Female friend wants to do a cycle. Help?

[gearbox]

Based off your description of her bf% is probably in the high teens or low 20's. A woman to be 10-12% is very lean and can often look shredded depending on there genetics and body type.
I did not say she cant take aas I just said for the results she wants she can gain with a lot less hassle then popping a pill once a day.

Check out diet section and marcus300 how to train high intensity will most definitely yield results.

To achieve most physiques that we seek it takes a diet that you have to have your macros listed and spot on. A few hundred calories over under can make a huge difference on your goals. Most ppl ( not saying you) just say well I eat very healthy and clean but have zero clue there protein fat carbs they had that day or the past year.

Post up her diet from yesterday or today on exactly what she is eating and how balanced it is. I am using the above sentemce as a point to say you two are probably not measuring your macros to the t, yet you want to start aas. If if you start aas, if your macros are not in line your limiting your success of using aas.

Best of luck and thanks for insite vet

[likelifting]

OP, I'd like to take this at another angle with your friend ... She's 45yo, sounds to be in decent shape, but looking to take it a step further, right?

Being that she's 45yo, I would be wondering if she is approaching any perimenopausal symptoms? Before considering any cycling to speak of, it would be a huge benefit for her to run top to bottom labs, ranging across the board from thyroid (TSH, FT4, FT3, RT3, antibodies), Iron/ferritin, B12, adrenals (cortisol/ACTH), D3, DHEA, Test, free test (or SHBG can calculate it), Estrogen (E1,2,3), progesterone, LH/FSH ... And of course all the standard CBC's, lipids, metabolic assays ...

Seems most women in their mid 40's are going to be facing hormonal challenges one form or another, and BHRT is in most cases the viable solution. My wife was in the tank with her test serum, free test & DHEA at age 39. Her serum was something like 8ng/dl with only a 1% free test level, and DHEA in the 60's. She had absolutely no building blocks to work with. It's critical that these hormones (and many others) are at an optimal level before introducing any compounds like Anavar or anything else. Her BEST bet will be to establish an account, post an introduction thread possibly in the Female Hormone Therapy forum, which will include stats, relevant background information, and her complete BW. If her basic hormones are optimal (or close thereof) then she can obviously look at taking the next steps to go forward.

If she puts something together, I'll gladly provide some input (as will others). Just send me a message when it's up, as I'm not here as much as I've been in the past. And yeah, my wife actually did a Anavar cycle after several years of getting everything else straightened out with her endocrine system. She's been able to sustain a 60-70ng/dl test serum level with her HRT, and she is closer to 2% on her free test; attributed to proper D3 supplementation and other variables. If your friend isn't sure about any of this stuff I am talking about, that's OK, let's get a conversation going and start building her knowledge base.

Great stuff. Thats why I'm here.

I mistakenly said she is 45, she is 47. Sorry about that. And she definitely IS going through menopause. I never even thought about that. She didnt either. Its been really mild though so far. I'm sitting SMH wondering why I didn't think about that.

So since she is going through mp, its best to get that straightened out first? I think I'm reading your post correctly. I think we should just put this all on hold, or as you said BW first and get someone who is knowlegeable to interpret the results and go from their.

Thanks again. Really appreciate it.

[likelifting]

Based off your description of her bf% is probably in the high teens or low 20's. A woman to be 10-12% is very lean and can often look shredded depending on there genetics and body type. Great point. Again, I'm not used to women on this stuff.
I did not say she cant take aas I just said for the results she wants she can gain with a lot less hassle then popping a pill once a day. Ok, my bad on that.

Check out diet section and marcus300 how to train high intensity will most definitely yield results.

To achieve most physiques that we seek it takes a diet that you have to have your macros listed and spot on. A few hundred calories over under can make a huge difference on your goals. Most ppl ( not saying you) just say well I eat very healthy and clean but have zero clue there protein fat carbs they had that day or the past year.

Post up her diet from yesterday or today on exactly what she is eating and how balanced it is. I am using the above sentemce as a point to say you two are probably not measuring your macros to the t, yet you want to start aas. If if you start aas, if your macros are not in line your limiting your success of using aas.

Best of luck and thanks for insite vet

Thanks Gear.

I've had my macros dialed but not perfect right now. When we diet together we both lose weight. I lost quite a bit last year and she was surprised she lost what she did, I think it was 3lbs. She is currently 4'11" 94lbs. She does not have a skinny build.

Thanks again GB.

[Vettester]

Great stuff. Thats why I'm here.

I mistakenly said she is 45, she is 47. Sorry about that. And she definitely IS going through menopause. I never even thought about that. She didnt either. Its been really mild though so far. I'm sitting SMH wondering why I didn't think about that.

So since she is going through mp, its best to get that straightened out first? I think I'm reading your post correctly. I think we should just put this all on hold, or as you said BW first and get someone who is knowlegeable to interpret the results and go from their.

Thanks again. Really appreciate it.

Yeah, if she's 47yo and in the midst of MP, then no doubt her body s taking a hormonal beating. Key hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are dependent on ovarian function, which in turn works in a negative feedback loop with the pituitary (MP stops that in its tracks). Although the adrenal glands will also help produce some testosterone, you will more times than not that the adrenals and supporting pathways are at minimal function, including a substantial decline in DHEA levels.

