When Does a Steroid Cycle Really End?

When to consider a cycle to have ended? At the end of the last week of steroids use, or when the steroids have cleared?


Any system can be used if the thinking is consistent, but it's better figuring cycle length according to how long anabolic steroid levels are suppressive.

For example, suppose someone is considering using testosterone cypionate at 2000 mg/week. Perhaps some may think it an unrealistic case, but depending on the individual case this amount may be entirely suitable. And suppose the user is health-conscious and wishes to have a quick recovery. This also can be realistic: many users at this level are quite careful in what they do.

This person knows that recovery after a well-planned 10 week cycle is usually fairly quick, and as cycles become longer than this, typically so do the recoveries. So a 10 week cycle is what he wants.

Well, figuring it as 10 weeks of injections, recovery would not go as he hoped!

Let’s make things simple and round the half-life of testosterone cypionate up to exactly one week, even though it’s probably a little shorter than this.

Then, at the end of week 11, his levels of injected testosterone would still be as high as if he’d been injecting testosterone at 1000 mg/week! Levels will be far too high to allow any recovery. And most likely, the reason he planned his cycle at 2000 mg/week is that he knows he wouldn’t achieve a new best at 1000 mg/week, let alone do so after peaking from 10 weeks at 2000 mg/week. So week 11 gives him neither further gains nor any recovery.

By the end of week 12, levels will still be as high as if he’d been injecting testosterone at 500 mg/week. Still no recovery, and with no further gains to show for it.

Even by the end of week 13, levels will be too high for recovery! Still another week would be lost.

Only by somewhere around week 14 could levels be low enough for recovery to even have a chance. But now, after this many weeks of inhibition, recovery will be slow or very slow for him.

This wasn’t what he was looking for. He’d have rather have had the quick recovery associated with only 10 weeks of inhibition, after having 10 weeks of strong gains.

But this situation is what can happen when figuring by weeks of injection rather than weeks of inhibition.

By planning according to weeks of inhibition, he’ll most likely have a fast recovery. He’d adjust the steroid cycle where transition will be fairly fast from the 2000 mg/week level to a level low enough to allow recovery, such as the 100-200 mg/week level.

This is done by taking advantage of short acting esters, suspension, and/or orals towards the end of the cycle, in place of long acting esters.

Properties of Cytomel (T3)

Cytomel is a brand and trade name for T3, which is Liothyronine Sodium. Liothyronine Sodium is a synthetic variant of the human body’s own thyroid hormone. It should be understood that the human body’s own natural endogenously manufactured thyroid hormone is actually known as Triiodothyronine, which is different from Liothyronine Sodium. Liothyronine is the L-isomer of Triiodothyronine. Liothyronine and Triiodothyronine are both nearly identical with one another, but Liothyronine is a more potent variant and is also better absorbed orally, which is why it has been developed into a prescription medicine and preparation known as Cytomel, Tiromel, Tertroxin, etc. Within a medical and clinical setting, Cytomel (T3) is utilized in the treatment of hypothyroidism, which is a condition whereby an individual’s thyroid gland is not secreting the proper and normal levels of thyroid hormone for proper function. In such a case, hypothyroidism is commonly diagnosed via a blood test that analyzes the serum hormone profile of thyroid hormones (T3, T4, and TSH, which is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone). Hypothyroidism also carries with it various symptoms such as a lack of energy, lethargy, weight and fat gain, hair loss, and alterations in skin colour and texture. T3 is the primary thyroid hormone used by the body.

Unfortunately, T3 is one of those compounds among the bodybuilding and athletic community that has gathered a large amount of mysticism, rumor, and lies that have been spread for years in regards to what it does, its use, and how it should be used. As a result, many within the anabolic steroid using community have become deathly afraid of T3, and shudder at the mere mention of its use. This profile will set these misconceptions straight and clarify many of the common misconceptions in regards to Cytomel.

Properties of Cytomel

T3 in the body is responsible for regulating the uptake of various nutrients into cells and into the mitochondria of those cells in order to effectively become utilized for the production and consumption of energy.  The mitochondria of every single cell in the body utilizes carbohydrates (primarily), fat, and even protein for the production of an energy source known as ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate). Through the intake of more T3, this production of ATP will increase, leading to an increased rate of energy consumption in the form of fats, carbohydrates, and protein. Hence, this is why the consumption of too much T3  without the use of anabolic steroids can result in muscle loss.

The bodybuilding and athletic world is attracted to the use of T3 as a physique and/or performance enhancing drug because of its capability to distinctly boost the body’s metabolism in the effort to metabolize body fat at a greater rate. T3 is traditionally utilize during cutting, dieting, and/or pre-contest phases of training due to the universal goal of these phases to break down body fat, though in recent years Cytomel has gained some popularity as a useful agent during bulking and mass gaining phases of training (normally in conjunction with anabolic steroids) in order to better efficiently process nutrients and/or to keep body fat levels down during periods of higher caloric intake. Cytomel (T3) is commonly used with anabolic steroids due to its significant impact on the body’s metabolism as a whole. It is very important to understand that T3 is indiscriminate in its metabolism boosting properties – it will increase the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and protein all equally. Therefore, beyond a particular dose of T3, there is an increased risk of muscle loss through increased turnover of protein. Through the use of anabolic steroids and a properly adjusted diet, this muscle loss as a result of T3 can be prevented as a result of the nitrogen-retaining and protein sparing properties of theanabolic steroids.

Cytomel (T3) is also commonly combined with other fat loss agents in order to increase its overall effect, as it does work synergistically with other fat loss agents. Some of these include Ephedrine, Clenbuterol, Albuterol, Human Growth Hormone (HGH) as well as other fat burning agents. The combination of T3 with anabolic steroids and other fat burning agents, as well as the possible interactions between them, will be further covered in greater detail in the Cytomel (T3) Doses and Cytomel (T3) Cycles sections of this profile.

The Five Basic Stipulations of Proper Steroid Cycles and Responsible Steroid Use

1. No individuals under the age of 24 should engage in any anabolic steroid cycles what so ever.
2. Testosterone must be the very first and the ONLY anabolic steroid used in the very first beginner anabolic steroid cycle, and Testosterone must also be included in all cycles, no exceptions.
3. Cycle lengths should be kept as short as possible.
4. The lowest effective dose in order to provide gains should always be utilized before increasing doses.
5. An absolute minimum of stacked compounds (no more than 2 at any given time unless absolutely necessary) should be used in any given anabolic steroid cycle.

Detailed explanations of the five stipulations:

1. There is no specific age for each and every human that has been determined to be the age by which the human body and its subsystems (especially the endocrine system, which is our primary concern here) have fully matured and developed. The ultimate final age by which we all reach full growth and maturation is determined by our genetics and to a lesser extent, our lifestyle habits. Every individual’s genetic ‘programming’ is different, and therefore some individuals will fully mature at a younger age while others may reach full maturation at approximately 24 years of age, and others will perhaps mature at an even older age. It is general knowledge concerning the endocrine system that Testosterone levels in males are continually rising until the median average age of approximately 24 – 25 years old, at which point these levels reach their peak and begin to decline. The Hypothalamic Pituitary Testicular Axis (HPTA) which controls endogenous natural Testosterone production is a very sensitive network. Furthermore, there is no specific ‘test’ that one might be able to undergo in order to determine if he/she has reached full maturation of the human body’s subsystems. Therefore, the average median age by which almost all human beings reach maturity has been determined to be 24 – 25 years of age. Some may mature earlier (as mentioned earlier) and some later than this. By engaging in anabolic steroid cycles and introducing anabolic steroids to the body prior to the age of 24, the risks of severely and permanently disrupting and damaging the endocrine system is extremely high. Only after the age of 24 – 25 do the risks of considerable and permanent HPTA damage drop drastically.

2. Testosterone is literally the original anabolic steroid, produced naturally within all humans and most animal species. It is considered the safest anabolic steroid one could use for this reason, due to the fact that it is the hormone that each individual’s body already produces, already uses, and is already accustomed to. Therefore, the use of Testosterone for the purpose of performance and physique enhancement is simply the equivalent of introducing more of a hormone into the human body that it already manufactures and uses.

Furthermore, all first cycles for bare beginners to the world of anabolic steroids should always use some form of Testosterone-only as their very first anabolic steroid cycle. Solitarily run Testosterone cycles provide the user with a safe compound (Testosterone) that the human body is already accustomed to naturally, as all humans already produce Testosterone endogenously. This will allow the user to gauge their response to the most basic anabolic steroid, Testosterone. It is from this gauging process that individuals can assess their potential responses to other anabolic steroids, as the chances are that if an individual responds horridly to a basic Testosterone cycle, then there will likely be a higher chance of the individual responding even worse to most other compounds which are essentially modified analogues of Testosterone.

As explained above, solitary Testosterone-only cycles are the ideal beginner first-time anabolic steroid cycles. The problem with stacking multiple compounds in a beginner first-time cycle lies in the fact that it is quite a potentially dangerous practice. A hypothetical beginner who has never used anabolic steroids or whom has never run a cycle before would not know what to expect upon use. It stands to reason that if a stack of several different compounds are run for a first cycle and the individual reacts in a very negative manner (or experiences a particular very undesirable side effect), there will be no possible means for this individual to figure out which anabolic steroid is responsible for the bad reaction if a cocktail of several anabolic steroids have been stacked in one cycle. This would become possibly life-threatening if said reaction were to be a very serious mortal reaction (such as an allergic reaction, for example).

