Beginners Guide To Anabolic Steroids PDF
Beginners Guide To Anabolic Steroids PDF
Beginners Guide To Anabolic Steroids PDF
Steroids
By Brent Larson
You’ll notice that we are using the common names for the drugs, many of which were
given to the drugs by pharmaceutical companies who no longer produce the drugs.
Though the proper names are included in my descriptions of the drugs, I will be using the
more commonly used “street” names throughout this book.
Like I said, there are many more exotic (and over-priced/ under-effective) compounds in
existence that we will not be getting into. I recommend that if you want to learn more
about the more exotic stuff, check out some of the titles available from my friend
Anthony Roberts on the subject. He provides very in-depth breakdowns of virtually any
drug that you can imagine.
Test is where it all begins. Like protein in a solid diet, testosterone should form the base
of the cycle. Using testosterone by itself is extremely effective, and is practiced by many.
You don’t really need to take anything beyond test alone. It is the drug prescribed to
those who receive prescription hormone replacement therapy, and has been used in
medicine for nearly a century at this point. The amount of testosterone in one’s body is
quite literally the difference between a strong, virile young man, and an old, frail man.
Testosterone is what makes a man a man in the hormonal sense.
It is available commonly in five basic preparations:
Testosterone Enanthate:
This guy is a “long estered” testosterone preparation. Test “E” as it is commonly referred
to has a half-life of roughly one week, so it is perfect for weekly injections. Some will opt
to inject more than once weekly in divided doses, but, as you will learn, I am not a fan of
such methods unless large enough amounts of testosterone are used to warrant dividing
the dose.
Testosterone Enanthate is my most highly recommended drug for personal enhancement.
Testosterone Cypionate:
This is essentially the twin of Testosterone Enanthate in terms of how it functions and
behaves. The two are considered interchangeable. Some will argue this and will prefer
one to the other, but it’s my book, so poop on them. Test “C” and Test “E” should be
thought of as twin brothers and can be used interchangeably based on availability.
Testosterone Propionate:
This is the “short estered” testosterone offering. Test “Prop” (pronounced with a long
“O” to rhyme with soap) works like its long estered cousins cypionate and enanthate, but
commonly causes less in terms of water retention. I will later get into my thoughts on
water retention and drug use, but understand that some will have differing ideas of what
is acceptable, and will opt for prop due to its characteristics in this department.
Testosterone Suspension:
Technically all of the test offerings are suspensions, when someone refers to suspension
however they are talking about testosterone base powder sans ester suspended in water.
This is the fastest acting test by far. It is also the most painful to inject (it hurts like a
bitch), is the most rare to come across in most markets, and has the shortest active life,
necessitating very frequent injections.
All of those things said, some still swear by suspension. It is popular with competitive
athletes, particularly fighters, football players and powerlifters who need fast acting
performance enhancement. I can personally say that nothing I have ever taken has caused
the increased aggression that test suspension does. It is nasty stuff for sure.
Generally speaking, unless suspension is all that you can get your hands on I’d steer clear
of it. IT can be very effective for immediate performance enhancement, but if you are in a
situation where that is a legitimate concern then you probably are already in the know
when it comes to test suspension and drugs in general.
Trenbolone
“Tren” is often considered the most powerful steroid available. It’s something that you
either love of hate, there is little, “Eh, I could take it or leave it” with Tren.
It’s available commonly in both a short estered version (Tren “A””, Trenbolone Acetate)
and a long estered version (Tren “E”, Trenbolone Enanthate). Like the Testosterones, the
attached ester dictates how frequent the drug needs to be injected. Tren A requires daily
or every day injections in order to be used to its maximum potential, while Tren E can be
injected once per week.
Tren is the harshest of the orals for many in terms of side effects. The most common is
what is referred to as “tren cough” a dry, persistent, nagging cough that is very difficult to
shake. It doesn’t effect everyone, but enough that the drug has earned a reputation for it.
It is important to note that oral steroids are 17a methylated, a fancy way of saying that
they have been altered in order to make it past the liver. For this reason, all oral steroids
are hepatoxic (harmful to the liver) to varying degrees. This means that orals should not
be used for extended periods of time. Their use is generally limited to a four to six week
window in order to minimize the workload on the liver. Understand that a lifetime of
drinking alcohol is far harsher on the liver than popping some Dbol or A bombs for a few
weeks, but nonetheless, it is important to think of your liver health when taking oral
steroids. Milk Thistle, Red Yeast Rice, and other supplements have traditionally be used
to ease the strain on the liver while using orals. This practice is controversial however,
since it has been demonstrated that liver support products can negate much of the
effectiveness of the orals in some cases. Also important to note is that oral steroids were
used extensively, if not excessively, for years without any liver support being used (or
PCT for that matter; more on that later) with a decided lack of people dropping dead from
it; something to consider when being told the horror stories of how dangerous oral
steroids (or steroids in general for that matter) are.
Personally, if you opt for some liver support while taking oral steroids I recommend a
product called Liv 52. It is perfectly legal, and sold all over on the Internet for next to
nothing. I have used orals extensively both with and without using liver aids, but
whenever I did/do I use Liv 52.
The orals are generally used in conjunction with injectable steroids, but there are
applications for oral-only cycles. There is debate about that topic as well (as there is with
all things steroids) but it can work. We’ll look at that in a bit.
So, in the words of an Asian American girlfriend on her period, “For now, I give you
orals.”
