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Nick Walker Shares Massive Offseason Physique Update, Leg Workout
Nick Walker has been hitting the gym hard during the offseason.
It was quite a rookie season for Nick Walker. He put together some big performances in the biggest shows of the year but admitted that he was unhappy with his finish at the Olympia. It is clear that Walker is continuing to train with a purpose and a recent physique update shows just that.
It is unlikely that Walker competes again until the 2022 Olympia. This gives him just over a year to get himself in prime shape in hopes of winning the biggest competition of the year. Walker has not been shy about sharing progress and workouts on social media. Recently, Walker released both.
Nick Walker took to Instagram to share a recent physique update following a chest and biceps workout. On his YouTube channel, Walker also shared a huge leg workout. There will be a new back routine released this week.
Walker burst onto the scene with one of the best physiques in the world this year. He took began by winning the New York Pro and followed it up with a title in his first Arnold Classic. He entered the Olympia with plenty of momentum and finished fifth. This was a strong finish for his first appearance but Walker was not satisfied.
“5th place to many is a huge accomplishment. 5th place to me is a loss…. a loss that I will make sure with this whole year of training never happens again. I know what needs to be improved and I know what needs to be fixed,” Walker wrote in an Instagram caption back on Oct. 11.
Early in the offseason, it seems as though Walker is beginning to makes those changes. He has been sharing workout videos for quite sometime now. Recently, it was a massive hamstring workout that he shared on his YouTube page.
This was a workout that consisted of five exercises. Walker began with seated leg curls and trap bar deadlifts. He then went to lying leg curls and hip thrusters before finishing up with weighted lunges. Up next will be a back workout. Walker said that the video would be released this week.
Nick Walker might not compete this year but that does not mean that he will not be a competitor to watch during the 2022 Olympia in Las Vegas. Walker has already sculpted one of the best physiques in the world and is continuing to improve, which is a scary thought.
Over the course of the offseason, Walker will likely continue to provide physique updates and different workouts. He has stated that he knows what changes need to be made and it will be interesting to see what is focused on most to improve.
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Jay Cutler Comments On Recent Deaths: “People Are Just Running Scared”
Jay Cutler comments on the passing of modern bodybuilding veterans.
Jay Cutler recently commented on the string of deaths plaguing modern bodybuilding. In recent months former Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden, George Peterson, and John Meadows all lost their lives. The passing of these veteran bodybuilders sent shockwaves through the industry.
The modern era of bodybuilding has become an extremely controversial time for the sport. While bodybuilding has been more accepted into the mainstream, the reality is that the state of the sport has never been more precarious. Recent bodybuilding deaths have raised questions as to how much is too much. Modern bodybuilding standouts George Peterson, John Meadows, and now 2018 Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden have all recently lost their lives. It has sparked a very important conversation in the bodybuilding world.
John Meadows, Shawn Rhoden, and George Peterson all passed away untimely.
Dark Times
Four-time Olympia champion Jay Cutler had a lot to say on the subject. Competing at the highest levels of the game, Cutler has the kind of valuable experience that any bodybuilding enthusiast can find insightful. Cutler recently touched on the string of bodybuilding deaths that have hit the industry hard.
In his podcast, Jay Cutler expressed that many people are having concerns about the state of modern bodybuilding.
“I think people are just running scared at this point, think ‘Oh my gosh, bodybuilding is so dangerous,’” said Cutler. “I think anything in life is, nutrition and whatever else, and we obviously push ourselves. I think our biggest fear now is, when you’re 290, 5-foot-9 or 10, you’re considered obese. So it puts a lot of strain on the heart. Although I felt pretty good at 290, I knew I couldn’t maintain that for a long time, hence I walked away at 40 years old.”
Could Age Be The Cause?
It appears that Jay Cutler is inferring that age could be a factor in the recent deaths of veteran bodybuilders. Cutler continued bringing up examples of past bodybuilding champions and when they walked away from the sport.
“I look back, when I first started bodybuilding, and I watched Lee Haney retire at 31, Dorian Yates retired at like 37, Lee Labrada stepped away, Shawn Ray stepped away early in their careers, their early thirties or whatever.
“I just feel that this has transitioned to an older person’s game, which I don’t know if that’s the best thing for your health, to really be pushing yourself in your forties, to get in shape, up and down like a yo-yo, being depleted and being dehydrated to that extent…
“The truth is, when you start pushing limitations of your physique, it doesn’t matter what the age is, the amount of foods we eat is astronomical.”
To hear everything Jay Cutler had to say click here to see the full podcast.
Age could very well be a factor in the deaths of Shawn Rhoden, John Meadows, and George Peterson. Some may say that the true culprit is the amount of gear that modern bodybuilders take. Either way there’s clearly an issue, one that can’t be ignored.
Do you agree with Jay Cutler and his assessment of the recent bodybuilding deaths?
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.
Gym Jerks Have These Things In Common
These are the things gym jerks have in common.
Every gym has a few people who are a pain in the ass. Some of these pricks can be so bad they could make you change your gym timings. The worst part is, you can do nothing about it. A single habit of these annoying people could be putting you off.
While some people could be a trouble on purpose, the others might have no idea they are doing something wrong. Even you are not safe from this. There is a probability people in your gym think you’re a jerk. Do you want to know if this is the case?
1. Loud Grunting
Let’s get this out of the way. Grunting doesn’t make you cool. We can understand you might be lifting heavy weights, but do you really need to grunt as if you’re in labor? We’re sure you could lift those weights while making much less noise.
The funny thing is, the number of men grunting in the free weights area is directly proportional to the number of women in the gym. And the loudness of the grunting is directly proportional to the proximity of the girls to the guys.
2. Taking Away The Weights Without Asking
Every single gym around the world has these people. These gym jerks take away the weights from the barbells or the dumbbells while people are resting between their sets. A little courtesy never hurt someone.
We get it, you saw one too many ‘thug life’ in the gym videos. Whenever you see a loaded barbell or dumbbells lying on the floor, it is always a good idea to ask around if someone is using them. Form a habit of asking otherwise karma isn’t too far away.
3. Too Badass To Re-rack The Weights
If the dumbbells at your gym are always racked, you’re in a heaven. People like lifting heavy weights but they hate putting them back. Unracked weights can make a complete mess of the gym. If you use any of the gym equipment, it is your responsibility to put them back.
“If you’re man enough to lift it, then you’re man enough to put it back.”
The next time you see someone not re-racking their weights, act responsible and ask him to put it back. Oh, and if he doesn’t listen, report it to the authorities. They surely will be on your side.
4. There To Pick Up Girls
Some people think of gyms as pick up spots. They are there to impress girls and almost no one of them is good at it. Just so you know, lifting heavy weights and flexing isn’t going to get you girls – unless you’re too good at it.
If you want to pick up girls, there are better places to do it. Have you ever heard of the club, maybe? Stop being a distraction for the ladies and the people around you in the gym. Do what you’re supposed to do in the gym.
5. The Broscientists
These are the biggest gym jerks. You will always find them giving training and nutrition advice to people. All their advice and methods have no science to back them up. Broscientists are the people who take it upon themselves to correct your form.
We have an advice for all these broscientists, refrain from giving advice to anyone until you feel they will hurt themselves. Everyone’s body is different and might respond to different styles of training.
People might have come to their current form of training and what works for them after years of trial and error. There is no ‘one solution fits all’ when it comes to working out.
Did we miss out any other types of gym jerks? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
*Images courtesy of Envato Elements.
