Equipoise is a derivative of testosterone, which exhibits strong anabolic and moderately androgenic properties. In common with all steroids, Equipoise increases red blood cell production, which in turn leads to increases in stamina due to an improvement in oxygen uptake. It is also known to increase vascularity, which makes it a favorite when it comes to contest preparation. However, the downside of its use in pre-contest situations is that it does tend to produce an increased appetite in a high percentage of users.

The good news is that Equipoise produces very little in the way of estrogen related side effects. In fact its actual rate of estrogen conversion is half that of the various testosterones. Of course some sensitive individuals may still experience estrogenic effects (or those using extremely high doses). In this case the addition of Nolvadex should be considered – with Arimadex being a stronger option.

Although it is not known as a rapid mass builder, Equipoise will produce slow but steady gains in strength and quality muscle. Due to this slow and steady result pattern, Equipoise is most commonly used for longer cycles of at least ten weeks. This would ensure solid muscle gains with very low water retention. Gains with Equipoise are also easily maintained following use since size increases are not due to water weight.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF EQUIPOISE

Equipoise is an extremely versatile drug and, as such, combines very well with other steroids. An example of a great mass building stack would be 300-400mg/week of Equipoise with 500mg of Sustanon or Testosterone Enthanate. For mass building purposes it can also be effectively stacked with Anadrol. This would result in significant gains in strength and mass without the additional side effects that would result from using the androgen alone.
In terms of its use as part of a cutting cycle, Equipoise combines very well with non-aromatizable steroids such as Trenbolone acetate or Winstrol. However, even the extremely low aromatization rate of these substances may be enough to confine usage to bulking cycles only.

As a side note, those who usually favor Deca Durabolin may want to give Equipoise a try since for most people it proves to be stronger as well as safer and less suppressive. I say ‘most people” because there are always going to be individuals who, due to their unique chemistry, may have a different experience with its use.

SIDE EFFECTS

Side effects from the use of Equipoise are pretty low when it is taken in normal (300-400mg/week) dosages and estrogenic side effects only occur in those who are very susceptible to estrogen. In terms of androgenic side effects, long term or high dose use can result in slight virilizing effects including acne and increased body hair growth. Also worth noting is that Equipoise is not the ideal choice for the drug tested athlete since it has the tendency to produce detectable metabolites in the urine months after use.

DOSAGE

The use of 300-400mg/week is normally recommended when it comes to Equipoise use. There have been reports of users ‘front-loading’ it to achieve greater results. This would involve the use of high doses of 600-800mg/week for two weeks and then lowering the dose to 300-400mg/week for the remaining 8-10 weeks.

Women usually find this drug to be fairly safe in terms of virilizing effects as long as dosages are kept at 50-150mg/week.

N.B. Equipoise and all other products mentioned in this profile can be found at www.maximedicine.com.

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).

Relocating to New York in the late 1990s she focused her writing attention to crystal healing techniques and metaphysics – however, she still maintained a five day workout schedule during this time and gained her personal training certificate.

Having also studied pharmacology in relation to sports performance, her writing began taking her in that direction until the present day which sees her embarking on a return to the magazine world, as well as extending her web-related work in the bodybuilding and fitness field.

Proviron is the Schering brand name for the oral androgen mesterolone. It is a strong androgen, which is not capable of aromatizing into estrogen. It is also not progestenic.
In fact, Proviron is the closest thing we have to orally active Dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Physicians normally prescribe this compound to treat various types of sexual dysfunction since it can usually reverse impotency and sexual disinterest. It can also increase sperm count although it does not actually stimulate testosterone production.

In bodybuilding circles, Proviron is used primarily as an anti-estrogen since it is believed to block the action of the aromatase enzyme (which is responsible for converting testosterone to estrogen). For this reason it is a popular pre-contest drug since it assists in hardening up the physique.

Whilst Proviron is considered too weak for muscle building purposes it may actually boost the anabolic effect of other substances when it is added to a standard cycle. This is due to the fact that it binds to Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), which is the transport hormone responsible for reducing the amount of free testosterone in your body. In addition to this, Proviron also binds to the Anabolic Receptor more effectively than any other oral steroid. So, not only does Proviron reduce levels of circulating estrogen, it can possibly make other steroids more effective through its ability to inhibit the actions of SHBG. It is also worth pointing out that even at levels of 100-150mg/day it has no depressing effect on low to normal FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) and LH (Luteinizing Hormone) levels. In fact it has been suggested that it may even raise LH, which can in turn lead to a rise in testosterone levels.

