Q&A with Shadow Pro

Pharma
685

[quote]MattyXL wrote:
Shadow,

You have mentioned often how anybody within the 15-20% bf range should not go on gear. Is this directed at those who plan to be bbers? What about strength competitors (like myself) whose main concern is not leanness. Or is it having too much adipose fat tissue.[/quote]

Excellent question!

For a bodybuilder it’s not good to be over 10% bf as your body can’t build muscle and use the drugs as effectively when you are at a higher bodyfat. For powerlifters or strength athletes the answer is a little more complex… A perk of a powerlifter staying at a low bodyfat(12% is a good spot) is that your body will be able to utilize the carbohydrates you’re eating for energy, at a higher bodyfat your body isn’t using carbs as efficiently for energy and the best energy source for strength training is carbs. Your body will react better to the drugs on the low bodyfat, the drugs are an extra stress on the systems of the body and being at a high bodyfat also puts stress on the system. The less stress you have on the body in general then the more willing and capable the body will be to utilize the drugs.

Also, a leaner body mass will put you in a lower weight class so your results should be more quality. A 200lb lifter at 10% bf is most likely going to be stronger than a 200lb lifter at 30% bf.

It’s easier to build muscle at a lower bodyfat… And muscle mass isn’t the first goal of a strength athlete but it contribute to his strength gains.(I’m aware that cns activation is the most important part in improving strength but the muscular system is also playing a big part so you want to maximize both muscular and nervous systems)

Although it’s not mandatory to be at a low bodyfat in a strength sport but it will definitely give a lot of benefits to them as well not to go over 12%. Dan Green and mariusz pudzianowski are great examples. Most strength athletes don’t understand how much good nutrition can positively effect their strength gains. Can a cycle work for them with a higher bodyfat for strength? Yes it can but if a lower bodyfat can be maintained through proper nutrition then the cycle will work much better.

686

[quote]Wayacrucis wrote:
Thanks for taking the time to answer all the questions asked on here sir.

If you don’t mind, a few short questions for you.

  1. At 50-75mcg T3 per day, would you recommend splitting the dose or taking all at once? This has always confused me, because T3 has a half life of 2.5 days, but at the same time apparently it’s almost completely absorbed by the body within 4 hours. So I don’t know if I should split the dose or not?

  2. Any experience with cissus for joint/tendon support? Also are you fan of MSM/Glucosamine/Chondrotin? Many people seem not get much from the combo.

  3. I know you mentioned earlier that you like Tren/Test during the off-season. Tren/Test is also my favourite combo to grow on. Though I am often told by other competitors that Tren should used during contest prep over the off-season for a few reasons. First being that Tren is too toxic and second being that the body will not respond as well it should to Tren pre-contest, since it’s being exposed to it throughout the off-season is. What’s your take on this? I personally have better blood pressure and feel healthier in the off-season using something like Tren/Test over Deca/Test, since I tend to hold a lot less water with the Tren/Test combo.

  4. If I were not to use Tren in the off-season, which injectable would you recommend stacking with Test? I am not a big fan of deca either, so my two options are pretty much EQ or NPP. Any input on NPP? To be honest, I’ve used EQ several times and I don’t find it to effective aside from increasing vasularity and appetite. [/quote]

  5. I usually split my dosage into 2 (there’s not a big difference) but I find this works better. Dosage #1 30 min before cardio with any other stimulants or fat burners I’m taking at this point Dosage #2 before bed, it will increase metabolic effect over this time since you aren’t eating for about 8 hours.

  6. I’m not a big fan of the msm/glucosamine/chondroitin… I never found it to be extremely effective and I take enough pills as it is, I rely most on my GH and Flameout for joint health. As for cissus, I have never tried this.

3.TREN IS ALWAYS EFFECTIVE…there are no studies that prove that there’s any reduced response to it due to long term use. I use it off season and during my diet and I’ve always seen the best results using that combo with an addition of some kind of oral. Tren is not a lot more toxic than other compounds, the only issue is that some people can’t deal with the mental side effects… If this is the case I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone for off season or contest prep if they have any tendency of seeing these sides. A good injectable combo for off season is tren/test/eq

  1. NPP is just a fast acting deca, it’s good for mass gaining but will give you the same side effects as deca. some people love NPP and swear by it but personally I always pick eq. For mass gaining, deca will be a little more effective than eq by itself but if you combine test/tren/eq it will give you everything you need.
687

[quote]Pinkylifting wrote:
Hey shadow, great thread and a great read.

