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Anavar for Weight Loss (Fat Loss): How Much Will You Lose?

Disclaimer: The following article is for educational purposes only and NOT to promote the use of illegal steroids. If you have any questions or concerns, Dr. Touliatos is currently available for consultations.

Anavar (Oxandrolone) is an anabolic steroid used by both men and women, to simultaneously build muscle and burn fat.
Anavar’s anabolic (muscle-building) properties are considered moderate, and thus not equal to bulking steroids that build large amounts of muscle.
However, Anavar’s lipolytic or fat-burning properties are potent (compared to other anabolic steroids), which is why many men and women cycle it when cutting.

Subcutaneous & Visceral Fat Loss
Anavar is a unique anabolic steroid when it comes to fat loss, as it burns both subcutaneous fat and visceral fat.
Subcutaneous fat essentially is adipose tissue that accumulates externally (around a person’s midsection) and is visible to the naked eye.
However, visceral fat is located nearer the internal organs and cannot be seen — although high levels can push out the stomach, causing a bloated or protruding appearance.
Many steroids decrease subcutaneous fat, but increase visceral fat.
This is why many bodybuilders can appear lean with low body fat levels, yet possess a large waist — typically referred to as a ‘steroid gut’.
Anavar however has the opposite effect, creating a notably smaller waist. Chemically, this happens due to Anavar’s positive effects on insulin resistance and triiodothyronine (T3) levels (1); increasingly the breakdown of fatty acids and speeding up the metabolism.
How Much Weight Loss Does Anavar Cause?
Due to Anavar’s anabolic (muscle-building) effects, Anavar may not cause any weight loss on the scales.
However, Anavar will cause significant amounts of fat loss — particularly in stubborn areas.
Thus, the best way to monitor results with Anavar is to take pictures, rather than track weight or BMI; as such readings can be deceptive. Many Anavar users thus lose fat, yet gain weight.
In one study, older men took 20mg/day of Anavar which produced 4lbs of fat loss over 12 weeks (2). This is a sizeable amount of fat loss, considering these men were sedentary and not in a calorie deficit.
Thus, for maximum results when taking Anavar, users should perform regular weight lifting or cardiovascular exercise; which is likely to increase this figure closer to 10lbs of fat loss over a 12 week period. This may not sound like much weight, but visually this can make a dramatic difference to a person’s appearance.
Furthermore, there are other factors that can influence the degree of fat loss on Anavar, such as genetics, training intensity, nutrition, dosage and cycle length.
Someone who trains hard on Anavar will amplify the fat-burning effects of this steroid, as well as a person who eats in a small calorie deficit (-500).
The dosage of Anavar will also play a role in fat loss, with low dosages having less of an effect.
However, it is worth noting that high dosages of Anavar may not burn significantly more fat than a moderate dosage, as there is a cut-off limit of diminishing returns; where only side effects increase (and not results).
Thus, diligent users will stick to moderate dosages, resulting in significant fat loss and minimal side effects.
Anavar Cycles
For Men

The above dosages are tailored for beginners who have not used Anavar before.
Once novices have built up a level of tolerance to Anavar, they can start cycles on 20mg/day and increase the duration to 8 weeks.
Anavar has a short half-life of 9.4-10.4 hours, thus bodybuilders often will take 2 x 10mg dosages per day — once in the morning and the other in the evening. This will maintain peak serum testosterone levels, rather than experiencing fluctuations from infrequent dosing.
This effectively will maximize results (fat loss) and minimize side effects.
Note: When on 15mg/day, bodybuilders will commonly use a pill cutter to split a 10mg pill in half.
For Women

Women should not take more than 10mg/day, as the risk of developing virilization side effects increases beyond this dose.
Therefore, sticking to a cautious yet effective dose (specified in the table above) will retain women’s femininity, whilst producing significant fat loss.
Anavar Weight Loss (Fat Loss) Pictures

This anonymous Anavar user lost a significant amount of fat, whilst increasing muscle definition. Furthermore, he appears to have gained some muscle — albeit not exceptional amounts (as he has previously taken other more potent steroids in the past, thus limiting his muscle-building potential compared to a beginner).

