Bear in mind the dose on the label is intended for women. Men usually have to double or triple the dose. I think most would say start with half the recommended dose the first week, then the recommended dose for a week, then 1.5 times the dose for a week, then go to double the dose. Since you're using the liquid extract, you might be able to get away with not having to work your way up to the desired dose. The capsules seem to wreak havoc on some people's digestive tracts. There is one person here who takes the entire dose of liquid first thing in the morning which more closely mimics normal hormone patterns since hormones are highest first thing in the morning. You'll have to experiment with what works best for you. One reason for taking it slow is that the effects might happen at a lower dose so why spend more than you need to by taking more than you need to get the desired effect.