What is the Earliest Age to Begin Using Anabolic Steroids?

Usually, recommendations are to not use anabolic steroids until after many years of natural training, and not until at least age 21. But for everything there are exceptions. When might a person reasonably start steroid use earlier?

When a lifter gains many years of natural experience before starting anabolic steroid use, then he very likely has really learned how to train. This is no small thing. As with many athletic activities, a person can read any number of books or magazine articles or watch any number of videos, but the knowledge gained is entirely different from having put in hundreds of hours of training. You have to have that time in the trenches and have learned from experience what works for you and what does not, and have learned how to adapt your training to meet varying obstacles you encounter.

The novice trainer who uses anabolic steroids from early on never learns this, because everything works.

This isn’t to say that a person cannot learn to train properly if starting anabolic steroid use early, only that the situation tends strongly to work against it.

Additionally, the person who’s put in the hard work and consistently made gains for many years without anabolic steroids knows that he can do so. He has no psychological dependency, and is completely accustomed to working hard in the gym without pharmaceutical assistance. After beginning anabolic steroid use, in almost all cases such a lifter will train hard and well in his “off” weeks.

The novice who started steroid use too soon often will feel that training without anabolic steroids is largely a waste of time. Typically the backsliding will be quite bad, if he has “off” weeks at all. Often, he will not have the discipline to have “off” weeks.

Again, this doesn’t have to be so. If a person has the right psychology, that can be overcome.

There have been instances of my seeing great results with lifters starting as young as 18. These young men were very dedicated, intelligent, followed instruction extremely well, had great training guidance, and often had great athletic potential.

In a recent example, such a young man who had all the other gifts but nowhere near the needed muscle did a single 8-week cycle at 18, following instructions exactly. The next year he started every game of the season and was a key player on a top-three nationally ranked college team. He’d also earned a full ride at this academically-excellent school.

None of the negatives applied to his case. He had good reason to start when he did instead of waiting a few more years. There will be many cases like his, but far more cases that are not and where there would be a tremendous amount to be said for putting in several years of natural training first.

So each case is different. But most of the time, I agree with the general recommendations on when it could be time to start considering anabolic steroid use. Usually, not till years of hard work have already yielded most of one’s natural potential.

Steroid Half-Lives

Because there are different anabolic steroid half-lives for the different anabolic steroids in existence, not every anabolic steroid can be administered in the same manner or in the same frequency. Dianabol (Methandrostenolone), for example, exhibits a half-life of approximately 4 – 6 hours, which might require multiple daily administrations in order to maintain stable blood levels of the hormone. The same might not be said for Winstrol (Stanozolol), which expresses a half-life of 9 hours in the body, and therefore individuals could easily get by with ingesting their full dose all at once.

It is important to understand as well that for the purpose of performance and physique enhancement, frequent administration of anabolic steroid is very necessary in order to maintain stable and optimal blood plasma levels. For therapeutic medical use, the administration of an anabolic steroid on the last day of its half-life might be acceptable, but for the purpose of performance and physique enhancement, the administration and dosage protocol changes dramatically. The intention at this point is no longer for therapeutic use, but now for increased performance and/or muscle mass and strength. Therefore, higher than normal (therapeutic) physiological bodybuilding doses are required, as well as a higher frequency of injections are required so as to maintain optimal peak blood plasma levels of the hormone. For example, a TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) does not have to be concerned about performance increases from week to week (or even day to day), but athletes and bodybuilders must.

The following is a list of anabolic steroid half-lives (in alphabetical order):

Anadrol (Oxymetholone): 8 – 9 hours
Anavar (Oxandrolone): 9 hours
Deca-Durabolin (Nandrolone Decanoate): 15 days
Dianabol (Methandrostenolone): 4.5 – 6 hours
Equipoise (Boldenone Undecylenate): 14 days
Halotestin (Fluoxymesterone): 9.5 hours
Masteron (Drostanolone Propionate): 4.5 days
Nandrolone Phenylpropionate: 4.5 days
Omnadren: 15 – 18 days (variable due to the mixture of four different ester types)
Parabolan (Trenbolone Hexahydrobenzylcarbonate): 14 days
Primobolan, oral (Methenolone Acetate): 2 – 3 days
Primobolan, injectable (Methenolone Enanthate): 7 – 10 days
Sustanon 250: 15 – 18 days (variable due to the mixture of four different ester types)
Testosterone Cypionate: 10 – 12 days
Testosterone Enanthate: 7 – 10 days
Testosterone Propionate: 4.5 days
Testosterone Suspension: 2 – 4 hours (some reports as long as 39 hours)
Trenbolone Acetate: 3 days
Turinabol (4-chlorodehydromethyltestosterone): 16 hours
Winstrol, oral (Stanozolol): 9 hours
Winstrol, injectable (Stanozolol): 24 hours

A final concluding note should be made on anabolic steroid half-lives, and this goes for any drugs, chemicals, or foods: half-lives are not set in stone figures, and only approximations and ranges can be given. Half-lives are also very susceptible to the individual metabolism of the person using the drugs, as some individuals may possess a faster ability to metabolize hormones than others, while others can be much slower at this process. For example, while the half-life of Testosterone Enanthate is that of 7 – 10 days, there might be some individuals that might metabolize the drug within 5 days, and others that might metabolize it within 12 days or more.

Anavar – Cutting Cycle

Anavar or oxandrolone is actually a drug made in the last century. By then it suffered many transformations and today is used as a anabolic steroid derivate which is replacing some atoms in the bio molecular structure. Anavar is used worldwide, but its most common usage is as a steroid that helps you gain and preserve body mass. Anavar is not one of the strongest steroids, but it can astonish you with the end result. Anavar is in a form of tablet, so you don’t have to take it intravenously.

Side effects

Anavar won’t leave many consequences in your organism. Because of its mild nature it will not leave any trace on your liver. Because it’s really mild, many female athletes and bodybuilder use it. Just like any other steroid, Anavar can have some serious side effects, but they are really rare. Experience has showed us that Anavar users are really pleased with it.

How Anavar helps in fat loss?

Avatar is a steroid that has effect not only on your muscles, but also on fat loss. His molecular structure is made like that so you can also lose fat while using Avatar. This doesn’t mean that you can stay at home, take Avatar and fat will magically be transformed into muscles. You still need to go out and practice. This only means that Avatar can help you in that process of losing weight.

What dose should I take?

This can only decide your doctor, but there are some simple rules with Anavar. It’s not recommended to take less than 20mgs per day, because this is the minimum dose that provides you some results. The maximum dose you can take shouldn’t be over 80mgs per day.  This is a range where everyone can fit in. More than 80mgs per day can be harmful for your organism, but if you go over 100mgs per day, you will have negative effects on your organism, and the result will be the same as is when you take 80mgs. So you shouldn’t insist in taking higher dose.

Anavar cycles

Anavar main purpose is to make sure that you will have enough strength after you finish taking it. It also helps in your muscle creation, but primary effect will be strength. Anavar is not just like any other steroid. It can be used longer, because of its specific structure. During the therapy, Anavar will not totally shut down your HPTA, especially if you are taking minimum doses. This steroid is particularly popular because it does not aromatize. Aromatizing is a process where steroids are turning into estrogen. HPTA shuts down if you use some other steroids with more testosterone. Anavar can even be used in the brakes you make after each cycle. It’s recommended that you take post cycle therapy after using every steroid, so you have to take post cycle therapy after just using Anavar. Post cycle therapy will help your organism to recover and will help you to keep impressive results that Anavar has provided you. Anavar will stay in your organism shortly after the cycle is over – about three weeks. Many other steroids for oral usage stay in your organism for about 8 week, and intravenously taken steroids can be in our blood flow for months.

Is Anavar for me?

Anavar is a steroid that can be used by men and also by women. It has almost no consequences on our organism and minimum side effects and that’s why women use it rather than men. Medically looking, Anavar is the best steroid for persons with bone pain or osteoporosis.  Doctors recommend using only Anavar or stacking it with Halotestin, Proviron, Equipoise, Primobolan, Winstrol and HGH. Anavar is not a steroid for those who had some kind of heart disease or storke, blood clots, high level of cholesterol or high blood pressure. Also it’s not recommended for persons with kidney or liver problems.  Pregnant women shouldn’t use any type of steroid, so this one shouldn’t be used by them too. If you feel any symptoms of these diseases you should stop using Anavar and contact your doctor. If you abuse Anavar usage, you can lead you into deep depression, insomnia or even changes in your libido.

How Does Frontloading Improve a Steroid Cycle?

