i've been researching this like mad for a good 6 months now, and here is the general consensus on this (and just about every other) board. You experienced folk, give me a grade on my research, please...
1) test - this is an ABSOLUTE. if you talk "first cycle", then test is a must, an absolute. In fact, if you talk "any cycle", then test is a must. It is like oxygen. If you have a cycle not based on test, then you may as well base your weight training around cable curls and pec deck flyes instead of s/bp/dl/rows, you're just wasting your time and you should stick with HMB. Most recommended is test enanthate or test cypionate, 200-250mg 2x weekly (or E3D), sustanon or omnadren also recommended for beginners, especially by themselves, but not as heartily. Length of use is 8 weeks minimum (especially if you use sus or omna), most people will say 10-12 weeks though, especially if you have e or cyp combined with one of the below-mentioned items in #2. Regardless, run it 1 week longer than....
2) Deca or EQ - it seems that most people swear by one or the other. If you use either, you stop it 1 week before the test, because both of these items are slow (EQ especially so). 12 weeks minimum on these. doseage is typically 400-600mg/week, administered at same time as the test (although some say their half lives are so long as to allow for 1x weekly admin). EQ apparently is worthless at doses lower than 400mg/weekly, and deca produces some bizarre progesterone-associated sides up above 750-800mg weekly. Both seem to reduce joint pains, both produce "quality" gains that are easily kept, and both produce pretty mild side affects, if any at all. EQ makes you hungry and horny, deca makes you limp (without test, that is, with test, there is generally no problem). Deca has some water retention associated wth it, which is good for strength, but makes you look a little "puffier" than EQ would. This affect is probably irrelevant unless you are already pretty lean and solid. Both are winners, and are primarly "anabolic" in nature, whereas items such as test and other more powerful steroids tend to produce a large amount of affects which are more "androgenic" in nature.
3) Dbol - the oral of choice, doseage anywhere from 30-50mg daily (or upwards of 200mg/daily for those more advanced users with Wolverine-like recovery and titanium livers), for 4-6 weeks, as a "jumpstart" to your cycle. since the test and deca/EQ are all slow-acting, adding DBol at the start will give you strength and size increases from day 1, which will give the test and deca/EQ time to get into your system and start working their magic (typically 2-4 weeks after first shot). DBol has water retention (with substantial strength and weight gain) and some (potentially) nasty estrogenic side affects associated with it, so have nolva/clomid/arimidex handy, which should be a given on any cycle with aromatizeable steroids, so that you can administer the anti-e/anti-aromatases before you start looking like the stay-pufft marshmallow man with breast implants.
Oral use in first cycle is somewhat contested, as many will say "orals aren't necessary for a first cycle", whereas others say "low doses are a nice kickstart". Typically omnadren and sustanon use for a beginner will preclude the use as the dbol, as there are rapid-acting esters (in relatively small amounts) in both sus and omna. Regardless, you will gain weight quickly, especially if you eat a lot.
4) PCT - if you don't know what the initials stand for, then you are not ready for steroids in any way, shape, or form. Have ALL of it ready, have the entire PCT purchased, in-hand, ready to use, before you administer your first shot or pop the first pill. If you don't have this lined up FIRST, then stick with the aforementioned cable flyes and HMB, you simply are not ready. PCT would typically begin 2-3 weeks after last test-E/cyp shot, which corresponds to approx 3-4 weeks after last EQ/deca shot.
5) test prop - (this substance is not always mentioned for a first cycle, and is also somewhat contested) fast acting testosterone, typically admin'ed ED/EOD in lower doses, 50-100ml per pop. It would be administered during last few weeks of a cycle upon cessation of all other items so that you do not suffer test crash while waiting to start your PCT. It ensures that you have steady levels of test in your system while the EQ/deca and the longer-estered test you are using (enanthate/cypionate) slowly are purged from your system.
This can be quite important, especially for those who are not 100% familiar with how test leaves their systems. Since the enanthate/cyp will take anywhere from 2-3 weeks to leave the system, you have a pretty vague window of "negative opportunity" where you might crash, resulting in some very negative karma and loss of gains. the test prop simply reduces that window of "negative opportunity" from '2-3 weeks' down to '2-4 days'. You would use the prop a few days after your last enanthate/cypionate shot, and continue for approx 3 weeks. PCT would begin 2 days after final propionate shot.
So, of final note....I have never used any type of gear, so the above "information" is actually from the research I have done in the event I ever get the opportunity to do a cycle legally (I have too much to lose to risk even a slap in the wrist for possession due to the draconic laws in the US). As a result, prior to taking ANY of my "advice" as useful, wait for a vet mod to come here and post "thumbs up Keth, you did your homework!", or "Keth, stick to HMB, you suck"
For what it is worth, from all my research, this will (someday) be my first cycle:
Weeks 1 - 12: 250mg cyp/enanth 2x weekly
Weeks 1 - 12: 250mg deca 2x weekly
Weeks 1 - 6: 40mg dbol daily
Weeks 13 - 16: 75mg prop EOD
(EDIT - forgot to mention HCG use every 4th week for 1 week at a time to ensure the family jewels are still alive and kickin'....)
arimidex on hand for during cycle, probably use from weeks 4-6 while still on dbol and test has kicked in full force.
full PCT purchased ahead of time, separate from the arimidex mentioned just above.
So yeah, mods, smack me or give my research a thumbs-up, if you don't mind.
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