FAQ Section

I recently noticed that the forum is getting very cluttered and unorganized. This encouraged me to pursue the suggestion Acidkidsa made some time ago that we need to setup a FAQ section.

The only reason we don't have it already is because it is allot of work and I just don't have the time to write down all the questions I get and provide answers.

I would like to dedicate this topic to member questions and answers.
Please keep in mind that the guys likely to read the FAQ section will be novices, so make your answers very clear and explain how you came to that conclusion. The goal is to teach anybody with no experience in AAS the basics and also to make them understand why you gave that answer.

Please also suggest the category your question falls in...

Here is an example of how I want you to post your FAQ:

SECTION: General
QUESTION: How much weight can someone expect to gain during the first cycle of steroids??
ANSWER: Provided dosing is sufficient, a steroid user can expect to make the most significant progress during their first cycle. Although this vary from person to person, it is not uncommon for someone to gain 8Kg of weight or more during a 8-10 week period of AAS use. Some of this may be water retention, although a solid gain of more than 4-6 Kg of muscle mass is possible.

Please do not post comments in this topic, ONLY example questions.
The persons who put the most effort into helping with the FAQ will receive some free goodies. Email me to find out more...

QUESTION: I am currently on a cycle of Deca/Tren and testosterone. What would my pct look like.
Answer: As deca and trenbelone are both 19nor substances u should not use tamoxifen/kessar/Nolvadex for your post cycle therapy as this may lead to progesterone based side effects such as progersterone gyno. so your pct essentially would be clomid. 100mg for 5 days followed by 50mg for 10-15days.Ideally HcG(pregnyl/ovidrel) should be run at a maintaince dose of 500iu's twice weekly during the cycle of deca/tren as not to shut down to badly but if this is not the case,2 weeks post your last shot of testosterone(seeing that u would be including this substance as the base of your stack)you will start your pct with 500iu's of pregnyl 3 times a week for 3 weeks. the same time you start your pregnyl u will start your clomid therapy.

Question: What steroids to avoid when suffering from hypertension

Answer: Avoid all highly androgenic steroids, a list of steroids the currently is known to cause hypertension are: Testerosterone, Trenbolone Acetate, Methandriol, Anadrol, Dianabol, Methyltestosterone

Steroids safe to use: Primobolan, Winstrol, Masteron, Equiposise (Boldenone), Andriol, all your Nandrolones, Dynabolin, Durabolin, Deca Durabolin, Anadur, Laurabolin.

Note: If you would like to take substances like the listed known substances that raise BP, a recommendation of Letrozole I would start with a dose of 0.5mg a day and if you notice you still holding water work your way up, a recommended dose would be 0.25mg / 1mg depending on the dose of the gear you are consuming. Some facts show us that using a diuretic during this time can help with the extra water retension.

Currently I find a dose of 0.5 p/d is required at a dose of 600mg testosterone, and less than than I start to carry more water and as a result due to aldosterone effect you have electrolytes favouring sodium, so be sure you take large doses of potassium. Also a quick note about Letro I find anything over 1 mg has 0% extra effect on estrogen.

Question: How long is it safe to run HCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin)

Answer: To first give you some information from this product it is best to know the active life of the product, which is 64 hours, that is why it’s recommend to take this product every 3 to 5 days, and another important factor is to understand that HCG has an almost identical amino acid sequence to that of LH (Luteinizing Hormone) which is produced in the pituitary gland. Clinical trials have also proven than a dose of 1500 / 2000 i.u. has increased plasma testosterone levels by 200/300% over that of one’s normal levels.

So back to the question taking HCG for longer than 3 weeks without at least a month break can cause permanent gonadal dysfunction or a desensitizing of Leydig Cells, so the best way I find to use this would be to HCG mid cycle for 2/3 weeks and at the end of your cycle, which would follow up with Clomid and/or Tamoxifen .

Question: I want to do an oral only cycle as I’m afraid of needles, please advise something?

