Steroids and Women

“Steroids and Women” for many people it’s an odd sounding phrase; after all, when you think of anabolic steroids you normally think of massive, muscular men. Most people have no idea how important the relationship between steroids and women truly is, but it is we assure you massively important. It’s true; many more men supplement with anabolic steroids than women, and of course, you can easily pick out some women who do, but the numbers exceed the imagination of most.

Anabolic steroids can be very damaging to women for one specific reason; they can destroy her femininity. While true, anabolic steroids and women can co-exist in harmony; caution must, however, be applied; we’re talking about responsible use. Women have fewer anabolic steroids they can supplement with safely, and further, must implement extremely low doses. Let’s take a look at all the factors, everything you need to know; we’ll explain the fear, how to avoid it, and explain to you why the relationship between steroids and women is so crucial to society as we know it today. Absolutely, we’ll even show you which steroids most any woman can consider, and even how to mix and match all her PED’s; in short, your questions will be answered.

Virilization

When it comes to steroids and women, there is a universal fear; turning into a man. As you know, anabolic androgenic steroids derive from the primary male sex hormone testosterone, and as such, while no woman will turn into a man, if she’s not careful she can easily display masculine traits. Many anabolic steroids cause what is known as virilization, specifically put, changes that occur due to the high presence of androgens in the body. Androgens are hormones we all produce, both men and women, and essentially so with Testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone being primary. Of course, men require about ten times the amount as women, and when androgen production goes beyond the needed amount for a female, masculine traits can manifest. The most common virilizing effects include:

    Body-Hair Growth
    Clitoral Enlargement
    Deepening of the Vocal Chords

There is hardly a woman alive who would enjoy such effects, but guess what; plenty of women supplement with anabolic steroids and never experience a single one. The reason is simple; they’re not idiots. They’ve done their homework; they understand which hormones to take and which ones to avoid. They understand if virilization symptoms begin to show then that particular steroid is not for them; we’ll explain shortly.

Avoiding Virilization

When steroids and women coexist if we’re going to avoid virilization, and we’re assuming you want to, the first order of business is to choose anabolic steroids that carry low virilizing properties. Some steroids carry higher virilizing properties, and logic tells us, we’ll need to avoid these; this isn’t rocket science. Even so, let’s be clear; all anabolic steroids carry a level of virilization concern, some higher and some lower than others. When we choose anabolic steroids that carry low virilizing properties, in most cases, most women will be fine, but there is still a risk. As we are all unique individuals, some women will not tolerate some steroids at all even though another woman may tolerate it perfectly. Look at it like dairy products; most of us can drink all the milk and eat all the cheese we want, but some of us get sick if we even think about a cow; some of us are lactose intolerant, but most of use aren’t.

The key to avoiding virilizing symptoms is straightforward; choose steroids that carry a low rate of probability in this regard. Second, if for any reason virilization symptoms begin to show, discontinue use immediately. Once you discontinue use, the effects will dissipate rapidly. If you ignore the symptoms and let them set it, this is where true damage is done, and in many cases, where they cannot be reversed. At any rate, if symptoms show discontinue all steroid use; in your next go around do some examining of your prior use. Was your dose of a certain steroid too high? Maybe you simply need a lower dose that is more tolerable; maybe you need a different steroid altogether. In any case, if you’re smart and pay attention to your body you can supplement without these effects becoming problematic.

Steroids and Women – Not Just Bodybuilders

Competitive bodybuilders; when it comes to steroids and women these are the only women supplementing with anabolic hormones, right? Nope, you’d be dead wrong; in-fact, they make up a very small portion of the steroids and women family. If it’s a physique based sport, then there is a strong relationship between steroids and women; fitness, figure and even bikini, you bet, thousands of them supplement. This doesn’t mean they all do, but the majority is well-versed in anabolic steroidal supplementation. Then there are the physique models, the women you see advertising for your favorite protein bar or pre-workout formula; of course, many of them are competitors too, but either way most are supplementing.

