Blog

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.

A first steroid cycle is often the most exciting one — with a man or woman set to experience the best gains of their life.
It’s easy to gain 20-30lbs of muscle during a first cycle, even if the person has limited knowledge of steroids, nutrition and training. This demonstrates the power of anabolic steroids.
However, with great power also comes great responsibility (as uncle Ben famously said in Spider-Man).
Thus, a person’s first steroid cycle should be as safe as possible to minimize side effects; with the body being completely new to potentially dangerous compounds.
Although many anabolic steroids are banned by the FDA today, there are precautions a bodybuilder can take to limit the risks.
These are:

Taking mild steroids (with lowered toxicity)
Taking conservative dosages
Running a cycle for a conservative amount of time

Thus, dangerous side effects often occur when highly toxic compounds are used straight away (such as Anadrol, Trenbolone, Superdrol, and others).
Also abusing steroids by taking high dosages and running the steroid for too long are big errors, that will surely lead to health problems.
The below steroid cycles are tailored for beginners, helping to maximize gains; whilst minimizing negative effects. 

Testosterone Cycle
A Testosterone cycle is by far the best protocol for a first-time steroid user.
Not only will Testosterone produce the gains most beginners are looking for — such as 20-30lbs of muscle gains and incredible strength increases.
But testosterone also has no negative effects on the liver, and it only negatively increases cholesterol levels (to a small degree).
Thus, blood pressure won’t go through the roof when using conservative doses.
Therefore, for many users the heart can remain in good shape; whilst the liver remains strong and healthy.

There is no need to cycle Testosterone beyond 7 weeks as a newbie, and to go above 350mg of testosterone per week.
Elite bodybuilders can take double this dose comfortably, however a beginner will be more susceptive to side effects (as they’ve had no time to build up a tolerance).
Users may use any Testosterone ester and experience exceptional gains. The ester won’t determine your results as such, although they can make a difference to how fast you gain muscle in the early stages of your cycle (when using short esters).
Testosterone Cypionate and Enanthate are the most popular esters, as they aren’t typically troublesome to inject and they don’t need to be injected too often. They are also very affordable.
Note: Although oral Testosterone is available, under the brand name Andriol (Testosterone Undecanoate) — it is predominantly taken in injectable form. Also, Andriol is very expensive in comparison.
Side Effects
Those taking Testosterone may want to run a PCT after their cycle, as endogenous testosterone levels will take a hit. Generally, natural levels can return to peak levels several months after a cycle ends. However, when administering an effective PCT, this may only last 1-2 months before a person’s hormone levels are fully functioning again.
Although Testosterone doesn’t provide a dramatic spike in blood pressure, users may still want to supplement with fish oil (taking 4 grams per day), to ease the strain on the heart.
Testosterone does convert into estrogen, thus some water retention is to be expected. There is also a risk of gynecomastia, due to this female hormone rising. Thus, users may want to take a SERM or an anti-estrogen to prevent such estrogenic side effects.
However, a SERM is preferred to an anti-estrogen, as the latter can negatively affect cholesterol values. This is because they block estrogen levels, lowering good HDL cholesterol, whilst increasing LDL.
In contrast, a SERM can prevent gyno by specifically blocking estrogenic effects in the mammary glands; keeping blood pressure stable.
Acne and hair loss (on the scalp) are also common symptoms among users, due to Testosterone having a moderate amount of androgenic properties.

Legal Steroid Alternatives That Work

“There is evidence, if you could use these (steroid alternatives) they would be much better than using anabolic steroids”.
Several of the herbs and amino acids, mentioned by Dr. Thomas O’Connor, are present in Crazy Bulk’s legal steroid alternatives.
CB’s products are backed with clinical research and are safe for men and women to use. You can view their product range (and receive 20% off) by clicking the link below.