A couple quick Q’s but my background if it helps:

5’10
187lbs
Bf, id quess at 10%.
Aim - physique
Training 6 years, always trained ‘hard’ but diet and training have been on point for last 2-3 years (330bench 505dl 350front squat 240 clean+press for ref)

So first question, for someone who was looking for modest lbm gains while tightening up, who has never run anabolics, but didnt want to pin (i know thats gonna get me trolled) would you advise against an 8 week cycle of winny 50mg ed? Or favour anavar or winny (both 50mg ed) in particular for a first cycle? Also would either cycle require a PCT? I have been recommended 50mg clomid for 2 weeks post cycle, however ive also seen you mention that low dose var may not require it (if i read correctly)

Second Q. Ive seen mention of low dose clen and t3 can be a good way leaning up further, so my question is wheter you have noticed that there is a minimum effective dose? I was considering running 40mcg clen with 25 t3 for 8 weeks (first week 20/12.5) with a 2 on 1 off approach. Would these doses be sufficient in your experience?

Final Q, ive seen increasing discussion, mostly positive, over Sarms such as Ostarine, and as far as i can see they havnt really been discussed in this thread other than passing mention. I was wondering what your opinion and or experience on these was.

Thanks for your time.[/quote]

Very good picture… Your bodyfat is nice and low and a decent amount of muscle mass for a natural dude so I can see you are training hard.

Since you are very lean, both anavar or winstrol will work good for you… Winstrol I would do 50mg everyday for 8 weeks. It will give you a nice amount of strength and mass gains. It might cause some joint issues but will make you hard and vascular. Anavar I would do 60mg everyday for 8 weeks, this will give you mild strength gains and a little bit more mass with little or no side effects. If you want a decent option for additional hardness you could add 50mg of Proviron to either of those(also works as a mild anti-e). As for pct it depends of you are sensitive, most people can get away without it but you can have clomid on hand just incase and 50mg everyday for 2 weeks is not a bad idea but if you add the Proviron to the mix then it probably won’t be necessary.

You are lean enough so I wouldn’t suggest using t3. You could use Clen if you want but some people don’t like the side effects. If lean gains are your goal you can do without it. Usually used for extra fat burning but you look nice and lean already. If you do decide to use it, all you need is 20mcg 2days on, 1day off for 4-6weeks.

Don’t waste your money on peptides, just invest in quality GH… In your case 3-4iu/day will give you amazing results.

688

[quote]Pinkylifting wrote:
And another. Sorry im not v good at this photo selfie thing[/quote]

I just saw these next two pictures… You are very lean… And I’m going to say not to use the Clen at all. This is a perfect example of how a natural athlete can look. Very impressive physique. I think you need some more mass and out of the 2 choices I gave you, I think the winstrol might be the better choice in this case.

**** for all of you kids that are expecting miracles from your outrageous cycles, take note… This is how you should look BEFORE you begin a cycle. Diet and training is key… He had 6 years of training and only now is considering a very basic cycle.

689

[quote]EliteTCB wrote:
Hey Shadow Pro,

What would you say is the most effective way to take insulin and best dosage?
Currently have been using it pre workout with a workout protocol, but have heard of a number of people using it first thing in the morning as well as postworkout.
As well best timing to take gh? been using it just first thing in the morning at around 3-4iu to help with keeping a lean body mass

Thank you![/quote]

There is no optimal dose or way to take GH or insulin… They are both goal dependent. I think I answered this question twice already but I will give you a brief answer, if you want more detail you can look a little further back in the thread.

For insulin(the magic combo) 10min prior to workout… 10iu of Humalog and 100g of PLAZMA intraworkout. There’s no substitute for the Plazma, it’s the best combo I’ve found and you can start with 10iu and build the insulin and carbs up slowly from there. There’s also reasons and different ways to take it in the morning and post workout, I explained this earlier… You can take a look through the thread to find it.

GH… Since you are only doing 3-4iu a day it’s fine to take first thing in the morning on an empty stomach… The main benefits you’ll get from this is recovery and fat loss. Another great time to take it is 60-90min before workout. With the Plazma and insulin you will release an insane amount of igf1 while training and it’s the best time for your body to use it.

690

[quote]Huskers22 wrote:
For someone that wants to run a cycle, what is the best resource to learn the appropriate information to maintain safety and health? Many sites on the internet can offer conflicting information and becomes confusing. I want to ensure I’m doing the best thing for my body if I run a cycle, peptides, GH, etc.

Also - is there a way to find a reputable coach that is educated to keep my health and safety at top of priority? Speaking on providing advice based on cycle proposed based on my own research.

Love this thread. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.[/quote]

You’re definitely in the right place for learning. In the near future I’m going to be releasing a book containing all the information you asked about and more… It will be an excellent tool for people to learn everything they want to know and more about steroids.

I would be very careful with choosing a coach,there are a lot of shitty coaches out there but also a lot of good ones so you really need to research. Keep reading on T-Nation and you’ll find that a lot of knowledgeable people in the industry are right here.

