Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
With all the bullshit information on the internet I have found it necessary to
write this document as a starting place for ‘newbies’ to learn from. Every time
I visit a new discussion board on the internet I see the newbie making the
fatal mistake of asking a question and they get flamed into the depths of hell
to never be seen again. That is the sad truth unfortunately, forums are the
best place for research but the moment somebody asks a ‘newbie question’
they get torn apart. Steroid information websites can be a good source of
information but there is often an ulterior motive to try and sell you
something, which is usually shite.
Like I said the best place for steroid research has always been message
boards, they give users the ability to ask each other questions and learn from
each other. They are not always the best place for the complete beginner as
it is almost a scary experience posting your first question wondering what the
answer is going to be. More often or not some jumped up member that thinks
s/he is an expert because of their high post count will tell you to go and
search for your answer or go and do some research. Such replies are not
helpful and make you wonder if you can actually rely on the information
given.
Most boards have ‘moderators’ who’s sole job it is to moderate posts to make
sure they are not breaking the forum rules. However most message boards
moderators think that they are experts in the field and get off on some power
trip editing posts for no reason and giving crap advice to newbies like your
self. Is this ‘moderator’ a steroid expert or is it some 17 year old geek who
has never even seen a steroid in person let alone used one. This may sound
harsh and is not try for some boards but you have been warned.
The first port of call is for us to talk about what an anabolic steroid is and
how they work in the body.
Ok so you have probably heard about anabolic steroids in the media etc and
all about how bad they are etc.. or someone claiming that it turns athletes
superhuman. These sorts of claims are by people who do not know much
about the topic, let alone what an anabolic steroid is. Its not just professional
athletes that use steroids in fact they are the minority, around 75% of steroid
users are not competing athletes, it used to be that steroids were only used
by athletes and professional bodybuilders however now ere days the average
joe wanting bigger arms to impress the ladies are using them. Its these sorts
of idiots that do not know what they are doing and give the usage of steroids
a bad name.
So what is a steroid?
Here is a brief definition:
After searching the internet I have also come across the following dictionary
definitions of the word ‘anabolic steroid’.
anabolic steroid
n. A group of synthetic hormones that promote the storage of protein and
the growth of tissue, sometimes used by athletes to increase muscle size and
strength.
American hertitage dictionary
anabolic steroid
n. A group of synthetic hormones that promote the storage of protein and
the growth of tissue.
So you now have an idea of what an anabolic steroid actually is? But
remember not all steroids are actually anabolic. I have included the definition
of steroid as well for you.
Steroid
Any of numerous naturally occurring or synthetic fat-soluble organic
compounds having as a basis 17 carbon atoms arranged in four rings and
including the sterols and bile acids, adrenocortical and sex hormones, certain
natural drugs such as digitalis compounds, and the precursors of certain
vitamins. Also called steroid hormone.
History
During the Second World War, German scientists synthesized other anabolic
steroids, and experimented on concentration camp inmates and prisoners of
war in an attempt to treat chronic wasting. They also experimented on
German soldiers, hoping to increase their aggression. Adolf Hitler himself,
according to his physician, was injected with testosterone derivatives to treat
various ailments. The development of muscle-building properties of
testosterone was pursued in the 1940s, in the Soviet Union and in Eastern
Bloc countries such as East Germany, where steroid programs were used to
enhance the performance of Olympic and amateur weight lifters. In response
to the success of Russian weightlifters, the U.S. Olypmic Team physician
worked with synthetic chemists to develop an anabolic steroid for American
weightlifters, resulting in the production of methandrostenolone (Dianabol).
Dianabol was approved for use in the U.S. by the Food and Drug
Administration in 1958.
From the 1950s until the 1980s, there were doubts that anabolic steroids
produced anything more than a placebo effect. In a 1972 study, participants
were informed they would receive injections of anabolic steroids on a daily
basis, but instead had actually been given a placebo. They reportedly could
not tell the difference, and the perceived performance enhancement was
similar to that of subjects taking the real anabolic compounds. According to
Geraline Lin, a researcher for the National Institute on Drug Abuse, these
results remained unchallenged for 18 years, even though the study used
inconsistent controls and insignificant doses. In a 2001 study, the effects of
high doses of anabolic steroids were examined, by injecting variable doses
(up to 600 mg/week) of testosterone enanthate into muscle tissue for 20
The Newbies Handbook 5
Sponsored by All Pumped Up.org – Bodybuilding Forum
weeks. The results showed a clear increase in muscle mass and decrease in
fat mass associated with the testosterone doses. ‘
Taken from wikpedia free encyclopaedia
Are you bored yet? Its not time to move on just yet, we know have to
discover what are the different types of steroids and how they work.