Dianabol (Methandrostenolone)
“Dbol” is in my opinion the King of all orals. I love the stuff.
Dbol is a very potent strength and mass builder, and has been used very successfully for
that purpose by many for a long time. Nicknamed the “breakfast of champions”, Dbol has
been a key player for athletes of all kinds since it came on the scene in the late 1950’s.
Being an oral steroid, Dbol is most commonly used in conjunction with injectables for a
brief window (four to six weeks typically) at the beginning of the cycle as a “kick start”.
Longer estered Testosterones like enanthate and cypionate take a few weeks to really
come to life and start demonstrating their effects, so the fast-acting orals are taken during
this time to start seeing results sooner. By the time the kick start is over, the Test is
kicking into high gear. Test with a Dbol kick start works like a charm, every time.
Anadrol (Oxymetholone)
Anadrol is often referred to as “A Bombs” or “A50”. It is an oral steroid with similar
effects to Dianabol. Drol is one hell of a strength builder and for that reason has long
been a favorite drug of powerlifters. It is often considered the harshest of the orals, but
there is debate about that topic as well. Generally speaking, doses are limited to 50mg
(the common dosage per pill) or 100mg (two pills) per day. Anadrol usage should be
limited to four to six week stints like the other orals in order to give the liver a break.
I have always had good luck with Anadrol and noticed greater strength gains while using
it than with any other drug save my first cycle of testosterone. A 50mg dose of this stuff
is going to do wonders in any cycle.
Winstrol (Stanozolol)
As I mentioned before, I definitely prefer the oral form of Winstrol to the injectable. Oral
Winny is one of my favorite drugs. It is also one of the most unpredictable drugs in terms
of how it will affect an individual. What I mean by this is that while it will make some
very hard and give them some decent strength gains (though mild compared to something
like Dianabol or Anadrol), it will be the best mass gain drug under the sun for some.
Again, this is where what the classic profile of a drug on paper says isn’t always what
your experience with it will be. A good friend of mine did a cycle of Winstrol by itself at
50mg per day for six weeks. That particular cycle was one of the most effective and
productive strength and size building cycles I have ever seen anyone do. To this day,
despite having since experimented with most other drugs available, he still goes after oral
Winstrol when he wants to add the mass.
In addition to the muscle building and strength building attributes of Winstrol, the drug is
also well known for its ability to improve one’s cardio game. It has long been a favorite
of sprint athletes due to this effect. MMA fighters are also known for Winstrol use due to
its effects in this regard. It can give you quite the boost in terms of your ability to work
harder longer.
Anavar (Oxandrolone)
Anavar is most commonly used as the oral component in a “cutting” cycle. Bodybuilders
and figure competitors frequently use it during their pre-contest phase. It is virtually side
So what are the legitimate side effects with steroid use? We all have heard tons of the
bullshit ones; let’s look at the real things that have been observed.
Hair Loss
This one can be a bitch. Here’s the thing, if you are predisposed to male pattern baldness,
steroid use (particularly use of injectable testosterone for extended periods of time) will
more than likely accelerate that process for you. End of the world? No, but a legitimate
concern for many none the less.
The good news is that finasteride, which is available by prescription from your good ol’
Doctor, will normally stop the hair loss in its tracks. Funny thing is this stuff is easy to
get. Just tell the Doc you’re losing your hair and that you’d like to try it, and you’ll walk
out of there with a script that day. It’s a shame testosterone is not as easily acquired huh?
I guess hair is more important to the medical community by and large than overall quality
of life.
Testicular Atrophy
Yep, they’re going to shrink while you’re using the stuff.
Do they return to their normal size when you come off? Yes.
Is it a drastic difference in size? No, well unless you are measuring them regularly now.
Will my girlfriend/wife/scoutmaster/priest notice? Maybe, maybe not. Depends how up
close and personal they’ve been with them in the past.
Good news is smaller balls make your dick look bigger. It’s science.
Gynecomastia
“Gyno” is the development of abnormal breast tissue in a man. It’s been commonly
referred to as “bitch tits” for ages. It is a realistic concern for anyone who is taking
anabolic steroids and very well should be. Some are more predisposed to the condition
than others. Some can take massive doses of Testosterone and other drugs for long
periods of time and never experience any gyno symptoms while some will develop the
condition from a beginner’s dose or even from an oral only cycle.
I encourage you to read more about gyno and educate yourself about the condition so that
you can develop an appreciation for the condition. It is irreversible once it becomes full
blown, and requires surgery to get rid of. Gyno surgery, though much more common and
prevalent in sports and bodybuilding than most people are aware of, is expensive and is
almost never covered by insurance.
The good news is that gyno can be stopped pretty effectively if it is caught early on. The
symptoms are easily recognized. A person who is developing gyno will have very
sensitive nipples, not sensitive as in you will be more aware that they exist, but sensitive
as in you’ll want to murder anyone that brushes up against you in a crowded place. If you
have reason to believe that you are experiencing gyno symptoms, begin taking Nolvadex
(which should always be on hand before the cycle starts anyway) at the recommended
PCT dose immediately. The Nolva will stop the gyno in its tracks and life will get back to
normal. If an oral such as Dianabol is being used and is believed to be the cause of the
gyno (meaning your first Test-only cycle did not come with any gyno symptoms;
remember, we do those Test-only first cycles right?) the oral should be discontinued for
A before and after picture of someone who has had corrective surgery to fix gynecomastia.