Answer: This is one of the biggest questions we hear, the answer to that is simple, this is not possible without a very hectic crash on your hypothalamus-pituitary-testes-axis (HPTA). Also if you are like everyone that asks this question you are looking at using Dianabol, this will only cause you to swell up like a balloon and when you finish your ‘cycle’ you will deflate faster than you came up and will probably lose more weight than when you started due to the shutdown, now you will be required to do a proper PCT but you will be afraid to inject HCG due to needles, so in the end you will have long term side effects of a negative nature. Please refer to steroid side affects to get a list of these known elements.

Question: What to know before you start a cycle

Answer:

1) Understand how steroids work from their positive attributes to their negative ones.

2) Make sure you understand all the risks involved before you even consider starting a cycle.

3) Make sure you over 23, some believe 21 is ok, I know for certain you still have high enough test levels and are in a very positive anabolic state as it is.

4) Understand nutrition (this is probably the most important aspect of it all, as diet will determine whether you gain or not during your cycle

5) Know your body and know what works for you in a gym, the key to growing is understanding how to train properly.

6) Make sure you get enough rest, 8+ per night, if you can’t get 8 hours a night then have a power nap during the day, your body only grows when you resting.

7) Make sure you do not consume allot of toxins, what you put in your get out. And if you going to take steroids just to be a ‘big boi’ you have your priorities in the wrong place. Bodybuilding is not body destroying, you need to live a clean life, minimal but preferably no drinking, and no smoking. There is nothing worse than a ‘Big Guy’ who is puffing on a cigarette or popping pills at a rave. Bodybuilding is a way of life which promotes health, our quest is to know all the wonders of health and nutrition and by this we should lead by example. And you start to mess with toxins (EG: Cocaine/Meth, etc and steroids) together you are a walking time bomb.

Consider steroid use after have been training a number of years your tendons are ready for the strain you about to put on them, just because you feeling strong like supper man doesn’t mean the rest of your body is developed enough to support this increase body mass + added iron in the gym and this is when you start to get injuries, like rotator cuff, losing synovial fluid and creating issues in with your knees, etc.

Question: What is Post-Cycle Therapy (aka PCT)?

Answer: To fully understand the answer to this question you need to first realize that your body always seeks to remain in a very balanced state - this condition of balance in the body is called homeostasis.

Whenever you take in any external substances which cause an increase significantly beyond the normal or homeostatic levels your body is accustomed to, your body will generally respond by reducing its own, internal production of those substances in an effort to re-establish the 'normal', lower levels to which it's accustomed.

This is especially true with hormones of any type. The result is that for a temporary period of time, your body's production of important hormones may actually dip BELOW normal levels. This happens when the use of the external substance is discontinued - in our case, this would be after the prohormone cycle is completed. Because the body's internal production levels are below normal due to the body cutting back on production in an effort to normalize levels AND because you're no longer adding more externally...your overall hormonal levels are thus temporarily depressed/reduced - BELOW normal.

So, Post-Cycle Therapy, or PCT, is a term used to describe (generally) the supplement regimen used by individuals after completing a cycle of an anabolic or prohormone for the purpose of QUICKLY restoring the body's natural production of hormones. PCT is also one of the most important (yet overlooked with surprising frequency) aspects of a complete, successful prohormone cycle.

Why? Because without PCT, during this "low" period, you can lose a decent amount of the gains you made (we'll talk more on why this is the case below).
Also, you should know that over time your body will - on its own - return to normal production levels. It's not a permanent condition. The issue, however, is the "over time" part - during the lag period while hormonal levels are below normal (as mentioned above) you can lose a decent amount of the gains you just made - by the same mechanism of action which produced the gains, working in reverse.

What does this mean? Well, one of the key ways that prohormones (or your own natural testosterone for that matter) produce rapid muscle growth is that these compounds bind to cell receptor sites and cause a significant increase in protein synthesis - leading to muscle cell growth/hypertrophy! Additionally, prohormones and testosterone exhibit anti-catabolic properties - reducing the effects of cortisol - leading to less protein loss from your muscle cells.

