Everything you wanted to know about T3- good read for all!

PRAETORIAN

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T3 FAQ: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO
KNOW
ABOUT THYROID HORMONES


Disclaimer



T3 is not a drug that should be taken lightly. It’s a very potent
thyroid hormone. Messing with your natural hormone levels is
very dangerous and unpredictable. The potential for
complications is very high, and abuse can lead to thyroid
disease and low thyroid output not only immediately upon
discontinuation, but also later in life.



There is no such thing as safe use of T3 outside of a medical
setting. There is only “safer” use. Use at your own risk.



Introduction: What is T3?



This article is pushing 2000 words, so here’s a link for anyone
who’s interested:
http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/thyroid/index.html



What about T4?



Bodybuilders should not use T4. It’s a much weaker drug
designed for long term use in patients with chronic thyroid
disease. 100mcg of T4 corresponds to 25mcg of T3 and offers
equivalent thyroid support; however, this does not translate to
equal weight loss benefits. It has made itself on sources’ lists
simply because it is widely available and extremely cheap.



Is T3 catabolic?



It may shock many people to know that T3 is NOT catabolic
per se. Cortical steroids are catabolic drugs that attack muscle
tissue directly regardless of caloric intake; T3 does not. It is a
very potent calorie burner and it does not discriminate between
carbohydrates, protein and fat. Unlike DNP, it has no protein
sparing properties. T3 is also more likely to burn muscle than
fat in lean users (10-12% BF), but this can be said for any
extreme drop in caloric intake and uptake such as starvation
diets (Caloric intake <10 X BW).



Muscle loss can be avoided with the use of anabolic agents.
T3’s alleged catabolic properties have become legendary.
Excessive amounts of T3 (more than 75mcg), will have a very
strong calorie burning effect, and since some bodybuilder use
150 mcg, it’s easy to see why such misinformation has been so
prevalent. The average bodybuilder will not need several
grams of steroids to counter a reasonable dose of T3. There is
no need to use more than 75mcg-100mcg. Going beyond this
dose will cause more harm than good, as massive doses of
steroids need to be used to counter the muscle loss, further
stressing the body for minimal, if any additional benefits.



I think I’ve lost 20 lbs of muscle!



T3 can also give your muscles an extremely flat look and very
soft feel. This side effect of extreme glycogen depletion can
have a very profound psychological impact in bodybuilders. It
often feels and looks like muscle loss when it’s simply a lack
of muscle “pump” because of restricted blood flow to that area
and depletion of glycogen stores in muscles. Generally,
carbohydrate loading does not solve this problem. “Pumping
up” (or training for that matter) brings more blood into the
muscles and is a temporary albeit effective solution.
Clenbuterol and certain steroids can offset the lack of muscle
pump because these drugs tend to “harden up” users by
bringing more blood into to the muscles.





Are steroids absolutely necessary on T3?



This is very dependent on the user. Diet must be flawless, only
reasonable doses should be considered (50mcg) and the user
must know his body to a tee. Those who don’t know what that
last statement entails should not even consider T3. This is a
veteran drug and should not be used by bodybuilders who are
new to the game or do not have a deep understanding of how
there bodies react to certain foods and training philosophies.



T3 can be used alone or better yet with Clenbuterol without
fear of muscle loss in overly fat people (20-25% BF). This is
not recommended, however, since these people will generally
return to overeating upon discontinuation of their cycle and
may likely end up with more weight than they started with.





How should I eat on T3?



Protein should be kept at 1.5-2g per lb of bodyweight. The
majority of protein should come from lean meats. Shakes can
be used, but should not be heavily relied on as they are more
likely to be turned into glucose and used immediately for
energy. Caloric reduction should come from carbs and fat only.







What is T3 used for?



Fat-loss: The main use for T3.



Increase Nutrient Uptake: Not very well known, but this is a
great use for T3. Doses between 6.25-12.5mcg do not
shutdown endogenous thyroid output. T3 at this dose can be
used to add LBM and help in keeping the fat off. When doses
are kept at 6.25-12.5mcg, muscles are full and rock hard, and
energy is through the roof. At these light doses, it’s common for
people to go to the bathroom 5-6 times a day because there
bodies are making more efficient use of the food they eat.



Can I permanently shutdown my Thyroid?



Simply put, NO, it can’t happen. Natural thyroid production
will be completely shutdown for a good period of time after
using T3, but it will eventually recover. Bruce Kneller posted
this study on the Testosterone website:



N Engl J Med 1975 Oct 2;293(14):681-4

Recovery of pituitary thyrotropic function after
withdrawal of prolonged thyroid-suppression
therapy.

Vagenakis AG, Braverman LE, Azizi F,
Portinay GI, Ingbar SH.

The pattern of thyrotropin secretion was
analyzed in seven euthyroid women, before and
after withdrawal of long-term thyroid
hormone, by serial measurements of thyroid
131l uptake, serum thyroxine, tri-iodothyronine,
and thyrotropin concentrations, and the response
to thyrotropin-releasing hormone. During
exogenous hormone administration, 131l uptake
was suppressed, and serum thyrotropin
concentrations before and after administration
of thyrotropin-releasing hormone were
undetectable.