This female user has experienced significant fat loss, from just 5 weeks of taking 10mg/day of Anavar. This is a prime example of how Anavar does not cause weight loss, as she has actually gained 2kg; albeit she is noticeably leaner, especially in her abdominal area.
Anavar Side Effects
Anavar’s positive effects on muscle gain, fat loss and strength aren’t without a cost. Although Anavar is one of the mildest and ‘safest‘ steroids a person can take, there are still adverse reactions that can occur.
Firstly, a user’s aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzymes will rise, signifying hepatic stress (liver inflammation).
Generally, liver enzymes regulate back to normal post-cycle; however, individuals taking Anavar with already compromised liver function is a potentially dangerous scenario.
Equally, Anavar will cause shifts in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, increasing the risk of hypertension and myocardial infarction.
Such cardiovascular risk is believed to be mild compared to other more potent steroids; however, for users with existing high blood pressure, or those genetically susceptible to heart disease, taking Anavar may not be suitable.
Anavar will also suppress endogenous testosterone, causing a state of hypogonadism post-cycle. This typically recovers in a matter of weeks post cycle; however, abuse of Anavar may lead to long-term testosterone deficiency.
Anavar however is FDA-approved for medicinal purposes, indicating its mild nature and relative safety when taken in therapeutic dosages under expert supervision. 
Anavar Stacks for Maximum Fat Loss
Anavar can be stacked with other anabolic steroids for enhanced fat loss. However, if users are looking to maintain low levels of visceral fat — Clenbuterol may be a more suitable option (as many anabolic steroids can cause a bloated look to the abdominal region).
Clenbuterol is a sympathomimetic amine that stimulates thermogenesis, thus dramatically raising a person’s metabolism.
The benefit of such a stack will be enhanced fat loss and greater muscle definition. The downside of stacking Clenbuterol with Anavar is increased cardiovascular risk, as Clenbuterol significantly raises the heart rate (due to higher levels of epinephrine).
Consequently, users are more at risk of developing heart arrhythmia.

Anvarol Before and After Pictures (Just Like Anavar?)

Disclaimer: The following article is for educational purposes only and NOT to promote the use of illegal steroids. If you have any questions or concerns, Dr. Touliatos is currently available for consultations.

Anvarol is an Anavar alternative formulated by Crazy Bulk, a leading manufacturer of legal steroid alternatives.
Anvarol is an FDA-approved oral pill containing natural ingredients that mimic the same anabolic and fat-burning effects as Anavar.
Anavar is well-known for its simultaneous muscle-building, strength-enhancing and fat-burning properties.
However, Anavar is also hepatotoxic, decreases endogenous testosterone levels and increases low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
Furthermore, Anavar is illegal and thus bodybuilders must purchase it from the black market which poses various risks — especially due to Anavar’s very high market price. Consequently, many dealers are sneakily decreasing the purity of Anavar, in a bid to increase their profit margin. This effectively leads to users taking considerably lower dosages (unaware) and experiencing fewer results.
Dealers can also substitute Anavar, deceptively replacing it with a significantly cheaper compound to produce — such as Dianabol.
These are just some reasons why bodybuilders are now seeking an Anavar alternative.
But how effective really is Anvarol? And how does it compare to true Anavar? See the before and after pictures below and decide for yourself.
These transformations were taken from the official Crazy Bulk website and various forums. 
Anvarol Before and After #1

John M used Crazy Bulk’s cutting stack for 8 weeks, helping him lose approximately 5% of body fat.
Crazy bulk’s cutting stack includes:

Anvarol (Anavar)
Clenbutrol (Clenbuterol)
Testo-Max (Sustanon 250
Winsol (Winstrol)

It is important to note that John’s results weren’t purely from Anvarol, as other legal steroid alternatives were taken in conjunction. Thus, we don’t know purely how much of his gains solely were Anvarol.
When stacking multiple compounds together, a user’s results typically increase; due to greater levels of protein synthesis and thermogenesis.
In this stack, Clenbutrol will elevate a person’s metabolism, effectively increasing their calorie expenditure each day at rest. Thus, it is purely taken as a fat burner with no anabolic properties.
Anvarol, Winsol and Testo-Max are formulated to build muscle and burn fat simultaneously. Thus, when users are cutting on lower calories, because of these compounds’ anabolic nature, users are more likely to retain their strength and muscle mass.
Anvarol Before and After #2 (Female)

