Almost weekly someone posts on the Chemical Enhancement forum asking about first cycle advice. The most common questions are; “what steroid should I take?” “How long should I take it?” and “What will the effects be?” There are literally dozens of steroids available and that makes it difficult for a first time user to choose. The following information will attempt to provide enough information for a first time user to make an educated decision about anabolic androgenic steroid use.

Testosterone is one of the most effective, safe and available steroids today, therefore I believe Testosterone is the best first cycle choice. The following text outlines the benefits and risks of Testosterone administration based on a clinical human trial of 61 healthy men in 2001. The purpose of the trial was to determine the dose dependency of testosterone’s effects on fat-free mass and muscle performance. In this trial 61 men, 18-35years old were randomized into 5 groups receiving weekly injections of 25, 50, 125, 300, 600 mg of Testosterone enanthate for 20 weeks. They had previous weight-lifting experience and normal T levels. Their nutritional intake was standardized and they did not undertake any strength training during the trial. The only two groups that reported significant muscle building benefits were the 300 and 600 mg groups so any dose lower than 300mg will not be considered in this essay. 12 men participated in the 300 mg group and 13 men in the 600 mg group.
600mg of Testosterone a week for 20 weeks resulted in the following benefits. Increased fat free mass, muscle strength, muscle power, muscle volume, hemoglobin and igf-1.

The same 600 mg administration resulted in 2 side effects. HDL cholesterol was negatively correlated and 2 men developed acne.

The normal range for total T in men is 241-827 ng/dl according to Labcorp and 260-1000 ng/dl according to Quest Laboratories. The normal range for igf-1 is 81-225 according to Labcorp. Total T and igf-1 levels were taken after 16 weeks and resulted in the following;

Total Testosterone
300 mg group-1,345 ng/dl a 691 ng increase from baseline
600 mg group-2,370 ng/dl a 1,737 ng increase from baseline
igf-1
300 mg group-388 ng/dl a 74 ng increase from baseline
600 mg group-304 ng/dl a 77 ng increase from baseline

Body composition was measured after 20 weeks.

Fat Free Mass by underwater weighing
300 mg group-5.2kg (11.4lbs) increase
600 mg group-7.9kg (17.38lbs) increase
Fat Mass by underwater weighing
300 mg group-.5kg (1.1lbs) decrease
600 mg group-1.1kg (2.42lbs) decrease
Thigh Muscle Volume
300 mg group-84 cubic centimeter increase
600 mg group-126 cubic centimeter increase
Quadriceps Muscle Volume
300 mg group-43 cubic centimeter increase
600 mg group-68 cubic centimeter increase
Leg Press Strength
300 mg group-72.2kg (158.8lbs) increase
600 mg group-76.5kg (168.3lbs) increase
Leg Power
300 mg group-38.6 watt increase
600 mg group-48.1 watt increase
Hemoglobin
300 mg group-6.1 gram per liter increase
600 mg group-14.2 gram per liter increase
Plasma HDL Cholesterol
300 mg group-5.7 mg/dl decrease
600 mg group-8.4 mg/dl decrease
Acne
300 mg group-7 of the 12 men developed acne
600 mg group-2 of the 13 men developed acne

There were no significant changes in PSA or liver enzymes at any dose up to 600mg. However, long-term effects of androgen administration on the prostate, cardiovascular risk, and behavior are unknown. The study demonstrated that there is a dose dependant relationship with testosterone administration. In other words the more testosterone administered the greater the muscle building effects and potential for side effects.

Given the results of the study and based on years of personal experience I believe the first time user can safely use between 300-600 mg of testosterone enanthate or cypionate per week for 8-12 weeks. Because it is desirable to have even blood androgen levels I advise at least 2 equal injections per week. The following graph demonstrates that testosterone cypionate peaks within 1-2 days after injection and falls off to almost baseline by day 10. Therefore waiting 7 days between injections of cypionate would cause wide fluctuations in blood androgen levels.

Pharmacokinetics of Testosterone cypionate Injection

Source: Schulte-Beerbuhl, 1980
Figure. Pharmacokinetics of 200mg Testosterone cypionate injection. Source: Comparison of Testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone in serum after injection of Testosterone enanthate or Testosterone cypionate. Schulte-Beerbuhl M, Nieschlag E. Fertility and Sterility 33 (1980) 201-3.

If a first time user wanted to use 600 mg of cypionate or enanthate per week he would inject 300 mg on Tuesday and another 300 mg on Saturday each week for 10 weeks. When injecting long heavy esters like cypionate with this frequency I tend to have less acne then 1 injection per week.

There are a number of esters which provide varying release times. Acetate or propionate esters extend the release time of testosterone a couple of days. In contrast, a deconate ester prolongs the release of testosterone about 3 weeks. Testosterone enanthate and cypionate are almost identical esters. The use of an ester allows for a less frequent injection schedule than using a water based testosterone like suspension which has no ester at all and is rapidly in and out of your system after injection. The published release times are not exact and are many times based on a single injection not many multiple injections which can delay the release of the hormone. Other factors affect release times of esters such as scar tissue and the muscle group injected. Only a blood test can confirm when the active hormone has cleared your system.

Esters not only effect release times but also the potency of the Testosterone as esters make up part of the steroid weight. This must be taken into account when calculating dosages. The longer the release time the less free hormone. For example propionate is about 15% more potent mg. for mg. then enanthate so 500mg of propionate would equal about 575 mg. of enanthate. The following chart illustrates the free base equivalents for several compounds.

Although it was not indicated in the trial, during or after the steroid cycle some men are prone to gynecomastia which is the formation of female like breast tissue. This is due to excessive estrogen as the body tries to balance out the sex hormones. A selective estrogen receptor modulator or S.E.R.M. such as Tamoxifen can be used effectively to combat gynecamastia in an emergency as it competes for the estrogen receptor which in turn inhibits estrogens effects. It is highly recommended that a S.E.R.M. be available during treatment of Testosterone. 10-40mg daily is an effective dose however dosage is dependant on how much testosterone is administered as well as the individual himself.

The decision to use steroids should not be taken lightly and should be the last consideration after implementing a solid nutritional, training and recovery plan. It is advised to get blood work when using these medications.

Testosterone dose-response relationships in healthy young men

Ancillaries during the cycle

Aromatase Inhibitor

I briefly wrote about using Tamoxifen above for emergency gynecomastia treatment however I am convinced that there is a better strategy for controlling estrogen during a steroid cycle. Rather than waiting for the side effects of estrogen to present an aromatase inhibitor like Arimidex or Aromasin should be used on cycle to control Estrogen and keep free testosterone levels high. 0.5mg-1mg Arimidex daily OR 10-25mg Aromasin daily. Start with the lower dose and then see how that controls water retention, blood pressure and libido and make adjustments as needed. A blood test would be the most ideal way to determine the dosage of the AI. Free T needs to be in the high range and estradiol between 10-25 pg/ml.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

Testosterone-Induced gonadotropin suppression tends to cause atrophy of the testes and decreases intratesticular testosterone. In other words, when a male administers testosterone his testes shrink because they are suppressed. A simple way to restore ITT levels and maintain the mass of the testes is to administer HCG during testosterone treatment. During a study it was determined that HCG is dose dependant and that approximately 300iu HCG taken every other day restored ITT levels. This is 1,050iu HCG weekly. I recommend 500iu twice weekly while on testosterone treatment. On a very heavy cycle a third dose of 500iu could be added but that is typically not needed. HCG will not only keep ITT levels and the mass of the testes normal but will also aid in keeping the male fertile.

Sample cycle with ancillaries

Sunday 10mg Aromasin
Monday 10mg Aromasin/500iu HCG
Tuesday 10mg Aromasin/300mg enanthate
Wednesday 10mg Aromasin
Thursday 10mg Aromasin
Friday 10mg Aromasin/500iu HCG
Saturday 10mg Aromasin/300mg enanthate

For all you guys who want to add multiple compounds to your first course I advise against it because if you have side effects then you will not know which compound is causing the sides. I have gotton a ton of PM’s over the years and there is always some reason that I am given for using multiple compounds on the first run but there really is no need. However my cycle sample above may not be for everyone so I am offering an alternative to the flat cycle design. If you want to run a first cycle with a little more horespower than you may want to consider a modified pyramiding cycle. I have done over 20 pyramid courses and must say they are my favorite way to run aas. The human body is always fighting for homeostasis so the concept is to increase dose before gains plateau. Based on the 2009 myostatin study we can design a cycle that is effective for 10 weeks using this strategy. The following first cycle is for men that want a little more performance with added risk while only using Testosterone. The first 5 weeks a standard dose is administered to evaluate how your body responds and to determine if sides are manageable. If sides are manageable then increase the dose.

