Recommended Recovery Time Between Anabolic Steroid Cycles

The first factor is that recovery of the HPTA (hypothalamus, pituitary, and testicular axis) from one cycle should always occur fully before starting the next.

Where an anabolic steroid cycle is very short, such as only 2 weeks, steroid cycle recovery can be almost immediate. Well-planned, moderate length steroid cycles, such as only 8 weeks, often allow recovery in a time frame such as only 2 weeks.

Long steroid cycles, such as 12 weeks or longer and especially 14 weeks or longer, or poorly planned cycles often have very protracted recoveries.

So first, regardless of what is written below with regard to timing, you should wait until natural testosterone production, without aid of any drug, is back to midnormal levels or better.

Other than this, the time between steroid cycles should be related to duration of anabolic steroid use, including time of clearance after the last injection. Another way of looking at that is the balance between the number of weeks that anabolic steroids are used versus the number of weeks that no steroid is being used.

There really are no black/white cutoff values that anyone can give. Time off versus time on is a gradually sliding scale.

Broadly speaking:

    Being “off” twice as many weeks as being “on” is entirely conservative for most who are seeking to build muscle, and absolutely can give great results. Really the only reason to be more conservative than this is if wishing only to maintain.
    Being “off” about as many weeks as being “on” is moderately aggressive. When the cycles are well-planned, there’s generally no problem with this and, of course, this can give somewhat faster results than the above.
    And being “off” only half as many weeks as being “on” is about as aggressive as I recommend for the health conscious person. Proper recovery should of course be verified, and blood tests become more important at this frequency of use.

So there’s no one answer, but the above general description has over time proven helpful for many to decide where they wanted to be.

Anabolic Steroids and Estrogen Control for Maximizing Fat Loss

Prior to proper estrogen control with antiaromatases such as letrozole or Arimidex, care ordinarily would be taken in cutting cycles to limit the amount of aromatizing steroids used. Particularly, testosterone and Dianabol would be limited, if used at all. So this resulted in their having a reputation of “not being cutting steroids.”

There were two factors involved here. First, estrogenic bloating could to the eye be confused with fatness. And second, abnormally high estrogen levels can make fat loss more difficult.

Where estradiol level is controlled with an antiaromatase or with a suitably balanced combination of steroids, then these are not issues, and testosterone becomes about as good for cutting as anything else. Dianabol also can aid fat loss quite well.

Under suitably balanced is considered a combination of aromatizing and non-aromatizing steroids where the total amount is sufficient for the desired anabolic effect, and the amount of aromatizing steroids is suitable to yield only normal estradiol levels. This typically would be between 100-300 mg/week, but good results can often be had with more than this, depending on the individual. Where for example a person already knows from experience that he suffers little or no noticeable adverse estrogenic effect from say 500 mg/week of testosterone, then that amount certainly can be included in a cutting cycle without need of an antiaromatase. But another person might even get gyno on 250 mg/week testosterone.

It’s certainly possible that some fat-loss differences remain between anabolic steroids, but even so this may only be dose related. For example, 50 mg/day trenbolone acetate is certainly better for cutting than 50 mg/day testosterone, but is it better than 150 mg/day testosterone? Probably not.

Basically, it’s not necessary to seek out particular anabolic steroids for fat loss. Make the choice based on achieving desired positive effects with minimization of the side effects of personal concern, which can vary according to the situation.

The Myth of Anabolic Steroids for Bulking or Cutting

The myth that there are various anabolic steroids specifically for ‘bulking’ and/or specifically for ‘cutting’ must be addressed. It first must be made perfectly clear that Anabolic steroids do not directly burn fat, as they instead simply increase nutrient partitioning. Nutrient partitioning is defined as the effect of directing/shuttling ingested nutrients, vitamins, and minerals towards muscle repair and muscle growth to a large degree – so much so that fat storage is either completely avoided or dramatically reduced. Anabolic steroids do not possess any direct effects on fat metabolism that would result in dramatic changes. It is understood that anabolic steroids do interact with androgen receptors on fat tissue to initiate lipolysis (fat breakdown), but this does not occur to any significant degree.