Physique athletes and fitness models, “yeah, yeah” you say; you already knew a lot of them supplement, but many aren’t aware. Then we have the next group, and this is the one that will surprise far more than the above. When it comes to steroids and women, never has this relationship been as important as it is to our celebrity population. Look at the women of the silver screen from fifty years ago or even twenty years ago; for that matter, look at the women from twenty years ago who look better than they did twenty years ago. Do you think this is all plastic surgery; is it because they have the best trainers in the world? While these factors indeed play a role, without anabolic steroids and a host of other performance enhancing drugs, the female physique as we know it today in popular culture would not exist. What’s more, anabolic steroids aren’t all that expensive, and as these women have money to burn they have no problem dropping a few grand here and there.

These are the women supplementing with steroids, but they’re not the only ones; nope, we’re not done yet. You can find women supplementing with steroids, and women in almost all walks of life doing so if any kind of fitness is concerned. Female performance athletes, and even the gym rats that don’t compete supplement on a regular basis. These women recognize what men have for nearly sixty years; anabolic steroids will create a physique that is impossible to obtain without. Granted, far more men still supplement, but the amount of women who do would blow the minds of most if they truly had any idea.

Top Steroids

We established early on there are certain anabolic steroids women do not need to take; such steroids carry too much risk to a woman’s femininity, and if she wishes to protect it, she must avoid such forms. With that in mind, the only question is which anabolic steroids can women take? Without question, the number one anabolic steroid for any woman is Oxandrolone; more commonly known by its most popular trade name Anavar. Anavar is the most female friendly steroid of all, and while men can use it to it appears to be far more beneficial to women. Anavar is such a female friendly steroid, in most performance based circles it is informally referred to as “The Girl Steroid.” This steroid carries the lowest virilization rate of any anabolic steroid, and further, will provide every last trait a female could be alter with supplementation. Most all women can tolerate 10mg every day extremely well, with some women handling as much as 20mg every day perfectly. In any case, most will never need more than 10mg per day, but if more is desired it is recommended you increment up 5mg at a time. If you respond well to 10mg and want more try 15mg, if you still want more, the next go around try 20mg; however, there is something important you need to understand. The higher you go with the dose, the greater risk of virilization. In any case, most women can tolerate 10mg of Anavar a day for up to 8 weeks remarkably well; in some cases even longer if needed, but 8 weeks is our max recommendation with most only needing 6 weeks.

While Anavar should be any woman’s top choice, there are other steroids that can be solid options. Of such steroids, Primobolan Depot is the second most female friendly anabolic steroid. Oral Primobolan can be used, but as it is not a C17-aa oral steroid it is not recommended as most of it will be destroyed by the liver. At any rate, most women will find they tolerate 100mg of Primobolan Depot a week fairly well, but they must limit their use with 4 weeks of use generally being a safe time frame and 6 weeks being the max. Then we have the Stanozolol hormone, more commonly known as Winstrol. This one is more or less a 50/50 shot; about half the women who supplement with it will tolerate it well, while the other half won’t. In truth, perhaps a little more than half will tolerate it well, but it falls below Anavar tremendously in-terms of toleration. If it can be tolerated, most women will find 10mg every other day to be all they need. Injectable and oral Winstrol are both fine, but most women will find oral Winstrol to be the way to go as it commonly comes in 10mg tabs.

These are our top steroids for women, but as we’ll see soon there are other performance items that can be added to a stack that will tremendously enhance it. Of course, before we move on we must mention a few other steroids in passing. There are some women who may find extremely low doses of Equipoise to be beneficial, and in some cases even testosterone; especially if the woman is testosterone deficient. Most women will not need to touch these steroids, but they can be useful in very low doses; we’re referring to extremely low doses. This is something you may have to play with a little bit, and you’ll need to keep an extra close eye on virilization, but for the majority, these are items they should not touch.

More than just Steroids

As you have seen, steroids and women can coexist; it’s simply a unique relationship that has boundaries if a woman is to remain protected. With this in mind, while the above steroids can provide tremendous results, there are other performance enhancing items that can be added to truly enhance a physique to its maximum potential. There are six items specifically that can be added, and we have listed them all with additional notes where beneficial.

