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Hidetada Yamagishi Reveals He Has Retired From Bodybuilding
Hidetada Yamagishi has not competed since 2020 and will not return to the stage.
Hidetada Yamagishi is calling it a career after 17 years as a professional bodybuilder. The 212 competitor revealed that he has retired from competition.
Yamagishi has not competed since the 2020 Olympia. He recently joined the Muscle and Fitness show The Menace Podcast where he was asked about his future. This is when Yamagishi expressed that he is retired.
“Yeah, I am retired. I’ve done everything I wanted. The last show I did was 2000… I think it was 2020… Yeah I did it but you know… During the prep I knew this was going to be my last show. I was happy that I did but I was just there. I knew I wasn’t, I didn’t belong there Physique wise.”
Hidetada Yamagishi stepped on a professional stage for the first time in 2005 during the Ironman Pro. He finished second in the event and this jumpstarted his career. In 2007, Yamagishi was able to qualify for the Olympia and finished 13th. It was not until 2010 that Yamagishi won his first professional show at the Europa Show of Champions.
In 2014, Hidetada Yamagishi moved to the 212 division and won Tampa Pro that same year. This was one of five victories for Yamagishi during his career. He also competed at the Olympia 10 times. Yamagishi also won the Europa Pro Dallas and Monsterzym Pro in 2019. His biggest moment came in 2016 when he won the Arnold Classic in the 212 division.
The decision to retire is not one that should come as a surprise. Yamagishi has not competed since 2020 and has been thinking about retiring for a few years now. In 2021, Yamagishi sat down with Generation Iron and discussed his future in bodybuilding.
“Of course, I love being on stage. I love this lifestyle. People ask me when should I retire and I was thinking about it more a couple years ago. Now, to be honest, my physique is better 10 years ago. It’s not better. I was better 10 years ago, for sure,” Hidetada yamagishi told Generation iron.
Bodybuilding was my job. Of course, it still is my job professional bodybuilding, but it’s not making much money for me anymore. I spend more money training and all this stuff. Diet and everything else. I make money from other things. It’s not really my job anymore. It’s more of a hobby and a love. I keep on competing unless one day everything hurts too much to compete.”
Hidetada Yamagishi currently lives in Las Vegas and co-owns the Powerhouse gym with 10x Ms. Olympia Iris Kyle. Yamagishi enjoyed a career that was close to two decades and now he can focus on life off stage.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Milos Sarcev Lists The Most Shocking Pro Bodybuilding Physique Transformations Ever
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Milos Sarcev talks about the most shocking physique transformations he has ever seen by a pro bodybuilder.
There are moments throughout the history of bodybuilding physiques that stand the test of time. Moments that fundamentally changed the future of the sport – perhaps known in the moment or understood later in retrospect. Dorian Yates‘ mass monster physique first appearing on stage is a great example. It shocked audiences and judges. It change the direction of physiques for the rest of the industry. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Milos Sarcev recounts the most shocking pro bodybuilder physique transformations he had ever seen.
Milos Sarcev has been deeply involved in bodybuilding for majority of his life. He was a powerful competitor during his prime years. He claims to have brought insulin into the sport (for better or worse). And after retiring from the stage, he put his efforts into being a coach and trainer for future generations. So it would stand to reason that his insights into the past, present, and future of the sport are valuable in light of his successes.
That’s why we asked a series of questions to Milos Sarcev during our latest interview – ranging from the hardest working bodybuilders today to the most genetically gifted. We also asked him, in his opinion, what was the most shocking physique transformation he had ever seen in pro bodybuilding.
Milos Sarcev brings up two key figures. First, he discusses Flex Wheeler going from 208 pounds to 245 pounds. While this might not seem on its face a drastic change – Wheeler’s 208 physique was “skinny fat” as Sarcev would call it. More importantly, this transformation happened in the matter of only three weeks.
For Flex Wheeler to transform from out of shape “skinny fat” into a titan of muscle and conditioning in just three weeks is astounding. Of course, it’s also not fully surprising for Wheeler. He has been known to be a truly genetically gifted athlete. Perhaps one of the most genetically gifted to ever step on stage. Milos Sarcev admits as much earlier during this interview segment.