The ‘fat burning’ properties commonly associated with anabolic steroids stem from the aforementioned extreme level of nutrient partitioning they exhibit. Some types of steroids exhibit this at a far greater degree than any other anabolic steroid, especially anabolic steroids such as Trenbolone. Even Testosterone does this, where cases have been observed whereby an individual engaging in their first-ever cycle of Testosterone results in the gaining of lean mass, and a reduction of varying degrees of body fat percentage.

Of course, the most prominent detail to be reminded of is the fact that results are 100% dependent on the individual’s nutrition and training. Different types of steroids merely serve to amplify the efforts and hard work that the nutrition and training aspects have properly established. For example, if an individual’s primary goal of fat loss is desired, then the individual’s nutrition must reflect that by either engaging in a caloric deficit or some sort of nutritional plan that favors fat loss. Although various anabolic steroids might also exhibit effects and properties that favor bulking or mass gaining cycles, such as Dianabol or Anadrol for example, it does not mean that they cannot be utilized for the purpose of fat loss or cutting as well. It is the individual’s diet that will determine whether he or she experiences fat loss or muscle gain. The decision for most athletes to refrain from the use of compounds such as Dianabol for fat loss rests solely on the fact that Dianabol exhibits Estrogenic activity that results in water retention and bloating, resulting in the puffy, bloated, and soft look to the physique that is not desired during fat loss phases. With that being said, one could easily work around this limitation with the inclusion of an aromatase inhibitor, but the general rule remains: nutrition and training determine results, not the types of steroids used.

Melanotan 1 and 2 - Two Wildly Popular Peptides with Different Benefits

 In the early 1980s, University of Arizona researchers hypothesized that they could cure various types of skin cancer by inducing the body's natural pigmentary system to create a protective tan before UV exposure. So they synthesized a naturally occurring peptide called Melanotan to accomplish this task. Scientists have since had a tough time using Melanotan to battle skin cancer, but they've found some more reliable uses for this peptide.

melanotan1 Its most immediate use is as a sunless tanning agent, making the peptide very popular among bodybuilders. Scientists have also discovered that Melanotan can be very effective at curing sexual dysfunction. But it's worth mentioning that there are two types of this peptide - Melanotan 1 and 2 - and they each have their own individual benefits and traits. That said, let's answer some common questions about these differences and discuss side effects, dosage, female usage and more.

What is the Difference between Melanotan 1 and 2?
Melanotan 1 or "Melanotan I," when referring to tanning, is a drug currently in trials for light-affected skin disorders. Melanotan 2 is also a drug that's been developed as a skin-tanning agent, and it's popularized as a treatment for sexual dysfunction as well. It is mostly agreed that Melanotan 1 has less side effects, although it's slightly less potent.

What Side Effects are Possible?
Those who've used Melanotan have reported that both versions can cause nausea and facial flushing. Melanotan 2 has also been known to cause new freckles and painful erections. Many researchers reported zero side effects when these drugs are used correctly and when they come from a quality source.
This is why its important to buy only from trusted places like buyusapeptides.com, which are made in the USA, are pure, and are the highest quality on the market.

Is this Safe to use on Females?
Absolutely. Melanotan is not a hormone whatsoever and is safe to use on both female and male sexes. And since Melanotan may have skin cancer-fighting properties, it can allow one to spend more time tanning without fearing UV rays as much.

How to mix?
Simply mix with bac water slowly, then store in fridge.

What is the Dosage?
Melanotan 1 shouldbe dosed 1mg per day for a week and then a maintenance dose of 2-3X per week. Thereafter, it is recommended taking this peptide before tanning. Melanotan 2 should be dosed at half an mg per day for a week, and then reduced to a quarter mg twice a week. These are merely average dosages, and one should always research what dosage will be best in one's own circumstance.

How long until you notice results?
Usually one will notice results within 1-4 weeks. New freckles may appear, however, this is nothing to be alarmed about.

Does Melanotan wear off? If so, when will it wear off?
Melanotan should be cycled on and off and, yes, the tan will fade away over time once you cease use.