691

[quote]Quadrociraptor wrote:

[quote]Shadow Pro wrote:

[quote]Quadrociraptor wrote:
Thank you very much for the reply on my last couple of questions my last cycle was after my competition with systanon 300, 200mg E3D and Dbol 50mg every day i did a PCT Clomifen 50mg a day and proviron 50mg for 14 days HCG 5000 3 injections EOD this is the only one in bulgaria we got so now i em off for 4 Months what do you think about the cycle i can give you my diet and training and more detailed backround.

and another question about Intraworkout supplement
i em from Bulgaria and we don’t have any Biotest supps so is there any other with a simillar effect and igridient i know that you say there is no other but somthing that i can use like Glycofuse or Intra-Fuel vitargo?
[/quote]

I will say it over and over again that nothing will give you a similar effect. I’m sure that you can have the Plazma shipped to Bulgaria, they ship worldwide from the T-Nation store. If you are able to find steroids there, I don’t think Plazma will be the issue :slight_smile:

How long was your cycle? Did you mean Sustanon? If this is what you meant, then you did way too much HCG for such a low dosage. Something more like 1000iu every 3rd day for 6 weeks post cycle. If the HCG is coming in 5000iu viles you can just preload all of the syringes and use them separately rather than 5000 all in one shot. I’m guessing you might have done this because you had the schering snap tops
[/quote]

The plazma comes to expensive for me to buy it from here so thats i search something like this well i ment sustanon yes the cycle was from january till the begining of this mounth i started my prep january
did sustanon 250, 100mg a week with EQ 100mg and Dbol 20mg,second week i did incresed the doses little to 200mg EQ and sus. dbol to 30mg then from the forth week i decresed them to the 1 doses got HCG 5000 in two shots only one was used with 10 days rest then did another 5 weeks of Test P 200mg a week and 200mg EQ with 40mg Dbol for another 4 weeks took nolvadex 10mg a day two started ephedryne Ephedrine then changed then we changed the cycle with Mast 100mg E4D Tri-tren 100mg E4D and stanozolol 40mg a day with T3 25mcg(Ã??Ã?µg)(I don’t know if Ã??Ã?µg is mcg sry) 1 Tab before cardio got it up to 50mcg for 3weeks then changed 2 weeks before the show i belive to Wini and test S 100mg EOD with anapolon i don’t remember the dosage here then did the cycle i gave you and the PCT
[/quote]

If you can afford juice, surely you can afford quality supplements(it’s money you’d have to spend on food regardless) Supplements and nutrition are coming first before everything and by the looks of your cycle it’s all over the place and you can do without some of these things. I’m not sure what exactly you are asking but I would do things differently. I’m not sure why you did Anadrol at the end and why you’re using t3.

692

[quote]Shadow Pro wrote:

[quote]Quadrociraptor wrote:

[quote]Shadow Pro wrote:

[quote]Quadrociraptor wrote:
Thank you very much for the reply on my last couple of questions my last cycle was after my competition with systanon 300, 200mg E3D and Dbol 50mg every day i did a PCT Clomifen 50mg a day and proviron 50mg for 14 days HCG 5000 3 injections EOD this is the only one in bulgaria we got so now i em off for 4 Months what do you think about the cycle i can give you my diet and training and more detailed backround.

and another question about Intraworkout supplement
i em from Bulgaria and we don’t have any Biotest supps so is there any other with a simillar effect and igridient i know that you say there is no other but somthing that i can use like Glycofuse or Intra-Fuel vitargo?
[/quote]

I will say it over and over again that nothing will give you a similar effect. I’m sure that you can have the Plazma shipped to Bulgaria, they ship worldwide from the T-Nation store. If you are able to find steroids there, I don’t think Plazma will be the issue :slight_smile:

How long was your cycle? Did you mean Sustanon? If this is what you meant, then you did way too much HCG for such a low dosage. Something more like 1000iu every 3rd day for 6 weeks post cycle. If the HCG is coming in 5000iu viles you can just preload all of the syringes and use them separately rather than 5000 all in one shot. I’m guessing you might have done this because you had the schering snap tops
[/quote]

The plazma comes to expensive for me to buy it from here so thats i search something like this well i ment sustanon yes the cycle was from january till the begining of this mounth i started my prep january
did sustanon 250, 100mg a week with EQ 100mg and Dbol 20mg,second week i did incresed the doses little to 200mg EQ and sus. dbol to 30mg then from the forth week i decresed them to the 1 doses got HCG 5000 in two shots only one was used with 10 days rest then did another 5 weeks of Test P 200mg a week and 200mg EQ with 40mg Dbol for another 4 weeks took nolvadex 10mg a day two started ephedryne Ephedrine then changed then we changed the cycle with Mast 100mg E4D Tri-tren 100mg E4D and stanozolol 40mg a day with T3 25mcg(Ã???Ã???Ã???Ã???Ã??Ã?µg)(I don’t know if Ã???Ã???Ã???Ã???Ã??Ã?µg is mcg sry) 1 Tab before cardio got it up to 50mcg for 3weeks then changed 2 weeks before the show i belive to Wini and test S 100mg EOD with anapolon i don’t remember the dosage here then did the cycle i gave you and the PCT
[/quote]