Milos Sarcev also points out Ronnie Coleman‘s transformation between 2002 and 2003. Ronnie was Olympia champion in both 2002 and 2003 – and yet the change in his physique is known by fans far and wide. It’s the moment that Ronnie left planet earth and solidified himself as a true unmatched legend in the sport.
Proof of this can be seen in what happened between these two years. After Ronnie Coleman won the 2002 Mr. Olympia, he later competed and lost to Gunter Schlierkamp. A surprising turn of events for a current Olympia champion. Something like that would never happen again for The King. By the time he reappeared at the 2003 Mr. Olympia – there was no doubt that he would remain unstoppable.
You can watch Milos Sarcev go into more detail about both Flex Wheeler’s and Ronnie Coleman’s shocking pro bodybuilding transformations in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above. He also discusses the hardest working bodybuilders currently competing and the most genetically gifted bodybuilders of all time.
Interview: Bostin Loyd Reveals His Worst Steroid Experience
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Bostin Loyd uses his body as a steroids testing ground.
*In tribute to the late Bostin Loyd, who sadly passed away at 29 years old, we are republishing an archived interview from our Iron Cinema series first conducted in 2016.
Every week, Iron Cinema will connect you with Generation Iron director Vlad Yudin. Giving you unprecedented inside access to the creative process behind his the Generation Iron Fitness Network. Get a first hand look at the entire journey of taking Vlad’s creative ideas to the big screen – from stories on set of films like Generation Iron and CT Fletcher all the way to exclusive behind-the-scene looks at our newest GI news and films. This week Vlad interviews Bostin Loyd about his open and honest mentality behind steroids and learns about Loyd’s worst steroid side effect he’s ever experienced.
When Bostin Loyd decided to jump onto our podcast earlier this month, I wanted to also take the time to have a more formal interview with him. After all, there aren’t many bodybuilders to be so honest about steroids while still in the prime of competing in the NPC. Of course, this has brought much controversy and hate towards Bostin… so I wanted to dig deeper about his mentality behind the steroid honesty, how it effects his life, and what the cost is behind using his own body like a testing ground. You can watch the full interview above.
Bostin Loyd Interview: I Know Pros Use Synthol
*In tribute to the late Bostin Loyd, who sadly passed away at 29 years old, we are republishing an archived interview from our Iron Cinema series first conducted in 2016.
Every week, Iron Cinema will connect you with Generation Iron director Vlad Yudin. Giving you unprecedented inside access to the creative process behind his the Generation Iron Fitness Network. Get a first hand look at the entire journey of taking Vlad’s creative ideas to the big screen – from stories on set of films like Generation Iron and CT Fletcher all the way to exclusive behind-the-scene looks at our newest GI news and films. This week Vlad talks further with controversial bodybuilder Bostin Loyd about the use of Synthol and how it’s more commonly used at the top of the IFBB than you would ever imagine.
Bostin Loyd was another bodybuilder who had a lot to say – and so much of it was valuable that we needed to do a a second part of his interview as well. In part 2 I talk with Loyd in depth about the use of synthol and how it compares to the rampant use of steroids in the industry. Bostin Loyd has always been open and honest about all things – including steroids and synthol. So it’s good to get further clarification on how the industry really works beyond what active pros tell us. Synthol is normally frowned upon and considered a “cheat” – something that serious pros never partake in… but Bostin Loyd has a very different truth (according to him) about the use of Synthol. Hear it all in our latest interview above.
The GI Team is here to provide top news and original content for the new generation. The generation of bodybuilders who are pushing the sport to bigger and better places. Join The Movement. Become a part of Generation Iron!
Milos Sarcev Says He Regrets Using Synthol
Milos Sarcev talks about his history with synthol oil.
Milos Sarcev recently spoke about one of his biggest regrets in his bodybuilding career: his synthol usage. The veteran bodybuilder and coach talked about his synthol usage on Jay Cutler’s recent podcast episode.
