Introduction
General Advantages of Moderate Dose Short Cycling
Moderate Dose Short Cycling for BULKING
Moderate Dose Short Cycling for Cutting
Basic PCT outline for a short cycle
Things NOT worth including into a short cycle
Introduction
After getting numerous PM’s from Members of this board concerning the Moderate Dose Short Cycle approach I decieded to make a comprehensive guide to this type of cycling.
First I’d like to point out that this type of short cycling is not to be mistaken with the Burst Cylce approach for the competitive athlete wich can be found in this thread http://forums.steroid.com/showthread.php?t=224569 .
Moderate Dose short Cycles on the other hand are more geared to steroid newbies [I would strongly advise to run at least one traditional cycle for Steroid first timers] and recreational BB’s like most of us are. They can be used with great success to limit side effects and to sustain most of the gains you made through PCT.
Keep in mind that moderate dose short cycles can not give you 30+lbs of bulk at a time, but steady - more healthy – gains.
It is curcial that you learn how to train and gain WITHOUT the use of steroids before you even want to think about doing a cycle in general or short cycle in particular.
A typical short cycle for me would last about 4-6 weeks with at least equal time off. After 2 successive cycle I take a longer break (8-12 weeks).
For all users who are not that familiar with their own body I STRONGLY advise doing bloodwork before your first cycle (to determine your normal blood values) and then at least each time you want to jump into another cycle to check if your HPTA has completely recoverd and all other parameters are in check. If you got specific blood work questions feel free to ask.
Under no conditions would I ever recommend the increase of AAS dosages form cycle to cycle. Higher dosages are only needed if you are WAY over your natural limit OR you haven’t had enough time between cycles to completely recover OR you have a very high BF (high BF equals lesser sensitivity to AAS).
General Advantages of Moderate Dose Short Cycling
They have little impact on your Lipid Profile. Sure they still may cause a shitty lipid panel for a short amount of time which equals less time for potential aterial plaque bild up. Keep in mind that a bad lipid profile is the top reason for heart disease!!
Limit androgenic side effects like acne, hair loss, prostate enlargment and testicular shrinkage due to limited androgen buildup.
Limit estrogenic side effects like gyno and high blood pressure due to limited estrogen buildup.
Limit stress on your internal organs like kindeys and liver.
Vastly improved recovery of the HPTA after cycle termination. Therefore more gains can be sustained. [The hypotalamus is still inhibted by only using AAS for 2 weeks but the pituitary takes a longer time to become unresponsive to potential LHRH release from the hypotalamus. Therefore as long as the pituitary isn’t inhibited recovery from a short cycle is rather easy.]
Reduce time with elevated estrogen after cycle termination.
Moderate Dose Short Cycling for BULKING
Moderate Dose Short cycling can be used very effectively to produce solid gains despite the limited time “on”. Before you do a short bulking cycle it is very important to Prime to body before the actual cycle starts.
The priming itself should last at very LEAST 4 weeks and consists of a CKD type diet. Moreover I recommend high rep full body workout with minimal pauses (less the 30 secconds per set; at least 6 sets per bodypart, 3-4 times a week) the week before the actual cycle starts. Therefore all carb stores will be ***leted by day 1 of your cycle and your muscle cells will soak up incomming nutrients like a sponge. Moreover fat gain can be limited that way.
During the ON period I would advise a high prot / moderate – high carb / low fat approach.
Incjetables should be frontloaded on cycle day –1 (If cycle day 1 is Monday, cycle day –1 is Sunday) until 3 days before cycle termination to allow the metabolites to leave the body. Orals should be taken on cycle day 1 till end.
Now on to the Compounds which can be successfully incorporated into a Moderate Dose Short Bulking Cycle:
Testosterone Propionate or Masteron: This should be the base of all cycles due to its effect on satellite cell proliferation and differentiation. It also elevates GH and IGF-1 to a great degree.
Now you have some stacking options. In my mind it is generally not worth stacking more than 3 compounds together and only if those compounds are working through a different pathway (DHT, Nor..). The following list does not include any NOR-based AAS therefore stacking testosterone with more than just one from the following list is rather pointless I feel.