These Machines Are Better Than Free Weights
Use These Machines Rather Than The Free Weights
Machines can be incredibly helpful for some lifters, especially beginners. The machines are a form of isolation (single-joint) exercises that train a single muscle group. While using the free weights has its advantages, there are instances where you’d be better off using the machines.
You should consider using machines instead of performing the compound lifts if you’re recovering from an injury. On days when you feel tenderness or soreness (in a funny way) in your muscles, you should head straight towards the machine station.
Pec Deck Flyes
Many people waste their precious time and energy on performing the dumbbell flyes as they can’t feel any tension on their inner pecs. Establishing a mind-muscle connection can be harder while performing exercises with free weights.
Using the pec deck fly machine can give you a better pump as the range of motion is defined and all you have to do is focus on contracting your pecs with every rep. If you don’t end the exercise with a muscle tearing pump, you should try lowering the weights.
Machine Preacher Curls
Using machines takes away many moving parts from the equation like lifting with the right form, setting an appropriate range of motion, and the scare of hurting oneself if failure is hit during the exercise.
Cutting down these variables makes more space for the most important aspect of bodybuilding – focusing on the muscle under question. The machine preacher curls are a great exercise for training the peak of your biceps.
Lat-Pulldowns
Some people have trouble training their lats optimally. A good back workout should feel as brutal as an annihilating leg workout, if not more. Performing the pulling movements work the lats and build the width in your back.
The only real substitute to the lat pulldowns is the pull-ups. Lat-pulldowns are the perfect substitute for people who can’t perform bodyweight pull-ups or think that bodyweight chin-ups are too easy.
Tricep Cable Pressdowns
In exercises like the dumbbell kickbacks, skullcrushers, or any other free weight lift there are chances of the recruitment of secondary muscles like forearms and shoulders. The cable tricep pressdowns are an isolation exercise and can efficiently target the triceps.
You can get more tension on your triceps by performing the unilateral cable tricep extensions. In the unilateral version, you perform the tricep pressdowns with one arm before switching to the other. The unilateral exercises help in building symmetry and fixing muscle imbalances.
Ab Crunch Machine
Most people make the mistake of not treating their abs like they train all their other body parts. While they do 8-12 repetitions while training other muscles, they resort to doing 25-30 reps while working abs.
Using an ab crunch machine helps by defining a range of motion and gives you the freedom to focus on contracting your abdominal. Machines are better at helping you achieve a muscle pump as they provide the same amount of tension on the muscles throughout the range of motion.
Do you prefer compound or isolation exercises? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Header image courtesy of Envato Elements
Meal Planning For Hardgainers
Here is plan for meal planning if you are a hardgainer.
Imagine how dumb it would be if people who struggle with weight loss called themselves hardlosers. That would be ridiculous and you would be just tell them there’s no such thing. They just eat too much food.
Well, that’s how ridiculous the term hardgainer is as well. It comes down to you not eating enough. I don’t care how much you swear you eat, if you don’t gain weight, you are simply not eating enough consistently.
It has nothing to do with your genetics. If you put more money in your bank account than you take out, your bank account will grow. If you put more food in your body than it can burn off, it will be forced to grow as well.
So when hardgainers struggle with eating enough, it’s because they’re not intentional enough. You’ve been trying to eat more your whole life and that’s not working. You have to get specific and plan out your meals. Get structured and get consistent, so the scale can finally tick up. You don’t want to go another year being a grown man at 130 pounds, so here’s how you meal plan for so called hardgainers.
Figure Out Your Surplus
First, you should figure out your surplus. This isn’t necessary, but is extremely helpful especially if you want to gain weight at a consistently healthy rate. When it comes to gaining, you gain both muscle and fat. If you gain too fast, you accumulate too much unnecessary body fat, so it’ better to be relatively precise.
You want a surplus of no more than 500 calories. Take your bodyweight and multiply by 15-20 The more active you are, the higher on that range you should aim for. Same goes for people who swear they eat like a food addict yet can’t gain weight.
So let’s say a self-proclaimed hardgainer weighs 135 pounds and is highly active. He would multiply 140 by 20. That gives him 2800 calories to aim for daily. You can subtract and add 100 to give yourself a flexible range to aim for. So in this case, he would aim for 2700-2900 calories daily.
If you don’t gain weight within 2 weeks, boost your calories by 200.
Figure Out Your Protein
Protein is by far the most important nutrient for building muscle. It literally turns on the signal to construct muscle while providing the building blocks needed to construct said muscle. You need enough to repair damage, maintain good health, and optimize hormones as well. Research finds this to be around 0.8-1 gram per pound of bodyweight as a safe range for all related benefits.
Once you figure out your protein, treat that as a minimum. I like to have hardgaining clients aim for 0.8 grams per pound of bodyweight per day. This gives them a minimum to target for that gives them maximum muscle growth, but it’s not so high that it limits their appetite because protein can be quite filling, not to mention expensive. If your protein limits your appetite, you can start utilizing more shakes instead of whole food.
But this brings me to my next point which is how to specifically construct your meals.
How Many Meals?
Research finds 3-4 meals per day can maximize the muscle building response assuming each meal has a decent dose of protein. This is what I generally recommend for hardgainers anyways. Higher meal frequencies are better to make eating more daily food feasible. Getting tons of calories within 2 meals is too difficult.
So if you’re skipping meals or practicing low meal frequency approaches like intermittent fasting, you’re not optimizing your eating structure to pack on mass.
3-4 meals is best. Aim for more if you prefer to, but that is usually too impractical as well.
Divide Up Your Nutrients
Calories drive weight gain and protein drives muscle growth. These will be your bread and butter as far as what to focus on each meal. Once you figure out your meal and snack structure, divide up your nutrients accordingly per meal.
This doesn’t have to be perfectly distributed, but keeping it relatively even is good for both muscle growth and more importantly simplicity sakes. In addition, if you struggle with your appetite, I would also put a meal or protein rich snack like a shake after your workout.
This will help muscle building efforts, but more importantly, it’s simply practical to help you get all your fuel down your throat. It’s also easier to consume some food in this window without it impacting your overall appetite much.
So for example, somebody aiming to eat 3000 calories per day would have something similar to the following:
Breakfast: 100 grams oatmeal, 1 serving of protein powder, a spoon of honey, mixed berries. (About 650 calories)
Lunch: 2 boneless skinless chicken thighs, 2 cups of cooked rice, spinach, bbq sauce, cooking oil. (about 900 calories)
Post workout: 1 serving of protein powder (about 150 calories)
Dinner: 5 scrambled eggs w/ veggies and olive oil, a banana, and half a pint of ice cream (about 1200 calories)
The above is just an example. You don’t have to copy that and it doesn’t have to be perfectly tracked, but it does need to be consistent and intentional.
As far as food volume, I don’t think the sample I’ve laid out above is unreasonable. Any grown man should be able to eat the above daily. Your manhood is honestly questioned if you think that’s too much food.
That being said, here’s how you adjust your meal plan in case your appetite is weak.
Adjusting Your Meal Plan For Hardgainers
The first step is to stay consistent with your meals. This means eating relatively the same foods and having set meal times. You can totally change things up, but continue to keep a strong account of everything.
This makes adjusting easier once you run into issues. With hardgainers, they often don’t realize they’ve been eating like little girls despite their memories swearing they’re eating phenoms. What you eat once in a while as a highlight is differently than your consistent ability to pound food.
So if you’re struggling, your first option is to simply keep going. Your appetite will adjust as the body is an excellent adaptation machine. It may seem daunting, but you can totally buckle down and push through until it feels more effortless.
Or you can also adjust your meal plan. You can swap out more filling food like fibrous starch, some protein, and fruit for less filling foods. Liquid calories are excellent replacements here. For example, you can simply turn one meal into a giant shake. Milk, smoothies, juices, and mass gainer shakes will be your best friend. Don’t overthink it.