The reverse is true when hormone levels are too low - loss of protein from muscle cells = loss of muscle!

Taken off bodybuildingfactory.com

Question: What are Anabolic steroids (AS)

Answer: Anabolic steroids are synthetic derivative of testosterone. Testosterone is responsible for normal growth and development of the male sex organs and for the maintenance of secondary sex characteristics which include growth and maturation of the prostate, seminal vesicles, penis, and scrotum. Furthermore, testosterone help in thickening of the vocal cord, the alteration in body musculature and fat distribution, and the retention of nitrogen, water, and electrolytes.

Question: How to plan a cycle

Answer:

1) Buy all your gear before you start your cycle, to many times we think we will be ok and we land up not being able to get more supply for a lengthily period of time.

2) Make sure you have a goal in mind, not just ahhh *thumb suck* let’s take 500cc’s of X/Y/Z this week, and A/B/C the following. I believe the ‘pyramid’ up / down affect is old school and not in practice anymore. If you want to front load, plan it properly and work out active life, as well as recommend length, e.g: if you taking an oral like anadrol 50, make sure it’s for a short period of time not to cause kidney and liver damage.

3) Buy from a trusted source, there are some horrific pictures of people putting God knows what into ampoules and selling them off, especially with things like Tren, trust the source, I have seen pictures of peoples skin turn orange by injecting linseed oil (yes your heard right the stuff you knock your cricket bat in with)

4) Make sure if you taking a long easter once a week, that you do this every week at around the same time, as to keep blood plasma levels constant.

5) Make sure you understand PCT (Read my other post on what PCT is) and then follow Doctari’s protocol at www.anabolicsteroids.co.za/forum?func=view&catid=5&id=8254 on how to administer it.

6) All ways have Nolvadex which is now replaced with or should I rather say combined with Letrozole (new way of thinking) on hand in case you start to get any negative sides like gynecomastia or pre hypertension (high blood pressure). If these sides start I would immediately start with Nolvadex (unless using 19 nor substances due to progesterone sides) and combine this with Letrozole. Please note that Nolvadex lowers blood plaza levels of Letrozole by up to 20% so make sure you taking sufficient amounts of Letrozole for it to be affective. Letrozole only stops the formation of estrogen but does nothing for free estrogen already in your system, that is why it’s crucial to start with Nolvadex as soon as signs start to appear (itchy / puffy nipples some people experience extreme sensitivity and pain).

7) Just because there is some big guy in the gym this does not necessary mean you can rely on him for a source of knowledge, normally they are the worst people to speak to. You are new to AAS and therefore different principles apply to you. Please make sure after you understand the effects, positive and negative, drawn up a cycle and include your PCT protocol then post it on www.anabolicsteroids.co.za/forum and have some of the members take a look it to make sure you doing the right thing and clear you mind of the nonsense you have been fed in the past by people that simple have no clue. Also make sure you paste full information about yourself, height, current weight, body fat and age.

Make sure you know what you eating, as stated in step 2 have a goal in mind, work out what type of cycle you doing, mass, cutting, etc. Then let us know what you think you should be eating and how much calories you need to consume and what protein / carb / fat split you consider and bring this to our attention and we will advise accordingly.

9) Cycle on and off, give your body needs enough time to recover before you consider doing another cycle, also make sure you don’t let your head run away with you when you finish your cycle. What I mean by that is simple because you not on juice and pushing the same weights don’t neglect the gym, this is the time to be as focused as you can, even more so than when you where on that cycle. This is the most important time not to over train, keep your protein around 1.5grams per pound of body weight, and slightly lower your carb intake due to your metabolism slowing down. I’ll emphasize again, DO NOT OVERTRAIN DURING THIS TIME, and make sure you increase your vitamin intake as this is when allot of people crash out and start to get sick and lose allot of their gains.