3. Duration of use is an extremely very influential factor but very easily understood, as it need not be explained that the longer a particular anabolic steroid cycle is run, the increased incidence of side effects will also present themselves as the duration of use becomes longer and longer. The recovery of natural endogenous Testosterone production also becomes increasingly difficult following the termination of an anabolic steroid cycle if a cycle is run for longer and longer lengths of time. Various anabolic steroids may exhibit higher degrees of HPTA suppression and shut-down than other compounds, but all anabolic steroids exhibit this effect of HPTA suppression and eventual shutdown as duration of use continues. Severely atrophied Leydig cells in the testes following extremely long cycles will have far greater difficulty re-engaging endogenous Testosterone production again due to desensitization to gonadotropins resultant of long-term suppression/shutdown. Ideal cycle lengths for short-estered anabolic steroids should be in the range of 8 – 10 weeks, and for long-estered anabolic steroids, 10 – 12 weeks. Any longer than this and the individual runs high risk of increasingly difficult HPTA recovery.

4. The issue of utilizing the lowest effective dose is simple: make progress with the lowest possible dose first, grow into this dose, and then increase the dose as required (which is on average, several cycles into beginner use). Many individuals (mostly beginners) tend to engage in extremely ludicrous activity whereby a brand-new first-timer will run 500mg/week on their first cycle, then proceed to 700mg/week on their second cycle, and then 1,000mg/week on their third, and so on and so forth. This is absolutely unnecessary, and, not to mention not very healthy at all. As mentioned earlier, many anabolic steroid users (both beginners and experienced users) severely underestimate the power of these hormones and most usually when individuals do things like that, it is because they claim their gains and progress has stopped. The culprit is usually a flaw in their nutrition or training (or both), not in how many mg per week of total steroid they are using. These details and concerns must be kept in mind. A very important detail for all individuals to understand in relation to anabolic steroid doses is that the human body only manufactures approximately 50 – 70mg weekly of Testosterone (depending on various factors such as age, lifestyle habits, genetics, etc.). Considering this, we can use logic to conclude that: 500mg is approximately 7 – 10 times the amount that the human body produces. Suffice to say, 300mg weekly should then be perfect for any first-time beginner cycle.

5. Quite simply put: the use of more than two compounds stacked in any given anabolic steroid cycle is completely unnecessary for the average casual recreational anabolic steroid user. The stacking of three or more compounds in a single anabolic steroid cycle is only necessary for competitive bodybuilders and professional athletes. Increasing the number of anabolic steroids utilized in a single cycle increases the weekly dose of total steroid, which thereby increases the risk and intensity for side effects tenfold, and presents increasingly harsh stressors on the human body

The Truth About Steroid Use in CrossFit

I have been hearing a lot about how there is steroid use in CrossFit. I will not say I can tell if someone is using steroids, nor will I talk ill about the blogs I have read, but all I can truthfully say is that I do not know if someone is using steroids unless I have tested their urine sample. I do not believe that every person in CrossFit or the CrossFit Games is using steroids. The reason for this I hope can be explained in this article about natural hormone increases brought on by heavy resistance training.

Steroids or Strength Training?
Long-term weight training brings significant adaptations that can result in enhanced size, strength, and power of trained musculature. When there is an increase in anabolic hormones brought about by heavy weight lifting, it can increase hormonal interactions with various cellular mechanisms and enhance the development of muscle protein contractile units. When there is stimulation From a motor neuron to initiate muscle contraction, various signals are sent from the brain and muscles to endocrine glands.

Hormones are secreted during and after weight lifting due to the physiological stress of the exercise itself. Hormone secretion provides information to the body regarding the amount and type of physiological stress (e.g. epinephrine), the metabolic demands (e.g. insulin), and the need for changes in resting metabolism. Thus, specific patterns of nervous system stimulation from weight training results in certain hormonal changes that are simultaneously activated for specific purposes related to recovery and adaptation to the acute exercise stress.

The patterns of stress and hormonal responses combine to shape the tissues’ adaptive response to a specific training program (like Olympic and powerlifting). So without going into anything too confusing, the specific force produced by the activated muscle fibers determines the alteration in hormone receptor sensitivity to anabolic hormones as well as changes in receptor synthesis. As few as one or two weight lifting days can increase the number of androgen receptors (the receptors for testosterone) in the muscle tissue. Combined, these alterations lead to muscle growth and strength increase in the intact muscle.

Following strength training sessions, remodeling of the muscle tissue takes place in the environment of hormonal secretions that provide for anabolic actions. There is an increase in the synthesis of actin and myosin and a reduction in protein degradation. Now, here is the catch to all of this great stuff due to strength training. If the stress is too great for the athlete, catabolic actions in the muscle may exceed anabolic as a result of the inability of anabolic hormones to bind to their receptors or the down regulation of receptors in the muscle tissue. So hormonal actions are important both during and after an exercise session to respond to the demands of the exercise stress. The magnitude of hormonal response depends on the amount of tissue stimulated, the amount of tissue remodeling, and the amount of tissue repaired after strength training sessions.

Only muscles fibers activated by the strength training are able to be adapted. Here is where genetics and muscle fiber types come into play (I know some of you were waiting for it). Some fibers may be close to the athlete’s genetic ceiling for cell size, while others may have a great potential for growth. This is where many people draw their conclusion as to the fact that CrossFitters are on performance-enhancing drugs, because many believe that people only have a certain ceiling for cell growth, but ultimately, unless we can see your genetic code, no one can know for certain what your genetic ceiling is for skeletal muscle cell size. Just because someone doesn’t look like you, doesn’t mean it’s impossible to look like that.

Now going back to hormones, the extent of hormonal interactions in the growth of muscle fibers is directly related to the adapted size of the fibers. Thus, if an exercise program uses the same exercises over and over again, only a specific set of muscle fibers associated with those movements will be activated and stimulated to grow. Since CrossFit is the epitome of variety, in most cases people are working various muscle groups at any given time, which will aid in the growth of all muscle groups, not just one individual group. Studies show that the volume of work, rest periods between sets, and the type of exercise are vital to the response pattern and magnitude of hormonal changes in men and women.

PEDS, Steroids, and Stereotypes
Now many of you may be wondering what all of this has to do with steroids and other PEDs. This has everything to do with why people may fit a stereotype, but not actually be on PEDs - and all because of how they exercise. Every athlete is on a different schedule and type of programming. How an athlete chooses to exercise has an impact how the body responds to hormone interaction. Our bodies all produce their own hormones, and some people have tapped into something within their own bodies that makes them productive in regards to their own hormone secretion.

So just because some people look as though they have only 3% body fat does not automatically mean they are loaded on PEDs. It could mean they have found something that works for them and makes them extremely efficient at using the hormones produced in their own bodies. And there is even more going on to getting strong than what I mentioned here in this article. We didn’t take into account diet, supplementation, or health history. There is a lot going on biologically when it comes to cell growth than what we can see from the outside.

PEDs and CrossFit Competition
As CrossFit becomes more popular in the sports arena, it will be important to ensure that athletes are competing without the help of PEDs. CrossFit does require urine tests for Games-level competitors, but it does so without the help of a third party that has no involvement with the CrossFit organization itself. As the popularity of the sports and the purse sizes grow, this may become a problematic scenario in regards to the drug status of the competitors.

As for right now, there is no need for CrossFitters to get so bent out of shape that people critiquing potential drug use have to pull down their blogs. Everyone has an opinion, even if it may not be valid to you or anyone else you may know. The best thing for us as CrossFitters to do is to be honest, continue to do what we are doing, and not sweat the small stuff. It all comes out in the wash in the end.

Types of Steroids: Nandrolone Analogues or Dihydrotestosterone Derivatives

There essentially exists only one Nandrolone derivative that is conventionally and commercially available: Trenbolone. Although other Nandrolone analogues have been developed, they are not commonly known and are not very popular for one reason or another. Nandrolone itself cannot technically be counted, as it is not a derivative – it IS Nandrolone. Therefore, the only Nandrolone analogue of question here is Trenbolone.

Nandrolone and Tren belong to a special unique category of anabolic steroids known as Progestins. Nandrolone itself is quite structurally similar to Testosterone. However, Nandrolone differs from Testosterone due to the lack of the 19th carbon. This is why Nandrolone and Trenbolone are often referred to as 19-nortestosterone compounds, meaning a carbon atom is missing at the 19th position. As such, any compound relating to (or is a derivative of) Nandrolone is also commonly referred to as a ’19-nor’ compound, including Nandrolone itself.

Trenbolone being a Nandrolone derivative is of course missing the aforementioned carbon atom at the 19th position (which is in reality a whole methyl group) and this carbon atom is instead replaced by double-bonds between the two carbon atoms that the 19th carbon was originally bound with (this
differs from Nandrolone where the lacking 19th carbon is simply replaced with a hydrogen atom instead of double-bonds in Trenbolone’s case). This lack of a 19th carbon is what increases the resistance of 19-nor compounds to interaction with the aromatase enzyme and therefore very resistant to any Estrogen conversion – however, this is not the whole story for Trenbolone when it comes to aromatization. Trenbolone also contains modifications at carbons 19 and 11, where one hydrogen atom was removed from each carbon so that carbons 19 and 11 become double-bonded with their neighboring carbon atoms in their respective cycloalkane rings. These additional modifications of double-bonds at carbon 19 and 11 are what provides Trenbolone not just increased resistance to aromatization, but to become completely immune to it and be unable to interact what so ever with the aromatase enzyme. These different modifications are also responsible for granting Trenbolone with the extreme anabolic and androgenic strength ratings it is so well known for.

