Starting a run of HGH

TacoLifter420

New member
Joined
Aug 19, 2026
Messages
46
Reaction score
0
Location
Imported archive
Im adding a replacement dose of HGH to my current stack. My goal is better recovery, sleep and body composition.

My current natty zscore is .4 with IGF1 at 169. Im running 200mg of testosterone cypinate, split into daily injections. 5mg of reta once per week. Along with other oral supplements ( fish oil and vitamins)

Bloodwork and blood pressure are good.

Current stats, 51 years old,5 foot 9, 190lbs. 31.25inch waist. Body fat estimated around 14 to 15%.

Im in a 400 to 500 calorie deficit each day. I train with weights 4 days a week and do 30 minutes of fasted cardio 5 days a week. Overall im pretty active and get 8 to 12k steps in most days.

Im starting with 1 IU nightly for the first week and then going to 2 IU. After 6 weeks I'll retest my IGF1 with zscore. Shooting for a zscore of 2 to 2.5 on the lowest dose to achieve it.

Planning on running this for 8 to 10 months and reevaluate from there. Right now I have enough HGH to run a year at 4 IU daily.

Ultimately I'm not looking to be body builder big. Just want to maintain an athletic build and get my body fat in the 10 to 12 percent range. As well as keeping my joints and tendons healthy.

I'll update this thread with my progress, results and thoughts as time goes on.

I appreciate any real-world experience and feedback. Always looking to learn more.

Taco,
 
I’m with you, Taco!

I started 1.6iu’s two weeks ago. My morning fasted bloods have been high even after morning cardio.

I’ve typically eaten a small meal around 8 pm to hold me over until mornings.

I’m in 5mg of Tirz. One thing I have found out is that this meal sits in my stomach a long time overnight. I believe it was messing with my FBG. I stopped eating after 6pm. My morning bloods are still elevated. I’m wondering if it is the dawn phenomenon.

I test my bloods midday and they’re 76 on average. Weird.

I’m 51 too… 6 foot tall and 201 pounds. My goal weight is 185. I just restarted TRT. I’m titrating up and I am currently on 75mg weekly.

I don’t have a base IGF score to start with. My score is pictured after running two months on Tesa. It’ll be neat to see what it is after this GH run.

I’m looking to get these sides dealt with. I don’t want FBG issues. My A1C was 4.8 a month ago. All of my other bloods are near perfect. One issue standing out is my LDL is elevated. It’s 117.

Looking at other AAS once my bloods are correct in all categories and goal weight is achieved.
 
@Throttle883 I figure I'll end up around 175 to 180 at the body fat level I'm shooting for. Feel free to use this thread to update your progress if you want.

Its funny this all seems normal and easy now. But just 2 years ago I was 270 pounds and in the worst shape of my life.

My mantra now is Process>Outcome.
 
Sounds fun! I’m getting labs Monday to check my igf and Z score. 36m been on TRT 1.5 years now and 7.5mg tirz weekly. Went from 230 to 190, nearing the end of my “cut” and then I want to pack on as much muscle as possible.
 
TacoLifter420 said:


@Throttle883 I figure I'll end up around 175 to 180 at the body fat level I'm shooting for. Feel free to use this thread to update your progress if you want.

Its funny this all seems normal and easy now. But just 2 years ago I was 270 pounds and in the worst shape of my life.

My mantra now is Process>Outcome.

Click to expand...
Hey you guys!!!! I am also your age! Just turned 52 and taco you are so inspiring! as of this morning I was 211, 11 months ago i was 330. I also have hgh coming, and just this morning got my superpower lab Draw done where they took like 15 million vials of blood. and like throttle I have been on tessa for 1 month and dont have an initial base before the tesa, to late now! I am using talon medical to help me make good decisions and planning to start test shortly after meeting with the talon folks and them deciphering my results
 
TacoLifter420 said:


@Throttle883 I figure I'll end up around 175 to 180 at the body fat level I'm shooting for. Feel free to use this thread to update your progress if you want.

Its funny this all seems normal and easy now. But just 2 years ago I was 270 pounds and in the worst shape of my life.

My mantra now is Process>Outcome.