There really is no excuse because there’s no limit. You don’t have to limit yourself to the typical clean foods. I encourage you to include a good base of whole nutritious foods, so you don’t become deficient in micronutrients, but beyond a relatively solid base, getting consistently sufficient calories down your throat is the priority if I haven’t already made that clear.
The second priority is getting sufficient protein, but this should be easy so long as each feeding starts with a protein source.
Get Consistent With It
We make fun of people who struggle to lose weight lacking consistency, but hardgainers often lack consistency too. They fail to face the reality that they don’t plan well, aren’t intentional enough, and struggle to eat more than High Schoolers.
This can all be solved by sitting down undistracted and planning out your week’s worth of meal. Go grocery shopping for what you need, prep what you can ahead of time, and set exact meal times, so you don’t skip calories.
If you do this consistently and adjust your calories when plateaus happen, there’s no reason you shouldn’t gain weight. The scale will trend up if you pound food consistently day in and day out.
The Best Workout Supplements For Teens To Boost Health & Training
These are effective and worth it for teen athletes.
We all know the value of supplements and what they can do for our training, performance, health, and wellness, but when it comes to teenage athletes, the best workout supplements for teens may be hard to find. Some of those supplements adults take without thinking can actually have adverse effects on teens, examples being pre-workouts, fat burners, and testosterone boosters. And while teens may be at the age of starting to drink coffee, pumping themselves full of caffeine, for example, just isn’t worth it.
So, where does that leave teen athletes? This is a perfect time to teach them about proper training and how to structure a well-thought out nutrition plan. By giving them these worthwhile tools now, you can better help them with healthier habits for longer into their fitness careers. But their gains should matter just as much as ours and having the right supplements backing you can make all the difference.
Let’s take a look at the best supplements for teens to give you highly effective products that will boost all areas of your health and training. With great ingredients, cutting-edge formulas, and amazing results, teen athletes can put together a great supplementation routine to boost all areas of their gains and see results safely.
Best Supplements For Teens
While you may be familiar with almost all on this list below, you will notice some essentials missing. Those being essentials for adults, teens don’t need to worry so much about fat burners and pre-workouts, among others. Setting teens up with a set list of appropriate and worthwhile supplements can still work wonders so they see those results they want most.
Protein Powder
A protein powder is one of those supplements perfect for providing you with quality protein to aid in a number of benefits. Coming in dairy forms, like whey isolate and whey concentrate, as well as plant-based proteins, made from things like brown rice and pea protein, the options for you to find the right supplement to suit your lifestyle and diet are possible.
What a good protein powder will do is work to boost muscle growth, since protein is the building block of all muscle, enhance recovery, and aid in things like weight loss through satiety (1). With great flavors and a supplement loaded with protein, this is safe and works well post-workout.
Multivitamin
Taking a multivitamin is an easy and convenient way to get all those important vitamins and minerals into your body that may be missed from whole foods. While we of course structure out meals to get the most benefits and proper nutrients, sometimes we just miss. But multivitamins can help with muscle maintenance, promote a healthy diet, increase energy and cognitive function, as well as boost your overall health and wellness (2).
For a great multivitamin, check out this supplement from Enhanced for an awesome product.
Enhanced Super Human Immunity is a 3-in-1 formula designed to maximize immunity and defeat sickness. Great ingredients include vitamins, minerals, botanicals, probiotics, and digestive enzymes.
BCAAs
BCAAs are an interesting supplement for this is a great way to change up your intra-workout routine and enjoy a tasty beverage while loading yourself with worthwhile benefits. BCAAs can work to increase muscle growth, reduce fatigue, decrease muscle soreness, and prevent muscle wasting, while also helping to burst right through fatigue (3). A way for teen athletes to change up their mid-workout routine, what these will really do is give you some energy when you start to fade while also kickstarting muscle protein synthesis for only the best results when it comes to growth.
Creatine
Creatine is a widely researched and studied supplement and will work in a number of ways to improve your overall strength and size to help with sculpting a physique and improving performance. This is a very popular supplement and is a staple in most athletes’ routines. For teens, following the right instructions and making sure you dose it properly can lead to seeing effective gains.
What you’ll find with a creatine supplement is an increase in strength, improved metabolism, better athletic performance, and assistance with mental capacity, all helping towards your goal of progressing farther with your fitness (4).
Fish Oil
Fish oil is a kind of omega-3 fatty acid with a host of benefits to your physical and mental health. Omega-3’s can be found in a few sources but fish oil is the most popular. What you’ll find with omega-3’s is that this will work to promote eye and cognitive health, fight inflammation, enhance heart health, increase bone and joint health, and boost immunity, all to give you a well-rounded health and wellness supplement you can rely on (5).
Why These Supplements Matter For Teens?
Teens deserve to see great gains as well and working with safe and effective supplements is an easy way to help boost your already well-thought out training and nutrition routines. By starting teens out with the right products and the right ideas around supplementation, you better set them up for their future when it comes to fitness and may excite them to want to learn more. After all, what we put in our bodies matters and we should do the proper research to make sure we understand what we’re taking. For teens, the right supplements can start them on a worthwhile path to gains and this list above is a great starting point to pull from.
Wrap Up
The best workout supplements for teens may seem like a challenge, and with so many options out there, the choice can be daunting. But knowing exactly what teens should take, and what they shouldn’t, can help make that decision a little bit easier. With the right approach and guidance, teens can find a quality supplementation routine in order to see the best gains come to life. Plus, they can do so safely and effectively to not jeopardize their health but fully optimize their gains.
Generation Iron may receive commissions on purchases made through our links. See our disclosure page for more information.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Envato
References
Cintineo, H.; et al. (2018). “Effects of Protein Supplementation on Performance and Recovery in Resistance and Endurance Training”. (source)
Harvard Medical School (2019). “Do multivitamins make you healthier?”. (source)
Blomstrand, E.; et al. (2006). “Branched-chain amino acids activate key enzymes in protein synthesis after physical exercise”. (source)
Kreider, R. (2003). “Effects of creatine supplementation on performance and training adaptations”. (source)
Magalhaes, J.; et al. (2016). “Fish oil supplements, longevity and aging”. (source)
Winstrol for Women: Will It Turn You Into a Man?
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.
Men can use many different steroids, without the fear of turning into a woman. Gynecomastia may become an issue with some compounds; however, men can continue looking and sounding like a man.
However, the same cannot be said for women who use steroids.
Many females are limited in regards to which compounds they can use, as many AAS cause masculine side effects; compromising a woman’s natural beauty.
Consequently, some women have asked whether Winstrol is a suitable steroid, or whether it will cause virilization side effects. Read on to find out everything you need to know, regarding Winstrol for women.
What Is Winstrol?
Winstrol, otherwise known as Stanozolol, is an oral steroid originally designed for medicinal purposes; helping to treat osteoporosis, breast cancer and post-trauma patients in a severely catabolic state.
When athletes and bodybuilders heard about Winstrol’s ability to increase muscle mass they also used it to improve muscular strength/power in sports — as well as enhancing body composition.
Why Do Women Use Winstrol?
Winstrol is a very effective steroid for women in regards to gains. Females will build a significant amount of muscle and strength on Stanozolol, whilst also burning considerable amounts of fat.
Winstrol is certainly not the best steroid for building muscle, which is why it’s not classed as a bulking steroid; however, its effects certainly aren’t mild.
Winstrol is one of the best steroids women (or men) can take for transforming their bodies in a short space of time. This is because of its muscle-building and fat-burning effects, which take place simultaneously.