After withdrawal of exogenous hormone,
thyrotropin secretory function was transiently
impaired, as indicated by undetectable basal
thyrotropin concentrations together with absence
of response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone,
and subsequently by normal values of basal
thyrotropin concentration and normal responses
to releasing hormone while serum thyroxine and
tri-iodothyronine concentrations were
subnormal.

Decreased thyrotropin reserve persisted for two
to five weeks. Detectable values of serum
thyrotropin (less than 1.2 muU per milliliter)
and a normal 131l uptake usually occurred
concurrently in two to three weeks. Serum
thyroxine concentration returned to normal
at least four weeks after hormone
withdrawal.



Basically, it is extremely important to eat cleanly and keep up
with cardio for at least 4 weeks and up to 6 weeks following a
T3 cycle. It’s also very important to ramp down properly and
not use any drug that have an effect on metabolism and thyroid
function, i.e. Clen, Ephedrine, Steroids, DNP, T2…



Calories should be kept in check, even lowered in some cases,
and High Intensity Cardio is a must; at least 20mins, 3times a
week. L-Tyrosine can be used at 1-3g a day to help thyroid
function, but its effectiveness is debatable.



Switching to a higher carb, lower fat and lower protein diet is
crucial in helping your thyroid bounce back after a cycle. A
three-day carb up would be a good idea following a T3 cycle.
This study demonstrates how important carbohydrates are for
normal thyroid function. (Note: Some people seem to think of
carbs as Lucky Charms and toast when there are far better carb
choices that won’t make you look like the Michelin Man.)



Dietary-induced alterations in thyroid hormone metabolism
during overnutrition.
Danforth E Jr, Horton ES, O'Connell M, Sims EA,
Burger AG, Ingbar SH, Braverman L, Vagenakis
AG.

Diet-induced alterations in thyroid hormone
concentrations have been found in studies of long-term
(7 mo) overfeeding in man (the Vermont Study). In
these studies of weight gain in normal weight
volunteers, increased calories were required to
maintain weight after gain over and above that
predicted from their increased size. This was
associated with increased concentrations of
triiodothyronine (T3). No change in the caloric
requirement to maintain weight or concentrations of T3
was found after long-term (3 mo) fat overfeeding. In
studies of short-term overfeeding (3 wk) the serum
concentrations of T3 and its metabolic clearance
were increased, resulting in a marked increase in the
production rate of T3 irrespective of the
composition of the diet overfed (carbohydrate 29.6
+/- 2.1 to 54.0 +/- 3.3, fat 28.2 +/- 3.7 to 49.1 +/- 3.4,
and protein 31.2 +/- 2.1 to 53.2 +/- 3.7 microgram/d
per 70 kg). Thyroxine production was unaltered by
overfeeding (93.7 +/- 6.5 vs. 89.2 +/- 4.9
microgram/d per 70 kg). It is still speculative whether
these dietary-induced alterations in thyroid hormone
metabolism are responsible for the simultaneously
increased expenditure of energy in these subjects and
therefore might represent an important physiological
adaptation in times of caloric affluence. During the
weight-maintenance phases of the long-term
overfeeding studies, concentrations of T3 were
increased when carbohydrate was isocalorically
substituted for fat in the diet. In short-term studies the
peripheral concentrations of T3 and reverse T3 found
during fasting were mimicked in direction, if not in
degree, with equal or hypocaloric diets restricted in
carbohydrate were fed. It is apparent from these
studies that the caloric content as well as the
composition of the diet, specifically, the
carbohydrate content, can be important factors in
regulating the peripheral metabolism of thyroid
hormones.



A post cycle crash is inevitable; this is the time when your diet
really matters.



So how do I cycle this stuff?



T3/Clen/Anavar Cycle



Anavar is the single best steroid to stack with T3. Its
anti-catabolic properties are unmatched and it will not shut
down the HPTA. There’s nothing like simultaneous sex
hormone and thyroid hormone shutdown, I bet it feels great.
Primobolan at 200mg a week would be a good substitute since
it doesn’t shut you down. Dbol at 10-15mg taken in the morning
can also be used but Arimidex must be included with the Dbol.
T3 increases the amount of beta-3-adregenic receptors (by
500%!) in white adipose tissue, i.e. the fat that covers muscle.
Since clen exerts most of its effect on the same receptors, the
combination with T3 would yield quite a strong synergistic
effect. T3/Clen may be too much for the heart in some people.



T3:



12.5mcg for 5-7 days (optional but recommended)



37.5mcg for 5 days

75mcg for 15 days

50mcg for 5 days

37.5mcg for 5 days

25mcg for 5 days

12.5 mcg for 5 days

6.25mcg for 5-7 days



Clen:



30 days: 60-120mcg ED. Use clen from the first 37.5mcg dose
to the last 25mcg dose. Ketotifen will make you more sensitive
to clenbuterol so doses should be adjust accordingly.



Ketotifen:



Stacked with Clenbuterol, 2mg ED. This drug may not be an
option for some people since it can make them extremely
hungry. If this is the case, Clen should be used 2 weeks on 2
weeks off.