Click to expand...
Hey you guys!!!! I am also your age! Just turned 52 and taco you are so inspiring! as of this morning I was 211, 11 months ago i was 330. I also have hgh coming, and just this morning got my superpower lab Draw done where they took like 15 million vials of blood. and like throttle I have been on tessa for 1 month and dont have an initial base before the tesa, to late now! I am using talon medical to help me make good decisions and planning to start test shortly after meeting with the talon folks and them deciphering my results. im excited to try and fix things that have been wrong with me for a long long time.
 
TacoLifter420 said:


Im adding a replacement dose of HGH to my current stack. My goal is better recovery, sleep and body composition.

My current natty zscore is .4 with IGF1 at 169. Im running 200mg of testosterone cypinate, split into daily injections. 5mg of reta once per week. Along with other oral supplements ( fish oil and vitamins)

Bloodwork and blood pressure are good.

Current stats, 51 years old,5 foot 9, 190lbs. 31.25inch waist. Body fat estimated around 14 to 15%.

Im in a 400 to 500 calorie deficit each day. I train with weights 4 days a week and do 30 minutes of fasted cardio 5 days a week. Overall im pretty active and get 8 to 12k steps in most days.

Im starting with 1 IU nightly for the first week and then going to 2 IU. After 6 weeks I'll retest my IGF1 with zscore. Shooting for a zscore of 2 to 2.5 on the lowest dose to achieve it.

Planning on running this for 8 to 10 months and reevaluate from there. Right now I have enough HGH to run a year at 4 IU daily.

Ultimately I'm not looking to be body builder big. Just want to maintain an athletic build and get my body fat in the 10 to 12 percent range. As well as keeping my joints and tendons healthy.

I'll update this thread with my progress, results and thoughts as time goes on.

I appreciate any real-world experience and feedback. Always looking to learn more.

Taco,

Click to expand...
My personal observation, and from others, has been when your Igf is lower around our age, then elevate to say 18 year old level (or even lower), the effects are sooner than what people say, but really for the folks starting at a reasonable bfp. Curious to hear your results. You may notice a relatively immediate increase in hunger from the increase in metabolism.
 
Gr33dyOctopus said:


Hey you guys!!!!

Click to expand...
I don’t know why I read this in “Sloths” voice, but I did. LOL. Goonies unite!

9152c92c6069c13c6aa394427a804965a30af5d8fdc81f2a80c2cfb3311ee598.gif
 
Looking forward to seeing your results Taco.

I am 52 5'8" 193 and around 18-19% bf. Goal is to get to around 12% by YE. I'm on 160mg of Test twice weekly (T of 1257), 2 iu HGH daily for the last 6 weeks, and 4mg Reta split twice weekly. I was 224 a little over 1 year ago, got down to 190 but was still at 29% body fat in March 2026.

I didn't get a IGF-1 before starting, but just got my IGF-1 done with recent blood draw, IGF-1 at 288 z-score=1.7. Since starting Test I have stayed level on weight but added 7 lbs of muscle and lost 11 lbs of fat. I figure body recomp so far is all Test, as HGH body recomp isn't supposed to kick in until months 3-6. I lift 5 days per week, 20-30 minutes zone 2 cardio after lifting 3 days per week and one interval cardio per week. Recovery has been awesome with current protocols. Never thought I would be able to work this hard and not be beaten down at my age. Unfortunately I haven't seen a huge lift in sleep benefit from the HGH, but sleep is not awful, I just think my body doesn't require a ton of sleep.

Thinking will go on a hard cut in fall, but right now with the muscle gain I am seeing, I am reluctant to cut calories. Current calories around 2600 a day and 170-200g protein daily. Never thought I would see below 15% body fat, and even further never thought that would be at 185+. BMI says I should be below 165 to not be overweight. Based on current trajectory my coach Claude is saying realistic to expect to weigh around 185-190 at 15% bf.
 
Only a few days in, but no water retention or joint issues. Will move up to 2 IU on Friday and hold there for 4 to 5 weeks. Then ill get my bloodwork done.
 
TacoLifter420 said:


Only a few days in, but no water retention or joint issues. Will move up to 2 IU on Friday and hold there for 4 to 5 weeks. Then ill get my bloodwork done.

Click to expand...
I had swollen ankles at 2IU (daily) then ran across this thread on X about doing EOD to get rid of sides (GH stays elevated for about 20 hours after injection).

Moved to 4IU EOD and have zero sides.
 
sfkid said:


I had swollen ankles at 2IU (daily) then ran across this thread on X about doing EOD to get rid of sides (GH stays elevated for about 20 hours after injection).