DOSAGE

The typical dosage for men is one to four 25mg tablets per day. This is considered to be a sufficient amount to avoid the occurrence of gynecomastia. It may also be combined with Nolvadex (tamoxifen citrate) or Clomid (clomiphene citrate) when substances with high estrogenic conversion rates are being taken (e.g. Dianabol, Testosterone). In this instance, taking 50mg of Proviron along with 20mg Nolvadex per day has been proven effective.

In the case of women considering using Proviron it has to be noted that it does have an extremely high androgen content. With this in mind care should be taken when it comes to assessing dosages. Women usually find 25mg per day is enough to effectively shift the androgen/estrogen level, which can have a significant impact on the physique. Also, in order to avoid virilization symptoms (e.g. voice deepening, menstrual irregularities, skin texture changes, clitoral enlargement) use should be limited to a period of four or five weeks.

Once again, a combination of 25mg Proviron and 10-20mg Nolvadex can be very efficient when it comes to muscle hardening and ridding the body of extra body fat on hips and thighs.

SAFETY ISSUES

The risk of liver toxicity with this compound is generally not an issue since Proviron is not a c17 alpha alkylated compound (the alteration responsible for liver toxicity in commonly used anabolics). It is therefore considered to be a ‘safe’ oral.

However, that does not mean that is comes without side effects. In the case of male athletes using this drug in amounts above 100mg a day side effects connected with an excessively high androgen level can present themselves. These include oily skin, acne, body/facial hair growth, and male pattern baldness. Extreme heightening of the male libido is also likely.

As previously mentioned, women should be careful when using this substance and stick to 25mg a day for short periods of time to avoid virilization symptoms.

In addition, since Proviron is a very effective ‘drying agent’ it can also have a significant impact on the condition of your hair and skin. It is therefore recommended that an essential fatty acid supplement be used with this product, which supplies the omega 3 fats necessary to maintain healthy skin and hair. Also, as a DHT derivative thinning hair may be a problem in susceptible individuals. In this instance some have found the use of Nizoral shampoo to be of assistance.

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).

Leigh has been working out for close to thirty years so she is clearly a writer who ‘walks her talk.’
She can be contacted personally at zeal2heal@yahoo.com or you can also check her out at New York’s favorite metaphysical store www.stickstoneandbone.com.

Species Nutrition aim to create products that contain only the highest quality ingredients and present them in specific formulas that have real science and research behind them. You are not going to find complex diagrams, graphs and futuristic explosions of plasma illustrating their effectiveness. Facts not fantasy are what the rapidly growing (no pun intended) range of Species products depend on to illustrate their effectiveness. Founded by two of bodybuilding’s greatest minds (and bodies) Dave Palumbo and Colette Nelson you can bet that Species Nutrition is one company you are going to be hearing a lot more of in the future. One of their best selling products is currently the aromataze inhibiter/testosterone booster, ‘Testolyze’. So what better way to begin this look at the Species product range than by grabbing a bottle and putting it under the supplement microscope?

TESTOLYZE

Testolyze separates itself from the proliferation of anti-estrogen/testosterone boosting supplements on the market by virtue of the attention to detail given to its formula. It contains the ever-popular 6-OXO which is known to effectively increase testosterone levels by blocking the action of the aromataze enzyme. The aromataze enzyme is the primary enzyme involved in the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. As all bodybuilders know, too much estrogen leads not only to water retention and fat deposition but can also trigger gynecomastia and the possible shutdown of natural testosterone production. The traditional cure for this situation has been to use estrogen receptor antagonists such as Nolvadex or Clomid which act like pigeons in the nest of estrogen receptor sites (i.e. they step in and take over the site leaving estrogen homeless). In recent years aromataze inhibiting drugs such as Arimadex and Proviron have also become popular. These drugs simply act to eliminate estrogen altogether which, in theory, sounds great but in practice can spell disaster for the hard training athlete.