Sample first course #2

Week 1-5 600mg Testosterone weekly
Week 6-8 800mg Testosterone weekly
Week 9-10 1 gram Testosterone weekly

10 mg Aromasin daily with the goal of keeping Estradiol between 10pg/ml-25pg/ml. Only blood work can confirm if you are in this range.

500iu HCG twice weekly.

Post Cycle therapy

I strongly believe that an AI should be used as long as there is an aromatizing compound being administered. In this case Testosterone and HCG aromatize therefore using an AI until these meds clear and a few weeks longer is what I am recommending. There is some evidence that adding Nolva to an AI does not increase the effectiveness of estro control therefore Nolva has no real advantage alongside an AI unless one is experiencing gyno. Additionally Nolva has been shown to reduce igf-1 and GH levels when used alone. This is not a big deal on cycle as testosterone increases igf-1 in a dose dependant relationship. However off cycle this is a problem. PCT is a fragile time and lower igf-1 and GH levels is not desirable. I am recommending an AI that is specific to men that can be used on cycle and during PCT. It is my conclusion that Aromasin is the obvious choice.

I recommend the following PCT protocol for esters like cypionate and enanthate;

Day 1-16 : 2500iu HCG every other day. (You may use less HCG if your testes are normal in size AND you have been using HCG on cycle, i.e. 1,000iu HCG etd.)

100/100/100/50 clomid (50mg taken twice per day weeks 1-3 after aas ester clears)

20mg/20mg/20mg/10mg Aromasin (20mg daily for 3 weeks, 10mg daily in week 4)

3g Vit C every day split in 3 doses

10g creatine daily

The HCG is administered BEFORE the ester clears to increase the mass of the testes and bring back ITT levels. This will allow the testes to sustain output of testosterone sooner.

clomid is universally accepted as THE testosterone recovery tool. It blocks estrogen from the HPTA and stimulates the production of GNRH then initiates the production of LH, which in turn signals the testis (if not atrophied) to produce testosterone.

Aromasin or a similar aromatase inhibitor is for testosterone recovery and it is used to keep the testosterone/estrogen balance in favor of testosterone. It is also helps to keep any additionally occurring estrogen from HCG low to none.

Cortisol is catabolic. It is the enemy of all anabolism and must be kept in check. While it is blocked when under the influence of AAS, it is free to attach to the Anabolic Receptors (AR) once the steroids leave. Due to this blockage Cortisol tends to accumulate and increase when on. A low level is desirable however since it is important for other vital functions such as control of inflammation. Balance is the key. Vitimin C keeps the exercise induced rise of Cortisol in check.

The use of Creatine has shown to increase ATP metabolism and cellular water storage among many other things. This is beneficial because it provides for heightened nutrient storage and a slight increase in anabolism as well as workout stamina.

References

Testosterone dose-response relationships in healthy young men;

Pharmacokinetics and Dose Finding of a Potent Aromatase Inhibitor, Aromasin (Exemestane), in Young Males

Low-Dose Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Maintains Intratesticular Testosterone in Normal Men with Testosterone-Induced Gonadotropin Suppression

Use of clomiphene citrate to reverse premature andropause secondary to steroid abuse.

special thanks to those men and women who have influnced my thinking over the years in regards to aas use.

~heavyiron

This article was originally intended to be a history of the anabolic steroid dianabol and it’s usage in bodybuilding, but there is little real evidence of how it was used in previous decades. However, in the course of research, I have come to the conclusion that current use of dianabol as a supplement is not as efficient as it could be. Most of the modern thoughts on dianabol use reflect around myths and irrelevant scientific studies; this article attempts to explain new ways of thinking on dianabol usage using scientific evidence and people’s experiences.

Dianabol (or dbol as it’s commonly called) is one of the most commonly used oral steroids. Its chemical name is methanedienone or methandrostenolone and there are many different pharmaceutical and generic varieties including Anabol and Naposim. In this article we look at lower dose usage of dianabol as a supplement, as opposed to using pro-hormones or pro-steroids.

Liver Toxicity of Dianabol
The 17 alpha-alkylated properties of methanedienone do make it liver toxic, but this, I believe, is overstated as most of the evidence of its toxicity comes from studies on individuals and not from studies on large groups of dianabol-using bodybuilders. One study on rats (1) showed that regardless of dose or time of administration, dianabol produces changes in enzymatic activity, which leads to hypertrophy of hepatocytes; which basically shows that dianabol is toxic to the liver. But in another study (2) Nerobol (Russian Dianabol) was found to favour a rapid normalisation of functional and metabolic disorders of the liver, which contradicts the earlier evidence. This shows that the whole idea of dianabol being dangerous is in no way as bad as some would make out.

Benefits of Dianabol Use
Dianabol has been shown to increase anaerobic glycolysis (3), which increases lactic acid build up in the body. This is beneficial because lactic acid is used by the muscles to form glycogen, which in turn provides energy in anaerobic metabolism. Lactic acid is also a key chemical in the disposal of dietary carbohydrates, which means you are less likely to get fat while using dianabol.

A study on osteoporosis (4) showed that at a dosage of just 2.5mg per day for 9 months dianabol was more effective than calcium supplementation in reducing osteoporotic activity, it was also shown to increase muscle mass more effectively. Another study on osteoporosis (5) which lasted 24 months, showed just how dianabol works on osteoporosis; dianabol increased total body calcium, and also total body potassium. This may not mean much to you as a bodybuilder, but the actions of calcium are very important to bodybuilders, as it transports large numbers of amino acids and also creatine and these two things are vital in muscle growth. Potassium is also very important, as it assists in muscle contractions, transmitting nerve signals, and insulin release; so it is also a very anabolic substance.

One very interesting study (6), although not significant in bodybuilding terms, showed that dianabol increases the sensitivity of laryngeal tumour cells to radiotherapy, and concluded ‘recommending this hormone to be used during radiotherapy of patients with the laryngeal cancer’.

How to Cycle Dianabol
To create a cycle for dianabol that is based around using it more as a supplement than a steroid, we first need to look at the current trend for cycling dianabol and analyse what is wrong with it. An average cycle of Dianabol is usually structured as 25-40mg split throughout each day for 4-6 weeks, either alone or stacked with other steroids.
Firstly a dose of 25mg or more commonly causes water retention. It is well known that dianabol does aromatise quite easily, and most of the water retention is usually attributed to a build up of excess estrogen. However, it is my belief that initially water retention is caused by the body holding on to water due to the effects of dianabol on the body’s mineral balance, in particular the potassium/sodium balance. This coupled with the fact that dianabol cause estrogenic side effects, leads to a lot of water build-up, and as there is little we can do about the change in the bodies mineral balance, the only other thing we can do is try to reduce aromatisation, usually with Nolvadex (tamoxifen) or other anti-estrogens. This is not the only method though, by reducing the dose, less of the drug will aromatise, which leads to less estrogen and more importantly less water retention. Reducing the drug during a cycle would lead to estrogen levels dropping slowly, so we should start the cycle with a lower dose of 10-20mg each day.

Splitting the dosage when you are using a low dose is virtually pointless, as you will get a much smaller peak of the drug. So in this case it is best to take it in a single dose in the morning (preferably with grapefruit juice). Although this will not prevent suppression of natural testosterone, it may lessen it to a certain degree, as your body will still have lengthy periods later in the day when there is little testosterone circulating, and so it may still produce some.

Now if we look at cycle duration, 4-6 weeks seems too short to have any real effect at a low dose, but how can we use dianabol for longer without placing more risk on our liver? The solution is actually quite simple; by taking weekends off from the drug we will give our livers a break from processing the drug. Due to the short half-life any active substances will be out of our system within 24 hours of your last dose, now this may seem like it will cost you gains, but in actual fact it will cost you little or no losses in the long run as even though there is no active drug in the body the effects are still present i.e. extra intramuscular water, and a more anabolic mineral balance. These effects usually taper off over several days. This method will not however, help your natural testosterone to return from its inhibited state, as this process can take considerably longer. If we take weekends off and use a lower dose, we should in theory be able to use dianabol for 10 weeks with no problems. A simple bit of mathematics can show this point best:

* 6 weeks @25mg each day = 1050mg of Dianabol in total
* 10 weeks with weekends off @15mg each day = 750mg of Dianabol in total

So as you can see, by using this system your liver will actually process less dianabol than in a conventional cycle, add this to the fact that you can make gains for 10 weeks instead of 6, and with fewer side effects, and you get a very solid cycle.