Anadrol
D-Bol
Oral Turinabol
More advanced useres might also take slin into consideration.
Once again: Start frontloading injectable test at cycle day –1 with 2-3 the amount you will be using ED. Use the test until 3 days before the cycle ends. Start the orals on cycle day 1 and run until the last day of your cycle. Then PCT.
Moderate Dose Short Cycling for CUTTING
Moderate Dose Short Cycling can also be used for cutting with great success. In fact I use it for cutting most of the time.
During a typical Moderate Dose Short Cutting Cylce I prime the body during the process of the cycle (see above). After cycle termination I up my calories above maintance therefore giving my body an anabolic signal. Recovery is very easy after such a cycle and a rarley ever loose muscle when coming off a short cutting cycle.
Granted you won’t gain massive amounts of muscle cycling that way, BUT your body composition changes dramatically. For me this is the perfect way of cycling.
The use of Injectables and Orals does not vary from the guidelines above, but the compounds which can be incorporated into a Moderate Dose Short Cutting Cycle do:
Testosterone Propionate or Masteron: see above
Now you have various stacking options. In my mind it is generally not worth stacking more than 3 compounds together and only if those compounds are working through a different pathway (DHT, Nor..). The following list does not include any NOR-based AAS therefore stacking testosterone with more than just one from the following list is rather pointless I feel.
Masterone
Anavar
Oral Turinabol
Winstrol
Halo
More advanced useres might also take slin into consideration.
Basic PCT outline for a short cycle
Well PCT from a short cycle does not change in comaprison to your standard 12 weeker. My basic PCT protocoll looks like this:
Day1: 200mg Clomid / some kind of Herbal Test Boosting Formular / 11b-HSD-1 inhibitor
Day2-4: 100mg Clomid / some kind of Herbal Test Boosting Formular / 11b-HSD-1 inhibitor
Day 5-21: 50mg Clomid / some kind of Herbal Test Boosting Formular / 11b-HSD-1 inhibitor
I use Clomid instead of Nolvadex as for me personally I recover better when using clomid (I tried both). Moreover I don’t use an aromatase inhibtor like Letro as very low estrogen levels could impact recovery AND due to possile estrogen rebound.
After those 21 days PCT I usually take 3 more weeks off and then I am good to go for my next short cycle.
Things NOT worth including into a short cycle
Trenbolone: This is a Nor Based Compound. I have found that the recovery process is lenghtend when using tren and supression is more severe. As rapid recovery is one of the main aims of short cycling tren is not suitable concering this goal in mind. Moreover the results using tren are NOT that much better for me in comparison to winny for example to justify a longer off period.
NPP : see Trenbolone
Long esters : If someone would want to use Long esters in short cycles he whould have to cramp the amount of a certain steroid normally used during 4 weeks into 2 weeks (you shouldn’t use long estered steroids longer than 2 weeks in a short cycle to allow their metabolites clear you body before PCT begins). This causes a massive hormone spike and this elevates the risk of possible side effects. Moreover due to hormone plasma levels not beeing stable gains will be impacted as well.
HCG: HCG is not needed as shrinkage of the testicles should not occour during a short cycle.
IFG-1: I tried IGF-1 during PCT and during a cycle. In my mind it is in no way worth the amount of money it costs. Sure the pumps are awesome and you may be able to reduce your Bodyfat a little more but on the other hand you have a bunch of possible side effects which are not worth taking IMO.
Finasteride: Short cycling is about hitting the androgen receptors hard. Finasteride inhibit DHT conversion which is not desirable. Moreover androgenic sides are rare during a short cycle due to the limited amount of time “on”. If someone would really wanna use a DHT inhibtor I’d opt for a topical one like Nizoral Shampoo.
Estrogen Inhibtors: Should not be needed during a short cycle due to the limited time on. Estrogen helps building muscle. So lowering it to much (letro) might do you more harm than good. Very gyno sensitive persons might choose low dose arimidex during bulking cycles.
Clen: Clenbuterol causes heart cell death. Need I say more?