Moved to 4IU EOD and have zero sides.

Click to expand...
Good info from your personal experience. If I run into the same thing ill give that a try.
 
TacoLifter420 said:


Good info from your personal experience. If I run into the same thing ill give that a try.

Click to expand...
Empagaflozin is also very useful in this situation.

Reduces sodium retention. Mild diuretic effect, reduces edema.

Reduces insulin resistance induced by HGH.

Increases the time to normal blood glucose, getting you back to that sweet sweet HGH lipolysis faster.

Cardio protective, renal protective.

Can be found dirt cheap if you know where to look.

Reduces possible HGH induced kidney damage.

Minimal sides, and safe for non diabetics.

I have recently started taking it, and I am blown away by the reduction in fluid. It works in the background, but its good to know that my heart and kidneys are protected.

I am also saying this at around 10% body fat, and not diabetic haha.

Def look into it.
 
stoked12 said:


Empagaflozin is also very useful in this situation.

Reduces sodium retention. Mild diuretic effect, reduces edema.

Reduces insulin resistance induced by HGH.

Increases the time to normal blood glucose, getting you back to that sweet sweet HGH lipolysis faster.

Cardio protective, renal protective.

Can be found dirt cheap if you know where to look.

Reduces possible HGH induced kidney damage.

Minimal sides, and safe for non diabetics.

I have recently started taking it, and I am blown away by the reduction in fluid. It works in the background, but its good to know that my heart and kidneys are protected.

I am also saying this at around 10% body fat, and not diabetic haha.

Def look into it.

Click to expand...

More great info. Did a quick search through a couple sources and for generic for 1 dollar a pill and brand name for 2.

10% body fat is my goal, just to see how that feels. Then im going to try to stay around 12.
 
stoked12 said:


Empagaflozin is also very useful in this situation.

Reduces sodium retention. Mild diuretic effect, reduces edema.

Reduces insulin resistance induced by HGH.

Increases the time to normal blood glucose, getting you back to that sweet sweet HGH lipolysis faster.

Cardio protective, renal protective.

Can be found dirt cheap if you know where to look.

Reduces possible HGH induced kidney damage.

Minimal sides, and safe for non diabetics.

I have recently started taking it, and I am blown away by the reduction in fluid. It works in the background, but its good to know that my heart and kidneys are protected.

I am also saying this at around 10% body fat, and not diabetic haha.

Def look into it.

Click to expand...
Jardiance is great, I agree

But “hgh induced kidney damage”, what are you even saying man?
 
Since we're making recommendations.

I also started taking 5mg of tadalafil every other day. Helps lower blood pressure especially when theres high water retention among other benefits of course.
 
This is what im currently taking

Testosterone cypionate: 200 mg/week, daily microinjections

Human Growth Hormone (HGH): 1 IU nightly

Telmisartan: 40 mg daily

Tadalafil: 5 mg daily

Reta 5mg weekly

Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12): 1,000 mcg subcutaneous injection once weekly

Supplements:

Daily

Vitamin D3: 5,000 IU

Vitamin C: 500 mg

Magnesium glycinate: 500 mg (nightly)

Omega-3 fish oil: ~1,440 mg combined EPA + DHA

Vitamin K2: 100 mcg

Beetroot extract: 1,000 mg

CoQ10 (ubiquinol): 200 mg

Calcium D-glucarate: 1,200 mg

Every Other Day

Glutathione: 200 mg
 
Mochizuki0124 said:


Since we're making recommendations.

I also started taking 5mg of tadalafil every other day. Helps lower blood pressure especially when theres high water retention among other benefits of course.

Click to expand...
5mg Tadalafil daily is great.
 
TacoLifter420 said:


5mg Tadalafil daily is great.

Click to expand...
The daily dose gave me headaches so I'm trying to get my body used too it for now but the 5mg every other day already feels great. Tadalafil with Creatine creates ridiculous pumps when working out too.
 
Mochizuki0124 said:


The daily dose gave me headaches so I'm trying to get my body used too it for now but the 5mg every other day already feels great. Tadalafil with Creatine creates ridiculous pumps when working out too.

Click to expand...
A low dose of cialis

Some carbs

Some pink Himalayan salt

Maybe a bit of l citrulline, and l arginine

And you’ll have roadmaps all over your arms.

Carbs and salt is the magic combo though
 
Back
Top