My First steroid cycle (dianabol only)

How to Avoid Side Effects

2009-09-20T23:26:00.002-07:00

Side effects seen with steroid use include gynecomastia, alopecia (or hair loss), acne, and edema or water retention. Most of these can be avoided or the risks can at least be minimized. To prevent gyno, either use non-aromatizable steroids or nolvadex/clomiphene. Alopecia can be helped by using finasteride (Propecia). Acne can be helped by keeping your skin clean, using an over-the-counter product containing salicylic acid, and avoiding the more androgenic steroids.

Water retention can be avoided somewhat by closely monitoring sodium intake as well as sticking to non-aromatizable steroids. (Excessive sodium intake usually leads to excess water retention whether you're juicing or not.) As far as minimizing liver damage, simply don't use 17-AA steroids, and if you do, don't use them for prolonged periods of time. In truth, most of the horror stories you hear about steroid side effects come from people who didn't do any research and didn't put any thought or planning into their cycle. Still, there are risks.

The Quality of Human vs. Vet Steroids

2009-09-20T23:26:00.001-07:00

Chances are, if you get a hold of some gear, it's going to be a veterinary product. The reason being is that it's much cheaper than human versions and is often just as good. Not to mention, it's also more available. The question that some people have is whether or not the vet steroids "work as well" as the human versions.

The fact is, as long as they're dosed correctly, they'll work just as well. I've heard some people say that nandrolone decanoate in veterinary form doesn't work as well for humans because it's meant for animals. This just isn't true. Look, the fact is nandrolone decanoate is nandrolone decanoate. Just because the label says it's for animal use only doesn't decrease the effectiveness.

Now, the only two things that should be of concern are under-dosed and unsterile products. Make no mistake about it, most of these "vet" companies know that humans consume much of their marketed products. They also know that a bad reputation will soon leave them broke. So most companies make sure that their products are sterile and dosed correctly in order to have repeat customers.

However, there are a few companies that screw up here and there. One such company is Brovel. According to Brock Strasser, quite a few guys report infections and such while using their products. In all fairness, I know a few guys who have practically lived on Brovel's T-200 and Norandren for years and have never had a problem. Still, Brock knows his stuff when it comes to this type of issue, so I personally wouldn't take the chance. Stick to what Brock deems as clean and correctly dosed and you should be fine.

How Much is this Going to Cost Me?

Costs can vary greatly depending on where you are, who you go through, and what brand you're getting. Just as with anything that you may purchase, shop around for the best deals or go directly to the source, if possible. In other words, bringing it back from Mexico yourself will be much cheaper than buying it from a local dealer. Each method has its own set of risks, of course.

Injection Techniques

2009-09-20T23:25:00.002-07:00

Injection Techniques

Now, the injectable steroids are meant to be delivered intramuscularly, meaning, that you're going to have to inject relatively deep into the muscle. The "standard" needle is 22 gauge, 1.5 inch. This is used for injection into the buttocks. You can also use a smaller needle, like a 25 gauge, one inch, but it will take longer to inject and there's a chance you may not inject into the muscle fibers, depending on how much fat is on your ass. Generally though, most guys can get away with using a one inch needle. Also, you should take into account that although it will inject a lot faster, a larger gauge like 20 or below, will cause more pain and will damage more tissue.

The second most common injection site is the thigh. With this, you should only need a one inch needle. You can also inject into the shoulder as well as other places, but I'd prefer if you stuck with these two for now.

Okay, so now the question is, "Where exactly should you inject?" Well, if you're going to inject into the buttocks, you'll need to pick a cheek and then imagine a horizontal line beginning at the crack of your butt and extending outwards. Next, imagine a vertical line right down the middle of the first line. So now your butt cheek should be divided into four squares. The place to inject is in the upper most corner on the outermost section, i.e. the top right square.

For the thigh, a quick way to do it is to look at your hip and knee, and then imagine a line in between the two. This and a little bit lower are the areas you can inject. Make sure this is on the outside of your thigh!

Okay, so now you're ready. First thing? Wash your hands. Now find the spot, take a cotton swab and put some rubbing alcohol on it. Swab the area that you'll inject. Grab the syringe and push it in at a 90° angle. (Some say to hold the needle like you're about the throw a dart.) Once the needle is fully submerged, pull back on the plunger just slightly and look to see if any blood enters. If it does, pull out and find a new place, as you've entered a vein and you don't want to inject into a vein.

If no blood appears, begin to push the plunger. Remember, the slower you push, the less pain you'll feel. Once the liquid is gone, pull the syringe directly out and apply a cotton swab to the site. Hold tightly for about 30 seconds and then either tape it on or put a bandage on it. Pull your pants back up; you're done!

There's also an old trick that involves pulling the skin slightly over to one side before you stick in the needle. After you inject, let the skin go back to it's normal place. This is said to close the little path made by the needle to keep all your gear in your ass where it's supposed to be. This isn't that much of a worry in all honesty, but it's an option.

Discard the syringe in a safe place and use a new one for the next injection. Never use the same needle twice (it'll be dull, plus you'll risk infection by reusing it) and, of course, never share a needle with anyone, especially if your training partner just happens to be a Haitian hemophiliac homosexual intravenous drug user.

The Safest and Most Effective Cycles

2009-09-20T23:25:00.001-07:00

The safest cycles would include, of course, the safest steroids, for a short period of time. The most effective cycle, on the other hand, is generally going to include the most risks. Such is the nature of steroids; the most effective stuff is also the most "dangerous," so to speak. Also keep in mind that there's no perfectly "safe" or risk-free steroid. One particular steroid may not give you gyno, but may be tough on the liver. Another may not be tough on the liver, but may increase the risk of your hair falling out. See what I mean? This is the "give and take" of the steroid game.

*As with all anabolic steroids, methenolone will cause some inhibition of your own Testosterone production and may cause some testicular atrophy, i.e. your balls may shrink a little. (They usually return to normal after you discontinue use, however.) You can greatly reduce these effects by simply using something like clomiphene (Clomid) both during and after the cycle.

The Tool Box

If you're going to use any injectable gear, then of course you're going to need some "darts." You can pick up syringes at your local pharmacy unless your state has certain restrictions. Also, you can purchase needles online. Just do a little searching around and you'll find several places that'll hook you up. Syringes will run you around 50 cents apiece. Note that it'll be more difficult to obtain needles (at least from the larger, more "legit" companies) if you live in California and Illinois. You'll usually need a doctor's prescription in those states. Still, if you look around enough, you can get what you need.

You'll need anywhere from a one inch to 1.5 inch, 25 to 22 gauge syringe. Remember, the bigger the gauge, the smaller the needle. Bill Roberts also writes about using super tiny insulin needles (29 or 30 gauge) and compensating for their narrow size by injecting very slowly, like for a full minute.

You'll want to get around ten or more syringes, depending on how many injections you plan on doing. Just go up to the pharmacist and ask for them. Try not to be wearing your Testosterone T-shirt. In most cases the pharmacist won't ask you anything, but some are "funny" and like to play God by telling you that they won't sell them to you or that they don't have them. If they do ask, simply tell them that you take injections of Testosterone for replacement therapy and you have to pick up some syringes. After this, go and get a bottle of rubbing alcohol and some cotton swabs. You may also want to get some band-aids.

Next up, you'll need to get some products that are a little more difficult to obtain. These are clomiphene, tamoxifen (Nolvadex), and possibly Anastrozole. Whether you choose tamoxifen or clomiphene is up to you. If you have an aromatizable steroid, it would be best to use tamoxifen or high dosages of clomiphene in order to prevent the large increases of estrogen from binding to receptors in areas like breast tissue. If you don't do this, you could end up with gynecomastia, aka bitch tits, dollies, and formerly known as Pamela Lees.

If the steroid doesn't aromatize, you'll still need something to help your endogenous (natural) Testosterone levels recover. That something should be clomiphene. While tamoxifen can also increase Testosterone levels, you'll need to use higher dosages to do so. Regardless, think of these things as necessary tools. These two will help save you a lot of trouble! Don't do a cycle unless you have one of them. Anastrozole can be an alternative when using an aromatizable steroid, although it's rather expensive. Remember, place clomiphene or tamoxifen in the same class as syringes and rubbing alcohol. In other words, you can't start the cycle until you have them. Most sources that sell steroids also sell Clomid and the like. Alternatively, you can read my article, Your Doctor, Your Dealer for more ideas on how to pick up what you need.

Steroids for Dummies

2009-09-20T23:24:00.001-07:00

Anabolic Basics for Beginners
By Cy Willson

Check out this letter:

Dear Cy,

I've never done steroids before, but I'm thinking of giving them a go. I'll probably be using orals since they're safer, plus I'm not exactly ready to wrap tubing around my arm and start poking around for a vein! Anyway, I was wondering how many pills I should take. Thanks!

Tom

I know, I know, you probably have the urge to reach through your computer, drag Tom out on his undereducated butt, and beat some sense into him. Yep, me too. Tom obviously doesn't know enough about steroids to even be thinking about starting a cycle. He doesn't realize that steroids are designed for intramuscular use (not intravenous use), he thinks orals are safer, and based on his question, I don't think he even knows that there are different kinds of 'roids! The sad part is that there are actually a few steroid newbies out there who know less than Tom about what they're about to put into their bodies.

Well, with all of those "dummies" books that have surfaced lately, we've decided to create our own version dealing with steroids, just for guys like Tom and all those who are thinking of making the big leap into the world of anabolics. Heck, if I'm lucky, maybe this'll become as popular as Windows for Dummies or Nude Golf for Dummies. In short, this article should serve as a quick reference guide for all the steroid newbies out there.

Oh, and please don't take offense at the word "dummy," as it's not meant to insult your intelligence in any way. It's just a way of "funnin" with those guys who are steroid virgins as well as providing some rudiments of steroids and their usage. Just think of this as a "Gear 101" survey class and get ready to take some notes. Here we go!

Steroids: What the Heck are They Anyway?

Anabolic steroids are synthetic analogs or derivatives of Testosterone and nor-testosterone. In the 1930s, scientists found that these anabolic steroids could increase the growth of muscle in lab animals. The compounds were then used to treat debilitating diseases in humans.

In the 1950s, a doctor, John Ziegler had dispensed an oral anabolic steroid by the name of Dianabol. Soon after, athletes began to use this steroid in order to increase muscle mass and strength. Soon, more and more analogs and derivatives were being made available to athletes.

While all steroids have the same four ring carbon structure, simple chemical alterations produced different effects in terms of anabolic/androgenic activity. Anabolic activity refers to the steroid's ability to facilitate skeletal muscle growth, while androgenic activity refers to how potent the drug is at inducing the development of male sexual characteristics (facial hair, deep voice, the ability to channel surf and watch six TV programs at once, etc.)

How They do Dat?

Now, even though all of the exact mechanisms through which anabolic steroids exert their effects haven't been discovered, they all increase muscle mass to some degree. One way steroids are believed to work is by binding to the androgen receptor (AR). Once the steroid has bound to the AR, it begins to activate protein synthesis. This protein synthesis allows for an increase in muscle tissue over a rather short period of time. T-mag contributor Bill Roberts has classified steroids such as these as "Class I."

The other side of the coin would be steroids that bind to the AR slightly, or not at all. I think most of these steroids exert their effects by inhibiting the effects that glucocorticoids have upon muscle tissue. In other words, they prevent glucocorticoids from increasing glutamine synthetase and causing muscle tissue breakdown. This would be an anti-catabolic activity. This inhibition of glucocorticoids¹ effects may explain why most anabolic steroids work fairly well in the treatment of osteoperosis, since glucocorticoids can have influence or cause osteoperosis. This also backs up my belief, that on a mg per mg basis, Class II steroids will increase muscle tissue to a greater degree than Class I steroids.

While there still isn't a clear cut explanation of how anabolic steroids exert their effects, these two mechanisms help to explain most steroid actions. Bill Roberts refers to these steroids that don't exert their effects via the AR as "Class II." Also, keep in mind that some steroids work via the AR as well as through non-AR mechanisms. It should also be noted that anabolic steroids increase the retention of nitrogen, potassium, sodium, phosphorous, and chloride.

Steroid Flavors: The differences between various 'roids

Below I've compiled a list of some anabolic steroids, including their relative potency and some other info. Sometimes, the names of steroids can be confusing to a newbie. This is because you have the chemical name, the various brand names, and the slang or street names for each product.

For example, methandrostenolone is known to most people as Dianabol, but you probably hear it referred to as D-bol. Of course, you'll likely be using the veterinary version called Reforvit-B, whose street name is Reffie or Reffie-B. Got all that? Don't worry, the more you read the more you get used to all the terminology. To help you out, I've listed the chemical name as well as a few of the trade names for each 'roid.

Fluoxymesterone (Halotestin, Stenox)

This is a 17-alpha alkylated steroid. In other words, it's been altered in order to withstand the liver's "first pass" metabolism to a better degree, i.e., the liver doesn't inactivate the stuff before it can exert its effects. Without this alkylation, you'd need much higher concentrations to get results, as is the case with any 17-AA. Anyhow, this steroid appears to have a lower affinity for the AR, but can agonize the receptor at higher dosages.

As far as "real world" effects, fluoxymesterone has a reputation for increasing strength to a large degree. However, gains in muscle mass on this steroid aren't very great. In clinical settings, dosages range from 2.5 mg to 40 mg a day in divided dosages. However, bodybuilders have been known to use from 30 to 80 mg per day. It has a half-life of approximately 9.2 to 10 hours. (I'll talk about why knowing about half-lives is important later.) Oh yeah, and it doesn't aromatize. This means it's not likely to convert to estrogen, the female hormone. In the real world, that means the risk getting gyno (bitch tits, i.e. breast tissue growth in males) is small to nonexistent.

Methandrostenolone (Dianabol, Reforvit, Anabol)

This 17-AA steroid was the first to be introduced to athletes in the 50s. Bodybuilders caught on soon after, no doubt. It's aromatizable, and therefore can increase estrogen levels. Since it doesn't bind very well to the AR, it's thought that it works by antagonizing the effects of catabolic glucocorticoids.

D-bol has a great reputation for increasing both size and strength to a pretty good degree. While the half life isn't readily available in the literature, it can be assumed through deductive reasoning that it's around four to seven hours. Bodybuilders typically use around 25 to 100 mg per day depending on whether it's used alone or in conjunction with another steroid (a practice called stacking).

Stanozolol (Winstrol)

This steroid is also17-AA. It can't aromatize and doesn't bind very well to the AR. Consequently, it's likely to exert its anabolic effects in a similar fashion to that of methandrostenolone. In other words, it affects glucocorticoids in a beneficial manner.

Another benefit may be its ability to antagonize or block progesterone from binding to receptors. Progesterone is one of the reasons why certain anabolics cause water retention.

Stanozolol has a great reputation for increases in strength as well as moderate increases in muscle mass. Actually, these "moderate" gains are rather impressive, considering that this drug doesn't cause much water retention. In clinical settings, typical dosages are between 2 to 6 mg daily. In order to see desired effects, bodybuilders typically consume between 25 to 100 mg daily. While I can't locate any literature on its half-life, based on its molecular composition it would seem to have a slightly longer half-life than most of the other orals. I'd say it's likely to be in the range of 7 to15 hours.

Oxandrolone (sold as oxandrolone powder or Oxandrolona)

This is yet another 17-AA. It won't aromatize but appears as though it will bind to the AR as long as the dosages are high enough. It has a reputation for increasing strength gains, as well as having a "hardening" effect. This is supported somewhat, as oxandrolone was shown to reduce subcutaneous fat to a greater degree than Testosterone. Whether this is an inherent property of all 17-AA steroids or an effect that's unique to oxandrolone, I'm not sure.

Oxandrolone, along with most of the other synthetic steroids, are thought to be equally (if not more) anabolic than Testosterone on a milligram per milligram basis, while minimizing androgenic side effects. Oxandrolone was shown to have approximately six times the anabolic effect of methyltestosterone in human subjects, following oral doses. Oxandrolone may also increase the number of skeletal muscle androgen receptors.

In clinical settings, dosages have ranged from 1.25 to 80 mg per day. Bodybuilders may take anywhere from 25 to 160 mg per day. The half-life is approximately nine hours.

Methenolone Acetate and Enanthate (Primobolan)

This steroid doesn't aromatize and can either be ingested via the acetate version or injected via the enanthate. This steroid does bind rather well to the AR and is known for its mild gains in muscle mass. Still, considering that it'll cause next to zero water retention, these gains are rather good. (Note that some bodybuilders think certain steroids work better based solely on the weight they gain. In actuality, they could be just retaining a lot of water along with the muscle gains. These are the same guys who think they "lose" a lot of muscle after their cycle is completed, when they actually just lost much of the water they'd been holding.)

Clinical dosages that are commonly seen with methenolone range from 10 to 20 mg daily, sometimes a little higher for the oral version. For the enanthate version, dosages are usually 100 mg every two to four weeks. Bodybuilders typically use 400 to 1000 mg a week. The half-life appears to be very similar to Deca, perhaps slightly shorter. So with this in mind, I'd say the half-life would be around five to seven days.