Acne
It’s more than likely going to happen. Deal with it. It is common to break out on the back
and shoulders, and some will experience facial acne as well. Over the counter acne
medications will be all that is needed to keep this under control. Change your shirt
frequently if you sweat a lot throughout the day, and make sure to shower regularly
(which you should already be doing anyway) and you will keep the acne to a minimum.
Teenagers get acne because of the sharp increase in Testosterone that they are
experiencing. Remember, this is what is going on for you as well as a steroid user. Use
conventional acne prevention and control methods used by teenagers and you will
minimize the inconvenient impact of this side effect.
It probably won’t be this bad, but chances are you’ll get some good ol’ “bac-ne”
In order to inject the stuff you’re going to need to get your hands on some quality
medical supplies. If you are buying from an overseas source from the United States you
are generally going to be better of foregoing purchasing your pins from the supplier of
the gear. Do the legwork and obtain high-quality, sterile goods domestically.
Anabolic Steroids will generally come in an oil suspension preparation and are typically
pretty thick. It is always a good idea when possible to use a larger gauge needle to draw
the oil from the vial or amp into the syringe. My default recommendations are to use an
eighteen-gauge needle for drawing up the oil and a twenty-five-gauge needle for injecting
the oil into the body.
Syringes and needles are very easy to legally acquire. They do not require a prescription
and can be ordered from any number of medical supply websites. A quick Google search
for syringes and needles will return a plethora of options there that you can then peruse
and shop.
A quick shopping list would look like this:
18g x 1.5” Syringe and Needle Combo* (or separate syringes and needles if they are not
available from the seller as a combo): These will be for drawing the preparation out of the
vial or amp (who really still uses amps?) before switching over to a higher gauge needle
for the injection.
25g x 1.5” Needles* (For Glute shots) or 25g x 1” Needles* (for quads, delts, or
anywhere else): These are the needles that you will put on the syringe in order to do the
actual injection.
*I have a preference for BD brand syringes and needles, but Terumo are also very good.
It should go without saying that all syringes and needles should be used ONE TIME
ONLY and disposed of, but I will say it here anyway so that there is no ambiguity on the
matter.
This is a very interesting topic to me. Diet in general has always been something that has
fascinated me, particularly maximizing performance or aesthetic gains through the
careful manipulation of it. Anyone who has made the decision to use anabolic steroids for
personal enhancement should certainly be paying attention to what they eat. Steroids are
expensive and, for many, illegal to obtain and/or use. If you are serious enough about
your performance to take steroids, there is no reason why you should not have gotten
your diet in order long ago.
The particulars of how one eats while enhanced vary greatly from individual to
individual. Obviously someone looking to use the drugs to help gain muscle mass needs
to be eating in a manner that supports these efforts, while someone trying to lean out a bit
should be eating each meal with a more chiseled physique in mind.
Steroids provide a bit of wiggle room when it comes to diet. Many can get away with
things nutritionally while enhanced that they could not without the drugs, but steroids are
by no means a license to gorge on shitty food, or take it easy at the table for that matter,
expecting the drugs to do the magic for you.
The importance of the role nutrition plays for an enhanced person (in this case looking to
grow) was best explained to me by Johnny Pain, though he claimed to have had it passed
on to him by another. He used an analogy where food was represented by bricks, and
Injection Sites
There are many acceptable sites on the human body for intra-muscular injections. For the
purposes of this book we will only be concerning ourselves with three:
These three will provide more than enough options for injection sites, even in the event
that a short estered testosterone, or other drug requiring frequent injections, is being used.
You can rotate between these sites in the case of multiple injections per week, or may opt
to stick to the same site(s) if only injecting once per week. During my first cycle I
injected my right glute every single time.
The rule of thumb is that you should rotate injection sites, never inject the same site twice
in a row. Obviously I am still alive after breaking that rule for some time so we know that
it won’t kill you, however in the general sense it is good advice.
Even if you are sticking your quads every time and doing once per week injections,
alternate legs from week to week. It’s simple this way, and the weak hand shots become
much easier with a little practice (if you are self administering the drug).
In the next section we will be looking at proper injection procedure for an intramuscular
injection. Use these next few pages to ensure that you have the location right for the shot.
Stand up straight and hang your arms straight down at your sides. Make note of where the
tip of your middle finger falls against your leg. This is where you will be inserting the
needle.
I have found that it is easiest to do a good lateral leg shot while sitting down. It is
important that the muscle that you are injecting be as relaxed as possible. This will save
you quite a bit of pain during the injection.
Don’t stress it if you are a bit above or below the intended target. The lateral leg provides
a big, broad surface of muscle to inject. The targeted area is simply the smoothest and
easiest location.
It is also common to experience a sharp, tingling sensation that may or may not travel up
the leg occasionally when sticking this site. This simply means that you hit a nerve. It
sucks, and can hurt like a bitch, but minus a slight limp perhaps for a few days you will
be fine.
A one-inch needle should be used when injecting the lateral leg.
The glutes are a surprisingly simple and normally painless injection site. Sticking them
can be a little awkward if you are not used to it, but you grow accustomed to the minor
contortion required if you after a few tries.
To find the correct site for injecting the glutes, you simply imagine a “plus sign” drawn
on the butt cheek, dividing it into four relatively equal sections (as shown in the
diagram). You will be aiming for the upper-outer quadrant each time. This site is smooth
sailing; very little in the way of nerves or blood vessels to get in the way.
