u/EvolutionaryError404 — reddlx

I’m 31M, 168 cm, ~61 kg, 11% BF. In my recent bloodwork, my total testosterone is around 610 and estradiol is around 11 (low I know).

I’ve trained on and off for 6+ years, but been consistent for the last ~1.5 years. I have a decent base, nothing crazy.

I’m considering running my first cycle and have narrowed it down to just testosterone. Main reason is it’s more predictable, better understood, and easier to source compared than SERMS in my country.

Plan right now is a 12 week testosterone enanthate cycle to gain around 4 to 5 kg of retained muscle after accounting for water/glycogen loss and PCT muscle losses during the low test period.

I understand I won’t keep anything if training and diet aren’t on point.

Questions

HCG - Is it worth running during the cycle or should I just rely on PCT. If running it, should it be from the beginning or later.

I know the obvious answer is that I can do a lot naturally. I get that I’m way below my genetic potential.

But realistically in 3 to 4 months natural progress for me is maybe around 1 kg of actual tissue if everything is perfect.

I’m trying to understand if the cycle meaningfully changes that outcome or if I’m overestimating what I’ll retain.

PS have PCT ready too.

It’s a play by the American playwright Arthur Miller.

Tbh I didn’t know this was a highly celebrated book of the 20th century. Had only heard of it passingly but never took it seriously. However, I randomly picked it up at a thrift store last week. Don’t know why but thank god, I did.

This is a tragic play based on the events surrounding a dysfunctional family, set in 1940s New York. It talks about the internal dynamics of the Loman family, their grandiose delusions of themselves which are based on highly questionable reading of their own talents/abilities.

Every character is so well described through the things that they choose to speak, it’s brilliant. You can feel the tension and the underlying conceit between the characters.

And it’s all so relatable because it’s about an everyday middle-class family. It doesn’t matter if it’s set in America or that it’s a 75 year old play. Every one of you will relate to its themes, mainly the trappings of the Indian middle class household.

It’s such a short book but man, what a profound story of human relations. One of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

PS Picked up a used copy for Rs 100 in a Bangalore thrift shop.