As the word Anabolic and Androgenic Steroids (AAS) suggests, you can
expect effects from both in many cases. Some of these are outlined below:
Anabolic Androgenic
Increased protein synthesis from Oil gland stimulation, can cause acne
amino acids
Above are just a few of the effects. Through a combination of these effects,
anabolic steroids stimulate the formation of muscles and hence cause an
increase in the size of muscle fibers, leading to increased muscle mass and
strength. This increase in muscle mass is mostly due to larger skeletal
muscles, and is caused by both increased production of muscle proteins as
well as a decline in the breakdown rate of these proteins. A high testosterone
dose also decreases the amount of fat in muscle, while increasing protein
content. Steroids also decrease overall fat.
The effect of AAS on muscle mass comes from two main things. The first is
the direct increase in protein production (muscle is made from proteins). And
the second being the reduction of recovery time between workouts and sets
due to the blocking of the stress hormone cortisol on muscle tissue. Anabolic
steroids also affect the number of cells that develop into fat-storage cells, by
favouring cellular differentiation into muscle cells instead.
‘The main way in which steroid hormones interact with cells is by binding to
proteins called steroid receptors. When steroids bind to these receptors, the
proteins move into the cell nucleus and either alter the expression of genes or
activate processes that send signals to other parts of the cell.
In the case of anabolic steroids, the receptors involved are called the
androgen receptors. The mechanisms of action differ depending on the
specific anabolic steroid. Different types of anabolic steroids bind to the
androgen receptor with different affinities, depending on their chemical
The Newbies Handbook 6
Sponsored by All Pumped Up.org – Bodybuilding Forum
structure. Anabolic steroids such as methandrostenolone bind weakly to this
receptor and instead directly affect protein synthesis or glycogenolysis. On
the other hand, steroids such as oxandrolone bind tightly to the receptor and
act mostly on gene expression.’
Wikpedia online.
AAS can roughly be classed into two types, or forms of admission. The first is
in tablet form which is taken orally and often referred to as ‘orals’ and the
second is via intramuscular injection, by injecting the steroid deep into the
muscle tissue.
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. Because of this alkyl group
prolonged use and high doses can be toxic on the liver.
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.
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
Ok we are now going to look at some of the most popular oral steroids in a
little more detail. Oral steroids are often used at the front of a steroid cycle
because the effects often come sooner usually within the first week or two,
due to the toxicity of oral steroids they are not often used for very long or on
their own. We will cover more about stacking later.
C20H28O 2
The drug causes severe masculinising effects in women even at low doses. In
addition, it is metabolized into estradiol by aromatase. This means that
without the administration of aromatase inhibitors such as Anastrozole or
Aminoglutethimide, estrogenic effects will appear over time in men. Many
users will combat the estrogenic side effects with Nolvadex or Clomid. In
addition, as with other 17α-alkylated steroids, the use of methandrostenolone
over extended periods of time can result in liver damage without appropriate
care.
The 17α-methylation of the steroid does allow it to pass through the liver
without being broken down (hence causing the aforementioned damage to
the liver) allowing it to be taken orally. It also has the effect of decreasing the
steroid's affinity for sex hormone binding globulin, a protein that de-activates
steroid molecules and prevents them from further reactions with the body. As
a result, methandrostenolone is significantly more active than an equivalent
quantity of testosterone, resulting in rapid growth of muscle tissue. However,
the concomitant elevation in estrogen levels - a result of the aromatization of
methandrostenolone - results in significant water retention. This gives the
appearance of great gains in mass and strength, which prove to be temporary
once the steroid is discontinued and water weight drops. Because of this, it is
often used by bodybuilders only at the start of a "steroid cycle", to facilitate
rapid strength increases and the appearance of great size, while compounds
such as testosterone or nandrolone with long acting esters build up in the
body to an appreciable amount capable of supporting anabolic function on
their own.
‘A weight gain of 2 - 4 pounds per week in the first six weeks is normal
with Dianabol. The additional body weight consists of a true increase in tissue
(hyper-trophy of muscle fibers) and, in particular, in a noticeable retention of
fluids.’
C19H30O 3
Common name: Var
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
The Newbies Handbook 14
Sponsored by All Pumped Up.org – Bodybuilding Forum
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.
References
C21H32O 3
Common names: Adrol, drol, a bombs, anapolan, A50, Anadrol50
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.
C21H32N2O
Common names: Winny, Winni v, Stan, Strol, Stromba
Much of what has been said about the injectable Winstrol is more or less also
valid for the oral Winstrol. However, in addition to the various forms of
administration there are some other differences so that a separate
description-as with Primobolan-seems to make sense. For a majority of its
users Winstrol tablets are noticeably less effective than the injections. We
are, however, unable to give you a logical explanation or scientific evidence for
this fact. Since the tablets are I 7-alpha alkylated it is extremely unlikely that
during the first pass in the liver a part of the substance will be deactivated, so
we can exclude this possibility.
