ANABOLIC LEAN PHYSIQUE

Last issue we discussed how to get huge, strong, and massive. This time around,
we will consider the most effective ways to lose body fat and maintain lean muscle tissue.
In the next several paragraphs, I will outline what the most effective methodologies are
concerning contest-phase, anabolic, cycles.
Before we delve into the world of performance-enhancing supplements, we must,
first, define exactly what each of these anabolic agents does.
ANABOLIC STEROIDS (the mainstay of most competitive bodybuilders drug
arsenal) build lean muscle tissue. They do not burn fat, as is commonly thought. The
metabolism-boosting effects of anabolic steroids are due to the increased energy
requirements necessary to maintain higher rates of protein synthesis. Any references you
may hear to fat-burning steroids are just ignorant statements made by individuals who
do not understand the mechanisms that are at work.

PROTEIN HORMONES:
a) Growth Hormone (GH), a polypeptide or protein hormone, happens to
possess some very impressive fat mobilizing effects on its own. However, it also
possesses an important signaling role in the human body thus essentially
classifying it as a dual functioning hormone-- it directly metabolizes stored
adipose tissue (fat) and it, indirectly, acts as a signaling compound to cause the
release of another very important hormone, IGF-1, from the liver.
b) Insulin, on the other hand, stores nutrients and thus has a fat-preserving
effect in the body (not something we want to use while dieting).
c) T3 (known by the brand name, Cytomel) is a protein hormone released
from the thyroid gland. T3 increases the metabolic rate of the entire body
increasing protein degradation, fat mobilization, and carbohydrate metabolism.
CLENBUTEROL, a beta-2 agonist class of drug, also happens to be an excellent
fat-burning agent that has very few side effects or toxicities associated with its use.
UNCOUPLING AGENTS: Usnic acid is a naturally occurring metabolite that
can be found in specific lichen species and kombucha tea. This substance has been
shown to uncouple oxidative phosphorylation (the energy production process in cells)
similar to the drug DNP (without all the negative side effects). This uncoupling process
results in an inefficient use of energy by the body. In response, the body must step up
ATP production, increase its metabolism, and burn a tremendous amount of extra
calories to compensate for all the wasted energy. I love the whole concept of an energywasting fat burner since all the loss is in the form of fat (while sparing the muscle).

ULTIMATE CUTS
The following chart was developed to outline my version of the Ultimate Dieting
Cycle. Although drug dosages, compositions, and durations have changed from year to
year, a well thought out plan is still the most valuable tool for the pre-contest
bodybuilder. This all-inclusive contest cycle is the culmination of my numerous years of
advising many NPC national-level and IFBB Professional bodybuilders. This is the most
comprehensive and advanced program that a bodybuilder should ever consider using.
Remember, more is not necessarily better. The evolution and success of this cycle has
illustrated time and time again that it is how we combine ideal quantities of performanceenhancing substances that ultimately determines whether the outcome is tolerable,
favorable, and reproducible. Logically, there will never be one specific program to meet
every individuals requirements; therefore, it is important to work with someone who is
knowledgeable and who can customize this program to your particular needs.
WEEK

Testosterone

TRENBOLONE

1000mg/week
cypionate
1000mg/week
cypionate
1000mg/week
cypionate
1000mg/week
cypionate
1000mg/week
cypionate
1000mg/week
cypionate
1000mg/week
Sustanon 250
1000mg/week
Sustanon 250
1000mg/week
Sustanon 250

50mg EOD*

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

1000mg/week
Sustanon 250

11

200mg EOD
propionate
200mg EOD
propionate
200mg EOD
propionate
200mg EOD
propionate
200mg EOD
propionate
100mg EOD
propionate

12
13
14
15
16

WINSTROL

PRIMOBOLIN

BOLDENONE

T3(Cytomel)