So, to answer the Q, yes, she needs to get all of this "straightened out" before anything else. If she doesn't have the foundation in place, then she's just going to be spinning her wheels trying to make the gains she wants. Iron/ B12 Methyl and calcium supplementation is another area that is a make or break with her. That by itself can stop her program in its tracks, let alone talking about the myriad of things with all of the hormones.

I don't know her situation with her physician, but it would be ideal if she could run labs and review them with a physician/clinic who is familiar or specialized in female BHRT. A physician with A4M certification would be ideal in a perfect world, but it's not always a perfect world as we know. Both of you can visit the A4M site and browse their directory American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine - The World Leader in Anti-Aging, Regenerative, Metabolic and Functional Medicine Education, Conferences and Exhibitions.. Beyond that, it would be good to see her labs posted where I had mentioned, and I'm sure she will get some comments. Tell her not to wig out if her LH/FSH levels are through the ceiling ... That's just a confirmation that her ovarian function is doing anything but functioning. A good physician will easily step her through that and help her develop a plan that's in her best interest.

[gearbox]

Congrats on the weight loss its no easy task to be as dedicated as you needed to obtain certain results. I have many friends quit cause after 3 weeks there are no real results according to them. It takes a good 12 weeks for an already fit perso. To lose and much much more time to become stage ready.

[Times Roman]

Get her to sign up and she can specifically post in the female only section.

this^

instead of having you as her informational intermediary, you should introduce her to the board and ask first hand what her questions are.

[SexySweetheart]

agreed I would have her join the forum. There may be some things that she is not disclosing to you. And she definitely needs to find out her base after all her hormone and levels are situated. When female access she can review other female experiences with similar topics and ask questions pertaining specifically to her went out in Paris mint involved. I wish her the best of luck

[likelifting]

Yeah, if she's 47yo and in the midst of MP, then no doubt her body s taking a hormonal beating. Key hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are dependent on ovarian function, which in turn works in a negative feedback loop with the pituitary (MP stops that in its tracks). Although the adrenal glands will also help produce some testosterone, you will more times than not that the adrenals and supporting pathways are at minimal function, including a substantial decline in DHEA levels.

So, to answer the Q, yes, she needs to get all of this "straightened out" before anything else. If she doesn't have the foundation in place, then she's just going to be spinning her wheels trying to make the gains she wants. Iron/ B12 Methyl and calcium supplementation is another area that is a make or break with her. That by itself can stop her program in its tracks, let alone talking about the myriad of things with all of the hormones.

I don't know her situation with her physician, but it would be ideal if she could run labs and review them with a physician/clinic who is familiar or specialized in female BHRT. A physician with A4M certification would be ideal in a perfect world, but it's not always a perfect world as we know. Both of you can visit the A4M site and browse their directory American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine - The World Leader in Anti-Aging, Regenerative, Metabolic and Functional Medicine Education, Conferences and Exhibitions.. Beyond that, it would be good to see her labs posted where I had mentioned, and I'm sure she will get some comments. Tell her not to wig out if her LH/FSH levels are through the ceiling ... That's just a confirmation that her ovarian function is doing anything but functioning. A good physician will easily step her through that and help her develop a plan that's in her best interest.

We discussed this last night and she's decided to go to Kaiser and get as many of the blood tests that you've mentioned as she can. Not sure of Kaiser's policy on this, but they wouldn't even test my test levels. If not, she can go to where I go and get blood work and get them read by you or others on the board.

I really appreciate your input. Her health is most important to her and me. We realize there is some risk with AAS, but really glad we didn't jump in without getting BW first. She's so healthy, imo, that I didn't think of it. I"m really glad I made this thread and so is she.

Thanks again.

[likelifting]

Congrats on the weight loss its no easy task to be as dedicated as you needed to obtain certain results. I have many friends quit cause after 3 weeks there are no real results according to them. It takes a good 12 weeks for an already fit perso. To lose and much much more time to become stage ready.

^ very true and Thanks again for your input Gearbox.

I read through my posts and didn't see where I appologized to you (I thought I did) so let me appologize about anything I said that was less than kind. This thread just went a little sideways in the begining but it turned out great for my friend and me. Look forward to reading your posts on the board. I can't convince her to join but it has nothing to do with the begining of the thread anymore. She just isn't into message boarding. I'm part owner of a really small site and there are only about 15 of us that chat on it. She just doesn't get it. She'll probably end up trying an AA clinic or something. We can afford it. I think she feels better about that than joining for whatever the reason. I don't push her. She's an adult women that doesn't need me telling her what to do.

Thanks again Gearbox.

[likelifting]

this^

instead of having you as her informational intermediary, you should introduce her to the board and ask first hand what her questions are.

Thanks TR

[likelifting]

agreed I would have her join the forum. There may be some things that she is not disclosing to you. And she definitely needs to find out her base after all her hormone and levels are situated. When female access she can review other female experiences with similar topics and ask questions pertaining specifically to her went out in Paris mint involved. I wish her the best of luck

Thanks. We trust each other. She doesn't feel comfortable disclosing things to a message board, to people she doesn't know. I'm not saying its right or wrong, thats just the way it is. Not going to try to explain it. Maybe she'll feel differently in the future.

Thanks and good luck to you as well.