Frontloading is becoming more popular practice in bodybuilding as bodybuilders have noticed frontloading benefit in form of extra quick rise and stabilization of androgen level in blood. Bodybuilders have looked for long time for effective was to promote better and successful steroid cycle, by combining available medical data with experiences of each other, because formal clinical research in the area were actually pretty scarce. Through method of try and mistake, they have experienced benefits of frontloading.

It has become popular today among many bodybuilders to start with frontloading steroid cycle when they use heavy esters. They do so because they want to negate prolonged visible effect to achieve desired level of energy and body constitution. Others use another way to achieve the same effect -by boosting steroid cycle with oral drugs or solutions with no esters that promote faster consumption in system.

Both methods achieve similar result, boosting levels in blood faster to promote better exploitation during early first period of response, the period when your body is responsive for growing and will accept and respond to hormonal signal to achieve better muscle build-up.

How to apply frontloading?
One can calculate precisely necessary intake to achieve invariable discharge by calculating weekly amount. For example, taking testosterone enanthate every third day in 250 mg amount means you will need 583 mg for one week. For effective frontloading, double this dosage and intake it before the 1st half-life of the 1st dose, i.e. this means you will take testosterone-enanthate for 4 days.

You can also get the same effect with propionate or acetate. If you were not applying frontloading but simply taking 250 mg on three times per week schedule as in this example, you would stilly be building levels of steroids even in week two, and you could expect to achieve steady desired level only in the third week.

Because of prolonged release and visible effects, and with the fact that you have to wait for weeks before you notice any, it indeed might seem frustrating to have to wait this long into regular administering of steroids. It happens because blood level has to store larger amount of steroids to enable body response that enables muscle growth and has visible effect on body constitution.
Positive frontloading effects

Frontloading will give you better visible results in first two weeks and partially in a third as well, particularly with ester variations that have prolonged action. The point with frontloading is that with doubling the dosage in first couple of weeks you will create steady level of drug in system that will remain there until you administer next dose, promptly creating steady steroid level that you want to achieve.

Most bodybuilders trying frontloading have reported that muscle growth is indeed significant during first two to three week of frontloading in steroid cycle; results will become less impressive after some month and half to two months of frontloading, which is a queue about best period to apply the method.

Obviously, during frontloading you will flood hormonal system with steroid hormones giving it necessary boost to respond faster and more effectively. To put it simple: you will jump start your steroid cycle with frontloading, which is especially beneficial because your body is highly responsive to impulse to grow.

Additionally, with faster response you will apply this cycle for less time meaning that you will achieve smaller effect on your hormonal system, particularly on hypothalamus and pituitary gland that will make recovery of your body hormonal status easier and faster, enabling sooner and easier restitution of usual androgen hormone production.

Recommended recovery time between anabolic steroid cycles

One of the questions that bothers many of the anabolic steroid users is how much time for recovery they should allow between anabolic steroid cycles.

When asked about the time that should be left for recovery between anabolic steroid cycles, the specialists would answer that the recovery of the HPTA should be completed before starting the next anabolic steroid cycle. Now many would ask what HPTA means, so here is the answer: HPTA stands for the following:

– Hypothalamus
- Pituitary
- Testicular axis

The point of the answer

If the anabolic steroid cycle is very short, which means it is only two weeks, the steroid cycle recovery may occur almost immediately. The well-planned steroid cycles of a moderate length, which have a duration of only eight weeks, basically allow recovery in about two weeks. The long steroid cycles, which may be between twelve and fourteen or even longer, as well as poorly planned cycles, are causing protracted recovery.

What to do?

The first thing that needs to be done is to wait until the natural testosterone production is back to its mid-normal levels or even better levels. This needs to be done without the aid of any drug, so that it is needed to wait until it naturally gets to the needed levels.

The time between anabolic steroid cycles

Besides waiting for the natural testosterone production to reach the desired levels, there is another thing needed to be done. The time between steroid cycles need to always be related to the duration of anabolic steroid use, which will also consider the time of clearance needed after the last testosterone injection. For this, the user needs to take into consideration the following things:

– The number of weeks that he has been using the anabolic steroids
-  The number of weeks that he has not been using any steroids

He needs to put these two into balance.

Time off versus time on

If anyone is asking for black/white cutoff values, they need to know that there are not any black/white cutoff values to be given by anyone. The time off and the time on represents a gradually sliding scale. To better understand what this means, here is some information to keep count on:

– Those who are looking to build muscle would get amazing results from being off twice as many weeks as being on. This is a conservative manner that gives great results for people seeking to build muscle. Those who wish to be more conservative than following this type are only wishing to maintain.

– Those who are seeking for faster results choose the method that uses being off about as many weeks as being on. This method is a moderately aggressive one and it uses well-planned cycles. This usually does not cause any problems, but it gives faster results than the previous mentioned method.

– The most aggressive method is being off only half as many weeks as being on. This method is mainly recommended for those people who are health-conscious. In this case, it is needed to verify proper recovery and it is recommended to do blood tests as a result of frequency of use.

Conclusion

There is no good or bad answer for the question on how much time is recommended to allow for recovery between anabolic steroids cycles. However, the information above mentioned has proven helpful for those who decide which of the methods they wish to use. Therefore, with proper attention and a well-planned method, every user can find the best answer that suits their case and specific needs.

Do you have bouts of coughing when taking Tren?

Trenbolone is a great steroid for muscle mass and most of mass you build is pure muscle fibers with minimum water retention. Trenbolone has amazing anabolic result. Why is it so? There are several factors.

For one, Trenbolone increases level of anabolic hormone IGF-1 in muscle tissue. It also affects “satellite cells” (cells that “repair” damaged muscle) to be more sensitive to IGF-1 and other growth factors. DNA in muscle cell increases significantly in muscle cell.

Trenbolone has strong ability to attach to androgenic receptors, much stronger than testosterone. This is important because the stronger steroid attaches to androgenic receptor, component works stronger on muscle growth factors, which depend on androgenic receptors. There is also strong evidence that component that attaches well to androgenic receptors helps in fat loss.

However, some users report strong tren cough during Trenbolone use, just after they inject themselves. Reports say that cough lasts from 30 seconds to few minutes or even more. Cough is unstoppable once it starts, and can even cause chest pain.

Why does it happen to so many users? Let’s see some explanations.

There are reports that tren cough occurs more often in users of Trenbolone Acetate then in athletes who use Trenbolone E. It happens because Trenbolone Acetate irritates some tissues. If you try it orally, you will notice that it is very spicy.

Trenbolone Acetate irritates lung cells if taken in larger amount. Sometimes, while injecting, Trenbolone acetate will get into smaller blood vessel or lymphatic system, in which case Trenbolone will reach lung cells fast, causing strong cough.

Only some injections cause Tren Cough

As it turns out from various reports, it is really a matter of luck weather you will experience tren cough or not. Sometimes users inject Trenbolone for days or weeks without negative side-effects in form of cough. For some users, it happens with first injecting, but it might not happen later on in cycle.

Formulation

Concentration of Trenbolone Acetate in syringe is another affecting factor in possible cough. The higher concentration, the larger possibility that Trenbolone level in blood will be higher and cause cough.

Recommendation of use

In order to decrease possibility often cough occurrence, you should keep dosage of Trenbolone Acetate under 50 mg/mL. If possible, it shouldn’t contain benzyl alcohol.

Another suggestion to prevent cough is, if you are using 2 substances (such as Testosterone and Trenbolone), first inject the Trenbolone and then Testosterone. This will decrease possibility of Trenbolone getting into your bloodstream.

Duration of Tren Cough

In the end, if nothing helps but you end up with tren cough, there is nothing to do but to try to relax and let it go away on its own. Positive thing is that cough usually doesn’t last too long. The Duration of Tren Cough can be:

–          30 seconds – usually

-          over 60 seconds – rarely

-          up to 90 seconds – extreme cases

Conclusion

Tren cough is in most cases simply a matter of (bad) luck. It doesn’t happen every time, and if it occurs ones when you cycle Tren it doesn’t have to mean that it will happen next time again.

Tren cough is very unpleasant especially when it becomes very strong. It may be very irritating and in worst cases may cause trouble breathing.

The good news is that it lasts shortly, for up to minute with no consequence for yo. Therefore, if nothing helps just wait for it to pass. A cough longer than a 1-2 minutes is a sign of another health problem, so that make sure you take a closer look of what it can be.

Tren cough happens more often with Trenbolone Acetate use than with Tren E. Dosage is important as cough occurs especially when large doses of Tren are administrated for one use (up to 50-75 mg/mL).

If you want to build massive muscle fast using tren then assume the risk to get cough, in some cases even severe form of it. Tren cough is a necessary evil if you want to evoluate

Masteron vs Equipoise – Which is better to gain muscle?