One of the reasons for the lowered effectiveness of the tablets, in our
opinion, is that most athletes do not take a high enough quantity of Winstrol
tablets. Considering the fact that the injectable Winstrol Depot is usually
taken in a dosage of 50 mg/day or at least 50 mg every second day and
when comparing this with the actual daily quantity of tablets taken by many
athletes, our thesis is confirmed. Since, in the meantime, most athletes only
get the 2 mg Winstrol tablets by Zambon one would have to take at least 12-
25 tablets daily to obtain the quantity of the substance one receives when
injecting. For two reasons, most athletes, however, cannot realize this. On the
one hand, at a price of approximately $0.70 - $1 for one 2 mg tablet on the
black market the cost for this compound is extremely high. On the other
hand, after a longer intake such a high quantity of tablets can lead to
gastrointestinal pain and an undesired increase in the liver values since the
tablets as already mentioned are. 1 7-alpha alkylated and thus are a
considerable stress on the liver. Male athletes who have access to the
injectable Winstrol Depot should therefore prefer this form of administration
to the tablets. Women, however, often prefer the oral Winstrol This, by all
means, makes sense since female athletes have a distinctly lower daily
requirement of stanozolol, usually 10-16 mg/day. Thus the daily quantity of
tablets is reduced to 5-8 so that gastrointestinal pain and increased liver
values occur very rarely. Another reason for the oral intake in women is that
the dosage to be taken can be divided into equal doses. This has the
advantage that unlike the 50 mg injections-it does not lead to a significant
increase in the androgens and thus the androgenic-caused side effects
(virilization symptoms) can be reduced. Athletes who have opted for the oral
The Newbies Handbook 19
Sponsored by All Pumped Up.org – Bodybuilding Forum
administration of Winstrol usually take their daily dose in two equal amounts
mornings and evenings with some liquid during their meals. This assures a
good absorption of the substance and, at the same time, minimizes possible
gastrointestinal pain.
Injectable Steroids
We are now going to look at some of the more popular injectable steroids,
there are many on the market however we are only going to talk about the
most commonly used newbie ones. Injectables are used as the main part of a
cycle and users often stay on them from 8-12weeks at a time at varying
doses.
Probably the most common steroid in the medias eyes and is probably
responsible for more athlete drug test failings then any other anabolic due to
its long halflife and length it can be detected in your system.
Because nandrolone is not broken down into DHT, the deleterious effects
common to most anabolic steroids on the scalp, skin, and prostate are
lessened to a degree. The lack of alkylation on the 17α-carbon drastically
reduces the drug's liver toxicity. Estrogenic effects resulting from reaction
with aromatase are also mitigated as a result of the drug being a progestin,
but effects such as gynaecomastia and reduced libido still occur in larger
doses. Other side-effects can include erectile dysfunction (deca dick) and
cardiovascular damage, as well as several ailments resulting from the drug's
effect of lowering levels of luteinizing hormone through negative feedback.
It is further noticed that Sustanon is also effective when relatively low doses
are given to well advanced athletes- It is interesting to note that when
Sustanon is given to athletes who have already used this compound in the
same or lower doses, it leads to similar good results as during the previous
intake. Sustanon is usually injected at least once a week, which can be
stretched up to 10 days. The dosage in bodybuilding and powerlifting ranges
from 250 mg every 14 days up to 1000 mg or more per day. Since such high
dosages are not recommended-and fortunately are also not taken in most
cases-the rule is 250-1000 mg/week. A dosage of 500 mg/week is completely
sufficient for most, and can often be reduced to 250-mg/ week by combining
Sustanon with an oral steroid. Sustanon is well tolerated as a basic steroid
during treatment which stimulates the regeneration, gives the athlete a
sufficient "kick" for intense training units, and next to the already mentioned
advantage-rapid strength increase and solid muscle gain distinguishes itself
also by its compatibility. In order to gain mass fast Sustanon is often
combined with Deca-Durabolin, Dianabol or Anadrol while athletes who are
The fact that the liver is a very efficient organ and able to cope well with
higher quantities of testosterone is confirmed in the book Doping-verbotene
Arzneimittel im Sport by Dirk Clasing and Manfred Donike. On page 54 the
authors state: "The liver is able to metabolize an almost unlimited amount of
testosterone (2 g of rat liver are able to break down 100 mg/day of
testosterone). " Sustanon is well distributed on the black market and readily
available. It is difficult to find the less frequently available original "Susta. "
On the black market mostly the Russian or Indian 5ustanon 250 is sold. The
Indian Sustanon 250 is manufactured in Calcutta, India, by Organon and
officially destined for export to Russia.
