[Calum]

Hi Jack

To anwer;

There is still a lot of people that believe the risk of starting at say 200mg/week over starting at a peak dose of 500mg/week carries the same risk. So why would you choose to do less and leave gains on the table?

You aren’t leaving ‘gains’ on the table, you’re just minimising the duration of exposure at peak androgen load, i.e. the timeframe where the most amount of risk will accumulate.

You will still begin your stack with a sufficient amount of drug input to drive progress, but this doesn’t have to be max exposure, as you want to save those tools of titration for when needed to actually use that as a tool to break through stalling blocks in the process and mitigate progress stagnation.

For instance if an individuals projected peak androgen load was 1500mg/wk at week 20 of the phase, and that was compromised of 500mg/wk test e and 1000mg/wk primo, it would make no sense going straight in at that dosing input if the progress accrued would be the same starting at 900mg/wk (i.e. 300mg/wk test e and 600mg/wk primo) and leaving a larger runway available to escalate when NEEDED to sustain progress.

You could then run it as hypothetically;

W1 – 300mg/wk Test E + 600mg/wk Primo (lowest effective starting input)

W2 – 300mg/wk Test E + 600mg/wk Primo

W3 – 300mg/wk Test E + 600mg/wk Primo

W4 – 300mg/wk Test E + 600mg/wk Primo

W5 – 350mg/wk Test E + 700mg/wk Primo (Escalate, break through barrier)

W6 – 350mg/wk Test E + 700mg/wk Primo

W7 – 350mg/wk Test E + 700mg/wk Primo

W8 – 350mg/wk Test E + 700mg/wk Primo

W9 – 400mg/wk Test E + 800mg/wk Primo (Escalate, break through barrier)

W10 – 400mg/wk Test E + 800mg/wk Primo

W11 – 400mg/wk Test E + 800mg/wk Primo

W12 – 400mg/wk Test E + 800mg/wk Primo

W13 – 500mg/wk Test E + 900mg/wk Primo (Escalate, break through barrier)

W14 – 500mg/wk Test E + 900mg/wk Primo

W15 – 500mg/wk Test E + 900mg/wk Primo

W16 – 500mg/wk Test E + 900mg/wk Primo

W17 – 500mg/wk Test E + 1000mg/wk Primo (the first week of peak exposure)

W18 – 500mg/wk Test E + 1000mg/wk Primo

W19 – 500mg/wk Test E + 1000mg/wk Primo

W20 – 500mg/wk Test E + 1000mg/wk Primo

Next time you push you’ll likely need to modify / advance the peak exposure in some way, more mg/wk, more pathways stimulated (could be non androgen based too) etc.

For the shorter preps scenario, starting mg/wk would be different to a longer prep as you do not have the luxury of time to gradually titrate upwards, you’d likely start a little more assertively.

Hope this helps.Cal

Awesome thank you for the detailed reply.[/quote]

My pleasure! Anything else just let me know!

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[Calum]

Could you explain to me the thought process behind tapering up dosages, in terms of a safe use model?

There is still a lot of people that believe the risk of starting at say 200mg/week over starting at a peak dose of 500mg/week carries the same risk. So why would you choose to do less and leave gains on the table?

Also going back to your most recent comment on this thread. You mention about reaching maximum blood saturation levels as quickly as possible over a shorter prep, is this case would it not be more beneficial to start at your maximum load and allow the ester to do the tapering automatically?

If know about any studies that go into how it is safer to titrate dosages up over a period of time, I would love to know about them.

Hi Jack

To anwer;

There is still a lot of people that believe the risk of starting at say 200mg/week over starting at a peak dose of 500mg/week carries the same risk. So why would you choose to do less and leave gains on the table?

You aren’t leaving ‘gains’ on the table, you’re just minimising the duration of exposure at peak androgen load, i.e. the timeframe where the most amount of risk will accumulate.

You will still begin your stack with a sufficient amount of drug input to drive progress, but this doesn’t have to be max exposure, as you want to save those tools of titration for when needed to actually use that as a tool to break through stalling blocks in the process and mitigate progress stagnation.

For instance if an individuals projected peak androgen load was 1500mg/wk at week 20 of the phase, and that was compromised of 500mg/wk test e and 1000mg/wk primo, it would make no sense going straight in at that dosing input if the progress accrued would be the same starting at 900mg/wk (i.e. 300mg/wk test e and 600mg/wk primo) and leaving a larger runway available to escalate when NEEDED to sustain progress.