Anabolic Steroids Short Cycling

First we must learn how to gain and train without the use of steroids before contemplating any type of cycling then we must learn how to achieve our goals in a healthy manner, if your not familiar with your own body i would advice doing blood-work before your first steroid cycle to determine your normal blood values then at least each time you want to start another cycle you can check your HPTA and all other parameters are in order.
If your experiencing problems with keeping gains after your steroid cycle or your goals are not being met id reconsider your approach on your whole bodybuilding protocol and that doesn’t just involve steroid cycling. I mean the whole aspects of bodybuilding ie - diet, training, steroid cycling methods and chemical aids, Also if your one of these people who experience most of the gains within the first 4 weeks of a cycle, maybe this whole process surrounding short cycling would be worth trying, weather we use long or short cycling some methods just dont suit the indivdual so try many ways and dosages and methods and find out what will give you the healthy gains you require,dont be pushed into one way of cycling try and see what works best for you to achieve your goals
short cycling -

Short cycling is a method of building quality muscle over a short period while maintaining low sides effects,a typical short cycle would last around 4-6 wks and at least the equal time off depending on goals or even longer periods off are advised, side effects if designed correctly can be remain low.

There is little effect on the Lipid profile or at least only for a short period of time which in turn is less time for potential problems to occur.

There are also limited sides regarding BP depending on dose of the short cycle,

Also limited stress on the organs like Kidneys and liver,

There is also a big improvement to the HPTA after the cycle ends, in normal cases recovery is fast which in turn leads to maintaining the gains, no harsh crash and limited time with raising estrogen levels after cycle ends,

Either short ester's or long can be used with great effects but i would only advice running the long esters for BB's who are advanced enough to use them at a high level, normally they are run for half the cycle then swapped to short ester's so PCT lines up, i would rather advice short ester's or non ester to be ran within a short cycle and no more than 3 compounds what work together, i can go into the different types of short cycling but there are many to go through light/moderate and heavy but i hope this thread gives you some insight into the whole process,

If your stuck in a rut with the way you are cycling and it isn’t achieving your goals you may just need to shock the body and springboard yourself back into growth, there are other procedures what need to be implement with short cycling for you to get the most out of this short period of time, if all procedures are carried out growth of new muscle tissue is built fast and recovery made a lot easier which in turn helps with maintaining new found muscle tissue, its very effective in producing solid gains despite the only short period.

PRIMING
First, you need to prime the body and create a very anabolic environment and open the growth window, this will make high gains in muscle tissue while the growth window is open, priming the body opens this window but its not open for wks on end it only lasts for a few wks, it varies but it will normally shutdown within 4 wks, the body re-adjust itself and a metabolic shift occurs, this is why priming is a must with any cycle but it fits nicely within a short cycle protocol, i could talk all day regarding priming but if you go to the priming thread more info will be found.
Priming is a fine art but when mastered to suit you own body type results are amazing i cant stress enough how important priming is for cycling.

As a lot of people know i don’t really like running long cycles anymore, I am not saying they are no good, no not at all if you have good gains and not having any problems in doing these long cycle that’s fine stick with whats working,i am a big believer in finding out what works, we don’t all react the same and many need different approaches to cycling to achieve our goals, but when we run long cycles we shut our system down for a long time and sides come on fast, why do people think that running long cycle means more gains? its not true no matter if you change the compounds the body still builds up tolerance and gains slow or even stop in most cases, if it was true that long cycles meant bigger gains we would all be 500+lbs ripped to the bone, for some running long cycle doesn’t agree with them for them a different method is needed,

With short cycles you need to use the correct compounds what you respond well to , some form of cycle history for me is a must so a cycle can be designed around your goals and how you react to certain compounds will help the process of picking the right Anabolic steroid, many will know I have advised many on high bursts short cycles and i do feel they are a remarkable way of creating new growth but with short cycling it can be re-adjusted to suit nearly any level, weather heavy/moderate or light can all be implemented around this whole process of short cycling and growth can be obtained its not just for advanced user,

I am not going to go into dosages because i will be here all day, as i've said heavy/moderate or light can be used with this way of cycling with great achievements,short cycle varies from 4 wks to 6 wks, for me i prefer doing around 30 days i then come off recover and prime the body again or depending on what your trying to achieve a bridge can be implemented with certain compounds, once again there are many variations it all depends on what your trying to achieve and how your body responds,