    Arimidex: an AI that can be used for estrogen control – should rarely be used and only by the hardcore where absolutely necessary

    Clenbuterol: a potent beta-2 stimulator perfect for fat-loss – Clen, as its most commonly known stimulates the metabolism to perform at a higher rate

    Cytomel: a thyroid hormone more commonly known as T3 – an extraordinarily potent fat-loss tool – use should be limited to only when dieting and typically only at the end of a diet for 6-8 weeks max so as not to cause damage to the thyroid

    Ephedrine: a sympathomimetic amine that is a potent weight loss tool – works well as a fat-burner and appetite suppressor

    Human Growth Hormone: normally referred to as HGH, this is a powerful peptide hormone – of all things to add to a stack this should be your number one choice – very anabolic, will enhance the metabolism tremendously – will promote recovery and a more youthful look overall

    Nolvadex: a popular SERM that can be used to control estrogen – perfect for pre-competition – can provide a tighter look when body-fat is low.

Water In The Life Of a Bodybuilder

Any athlete, as a professional and amateur, is aware of the importance of proper nutrition and sport mode. No less important is the correct drinking regime. Common man enough to drink 30 ml of water per 1 kg of body weight per day. In sports, especially during intense exercise, the rate of water consumption increases.

Some people believe that in order to reduce weight and acquire a special fry should drink less water and more diuretic. This approach is incorrect. Of course, during competition course all the means are good, but in real life you can not restrict the use of water. Water is the best diuretic. If you drink your water ration (without replacing it with other drinks), the body ceases to save it in the interstitial fluid and excess water is drained.

Meanwhile, the water - a very valuable resource for the body. It provides the normal flow of all processes in the body, including muscle building and fat burning. During training, a lot of water evaporates from then, so to replenish its reserves is necessary. Furthermore, water produces energy in cell membranes, giving the athlete cheerfulness, driving fatigue.

Exercise, especially weight training aimed at building muscle, they require increased supply of oxygen. Therefore, is very useful for athletes to drink water saturated with oxygen.

During training, the sweat from the body evaporates minerals, the lack of which will help to fill mineral water. In order to ensure the normal operation of the digestive system, it is important to drink a glass of water half an hour before each meal. And, of course, do not forget about it during the day and during workouts.

Other beverages such as juices and dairy products, carbohydrates and fats in the rapidly digestible form, so it can be recommended as a means of recovery after intense training. However, those who want to lose weight a little bit, get rid of fat is necessary to replace these drinks with water completely.

Steroid abuse turns female bodybuilder into "a man"

Female bodybuilder Candice Armstrong's abuse of Anabolic Steroids has changed the appearance of everything from her back to her private parts
Due to her steroid use over the past two years, Candice has developed hair on her back, chest and upper lip. She has also developed acne on her face and has developed a tiny penis as a result of an extremely swelled clitoris. Similarly, her breasts now hang limp due to her overdeveloped pectoral muscles. Bodybuilders have been using anabolic steroids to bulk up for years but rarely do they cause such drastic changes as seen in Candice.

Of this dramatic change in her physique, Candice said "It happened gradually, people began to assume that I was a man dressed in drag." She now dresses primarily in male clothing and says she often gets called "tranny" on the street.

Candice has been diagnosed with body dysmorphia, which means that she has a distorted view of her body. Despite the extreme change Candice said that she didn't consciously decide to be a man: her initial goal was only to bulk up her upper body and reduce the size of her hips.

While the once slender blonde concedes that the changes to her voice and organs are irreversible, she has no intention of stopping her steroid use. She says that her changes have allowed her to do a drag act, something that she has "always wanted to do".

Candice is not alone in her abuse of steroids and the long term can effects include liver damage, changes in mood and lactation from the nipples in males. These changes in mood, according to bodybuilder Ed Gheur, are the worst of the side-effects as it continues the idea of improving your body in people who already have body issues.