Through Czechoslovakia, however, large quantities of this original Sustanon
250 are smuggled to Europe and the U.S. The Russian Sustanon 250 comes
in a plastic film; printed in blue ink on the back are the name of the
compound, the manufacturer, and the included substances. This imprint is
either stamped on aluminum foil or on white paper. Five ampules are
combined in one strip whereas each ampule is packaged individually. Original
The side effects of Testosterone enanthate are mostly the distinct androgenic
effect and the increased water retention. This is usually the reason for the
frequent occurrence of hypertony (3). Those who have a predisposition for
high blood pressure or whose blood pressure is elevated when they begin
taking Testosterone enanthate should have it periodically checked by a
physician. If necessary the intake of an antihypertensive drug (4) such as
Catapresan is advisable. Many athletes experience a strong acne vulgaris
with Testosterone enanthate which manifests itself on the back, chest,
shoulders, and arms more than on the face. Athletes who take large
quantities of Testo can often be easily recognized because of these
characteristics. It is interesting to note that in some athletes these
characteristics only occur after use of the compound has been discontinued,
which implies a rebound effect. In severe cases the medicine Accutane can
help. The already discussed feminization symptoms, especially gynecomastia,
require the intake of an antiestrogen. Sexual overstimulation with frequent
erections at the beginning of intake is normal. In young athletes, "in addition
to virilization,testosterone can also lead to an accelerated growth and bone
maturation, to a premature epiphysial closing of the growth plates and thus a
lower height" (Jenapharm GmbH, package insert for Testosteron-Depot).'
Since mostly taller athletes are successful in bodybuilding, young adults
should reflect carefully before taking any anabolic/andro-genic steroids, in
particular, testosterone.
Bottom line is Test is Best and is used as the core for steroid cycles.
For most male athletes the weekly dosage is usually 150-300 mg. Often since
only the 25 mg version can be found, frequent or very voluminous injections
are necessary For most athletes 50 mg (corresponding to a 2 ml injection)
taken every second day is sufficient. Advanced and ambitious bodybuilders
usually take higher doses (50 mg daily) and achieve dramatic results. Women
The Newbies Handbook 29
Sponsored by All Pumped Up.org – Bodybuilding Forum
also usually respond well to Equipoise and with 50-100 mg/week they gain
good muscles with a low water retention.
A dosage in this range is usually well tolerated. Higher dosages can cause
virilization symptoms such as deep voice, increased production of the
sebaccous gland and acne, increased libido and in some cases increased hair
growth on the face and legs. Men have few problems with Equipoise. Since
water and salt retentions are low, the blood pressure usually does not
increase. Acne, gynecomastia, and increased aggressiveness occur only in
rare instances. The feared "steroid fever," which can occur when using
veterinary steroids, is rare with Equipoise since the product by Squibb is
highly sterile and pure. Those who experience flu-like symptoms when they
begin taking the compound should reduce the dosage for a short time
Equipoise also makes a good substitute for the deca in a test/deca stack
yielding similar results with less side effects.
Common names:Prop
The second option is to take propionate during the entire period of intake.
This, however, requires a periodic injection every second day. Best results
can be obtained with 50-100 mg per day or every sec-ond day. The athlete,
as already mentioned, will experience visibly lower water retention than with
the depot testosterones so that propionate is well-liked by bodybuilders who
easily draw water with enanthate. A good stack for gaining muscle mass would
be, for example, 100 mg Testosterone propionate every 2 days, 5p mg
Winstrol Depot every 2 days, and 30 mg Dianabol/day. Propionate is mainly
used in the preparation for a competition and used by female athletes. And in
this phase, dieting is often combined with, testosterone to maintain muscle
mass and muscle density at their maximum. Propionate has always proven
effective in this regard since it fulfills these requirements while lowering
possible water retention. This water retention can be tempered by using
Nolvadex and Proviron. A combination of 100 mg Testosterone propionate
every 2 days, either 50 mg Winstrol Depot/day or 76 mg Parabolan every 2
days, and 25 mg Oxandrolone/day help achieve this goal and are suitable for
building up "quality muscles."
Women especially like propionate since, when applied properly, an-drogenic-
caused side effects can be avoided more easily The trick is to increase the
time intervals between the various injections so that the testosterone level
can fall again and so there is an accumulation of androgens in the female
organism. Women therefore take propi-onate only every 5-7 days and obtain
remarkable results with it. The, androgenic effect included in the propionate
allows better regeneration without virilization symptoms for hard-training
women. The dosage is usually 25-50 mg/injection. Higher dosages and more
frequent intervals of intake would certainly show even better re-sults but are
not recommended for women. The duration of intake should not exceed 8-10
weeks and can be supplemented by taking mild and mostly anabolic steroids
such as, for example, Primobolan, Durabolin, and Anadur in order to promote
the synthesis of pro-tein. Men who do not fear the intake of testosterone or
the possible side effects should go ahead and give propionate a try. The side
ef-fects of propionate are usually less frequent and are less pronounced. The
reason is that the weekly dose of propionate is usually much lower than with
depot testosterones. A daily injection of 50 mg amounts to a weekly dose of
350 mg while several depot injections easily launch the milligram content of
testosterone into the fourfigure range. When compared with enanthate and
cypionate, propionate is also a "milder" substance and thus better tolerated in
the body. Those who are convinced that they need daily testosterone
injections should consider taking propionate. The key to success with
propionate lies in the regular intake of relatively small quantities (50-1 00 mg
every 1-2 days.)