Summary
This Cycle Theory can be applied in many different situations, for instance a beginner could use the dianabol on it’s own for 10 weeks and gain very well. A more experienced steroid user could use this alongside an injectable cycle for very good gains too, getting the benefit of the initial quick gains of the Dianabol, with the slower but stronger gains of an injectable.

This cycle may seem to go against many of the current trends of dianabol use, but I believe that by using dianabol as a supplement to good training and nutrition you can make very good gains.

(A note to Americans – when I say ‘oestrogen’ I mean ‘estrogen’ – we spell it correctly in the UK!)

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Why Bodybuilders Use Clomid
Clomid is a generic name for Clomiphene Citrate and is a synthetic oestrogen. It is prescribed medically to aid ovulation in low fertility females. Another generic name is Serophene.

Most anabolic steroids, especially the androgens, cause inhibition of the body’s own testosterone production. When a bodybuilder comes off a steroid cycle, natural testosterone production is zero and the levels of the steroids taken in the blood are diminishing. This leaves the ratios of catabolic : anabolic hormones in the blood high, hence the body is in a state of catabolism, and, as a result, much of the muscle tissue that was gained on the cycle is now going to be lost.

Clomid stimulates the hypothalamus to, in turn stimulant the anterior pituitary gland (aka hypophysis) to release gonadotrophic hormones. The gonadotrophic hormones are follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH – aka interstitial cell stimulating hormone (ICSH)). FSH stimulates the testes to produce more testosterone, and LH stimulates them to secrete more testosterone. This feedback mechanism is known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-testes axis (HPTA), and results in an increase of the body’s own testosterone production and blood levels rise, to, in part, compensate for the diminishing levels of exogenous steroids. This is vital to minimise post cycle muscle losses.

Not all steroids do cause shut down of the feedback mechanism. Everyone is different and you must also take into account how long you have been using a certain steroid and at what dose in order to determine if you need Clomid or not.

Clomid also works as an anti-oestrogen. As it’s a weak synthetic oestrogen, it binds to oestrogen receptors on cells blocking them to oestrogen in the blood. This minimises the negative effects like gynecomastia and water retention that may be a result of oestrogen that has aromatised from testosterone.

It’s effect as an anti-oestrogen are quite weak though, and it should not be relied upon if you are going to be using androgenic steroids that aromatise at a rapid rate, or if you are pre-disposed to gynecomastia. Arimidex and Nolvadex (Tamoxifen) are far more effective anti-oestrogens.

Important note: Clomid does not, as is often thought, stimulate the release of natural testosterone, but rather works at reducing the oestrogenic inhibition caused by the steroid cycle. It does this in a similar manner to the way it and Nolvadex block oestrogen receptors in nipples to combat gyno development, i.e. by blocking the oestrogen receptors in the hypothalamus and pituitary thus reducing the inhibition from the elevated oestrogen. This allows LH levels to return to normal, or even above normal levels, and in turn, natural testosterone levels to also normalise.

Inhibition of the HPTA is caused by either elevated androgen, oestrogen or progesterone levels. On cessation of the steroid cycle, androgen levels begin to fall and Clomid dosing is normally commenced according to the half-life of the longest acting drug in the system (see below).

This may also explain the reason individuals often find post-deca recovery more difficult, as the progesterone presence is untouched by the Clomid. We know that Clomid and Nolvadex (being very similar chemically) are both ineffective with regard to reducing progesterone related gyno, so it is reasonable to assume that Clomid has little effect against progesterone levels.

Clomid During A Cycle
When we use anabolic steroids, the level of androgens in the body rises causing the androgen receptors to become more highly activated, and through the HPTA, a signal tells our testes to stop producing testosterone. During a cycle the body has far higher than normal levels of androgens and, as long as this level is high enough, Clomid will not help to keep natural testosterone production up. It will be almost all but completely shut off, in theory.

Some heavy androgen users, however, do advocate a small burst of Clomid mid-cycle, though it must be hard for them to say if it really of any benefit, due to the amount of gear they are using. Therefore, the only purpose of Clomid during a cycle is as an anti-estrogen.

When To Take Clomid
The correct time to commence Clomid depends on the type and cycle of steroids you have been using. Different steroids have different half-lifes (indicates the time a substance diminishes in blood), and Clomid administration should be taken accordingly.

As we have seen above, Clomid taken when androgen levels in our blood are still high will be a waste. It is crucial to wait for androgen levels to fall before implementing our Clomid therapy. However, if taken too late we could possibly lose gains.

The list below determines when you should start Clomid. Select from the list any steroids you’ve used in your cycle and whichever one has the latest starting point is the time to commence Clomid. For example, if Dianabol, Sustanon and Winstrol were cycled, the time for administering Clomid should be 3 weeks post cycle, as Sustanon remains active in the body for the longest period of time.

Steroid Time after
last administration Length of
Clomid Cycle
Anadrol50/Anapolan50: 8 – 12 hours 3 weeks
Deca durabolan: 3 weeks 4 weeks
Dianabol: 4 – 8 hours 3 weeks
Equipoise: 17 – 21 days 3 weeks
Finajet/Trenbolone: 3 days 3 weeks
Primabolan depot: 10 – 14 days 2 weeks
Sustanon: 3 weeks 3 weeks
Testosterone Cypionate: 2 weeks 3 weeks
Testosterone Enanthate/Testaviron: 2 weeks 3 weeks
Testosterone Propionate: 3 days 3 weeks
Testosterone Suspension: 4 – 8 hours 2-3 weeks
Winstrol 8 – 12 hours 2-3 weeks

How To Take Clomid
Clomid has a long half-life (possibly 5 days), so there is no need to split up doses throughout the day. If Sustanon has been used and Clomid is commenced 3 weeks after the last injection, I would estimate that androgen levels are low enough to start sending the correct signals. If androgen levels are still a little high, we need to start at a high enough amount that will work or help, even if androgen levels are still a little high. Try 300mg on day 1; then use 100mg for the next 10 days; followed by 50mg for 10 days.

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.

Simple guidelines and simple explanations for the simply newbie.

Esters:

You must understand esters. Esters are attached to AAS compounds. The ester acts as a kind of time releasing vehicle. Esters are broken down in the blood stream and thus the AAS compound is freed. “Long-acting” esters slowly break down, and “fast-acting” esters break down more rapidly. Half-life describes this occurrence.

Ex: If a compound has a half-life of 3-4 days it’s generally a long acting ester since what this means is that it takes 3-4 days for the ester to have been broken down completely and now the test levels can only be “flushed” from the blood. Therefore shots are required every 3-4 days to keep the compound levels constant within the blood.

Common Ester names in no particular order:

· Enanthate
· Cypionate
· Decanoate
· Phenylpropionate
· Propionate
· Isocaproate

There are blends, or mixtures of tests each with their own ester. These are mutli-esterified. An example is Sustanon 250..

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis (HPTA):

Secondly you must understand the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis and the affect Anabolic Androgenic steroids has on your HPTA. The use of AAS has a negative affect on your HPTA, which I’ll put in simple terms.

The body is always looking to establish homeostasis, a balance in the body. Upon the introduction of AAS to the body, you begin to reduce your own production. Some AAS compounds are harsher to your HPTA and shut your natural production down hard. A rebound from this shutdown is taxing on the body upon discontinuing use of AAS. Other compounds must be used to help the body return to homeostasis.

The compounds that are harsh on your HPTA will also be harsh on your libido; your sexual drive, and for men can result in a limp penis.
Such compounds that are harsh on the HPTA are:
Trenbolone (fina)
Deca-Durabolin

It is therefore, advisable for at least the sakes of sex, to keep Testosterone as a base for any AAS cycle.

Testosterone as a base:

There are limits to the length of cycle use. When you being AAS use, it takes time for the body to “swap” its natural testosterone with the synthetic compound. The times vary with the particular ester used. However a short AAS cycle will most likely only result in a shut down of HPTA and not leave the body exposed to the synthetic testosterone long enough for positive gains. Too long of a cycle, and your suppressed HPTA will have a harder time recovering.

Further, the body can develop more or less immunities to AAS on cycles ran too long and cycles ran at too high of a dose.
Secondly, the body has limits for how much it can grow. A longer, higher dosed cycle will not be more effective simply because of the body’s tolerance and limited ability to grow.

My own guideline for a first and second time user is any cycle ran less than 8 weeks is too short; any cycle ran longer than 15 weeks is excessive. 10-14 weeks is a good range for a first and second time user.

Estrogen:

Estrogen levels will be elevated during the use of AAS. Remember Homeostasis. Application of either anti-estrogen or anti-aromatizer.