First – what are these?
Masteron and Equipoise are two different medicines used to gain body mass. They are actually types of steroids. Steroids are chemical compound that helps our body to keep proteins that help in muscle growth process.

Masteron – overall
Masteron is also called drostanolone propionate and it has a form of pills. That means that you take it oral, not intravenously. Masteron is used in small amounts of pills per day, so you don’t have to take large quantity to have good results in the end.

Masteron, just like any other type of steroids, have side effects. But side effects that can appear while taking this medicine are on their minimum, which is why Masteron is considered as the best solution compared to other steroids. Besides Masteron, there are many more effective and stronger steroids, but they also have bigger side effects and many other disadvantages.

Masteron vs Equipoise – Which is better to gain muscle?
You can get the best results from this medicine if you combine it with other steroids, like Dianabol, which is the most used steroid in history (and also the oldest one). You can also combine it with Anadrol and you will get the same results as you have used Dianabol. It’s not recommended to use just Masteron, you should always combine it with another steroid type.

Equipoise – overall
Equipoise actually used to be a veterinary steroid. Today is steroid just like any other and it’s compared to Masteron, Primobolan, Deca and trenboline. All these types of steroids will do the same thing in the end – help you get body mass. There is only one side effect you can get from this medicine is increased appetite. Equipoise cycles need to be long, because it won’t have effect you want to get.

Aldo Equipoise has great positive things; it should be your first steroid choice. It contains molecule that is similar to bolderone, type of testosterone.

Masteron vs Equipoise – Which is better to gain muscle?

Masteron or Equipoise?
In further text you will get the answer to this dilemma, but everything depends on you. You should contact your doctor, he is the person you will know what is the best for you. Choosing a steroid type is not so simple. What steroid will you use depends on your organism and you physical condition. So it’s always the best not to take steroids on your own. But, when the choice is up to these two, let’s compare them.

Effectiveness versus price: which one is the best
Actually, they produce the same effect in the end. From this point of view, you will get the same results with the Masteron or Equipoise. Amount that you have to take is also pretty much the same.  So there is no difference with the doses, also.

Equipoise is actually just a little cheaper that the Masteron. If price is not relevant factor for you, it’s still up to you to decide which steroid you will buy.

What side effects they have?
As I already mentioned here, both of these medicines have little side effects. But doctors prefer Equipoise rather than Musteron, but it’s individually. Both of them can produce hair loss, for example. But this is the risk that should be familiar to you from the beginning. Almost every steroid have this type of side effect, some of them affect your skin, for example. You shouldn’t take any steroid if you are not aware of all possible side effects.

Steroid stacking
It’s really up to you if you are going to stack these two steroids. Stacking steroids means combining them to get better results. You just have to combine them well, and by that I mean that your doctor have to decide what doses will you be taking. Cycles should be at least 8 weeks long.

So, what should be my decision?
This is up to you. No one can tell you which one is better; both of these steroids are great. You have to consult your doctor and compare all good and bad sides these steroids have. Masteron and Equipoise are actually the same thing with different name. You can be sure that in the end you will have the result that you want, no matter which one do u use.

5 Testosterone Myths

Thanks to stories about doping Olympic athletes, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, the words "testosterone" or "steroids" create unsavory associations. However, testosterone is a key hormone that has numerous important and beneficial functions in men. In fact, if it weren't for testosterone, all little boys would be born with a labia instead of a scrotum! In adults, testosterone is important for normal sexual function, sperm production, as well as muscle development and tone. In my work as a urologist at Men's Health Boston, I treat men with infertility (i.e., vasectomy reversal) and sexual problems. Many of these men are diagnosed with low levels of testosterone, or what I call "low T."

Low T can also cause chronic fatigue, depression, and reduced muscular/athletic performance. Treatment with testosterone can improve erections and sex drive, restore muscle and reduce fat, and increase energy and motivation. New evidence suggests that normal testosterone levels are important for reducing the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and men with normal levels live longer than men with low T. However, stories about cheating athletes and muscle-crazed bodybuilders have given testosterone a bad name, and have created a number of myths. Here are five of the most common testosterone myths.

1 Testosterone is an illegal drug
Nope; testosterone is a perfectly legal prescription medication. It is also a key hormone present in every man that is responsible for fetal development of the male genitalia, the physical changes that occur during male puberty, and that contributes to a variety of functions in the adult man including sperm production, erections, sex drive, muscle tone, and bone health, among others. Testosterone is only illegal when it's used without a physician’s prescription. However, many sports organizations have strict rules regarding substances such as testosterone that may influence athletic performance. Athletes who violate the rules of their sport are cheating, and lying about it to Congress may lead to prison time.

2 Testosterone is a steroid, and steroids are dangerous
Testosterone is a steroid, but that doesn’t make it dangerous. In fact, we’re all naturally loaded with various kinds of steroids. The word "steroid" simply refers to a molecule with a “backbone” of four rings of carbon —  examples include estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and even cholesterol. Clearly, when an athlete tests positive for “steroids,” no one is concerned that he injected himself with cholesterol. In the sports world, the word “steroid” is shorthand for an “anabolic steroid hormone,” meaning steroids that specifically act to build muscle and bone, like testosterone. Whereas testosterone has been shown to be relatively safe, even at high concentrations, there is almost no information at all about the safety of the newer “designer” steroids produced to escape detection in drug testing.

3 Testosterone causes uncontrollable violent behavior
There is absolutely no reliable evidence that testosterone causes “’roid rage” or any type of violent, aggressive or uncontrollable behavior. No violence, aggression or unpredictable behavior has been seen in studies where men were administered testosterone, even at extremely high doses. In fact, the opposite appears to be true; many men with low T describe being more irritable, or having a short fuse, and this often improves with normalization of testosterone levels. A recent patient treated with testosterone told me that his wife found him “unbearable” to be around before he was diagnosed with low T and subsequently treated; “I’m a nicer guy now,” he said.  

4 Testosterone causes prostate cancer
New evidence conclusively shows that men with higher levels of testosterone are at no greater risk of developing prostate cancer than men with low testosterone. Moreover, treating men with testosterone has not been shown to cause any increased risk of prostate cancer either. The basis for this myth originated from studies in the 1940s in which men with metastatic prostate cancer showed benefits when they were castrated. It appears that the only men at risk for prostate cancer growth with higher testosterone are men who have already been castrated. An exciting, but controversial, development is the use of testosterone to treat symptomatic men with low T who have undergone prior therapy for prostate cancer.

5 Higher testosterone causes baldness
On average, men with male pattern baldness have the same testosterone levels as men with a full head of hair. Baldness seems to be genetically determined. The confusion arises because medicines like finasteride (Propecia) that block conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can prevent or treat baldness. Since only very small amounts of DHT are needed by the scalp to do what the genes tell them to do (in this case, lose hair), men who are pre-destined to pull a Kojak will do so whether their T concentrations are high or low.

What is the Ideal Steroid Dosage to Maximize Fat Loss?

How high a dose of anabolic steroids needed for good acceleration of fat loss?

Even the 500 mg/week dosage level, as a total of all the steroids used in the stack, is sufficient for substantial improvement in fat loss compared to the natural state. There’s some further improvement as the dosage increases to about the 1000 mg/week level.

In a few cases there have been remarkable results with quite low dosages, such as 250 mg/week testosterone or even 9 mg/day Dianabol (as odd as that number is, the specific case really was that amount.) However, that’s unusual, and appears to be correlated with the individuals having somewhat low natural testosterone. Generally, 500 mg/week is a reasonable minimum for a fat-loss steroid cycle.

Whether to lose fat first and then gain muscle, or do it the other way around, will depend on the case. A simple rule of thumb though is to accomplish the personally-easier task first.

For example, if you know you can drop 10 lb of fat relatively easily but adding 10 lb of muscle will be a challenge, then by all means lose the fat in the first few weeks of the cycle, preferably with quite high volume training. Your body will then be in a highly responsive state for muscle gain in the following weeks, due both to the previous high volume training and due to a homeostatic tendency to return to previous weight, in this case with muscle gain. More importantly than any reason why, this simply has been found to work very well.

Or if on the other hand if you find it hard to get much leaner than your present condition but you know you can add the planned amount of muscle in a matter of weeks, then add the muscle first. This will aid in the following fat loss, both because the added muscle increases metabolic rate, and again because of a homeostatic tendency to return to accustomed weight, in this case with fat loss. And again, regardless of reason, this too works very well in practice.

Gaining muscle while losing fat simultaneously can be done, but generally isn’t the optimal approach. Being a possible unintended outcome in some training scenarios, where very intensive programs with intent of maximum strength gains might result in some fat loss despite best efforts at sufficient eating. But as a deliberate plan, most times wouldn’t aim to accomplish both fat loss and muscle gain at the same time in a steroid cycle.

