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UGBodybuilding.com has been experiencing exponential growth as of late and I hope it’s a trend that continues. We however are in much need of a strategy to direct the members that are new to the world of anabolics. There is a lot of info and “do your research” is not an effective answer and it certainly doesn’t represent the atmosphere at UGBodybuilding. In that spirit we will all be working on putting together some posts to help educate the new members. This thread will offer direction for the member to search the board for more detailed information on a topic of need. So do not expect anything but generalities below. I simply want to address some of the basic questions that are asked or should be asked.
Should I incorporate anabolics to reach my goals?
The question of whether you should resort to anabolics to achieve your goals depends on the goal as well as a whole host of other variables. We all have different goals for both the short term or the long term, but they generally fall into one of three categories.
a. I want to gain mass
b. I want to cut fat
c. I want to get stronger
In none of those above goals are anabolics required. Why? Because anabolics are never required. Any of those goals may be achieved naturally through diet, rest and programming. Anabolics are a supplement much like whey, creatine, caffeine or any of the other millions of product ingredients lining the shelves of a nutrition shop. They are however significantly stronger, proven to work over decades and can have long lasting negative effects. Do not take the decision to use these drugs to achieve your goals as lightly as which whey protein you’d like to use.
There are thousands upon thousands of natural bodybuilders and powerlifters that achieve their goals without the use of drugs. You should carefully evaluate the specifics of your goals before considering anabolics as a way to reach them. Are they realistic?
If you’re 5’5” and want to be a mass monster at 280lbs shredded, you’re deluding yourself. That will simply never happen for you no matter how much gear you use. I am 5’11” and can live comfortably at 260lbs, however at 280lbs I can’t even tie my shoes without feeling like my head is going to pop off. I had a goal of weighing 300lbs but called it off once I hit 280lbs. It was not a realistic goal for me. If you are over 6’2” weighing 300lbs might be more reasonable, but with or without anabolics your life will be consumed by consuming. Eating is a full time job. You also need to consider how hard you are training. I thought I knew what it meant to bust ass in the gym until I ran Sheiko. It changed my whole outlook on training. And it also dramatically changed my physique in just a month. I got comments from people all day long from “are you on steroids” to my chiro who told me I looked “intimidating.”
If your goal is simply to be stronger, let’s say add 100lbs to your total in 6 months you need to seriously consider all of the variables or you will wind up injured. It is almost certainty. First you should have your technique evaluated by someone who is credentialed. If you are getting tips from “the powerlifters at your gym” that doesn’t mean much. I’m not necessarily saying they need NSCA papers, but do they at least have a respectable total. Consider that in the 220 class the difference between the best in the world and the guy you never heard of is somewhere in the 400lb range it can be tough to tell if they are legit. This is where the internet can be a resource and filming your training is important. Compare your form to the guys in the westside videos. Watch all the videos that EliteFTS has put out such as “so you think you can bench.” Your high school football coach probably gave you lousy advice. Time to step up your game, because chances are your technique has serious faults. Those faults combined with anabolics take you on the highway to snap city. Muscling your way through a poor set up on bench will lead to shoulder destruction. You also need to consider your programming. If you have been running with 5/3/1 for a year and have seen only a small increase in your total, you probably need more volume. Consider a westside template or a block program like Sheiko.
When trying to cut, under any circumstance if you are looking to anabolics to help you drop fat, that is a total lack of understanding of how to achieve this goal. You need to eat less. It’s that simple. Even the most advanced guys that have been using gear for decades know and prepare themselves for the reality of their diet when it is time to cut. Even with anabolics a caloric deficit is still required.
For any of the above goals, you need rest. Training 6 days per week may be too much for you. Try a 4 day split and be efficient. Get naps in when you can. Come to grips with the fact that you can’t stay up and watch the bachelor if you need to be up at 6am for work.
Research keywords: Diet, Nutrition, Bulking, Cutting, Training, Westside, Sheiko, Powerlifting
Am I ready for a cycle?
No, because you are asking. Nobody can truly say if you are ready but here are some things to consider.
a. Are you over 25 years old? No – your body is not done maturing. Don’t mess with it just yet.
b. Have you been training without long periods of interruption for 3 to 5 years? No – you haven’t begun to tap into your full potential and probably haven’t figured out how to train and eat to suit your particular genetic make-up.
c. Do you weight 200lbs naturally? No – unless you’re a midget you should be able to weigh 200lbs without drugs. This will piss some people off no doubt, but I don’t care. I’ve taken my fair share of short cuts in this game and have used plenty of anabolics. Hell I started way before I should have and wish someone had written something like this and I read it. But I at least was 225lbs naturally before I started.
d. Do you have emotional problems? – Yes – then leave them alone. No matter what anyone says, the reality is being on steroids will affect your mood. Whether its mood swings, a sharp tongue or anxiety they will affect your mood. Plus if you’re a prick who likes to get into fights, we don’t need more fodder for the media to scream about roid rage.
e. Have you had blood work done? No – Get a panel done. Total test, free test, estradiol, LH, FSH, TSH, ALT/AST at least. Ask your doc. If you don’t have insurance then for fifty dollars you can get it done at private MD labs under the name “female hormone panel.”