Although the side effects of propionate are similar to the ones of enanthate
and cypionate these, as already mentioned, occur less frequently. However, if
there is a predisposition and very high dosages are taken, the known
We have now looked at the most popular steroids which are used today in
sports and bodybuilding. Now we are going to look briefly at detection times.
The detection time is the rough time at which the steroid can still be detected
in the blood screen if you were to get a blood test.
There are many factors however that could effect these detection times,
some of which include:
Metabolism
Fluid intake
Dosage
Potency of drug
Body fat
Duration of cycle
Basically if you are at any risk of being tested for anabolic steroids then I
suggest not using them if it means losing your job or similar.
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.
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.
Example
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.
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.
As well as the ability to add muscle size and strength the taking of steroids
dose not come without some unwanted side effects, and that is what we are
going to talk about now. Not every user will experience all of or even some of
the side effects and others will respond badly. Your body, cycle and personal
circumstances are all factors that could effect this. Some of the side effects
are listed belong. Each steroid profile will help determine what side effects
you could expect.
Acne
Acne is usually a tell tale sign someone is using steroids, users will often get
acne on their arms chest and back as well as the face. This will vary from
individual. The more andrgenic a compound is the more acne is likely to occur
as the sebaceous glands are stimulated with makes the skin more oily.
Taken more vitamin B6 is said to help with acne, washing regularly with oxy
wash and anti oil soaps will help. Personally I tend to get a few big zits
around my chest and face area during the cycle and up to 4 weeks after.
Aggression
High androgenic compounds can cause the user to suffer with aggression
problems. This is managed through self control, and all depends on the
person using them, personally i dont have a problem. Basically if your an arse
hole then steroids could make you into a bigger arse hole, if you already are
aggressive in nature that you should not be considering using steroids.
Depression:
Use of AAS can have a profound affect on an individual’s disposition.
Depression is most commonly exhibited in male bodybuilders post cycle,
when estrogen levels can be incredibly high and endogenous production of
testosterone has been suppressed. This can leave a male bodybuilder with a
hormone profile more resembling that of a woman, and this can play a
profound role in their attitude and outlook on life. More than once I’ve seen
incredibly muscular and normally stoic males reduced to tears over sappy
television commercials and lamenting their deteriorating condition as the
imbalance of estrogen/testosterone wreaks havoc on them physically and
mentally. Once again, this can be avoided through use of proper ancillary
medications both on and off cycle. Estrogen levels must be kept in check at
all times to ensure both maximum gains and minimum side effects.
Water retention
Many AAS will affect the amount of will affect the amount of water that is
stores in the various tissues of the body. To some degree this can be
beneficial, the strength that one will gain through the retention of water in
muscle and connective tissues will certainly help add additional lean body
mass over time. However, the moon face of a bodybuilder on a bulking cycle
suffering from extreme water retention is both physically repugnant and
inherently unhealthy. One should not ignore the fact that water retention can
have a negative impact on both blood pressure and renal function.
Fluid retention is associated with increased levels of estrogen, and thus the
culprit for it is once again the aromatizing androgens. An athlete should
always prepare for this when using these steroids, through proper application
of anti-aromatases like arimidex.
Gynecomastia
Primarily referred to as “bitch tits” or gyno, gynecomastia refers to
enlargement of the male breasts. Male breast tissue is ripe with estrogen
receptors, just as in that of a female. Consequently, elevated estrogen levels
can cause swelling and eventual growth of this tissue, leaving a man with
unsightly lumps beneath both nipples. The effect is exactly that experienced
These are just some of the side effects which can occur from steroid use.
Blood pressure.
The occurrence of high blood pressure is often noticed in athletes taking
steroids. One of the major causes is probably the increased cardiovascular
strain brought about by the pronounced water and salt retention. The
increased body weight of many of the athletes who cat large quantities of
food and work out on heavy movements such as squats or bench presses
where the breath is held, can be contributing factors. The blood pressure
should be measured regularly to ensure that the value is not higher than
130/90. High blood pressure can lead to nose bleeds which I get a lot when
on cycle, I have found that taking Hawthorn Berry supplement helps a lot in
reducing this.
Hairloss
Steroids can quicken the balding process in those with a genetic
predisposition. The receptors of the scalp have a high affinity to
dihydrotestosterone (DHT), therefore, steroids are also considered the main
cause of acne since the steroids convert largely into DHT Here also the
injectable testosterone and Anadrol are in first place. Also steroids that are
derivatives of DHT, e.g. Masteron or Primobolan, can promote baldness. This
can result in a receding hairline or a general thinning of the hair. Females
can, in rare cases, also suffer from this. One must classify these side effects
as irreversible, since the chances of recurring hair growth are slim. It must,
once again, be stressed that anabolic/androgenic steroids do not
automatically cause baldness but can speed up this process in those with a
hereditary predisposition for hair loss. Taking a drug to stop the conversion
into DHT can help with this side effect Proscar (finasteride 1mg) is usually
enough to stop this effect. Proscar however will not work on steroids which
are already derivitives of DHT such as winstrol so if you are worried about
hair loss you are better of not using it.