Anavar:



Oxandrin;



15mg ED with 37.5mcg of T3,

25mg ED with 75mcg of T3,

20mg ED with 50mcg of T3.





Here’s a more sensitive approach that can be used between
cycles since it doesn’t include AS:



BigAndy69’s T3 Cycle:



The cycle can actually be used to add muscle mass or drop
body fat depending on caloric intake. For gaining muscle mass,
the Yohimbine and Anastrozole are not necessary.



W1-W4:



T3: 12.5mg ED

Clen: 60-100mcg ED

Ketotifen: 2mg ED

Anastrozole: 0.5mg ED

Yohimbine: 10-15mg ED (maybe too much to handle in some)



Carb/Pro/Fat:



20-30/50-60/20



ALA: 1500mg ED

Taurine: 3g ED



W5:



T3: 6.25mg ED



L-Tyrosine: 1-2g ED

ALA: 2500mg ED

Taurine: 3g ED



Carb/Pro/Fat:



50-60/20-30/20



(High Intensity Cardio)



W6:



ALA: 1500mg ED



Carb/Pro/Fat:



40/40/20



(High Intensity Cardio)



BigAndy69’s T3 Post Cycle Therapy (4-6 weeks):



Initial 3 day carb up:



Carbs: 1.75g X BW

Protein: 0.75g X BW

Fat: 0.25g X BW



Supplements:



L-Tyrosine: 1-3g ED

ALA: 1500mg ED

Flaxseed oil + Fish oil: 20g total ED



Diet: >50% Carbs/ 30% Protein/ <20% Fat, calories at
maintenance (+ or - 12 X BW)



High intensity cardio: 75-80% of Max Heart Rate; 15-20 min
3-4 times a week.

No Steroids, Ephedrine, Clen, T2, DNP, or anything that has an
effect on metabolism. Moderate doses of caffeine can be used
before cardio.

BigAndy69

Metabolism 1981 Aug;30(8):783-91

Whole body leucine and lysine metabolism studied with
[1-13C]leucine and [alpha-15N]lysine: response in healthy
young men given excess energy intake.

Motil KJ, Bier DM, Matthews DE, Burke JF, Young VR.

Dietary-induced alterations in thyroid hormone metabolism
during overnutrition.
Danforth E Jr, Horton ES, O'Connell M, Sims EA, Burger
AG, Ingbar SH, Braverman L, Vagenakis AG.

Rubio A, et al. "Thyroid hormone and norepinephrine signaling
in brown adipose tissue. II: Differential effects of thyroid
hormone on beta 3-adrenergic receptors in brown and white
adipose tissue." Endocrinology 1995 Aug;136(8):3277-84

A paradigm of experimentally induced mild hyperthyroidism:
effects on nitrogen balance, body composition, and energy
expenditure in healthy young men.

J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997 Mar;82(3):765-70 (ISSN:
0021-972X)

Lovejoy JC; Smith SR; Bray GA; De Lany JP; Rood JC;
Gouvier D; Windhauser M; Ryan DH; Macchiavelli R; Tulley
R
Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State
University, Baton Rouge 70808, USA. [email protected]

Peace,
P

posted by bigandy of ae
 
see the topic of the week post on T3/cymotel in the articles of interest forum, lots more information
 
Great read! So complete shutdown of the thyroid will not happen, it returns to normal in four to five weeks? Never knew that.
 
Shutdown

There is a lot of misinformation about t3 out there..be careful what you read! My dr. is a bodybuilder himself and keeps track of my blood work on all cycles as well as my girl when she does clen and t3 etc...she doesn use aas though. She did a 12 wek cycle of t3 up to 75 mcg/day...tapered off slow and easy..thyroid rt3, t3 , t4, and tsh were all normal in 2 weeks...mine barely go out of wack and are back within the same time if not sooner! We use guggul, selenium, sulphur, and iodine post cycle to prop up thyroid..works wonderful!! If you are getting blood work done be sure to request rt3 and t3 work otherwise the dr will only test for t4 and tsh...there have been many studies on women on high dose t3 for long periods and all return to normal levels naturally within a month or so...still this is not to say go crazy...safety is always a concern and better safe then sorry...8 week cycles tapering up fast and tapering down slowly will suffice!
Peace,
P
 
very nice read.... I been taking T3 for about 4 weeks started at 50mcgs and now have leveled off at 100mcgs a day 50 & 50 12 hours apart and I cant say that Im impressed with this drug

i can lose the same amount of fat without T3 is their something im doing wrong or does it take a while to kick in
 
i think DNP is next on my list I know how dangerous it is and ive read numerous things about it I WILL NOT JUMP INTO DNP WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE
 
good article with the exception of the part about being catabolic

T-3 does not discriminate between muscle and fat!! If you take t-3 your protein intake must be very high....or you will lose muscle..I promise. And I don't believe ANYTHING I read...only what I know from experience.
Pain.....as for your problem...I wouldn't go higher than 100mcg's per day. Your thyroid will not shut down but continued levels with get you a real good shot at some serious osteoporosis later in life..............456
 
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