GH

ARIMIDEX

ORAL

100mg EOD

4IU

50mg EOD

100mg EOD

4IU

50mg EOD

100mg EOD

4IU

50mg EOD

100mg EOD

4IU

50mg EOD

100mg EOD

4IU

50mg EOD

100mg EOD

4IU

1/2mg
EOD
1/2mg
EOD
1/2mg
EOD
1/2mg
EOD
1/2mg
EOD
1/2mg
EOD
1/2mg
EOD
1/2mg
EOD
1/2mg
EOD

5 D-b
per d
6 D-b
per d
7 D-b
per d
8 D-b
per d
8 D-b
per d
8 D-b
per d
8 D-b
per d
1 D-b
per d
1 A-5
day

1
Anad
50/ d
1 A-5
day
1
50/ d
1
50/ d
2 A-5
day

100mg EOD

25mcg/ day

100mg EOD

CLENBUTEROL

4IU

25mcg/ day

2 tabs (20mcg
per tab)/ day
2 tabs/ day

200mg/
week

37mcg/ day

3 tabs/day

4IU

50mg EOD

200mg/
week

37mcg/ day

3 tabs/day

4IU

1/2mg
EOD

75mg EOD

50mg EOD

50mcg/ day

4 tabs/day

4IU

75mg EOD

50mg EOD

50mcg/ day

4 tabs/day

4IU

75mg EOD

50mg EOD

62mcg/ day

5 tabs/day

4IU

1/2mg
EOD
1/2mg
EOD
1mg/ day

75mg EOD

50mg/ day

62mcg/ day

5 tabs/day

4IU

1mg/day

50mg/ day

50mg/ day

75mcg/ day

6 tabs/day

1mg/day

75mg/day

100mg/
day

200mg/
week
200mg/
week
200mg/
week
200mg/
week
200mg/
week
200mg/
week

75mcg/ day

6 tabs/day

1mg/ day

4IU

*EOD = every other day

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

**USNIC ACID (brand name: LIPOGENESIS). Tabs (10mg) should be taken with meals.

A baseline level of testosterone is maintained throughout the entire

cycle. Longer acting testosterone esters (cypionate) are utilized earlier
in the cycle while shorting acting esters (propionate) are switched to
later in the cycle (as contest day approaches) to minimize water
retention.
Trenbolone is a great non-aromatizing, androgenic, compound that is
taken early in the cycle to help with adding size and strength. As we
approach mid-cycle, we remove the trenbolone to give the receptors a
chance to regenerate. Meanwhile, we add the trenbolone back into the
equation at 8 weeks pre-contest to aid in hardening up the leaned out
physique.
Boldenone is a great drug to start off a cycle with since it gets into
bloodstream rather quickly and its anabolic effects are noticeable
immediately. Boldenone is also nice to have in the beginning weeks of
the contest cycle since it has been known to increase red blood cell
(RBC) numbers, which, in turn, result in better muscle pumps and
increased vascularity.
Winstrol and Primobolin are not added into the pre-contest stack until
about 8 or 9 weeks out. These weaker anabolic compounds are the
bread and butter of the last several weeks prior to contest day since
they harden up a lean physique with minimal water retention.
I am not usually a fan of oral compounds; however, when food intake
is minimized, strength goes way down the tubes. Highly androgenic
oral compounds, like Dianabol and Anadrol-50, have an incredible
ability to increase strength. Additionally, the appetite-suppressing
effects are more than welcome while on a pre-contest food-restricted
diet.
Clenbuterol and Cytomel are added into the contest stack at 10 weeks
out. These two compounds will work synergistically to increase the
fat-burning machinery of the body by at least 15-20%.
Usnic Acid, taken the last 8 weeks, will cause the body to waste energy
and thus burn additional body fat than was possible from just diet,
weight training, and cardio alone.
GH is maintained throughout the entire diet to help the user maintain
lean muscle mass while shedding extra body fat. GH is removed from
the contest stack at 2 weeks out to minimize any chances of edema
(water retention) on contest day.
Arimidex is utilized throughout the entire 16-week cycle to ensure that
no estrogen is produced from any of the aromatizing anabolic steroids.