In contrast, many other steroids are either effective for building muscle OR burning fat — but not both.
Women who are competing in a bikini or bodybuilding competition may take Winstrol and often are instructed to by their coaches. Alternatively, any females who simply want to lose some stubborn fat, whilst increasing muscle tone may use it to enhance their physique.
Legal Winstrol Alternative
Winsol is our #1 rated legal Winstrol product. It replicates the fat-burning and muscle-building effects of Winstrol, but without any unwanted side effects.
It is FDA-approved and can be purchased online without a prescription.
Winsol is best suited for women wanting to reduce their body fat percentage, whilst simultaneously increasing muscle tone and building lean muscle.
Is Winstrol Safe For Women to Take?
Winstrol isn’t ‘safe‘ for men or women to take, being a toxic anabolic steroid, which poses many side effects. This is why it’s classed as an illegal substance.
The two main side effects associated with Winstrol are associated with its strain on the heart and liver.
However, if Winstrol is used in moderate to low doses, in short cycles, the risk of developing long-term side effects is greatly reduced (compared to those who abuse this steroid).
However, most women want to know: “Will Winstrol make me look like a man?“.
The answer is usually yes — or at least it is a strong possibility.
Many women who take Winstrol will experience virilization side effects such as:
Deepened voice
Hair growth (on the body)
Enlarged clitoris
Smaller breasts
Hair loss (on the scalp)
There are three main reasons why Winstrol is prone to causing virilization in women. This is due to Winstrol:
Not converting into estrogen
Having a low binding affinity with SHBG
Steroids that do not aromatize and convert into estrogen are more likely to produce a masculine appearance in females. This is due to high exogenous testosterone levels, combined with low estrogen; causing an excessive imbalance and dominance in male hormones.
The second reason why women can start to look like men on Winstrol is that it has a low affinity when binding to SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin). SHBG works to lower free testosterone levels, thus free testosterone levels will spike significantly on Winstrol.
The higher free testosterone levels rise, the more likely virilization symptoms will occur in women.
Can Women Take Winstrol (Without Turning Into a Man)?
Winstrol is not a steroid that requires large doses to produce great results in women, because it’s a powerful steroid (and women naturally only have small amounts of testosterone).
Thus, very low doses of Winstrol may be safely taken by women, without them developing any masculine characteristics. In this case, no more than 5mg per day should be taken.
In contrast, female bodybuilders can take as much as 15 or 20mg of Winstrol per day to help dry out their body for competition; helping them get extra shredded.
15-20mg doses are almost certainly going to make females look and sound more like a man. 10mg doses are also likely to cause a similar outcome but over a longer period of time.
Winstrol Cycle For Women
If a female is intent on cycling Winstrol, the protocol below is likely to produce significant gains without causing masculinization.
This cycle is a conservative one, with a low dose of 5mg per day. This is likely to keep virilization side effects at bay, whilst still producing lean muscle gains in women, due to the length of the cycle and the power of the steroid.
2 x 2.5mg tablets should be taken per day. Winstrol pills usually come in 5mg tablets, thus users may use a pill cutter to split each pill in half.
Users should also avoid taking Winstrol tablets with food, as dietary fat can reduce the biological availability of the compound, decreasing gains.
Better Options For Women
Is Winstrol the best steroid for women?
No — for many women, it isn’t suitable or optimal.
Some females deem it unsuitable because its side effects are harsh and there’s too much risk of it de-feminizing them.
However, there are exceptions to every rule and Winstrol may be an effective choice for the hardcore female bodybuilder that doesn’t mind trading her femininity for a bodybuilding trophy.
More suitable steroids for women are Anavar, Turinabol or Primobolan.
These steroids have very low virilization rates, thus moderate doses can be taken, without noticing much in the way of side effects. Liver toxicity, cholesterol issues and post-cycle crashes are less likely to occur on Anavar, Tbol or Primo, because they are more mild compounds.
The only downside to Anavar and Primobolan is that they are very expensive compounds, especially when buying pharmaceutical grade.
Turinabol however is a more affordable oral, producing significant lean muscle gains, whilst enhancing fat burning.
Women often avoid virilization effects when taking 5mg/day of turinabol in 5-week cycles.
Tbol’s anabolic (muscle-building) effects however are more pronounced than its fat-burning properties, thus a powerful fat burner may be taken alongside it, such as Clenbuterol.
Clenbuterol cycles typically last for 30 days, starting at 20mcg/day, with the dose increasing by 10mcg every 3 days until reaching a final dose of 110mcg.
Turinabol’s side effects are often mild, with only modest fluctuations in cholesterol, liver enzymes and endogenous testosterone levels.
Clenbuterol’s main adverse effect is the risk of hypertension, with it dramatically speeding up heart rate and inducing cardiac hypertrophy (enlargement).
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 women to use. You can view their product range (and receive 20% off) by clicking the link below.
Winstrol FAQs
How Fast Does Winstrol Work?
Winstrol has a half-life of 9 hours, thus it kicks in fast and gains can usually be noticed within the first week. Women taking a small dose of 5mg per day will notice the fat loss and enhanced muscle gains in the first 10 days — with a big increase in energy and motivation in the first 3 days.
However, Winstrol can take a few weeks to leave the body, thus gains and side effects may continue even after a person has stopped using it.
Thus, users who have drug tests in the future will want to have stopped using Winstrol for at least a couple of months in order to not get flagged in a test. The detection time for Winstrol is unknown, thus users should leave ample time for metabolites to fully leave the body.
Generally, the only authorities that will test for anabolic steroids, such as Winstrol, are sports bodies and bodybuilding federations. The army and police drug tests are usually looking for recreational drugs, with steroids needing a more advanced and specific test.
Do Women Need to Take a PCT After Using Winstrol?
A post-cycle therapy isn’t just applicable for men — but also to women. Females utilizing an effective PCT can expect the following:
To maintain gains post-cycle
To restore natural hormone production
To prevent ‘crashing’
Depending on the steroid used, a PCT is either optional or essential. For example, a woman taking Anavar or Primobolan may not feel much of a crash post-cycle and thus choose not to run a PCT.
If women do use Winstrol, they are almost certainly going to experience decreased well-being and low energy levels post-cycle. This is due to a significant reduction in their natural testosterone production. Many people associate testosterone production as an important hormone in men, but it’s also essential in women for well-being, libido and motivation. A substantial decline in testosterone can result in a crash, leading to depression.
In medicine, doctors use DHEA to increase endogenous testosterone levels in women. Thus, the same protocol can be used to help women recover post-cycle, taking 25-50mg per day for 4 weeks.
25mg may be taken at the beginning of a PCT, then increasing the dose gradually (in 5mg increments).
Does Winstrol Cause Hair Loss in Women?
Hair loss is a common side effect among women who take Winstrol, which is due to an increase in DHT levels — a hormone destructive to hair follicles.
A DHT blocker may be taken to combat this, however many medications decrease overall DHT levels in the body, rather than attacking DHT specifically in the scalp. Thus, lowered DHT levels may negatively affect muscle and strength gains; whilst inhibiting fat loss.
Hair thinning, recession or loss may be reversed post-cycle when DHT levels drop back to normal levels. However, if regular steroid cycles are being run by females, this effect may become permanent.
Anavar and Primobolan are better options for women looking to remain unscathed in regards to hair loss during a cycle. Winsol also will not cause any hair thinning/loss in women.
How Much Weight Will Women Lose on Winstrol?
A better question is: how much fat will women lose on Winstrol?