19-nor Progestational compounds such as Nandrolone and Trenbolone exhibit various effects and side effects in the body that are unique only to 19-nor compounds, and are not seen among any other types of steroids. Studies have demonstrated that 19-nor anabolic steroids tend to exhibit binding affinity for the Progesterone receptors in the body. Trenbolone in particular possesses very strong binding affinity (much stronger than Nandrolone) for the Progesterone receptor 1. As mentioned above, this is one of the factors involved where Trenbolone possesses side effects that are almost never seen in other anabolic steroids that are not Progestins. Progestogenic side effects are almost identical to Estrogenic side effects, and they include: severe endogenous Testosterone production shutdown/suppression, gynecomastia, and water retention. It has been determined that the activity of Progestins is closely correlated with the activity of Estrogen in the body. This is why care must be taken to understand the Progestogenic properties of Nandrolone and its derivatives before using them, as well as how to properly deal with the associated Progestogenic effects.

19-nor compounds (Nandrolone derivatives) are preferred by athletes and bodybuilders for many of the same reasons that they would prefer DHT derivatives. 19-nor compounds are either highly resistant to aromatization, or do not aromatize into Estrogen at all (in Trenbolone’s case), and therefore eliminate the potential for Estrogen-related side effects such as water retention/bloating and gynecomastia. These types of steroids also do not interact with the 5AR enzyme, or they interact with it in very miniscule amounts (in Nandrolone’s case). However, Progestogenic effects are a concern that must be fully understood. For a further in-depth description of what these Progestin effects are, please refer to the specific profiles for both Nandrolone as well as Trenbolone where this is delved into greater detail.

Dianabol Cycles and Uses

Dianabol (often shortened to D-Bol), was actually a brand name given to the steroid compound Methandrostenolone by the Swiss pharmaceutical and chemical company Ciba. Though production ceased many years ago, the brand name lives on and is still the name by which the steroid is most commonly referred. Nowadays, there are a host of 'underground laboratories' that manufacture this steroid.

Even today, despite steroid users becoming more accustomed to, and have the finance to fund exotic cycles with many different compounds, Dianabol is as popular as ever, owing to the fact that it is not only very cheap and relatively widespread, but results are nothing short of breathtaking, both in terms of mass gained and increases in strength.

Suggested Cycles/Uses
Prospective steroid users will typically look toward Dianabol as their first steroid experience. This is understandable given the unease that they may possess in respect of using inject able steroids. A 4-6 week course of 25mg-30mg per day should yield a pleasing outcome for novice users, whilst minimising side effects. As you would expect, more advanced users will benefit from higher dosages, though the dose/result ratio is not uniformly linear, and will see benefits tapering off strongly above 60mg-70mg per day, a situation also compounded with perhaps unacceptable side effects. However, given the nature of Dianabol, this situation is rarely encountered, as more experienced users will prefer to stack it with an injectable 'base' steroid such as Testosterone or Nandrolone (Deca) in order that the Dianabol dosages are kept modest.

Due to the relatively short half life, the daily dose is usually spread throughout the day, typically three or four times, with meals. Alternatively, some users prefer to take the full daily dose in one sitting, around 30 minutes before their workout. Dosing in this way can give rise to incredible 'pumps' during the workout, providing the user with a very real sense of vigour and increased performance. There is an additional perceived benefit in that a single dosage will result in a slightly greater uptake of the drug. Whilst this is true, it is somewhat of a fallacy due to the fact that any benefit is countered by an increased in liver stress associated with an increased load borne by the liver from a single dosing schedule. Additionally, it will create a spike in blood concentrations, swiftly followed by a crash; a situation which is normally desired to be avoided by users.

Dianabol is particularly suited to mass gaining goals, where the primary aim is to gain as much muscle as possible, with the user typically adjusting their diets to accommodate possibly 5000 calories or more. Testosterone/Deca/Dianabol is a superb combination with this goal in mind, two examples of which are shown below:

(Novice)
Testosterone (Enanthate/Cypionate/Sustanon) 500mg pw, weeks 1-11
Deca 400mg pw, weeks 1-10
Dianabol 25mg ed, weeks 1-4

(Intermediate)
Testosterone (Enanthate/Cypionate/Sustanon) 750mg pw, weeks 1-11
Deca 600mg pw, weeks 1-10
Dianabol 35mg ed, weeks 1-4

Due to the sometimes excessive water retentive properties of Dianabol, it makes it a poor choice of compound in cycles where the user is looking to shed fat. Cardiovascular activity will feature heavily during periods of cutting and these endeavours will be greatly hampered by the water retention and the painful 'pumps' that often ensue.

Properties of Winstrol

Winstrol is the trade name for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol. This is the third most popular and widely used anabolic steroid in all history and in the whole world. The first most popular anabolic steroid is Dianabol (Methandrostenolone), second most popular is Nandrolone Decanoate (Deca Durabolin), and the third most popular is Winstrol (Stanozolol).

Half Life: 9 hours (oral), 24 hours (injectable)
Detection Time: 2 months
Anabolic Rating: 320
Androgenic Rating: 30


Studies have demonstrated that Winstrol’s main mechanism of action is that of binding with cellular androgen receptors as opposed to non-receptor mediated activity (such as those possessed by Dianabol or Anadrol). It is also believed that Winstrol also possesses some very small measurable form of anti-Progestogenic properties in regards to the Progesterone receptor, although this is not fully understood. In addition to some small antagonistic effects on the Progesterone receptor, it has been found that Winstrol also possesses low affinity for Glucocorticoid-binding site interactions, as well as activity that is independent of Androgen receptors, Progesterone receptors, and Glucocorticoid receptors. Winstrol has not been found to have any notable Progestogenic activity in the body as well.

Winstrol possesses a very high binding affinity for SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin), therefore granting far more of Winstrol (as well as other anabolic steroids that may be stacked alongside it, such as Testosterone) to freedom in the bloodstream in doing its job of signaling muscle growth. SHBG is a protein that attaches and binds to other sex hormones (Testosterone, Estrogen, or any synthetic anabolic steroid) and renders them useless as long as SHBG is bound to that hormone. Effectively, SHBG places ‘handcuffs’ on any hormone it binds to and prevents it from doing its job. Winstrol has also demonstrated to not only prevent SHBG from binding with other anabolic steroids, but it has also demonstrated strong suppression of SHBG production in the body. For example, one particular study conducted on 25 male test subjects where Winstrol was administered orally resulted in a 48.4% drop in SHBG levels following just 3 days of Winstrol administration.

With Winstrol being a DHT-derivative, it holds the advantage that is generally associated with DHT and all other DHT-derivatives: it is unable to bind with the aromatase enzyme, which results in no possible Estrogen conversion. Resulting from this is an avoidance of the Estrogen-related side effects of water retention (and the associated risks of elevated blood pressure), as well as other Estrogen-related side effects. Being a DHT-derivative, it is also unable to interact with the 5-alpha reductase enzyme, which is the enzyme responsible for the conversion of Testosterone into Dihydrotestosterone. As Winstrol is already a modified form of DHT, this cannot possibly occur.

Winstrol exhibits a longer half-life as a result of its structural modifications, enabling the injectable format of Winstrol to possess a half-life of approximately 24 hours, and 9 hours for the oral preparation of Winstrol. In relation to Testosterone, Winstrol holds an androgenic strength rating of 30 with an anabolic strength rating of 320, which is quite significant considering this means Winstrol is slightly over three times the anabolic strength of Testosterone. In order for any individual to understand the meaning of these numbers and ratings, it must be understood that the base reference measurement for these strength ratings is the number one anabolic steroid Testosterone. Testosterone is utilized as the measuring stick or the measuring bar whereby all other anabolic steroids are referenced with and compared to (much like the celcius scale of temperature measurement where the freezing point and boiling points of water is used as the baseline measurement for temperature). Upon understanding this, any individual can easily observe how Winstrol possesses an anabolic strength of three times Testosterone (Testosterone’s anabolic and androgenic ratings are both respectively 100). Percentage-wise, it could be described that Winstrol is 320% more anabolic than Testosterone, and it is 30% less androgenic than Testosterone.

An important fact that must be reminded to the reader is the fact that both the injectable and oral preparations of Winstrol possess the exact same chemical structure. This is unlike nearly all other anabolic steroids, where oral preparations are always C17-alpha alkylated, and injectable preparations are absent of this methylation (and often injectable compounds are also esterified to modulate the release rate and half-life). This is not so with Winstrol, where the oral and injectable preparations are exactly 100% identical to each other. This presents some concerns that the reader must be aware of: The result is a greater amount of hepatotoxicity (liver toxicity), and because both the injectable and oral preparations both possess the hepatotoxic modification of C17-alpha alkylation, they both will place an almost equal level of hepatotoxic strain on the liver. However, the injectable preparation avoids the first-pass through the liver, which allows it to be slightly less hepatotoxic than the oral Winstrol preparation – but hepatotoxic nevertheless, and its duration of use must also have limitations placed on it.

