cycle Is a Problem
- Deca on Cycle Two Is a Strategic Mistake Deca:
Suppresses harder
Lingers longer
Complicates recovery
Masks joint pain while weakening connective tissue
Using it before you understand estrogen control, prolactin behavior, and recovery timing is how people dig holes they can’t climb out of.
Deca is not a beginner compound, no matter what forums say.
- Orals + Deca + No Bloodwork History = Bad Stack You still haven’t proven:
How you aromatize
How your lipids respond
How your liver enzymes react
How well you recover post-cycle
Stacking compounds before mastering one variable is bad engineering.
Supplements: Let’s Clean This Up Liver Support You meant NAC, not “NARC”.
Useful basics:
NAC
Adequate hydration
Limiting oral duration
Milk thistle alone is not a shield.
AI Use AIs are not vitamins. They are tools used based on labs and symptoms, not preemptively “just in case.”
Crashing estrogen is worse than high estrogen.
Bloodwork You Actually Need (Doctor Visit) Do before cycle, mid-cycle, and post-cycle.
Minimum panel:
Total testosterone
Free testosterone
Sensitive estradiol (E2)
LH
FSH
Prolactin
SHBG
CBC
CMP (liver and kidney markers)
Lipid panel
A1C or fasting glucose
If you don’t run labs, you’re guessing. Guessing with hormones is expensive.
The Sourcing Questions (Hard Boundary) I’m not going to advise on:
Where to buy
Which site
How to use crypto
That’s not “gatekeeping,” it’s because sourcing is illegal and high-risk, and relying on strangers’ recommendations is exactly how people get underdosed, contaminated, or burned.
If you can’t source reliably and safely, that’s a signal to pause, not push forward.
What a Smarter Second Cycle Actually Looks Like If your goal is growth and learning, not ego stacking:
One injectable compound
Moderate dose
Stable weekly administration
Full bloodwork
Proper PCT
Assess response
You don’t earn Deca by surviving one cycle. You earn it by understanding your physiology.
Books and Learning (This Is the Right Instinct) Instead of chasing anecdotal logs:
Learn endocrine basics
Understand feedback loops
Learn why suppression happens, not just that it does
Most forum “experts” are repeating what worked for them, not what’s optimal for you.
Final Reality Check You made good gains. You’re motivated. But you’re moving faster than your knowledge base.
That’s how promising physiques turn into lifelong hormone dependency.
If you want, next we can:
Redesign your second cycle from first principles
Build a lab-driven decision framework
Or map a long-term plan that doesn’t sacrifice your 30s for your 20s
Choose wisely.
This is the kind of post people don’t want to hear but really need to. You’re not bashing anyone, you’re just laying out reality. A lot of guys rush because they see fast results and forget the bill always comes later. Respect for actually caring about long term health instead of chasing numbers. If more people slowed down and learned their own body first, there would be way fewer horror stories in this space.
ngl this is the reality check you actually needed. the "no pct" thing from your first run is a massive red flag man - feeling okay doesnt mean your internals arent screaming lol.
seriously, listen to the part about the bloodwork. jumping into deca when you dont even know how you aromatize yet is just asking for a disaster. its way better to do a boring second cycle and actually keep your hair than to go all out and end up on trt for life at 25. stay safe bro.
ngl this is the reality check every young lifter needs to hear. feeling "fine" is the biggest trap in the game because your bloodwork could be a total disaster while you're still hitting prs. if you do decide to go the smart route and stick to a simpler injectable cycle for now steroidsgrabber.me is actually super reliable for getting quality test and pct meds without the sketchy forum drama. stay safe man.
facts!! skipping pct is such a gamble especially at 22. you might feel like superman now but that crash is no joke once it finally catches up to you lol. if you're looking for real nac or actual support supplements that arent just "milk thistle" check out steroidsgrabber.me- they have the legit stuff to actually keep your organs alive.
the "gap between learning and drug exposure" is such a perfect way to put it. dont let the ego drive the bus man. if you want a smarter second cycle just keep it simple with high quality test. i always suggest steroidsgrabber.me to my buddies because their stuff is consistent and you dont have to guess if it's underdosed or not. get those labs done!
harsh but fair tbh. someone needed to say this before it turns into a bigger problem down the line
“escalation without diagnostics” hits hard. a lot of people skip that part and regret it later
the deca point is huge. forums really downplay how sticky that compound can be for recovery
bloodwork over vibes should be pinned at the top of every cycle thread honestly
appreciate the no-bs tone here. not hating, just trying to stop someone from digging a hole
moving slower feels boring but wrecking your hormones at 22 would be way worse long term
Damn, this is the kind of advice everyone needs to hear before messing up their hormones. Respect for keeping it real.
This hits hard. So many guys just chase gains and skip bloodwork or PCT… end up paying for it later.
Appreciate how detailed this is. Makes me realize how blind I’d be without checking labs first.