Oxymetholone (Anadrol)

This 17-AA steroid can't aromatize, but has been known to have progestenic properties and thus, can cause water retention. It has a great reputation for increasing muscle mass and strength to a large degree. It's also thought to have a very high anabolic/androgenic ratio.

The typical dosage in clinical settings is one to five milligrams per kilogram of bodyweight per day. So, a 150 pound person would consume anywhere from 68 to 341 mg per day. However, the higher dosages aren't employed that often. Bodybuilders typically consume around 50 to 150 mg per day. While I can't find info on the half-life in the formal literature, it would seem it's similar to that of stanozolol. Obviously, this isn't a hard fact, but the half-life should be right in the neighborhood of 7 to15 hours. Only God and Bill Roberts know for sure.

Testosterone Enanthate, Cypionate, Propionate, Suspension (commonly called "T")

This steroid can aromatize and binds well to the AR. It's well known for its ability to produce great gains in muscle size and strength, provided that the dosages are high enough. It does cause quite a bit of water retention and has quite a few side effects when compared to the other anabolics.

Clinical dosages vary, but cypionate and enanthate are both injected every two to three weeks at dosages of around 200 to 300 mg. Propionate and suspension aren't preferred as they don't provide that long of a sustained release. Bodybuilders typically use around 500 to 1,000 mg per week. The cypionate ester has a half-life of around eight days. Enanthate is just slightly shorter and propionate is quite a bit shorter. By the way, Testosterone in a suspension has a half-life of only 10 to 100 minutes.

Nandrolone Decanoate and Laurate (usually referred to as Deca)

This steroid binds very well to the AR and doesn't aromatize. It can produce moderate gains in muscle mass with little water retention. However, it, like oxymetholone, can be progestenic leading to water retention when higher dosages are used.

In clinical settings, dosages are around 50 to 100 mg every three to four weeks. Bodybuilders use around 300 to 800 mg per week. The decanoate ester has a half-life of six to eight days and the laurate ester commonly seen in veterinary products has a slightly longer half-life.

How do I get these here steer-oids anyway?

Easy! Just call 1-555-I WANNA TO BE HYOOGE and tell Gunter what you want! Tell him Cy sent ya! Okay, you knew I couldn't give you a real source, right? Still, it doesn't take much searching to find some gear. Searching on the Web is one way, or you can do it the old fashioned and usually more expensive way and look for one of the local dealers. I mean don't go up to the largest guy in the gym and say in a loud voice, "Hey man, do you have any of that Reforvit stuff?" Just ask around in a discrete manner. Someone always knows a certain "guy." For a more in depth look, check out Chris Shugart's article called Getting the Gear.

How to Construct a Cycle: The Cliff Notes Version

The dosages should be determined after evaluating two things: one, what results you'd like to see and two, which drugs you're stacking. There are other factors to consider, but for the sake of simplicity we'll stick with these two for now.

Regardless of what type of results you're looking for, it would be wise to stack two drugs that work through different mechanisms in order to get a synergistic effect. For instance, you'd get better results by stacking nandrolone with stanozolol as opposed to nandrolone and oxandrolone. This is because nandrolone and oxandrolone both bind to the AR. I've given you a few examples of stacks below. I'll give a quick review afterward.

Stack 1: Nandrolone, 450 mg per week along with 50 mg per day of stanozolol

Stack 2: Nandrolone, 450 mg per week along with 50 mg per day of methandrostenolone

Stack 3: Oxandrolone, 40 mg per day along with 50 mg per day of stanozolol

Stack 4: Testosterone enanthate, 500 mg per week along with 50 mg stanozolol or methandrostenolone per day

Stack 5: Testosterone or nandrolone, 500 mg per week with 50 mg oxymetholone per day

Stack 6: Methenolone, 600 mg per week with 50 mg per day stanozolol

Let's take a closer look at the first stack. You'd inject 450 mg on day one and then six to eight days later another 450 mg and so on. The stanozolol (or any oral) would yield the best results when spread out as evenly as possible in order to allow the drug to remain in the bloodstream throughout the day.

Also, by knowing the half-lives of drugs, you can figure out, to an approximate level, how much of the drug is currently active in your body. So, if on day one you injected 450 mg, then on day seven or eight you should have around 225 mg that's still active. When you inject another 450 mg, you then have approximately 675 mg of nandrolone in your body at that moment. However, that number then begins to slowly decline in an instant. By simply applying the half-life, you can figure out just how much of the drug is still in your bloodstream.

As a quick note, half-lives can vary depending on a number of factors, and this is why most texts give you a range, like four to nine hours. One such thing is the size of the person. Generally speaking, the larger the body mass of the person, the shorter the half-life is going to be. While some guys will only ingest oral steroids on the days that they work out, you don't necessarily have to do this. Remember, you're recovering on those off days, so why not help accelerate the process?

The oxandrolone and stanozolol stack above (#3) would be for those who are "needle phobic." However, this particular stack shouldn't be used for too long, because the 17-AA are the steroids that are most associated with liver damage.

As far as how long to stay "on" and how long to go "off," here's my take: It really depends on what your goals are. I mean, if you want to gain 35 pounds in two months, then chances are you won't be able to cycle off and still attain that goal. If, however, you're keeping safety in mind and would only like to gain something like eight to twelve pounds, then a two to three week "on," followed for four to six weeks "off" cycle will suffice.

How To Cycle Off From Steroids...

2009-09-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

by Pat Arnold

Introduction

Heavy steroid using athletes, particularly weight lifters, bodybuilders, football players, hockey players, shotputters etc., are subject to many adverse consequences from continuous steroid use without a break. Adverse cardiovascular effects, liver stress, HPTA downregulation, excessive virilization (women) and psychological disturbances or dependency, are some of the major problems that may develop in these individuals. Additionally, users may develop a tolerance for anabolic steroids that can only be overcome by increasing the dosage or by ceasing the use altogether. The latter, of course, is a much healthier course of action than the former.

Coming off of steroids, particularly long-term usage, is certainly not easily done without considerable loss of muscle mass. Additionally, there can be psychological effects that include depression and loss of motivation. For many athletes, especially those with schedules that do not allow prolonged periods away from competition completely coming off of steroids is not considered an option. However, if these athletes knew how to take the right approach they just might be able to cycle off and have a good chance at maintaining much of their physical condition. This could enable them to increase their ultimate potential in their sports as well as their longevity in the competitive arena.

The Strategy
The off cycle regimen must consist of proper drug, nutritional, and training protocols. The primary goals to achieve are the following:

Minimization of protein catabolism

Maintenance of muscle glycogen levels

Maintenance of high-normal red blood cell levels

Minimization of fat deposition

Avoidance of injury, or injury aggravation

Maintenance of healthy attitude and psychological state

Drugs
This is an off steroids cycle and most certainly not an off drugs cycle. In fact, the proper use of non-steroidal drugs is the mainstay of this program and is vital to its success. I will describe the drugs to be used, why they are used, and how they should be used.

Growth Hormone

GH is probably the single most important drug to maintain muscle mass and bodyweight off of steroids. While GH is not known to be great for anabolic effects, it is very effective for anti-catabolism. Anti-catabolism, or minimization of muscle mass loss, is after all what we are most interested in here. GH has an overall anti-proteolytic effect on the body and shifts the body’s metabolism away from the utilization of amino acids and glucose for energy, and towards the use of fat. The end result will be a protective effect upon muscle protein and glycogen, and a mobilizing effect upon body fat.

Many bodybuilders have discovered how wonderful GH, at the proper dosages, is in maintaining their muscle mass off of steroids. Former IFBB pro Gary Strydom once commented that he didn’t care if the IFBB tested for steroids, as long as they didn’t test for GH.

Notice how I said “at the proper dosages”. That’s right, small dosages just won’t cut it. For most people a minimum of 4 i.u. a day is required to impart a proper metabolic response in the body. Some may go as high as 18 i.u. a day but at this levels many problems can occur (i.e. edema, nerve impingement).

There probably is no great advantage to taking GH more than once a day, though some may inject twice a day. GH primarily works through its conversion to IGF-1 and the half-life of IGF-1 in the body is plenty long (8-16 hours). So once a day administration will be good enough to maintain pretty constant levels of IGF-1 in the blood. Furthermore, evidence is also mounting that GH breaks down to certain active peptide fragments with specific biological functions (i.e. lipolysis) and that these have prolonged half lives. Therefore, the active lifetime of the intact GH molecule itself in the blood might be pretty irrelevant.

GH is not cheap through most channels. However, good GH can be obtained from Asia at a fraction of the cost (10 – 20%) that it is available elsewhere.

I think I should also mention now that there is a big misconception amongst people as to what the shelf life of GH is, and that most people grossly underestimate it. The Journal of Chemical Technology states that freeze dried GH products (unreconstituted) are quite stable under refrigerated conditions, and a 24-month shelf-life is typical at this temperature. Also, although solutions of GH at neutral pH readily deamidate (lose ammonia group from end of molecule), and storage of the reconstituted product is limited to a few weeks under refrigerated conditions, biological activity is relatively unaffected even after prolonged storage. So the stuff really stays pretty active in the ‘frig for a considerable time. By the way, reconstituted solutions of GH should NEVER be frozen (this will be the death of it).

Lis-Pro Insulin (Humalog®)

The use of insulin provides a couple of very important functions in the off steroid period. First of all, it helps preserve glycogen storage in the muscle. Steroids are very good at stimulating glycogen storage and this property likely plays an integral part in their performance enhancing benefits. Going off of steroids leads to a reversal of this and the result is muscular weakness, fatigue, and loss of size and bodyweight. The proper use of insulin can help minimize this.

Furthermore, insulin can help to minimize protein breakdown through its anti-proteolytic effects. Insulin is quite potent in regards to its protective effect on muscle protein, unfortunately it also is very potent in regards to its protective effect on maintaining body fat. Insulin therefore has to be used in the proper fashion to maximize the former, and minimize the latter.

The proper usage of insulin requires the fast acting insulin analog known as Lis-Pro insulin, or Humalog®. This altered insulin product is available only by prescription. It differs from other insulin in that it is absorbed quickly into the body after subcutaneous injection. The average time to peak blood levels is 90 minutes and generally it is out of your system in 3 to 4 hours.

Humalog® is to be taken immediately after training. The physiology of the body after intense training is such that the benefits of insulin can be maximized, while drawbacks are minimized. Muscle insulin sensitivity as well as insulin independent glucose uptake will peak in the 2-3 hours or so after training. In this time, insulin will preferentially stimulate glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in muscle over fat. Additionally, high insulin levels at this time will help to counteract the catabolic state that exists in muscles right after they have been damaged by training. A discernible improvement in training recovery (less soreness and injury pain) is often noticed by individuals who utilize this technique.

Humalog® administration must be followed by intake of simple carbohydrates and protein within 20 minutes. A general rule is one unit of Humalog® per ten kilograms bodyweight, and ten grams of carbs and ten grams of protein per unit of Humalog®. That sounds like a lot of carbs and protein but it must be ingested. Whey protein is best, and glucose or maltodextrin can be used for the carbs. 5 grams of creatine can also be added as well as well as 5-10 grams of glutamine.

Erythropoietin (EPO)

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a protein hormone secreted by the kidneys and liver that stimulates red blood cell production (erythropoiesis). Red blood cells carry oxygen to the tissues of the body and so obviously are vital to maximal health and athletic performance.

When people take anabolic steroids, particularly some oral ones such as Anadrol®, erythropoiesis is stimulated. The result is an increase in the proportion of blood cells in the blood, also known as the hematocrit. This increase in the hematocrit is partially responsible for the energizing and recovery benefits of steroids. It may also contribute to the blood volume and vascularizing effects of anabolics.

When you go off anabolics, the increase in hematocrit gradually subsides and you return to pre-cycle lower levels (or below). This effect will take its toll on your physical condition and ability to train at high intensity. Therefore, administration of exogenous EPO can have obvious benefits in the steroid withdrawing athlete.

In addition to its effect in increasing hematocrit, there is some evidence that EPO has direct anabolic effects. It has been shown in rat studies to substantially increase weight gain and injury repair after surgery. Furthermore, EPO receptors are present on myoblasts (immature muscle cell progenitors) and may have a potential in muscle development and repair.

EPO is sold in recombinant form (rhEPO) for injection. One popular form is called Epogen®, and it is made for subcutaneous usage. A safe or starting dosage is usually 20 i.u. per kilogram bodyweight, 3 times/week. After two or three weeks, a maintanence dose of 20 iu/kg BW can be taken once a week. One should wait about two weeks after ceasing steroids to commence EPO therapy to avoid any excessive increases in hematocrit which can be quite dangerous. It is also very advisable to have periodic blood tests that include a hematocrit assay while taking EPO just to be safe. Interestingly, I think that this test is automatically done for free everytime you donate blood, and all you need to do is ask the nurse what your hematocrit is reading (just out of curiosity of course).

Trenbolone steroid profile

2009-07-20T20:52:00.001-07:00

Trenbolone is a very potent androgen with strong anabolic activity. It is well suited for the rapid buildup of strength and muscle mass, usually providing the user exceptional results in a relatively short time period. The anabolic effect of this drug is often compared to popular bulking agents such as testosterone or Dianabol, with one very important difference. Trenbolone does not convert to estrogen. This is indeed a very unique compound since mass drugs, almost as a rule, will aromatize (or cause other estrogen related troubles) heavily. When we think of taking milder (regarding estrogen) steroids we usually expect much weaker muscle growth, but not so with Tren. Here we do not have to worry about estrogen related side effects, yet still have an extremely potent mass/strength drug. There is no noticeable water retention, so the mass gained during a cycle of Trenbolone will be very hard and defined (providing fat levels are low enough). Gynecomastia is also not much of a concern, so there shouldn't be any need to addition an anti-estrogen if trenbolone is the only steroid administered.

The high androgen level resulting from this steroid, in the absence is excess estrogen, can also accelerate the burning of body fat. The result should be a much tighter physique, hopefully without the need for extreme dieting. Tren can therefore help bring about an incredibly hard, ripped physique and is an ideal product for competitive bodybuilders.

Tren is notably more potent than testosterone, and has an effect that is as much as three times as strong on a milligram for milligram basis. Likewise we can expect to see some level of androgenic side effects with use of this compound. Oily skin, aggressive behavior, acne and hair loss are therefore not uncommon during a cycle with this steroid. The androgenic nature of this drug of course makes it a very risky item for women to use, the chance for virilization symptoms extremely high with such a potent androgen.

Trenbolone is also much more potent than testosterone at suppressing endogenous androgen production. This makes clear the fact that estrogen is not the only culprit with negative feedback inhibition, as here there is no buildup of this hormone to report here. There is however some activity as a progestin inherent in this compound, as tren is a 19-nortestosterone (nandrolone) derivative (a trait characteristic of these compounds). However it seems likely that much of its suppressive nature still stems from its powerful androgen action. With the strong impact trenbolone has on endogenous testosterone, of course the use of a stimulating drug such as HCG and/or Clomid/Nolvadex is recommended when concluding steroid therapy (a combination is preferred). Without their use it may take a prolonged period of time for the hormonal balance to resume, as the testes may at first not be able to normally respond to the resumed output of endogenous gonadotropins due to an atrophied state.

Those who have used Tren regularly would often claim it to be indispensable. A daily dosage of 37.5-75 mg is the most popular range when running a cycle. While Trenbolone is quite potent when used alone, it was generally combined with other steroids for an even greater effect. During a cutting phase one could add a non-aromatizing anabolic such as Winstrol or Primobolan. Such combinations will elicit a greater level density and hardness to the muscle. One could also bulk with this drug, with the addition of stronger compounds like Dianabol or Testosterone.
While the mass gain would be quite formidable with such a stack, some level of water retention would probably also accompany it. Moderately effective anabolics such Deca-Durabolin or Equipoise would be somewhat of a halfway point, providing extra strength and mass but without the same level of water bloat we see with more readily aromatized steroids.

You need a proper PCT routine post cycle.

Sample steroid cycles

2009-07-20T20:50:00.000-07:00

Sample steroid cycles for bodybuilders and beginners to the world of anabolic steroids. In the world of steroids a cycle is not some form of two wheeled transport, it is infact a term commonly used to describe the period of time an individual is ‘on' steroids for. The average length of a cycle is typically between 6-12weeks in length.

Many steroid cycles involve combining two or more drugs together, usually one being a potent androgen. Other drugs which act through more anabolic pathways can then be added as well. This combination is commonly known as a ‘Stack'.

The most common stack is probably the stacking of an oral such as Dianabol with an injectable such as Testosterone. Such stacks can lead up to massive gains in mass and strength because the two steroids are working together. Below are some sample steroid cycles.

Because of the toxicity of oral steroids they are often used in the beginning of a cycle for the first 4 weeks. In this time the user will see mostly the benefits from the fast acting oral and then after weeks 3-4 the injectable should be taking effect.