Prime the body for 6-8 wks with a low dose GH throughout

Design a short cycle to suit your level and goals, hit all compounds and increase GH dose

increase clean calories on day 1 and throughout the cycle

Train to the max ie (HIT) very heavy intense training to the max

24hr dedication + motivation

Recovery + Maintain

Once the priming as be done and the short cycle designed, on the last day of the prime and on day one of the cycle an increase in clean calories need to be implemented each day, the window is open so use it and take advantage of this environment, start the cycle and hit all compounds at once with an increase in clean calories, everything is directed into the muscle cells and growth process starts very fast, normally for the next 2-3 wks growth is fast and at every oppotunity you need to feed the new growth in tissue, 24hr dedication and motivation are needed,

TRAINING
The training what comes along side this process as to be very heavy intense training (HIT) you need to be fully motivated and go to the max every training session, heavy dropsets to total failure are ideal for working the muscle to the extreme, this kind of training can not be maintained for a large number of wks, the body needs to rest and totally repair and it varies among people but anywhere from 3-6 wks is usually the max and then some form of extra resting days or a shift in the training needs to be implemented, again this type of training falls nicely within a short cycle and prime, I do not believe bodybuilders who say they can maintain this type of pain and torture on there bodys for weeks on end, its impossible and for them people who say they can I would suspect they are not training to the max every session,

The body can gain large tissue gains for short periods of time but it cant keep maintaining this for weeks on end, it is possible to gain a 1lb a day for the first few weeks of this type of steroid cycling,

Testosterone Recovery After Deca Durabolin

When it comes to negative side effects associated with anabolic steroids, some are far worse than others. Deca Durabolin, perhaps one of the most popular anabolic steroids ever used, and still widely used, is known as mild compared to other commonly used androgens. The parent hormone is Nandrolone and is found in both Deca Durabolin and NPP (Nandrolone Phenylpropionate) and it doesn’t seem to come across as a harsh hormone to use from years of medical data and reports from steroid users. Acne, hair loss, aggression, increases in blood pressure and drastic changes in lipids, kidney function and liver values are not usually attributed to Deca Durabolin use. But there is one side effect that it exerts significantly, and that’s testosterone suppression or inhibition.

When an athlete or bodybuilder uses anabolic steroids, endogenous testosterone function will decrease from use. Different compounds effect testosterone production to varying degrees, but Nandrolone, or Deca-Durabolin is perhaps the most powerful of all commonly used anabolic steroids with Trenbolone. “Deca dick” is a known side effect or slang term given to erectile dysfunction, which has affected a large degree of steroid users and questions spear on large steroid forums daily. Due to the speed of which Deca can suppress natural testosterone production recovery post cycle can be harder than most steroid cycles not containing Deca Durabolin.

Today we’re going to look at a study that looked at 21 men who had been taking Nandrolone Decanoate (Deca Durabolin) and their recovery efforts after coming off of anabolic steroids. The study was conducted in Sweden at the Karolinska Institutet. The researchers found the subjects through an anti-doping hotline setup to help steroid users in Sweden. They state that the participants had “a genuine will to stop using anabolic steroids.”

Deca Durabolin is Nandrolone with the Deconoate ester attached allowing it to stay active for 21 days; however, its metabolites are present far longer in the body. 19-norandrosterone and 19-noreticholanolone appear to remain active for months after use, this may shed light on why its so hard to recover natural testosterone levels. Deca is also known to last in an athletes blood for over 12-16 months which makes it a very bad choice for athletes or bodybuilders in tested sports.

Importantly, the Swedes also tested levels of leutinizing hormone (LH) and follicile stimulating hormone (FSH). LH and FSH are responsible for stimulating the testes (leydig cells) to secrete testosterone. In the figure above you’ll see that LH and FSH were still rising over 12 months after Deca-Durabolin cessation, confirming reports its one of the hardest anabolic steroids to recover from.

Limitations are that this study did not state a post cycle therapy (PCT) was used by any of the steroid users. This is where anti-estrogen use helps the body reover from a steroid cycle. We recommend all steroid users conduct a full PCT after using anabolic steroids whilst combining them with an aromatase inhibitor and also human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) to help maintain testicular size and function. HCG is suggested at 250-500ius per week or every 3-4 days. If side effects occur, or testosterone recovery isn’t possible or problematic, seek the guidance of a physician or endocrinologist.