Metabolic Damage: What It Is And Is Not

Everyone in the bodybuilding and figure world is talking about metabolic damage and how it is a diet killer. This article explores the current "epidemic" of this condition.

One of the big buzz terms in health and fitness subculture as of late is “metabolic damage”. It seems like quite a few “nutritional coaches” have come out and taken a firm stance on one side of the fence or the other, insisting that it’s either a valid phenomenon or a myth. While the literature on the topic of metabolic damage is still relatively scarce, the next few years should prove interesting since more and more research is being focused towards this concern.

In a nutshell, metabolic damage is terminology used to denote a state where the body doesn’t respond proportionally and appropriately as one would expect with respect to energy input and output. For example, someone may put their body through hours upon hours of cardio and restrict their calorie intake yet notice little to no weight/fat loss, which seems theoretically impossible, but as many people know, this can indeed happen. When a person has reached such a critical point, they are generally believed to have “metabolic damage”, to some arbitrary degree.

Measuring metabolic damage

However, therein lays the main conundrum with classifying metabolic damage, since it’s rather ambiguous to just say, “I have metabolic damage.” Ideally, we would want to put a tangible/measurable amount on the severity of the “damage” and seek to reverse it, but the trouble is that there is no real accurate/precise way to track such a quantity at this point.

The next best medically plausible way to verify that metabolic damage has occurred is probably various hormonal assays such as thyroid hormone levels/function, leptin, and others. The reasoning for this is that one of the key regulators of metabolic rate is the thyroid gland. Generally, individuals who exhibit hypothyroidism are noticeably heavier (and/or tend to put weight on easily) and have a tough time losing fat.

This isn’t to say that metabolic damage is entirely relegated to thyroid issues, nor other endocrine maladies, but from a physiological standpoint it is safe to assert that such issues do indeed influence one’s metabolic health.

What convolutes the issue of metabolic damage is that there is no foolproof way (yet) to pinpoint what exactly has gone awry and started the vicious cycle of having a lowered metabolic rate. Some people may have metabolic damage despite their blood work showing nominal values, in which case there has to be some other factor(s) influencing the individual’s metabolic rate.

An example of this would be someone with normal thyroid levels and functioning, but yet can’t lose weight to save their soul and has already gone to extreme measures as far as calorie restricting and cardiovascular exercise goes. It’s at this point that we know metabolic damage is occurring due to other physiological factors. Uncovering those factors is what much of the research will likely be focused on in the coming years.

What metabolic damage is not

I think one of the more important things to discuss pertaining to metabolic damage is the issue of it being “over diagnosed” by people who compete in any sort of physique competition. Just because you have competed in a bodybuilding or figure (or whatever event) show doesn’t necessarily mean you’re automatically in a state of “metabolic damage”. Yes, your metabolic rate is likely reduced since it’s pretty much common knowledge that during times of decreased energy input your body naturally lowers its energy output; that being said, metabolic damage is not the same as having a reduced metabolic rate.

Given this, don’t be so hasty to jump on the metabolic damage bandwagon just because you are eating less, exercising more, but still not losing weight like you hope. Metabolic damage is an extreme condition induced by extreme behavior.

We’re talking extreme in the sense that some people can be eating <600-700 calories per day, doing 2-3 hours of cardio, and still not losing weight…It’s safe to say that at that point metabolic damage has occurred. Contrarily, just because you cut calories to, say, 1600 calories per day and are doing 45 minutes of cardio without any weight loss doesn’t exemplify a “damaged” metabolism. I think people just need to tread cautiously when putting a label on their metabolic health; reduced metabolic rate is not synonymous with metabolic damage.

Correcting metabolic damage

As much as people want to believe there is some magic formula or treatment they can find for metabolic damage, the reality of it is that in order to reverse the “damage” you pretty much just need to do the opposite of what you’ve been doing. Essentially, this means doing less cardio, eating more, resting more, and focusing on weight training.

Don’t forget that muscle is more metabolically demanding then adipose tissue, so by building more muscle, you are increasing your metabolic capacity. This is the reason that many bodybuilders can stay in such good shape with little to no cardio in their regimen, since they’ve developed such a high metabolic capacity that it becomes rather hard to “out eat” their metabolism.

I’d be leery of people who claim that some certain supplements or food will suddenly resolve your metabolic damage. This isn’t to say supplements can’t help you, but the focus should ideally be on the big factors like your diet and training regimen. Get those back on the right path and then worry about micromanaging the other less important factors.

Testosterone Propionate True and Myth

Testosterone Propionate was one of the first anabolic androgenic steroids ever synthesized and made ready for human use in mass production and as such is one of the most popular anabolic steroids of all time. While there are hundreds of anabolic steroids and forms within each, Testosterone Propionate is largely one of the easiest to understand as it is very basic in composition and simply a pure testosterone. However, as simple as it is it further remains very powerful and highly effective yet many understand Testosterone Propionate as well as they understand the most basic algorithms used in space exploration.

While a very simple hormone to understand the facts remain tarnished as most garner their information from internet wonder boys who are masters of the Bro-Tastic lifestyle. Nevertheless the truth is out there; understanding is attainable and we've provided you with a good place to start. We have taken some of the most common misconceptions off of some of the most popular message boards that deal in the discussion of anabolic steroids and Testosterone Propionate and left you with the truth.

Testosterone Propionate is one of the more popular testosterone forms used the world over and one of the more popular anabolic androgenic steroids of all time. As testosterone was the first anabolic steroid every synthesized Testosterone Propionate was the first form to hit the shelves in mass quantities made ready for human use. Like the popular oral steroid Dianabol, Testosterone Propionate has been available for a very long time and like

Dianabol it is just as popular today as its ever been. One of the reasons Testosterone Propionate holds such high popularity is simply because it is pure testosterone, a very versatile anabolic hormone; further, most who use it find it very easy to control; while all testosterone forms are comprised of the same identical active hormone because the Propionate version is so fast acting and short lived due to its very nature it is perhaps the most controllable testosterone available with stability and peak levels being very easy to maximize and held in an efficient manner. Moreover, as almost every pharmaceutical company that manufactures anabolic steroids manufactures Testosterone Propionate, as well as every last underground lab and since black market sales are the largest corner of the steroid market it’s easy to understand how and why so much Testosterone-Propionate finds its way into the hands of many every year.

Myth: Testosterone Propionate is a cutting steroid.
Truth: Testosterone Propionate is a testosterone, the same as Testosterone Enanthate, Testosterone Cypionate or any other form you can find it is made up of pure testosterone; in that there is no difference. Testosterone Propionate will not 'cut you up' any more than any other form of testosterone; it does not possess fat burning abilities absent other forms. It is true, when Testosterone Propionate is used water retention will be of a slightly less concern but in the overall scheme this effect in-terms of the difference between another form is negligible and will be discussed more thoroughly in a myth to come. Even so, actual leanness and water retention are two very different things and are often coupled together inappropriately.

Myth: You won't bloat with Testosterone Propionate use.
Truth: When you administer testosterone of any form it converts to estrogen via the aromatase process and this can lead to excess water retention; it does not matter which form you use, the process is inevitable regardless. However, Testosterone Propionate has been shown to aromatize to a slightly lesser degree than other forms but only slightly and in the end the difference cannot be seen unless you are already extremely lean. Many people fail to recognize two important factors; with the use of a quality aromatase inhibitor excess bloating can largely be controlled, however, there is another very important factor to consider and it is the most important of all.

If you are supplementing with Testosterone Propionate and taking in excess carbohydrates you will bloat just the same as if you were using Testosterone Cypionate or any other form. Granted, each and every person will vary in-terms of sensitivity but the truth remains the same. Many competitive bodybuilders, the epitome of lean and water free use all types of testosterone when dieting or bulking be it Testosterone Propionate or long ester based testosterones such as Enanthate.

Myth: Testosterone Propionate will not suppress natural testosterone production to the same degree as many other forms.
Truth: This is perhaps the most ridiculous assumption and one of the most ridiculous myths regarding anabolic steroids period. The truth, anabolic steroid use will suppress natural testosterone production; granted, some steroids do so more than others. For example, Anavar will not suppress natural testosterone production to the same degree as Deca Durabolin but some suppression will still occur. As it pertains to testosterone, be it a short ester based or long ester based the end result of suppression is the same. Testosterone Propionate like Enanthate and Cypionate forms or testosterone mixtures such as Sustanon-250 will dramatically suppress natural testosterone production while being used.