When you’re competing at the highest level of your chosen sport there are many that will do almost anything to obtain victory. In the case of bodybuilding that can mean taking a number of different measures. Utilizing all different kinds of gear seems to be the number one choice.
For some bodybuilders utilizing synthol oil has been an option for helping to increase muscle mass. Many fans and avid bodybuilders frown upon its usage, especially by those who don’t do any kind of legit training whatsoever. But with that said, there are many pros who have used synthol oil in the past. One of them is Milos Sarcev who isn’t too proud of the point.
In a recent podcast Milos Sarcev spoke about one of his biggest regrets in his career. For Sarcev it was his apparent synthol usage. The veteran bodybuilder and coach spoke with Jay Cutler about his history with synthol.
“The biggest regret for me is using the Synthol in my arms,” said Milos Sarcev. “Okay, up until 97, I mean I was told many times, with the bigger arms you have a chance right. And we were using clan (Clenbuterol) back in the day. Then Kevin came to 97 Olympia, remember Flex was supposed to beat Dorian Yates, and then he pulled out of the show 2-weeks out.
“Then, you know Kevin was looking for him, and then said, ‘Milos can you please give this to Flex because he had to go back to England’ and so there was like 12 bottles of something. I said ‘what is it?’ He said Synthol, you inject it in small body parts, and I said ‘oh wow’. So just take half. So, you know of course I started, initially I was getting great results with that one. I don’t want to say great results because I never want to encourage anyone to do it. It’s the biggest mistake.”
While Milos Sarcev didn’t obtain his body solely by utilizing synthol, it is clearly something he isn’t proud of. To hear what else he had to say about his time in bodybuilding be sure to checkout the full podcast episode.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Bodybuilder Bostin Loyd Has Passed Away At 29 Years Old
Bostin Loyd was open about steroids and his kidney failure during his career.
Bodybuilder Bostin Loyd has passed away at the age of 29, according to sources close to Generation Iron. There has been no official cause of death confirmed at this time. Loyd passed out at his home in Springhill, FL before being taken to the hospital. This is where he was pronounced dead. The paramedics on scene believed it to be a heart attack but there is no official word just yet.
Early in his career, Bostin Loyd publicly discussed his use of steroids. He became the first competitive bodybuilder to openly reveal his steroid cycle. Loyd was 21 years old and had just won the 2013 NPC Contra Costa in Hayward, CA. This was a video that brought attention to his career at a young age.
Loyd was a bodybuilder who became known for sharing controversial stances around the sport. He was honest about his journeys and this includes his battle with Stage 5 kidney failure. The cause of this was likely due to the overall lifestyle of a bodybuilder. This could be the substances being taken or cutting weight through dehydration.
Bostin Loyd found out about his diagnosis in October 2020 and began studying about how to restore his kidney function. This could also be used to help and guide other athletes in the future. Loyd began undergoing many treatments such as recovery peptides, gluthithione, and stem cells.
Loyd’s final competition came in 2016 during the NPC Kevin Gore Border Klash. Aside from steroids, Loyd was also open about the number of pro cards being handed out by the IFBB at the time.
The career of Loyd will be remembered in different lights depending on your views. He received plenty of backlash over the course of his career for his views and beliefs. Also, his admittance to steroids cause a huge stir. the tragic news of Loyd’s passing comes shortly after Isaac Ghavidel passed away after a success career in Iran and Canada.
Bostin Loyd was always true to himself and believed in speaking on difficult issues. Generation Iron sends condolences to friends and family during this difficult time.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Good Exercises For Lower Back Pain Alleviation & Support
Don’t let lower back pain stop you in your tracks and keep you from seeing big gains.
Lower back pain plagues us all. That uncomfortable feeling of rolling out of bed and suffering through the stiffness and pain throughout the day. There are simple and convenient ways to strengthen your lower back without succumbing to one more day of lower back pain.
Work to help yourself get better with these great exercises because you have the power to change your posture and ability to lift big for the better. All it takes is the will to make this much needed change.