You could then run it as hypothetically;

W1 – 300mg/wk Test E + 600mg/wk Primo (lowest effective starting input)

W2 – 300mg/wk Test E + 600mg/wk Primo

W3 – 300mg/wk Test E + 600mg/wk Primo

W4 – 300mg/wk Test E + 600mg/wk Primo

W5 – 350mg/wk Test E + 700mg/wk Primo (Escalate, break through barrier)

W6 – 350mg/wk Test E + 700mg/wk Primo

W7 – 350mg/wk Test E + 700mg/wk Primo

W8 – 350mg/wk Test E + 700mg/wk Primo

W9 – 400mg/wk Test E + 800mg/wk Primo (Escalate, break through barrier)

W10 – 400mg/wk Test E + 800mg/wk Primo

W11 – 400mg/wk Test E + 800mg/wk Primo

W12 – 400mg/wk Test E + 800mg/wk Primo

W13 – 500mg/wk Test E + 900mg/wk Primo (Escalate, break through barrier)

W14 – 500mg/wk Test E + 900mg/wk Primo

W15 – 500mg/wk Test E + 900mg/wk Primo

W16 – 500mg/wk Test E + 900mg/wk Primo

W17 – 500mg/wk Test E + 1000mg/wk Primo (the first week of peak exposure)

W18 – 500mg/wk Test E + 1000mg/wk Primo

W19 – 500mg/wk Test E + 1000mg/wk Primo

W20 – 500mg/wk Test E + 1000mg/wk Primo

Next time you push you’ll likely need to modify / advance the peak exposure in some way, more mg/wk, more pathways stimulated (could be non androgen based too) etc.

For the shorter preps scenario, starting mg/wk would be different to a longer prep as you do not have the luxury of time to gradually titrate upwards, you’d likely start a little more assertively.

Hope this helps.
Cal

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[Calum]

Hey Callum hope
Your well! Follow all your work and clients work! Amazing stuff as always

I see you opt for test prop with some clients – would the be a reason for this over the usual slow acting test?

Reason why I ask , as for me personally slower acting seems to not work as well in terms of look vs prop even if same dosed

Thank you

It’s situational dependent here, if we’re dealing with a more condensed timeline for an athlete, i.e. there is less time available to gradually titrate the androgen load upwards, then I’ll opt for a faster ester to reach peak blood plasma saturation quicker, and be able to make those adjustments in androgen load quickly, workout having to wait for a longer half life and saturation time.

My approach to a 20 week prep would be very different to an 8 week prep for instance, due to that very reason above.

I’ll favour a higher injection frequency with all my athletes regardless so it doesn’t make a huge impact in relation to hormone stability, as even with enanthate usage I’ll still opt for 5-7 injections weekly to separate the weekly androgen load in as many shots as plausible to make the blood plasma saturation as stable and predictable as we can (this also leads to better E2 control as a result, anther bonus).

Typically more peaks and troughs = a harder time managing T:E2.

Perhaps your preference towards faster ester use lies in one of the topics of discussion above?

Calum Raistrick | #TeamProCoach | info@teamprocoach.com | Use code PROCOACH10!

[Calum]

Hey April, congrats on the overall win, fantastic package at the regional. Go smash those pro quals!

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[Calum]

Hi calum,some days ago I wrote to you a email regarding a possible coaching journey with you. I know you’re busy these days just wanted to let you know so you don’t miss it.

Hey Marco

I believe my team has reached out to you yesterday, but I’ll be sure to follow this up today myself! Thank you for getting in touch.

[/quote]
Hi Calum,
I did this also ( a couple of times😂) but never got an answer[/quote]

Hi Dennis

Any coaching enquiries please contact info@teamprocoach.com or message 07939906621 and we’ll get back to you.

Calum Raistrick | #TeamProCoach | info@teamprocoach.com | Use code PROCOACH10!

[Calum]

Hi calum,some days ago I wrote to you a email regarding a possible coaching journey with you. I know you’re busy these days just wanted to let you know so you don’t miss it.

Hey Marco

I believe my team has reached out to you yesterday, but I’ll be sure to follow this up today myself! Thank you for getting in touch.

Calum Raistrick | #TeamProCoach | info@teamprocoach.com | Use code PROCOACH10!