Myth: Testosterone Propionate is not as powerful for bulking as long ester base forms.
Truth: The active hormone testosterone is the same in all forms and the mode of action and its very nature is no different in Testosterone Propionate than it is in Testosterone Cypionate or any other form. However, this myth gets more ridiculous as on a milligram for milligram basis Testosterone Propionate is stronger than other commonly used ester based testosterones. For example, 100mg of Testosterone Propionate will yield approximately 83mg of testosterone, the rest of the total mass being comprised of the Propionate ester. Conversely, 100mg of Testosterone Cypionate, because the Cypionate ester takes up more mass in the total compound will yield approximately 70mg of active testosterone per 100mg. Granted, you can receive the same dose of active testosterone by simply adjusting where needed but in the end the benefits and results will be the same with Testosterone Propionate or any form assuming all things remain constant, i.e. dosing, duration of use, diet and training.

Anavar Dosages

The average Anavar dosages for women are extremely easy to plan, as most women will fall within the same recommended range. In many ways, this is out of necessity, for while women can supplement quite safely, if their doses go beyond a certain point they can run into serious trouble. Then we have the average male Anavar dosages. Here, things can get quite different, as average male Anavar dosages will vary tremendously. At any rate, there are standards; there are averages and we can, and will guide you along your way. No, there is no one size fits all answer, especially regarding men, but with sound planning you can find the perfect dose to meet your needs.

Average Female Anavar Dosages
Anavar is one of the few anabolic steroids women can use safely. Unlike most anabolic steroids, the Oxandrolone hormone has a low rate of virilization, which is the common problem females often run into with supplemental steroid use. The vast majority of women will find Anavar dosages of a 10mg range to be perfect, and in many cases all the Anavar they ever need. On average, most women will tolerate 10mg per day very well in 6-8 week burst. However, some women will need to cut it in half and supplement with 10mg every other day if they are sensitive to virilizing effects. Although Oxandrolone carries a low virilization rate, it can still cause problems in women who are extremely sensitive.

Of course, Anavar dosages can go higher than 10mg every day. Some women who want a little more will find they can tolerate as much as 20mg per day, but understand the probability of adverse reactions does increase with such a dose, and doses above this amount almost guarantee it. Regardless of your total dosing, if you run into any problems you are urged to discontinue use immediately. If you discontinue use at the onset of negative symptoms, they will dissipate rapidly. If you ignore them, and continue use you may find you have a permanent problem.

Average Male Anavar Dosages
While men will find the Oxandrolone hormone is a poor off-season bulking agent, it can be a fantastic choice for a cutting cycle. For this purpose, average Anavar dosages will normally run in the 50mg-80mg per day range. You could use less, Anavar dosages of a 30mg per day range could aid in a solid cutting cycle. However, as this is such a mild steroid you shouldn't expect much from such doses. However, for a slight athletic boost in performance, the 30mg per day dose can be perfect, and is a very common dosage for performance athletes.

While 50mg-80mg is the average range, Anavar dosages can safely reach the 100mg per day range. However, there are two important things we must consider. The Oxandrolone hormone is by no means cheap; 10mg tabs can cost anywhere from $2-$5 a piece depending on the source and brand. Further, regarding the 100mg mark, Anavar dosages above this mark will not make a massive difference. The Oxandrolone hormone appears to have a fast falloff point past the 100mg mark. Granted, past 100mg you might see a little more progress, but nothing of any true substance and by no means in any way that has that justified what you'll be paying for it.

Halotestin Fluoxymesterone

Halotestin is a good compound for use by athletes because it can greatly increase strength and energy output.

Unfortunately for bodybuilders, its muscle-building attributes are not as effective. Halotestin doesn’t convert to estrogen in the body, but it is toxic to the liver, so small doses are recommended.

Halotestin is the brand name for the steroid fluoxymesterone. Structurally fluoxymesterone is a derivative of testosterone, differing from our base androgen by three structural alterations (specifically l7alpha-methyl, 11 beta-hydroxy and 9-fluoro group additions). The result is a potent oral steroid that exhibits extremely strong androgenic properties. This has a lot to due with the fact that it is derived from testosterone, and as such shares important similarities to this hormone. Most importantly, like testosterone, Halotestin appears to be a good substrate for the 5-alpha reductase enzyme. This is evidenced by the fact that a large number of its metabolites are found to be 5-alpha reduced androgens, which coupled with its outward androgenic nature, suggests it is converting to a much more active steroid in androgen responsive target tissues such as the skin, scalp and prostate.

The 11 beta-hydroxyl group also inhibits aromatization, making estrogen production impossible with this steroid. Estrogenic side effects such as water retention, fat fain and gynecomastia are therefore not a concern when taking this compound. Strong androgenic side effects are to be expected though, and in many cases are unavoidable. Oily skin and acne a very common for instance, at times requiring sensitive individuals to seek some form of topical or even prescription drug treatment to keep it under control. Hair loss is an additional worry, making Halotestin a poor choice for those with an existing condition. Aggression may also become very pronounced with this drug. This effect is often desired by users looking to “harness” this in order to increase the intensity of workouts or a competition. Clearly Halotestin is a strong androgen, and definitely one female athletes should stay away from. Masculinizing side effects can be intense, and may occur very rapidly with this substance. Even women daring enough to take Dianabol should think twice about this compound, as virilization symptoms are most often permanent.

Although Halotestin appears to be more androgenic than testosterone, the anabolic effect of it is not very strong. This makes it a great strength drug, but not the best for gaining serious muscle mass. The predominant effect seen when taking Halotestin is a harder, more dense look to the muscles without a notable size increase. It is therefore very useful for athletes in weight-restricted sports like wrestling, powerlifting and boxing. The strength gained from each cycle will not be accompanied by a great weight increase, allowing most competitors to stay within a specified weight range. Halotestin also makes an excellent drug for bodybuilding contest preparation. When the competitor has an acceptably low body fat percentage, the strong androgen level (in absence of excess estrogen) can elicit an extremely hard and defined (“ripped”) look to the muscles. The shift in androgen/estrogen ratio additionally seems to bring about a state in which the body may be more inclined to burn off excess fat and prevent new fat storage. The “hardening” effect of Halotestin would therefore be somewhat similar to that seen with trenbolone, although it will be without the same level of mass gain. Clearly non-aromatizing androgens such as Halotestin and trenbolone can play an important role during contest preparations.

The main concern with this steroid is that it can be a very toxic drug. This is due to the fact that fluoxymesterone is a 17 alpha alkylated compound, its structure altered to survive oral administration. l7alpha alkylation can be very harsh to the liver. The possibility of damage is therefore a legitimate concern with Halotestin, especially when used at higher doses or for prolonged periods of time. The total daily dosage is likewise best kept in the range of 20-40mg, used for no longer than 8 weeks. After which an equally long break (at a minimum) should be taken from all c17-AA orals. One should also resist the temptation to stack this drug with other alkylated orals if possible, and instead opt for orals without this alteration or esterified injectable compounds (which will not add to the strain on the liver).

In cutting phases a mild anabolic such as Deca-Durabolin or Equipoise might prove to be a good addition, as both provide good anabolic effect without excessive estrogen buildup. Here Halotestin will provide a well needed androgenic component, helping to promote a more solid and defined gain in muscle mass than obtained with an anabolic alone. Perhaps Primobolan Depot would even be a better choice, as with such a combination there is no buildup of estrogen (and likewise even less worry of water and fat retention). For mass we could alternately use an injectable testosterone. A mix of 400-800mg Testosterone enanthate and 20-30mg Halotestin for example, should prove to be an exceptional stack for strength and muscle gain. This however would be accompanied by a more significant level of side effects, both compounds exhibiting strong androgenic activity in the body.

Fluoxymesterone also seem to depress endogenous testosterone levels rather quickly with use, despite its complete lack of estrogen conversion. One therefore should consider ancillary drug use at the conclusion of each cycle in order to help restore the normal release of androgens in the body. Using a combination of HCG and Clomid/Nolvadex is of course the best option, the two drugs working well together to restore normal hormonal functioning. Although estrogen is not a problem with Halotestin, the use of an anti-estrogen such as Nolvadex or Clomid is still indicated when discontinuing a cycle. Since HCG stimulates aromatase activity in the Leydig’s cells, here Nolvadex/Clomid help by blocking the activity of any excess estrogen that may be produced. Afterward they will also block the inhibitory effect of endogenous estrogens on the hypothalamus, stimulating the enhanced release of gonadotropins and supporting the normal biosynthesis of testosterone.

