The Best Anabolic to Keep Muscle After a Cutting Cycle
The Best Anabolic to Keep Muscle After a Bulking Cycle
Will Steroids Prevent You from Shrinking After Your Cycle Is Done?
What is Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)?
What will happen if I don’t follow a PCT?
Planning Your Post Cycle Therapy
The Effects of Post Cycle Therapy
Is Every Post-Cycle Therapy Safe?
What’s the use of steroids if you’re not going to keep the gains? Chances are, you are new to steroids or just beginning your first cycle. You may want to know what’s the best way to keep the gains after a cycle and which steroids will help you do that. If yes, then you’re at the right place because this article is all about the best steroid stacks to use after a steroid cycle for post-cycle therapy (PCT).
When performing a steroid cycle, the main goal is to gain as much muscle mass as possible. To accomplish this goal, an efficient post cycle therapy (PCT) must be taken to ensure that the gains made from the steroids are kept after the cycle has ended. Many times, a PCT will not be performed, or it will be done improperly, which will cause the gains to not only be kept after the cycle but also many times, it will result in additional weight being added. The following is a list of the best steroids to keep gains after a cycle and PCT.
See info about blasting and cruising cycle
The Best Anabolic to Keep Muscle After a Cutting Cycle
The following list is based on the most popular steroids used for cutting. All these steroid stacks will aid in keeping the gains made during a cycle.
Anavar is one of the best options for cutting cycles because it does not aromatize into estrogen, which makes it a much safer option than other alternatives when losing body fat and keeping lean muscle mass at the same time. The use of anabolic steroids such as Dianabol, Anadrol or testosterone would cause too much water retention and possible fat gain due to high amounts of aromatase enzymes in your body. Since water and body-fat levels rise from high testosterone, we cannot risk taking them when trying to keep our physique looking and ripped. On that note, the best steroid to use while cutting is Anavar.
A stack of Anavar with Dianabol is a good choice for those who want to keep their gains after they come off. It works well if you are on a calorie-restricted diet because it helps maintain strength. However, it is best to use your real gains as motivation to stay away from junk food and continue eating healthy without cheating too much. Stacking Anavar with Dianabol does not cause water retention issues due to lower estrogen levels in the body which results in less bloating. Although there are some side effects such as hair loss, headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood pressure etc., but if taken correctly they are manageable since both compounds do not aromatize into estrogen. This means at the end of the cycle you will not end up with man boobs or any estrogen-related side effects.
Clenbuterol is a very potent beta-agonist, so it is frequently used by people trying to burn fat because of its ability to raise the body’s temperature. When this occurs, your body must work harder to cool you down which in turn will increase the metabolic rate. The result of this is accelerated fat burning. People that use Clenbuterol for cutting usually find that their results are even more dramatic when taking supplements such as T3 (liothyronine) and Cytomel (liotrix), which both help boost metabolism further still since they directly address thyroid issues.
Winstrol can help you keep your gains because it does not convert to estrogen. It is a mild steroid and works well for cutting cycles. For example, you can stack Winstrol with Testosterone and Trenbolone to put on size and strength as well as burning off the excess fat. Although it may not be as powerful as Anadrol or Dianabol, it is still a decent choice due to its ability to easy penetration into muscle cells which causes water retention problems.
If you want to maintain all your size and strength increases, you should take dry steroids, which are steroids that do not cause water retention. The main purpose of using dry steroids is because they can help you gain lean muscle mass without gaining excess water weight (which makes your muscles look smooth). Dry steroid users need to be very careful with their dosages because these compounds are usually very potent and often require lower doses than other oral steroids.
Read also about existence of Post Cycle Therapy
The Best Anabolic to Keep Muscle After a Bulking Cycle
The most popular steroids used for bulking are listed below. All these steroid combinations will help you retain your gains from a cycle.