Giovan took Anvarol and HGH-x2, enabling her to lose 3% of body fat, whilst simultaneously building lean muscle.
Giovan does not specify how long she used Anvarol and HGH-x2; however, it is likely to be multiple cycles.
Her BMI actually increased by 1.6, despite losing notable amounts of subcutaneous fat. Thus, taking before and after photos is a more reliable way to track progress, rather than using BMI readings or scales. This is due to Anvarol building muscle and burning fat simultaneously (like Anavar).
Giovan also experienced impressive strength gains on Anvarol and HGH-x2, as she states it was a struggle to squat 60lbs at the beginning of her first cycle. However, now she is able to lift 150lbs without breaking a sweat.
Anvarol Before and After #3

Prior to this before and after photo, Cole had previously bulked up, gaining 25lbs after taking Testo-Max, Trenorol and Winsol.
However, the above before and after picture is his cutting transformation, after using:

Testo-Max
Anvarol
Winsol
Trenorol
Anadrol
Gynectrol

He has lost a significant amount of fat, built muscle and lost his man boobs.
Again, the timespan of this transformation is unknown and the impact of Anvarol alone is impossible to measure. However, it is clear that Anvarol stacked with other cutting agents from Crazy Bulk are producing impressive transformations.
Anvarol Before and After #4

William lost 17lbs in 30 days, after taking Crazy Bulk’s cutting stack (including Anvarol) and HGH-x2.
William reduced his waist by 5cm, significantly increasing the definition of his midsection.
HGH-x2 is another powerful fat-burning compound that complements Anvarol’s effects when cutting, due to its lipolytic properties.
Anavar Before and After Pictures
For comparison’s sake, below are some before and after pictures of people who have taken real Anavar.

The above user had already taken anabolic steroids before, thus his muscle gains weren’t dramatic. However, notable fat loss and improvements in muscle definition are evident — as well as fuller and more pumped muscles.

This woman took 10mg/day of Anavar for 5 weeks, resulting in a 4% reduction in body fat; whilst gaining 2kg in weight. Once accounting for the fat loss, she is estimated to have gained around 5kg in lean muscle.
Anvarol vs Anavar
Readers should be skeptical when looking at before and after photos hosted on a supplement company’s website. However, Crazy Bulk has received thousands of positive reviews on Trustpilot and Feefo, thus it’s reasonable to assume the before and after photos are legitimate — especially as they are realistic.
In terms of effectiveness, it is fair to assume that Anvarol won’t be as powerful as Anavar; considering it isn’t exogenous testosterone. However, the before and after photos are actually comparable to Anavar — demonstrating similar amounts of fat loss and muscle gain.
Anvarol Pros
Anvarol is FDA-approved and safe for men and women to take all year-round, as it doesn’t damage the HPTA (hypothalamic pituitary testicular axis) and suppress natural testosterone levels.
Anavar however does need to be cycled, with users experiencing low testosterone post-cycle, which typically takes several weeks to recover.
Thus, even if Anvarol is slightly less effective than Anavar because it is safer and can be cycled for longer periods without having to come off — the end result may indeed be the same.
Equally, women don’t need to worry about masculinization occurring on Anvarol, which is possible on high dosages of Anavar — potentially causing: clitoral enlargement, irregular periods, deepened voice and hair growth.
Anavar is FDA-approved for medicinal purposes, but it is illegal to purchase for cosmetic purposes (without a prescription from a doctor). Anvarol is 100% legal.
Anvarol is not hepatotoxic and does not affect cholesterol levels, thus there is no risk of this compound causing high blood pressure or liver damage. Anavar however can cause both of these side effects, increasing the risk of myocardial infarction and hepatic injury.
Anvarol can be safely stacked with other steroid alternatives from Crazy Bulk to enhance results, without any side effects.
Anavar too can be stacked with other anabolic steroids; however, doing so will exacerbate side effects — resulting in additional toxicity.
Anvarol is more affordable, retailing at $54.99 for 1 month’s worth of dosing. This also can work out cheaper, if someone orders 3 bottles and thus gets the third one free.
In comparison, Anavar is very expensive on the black market typically costing a few hundred dollars (at least) to run a 6-week cycle.
Anvarol Cons
Users will most likely need to work harder on Anvarol, in regards to the consistency of their diet and intensity of their workouts — in order to match the results of Anavar.
Also, Anvarol users may not experience the same degree of muscle fullness or huge pumps as Anavar, with the latter having superior glycogen-storing properties.