CJC-1295 Peptide Hormone

CJC-1295 is a derivative of human GH-releasing factor1-29(HGRF1-29). HGRF1-29 is a naturally occurring peptide that is actually a truncated form of a larger peptide that binds to the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R) and causes the release of growth hormone. CJC-1295 has four amino acids substituted in its chain that result in strong binding to serum albumin and prolong its half-life in the body. A single subcutaneous (sc) injection results in measurable quantities of CJC-1295 in the blood for up to 13 days. Additionally, a single dose of 60 ug/kg of CJC-1295 results in elevated levels of growth hormone (125%) while the pulsatile secretion of GH is maintained. Furthermore, 60 ug/kg of CJC-1295 elevated IGF-1 levels to the upper limit of normal. A dose of 30 ug/kg of CJC-1295 given weekly maintained its response with no evidence of desensitization.

CJC-1295 is available on the black market and is currently being utilized by bodybuilders. A dose of 30 ug/kg equates to 3 mg per week for a 100 kg (220 lb) man and of course this would be doubled for a dose of 60 ug/kg. At these doses it may be cost prohibitive. Some are injecting CJC-1295 daily or even multiple times per day. There may be a danger of desensitization with frequent dosing. Many report seeing little gain with CJC-1295. This may be due to the fact that increasing plasma IGF-1 does not necessarily correlate with increased muscle mass due to changes in IGF binding proteins that may reduce the muscle-building activity of IGF-1. The “lack” of gains may also be due to users expecting AAS-like gains. Since CJC-1295 does not load water but results in lean gains as well as fat loss, large increases in scale weight should not be expected.

The Real Girl Power of Female Bodybuilding

Beyond the blinged-out bikinis and lucite heels, a female bodybuilder (and girly girl) has a message for the mainstream media: The frail and starved are being replaced by the fit and powerful.




I’m sure plenty of people were shocked when they first saw the Serbian bodybuilder, Jelena Abbou, flexing fiercely in M.A.C.’s Strength ad campaign. I wasn’t one of them. Bulging biceps under a ball gown? Welcome to my world. I’m a professional bodybuilder—and a girly girl.

As my colleagues in the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness pro league sometimes say, "I don’t sweat; I sparkle." I love manicures and makeup, but there’s a decent chance I’d be able to beat your boyfriend in an arm wrestling match.

Girls who look like Jelena and me have a message for the mainstream media: The frail and starved are being replaced by the fit and powerful, even if strides like the M.A.C. ad are happening little by little. I’m tired of skinny (probably hungry) girls being used to define femininity. Our culture wants to beat obesity and anorexia? So, believe, like I do, that strong is beautiful.

I started lifting heavy-ass weights four years ago, in part so I could carry all of my groceries up the stairs of my walk-up apartment in New York. But the real reason I’m a bodybuilder today is frustration. l was your standard cardio-crazed calorie counter—torturing myself on the elliptical and eating a rocky diet of bagels for breakfast, pizza for lunch, and carrots for dinner. I would get thinner, but the overall pear shape of my body never really changed. I never felt truly toned.

I decided I was going to permanently transform my physique. I found a trainer whose body I wanted: She was shaped just like an “x”, with sexy, curvy legs, a tiny waist, strong shoulders, and defined arms. She taught me to drop the five-pound dumbbells and pick up heavier ones. I focused on training four times a week, isolating one muscle group at a time.

I completely changed my diet, eating more frequently and with more protein, choosing steak over pizza, cutting out sugar completely, and scaling down on alcohol dramatically (and sometimes, totally.) So you understand why endorphins are my everything...

Training led me to the competition circuit, which means 5 a.m. cardio sessions before my 9 to 5 job in pharmaceutical sales, and post-work lifting, more cardio, and practicing my poses, including the Model Turn. I went pro in my third year of competing, and it felt like proof that I can do anything I believe to be true in the world.