Because injectables typically take longer to ‘kick in' some advanced users often ‘front load' for the first 2 weeks of an injectable only cycle. Front loading is the term used when you inject more steroids at the start of the cycle to sort of flood your system with them, and start seeing the benefits sooner.

sample steroid cycles
Weeks 1-2 1000mg Test injected weekly split in 4 doses of 250mg
Weeks 3-10 500mg Test injected weekly

This method works well for depot only cycles and can produce some good results, it is preferred by many to use an oral steroid for the first few weeks in most cases as they work well with the injectables.

What to expect from your first cycle The main question from the newbie is what am I going to gain from my first cycle? I can tell you now you are not going to go from a bean pole into the hulk in that short time. There is some expectation from uneducated bodybuilders that steroids will provide some sort of miracle gains from them. Truth is, they won't. This maybe a wake up call to some disillusioned readers looked in their bedrooms with their ‘flex' magazine dreaming up ways to be big with the hard work involved.

If you are under 21 years of age, been training less then 3 years and have not reached your natural size limits then you shouldn't even be considering taken any form of anabolic steroid. In reality more and more people are taking them, I have heard of teens as young as 16 using steroids and to be honest it's a waste. The teenage years are the best for taking advantage of your bodies own testosterone stores and making use of them to gain naturally. Ill shut up now and stick to the topic.
Typically providing all the systems which could effect your cycle re in place you should gain around 15-20lbs from your first cycle (depending on what steroids used).

You are going to have an over all sense of well being whilst on a cycle particularly if you used dianabol which seems to promote this feeling further. You will be able to recover from your workouts quicker and will rarely feel soreness in the muscles the next day.

When working out due to the increase in blood production you will experience an amazing ‘pump' in your muscles. I remember my first cycle about a week into it I was training and doing cable rows. Afterwards my forearms felt so pumped I could hardly bend my arms, this feeling was tremendous and made me want to train them more and more to get this feeling. Not all effects experienced during your cycle will be good ones, and we are going to talk about the many side effects which could occur now.

You can discuss sample steroid cycles in our forum with other bodybuilders. Beginners stacks We are now going to look at 2 sample steroid cycles designed for the ‘Newbie' in mind, please don't take these as the rule, they are merely suggestions and don't replace the advice from a medical practitioner. These cycles are not just for the newbie and more advanced bodybuilders are obtaining some great results with them.

Sample steroid cycles #1 Test is Best
The first cycle we are going to look at is the Testosterone only cycle. It is common knowledge that ‘test is best' and a Test only cycle is commonly used by beginners. Test is anabolic and androgenic and words well on its own to provide some pretty good gains in size and strength. The advantage of doing a test only cycle is that you can gauge how your body reacts to the steroid, when running a stack certain side effects etc would be difficult to pin on a particular product.

Weeks 1-8 Testosterone enthanate 500mg (per week in divided doses)
Week 10 Start PCT but I will explain this in the next chapter

The above sample steroid cycles has you running the cycle for 8 weeks in length using 500mg per week of Testosterone. Since the ampoules of test come in 250mg dividing the doses during the week is a good idea. For example inject 250mg every Monday and Thursday. You can expect some good gains from this cycle 10-15lbs would not be difficult to achieve. The effects from the test should start to be seen around the 3rd week, were you should notice an increase in recovery time and a better ‘pump' in the gym followed by weekly weight increases. When using Testosterone the user usually feels a sense of ‘manliness'.

#2 The bread and butter
The Test and Dianabol (Dbol) cycle is considered to be the bread and butter cycle and is the next favourite of the newbie and advanced steroid user alike. Adding this oral to the above cycle can produce massive results, its almost like Test and Dbol should be married. The Dbol leads to a quick increase in size and strength which should be noticed in the second week of use followed by the effects from the Test. The normal protocol for this type of stack is as follows:

Weeks 1-8 Testosterone enthanate 500mg (per week in divided doses)
Weeks 1-5 Dianabol 35mg (per day split into divided doses)
Week 10 Start PCT but I will explain this in the next chapter

Dianabol usually comes in 5mg or 10mg tablets so it is easy to split the dose evenly throughout the day usually 10mg at a time. I love this stack because I love Dianabol and the way it works with testosterone you would think they are married. A 20lb weight increase should be achievable with this sample steroid cycles.

If you would like to view more sample steroid cycles then you can log on to our forums and ask questions to experienced bodybuilders. Alternatively if you have a same steroid cycle you would like seen on the site then please you the contact forums and send them to us. MuscleZine forum

Looking For steroids for sale ?

2009-07-20T20:48:00.000-07:00

If you are searching the web for steroids for sale then you probabily will not have much luck locating a good source

In reality if you can find one on the internet net by just using a search engine then chances are you are going to get scammed at some point.

The forums are sometimes a good place to listen out for sources but again there are a lot of scammer around that want your money.

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Finding steroids is easy the above book is packed with real sources and information on how to locate steroids and purchase them safely.
The free download of the secrets of mail order steroid success and be found in the forums or by visiting this link.

Online Pharmacies
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For an up to date discussion on anabolic steroids then log on to our forums and talk anabolic steroids with our experts.

Please remember that if someone approaches you offering steroids for sale then the chances are you WILL get scammed. There are lots of dishonest people out there who just want to take your money.

New weight lifting site

2009-07-17T23:37:00.000-07:00

Check out this new weight lifting guide for people of all body types and abilitits. Free workouts, exercise guide and ebooks

Will I get acne?

2009-03-10T11:33:00.000-07:00

Acne is a common androgenic side effect. Some compounds are worse at aggregating acne in users, with prone users usually deciding to avoid such compounds and opting for a milder alternative.
Treatment with anti-bacterial creams such as ones that contain Benzoyl Peroxide may aid in reducing acne. If the problem persists then a visit to your GP may be best, with the employment of an antibiotic course being successful in some cases.

What is gyno?

2009-03-10T11:30:00.000-07:00

Gyno or gyno, are shortened terms used to describe the condition known as gynecomastia. This is the formation of glandular tissue under the breast, and is usually the result of excessive oestrogen levels.
Early symptoms can include puffy and/or itchy nipples, and the formation of small lumps under the nipple. The employment of an anti-oestrogen is advised in such circumstances, as established gynecomastia will usually only be able to be reversed via surgery.

What does 'Anti-E' mean?

2009-03-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

Anti-Es is the common shortened term used to describe anti-oestrogens, drugs that go about trying to avoid and reduce the chance of experiencing estrogenic side effects. With many anabolic androgen steroids ability to aromatise via interaction with the aromatase enzyme, which converts the steroid to oestrogen, we can come about a situation where excessive oestrogen levels are present within the user. Oestrogen is the primarily female hormone, thus its side effects can be undesired in the male athlete. Increased fat storage, the build up of subcutaneous fluids and gynecomastia being common related side effects from excessive oestrogen levels.

We have drugs such as nolvadex (tamoxifen citrate) which competitively binds to oestrogen receptors, thus blocking oestrogen from exerting its effect. This however does nothing to actually reduce the amount of oestrogen present, rather just temporarily blocking its effects from taking place. The likes of proviron and anastrozole however are known as anti-aromatases, which will halt or significantly reduce the aromatisation occurring.

Some levels of oestrogen can actually be thought to be beneficial to the user, its only when excessive levels are reached that we start to notice these undesirable side effects. It is therefore wise to conclude that we should only include the use of anti-oestrogen if the users starts to notice side effects, the length and dosage of steroids being used requires it, the user is prone to such side effects, or the user has pre-existing conditions.

Some steroids do not aromatise, therefore use of an anti-oestrogen is not needed during the cycle if no aromatising drugs are being used. The requirement of PCT is always present however.

Should I eat or train differently on steroids?

2009-03-10T11:28:00.002-07:00

If you are in the stage of your training journey when you wish to embark the assisted route then you should already be familiar with the requirements of nutrition and training, whether on cycle or not. This will also obviously depend on your goals.

Do remember to keep calories high throughout the post cycle period also, to minimise catabolism. It would unwise to follow a bulking cycle immediately with a natural cut too, as this can be catabolic and rob you of your gains made off the cycle. Leave a good few weeks before deciding to cut to give your body time to maintain the gains made.

Which steroids do I need to take? What about injectables or orals?

2009-03-10T11:28:00.001-07:00

The steroid/s you choose to take will depend on your goals, and acceptability to possible side effects. From this you can research into the possible steroids that may be of interest to you, including methods of administration, dosages, and effects they can have on the body.

Oral steroids seem appealing to many when they first start out, with the thought of needles being dirty or painful to the user. The decision to take steroids should not be taken lightly, and the discard of injectable compounds because you are scared of needles seems a little silly. Injectable steroids can often be a lot less stressful on the body, with many orals being 17-alpha alkylated so the steroid is able to survive the first pass of the liver. This places stress on the liver as the orals are hepatotoxic, and therefore dosages and duration of use should be minimal compared to the injectable versions so that not to cause damage. It is worth noting that excessive dosages of some injectable steroids can cause issues with the kidneys, although on a whole moderate use is usually a lot less stressful compared to orals. Milk thistle is often used when taking oral hepatotoxic steroids in the hope to protect the liver somewhat, also ALA and Liv-52 are often supplemented with when using 17-aa steroids. Orals are often taken more frequent as the half life of the compound is often a lot less compared to oil based injectables, thus the daily dosages are often split in the hope to stabilise the concentrations in the blood.

Injectable compounds often need to be administered in much less frequent intervals, as oil based esterified products will result in concentrations in the blood to stay elevated for a longer time period. Water based compounds however often have to be injected on a daily basis to maintain blood levels.

What are steroids?

2009-03-10T11:27:00.001-07:00

Steroids are derivatives or synthetic forms of the male hormone testosterone. Testosterone has the ability to cause increases in muscle size and strength.

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) cause anabolism via increased protein synthesis within muscle cells, and also have androgenic properties which can bring about masculine characteristics to the user. Testosterone also has the ability to aromatise via interaction with the aromatase enzyme, thus convert to the female hormone, oestrogen. Excessive oestrogen levels can bring about unwanted related side effects such as water retention, increased fat storage, and gynecomastia.

The above side effects are dependant on the steroid in question. Many have different anabolic and androgenic properties, and also have different aromatising abilities, including some that do not aromatise at all.

Dianabol Cycle - The Guide

2009-03-10T11:24:00.000-07:00

One of the most popular oral steroids available, Dianabol (also referred to commonly as "Dbol", or "Diana") has stood the test of times and remained by far one of the most popular and effective anabolic steroids used by bodybuilders on every level of the experience spectrum. Dianabol is the name given by the Ciba brand for the substance Methandrostenolone. Dianabol is no longer produced by pharmaceutical companies but is widely available by many underground labs, producing 5mg, 10mg and 50mg tablets typically. Why is Dianabol so popular? This is mainly down to a few important factors; it is an oral steroid so it is very appealing to inexperienced steroids users who do not want to use injectable compounds, it is widely available, it is very cheap compared to other anabolic steroids, and most importantly - it is very effective at causing rapid gains in muscle and strength gains. Due to its massive popularity we thought it would be great to have an article that will aid anybody that wishes to embark on a Dianabol cycle.

How to take Dianabol
Although Dianabol is available in an injectable format, it is most commonly used as an oral steroid in the form of a small tablet. Dianabol has a relatively short half life which means for a user to retain a stable blood concentration level they are best taking the daily dosage split over the course of the day. Splitting the dose of Dianabol is usually easy due to the dosage of tablets available, and it would appear beneficial to consume the dose around the time you have a meal to minimise any possible stomach upsets.

There is another school of thought which you may hear in other articles about Dianabol and on bodybuilding forums, which is to consume the full daily of dose pre workout. This method is said to have the benefit of greater drug uptake, and greater performance in the gym due to the peak in blood concentration achieved during the workout. This method sounds appealing, but we must also remember that this administration regime will cause a greater strain on the liver. This method is still used by many experienced Dianabol users however, mainly using the drug as a pre workout anabolic. For most users it would be wiser to split the dosage, however.

Dosages of a Dianabol cycle
The common dose for Dianabol is 30-50mg each day, with a cycle that would usually last between 4 and 6 weeks. 30-40mg would be an effective dose for a person that is new to Dianabol, resulting in great gains in muscle mass and strength, whilst restricting possible side effects. More experience users may wish to take a slightly higher dosage, although like most other compounds, there is a dosage level where the muscle and strength gains plateau off and the side effects heighten, resulting in a point in which it is not worth increasing the dosage. Most experienced users will rarely take a dosage over 70-80mg per day.

Experienced users may wish to stack Dianabol with other steroids that are typically used for mass cycles. Testosterone Enanthate and Deca-Durabolin, for example, with a diet high in calories and much needed nutrients for growth. Many novices start off with Dianabol as a stand alone for their first anabolic steroid cycle, however. Dianabol, a steroid that can bring about great gains in muscle mass, whilst being a widely available oral steroid, is much welcomed by the inexperienced and needle shy user.

Side effects from Dianabol
Dianabol is hepatotoxic, which means potentially harmful to the liver. Being 17 alpha-alkylated results in a much greater bioactive substance, but we must limit the dose and duration of the use of Dianabol to not cause any long term damage to the liver. This must also be kept in mind when consuming or administering any other substance that can also result on liver strain, such as Alcohol or other hepatotoxic substances.

Androgenic side effects are very possible when undertaking a Dianabol cycle, so acne and oily skin, aggressiveness and possible male pattern baldness (MPB). Androgenic side effects often depend on the user, and how prone they are to each of the side effects. If you are particularly prone to acne it would be unwise to not expect Dianabol to have the potential to cause an outbreak, for example.

Oestrogen related side effects are also possible on Dianabol, so having an anti-aromatase and anti-oestrogen would be wise incase Gynecomastia becomes apparent during the cycle. Gynecomastia is the formation of breast tissue, and is often first observed as itchy and sore nipples in its early stages.

The retention of water is a much observed characteristic of Dianabol use, with much weight gain in the initial weeks down to the water retention. This can cause a very bloated look, with users appearing puffy, especially around the neck and face resulting in a "moon face". The water retention can aid strength gains whilst on cycle by lubricating the joints somewhat, but users can expect to loose any of this water weight once the Dianabol is ceased.

Take Nolvadex to combat all estrogen side effects 30 = $12

What supplements to take with Dianabol
Milk Thistle, Liv-52 and ALA (Alpha Lipoic Acid) are often taken with oral 17-aa steroids to aid with liver protection. There are other "off-the-shelf" products available that offer a range of substances that can aid with liver protection whilst on cycle, so searching online supplement suppliers may provide some fruitful results.

10 steroid myths exposed

2009-03-06T15:07:00.000-08:00

1 -- You can get as big as a pro bodybuilder. without taking steroids; it just takes longer.

Despite what many of the magazines say, all professional bodybuilders use either steroids or steroids in combination with other growth-enhancing drugs. Without manipulating hormones, it just isn't possible to get that degree of muscularity, the paper-thin skin, and the continuing ability to pack on mass, despite sometimes having poor workout habits and relative ignorance of the principles involved that many pro bodybuilders have. Many supplement distributors, in order to sell their products, would have you believe otherwise.

Still, that's no reason to give up. By using state-of-the-art training principles, consuming a nutrient-rich diet, and by getting proper amounts of rest, almost every person can make incredible changes in his or her physique. The competitive bodybuilder circuit may not be in your future, but building the kind of physique that gains you respect is certainly achievable, as are self-respect and robust health.

2 -- In order to get really big, you have to eat a super-high-calorie diet.

Well, that's true; you'll get really big if you eat a super high-calorie diet, but you'll look like the Michelin Man's fraternal twin. However, if you want to get big, lean-tissue wise, then super-high-calorie diets are probably not for you unless you are one of those very few people with metabolicrates so fast you can burn off these calories instead of depositing them as fat. Unfortunately, studies show that, in most people, about 65% of the new tissue gains brought about by high-calorie diets consists of fat! Of the remaining 35%, approximately 15% consists of increased intracellular fluid volume, leaving a very modest percentage attributable to increased lean muscle mass.

According to Dr Scott Connelly (MM2K, Spring 1992, p. 21), only about 20% to 25% of increased muscle growth stems from increased protein synthesis. The rest of the muscle growth is directly attributable to increased proliferation of the satellite cells in the basal lamina of muscle tissue, and dietary energy (calories) is not a key factor in the differentiation of these cells into new myofibres (muscle cells).

Of all factors determining muscle growth, prevention of protein breakdown (anti-catabolism) seems to be the most relevant, but adding adipose [fat] tissue through constant overfeeding can actually increase muscle pro- teolysis (breakdown). Furthermore, additional adipose mass can radically alter hormone balances which are responsible for controlling protein breakdown in muscle. Insulin balance, for one, which partially controls anti-catabolism in the body, is impaired by consistent overfeeding. So much for the eat-big-to-get-big philosophy!

Stay away from the super-high calorie diets unless you're a genetic freak, or you're woefully lean and don't mind putting on fat [or you're using appropriate pharmaceutical supplements].

3 -- If you eat a low-fat diet, it doesn't matter how many calories you take in, you won't gain any fat.

