Steroid Selection
Anabolic/androgenic steroids (AAS) are classified into various categories based on their effects and administration routes. While all AAS activate the same receptor and share similar protein anabolizing properties, their individual characteristics can significantly influence the outcomes in terms of muscle mass and strength gains.
Mass Building (Bulking) Steroids: Estrogenic Steroids tend to be more effective for increasing total muscle size. However, they can cause water and sometimes fat retention, which may not be ideal for those seeking a more defined physique. Examples include:
- Methandrostenolone (Dianabol) — Oral
- Oxymetholone (Anadrol) — Oral
- Testosterone (cypionate, enanthate) — Injectable
Lean Mass Steroids: These steroids are less or not estrogenic and tend to produce quality gains without the significant water retention associated with bulking steroids. They are preferred when the goal is to gain lean muscle mass or when preparing for a competition where definition is key.
Examples include:
- Boldenone undecylenate (Equipoise) — Injectable
- Methenolone enanthate (Primobolan) — Injectable
- Nandrolone decanoate (Deca Durabolin) — Injectable
- Oxandrolone (Anavar) — Oral
- Stanozolol (Winstrol) — Oral
Dosage
Determining the appropriate dosage of steroids is crucial to maximize benefits and minimize side effects. The book provides insights on dosing that varies by the specific steroid used, but let’s focus on Testosterone (cypionate or enanthate), commonly used for muscle growth.
- Therapeutic vs. Supratherapeutic Dosage: A dosage of 100 mg per week is considered therapeutic and is generally insufficient for strong anabolic benefits. For muscle growth, dosages are often in the 200–600 mg per week range, considered moderate supratherapeutic. This range is deemed highly efficient at supporting muscle growth.
- Dosage Efficiency: At the moderate supratherapeutic level (200–600 mg/week), testosterone is efficient at promoting muscle gains. However, going above this range may result in only small incremental gains, demonstrating diminishing returns.
- Health Considerations: Higher dosages can lead to stronger negative cosmetic, psychological, and physical side effects. It’s also noted that gains made on lower doses tend to be better retained post-steroid use than those obtained through excessive dosages.
- Dosage Guidelines for Other Steroids: The document also lists recommended dosages for other steroids, such as Boldenone undecylenate (200–400 mg/week), Methandrostenolone (10–30 mg/day), and Stanozolol (10–30 mg/day), among others.
Cycle Duration
The administration of anabolic/androgenic steroids typically produces noticeable increases in muscle size and strength for about 6–8 weeks. Beyond this timeframe, the rate of new muscle gain usually diminishes significantly. To continue making substantial progress, increasing dosages might be tempting, but this often aligns with a greater incidence of adverse reactions and diminishing anabolic returns. Moreover, even without dosage escalation, negative health changes can become apparent and should be addressed promptly.
Extended or continuous steroid administration is generally discouraged due to these risks. The recommended practice is to use anabolic steroids for no longer than 8 weeks at a time (up to 10–12 weeks in some cases), followed by an equal or longer period of abstinence before commencing another steroid regimen. This approach of alternating between “on” and “off” periods is known as cycling. It helps in preventing the plateau effect, where no further progress is made, and mitigates the risk of long-term side effects associated with continuous steroid use.
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