Fat loss is a better measurement than weight loss, because women may not lose any weight on Winstrol. This is because they’ll simultaneously be building muscle, causing no change on the scales.
However, fat loss is quite dramatic on Winstrol and thus the best way to track this is by measuring the waist or by taking comparison photos in the mirror.
Generally, when combined with a calorie deficit diet, users can lose 3lbs per week on Winstrol. Performing regular cardio in conjunction with lifting weights will also help to enhance fat loss (and lower blood pressure).
If a woman eats maintenance calories (or in a surplus) for bulking purposes, fat loss will naturally be less. Thus it’s advised to eat in a calorie deficit of -500.
How Much Muscle Will Women Gain on Winstrol?
A first Winstrol cycle can add 10+lbs of lean muscle in women.
This is a significant gain for a steroid that’s not strictly used for bulking (and also accelerates fat loss).
Similar to measuring fat loss on Winstrol, it would be best to take pictures, rather than standing on the scales to track muscle gains. Women may also choose to measure a muscle, such as their arms to see if they’re getting bigger; however fat loss may also affect such measurements.
Another good sign that someone is packing on significant amounts of muscle is their clothes feeling tighter than usual.
Strength on compound exercises is likely to increase by at least 20-30lbs on Winstrol.
There are other steroids that are better than Winstrol for boosting strength and gaining muscle, such as Testosterone, Trenbolone and Dianabol. However, these steroids are even more likely to cause virilization side effects.
Winstrol for Women
Winstrol generally isn’t recommended for women because of the high risk of virilization symptoms. However, regardless of Winstrol’s masculinization effects, it’s still very toxic and a potentially dangerous steroid.
Winstrol will elevate blood pressure to high levels, whilst causing unnecessary strain on the liver; compared to other steroids such as Anavar or Primobolan. Some of these side effects can also prolong for several weeks post-cycle, and thus will not diminish immediately post-cycle.
However, females may be able to make gains, whilst avoiding any side effects on Winstrol (if taking a low dose of 5mg or below).
Dianabol Cycle – How to Maximize Gains & FAQ’s
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 Dianabol cycle is one of the most popular protocols in bodybuilding, ideal for those looking to pack on muscle.
Dianabol (Methandrostenolone) has established itself as the most popular bulking steroid in the world — the result of being a favourite compound in the golden era — where certain ‘Austrian’ bodybuilders would cycle it in the offseason.
Dianabol was first created in 1955 by Dr. John Ziegler to help the American Olympic team defeat the Soviets. Although the Americans didn’t quite get the upper hand on their Russian archenemies — Dr. Ziegler did create a steroid that would change athletics and bodybuilding forever.
Dbol is so popular now that various people down your local bodybuilding gym are probably taking it; or at least have experimented with it before.
When it comes to building significant amounts of muscle and strength, few steroids can rival Dianabol (possibly with the exception of Anadrol).
Dianabol is an oral steroid, making it a favourite compound among those less excited to administer regular injections.
In this article we’ll reveal the exact doses, cycle length, stacking options and PCT recommendations for Dianabol. This will help to enhance gains, whilst minimizing the harmful effects of Dbol.
Legal Dianabol Alternative
D-Bal is our #1 rated legal Dianabol product. It replicates the muscle-building and strength-enhancing effects of Dianabol, but without the unwanted side effects.
It is FDA-approved and can be purchased online without a prescription.
D-Bal is best suited for men wanting to build significant amounts of muscle; without shutting down their testosterone, straining their liver or elevating blood pressure levels.
Dianabol-Only Cycle
A Dianabol-only cycle is typically run after someone’s already taken Testosterone or Anavar. The latter are milder compounds and better tolerated by novices.
Users wanting exceptional gains during their first cycle may run Dianabol by itself; however, Testosterone is a better choice for beginners looking for big muscle gains. This is because Testosterone won’t strain the liver or increase cholesterol levels as much as Dbol.
First time users of Dianabol are likely to experience significant gains of up to 30lbs in weight gain, combined with huge strength gains (expect 50+lbs on compound lifts).
Dbol-Only Cycle (For Beginners)
This cycle is perfect for first-time steroid users who are eager to experience rapid muscle gains but don’t want to inject (thus opting for Dbol over Testosterone).
These are very conservative dosages to minimize side effects, however as Dbol is a powerful steroid — beginners can still pack on plenty of size.
Dbol-Only Cycle (For Intermediates)
This is the perfect follow-up cycle to the beginner protocol i.e. ideal for bodybuilders who’ve already taken Dianabol before.
In this cycle slightly higher dosages are utilized. Consequently, muscle and strength gains will be greater, whilst side effects will also be more pronounced.
After these two first cycles, if well tolerated, users may start with 30mg per day to continue making gains.
Advanced users who’ve taken Dianabol and other powerful steroids, may opt for higher dosages (going up to 50mg/day), whilst increasing the cycle length to 8 weeks. Such cycles are performed by bodybuilders looking to pack on as much mass as possible — no matter what the cost.
Liver Support
TUDCA – 500mg/day
Due to Dianabol being a c-17 alpha-alkylated steroid and thus is metabolized by the liver; it causes significant strain on the organ. In most users this isn’t dangerous, considering the liver’s exceptional self-healing properties. Thus, most users will notice liver enzymes regulating back to normal levels post-cycle, even without taking a liver support supplement.
However, some bodybuilders are wary about Dianabol’s hepatotoxic effects and try to reduce as much short-term damage as possible.
TUDCA is a liver support supplement used by bodybuilders to minimize liver strain when taking Dianabol.
TUDCA (Tauroursodeoxycholic acid) is a natural bile salt that aids liver function by improving bile flow. Natural TUDCA present in the liver exists only in small quantities, hence the need for additional supplementation.
In research, patients who took 500mg of TUDCA per day for 3 months experienced a 44% and 49% reduction in AST/ALT enzymes (which are markers of liver stress).
Milk thistle is another liver support supplement used by bodybuilders. Milk thistle is a plant that contains silymarin, a potent antioxidant that reduces free radicals in the body, whilst detoxifying the liver.
Although milk thistle has demonstrated hepatoprotective effects in rats, more research is needed to establish similar success in humans. Thus, TUDCA should be regarded as a superior supplement, with milk thistle being a back up (or an additional option).
PCT
HCG – 2000 IU administered every other day for 20 days
Dianabol will cause low endogenous testosterone levels. This is due to the presence of exceptionally high levels of exogenous testosterone, and thus the testes will signal to cease natural production.
Consequently, when a person stops taking Dianabol their testosterone levels will shut down. This can result in low immunity, energy, libido, mood and sexual performance. Also low testosterone levels create a more catabolic environment, meaning you may retain less of the gains made from your cycle.
An effective PCT can help to alleviate these issues and speed up the recovery of your natural testosterone production.
HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a hormone medication prescribed by doctors to treat hypogonadism — helping to restore a male’s testosterone levels and sperm count; whilst reducing the risk of infertility.
A PCT should begin when Dianabol has fully left the body. You can work this out by taking Dianabol’s maximum half-life (6) and multiplying this by 5.5.
Thus, a PCT for dianabol should begin 33 hours after the last dose.
Estrogen Control
Nolvadex — 10-30mg/day
Or
Clomid — 50-100mg/day
Dianabol is a ‘wet’ steroid, meaning it can cause water retention and bloating. Thus, many bodybuilders will choose to cycle it in the off-season, where they can hide under a t-shirt; instead of having their torso exposed on the beach.
Dianabol causes fluid retention due to aromatization (the conversion of testosterone into estrogen). Another side effect of high estrogen levels is gynecomastia i.e. the accumulation of breast tissue, otherwise known as man boobs.