Anabolic Steroid Dosages Are Different To Men in Female Bodybuilding

The attitude in the UK regards women bodybuilding and anabolic steroids seems to be one of secrecy and distrust, not to mention the back biting and bitching. Very few are willing to share the knowledge they have in you become good, it seems to be native to the UK that most people do not like to see others doing well and want to keep all the glory for themselves.

This is where I had the shock coming back to bodybuilding after 9 years of power lifting. In power lifting knowledge is eagerly given to those that will utilize it and not waste it and everyone shares experience from technique to what to take on the day of the competition. It was like a big family and we all helped each other. I can remember coaching a junior lifter that was one year away from seniors and my weight category – I didn’t worry about the fact that she was really good and was going to give me trouble next year when she moved up, it was just wonderful to watch someone learn and improve in front of your eyes and see her almost in tears at competition because she had done her best ever squat.

The open and unconditional help I have had since coming back into bodybuilding has been from those of the ‘old school’. Bodybuilders that have been around a long time – I mean 15 years plus on the circuit. These particular people have helped me immensely and I am forever in their debt but why are these guys the main people that really do want to help?

I don’t know when the attitude change happened but I don’t remember it being like this when I was competing bodybuilding before but there seems to be a new breed that are completely wedged up their own arses and if they spent the same amount of effort training as they do bitching about everyone else maybe we would have more successful bodybuilders on the international circuit. OK – tantrum over.

Anyway – back to the steroids. Obviously at this stage I am desperate not to fuck things up any more than I have done and have in fact have reduced my gear intake to the lowest since I started it and I look a hell of a lot better for it.

Unfortunately I still have a very long way to go and have just started to try growth – but again proper information is hard to find and since there are no controlled studies of HGH on people of normal physiology it is hard to find what seems to be the right dosage, right calorific intake, right timing, subcutaneous or intramuscular shot and the right gear to take with if in fact any?!! I’ll let you know how it goes but I can tell you that I tried a hard and heavy course before the WABBA Worlds to try and get a bit more cut and that worked incredibly well but the dosage was deliberately high – 6iu every day for 10 days before the show. I had already come off the Prima and Virormone before I started the course.
For off-season I have been recommended to take 4iu every 3 days so it will be interesting to see the results of the difference in dosage. And no – I’m not using insulin with it because I’m too much of a big girl’s blouse and am too dizzy to make sure I have the routine of my meals etc exact!

I suppose the moral of this is that recently I was approached after doing a guest spot at a show by a figure class girl that wanted to go into physique. She wanted to look like me (poor girl, she obviously lost her glasses). I found myself telling her that unless she was willing to pay the price it really wasn’t a good idea. I told her about the side effects, the comments that are made by strangers, the stares every time you walk down the street or even set foot outside your own front door. You even get to the stage that when people look at you, you automatically assume they are thinking ‘well she has the face of a girl but the body looks like a man’ when in fact they are about to give you a compliment. It creates paranoia if you aren’t careful.

So, if you or anyone you know wants to get into woman’s physique please seek out advice before you try any gear as the price can be too high for some to pay. Find another female that has competed and pick her brains or find a guy that successfully coaches women but one thing you must remember is that it still all comes down to trial and error and individual chemistry. I just don’t want to see others making the same mistakes that I did.

What would be really useful was if we could get more information together and make it accessible to women that need it. I am certainly no authority, I just learnt by some of the mistakes I made but I know there are people out there that have first hand experience and coaching experience. So, if you happen to be a guru on gear for girlies or have a piece of info you think would be helpful, no matter how small, then write to me and we can either publish updates (if I grovel enough to Mick) and new info or at least put women in contact with people that aren’t going to turn them into David Bellamy lookalikes… Now, where did I put my Mac 3?

Fat Loss Steroids

Quite often anabolic steroids are placed in two classes; bulking steroids or fat loss steroids/cutting steroids. While either phrase largely implies the desire behind anabolic use it can often at times be a bit inaccurate. The fact of the matter is very simple, most anabolic androgenic steroids can achieve either purpose; while the primary purpose of many steroids can vary, most possess a level of both qualities including body fat reduction; varying to a degree. For example, there are certain steroids that are far better served for adding mass, steroids that are far better served for increasing strength or performance. The same can be applied to fat loss steroids; while anabolic androgenic steroids do not carry with them the primary purpose of burning fat some will do so in a secondary fashion to a higher degree. What we’ve done here is listed some of the most common questions, myths and often confused ideas and followed it with the absolute truth. By following this list you will have a much better understanding of the concept of fat burning steroids.

One of the most common reasons anyone uses anabolic androgenic steroids is for the purpose of leaning out and cutting up. With this being a common primary purpose there is a strong desire to ensure you’re using the best fat loss steroids available. Not only are the introduction to fat loss steroids important to you in achieving this purpose but so are the performance enhancing drugs (PED’s) you will add in addition.

Let’s be very clear on one important factor regarding anabolic androgenic steroids; while they may possess fat burning qualities none of them serve this primary purpose therefor none of them can be labeled fat loss steroids in a primary sense. Anabolic androgenic steroids largely serve four general primary purposes:

    Increasing Strength
    Increasing Muscle Mass
    Increasing Athletic Performance
    Increasing the “Hardness” of a Physique

While these are the primary purposes they will vary to a degree from one steroid to the next; some steroids serve one purpose more than another while others serve an entirely different primary function. Even so, a secondary characteristic of many can be fat burning and thereby it is these we may generally label fat loss steroids.
Increasing Fat Loss Steroids Abilities

While the primary purpose is not fat loss but a secondary function, additional non-steroidal drugs can greatly benefit and add to this effect. Of those belonging to the hormone class, without question the best hormone we can add as well as the best PED of all to serve this purpose is Human Growth Hormone (HGH.) Not only can HGH greatly increase fat burning but it can further make the steroids we use more effective including their secondary traits.

Other commonly used PED’s used in this purpose most largely include Clenbuterol (Clen) and Cytomel (T3.) While neither is a steroidal drug, the former being a bronchial medication and the latter a thyroid medication both can be positive additions to a cutting cycle and increase the amounts of fat lost. While neither of these will change the structure of function of the steroids used, in a sense, due to the mode of actions by each PED being used, including the steroids, by this mode of action when coupled together, our anabolics become stronger fat loss steroids.
How to Stack Fat Loss Steroids

In most cases you will need to build your cycle around testosterone; not only is testosterone an important part of most cycles it is all-around the most efficient and effective steroid known to man. Beyond testosterone there are many additional items we can add that may more or less fall into the fat loss steroids camp. Steroids such as Trenbolone and Stanozolol are always top choices, as can be Equipoise and Anavar. Beyond the steroids, effective fat burners as mentioned above are always a helpful tool in addition; cycles and stacks with these items, in conjunction with solid anabolic androgenic steroids and HGH will prove to be the ultimate fat burning machines.

Q: What are the best fat burning steroids?

A: While the primary purpose does not revolve around body fat reduction, Trenbolone is without question the king of fat loss steroids available today. Partially due to its incredible nutrient partitioning capabilities and its androgen binding abilities Trenbolone can greatly increase the rate in-which adipose tissue is reduced. While any form of Trenbolone will generally achieve this purpose, most will find Tren-A or Trenbolone-Acetate to be the most efficient and effective.

Q: Can fat loss steroids be used successfully in a bulking cycle?

A: Absolutely and for good reason; anabolic androgenic steroids are not classified as fat burners and non-fat burners. While they may possess this trait it is often a secondary characteristic. Our example of Trenbolone is a perfect example, as are the steroids Stanozolol and Equipoise. While the first possess the ability of all traits, increasing mass, strength, hardness and fat loss abilities, the latter two possess the same without as much mass increasing properties. However, all three of these steroids can be used successfully in a bulking cycle and should never be labeled as cutters only.

Q: Can Dianabol & Anadrol be used as fat loss steroids?

A: The common belief is that neither Dianabol or Anadrol can be used in a cutting cycle and are only to be used during off-season, bulking or gaining phases; however, the truth is far from this way of thinking. There is no doubt about it, both of these steroids serve the primary purpose of adding muscle mass and both can greatly increase strength but make no mistake, both can be effectively used in a cutting cycle; in most cases this will be applied to competitive bodybuilders. However, the question remains; will they burn fat? While this is not their primary purpose by any means and we will not label either as fat loss steroid both can have a positive effect on body fat reduction. If for no other reason, when we increase our lean tissue we create a field that burns more fat; the more lean mass the greater the fat burning properties available.

Q: What is the most effective and safe fat loss steroid?

A: While fat loss is far from its primary purpose the steroid Anavar can achieve this in a secondary fashion. Not only does Anavar fall into the fat loss steroids category it is by far the safest anabolic androgenic steroid available and is largely free from any of the nasty side-effects commonly associated with steroid use.

Q: Should I avoid testosterone if trying to lean out?

A: This is perhaps the most misunderstood question of all and much of the urban legend surrounding testosterone as it pertains to this topic is nothing short of the worst advice you’ll ever hear. The truth is simple; most all anabolic steroid cycles should include testosterone. Not only is testosterone generally well-tolerated by most who use it, it is further imperative for proper bodily function as well as increasing or maintaining muscle tissue. In an all-around sense, testosterone is the best anabolic androgenic steroid available to any healthy male adult and while the many forms of testosterone are not fat loss steroids in primary function, their primary functions will lead to a leaner physique; much leaner than if it were not used.
The Bottom Line

There are literally hundreds of options we have when we consider how to stack, what to stack and how best to mix and match ourfat loss steroids with other fat burning tools. Regardless of the options we choose safety will always be our paramount concern. While fat loss steroids can be very useful and effective it is easier to run into problems when cutting when responsible use is not applied. In most cases it is a case of over eagerness, a desire to speed up the results. As are most things in life and this applies heavily to steroid use, display patience and discipline; your results and overall health will thank you in the end.