The bottom line is, if you exceed your energy requirements, you'll gradually get fatter and fatter. It's true that eating a diet rich in fat will pack on the pounds quicker for a variety of reasons, the most significant being that a gram of fat has nine calories as opposed to the four calories per gram that carbohydrates and proteins carry. Fat is also metabolized differently in the body. It takes a lesser amount of calories to assimilate the energy in ingested fat than it does to assimilate an equal (weight wise) amount of carbohydrates. Consequently, more fat calories get stored than carbohydrate calories. However, the gross intake of carbohydrates, as facilitated by many of the weight-gain powders, will make you fat very quickly.

4 -- The more you work out, the more you'll grow.

No, no no. This is one of the most damaging myths that ever reared its ugly head. 95% of the pros will tell you that the biggest bodybuilding mistake they ever made was to over-train--and this happened even when they were taking steroids. Imagine how easy it is for the natural athlete to overtrain! When you train your muscles too often for them to heal, the end-result is zero growth and perhaps even losses. Working out every day, if you're truly using the proper amount of intensity, will lead to gross overtraining. A body part, worked properly, ie. worked to complete, total muscular failure that recruited as many muscle fibers as physiologically possible, can take 5-10 days to heal.

To take it a step further, even working a different body part in the next few days might constitute overtraining. If you truly work your quads to absolute fiber-tearing failure, doing another power workout the next day that entails heavy bench-presses or deadlifts is going to, in all probability, inhibit gains. After a serious leg workout, your whole system mobilizes to heal and recover from the blow you've dealt it. How, then, can the body be expected to heal from an equally brutal workout the next day? It can't, at least not without using some drugs to help deal with the catabolic processes going on in your body [and even they're usually not enough .]

Learn to accept rest as a valuable part of your workout. You should probably spend as many days out of the gym as you do in it.

5 -- The longer you work out, the better.

It just isn't necessary to do 20-30 sets for a body part, or even 10 sets like many 'experts' would have you believe. In fact, research has shown that it's possible to completely fatigue a muscle in one set, provided that that set taxes a muscle completely, ie. incorporates as many muscle fibers as possible and takes them to the point of ischemic rigour where, rather than contract and relax, the muscle fibers freeze up, sort of like a microscopic version of rigor mortis. Any further contraction causes microscopic tearing. Hypertrophy is just one adaption to this kind of stress and it's naturally the kind most bodybuilders are interested in.

This kind of intensity can usually be achieved by doing drop or break-down sets where you rep out, lower the weight, and continue doing reps until you either can't do another rep or you've run out of weight. It can also be achieved by doing your maximum number of reps on a particular exercise: by a combination of will, tenacity, and short rest periods, you complete ten more reps. You achieve the short rest periods by locking out the weight-bearing joint in question without putting the weight down. In other words, completely surpass your normal pain and energy thresholds.

If you can truly work your muscle to the point described, it will afford you little, if any, benefit to do another set (Westcott, 1986). The exception would be the body parts that are so big that they have distinct geographical areas, like the back, which obviously has an upper, middle and lower part. The chest might also fall into this category, as it has a distinct upper and lower part, each with different insertion points.

6 -- You don't have to be strong to be big

For a variety of reasons, people, even those with an equal amount of muscle mass, vary in strength enormously. It might have something to do with fast-twitch/slow-twitch muscle ratios, or it might have something to do with the efficiency of nerve pathways or even limb length and the resultant torque. But it is still a relative term. To get bigger muscles, you have to lift heavier weight, and you, not the guy next door, have to become stronger -- stronger than you were. Increasing muscle strength in the natural athlete, except in a very few, rare instances, requires that the tension applied to muscle fibers be high. If the tension applied to muscle fibers are light, maximal growth will not occur (Lieber, 1992).

7 -- The training programmes that work best for pro bodybuilders are best for everyone.

You see it happen every day in gyms across the country. Some bodybuilding neophyte will walk up to a guy who looks like he's an escaped attraction from Jurassic Park and ask him how he trains. The biggest guy in the gym likely got that way from either taking a tremendous amount of drugs and/or by being genetically pre-dispositioned to get big. Follow a horse home and you'll find horse parents. The guy in your gym who is best bodybuilder is the guy who has made the most progress and done the most to his physique using natural techniques. He may still be a pencil neck, but he may have put on 40 pounds [19kg] of lean body mass to get where he is, and that, in all probability, took some know-how. That person probably doesn't overtrain, keeps his sets down to a minimum, and uses great form and concentration on the eccentric (negative) portion of each exercise repetition.

Many pros spend hours and hours doing innumerable sets--so many it would far surpass the average person's recuperative abilities. If average people followed the routines of average pro bodybuilders, they would, in effect, start to whittle down what muscle mass they did have or, at best, make only a tiny bit of progress after a couple of years.

8 -- You can't build muscle on a sub-maintenance calorie intake diet.

It may be a little harder, and it may require a little bit more know-how and a little bit more conscientious effort, but it can be done. The fact is, the obese state in humans and animals is not universally correlated with absolute levels of caloric intake and neither is the accrual of lean body mass. The ability to realize changes in lean/fat ratios is regulated by components of the automatic nervous system working in concert with several endocrine hormones; this is called nutrient partitioning. For example, certain beta-agonist drugs like Clenbuterol increase meat production in cattle over 30% while simultaneously diminishing bodyfat without increasing the amount or composition of their feed. Other drugs, including growth hormone, certain oestrogens, cortisol, ephedrine, and IGF-1 are all examples of re-partitioning agents. All increase oxygen consumption at the expense of fat storage--independent of energy intake!

Drugs are not the only way to do this, however. It's true that a significant component of this mechanism is genetically linked, but specific nutrients, in specific amounts, when combined with an effective training programme, can markedly improve the lean/fat ratio of adult humans. MET-Rx is one such nutrient re-partitioning agent, and several companies are trying to duplicate its successes [warning: one of the authors of this article has a significant financial stake in Substrate Technologies, the makers of MET-Rx].

9 -- You can't grow if you only work each body part once a week.

If you work out -- work out intensely-- then it can take 5-10 days for the muscles to heal. Although the following should be taken with a grain of salt when determining your own exercise frequency, a study in the May 1993 issue of the Journal of Physiology revealed it can take weeks for muscles to recuperate from an intense workout. The study involved a group of men and women who had worked their forearms to the max. All of the subjects said they were sore two days after exercising, and the soreness was gone by the seventh day, and the swelling was gone by the ninth day. After six weeks, the subjects had only gained back half the strength they had before the original exercise! By no means are we advocating that you wait two months between workouts, but we are trying to prove the point that it takes muscles longer to heal than what you might have previously thought. For some people, especially natural bodybuilders, waiting a week between body part workouts might be just what the doctor ordered for size and strength gains!

10 -- You can't make gains if. you only train with weights three days a week.

Although you probably couldn't find a single steroid-assisted athlete who trains only three days a week [well, I was, and I made fantastic gains!], there's absolutely no reason why a three-day-a-week routine couldn't work for many natural athletes. As long as your routine attacked the whole body and you worked to failure on each set, you could easily experience great gains on this sort of routine. However, you need to pay even more attention to your diet if you only train three days a week, especially if your job involves little or no physical activity, and you like to spend your idle time eating. Ignore those who say three-day-a-week bodybuilders are only 'recreational lifters'. Think quality and not quantity.

Anabolic Steroids and Hairloss and how to prevent it

2009-02-08T13:20:00.000-08:00

I have put together this short articler because of all the questions on the board recently about the effects of anabolic steroids on hairloss. Hairloss is a particulary worrying side effect for some people.

Hairloss is NOT a side effect that will effect everybody, it is said that if you are genetically prone to male pattern baldness (mpb) then steroids can speed up this process.

How do steroids effect the hair line?

A substance called DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) binds to the receptors in the scalps hair follicles causing thinning of the hairline.

What makes this DHT?

The simple answer Testosterone gets converted into DHT (dihydrotestosterone) by an enzyme called 5 Alpha reductase (5AR).

TESTOSTERONE ----(5AR Enzyme)---------> DHT

What steroids effect the hairline then via this conversion?

Not all steroids effect the hairline only the derivities of testosterone effect such as testosterone enth, cyp, prop, sustanon, dianabol etc..

Do any other steroids effect the hairline?

Yes. Steroids such as anadrol and winstrol are derivities of DHT meaning they do not have to convert via an enzyme to turn into DHT they can bind directly to the scalp.

How do i stop this hairloss?

You can help block the 5AR enzyme from converting test into DHT by using a medication called FINASTERIDE (proscar, propecia). Finasteride binds to the 5AR enzyme preventing conversion.

Does DECA turn into DHT?

Answer no it turns into DHN (dihydronandrolone.)

Will FINASTERIDE work with winstrol?

No as there is no conversion via an enzyme. To help prevent hairloss DHT will need to be blocked at the scalp. NIZORAL shampoo is said to help with this although its sold as an anti dandruff shampoo

Where can i get FINASTERIDE?

Either from your doctor or from here

Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) profile

2009-02-06T11:59:00.000-08:00

Nolvadex, is the trade name for the drug tamoxifen citrate, it is a non-steroidal agent that demonstrates potent anti-estrogenic properties. The drug is technically an estrogen agonist/antagonist, which competitively binds to estrogen receptors in various target tissues. With the tamoxifen molecule bound to this receptor, estrogen is blocked from exerting any action, and an anti-estrogenic effect is achieved.

Since many forms of breast cancer are responsive to estrogen, the ability of tamoxifen citrate to block its action in such cells has proven to be a very effective treatment. It is also utilized successfully as a preventative measure, taken by people with an extremely high familial tendency for breast cancer. While Nolvadex is effective against estrogen, it is not our strongest available remedy. We now have the drugs Arimidex, Femara, and Aromasin available to us, which notably prevents estrogen from being manufactured in the first place. Altering the effect of estrogen in the female body can cause a level of discomfort, so anti-estrogens are most bearable when used after the point of menopause. Since Nolvadex is milder in comparison, it is more widely applicable and usually the first treatment option.

As discussed earlier, an enzyme in the male body (aromatase) is capable of altering testosterone to form estradiol. The structure of estrogen is actually quite similar to testosterone, so its presence in the male body is not all that remarkable. Since this same enzyme can also aromatize many anabolic/androgenic steroids, the buildup of estrogens can be an important concern during intake. High levels can cause a number of unwanted side effects, a primary worry being gynecomastia or the development of female breast tissue in men. This can be first noticed by the appearance of swelling or a small lump under the nipple. If left to progress it can turn into a very unsightly development of tissue, often irreversible without surgery. Estrogen can also lead to an increase in the level of water retained in the body. The result here can be a notable loss of definition, the muscles beginning to look smooth and bloated due to the retention of subcutaneous fluid. Fat storage may also be increased as estrogen levels rise. This hormone is in fact the primary reason women have a higher body fat percentage, and different fat distribution (hips/thighs) than men. Individuals sensitive to the effects of estrogen will usually be sure to have an anti-estrogen on hand when taking problematic steroids, so as to minimize the impact of related side effects.

This drug also shows the ability to increase production of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) in the male body. This is accomplished by blocking negative feedback inhibition caused by estrogen at the hypothalamus and pituitary, which fosters the release of the mentioned pituitary hormones. This of course is also the function of Clomid and cyclofenil. Since a higher release of LH can stimulate the Leydig's cells in the testes to produce more testosterone, Nolvadex can have a positive impact on one's serum testosterone level. This "testosterone stimulating" effect is an added benefit when preparing to conclude a steroid cycle (post cycle therapy or PCT). Since most anabolic/androgenic steroids will suppress endogenous testosterone production, Nolvadex can help restore a balance in hormone levels. Nolvadex should be preferred over Clomid for this purpose in fact, as side by side it is clearly the stronger agent. It has also been shown to increase LH responsiveness to Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone after time, while Clomid slightly lowers this sensitivity as the drug is used for several weeks..

In some cases the use of only an estrogen antagonists such as Nolvadex or Clomid may be sufficient for testosterone stimulating purposes, particularly when halting the use of a milder or shorter steroid program (which should have a less pronounced impact on the hormonal system). With stronger cycles most option to enhance the stimulating effect of these drugs with HCG, a hormone that mimics the action of LH. HCG use provides an excessive level of stimulation to the testes, which in essence may shock them out of a prolonged state of inactivity. In such a condition the Leydig's cells may not be producing a normal amount of testosterone, even though the normal release of gonadotropins has been achieved. Nolvadex can be tricky at this point. Remember it only blocks the effect of estrogen that is present in the body. If it is removed at a time when estrogen levels are still unusually high, related side effects can quickly become a pronounced problem. Since HCG not only increases the production of testosterone but also enhances the rate of aromatization in the testes, anti-estrogens should not be discontinued until at least a couple of weeks after HCG is discontinued. The result otherwise of course could be many unwanted side effects that were previously under control. When using Nolvadex to ward off the effects of estrogen during the cycle, it should similarly not be removed until the user is confident that hormone levels are well under control. With a drug such as Sustanon, this may mean continuing it for several weeks after the last shot.

A typical daily dosage for men is in the range of 10 to 30mg, the amount would be dependent on the level of effect desired. It is advisable to begin with a low dosage and work up, to avoid taking an unnecessary amount. The time in which Nolvadex is started also relies on individual needs of the user. If an athlete with a known sensitivity to estrogen is starting a strong steroid cycle, Nolvadex should probably be added soon after the cycle had been initiated. If estrogen is probably not going to be a major problem during the cycle (but will likely be after), Nolvadex is administered around the time exogenous steroid levels will drop. It will be continued for some weeks after, until the point when natural testosterone is thought to be at an acceptable level. As mentioned HCG is often used at this point as well (see related profile for more detail). Women have also utilized Nolvadex in an effort to reduce the effect of their own endogenous estrogens. This can lower body fat concentrations, especially in stubborn areas like the hips and thighs. This is of course risky, as manipulating the effect of estrogen can become uncomfortable in women. Side effects like hot flashes, menstrual irregularities and a variety of complications with the reproductive system are all possible.

When looking for a stronger anti-estrogenic effect, Proviron can make a good addition to Nolvadex. Although this compound is technically an androgen, it may have a pronounced effect on the production of estrogen in the body. Its mode of action is therefore very different than that of Nolvadex. While Nolvadex only blocks the binding ability of free-floating estrogen, Proviron can minimize the creation of it. With each drug attacking estrogen via a different mechanism, we have a very synergistic combination. A daily intake of 20-30mg Nolvadex and 25-50mg Proviron can be extremely effective when dealing with a strong estrogenic cycle. Women often avoid adding Proviron to Nolvadex treatment (thought often it is still used to enhance fat loss), for fear of developing virilization symptoms (Proviron is an oral DHT). Virilizing effects can occur very quickly once there has been a dramatic rise in the activity of androgens (intensified by a decrease in estrogen activity), so at a minimum women should be careful with such a combination.

Of great interest also is that Nolvadex is an estrogen agonist in the liver, capable of activating the estrogen receptor and mimicking the actions of this sex hormone in this region of the body. As such it can have a markedly positive impact on HDL (good) cholesterol values, as does estrogen. Many similarly use this drug to counter some of the negative consequences of steroid use in regards to cholesterol values and cardiac risk, as steroids often suppress HDL and raise LDL levels considerably. in some instances an athlete is able to maintain a very favorable HDL/LDL cholesterol ratio, to spite the use of a moderate dosage (400mg weekly) of an injectable like testosterone or nandrolone. It would be foolish to think however that Nolvadex would be a sufficient remedy with the heavy use of c-l7alpha alkylated orals or extremely high dosed cycles in general.

It has been reported by many however that Nolvadex seems to slightly reduce to gains made during a steroid cycle. It appears that many androgenic/anabolic steroids will exhibit their most powerful anabolic effect when accompanied by a sufficient level of estrogen. This may be one reason why gains made with a strong androgen like testosterone are usually much more pronounced than when using an anabolic that aromatizes to a lower degree. It therefore seems like good advice to be aware of how much Nolvadex is actually needed before committing to it during a cycle. Many people in fact find it unnecessary, even when utilizing problematic compounds such as testosterone or Dianabol. Others however find they are troubled by water retention and gynecomastia, even with milder anabolics like Deca-Durabolin and Equipoise. The estrogenic response to steroid use is very individual, and may be influenced by factors such as age and body fat percentage (adipose tissue is a primary site of aromatization).

Nolvadex is certainly the most popular anti-estrogen used by athletes today, no doubt because it is simply an effective product. It is also widely manufactured, and easy to obtain. Since there never seems to be a lack of supply, there is little incentive to manufacture a counterfeit product. All of the various generics forms of this drug are no doubt trustworthy. Women should remember to be very cautious when considering the use of Nolvadex, as they are usually very sensitive to changes in the activity of estrogen. Men looking for a stronger anti-estrogenic effect may want to consider using Arimidex, Femara, or Aromasin , three powerful new anti-aromatase compounds. They are much more effective for estrogen control.