Question: Is hGH (Human growth hormones) safe for me?

Answer: Before I list the explanations below please be aware there are some serious side effects to this product contrary to what many believe, most hGH marketers state ‘health care wonders’ selling this by promoting ‘No known side affects’ which is complete nonsense. They will say things like it can cure XYZ, be very skeptical! Listed below are the positive and negative side effects one can experience with this product. Please note most negative side effects can be prevented when not exceeding the recommend dose per day and the recommend length to use this product. I will not tell you this is safe for you or of a danger, I will just list the positive and negative side effects.

Please note that if you read the side effects of disprin your jaw will drop, yet you still use it, some polls have shown us that we use up to 240 pain killers a year broken down to 5 pain killers per week, through out our life for the average person. Anyway you get my drift, I will state my personal feedback is that only of a positive nature and I have been using this product for a very lengthly peroid of time with not 1 negative side effect.

Negative side effects:

- Premature death (in case of acromegaly)
- Heart enlargement (due to prolonged use of HGH. Can't be reversed)
- Low blood sugar with risk of going into a diabetic coma <-- This is due to incorrect timing of administration.
- Excessive hair growth all over the body
- Excessive water retention
- Liver damage
- Thyroid damage

Positive side effects:

- Increased Lipolysis
- Improved fluid balance
- Reversal of osteoporosis
- Improved exercise capacity
- Sense of well being
- Socialization
- Restores Rem (deep sleep)
- Increased Cardiac function
- Skin rejuvenation
- Improveed lung function
- Improved immunity
- Speeds post-surgical healing
- *** Regrowth of vital organs ***
- And the best and formost for all us bodybuildings (new cells) meaning bigger muscles, breaking past genetic limitations!

Something not displayed on the positive list that I have noticed is a decrese in systolic blood pressure.

Please see the attached which i found a long time ago

(File Removed)

Q
Why should I bother to research?
I just wanna get big, I don't care about the intricicate mumbo jumbo, just tell me what to take and finish...

A
There is no ideal protocol for a given steroid cycle or its PCT. Everyone is different and reacts differently to a given compound. Metabolism of testosterone to estrogen and DHT for instance occurs at very different rates in each individual. This why you had acne as a child, and Adonis didn’t.
The best way to find the ideal cycle for you is to understand what the steroids can potentially do in your body and only then experiment with compounds to find out what side effects are most predominant in you. As a novice begin with testosterone and move from there. Once you know how this compound affects you, you will be able to better plan future cycles with minimal regret.

Steroids differ from many other drugs in that the community that abuses them is not the community in which much of the research pertaining to any particular compound has been done. This means that everything we know about steroids is often twisted by poor interpretations of scientific literature and based on personal experienced. The best thing you can do is become a member of a respected steroid board for several months prior to even considering the purchase of your first compounds. Knowledge is muscle.

Q
What should I take for my first cycle?
A
Testosterone
Q
Why?
A
The first time I saw people recommending Test only first cycles was over half a decade ago. Getting the best possible gains form your first cycle forms a part of this argument as testosterone is the king of mass. However, it does not form the the crux of it.

The main point in the argument is that test is test. By injecting test into your body you are introducing a compound that your body knows what to do with. Other compounds that do not convert in the normal way that testosterone does often present more radical side effects. At an effective dosage even mild steroids that are DHT based in structure produce more androgenic side effects than test alone, because they upset the normal hormone balance in the body. People that are sensitive to DHT suffer as a result. This holds true for potent compounds that convert to 1-methyl estrogen derivatives.

In addition by putting a compound like testosterone into your body in your first cycle you allow yourself to gauge how you react to excessive steroid hormones in your system, since all are accounted for you then know what to stay away from in future. No point in wasting tons of cash on a low estrogenic cycle if you don't have a testicles chance in a whore house of gettin gyno.