Anavar Cycle
Anavar is another suitable first steroid cycle, common among men and women.
A man may take Anavar for his first cycle if he wants to avoid needles (with Anavar being an oral).
Also, Anavar may be chosen if big muscle and strength gains aren’t needed, but with the person preferring more fat loss and smaller gains in size and strength.
Anavar is one of the safest steroids a beginner can take, due to its mild side effects. Thus, it’s rare users will experience any complications on Anavar (when taken responsibly).
Anavar Cycle For Men

Anavar Cycle for Women

Testosterone and many other steroids are unsuitable for women because they can cause virilization effects — such as enlargement of the clitoris, deepened voice, reduction in breast size, and an increase in bodily hair. However, Anavar rarely causes virilization in women when taking modest doses.
An Anavar cycle has the power to significantly reduce a person’s body fat percentage, whilst adding 10-15lbs of muscle mass. Its anabolic effects are considerably less compared to bulking steroids, such as Testosterone, Dianabol, Anadrol, etc; however, the gains in size and strength aren’t to be scoffed at. Anavar is generally classed as a cutting steroid, due to its potent fat-burning effects.
Side Effects
Anavar is an oral steroid, which are notorious for causing liver toxicity. However, Anavar is the exception, with it raising liver values considerably less than Anadrol, Dianabol, Winstrol and other orals.
This is partly because the kidneys work synergistically with the liver to break down Oxandrolone, reducing its workload.
Anavar will raise cholesterol levels, contributing to an increase in blood pressure. This effect however is thought to be mild (like Testosterone). However, users are still recommended to take 4 grams of fish oil per day for optimal cardiovascular health.
Anavar will also cause a dramatic decrease in natural testosterone levels; however, it won’t shut them down entirely (like other steroids can). Thus, a PCT may be used; however, it’s not compulsory. Those wanting to restore their testosterone sooner can take Clomid post-cycle.
Women may also experience crash-like symptoms post-cycle, thus they can take DHEA to recover their natural testosterone levels.
FAQ
What about Dianabol for a first steroid cycle?
Taking Dianabol as a first steroid cycle is relatively common — although not optimal.
Beginners who do opt for Dianabol generally do so because they want anting huge muscle and strength gains, but don’t want to take an injectable.
The downside to Dianabol is it poses significant liver strain, whilst having a worse effect on blood pressure compared to Testosterone or Anavar.
Liver values will drop back down, as well as blood pressure post-cycle; however, it’s not the most health-conscious compound for a first-cycle.
If a novice did want to run Dianabol, it would be wise to follow the dosing protocol below:

Beginners should also supplement with TUDCA when taking Dianabol to limit liver damage. A dose of 500mg/day will help to keep ALT/AST levels from rising excessively.
A SERM such as Nolvadex may also be taken during this cycle, to help prevent the onset of gynecomastia.

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.

Propionate is a fast-acting Testosterone ester, present in products such as Testoviron®.
Testosterone propionate has the ability to produce impressive gains in the early stages of a cycle.
Although it kicks in fast, it’s not the most rapid form of Testosterone, with Suspension being superior in this regard.
As Propionate is absorbed quickly, frequent injections are required to maintain peak testosterone levels. It is thus recommended to be injected every other day.
Testosterone Propionate injections can be painful for many users, regularly leaving them feeling sore or even having to limp (after injecting in the leg).
One myth about Testosterone Propionate is that it’s cheap. This is because the price for a bottle is typically lower than other Testosterone products. However, Propionate is dosed at 100mg/ml, whereas other Testosterone esters such as Cypionate or Enanthate, are dosed at 250mg/ml.
Thus, if Propionate is priced at $50 and enanthate at $100; Propionate can work out 50% more expensive.