Kidney Damage
The kidneys are under more strain during steroid intake. They are involved in
the filtration and excretion of toxic by-products. A high blood pressure as well
as variations in the water and electrolyte balance of the body can lead to
long-term changes in the kidney's function. A Wilm's tumor, a fast-growing
Other possible side effects that may occur during the use of
anabolic/androgenic steroids are a prolonged bleeding time, headaches,
nausea, feeling poorly, increased risk of injuring muscles, joints and
connective tissue, anaphylactic shock (life-threatening reaction), and
abscesses secondary to injection.
We are now going to look at 2 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.
#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.
The above example 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 3 rd 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’.
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:
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 cycle.
So you now have some idea of what a cycle is and what one looks like, now
we need to look at what happens after you finish a cycle.
Oral only cycles are generally frowned upon when you even mention one on a
forum, some jumped up member who thinks he is a steroid expert posts
saying that you will die if you do. Well not quite that extreme of a response
but you get what im trying to say?
The truth is for many newbies prefer the thought of their first cycle being an
oral only cycle, and in my opinion there is nothing wrong with that if it is
done correctly.
The method of stacking used in this cycle is called pyramiding. This is where
you start of with a low dose and work up to your required dose over a set
time and then come back down to the low dose again. The idea behind this is
your body gets used to the dianabol over a period of time and your steroid
receptors do not get bored of having the same dose over the 8 week period.
The cycle
The dianabol dose is in mg and should be taken daily, this dose being split
throughout the day in 2 or 3 intervals due to dianabols short half-life.
8 weeks is a long time to stay on an oral for so we recommend taking a liver
support supplement throughout such as milk thistle which is available at
many supermarkets and also online.
Ok so how much are you going to gain? How long is a piece of string is the
basic answer, as explained before it depends on you, the gear and all the
other factors such as training and nutrition which determine the final outcome
of the cycle. Also, the amount of weight gained and kept will depend on how
close you are to your genetic potential, ie how much muscle weight your body
is able to hold, everybody is different.
Water retention can be an issue on dianabol and most of the rapid weight
increases are due to this, to limit the water gain then taking an anti estrogen
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.
Side effects of Clomid are very rare if reasonable dosages are taken. Possible
side effects are climacteric hot flashes and occasional visual disturbances
which can manifest themselves in blurred vision, giving flickering or
flashing. Should visual disturbances occur, the manufacturer recommends
discontinuing Clomid treatment. Inadequate liver functions cannot be
excluded; however, they are very unlikely. In women enlargement of the
ovaries and abdominal pain can occur since Clomid stimulates the ovaries.
When taking Clomid multiple pregnancies are possible as well. As for the
dosage, 50-100 mg/day (1 -2 tablets) seems to be sufficient. The
tablets are usually taken with fluids after meals. If several tablets are taken it
is recommended that they be administered in equal doses distributed
through-out the day. The duration of intake has been rumoured to not be
taken for longer than 10-14 days. This is incorrect. Clinical studies with male
Several bodybuilders like to use Nolvadex at the end of a steroid cycle since it
increases the body's own testosterone production.
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.
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.
Anti Estrogens are used throughout the cycle or atleast kept to hand in case
you need to use them. As it has been explained there is going to be some
conversion to estrogen in the body. Estrogen loves the receptors around your
breast tissue and can cause this to increase in size forming ‘bitch tits’. Now I
don’t know about you but the idea of growing tits is not one I had planned so
we need to look at how we can prevent this in more detail.
The 2 main ways you can stop this from occurring is to either take a drug to
prevent the conversion into estrogen or to take one when you start to feel
symptoms to block the estrogens from attaching to the breasts.
The 2 main drugs for this which are used is Nolvadex and Arimidex. We have
already talked about Nolvadex so we are now going to look at Arimidex.
For the steroid using male athlete, Arimidex shows great potential. Up to this
point, drugs like Nolvadex and Proviron have been our weapons against
excess estrogen. These drugs, especially in combination, do prove quite
effective. But Arimidex appears able to do the job much more efficiently, and
with less hassle. A single tablet daily (1 mg), the same dose use clinically,
seems to be all one needs for an exceptional effect (some even report
excellent results with only 0.25 mg daily). When used with strong, readily
aromatizing androgens such as Dianabol or testosterone, gynecomastia and
water retention can be effectively blocked. In combination with Propecia
(finasteride), we have a great advance. With the one drug halting estrogen
conversion and the other blocking 5-alpha reduction , related side effects can
be effectively minimized. Here the strong androgen testosterone could
theoretically provide incredible muscular growth, while at the same time
being as tolerable as nandrolone. Additionally the quality of the muscle should
be greater, the athlete appearing harder and much more defined without
holding excess water.