The 14 Week Anabolic Steroid Drug Cycle of an IFBB Professional Bodybuilder

As the following Generation Iron - Mr. Olympia style drug cycle commenced was 14 weeks out from the world’s most prestigious bodybuilding event, the Mr. Olympia. Upon beginning this cycle he weighed a whopping 280 pounds. Due to the possibility that he could be identified, his contest weight and his placement at the event will not be published. Below is his cycle.

It's known that it’s more reminiscent of an old school cycle but I honestly would not doubt that many pro bodybuilders are still following the concept of low dose cycles in order to avoid strong muscle wasting hormones build up when quitting cold turkey prior to competition. Think of it like someone trying to quit smoking a pack a day all at once without scaling down to lesser smokes per day. The withdrawal is intense because all the neurotransmitters that were boosted during smoking drop dramatically once the nicotine leaves the body. Same goes with anabolics, once you stop taking them, the hormones that cause destruction of muscles rise to compensate for the prolonged period of muscle building hormones occupying all the muscle tissues. Now if you take lower amounts of anabolic steroids, then switch to a testosterone booster like Test Stack 17 or Phytoserms, the rebound will be almost non-existent.

Week 14

400 mg/wk Testosterone
200 mg/wk methenolone enanthate
25 mg/day methandrostenolone
Total weekly androgen dose: 775 mg

Week 13

400 mg/wk Testosterone [specific ester name not given]
200 mg/wk methenolone enanthate
25 mg/day methandrostenolone
0.70 mg/day tiratricol
3 IU growth hormone M, W, F
Total weekly androgen dose: 775 mg

Week 12

300 mg/wk Testosterone [specific ester name not given]
300 mg/wk methenolone enanthate
25 mg/day methandrostenolone
0.70 mg/day tiratricol
3 IU growth hormone M, W, F
Total weekly androgen dose: 775 mg

Week 11

300 mg/wk Testosterone [specific ester name not given]
300 mg/wk methenolone enanthate
25 mg/day methandrostenolone
0.70 mg/day tiratricol
3 IU growth hormone administered M, W, F
Total weekly androgen dose: 775 mg

Week 10

200 mg/wk Testosterone [specific ester name not given]
400 mg/wk methenolone enanthate
25 mg/day methandrostenolone
0.70 mg/day tiratricol
3 IU growth hormone administered M, W, F
Total weekly androgen dose: 775 mg

Week 9

152 mg/wk trenbolone hexahydrobenzylcarbonate
200 mg/wk nandrolone decanoate
200 mg/wk methenolone enanthate
200 mg/wk dromostanolone
1.05 mg/day tiratricol
3 IU growth hormone, change to daily injections here until Mr. Olympia
Total weekly androgen dose: 752 mg

Week 8

152 mg/wk trenbolone hexahydrobenzylcarbonate
200 mg/wk nandrolone decanoate
200 mg/wk dromostanolone
200 mg/wk methenolone enanthate
3 IU/day growth hormone
1.05 mg/day tiratricol
Total weekly androgen dose: 752 mg

Week 7

152 mg/wk trenbolone hexahydrobenzylcarbonate
200 mg/wk nandrolone decanoate
200 mg/wk dromostanolone
200 mg/wk methenolone enanthate
4 IU/day growth hormone
1.05 mg/day tiratricol
Begin alternating daily dose of 30 mcg clenbuterol and 100 mg ephedrine (i.e. one day C, next day E)
Total weekly androgen dose: 752 mg

Week 6

100 mg Testosterone suspension administered twice per week
100 mg injectable stanzozolol administered three times per week
228 mg/wk trenbolone hexahydrobenzylcarbonate
200 mg/wk dromostanolone
5 IU/day growth hormone
1.05 mg/day tiratricol
Alternating daily dose of 30 mcg clenbuterol or 100 mg ephedrine (i.e. one day C, next day E)
25 mg/day oxandrolone
Local injections with formyldienolone begin here until Mr. Olympia (upper chest, biceps, and side delts)
Total weekly androgen dose: 1,103 mg*

Week 5

50 mg nandrolone phenpropionate administered twice per week
100 mg Testosterone suspension administered twice per week
100 mg injectable stanozolol administered three times per week
228 mg/wk trenbolone hexahydrobenzylcarbonate
200 mg/wk dromostanolone
5 IU/day growth hormone
1.05 mg/day tiratricol
Alternating daily dose of 30 mcg clenbuterol or 100 mg ephedrine (i.e. one day C, next day E)
25 mg/day oxandrolone
Local injections with formyldienolone (upper chest, biceps, side delts)
Total weekly androgen dose: 1,203 mg*

Week 4

100 mg nandrolone phenpropionate administered three times per week
200 mg/wk dromostanolone
100 mg Testosterone suspension administered three times per week
100 mg injectable stanozolol administered three times per week
1.05 mg/day tiratricol
Alternating daily dose of 30 mcg clenbuterol or 100 mg ephedrine (i.e. one day C, next day E)
25 mg/day oxandrolone
5 IU/day growth hormone
Local injections with formyldienolone (upper chest, biceps, side delts)
500 mg/day testolactone
500 mg/day tolbutamide
100 mg/day mesterolone
Total weekly androgen dose: 1,975 mg*

Week 3

100 mg nandrolone phenpropionate administered three times per week
200 mg/wk dromostanolone
100 mg Testosterone suspension administered three times per week
100 mg injectable stanozolol administered three times per week
1.05 mg/day tiratricol
Alternating daily dose of 30 mcg clenbuterol and 100 mg ephedrine (i.e. one day C, next day E)
25 mg/day oxandrolone
5 IU/day growth hormone
Local injections with formyldienolone (upper chest, biceps, side delts)
500 mg/day testolactone
500 mg/day tolbutamide
100 mg/day mesterolone
Total weekly androgen dose: 1,975 mg*

Week 2

50 mg nandrolone phenpropionate administered twice per week
100 mg/day mesterolone
1.05 mg/day tiratricol
100 mg injectable stanozolol administered three times per week
100 mg/day Testosterone suspension
600 mg/day testolactone
500 mg/day tolbutamide
750 mg/day aminoglutethimide
Alternating daily dose of 30 mcg clenbuterol or 100 mg ephedrine (i.e. one day C, next day E)
25 mg/day oxandrolone
5 IU/day growth hormone (GH stops this week)
Local injections with formyldienolone (upper chest, biceps, side delts)
Total weekly androgen dose: 1,975 mg*

Week Preceding the Mr. Olympia

50 mg nandrolone phenpropionate administered twice this week
100 mg/day mesterolone
100 mg injectable stanozolol Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
100 mg Testosterone suspension Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday
600 mg/day testolactone
500 mg/day tolbutamide
25 mg/day oxandrolone
Alternating daily dose of 30 mcg clenbuterol or 100 mg ephedrine (i.e. one day C, next day E)
750 mg/day aminoglutethimide
Local injections with formyldienolone (upper chest, biceps, side delts)
Total weekly androgen dose: 1,575 mg*

Total androgen dose for 14 week cycle: 15,937 mg*

Things to consider before starting a first steroid cycle

Discipline and dedication are principles that you are going to have to master if you are serious about bodybuilding, being consistent with your diet and training will help you succeed in achieving your goals. Don't have tunnel vision in thinking you will only build muscle if your taking Steroids, below are some of the main principles you need to consider before taking any anabolic steroids.

AGE
In humans your Endocrine system is not fully functional until an average age of 25yrs, although the main development is up to around 21yrs it still fluctuates a little bit up to its fully functional age. There is a risk of permanently damaging your HPTA if you take steroids too young and you could end up with symptoms of andropause and HRT for life. Symptoms could be Limp dick, low libido, depression, low energy, low endurance, erection problems and many more but.......are these the types of symptoms you want to have in your 20's?. Believe me its hard to cope with these in your 40's yet alone in your prime of your life.

Around this age your Testosterone levels are the highest they going to be in your life naturally, so use what you have and don't take the risk of damage, I am passionate about this because ive seen it many times with young kids wanting to looking like their heroes and they think the answer is in an injection/tablet.

Taking steroids too young can also cause problems with development, one other main problem is premature sealing of your epiphyeal bone and the consequences mean that you wont grow as big as your genetics could allow you to, there is a test which can be done to see if your growth plates have sealed yet but the average age is around 21yrs old.



TRAINING
You need a few years of hard training under your belt before even considering taking any kind of anabolic support, people who jump on a steroid cycle to soon without having some quality years under their belt usually results in injuries, it takes time to develop your connective tissue, tendons and nervous system to heavy overload training. Slowly getting your own system use to these kinds of extreme's will only help in muscle growth later on when you do decide to start taking AAS.

Build a solid foundation for muscle tissue to grow and maintaining and development will be far greater than without it. Many younger guys will start cycling before they have reached their genetic potential which is crazy when a good solid diet and training program will be far beneficial and productive to muscle building.