Since Halotestin is only used for a few specific purposes, it is not in high demand among athletes. Likewise it is not a very popular item on the black market. Investing in the manufacture of a counterfeit version would probably not pay off well, no doubt the reason we haven’t seen any yet. All of the various forms of Halotestin could therefore be assumed legitimate when found in circulation. Currently the most popular item found on the black market is the Stenox brand from Mexico, sold in boxes of 20 tablets. Although the dosage of these tablets is only 2.5mg, the low price usually asked for this preparation more than compensates. Overall, Halotestin is an effective steroid for a narrow range of uses, and is probably not the most ideal product for the recreational user.

Mechano Growth Factor MGF

MGF is a variant of IGF-1, an isoform that is particularly sensitive to muscle trauma (weight training) and is essential for repair and growth of new cells, similar in manner to IGF-1. What you need to know is MGF triggers new cell growth or hyperplasia in rat testing, and since we as bodybuilders fancy ourselves as lab rats, it is currently the in vogue peptide by top amateurs and pros.

Well all of this sounds great but what is the catch? This is where we reach a cross-road, a potential problem with MGF. As great as MGF has been in clinical trials and rat studies, the fact is that injected MGF has a half life of minutes. So how are you going to make this work, besides injecting every hour or so of your waking day? The answer lies in a little known molecule protection agent knows as PEGylation.

So what is or PEGylation? In simple terms it is the process of attaching one or more chains of a substance called polyethylene glycol (PEG) to a protein molecule such as IGF or in this case MGF. Since the body does not react to PEG, it helps provide a protective barrier around an attached protein so it can survive in the body longer. This is highly beneficial for systemic products that must survive repeated attacks by enzymatic exposure. PEG is an inert non-toxic substance that can provide protection to amine groups since they are flexible and allow attachment by bioengineered processes to the receptor bearing cell. Finally a quick explanation of polyethylene glycol; Any of a family of high molecular weight compounds that can be liquid or wax-like in consistency and are soluble in water and in many organic solvents.

Polyethylene glycol itself does not react in the body and is very safe. PEG has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a base or vehicle for use in foods and cosmetics and in injectable, topical, rectal and nasal pharmaceutical formulations. The risk associated with current PEGylated drugs are due to the way the drug itself acts not the PEG.

PEGylation can improve dosing convenience of many small molecules by increasing bioavailability and reducing dosing frequency. PEGylation also increases the amount of time the cell sits at the target site. This can be both good and bad. It is good because it increases the drug concentration, and with a longer time at the site, there is more chance of uptake by the cell. The bad news is that while it is sitting at the cell, there is increased risk of damage by enzymes that attack the cell. This is a double-edge sword that is a necessary evil; you must protect the molecule but at the same time increase the risk factor of damage due to longer exposure times at the target cell. As a result of the increased time at the cell, the optimal drug concentration can be achieved with less frequent dosing; a significant benefit to bodybuilders who are usually using poly-pharmacy at its finest.

PEGylated MGF is systemic in nature, meaning that the method of administration is not important. Most people are using MGF in a fashion similar to IGF, meaning they inject the peptide intramuscularly in recently trained muscle groups, hoping for an increase in cell repair and proliferation of new cells. While this thinking is optimistic at best, there is no research that would support site specific injections being beneficial for localized growth. This is a myth that has purveyed aas and peptide use for years. At this time, the literature and lab studies support subcutaneous injection, using small gauge insulin syringes.

Obviously there are no human research trials at this time; the peptide is still in research phases. Bodybuilder use at this time is all by trial and error. One company that currently carries MGF has conducted their own research trials, using test participants from underground steroid boards who are providing feedback in weekly intervals. While this is hardly a controlled environment and may have to many variables to accurately assess the product, at least it is a start.

I have also been conducting my own research, on myself and my clients, who often refer to themselves as Gavin's guinea pigs. As with most peptides, more is not better. Smaller doses with less frequent injection schedules have proven to be optimal. I personally have been using 200mcg injected sub-q, two times per week. I have had my clients try 100mcg, two times per week, three times per week, daily, etc. So far the best results have been my personal method, 200mcg, two times per week.

Elite athletes are experiencing incredible body fat loss, increased pumps, fullness, and vascularity. I was able to gain 6 pounds of lean mass and lose 4.2% body fat in 4 weeks of use. I kept using it for weeks 5 and 6 but with no further gains or body fat loss. It seems that MGF stalls out at the 4 week mark, my theory being that much like with media grade IGF-1 LR3, the cells reach super saturation and cannot process any further uptake of the peptide sequence. It is possible to bypass this saturation, but it will take some time to work out the differential nature of the timing, much like I had to do with IGF-1 LR3, where I have now found ways to take it for up to 20 weeks with little to no cell down-regulation.

At this time all use and injection schedules are by word of mouth, sometimes by erroneous information on underground boards. Proper use of MGF is merely by speculation; it will take some time to sort out the best method of administration, although with the ever changing world of science, where nothing ever stands still, it may take years to sort out optimal dosing schedules. Even with such stable peptide structures as growth hormone that have had years of research, new information is always being studied, and I speculate that it will with all peptides.

What is Testosterone Suspension?

Testosterone Suspension is an injectable preparation of pure, un-modified and un-esterified Testosterone, almost always suspended in a water base within microcrystals (hence the name Testosterone Suspension). Within the bodybuilding and athletic world, Testosterone Suspension is regarded as the most potent and strongest form of injectable Testosterone available, and it is known for producing some of the most rapid mass, strength, and physique changes out of all injectable preparations of Testosterone. This is for several reasons. The first reason is because this is the purest form of Testosterone, unmodified and unesterified, meaning it is instantly active the minute it is injected into the body. Also, because there is no added ester bonded to the Testosterone molecule, there is more total Testosterone per mg of Testosterone Suspension, making it a far more potent product. Because ester weights must be factored into the total weight of the substance, esterified formats of Testosterone (or any hormone) such as Testosterone Propionate, Testosterone Enanthate, and Testosterone Cypionate do not all yield 100mg of Testosterone in 100mg of Testosterone Enanthate, for example. Once the body cleaves off the ester that is bound to the molecule, the weight of the ester is removed, and so for example, in 100mg of Testosterone Enanthate, there is in reality approximately 70mg of Testosterone. 100mg of Testosterone Suspension, however, yields exactly 100mg of Testosterone. Because esterified variants of Testosterone have longer half-lives and require their esters to be removed (before releasing pure Testosterone), optimal peak blood plasma levels are achieved often in weeks of use. This is not the case with Testosterone Suspension, where optimal peak blood plasma levels are achieved in a matter of hours instead.

For example, it takes approximately 4 or 5 weeks (some users even report as late as 6 weeks) of use of the longer Testosterone esters, such as Testosterone Enanthate and Cypionate, before mass and strength gains are experienced. With Testosterone Suspension, gains are normally experienced within the first week of use, and by 4 weeks into a Testosterone Suspension cycle, the bulk of the gains will usually have been achieved (meanwhile by this same time period, the longer acting formats of Testosterone will only just have begun taking effect).

Properties of Testosterone Suspension

Testosterone has always been known to promote large amounts of nitrogen retention in muscle tissue, with studies indicating significant increases in fat-free mass and muscle size as a result. Testosterone is also well-known for its ability to significantly increase levels of IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1) in muscle tissue, which further contributes to significant increases in muscle size and strength. A study on Testosterone’s action within muscle tissue indicated that this primarily occurs through its ability to activate satellite cells in muscle tissue, which is very important in the role of repairing damaged muscle fibers. That same study also indicated that Testosterone exhibits the ability to inhibit adipogenesis (the storage of fat) as well as the ability to increase the size of motor neurons. Testosterone has been found to achieve its muscle growth and strength-promoting effects primarily through the interaction with the androgen receptor located in muscle cells as one of its primary mechanisms. Androgens such as Testosterone also increase red blood cell count via a stimulation of the increase of Erythropoietin in the kidneys, resulting in better oxygen transport throughout the body, thus increasing the endurance capabilities of the athlete.

Testosterone in general is regarded as one of the best mass-adding and bulking agents. Those who wish to bulk up will experience more rapid results with the use of Testosterone Suspension than with any other form of Testosterone. It has also been found that there is a relationship between the dose used and the amount of muscle growth whereby the higher the dose, the greater the growth experienced. Testosterone is what would be considered as the original anabolic steroid, manufactured naturally and endogenously within all humans and in most animal species. Testosterone Suspension can be utilized for any particular goal, as Testosterone is the most versatile anabolic steroid.

Daily and Weekly Timing of Oral Anabolic Steroids

How to time the use of oral anabolic steroids during the day or week?

For anabolic effect, it’s most efficient for levels to be as sustained as possible across the day, within reason. We could compare, for example, taking Dianabol as 50 mg once per day or as 10 mg five times per day.

On the once-daily dosing, you’d have about a 5 or 6 hour period with blood levels as high or higher than in the multiple-dosing case. But for the rest of the day, levels would be lower, usually far lower. For the last 10 hours or more, they’d be uselessly low.