The back is without a doubt one of the most important parts of your body. More confidence in the gym, in your everyday life, and in yourself can enhance your gains and keep you seeing those goals you desire most come to fruition without back pain. Any big lift requires good stability and these workouts can get you there so you look and feel great.
While it is imperative to train your whole back in order to help support the spine, strengthening the lower back is going to offer an extra level of spinal support while also keeping your hip flexors and core in great shape. This will aid in not only overall daily functioning, but also those big lifts so you start seeing huge personal records and outlift others in competition without low back pain and sore back muscles.
Lower back pain is hard to exactly pinpoint and can be caused by a host of things from improper form, strenuous activity, or muscle strain. These lower back exercises are great for strengthening and maintaining a good, solid lower back to keep you feeling great, looking great, and thriving in and out of the gym with strong core muscles keeping your lift moving.
Squats
Many associate the squat with simply the legs. But the lower back is the most targeted area during a squat and without proper strength and correct form, your lower back can suffer greatly.
Starting light with squats and gradually building to heavier weights is a great way to strengthen and maintain the lower back in order to see those gains. As a staple in the big three powerlifts, squats are great for seeing huge growth in the lower body while also promoting a solid core. With a more engaged and stable core, your low back will take less of a load, thus decreasing unwanted pain and strain and lower back pain.
How to: Start with a wide stance and have your feet shoulder width apart. Squeezing your core to maintain a flat back, sit back as if a chair is under you. Your feet should be flat on the ground with your knees behind your toes. Be sure to keep your chest up and head facing front.
Bridges
Bridges are often seen as a warm-up exercise, but the benefits of a bridge far outweigh the common misconception surrounding them. Too often we sit hunched at our desks and bridges can help strengthen not just the lower back, but the entire back.
For those looking to lift heavy and be more explosive, bridges can aid in these movements and support your workout endurance. They provide for a great stretch as well to really elongate the spine and feel longer. Opening up your spine with an exercise like this can also promote better breathing and posture and really work to aid in those big lifts and more advanced workouts without lower back pain.
How to: Lie flat on your back with your knees up. Pushing your hips off the ground, keep your arms and head relaxed down while lifting your chest. Gently lower your hips to release to the initial position and take strain off the low back.
Knee-to-Chest
While primarily a stretch, the knee-to-chest workout will increase your range of motion allowing that stiffness to be released. Whether done as a double- or single-legged exercise, this is a great warm-up or mid workout stretch. This can work to loosen up any tight muscle and really work to alleviate pain that occurs in the low back.
How to: For the single-leg, lie on your back flat on the ground with your feet on the floor and knees bent up. Raise one knee and interlace your fingers underneath. Pull the bent knee to chest, pause for a moment, then return to the floor. The same premise follows with the double-leg except lift both knees off the ground and gently pull towards your body for back pain relief.
Lying Lateral Leg Lifts
Lying lateral leg lifts will help work the hip abductor muscles used to support the pelvis and reduce unwanted strain on the lower back. This will help with balance as well as mobility and provide for a more stable core. A more stable abdominal center means less back strain and a more solid low back to aid in any big lift or serious workout and relieve pain.
How to: Lie on one side of your body with your legs together, avoiding your hands and knees. Keeping the lower leg slightly bent, raise the top leg while keeping it straight. It is important to engage the ab muscles. Hold at the top and gently lower back down. Turning onto your other side, you can repeat these steps for the other leg for back pain relief which may help it go away as this exercise helps with that for your muscles and spine.
Supermans
With Supermans, the lower back and glutes are primarily involved giving those lower back muscles the opportunity to work. Although a simple exercise, it allows you to build fundamental skills for more advanced workouts. This is also a great ab workout so you can start to see that desired physique take effect. With a solid low back and rocking core, your aesthetic and support base are seriously enhanced and ready to relieve pain in all body parts like your back and legs.
How to: Lie face down on the ground and stretch both arms out front. At the same time, raise both your hands and feet off the ground about six inches. Engage your abdominals while keeping your head straight down at the floor. Hold for a brief pause and lower back to the ground gently for pain relief from your muscles, spine and arms.