Workouts should be mainly focused on basic movements with a priority of over loading the muscle each and ever time you train, increasing your strength and ability to lift in proper form will help with building the foundation for future development

DIET
A lot of younger bodybuilders don't know how to eat. Researching and understanding how your own body responds will help you get to your natural limit, the right food at the right time and a full understanding of proteins,carbs, and fats will only help you succeed in achieving your natural goals. Keeping a diet diary will also help you understand the importance of macro, nutrients, calories and should help you see in which areas you could be going wrong in adding lean muscle tissue.

No matter how much anabolic support you have it will be worthless without proper nutrition, food will help build and maintain your valued muscle weather its natural, cycling or in PCT. Adjusting your food intake and consuming muscle building foods coupled with a solid training program will help you achieve your natural limit and foundation before you start Steroid use.

This area is a huge problem with the younger guys and I can't express enough how important diet/food is when first starting out, post and pre training nutrition are very important and understanding how to load and feed the body will help push growth and create a very natural anabolic environment.

Prohormones

Prohormones have grown in popularity over the past decade, with many bodybuilding and sport supplement companies developing and marketing new prohormones, and many bodybuilders and athletes using the supplements as a legal way of hopefully obtaining steroid like effects. Prohormones work by being a precursor to a parent steroid, such as Testosterone, which requires conversion via an enzymatic process. Due to the steroid conversion being limited by this enzymatic process, we are usually likely to see less potent effects from using prohormones, compared to using anabolic androgenic steroids.

Prohormones are commonly used by bodybuilding and athletes for the very same reason they would look to use anabolic androgenic steroids. Prohormones bring about a heightened level of potent muscle building hormones which result in muscle hypertrophy, increase in strength, greater aggressiveness, and other anabolic and androgenic characteristics (some positive and others possibly negative, such as acne or male pattern baldness).
Side effects from prohormone use

Side effects from prohormone use is the same, although likely to a lesser degree, as anabolic androgenic steroid use. Side effects differ from one prohormone to another (just as we would expect from steroids), depending greatly on the prohormones aromatisation rate to oestrogen, and the parent steroid hormone anabolic and androgenic properties. Oestrogen related side effects can be a possibility from prohormone use, including increased water retention, and the chance of devolving Gynecomstia (breast tissue development). If these side effects are unwanted then using a prohormone with a low conversion rate to oestrogen would be preferred, although it would not totally eliminate the possibility of experiencing such side effects. Androgenic side effects are common from prohormone usage, commonly including acne, oily skin, male pattern baldness and prostate swelling. A post cycle therapy is best implemented post prohormone cycle, like with any anabolic androgenic steroid cycle, to try to help restore the users natural testosterone production. There are over the counter supplements which are marketed at helping post prohormone cycle, although the most effective method is said to be the employment of drugs such as Nolvadex and/or Clomid. You can read more about this in our post cycle therapy (PCT) article.
Common prohormones

4-AD (4-androstenediol)

Available in transdermal and oral forms, 4-AD has a conversion rate to Testosterone of around 15-20%, and three times that of androstenedione. 4-AD is a popular prohormone due to its inability to convert to oestrogen and DHT (dihydrotestosterone), although some aromatisation may result from the metabolism of the prohormone.

We can expect androgenic side effects from 4-AD use, so acne, oily skin and MPB should be prepared for.

Common dosages of 4-AD is generally up to 100mg each day, although a lower dosages should be used by inexperienced users.

1-AD (1-androstenediol)

1-AD converts to the very potent 1-Testosterone, a steroid that is said to be 700% more anabolic then Testosterone, furthermore 5-alpha reduced so lacks the ability to cause aromatisation. 1-AD is very oral active, possessing a very high conversion rate due to the liver activating the prohormone upon passing, and resistant to being broken down unlike other prohormones.

1-AD manifests its androgenic nature very quickly, therefore androgenic side effects can be very much expected from its usage, and therefore may not be a suitable prohormone for those prone to such side effects.
A final word of caution

Hopefully you have read the above and are now well aware of the possible side effects from the use of prohormones. Prohormones should not be under estimated, and unfortunately they often are because of their availability of legal status. Research and preparation should be done prior to a prohormone cycle, just as with an anabolic androgenic steroid cycle. If you know others which are thinking of embarking on a prohormone cycle please email this article to them so they are well aware of the risked involved with prohormone use.

Although prohormones can be potentially dangerous if not understood and misused, in the educated hands who has prepared for all possible side effects, prohormones use can result in a very pronounced anabolic environment for heightened muscle growth, better recovery, and increase strength gains.

Nolvadex and HCG in Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)

One of the most frequently asked questions is how to properly use the Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) drugs Nolvadex, Clomid and HCG correctly.

How to take Nolvadex for PCT
As an alternative to Clomid, which has been reported to have led to unwanted side effects such as visual disturbances in some users, Nolvadex can be employed. Nolvadex is a trade name for the drug Tamoxifen. Like Clomid, the half life of Nolvadex is relatively long enabling the user to implement a single daily dosing schedule. Administration would start as per the timescales outlined above and the duration would be identical to that of Clomid.

Typically, for a moderate-heavy cycle, the following dosages would be used:
Day 1 - 100mg
Following 10 days - 60mg
Following 10 days - 40mg

Occasionally, heavier cycles containing perhaps Nandrolone (Deca) or Trenbolone which by definition are particularly suppressive of the HPTA, may require a slightly longer therapy. Likewise, more modest/shorter cycles may require lower dosages, perhaps dropping each by 20mg per day.

Some users like to use both Clomid and Nolvadex in their PCT in an attempt to cover all angles. An example of the dosages involved might be:

Day 1 - Clomid 200mg + Nolvadex 40mg
Following 10 days - Clomid 50mg + Nolvadex 20mg
Following 10 days - Clomid 50mg or Nolvadex 20mg

Of course, the examples provided are not set in stone and may be adjusted depending on the factors outlined above and individual variances.

Using HCG
It is our opinion that HCG is probably one of the most misunderstood and misused compounds in bodybuilding. Hopefully this information will go some way towards rectifying that for the members of MuscleTalk. HCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin and is not a steroid, but a natural peptide hormone which develops in the placenta of pregnant women during pregnancy to controls the mother's hormones. (Incidentally, this is the reason you may hear of people testing for growth hormone (HGH) with a pregnancy testing kit - If their HGH shows 'pregnant', they've been ripped-off with cheaper HCG - but we digress slightly).

Its action in the male body is like that of LH, stimulating the Leydig cells in the testes to produce testosterone even in the absence of endogenous LH. HCG is therefore used during longer or heavier steroid cycles to maintain testicular size and condition, or to bring atrophied (shrunken) testicles back up to their original condition in preparation for post-cycle Clomid therapy. This process is necessary because atrophied testicles produce reduced levels of natural testosterone, this situation should be rectified prior to post-cycle Clomid therapy.

HCG administration post-cycle is common practice among bodybuilders in the belief that it will aid the natural testosterone recovery, but this theory is unfounded and also counterproductive. The rapid rise in both testosterone, and thus oestrogen due to aromatisation, from the administration of HCG causes further inhibition of the HPTA (Hypothalamic/Pituitary/Testicular Axis - feedback loop discussed above); this actually worsens the recovery situation. HCG does not restore the natural testosterone production.

The typically observed dosing of 2000 to 5000IU every 4 to 5 days causes such an increase in oestrogen levels via aromatisation of the natural testosterone that this has been responsible for many cases of gynecomastia.

From the above discussion it is clear that HCG is best used during a cycle, either to:

1) Avoid testicular atrophy, or
2) Rectify the problem of an existing testicular atrophy.

HCG Dosage
Smaller doses, more frequently during a cycle will give best overall results with least unwanted side effects. Somewhere between 500IU and 1000IU per day would be best over about a two-week period. These doses are sufficient to avoid/rectify testicular atrophy without increasing oestrogen levels too dramatically and risking gynecomastia. This dosing schedule also avoids the risk of permanently down-regulating the LH receptors in the testes.

It is important for the HCG administration to have been completed with 6 or 7 clear days before the onset of PCT in order to avoid inhibition of the Nolvadex and/or Clomid therapy. Also, a small daily dose (10-20mg) of Nolvadex would normally be used in conjunction with HCG in order to prevent oestrogenic symptoms caused by sudden increases in aromatisation.

Presentation and Administration of HCG
Synthetic HCG is often known as Pregnyl (generic name) and is available in 2500iu and 5000iu (not ideal for the above doses!). Administration of the compound is either by intra-muscular or subcutaneous injection. It comes as a powder which needs to be mixed with the sterile water. The powder is temperature-sensitive prior to mixing and should not be exposed to direct heat. After mixing, it should be kept refrigerated and used within a few weeks - though there are sterility issues which need to be considered after mixing.

Summary and Presentation of Clomid and HCG
Clomid and/or Nolvadex are more effective than HCG post cycle, but some long-term users like to use HCG during a cycle, or to prepare the testes for Clomid and/or Nolvadex therapy.

Clomid is available in 50mg tablets most commonly, but also comes in 25mg capsule, often in boxes of 24 tablets. Tamoxifen is made by a number of manufacturers and comes in 10mg or 20mg tablets, most commonly 30 x 20mg tablets. HCG generally comes in kits of three ampoules of powder needing to be mixed with the provided injectable water as 1500IU, 2500IU or 5000IU per ampoule kits.