If you can afford juice, surely you can afford quality supplements(it’s money you’d have to spend on food regardless) Supplements and nutrition are coming first before everything and by the looks of your cycle it’s all over the place and you can do without some of these things. I’m not sure what exactly you are asking but I would do things differently. I’m not sure why you did Anadrol at the end and why you’re using t3.
[/quote]

that was before my competition and my coach worked this ot for me didn’t quite got the last things i was so dump on my diet :smiley: the t3 was before my cardio with the ephedrine i em novice in the steroid section so i was wanting to understand fully what my coach did and got some quality feedback from you mr.Shadow

693

[quote]Shadow Pro wrote:

[quote]Pinkylifting wrote:
And another. Sorry im not v good at this photo selfie thing[/quote]

I just saw these next two pictures… You are very lean… And I’m going to say not to use the Clen at all. This is a perfect example of how a natural athlete can look. Very impressive physique. I think you need some more mass and out of the 2 choices I gave you, I think the winstrol might be the better choice in this case.

**** for all of you kids that are expecting miracles from your outrageous cycles, take note… This is how you should look BEFORE you begin a cycle. Diet and training is key… He had 6 years of training and only now is considering a very basic cycle.
[/quote]

Thank you for the honest response, (the kind words went down pretty well too)

While i havnt decided to make ‘the leap’ so to speak, on either case, it was massively helpful to hear your opinion. Ill stay away from the clen+t3 and give the winny some serious consideration. With the clomid on hand.

With regards to the addition of the proviron, would this have any long term benefits to the cycle in terms of lean net gains? Or would it just provide additional aesthetic benefits during the 8 weeks? I only as as id like to keep the substances to the minimum.

Thanks again

694

Shadow,
What’s with these bodybuilders dying at young ages from heart complications, guys like
The late, great. Frank Hillebrand? Boyer Coe had heart surgery and he couldn’t have possibly used the doses of roids the Pros of today use. Mike Matterazzo was one of my favorite pros and he retired due to heart problems at an early age. Your thoughts, opinions?

Are the readers and posters on this forum destined to deal with heart problems?
Thanks for being here for us,
KT

695

Wow, thanks so much for the quick and detailed answers. We’re almost being spoiled on here, so I better take advantage lol.

  1. I’ll give Plasma a try during my coming off-season with Humalog. Do you prefer the standard pre-work out protocol with Slin? Protein/Carbs shake 10-15 mins before training with Humalog shot, Protein/Carbs Shake intra-work out and either a Protein/Carbs shake or whole food post work out? I noticed that I don’t go Hypo very easily. I am not sure if that’s a good or bad thing? With 15IU, I was consuming 75g Carbs pre-work out, 75g Carbs intra, and 50g Carbs post work out. I am just wondering what you exactly use pre,intra and post with Humalog to get the best out of it.

  2. Question about HCG. Do you think whether or not a person uses HCG as a part of their PCT, when Nolvadex and Clomid are being used will make a big difference in terms of recovery? Also, do you prefer to take HCG during PCT itself? (As in at the same time as Nolvadex and Clomid?) I know many people blast HCG at 1000IU EOD, a day after their last shot up until 3 days before they start Nolvadex and Clomid, and at that point they cease the use of HCG. I know HCG is suppressing itself, which is why I am asking which way is preferred to use it.

Also, is it common for guys to take HCG throughout their entire cycles, if they are on for 20-24 weeks? Or better to just save it for PCT/Pre-PCT.

  1. As for Blood pressure and Cholesterol, is it common for Pros to actually take prescription meds to keep these two things in check? High BP is a problem for most during the off-season, just because we consume so much food, so it’s hard to limit sodium. Do you personally get high BP from Tren? I know in most cases high BP is due to water retention, though some people I know experience very high BP on tren despite not holding water. In General, in recommendations for maintaining healthy lipids and BP during the off-season?

  2. HGH - We’re all obviously aware that GH will make literally everything in the body grow. For guys that still want the benefits of muscle building from GH, but do not want significant growth in places like the hands and arms what dose would you recommend? I am assuming 6-8IU per day would be the max? As for when to take GH, when splitting the dose into two shots when are the best times? For both off-season mass gains and also for pre contest fat burning.