There are some concerns with using an aromatase inhibitor such as this
during prolonged steroid treatment however. While it will effectively reduce
estrogenic side effects, it will also block the beneficial properties of estrogen
Arimidex has another principle drawback, namely the great price of this drug.
Tablets can easily sell for $10 each, becoming quite costly with regular use.
Clearly the price of an ancillary drug can be much greater than the steroids
themselves, a situation destined not to be popular with recreational
bodybuilders. Competitors on the other hand are likely to welcome this item.
It can ward off the side effects of strong androgen therapy much better than
Nolvadex and/or Proviron, making heavy cycles much more comfortable. As
the number of countries manufacturing this drug increases, we may be able
to look forward to a reduction in price. Privately compounded versions of
"liquid Arimidex" have also been formulated "for research purposes" are also
available. Generic tabs are also available and these two forms represent a
very cost-effective alternative for buying the brand name drug.
Which anti estrogen you have for your cycle is up to you really. Arimidex is
the more expensive of the two but will help minimise several side effects from
estrogens. I however just stick with Nolvadex as I don’t always need it and I
quiet like the extra bulk look from a little water retention, the choice is yours
but I strongly recommend using one of them.
Taking the that needle out of the wrapper for the first time can be scary, and
without the proper knowledge of injections could potentially cause you some
injury. Its probably the most off putting aspect of a steroid cycle to most
newbies but the truth is its not that difficult and after a few times it becomes
easy.
Because of the oil base in most injectables they have to be injected into a
muscle, the bigger the better. Do not inject into a vein, reason being a big
blob of oil will be headed for your heart which is never good. The main area
bodybuilders inject is the Glute (ass) or outer thigh, some mad arse
bodybuilders inject in there biceps, triceps and even lats, but I don’t
recommend that.
Make sure the area for injecting is clean and so are your surroundings,
injecting just after a bath is good cause the muscle is nice and warm.
Snap off the top of the amp, using a towel is good just in case it disintegrates
and cuts your fingers.
Carefully place the needle onto the syringe and suck up the contents of the
amp (avoiding any glass if any broke off). A good tip is to warm the amp
before you break it in a cup of warm water, this will thin the oil making it
easier to draw and easier to inject with less pain.
Be careful not to touch the needle to ANYTHING. Think about it, you are
injecting deep in to your body. Any foreign particles will be transferred deep
in your tissue and you risk a nasty infection.
Get all bubbles out of the needle - flick it until they rise to the top and then
push them through the needle - make sure you get them completely out of
the needle as well - don't worry about the juice dripping down the needle and
don't even wipe it as it makes for great lubrication.
In the injection spot - for glute you will look down on the 'cheek' and imagine
splitting it into 4 quadrants, you would inject into the upper most outer
quadrant. For the leg, if you were sitting down you will inject into the outer
part of the leg (but more on top, not on the side) where you have the most
'meat'
Quickly pierce the skin and steadily push the needle into the muscle. Push in
smoothly until you have but a couple centimetres left of the needle (you
never inject all the way in as you want to make sure some is still visible in
case the needle should break off and you need to retrieve it)
Aspirate the syringe - pull back slightly on the plunger - you will see one of
two things. (A). You will see a couple small air bubbles that when you stop
applying pressure upward on the plunger will readily go back into the muscle
or (B). Droplets of blood. (A) being the obviously favourable one. If there is
blood you must pull out, switch needles and start over.
If all is well you may begin injecting. Push in slowly - you will come to find
that you can 'listen' to your body and it will let you know how much it is
willing to receive at once - when I inject myself I apply consistent pressure to
the plunger but I go in only as fast or slow as my muscle wants to at that
time. Going too fast will potentially result in an abscess. When you have
completed this, wait a few seconds and then pull out and take your alcohol
swab and firmly press down and massage the site to make sure everything
stays in the muscle and the massage will also prevent soreness in the
morning. You may bleed just a little bit, so it helps to tape the alcohol soaked
cotton ball to your injection site.
It hurts about as much as a good pinch, but that is all. After the first couple
of times you poke, you get used to it.
For a great injection site with lots of pictures and detailed information visit
www.spotinjections.com
Ok we are now going to look at the factors which can affect you cycle, and
believe me there are a few of them. Unfortunately you cannot grow by just
taking a pill or injecting sometime its not going to happen. In order to have a
good cycle and to experience the results you require you need to follow some
simple guidelines. A lot of bodybuilders new and advanced make mistakes
and these can affect your gains which is never good.
Always make sure that you have all the ‘gear’ you require for the whole cycle
before starting, that includes syringes/needles, steroids and pct protocol, it is
advisable to do this in case something happens mid cycle and you cannot
obtain the rest.