Best Oral Steroids

What are the best steroids? This is a tricky question and one that can’t be answered with a single anabolic steroid. With literally hundreds of anabolic steroids available to us deciding which is the best steroids is difficult. We can however, decide which steroid is best suited for your goals or point you in the right direction. There are a number of factors, which can determine the best steroid for you, the user. Your age, past experience, gender, goals, training experience, weight, level of muscle mass, current health state and genetics. Below we will try to discuss this in more detail and determine the best steroids available and optimally suited.

Oral steroids are some of the most popular steroids ever used. They can be considered for the title of best steroids, but shouldn’t be used alone in most cases. The standard foundation of a backbone of testosterone is suggested and then an oral steroid can be added as secondary compound or used as a kick-start or finisher.  Some of the most popular steroids still used and ever used are below. All these can be considered for the title of best steroids, but they need to be put into separate categories as well, such as the best steroids for cutting, best steroid for bulking.

    Dianabol (Methandrostenolone, Dbol, D-Bol)
    Anadrol (Oxymetholone, Adrol, Abombs or Drol)
    Anavar (Oxandrolone)
    Turinabol (4-Chlorodehydromethyltestosterone, Tbol, Oral Turinabol, OT)
    Winstrol (GP Stan)
    Halotestin (Fluoxymesterone, Halo)
    Proviron (Mesterolone)
    Primobolan (Methenolone, Primo)

These oral steroids can be used for bulking and some best suited for cutting. For example, Dianabol is one of the most popular anabolic steroids ever used and has been around since the 1960’s. Dianabol can be considered one of the best steroids (oral) as its probably the most popular and well known oral steroid in existence. Those wanting extra muscle mass with low side effects use Dianabol widely today. It was first developed to add mass and strength to the Olympic USA Team after they lost to their Russian competitors by their Olympic Team doctor – Dr. John Zeigler.

Anavar and Winstrol are closely followed in terms of popularity and women can use both of these steroids as they have better safety profiles than others. As opposed to Dianabol and Anadrol being used in extremely low doses because of virilisation side effects and symptoms. Many tout Anavar and Winstrol as the best steroids for overall mass and fat loss and their overall popularity confirms this. Both these anabolic steroids are the user-friendliest around and so can be considered as the best steroids because of their qualities in the oral category.

The Best and Worst Anabolic Steroid Choices for Beginner Steroid Cycles

It is important for every beginner to understand what is an appropriate choice for a cycle and what is not, and what choices are merely acceptable (not a stellar choice but not a horrible one either). It has already been established that a very first cycle consisting of Testosterone-only is the best and safest choice for a beginner. The reasons for such a choice have already been made very clear. With this being said, the most appropriate choices of compounds will be covered here.

One very important detail to be made clear to any and all beginners is the fact that not only should oral anabolic steroids not be used in a cycle, but that absolutely no cycle should ever consist of only oral anabolic steroids under any circumstances. The decision to run a cycle consisting of only a single anabolic steroid and no injectable compounds is most usually the very first decision of any beginner or individual looking to begin anabolic steroid use. This is usually the result of a fear of needles, but this must be overcome, and once overcome it becomes much easier afterwards. Oral steroids are not designed to be run solitarily (on their own), and instead serve to act as supplementary compounds to a solid base cycle that should always include injectable compounds, of which an essentially required injectable being Testosterone (for every single cycle). Injectable compounds are the base compounds of any cycle, and all orals are meant to be supplementary or ‘kickstarting’ compounds (this will be explained later).

Cutting Cycle. With this being said, there are various injectable compounds that require very frequent injections, while there are also more beginner-friendly compounds that require infrequent administration of injections. For example, Testosterone Enanthate or Testosterone Cypionate are both known as long-estered compounds that exhibit a very slow window of release and a long half-life incomparison to other fast-acting anabolic steroids such as Testosterone Propionate. Long-estered compounds such as Testosterone Enanthate are commonly utilized by beginners and are very suitable for beginners due to the fact that beginners and first-time users are commonly shy, scared, and/or squeamish when the issue of needles and injections are concerned.

Once again, the reader must be reminded that anabolic steroids are very serious drugs, and every individual, if considering the use of anabolic steroids, must engage in proper administration protocols. If an individual is not serious enough to perform proper administration via injection of anabolic steroids, then he/she is not serious enough to engage in anabolic steroid use.

The following lists are in order of the most appropriate choice of compounds to the most inappropriate (top to bottom of the lists):

IDEAL BEGINNER COMPOUNDS FOR A FIRST-TIME ANABOLIC STEROID CYCLE:
- Testosterone Enanthate
- Testosterone Cypionate
- Sustanon 250 (blend of 4 different esterified Testosterone variants)
- Testosterone Propionate

IDEAL BEGINNER COMPOUNDS FOR USE IN SUBSEQUENT BEGINNER ANABOLIC STEROID CYCLES:
- Testosterone Enanthate
- Testosterone Cypionate
- Sustanon 250 (blend of 4 different esterified Testosterone variants)
- Testosterone Propionate
- Equipoise (AKA Boldenone Undecylenate)
- Deca-Durabolin (AKA Nandrolone Decanoate)
- Injectable Winstrol (AKA Stanozolol)

MODERATELY ACCEPTABLE BEGINNER COMPOUNDS FOR USE IN SUBSEQUENT BEGINNER ANABOLIC STEROID CYCLES (SHOULD IDEALLY BE INCLUDED LATER ON AFTER BUILDING CYCLE EXPERIENCE):
- Nandrolone Phenylpropionate
- Oral Winstrol (AKA GP Stan 10)
- Dianabol (Methandrostenolone, Methandienone)
- Anavar (Oxandrolone)
- Injectable Primobolan (Methenolone Enanthate)
- Oral Primobolan (Methenolone Acetate)

COMPLETELY UNNACEPTABLE COMPOUNDS FOR BEGINNERS (FOR EITHER INTERMEDIATE OR ADVANCED USERS ONLY):
- Anadrol (Oxymetholone)
- Masteron (Drostanolone)
- Trenbolone

In the case of anabolic steroids such as Testosterone Enanthate, Testosterone Cypionate, Sustanon 250, Nandrolone Decanoate (Deca-Durabolin) and Equipoise (Boldenone Undecylenate), these anabolic steroids are known as long-estered compounds. As mentioned earlier, this indicates that they possess long half-lives and must be injected twice weekly where the full weekly dose is split evenly into two injections. For example, a 500mg/week Testosterone Enanthate cycle would require a 250mg injection on Monday followed by a 250mg injection on Thursday. This is so as to maintain proper stable steady peak blood plasma levels of the hormone. Although individuals can still make progress with a single weekly injection, twice weekly injections are ideal in order to maintain stable and steady peak blood plasma levels. Failure to do so will result in increased incidence and intensity of side effects due to peaks and valleys in unstable blood plasma levels.

GP Oxan - Brand Version Steroid Oxandrolone

GP Oxan is the trademark name of the anabolic steroid Oxandrolone. Introduced in the US in 1964, Anavar is considered a Class I steroid. It is taken orally and has few known side Oxandrolone effects, binding well with the androgen receptor when taken in sufficient dosage.

Compared to other anabolic steroids available in the market GP Oxan is mildly anabolic, only slightly androgenic, and is not very toxic. It is also mild on the body's Hypothalamic-Testicular-Pituitary-Axis (HPTA) and does not aromatize or convert to estrogen a major problem for stronger anabolic steroids, which causes unwanted breast tissue to form (man boobs), called gynecomastia. As with any anabolic steroid however, high dosage of Anavar can reduce the production of luteinizing hormone (LH), halting the stimulation of Leydig cells in testicles to produce testosterone, and therefore can cause the testes to shrink or to atrophy. High dosages of Anavar (about 40-50mg) require Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) to stabilize protein catabolism and normalize the body's testosterone secretion. Anavar is also very popular because of its fat burning capability. Called a "fat-burning steroid," GP Oxan (Anavar) is said to reduce abdominal and visceral fat for those with the low to normal natural testosterone range.

Doctors usually prescribe Anavar for halting wasting related to AIDS and recovering involuntary weight loss to promote the regrowth of muscles. The drug Oxandrolone has also been used in treating cases of Osteoporosis in the past, showing partially successful results. Due to bad publicity in the abuse of the steroid however, Searle Laboratories (now Pfizer, Inc.) discontinued the sale of oxandrolone, but was later picked up by Bio-Technology General Corporation (now Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), released in 1995 under the trademark name Oxandrin. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Oxandrolone for orphan drug status in treating weight loss caused by HIV, Turner's syndrome, and alcoholic hepatitis. Oxandrolone has also showed positive results in treating hereditary angioedema and anemia. In a study of the effect of Oxandrolone on burnt victims, those treated with Oxandrolone were found to have improved body composition, reduce hospital stay time, and preserved muscle mass.

Because GP Oxan is a mild steroid, it may require a higher dosage compared to stronger steroids. It is not without side effects however. Those thinking of upping their dosage for this drug just because it is comparably mild should think twice. Some studies show that there is a link between the prolonged use of Anavar and liver toxicity, similar to the effects of 17-alkylated steroids. Even in lesser dosages, some users have reported side effects such as nausea, bloating, itching (hives), gastro-intestinal problems, depression, skin rash, diarrhea, yellowing of the skin or eyes, unusual bleeding, swelling, and unusually colored stools. In rare cases, serious or even fatal liver problems can occur, as well as the development of heart disease. Regular laboratory testing is highly recommended when taking this drug, to closely monitor the liver and to ensure that low density lipoprotein (LDL; also called the 'bad cholesterol') has not increased.
For bodybuilders, normal dose for a first time Anavar user is considered to be at 10-30 mg's per day. However, 10 mg may be sufficient for someone who has never taken anabolic steroids beforehand. Higher dosages may lead to androgen receptor damage, HPTA suppression, and liver damage.