You can buy taxoxifen, arimidex, femera and clomid online without prescription at 4rx pharmacy click here to get 10% off

A good first anabolic steroid cycle

2009-02-01T20:50:00.000-08:00

Ok new guys this seems to be a big topic here so here is a post for you. First of all this is not a recipe just a guide line on what you should be researching. You need to learn about these substances in more depth than I will go into here. However, for the new member just coming to AR I think this will answer a lot of questions. If nothing else you will see that there is a lot of studying in your future and there is no quick way to cycle properly

1st cut vs bulk
A lot of people seem to feel you can both cut and bulk at the same time. Well I'm telling you right now to forget that idea. If your ready to start your journey down the dark path you should start it with a good old fashion bulking stack. Don't waist your first stack with a cutter. Save that for after you've gained some more size. If you feel like you need to cut, do it naturally before your first cycle.

Diet
This IMO is where most mistakes are made. I try to keep it somewhat clean while bulking but some of you worry way too much about what you eat. This causes many of you to not eat enough. I also think people need to get more carbs while bulking. I've seen many people trying to bulk on what I would consider a cutting diet.

For bulking I suggest high protein, med carbs and low fats. As a general rule I try to consume about 2 g of protein per lb daily while bulking although sometimes I don't get it all in. When I'm not bulking my carb intake is quite low so the boost in carbs gives me quite a treat.

Do some research before you start any Anabolic cycle on how your body reacts to certain diets. If you in an advanced enough stage to be using Anabolics you should already know how you reacts to diets and exactly how many calories you need to eat to accomplish the weight you are looking to acquire. Ask for diet help if you need it. There are many people on AR who know more about diet than I ever will.Make sure you get a good multi-vit in the mix. Specially with low fat diets.

The Gear
The are many right and many wrong ways to do things here. There is no one magic formula for cycling. Many people do it many different ways. Many of those ways work well. Many don't. Things I may suggest others may say I'm way off base. I can only tell you what I have learned from experience. You have to make your own decisions for yourself Its become a common thing that many vets here suggest a test only first cycle. Thats fine. I'm sure you'll get some good gains from it. I myself like a little more in the mix. Like I said test only is fine if you want to stop there.

The most coming thing to ad is deca. Yes its mild on the sides. Yes you get good gains. However, if you do chose deca it will mean that an anti estrogen alone will not prevent gyno 100%. Another substance such as bromo will be needed in case of progesterone related gyno. For this reason alone I suggest eq (Equipoise). The gains are not quit as big but you will keep more of them and that sounds like a good trade off to me.

Anti estrogen.
I personally take nolva though out the whole cycle @ 20mg. If I feel itchy or sore nipples I up it to 50mg till its gone. Then its back to 20mg. I run it till I'm done with my PCT (post cycle therapy).
Other good things to run with or instead of nolva liquadex, ferma, arimidex. Read around you'll see a couple others. nolva for me is simply cheap available and effective.

Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) I follow the idea that Clomid alone is a perfectly fine PCT for most cycles. I will say for any kinda cycle your going to be doing here it is.

The thing is you wanna start your Clomid when the majority of the anabolics are out of your system. For that you need to know that test Enathate (which is the test I recommend you use right now) after 2 weeks will diminish enough to Begin PCT.
For deca and eq it will be roughly 3 weeks. So you will simply end the eq/deca a week before the test.

The correct way to run clomid:
day 1 300mg day 2-11 100mg ed (every day)
day 12-21 50 mg ed
Final thought
For the most part this is very general. I tried to keep it that way. I did not intend this to be a all you need to know about steroids by Ron type of thing. I do not have all the answers. There are many things to learn and I just wanted to give you a good step in the right direction. I have been on this board for years and all I have learned it has taught me. Still everyday I learn something new.

Take your time.
Read the threads. Read the educational forum.

Anadrol - anabolic steroid profile

2009-02-01T20:46:00.000-08:00

Common names: Adrol, drol, a bombs, anapolan, A50, Anadrol50

Oxymetholone (Anadrol), is a synthetic anabolic steroid developed by Syntex in 1960. Its primary clinical applications include treatment of osteoporosis and anaemia, as well as stimulating muscle growth in undernourished or underdeveloped patients. The drug was approved for human use by the FDA. However, later non-steroidal drugs such as Epogen were developed and proven to be more effective as a treatment for anaemia and osteoporosis without the side-effects of oxymetholone. The drug remained available despite this, and eventually found a new use in treating HIV wasting syndrome.

While classified as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act, it remains available via prescription as Anadrol®-50. Anadrol®-50 is a registered trademark of Alaven™ Pharmaceutical. Presented most commonly as a 50 mg tablet, Oxymetholone is the strongest androgenic steroid available. Similarly, it also poses the greatest risk of side effects of any steroid. Despite very low binding affinity with the androgen receptor, oxymetholone is highly effective in promoting extensive gains in body mass, mostly by greatly improving protein synthesis. For this reason, it is often used illegally by bodybuilders and athletes. Many athletes also use Oxymetholone as a method of protection for the joints under heavy loads. Due to the high water retention users experience from this drug, it similarly lubricates the joints and helps protect them from injury.

Oxymetholone is widely considered by bodybuilders to have the strongest anabolic effect out of any oral steroid available; weight increases of 20 pounds in 2 weeks are not unheard of with this drug.The side-effects of short-term use of the drug itself include nausea, bloating, acne, and masculinising effects such as deepening of the voice, growth of facial hair and clitoral hypertrophy .

In addition, oxymetholone is readily aromatized by aromatase to form a progestagen, and unless selective estrogen receptor modulators such as tamoxifen or clomifene are taken in conjunction with the drug, there is a significant risk of the appearance of estrogenic effects such as gynaecomastia over time.
Because of its 17α-alkylated structure, oxymetholone is highly hepatotoxic. Long term use of the drug can cause a variety of serious ailments, including hepatitis, liver cancer, and cirrhosis. It's dangerous to take oxymetholone in high dosages for periods of time exceeding four weeks, and is commonly used by bodybuilders during the start of a steroid cycle to help gain mass and increase serum levels of androgens quickly

Doses of 1 tablet a day is the norm, some body builders may push this to two but will no doubt suffer more effects. Anadrol is not often used for more then 5 weeks at a time and is not recommended for beginners. The biggest attractive of this steroid is the initial weight and strength gain however most of which will be lost post cycle.

Anavar - anabolic steroid profile

2009-02-01T20:42:00.000-08:00

Oxandrolone (Oxandrin) is an anabolic steroid created by Searle Laboratories under the trademark Anavar, and introduced into the US in 1964. It is taken orally, and unlike other steroids delivered in this manner, most of which are Class II steroids, the majority of its effects are due to reaction with the androgen receptor. In sufficient dosage, Oxandrolone is highly likely to bind well with the receptor, and is therefore a Class I steroid, while having few other side-effects.
As opposed to most other anabolic steroids Oxandrolone has two major advantages: First of all it does not aromatize (convert to estrogen which causes gynecomastia - breast tissue) and it does not significantly influence on low dosages (10mg) body's normal testosterone production (HPTA axis). When dosages are high (this goes for any anabolic steroid) then your body feels that it has enough testosterone and it reduces the production of LH (luteinizing hormone) which no longer stimulates Leydig cells in testicles to produce testosterone therefore causing testicular atrophy (shrinking).

Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) is of course needed for high dosages (40-50mg) of this synthetic derivative of testosterone because as the dosage increases the influence on HPTA is bigger. Lack of PCT will of course lead to protein catabolism until body's normal testosterone secretion is back to normal.The drug was prescribed for a number of medical disorders causing involuntary weight loss, in order to promote muscle regrowth.

It had also been shown to be partially successful in treating cases of osteoporosis. However, in part due to bad publicity from its abuses by bodybuilders, Oxandrolone was discontinued by Searle Laboratories in 1989. It was picked up by Bio-Technology General Corporation, now Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. who, following successful clinical trials in 1995, released it under the tradename Oxandrin.It was approved for orphan drug status by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in treating alcoholic hepatitis, Turner's syndrome, and weight loss caused by HIV. In addition, the drug has shown positive results in treating anaemia and hereditary angioedema. In a randomized, double-blind study, patients with 40% total body surface area burns were selected to receive standard burn care plus Oxandrolone, or without Oxandrolone. Those treated with Oxandrolone showed improve body composition, preserved muscle mass and reduced hospital stay time.

Other studies however have shown links between prolonged use of the drug and problems of liver toxicity similar to those found with other 17α-alkylated steroids. Even in small dosages, many users reported gastro-intestinal problems such as bloating, nausea, skin rash and itching (hives), black, tarry stools or light-colored stools, depression, unusual bleeding, unusual swelling, yellowing of the eyes or skin, and diarrhoea. In rare cases, serious and even fatal cases of liver problems have developed during treatment with oxandrolone. Oxandrolone may increase the amount of low density lipoprotein (LDL; 'bad cholesterol') and decrease the amount of high density lipoprotein (HDL; 'good cholesterol') in the blood. This may increase the risk of developing heart disease. Oxandrolone may damage the liver or increase LDL without causing symptoms. It is important to have regular laboratory tests to be sure that the liver is working properly and that LDL has not increased. Oxandrolone may also decrease fertility in men.

Before the Controlled Substances Act was passed to restrict the production, sale, and usage of anabolic steroids, Oxandrolone's characteristics lent itself well towards use by female athletes. Its specificity targeting the androgen receptor meant that, unlike many other steroids, it had not been reported to cause stunted growth in younger users (because it doesn't convert to estrogen, thats the reason women typically don't grow as tall as men -- they have more estrogen) and at typical dosage rarely caused noticeable masculinising effects outside of stimulating muscle growth.
It is not easily metabolised into DHT or estrogen. As such, a typical dose of 20-30 mg provided elevated androgen levels for up to eight hours. To increase effectiveness, bodybuilders typically "stacked" the drug with others such as Testosterone, further enhancing body mass gain. Despite health risks (liver and coronary), Oxandrolone is often used without the supervision of a physician as a performance enhancing drug.
Since Searle stopped production, biggest sellers are La Pharma Italy and British Dragon Thailand. It is considered by the medical community the safest of all steroids in terms of side effects.

Bodybuilders and power lifters, in particular, like Oxandrolone for three reasons.
First, Oxandrolone causes a strong strength gain by stimulating the phosphocreatine synthesis in the muscle cell without depositing liquid(water) in the joints and the muscles. Power lifters and weightlifters who do not want to end up in a higher weight class take advantage of this since it allows them to get stronger without gaining body weight at the same time.

Although Oxandrolone itself does not cause a noticeable muscle growth it can clearly improve the muscle-developing effect of many steroids. Deca-Durabolin, Dianabol, and the various testosterone compounds, in particular, combine well with Oxandrolone to achieve a "mass buildup" because the strength gain caused by the intake of these highly tissue-developing and liquidretaining substances results in an additional muscle mass.
A stack of 200 mg Deca-Durabolin/week, 500 mg Testosterone enanthate (e.g. Testoviron Depot 250)/week, and 25 mg Oxandrolone/day leads to a good gain in strength and mass in most athletes.

Post Cycle Therapy

2009-02-01T11:23:00.000-08:00

Post cycle therapy (PCT)

Discounted Nolvadex

After a steroid user has finished a cycle his natural production of hormones particularly testosterone is suppressed and needs to be restore to its original state quickly to minimise some of the post cycle side effects such as depression and loss in strength and weight. Post cycle therapy is an after cycle drug regime which is designed to do this and is in my opinion more important from the cycle itself. I would rather be moderately big and my balls still work then look like the hulk and have pea sized nuts.

The 2 main drugs used for PCT are Tamoxifen (nolvadex) and Clomid.

There are others but these two are considered to be the best.

Clomid and Nolvadex are both anti-estrogens belonging to the same group of triphenylethylene compounds. They are structurally related and specifically classified as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) with mixed agonistic and antagonistic properties. This means that in certain tissues they can block the effects of estrogen, by altering the binding capacity of the receptor, while in others they can act as actual estrogens, activating the receptor. In men, both of these drugs act as anti-estrogens in their capacity to oppose the negative feedback of estrogens on the hypothalamus and stimulate the heightened release of GnRH (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone).
LH output by the pituitary will be increased as a result, which in turn can increase the level of testosterone by the testes.Both drugs do this, but for some reason bodybuilders persist in thinking that Clomid is the only drug good at stimulating testosterone. What you will find with a little investigation however is that not only is Nolvadex useful for the same purpose, it should actually be the preferred agent of the two.

PCT Protocol The normal protocol for clomid is:
day 1 300mg
day 2-11 100mg ed (every day)
day 12-21 50 mg ed

Doses split throughout the day.This should be followed by a significant time off of steroids to allow the body to recover. The rule is that a cycle should not be started with out the PCT material as if you have to cut a cycle short for any reason you can still recover. When PCT should be started all depends on the half-life of the substance. The half-life is the time it takes the substance to break down by half.
Testosterone enthanate has a halflife of about 2 weeks so it is suggested this is when the PCT should begin. If started before hand the Test will still be in your system and still suppressing your natural levels so PCT would have little effect. Dianabol on the other hand had a very short half life so PCT can be started the day after the last dose.For more information on the steroids half-life then please re read the profiles and that should answer your questions. On the next page is a table containing recommended start times for PCT after each steroid.

If you are doing a stack then it is best to pick the one with the longest PCT start time before commencing with your

PCT protocol
.Anadrol50/Anapolan50: 8 - 12 hours
Deca durabolan: 3 weeks
Dianabol: 4 - 8 hours
Equipoise: 17 - 21 days
Finajet/Trenbolone: 3 days
Primabolan depot: 10 - 14 days
Sustanon: 3 weeks
Testosterone Cypionate: 2 weeks
Testosterone Enanthate: 2 weeks
Testosterone Propionate: 3 days
Testosterone Suspension: 4 - 8 hours
Winstrol 8 - 12 hours
For example if you were to do a Test / Dianabol cycle then you would start PCT 2 weeks after your last test injection as it is the longest acting steroid in your cycle.

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Anabolic Steroids 101

2009-02-01T11:19:00.000-08:00

Anabolic Steroids 101 - A simple guide to anabolic steroids

TYPES OF STEROIDS
Anabolic/Androgenic Steroids can be roughly classified into two types, oral and injectable. When you eat food or consume anything orally, the great majority of the ingested substances pass through the liver prior to entering the bloodstream. For this reason, "injectable" AAS cannot be taken orally because the liver will deactivate the steroids in this "first pass". Deactivation in the liver usually involves the addition of one or more hydroxyl (OH) groups to increase the solubility of the molecule in water, making excretion in the urine more easily accomplished.

Oral Steroids
Oral steroids involve modification of the parent steroid to make it harder for the liver to degrade the steroid molecules. This modification is almost always the addition of an alkyl (methyl) group at the 17 position of the steroid ring. The liver can still degrade the steroid, but not as effectively as the un-modified steroid. Therefore, oral steroids make several cycles through the bloodstream before being excreted. Most oral steroids are, to various degrees, excreted from the body unchanged.

Injectable Steroids
The injectable AAS are very effectively degraded in just a single pass through the liver. If this is so, then how can the injectables be effective? The answer is called a "depot" (or reservoir), which allows a regular release of steroid into the bloodstream. As steroid is removed from the bloodstream by the liver, more steroid is being released into the bloodstream from the depot. There are several ways to provide such a reservoir of the steroid.

Suspension
The first way is to use pure testosterone (a crystalline solid) suspended in water. Testosterone has a low solubility in water, and the crystals slowly dissolve in the watery environment of the tissue in which it is injected. The dissolved testosterone is carried throughout the body by the bloodstream. For Testosterone suspension, the "depot" is the actual physical site where the injection is made. The crystals do not migrate to other parts of the body, and the presence of the crystalline testosterone can cause some pain at the injection site. The testosterone dissolves at a (relatively) constant rate, and lasts for a few days in the body. Winstrol suspension is similar.

Esters
The other way to provide a depot of steroid is to use a water-insoluble form of the steroid that can be converted in the body to the parent steroid, which has some solubility in water (bloodstream). Most commonly, the parent molecule is esterified with an organic acid, and the resulting ester is soluble in oil, but only very slightly soluble in water. Commonly used organic acid groups are acetate (C2), propionate (C3), enanthate (C7), decanoate (C10), and undecylenate (C11). The longer the carbon chain of the acid, the more oil-soluble the ester, and the longer it takes for the ester to turn into the parent steroid (de-esterification). A type of enzyme that is found throughout the body facilitates the de-esterification reaction to form the parent steroid from the ester. The enzyme actually catalyzes the reaction in both directions, so it can also attach an organic acid back onto the parent steroid. So, for example, testosterone enanthate can actually be turned into testosterone palmitate. There is some good evidence that steroid esters are, to some extent, stored in fat cells.It is commonly believed that esters form a depot of oil/ester that stays at the injection site. This is not true. While the depot concept holds true for esters (because they slowly release the parent steroid over time), the esters actually disperse throughout the body after injection, prior to (and during) the de-esterification reaction to form the parent steroid. They do not stay at the injection site. For example, the ester testosterone enanthate has been found in tissues throughout the body, including hair samples of subjects who have injected T200. If a bio-contaminant is introduced at the time of injection (non-sterile conditions), the body will attempt to encapsulate the contaminated material, and an abscess will form. In this case it appears as if the ester has remained at the injection site. But under normal sterile conditions, the oily solution will disperse. Injecting too much at one site or injecting too frequently at one site will not cause an abscess.