A one and a half inch needle should be used when injecting the glutes.
The Glutes
This is my least favorite of the sites presented, maybe because I have always given
myself my own shots save a rare occasion here or there. Self-administering shots in the
shoulder can be tricky. Additionally, it has long been observed that the oils are absorbed
more completely and rapidly when injected into larger muscle. This by no means implies
that injecting anabolic steroids into the deltoid will make them ineffective, it just suggests
that maybe the lateral leg or glutes would be a better choice.
The shoulder is perhaps the easiest site to stick if you are having your wife, or significant
other give you the shot though, which makes the sire appealing to some
The shoulder can also be a preferred site if you are injecting frequently as in the case of
short estered test, or something like Winstrol depot, which would require a rotating
selection of sites be used.
The area that you want to inject is dead center of the meat of the shoulder. This means
centered front to back, top to bottom. When viewing the shoulder from the side, picture a
bull’s eye right in the center, and stick the needle there.
A one-inch needle should be used when injecting the shoulder.
The use of proper injection procedure is essential in order to greatly reduce the risk of
infection, abscess, or cellulitis when injecting anabolic steroids. The following pages will
illustrate how to correctly administer an intramuscular injection.
Step Two:
With a sterile eighteen-gauge needle attached to a sterile syringe, draw an amount of air
equal to the amount of oil that you want to inject into the syringe by pulling back on the
plunger.
Step Four:
Pull back on the plunger slowly, drawing the oil into the syringe until you have drawn the
desired amount.
1
Medical professionals are required to keep your business private. Never risk further
infection or sickness for the sake of not having to explain to a doctor why you were
giving yourself an injection and got cellulitis (or whatever the case may be). If the need
arises, do not hesitate to seek medical help. Be honest with the doctor and don’t give a
shit if he/she is judgmental (they probably will be). You will not get into any trouble or
face arrest for going in, so do not let the fear of legal trouble discourage you from getting
necessary help.
That’s it.
In the past I have made recommendations to beginners for the above cycle plus a “kick
start” of Dianabol for four to six weeks. There is nothing wrong with that approach
either, and I myself used that set up the first time I tried steroids, but I think that a Test
only cycle is the best way to begin your steroid journey.
Let’s talk about why.
Taking Testosterone by itself will teach you a lot about how the drug works for you. The
less variables added at a time the better. Injecting Testosterone will bring about
significant changes in your body without a doubt. It is best to learn how you react to this,
the drug that will be the foundation of all of your future cycles, as a stand alone before
you begin adding other compounds into the mix.
With a cycle like this, you can expect to see little in the form of size or strength increases
until about week four or five. It will take this long for the drugs to really begin to show
their ass as we say. This is where the kick-start logic comes in. Dianabol (or Anadrol)
starts working within a few days. The effects are significant in the short term, though the
drug should not be used for longer than four to six weeks due to it’s effects on the liver.
Combining the two drugs creates a crossover effect that lets the oral start the cycle out
strong, bringing immediate strength and size increases while the injectable is building up
steam. Right around the time that it is necessary to come off of the oral, the injectable has
really started to shine. It’s a beautiful thing when it is done correctly.
2
The dosage does not have to be exact. Testosterone preparations will come dosed
differently. Some will be dosed as low as 200mg/ml while others may be 300mg/ml. In
the first case a two cc dose is appropriate while in the second a one and a half cc dose
(450mg) would be the way to go. Where it gets tricky is if you have something that’s like
250mg/ml, which would make for uneven dosing. Here a one and a half cc dose would be
375mg which would be acceptable for a first timer without a doubt.
3
Do a Google search for “Steroids and Suppression of HPTA” if you are interested in
reading more on the mechanics of how this happens. I have omitted the science from this
book in keeping with our “conversation with an informed steroid veteran” format and
theme.
Nolvadex: 20mg per day for four to six weeks. I have long recommended a three-
week PCT with Nolvadex at the same dose, which is has been more than enough to do the
trick, but Nolva is cheap and there is no downside to taking it longer than necessary. The
four to six week recommendation is about overkill by design. Administering the SERM
for that long will definitely see you get back to normal while keeping the estrogen at bay.
Clomid: 100mg per day for four to six weeks. A dosage recommendation for Clomid
can range from 40mg to 150mg per day, but I have found that 100mg per day is very
effective. I don’t feel that a larger dose is necessary. It is easy to see why Nolvadex is the
more preferred, and cost effective (Nolva and Clomid tend to be similarly priced
milligram for milligram) of the two drugs.
So it’s second cycle time, time to get back into it. What to do this time around?
Here is my simple recommendation for a second cycle:
Boring enough for you? I know, I know, you want to get into the other injectables and
have a complicated stack to deal with. Don’t be in a hurry to grow up, you are only a kid
once (don’t quote me out of context here on some forum saying that I am literally
recommending steroids to children). The combination of a slightly higher dose of long-
estered Testosterone plus the oral will give you very satisfying gains and will keep your
still near virgin body from becoming a floppy roast beef like cavern unnecessarily early.
The kick-start idea is simple; begin the oral steroid on the same day as you take your first
shot of Testosterone. Discontinue the oral after six weeks and continue on with your
regularly scheduled weekly injection of Testosterone for the remainder of the cycle.
This process can be done with any of the oral steroids, though I would not recommend
Anavar for the reasons I slammed it in the description. Below are beginner daily doses for
the orals to be used as a kick-start with Testosterone in the second cycle.
