If you’re making the leap to using anabolic steroids, it’s important that you take things slowly and don’t try to jump in straight at the deep end. Taking steroids which are too harsh or at too high a dose could create a lot of problems so it’s vital that you stick to the level that’s right for you.
An absolute beginner is easy to peg, but at what point do you move from being a novice to an intermediate user?
No matter how long you use steroids for, you don’t necessarily have to constantly be looking to up your cycle. Some bodybuilders stick to beginner cycles and get great results, whether it’s bulking or cutting, from this level of steroid use alone.
But for those who really want to push things further, an intermediate cycle can be introduced when at least two full beginner cycles have been completed. Some experts might suggest that you can move up after just one cycle but this is too quick for most individuals. Without any exposure to understand your body’s response to different steroids, you risk having a disastrous cycle. This won’t only disrupt your training, but could also end up costing you a lot of money unnecessarily.
To decide whether you’re ready to move onto an intermediate cycle, see if you can tick off the following:
- At least two full steroid cycles completed
- Have successfully stacked at least two steroids together
- Want to get more from the steroid cycle than you’re currently experiencing
- Have tried at least three steroids successfully
If you can answer yes to all of the above, you could be ready to move onto intermediate steroid cycles.
Oral or injectables?
No matter what level of steroid use you’re at, oral drugs are always much harder on the body that those that are injected. For this reason, running an oral only cycle is a bad idea. However, they can be combined with injectable steroids to great effect.
Because oral steroids can be challenging to run for the full duration of a cycle, one way to utilize them is by using a fast-acting variant as a means of front-loading. This allows you to kickstart a cycle more effectively, getting results more quickly while you wait for the longer-acting drugs to start working. Once the injectable drugs start to become effective, the oral steroids can be tapered off, having served their purpose.
Intermediate steroid cycles
Bulking cycle
This particular cycle is set at the intermediate level and will help to create bulk very quickly. However, gains will only occur if you eat the right types of food and sufficient calories otherwise the cycle will be wasted. Some users suggest at least 5000 calories per day with 30% coming from lean protein.
Weeks 1-6: Testosterone Cypionate 600mg, Deca Durabolin 400mg, Dianabol 50mg per day, Arimidex 0.5mg alternate days
Weeks 7-12: Testosterone Cypionate 600mg, Deca Durabolin 400mg, Arimidex 0.5 alternate days
The Dianabol helps to kickstart the cycle allowing time for the testosterone and the Deca to have accumulated within your body to have an effect. The Arimidex is needed because of the amount of estrogen the steroids convert to. Some users will have to increase the Arimidex dose to 1mg on alternate days in order to combat this.
The PCT should look like this:
Week 1: HCG 500iu every day
Week 2: HCG 500iu every day for the first three days, 40mg Nolvadex every day
Week 3: 40mg Nolvadex every day
Weeks 4-5: 20mg Nolvadex every day
You can substitute Nolvadex for 150mg Clomid every day in the above PCT if desired.
Lean bulking
There may be times when you’re looking to bulk up, but you only want quality gains of lean mass, or when you’re also running a calorie restricted diet. This stack here will provide bulk but not the huge quantities gained from the bulking stack described above. The amount of mass added will be less but providing you’ve got your diet right; you won’t be piling on water or fat.
Week 1-4: Testosterone Propionate 125mg every other day, Equipoise 400mg, Dianabol 20mg every day and Arimidex 0.5mg every day
Weeks 5-6: Testosterone Propionate 125mg every other day, Equipoise 400mg and Arimidex 0.5mg every day
Weeks 7-8: Testosterone Propionate 125mg every other day, Equipoise 400mg, Trenbolone Acetate 50mg every other day, Anavar 50mg every day and Arimidex 0.5mg every day
Weeks 9-12: Testosterone Propionate 125mg every other day, Trenbolone Acetate 50mg every other day, Anavar 50mg every day and Arimidex 0.5mg every day
Dianabol may temporarily add some water but this will quickly dissipate once this steroid is stopped. Providing carb intake isn’t excessive and you’re on a maintenance diet, you can expect to add around 7-10lbs of lean mass, excluding water.
The Arimidex is necessary to help prevent aromatization; if this is still a problem, up the dose to 1mg.
Cutting
Although this stack is only described as intermediate, it is the best steroid cycle for cutting. If you’re able to tolerate this, you’ll end up with a dry and hard-looking physique.
Weeks 1-6: Testosterone Propionate 100mg every other day, Trenbolone Acetate 75mg every other day and Arimidex 0.5mg every other day
Weeks 7-12: Testosterone Propionate 100mg every other day, Trenbolone Acetate 75mg every other day, Winstrol 50mg every day and Arimidex 0.5mg every other day
Compared to some other cycles, this is one of the simplest steroid stacks. However, the effectiveness of it can’t be overstated; for cutting it really is the best steroid stack.
If the Trenbolone causes side effects, the dosage can be dropped to 50mg without sacrificing too much in the way of results. Most users are able to tolerate it but if 50mg is still causing a problem, the likelihood is that this steroid is simply one that’s not for you. Trenbolone is an important one for this steroid stack, being the most potent of all included and giving a really lean and defined finish. It can also assist directly with fat loss and can maintain strength even during a period of calorie restricted intake.
Not everyone will need Arimidex to help combat the aromatizing effects, but it’s a good idea to include it in the stack because it will help to provide a particularly dry look.
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