For a seasoned trainer wanting to do a first cycle I agree with the ~500mg a week. Its a good base to put on good gains while still having a very low chance of presenting negative side effects. In fact sciency-type experiments on muscle mass and strength in active individuals using AAS have safely gone as high as 600mg/week with no negative effects, and this may actually be were the recommendation originally started.
However for a 60kg-75kg young man who hasn't done alot of work on diet or training, and is hell bent on doing 'roids' so that he can finally show of his biceps at the beach and hopefully one day actually get some ass, in this instance, 200mg / week will do wonders for him. And he will gain a fair understanding of what test does to him with very low side effects. This will be beneficial should he become addicted (which is usually the case) and move on to heavier cycles after actually beginning to educate himself.

Test is test and this is the main reason I believe test only first cycle should be recommended.

Q
What is meant by kickstarting or front loading?
A
The two terms are used interchangeably and perform the same function in a cycle. However for the point of clarity I will break them up into their original definitions.

Introduction
Most mass cycles consist of long ester compounds for several reasons.
Eg:
The user is less worried about water retention while doing a dirty bulk.
The user does not wish to turn himself into a pin cushion by regularly injecting short ester compounds.
The user has opted for injectable compounds because he is smart and wishes to protect his liver while using steroids to gain considerable mass over an extended period of time.

However as a draw back the slow release of long ester compounds means that the drugs do not reach stable blood levels quickly. This means that consistent gains will only start to show several weeks into the cycle.

The kickstart
One method of overcoming this early lag is to add in a quick acting compound to the first few weeks of his cycle. These compounds will promote gains in strength and some gains in muscle mass from the very beginning of the cycle. Most commonly Testosterone propionate and Dianabol are used for this purpose. Generally use is for four to six weeks until the long ester has stabilised at peak concentrations.

The frontload
Alternatively, the long ester is fontloaded so that it achieves stable blood levels much more quickly. Usually the compound is injected at double the dose for the first week. For instance if you are taking 250mg of Testosterone Cypionate twice a week, then you will front load with 500mg of Testosterone Cypionate for your first two injections. This will allow the compound to stabilise and produce consistent gains as early as two weeks into the cycle.

Aside
Stable blood levels are not only important for achieving consistent gains on cycle, but also play a role in minimising the side effects of a steroid cycle. Stable levels of steroids lead to stable levels of its metabolites and thus more of an equilibrium between the bodies different steroid hormones. An upset in equilibrium is what leads to side effects.

Q
To what does the term bridging refer?
Is this a safe way of maintaining my gains?
A
The bridge is used to maintain gains between steroid cycles. This involves the use of an anabolic compound that may or may not be suppressive to the natural HPTA. Generally low doses are used for several months towards this end. Steroid compounds used in a bridge include Dianabol, Proviron, and very low doses of Testosterone Propionate, although everyone who bridges has their own theory on the optimal compound.

The idea of bridging is a highly debated one. The reason is that although a bridge will allow you to hang onto those hard sought gains, it effectively negates the idea of doing a steroid cycle in the first place. The point of cycling is HPTA suppression for a reduced time frame, and then an equal amount of time off cycle to allow for HPTA recovery. Any bridge using steroid compounds will result in HPTA suppression and thus impaired recovery.

Growth hormone has now become the most used bridging compound. There are of course numerous other risks associated with extended GH use, but as a steroid bridge it is by far the most superior since it does not impact on HPTA, as well as aiding in post cycle physical trauma healing and repair.

The bridge is a concept that should only be employed by the experienced mature steroid user. Top end BBers and Pros cannot maintain the mass they do without a bridge of some sort, if they do ever come off the compounds they are on. However for the rest HPTA recovery should form the most fundamentally important aspect of your steroid cycle… Something to which the bridge does not conform.

Q
Can I drink alcohol while on cycle?
A
This is a personal choice. Most BB’ers and Fitness fundies do not drink regularly and thus do not need to force themselves away from the booze for a few weeks to do a cycle. However we all arrive at the situation where one or two drinks are almost mandatory, and these situations can occur while on cycle or off cycle.