Dianabol: 30mg
Stacking
Stacking is a term that has long been used for the practice of combining steroids in order
to get better results. Some say that stacking drugs is unnecessary, and that Testosterone in
increasingly larger doses is all that is needed. There are definitely some people for whom
this may well be the case, however for some, stacking drugs will be the more favorable
alternative. I will explain why.
Tesosterone is the King, remember that. Every cycle should be built around it. Think of it
like protein in the diet. It is the cornerstone, and the only necessary component in an
effective cycle. Those looking for simple quality of life improvements, particularly the
older crowd looking to regain some youthful attributes with the aid of the drug, there is
probably no need to ever take anything else. For those looking to take multiple cycles of
steroids per year, or to stay on steroids in some capacity year round (we will discuss this
idea later), other drugs become much more relevant.
Most will take other drugs simply to experiment with them and see what effects they
have on their body. This is why I recommend a Testosterone-only first cycle in order to
establish how you respond to the hormone by itself. For many though, stacking becomes
more of a necessity due to the idea that Testosterone dosages should be gradually
increased over the “career” in order to continue reaping the benefits of the drug. More
Test equals more estrogen produced4, which for many means more side effects. Adding
another injectable compound to the mix allows the total amount of injectable drug being
used to increase while allowing the dosage of Testosterone to stay lower and minimize
the risk of sides.
As I mentioned in the bit on sides, all react differently to drugs, so some can eventually
take upwards of a gram (1000mg) of Testosterone and see little in the form of sides,
while others will experience intolerable sides once they hit 600 or so. One famed
Powerlifting guru is known to tell his lifters that what they seek to total in the meet is
what they should be injecting weekly (in milligrams) of Test. That means someone
looking for a 2,500lb total is taking 2.5 grams (2,500mg) of Testosterone per week!
These dosages are crazy in my opinion, and though I can’t begin to argue the results that
those athletes have experienced, I don’t feel that doses that high are either healthy or
necessary.
I honestly believe that one gram of injectable Testosterone per week represents the high
end of what anyone should be taking regardless of where they are in terms of adaptation.
Bear in mind that that dose can be combined with another injectable or injectables and/or
orals in order to increase the total amount of drugs being taken, which in my opinion is a
4
Google search “Testosterone Aromatization” for more on the specifics of this.
“The Silverback”
This guy is designed to be implemented with a serious mass gain diet in place. Again, I
highly recommend “SWOLE: The Greyskull Growth Principles” by Johnny Pain to learn
more about how to set up a solid-ass mass gain diet.
Week 1-6
Dianabol or Anadrol: 50mg per day
Testosterone Enanthate or Cypionate: 600mg per day
Deca Durabolin: 400mg per day
Week 6-12
Testosterone Enanthate or Cypionate: 600mg per week
Deca Durabolin: 400mg per week
Simple and effective; if you can’t grow from this, you have something wrong with you.
Week 1-6
Oral Winstrol: 50mg per day
Testosterone Enanthate or Cypionate: 600mg per week
Equipoise: 400mg per week
Week 6-12
Testosterone Enanthate or Cypionate: 600mg per week
Equipoise: 400mg per week
This one will get you strong and hard with a lot of new muscle.
Week 1-6
Oral Winstrol: 50mg per day
Testosterone Propionate: 100mg every other day
Equipoise: 300mg per week
Week 6-12
Testosterone Propionate: 100mg every other day
Equipoise: 300mg per week
This one coupled with a solid diet designed to get you lean will do exactly that.
These are just three examples of how drugs can be combined to produce a synergistic
effect, and deliver better results towards an intended goal. Remember that even the Cover
Model cycle will make you gain tons of new muscle mass if combined with a mass gain
diet and heavy weight training, and that the Silverback will make you lean as hell if you
diet your ass off and cardio up a storm. Make sure your diet and training practices are
congruent with your cycle design in order to get the most optimal and predictable result.
Also, I’d like to point out that the recommended doses above are intended for a third
timer, someone who has completed the first two cycles as outlined, and is looking to step
things up a notch. Any one of the above can be adapted for use after the third cycle by
slowly ratcheting up the dose of one or more of the drugs.
For example, someone with three cycles behind them (the first two and say the Gladiator)
who is looking to run the Silverback for their winter gains may do a cycle that looks
something like this:
Week 1-6
Dianabol: 60mg per day
Testosterone Enanthate: 750mg per week
Week 6-12
Testosterone Enanthate: 750mg per week
Deca Durabolin: 400mg
As I’ve stated over and over, it is all about learning how you as an individual react to the
different drugs. Take your time and do things right. Remove a variable if you suspect it of
producing a side effect that you are not happy with. Don’t sweat it; you have may options
at your disposal.
As I alluded to previously, some will opt to stay on drugs year round once they are
experienced in the game. There is nothing wrong with this practice, and personally I feel
that it can be a good thing once the doses have climbed enough in order to make the idea
relevant. One should always have PCT drugs on hand even if this route is pursued in the
event that they decide (or are forced) to come off of the drugs for any reason.
Some who are using Testosterone for its anti-aging benefits, particularly the older crowd,
will stay on year round at a moderate or low dose, something like 300mg per week of a
long estered Testosterone. This is how prescription HRT works. This is how the medical
community does it, and how you should too if the above applies to you.