Beyond the blinged-out bikinis, lucite stripper heels, and self-tanner, female bodybuilders are an example of the power of the human body—and real girl power. My competitors and I are very supportive of each other, because we know what kind of sacrifices we've all made and to be there. Sure, we’re all tired and ready to rip our fake eyelashes off and finally eat a cupcake, but there is a sense of pride that unites us all.

Still, it isn't all glamorous. I try my best to maintain a social life, but let’s be honest: Who wants to go out with someone who swears off alcohol and brings her own Ziplock bags of steamed tilapia wherever she goes? I was fortunate enough to maintain a supportive relationship for my first four years of competing, and my ex-boyfriend was very patient with the “hangry” (hungry and angry), super-ripped maniac blocking him from eating pizza in the kitchen. But eventually the lack of wine-and-fun filled date nights wore on our relationship. As the saying goes for competitors, I am married to the iron, at least for now.

I know a lot of guys are turned off by the possibility of me being able to squat more than them, but the truth is I’m turned off by them, too. My strength is empowering to me and not at all "mannish." I wouldn't trade in my muscles for anything, because they represent who I am—determined, proud, and female. Real men find that very attractive.

If you were jarred by your first glance at Jelena Abbou, look again. Consider that, as women, we’re continually trying to break out of the molds we’ve been taught to accept as beautiful. 

Clomid in Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)

One of the most frequently asked questions is how to properly use the Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) drugs Nolvadex, Clomid and HCG correctly.

Why Bodybuilders Use Clomid
Clomid is a generic name for Clomiphene Citrate and is a synthetic oestrogen. It is prescribed medically to aid ovulation in low fertility females. Another generic name is Serophene.

Most anabolic steroids, especially the androgens, cause inhibition of the body's own testosterone production. When a bodybuilder comes off a steroid cycle, natural testosterone production is zero and the levels of the steroids taken in the blood are diminishing. This leaves the ratios of catabolic : anabolic hormones in the blood high, hence the body is in a state of catabolism, and, as a result, much of the muscle tissue that was gained on the cycle is now going to be lost.

Clomid stimulates the hypothalamus to, in turn stimulant the anterior pituitary gland (aka hypophysis) to release gonadotrophic hormones. The gonadotrophic hormones are follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH - aka interstitial cell stimulating hormone (ICSH)). FSH stimulates the testes to produce more testosterone, and LH stimulates them to secrete more testosterone. This feedback mechanism is known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-testes axis (HPTA), and results in an increase of the body's own testosterone production and blood levels rise, to, in part, compensate for the diminishing levels of exogenous steroids. This is vital to minimise post cycle muscle losses.

Not all steroids do cause shut down of the feedback mechanism. Everyone is different and you must also take into account how long you have been using a certain steroid and at what dose in order to determine if you need Clomid or not.

Clomid also works as an anti-oestrogen. As it's a weak synthetic oestrogen, it binds to oestrogen receptors on cells blocking them to oestrogen in the blood. This minimises the negative effects like gynecomastia and water retention that may be a result of oestrogen that has aromatised from testosterone.

It's effect as an anti-oestrogen are quite weak though, and it should not be relied upon if you are going to be using androgenic steroids that aromatise at a rapid rate, or if you are pre-disposed to gynecomastia. Arimidex and Nolvadex (Tamoxifen) are far more effective anti-oestrogens.

Important note: Clomid does not, as is often thought, stimulate the release of natural testosterone, but rather works at reducing the oestrogenic inhibition caused by the steroid cycle. It does this in a similar manner to the way it and Nolvadex block oestrogen receptors in nipples to combat gyno development, i.e. by blocking the oestrogen receptors in the hypothalamus and pituitary thus reducing the inhibition from the elevated oestrogen. This allows LH levels to return to normal, or even above normal levels, and in turn, natural testosterone levels to also normalise.

Inhibition of the HPTA is caused by either elevated androgen, oestrogen or progesterone levels. On cessation of the steroid cycle, androgen levels begin to fall and Clomid dosing is normally commenced according to the half-life of the longest acting drug in the system (see below).