Know your cycle inside and out, keep a diary of what needs to be taken and
when keep a log of your thoughts and feelings whilst on your cycle
Take before and after pictures of yourself and measure all your body parts,
this will help you keep track better then the scales will as weight will fluctuate
throughout. Measure the weight every 2 weeks at the same time on a reliable
set of scales.
All of the above will help you keep track of your progress and goals and keep
you motivated through out the cycle.
Sleep
Make sure that you get enough sleep/rest your body uses the nREM stages of
sleep for your body to recovery from daily activities. Believe it or not your
body grows when its in rest so it is vital to get at least 8hours minimum sleep
a night to ensure this. Also you will have more energy for using in the gym
which is also a good thing. Sometimes its easier said then done to get 8
hours sleep especially if you have kids but do your best some times rest is as
good as sleep so take some time out in the day if you can to relax and chill
out.
Nutrition
To grow you need to feed your body food, its simple biology really, but
unfortunately often an over looked principle. Many beginners starting out
bodybuilding wonder why they are not getting bigger initially and often
enough it comes down to the fact that they are not consuming enough
calories to grow. If you consume more calories then your body burns daily
then you will put on weight its simple.
To determine your calorie needs multiply you LBM by 19. For example 168 x
19 = 3192
So the above person weighing 168 would need to consume 3192 calories a
day to gain weight assuming that you are undergoing a good weight training
schedule. To gain even more weight then consume even more calories, these
should be mainly proteins and carbs. Take advantage of the increased protein
synthesis from the steroids.
Your meals should be split throughout the day ideally consuming food every 3
hours or so. What calories and proteins you cant get from food then consume
a good protein drink.
Training
Do not miss any exercise sessions if you can help it, consistency is the key to
success.
Never terminate a set simply because you have reach the required number of
reps if you can do 1 or 2 more then do it.
It often helps to have a training partner to help spot you and encourage you
to lift more.
Keep a training diary to keep a log of your sets and reps and the weights
used, this will help you keep track of your progress in terms of strength
increases.
It helps to have a structured program and know what body parts etc you are
going to work out before you walk into the gym.
Drink plenty of water around 8+ glasses a day to keep your body hydrated.
After all the body is made up of 70% water so the bigger you get the more
water you need.
Learn. Knowledge is power, do as much research into your cycle and steroids
that you want to use.
More is not always better. It is often tempting to keep raising the doses to
see more gains, this could lead to serious health problems. Less is often
more.
Don’t be tempted to stay on your cycle for longer then planned, let you body
recover. You are planning another cycle after then wait a few months and
give your body a break.
Make sure your diet is high in calories, high protein and low fat. Food =
growth.
Plan your cycle in advance and do not start without all your gear, PCT and
precautionary supplements to hard. The last thing you want to be doing is
waiting to get hold of some Nolvadex when you start growing breasts.
Make your goals realistic, you will not turn into superman over night. You
should aim for steady gains which are manageable.
We have put this little section together to help you survive the message
boards. There are hundreds of boards to choose from, if you type
‘bodybuilding forum’ into google it will come back with pages and pages of
them, but remember, just because a message board is ranked high on google
that it will be any good. When it comes for members go for quality and not
quantity, spend a little time reading posts etc and decided whether you want
to be part of that community. Sometimes the smaller boards are the better
ones as you are more likely to have you questions answered.
Rule 1
Never openly ask for information of where to get anabolic steroids, no one
will tell you and you are likely to get banned. Instead just kept reading posts
and searching you are bound to find what you are looking for.
Rule 2
Search for an answer to you question first if you can, this will save time
creating duplicate threads. The search function on most boards are easy to
use.
Rule 3
Never give out any personal details as the forums are not secure places.
Rule 4
Beware of other members sending you invites to steroid sources etc.. most of
the time this will be a scam. With most reliable sources you find them and not
the other way around.
Rule 5
Don’t go by a members post count as an indicator of their level of experience.
Most boards use a star system so members get stars under their name when
they reach a certain post count, this is not a level of bodybuilding experience
and merely relates to how many posts they have made.
Rule 6
Follow the forums specific rules, breaking these could result in getting banned
from the board and upsetting some idiot so its best to play by the rules.
This is not every abbreviation used but the more popular ones to look out for.
What is the next step for you? Are you ready to start your first cycle? Or has
this guide put you off. Either way you have probably learned something and
that’s the main bit.
If you have chosen to run a cycle then good luck with it and I hope your
gains are what you aim for. Remember not to expect miracles from steroids,
the main factors affecting your results are in your hands, the gear just acts as
a catalyst and speeds things up
Thank you for reading the Newbies Guide, we have had a lot of fun putting
this together and hope you have found it useful. For more information
relating to the use of steroids and bodybuilding in general then please visit All
Pumped Up – bodybuilding forums.
Chris Watson