Anti-Estrogen V. Anti-Aromatizer?

The body has AS receptors and estrogen receptors. Your goal in using AAS is to flood the AS receptors. Your goal is not to flood the estrogen receptors.

How an anti-estrogen works is that it attaches itself to the estrogen receptors so that estrogen will not. Therefore the estrogen remains free floating in your blood stream but unable to leech onto the receptors and take action.

How and anti-aromatizer works is that it prevents the aromatization of steroids. It prevents the compounds conversion into estrogen. This however has the ability to weaken the effect of the steroid compound.

Zero estrogen is not desirable. Some estrogen is necessary, but too much can cause complications such as gynocomastia (man boobies) and water retention to name a few.

Common side effects while on Anabolic Steroids:

Users may experience a number of side effects due to increased synthetic testosterone levels as well as due to increased estrogen levels.

· Cardiovascular complications: High blood pressure can result from use of AAS and with heart problems should seek medical consultation. Combined water/sodium retention and the fact that steroids actually can elevate the cholesterol and triglyceride levels gives explanation to this condition. It is also why some athletes experience a reduction in stamina.
· Acne may result from AAS use, but can be combated a number of ways that should be researched.
· Aggression may also increase while on AAS, however some experience this aggression during high exertion activities, and will otherwise feel somewhat lethargic. Feelings of lethargy, sleepiness throughout the day while on AAS may result. This will be largely affected by the amount of physical activity performed throughout the day.
· Hair loss on the scalp can occur. This condition, as with the others, is dependent on the individual. Certain individuals predisposed to premature hair loss may be at a greater risk for this side effect.
· Hair gain, or activation of hair follicles on the body may also occur. Hair follicles on the chest, back, arms and other places may be stimulated.
· Certain steroids are I 7-alpha alky-lated and are toxic to the liver. It is important to note this and limit intake of foods and beverages that will also be strenuous on the liver.
· As previously noted, AAS use will result in a reduced testosterone production, a decreased spermatogenesis, and in some cases testicular atrophy. The degree of suppression depends on the duration of the steroid intake, the administered steroid, and the dosage of the steroid
· Most steroids cause a water and electrolyte imbalance in the body This results in an increased storage of water and sodium which further results in a swelling of tissue (edema)
· Gastrointestinal symptoms such as epigastric fullness, diarrhea, nausea or even vomiting may result and are associated solely with the use of oral, I 7-alpha alkylated steroids. The oral compounds can be administered with food to reduce these side effects.
· Feminization may result in males if estrogen levels are not kept in check. The most popular feminization side effect of estrogen is gynocomastia.
· Females may experience masculinization effects.
· Kidney complications: The kidneys are under more strain during steroid intake. They are involved in the filtration and excretion of toxic by-products. A high blood pressure as well as variations in the water and electrolyte balance of the body can lead to long-term changes in the kidney’s function.

There may be more side effects not listed. All side effects should be researched and understood. There are ways to alleviate some of the symptoms. Remedies and counter-actions should be researched before use of AAS.

What happens at the end of a cycle:

So now the steroids are leaving your body, and overall testosterone levels are dropping. Estrogen is still free floating in the bloodstream. You HPTA is under stimulated. Your body is not in balance and your muscle gains are being threatened to catabolism. Estrogen is catabolic, and since your test levels are not yet recovered the estrogen levels must be put into check all while trying to get your HPTA back as quickly as possible. This is done by some form of Post Cycle Therapy.

Why the body enters a state of catabolism after a cycles end:

The catabolic state is caused by low levels of testosterone combined with high levels of cortisol and estrogen. As said before, some of the androgens you take while on steroids will be converted to estrogen as your body attempts to balance itself out. After your external souce of androgens is stopped (once the cycle ends) your body still has all that extra estrogen and cortisol still floating around.

Along with gyno, high levels of estrogen can also lead to increased fat storage and the catabolism of lean muscle mass. I will not explain the details as to why estrogen can cause catabolism of lean muscle.

Cortisol is hormone, now being called a stress hormone. It is an adrenal hormone that is secreted when the body undergoes physical or psychological stress. Obviously when you take steroids you are putting your body through stress. When cortisol is secreted, it causes a breakdown of muscle protein, leading to release of amino acids (the “building blocks” of protein) into the bloodstream. It does this to raise blood sugar levels to help the brain. However we are not trying to help our brains, we’re meat heads and want bigger muscles, so cortisol does not work in our favor.

We can keep the estrogen catabolism in check by using anti-estrogens.
We can keep the cortisol catabolism in check by consuming superfluous levels of protein and calories.

Post Cycle Therapy (PCT):

An anti-estrogen is needed upon the completion of your cycle for sure. With all that free floating estrogen you need to prevent the estrogen from attaching to your receptors and causing their damage. The wrath of estrogen in the aftermath of a cycle is referred to a back lashing of estrogen.

You also need something to help stimulate your HPTA. Something needs to be done about your own testosterone production to combat catabolism, to restore libido and avoid depression.

A very successful compound to stimulate the HPTA is Clomid. Clomid stimulates the hypophysis to release more gonadotropin so that a faster and higher release of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) occurs. This results in an elevated endogenous (body’s own) testosterone level. Sorry I threw some mighty big words out there.

A good PCT combo is Nolvadex and Clomid. Nolvadex is an anti-estrogen.

Typical of a Nolvadex and Clomid PCT is as such:

Day1 300mg Clomid + 20mg Nolvadex
Day 2-11 100mg Clomid + 20mg Nolvadex
Day12-21 50mg Clomid + 20mg Nolvadex

Timing the PCT correctly:

Back to applying the concept of Esters. Compounds bound to long acting esters require a longer waiting period for PCT to be administered. Likewise, compounds bound to short acting esters require a shorter waiting period for PCT to be administered.

Steroid…..Time After Administration…..Clomid Length

Anadrol50/Anapolan50…….8-12 hours…..3 weeks
Deca Durobolan…………….3 weeks……..4 weeks
Dianabol…………………….4-8 hours…….3 weeks
Equipoise……………………17-21 days…..3 weeks
Finajet/Trenbolone…………3 days………..3 weeks
Primobolan Depot…………..10-14 days…..2 weeks
Sustanon…………………….3 weeks……..3 weeks
Test Cypionate……………..2 weeks……..3 weeks
Test Enthenate/Testoviron..2 weeks……..3 weeks
Test Propionate……………..3 days……….3 weeks
Test Suspension…………….4-8 hours……2 weeks
Winstrol………………………8-12 hours…..2 weeks

Nutrition and Sleep:

Calorie levels must be increased during AAS use. For the body to grow it needs fuel and since it is growing at an incredible rate you will consume an incredible amount of food. At least you should. Adequate calorie levels for a bulking cycle should be between 4,500 and 5,500 depending on the individual’s size. Calories must also be slightly increased during PCT to help counter the cortisol reactions.

When you sleep you grow. Simple as that. Your muscles are relaxed and the body is in a state of repair.

I want to end this with a few simple beginner cycles. These can be used as a reference, or a guide to building your own personal one. Keep in mind your goals should be reasonable as well as your dosages.

First timer cycles:

#1:
Wk 1-10 Test Enanthate 400mg each week
Wk 1-15 Nolvadex 20mg each day
Wk 12-15 Clomid (dose using the guideline I listed above)
*That is 14 days after last shot.

#2:
Wk 1-10 Test Cypionate 400mg each week
Wk 1-15 Nolvadex 20m each day
Wk 12-15 Clomid
*That is 14 days after last shot.

Second timer cycles:
#1:
Wk 1-13 Test Enanthate/Cypionate 400-500mg each week
Wk 1-12 Equipoise 300-400mg each week
Wk 1-18 Nolvadex 20mg each day
Wk 15-18 Clomid
*That is 14 days after last shot.
*note the Equipoise ran 100mg less than the test also one week shorter

#2:
Wk 1-11 Test Enanthate/Cypionate 400-500mg each week
Wk 1-10 Deca Durabolin 300-400mg each week
Wk 1-16 Nolvadex 20mg each day
Wk 13-16 Clomid
*That is 14 days after last shot.
*note the Deca Durabolin ran 100mg less than the test and also one week shorter

#3:
Wk 1-10 Sustanon 250 500mg each week
Wk 2-10 Anavar 35mg each day
Wk 1-16 Nolvadex 20mg each day
Wk 13-16 Clomid
*That is 21 days after last shot.

I could go on and on, but all would have testosterone as a base.

1ml = 1cc
1g = 1000mg
1g = 1000000mcg

If a vial reads 250mg/ml that means it has 250mg per ml, and each ml is a cc. So if you withdraw 1cc and inject you are injecting 250mg.