What to Expect on Tren (17 Pros and Cons)

Disclaimer: The following article is for educational purposes only and NOT to promote the use of illegal steroids. If you have any questions or concerns, Dr. Touliatos is currently available for consultations.

Trenbolone is an incredibly potent anabolic steroid that bodybuilders use to simultaneously gain muscle and burn fat.
A well-known mantra in bodybuilding is ‘eat Clen and Tren hard‘ — for one seeking the ultimate physique.
Some people say Trenbolone’s not worth it due to the harsh side effects — being one of the most toxic compounds a person can take (physiologically and psychologically).
However, others argue that Tren’s adverse effects are exaggerated, and not notably worse than other anabolics.
Firstly, it is important to understand that each person will respond differently to Trenbolone based on their genetic code — making them more or less prone to certain side effects.
However, below are 17 effects that Trenbolone users commonly experience.

Monster Strength
Trenbolone’s effects on strength are truly exceptional, especially as it doesn’t aromatize and cause water retention.
Almost every competitive powerlifter will be running Trenbolone in their stack before a meet. 
Users who are relatively new to anabolic steroids can add almost 100lbs to their bench press on Trenbolone — within the first month of a cycle.
This surely is a positive, however, bodybuilders will want to be careful of lifting excessively heavy during their first few Trenbolone cycles; to allow their muscles/tendons time to adapt. Otherwise, rapid increases in strength will leave users more susceptible to injury.
Shortness of Breath
It is not uncommon for users to experience shortness of breath when walking up the stairs or doing light exercise on Tren.
This happens due to a rise in blood pressure, indicating decreased blood flow to the heart; thus deeper breaths are needed to increase oxygen supply.
“Tren makes my cardio suck. Doing squats or lunges on Tren makes my breath run out much faster. I feel more powerful and stronger, but my aerobic capacity feels like it takes a 25-30% hit”. – Anonymous Tren-User
Muscle Gains
It is of no surprise that muscle gains on Tren are exceptional, with it being 5x more anabolic and androgenic than Testosterone.
How much muscle a user will gain on Tren will depend on their level of past steroid use.
For example, if a beginner utilizes low dosages of Trenbolone, their results, in terms of muscle hypertrophy, will be remarkable (gaining approximately 30lbs of lean muscle).
However, someone who has regularly used various steroids in the past may not gain as much, although taking Trenbolone could certainly take their muscle size to the next level — gaining 10-15 extra pounds (which is impressive for an intermediate steroid user).
Confidence of a King
Tren-users will ooze confidence due to incredible surges in exogenous testosterone. This will bring out a person’s inner alpha male to the maximum.
This powerful aura will be observed by everyone around them, and not only will confidence improve on a social level but also on a primal level.
I didn’t want to fight people, but I did walk into bars/clubs and feel like a lion. I thought to myself “If someone started something I could throw them across the room” but I wasn’t seeking trouble or any more likely to get into a fight. I just felt invincible. – Anonymous Tren-User
Hair Loss
Trenbolone is the most likely steroid to cause hair loss, recession or thinning on the scalp; due to its highly androgenic nature.
However, users have reported that approximately 80% of hair loss reverses back post-cycle — when dihydrotestosterone levels regulate back to normal.
Although hair loss may restore post-cycle for those using Tren sparingly — others looking to run regular Tren cycles long-term will face an uphill battle to preserve their hairline.
Thus, for those wanting to keep their hair as thick and full as possible, it may be wise to avoid Trenbolone; instead opting for less androgenic steroids, such as Dianabol or Deca Durabolin.
Fat Loss
Trenbolone is a potent fat burner, due to it being highly androgenic — with the AR (androgen receptor) stimulating lipolysis in adipose tissue.
How much fat a user will lose will depend on their training and diet.
Thus, someone bulking on Tren and eating in a generous calorie surplus may stay at the same body fat.
However, someone cutting on Tren, eating in a calorie deficit and doing regular HIIT may lose 6% of body fat from an 8-week cycle.
Generally, Trenbolone’s fat-burning effects are overpowered by its ability to pack on muscle; and thus most will utilize Trenbolone when trying to gain lean mass.
Constant Pump/Muscle Fullness
Pumps will be extreme during workouts, but this will also be a common theme outside of the gym — due to increased glycogen storage.
“I took a vacation that wouldn’t allow me to workout for an entire week. I thought I would shrink and look flat/deflated, but people were coming up to me telling me how big I looked, and looking back at the vacation photos I have to agree”. – Anonymous Tren-user
Tren Cough
Tren cough can be described as a ‘dry cough’ that occurs when injecting Trenbolone, lasting for several seconds.
Such respiratory distress can also occur when injecting other steroids, such as Testosterone Cypionate.
This is not thought to be serious and most likely related to Trenbolone’s high androgenicity, causing inflammatory lipids (prostaglandins) to become activated. Thus, upon injection, vasoconstriction of the muscular wall (in the bronchus) causes some irritation to the lungs.
Sweating
Trenbolone stimulates the central nervous system, increasing the production of adrenaline and therefore inducing thermogenesis. One benefit to this is that the metabolism increases, helping users to burn more calories naturally throughout the day.
However, the negative to high adrenaline levels is increased sweating in and out of the gym.
Waking up in the middle of the night in a puddle of sweat is a common theme on Trenbolone. Thus, to inhibit excessive adrenaline, users may want to reduce their caffeine intake when cycling Tren. Sleeping with a fan next to the bed will also help to cool the body down.
Hair Growth (on the Body)
Due to elevated DHT levels, we know that Tren-users can experience androgenetic alopecia (a loss of hair on the scalp).
However, for the rest of the body, users can expect faster and thicker hair growth — which can be advantageous for men coveting more grandiose beards.