Side Plank
A good side plank can help strengthen the muscles of your lower back. While also working your core, the side plank improves stability and offers the benefit of a solid lower back. Working those obliques is a great way to get that V-shape we all desire with the added benefit of helping yourself see great gains in alleviating low back pain.
How to: This can be done on either your elbow or with your hand on the floor and arm stretched out. Choose a side and lie on the ground. Tightening your core, raise your hips so your body forms a line from your feet to your shoulder. You can place your free hand either on your hip or extended in the air. Hold for as long as you’d like in a straight line and gently lower to the ground. The same steps apply for the other side for pain relief and strengthen more core muscles and abdominal muscles.
Wrap Up
While lower back pain can be debilitating in all facets of life, don’t let it take you down. Give these lower back exercises a try and you will see significant progress with how you feel with stronger abdominal muscles and less low back pain to help relieve pain and tension. Don’t let neglect and poor movement hurt your gains and really work to help your back and overall body stay upright and with good posture. You have the power to change the way your back feels and these exercises will help greatly in your quest for increased confidence and a better overall quality lift. Try these exercises today to see how they can help you.
Let us know how these exercises are in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Envato
Martyn Ford And Iranian Hulk Trade Blows After Heated Exchange During Staredown
The first staredown between Martyn Ford and the Iranian Hulk went as expected.
The anticipation and excitement around the boxing match between Martyn Ford and the Iranian Hulk is beginning to feel real. This was taken to the next level when the two rivals met face-to-face for the first time. The staredown took place in Dubai and was just as heated as expected. Ford and Sajad Gharibi came to blows on two occasions to set the stage for what already is a big-time fight.
The boxing match is scheduled to take place at the O2 Arena in London on April 2. The first staredown took place on Thursday morning about five weeks out of the fight.
During their first encounter, Gharibi attempted to take tackle Martyn Ford and take him to the ground. the two were separated before facing off once again. This is where Ford got even with a shove to the Iranian Hulk that sent him to the floor. Those who were filming the event were forced to help step in and break up the two behemoths.
This fight is scheduled to be a four-round bout which each being two minutes long. It is a Boxstar Celebrity Boxing event that is sanctioned by the Professional Boxing Association. This will be the headline event with 12 fights on the undercard. This makes for a great night of fighting at one of the most famous arenas in London.
When looking at the two fighters square off, you can notice the size differences. Martyn Ford holds a clear height advantage at 6-foot-9 compared to 6-foot-2 of the Iranian Hulk. Gharibi carries plenty of muscle mass and weighs around 390 pounds. This is 90 pounds more than Ford, who also carries great size at his extreme height. It will be interesting to see how this comes into play over the course of the night.
There is expected to be around 20,000 fans in attendance to watch this bout. They will have a chance to see the Iranian Hulk begin his boxing career against Ford, who has some experience in other areas. He has been training with some of the top fighters in the world to prepare. Ford has experience in MMA and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
The plan for this fight was announced back in October. This means both fighters have had months to prepare and to think about their meeting. Both Martyn Ford and the Iranian Hulk are starting to gear up and that can be seen during their first staredown.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
8 Top-Secret Hacks For Gaining Serious Bicep Size
If a gym bro had to choose between an orgasm and a bicep pump, he’d probably pick the latter. A bro waits for the arms day every week in hopes that he’ll walk away with at least an inch added to his arms.
You’ll see people missing leg days or even back days but you’ll never see someone intentionally skipping training their biceps. Even though the gym rats shower so much love on their guns, you won’t see many people walking around with jacked arm in your gym.
While many gym noobs think that the problem with their arms is that they aren’t training them enough, the real problem lies in how they’ve been training. In most cases, the problem doesn’t lie in quantity but the quality of their workouts.
In this article, we’ll go over the little tweaks you need to make in your bicep training techniques that will give you insane results. Warning – you might not be able to scrub your back after following these tips.
8 Tips For Gaining Bicep Size
Exercises, Volume & Intensity
For starters, let’s get done with the exercises, volume, and intensity debate. There is no doubt that your workouts should have a mix of compound lifts like the barbell and dumbbell curls, and isolation exercises like the cable and concentration curls.
