Author Topic: PCT is it necessary?  (Read 2342 times)

Van_Bilderass

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 18279
  • "Don't Try"
Re: PCT is it necessary?
« Reply #25 on: January 04, 2026, 04:17:15 PM »
I’m off for one year now. Quit cold turkey after using for 30 years. Have not done hormone-related BW, but feel pretty normal. Anecdotally, all body functions seem to be working as expected for someone my age. Am planning to run a 3:30 marathon in October at age 56 (I did a lot of running during breaks over the years and have run 4 marathons although the last one was 15 years ago). Hairline has improved dramatically and it feels good to not have to worry about pinning, shady clinics or UGLs, gear quality, infections, etc. I do think a lot about going back on, but for me, the negatives of doing so outweigh the positives - not to mention the thought of quitting again sounds miserable as it wasn’t easy. I’ve also lost all interest in competitive bodybuilding at this point.

How do the joints feel at your age, especially doing that running?

OlympiaGym

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 2168
  • they/them/their
Re: PCT is it necessary?
« Reply #26 on: January 04, 2026, 05:11:01 PM »
How do the joints feel at your age, especially doing that running?

I’m working through some Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis, but otherwise I’m okay. I’m doing strength training three times a week but body weight exercises only for now.

Humble Narcissist

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 34733
Re: PCT is it necessary?
« Reply #27 on: January 05, 2026, 07:51:44 AM »
I’m working through some Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis, but otherwise I’m okay. I’m doing strength training three times a week but body weight exercises only for now.
I've never heard of tendinitis in the Achilles.

joswift

  • Competitors
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 37971
Re: PCT is it necessary?
« Reply #28 on: January 05, 2026, 08:23:19 AM »
I've never heard of tendinitis in the Achilles.

maybe hes a peeping Tom

OlympiaGym

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 2168
  • they/them/their
Re: PCT is it necessary?
« Reply #29 on: January 05, 2026, 10:21:38 AM »
I've never heard of tendinitis in the Achilles.

Google it. My guess is that you haven’t heard of a lot of things.

Van_Bilderass

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 18279
  • "Don't Try"
Re: PCT is it necessary?
« Reply #30 on: January 05, 2026, 04:50:37 PM »
I’m working through some Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis, but otherwise I’m okay. I’m doing strength training three times a week but body weight exercises only for now.

Alright. Recently I've felt a kind of burning sensation on the sides of one heel towards the tendon when taking a step. Hopefully not a precursor to a rupture.

You know marathoners have castrate levels of test right? At least that's what I've read. Have you thought about drugs to assist the running? I'm always thinking of possible chemical solutions and tricks :D Enclomiphene or kisspeptin to keep natural test up, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances and so on. I remember reading maybe 30 years ago about a top marathoner who was in a slump but started winning again after getting on Prozac. The theory was that the symptoms of overtraining and depression are similar and the Prozac solved something at the brain level. Now the mitochondrial booster peptides are all the rage also :D

mops

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 1675
  • Never make snow angels in a dog park
Re: PCT is it necessary?
« Reply #31 on: January 05, 2026, 05:39:09 PM »
Alright. Recently I've felt a kind of burning sensation on the sides of one heel towards the tendon when taking a step. Hopefully not a precursor to a rupture.

You know marathoners have castrate levels of test right? At least that's what I've read. Have you thought about drugs to assist the running? I'm always thinking of possible chemical solutions and tricks :D Enclomiphene or kisspeptin to keep natural test up, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances and so on. I remember reading maybe 30 years ago about a top marathoner who was in a slump but started winning again after getting on Prozac. The theory was that the symptoms of overtraining and depression are similar and the Prozac solved something at the brain level. Now the mitochondrial booster peptides are all the rage also :D

Or this marathoner fella unexpetedly discovered he was actually bipolar after starting fluoxetine

Humble Narcissist

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 34733
Re: PCT is it necessary?
« Reply #32 on: January 06, 2026, 01:28:05 AM »

OlympiaGym

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 2168
  • they/them/their
Re: PCT is it necessary?
« Reply #33 on: Today at 03:28:08 AM »
Alright. Recently I've felt a kind of burning sensation on the sides of one heel towards the tendon when taking a step. Hopefully not a precursor to a rupture.

You know marathoners have castrate levels of test right? At least that's what I've read. Have you thought about drugs to assist the running? I'm always thinking of possible chemical solutions and tricks :D Enclomiphene or kisspeptin to keep natural test up, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances and so on. I remember reading maybe 30 years ago about a top marathoner who was in a slump but started winning again after getting on Prozac. The theory was that the symptoms of overtraining and depression are similar and the Prozac solved something at the brain level. Now the mitochondrial booster peptides are all the rage also :D

You don’t need to overtrain to hit the time goal I’ve set. A few peak 50 mile weeks in the buildup to the race should be sufficient for me to hit 3:30. Overtraining sets in when you start trying for a lower time and hit 70+ weeks. Having said that, since coming off, I have been using many OTC supplements to try and create the best possible environment to restore my natural test levels. Anecdotally, Boron, which is supposed to increase your free test levels seems to be somewhat effective at 10 mg a day (I don’t have BW to support that - I’m just going by feel). Also, taking D3/K2 and zinc chelate.

Van_Bilderass

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 18279
  • "Don't Try"
Re: PCT is it necessary?
« Reply #34 on: Today at 03:58:55 AM »
You don’t need to overtrain to hit the time goal I’ve set. A few peak 50 mile weeks in the buildup to the race should be sufficient for me to hit 3:30. Overtraining sets in when you start trying for a lower time and hit 70+ weeks. Having said that, since coming off, I have been using many OTC supplements to try and create the best possible environment to restore my natural test levels. Anecdotally, Boron, which is supposed to increase your free test levels seems to be somewhat effective at 10 mg a day (I don’t have BW to support that - I’m just going by feel). Also, taking D3/K2 and zinc chelate.

Sounds good. Yes the boron probably does increase free test, although the free test/shbg thing and its importance and all that is 'hotly' debated :D It would be interesting if we could measure test levels as easily as glucose. Like did BigRo really have good levels fairly shortly after coming off roids since he says he has morning wood LOL? My friend has been evaluating his test through a clinic for 6 months after coming off 250mg of test a week to see whether he would recover or if he should get on HRT and he has been below the reference range yet said he's been feeling very good and feels strong in the gym. He is holding good size too. He showed me the graphs on his phone and at some point his test came up a bit and then dipped again. So how well can you 'feel' it you know? :D

Wonder how marathoners or other endurance athletes would use roids if there were no doping tests. They would probably just use HRT to maintain high normal so as not to hold any extra water or cause muscle tightness. Maybe some low dose Anavar tabs or something after very hard sessions intermittently.

falco

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 21395
  • The child is grown, the dream is gone
Re: PCT is it necessary?
« Reply #35 on: Today at 08:11:02 AM »
PCT speeds the normalizing process. HCG is very helpfull regarding either secondary or primary hypogonadism.

Van_Bilderass

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 18279
  • "Don't Try"
Re: PCT is it necessary?
« Reply #36 on: Today at 08:35:40 AM »
PCT speeds the normalizing process. HCG is very helpfull regarding either secondary or primary hypogonadism.

HCG could theoretically be used as HRT by itself longer term also. If someone started cycling it would probably be smart to use HCG in smaller doses during the cycle so the testes never go offline. IIRC 500iu twice weekly during test admin can maintain intratesticular test and sperm production.

If labs were easier and quicker to do frequently we'd get some anecdotal data whether kisspeptin is useful:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DRP-RCbE03L/