[Calum]

Mirroring what Dan has mentioned above here!

Much like female sexual function being driven by E2 predominantly, although male fertility is largely driven via gonadotropin output (mainly FSH), estrogen plays an integral role in male sexual function and most specifically, sex drive!

The proviron stated above could be a tool to drive SHBG down if that’s high and as a result, but we can see that low at 7 already, and if anything, it would also lower E2 alongside this (as it’s going to act on aromatase).

I’d creep up that weekly mg/wk via the testosterone until the E2 creeps into the 120-130 range, then re-assess.

Manage your prolactin via P5P and Vitamin A at 300-500mg/day each.

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[Calum]

Hey Calum, I’d love your thoughts on this. Basically my goal is to get into a gaining phase for the rest of the year but body comp at the minute is meh at best probably 15%bf likely more. Ideally I want to keep fat gain to a minimum and to do this ideally I’d want to start leaner, closer to 10%. The things so I have multiple weddings/anniversaries/birthdays/ and hod knows what else over the next couple months and I’d struggle to diet through these and in my mind would just be wasting time with the goal to get gaining asap. Calories are at approx maintenance at the minute and I’m just finishing a cruise, bloods are all in check. I want to do a rapid fat loss phase, I’m thinking 250g protein and trace carbs and fat for 2 weeks at least (height 6 foot and 108kg. How would you approach this? Should I add in fat burners/cycle now and get down to that low food asap? How the would you approach coming out of this with food and drugs?

Hey Luca

I’d definitely agree a short aggressive recomp phase would be best served before spending a longer timeframe in a progressive surplus.

Firstly ensure you establish a sufficient deficit (whatever that kcal target will be relative to your metabolic make up at current).

Take protein to 1-1.5g/lb, fats can run at near trace (I’d usually leave 20-40g in daily to cover some EFA’s, EPA DHA/ PUFA’s), and carbs I’d literally include solely from non starchy veggies and 200-400g fruit per day (to ensure micronutrient density and fibre goals are met, and it tastes nice lol).

Pull down hard here as you increase your initial exposure to the increased androgen load, let that drive the compositional improvements, then once the adiposity is off, gradually creep kcals back up via carbs/fats with small but gradual adjustments.

During the recomp phase I’d keep NEAT high and be mindful of high demand activity as fatigue will be high. Grab yourself a weighted vest (keep your bodyweight total the same it was BEFORE the diet started), and get walking!

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[Calum]

The nitro range will be a good investment in general, fairly affordable and accessible. The XPLoad range (plate loaded) tends to offer better profile optimisation (and loading capacity of course), but will be harder to source and more expensive!

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[Calum]

I’ll chip in here alongside if I may fellas!

I might have missed the boat here but is David already enhanced?

If so, just wondering what the make up of the current stack is, as I’m presuming with low libido we have some form of skewing between T:E2.

Much like female sexual function being driven by E2 predominantly, although male fertility is largely driven via gonadotropin output (mainly FSH), estrogen plays an integral role in male sexual function and most specifically, sex drive!

The proviron stated above could be a tool to drive SHBG down if that’s high and as a result, lowering test (and therefore lowering E2 in turn), my concerns would be it’s ability to also lower E2 alongside this (as it’s going to act on aromatase).

Cialis is a great tool to drive ejaculate velocity and semen volume up, but my concerns would be it won’t do a lot for libido if it’s already low?

Good luck either way dude! ?

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[Calum]

What’s your goal, what are you needing to use it for? This is a highly specialised drug made for select purposes

I want to gain strenght and need that kick of agression before workout. Does it work imediately?[/quote]

As Max has said above, halotestin is an advanced compound and by advanced, I mean it’s value within a stack would only be served in very specific cases.

Without knowing the entirety of your current stack (that’s to say I’m presuming you’re already using enhancement?) it’s hard to say definitely, but I could almost guarantee there are multiple tools available here without having to opt for something like halo, tools that would equate to much less risk.

Aggression before training is something that needs to be harnessed via external cues, not the reliance on drugs, slippery slope you do not want to go down there.

Let’s look at dialling in your psychological state pre training, let’s look at other ergogenic aids (caffeine, DMAA, nootropics etc), let’s look at recovery, sleep and readiness to train, let’s look at pre training nutrition.