The following is the amount (in grams) of testosterone per 100mg of finished compound.
Testosterone Cypionate: 70mg
Testosterone Decanoate: 65mg
Testosterone Enantate: 72mg
Testosterone Isocaproate: 75mg
Testosterone Phenylpropionate: 69mg
Testosterone Propionate: 84mg
Testosterone Suspension: 100mg
Testosterone Undecanoate: 63mg

What this gives you is the concentration that each esterfied testosterone compound has. So when the ester has been broken down in the body, that’s how much concentration is released into the blood stream. The higher the concentration does not necessarily mean a better compound.

I hope I covered all the basis pretty well. I wish I could credit all my sources, but I would just extend credit to everyone at MuscleSci. I did some outside reading, but I didn’t document like I should have.

I hope that Newbies read this and understand it. Best of luck for anyone doing research. Be safe.

Pharmaceutical Name: Methandrostenolone / Methandienone
Common Brand/Trade/Slang Names: Dianabol, D-Bol, Anabol (Pinks), Naposim, Methanabol, Danabol, Reforvit B
Chemical Structure: 17a-methyl-17b-hydroxy-1,4-androstadien-3-one
Delivery Method: Normally Orally
Half Life: Approx 4hrs
Typical Vial/Tablet doses: 5mg/10mg/50mg

Background
Dianabol. No other steroid conjures up more nostalgia in the bodybuilding community. For decades this has been the mainstay of both novice and experienced users. Other steroids may fall out of favour, or indeed appear to be the new Holy Grail, but Dianabol is probably the most used steroid of them all, and is often heralded ‘The Breakfast of Champions’.

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 D-Bol 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 D-Bol 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 40mg ed, weeks 1-4

(Intermediate)
Testosterone (Enanthate/Cypionate/Sustanon) 750mg pw, weeks 1-11
Deca 600mg pw, weeks 1-10
Dianabol 50mg 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.

Possible Side Effects
Dianabol is a strong anabolic, with moderate to high androgenic qualities. Acne, oily skin and body hair growth cannot be ruled out and they are often encountered from a dose of just 20mg or 25mg per day. Increases in the rate of male pattern baldness in those susceptible to the condition is also a concern, with many users reporting that it is perhaps as harsh to the hairline as Testosterone. However, unlike testosterone which is readily converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by the 5-α reductase enzyme, Dianabol, although liable and capable of reduction to the androgenically stronger dihydromethandrostenolone, does not have a strong affinity to do so, therefore this metabolite is of little concern.

Dianabol is also capable of interaction with the enzyme aromatase resulting in the possibility of estrogenic side effects. Gynecomastia may become apparent even very early into a cycle, so the user must always ensure that they have the necessary drugs to treat the condition at the earliest possible opportunity. A Selective Estrogen Modulator (SERM) such as Tamoxifen (brand name Nolvadex) is usually used in these instances, perhaps with the addition of an anti-estrogen such as Proviron or Arimidex which will help hinder further estrogenic conversion. (For more information see the article Combating Oestrogens & Progesterone).

Significant water retention is also a feature of dianabol use. Large initial weight gains are largely attributable to the user holding water, giving the appearance of bloatedness in the body, neck and face (moon face). Such mass gains must not be assumed to be solely muscular, and users should expect that post cycle weight losses will be significant.

As mentioned above, dianabol is hepatotoxic i.e. stressful to the liver. This is due to the alkylation which is added to the steroid molecule to enable it to survive the first pass hepatic metabolism and thus greatly increase the drugs bioavailability. Unfortunately, this alkylation may affect clinical liver values, (markers of liver function obtainable from a blood test) so use of such oral steroids are usually limited both in dose and duration, in an attempt to minimise potential liver damaging issues.

Clenbuterol is dosed in micrograms (mcg/µg), most commonly in tablet form, though there are other forms of administration such as liquids, nasal sprays and injectables. Note: Although dosages are in microgram amounts, many manufacturers will list the active ingredient as milligrams (mg), so a tablet of 20mcg will be labelled as 0.02mg.

Clenbuterol side effects/possible implications?
Side effects are dose dependant, though most users will find that most tend to subside with persistent use. Caution is advised when employing the use of Clenbuterol in conjunction with other adrenoceptor agonists as side effects are likely to be cumulative. It is for this reason that it is generally not recommended to use ephedrine/ephedra (or ma huang) or the ECA stack (ephedrine-caffeine-aspirin) whilst using clen.

Common side effects of clenbuterol include:
Headaches
Muscular tremors (especially hand shakes)
Muscular cramps
Nervousness
Insomnia
Sweating
Increased appetite
Nausea
Palpitations
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Possible cardiac hypertrophy as clen also targets cardiac and smooth muscle fibres
Heart muscle necrosis has been demonstrated in animal studies

In view of the above side effects, it is obvious to assume that anyone with cardiac issues and/or hypertension should not use a stimulant such as Clenbuterol and caution must be observed by those already using similar compounds in the treatment of existing medical conditions. In addition, there is very little conclusive knowledge of the cardiac effects of supra-physiological dosages in humans.

Commonly used doses
It is well known that Clenbuterol use results in rapid down-regulation of beta 2 receptors. This is due to the powerful stimulatory effect of the drug. It is therefore pointless to use clen for long periods without a break. Some believe that a two day on, two day off dosing schedule will allow adequate potential for receptor up-regulation. However, I doubt this to be the case due to the relatively long half life of clen, resulting in continued stimulation even throughout the ‘off’ days. A much better regime would be a two week on, two week off cycle. Maximum plasma levels are reached around 2-3 hours after oral administration, and terminal half life at 34 hours (Zimmer, 1976).

A tapering up of dosages is recommended in an attempt to limit harsh side effects. Most commonly, a user will start by taking one 20mcg tablet on day 1, followed by an increase of one tablet on subsequent days. Subject to personal tolerance levels, a dosage of 140mcg (seven tabs) will be used by day 7, and this level should be maintained for the entire second week. It would be fruitless to exceed seven or eight tablets daily due to receptor over-saturation. There is no requirement to taper down.

For the next ‘cycle’ of clen (i.e. weeks 5 & 6), there is no requirement to taper up from one tablet as your tolerance level should now be known. As an example, if the user finished the first cycle of clen on 7 tabs, they could recommence at a slightly lower dose of 4 or 5, and taper up again from this level. Again though, the user should again limit their intake to 7 or 8 tabs daily.

During the two ‘off’ weeks, an ECA stack can be used as required. ECA will not cause such a pronounced down regulation and desensitization of the receptors, certainly not to the extent of clen. Ephedrine has a short half life in contrast to clen which results in times throughout the day where the betas will partially recover from stimulation by adrenaline and nor-adrenaline. Potency is also much weaker that that of clen, as it is not a specific agonist. Ephedrine is also thought to increase the conversion of endogenous/exogenous T4 to T3 through the activation of deiodinase enzymes responsible for this process. This is important as clen is known to slow the rate of T4 to T3 conversion. As a side note, some bodybuilders will use T3 concurrently with the Clenbuterol/ECA cutting cycle (together with certain anabolic/androgenic steroids no doubt!) in an attempt to at least maintain plasma T3 levels.
Cycles of Clen/ECA are normally limited to 12 weeks in total, though are often shorter.

Female dosages tend to be slightly lower than those of male users, with an upper limit of 80-120mcg (4-6 tabs).

Aside from its fat burning properties, Clen is often used as an anti-catabolic to maintain muscular gains following a steroid cycle. A dosage of 40mcg daily would be suited to this situation.

There is no particular requirement to split the dosage throughout the day due to the long half life. Most will take the full daily dose in the morning, though some prefer to take their dose just before bed in an attempt to avoid most of the side effects as they sleep.

Some user accounts suggest that splitting the dose may lessen side effects slightly. It is a trial and error process in essence, to ascertain which method suits you personally.

Muscular cramping
Cramping whilst using Clenbuterol is a fairly common side effect. This is most probably due to depletion of the amino acid taurine in the liver together with deficits in the electrolytes sodium and potassium, as well as inadequate hydration. Taurine helps stabilize cell membranes and prevent nerves from becoming over-excited. Some studies show that giving taurine supplements relieves painful muscle cramps. Japanese researchers found that the longer rats exercised, the more taurine they lost from their muscles (Matsuzaki et al, 2002).