If you’ve been doing a mix of three compound and two isolation exercises in your arm workout but are not seeing any results, it’s time to try something new. You should try alternating between compound bicep arm workout on odd weeks and isolation workouts on even weeks.
When it comes to volume and intensity, we recommend hitting failure on every set and exercise. Don’t worry about overtraining your arms. If you’re unhappy with your arm gains, chances are you’re nowhere close to overtraining your muscles.
Use Bigger Grips
Forearms are one of the most overlooked aspects of bicep training. You can’t have muscular biceps without strong forearms. While thin bars can save the manufacturing companies money, they don’t add anything to your bottom line.
Bar grip accessories like Fat Gripz can make the barbells rounder and thicker. Thicker bars can be harder to grab and hold onto which can put additional tensions on your biceps. The curling exercises can get harder on the eccentric part of the movement while using fatter grips.
As you perform the bicep exercises using thicker grips, your biceps will be put under increasing tension as your forearms begin to fatigue. Perform one bicep exercise with the fat grips at the starting of the workout or perform one set of each exercise using the grips to annihilate your pythons.
Be The Odd One Out
If you’re someone who does 8/10/12 reps of every exercise, you’re a part of the majority of the gym population. Most of us have been using this rep scheme without ever questioning it. It’s something we have been taught the moment we step inside a weight room.
Your goal with your new rep structure would be to add three reps to every set. Performing sets of 11/13/15 reps would add a significant amount of volume to your workouts which is perfect to shock your arms into growing.
Train Your Biceps From All Angles
Most people forget biceps are called biceps for a reason. Your biceps are made up of two muscles – the short and long head. You can’t expect both these heads to develop if you hit them from a single angle.
While training with a barbell, make sure you do one set each with a shoulder-wide grip, a wider-than shoulder-width grip, and a narrow grip. Similarly, using an EZ-bar can add much-needed variation to your training regime. Changing your hand placement on the bars will help polish your guns.
Disrupt The Preacher Bench
Look at the preacher bench in your gym and you’ll probably find a dude hunched over the arm pad and swinging back and forth to lift the weights. Using momentum on an isolation lift won’t do you any good.
Instead of sitting straight on the preacher bench, turn your body sideways and place your right arm on the arm pad so your right elbow and both shoulders are in a straight line. Sitting sideways will eliminate any possibility of using momentum. You could perform this variation on a preacher curl bench, machine, or even an incline bench.
Turn Your Wrists
If we got a penny every time we saw someone half-assing through dumbbell curls, we’d have enough to buy a Bitcoin. Get this, the degree of wrist rotation while performing the dumbbell curls is directly proportional to your bicep gains.
At the top of a dumbbell curl, your pinky finger should be outside your shoulder. If your palms are facing your shoulders flat, you are not squeezing your pythons enough for you to be able to develop the peak.
Add Advanced Training Techniques To The Mix
If you’re expecting extra-ordinary results but are doing the ordinary exercises, you’re just wasting your time. You have to throw new things at your muscles constantly to keep them guessing.
Using advanced training techniques like drop-sets, supersets, BFR (blood flow restriction) training, intra-set stretching, GVTs are a great way to spice up your workouts and make those pythons grow.
Adding these advanced training techniques will also make sure your workouts never get boring. You could try one new technique in every workout or perform a set of different advanced techniques in every exercise.
Perform Partial Reps
By partial reps, we don’t mean an incomplete range of motion. Since your guns are long muscles, you should train them in different ranges to optimally develop the length and the peak of the biceps.
21s are an incredibly effective exercise to target the long and short heads of the biceps. You don’t have to limit yourself to 21s. You could perform 24s, 27s, or 30s in the same rep scheme.
Don’t Forget Nutrition & Recovery
No matter how hard you train or how much you can curl, you need to remember that you break down muscle while you are training. Your muscles grow back bigger and stronger only when you’re meeting your daily nutrient requirement and are giving your muscles enough time to rest and recuperate from your workouts.
How much can you curl, bro? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
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.