I meet all the above - I am ready for a cycle!
No. No you’re not. You have no idea what to take, when to take it, what it is, what it does, what to take for sides, what the sides are, what an ester is, how to plan post cycle therapy and you don’t have enough porn links to help alleviate your disgusting sex drive.
What do I take?
You take testosterone at 500mg per week for 12 weeks. Use a moderate ester like enanthate or cypionate. Do not use prop because it hurts and we don’t want to hear you whining about it. You will not blow up like a giant balloon with water contrary to what you have heard. Whoever told you that needs a throat punch. You will be anxious enough about the injections at twice per week, so don’t subject yourself to it daily or every other day. Also, don’t ask when you will feel it. You don’t feel it, you sense it. It’s not a drug. It’s a hormone that you already have so it doesn’t feel foreign. Just watch the scale weight, libido, energy, strength.
You will not add other injectables at this point. You need to know how you react to testosterone because every cycle you run will have this in it. Therefore you can distinguish sides and know how to titrate your doses accordingly. Say 3 years from now you run a deca cycle. Your blood pressure is through the roof. You will know it’s not the test so you can leave that dose where it is and adjust the deca thereby salvaging your cycle and your health.
Do not try and tell us you’re going to run tren on cycle one and that you are some sort of genetic gift. You are being a moron.
At week 6 don’t tell us that you aren’t experiencing any benefit and bump to one gram. You simply need to exercise patience. You may also need to re-evaluate your diet.
What kind of sides to expect?
Many are concerned about hair loss. Truth is, if it’s in your genes, it will happen anyway. With certain compounds it will simply accelerate it. So if you don’t have baldness on your mother’s side of the family don’t worry about it. If you do, don’t worry about it. Just accept it or don’t and get cycling out of your mind.
Gynocomastia is a real thing and can happen. Some compounds are worse than others such as dianabol. With proper planning, you can avoid this.
Acne shows up in some. Most times it appears on the back. There are many different remedies that people find work. Everything from head and shoulders, tea tree soaps to prescription sulfur based cleansers. Acne is not life threatening but it can be pretty gross for sure. So try some different methods and find what works for your skin types. I will say, do not go crazy washing your skin six times per day. You will find that your skin is dry but still greasy. That is a clinical condition you have created by killing off the good bacteria from your skin. So knock it off.
Research keywords: gyno, aromasin, exemestane, arimidex, anastrazole, letrozole, Acne
Do I need Post Cycle Therapy?
If you’re asking this, you need to start over with researching your cycle. Look through our cycles discussion forum and you’ll see how they run and how a PCT is assembled. Taking Nolvadex is not sufficient.
If you want the best recovery possible, you also need to understand HCG and its effects and when it should be taken.
Research keywords: Clomid, Post Cycle Therapy, PCT, HCG, Human Chorionic Gonadatropin
What is the difference between the different types of testosterone?
Test is test as they say. Some require more frequent injections than others. The difference between the esters can mean injections twice daily (actually this one has no ester) to once every other week.
Research keywords: ester, propionate, phenyl propionate, cypionate, enanthate, half-life
Can I expect all kiiiiiinds of gains from my cycle?
If you get the above right, then yes. You can expect anywhere from 10 to 20 pounds. You should expect to lose some of those gains when you come off but you have to fight to keep them on in PCT.
Can anyone tell me where to get “legit” gear?
You should really stop asking that. For starters it’s against the board’s rules. And that rule is there for your protection. Asking that question to a bunch of strangers on the internet will lead to one of three things. Most likely you will be scammed. Someone will PM you and tell you that he thinks you’re a good “bro” and give you an email address. You’ll place an order, send funds and poof you get nothing. No further communication. Or you’ll get something for your money but its underdosed bunk gear that will do nothing for you. They may as well have sent nothing. Or it’s a cop you emailed your info to. Your family will miss you while you’re away. Steroids are illegal and the penalties for even possessing them are severe. There are members on the boards and some here that have done time for this. It’s not pretty. So quit asking on our board. It’s disrespectful to all of us. And don’t give us that crap about how there was a day when none of us had a source and someone helped us out. Maybe that is how we came across our guy. But we didn’t get it from a stranger. We contributed and formed bonds. We gained confidence in one another. We proved ourselves worthy of that help. So don’t expect it here and stop acting like you're entitled to it. This isn't your mommy you're talking to and having a temper tantrum won't get you a cookie. It'll get you a ban hammer. We are here for information. Not sources. In fact if you are solicited by private message here, you need to let me or a member of the staff now immediately so we can remove this person.