You can get aggressive pre training by turning on Avenged Sevenfold at full volume, not popping some halo 🙂

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[Calum]

Thank you so much for the reply cal! Truly you didnt need to go into all the details but that was more insight that I could hope for! Again thanks a lot for taking time out of your busy day to reply

My pleasure dude!

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[Calum]

Hey Calum, quick follow up question as to your programming. When you choose to make volume escalations, obviously the dose is going to be based on response and recovery, but generally where do you like to make escalations first?

For example: moving from weeks 1-8 laid out by you above of MEV to MEV+:

-would you increase volume from the less fatigue driving exercises such as isolations, or would you vary it across the board.

-Would all body parts go through a volume escalation of some kind using the base plan of the volume landmarks you have for each bodypart or would you prioritize the increase from weak body parts first?

-Would you ever add an exercise as a form of volume escalation or would the session structure pretty much stay stagnant the entire “30 weeks”

Sorry for the loaded question, as you can tell i’m very curious and am absolutely in love with training and love picking intelligent figure’s brains on the topic

Hey dude

When you choose to make volume escalations, obviously the dose is going to be based on response and recovery, but generally where do you like to make escalations first? For example: moving from weeks 1-8 laid out by you above of MEV to MEV+:

It all really depends on the needs analysis and the recovery capacity, more food / more drugs = greater volume tolerance. The opposite has the reverse response.

Rinse base volume for as long as possible then slowly add as needed to the higher priority muscle groups relative to your needs analysis.

That could be as trivial as adding 1 extra set to an exercise, or extending a set with rest pause work.

-would you increase volume from the less fatigue driving exercises such as isolations, or would you vary it across the board.

Absolutely, stimulus to fatigue per exercises is not equal, high neural drive movements cannot be pushed like iso’s.

-Would all body parts go through a volume escalation of some kind using the base plan of the volume landmarks you have for each bodypart or would you prioritize the increase from weak body parts first?

No typically I’d only escalate relative to what was most prioritised on the needs analysis, the bottom of that list would remain on base volume throughout the whole block.

-Would you ever add an exercise as a form of volume escalation or would the session structure pretty much stay stagnant the entire “30 weeks”

If it had a need in the session, if all contractile elements are covered then I’d rather just increase sets in existing movements.

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[Calum]

Hi Calum, I follow Jon lofthouse and see he has finished a cycle and is not running trt nor pct, what is the reasoning for this, is this often an option you take with clients ?

Hi Luca

Jon is currently managing this period of his offseason himself due to personal circumstances, I am not currently in control of decision making.

This would not be something I’d advise unless long term restoration of the HPTA was the objective, and even then you’d be using gonadotropin therapy after ceasing androgen use.

You’d have to ask Jon yourself what the thought process is here! 🙂

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[Calum]

HOW WOULD YOU STRUCTURE A HAM/BACK DAY? NEED MORE LAT DEVELOPMENT AND HAVE A NON LOW BACK LOADING BACK DAY AND WILL HIT TWO HAMSTRING CURLS ON MY REGULAR LEG DAYHOW WOULD YOU STRUCTURE A HAM/BACK DAY? NEED MORE LAT DEVELOPMENT AND HAVE A NON LOW BACK LOADING BACK DAY AND WILL HIT TWO HAMSTRING CURLS ON MY REGULAR LEG DAY

Hi Dalton

If you already have a secondary back day (no axial / spinal loading involved), and lats are a priority, then that ham/back day I would personally go;

A1) Lat (shortened range emphasis first)

B1) Lat (lengthened range, something that drops off ideally in the short)

C1) Hinge Variant / Hip Ext (of choice, could be a hyper or 45 degree hip ext)

D1) Leg Curl Variant (lying ideally or seated if needed, opt for braced set up)

E1) Mid-Back Row (shortened range emphasis first, support no spinal loading)

F1) Mid-Back Pulldown (back into lengthened position, think about line of pull here)

G1) Rear Delt Variant (something conclusive to nail rear delts here to finish off upper back)

A1/B1 biases lat stimulus first relative to your needs analysis.

C1/D1 then moves onto hip extensors and hamstrings, higher neural drive so ideally don’t want to do very last if possible, do this work BEFORE your mid-back / scapula orientated work as doing it after will compromise performance.

E1/F1/G1 finishing upper back conclusively.

If wanted, tag on bicep work, or remove G1 for bicep work, as the rear delts will work by default in E1 and F1 heavily.

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