SUPPLEMENTS
(Reproduced from RX MUSCLE, issue 4)
1. Multivitamin 2x per day (all vitamins should be taken with food): Men
should take a multivitamin without iron; whereas, women require
supplemental iron since they lose blood (and thus iron) when they menstruate.
2. Vitamin C 1000mg, 2x per day (excellent anti-oxidant): Antioxidants
prevent damage from free radicals (which can further damage muscle cells
even after the workout is completed). By reducing overall cellular damage,
anti-oxidants enable damaged muscle tissue to repair itself at a greatly
accelerated rate.
3. Vitamin E (with Selenium) 400IU, 2x per day. Vitamin E and Selenium are
two other vital antioxidants that work synergistically to provide even greater
anti-oxidant protection.
4. Primrose Oil 1300mg, 2x per day (essential fatty acids). As mentioned
previously, essential fatty acids are required to help rebuild broken down
muscle tissue in the body. If not consumed, daily, they will stunt future
muscle growth.
5. MSM Powder (for joints and tissue repair) 2000mg, 2x per day. All
bodybuilders, at one time or another, have had joint pain and/or injuries.
MSM is an extremely bio-available source of sulfur that is vital in the repair
of connective tissue (joint surfaces, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage). Sulfur
is also a necessary component in the repair and synthesis of muscle tissue and
since we dont eat many foods that are high in sulfur, MSM becomes a very
desirable supplement to the mass-gaining or contest-dieting bodybuilder.
6. Glucosamine sulfate 1000mg, 2x per day. Glucosamine sulfate is another
component of connective tissue that is very rarely consumed in the diet (since
not many people eat ligaments and tendons along with there chicken breasts
and filet mignons). Ingesting adequate amounts of glucosamine has been
documented to aid in the repair of torn knee menisci, degenerative joint
surfaces, and weak ligaments and tendons.
7. Micronized Creatine 5 grams, 2 x per day (5g in the morning/ 5g after you
train). Creatine is one of the most incredible natural supplements to hit the
nutrition world. Its strong market presence, after almost 10 years, is a
testament to its truly unique abilities. It does two distinct, yet invaluable, jobs
in the body.
First, it causes a volumizing (swelling) effect on the muscle cells such that
the muscles find themselves in an extremely anabolic environment 24 hours a
day. NOTE: Muscle cells love to be well hydrated. In fact, dehydrated
muscle cells are very catabolic (i.e. they are much more likely to break down).
Second, Creatine buffers ATP levels in muscle tissue (ATP is the only
energy source that powers the muscle cells). The reason your muscles never
run out of energy is because creatine (as creatine-phosphate inside the muscle

cell) ensures that ATP levels are constantly regenerated. The more creatine
found inside the muscle cell, the greater the potential source of ATP. This is a
great advantage to over-trained, contest, bodybuilders and endurance athletes
who require tremendous stores of ATP to fuel their long, strenuous workouts.
Micronized creatine (creatine granules that are pulverized into a fine
creatine dust) is probably the best commercially available creatine since it
dissolves very readily in water and thus makes absorption that much easily
(which greatly increases effectiveness and reduces stomach distress).
CONCLUSIONS
I wrote this Ultimate Cutting Cycle article for the sheer reason that the majority
(90%) of all questions I get from bodybuilders, across the world, concern the subject of
how to get big and ripped. The truth of the matter is that 75% of your appearance (on
contest day) is due to the ingenuity of the diet you follow. Ironically, the old saying,
You are what you eat, is incredibly accurate. Likewise, the workout regimen and
cardiovascular program you follow will, to a lesser degree, also predict how you will
appear onstage. However, bodybuilders are most interested in what drugs and
supplements to incorporate into their strategic, pre-contest, game plans. It is for this very
reason that I leave you with this informative, accurate, responsible view of elite-level
bodybuilding supplementation at its finest.

Dave Palumbo possesses a B.S. Biology/Biochemistry from Franklin and Marshall

College, attended Medical School at New York Medical College, and has competed as a
top national-level bodybuilder for the last 10 years. Dave is known and respected by just
about everyone in the bodybuilding community. You can visit his website at
www.DavePalumbo.com. Dave can be emailed at Huge285@aol.com.