Thanks again

696

[quote]Shadow Pro wrote:

[quote]Huskers22 wrote:
For someone that wants to run a cycle, what is the best resource to learn the appropriate information to maintain safety and health? Many sites on the internet can offer conflicting information and becomes confusing. I want to ensure I’m doing the best thing for my body if I run a cycle, peptides, GH, etc.

Also - is there a way to find a reputable coach that is educated to keep my health and safety at top of priority? Speaking on providing advice based on cycle proposed based on my own research.

Love this thread. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.[/quote]

You’re definitely in the right place for learning. In the near future I’m going to be releasing a book containing all the information you asked about and more… It will be an excellent tool for people to learn everything they want to know and more about steroids.

I would be very careful with choosing a coach,there are a lot of shitty coaches out there but also a lot of good ones so you really need to research. Keep reading on T-Nation and you’ll find that a lot of knowledgeable people in the industry are right here.
[/quote]

I’d be very interested in your book. When you say near future, how soon are you talking and where will I find it when available? Offering any sort of pre-sale? I’d be interested in buying one.

Thanks for your reply.

697

Is there any problem in taking T3 while raking as well yohimbine or ECA? I know that with clen it’s normal.

Is there any minimum time someone should be on t3 before stopping it to avoid messing with its natural production? For example, would it be a problem to take it for 2 weeks, have a 2 weeks break and then go back on it.

And… what to do/take after stopping takingnit to help restore natural production?

698

shadow one last Q from me,

how important are intra workout carbs in your opinion?? Do all the pros use them? I think I’m going to give Plazma another try. Since I can’t stomach too much food pre, was thinking of doing a couple of servings and having 1/3 of the concoction with aminos pre wo, and the rest intra…

have you noticed if its slowed down fat loss when cutting?

or accumulated fat faster when bulking?

699

[quote]Shadow Pro wrote:

[quote]MattyXL wrote:
Shadow,

You have mentioned often how anybody within the 15-20% bf range should not go on gear. Is this directed at those who plan to be bbers? What about strength competitors (like myself) whose main concern is not leanness. Or is it having too much adipose fat tissue.[/quote]

Excellent question!

For a bodybuilder it’s not good to be over 10% bf as your body can’t build muscle and use the drugs as effectively when you are at a higher bodyfat. For powerlifters or strength athletes the answer is a little more complex… A perk of a powerlifter staying at a low bodyfat(12% is a good spot) is that your body will be able to utilize the carbohydrates you’re eating for energy, at a higher bodyfat your body isn’t using carbs as efficiently for energy and the best energy source for strength training is carbs. Your body will react better to the drugs on the low bodyfat, the drugs are an extra stress on the systems of the body and being at a high bodyfat also puts stress on the system. The less stress you have on the body in general then the more willing and capable the body will be to utilize the drugs.

Also, a leaner body mass will put you in a lower weight class so your results should be more quality. A 200lb lifter at 10% bf is most likely going to be stronger than a 200lb lifter at 30% bf.

It’s easier to build muscle at a lower bodyfat… And muscle mass isn’t the first goal of a strength athlete but it contribute to his strength gains.(I’m aware that cns activation is the most important part in improving strength but the muscular system is also playing a big part so you want to maximize both muscular and nervous systems)

Although it’s not mandatory to be at a low bodyfat in a strength sport but it will definitely give a lot of benefits to them as well not to go over 12%. Dan Green and mariusz pudzianowski are great examples. Most strength athletes don’t understand how much good nutrition can positively effect their strength gains. Can a cycle work for them with a higher bodyfat for strength? Yes it can but if a lower bodyfat can be maintained through proper nutrition then the cycle will work much better.[/quote]

Thanks very much for the well thought out and knowledgeable response

700

thanks in advance for volunteering your time here.

me-lifting on and off for 16 years. suffered near fatal car accident yen years ago which changed my body makeup a lot. I’ve had many complications act injuries from this but have been healthy and lightly training for a year straight so I’m confident that I can start pouring it on.
currently almost 30 years old 6’4 345lbs. always been very big dude. graduated at 270lbs with a full ride scholarships as a pitcher/third baseman so I can move well at up to 290ish. strength is currently low but comes back super quick so I’m not worried about that.

goal- to drop bodyweight down to 250 to see how I look there. (I have cut from 400 to 262 in ten months running 350prop and 175tren ace per week x 12 weeks with clen thru out)

cycle history-5 total ranging from 6 to 32 weeks

chemicals used- test e, test p, sustanon, tren a, winny (straight from the vetrinarian), M1t, anadrol (might not have been real), clen, t3 (probably not real)

sides… none really. I handle tren very well with only night sweats and nightmares on occasion. ran as high as 750mg per week. (from underground lab)

note-majority of my muscle loss and fat gain has been from having very very low test levels due to the pain killers I’m on from my car accident injuries. I will be receiving trt from my doctor which from what I hear will be 200-250mg/wk of test e or cyp.