The reason alcohol is particularly shied away from on cycle is the added stress on your liver that steroids incur. Any foreign compound once introduced into the body must be eliminated via the liver. This elimination results in a level of toxicity as reactive metabolites are formed in the breakdown process, and enzymes normally required to eliminate other compounds are inhibited or suppressed. By drinking alcohol while on cycle you are adding to the stress your liver will endure during this time frame. This toxicity can lead to serious health concerns later in life including cancer.
While heavy or regular drinking on cycle and off dramatically increase the chances of these ailments, the occasional beverage at any time in your life (on cycle or off) will have a minimal effect in this regard. This holds true as well for the negative effects that alcohol will have on you muscle gains and fat deposition throughout your life.

In the end the choice is yours and nobody can advice you in this regard. As long as you are aware of the risks and benefits of alcohol consumption only you can make the correct decision for your lifestyle.

Q
When am I ready for steroids?
A
When you are absolutely sure you know how to eat, and you know how to train. You have tried every training routine and diet offered by man. You are force feeding yourself thousands of calories worth of healthy food sources every day. You are sleeping adequately and have an appropriate supplementation routine. You are doing all of these things, every day, of every week, of every painstaking blood curdling month, and yet you are still unable to grow…

If this is you, then you are no younger than your mid twenties, and you already look pretty good. You are now ready to consider steroid use. But you are not ready for steroids. Once you have done a few months of research, you can tell me what PCT is, and you can provide me with a rough sketch of your first cycle, its PCT, and why you have chosen the compounds you have, then my friend, you are ready for steroids.

Q
I am overweight, should I use steroids to help me lose the fat and gain some hard sexy muscles.
A
Although steroids do aid in fat loss by increasing total muscle mass and overall metabolism, when you are overweight this is not the ideal time to start a steroid cycle. The reason is not a physical one, but rather a mental one. Very few people have the ability to stay motivated to losing fat when every day they tip the scale a little heavier and appear a little broader in the mirror. An overweight individual will appear fatter to himself and his colleagues as his muscles grow under his fat while he is engaged in a steroid cycle. In addition many of the mass building drugs are renowned for excessive water retention which will make the individual look puffier.
For the unseasoned trainer, putting on muscle mass and losing fat just does not go hand in hand. The high calories required to maximise muscle building while on a steroid cycle are in complete contradiction with the lower calories required to effectively lose fat. It is only once you are in a comfortable body fat percentage that you are able to carefully manipulate you diet to one that facilitates simultaneous muscle gain and fat loss.

An individual who is overweight and looking to shape up should rather first consider other aspects of his lifestyle. Low G.I. carbohydrate sources and a high protein intake are essential to his diet plan. He should calculate the number of calories required for him to maintain a healthy weight for his age and height, and focus on eating slightly less than this. An intensive training programme including weight lifting and cardiovascular activity every week with at least one day of rest and recovery should be devised. Once these essential components are in place and the individual is still not losing weight quickly enough he might consider the use of thermogenic ancillary compounds. These include caffeine, yohimbe, ephedrine, and clenbuterol. The user will of course spend some time researching the proper use, health risks, and other relevant information pertaining to these compounds before considering their purchase and use.

Finally, when the user has finally brought his weight down to a healthy figure, he might then consider the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids for increasing muscle mass and further defining his physique.

Q
What is the difference between bulking or cutting, and which drugs can I best use for this purpose?
A
A bulk is defined as a period of time in which someone strives to add additional muscle to his/her overall body composition. A cut however, is defined as a period of time in which that individual will instead choose to reduce his/her body fat considerably, while attempting to hold on to as much muscle mass as possible.