Testosterone Prop Benefits
The general benefits of Testosterone Propionate are typically the same as cycling any other Testosterone ester.
Thus, users can experience roughly 20lbs of lean muscle (combined with some fat loss), when taking Testosterone for the first time.
Strength will also go up dramatically in the first few weeks, then slowly continue increasing until the end of your cycle.
The main difference with Propionate is that results occur in the earlier stages of a cycle, compared to slower esters (such as Enanthate or Cypionate); taking more time to kick in.
However, the end result will be the same no matter what Testosterone ester you take; as they are all essentially the same steroid (they just peak at different times).
Testosterone Propionate Side Effects
The usual side effects associated with Testosterone also apply with Propionate, such as:

High cholesterol
Increased blood pressure
Risk of gynecomastia
Oily skin or/and acne
Hair loss
Testosterone suppression

LDL cholesterol levels rising and HDL levels falling is typical when taking any steroid; however, it’s worth noting that Testosterone is one of the least harmful steroids for negatively affecting cholesterol. Thus, blood pressure will rise, however, if moderate dosages are taken for reasonable lengths of time — this is often manageable.
Bodybuilders can also supplement with fish oil to control BP, taking 4 grams per day throughout a cycle.
Testosterone is estrogenic, thus water retention, bloating or/and gynecomastia are all possible.
Despite Testosterone causing some fat loss (due to its androgenic nature stimulating lipolysis); it is mainly used when bulking. Thus, many users do not mind a temporary ‘smooth’, watery look.
A SERM (such as Nolvadex) may be taken to reduce the risk of gynecomastia. AI’s (anti-aromatase inhibitors) are not recommended as blocking estrogen can worsen cholesterol and blood pressure; due to the female hormone having a positive effect on HDL cholesterol.
Oily skin and acne are possible for some users, which is the result of testosterone’s strong androgenic properties (causing increased sebum production).
Hair thinning on the scalp, or recession is possible due to elevated DHT levels.
Post-cycle, when DHT drops, hair on the scalp may become thicker again; however reverse effect is unlikely in regular, long-term steroid users.
It seems ironic that by taking Testosterone, your natural testosterone crashes. However, this is the reality (as is the case with all anabolic steroids. This occurs due to the body detecting exogenous testosterone; with total levels rising excessively high, the body halts natural production (to try and maintain homeostasis).
Thus, after a cycle ends users are left with shut down endogenous testosterone, needing a PCT to help resurrect testosterone back to adequate levels. An effective PCT can usually restore hormone function in approximately 4 weeks. Without a PCT, low testosterone levels can persist for several months.

Legal Steroid Alternatives That Work

“There is evidence, if you could use these (steroid alternatives) they would be much better than using anabolic steroids”.
Several of the herbs and amino acids, mentioned by Dr. Thomas O’Connor, are present in Crazy Bulk’s legal steroid alternatives.
CB’s products are backed with clinical research and are safe for men and women to use. You can view their product range (and receive 20% off) by clicking the link below.

Testosterone Propionate Cycle
Testosterone Propionate comes in bottles dosed at 1ml/100mg.
Beginner Cycle
100mg every other day, for 8 weeks.
Note: Testosterone Propionate generally isn’t advised for beginners, due to painful injections (and having to be administered frequently).

Intermediate Cycle
150mg every other day, for 8 weeks.

Advanced Cycle
200mg every other day, for 8-10 weeks.

Other supplements:

Fish oil (4g/day)
Nolvadex (20-40mg day)

Note: Intermediates and advanced steroid users may want to stack Testosterone Propionate with other compounds for maximum results; however, this isn’t recommended for beginners (due to additional side effects).
Testosterone Propionate Results