plan-my plan is to take a solid year and dedicate it to reinventing myself. NO JOB, NO GF, NO DISTRACTIONS ETC. I want to get below 250 on the scale while getting back as much size as possible. I want to look like a bodybuilder for once. I’ll be relying on diet, varying t3 doses, and varying clen doses. farthermore I’ll be on trt level test at the very least.
I don’t have a time limit to do this by… but I’d like to atleast see major results within 1 year.

now finally on to my questions…

  1. with my goals in mind would you suggest I keep my test low at trt dose or bump that up to 500mg/week?

  2. if money allowed me to add an oral compound what would you suggest? I was thinking about tbol or M1t. I’d love to try dbol if I could get my goals accomplished using it.

  3. would it be worth the price to only do a kit of growth (100iu)? or is that money better used elsewhere given my goals?

  4. once again with money being tight… would it be worthwhile to add tren at 50% of my test dose?

thanks again

701

As you can see by this being my first post on here ,the word is out on the other forums. Background on myself ,competed various times and a few years ago won my overall state title in the Light-heavy class.It has been a while sense i have been on a blast.Currently on 200mg a week Test-Cyp. I am planning on staying on low dose (TRT) After the following 12 week mass cycle.

I am 42 YRS of age. 5ft 7 in. tall, weighing 220-225 fat 11%.-12%? abs are visible.

Past cycles i have never went over 1 gram of test and no more than 1.5 total milligrams a week.I have though been on many times before.

Since i have been off (other than trt) for 2-2 1/2 years) would it be wise for me to up the milligrams a bit ? I have never had to take nolva or
Arimadex during a cycle,but at times though, i should have?..
Though this cycle was going i am going to use Arimadex @ 1mg every 3rd day.

WK.1-4 DBOL 40mg E/D
WK.1-12 TEST-C 1500 MGS A WEEK
WK.1-12 DECA 750 MGS A WEEK
WK.1-12 Arimadex 1MG .5 EOD or 1mg Every 3rd day.

WK.12-24 TRT dose of Test @ 200mg a week
WK.25 ANOTHER CYCLE ,Coming soon.

Currently eating poorly and not much but as always kick it up with at least 300-350 grams of protein and get 4500-5000 calories a day.

Since this is a mass cycle my training routine is basic with 12 sets for the larger body-parts and 9-10 for the smaller.Reps are between 8-12. Split will be a generic, Mon-Tues on Wed Off Thurs-Fri on Sat-Sun Off.

Currently i have trained for 24 years and have been using for 17 but always at lower dosages.Never more than 1gram of test and maybe 600mg of Deca or 600mg od Eq for the off-season.
Never tried to many orals being kinda scared of problems down the road.For
now going to stay off the GH because of all the bad vibes from China.

So if you got lost in my babbling and i didn’t ask what i wanted to(lol)

Here are the questions, brother.

1)Should, i always use a Arimedex when on a cycle?2) Would it be ok providing my health is good, to up my total milligrams at 42 yrs of age?

3)Is my Test to Deca Ratio ok?

4)Should i take something for the Deca usage?

5)As i said above never had much experience in orals but do you think 40mg E/D of Dbol for 4 weeks,be ok,or be enough?

I have had the constant itch to see how i would do in the Master’s Division
Reason i am asking, many people think i should forget thinking about getting bigger or compete.I for one want to give it 2 more years before i hang it
up!
Sorry so much background and so long just want you to have enough info so you can answer.

Thanks for doing this for the community brother!

702

SP greetings from Brazil!

As you can see this is my first post… I´ve been following T NATION since 2002 and I have read lots of topics in the FORUMS area…
This one is by far the most interesting ever! After reading all 28 pages I decided to participate and ask your opinion about what I´ve been doing.
Thank you for your attention in advance!

STATS:
6,13 inches (1,87 centimeters)
211 pounds (96 kilos)
38 years old
10% bf (right now I look like my avatar)
15 years of solid training

When I was 26 I ran my first cycle… I went to a doctor and did everything exactly as he asked… After a year I ran another cycle and from there I started to run 2 cycles every year… always following this doctor’s advice… After seven years I reached my max weight which was 111 kilos (245 pounds)… after that I tried to increase my doses and drugs trying to break this plateau… I only got side effects from that… so I figured I must have reached my limit or something… It is true that back then I didn’t have half of my knowledge about nutrition and training that I have now… Interesting to note that when I finish a cycle I always had my weight dropping near 101 kilos (222 pounds)… even doing the proper PCT and using quality supplements.