Testosterone is the most versatile steroid used by those who want to beef up. It is highly anabolic and can be used by itself or combined with other steroids to obtain the desired effect. Deca, as many call it, also stacks well with almost any combination of anabolic drugs due to its mild nature which allows for high absorption levels in the body. Most people find that their strength increases dramatically while taking this compound. Due to water retention issues, this drug should never be stacked with another injectable that aromatizes into estrogen unless you are planning on competing within 8 weeks or so since water retention can become apparent quickly making you look smooth all over.
Trenbolone is one of the best steroids to use when you want to make quality muscle gains without too much water retention. It is powerful enough for hard core users although it can be used by beginners as well if they are careful with their dosages. Dry steroids, such as Trenbolone, help promote high levels of nitrogen retention in the muscles which directly relate to muscle growth since this is what causes your muscles to retain more protein than fat so that they grow larger and stronger. The fact that it does not aromatize into estrogen means all the weight you gain will be lean mass rather than excess body fat, keeping your gains intact after a cycle.
Anadrol is another good choice if you want to bulk up fast, especially for those who are new at using anabolic steroids. Although it is very potent and highly effective, anadrol can cause water retention which means that you won’t be able to keep all your gains once the cycle ends. However, because this compound aromatizes into estrogen only slightly, it’s also one of the best choices for stacking with other dry compounds like Trenbolone.
T3 (liothyronine) and/or Cytomel (liotrix), depending on your goals; if you are bulking up mass quantities you will need Clenbuterol or ephedrine as well since both works synergistically with T3/Cytomel to burn fat cells. If your goal is lean muscle gains but without water retention than Clenbuterol (better choice) or ephedrine will work well with your T3/Cytomel.
See info about Side Effects of the Steroid Cycle
Will Steroids Prevent You from Shrinking After Your Cycle Is Done?
Once you end your bulking cycle, that’s when it can become problematic. What do you mean by “shrinking” though? Well, let me explain… Once the excess water retention you gained during your steroid cycle diminishes (usually around 2 to 3 weeks after ending your cycle), you will notice that some of the size and/or strength gains made during your steroid cycle may disappear or diminish greatly. This is called “shrinking” due to losing muscle mass.
There are several steroids that can be used after a cycle to help keep your gains and even shed some body fat as well. The most popular choices for this purpose include:
- Anadrol – is very similar to dianabol except that it does not cause as much water retention and therefore allows you to keep the size and strength gains made during your cycle.
- Dianabol – will help you keep your gains for nearly all the post-cycle timeframe.
- Deca – is very mild in nature which causes it to be well tolerated by most users. The problem with deca though is that because it’s so mild, using it to maintain size and strength gains may not be as successful as experienced with anadrol or dianabol.
- Testosterone – is the best steroid to use if your goal is to maintain size and strength gains made during a cycle.
- Trenbolone – helps you retain lean muscle mass like how test does, but you will lose water weight much faster after ending your cycle with this drug.
What Other Factors Must Be Considered When Using Steroids?
The following are other factors that must be considered when using steroids:
Stacking – stacking refers to the use of more than one steroid at a time. Although you have probably realized by now that mixing several different anabolic steroids is the best way to achieve desired results during your cycle, this also increases your risk of possible side effects.
Tolerance – many people underestimate how their body can adapt to use of anabolic steroids which is called “tolerance”. This means that the more steroids you take, even if it’s only one compound, the greater your risk of experiencing side effects.
Expiration Date – do not buy steroids without an expiration date! Although most injectable steroids will last a lot longer than pills or oral compounds, they still have a limited shelf-life. If you buy steroids that are past their expiration date, there is no telling how your body may react to them, and it could be dangerous to your health.
Post-Cycle Gains Tips
Taking a Post Cycle Therapy will help you to keep your gains but won’t eliminate them completely. While most people think that PCT is just to help with your gains, it’s also used to prevent the effects of your cycle from ending too soon by stopping your body’s natural testosterone production.