A first Testosterone cycle can produce the gains as seen above, in regards to muscle size and fat loss.
Users who follow the beginner cycle protocol (above) can expect a similar transformation.
Test Prop Vs Test Suspension
Testosterone Suspension is pure testosterone (no ester), thus it’s extremely fast-acting.
One benefit is Testosterone Suspension will produce faster results than propionate.
However, the downside is it requires very frequent injections (2x per day), to keep serum testosterone high. This is a lot more than propionate’s 2x per week.
Testosterone Suspension, like Propionate, can also be painful to inject.
The only situation where Testosterone Suspension might be advantageous is before a competition, where it clears out of the system quickly.
For example, someone might have a drugs test on a certain date, thus if they used Suspension they could stop taking it a few days before and not test positive. This is because Test Suspension’s detection time is 1-2 days, with a half-life of less than 24 hours.
However, Testosterone Propionate for example can be detected for up to 2 weeks, and thus you wouldn’t be able to use this closer to the competition (if being tested).
Other than for competition purposes and wanting it out of your system quickly, bodybuilders typically won’t use Testosterone Suspension; as there’s no need to inject 2x per day (when you can do so once per week).
Testosterone Prop vs Undecanoate
Undecanoate is the oral version of Testosterone, also known by the product name — Andriol or Testocaps.
Thus, for those who want to experience the benefits of Testosterone but don’t want to inject it; Undecanoate would be the ideal alternative.
Testosterone Undecanoate is also fast-acting, with testosterone levels peaking approximately 5 hours after a first dose.
Despite being an oral, Undecanoate is not liver toxic, being absorbed via the lymphatic route.
The only main advantage to taking Testosterone Propionate is that it’s a lot cheaper than Undecanoate; with Andriol being one of the most expensive steroids on the market.
Testosterone Prop vs Enanthate & Cypionate
Testosterone Enanthate and Cypionate are similar esters in many respects. They both are slow-acting, thus injections only need to be administered once every 4-5 days (compared to once every 2 days for propionate).
Due to Enanthate and Cypionate’s slower nature, results won’t happen as fast as Propionate.
However, Enanthate and Cypionate are known to be more pleasant injections, with users reporting less irritation and soreness.
Also, Enanthate/Cypionate are more affordable esters vs Propionate in the long run.
A bottle of propionate may be cheaper; however, it’s dosed at 100mg per 1ml, compared to 250mg per 1ml (for Enanthate/Cypionate).
Thus, when calculating the cost per ml, Propionate is considerably more expensive.
Cypionate and Enanthate remain the most popular esters for good reason; considering they produce the same results as Propionate, yet are cheaper and less hassle.
Summary
Testosterone Propionate is not a recommended ester, due to it being on the expensive side and often painful to inject.
However, in the right circumstance, users may opt for Propionate if they need it to clear out of their system quickly.

Special Deal: Buy 2 get 1 free on legal Winstrol and other Crazy Bulk products. 
Winstrol (Stanozolol) is one of the most popular steroids on the market today. Its fast-acting nature,  powerful ability to burn body fat, whilst building muscle makes it a unique compound. With it being an oral steroid and able to produce results early into a cycle — it makes for one of the best cutting steroids in the world.
What is Winstrol?
Winstrol (Stanozolol) is a DHT-derived steroid, first created in 1962 by Winthrop Laboratories. In medicine, Winstrol has treated various diseases; including lipodermatosclerosis and osteoporosis.
However, users soon started noticing its dramatic effect on body composition with patients getting leaner, stronger and more muscular.
Consequently, bodybuilders and athletes started taking Winstrol to get bigger, stronger and faster (without putting on large amounts of weight). This ultimately led to Winstrol getting banned, due to its widespread use and its adverse side effects becoming well known.
Stanozolol is rarely used in medicine nowadays due to milder alternatives being available, with Winstrol being considered a fairly toxic steroid.
Why Do People Buy Winstrol?
Winstrol’s benefits are as follows:

Muscle gain
Fat loss
Strength building
Increased power

Winstrol is an effective muscle-builder; however, it’s predominantly used in cutting cycles to shred fat and increase muscle definition. This is because its muscle-building effects aren’t as powerful as the likes of Dianabol; however, its fat-burning effects rival some of the best cutting steroids — including Anavar.
Winstrol has a low androgenic rating; however, in real-life terms, this doesn’t correlate; with users experiencing androgenic effects. Generally, the more androgenic a steroid is, the better the fat loss will be — with Trenbolone being similar in this regard. Winstrol’s ability to cause weight loss is more potent than other steroids, due to the compound also having diuretic attributes (causing users to lose water, as well as fat).
Winstrol is effective for increasing muscular strength and power. Its properties are perfect for athletes who want to get stronger without getting too bulky (maintaining their speed). However, Winstrol is a banned steroid and thus any professional athlete who takes it to gain an edge over their competition will be at risk of failing a drugs test. Winstrol is not as effective at increasing strength, compared to more potent AAS; however, hitting new PR’s is common. 
Winstrol Side Effects