Insomnia
If you struggle to fall asleep at night, Trenbolone may not be a suitable steroid, due to its stimulative effects on the CNS (central nervous system) — causing insomnia.
One way to overcome ‘Trensomnia‘ is to eat ample amounts of steak, chicken, or turkey before bedtime; combined with large quantities of carbohydrates. These 3 types of meat are rich in l-tryptophan, an amino acid that has sedative qualities, helping to soothe users’ central nervous system. Combining l-tryptophan with carbohydrates in a meal aids absorption and amplifies its soothing effects.
Taking a hot bath before bedtime is also one of the most effective and natural ways to unwind and overcome insomnia. Supplements such as GABA, red grape seed extract and valerian root can also help — in conjunction with teas such as chamomile or lavender.
If a person cannot sleep despite altering their diet, taking supplements and various other means to calm; they will become more catabolic due to a rise in cortisol. This can exacerbate Tren’s side effects, further increasing blood pressure and somewhat inhibiting fat loss/muscle growth. In this case, another steroid may be more effective than Trenbolone; not in terms of potency, but because sleep is vital for optimal body composition.
Better Sex
With testosterone, androgen and nitric oxide levels surging; blood flow will increase to the penis, positively affecting size and erection quality.
This often makes for a better sex life for many users (albeit temporarily).
“At 175mg/week of Testosterone and 350mg/week of Tren my sex drive was amazing, with my girlfriend having to tap out multiple times” – Anonymous Tren-User
However, the opposite effect can also happen to some users. Reduced libido and weakened erections can occur due to Trenbolone indirectly increasing prolactin levels, via shutdown of the hypothalamus, negatively affecting feedback regulation of this lactating hormone.
Bodybuilders can take Cabergoline, a dopaminergic that is medically used to treat hyperprolactinemia (high levels of prolactin) — helping to restore optimal sexual function.
Dark Urine
Tren-users often notice their urine go a dark colour on-cycle. This is due to Trenbolone’s thermogenic effects, effectively dehydrating the body.
Thus, it is important for bodybuilders to increase their water intake on Tren, which will result in urine returning back to its normal colour.
Irritability
Trenbolone is likely to shorten a user’s patience, due to its stimulative effect.
Simply, it is more difficult to stay cool with an elevated heart rate and high levels of adrenaline.
For many, Trenbolone is an emotional rollercoaster, with mood swings by the hour.
“Whatever may happen in your life, and whatever kind of mood you may have, it can feel like Trenbolone amplifies all of your emotions tenfold”. – Anonymous Tren-User
Photoshopped Look
If a person is already lean before starting their Tren cycle, they will begin to look photoshopped, due to a combination of:

Reduced water levels
Full muscles
Increased vascularity
Trapezius and deltoid muscles ballooning in size

The trapezius and deltoid muscles are more susceptible to hypertrophy on Tren, due to them having higher androgen receptors; causing them to respond particularly well to androgenic steroids.
A notable reduction in extracellular water can make a lean person look considerably more ripped. However, a person higher in body fat may not notice any increases in muscle definition, merely from shifts in water.
Acne Breakouts
If a person is prone to acne vulgaris, Trenbolone is likely to cause further breakouts due to its androgenic nature. This is particularly common on the back (known as ‘bacne’).
Tren causes acne due to androgens stimulating the sebaceous glands, causing increased sebum production; which is a waxy substance used to moisturize the skin.
However, when there is an excess of this viscous fluid, it can block the pores leading to cystic acne in very sensitive users.
Isotretinoin, better known as Accutane, is commonly used by bodybuilders who suffer from acne, but want to experience the benefits of Trenbolone (or other androgenic steroids).
Depression
The positive effects on mood and confidence whilst on Trenbolone are truly indisputable. However, as the saying goes: ‘What goes up must come down‘.
The crash post-cycle can be fierce, indicative of damage to the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis (HPTA) and deficient endogenous testosterone levels.
Bodybuilders on-cycle have even reported random bouts of depression. This may occur due to infrequent injections, thus during a time when serum testosterone levels taper off (just before a new dose).

“I experienced depression at random times. I could wake up one morning and I would refuse to get out of bed, I’d just lay awake with my eyes open, staring at the ceiling and feeling helpless for an hour or so. Other times I would stay at home instead of working out and just lay on the couch and feel so helpless”. – Anonymous Tren-User

Therefore, Trenbolone may exacerbate mental health issues, and thus vulnerable individuals should steer away from this steroid.
After a cycle, shut down testosterone levels can cause lethargy and diminished sexual function (as well as depression). These side effects can last several weeks or months, hence why bodybuilders commonly opt for an aggressive PCT (post cycle therapy).
Below is a PCT protocol developed by Dr. Michael Scally, a hormone replacement expert. This trio of medications has proven to be a great success in clinical trials for restoring the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis (HPTA) from anabolic steroids.
When 19 steroid-induced hypogonadal men were given Dr. Scally’s PCT protocol in a clinical setting, 100% of them recovered their endogenous testosterone production within 45 days.
Here is what they took:

HCG – 2000 IU administered every other day for 20 days
Nolvadex – 2 x 20mg for 45 days
Clomid– 2 x 50mg for 30 days

This is considered an aggressive PCT and thus suitable for utilizing post-Trenbolone use. 
Summary
You cannot definitively know what to expect on Tren until you inject it — as people have different experiences based on their genetics.
One person may become hypertensive after a few cycles, whereas another person’s blood pressure can remain in the normal range.
It is also worth noting that the negative side effects of Tren are more likely to occur at higher dosages (over 400mg/week).
Thus, less is more is a good rule when cycling potent steroids like Tren; with there essentially being a cut-off point of diminishing returns once you go past a certain dose (likely to be 300mg/week).
Furthermore, almost every Trenbolone product is different, based on the UGL (underground lab) manufacturer and their skill at formulating a pure product.