The best way to keep all your gains is to stack certain steroids together right before ending your cycle. It is best to stack your PCT at the same time by using testosterone (Deca-Durabolin, Andriol) and trenbolone (Parabolin). This will allow you to keep all your size and strength gains for as long as possible.
When testosterone production stops, you will lose size and strength fast. PCT is used after your cycle to block the effects of “test” or other steroids that cause anabolic steroid production to stop. You’ll also experience fatigue, decreased libido, and loss of muscle mass very quickly if you don’t take PCT.
What is Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)?
It is important to understand what PCT is and why it is used.
PCT is the process of your body’s natural testosterone production starting up again after you complete your steroid cycle. During PCT, your testicles will start to produce testosterone just as they did before you started using steroids. This means that even though you were taking high doses of exogenous (man-made) anabolic steroids, you still have a much higher serum testosterone level than average non-steroid users.
This means that unless your natural testosterone production is restarted right away after completing your cycle, it may prevent you from re-gaining all the muscle mass you lost during your cycle. Therefore, PCT was developed to help maintain at least some of your gains.
PCT for beginners is not very complicated or difficult to understand, however, it requires patience and dedication on your part. It will also require that you follow a certain schedule while taking supplements that helps restart your natural testosterone production while stopping the estrogenic side effects of your steroid cycle at the same time.
Who Needs to Take A PCT?
You should take a post-cycle therapy if you are planning on taking steroids for any longer period. It is also used by people who don’t feel comfortable with the idea of not having any testosterone in their system while using anabolic steroids. While your testosterone levels will return to normal after the drug has left your system, you may experience some mood swings and loss in muscle mass, so taking a post-cycle therapy is highly recommended.
What Supplements Will I Be Taking?
Your post-cycle therapy will require that you take certain anabolic steroids or prohormones to help restart your body’s natural testosterone production. This is the purpose of PCT, to make sure your testicle cells are not damaged by taking exogenous (man-made) testosterone during your steroid cycles.
The supplements required for PCT includes:
Natural Testosterone Booster– It can be a great addition to your PCT, because they help prevent the effects of suppressing your natural testosterone production from anabolic steroids or prohormones. Natural testosterone boosters contain ingredients that let the body produce more testosterone naturally. These products also have properties that will mimic anabolic steroid activity and increase protein synthesis which in turn helps you retain lost muscle mass.
Natural estrogen blockers– Estrogen blocker supplements are very important for PCT to have a successful result. It is necessary to maintain high levels of testosterone in the body while stopping the effects of estrogen before restarting your natural testosterone production after your steroid cycle ends. This will help you recover faster and prevent your gains from being lost by excess estrogen.
Estrogen blockers are designed to lower your estrogen levels so your testosterone can do its job in the body again. It is very important not to skip this step while doing PCT because it will help you get back all the muscle mass that was lost during your steroid cycle.
Fat burners– I recommend using diet pills while doing PCT for faster results. If you are planning on taking steroids, it is better to be prepared by getting diet pills because the weight loss process will be much faster when compared to natural methods. If you are trying to lose weight the healthy way, try replacing diet pills with green tea extract supplements.
Having good overall health is very important while doing PCT because you will be under stress with all the muscle tissue lost during your steroid cycle. Make sure to take care of yourself by eating healthy and exercising regularly. Taking vitamins is not a bad idea either, but don’t start taking steroids with fish oil pills thinking that they are going to help you recover faster.
What will happen if I don’t follow a PCT?
There are many reasons that could cause you to not run a PCT after your steroid cycle.
One of the most common mistakes made is to assume that because anabolics were out of your system for some time, everything will be back to normal within only two months. However, the half-life of steroids is very short, and it takes months before your body is completely free from steroids.
It’s very important that you run a proper PCT if you don’t want to risk losing all the muscle tissue that you have gained, as well as ‘shrinking’ down to a smaller size after your cycle ends.