Now that might work fine if the very high levels of the first few hours multiplied the effect during that period, but that’s not the case. Ongoing 10 mg dosing already about maximizes the effect of Dianabol.
During the earlier part of the day the two dosing plans give about the same activity as with the frequent lower dosing, but for most of the day the once-daily plan gives less activity.

It doesn’t take a full 5 times per day to give a good result. For Dianabol, I think 3x/day is reasonable as a minimum, though personally I prefer 4x or 5x/day.

Oxandrolone (Anavar), oxymetholone (Anadrol), and stanozolol (Winstrol) all have longer half-lives than Dianabol does. As a result, they may be dosed less frequently. For these, 2x/day is a reasonable minimum, though I prefer 3x or 4x/day.

As for which days of the week should receive orals, again sustained levels are the most efficient, where the only purpose is anabolism. Using orals every day is best. However, some like taking orals pre-workout and relying only on injected steroids for the rest of the week. Where the choice of injected anabolic steroids is sufficient and suitable by itself, then this is fine.

But if the steroid stack depends on the orals, then use the orals every day. It’s entirely acceptable though to shift timing of orals to pre-workout and/or post-workout if you wish, or to add orals at those times. When adding orals at these times, total daily dosage should still be kept within typical amounts.

In some cases the purpose of orals is increased training aggression. When used for this, make sure the rest of the steroid stack will work by itself as intended, and then use orals for best effect pre-workout.

The Many Benefits of Anavar

Anavar is a medication that people used to help them regain their weight after losing it due to some medical conditions like surgery, trauma and other chronic infection. It is also known to relieve pains caused by bone loss or osteoporosis. But aside from its medical benefits, Anavar is also popular because of its muscle enhancing effect. Athletes use this because it helps them increase their muscular strength while losing body fat. It is consider a natural anabolic steroid that provide quick positive results. To acquire this authentic steroid product, one can order Anavar from Thailand.

Anavar’s Benefits

A great pharmaceutical factory known as British Dragon is based on Thailand. The factory is the pioneer in terms of marketing Anavar. It was first made intended for building muscles. Bodybuilders are satisfied with the product’s fast results. Unlike other steroids, users also claim that it has no major side effects on them. It enhances their performance and provides them maximum effects. Proper dosage of Anavar can also aid a person in maintaining his ideal weight. But aside from its benefits in promoting bodybuilding, there are some who order Anavar from Thailand because of its ability to treat various diseases including AIDS. Researchers found out that this steroid can combat the effects of AIDS and helps in treating muscle loss that AIDS patients are suffering from. People who suffer from severe illness can also be treated with Anavar.

Proper Dosage for Maximum Effects

What sets Anavar apart from other steroids is that it is non-toxic. With proper dosage, an individual can achieve the steroid’s maximum benefit. Taking this product beyond the prescribed dosage may lead to extreme side effects and may even cause death. Users might acquire an addiction if the product is not properly administered. Most of us have this concept of steroids as harmful to the body because it made us produce more testosterone than the usual. However, this can only be true if we will abuse this product. Proper dosage and timing is crucial when taking steroids especially for medication purposes. Steroids like Anavar is safe to take if we will follow the prescribed dosage.

Look for Authentic Anavar

Consumer must also ensure that they are not purchasing fake steroids to avoid harmful side effects. It is safe to order Anavar from Thailand because one can be sure that it is authentic and of high quality. Accurate and legitimate Anavar tablets can be hard to find. Many counterfeiters replaced small amounts of other drugs in their Anavar product. Street dealers passed off lose pills of other cheaper steroids in placed of Anavar. Licensed pharmacies produces Anavar or Oxondrolone in 2.5mg tablets while black market sellers have their Anavar steroids come in 10mg tablets. These underground laboratories acquire patent for their product as 2.5mg.

SERMs: Nolvadex and Clomid in Post Cycle Therapy

Post cycle therapy (PCT) is perhaps the most important aspect of anabolic steroid use. The human body will normally restore this imbalance of hormones and recover its endogenous Testosterone levels on its own over time with no assistance, but studies have demonstrated that without the intervention of Testosterone stimulating agents, this will occur over the course of 1 – 4 months. This is quite evidently enough time for the hormonal imbalance to wreak havoc on the body and result in any individual losing most or all of the newly gained muscle during this time. Therefore, all anabolic steroid users should be concerned with the fastest possible hormonal recovery, assisted and boosted with the use of Testosterone stimulating compounds in the proper manner. Furthermore, the attempt to allow the body to recover on its own will present a very high probability of long-term endocrine damage to the HPTA over time whereby the individual will develop anabolic steroid induced hypogonadism (the inability to manufacture proper levels of Testosterone for the rest of their life). It is therefore paramount that a proper post cycle therapy that includes multiple recovery compounds be utilized so as to not only restore the HPTA function to normal levels as quickly as possible, but to avoid any possible permanent damage, which takes priority over the concern of maintaining the recently gained muscle mass.

SERMs: Nolvadex and Clomid

The question is often asked among the anabolic steroid using community: Clomid or Nolvadex? Which one for PCT?

First of all, the best possible addition to HCG in a PCT protocol is Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate), as studies have demonstrated that HCG and Nolvadex utilized together have exhibited a remarkable synergistic effect in terms of stimulating endogenous Testosterone production, and that Nolvadex will actually work to block the desensitization effect on the Leydig cells of the testes caused by high doses of HCG. This is very important, because just as too little LH secretion for extended periods can cause desensitization to gonadotropins, too much gonadotropin stimulation (in the form of HCG or otherwise) will likewise cause a desensitization effect.

Questions HCGSecondly, Nolvadex on a mg for mg basis is far more effective than Clomid in stimulating endogenous Testosterone production, as well as being a more cost-effective choice than Clomid itself. Studies have demonstrated that 150mg of Clomid (Clomiphene Citrate) administered daily raised endogenous Testosterone levels of 10 healthy males by approximately 150%, while incidentally, 20mg of Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate) daily raised endogenous Testosterone levels by the same amount. It is very evident here that Clomid is very effective for this purpose, but Nolvadex seems to be a more cost-effective choice seeing as though it is more effective than Clomid when compared mg for mg. The benefits of Nolvadex over Clomid do not end there – Clomid, although it does exhibit Estrogen antagonist effects at the pituitary gland like Nolvadex does, actually exhibits Estrogen agonist effects there too. What this means is that Clomid will actually work in varying degrees as an Estrogen at the pituitary gland, triggering the negative feedback loop and reducing the output of Testosterone stimulating gonadotropins (LH and FSH). This is a very serious problem during post cycle therapy, which is a period in which individuals are trying to recover their HPTA function rather than halt it even further. Ideally, one would want a SERM that exhibits almost 100% Estrogen antagonistic effects on the pituitary gland, and Nolvadex is the perfect choice for this.

When it comes to the dosing aspect of Nolvadex, The standard dose for PCT and for stimulating the release of GnRH (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone), LH, FSH, and ultimately Testosterone is that of a simple Nolvadex dose of 20 – 40mg daily. In all studies involving Nolvadex doses used to stimulate endogenous Testosterone production, only 20 – 40mg daily of Nolvadex was utilized, and it has in fact been shown that doubling the dose to 40mg or any higher will not produce any significant difference in endogenous Testosterone secretion. The only reason why many elect to utilize 40mg daily of Nolvadex for the first 1-2 weeks of a PCT program is for the purpose of achieving optimal peak blood plasma levels quicker so as to ensure HPTA recovery quicker.

Fat loss and Triiodothyronine (T3)

Triiodothyronine, also known as T3, is most frequently used in the BB’ing community as a fat loss agent; a job it accomplishes quite effectively. In fact, no other compound used today, aside from perhaps DNP, has the potential to burn body fat more quickly. However, T3 is non-discriminatory when it comes to calorie burning and will pull calories from wherever necessary in order to meet the body’s increased energy demands, including muscle tissue. At appropriate dosages and under the correct conditions, this is not a concern, but at higher dosages its non-discriminatory nature places obvious restrictions on the drug’s ultimate fat burning potential, as most BB’rs are not willing to sacrifice their hard-earned muscle tissue in order to enhance the fat loss process. This is understandable, yet limitations notwithstanding, T3 remains one of the most versatile fat loss drugs on the market, finding a home in the programs of both pre-contest and off-season BB’rs alike.