For those who are using the drugs to enhance themselves beyond simple hormone
replacement, the idea of “blasting and cruising” enters the picture. What this means is
simple; the blast phase is a period in time where you are essentially doing a cycle. The
amount of drugs you are taking is increased (ideally in a congruent manner with your diet
and training) in order to accomplish a specific task in the short term. The cruise is the
period where you would normally be off-cycle. Here, a low dose of Testosterone will be
all that is administered. The amount of time between blasts is not written in stone, but I
always recommend that the cruising time be at the very least equal to the blasting time
over the course of the year, if not more. This is a very effective method when used for a
short window (a matter of years) in the most serious training portion of your “career”.
A year of blasting and cruising for someone looking to gain a lot of mass might look like
this:
Week 1-4
Dianabol: 30-50mg per day
Testosterone Enanthate: 750mg per week
Equipoise: 600mg per week
Week 4-12
Testosterone Enanthate: 750mg per week
Equipoise: 600mg per week
Week 24-28
Dianabol: 30-50mg per day
Testosterone Enanthate: 750mg per week
Equipoise: 600mg per week
Week 28-40
Testosterone Enanthate: 750mg per week
Equipoise: 600mg per week
Week 40-52
Testosterone Enanthate: 400mg per week
Notice that the doses used during the blasts were kept consistent; this is by design. The
duration of exposure to Testosterone limits the need for increased dosages of the drugs
during the blasts. You’ll also note that the oral dosages are kept relatively low; this is
another feature of a blast/cruise setup. I only included orals in the first four weeks of the
blasts, but it is common in these instances to run an oral four weeks on four weeks off
(this practice is generally reserved for bodybuilders or other strength athletes though and
is not recommended for the more casual user). Anytime you can use less of a drug and
still yield respectable gains it is wise to do so.
Remember that the cruise portions still have you taking 400mg of Testosterone, so you
will not be a normal earthling during that time either. This means that you will enjoy
enhanced training year round without the same severe spikes in dosages that are common
with a cycling approach. The more even, less roller coaster-like hormonal experience is,
in my opinion, easier, not harder on your body than cycling.
This is definitely something to consider if you see yourself using steroids for the long
haul, though I do definitely recommend that everyone begin with a cycling approach and
rack up some experience through three or four cycles minimum before adopting this
method.
-Brent
Several months ago I was talking to a friend of mine about how it seemed like I have
slowed down over the past couple of years. “Maybe it’s low Test,” he said. Although this
guy has been in the gym business for years, I blew (earmuffs) his comment off as a
playful gibe. Still, what he said rolled around in my head for a while. I did have a lack of
energy, I was looking and feeling like an old man, and my sex drive had gone down over
the past few years. Maybe it was low Testosterone. I started doing some research and
after a few months I decided it wouldn’t hurt to get some blood work done to see if this
was all in my head or if it was actually low Test. I found a urologist who specializes in
TRT and went to him to get the blood work done. They drew the blood and I waited a
week for the results. Finally, the nurse called with my results. According to the doctor, a
normal male’s test level should be between 280-800—don’t even ask how they consider
anywhere in this huge range to be normal. My level came back at 214! I’m in my early
thirties and I already have a Test level below the “average” range. This explained so
much.
Before I go any further, let me explain to you what I knew about anabolics before starting
my own research. I knew that anabolics would kill you, but before they kill you, you will
have gone to jail several times for domestic violence and aggravated battery due to all of
the fights you start when in the depths of roid rage, your dick will fall off, you will be
covered in acne, and you will grow a big pair of tits. In short, my understanding of
anabolics was completely shaped by messages widely publicized by mainstream media. I
admit my own ignorance when I tell you that I had never once spoken to anybody who
had taken anabolics nor had I read any valid medical studies regarding anabolics and how
they work in the human body. After doing my own research and talking to someone with
actual experience using steroids, I realized that most of the supposed results of steroid use
were grossly exaggerated and quite often just plain false.
So, I got my Test levels and I made the decision to do something about it. Instead of
going the legal route and consulting a doctor, I decided to take a different approach. I had
a friend who lived a few states away that was knowledgeable about this stuff. Since he
had been involved in anabolics for years I decided to get his help. I called him one
afternoon and told him what I was interested in doing. He recommended 400mg of Test
as a good dose to start with. “Okay,” I told him, “how do I get it?” Over the phone, my
friend walked me through everything: where to get my gear, needles, and ancillaries.
Within a couple of hours, I had done all of the legwork and just had to wait for
everything to arrive.
Over the next week, while I waited for my supplies to arrive, I started doing some
research about injections. Like most people, I have always hated needles. The thought of
jabbing a long needle deep into my muscles made me shiver; still, I knew that this was
just part of the deal and, over time, it would get easier. It was just that first injection I was
worried about. Once I figured out the first shot I knew it would be smooth sailing. My
As a 40+ yr old who has spent the majority of my life around sports and who pursued a
career in sports medicine, I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of performance
enhancers, anabolic steroids included and most specifically. Twenty years ago a friend
and I decided that we would try the oral steroid Dianabol but were unable to track any
down. The idea of taking PED’s remained in the back of my mind as life took over for
the next few decades. Then I found myself in an environment where the use of such drugs
seemed to be the norm. Seeing the people around me reap the benefits of the compounds
and (equally if not more importantly) not drop dead from the horrible side effects did
much to re-kindle my interest in trying the stuff out for myself. So after some serious
research, and a lot of question and answer with a very knowledgeable friend I decided to
try testosterone for the first time in my forties.