To prevent the risk of gyno, bodybuilders will typically take an aromatase-inhibitor or a SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulator).
An aromatase-inhibitor works by blocking the conversion of testosterone into estrogen, thus reducing estrogenic side effects. However, aromatase-inhibitors can increase cholesterol levels and blood pressure; and thus aren’t optimal to take during a cycle, where blood pressure levels are (likely to be) already high.
SERMs work by blocking estrogen levels directly in the breast tissue — rather than blocking the conversion of testosterone into estrogen. This way estrogen levels won’t plummet, keeping a healthier cholesterol score; whilst significantly reducing the risk of gynecomastia. Thus, Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) or Clomiphene (Clomid) can be used to combat this side effect — without worsening cholesterol scores.
Blood Pressure Control
Fish oil – 3g/day
Those taking Dianabol can expect a rise in LDL cholesterol, a reduction in HDL cholesterol and significant water retention. These three factors combined will spike blood pressure.
Research has shown that 3g of omega-3 fatty acids, taken each day for 8 weeks, can significantly reduce blood pressure (compared to a placebo group).
However, fish oil shouldn’t be taken by individuals prone to low blood pressure; as it can worsen this condition.
Dianabol and Deca Durabolin Cycle
This was thought to be Arnold’s trademark cycle, producing huge mass gains; enabling him to dominant the Mr. Olympia stage. Since the 1970’s, countless bodybuilders have replicated this cycle, due to the Austrian Oak sculpting possibly the greatest physique in bodybuilding history.
Dianabol is the perfect steroid to compliment Dianabol, being a relatively mild injectable that doesn’t pose any additional liver toxicity.
The addition of Deca Durabolin will increase strength and size gains even further, at the expense of lower testosterone levels post-cycle, additional water retention and increased risk of gynecomastia.
This cycle is one of the best for keeping your hair intact, with Dianabol and Deca producing only mild androgenic effects (thus DHT levels will not rise excessively).
Dianabol & Deca Cycle (For Intermediates)
This cycle is structured for someone who has taken steroids before, including Dianabol — and tolerates it well. The inclusion of Deca will not make side effects dramatically worse; however, a more aggressive PCT may be needed in order to restore sexual function and testosterone levels.
Prolactin Control
Dostinex — 0.5-1mg per week
‘Deca dick’ may be an issue during this cycle. This is referring to impotence that can occur in the early stages of a Deca cycle. This is due to Deca Durabolin significantly increasing prolactin — a protein hormone.
Unfortunately, high levels of prolactin in the bloodstream (hyperprolactinemia) can cause erectile dysfunction, low libido and gynecomastia.
To combat these adverse side effects in a Dbol and Deca cycle, users may want to supplement with Dostinex (Cabergoline), a dopamine agonist medication used in the treatment of hyperprolactinemia. A doctor may prescribe Dostinex to you if he sees that your prolactin levels are high; however, bodybuilders will typically buy this via the black market before their prolactin levels rise (and take it from the beginning of their Deca cycle).
Doctors will typically prescribe Dostinex with dosage instructions of 2 x 0.25-0.5mg per week. This should be taken for the whole 10 weeks on Deca.
Estrogen Control
Nolvadex — 10-30mg/day
Liver Support
TUDCA – 500mg/day
Blood Pressure Control
Fish oil – 3g/day
PCT
hCG – 2000 IU administered every other day for 20 days
Clomid (Clomiphene) – 2 x 50mg for 30 days
A more aggressive PCT is adopted here, compared to the Dianabol-only cycle.
Dianabol and Testosterone Cycle
Note: This cycle is not for beginners.
Dianabol and Testosterone are similar compounds, with Dr. Ziegler being given the task of developing a new, superior steroid to Testosterone; so the American Olympic team could defeat the USSR (who were known to be taking Testosterone).
Dr Ziegler created Dbol, a compound more anabolic than Testosterone — and less androgenic. Thus, prostate issues were less of a concern, as well as hair loss and acne on Dbol.
Dianabol also proved more potent for building muscle, due to its higher anabolic rating.
However, Testosterone remains as a very powerful muscle-builder, adding almost equal amounts of lean muscle and strength as Dianabol. Thus, when these two steroids are stacked together, users can expect to build incredible amounts of size.
The addition of Testosterone will exacerbate low testosterone levels post-cycle, whilst increasing the risk of gynecomastia and water retention.
Thus, estrogen control and an aggressive PCT is essential post cycle, to ensure an optimal hormonal profile.
Blood pressure is also likely to rise significantly on this cycle, due to a large spike in LDL cholesterol levels. To combat this it is a good idea to limit sodium in your diet, whilst performing regular cardio (for optimal blood flow). Also fish oil supplementation is recommended (as usual).
Any ester of Testosterone can be used; however, the two most popular forms of Test are Cypionate and Enanthate. This is because these two esters are relatively cheap and do not require overly frequent injections.
Additional Supplements:
TUDCA – 500mg/day (liver)
Fish oil – 3g/day (blood pressure)
Nolvadex — 30mg/day (estrogen control)
HCG – 2000 IU administered every other day for 20 days; and Clomid – 2 x 50mg for 30 days (PCT).
Best Dianabol Stack
This stack is tailored for users wanting to build significant amounts of muscle and raw strength fast; without experiencing any harsh side effects.
The 4 legal steroid alternatives in this stack are:
1. D-Bal (dianabol)
2. Testo-Max (sustanon 250)
3. DecaDuro (deca durabolin)
4. Trenorol (trenbolone)
By combining these 4 compounds together, users can expect bigger and faster muscle growth vs taking D-Bal (dianabol) alone.
Dianabol and Anadrol Cycle
Warning: Only for advanced steroid-users.
Dianabol and Anadrol are two of the most powerful steroids you can take for gaining mass.
Strength gains will be mind-blowing when taking this potent duo.
Anadrol is an oral like Dianabol, thus no injections are needed.
So, what’s the catch?
The side effects are going to leave you feeling like death. Thus, we don’t recommend this cycle from a health standpoint, due to liver values going out of whack and blood pressure likely to reach record-breaking heights.
Unless you are in perfect health, stay away from this cycle.
Additional Supplements:
TUDCA – 500mg/day (liver)
Fish oil – 3g/day (blood pressure)
Nolvadex — 30mg/day (estrogen control)
HCG – 2000 IU administered every other day for 20 days; and clomid – 2 x 50mg for 30 days (PCT).
Summary
Running an effective Dianabol cycle is a science; combine it with the right steroids and you’ll experience incredible muscle/strength gains.
But if you stack it with the wrong steroids or take too high a dose, you may end up with liver damage or an enlarged heart.
The 3 best dianabol cycles are:
Dbol-Only
Dbol/Deca
Dbol/Test
There is no reason to take harsher combinations than this, as the gains may not be worth the side effects. However, everyone responds differently to steroids, so Dianabol may be a harsh compound for one person — but to a bodybuilder 50mg may feel like eating a candy bar.
Please use caution if you are going to utilize the cycles mentioned in this article, taking relevant supplements to protect your heart, liver and long-term testosterone function.
Anavar Cycle: How to Maximize Your Gains & FAQ
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 arguably the most popular steroid in the world, with large numbers of men and women cycling it. Some people love Anavar so much that they blast and cruise it, meaning they run it all year round like TRT (testosterone replacement therapy).
Many steroids are taken solely by men; however, Anavar is the exception — hence its nickname ‘the girl steroid’.
However, this isn’t to say Anavar is only for females, with many strongmen and powerlifters also utilizing this steroid, due to its positive effects on strength.