HCG Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is what is known as a protein hormone (or a peptide hormone) that is naturally and endogenously  produced by the female human body by the syncytiotrophoblast cells in the placenta. In females, HCG plays a very important role in stimulating the release of Progesterone, which is a hormone vitally essential for pregnancy. HCG that is bottled for human use is not synthesized in creation, but is instead obtained from humans. Specifically, it is found in very high concentrations in pregnant females as previously stated. HCG is in fact what is used as the number one primary indication of pregnancy in females, as it is only present in very, very high quantities in females during pregnancy. HCG is what the home pregnancy tests detect in urine, and if present in significant quantities, the home pregnancy tests will turn blue. In women who are pregnant, HCG increases in the body rise very rapidly, and can be detected within 7 days of increased secretion in the body. At this time period, however, HCG levels are only beginning to rise, and blood plasma levels of HCG do not actually peak until approximately 2 – 3 months into pregnancy. Following this 2 – 3 month period, HCG levels then begin to decline.

HCG itself could technically be considered synthetic LH (Luteinizing Hormone) and FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone), but the truth is that HCG is indeed a different hormone, but in men it will mimic the actions of LH and FSH identically. LH and FSH are gonadotropins manufactured and secreted by the pituitary gland, and these two hormones in men signal the Leydig cells in the testes to begin or increase the manufacture of Testosterone. The term ‘gonadotropin’ refers to any compound or hormone that stimulates the gonadal organs (testes in men, ovaries in females). In females, LH and FSH trigger ovulation (the manufacture of eggs in the ovaries). HCG, because it is essentially a mimic of LH and FSH in terms of its physiological activity, is administered medically to females that suffer from infertility (perhaps because they do not endogenously manufacture sufficient levels of gonadotropins as it is or for other reasons). Within medicine, HCG is also administered to males for the treatment of hypogonadism (deficient androgen production). It is also used medically for the treatment of pubertal delay in adolescent males, as well as prepubertal cryptorchidism, which is a condition in which an individual’s testicles have improperly descended (either during or after puberty). Among the anabolic steroid using bodybuilders and athletes, HCG has been utilized for a long time for its ability to restore endogenous Testosterone production following the termination of an anabolic steroid cycle. This is a period in which hormonal restoration is imperative, and HCG is normally inserted into a multi-compound protocol of approximately 4 – 6 weeks after an anabolic steroid cycle has ended, and this is known as PCT (Post Cycle Therapy).

Despite what rumors one may hear, HCG is ineffective for fat loss, and holds no capabilities in stimulating the thyroid gland to manufacture more thyroid hormone. This must be made especially clear due to the fact that for a long time, HCG was utilized wrongfully and mistakenly to treat obesity, with the origins of this practice coming from a wrongfully interpreted study in 1954. This study claimed that test subjects had lost significant amounts of body fat following the use of HCG while on a severely low caloric deficit (500 calories daily). Many interpreted the study wrongfully, and focused solely on the fact that HCG was utilized without any thought for the caloric deficit used in the subjects. More than 30 years later, the whole study and HCG-centered medical treatments for obesity were reviewed, and the approved use for the treatment of obesity was eliminated.

Little did people know that the severe caloric restriction caused individuals to lose important lean tissue mass (muscle) as well as important organ tissue in order to preserve itself, and that this result of severe caloric deficits were worse on the body than obesity. Eventually the FDA in 1974 had even issued a statement on all pamphlets that were packaged with HCG that made it very clear that the use of HCG for fat loss is ineffective and should not be used as such.

Today HCG is still widely utilized in medicine, and is widely available on all markets internationally under various major brand names (Pregnyl by Organon, Profasi by Serono and Novarel by Ferring, as well as many others) including an abundance of generic HCG as well.  HCG is a non-controlled substance in almost all countries in the world, including in the United States (although it is still only obtainable by prescription there, it is not a controlled substance). Because of its immense popularity, overabundance on the market, and ease of manufacture, counterfeits and fakes are not an issue.

Chemical Characteristics of HCG
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is a protein (or peptide) hormone, but it is more specifically referred to as an oligosaccharide glycoprotein (a protein molecule that contains one or more carbohydrates/sugar molecules affixed to it as well). Its protein structure consists of an amino acid chain of 244 amino acids, with a sub-unit of 92 amino acids on it that is 100% identical to LH and FSH. It is this subsection of the HCG molecule that enables it to mimic the action of LH and FSH 100% identically on the same receptors in the cells that LH and FSH activate.