I should tell you that I have been terrified of needles my entire life. The “simple” act of
getting over this fear in order to self-administer testosterone injections was no easy feat.
The tale of my first injection is actually a bit embarrassing. I received my goods and was
excited to get started. I wanted to start reaping the benefits of the stuff, but I think much
of my haste was the product of having psyched myself for the actual injection process. I
wanted to get it over with. I was supposed to go over injection procedure with my steroid
“advisor”, but figured that my knowledge of safe injection procedure gained from years
spent in the sports medicine realm would suffice. I was right to a degree. I was able to
deliver a first rate injection under as sterile conditions as any could ask for. The problem
was that I delivered said injection directly into the top of my thigh, the portion that would
be facing you if we were to stand squared off across the room from each other. The
injection itself was surprisingly painless; the following five days were not. I spent the
next several days hobbling around with this heavy quad that felt like it was filled with
lead and produced a blunt but horrible pain whenever I attempted to flex my knee.
Walking became unbearable. Stairs were avoided. My friend got a lot of laughs out of
my situation; he has a sometimes-annoying characteristical tendency to be right. I should
have waited for him to show me the correct injection site, but oh well.
Though I knew that the pain I experienced from the first injection was largely the result
of my poor site selection, the experience turned me off to the idea of sticking my thighs
again. I did the remainder of my injections in my glutes. The longer needles and more
awkward positioning required were worth it to me if for nothing but the mental thing.
Overall my experience during my three-month cycle of testosterone enanthate was very
much positive. I dropped a bit of body fat (despite a less-than-optimal diet) and
experienced a definite size and strength increase. Perhaps the most significant effect that
I experienced was the dramatic reduction in the “aches and pains” that I had slowly
grown accustomed to and had accepted as part of the aging process. I also noticed a much
greater “pump” (I hate that phrase, but you all know what I’m referring to). I’m not as
I’ve been lifting “drug free” for over a decade now. I currently just turned 35 and my old
(er) age also left me with a few nagging injuries with my lower back and knees.
I felt that now was the time to educate myself with some assistance. How they work,
pros/cons, etc. Unfortunately (as you probably know) the internet and its forums have
conflicting information from questionable sources. There were a few guys at my gym that
were clearly “on”, but I didn’t know them well enough to ask their advice. So I decided
to give Brent a call.
Now Brent is sometimes hard to get a hold of, but when I finally did get a hold of him he
laid out a clear & basic plan on what to do, how exactly to do it, where he suggested I
procure them and their delivery devices from. Brent also provided me with a plan on
what do when I stopped the cycle. No question was left unanswered and Brent continued
to answer my questions and offer support from day one to day 120.
I started off with a few weeks of orals...that was just to get things going quickly as the
injections take a while to kick in. I dont know if it was all in my head but I swear I felt
stronger by the third day.
I'm not a fan of needles and injecting myself was the one piece of it that made me
question doing it altogether. The first time I was ready to do it, I just sat there staring at
the needle for 20 minutes...I remember sweating my ass off and thinking fuck this..this is
retarted. I said fuck it...and I put this thing in my quad and I just sat there and stared at
it. I literally sat there for 5 full minutes frozen...staring at this thing in my leg...scared as
fuck. At this point it was too late, I had to get going....and I dropped the hammer....and
that was it. 10 minutes later I was back on my way.
While injecting freaked me out at first..its really wasn't bad moving foward. In fact after
the first time, the I didnt even notice the pain. It became routine just like anything
else. Once a week at lunch time I spent 10 minutes in the bathroom prepping, injecting,
cleaning up and then getting on with my day. The only part that really sucked is the 2
days after the injection. your ass/leg is sore as all fuck. You know how bad a tetnis shot
leaves you sore? Multiply that by 5.
Anyway, as advised the results were stellar and the recommendations were spot on.
Progress in the weight room commenced, the little body fat I did have melted away,
nagging injuries disappeared, yoke grew considerably, 20 hr erections were maintained,
females caught vapors, my career improved, and my all around day to day mood was
happier.
No guessing, no hoping, I knew exactly what to do, where I was going and how I was
going to get there.
When I first got into strength training, the only supplement I knew about was protein. I
would have a protein shake after training and leave it at that. Also my food intake wasn't
a concern. I didn't pay attention to what was quality food and what was not. I just ate.
After a few years of training I got into bodybuilding. At that point everything got kicked
up a notch. I began researching supplements through magazines and conversations with
veteran guys at the gym. It seemed like everyone had a recommendation or two. I started
taking all of the usual suspects, creatine monohydrate, ZMA, BCAA’s, NO2, even a few
more lesser known ones that have fallen off the map by now like HMB. At one point, I
bought a mass gain product where I was taking 3 different types of pills that promised I
would get huge and all that stuff.
I spent lots of money on all sorts of supplements and was never satisfied with the results.
During my bodybuilding days, I thought that steroids were evil. They were morally
wrong. I remember talking so much shit on people that did them and considered it
cheating. Now I think the total opposite.
I was introduced to steroids when a good friend of mine was taking them. I wasn't too
sure what to think of this except “I'll guess I'll see what happens”. Soon after, my friend
was getting great results while I was still struggling with my training. I now started to
question myself, "What would it be like to do steroids?".
