I'm curious what you guys think about the risks of running a cycle for a fit guy at 52. I'm 6' tall, 190 lbs, and sitting around 10-12% body fat - my top two rows of abs are clear and the third is starting to show. Strength-wise, I just hit 315 for 7 on squats and 255 for 9 on the bench last week. My vitals seem solid too, with an average HRV of 56, VO2 max at 46, and a resting heart rate of 48.
I'm really just looking to add about 10 lbs of keepable tissue. To make that happen, I figured I’d need to gain about 20-25 lbs before heading into PCT. My natural test was actually at 730 a few months ago, so I'm starting from a good spot. I'm not trying to do anything insane, just looking for some steady progress.
man at 52 with a natural 730 test level you are basically a genetic freak lol. honestly you're in better shape than most 25 year olds i see at my gym. the risk is definitely there especially for your prostate and hair at that age but if your heart health is that good you're starting from the best possible position.
315 for 7 on squats at 52? absolute beast. if i were you id really think twice about pct though. at your age coming off a cycle might be way harder on your body than just committing to trt afterwards. losing those "keepable" gains during pct is a real gamble when youre over 50.
honestly with a natural level of 730 i wouldnt even touch the gear man. you’re already killing it and 10 lbs of tissue at 10% body fat is gonna be hard to hold onto once you stop the cycle. have you tried just bumping up the calories first since your test is already so high?
stay on top of those bloods! at 52 the main thing you gotta watch is your hematocrit and blood pressure once the gear kicks in. you're super fit but gear can put a lot of stress on the pipes. definitely keep an eye on that resting heart rate to make sure it doesnt skyrocket.
20-25 lbs in one cycle is a lot to ask for at 52 without some serious bloat. you might find it easier to just do a long slow "lean bulk" with a low dose of test. no need to blow up like a balloon just to lose half of it in pct anyway.
vo2 max of 46 is solid man you clearly put in the cardio work. just a heads up that some compounds can absolutely tank your endurance and hrv so keep an eye on those metrics once you start. it’d be a shame to lose that cardiovascular health just for a bit more bicep peak.
you say you're not trying to do anything insane which is the right mindset. stick to a simple test only cycle for your first go and see how you respond. with your stats already being that good you probably dont need much to get that extra 10 lbs of muscle you're looking for.
i love seeing guys in their 50s still pushing it hard! just remember that recovery isn't the same as it was in your 20s. the gear helps for sure but your tendons and ligaments are still 52 years old- dont get too carried away with the new strength or youll end up with a tear.
pct at 52 is a bold move brother. most guys our age just transition into trt because the natural restart can be a total nightmare. if you really want to keep those gains you might want to look into just cruising on a lower dose after the blast.
wait 730 natural?? i'm 30 and i'm jealous as hell haha. you're already at the top of the food chain man. if you do go through with it just make sure you have your ai on hand and get your prostate checked before and after. stay safe out there!