Although some drugs are definitely better suited to bulking or cutting the truth is that you can do both on almost any compound. Whether you bulk or cut is not down to which compound you use but rather your diet. If you wish to bulk then all you need to do is eat more calories than you consume, generally a minimum of 500 extra calories per day are advised toward this end. If you wish to cut the opposite is true, with the generally excepted rule being a 500 calorie deficit per day. Although there is little room for diet manipulation when it comes to cutting, the user does have some options when bulking. Some may opt for minimal water retention and a very low G.I., low fat (clean) diet with the goal of striving for lean mass gains, while others will opt for a ‘eat everything and anything’ approach to maximise all possible muscle gains at the cost of some additional body fat. Those opting for the latter option will usually alternate between cutting and bulking cycles throughout the year, taking advantage of an increased appetite in winter for their bulking sessions and a decreased appetite in summer for their cutting.

Once one understands what is required for a bulk or cut, you can then begin to contemplate which compounds you wish to use towards this end. Generally compounds that convert to estrogen and thus result in some water retention are used in bulking cycles. If on a lean mass bulking cycle one may opt for the concurrent use of an A.I. when on aromatisable steroids to eliminate water retention. However one should be careful not to lower estrogen too low during the cycle as this can result in several negative side effects that will prevent gaining muscle mass. These include both impaired immune function (getting sick) and joint deterioration following intense exercise. Exemestane and anastrazole still allow for some free estrogen in the system while letrozole is far more potent and even in very low doses will obliterate estrogen production in the body. Estrogen should not be radically lowered unless the user is competing and educated. A cut is also generally complimented by an A.I. and a stimulant.

Q
How long should I cycle for?
A
This really depends on two things:
1. The compounds you are using, and the length of time they take to reach stable blood levels and thus produce consistent gains.
2. The risks involved with steroid use.

If you are using short esters or methylated compounds (compounds with short half lives) then gains will start to come relatively soon. This type of cycle however usually includes several oral compounds which produces greater liver stress. Thus cycles are kept short, anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks with 6 weeks being the accepted norm.

If you are using long ester compounds (and thus longer half lives) then gains come slower. Since you only start noticing gains several weeks into your cycle it is a requirement to run longer cycles. However one must after some time consider how long his endogenous hormone profile is "shut down". The longer the cycle the worse the shut down, the worse the recovery, and the greater the risk of permanent damage to the hormone profile (in worst cases the user does not recover adequate testosterone production and must resort to HRT for life). In this instance cycles are generally kept between 8 and 12 weeks.



Q
How long a break must I take before my next cycle?
A
The generally excepted formula is:
T-OFF = T-ON + T-PCT
Where
T-OFF is the length of time you take between cycles
T-ON is the length of time your previous cycle lasted
T-PCT is the length of time you spent doing PCT after your previous cycle.

There is no real scientific basis for this formula, but the message is still important. The idea is simply to allow for adequate recovery time and a length of time spent "at normal" before again completely upsetting the natural hormone balance. It is a simplistic way of saying: "Let your body recover fully before doing the damage all over again".

Q
I would like to put my girlfriend / wife / sister / mother on steroids. What steroids are good choices for women?
A
The key when giving females steroids is to adhere to low doses of compounds with a short half life. This is because women maintain naturally low levels of androgenic compounds and thus exogenous steroids will not only rapidly spurt muscle growth but can also rapidly produce side effects. In addition to the usual health risks men are exposed to on cycle, when administered to women exogenous androgens produce a masculinising effect. This includes extra bodily hair growth, deepening of the voice, male pattern baldness, and an enlargement of the clitoris. After extensive abuse the clitoris begins to resemble something like a pseudo-penis. If you are confused about this particular symptom you can simply Google Denis Masino to get a better graphical explanation. This being said, women can safely use steroids to achieve their goals. If used correctly you do not have to worry about her resembling a man with a vagina. By sticking to short ester compounds the female user can immediately stop the use of steroids should any side effects present themselves. If caught early enough the side effect will quickly subside and she will return to normal. Most fitness and figure athletes do not despite steroid use. Generally women are given what are considered to be milder steroids, and conveniently these are often marketed in lower doses. Ironically however these compounds are often DHT based and thus significantly androgenic. Despite this oxandrolone is one of the most commonly abused steroids amongst females.
A good oral only first cycle for women will be 6 - 10 weeks of 5mg - 20mg of either oxandrolone or winstrol. Keep in mind that winstrol is slightly more androgenic than oxandrolone and doses are typically lower in comparison. Because of the low dosage women can run the orals for longer without considerably greater strain on the liver and kidneys. In addition women do not have to worry excessively about permanent shut down on cessation of there cycle, women remember subject themselves to all kinds of shut down in life as part of birth control methods. However toxicity will still build up and her health will eventually suffer as a result of lowered estrogen, and thus the cycle must eventually end.
For an injectable first cycle women commonly use testosterone propionate or nandrolone phenylpropionate. Usually these options are only considered once she has one or two decent cycles under her belt. Again, the oil is diluted so that small doses in the region of 10mg - 20mg EOD can be administered.