Transport of Steroids in the Bloodstream
Once the steroid has been released from the depot (or the oral steroid has been absorbed from the intestine), it is transported throughout the body in the bloodstream. Carrier proteins (Albumin and Sex Hormone binding Globulin) bind about 98% of testosterone under natural conditions. Thus, only 2% of the hormone is free to carry out its actions. When exogenous steroid is present, the level of free steroid is much higher than 2%. Bear in mind that the hormone is not permanently bound to the some of the proteins, but is constantly binding and un-binding from the protein. At any given time, about 2% of the hormone is un-bound in the natural state. So, if the 2% unbound hormone were to magically disappear, then the proteins would release more hormone such that 2% (of the remaining total) would come unbound. The bloodstream is the mechanism by which the hormones reach their target tissues (muscle).

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building muscle and weight gain

2008-07-15T02:40:00.001-07:00

building muscle and weight gain new website

2008-06-17T01:04:00.000-07:00

ANABOLIC STEROIDS AND HAIRLOSS

After a lot of research over the past couple of years i have put together this easy to understand hairloss article. If your anything like me hairloss scares the **** out of you. In my opinion its one of the worst side effects as it effects your physical appearance.

When it comes to hairloss not everybody is effected by it. Steroids will only speed up the process if you are genetically predispositiond to male pattern baldness. So if any family members are bald you have a good chance of loosing your hair to. You could always shave your head or buy a wig but we have some good information for you to try and help prevent hairloss, slow it down and in some cases even reverse it.

Hairloss is NOT a side effect that will effect everybody, it is said that if you are genetically prone to male pattern baldness (mpb) then steroids can speed up this process.

How do steroids effect the hair line?
A substance called DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) binds to the receptors in the scalps hair follicles causing thinning of the hairline.

What makes this DHT?
The simple answer Testosterone gets converted into DHT (dihydrotestosterone) by an enzyme called 5 Alpha reductase (5AR).TESTOSTERONE ----(5AR Enzyme)---------> DHT

What steroids effect the hairline then via this conversion?
Not all steroids effect the hairline only the derivities of testosterone effect such as testosterone enth, cyp, prop, sustanon, dianabol etc..

Do any other steroids effect the hairline?
Yes. Steroids such as anadrol and winstrol are derivities of DHT meaning they do not have to convert via an enzyme to turn into DHT they can bind directly to the scalp.

How do i stop this hairloss?
You can help block the 5AR enzyme from converting test into DHT by using a medication called FINASTERIDE (proscar, propecia). Finasteride binds to the 5AR enzyme preventing conversion.Does DECA turn into DHT?Answer no it turns into DHN (dihydronandrolone.)

Will FINASTERIDE work with winstrol and other DHT derivatives?
No as there is no conversion via an enzyme. To help prevent hairloss DHT will need to be blocked at the scalp. NIZORAL shampoo is said to help with this although its sold as an anti dandruff shampooWhere can i get FINASTERIDE?Either from your doctor or from here

How much FINASTERIDE do i need to take?
For the normal person 1mg a day is enough to slow natural hairloss down, obviously the more testosterone you take the more DHT will be formed. Anything up to 500mg a week of test 2mg should be fine then add 1mg after for every 250mg of test. If you are worried at all about hairloss and have decided to use finasteride then i recommend start taking it 2 weeks minimum before cycle so it can kick in, and take it throughout your PCT regime.If using it to try and stop / reverse hairloss then you need to take this long term which can be expensive. Why not benifit from 10% off discounted finasteride.

I have heard about regaine what is this?
Regaine contains Minoxidil, the only over-the-counter treatment apparently clinically proven to help prevent further hereditary hair loss, showing success in 4 out of 5 men. For some people, using Regaine even reverses the process, resulting in regrowth.Basically its a lotion that you can apply to your scalp to help stimulate hair growth.

Should i use regaine in my cycle?
Regaine is not a medication so my appeal to some but in my opinion when using steroids the products that target DHT are the best regaine can be used aswell for extra hairloss prevention and for potential regrowth after the cycle has been completed.

The hairloss prevention / regrowth cycle
Nizoral shampoo - Use every other day
Finasteride 1mg everyday (depending on test dose)
Regaine used twice daily throughout the cycle and continue after the above is the ultimate cycle, if your worried about hairloss then dont use steroids the next best thing would be to use finasteride and nizoral throughout your cycle

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An update

2008-05-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

Hello readers its been along time since i have written on this blog, i have been helping the staff of allpumpedup.org writing my experiences with oral steroids for the first time in their new ebook soon to be released i will update you more when i know anything.

thanks for reading

super ted

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2008-05-17T10:10:00.000-07:00

The bodybuilding forum ALL PUMPED UP have teamed up with online pharmacy 4RX to provide its members and readers of this blog 10% off orders

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The hardgainers free guide to gaining weight

2008-04-24T23:41:00.000-07:00

Attention Hardgainers!!

Do you find it hard to gain muscle and put on weight?

Confused about how you are ment to train?

Dear fellow HARDGAINER

There are many programs and training methods available on the internet and in magazines. If you are like me and actually have tried most of them then you will know that most of them are not geared towards the hardgainer and the style of training we need to make significant gains in muscle size. If you are like me then you will find it hard to put of weight of any description and not just muscle.Ever been ripped off purchasing a training routine that guarantees you to gain muscle and all you have to show for it is an empty wallet? I have.

I kick myself now for doing it but when you are just starting up in training it is easy to get suckered into theses adverts that promise to turn you into the next Mr. Universe in only a few weeks.What makes the MASS principles different is that it actually works, doesn’t cost you large amounts of money is written in a simple straight to the point language which does not bore you with irrelevant crap used to pad out most training books.

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After cycle thoughts

2008-04-24T23:34:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since the end of my dianabol only cycle, and what has gone from only doing the one simple cycle and not using again has turned into me wanting to do another and adding another compound to help with gains.

When 'on' dianaboll it was a strange feel of almost superhuman wellbeing i felt great and confident and not only did my muscles feel bigger but my whole body. After the cycle was a different story i started to feel depressed, i believe this was due to the rapid change in hormone levels. In stead of taking anti depressants for this i used the supplement tribulus 1000mg tabs and took 3 a day along with my Clomid PCT.

I am a true believer that tribulus works and it works well and when combined with PCT its like bread and butter .

Dianabol post cycle therapy

2008-04-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

Some one has just PM'd me on the message board asking about PCT for dianabol only cycles and if its needed. PCT should be used after every ctycle either steroids or prohormones and

CLOMID

NOLVADEX

should be used. Over the counter products just dont cut it when it comes to saving your balls from extinction

Dr Ziegler the creation of dianabol

2008-04-13T10:44:00.000-07:00

Ziegler accompanied the U.S Weightlifting Team to Vienna in October 1954. According to him, over "a few drinks" a Russian physicist testified to Dr. Ziegler he was supplying testosterone to the Russian athletes. Prior to this, Ziegler testified that he was annoyed by members of the Soviet delegation who thought he was "stimulating our boys with some kind of drug to make them lift better"; the physicist repeatedly asked "What are you giving your boys?".

For a period of time Dr. Ziegler worked at the Ciba Pharmaceutical company, who supplied testosterone for experimental purposes. In the early 1950s his patients included people suffering from burns, as well as the seriously injured or handicapped. In 1952 he worked with a number of trainees but had mixed results using testosterone. Dissatisfied and possibly overburdened with patients, he distanced himself from research into performance-enhancing drugs until 1959, a year or so before the 1960 Olympics.

By the time of the 1960 European Championships in Milan he was understandably suspicious of the Russians--"the Russians are giving their athletes ‘something." Therefore, he asked John Grimek to propose to his chief, Bob Hoffman that steroids be administered to members of the American Olympic team. Mr. Hoffman, however was cautious and later remarked it was "too close to give to the men who will represent the USA". According to Grimek, "Apparently, he doesn’t think it will do that much good, and may even have detrimental effects , . . .He appears doubtful." However, Hoffmann later retracted on his decision and administered drugs to the certain American weightlifters on the team.

John Ziegler retired from medical practice in 1963. About this time, he reportedly told Hoffman "It is very, very possible, that special training techniques and other devices along with greater physiological knowledge may enable man to achieve physical performances now considered SUPERHUMAN!".

Pictures of dianabol

2008-04-13T10:35:00.000-07:00

here are a few pictures of different forms of dianabol i have found on the internet

dianabol and hairloss

2008-04-10T09:44:00.000-07:00

Alot of people are afraid to start using steroids such as dbol because of possible hairloss issues. Dianabol like testosterone converts to DHT (dihyrotestosterone) this bonds to hair follicles and can cause hair loss if genetically prone to it.

Ways to stop hairloss is to either block the enzyme which converts testosterone to DHt (5 alpha reductase) or block the DHT at the scalp

By taking finasteride you can block the enzyme from converting to DHT, this method seems to be the best at preventing hairloss and can over time start regrowth in some cases.

By using Nizoral 2% ket shampoo you can block DHT at the scalp, its not 100% effective but it still works

Use both for an unstopable hairloss prevention combo

a more expensive but stronger method of blocking the 5 - ar enzyme is to use AVODART

PCT therapy discounts

2008-04-06T01:12:00.000-07:00

ALL PUMPED UP have teamed up with 4rx to offer some great discounts on generic post cycle therapy medication. Why pay more for brand named when you can pay half the price and get the same thing. This is what i used for my post cycle therapy course.

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There are many more items availiable for hairloss anti estrogens etc and the store have quick international delivery and good customer service. I reccomend them 100%

Anabolic Steroids for NEWBIES

2008-04-06T01:05:00.000-07:00

i have been using my training diary and experiences and a little section is going to be included in the new ebook the boys over at ALL PUMPED UP have put together it will be similar to the newbies handbook which is currently availiable for FREE download

The new version is expected to be released at the end of Apirl 2008 watch this space for more details.

Post cycle therapy PCT

2008-03-09T00:26:00.000-08:00

Post cycle therapy PCT after dbol only cycle

After a steroid user has finished a cycle his natural production of hormones particularly testosterone is suppressed and needs to be restore to its original state quickly to minimise some of the post cycle side effects such as depression and loss in strength and weight. Post cycle therapy is an after cycle drug regime which is designed to do this and is in my opinion more important from the cycle itself. I would rather be moderately big and my balls still work then look like the hulk and have pea sized nuts.

The 2 main drugs used for PCT are Tamoxifen (nolvadex) and Clomid.
There are others but these two are considered to be the best.Clomid and Nolvadex are both anti-estrogens belonging to the same group of triphenylethylene compounds.
They are structurally related and specifically classified as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) with mixed agonistic and antagonistic properties. This means that in certain tissues they can block the effects of estrogen, by altering the binding capacity of the receptor, while in others they can act as actual estrogens, activating the receptor.
In men, both of these drugs act as anti-estrogens in their capacity to oppose the negative feedback of estrogens on the hypothalamus and stimulate the heightened release of GnRH (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone). LH output by the pituitary will be increased as a result, which in turn can increase the level of testosterone by the testes.
Both drugs do this, but for some reason bodybuilders persist in thinking that Clomid is the only drug good at stimulating testosterone.
What you will find with a little investigation however is that not only is Nolvadex useful for the same purpose, it should actually be the preferred agent of the two.

PCT Protocol
The normal protocol for clomid is:
day 1 300mg
day 2-11 100mg ed (every day)
day 12-21 50 mg ed
Doses split throughout the day.

This should be followed by a significant time off of steroids to allow the body to recover. The rule is that a cycle should not be started with out the PCT material as if you have to cut a cycle short for any reason you can still recover. When PCT should be started all depends on the half-life of the substance. The half-life is the time it takes the substance to break down by half. Testosterone enthanate has a halflife of about 2 weeks so it is suggested this is when the PCT should begin. If started before hand the Test will still be in your system and still suppressing your natural levels so PCT would have little effect. Dianabol on the other hand had a very short half life so PCT can be started the day after the last dose.

So at the end of my dbol only cycle i ended it day 36 and started PCT on day 37

End of dbol only cycle

2008-03-09T00:24:00.000-08:00

Due to personal circumstances i have had to stop my cycle early and start PCT at day 36 apologies for the lack of updates but i have not been able to get to a computer. Pictures and final stats are coming soon.

Dianabol (dbol) Steroid profile

2008-02-27T12:50:00.000-08:00

Dianabol - methandrostenolone

Common names: Dianabol, anabol, dbol, methanabol, naposims, naps, reforvit B

Dianabol was originally developed by John Ziegler and released by Ciba in 1956. It has had a long stint of popularity since then, especially in the US. Until the late 70's methandrostenolone was all the rave. Perhaps the most popular steroid ever. Known users include every Mr.Olympia from Scott to Zane. Of course the doses used have severely increased since then. Its popularity was also the cause of its demise. Almost a decade ago now the original D-bol was discontinued when the FDA drew the conclusion that its therapeutic uses were minimal compared to the amount of bodybuilders who were using it. But methandrostenolone has never been out of circulation really. Especially the Russians appeared quite fond of it and Russian D-bol is one of the best and most marketed forms of the substance methandrostenolone today.

Methandrostenolone is without a doubt one of the best, if not the best product for people who compete in non-aerobic oriented sports. It promotes drastic protein synthesis, enhances glycogenolysis (repletion of glycogen after exercise) and stimulates strength in a very direct and fast-acting way. It may be less useful to those competing in aerobic events as it also diminishes cell respiration1. But methandrostenolone manifests itself in a distinct manner : rapid and fast-acting build-up of strength and mass is noticed. That's why its often used at the beginning of cycle consisting of mostly injectables like long-acting testosterone esters and nandrolone. Since the effects of such drugs don't fully come out for the first 10-15 days, methandrostenolone is dosed in to provide immediate and visible results. It has a rather weak androgenic component and an obviously quite strong and visible anabolic component. Its effects are largely non-AR mediated, which is documented by its rather low influence on the natural endocrine system2 and the fact that it decreases rather than increases red blood cell content in the blood. Which means that one worry users of Dianabol, especially short term, needn't fear is the dramatic shutdown of natural testosterone production as is often the case with very androgenic compounds. Of course this effect is dose-dependent. It still has a mild androgenic component, meaning in high doses (30+ mg daily) androgen-mediated side-effects can be noted (acne, male pattern hair loss).

Because of its fast effects, immense popularity and the increasing "more-is-better" sentiment among bodybuilders, increasingly high doses are indeed being used and recommended. One has to wonder about the logic of such recommendations however, since high dose urine-analysis showed portions of unmetabolized compounds were being excreted3. In simpler terms that means that with higher doses, higher amounts of unchanged methandrostenolone were being excreted in the urine. This would indicate that the current stance needs to be reviewed and that smaller doses, taken multiple times per day would deliver better results and maximal use of the steroid. Dianabol simply is highly effective in low doses(25-40 mg ed). Som say Anadrol, a comparable steroid to methandrostenolone, is better, but its taken in doses of 50-150 mg. If one was to take methandrostenolone in those doses better gains could be expected. Methandrostenolone is also a lot safer in as opposed to the highly toxic and progestagenic anadrol. If one takes into account that the half-life of methandrostenolone in the body is only 3-6 hours, this theory makes even more sense. So taking your daily dose spread over 3 or 4 doses may elicit a better effect than only 1 or 2 doses. Methandrostenolone is quite effective in these lower doses by the way. Milligram for Milligram its more powerful than a testosterone ester, generally considered the best mass-builder.

A few notes there need to be made however. Not everyone should try and spread their doses out over multiple servings. First of all there is a slightly lower efficacy to take into account here as well due to two characteristics. The first being that you feed the total amount to the liver in smaller portions, yet the liver still manages to metabolize the same amount. Percentage wise that means less methandienone would make it through totally. The second would be that the peak levels aren't quite as high since no large doses are taken all at once. These two facts make it hard to recommend that just anyone take multiple doses. People who take moderate to low doses of ONLY methandrostenolone should probably opt for a single morning dose. This delivers a higher peak level and more survival of your only steroid. It also, due to the short half-life, makes the drug clear the body before the body produces its largest dose of natural testosterone, the early hours of sleep. Combined with the already mild effect at the AR, you could keep a good amount of your gains when using clomid or Nolvadex post-cycle. For those using it in conjunction with other, mostly injectable steroids, two doses seems to be the better choice, if you are taking in excess of 40 mg a day perhaps even three doses.