Symptoms of cramping may be alleviated by:
Eating fruit particularly bananas
Ensuring adequate hydration
Taurine supplementation – 3-5g daily
Potassium supplementation – 200-400mg daily taken before bed on an empty stomach

Ketotifen
Ketotifen is an anti-histamine used medically to treat bronchial asthma and allergies. It has a sedative and depressant effect on the brain. It acts by decreasing the release of histamine which is a chemical released when an allergic reaction occurs. Ketotifen blocks the action of histamine on special histamine receptors and reduces the nerve response when an allergic reaction occurs.

Histamine is the chemical in the body that causes the symptoms of an allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction. These can include inflammation of the skin, airways or tissues, rashes, itching and of the skin, eyes or nose, nasal congestion and narrowing of the airways. By blocking the actions of histamine, ketotifen may prevent and relieve the narrowing of the airways that occurs in asthma due to allergies.

However, bodybuilders are interested in the drug as it has been shown to inhibit the down regulation of the beta receptors, including the beta 2s that clen stimulates. As long as you are taking ketotifen, it will continue to clean these receptors, never allowing them to downregulate, even while on a heavy clen cycle. That means you can continue to take clen indefinitely without having to cycle off to regenerate the receptors. A dose of 2-3mg daily can upregulate even severely shut down receptors within a week.

It also means that you don’t need as much clen to get the same benefits. It seems you can take about 30-40% less clen and it be equally effective.

No studies have been done to find the most effective dose though most users should find 3-4mg daily ideal, which can be split or taken in one sitting. Higher doses are likely to cause (sometimes severe) drowsiness and increase appetite.

* Undecylenate – 8 days

Typical doses: 400-1000mg per week

Background
The use of boldenone has long been a popular drug for administration in various animals, such as cattle. Boldenone has been shown to improve the growth and feed conversion of cattle resulting in more efficient meat production. Structurally, boldenone differs only slightly from testosterone in that it possesses a double bond at the 1st position on the A-ring of the steroid structure. The two drugs however are very different in their effects and metabolism. Furthermore, the literature states that boldenone is, in fact, orally available in humans despite lacking a methyl group to protect the 17-OH group. However given the chemical properties of boldenone (as undecylenate), namely that it is a liquid at room temperature; this would obviously pose a significant problem in producing an oral version of this hormone. The literature is not clear on the difference in potency between orally administrated versus injected boldenone, probably again due to the lack of use of boldenone in an oral manner.

Many see boldenone as a relatively weak steroid, with little use in bodybuilding. In more recent years however, it has become more popular along with other steroids such as methenolone (primobolone). Many people suggest that its sole use is in increasing appetite. Certainly this mechanism is true of use in cattle and one reason why it is extensively used in the cattle and meat production industry. Most users do report that of all AAS, boldenone is the best for increasing appetite.

However, the use of boldenone is gradually becoming more respected by many top athletes, and more than just for its appetite-enhancing properties. I suspect that in previous years bodybuilders have not found boldenone use as beneficial due to the preparations available to them. One popular brand of boldenone undecylenate is Ganabol; a vetinary preparation of boldenone has just 50mg per 1ml of oil carrier. Even a modest dose of 400mg per week would necessitate the administration of 8ml of oil which, bearing in mind the user will probably also be cycling other steroids, a real inconvenience. It is this author’s view that a minimum of 600mg/week of boldenone undecylenate is needed for beneficial effects, ideally 800-1000mg/week. With preparations such as Ganabol, doses of 800-1000mg/week would require 16-20ml per week, which is not very practical.

Contrary to what many bodybuilders think, high mg/ml preparations of boldenone undecylenate are fully feasible. As this hormone is a liquid at room temperature, even preparations of up to 500mg/ml and beyond should be pain-free when injected. As the hormone crashing in the muscle post-injection usually causes pain, and as boldenone undecylenate is unable to crystallise being a liquid, this will not occur. Fortunately, many ‘underground labs’ are producing preparations of boldenone undecylenate at a concentration of at least 200mg/ml, meaning dosages approaching 1000mg per week should not prove troublesome.

At higher doses of boldenone, users can expect to reap better results than previously suggested cycles of 400mg/week or lower. Boldenone itself does aromatise, however this occurs at a significantly less rate than that of testosterone. Thus users should not have to worry about the onset of gynecomastia or other estrogen-related side effects, unless using very high doses and are highly sensitive to estrogen. However for the vast majority, negative estrogenic issues will not occur. It should be noted that there are benefits to estrogen presence (up regulation of androgen receptors for example), thus the small amount of aromatisation is of actual benefit, largely speaking. Boldenone possesses decent anabolic properties, however is a very mild androgen, thus those users who suffer bad side-effects of strong androgens (such as trenbolone for example) should not see such side effects with boldenone use (unless very high doses are used).

As already mentioned, one of the most appealing positive effects of boldenone use is the dramatic increase in appetite. This makes boldenone a useful addition in my opinion, to people who struggle to consume large amounts of calories (which are needed for muscle growth), and moreover it may be useful for combining with heavy cycles, where higher doses of other AS tend to suppress the user’s appetite. There is obviously little point in running heavy cycles if they are going to significantly inhibit your gains by suppression of your appetite whilst on a cycle, thus boldenone may offer an advantage in this sense to the advanced bodybuilder who uses heavier cycles.

One further property of boldenone that is most advantageous to athletes who partake in cardiovascular exercises is that boldenone directly stimulates the kidneys to produce erythropoeitin (EPO). EPO is a hormone that increases the number of red blood cells in your blood, thus increasing blood viscosity but more importantly allowing more oxygen to be carried to the cells in your body, improving performance of aerobic exercises. This may also help increase vascularity in users as well. Overall however, as boldenone is a mild AS, the negative side effects will be at a minimum, although some androgenic effects such as acne and increased body hair may start to occur at high doses.

Suggested Use / Cycles
Given the mild nature of boldenone, one should not expect dramatic gains. One may compare the gains from boldenone to that of methenolone (primobolan) for example, in that the gains are slow and steady, however generally quite retainable post-cycle. As there is little aromatisation, little water weight will be put on, so many may be disheartened at the beginning of a cycle when compared to an AS such as testosterone, which will put on several pounds of water in the first week. However one must remember that this water will be lost post-cycle, and if one can gain 1lb of muscle per week then little more can be asked of any AS. Given the relatively long half-life of the undecylenate ester (at least 8 days) and the mild nature of boldenone, it is best taken for a minimum of 10-12 weeks. Users do tend to suggest that the drug is best utilised in longer cycles. PCT should begin approximately 3-4 weeks after the last shot of boldenone undecylenate. Although many people claim boldenone is useful for cutting given its low aromatisation rates and increasing vascularity, the amplification of appetite is a negative aspect for cutting. Thus it is my opinion that the best use of boldenone is as part of a bulking cycle. This use gets the most out of boldenone’s benefits – namely increased appetite.

Alternatively boldenone could be stacked with other non-aromatising drugs such as primobolan (methenolone) or masteron (drostanolone) where the small amount of estrogen produced by boldenone is beneficial and the resultant gains should be lean and more easily kept. Given the long undecylenate ester (11 carbons) normally attached to boldenone, injecting the hormone twice a week is more than sufficient, although favourable for stable blood levels over injecting once per week. If one purely wants to use boldenone for its appetite enhancing properties, lower doses of 400mg/week should suffice for this purpose, although the full benefit of boldenone in my opinion is not achieved at these lower doses. Some example cycles are outlined below (I recommend in all cases 500IUs HCG is administered weekly from week 1 throughout the cycle as this will significantly aid recovery by helping to stop shut-down from fully occurring):

Novice Mass Cycle
500mg Testosterone Enanthate/Cypionate pw, weeks 1-12
600mg Boldenone Undecylenate pw, weeks 1-11
Dianabol 30mg ed weeks 1-4 (alternatively the injectables can be doubled in the first week for a front-load)
PCT – 3 weeks after last testosterone injection

Low-aromatising Mass Cycle
800mg Boldenone Undecylenate pw, weeks 1-12
600mg Primobolan (Methenolone Enanthate) pw, weeks 1-13
(Optional – Anavar 60mg ed, weeks 1-16)
PCT – 3 weeks after last Primobolan injection

Advanced Mass Cycle (For very experienced users – recommend regular bloodwork before, during and after such a cycle)
500IUs HCG pw, weeks 1-18
1000-1500mg Testosterone Enanthate/Cypionate/Sust pw, weeks 1-16
500-750mg Deca (Nandrolone Decanoate) pw, weeks 1-14
800-1000mg Boldenone Undecylenate pw, weeks 1-14
150-200mg NPP (Nandrolone Phenylpropionate) eod, weeks 14-18
150-200mg Testosterone Propionate eod, weeks 16-18
100-150mg Trenbolone Acetate eod, weeks 12-18
(Optional kick-start with 40-50mg dianabol ed weeks 1-4)
PCT – 3 days after last Trenbolone Acetate injection

What is Primo?
Primobolan (also known as Primo) is the common name given to the drug Methenolone Enanthate. It is an injectable steroid that is rather mild in nature when compared to other anabolic steroids (AS), and is generally seen as a more steroid more anabolic in nature rather than an androgenic one. Primo also comes in an oral form called Methenolone Acetate, however due to the non-alkylation of the methenolone in this form, it is not realistically a very useful drug for the male bodybuilder as the liver will mostly destroy the methenolone acetate ingested.