Anavar’s benefits are well-known — with it having the ability to increase lean muscle mass, whilst decreasing a person’s body fat percentage (at the same time).
Perhaps Anavar’s best trait is that it’s one of the safest steroids you can take.
It does not produce harsh side effects, hence how women and children have taken this steroid with great success in research trials (for medicinal purposes).
This guide is designed to help you run an effective Anavar cycle to maximize results; whilst reducing side effects (whether you’re a male/female, beginner, intermediate; or advanced steroid user).
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1. Anavar-Only Cycle
Taking Anavar by itself is an effective cycle, often used by beginners and intermediates during a cutting phase. An Anavar-only cycle will enhance fat burning, whilst adding some muscle mass when eating lower calories.
Women will typically only run Anavar-only cycles, whereas men who have taken steroids before are more likely to stack it with other compounds later on.
An Anavar-only cycle is one of the best protocols for beginners, because it’s a mild steroid and thus won’t cause dangerous side effects in first time users. Thus, it’s the perfect compound to use when introducing the body to steroids.
Sometimes people who are afraid of taking steroids (because of the toxic side effects), will simply run an Anavar cycle because of its mild nature.
Anavar-Only Cycle (for Beginners)
For Men
This is a typical Anavar-only cycle for beginners. This would be a mild and suitable cycle for a first time steroid-user. The follow-up cycle to this may begin with a dose of 20mg instead of 15mg and may be extended up to 8 weeks.
Typical results from an Anavar-only cycle
For Women
This Anavar cycle is suitable for women who are beginners. It’s very important to be cautious in regards to the dose and cycle length for women, to avoid masculinization effects occurring.
Anavar is one of the best steroids for women, preventing any virilization side effects (such as hair growth, clitoral enlargement and smaller breasts). However, these adverse effects (although uncommon) are still possible on Anavar, when incorrectly utilized.
By following this cautious cycle protocol, the risk for developing these side effects will be extremely low; due to the small dose and short cycle length. Also, virilization happens gradually over a period of time, thus a woman can simply discontinue her cycle if she experiences any of these symptoms.
Typical results from an Anavar-only cycle (female)
2. Anavar and Testosterone Cycle
Note: This cycle is only recommended for men, due to Testosterone causing virilization side effects in women.
If there’s a steroid besides Anavar that’s suitable for beginners to take — it would be Testosterone.
Testosterone is arguably the best steroid you can take, in terms of risk vs reward.
Testosterone will produce large increases in muscle mass and strength, with it being classed as a bulking steroid.
Testosterone does not produce significant strain to the heart, compared to other steroids; and it doesn’t stress the liver (with it being an injectable). These are the two most important attributes in regards to health.
In regards to side effects, testosterone suppression is likely to be more significant when stacking Anavar with testosterone. Also, cholesterol levels are likely to rise slightly higher, compared to taking either one by themselves. Androgenic side effects such as oily skin, acne and hair thinning (on the scalp) are also more likely with this duo.
The different types of injectable testosterone are:
Test suspension
Test cypionate
Test enanthate
Test acetate
Test propionate
Sustanon 250
These different types of Testosterone are all the same steroid, but with different esters, which can dictate how fast it’s absorbed and how long it stays in the body. The most popular forms of Testosterone are enanthate and cypionate, due to the price and ease of injection.
Anavar & Test Beginner Cycle
This cycle may be taken after an Anavar-only cycle.
This cycle will greatly enhance muscle building and strength gains, compared to taking Anavar alone.
These are conservative doses, and thus suitable for someone with little experience using anabolic steroids. However, such a cycle is not optimal for someone who’s never taken steroids before (in this case a stack shouldn’t be used).
Anavar & Test Intermediate Cycle
This is the perfect follow-up cycle, to the first Anavar and test cycle listed.
This cycle is designed for intermediates who’ve already taken Anavar and Testosterone a few times previously.
Taking higher doses than those specified in this cycle greatly increases the risk of side effects, without much more to show in the way of gains.
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Anavar & Andriol (Oral Test) Cycle
Not everyone is a fan of needles, thus below is an oral cycle of Anavar and Testosterone (Andriol).
Andriol is the brand name for oral testosterone, also known as Testosterone Undecanoate. For many, this is a more convenient method of administrating Testosterone compared to injections.
The downside to oral Testosterone is that it’s very expensive compared to injectable Testosterone. When you factor in the price of Anavar, this will make for a very expensive cycle (costing a few hundred dollars plus).
However, for those who want maximum gains (when taking orals), with as little risk as possible — this is it.
Many orals are very toxic on the liver; however, Anavar and Andriol are the exceptions. The kidneys help to metabolize Anavar, placing less stress on the liver; whilst long-term studies have shown Andriol to provide no hepatic strain. A 10-year study of men using Andriol showed no notable increase in ALT and AST readings (markers of hepatotoxicity).
Important: When taking Andriol (Test Undecanoate), make sure you take the tablets with a high-fat snack/meal. Aim for at least 19 grams of fat with each dose. Research has shown that the biological availability of oral testosterone is roughly 50% lower when taken on an empty stomach (1).
3. Anavar and Winstrol Cycle
For Men
This makes for the ultimate cutting cycle, where users can expect rapid fat loss and significant muscle gains.
Anavar and Winstrol have many similarities, with both creating a dry and ripped look. Both are also oral steroids, used for stripping fat when cutting. However, Winstrol is the more powerful of the two; and not suitable for beginners due to its toxicity. Thus, this cycle is only suitable for intermediate or advanced steroid users.
Users can expect Anavar’s mild side effects, plus significant liver strain, testosterone suppression and cardiovascular strain with the addition of Winstrol.
Due to the harshness of Winstrol, this cycle only lasts for 6 weeks; with advanced steroid users often extending this cycle to 8 weeks.
This type of cutting stack may be used by bodybuilders when prepping for a show, aggressively trying to reduce body fat whilst hanging onto hard-earned muscle.
For Women
Winstrol isn’t generally recommended for women, because of its high risk of causing masculinization.
Thus, to reduce the chances of women losing their femininity, a very small dose of Winstrol is listed in the above cycle.
Despite a smaller dose, Winstrol will still produce significant gains due to the sheer power of the steroid.
This cycle is not recommended for female beginners. Instead, it should only be utilized among women who have already undergone several steroid cycles; or at a minimum have taken Anavar before.
The risk of virilization increases when stacking Anavar and Winstrol together, thus it should only be done in certain circumstances i.e. prepping for a competition and the stakes are high. If women are simply trying to get in great shape — Anavar alone is sufficient.
4. Anavar and Clenbuterol Cycle
Clenbuterol is a beta2-antagonist (not a steroid), often used in medicine as an anti-asthma drug.
Clenbuterol is certainly a powerful addition to any cutting cycle, due to its potent effects on metabolism. Clenbuterol has profound effects on the central nervous system, causing the body to produce more adrenaline. Consequently, the body heats up and enters a state of thermogenesis; accelerating fat loss (at rest).
Clenbuterol has also been shown to have potent anabolic effects in animals; however, such effects are debatable in humans. Thus, an Anavar and Clenbuterol cycle will likely produce rapid fat loss, with moderate increases in lean muscle and strength.
Due to the stimulative effects of Clenbuterol, energy levels and motivation are also likely to go through the roof.
Clenbuterol, like Anavar, is available in tablet form.
Considering that clenbuterol is not a steroid, usual side effects such as gynecomastia, liver toxicity, acne, water retention, etc. are not an issue.
The main concern when taking clenbuterol is its effects on the heart, increasing a user’s heart rate significantly. Thus, it’s recommended to keep cycles short and to avoid taking Clen if your cardiovascular health is lacking.