The access to the drugs was there, but I was extremely hesitant to do them. I
remembered how against them I was and also worried about the steroid myths/side
effects. At this time, my friend has been on steroids for a while. I consulted with him on
what to do. He explained to me how the drugs were affecting him. And to be honest,
hearing what he said made me want to try them more. He also reassured me that the
myths were not true when the drugs were used responsibly, and what the possible side
effects were. After taking some time to think, I figured, what the hell. I'll give this stuff a
try.
The day finally came when I was going to get my first shot of testosterone. I was going
to run 1cc (300mg in the preparation I was using) of test per week for about 3 months.
My friend was going to help me with the injections since I had no idea what the hell I
was doing. He explained to me the process of how to set up the materials for the shot, and
also how to do the shot safely and in a sterile manner.
About a day or two later, the injection site became sore, really sore. I found out this is
normal. Your body takes a little time to get used to having oil injected into it. After my
third injection, the site of the shot wasn't becoming as sore.
I had learned that it takes about a month for testosterone to kick in and really start
working. I couldn't wait. Around the fourth week I started to notice changes. It was
becoming easier to move the weights that I was struggling with in the past; I was loving
it. Next thing I knew I was making PR's across the board. Also, I noticed my libido was
going through the roof. I felt like I wanted to fuck every girl I saw. My confidence levels
started to go up as well. I was able to make decisions easier and found that I was more
assertive. I started to feel almost like a god (laugh if you want). I would like to add that
though I did not experience what many call “roid rage” I did feel that I became a little
more aggressive. Not in a bad way, just if the opportunity presented itself I wouldn't mind
throwing someone through a fucking window. That's if they deserved it. I have had no
roid rage whatsoever5
During my first testosterone cycle I experienced some new hair growth on my back. That
was pretty much it in terms of what could be considered a negative effect. No acne, no
hair loss, nothing. I did experience the predictable testicular atrophy, but that was much
less significant than I expected and they returned to their normal size shortly after the
cycle was over.
After finishing my first cycle of testosterone, I had made major gains in all of my lifts
and changed my body composition considerably. I was extremely happy with my results
and planned on doing another cycle soon after. The next step was, what else could I try?
Winstrol was my next drug. I took 50mg a day for a little over a month without any test
(this was strictly an availability of funds issue, I would have done the test if was there,
5
The only experience I had that could be confused for roid rage is not very significant, but Brent found it
hilarious and insisited that I write it in my contribution to his book. It happened on a super hot summer day.
Earlier in the day I put together a fan. The labor that went into this thing was crazy. I left my house into the
blistering heat for my daily activities. Upon returning home, I noticed the fan was disassembled and put
back into its box (presumably by my parents, Yes, I still live at home at 28). I lost it. Enraged, I tore apart
the box and put together the fan once again. I don't know why I got all crazy. I suppose all that work to put
together a fan, and then seeing it taken apart just made me a little grumpy. Oh well.
For almost three years, I have been on and off of anabolic steroids. I will probably be on
steroids in some capacity for the rest of my life. They are the ultimate supplement. They
actually work as advertised. I’m a firm believer that one should use them to their full
advantage when taking them. Get all that you can get out of them. I find that when I'm
taking steroids, I train harder than ever, making everything count. Each time I train, if it's
for strength or conditioning, I'm going to battle. I'm bringing my fucking “A” game, and
all the intensity I can give. Knowing that I am taking something makes me train harder,
and with more focus.
After a few years wandering in the desert of cross fit, I found my way to the world of
strength training. I started with a simple linear progression on all of the major lifts and
went through a few resets. My lower body was filling out but I still needed to pack on
some mass up top. A few of my colleagues were familiar with anabolics and I started
asking them more questions about the subject. They told me their views on the subject
and I took everything with a grain of salt. After doing some of my own research on the
subject, I decided I would try them out.
I had no moral issues with taking anabolics since I don’t compete in any sports where
they are against the rules. My friends got me set up with everything I needed, a couple
vials of test, some Dbol, syringes, needles and alchohol prep pads. They instructed me
on injection procedure the first few times, until I was comfortable doing it myself. I
started with weekly shots of test and daily doses of Dbol. I didn’t really know what to
expect.
When was I going to turn into this raging monster that all of the after school specials told
me about?
How long was it going to take me to look like Arnold?
The first few days I didn’t really notice anything. I put on a few pounds out of nowhere,
but other than that the results were negligible. By Thursday of the first week I was
beginning to wonder what all the hype about steroids was about, and I was beginning to
wonder if maybe the shit I got was bunk. On Friday everything changed when I went in
to the gym for a press workout.
In my previous workout I had failed on this weight on the fifth rep. I was trying it again,
hoping to get six reps or so. I started pressing, on the eighth rep I started to feel it, but I
was just able kept pressing and pressing. My friends were in the gym (who knew about
my drug use) they just kept telling me to keep pressing. They could tell that I was
shocked. I got fourteen reps on that set, and that’s when I realized that the steroids were
definitely doing something.
I kept training hard and eating well, and my lifts and strength kept going up. The
“pumps” I was getting in the gym were pretty incredible. Recovery was much faster and
overall I felt a little more pep in my step. I didn’t have any problems with my libido
before the anabolics, but after them it definitely went up. I didn’t get bitch tits or but my
head through any car windows. I did have a few incidents where my temper got away
from me a little bit, but I wasn’t flipping out and beating anyone up.
I did experience a few other mild side effects. A couple times I missed my shot or
pushed it out a few days further then I should have. In these instances I could tell that my
hormones were getting a little out of whack. I’d become a little more sensitive about
everything.