When I turned 33 and after having all my blood work fine I decided to run some durateston (test blend just like sustanon) for weeks (250mg/week)… I kept myself with this for a year and a half!! Sometimes I gave a 3-4 weeks break and throw some CLOMID and NOLVA to ?send? some sign to my body produce some test itself… sometimes I ran some HCG… I was feeling pretty good … weight around 101 (222) bf around 8%… not major side effects…

Then I decided to get married and have a kid… first thing was to make a sperm count exam… the result was bad… very bad… I had zero live sperm… my boys were all dead…
I went to some fertility doctors but none of them could help me… I tried to keep my weight so I started to drink Weight Gainers and eat like a motherfucker… that was a total disaster! I indeed kept my weight… but my belly was HUGE! My bf should be around 20% by that time…
My sperm returned to normal values AFTER 18 MONTHS ! So in my case fertility was an issue! I read you saying about bodybuilders having kids ON GEAR and that only show me how individual side effects and predisposition can be.

After 3 years clean I now started a ?new protocol? I developed and the main reason for this post is to ask your opinion about that.

HERE IT GOES:
I ran 140 mg of TEST-C/week for 10 weeks… one shot every fifth day (around 70 mg each) and took 25mg of CLOMID everyday to prevent any shutdown of my HPTA
I did blood work before, during and last week when I stopped the TEST. My testosterone went from 400 to 850… FSH, LH kept near the same numbers during all 10 weeks… and most important, my sperm count remains the same!
In terms of results I got say that I have the same condition now (if not better) if compare when I was taking 250mg test/week… just a little lighter (right now I am 96 kilos/211 pounds).
I plan on start this next Monday to keep my gains to the max:

5gr of DAA
Alpha Male (a friend brought me from his trip to USA)
10mg of NOLVA (my intention with it is to help with my test levels)
I would do this for 4 weeks and then be back to the TEST+CLOMID protocol
What do you think about that?
I read that CLOMID can cause some vision related side effects if used for prolonged time… that´s why I thought about giving it out for some time. Have you heard about some sides from CLOMID?
I am also considering using some HUMALOG pre wkt (like you mentioned) with my intraworkout drink … since I have never use it and bf is low, I thought it will give me some nice results… what do you think?

I appreciate the help

703

Hey Shadow; awesome thread you’ve got going here. As someone who is currently natural and plans on staying that way for several more years (only 20 years old at the moment) I have to say it was refreshing to read a pro’s opinion on many aspects of steroid administration and individualized usage.

I’ve done some moderate research on exogenous hormone supplementation since I started lifting ~18 months ago or so. In the back of my mind there’s always been the temptation to hop on a cycle but at this point in my life I know without doubt that I wont be doing any supplementation of that sort until at least another 5 years have gone by.

Anyhow I do have a few general questions regarding steroid usage/hormone manipulation; you definitely have a wide expanse of knowledge on the subject so any opinion you could lend I’m sure would be very helpful.

  1. What is your opinion on DAA (D-Aspartic-Acid); from what I’ve read it has been shown to increase testosterone levels around 40% or so after several weeks of use. Is a 40% increase in testosterone significant in terms of strength/muscle gains over the short/long term; in your opinion? I’ve seen it tossed around that “you need a 200% increase in testosterone” to receive any noticeable muscle gains/strength; but have not seen any real backing for this statement

  2. When coming off steroids, do you believe it is truly possible for an individual to recover 100% of their natural testosterone production? From my somewhat limited knowledge on the endocrine system/hormone manipulation the big problem with any exogenous hormone supplementation would be the shutdown of the HPTA; namely the hypothalamic aspect of this regulatory system due to negative feedback mechanisms related to sex-hormone production.
    Without releasing-hormones from the hypothalamus to the pituitary it seems you would have no signal to release LH/FSH and all testosterone production and sperm formation in the testes would halt. Have you or your clients had any adverse reactions such as this? Have you had any experience in which you were able to assist an individual whose natural testosterone production had fallen dramatically post-use and recover their levels to somewhat normal for an extended period of time?

–Branching off the last question; from what I’ve gathered from this thread so far it seems that HCG is the king of maintaining natural testosterone production while on cycle and bringing it back after. Again, from some very limited research it seems that HCG mimics releasing-hormones from the hypothalamus and stimulates LH/FSH release. Is it just that? What I mean to say is; in your experience, does natural testosterone production in post-cycle individuals drop off again upon cessation of HCG? Or am I wrong when I assume that the hypothalamic aspect of the HPTA is what remains shutdown after cycle?
It really seems to me that the whole issue with post-cycle lack of natural hormone production is that there is one group of endocrine cells that can remain shutdown; permanently nonfunctional, upon cessation of supplementation. So HCG is the way to “revive” these cells, in a sense?