Testosterone suppression
Raised cholesterol
Acne
Hair loss
Liver strain
Virilization in women

Note: To avoid the above side effects, we recommend buying Winsol (a legal Winstrol supplement) which mimics its positive effects — without the side effects. You can find legal Winstrol for sale by clicking the ‘Buy Now’ button at the top of this page. 
All steroids will cause natural testosterone levels to plummet post-cycle and Winstrol is no exception to this rule. It can take several weeks to months for test levels to bounce back (with this time being determined by the dose used, length of cycle and PCT effectiveness).
Cholesterol will rise when taking Winstrol, most notably LDL levels. Thus, blood flow can decrease, placing more strain on the heart. Blood pressure will almost certainly increase from a cycle, thus anyone with heart problems should stay away from Winstrol. To minimize the elevation of blood pressure, users are encouraged to perform regular cardio and to limit their sodium intake.
Acne and oily skin can be experienced when taking Winstrol, with it producing notable androgenic side effects. Many users may not experience this particular side effect as it’s often related to a person’s genetics. Acne can happen due to an increase in sebum production, eventually blocking the pores — resulting in more frequent bouts of acne. If someone has no history of acne, Winstrol is unlikely to cause such a reaction.
Hair loss is possible due to Winstrol being a DHT-derived steroid. However, Winstrol won’t cause someone’s hair to fall out when they have strong genetics. Winstrol and any anabolic steroid may simply accelerate thinning during supplementation, which can often be reversed post-cycle; if users spend sufficient amounts of time off in between dosing. For those who are on steroids more than not, such thinning may be permanent, with the hair follicles not having enough time to regenerate.
Liver strain is a certainty on Winstrol, with it being a potent oral steroid. This isn’t generally the most dangerous side effect — if utilizing Winstrol in short-to-moderate cycles and taking ample time off. This is because liver values often revert back to normal post-cycle. However, when Winstrol and other orals are used excessively, in combination with other hepatotoxic medication or substances — substantial liver damage is possible.
Many women take Winstrol thinking it will help them burn fat and build muscle, and they are often pleased with the gains. However, Winstrol is not the best steroid to take when trying to keep your femininity — with it often causing a deepened voice, enlargement of the clitoris and reduced breast size. The only way to keep these side effects at bay on Winstrol would be to take a tiny dose. Thus, other steroids such as Anavar are safer for women to take.
Winstrol for Sale
Because of steroid’s illegal status in the US and many other countries, bodybuilders typically buy Winstrol from the black market — as doctors will no longer prescribe it for cosmetic purposes.
This can lead to various problems, such as products being under-dosed, mislabeled and even containing harmful substances.
Winstrol for sale on the black market simply is not guaranteed to be genuine, thus going through this avenue is risky (in regards to your finances and risking your health).
To reduce the chances of being scammed, someone you know might be able to vouch for a certain dealer; however, there is no guarantee of being protected from the police who can slap that buying / selling Winstrol with a hefty fine or prison time (depending on the law of the country).
More gym-goers are now buying Winsol, a Winstrol supplement, which is 100% legal to buy. This is because it is not pure exogenous Testosterone but instead made up of a formula that raises anabolic hormones once ingested. The FDA has approved Winsol’s formula, thus there’s no risk of getting in trouble with the police by buying it online.
Therefore, you can find Winsol (Winstrol) for sale from a reputable retailer online, instead of having to trust shady dealers on the black market. A best-selling merchant online is Crazy Bulk, which sell Winsol and other legal steroids; helping bodybuilders make gains safely, without breaking the law