Anavar & Clenbuterol Cycle For Men
As shown below, Clenbuterol is cycled in increments (by increasing the dose slowly every few days, until hitting a maximum dose). This is done for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, a person can gauge their sensitivity to Clen by starting on a low dose and building up slowly. Starting on a high dose too soon, may result in harsh side effects; such as shaking, insomnia and racing heart beat.
Secondly, people generally build up a tolerance to Clenbuterol very quickly; thus such an incremental dosing strategy can help users continue burning fat all the way through their cycle. This sample cycle lasts 4 weeks; no Clenbuterol cycle should extend beyond 6 weeks. After this time, the body’s temperature drops back down to its normal range, signifying a halt in thermogenesis (and thus fat loss).
The Anavar dose (20mg) lasts for 8 weeks. This dose is optimal for someone who’s already taken Anavar (or other steroids before).
Anavar & Clenbuterol Cycle For Women
Clenbuterol is a suitable drug for women, as it doesn’t produce virilization side effects.
Unlike with steroids, a woman’s dose on Clen is typically similar to a man’s. Women produce a fraction of the testosterone a man produces, thus a smaller dose of exogenous testosterone is needed to produce the same effects.
In Clenbuterol’s case, because it doesn’t affect testosterone (but instead the central nervous system), women often take an identical dose to men.
The Anavar dose below reflects a cautious dose for women, that would be suitable for beginners. A higher dose of Anavar may be taken for more experienced users — starting at 10mg per day .
Anavar Cycle FAQ
Do you need to run a PCT?
Anavar is a mild steroid, thus running a PCT (post cycle therapy) isn’t as essential — but optional.
Although testosterone levels will not shut down completely, they will become suppressed and take several weeks to recover back to optimal levels. Thus, by implementing a PCT you can speed up this process.
During this time of recovery, users may feel tired, have a low mood and weakened libido post-cycle. Such after-effects aren’t just related to men — but also women.
This is because steroids also have a powerful effect on women’s hormones, with their endogenous testosterone levels getting sapped. Although women have far less testosterone compared to men, it remains an important hormone in their body chemistry; with various women reporting a mild ‘crash’ post-cycle from Anavar.
An aggressive PCT is not required after an Anavar-only cycle. Men can take Nolvadex (Tamoxifen) or Clomid (Clomiphene), to help recover their testosterone production; which is more than sufficient.
Nolvadex should be dosed at 40mg per day for 45 days, with 2 x 20mg pills taken daily.
Clomid should be dosed at 100mg per day for 30 days, with 2 x 50mg pills taken daily.
Users should start their PCT approximately 57 hours after the last dose of Anavar. Why 57? Because this is the estimated time that Anavar will fully clear out of the body.
You can work out when a steroid leaves the body by the following equation: 5.5 x the half-life.
Anavar’s half-life is 9.4-10.4 hours.
Is a Liver Support Supplement Needed on Anavar?
Anavar does not pose a serious risk to the liver when taken in sensible doses/cycles. Thus, users often take Anavar without a liver support supplement.
However, for those wanting maximum protection, TUDCA may be taken; which has been shown to reduce oxidative stress to the internal organ. Research has shown that TUDCA can significantly lower ALT and AST liver values, which are both signs of liver strain/damage (2).
If Anavar is stacked with other hepatotoxic orals, such as Winstrol, Anadrol or Dianabol — a liver support supplement is essential.
Where Do People Buy Anavar?
Anavar is illegal to use for bodybuilding purposes, due to the Anabolic Steroids Control Act in 1990. Therefore, bodybuilders purchase Anavar via the black market if they want to cycle it.
Buying from the black market in real-life terms means to buy from a person who deals drugs, or a website that claims to sell Anavar.
However, buying from the black market is an illegal practice, and comes with several other disadvantages such as — Anavar being counterfeited, spiked with dangerous substances and under-dosed.
Thus, some bodybuilders are using legal Anavar alternatives, such as Anvarol, which mimics the same fat-burning and anabolic effects in the body as Anavar. However, Anvarol doesn’t cause any side effects, thus you won’t experience any testosterone suppression or raised cholesterol levels like you would with Anavar.
Anvarol is manufactured by Crazy Bulk, is FDA-approved and available to order online without a prescription. Another benefit with Anvarol is that it’s considerably cheaper than Anavar, with the latter being very costly to cycle.
We recommend Anvarol (legal Anavar), ensuring our readers stay within the confines of the law and make gains safely.
Philip Ricardo Jr. Looks to The Future
Philip Ricardo Jr. recognizes he has work to do.
Philip Ricardo Jr., a professional natural bodybuilder, had an outstanding performance in the 2021 Natural Olympia on the second weekend of November 2021. He left with a gold medal in Men’s Bodybuilding Grand Masters, and a bronze medal in Men’s Bodybuilding Open – Paul Krueger came out on top; however, Ricardo Jr. did walkaway with a Harley Davidson after winning the drawing, so he’s likely a happy camper.
Although Ricardo Jr. fell short of the gold medal in the 2021 Natural Olympia, he’s won on multiple occasions. He won back-to-back in 2007 and 2008 and again in 2015 and 2019.
Despite his incredible performances, he recognizes that the competition level has increased substantially since his earlier days in the sport. Here’s what he had to say on social media:
“Despite my placing (Gold in Grandmasters Bodybuilding & Bronze in Men’s Open) and winning the drawing for the Harley Davidson. (Thanks Douglas D Grant and the entire GainsInBulk Team) I recognize that I am definitely not the athlete I was years ago in this sport. The level of competition has increased leaps snd [sic] bounds and I feel fortunate to have done as well as I did. I have work to do if/when I ever compete again for sure.”
You can check out his full post below.
Training for Natural Olympia
Philip Rircardo Jr. put in work to prepare for the 2021 Natural Olympia, and in hopes of being victorious, he entered late into Mr. America 2021. Unfortunately, this competition shortened his preparation for the show. Still, it showed the length he’s willing to go to win – entering late into a competition does put the athlete at risk of being “off-peak” when performing. But, at the same time, it can catapult them into full preparation mode for the upcoming contest.
Below you can catch a video of Philip Ricardo Jr. training for the 2021 Natural Olympia.
How Philip Ricardo Jr. Got Into Bodybuilding
Philip Ricardo Jr. feels like he has a lot of work to do to compete at peak level in natural bodybuilding. Although this veteran has had an inspiring run so far in the past decades he’s been competing.
According to “Muscle and Strength,” Philip Ricardo Jr. got into natural bodybuilding when a co-worker secretly entered Ricardo Jr. into the 1992 Military Friendship Day Iwakuni Japan bodybuilding event. Admittedly, Ricardo Jr. lacked experienced and didn’t know how to pose, wore multicolored speedos, and didn’t shave his hair. Yet, despite being unaware of his admissions into the competition and his novice mistakes, he won that competition. The rest is history.
He’s considered to have one of the best natural physiques on the planet. To the point that his critics call him a “fake natural bodybuilder.” Ricardo Jr. takes the speculative remarks in stride and expresses that he sees them as a compliment in his latest GI exclusive interview.
Aside from competing at the highest level of natural bodybuilding, Philip Ricardo Jr. is a devout Christian, retired U.S. Marine, husband, and father. We can’t say for sure how his future will unfold. But we do know Philip Ricardo Jr. is an established veteran. And he’s earned many accolades in his natural bodybuilding career.
Generation Iron would like to congratulate Philip Ricardo Jr. on his performance at 2021 Natural Olympia and thank him for his service. We wish him the best of luck in what the future holds for him.
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