Properties of Primo
Primo is quite a unique steroid of which there are no other steroids quite like it. Firstly, Primo does not aromatise to estrogen, thus estrogen related side-effects are not seen in Primo use. This means that acne, water retention, gyno, etc, are all not concerns when using Primo. Thus primo becomes a very useful steroid for those who are easily prone to undesirable side effects such as acne and gyno. Due to the low water retention seen in its use, Primo is often used effectively when cutting. It is not only effective when cutting due to low/nil water retention, bit it also proves very useful when cutting due to its anabolic nature and nitrogen retention properties, which basically means that it holds onto muscle very well when in a calorie deficient mode as one would be when cutting.

Many claim Primo to be side-effect free, except for experiencing slow but steady, quality and retainable muscle gains when on it for longer periods of time (>8weeks). Due to lack of water retention, etc, the gains you see on Primo will be quality muscle gains. Gains on Primo are easily kept, however although Primo is not as harsh on your HPTA (hypothalamus-pituitary-testes axis) it will shut you down. Do not make the mistake of thinking that post cycle therapy (PCT) can be avoided with Primo use, because this is not the case. Recovery should be easier from Primo than most other AS, but proper PCT of Nolvadex and/or Clomid will be necessary.

Primo for many does not generally affect one’s libido; however for some it lowers it if used in a cycle without test. Usually I find that this is the case with heavier users of gear, i.e. those that use larger amounts of test and/or stay on AS for longer periods of time. In such cases, if test is not used in the cycle with Primo, appropriate meds such as Viagra, Cialis, etc may be needed on hand in case of libido problems. However as said, for most recreational AS users, loss of libido generally is not a problem with Primo.

Cycle and dosing info for Primo
Although Primo is a quality steroid, as said it is rather week. Also due to the fact that it contains (in injectable form) an enanthate ester, anything under 400mg per week is rather a pointless use of Primo and a waste of money. Generally with AS, more does not always mean better (due to side-effects and other issues), however in the case of Primo more does definitely equal better. If stacking Primo with testosterone, 400-800mg per week will be an effective dose, with obviously the higher doses being the most effective. Primo will have two main effects in such a stack. Firstly it will seem to amplify the effects of test, so 500mg of test enanthate may seem like 750mg or more. Secondly, Primo is very forgiving with one’s diet. Quality muscle can still be obtained at a steady rate even with one’s diet being off from time to time. However, with a spot-on diet, Primo and test will work wonders.

For those who would want to use Primo on its own or without test, you would really need to use a minimum of 600-800mg per week. If you can afford it, 1000mg per week of Primo will highly reward the user. Some people often ask about using Primo with Trenbolone. This can be done, however without test one must realise that you are likely to be quite shut down, and it is likely you would need some sex medicines as well as HCG. Despite this, for those that want a test-less cycle, Primo and Tren is a great cutting cycle. My ultimate cutting cycle however is one that incorporates Primo, Test Prop and Tren Acetate. Another very good cutting cycle that is test-free would be Primo (600-1000mg per week) with Anavar (60-80mg per day).

Due to the enanthate ester that is attached to the Methenolone base in Primo, it really should not be run for less than 8 weeks. In my opinion, I would run Primo for a minimum of 12 weeks, also bearing in mind that the Primo really kicks in at about weeks 5-6, where a real fullness of muscles is experienced. Primo is also useful at a high dose for those who use higher doses of test and experience appetite loss from this. Primo doesn’t cause such appetite loss, thus when bulking this can give a chance for diet to be spot-on. Primo does suppress and shut you down as said, however it is roughly about half as suppressive as test, so a 12 week Primo cycle would shut you down similar to a 6 week test cycle. For this reason, Primo alone can be run up to 20 weeks without fear of a very difficult recovery in PCT.
Due to the enanthate ester, PCT should be run approximately 14-18days after last Primo injection.

Here are some example Primo cycles:
Primobolan 1) Test-free cycles

* Primo 600-800mg pw weeks 1-12; Anavar 60mg ed weeks 1-8
* Primo 600-800mg pw weeks 1-12; Tren Ace 75mg eod weeks 1-6
* Primo 800mg pw weeks 1-12; Masteron 400-600mg pw weeks 1-14
* Primo 1000mg per week up to 20 weeks (expensive)

2) Primo cycles with Test

* Primo 600mg pw weeks 1-12; Test enanthate 500mg pw weeks 1-12
* Primo 600mg pw weeks 1-12; Test prop 100mg eod weeks 1-14; Tren enanthate 300-400mg pw weeks 1-10 (Superb cutting cycle for advanced user)

There are many other different cycles you could do; these are just a few examples. Generally, the amount of Primo you will use in the cycle will be down to how much you can afford, and how many injections you mind doing. As said though, generally with Primo, the more you can do, the better, but a minimum amount would have to be no less than 400mg/week.

Legitimate Primo
The best Primo money can buy (as is the general rule with any AS) is pharmaceutical grade Primo. By this I do not mean underground lab set-ups that use pharma-grade procedures, but rather pharmaceutically produced AS. Primo originally came made by Schering, in amps of 100mg, one amp per box. Due to the high cost of Primo however, these soon became faked, and along with Viromone are probably the heaviest faked product on the AS market. It is extremely hard to get legit Primo, and harder to be able to spot the real Schering from the fakes. However, if you do get legit Schering Primo, it is the best that money can buy.

Due to Primo being heavily faked, it is likely that you would want to use an underground lab’s Primo. I can only speak from my own experience and those I know and trust, and so can certainly say that British Dragon (BD) Primobol 100 is a solid and trusted product, and although BD products are faked, a good source will always have access to legit BD Primo. There are other good UGL set-ups who also make Primo, and in the Testosterone & Other Steroids forum of MuscleTalk, moderators such as BBigman2000 have posted a few names of underground labs that he and other trusted people have used and know the lab set-up of, of which several will make Primo.

Fast-acting Primo?
Schering did used to make a fast-acting primo, that is, the Methenolone Acetate version as an injectable. However this was 20mg/ml and is no longer made. Some underground labs, particularly in the US have recently been making injectable methenolone acetate. However beware, as there is a reason that it was originally made at 20mg/ml; anything from 50mg/ml and above of this product will cause severe injection site pain following injection, and furthermore pretty much everyone I have read of who has tried this form of Primo at such concentrations will get flu like symptoms after every shot for a day or so. Thus the reason why methenolone acetate is not marketed by any major underground labs.

So, you’ve had enough! You’ve been training your guts out. You have got your diet nailed. You sleep like a log every night. But you just can’t grow no matter what you do! So you have decided to turn to the ‘Dark side’ for some help.
This article is a steroid use FAQ designed to help you by providing information and suggestions that will increase basic Anabolic/Androgenic Steroids (AAS) usage knowledge. You will then have a much better understanding of what is being suggested in topics on the forum and the reasons behind the advice. Please bear in mind that there is very often no right or wrong answers when discussing AAS usage and a variety of possible solutions/cycles/answers may be given. Ultimately, it is your body, and you are responsible for what AAS are used and when they are used so it stands to reason that personal knowledge is imperative.

As I’m sure you can appreciate, there are a range of recurring questions which tend to be asked by every prospective steroid user:

* What should I take?
* When shall I take it?
* What day shall I take it?
* What will I gain?
* Shall I buy from a website?
* Orals or Injectables?

At this point we assume you’ve taken the decision to use steroids, but have no idea what they are and what they do. Read on…

What are Steroids?
Testosterone is the main male sex hormone which is naturally produced by the human body. Steroids are a synthetic form of testosterone or its derivatives. Bodybuilders mainly use testosterone. Testosterone is what you can thank for Strength and Size.

Am I old enough?
Yes if you’re over 21, No if you’re under. You run the risks of premature closing of growth plates which means you won’t get any taller and your shoulders won’t get wider, etc. if you use them too young. Your endocrine system is also at a vital stage in your life, which should incidentally provide you with plenty of natural testosterone anyway!