If you don’t plan on running a PCT after your cycle ends, you can expect that all the muscle tissue you have gained will be lost if not half. Without doing proper PCT, there is no way to prevent testicular atrophy (shrinking).
Even though it might take some time for your natural testosterone production to return to normal after steroids use, it’s not that bad to lose some muscle tissue, as long as you plan on losing fat at the same time.
So, if you don’t plan on running a PCT after using anabolics, make sure to run a proper diet and perform regular cardio workouts.
Planning Your Post Cycle Therapy
There are many ways to run a PCT, but it all depends on the time of your steroid cycle. A four-week steroid cycle would require at least four weeks for recovery, depending on the type of anabolic steroids used during the cycle. If you have taken steroids that have a half-life of less than two days, then you will need to perform a PCT for only two weeks.
You must need to know about SERM. It stands for selective estrogen receptor modulator. Clomid is one of the most common SERM used when performing a PCT because it can effectively control estrogen levels after taking steroids, bringing them back to normal in only 4 weeks.
The effects of SERM’s are not permanent but they will bind to the receptors for four weeks minimum after which you can stop taking it. SERM’s should be taken for a minimum of 4 weeks and the maximum dosage is 12 weeks.
What’s the difference between SERM and SARM?
SARM stands for selective androgen receptor modulator.
SARMs work by binding to the androgen receptors in your body, which prevents the action of the aromatizing compounds. SARMS effects are permanent but there is no maximum dosage established if it doesn’t cause damage to your endocrine system.
A SERM should be taken for 4 weeks which means you don’t need to cycle it. But some studies have shown that taking a SERM every day can cause damage to your endocrine system.
To protect your testosterone levels from decreasing too fast after ending the PCT process, some people decide to take a SERM every day during the whole PCT period.
How To Run A PCT With Aromatase Inhibitor?
Aside from SERM, you can also run your PCT with Aromatase inhibitors. Aromatase inhibitors are compounds that prevent the aromatization process which will inhibit estrogen production.
There are different types of aromatase inhibitors, but it is important to know that not all of them work in the same way, some stop the aromatization process completely and others only partially.
Aromatase inhibitors should be taken for a minimum of four weeks and the maximum dosage is 8 weeks.
Here are the most common aromatase inhibitors:
AC (Androsta-3,5-diene-7,17-dione) – Binds to the aromatase enzyme which decreases estrogen production by around 60%.
Arimidex (Anastrozole) – Blocks aromatization completely and decreases estrogen levels by up to 98%.
Femara (Letrozole) – Inhibits the aromatase enzyme at a rate of 70%.
The Effects of Post-Cycle Therapy
The main purpose of a PCT is to ensure the return to normal of your testosterone levels after steroid use. PCT isn’t only important for maximum gains, but it’s also essential for optimal health.
Anabolic steroids have a massive impact on your natural testosterone production, so the only way to prevent health problems is by doing a PCT after each cycle.
A proper PCT can protect your liver from damage, help you maintain your muscle tissue and increase your natural testosterone production to normal levels.
Failure to do a PCT after each cycle will result in serious damage to your endocrine system and it’s not uncommon for some users to experience side effects such as impotence, decreased libido, acne, and gynecomastia.
Is Every Post-Cycle Therapy Safe?
The goal of a PCT is to assist you in maintaining your health. But it’s important to remember that not all steroids are the same and not all of them have the same impact on your body.
Some anabolic steroids don’t cause serious damage when in use, but they can have a very strong impact during PCT because they will completely shut down your natural testosterone production.
The only way to prevent this from happening is by doing a proper PCT to every steroid cycle you use. A proper post-cycle therapy should be able to maintain your testosterone levels at their normal rate and it should also be 100% safe and effective.
Most people who decide to do a PCT usually try different approaches until they find the one that works best for them. But it’s important to remember that everyone is different so you should be careful when selecting a post-cycle therapy.