This is due to the fact that the body needs a certain amount of estrogen to be present in order to facilitate muscle gains, maintain healthy cholesterol levels and prevent libido going down the lane of lost souls. Add to this the fact that Proviron is the closest thing to orally active DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) – the main culprit in male pattern baldness – and you do not have a pretty picture.

So where does a product like TESTOLYZE fit into the picture? Well, Testolyze is spearheading a new generation of aromataze blockers. The unique formula combines 6OXO (a clinically tested and proven aromataze blocker) with the herb Saw Palmetto.
Saw Palmetto has been used for many years as a natural inhibitor of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. This enzyme converts testosterone to DHT and an excess of DHT in hair tissue leads to hair thinning in men and women. It has also been linked to prostate enlargement in men.

Put simply, what this means is that Testolyze facilitates the growth of muscle tissue via the creation of the perfect hormonal climate within the body. It eliminates excess estrogen without annihilating it completely and prevents the build-up of DHT and all the nasty side effects it presents. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how valuable this scenario is to the athlete!

TEST DRIVE ‘TESTOLYZE’

Testolyze certainly leads the pack of over-the-counter testosterone enhancing anti-aromataze products currently on the market. You can try it out for yourself by checking out the Species range of products elsewhere on this site. You can also pay a visit to www.speciesnutrition.com where you can see not only this product but also a whole range of supplements, clothing, news and information from the team at Species Nutrition. Meanwhile, watch this space for more product reviews from the home of evolutionary nutrition.

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).

Leigh has been working out for close to thirty years so she is clearly a writer who ‘walks her talk.’
She can be contacted personally at zeal2heal@yahoo.com or you can also check her out at New York’s favorite metaphysical store www.stickstoneandbone.com.

Although he hasn’t played a major league baseball game since 2001, Jose Canseco is still taking care of his body, at least in the way he has spoken about in his two ‘tell-all’ books. Perhaps even the once-rich and famous are having issues obtaining performance-enhancing drugs in this day and age of mass hysteria.

Attempting to smuggle in a supply of human chorionic gonadotrophin, commonly known as HCG, through the Mexico/San Diego border, Canseco was held by immigration authorities for 10 hours after the substance was found in his vehicle.

Although a fertility drug, HCG is used in combination with anabolic steroids, either during or after a cycle to return testosterone production and size in the testes. So, in reality, Canseco had his balls busted as a result of trying to limit the shrinkage.

It appears that the 44 year-old is still using performance-enhancing drugs and would have no other reason to take a trip to Mexico and bring back HCG. A commonly-used post-cycle therapy substance, it is popular amongst bodybuilders and used either separately or in conjunction with Clomid or Nolvadex.

Perhaps Canseco wanted to take the bull by the horns, or so to speak, and get his hands on his own stuff. Paying the middle man can jack the price up, but the alternative is what happened to him.

This is part of a continuing series provided exclusively by MuscleSport Mag giving information on a variety of performance-enhancing drugs for educational purposes. While it is apparent that people are going to use these substances regardless of the health and legal risks involved, quality information is necessary and learning as much about them as possible can only assist an adult making a decision either way.

Testosterone Enanthate is an oil based injectable steroid, which is designed to slowly release testosterone from the injection site. This slow release delivery leads to an elevation in testosterone levels lasting for approximately two weeks (it may even take as long as three weeks for the drug levels to fully diminish). Due to its relatively long activity level, Testosterone Enanthate is favored by the medical profession and is primarily used to treat cases of hypogonadism and similar disorders where low androgen levels are at fault.
As with all testosterone products it has strong anabolic and androgenic activity. Gains in strength and muscle mass are notable, along with an increase in libido. It has also been noted that a relief in tendon pain and an increase in stamina are direct effects of testosterone administration. This is probably due to increased water retention coupled with an increase in red blood cells – leading to a greater oxygen uptake in the blood.

On the downside, all the usual androgenic side effects can be expected e.g. oily skin, acne, aggressiveness, facial/body hair growth and male pattern baldness. In addition, testestosterone does have a high tendency to convert into estrogen (related side effects being water retention, storage of excess body fat and possible gynecomastia (the development of breast like tissue in males). This can be greatly reduced by adding a drug such as Nolvadex (or, if your budget can stretch to it, the superior Arimidex). However, the use of anti-estrogens during a cycle of testosterone is thought by some to reduce the anabolic effects of the drug, so you may wish to see whether their use is absolutely necessary before using them. You may also choose to add them towards the end of your cycle rather than throwing them into the mix early and risking slightly lower gains.
If you do begin to experience a little puffines in the nipple area, swelling or soreness you should act immediately to treat it by either adding an anti-estrogen or switching to another compound as your main drug.