  1. How does PCT help? (Again, very limited knowledge with all of this haha) It seems to me that the average users PCT consists of a natural testosterone booster (sometimes) and an aromatase-inhibitor or estrogen-blocker; or both. I don’t quite understand how just lowering estrogen levels brings natural hormone production back online.

  2. Why do people say oral only cycles are worthless. As someone who has never used steroids before, it seems interesting to me that individuals bash oral-only cycles when really you’re taking an excess of hormones anyways, the only difference is the route of administration. I don’t see why an individual couldn’t take a Dianabol only cycle and have success with it and also retain their results in the same way that many individuals use testosterone only cycles and experience great results. Do you think the reason many online bash oral cycles is that maybe the average would-be user of an oral cycle is just not as dedicated/lacks the knowledge/research that a would-be user of an injectable cycle does?

  3. What do you think are the KEY things someone must do to maintain what they’ve gained on cycle after coming off. Is it as simple as continuing to train/eat one-hundred percent? Is it inevitable to lose strength/mass when coming off cycle?

  4. Do you believe that for naturals training for size and strength are not mutually exclusive?

  5. If you go past your “genetic potential” using steroids, will you certainly lose any “excess” mass/strength? Or do you believe it possible to actually surpass and maintain even after coming off?

  6. How long have you been training and more importantly; how do you train? (I’d just like a general ballpark timeframe and a general setup; I.E: training for 8 years, PPL 6x a week) Do you still actually make new gains in size/strength even after what I imagine to be many many years of training and supplementation?

  7. Do you think the side-effects of steroid usage are exaggerated by the media? From what I’ve heard it is most definitely harmful to your cardiovascular system long-term; as well as somewhat harmful to your renal, urinary, hepato, and GI systems as well. Do you have experience with any of these issues (if this is too personal I apologize feel free not to answer of course!).

  8. Do you believe it to be possible to be 99% safe with steroids (not 100% as of course everything has risks haha)? For example: start at an extremely low dosage, determine if side effects are present, gradually increase the dosage, etc. Or do you believe that no matter what there is a definite risk is taking steroids; as in they cannot be taken without some harm to your health?

I do apologize for the length of my questions, and of course you’re not obligated to answer any; it’s just that I am very interested in the endocrine system and would LOVE someone’s opinion on all these matters who has actually been around the world of hormone supplementation and lived it.

Thanks in advance if you are able to make the time to answer some of my questions, and best of luck to you. Whoever you are, I’ll be routing for you in the next Mr. Olympia if you’re there!!

704

Hi Shadow! Loving your forthrightness and patience answering all these questions. I have a few for you if you don’t mind…

  1. Often times when searching through online sources about drugs, people state (sometimes ferociously) that any cycle without test is a wasted cycle, and that it will shut you down or you won’t get gains or yadda yadda. My coach, who was a very successful bodybuilder, strength athlete, and pro hockey player with lots of drug experience, has often told me these guys are wrong and that I need to stick away from highly androgenic drugs due to my profession (I’m an entertainer, I need be muscular and lean, not holding water). But im conflicted because so many say you need test. So, do you feel you “Need” test in a cycle or is taking compounds like Primo, anavar, Eq, Winstrol acceptable by themselves (or perhaps stacked together with no test bases).

  2. Do you feel WInstol contributes to hair loss? Some guys say it shouldnt because it’s low androgenic, others claim it is DEATH to your hairline. My coach has been saying it would be great for my physique and shouldnt contribute to hair loss but i’m nervous.

  3. What are your thoughts on EQ? I notice you havent mentioned it when discussing compounds. Im thinking or running it with Anavar (or the winstrol) and Hgh (which im currently maintaining at 2 Iu’s a day)

Just some background info on me… Im 26 years old, 5’10 195 pounds. I can deadlift over 400 for reps, have squatted 225 for 32 reps, and incline bench 245 for sets of 4x6 reps. Im mesomorphic and slightly endomorphic in nature. Have NO problem putting on size historically. On just 200 mg of primo/week and 20mg anavar ed I went from 175 to 195 in a month or so (with abs). And then on my second cycle I took 2 Iu’s growth and 200-300 milligrams of primo a week and got to 210. Not my leanest, but pretty lean. i reckon 15%. These are the only two cycles i have ever had. My goal is to eventually be Hugh Jackman Shredded lol Minus the fact that he’s got chicken legs and iv got fucking wheels.

That said, Im on camera and getting bloated doesn’t help me. I walk a very fine line being too big as is, and I’m mostly looking to use drugs that allow me to increase muscle density and stay freaky lean, which i have trouble with. and to train like a monster, which i love.

I hope this wasn’t too long winded. Thank you kindly for your reply.