Of course there are other considerations such as training experience of the individual. For example, it would be unwise for a 25 year old who has been training only a few months to want to use steroids. Their training and diet knowledge are likely to be limited (these should be 100% in check to make ‘proper use’ of a steroid cycle). Not only that, but there will be massive potential for natural gains, without the need to even think about steroids!

Which steroid should I take?
By spending time browsing through old posts as well as learning from current ones, you will start to become familiar with not only the different steroid names and typical dosages, but also how they are used towards a particular goal. This will provide you with a ’shortlist’ of possible steroids that can be further researched to ascertain whether the effects/side effects are acceptable to you.

I hate needles, can I just take pills?
You’ve decided to take steroids, now the next thing to decide is whether you should take tablets or inject? What’s the difference? Let’s look at each in turn: Well the obvious difference is that one is swallowed, the other is injected. But let’s be more specific; most oral steroids are hepatotoxic (i.e. toxic to the liver). As the tablet/pill travels through the body it passes through the gastrointestinal tract, then to the liver which has a mission to destroy it, thus preventing the steroid from entering the bloodstream. As a result, scientific boffins replaced the hydrogen atom with a carbon atom to the 17th position of the steroid molecule, which for the most part, will enable the steroid to survive the first pass hepatic metabolism. This process is commonly referred to as 17-alpha alkylation (17-AA or C-17).

Whilst this alkylation is desirable for the athlete in terms of improving the bio-availability of the oral steroid, it does however, place undue stress on the liver. Liver values (a set of markers which are used to assess liver function) may be elevated whilst using 17-aa steroids and as such, they are generally used sparingly to compliment an injectable cycle. Certain nutritional supplement products are often used for liver protection:

* Milk Thistle
* ALA (Alpha Lipoic Acid)
* Liv-52
Injectable Steroids are not for intravenous use (into the vein). Doing this could result in serious injury or even death. They must be injected intra-muscularly (into the muscle) and therefore avoid the ‘first pass’ through the liver; though some the harsher steroids will place a strain on the kidneys in large doses.

There are two main different types of injectable steroids: Water or oil based. Water based steroids are metabolised quickly, requiring frequent (often daily) injections. Oil based ones are released more slowly into the bloodstream and are generally injected once or twice weekly.

Where do I inject?
You should inject into your gluteus maximus muscle (the muscle under your flabby bum!). A good, sterile technique is well worth emphasising as this can avoid experiences ranging from abcesses to death (yes, it really is that serious!). If the proper procedure is implemented, then the occurrence of abcesses can be substancially reduced and death is avoided completely.

Step by step instructions can be found via the following links:
How to do your 1st glute injection
www.spotinjections.com

Glutes and quads (thigh muscles) are the ‘normal’ places for injections as they are large muscle groups, though other sites can be used, particularly for heavier cycles where there is a greater volume of oil being used each week.

What’s an Ester?
A Steroid Ester refers to the chain of carbons attached to the steroid molecule at the 17th position. The longer the chain, the greater the time taken for the steroid to be released into the bloodstream. Testosterone propionate, for example, is a relatively short chain ester and therefore makes the parent hormone fast acting and requiring more frequent injections. The opposite is the case for longer chain esters e.g. enanthate, cypionate, undecanoate.

What should I take?
An example of a beginner’s cycle might be 8 weeks of testosterone at 500mg per week and 4 weeks of Dianabol at 25mg daily. This utilises one injectable (testosterone) and one oral (Dianabol). The testosterone would be injected twice per week, i.e. one ampoule of 250mg on Monday, the other on Thursday or Friday.

When shall I take it?
It makes absolutely no difference what time of day you inject. Whatever suits you.

Injection frequency – Aim for Mon/Thu for longer acting esters (sustanon, enanthate, cypionate, deca). These could be injected just once per week for the needle-shy, though twice is better for even blood concentration levels.

Dianabol are to be taken daily and, as they have a short half life of just a few hours, they are split throughout the day, every 4 hours or so. Take them with meals to avoid possible gastro-intestinal discomfort.

Should I buy steroids online from a website?
Never buy from an online website offering steroids. Most will be either scammers or will selling you fakes – or both! Keep yourself safe and from losing your hard earned cash -always have your prospective source checked first.

What will I gain?
Almost impossible to answer, as everyone is different, and there are a multitude of variables that will affect the amount of gains witnessed such as:

* Type of steroid and amounts used
* Length of cycle
* Cycle experience – early career cycles tend to yield greater gains purely because there is greater scope for those gains
* Training, diet & rest!

What’s a Frontload / Kickstart?
A ‘frontload’ is used to reach peak blood concentration levels much sooner than would otherwise be possible. Double your normal weekly dose will be injected in the first week or two, depending on the drug’s particular half-life (the half-life is the time taken for the body to metabolise and excrete half of the drug). So if your cycle was to use 500mg testosterone enanthate weekly, you would frontload 1,000mg during the first week.

An oral ‘kickstart’ describes the use of a fast acting oral until your injectables reach their peak, i.e. 30mg of Dianabol taken for the first 4 weeks.

What are Anti-Es?
Anti-Es are anti-oestrogens (or as the Americans say ‘estrogens’). Certain steroids aromatise to oestrogen through the aromatase enzyme which can lead to undesirable side-effects. Oestrogen, after all is the dominant female hormone. By employing anti-Es you can reduce the chances of experiencing oestrogenic side-effects such as water retention and gyno (explained below). Proviron and Anastrozole (Arimidex and other guises) attempt to halt the aromatisation from occurring. Nolvadex however, will occupy the oestrogen receptor which renders much of the existing circulating oestrogen inert.

The varying anti-E ancillaries are therefore generally used to counter negative side effects of AAS usage. Choice of ancillary depends on many factors including:

* AAS used & dosage/length of cycle
* Susceptibility of user to sides (if already known)
* Degree of risk/sides the user deems acceptable
* Any pre-existing conditions
What’s Gyno?
Gynecomastia is the build up of glandular tissue under the breast, and is an oestrogenic side-effect. Puffy, itchy or sore nipples are often early symptoms. This condition is often referred to by the slang term ‘bitch tits’. Established gyno will normally require surgery for correction – needless to say, ‘prevention is better than the cure!’

What’s PCT?
PCT stands for Post Cycle Therapy, and is what you do when you’ve finished your cycle to restore natural testosterone production. This is essential if you want to stand a good chance of retaining gains. Nolvadex, Clomid and sometimes HCG are the drugs used for pct. See the Muscle Talk article Clomid, Nolvadex and HCG in Post Cycle Recovery for more information.

However, it is important to realise that when you complete PCT it does not mean that recovery is fulfilled. You are simply using the PCT drugs to kickstart your body into action, with the actual recovery process takes many weeks, sometimes months to complete. Some like to gauge recovery from subjective factors such as libido, though ultimately for a much more accurate picture, a simple blood test will be required, discussed in further detail below.

What about pre-steroid use blood tests?
It cannot be stressed enough the importance of obtaining certain blood test results prior to commencing steroids. These personal baseline readings serve multiple purposes. Firstly, they can prove vital in uncovering any underlying medical issues that may not be already known. Should this be the case, it will determine whether the individual feels that they should avoid steroids completely, or delay use until such time where it appears health is optimal. Also, as many facets of blood readings can be affected by steroids, it is vital that you have pre-steroid use values so that comparisons can be made to baseline, which will provide a valuable insight into how ‘recovery’ is progressing.

Will this cycle have any effect on my sex drive? Gotta keep the missus happy!
You’ll turn into a porn star! You’ll think about it 24/7! Generally you’ll feel like a Sex God! Joking aside, you should generally experience an increase in libido especially if using strong androgens, though effects between individuals do vary. If do you experience any loss of interest, or you experience problems maintaining an erection (notorious with certain steroids), the drug Proviron is often used as a counter-active measure.

Summary
This FAQ article is not in any way designed to deter the posting of further questions on the MuscleTalk forums. However, by extending your knowledge, the above will provide you with a much better understanding of any further advice given in response to a question.

It would be very helpful when requesting information regarding a cycle, to include details such as you age, stats, training experience, previous cycle experience and goals and aspirations. This will greatly assist members answering the query, as most, if not all, of these factors are taken into consideration when providing suggestions.

If you already have some gear and are merely asking for assistance in designing a cycle, it is imperative that you list not only the actual AAS you intend to use and ml volume of each, but also the mg/ml ratio of each as this varies with different manufacturing labs.

Should you be concerned about anything at all – just ask. Other experienced members and the MuscleTalk expert moderator team are here to help and provide guidance to ensure that your AAS usage is as safe and productive as possible.

All the best!