Prohormone Cycle

So you have decided to embark upon your very first adventure known as a prohormone cycle! Without a doubt, you are going to enjoy the results that you are about to see. A prohormone cycle is very similar to a steroid cycle. You can’t run it as long, and it’s going to be a lot more intense, but in the end you’re probably going to see some serious muscle and strength gain, coupled with some fat loss, without the detriment of too much harm to your body.

Length
Standard steroid cycles can last up to 16 weeks, depending upon the intensity of compounds you are running. A simple cycle of 400 mg of Testosterone Cypionate could be run for up to four months, if needed. Your liver probably wouldn’t experience too much stress from such a low dose. Granted, if you decided to add 200 mg per week of Nandrolone Decanoate to your stack, it would suddenly become necessary to limit it to 10 to 12 weeks. The more compounds you added, the more intense the cycle would become – and thus the more negative the side effects. Prohormones, as you may know, are some seriously intense compounds. Many have been banned because, well, they’re just too powerful for some users who tend to use them for too long. If you are ready to run a prohormone cycle, then you are going to want to keep it limited to 6 to 8 weeks at a time, depending upon the instructions that come with the compound. Ideally, you will also want to have a doctor check your blood levels to ensure your liver enzymes don’t jump in too significant of a manner during this stretch as well. Staying on a prohormone cycle too long might feel good at first, but the negative changes you’ll see in the long run certainly won’t be worth it.

Intensity
As mentioned, prohormone cycles are very intense. Be prepared for this. Give your body a break before and after running each cycle. If you are sick or recovering from a serious illness, hold off on the cycle until you feel you are ready. There is nothing wrong with putting off a prohormone cycle. The gains will always be there when you’re ready.

Frequency
Following each cycle of 6 to 8 weeks, give your body a break of 8 to 10 weeks to fully recover from the cycle you just subjected it to. We aren’t machines. We are living beings who are very fragile when it comes to exposing our internal organs to stressful compounds. Don’t risk your health by running prohormone cycles too often.

Obtaining compounds
Choose a prohormone supplement that will be readily available should you like it, and wish to return to using it down the road. Many supplements are offered by new companies which quickly fail, or the supplement themselves are quickly banned. Instead, choose a supplement such as Mesobolin, Oral Testibol, or others that have been around for years, delivering solid results to users.

Steroid Detection Times

These detection times were taken from different sources. This table if for informational purposes only. This isn’t medical advice, only information gathered from various sources.

18 months
nandrolone decanoate
12 months
nandrolone phenylpropionate
5 months
boldenone undecyclate
metehenolone enanthate
trenbolone
trenbolone acetate
injectable methandienone
3 months
testosterone-mix (Sustanon & Omnadren)
testosterone enanthate
testosterone cypionate
2 months
oxymetholone
fluoxymesterone
injectabel stanozolol
formebolone
drostanolone propionate
5 weeks
methandienone
mesterolone
ethylestrenole
noretadrolone
3 weeks
oxandrolone
oral stanozolol
2 weeks
testosterone propionate
1 weeks
testosterone undecanoate
4 days
clenbuterol

This list if for steroid detection times. Drug detection times. Drug testing. Drug tests.

Common Mistakes People Make During Steroids Cycles

1. Using Excessive Dosages
When taking steroids, the more you take is not always the best way to go. Taking excessive dosages has become a huge problem with steroids today. It isn’t only dangerous, but studies have shown it to be ineffective. The body can only use a limited amount of the steroid so the extra is turned into estrogen by the body.
2. Staying On Steroids Too Long
In several cases, steroid users avoid waring signs telling them not to go on a cycle more than 8 to 12 weeks without an off period. If an off period is not taken, there is a higher chance for the negative effects of steroids to occur. If there is no off period the body does not have a chance to recover from the steroids, so more damage is done. This also is terrible for the kidneys and liver.
3. Eating Poorly
Many people ignore magazines and educators that explain eating as being an important asset to growing, but the truth is, eating healthy has a big effect on the body. When on steroids the user must consume between 4000 and 7000 calories a day, not meaning eat only fat foods. The diet must be high in calories and protein, but low in fat.
4. Training Incorrectly
When on steroids the training must be intense and difficult. Instead of the usual weight that suits you, you must do excess weight and strenuous work for the best gains. The workout should involve the maximum weight possible, and make progress each time.
5. Not Getting Regular Blood Tests
Steroids are very dangerous and can cause great problems. Blood tests should be done often and regularly. When steroids are first taken many tests become elevated but will return to normal with in a few weeks. During the off period tests should also be done to make sure the body is recovering properly. If there is a problem with the Blood test, consult a doctor that you can trust.
6. Using The Wrong Steroids
Many athletes will increase their chances of getting negative effects when they take the wrong steroids. The strongest steroids that build more muscle mass, have the most side effects. These drugs should be avoided if possible, unless there is a reason to have an unbelievable gain. But these drugs are very toxic and I would recommend not taking them.
7. Using Counterfeits
Counterfeit steroids are a bigger problem than you would believe, there are more counterfeit steroids in the market than you would think. These steroids offer no positive gains, and some give the side effects of real steroids. Taking counterfeit steroids is like injecting poison into your body, bad effects nothing positive. 

A Closer Look at Trenbolone

Not too many steroids have an air of mystique about them quite like trenbolone. The bodybuilding literature is full of strong, unusual, and often-inaccurate statements about this drug, and consequently an air of misunderstanding has begun to cloud our view of trenbolone. The unusual history of this compound, including prolonged periods of very limited availability and high selling prices, has no doubt played a part in shaping the view of this steroid in the minds of athletes. It seems when anything is out of reach, overly expensive or both, people start looking at it in a different way. I therefore thought it would be a good idea to take a closer look at the physical properties of trenbolone, as well as its current state of availability and use.

Androgenic Activity

Although derived from nandrolone, trenbolone is comparatively far more androgenic than this steroid. In fact it is several times stronger in this regard than our primary androgen testosterone as well. The first contributing factor to this of course is that trenbolone is a strong binder of the androgen receptor. This trait is also characteristic of its parent nandrolone, which is several times more active than testosterone in this regard. Androgen binding is in fact further enhanced by the introduction of double bonds in delta-9,11, which makes trenbolone an even more potent agonist of the androgen receptor than nandrolone.

Perhaps more significant though is the fact that unlike nandrolone, the strong receptor binding potency of trenbolone is not diminished in androgen sensitive tissues by 5-alpha reductase. Trenbolone does not seem to undergo 5-alpha reduction in humans to any appreciable degree at all, which is evidenced by the fact that the major urinary metabolites of trenbolone all possess the original tri-en structure with an intact delta-4 group. So trenbolone retains its original potency as it enters cells in androgen target tissues with high 5AR concentrations, as this enzyme is not affecting it. These factors work together to allow trenbolone to be a potently androgenic steroid, instead of a primarily anabolic one in nature like nandrolone.
Progestational Activity

It has been reported in other bodybuilding literature that trenbolone does not exhibit any activity as a progestin in the body. I am not certain where this belief originated, as trenbolone does appear to exhibit the classic progesterone receptor binding ability that is characteristic of nandrolone and its derivatives. One study looking at the bovine uterine progesterone receptor for example found trenbolone to be a very potent binder, startlingly even more so than progesterone itself. Another looking at the binding of various compounds to the androgen, estrogen, progestin, mineral corticoid and glucocorticoid receptors found trenbolone to be a more potent binder of the progestin receptor than nandrolone decanoate, a steroid normally noted for its usual activity in this regard.

What does this mean for trenbolone? I don’t think it really means that much. Trenbolone clearly doesn’t cause gyno, water retention or fat buildup, which one might attribute to estrogenic or progestational activity. So whatever slight action it does have as a progestin on paper doesn’t amount to all that much in the real world. The absence of estrogen may be a significant factor, as progesterone is believed to cause gyno by enhancing estrogen’s stimulation of mammary gland growth. Perhaps when trenbolone is taken with other aromatizable compounds it could affect a person’s sensitivity level to gyno and water/fat retention. This seems logical, at least in a technical sense, although admittedly I have seen no evidence to support this.

Mass or Cutting Agent

The potently androgenic and non-aromatizing nature of trenbolone makes it an extremely effective hardening and cutting agent. In fact, it is thought of as unmatched in its capacity as a body-sculpting steroid. Many competitive bodybuilders similarly find it indispensable to any good pre-contest cutting stack. For this type of purpose I doubt another steroid would serve you better. Many people do additionally find they make very good muscle gains with trenbolone. It is a potent muscle-builder, although we should probably not consider it an ideal mass-builder when used alone. The absence of estrogen is an important factor, as this trait seems integral in this type of steroid.

This probably has to do not only with water retention but also interactions between estrogen and muscle glucose utilization, GH release and androgen receptor proliferation. Today we are finally starting to understand why this hormone is needed for optimal growth. Trenbolone is probably still the most potent muscle-building agent of all the non-estrogenic steroids though, and admittedly is quite unusual in its potency in this regard. But I would still think that if mass were the goal and you were choosing only one steroid, testosterone, Dianabol or Anadrol would be more productive every time in terms of overall size, weight and muscle mass gain.