Safety comes first in all things here.
Should I incorporate anabolics to reach my goals?
The question of whether you should resort to anabolics to achieve your goals depends on the goal as well as a whole host of other variables. We all have different goals for both the short term or the long term, but they generally fall into one of three categories.
a. I want to gain mass
b. I want to cut fat
c. I want to get stronger
In none of those above goals are anabolics required. Why? Because anabolics are never required. Any of those goals may be achieved naturally through diet, rest and programming. Anabolics are a supplement much like whey, creatine, caffeine or any of the other millions of product ingredients lining the shelves of a nutrition shop. They are however significantly stronger, proven to work over decades and can have long lasting negative effects. Do not take the decision to use these drugs to achieve your goals as lightly as which whey protein you’d like to use.
There are thousands upon thousands of natural bodybuilders and powerlifters that achieve their goals without the use of drugs. You should carefully evaluate the specifics of your goals before considering anabolics as a way to reach them. Are they realistic?
If you’re 5’5” and want to be a mass monster at 280lbs shredded, you’re deluding yourself. That will simply never happen for you no matter how much gear you use. I am 5’11” and can live comfortably at 260lbs, however at 280lbs I can’t even tie my shoes without feeling like my head is going to pop off. I had a goal of weighing 300lbs but called it off once I hit 280lbs. It was not a realistic goal for me. If you are over 6’2” weighing 300lbs might be more reasonable, but with or without anabolics your life will be consumed by consuming. Eating is a full time job. You also need to consider how hard you are training. I thought I knew what it meant to bust ass in the gym until I ran Sheiko. It changed my whole outlook on training. And it also dramatically changed my physique in just a month. I got comments from people all day long from “are you on steroids” to my chiro who told me I looked “intimidating.”
If your goal is simply to be stronger, let’s say add 100lbs to your total in 6 months you need to seriously consider all of the variables or you will wind up injured. It is almost certainty. First you should have your technique evaluated by someone who is credentialed. If you are getting tips from “the powerlifters at your gym” that doesn’t mean much. I’m not necessarily saying they need NSCA papers, but do they at least have a respectable total. Consider that in the 220 class the difference between the best in the world and the guy you never heard of is somewhere in the 400lb range it can be tough to tell if they are legit. This is where the internet can be a resource and filming your training is important. Compare your form to the guys in the westside videos. Watch all the videos that EliteFTS has put out such as “so you think you can bench.” Your high school football coach probably gave you lousy advice. Time to step up your game, because chances are your technique has serious faults. Those faults combined with anabolics take you on the highway to snap city. Muscling your way through a poor set up on bench will lead to shoulder destruction. You also need to consider your programming. If you have been running with 5/3/1 for a year and have seen only a small increase in your total, you probably need more volume. Consider a westside template or a block program like Sheiko.
When trying to cut, under any circumstance if you are looking to anabolics to help you drop fat, that is a total lack of understanding of how to achieve this goal. You need to eat less. It’s that simple. Even the most advanced guys that have been using gear for decades know and prepare themselves for the reality of their diet when it is time to cut. Even with anabolics a caloric deficit is still required.
For any of the above goals, you need rest. Training 6 days per week may be too much for you. Try a 4 day split and be efficient. Get naps in when you can. Come to grips with the fact that you can’t stay up and watch the bachelor if you need to be up at 6am for work.
Research keywords: Diet, Nutrition, Bulking, Cutting, Training, Westside, Sheiko, Powerlifting
Am I ready for a cycle?
No, because you are asking. Nobody can truly say if you are ready but here are some things to consider.
a. Are you over 25 years old? No – your body is not done maturing. Don’t mess with it just yet.
b. Have you been training without long periods of interruption for 3 to 5 years? No – you haven’t begun to tap into your full potential and probably haven’t figured out how to train and eat to suit your particular genetic make-up.
c. Do you weight 200lbs naturally? No – unless you’re a midget you should be able to weigh 200lbs without drugs. This will piss some people off no doubt, but I don’t care. I’ve taken my fair share of short cuts in this game and have used plenty of anabolics. Hell I started way before I should have and wish someone had written something like this and I read it. But I at least was 225lbs naturally before I started.
d. Do you have emotional problems? – Yes – then leave them alone. No matter what anyone says, the reality is being on steroids will affect your mood. Whether its mood swings, a sharp tongue or anxiety they will affect your mood. Plus if you’re a prick who likes to get into fights, we don’t need more fodder for the media to scream about roid rage.
e. Have you had blood work done? No – Get a panel done. Total test, free test, estradiol, LH, FSH, TSH, ALT/AST at least. Ask your doc. If you don’t have insurance then for fifty dollars you can get it done at private MD labs under the name “female hormone panel.”