Although this drug does have a long active life, most athletes choose to inject it on a weekly basis with the dosage ranging from 250mg- 750mg. This is done in an attempt to keep drug levels at a more uniform level throughout the cycle. Just remember, the higher the dose the more likely estrogenic side effects are to develop – so start out low to asses your tolerance.

STACKING TIPS: Those looking for greater bulk could add an oral like Anadrol 50 or Dianabol.

For more quality and definition an injectable like DecaDurabolin or Equipoise may be a better way to go. In this case you can lower the intake of Enanthate in order to keep estrogen build up to a minimum.

USER FEEDBACK: Those who have used this drug find it produces significant weight and strength gains with side effects well within the tolerable range provided dosages are kept at acceptable levels. Greater stamina and an overall feeling of well being have also been widely reported.

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).

Leigh has been working out for close to thirty years so she is clearly a writer who ‘walks her talk.’
She can be contacted personally at zeal2heal@yahoo.com or you can also check her out at New York’s favorite metaphysical store www.stickstoneandbone.com.

This is part of a continuing series provided exclusively by MuscleSport Mag giving information on a variety of performance-enhancing drugs for educational purposes. While it is apparent that people are going to use these substances regardless of the health and legal risks involved, quality information is necessary and learning as much about them as possible can only assist an adult making a decision either way.

Nolvadex (tamoxifen citrate) is probably the most popular ancillary drug for male steroid users who wish to avoid the estrogen like effects caused by the use of anabolic steroids (e.g. gynecomastia). Nolvadex binds to estrogen receptors thus blocking the hormones action on target tissues and achieving an anti-estrogenic effect.

Also worth noting is the fact that Nolvadex is an estrogen agonist in the liver and is capable of mimicking estrogen in this organ. At first glance you may wonder why this could be considered a good thing, however, when you realize that estrogen positively effects HDL (good) cholesterol values in the liver its value in this instance becomes obvious. As you know, steroid use tends to suppress HDL levels and raise LDL levels significantly leading to increased cholesterol levels and cardiac risk. Adding Nolvadex may therefore form a protective function in this case, although it certainly does not save the liver from all the other hazards involved with the use of c-17 alpha alkylated orals.

Nolvadex also has the ability to increase production of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) in the male body. A higher level of LH stimulates the Leydig cells in the testes to produce more testosterone therefore Nolvadex can actually have a positive influence on testosterone levels. This is particularly important when ending a cycle of steroid use, since most anabolic/androgenic steroids significantly reduce the production of natural testosterone. Adding Nolvadex can assist in returning testosterone levels to normal levels in most cases however, following longer cycles of stronger drugs the addition of HCG (a hormone which mimics LH) may be required to kick start the testes into action.

This needs to be done with care though since HCG also enhances the rate of aromatization in the testes (i.e. the conversion of testosterone to estrogen) and, in order to avoid unwanted side effects, anti- estrogens should not be discontinued until at least a couple of weeks after ceasing the use of HCG.

DOSAGE

Men should typically take 10 to 30mg/day depending on the amount of steroid used and the length of cycle. Starting at a low dosage and working up is recommended in order to avoid taking more than is necessary.

Women should air caution when using Nolvadex since they are more susceptible to side effects caused by reduced estrogen levels (i.e. hot flashes, menstrual irregularities and complications involving the reproductive system). With this in mind, anti-estrogens are more tolerable for women after the point of menopause. Many top-level competitors still favor its use prior to competition in order to reduce body fat levels in hips and thighs and prevent fluid retention (All influenced by estrogen levels). In this case it would be wise to stick to a low dose (10mg/day) and to carefully monitor effects.

WHEN TO BEGIN USE

The time to bring Nolvadex into your cycle depends on individual sensitivity to estrogens and the strength of anabolics being used. An athlete who is very sensitive to estrogen may need to begin its use soon after commencing a cycle (particularly where stronger drugs are going to be used). If estrogen is likely to be less of an issue, Nolvadex should be taken towards the end of a cycle and continued for some weeks after – when testosterone levels are deemed to be back to a normal level.