All aspects of nutrition and training apply for her to maximise her gains. Regardless of the choice of compound it is advisable to start with low doses (5mg a day) and work up in small increments to ensure she does not react horribly. Remember everyone is different. Make sure she is committed and educated before considering a steroid cycle.




Q
What should women do for PCT?
A
Women do not suffer the same shut down that men do. However they still suffer from a hormonal imbalance that must be rectified post cycle. Everyone is different and some women lose their menstrual cycle using gear while others don’t. Some only restore their natural rhythm months after the AAS cycle. Although there are no compounds currently prescribed to rectify the female hormone panel post cycle, there is an option to maintaining natural rhythm while on cycle, much like HCG for men. Although most figure athletes stay away from the pill due to their need to cut out estrogen for competition, the use of the pill on cycle can keep you regular while on an AAS cycle. Since many women generally shut themselves down anyway by using the pill to regulate their hormones as a method of contraceptive this is an easily obtainable product. It will help her to maintain her natural menstrual cycle while using gear and thus her hormone profile will not be overly effected by exogenous steroids. Importantly this will contribute to a smooth recovery and maintenance of gains acquired from AAS use.

Q
What the banana does that mean?

A
AAS – Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids
Ace – Acetate
Adex – Anastrozole (ArimidexTM)
Adrol / A-bombs / A50 – Oxymetholone (AnadrolTM)
A.I. – Aromatase Inhibitor
Clen - Clenbuterol
Dbol / Anabol – Methandrostenolone (DianabolTM)
Deca – Nandrolone Decanoate (Deca DurabolinTM)
DHT – 5alpha - DiHydroTestosterone
ECA – Ephedrine Caffeine Aspirin
ED – Every Day
EOD – Every Other Day
EQ – Equipoise
EXD – Every X number of Days
Fina – Trenbolone Acetate (FinaplixTM)
GH – Growth Hormone
Gyno – Gynecomastia
HCG – Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
IGF – Insulin Growth Factor
Letro – Letrozole
Natty – Natural
Nolva – Tamoxifen (NolvadexTM)
NPP – Nandrolone PhenylPropionate
O-T – Oral Turinabol
PCT – Post Cycle Therapy
Primo – Methenolone esters (PrimobolanTM)
Prop – Propionate
SARM – Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator
SERM – Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator
SHBG – Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
Sust – SustanonTM
Tbol – Turinabol
Test – Testosterone
TestP / TProp / Test Prop – Testosterone Propionate
TestE / Testen / Test Enan – Testosterone Enanthate
TestC / TCyp / Test Cyp – Testosterone Cypionate
Tren – Trenbolone
TrenA / Tren Ace – Trenbolone Acetate
TrenE / Tren Enan – Trenbolone Enantate
Var – Oxandrolone (AnavarTM)
Winnie – Stanozolol (WinstrolTM)

Please note, I have made this a sticky as its a great place for people to start their journey. Everyone is more than welcome to add further topics here however please don't comment on the topics.

Thanks