I meet all the above - I am ready for a cycle!
No. No you’re not. You have no idea what to take, when to take it, what it is, what it does, what to take for sides, what the sides are, what an ester is, how to plan post cycle therapy and you don’t have enough porn links to help alleviate your disgusting sex drive.
What do I take?
You take testosterone at 500mg per week for 12 weeks. Use a moderate ester like enanthate or cypionate. Do not use prop because it hurts and we don’t want to hear you whining about it. You will not blow up like a giant balloon with water contrary to what you have heard. Whoever told you that needs a throat punch. You will be anxious enough about the injections at twice per week, so don’t subject yourself to it daily or every other day. Also, don’t ask when you will feel it. You don’t feel it, you sense it. It’s not a drug. It’s a hormone that you already have so it doesn’t feel foreign. Just watch the scale weight, libido, energy, strength.
You will not add other injectables at this point. You need to know how you react to testosterone because every cycle you run will have this in it. Therefore you can distinguish sides and know how to titrate your doses accordingly. Say 3 years from now you run a deca cycle. Your blood pressure is through the roof. You will know it’s not the test so you can leave that dose where it is and adjust the deca thereby salvaging your cycle and your health.
Do not try and tell us you’re going to run tren on cycle one and that you are some sort of genetic gift. You are being a moron.
At week 6 don’t tell us that you aren’t experiencing any benefit and bump to one gram. You simply need to exercise patience. You may also need to re-evaluate your diet.
What kind of sides to expect?
Many are concerned about hair loss. Truth is, if it’s in your genes, it will happen anyway. With certain compounds it will simply accelerate it. So if you don’t have baldness on your mother’s side of the family don’t worry about it. If you do, don’t worry about it. Just accept it or don’t and get cycling out of your mind.
Gynocomastia is a real thing and can happen. Some compounds are worse than others such as dianabol. With proper planning, you can avoid this.
Acne shows up in some. Most times it appears on the back. There are many different remedies that people find work. Everything from head and shoulders, tea tree soaps to prescription sulfur based cleansers. Acne is not life threatening but it can be pretty gross for sure. So try some different methods and find what works for your skin types. I will say, do not go crazy washing your skin six times per day. You will find that your skin is dry but still greasy. That is a clinical condition you have created by killing off the good bacteria from your skin. So knock it off.
Research keywords: gyno, aromasin, exemestane, arimidex, anastrazole, letrozole, Acne
Do I need Post Cycle Therapy?
If you’re asking this, you need to start over with researching your cycle. Look through our cycles discussion forum and you’ll see how they run and how a PCT is assembled. Taking Nolvadex is not sufficient.
If you want the best recovery possible, you also need to understand HCG and its effects and when it should be taken.
Research keywords: Clomid, Post Cycle Therapy, PCT, HCG, Human Chorionic Gonadatropin
What is the difference between the different types of testosterone?
Test is test as they say. Some require more frequent injections than others. The difference between the esters can mean injections twice daily (actually this one has no ester) to once every other week.
Research keywords: ester, propionate, phenyl propionate, cypionate, enanthate, half-life
Can I expect all kiiiiiinds of gains from my cycle?
If you get the above right, then yes. You can expect anywhere from 10 to 20 pounds. You should expect to lose some of those gains when you come off but you have to fight to keep them on in PCT.
Can anyone tell me where to get “legit” gear?
You should really stop asking that. For starters it’s against the board’s rules. And that rule is there for your protection. Asking that question to a bunch of strangers on the internet will lead to one of three things. Most likely you will be scammed. Someone will PM you and tell you that he thinks you’re a good “bro” and give you an email address. You’ll place an order, send funds and poof you get nothing. No further communication. Or you’ll get something for your money but its underdosed bunk gear that will do nothing for you. They may as well have sent nothing. Or it’s a cop you emailed your info to. Your family will miss you while you’re away. Steroids are illegal and the penalties for even possessing them are severe. There are members on the boards and some here that have done time for this. It’s not pretty. So quit asking on our board. It’s disrespectful to all of us. And don’t give us that crap about how there was a day when none of us had a source and someone helped us out. Maybe that is how we came across our guy. But we didn’t get it from a stranger. We contributed and formed bonds. We gained confidence in one another. We proved ourselves worthy of that help. So don’t expect it here and stop acting like you're entitled to it. This isn't your mommy you're talking to and having a temper tantrum won't get you a cookie. It'll get you a ban hammer. We are here for information. Not sources. In fact if you are solicited by private message here, you need to let me or a member of the staff now immediately so we can remove this person.
Safety comes first in all things here.