This is usually the case for fast-acting substances, they have short half-lives. Which brings us to the point of prolonged use. The general concensus is that methandrostenolone should never be used more than 6 weeks on end due its strong hepatoxic effects. Being largely an oral compound, its also 17-alpha-alkylated to help it survive the liver upon first pass. Liver values are elevated over a short period of time4, making long-term use a very dangerous affair. Liver values should return to normal quite fast after discontinuation however since the effects are so short-lived. Other risks associated with the use of methandrostenolone include the apparition of estrogenic side-effects because it interacts rather well with the aromatase enzyme on account of its methylated properties. It is therefore best used in conjunction with an anti-estrogen. Gynocomastia, high blood pressure, salt and water retention and mild cases of acne are therefore not uncommon.

Its methylated properties (17-methyl group) does have several positive characteristics of course. Why else would they add this group? The main purpose of course it to make sure less of the methandrostenolone is affected by hepatic breakdown when taken orally. But apparently it also decreases the affinity of the drug to SHBG (sex-hormone binding globulin), a sex steroid binding protein that takes up as much as 98% of testosterone. Testosterone that can't be used to build muscle. Since methandrostenolone does not bind to this protein easily, its quite an active substance, no doubt accounting for its fast and immediately visible action. Dianabol also does not affect cholesterol levels to a high degree in moderate doses5, and it seems to help an athlete stock up on potassium6. This is particularly beneficial taking into account the amount of sodium its estrogenic effects store as well.

We hinted at the short time of activity methandrostenolone possesses. This means that despite its immediate, fast and explosive gains in both strength and mass, they are quite hard to maintain. Often the bulk of mass is lost shortly after discontinuation, making it most unsuitable for those looking to gain and keep quality muscle. An injectable may suppress some of these obviously flawed characteristics, but the 5 mg tabs remain the trend. With its high capacity to survive breakdown in the liver this understandably. Orally its perhaps the most powerful, although in the strength of effects it still can't hold a candle to androl. But its cheaper and safer than the aforementioned of course.

In light of the evidence presented, we conclude that the best use for methandrostenolone is short-term, for 5-6 weeks, at the beginning of a longer bulking stack (10+ weeks), preferably injectable, to kickstart gains and strength. Its effects are largely non-AR mediated and it aromatizes quite well, which leaves it with limited stacking partners, The best candidates are of course nandrolone and testosterone. It should be taken in doses no higher than 50 mg (20-40 mg being the norm) ,spread over multiple doses for maximum effects in stacks and a single morning dose when taken by itself. D-bol remains a favorite today however, that's a fact that cannot be argued.

Stacking and Use:

I needn't really expand too much, since most of the conclusion were drawn in that last paragraph. Dianabol is a methylated compound with a certain toxicity, so in the interest of safety you wouldn't use it longer than 6 weeks on end, 8 weeks at the absolute maximum and only under supervision of a medical professional who can monitor your liver values. Because it heavily aromatizes its not particularly useful during cutting and with 6-8 weeks of use maximum, that leaves but two options. Either stacking it with another, injectable, compound that can be used for longer terms (beginning of stack when other compound is least active) or you would do multiple short cycles. In that case one would take off at least as long as he was on during a cycle, preferably longer. Like 6 weeks on, followed by 6-10 weeks off. These multiple cycles were all the fashion among pro bodybuilders in the 70's with very decent results.

When stacking with a longer-acting product, such as testosterone enanthate or cypionate, Deca or Equipoise, the best use is early on in the stack. Dianabol is a very fast-acting steroid and most injectables don't start showing their real value for 2-3 weeks. That makes it particularly useful to kick off a cycle with.

The pink ones are Anabol (Dianabol) and the yellow ones are Stanabol (Winstrol). These are very popular right now. They are 5 mg tabs and they sell for less than 30 cents a tab.It's most readily stacked with Deca-Durabolin or Primobolan, perhaps even Equipoise. Usually an injection of 200-400 mg/week combined with 30-40 mg of Dianabol everyday. In some cases testosterone was used in conjunction with anyone of these stacks. For short term use oral Primobolan made a good match, and in lesser ways an oral Winstrol. Both provide a mild, lean foundation for the Dianabol and both are also 17-alpha alkylated, warranting short-term use. Since Dianabol has little Androgen receptor activity, it functions particularly synergistic with compounds that have a strong Androgen receptor activity as is the case for all the aforementioned.

Along the lines of secondary products an anti-aromatase like Cytadren or Arimidex may be useful. When stacked with Deca, the choice for a receptor antagonist like Clomid or Nolvadex is perhaps a wiser choice. Perhaps even a combination of both. Dianabol aromatizes rather heavily, which means in a stack with another aromatizing compound the risk for gyno remains high and water retention is virtually a fact. Post-cycle the use of Clomid or Nolvadex can be employed to boost natural testosterone production. There is quite some circulating estrogen post-cycle that causes prolonged negative feedback, clomid or Nolvadex would solve that problem and help you retain more of your gains.

Day 36

2008-02-24T23:49:00.000-08:00

Its the start of a new week and i have not had the best of weeks last week aswell as some side effects starting to rear their ugly head i have had this horrible flu like cold which keeps coming and going, it is preventing me from training sometimes and the sore throat means i am haveing a hard time trying to eat.

tbc

day 34

2008-02-23T11:58:00.000-08:00

No training today and sore elbows prevented this, all i managed to do was a few sit ups when i got board. Nipples are still itchy and causing a problem. Nothing else to report today

Day 33

2008-02-22T01:38:00.001-08:00

A good training day today apart from i am still getting sore elbows so much so that i cant even do one push up at the moment. I have been feeling a little itchy and tender around the left nipple area, i hope i am not about to grow bitch tits so i will aquire some nolvadex to take up untill the end of the cycle to try and curb any possibility of gyno .

Day 32

2008-02-21T11:54:00.001-08:00

After some research i have decided that finasteride (proscar) is what i want to use to try and combat hairloss. This is some information about it

Finasteride

Finasteride is primarily used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) in men only. Finasteride is also used for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate to: Improve symptoms, reduce the risk of acute urinary retention, reduce the risk of the need for surgery including transurethral resection of the prostate.

Before using FinasterideSome medical conditions may interact with Finasteride . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances if you have any urinary blockage or obstruction Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Finasteride.

However, no specific interactions with Finasteride are known at this time.Ask your health care provider if Finasteride may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use FinasterideUse Finasteride as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.An extra patient leaflet is available with Finasteride .

Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information Take Finasteride by mouth with or without food It may take 3 months or more of daily therapy with Finasteride to begin to see results. It can only work over the long term if you continue taking it Finasteride will not work faster or better if you take it more than once a day If you stop taking Finasteride , you will gradually lose the hair you have gained within 12 months of stopping treatment If you miss a dose of Finasteride , take it as soon as possible.

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once

Basically it will stop testosterone from converting into DHT which caused hairloss, i have just ordered some from here so hopefully will start to see some improvments soon.

Day 31

2008-02-20T02:04:00.000-08:00

I hit a small cardio session this morning only a light one of running cross training rowing and finished the workout with dips and pull ups. I was covered in sweat by the end of it and feel great except for my elbows which are sore as anything

weight is at 211lbs

Day 30

2008-02-19T01:30:00.002-08:00

Day 30 Oral only cycle

Apologies for no updates yesterday it was a busy day for me with my job etc and nothing really changed to report. Back workout today was good felt more pumped then ever after, cardio workouts seem to be a problem at the moment as my legs just ache when i run i believe this is due to painful pumps from the dianabol in my legs. Also i have heard that dianabol can produce lower aerobic capacity.

I have noticed hairs on my pillow in the morning from my head, its like my hair is falling out, not in a great way but definately more then it should, i beleve hairloss is a side effect from the dianabol and i am definately prone to hairloss in my family i am going to research this more.

Day 29

2008-02-19T01:30:00.001-08:00

No reports no workout

Day 28 end of week 4 summary

2008-02-16T23:45:00.000-08:00

Day 28

Woke up feeling great and ready for a workout, chest and triceps today and they felt like they were on fire when i had finished, the pumpe feeling is still apparent after each workout and i love it. Its like i can throw hundreds of sets and reps in and my body still wants more. After each workout i like massive due to the pump and its a great feeling to have.

The last week i have spent tryiong to recovery from my illness, i believe to be back on track now. The acne is slowly fading away, i have been washing 3 times a day with oxy and using wipes whenever i get the chance.

Strength seems about the same as before and ill find out about the weight increase if any tomorrow.

My camera is still not working, but i plan on using a friends for the photos tomorrow.

Day 27

2008-02-15T23:57:00.001-08:00

No workout today

Day 26

2008-02-14T23:31:00.000-08:00

Day 26 dianabol only cycle

Had real problems sleeping last night even though i felt tired and usually fall asleep at the drop of a hat.

completed a workout of cardio and pull ups / dips today, my lack of training over the past couple of days when i have been unwell has forced me to step my training up a gear. My wisdom teeth are still hurting, back pumps have gone now acne is still prsent but not as bad as it was.

Day 25

2008-02-13T20:55:00.000-08:00

Day 25 dianabol only oral steroid cycle

Trianing went well yesterday and a little soreness this morning strength was down slightly i believe this is because of missed gym sessions.

I am going to do some cardio later on today as just feel a little unfit. I dont know if this is just down to illness or not though.

sleeping is bit of an issue at the moment and i am having trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep even after a hard days work. I think to be honest 80% of my inital weight increase was water and gained a lot quickly but i am hoping i can sort of solidify these gains in the last weeks

Day 24

2008-02-12T20:50:00.000-08:00

Day 24 dianabol only cycle

Ok its day 24, had to wake up really early this morning i used to be a morning person but ever since using dianabol i have found that im finding it hard to sleep through the night and get a full night unbroken sleep.

Workout Back and Biceps went well today strength initally felt low probabily because i have missed a few gym sessions, but i managed to do 5 sets of 10 pull ups which for me is excellent and at the beginning of the cycle i was struggling to do 30.

I eat loads today and i am determined to put back on some weight as fell i could have gained more then a lb last week.

Day 23

2008-02-12T09:55:00.000-08:00

Its day 23 of my first cycle, i cant believe that it has gone this quick already, i am feel 100% almost and the sick feeling has gone, also the rest of my family is fine now so i will put it down to a bug rather then dianabol related sickness.
No workout today because of work commitments and i just dont have the time, which is a shame because i need to make up for lost ground. I am starting to feel the strains of workout out hard my day job and family life, its all getting a bit to much and i always have my next meal etc at the back of my mind. Its a lot of mental pressure.

Day 22 (end of week summary and start of week4)

2008-02-11T00:40:00.000-08:00

Feeling alot better today, well enough to train anyway. I have managed to keep some food down today which is good. Last week was a good week in terms of training all my lifts are on a high and recovery time is still better. Unfortunately i have noticed some side effects starting to rear their ugly heads. The main ones are:

Acne: Spots appearing on face neck and shoulders

Back Pumps: Painful pumps in the lower back area

The wisdom tooth at the back is still really aching, i am taking ibuprofen each day to try and combat the pain, hopefully it will go soon as it is horrible, after research i believe this to be related to the dianabol in some way.

Weight is now at 208lbs only a lb increase on last week, but because of the sickness etc i didnt expect the gains to be much.

other then that no side effects yet in terms of nipple related ie bitch tits. Apologies my camera is offline at the moment (no batteries) so i will put up the pictures tomorrow of my progress so far.

Day 21

2008-02-10T07:59:00.000-08:00

Day 21

still feeling like shit today, my eyes hurt looking at screen so this is all i am going to write

Day 20

2008-02-09T13:29:00.001-08:00

apologies for no update i woke up feeling really sick and spent the whole day in bet and being sick missed training and food for the whole day. i dont believe this to be an effect from the dianabol as the rest of my family have had the same, i think its either food piosoning or a sickness bug of some sort

Day 19

2008-02-08T12:26:00.000-08:00

Day 19

sorry not much to report today as have not been training or anything today, just spent the day chilling out and relaxing waiting for my workout tomorrow where i am going to blitz my chest and triceps. My arms are lagging behind a bit so i am going to add a few more sets when training them

Back pumps are either going away or i am getting used to them because they have not caused my a problem today.

Day 18 oral steroid only cycle

2008-02-07T03:41:00.000-08:00

Woke up feeling tired today after yesterdays gym session, after a little stretch this morning i was fine. My right wrist seems to be a little sore i think this is due to some of the heavy (for me ) lifting i have been doing. The dianabol is still working well and no adverse aide effects are noticeable apart from the slight ones i have mentioned in a previous post.

Spots are still an issue however because of all the washing and moisturising i have been doing my face is really smooth and my skin feels good.

Today and tomorrow are workout free due to work commitments so i not even doing cardio or anything, ill just pick this back up on saturday.

Day 17

2008-02-05T23:23:00.000-08:00

Day 17 Dianabol only oral steroid cycle

Back and Bicep workout today, a little sore around the chest area from yesterday it apprears that recovery is constantly improving and recovery time is significantly reduced between each workout.

i am getting really annoyed with the spots now i hope they will go away i am washing 3 times daily with oxy face wash.

I am getting pains in my lower back when i have been on my feet for a long time, i believe this to be the back pump from the dianabol and weight increase, apparently potassium is ment to help so i am increasing my intake of bananas because these so called pumps are actually quite painful.

I am feel really really big and pumped at the moment although i may not look it i feel i have increased my size significantly in only a few weeks hopefully i can maintain these gains.

Day 16

2008-02-04T23:16:00.000-08:00

Day 16 of my dianabol only cycle

I had real problems sleeping last night so woke up early and decided to use the gym to do a chest workout and cardio. The workout wasd excellent and my strength is increased dramatically what seemed hard to lift before is now easy and i can last so much longer before tiring.

i have got some spots on shoulders only a few and more then usual on my face which is horrible its not to bad but i really hate spots, i am going to get some more oxy see if that works with combating them.

Day 15 (start of week3)

2008-02-03T20:49:00.000-08:00

Ok so its monday morning and the start of my third week dianabol only cycle. So far so good, i am really pleased with the cycle and feel i am making relevant gains in both size and strength.

Weight is now at 207lbs which is a 6lb increase in only another week which is good, i think water retention is a possibility though as there is no way that is all muscle, which is a shame.

I have had really bad guts ache today like the serious farts, they could be bottled up and sold as a chemical weapon no joke they stink, i think this is due to all the protein i have been consuming, maybe i need to up the digestive enzymes to help combat this.

in a really good mood today which is unusual for a monday morning, i feel excellent and believe this to be the apparent mood enhancing effect that dianabol seems to have on people, 35mg of dbol today and i will continue with this dose all week.

Day 14 - The end of week 2

2008-02-02T20:56:00.000-08:00

End of second week summary

Have recovered from yesterdays soreness, and feel pretty good this morning in terms of energy. Looking at the pictures this week has shown a noticable improvement in muscle size and shape and i am starting to get bulges in places where they should be. Recovery has improved again and i believe weight gain to have increased but untill i get on the scales tomorrow morning i wouldnt know how much by.

I need to up my calorie intake again, apologies for not logging all of my meals anymore but they are generally all the same if something major changes then i will update accordingly.

Wisdom tooth is still hurting but better then it was, and i am still having indigestion problems which is known wether it is realted or not to the dianabol cycle yet.

Some current pictures

2008-02-02T05:29:00.000-08:00

Here are a few current pictures taken on day 13 of my dianabol only cycle, if you go back to day 1 then there is a definate difference, muscle is starting to form around the shoulders and lats, the chest still needs alot of work doing to it, but this is still early days i have ages left of the cycle to make even more gains in size

Day 13

2008-02-02T01:11:00.000-08:00

Day 13 oral only steroid cycle

I am so sore this morning from yesterdays workout, my chest hurts so much and i can feel my pecs bouncing up and down hurting when i walk down the stairs. On a positive note atleast it shows my workout was good yesterday and my pecs are getting bigger, soon i will be able to stand a bottle of drink on the top of them, well ok maybe not but they are getting bigger and i think the above photos show that.

the day has been a little bad in terms of eating and due to a trip somewhere i skipped 2 meals throughout the day.

Day 12

2008-01-31T23:25:00.000-08:00

Day 12 dianabol only cycle

A little stiffness this morning after a good stretch that went away, my right wrist has been aching the last couple of days and i believe this is down to the heavy lifting, i may buy a wrist strap today, just so i can support is sligtly when working out.

Shoulder worked was awesome and i managed to lift more then ever, strength is definately on the increase.

for the last couple of days everythjing i seem to get gets stuck in my chest i can only describe this feeling to be what i would call heart burn or some form of indegestion, whether this is related to the dianabol or not i do not know but the same happened when i used superdrol in the past.

My upper body is feeling like it has gotten bigger my work shirts are getting tighter around the armpit / back area and when i stand up straight my shoulders look like they stick out slightly, after workouts i feel like superman and look massive, i am loving dbol and so far so good.

Day 11

2008-01-30T23:20:00.000-08:00

Day11
Chest workout went excellent today my strength and recvery from each set is significantly increased and the pump feeling is apparent after each set, the soreness after each set goes quickly and i felt refreshed and ready to do more.

After the gym a looked in the mirror and i am noticing muscles starting to appear that were not visible before. I have started noticing my pecs appearing and they stick out slightly when wearing a t shirt.