It is also worth noting that there have been reports of Nolvadex use actually inhibiting the gains made during a steroid cycle. This is because some estrogen is considered to be important when it comes to increasing the uptake and action of anabolics. With this in mind and, as mentioned earlier, it is wise to start on the low side with Nolvadex use and monitor the effects.

Individual sensitivity to estrogen is variable and may be influenced by factors such as age and body fat percentage (adipose tissue being a virtual factory for estrogen production). Many people have little trouble with excess estrogen – even when using the strongest drugs – whilst others find their estrogen levels rise just at the mere sight of a Dianabol tablet!
So monitor yourself and administer according to your needs.

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).

Relocating to New York in the late 1990s she focused her writing attention to crystal healing techniques and metaphysics – however, she still maintained a five day workout schedule during this time and gained her personal training certificate.

Leigh has been working out for close to thirty years so she is clearly a writer who ‘walks her talk.’
She can be contacted personally at zeal2heal@yahoo.com or you can also check her out at New York’s favorite metaphysical store www.stickstoneandbone.com.

This is part of a continuing series provided exclusively by MuscleSport Mag giving information on a variety of performance-enhancing drugs for educational purposes. While it is apparent that people are going to use these substances regardless of the health and legal risks involved, quality information is necessary and learning as much about them as possible can only assist an adult making a decision either way.

Dianabol is one of those drugs that seem to have gained a ‘cult’ following over the years. Originally introduced in 1960, it soon gained the tag “Breakfast of Champions”. Whether this tag is deserved or not, Dianabol still remains one of the most popular bodybuilding staples to this day.

Similar to testosterone and Anadrol 50, Dianabol is a powerful substance with a great effect on protein metabolism. It also promotes calcium storage in the bones and is believed to have a strengthening effect on the whole system. A weight gain of 2-4 pounds per week in the first six weeks is usually observed which is accompanied by significant strength gains.

On the down side, it does have fairly noticeable side effects. Being quite estrogenic, gynecomastia (growth of female like breast tissue in males) could be a concern and water retention can become pronounced. For this reason sensitive individuals may wish to add an anti-estrogen such as Nolvadex or preferably Arimadex when using this drug. Androgenic side effects are also common and may manifest as bouts of oily skin, acne, body/facial hair growth as well as aggression.

Due to its androgenic effects, Dianabol is really only popular with male athletes. However, women who choose to experiment with it usually find low doses (5mg/day) produce significant gains in muscle growth.

For men a daily dosage of 4-5 tablets (20-25mg) is enough to produce dramatic results. Some do go higher than this but it must be noted that the higher the dose the higher the incidence of side effects.

It should also be noted that Dianabol has a relatively short half-life (only 3-5 hours) which means that you should split your dose and take it twice a day in order to keep blood levels more constant (this option is strictly up to the individual).

STACKING TIPS: Dianabol stacks well with a number of steroids, however it has been known to mix particularly well with Deca-Durabolin. In fact, legendary steroid ‘guru’ Dan Duchaine once said, “If you can’t grow on Deca and Dianabol you’re not going to grow at all!”

DIET TIPS: Dianabol (along with most steroids) relies on quality protein intake in order to exhibit maximum results. It has a particular affinity with steak, so be sure to include lean red meat in your diet.

LIVER ALERT: As a c17 alpha alkylated steroid, Dianabol does give your liver a lot of extra work to do. With this in mind you might want to monitor your liver enzyme values (achieved by regular blood testing by a physician) and take liver protecting supplements such as milk thistle and NAC.

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).

Relocating to New York in the late 1990s she focused her writing attention to crystal healing techniques and metaphysics – however, she still maintained a five day workout schedule during this time and gained her personal training certificate.

Having also studied pharmacology in relation to sports performance, her writing began taking her in that direction until the present day which sees her embarking on a return to the magazine world, as well as extending her web-related work in the bodybuilding and fitness field.

Leigh has been working out for close to thirty years so she is clearly a writer who ‘walks her talk.’
She can be contacted personally at zeal2heal@yahoo.com or you can also check her out at New York’s favorite metaphysical store www.stickstoneandbone.com.