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.

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.

Winstrol is the ‘user friendly’ name given to the anabolic steroid Stanozolol. A derivative of dihydrotestosterone, Winstrol is a commonly used steroid for cutting cycles. Since it is not capable of converting into estrogen, gynecomastia is not a concern – even amongst the most sensitive individuals. It produces a lean, quality look with little or no water retention.
Winstrol is often seen as a less expensive alternative to Anavar since it produces similar gains in strength without significant weight gain.

As with most oral compounds, Winstrol carries the structural c17-AA alteration, which enables it to survive the first pass through the liver. This means that it does place a higher level of stress on the liver than the injectable form (Winstrol Depot) which avoids the first pass altogether. With this in mind, during longer or higher dose cycles, liver values should be monitored by regular blood work. It should also go without saying that if you are stacking Winstrol with other oral steroids then you should make every effort to protect your liver by limiting the cycle length to 6 to 8 weeks. Cholesterol levels should also be monitored and every effort should be made to stick to a diet that does not include cholesterol-elevating foods (e.g. fatty meats, egg yolks, full fat dairy products).

The usual dose for men is 35 – 75mg per day for the tablets and 25 – 50mg/day for the injectable version. Women usually take around 5 to 10mg/day, sometimes going up to 20mg for competitive athletes. The injectable version is not recommended for use by women.

STACKING TIPS:

For bulking purposes you may wish to add a stronger androgen like testosterone, Dianabol or Anadrol.

For cutting phases Winstrol can be combined with trenbolone or Halotestin.
Sensitive individuals would be advised to stick to Primobolan, Deca-Durabolin or Equipoise if they want to enter the stacking arena since they exhibit fewer side effects than standard androgens.

LIVER PROTECTION:

When using oral steroids it is worth considering using some form of over the counter liver protectant e.g. Silymarin (Milk Thistle) or N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (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.

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 Propionate is the shortest estered, fastest acting form of testosterone currently available. Levels generally peak after 24-36 hours, however they soon begin to taper thereafter and the steroid itself only has a 2-3day life span. This can be a good thing for those susceptible to the side effects caused by longer acting testosterones (e.g. enthanate, cypionate, Sustanon 250) with Propionate causing less water retention and the user experiencing an increase in energy, a better muscle pump and an increase in strength and appetite after only one or two days.

The downside of Propionate is that, due to its composition, it requires more frequent injections in order to keep blood levels stable (this usually involves administration every second day). This can be troublesome since the Propionate ester can be very irritating at the injection site with sensitive individuals experiencing pain and swelling accompanied by a low-grade fever that may last for a few days.

Although still regarded as a controversial subject (and usually ‘forbidden territory’) the use of testosterone compounds by female athletes does exist at top competitive levels and the drug of choice is usually Testosterone Propionate. This is due to the fact that, when applied properly, androgenic side effects are more easily avoided. With this in mind, women who choose to use this form of testosterone usually administer it every 5 –7 days and experience better workout recovery and muscle growth with a minimum of androgenic related problems. In this case the dosage is usually 25-50mg per injection and the duration of use kept to 8-10 weeks. This is usually supplemented by adding a mild anabolic such as Primobolan or Anavar in order to increase protein synthesis.

For men daily injections of 50mg are often used and, as long as the pain and swelling at the injection site which often results from Propionate use, is not too troublesome the usual side effects triggered by testosterone use are less frequent. However, it is still testosterone and, for those with sensitive metabolisms side effects may still be evident and include acne, accelerated hair loss, possible water retention and gynecomastia. These effects are not as common as with other long acting testosterones though and most athletes find that the frequency of injections is the only real hassle with Propionate use.

‘FRONT LOADING’ WITH PROPIONATE

One technique often used with Testosterone Propionate is ‘front-loading’ where the rapid onset of action is used to trigger quick gains in strength and weight while waiting for a longer acting drug to take effect. One example of this would be to combine Testosterone Propionate with Testosterone Enanthate. The enanthate would be administered at 250mg and the propionate at 50mg at the beginning of a cycle then, after the effect of the propionate decreases (2 days) another 50mg shot is injected. By the time the effect of the second shot diminishes (another 2 days) the Enanthate kicks in and no further propionate would be necessary. This would lead to a longer and sustained level of testosterone in the body. Some athletes do prefer to take Propionate throughout their entire cycle, injecting 50-100mg every day or every second day. This may reduce the likelihood of water retention during a mass building cycle but, once again it has to be weighed up against the pain and swelling at the injection site caused by Propionate use.

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.

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.

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.

Deca Durabolin has a long history of use in the athletic community and remains to this day to be one of the most popular basic steroids in the steroid world. The popularity it enjoys stems from the fact that it has a very high anabolic activity and produces significant mass increases with relatively few side effects. It also produces less water retention, has less effect on blood pressure and is far less toxic to the liver and kidneys than most of its mass building buddies.

Another interesting quality is that it has the ability to improve collagen production and enhance bone mineral content. This makes it of particular importance to athletes with connective tissue problems and those who experience joint pains.

Of course it would be misleading to present Deca Durabolin as a drug completely free of side effects. When dosages go beyond 400-600mg/week sensitive individuals may see an increase in blood pressure, prolonged bleeding of cuts, increased oil production by the sebaceous gland (leading to slight acne breakouts), increased hostility, increased sex drive and a fall in sperm production. Headaches can also become more frequent. Oh, and of course we cannot overlook the fact that long-term use of this drug by male athletes can lead to impotence (counteracting the increased sex drive experienced when dosages are kept within limits and for acceptable duration).

As for female athletes, women can usually get away with a dose of up to 100mg/week without any major problems. However, virilization problems are always a concern when women use any anabolic substance as individual sensitivities differ. In that respect, deepening of the voice, increased body and facial hair growth and hypertrophy of the clitoris are all possible – though not inevitable.

As with all steroids, diet is very important for effectiveness to be maximized. Protein intake should be high, as should overall calorie intake if significant mass gains are to be experienced.

RECOMMENDED DOSAGES:
Deca Durabolin is commonly used in the range of 200 – 600 mg/week. Going past 600mg is not really advised (of course there are always going to be reports of bodybuilders hitting 800mg/week).

Most male athletes experience good results by taking 400mg/week and, if large gains in muscle mass are the primary goal then stacking with Dianabol and Testosterone is not unknown.

For female athletes 50-100mg/week is the commonly used dose and this is often combined with Winstrol tablets or Primobolan tablets.

In conclusion, Deca Durabolin is often used where problems with testosterone use have been encountered. It is less prone to aromatization and is deemed to produce an overall sense of well being.

One word of warning for those intending participating in drug tested events though, metabolites of this drug last in the body for 18 months (and possibly longer depending on body fat levels during use) so it should not be used if a drug tested contest is in the foreseeable future.

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.