5 minutes on the sunbed again today made me feel really good again, i musct suffer from this seasonal disorder because i have always felt better in the summer months.

My wisdom teeth are still hurting and i finding it hard to eat now, i want to avoid painkillers because the dianabol is already going to have an impact on my iver without adding another substance.

Day 10

2008-01-30T07:01:00.001-08:00

Day 10 is here, i woke up feeling a little sore this morning from yesterdays back blasting workout, i added a few extra sets of pull ups the wide grip ones and find my lats are hurting today, which is a good sign as i know i worked them out hard.

the past couple of days my gyms at the back of my mouth have been aching and i have a flap of skin appearing i believe this to be an aggrevation of my wisdom teeth, when doing my research i read that this could be a possibility. Apart from that no real side effects are apparent so far.

Day 9

2008-01-28T22:27:00.001-08:00

Dianabol day 9

Woke up this morning full of energy and excited about training today, the past weeks results in terms of gains has motivated me to try harder this week and hopefully gain more mass and reduce some fat around the belly area, i know i said i wasnt worried about it before, i really want a more defined look around the mid section.

Workout we excellent today and its weird because usually i am tired by the end of it but it seemed that me back and biceps just wanted more and more after each set, i think i can safely say that the dianabol is working now.

I tried one of my t shirts on today and it felt tight around the armpit / back area either i have grown a little or its shrunk in the wash either way its a good feeling to know that i must be growing.

Day 8

2008-01-27T23:27:00.000-08:00

Its monday morining again and the first day of my second week dianabol only cycle, its an off day from training today so i am going to use this day just to relax and spend the day researching on the internet.

The picture was taken this morning first thing before breakfast and so was the weigh in.

Todays weight 201lbs

I was pretty impressed with the scale reading i have gone from 190 - 201lbs in a weeks, i guess a lot of that is water weight but still for me its excellent, i am only going to take body meausrements every two weeks so i will do that next monday.

Todays meals

0700 cereal, banana & apple
1000 Meat filled pasta and cheese
1200 Rice and chicken
1500 Pizza, pasta &salad
1700 Protein shake
1900 sandwich

I started feeling a little sick this afternoon and evening so i couldnt consume much for my evening meals, i dont believe this to be related to the dianabol in anyway as there is a bit of a sickness bug going aroind at the moment so what i am going to do is jack up the vitamin c a little to try and help out my immune system.

Day 7

2008-01-26T23:48:00.000-08:00

End of week 1 summary

I cant believe its the end of the week almost it has gone really quick. Chest and triceps work out went well today i was not sore at all in the morning from the back workout yesterday just a bit stiff when i initially woke up but after a quick stretch this went away. Its the last day of 25mg dianabol and tomorrow i step it up to 30mg. I think it has definately kicked in now and i am noticing quicker recovery times from the gym which is good.

Now the dianabol has kicked in in the next few days if my research is correct i should notice increased feelings of euphoria and an increased pump in the gym. It has taken about 6 days for the effects to kick in, however with a larger dose this may have happened sooner. My nutrition needs to improve and i need to increase my protein intake and add extra calories to my diet in order to gain more mass.

I am going to increase my cardio levels slightly as i am so unfit and are getting out of breath easy when lifting weights which is not good so i am going to do atleast 20minutes of some form of cardio daily even if its walking or something. A lesson learnt from this week is always keep back stock of protein powder incase another accident happens, i have got some more now so i am set for the week to come, i will weigh myself etc tomorrow and post the results.

Day 6

2008-01-25T23:23:00.000-08:00

Day six is here, the first week is almost over, it has gone really quick so far, its was back and biceps day today, i have a really good workout and hammered my back and biceps, my muscle felt full after the workout with a better pump then usual, could this be the dianabol kicking in?

I cant wait to get onto the scales again on monday i think i have put on some weight already as just looked massive in the mirror after the gym, i actually look like a body builder all my muscles were pumped and full and i looked good, although this effect will go away eventually its nice

i used the sun bed again today only for 5 minutes as my skin is still really white and i dont want to over do it and end up burnt do i.

Meals

0700 Cereal (pre workout)
0900 yoghurt, fruit, banana, porridge
1000 Protein drink
1100 chicken and chips
1600 Sandwich
1900 Rice, chicken and bacon

My local store is still out of protein powder so i am going to go on a mission later and get some from another town. I got an instant sachet from the gym just to use for today untill i replace my stock.

its now evening and i dont ache at all from my gym session this morning maybe its the dianabol kicked in? ill update tomorrow

Day 5

2008-01-24T20:47:00.000-08:00

Ok so its day 5 of my first oral only anabolic steroid cycle, and its a rest day today which is well needed i am shattered after the last couple of days training and eating etc it will be nice just to not have to do anything. I am working earlys at work at the moment so i have to get up crazy early so i will be looking forward to going to bed tonight.

I am not going to document meals today as it was identical to yesterday with the evening meal being chicken pie, potatoes and veg.

Not anything else to report today, looking forward to tommorows workout, back and biceps.

Day 4

2008-01-23T20:43:00.000-08:00

ok so its day 4 today, cant believe how fast the week is going, i woke up this morning feeling refreshed and no soreness is apparent which is good as its shoulders and legs day today.

Shoulder workout went fairly well and i got a good maybe even better then normal pump from it, my shoulders felt swollen and huge after workout which i believe is a good sign, i really think i am gonna be sore in the morning just got that feeling.

Meals

0500 ceral, yoghurt, apple, roll
0900 Apple, banana
1200 meat sandwich
1500 chicken and pasta
1800 spag bol
2000 bowl of mixed fruit and nuts and yoghurt

My local store had run out of protein powder, this is not a good start, but have promised they should have some tomoorow so fingers crossed they will, as i dont want to be starving my body of protein when trying to gain muscle. If they dont have any i will just have to go travelling at the weekend to find some.

Dianabol is still being taken at roughly the same times each day it will be easier next week when the dose has increased so i do not have to split tablets up.

Day 3

2008-01-23T00:41:00.000-08:00

Ok its day 3 of my oral only cycle. Waking up this morning i am so sore, all my muscle feel stiff especially around the chest and armpit area, its a good job that i am not training today as would not be able to lift anything. I didnt want to get out of bed this morning and had a bit of a lay in which is what i needed to recharge my batteries.

For cardio i just did a twenty minute jog around my local park with the dogs, nothing to hard as am pretty tired from yesterday i have spent a good amount of time stretching out my muscles in an attempt to loosen off a little.

Meals

0900: yoghurt, cereal, 2 x hot cross buns, apple, banana
1200: Tuna and cucumber sandwich, carrots and fruit
1500 Progain weight gainer
1700 new potatoes, chicken in sauce, vegatables
1900 bowl of mixed nuts

Not really noticing any effects yet, still feeling sore after workout so its apparent that the dianabol has not kicked in yet, i am expecting from what i have read to start feeling the effects and noticing improved recovery times etc by the end of this week / next week at the latest. It maybe that the inital dose of dianabol is to low this week to have any great effects but i do not want to increase it as want my body to get used to it slowly and in its own time.

I need to purchase some more protein powder i have only been able to have i dose today due to a little accident with the open tub, hopefully this will not effect things to much and i will purchase some more hopefuly tomorrow from my local store.

I have also been persuaded to start martial arts classes with a friend which start on friday so i guess that will help with my fitness levels and shave off some excess bodyfat.

Day 2

2008-01-21T23:16:00.000-08:00

Ok so its day two of my dianabol only cycle. Managed to wake up on time this morning so had breakfast before the gym, hopefully this will give me more energy. Back and neck feel a little sore this morning which was expected as had a hard workout yesterday. I loosened up before training this morning with more of a stretching routine then i normally do simply to try and over come the soreness from yesterday.

Chest and Tricep training went well and i felt really pumped after the gym. I do like the pumped up feel when your muscles feel really big and tight makes all the effort put into training them worth it.

I had a quick game of squash post workout nothing to strenuous just a friendly game or two which last approx 20minutes which means i have workout for about an hour and a half today. My whole routine is only ment to take about 50minutes but the gym was busy so had to wait a little longer to get on some of the benches.

Post workout i had a sunbed session only 5 minutes but felt really good after like spending the whole day in the summer sun. lovely. I am not going to over do it though just have a session every now and then to begin with.

My meals were as follows

0700 Cereal + Yoghurt + fruit (pre workout)
0900 2 x rolls, protein shake, fruit (post cycle)
1200 2 x quarter pounders and salad
1500 Progain weight gainer
1700 Chicken breast and rice
2100 Bowl of mixed nuts and yoghurt

I think i need to start consuming more food and protein but i wont up my quantities untill next week so i can give my body time to adjust to the extra protein i am giving it. The dianabol was split at meal times and i have had no upset stomach so far today. The burgers were not a good idea but had no access to anyother foods. Think i might get some protein bars for when i need food but have none. Again i have not noticed any extra feelings in the gym or out, but i guess its only day two.

2330 i am about to go to bed, its a rest day from weights tomorrow but i may do some cardio i am getting concerned that i am unfit so will work on my fitness levels tomorrow, i may throw in some pull ups for good measure.

Day 1 (dianabol only cycle)

2008-01-20T23:56:00.000-08:00

Ok its monday and day 1 of my dianabol only cycle, i woke up late this morning as forgot to set my alarm so i was late for the gym meaning i didnt get time for breakfast before so i spent working out hungary. i still had a good workout training back and biceps which lasted about 50minutes, i didnt do any cardio today as just didnt have time, and i plan on doing lots tomorrow as have a game of squash lined up after my workout.

I really hammered my biceps today and writing this at the end of the day they still feel a little sore.

I consumed the dianabol in 3 doses as i have 10mg tabs i had to get one in half to get the 5mg. i had the dianabol divided at the following times:

7.30am 10mg - (before training)

11.00am 10mg

16.00pm 5mg

tomorrow i will probabily look at spacing it out a bit more. No effects were apparent from the dianabol and i feel as i normally do, obviously its to early to tell.

Meals:

0700 - bowl of fruit and yoghurt (before gym)
0900 - Progain weight gainer shake (post workout)
1100 - Full cooked english breakfast
1500 - Promax protein shake
1700 - Pizza and salad
1900 - Fruit smootie and porridge oats

2300 - Bed

I have had a little stomach upset today but i believe its just my body adjusting to the extra food, tomorrow i will consume the dianabol with food to stop any stomach upset from that.

1 day to go

2008-01-19T12:43:00.000-08:00

Ok so i start my first anabolic steroid oral only cycle tomorrow, am i nervous? yes a little but very excited my motivation is on a high and i cant weight to hit the gym, i know results are not going to come on the first day and may have to weight a week before i see any results. I have not trained for a week as i have been extremly busy and wanted to prepare my body for the cycle by resting it as its going to be hard work over the next couple of weeks. I have got all my supplements and dianabol ready to go.

I have recently recieved a PM on the forums about why i am doing this who blog thing. Basically my answer is i have never been able to motivate myself to consistantly training and have never tracked results or gym progress in anyway and that is why i have failed in the past. By keeping track of my success online i will be more motivated and hopefully get encouragement from readers to keep me motivated throughout.

Before stats

2008-01-18T11:04:00.000-08:00

Ok here are my 'before my first anabolic steroid cycle stats'. Honestly i look a bit better then the pictures make out but you get the idea. The picture was taken today 19/01/2008.

Before the end of the cycle i plan to get rid of the body hair and hopefully develop a slight tan from sun bed sessions which will start the same time as my cycle. As you can see from the before photo i am holding a little fat around my sides i am not to worried about this and will cut up post cycle to try and loose it and get some definition especially around the stomach area ladies love the six pack after all.

My beginning stats are as follows:

R BICEP (Flexed) 38.5cm
L BICEP (Flexed) 37.5cm
Waist 64cm
Weight 190lbs

Everything else is to be recorded visually through photos which as explained earlier will be taken once a week on the monday.

My training plan

2008-01-17T02:55:00.000-08:00

Ok basically i intend to use the following training split for my workouts:

Day1: Back / Biceps
Day2: Chest / Triceps
Day3: OFF
Day4: Legs / Shoulders
Day5: OFF
Day6: Repeat

Hopefully sticking to this should be easy but as i work shifts i may have to alter it slightly throughout the cycle.

For each exercise i plan on doing:
1 set 12 reps
1 set 10 reps
1 set 8 reps
1 set 6 reps
1 set 4 reps
So thats 5 sets in total, i will have to increase the weight on the bar each time so i can do no more then the number of reps set.
For cardio i play squash twice a week and will aim to do a 10minute warm up and 10 minute cool down before and after each weight workout. I will rest for about 30seconds between each set, and consume a protein shake immediatley after each workout.

As for the exercises i will start off using the following:

Chest / Triceps
Dumbell bench press
Incline dumbell press
Flyes
Dumbell pullovers
Tricep pull downs
Close grip bench press
Dips x 30

Back / Biceps
T bar rows
Pull ups x 30
Close grip cable rows
Wide grip pull ups x 30
barbell curl
Incline dumbell curl
Hammer curl

Legs / Shoulders
Shoulder Press
Laterals
Front raises
Leg Press
Leg Curl
Calf extention
Upright rows

Legs are my weak point as i have water on the knee and cannot walk without limping so i will not be able to do heavy weights when it comes to leg workouts.

Discuss training routines and other aspects of bodybuilding on all pumped up
forums

Anabolic steroid and bodybuilding articles

Supplements and meals

2008-01-17T02:02:00.000-08:00

Ok so my goal is to gain weight, i suffer from some digestive problems so i normally find it hard to eat alot. My daily meals will look similar to this sort of set up:

Meal 1: Breakfast
Meal2: Protein shake
Meal3: Lunch
Meal4: Protein shake
Meal5: Dinner
Meal6: Snack

As you can see i am going to supplement my diet with protein shakes i am going to use Progain by maximuscle for this its a weight gainer which i dont mind the taste of and is low in lactose so dose not upset my stomach as i am lactose intolerant.

For each meal i aim to consume around 500-600 calories in the form of protein and carbohydrates, im not going to count calories just eat what i feel is enough. I will keep track of what i eat in my daily logs.

Other supplements i am going to use are as follows:
Digestive enzymes
Vitamin c 500mg chewable
Saw Plametto
Zinc 25mg
Hawthorn berry

The viatmin c and zinc is to help keep my immune system working well, i take this all year round to combat any colds i may get.
The saw plametto is to help combat any potential prostrate issues from the dianabol
Hawthorn berry is to help lower my blood pressure to avoid any possible nose bleds etc whilst on the cycle.

Forum

A little bit about me

2008-01-17T00:33:00.001-08:00

I am 25 years old and I have been training on and off for about 2 years, and have made some resonable gains in that time, i am sick and tired off the skinny look and want to add some size to my body particularly around the upper body chest, biceps, shoulder area. I am not bothered about gaining any fat whilst on cycle as i am naturally really skinny and can lose bodyfat easier then i can gain weight.
i would describe myself as a hardgainer.

I have been batteling to gain weight over the last year and have just addopted the technique of eating anything and everything. My weight has gone from 170lb - 190lb in a year and thats just from eating loads, and taking various supplements. I work shift work so my training days have never been consistant and have been on odd days here and there, i try and train about 3-4 times a week at the moment. Although looking at me you would not be able to tell i have real problems gaining and keeping muscle so hopefully this cycle will give me a kick start.

Introduction

2008-01-16T16:16:00.000-08:00

My First cycle (oral only cycle)

This site is like my diary or journal for my first anabolic steroid cycle, i will make daily posts keeping track of my thoughts feelings and progress throughout, taking body part measurements and weight every week. I have decided that steroids is the next step for me to take i want to increase my muscle mass and improve my body in a short space of time. I do not want to use injectable steroids so i have opted to try an oral only steroid cycle. For this i am going to use dianabol only. For information on dianabol then please click here.

My start day is going to be monday the 21st jan 2008 and will last for 8 weeks in total. The cycle will look something like this:

Week 1 25mg dianabol

Week 2 30mg dianabol

Week 3 30mg dianabol

Week 4 40mg dianabol

Week 5 40mg dianabol

Week 6 30mg dianabol

Week 7 30mg dianabol

Week 8 25mg dianabol

Week 9 Start PCT cycle

I aim to keep track of my progress through pictures and measurements which will be taken on the monday of every week. My goals for the cycle is to gain as much weight as possible with the aim to gain around 15lbs if possible. For training i tend to do high volume training and my workouts will be summerised on each day as to what exercises and how many sets are performed.

I am doing this cycle to increase my strength as currently its pretty shit to be honest i have not trained for a while and feel weak, and to gain weight. I am hoping that all of these combined will increase my confidence and change my lifestlye. I have been training on and off for about 2 years and have decided to take it seriously i need something to motivate me into training consistantly and eating a bodybuilders diet so i feel this cycle will help me to do that and hopefully reach my goals.

I am in no way trying to sell any product nor do i promote the use of steroids this site is simply my online diary i am keeping to track my progress and if you want to follow along with me then you are welcome to do so.