Before moving on, let’s take a brief look at what T3 is and how it is made within the human body. As you’ve probably guessed, T3 (as well as T4) is a thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid gland. This small organ is located in the front of the neck and is regulated by the all-important hypothalamus, which is the primary control center for many of the autonomic functions of the peripheral system, including regulation of thyroid hormones. When levels of these hormones become low, the hypothalamus sends a signal to the pituitary gland, telling it to produce a hormone called TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). This hormone then travels to the thyroid gland, communicating the message to produce T3 & T4. The thyroid’s sole job is the production of these hormones, which it accomplishes by combining iodine with the amino acid tyrosine (Fun fact: thyroid cells are the only cells in the human body capable of absorbing iodine).

Post-formation, the active hormones are then released into the bloodstream, where they serve as regulators of whole-body metabolism. Every cell in the body is dependent on these hormones for proper metabolic functioning, with even a slight deviation in levels resulting in potentially disastrous consequences, including death. Being vital for normal human functioning, it is critical that we maintain normal levels of these hormones. This occurs naturally in most individuals. However, some are not so fortunate and must administer synthetic replicas of these hormones in drug form, in order to normalize metabolism and maintain systematic homeostasis. Although most BB’rs possess normal levels of T3, many will supplement their natural production with exogenous versions of the drug, in order to capitalize on the enhanced fat burning effects which result from an increased metabolism.

In addition to fat loss, T3 also has other benefits which might interest a BB’r. Chief among them is its ability to increase protein synthesis. However, this effect is mild and is most cases will only manifest itself in muscle growth when utilizing lower dosages of around 25 mcg per day or less. While higher dosages will also stimulate protein synthesis, they generally result in excess energy demands being placed on the body, canceling out any increase in muscle growth which might have occurred. When it comes to amplifying the growth process through T3 administration, more is certainly not better. Still, variances in the number of calories consumed relative to caloric need, as well as differences in metabolic rate, make a “one size fits all” dosing approach impractical. While those with a slow metabolism might have no problem researching 100 mcg per day without incurring muscle loss, others may find that they begin to lose muscle tissue at only 50 mcg per day. When bodyfat reduction is the goal, as a general rule, most individuals should begin their research at between 25-50 mcg per day and move up from there as needed.

T3 also assists in up-regulating beta 2 receptors, which are the same receptors activated by drugs such as Clenbuterol and Ephedrine. When administered long-term, these products lead to receptor down-regulation, preventing them (or any other drug which attaches to these same receptor sites) from eliciting optimal effects through receptor signaling. While adequate time off will eventually remedy this problem, T3 will help stave off the down-regulation process, allowing us to effectively use Clen and related ilk for a longer period of time. Along the same lines, T3 can also be used to assist in reversing receptor down-regulation after the offending drugs have been discontinued. Last but not least, T3 stimulates the proliferation of IGF-1 levels, promoting anabolic effects within muscle tissue. This increase is rather minor, making it a compliment to the drug’s primary effects.
One concern which seems surface repeatedly is the drug’s suppressive effect on endogenous thyroid production and the body’s ability to recover this production post-use. Fortunately, many of the scare tactics used by well meaning individuals are nothing but a bunch of nonsense. I have read many claims which state that T3 causes long-term or even permanent shutdown of one’s natural thyroid production, yet I have not yet read a single clinical study, nor encountered a single situation in real life, where endogenous production was permanently sidelined. In reality, quite the opposite has been true, with recovery occurring rather quickly, even in some cases where the drug was discontinued after years of replacement therapy. While I do not advocate continuous usage, the claim that normal 6-8 week cycles will lead to severe and long-term suppression just aren’t true. Regardless, dosage and cycle length should always be determined by one’s needs.

In conclusion, T3 is one of the most formidable fat loss weapons in our arsenal, capable of obliterating bodyfat and transforming the physique in relatively short order, yet this compound needs to be respected. Otherwise, the lifter runs the chance of experiencing unwanted side effects. When administered correctly, T3 remains a safe and effective alternative to the stimulant-based drugs so popular in today’s marketplace, capable of accommodating the goals is BB’rs, fitness enthusiasts, and the body-conscious individual alike.

WHAT AN ESTER IS, AND HOW IT WORKS

If you have taken an interest in anabolic steroids you have noticed the similarities on the labeling of many drugs. Let's look at testosterone for example. One can find compounds like testosterone cypionate, enanthate, propionate, heptylate; caproate, phenylpropionate, isocaproate, decanoate, acetate, the list goes on and on. In all such cases the parent hormone is testosterone, which had been modified by adding an ester (enanthate, propionate etc.) to its structure. The following question arises: What is the difference between the various esterified versions of testosterone in regards to their use in bodybuilding?

An ester is a chain composed primarily of carbon and hydrogen atoms. This chain is typically attached to the parent steroid hormone at the 17th carbon position (beta orientation), although some compounds do carry esters at position 3 (for the purposes of this article it is not crucial to understand the exact position of the ester). Esterification of an injectable anabolic/androgenic steroid basically accomplishes one thing, it slows the release of the parent steroid from the site of injection. This happens because the ester will notably lower the water solubility of the steroid, and increase its lipid (fat) solubility. This will cause the drug to form a deposit in the muscle tissue, from which it will slowly enter into circulation as it is picked up in small quantities by the blood. Generally, the longer the ester chain, the lower the water solubility of the compound, and the longer it will take to for the full dosage to reach general circulation.

Slowing the release of the parent steroid is a great benefit in steroid medicine, as free testosterone (or other steroid hormones) previously would remain active in the body for a very short period of time (typically hours). This would necessitate an unpleasant daily injection schedule if one wished to maintain a continuous elevation of testosterone. By adding an ester, injections can be as infrequent as once per week or longer, instead of having to constantly re-administer the drug to achieve the desried effect. Clearly without the use of an ester, maintaining constant blood levels with an injectable anabolic/androgen would be much more difficult.

Esterification temporarily deactivates the steroid molecule. With a chain blocking the 17th beta position, binding to the androgen receptor is not possible (it can exert no activity in the body). In order for the compound to become active the ester must therefore first be removed. This automatically occurs once the compound has filtered into blood circulation, where esterase enzymes quickly cleave off (hydrolyze) the ester chain. This will restore the necessary hydroxyl (OH) group at the 17th beta position, enabling the drug to attach to the appropriate receptor. Now and only now will the steroid be able to have an effect on skeletal muscle tissue.

You can start to see why considering testosterone cypionate much more potent than enanthate makes little sense, as your muscles are seeing only free testosterone no matter what ester was used to deploy it.


ACTIONS OF DIFFERENT ESTERS

There are many different esters that are used with anabolic/androgenic steroids, but again, they all do basically the same thing. Esters vary only in their ability to reduce a steroid's water solubility. An ester like propionate for example will slow the release of a steroid for a few days, while the duration will be up to 15 days+/- with a decanoate ester. Esters have no effect on the tendency for the parent steroid to convert to estrogen or DHT (dihydrotestosterone: a more potent metabolite) nor will it effect the overall muscle-building potency of the compound. Any differences in results and side effects that may be noted by bodybuilders who have used various esterified versions of the same base steroid are just issues of timing.

*Testosterone enanthate causes estrogen related problems more readily than Sustanon, simply because with enanthate testosterone levels will peak and trough much sooner. Likewise testosterone suspension is the worst in regards to gyno and water bloat because blood hormone levels peak so quickly with this drug (propionate included). Instead of waiting weeks for testosterone levels to rise to their highest point, here we are at most looking at a couple of days. Given an equal blood level of testosterone, there would be no difference in the rate of aromatization or DHT conversion between different esters. There is simply no mechanism for this to be possible.

There is however one way that we can say an ester does technically effect potency; it is calculated in the steroid weight. The heavier the ester chain, the greater is its percentage of the total weight. In the case of testosterone enanthate for example, 250mg of esterified steroid (testosterone enanthate) is equal to only 180mg of free testosterone. 70mgs out of each 250mg injection is the weight of the ester. If we wanted to be really picky, we could consider enanthate slightly MORE potent than cypionate (I know this goes against popular thinking) as its ester chain contains one less carbon atom (therefore taking up a slightly smaller percentage of total weight). Propionate would of course come out on top of the three, releasing a measurable (but not significant) amount more testosterone per injection than cypionate or enanthate.

IN CONCLUSION

While the advent of esters certainly constitutes an invaluable advance in the field of anabolic steroid medicine, clearly you can see that there is no magic involved here. Esters work in a well-understood and predictable manner, and do not alter the activity of the parent steroid in any way other than to delay its release. Although the lure surrounding various steroid products like testosterone cypionate, Sustanon, Omnadren etc. certainly makes for interesting conversation, realistically it just amounts to misinformation that the athlete would be better off ignoring. Testosterone is testosterone and anyone who is going to tell you one ester form of this (or any) hormone is much better than another one should do a little more research, and a lot less talking.