This may also explain the reason individuals often find post-deca recovery more difficult, as the progesterone presence is untouched by the Clomid. We know that Clomid and Nolvadex (being very similar chemically) are both ineffective with regard to reducing progesterone related gyno, so it is reasonable to assume that Clomid has little effect against progesterone levels.

Clomid During A Cycle
When we use anabolic steroids, the level of androgens in the body rises causing the androgen receptors to become more highly activated, and through the HPTA, a signal tells our testes to stop producing testosterone. During a cycle the body has far higher than normal levels of androgens and, as long as this level is high enough, Clomid will not help to keep natural testosterone production up. It will be almost all but completely shut off, in theory.

Some heavy androgen users, however, do advocate a small burst of Clomid mid-cycle, though it must be hard for them to say if it really of any benefit, due to the amount of gear they are using. Therefore, the only purpose of Clomid during a cycle is as an anti-estrogen.

When To Take Clomid
The correct time to commence Clomid depends on the type and cycle of steroids you have been using. Different steroids have different half-lifes (indicates the time a substance diminishes in blood), and Clomid administration should be taken accordingly.

As we have seen above, Clomid taken when androgen levels in our blood are still high will be a waste. It is crucial to wait for androgen levels to fall before implementing our Clomid therapy. However, if taken too late we could possibly lose gains.

The list below determines when you should start Clomid. Select from the list any steroids you've used in your cycle and whichever one has the latest starting point is the time to commence Clomid. For example, if Dianabol, Sustanon and Winstrol were cycled, the time for administering Clomid should be 3 weeks post cycle, as Sustanon remains active in the body for the longest period of time.
Steroid                              Time after                                         Length of
                                          last administration                           Clomid Cycle
                                                                                                   Anadrol50/Anapolan50:    8 - 12 hours                                       3 weeks
Deca durabolan:                3 weeks                                             4 weeks
Dianabol:                           4 - 8 hours                                         3 weeks
Equipoise:                          17 - 21 days                                       3 weeks
Finajet/Trenbolone:           3 days                                                3 weeks
Primabolan depot:             10 - 14 days                                       2 weeks
Sustanon:                           3 weeks                                             3 weeks
Testosterone Cypionate:    2 weeks                                             3 weeks
Testosterone Enanthate     2 weeks                                             3 weeks
Testosterone Propionate:   3 days                                               3 weeks
Testosterone Suspension:   4 - 8 hours                                        2-3 weeks
Winstrol                              8 - 12 hours                                      2-3 weeks

How To Take Clomid
Clomid has a long half-life (possibly 5 days), so there is no need to split up doses throughout the day. If Sustanon has been used and Clomid is commenced 3 weeks after the last injection, I would estimate that androgen levels are low enough to start sending the correct signals. If androgen levels are still a little high, we need to start at a high enough amount that will work or help, even if androgen levels are still a little high. Try 300mg on day 1; then use 100mg for the next 10 days; followed by 50mg for 10 days.

Female Steroid Cycles

Anabolic steroid use where females are concerned is a very seldom touched upon topic within the anabolic steroid using community. This is because the majority of anabolic steroid users land in the male gender category, as well as the fact that almost all of the clinical data in regards to anabolic steroid use in females is in reference to the medical applications, which in and of itself is very different from the use of anabolic steroids for the purpose of performance and physique enhancement. This particular section of this article is by no means designed to be a comprehensive guide to female anabolic steroid use. Instead, only the most immediate concerns and topics in regards to proper female steroid cycles will be covered.

The majority of the questions, concerns, and issues where female use is concerned will be explored upon in a later article. For the time being, the considerations as to the potential side effects in female anabolic steroid users can easily be accessed by reading a comprehensive article on anabolic steroid side effects in general, which would include the potential side effects for female users.

When female anabolic steroids cycles are considered, there are vast differences to be understood and considered in comparison to the average anabolic steroid cycle, which almost always is structured and designed for male users. The fact is that the majority of anabolic steroid use information, cycle protocols, PCT (Post Cycle Therapy) considerations, and many more common guidelines simply do not apply to female anabolic steroid users.

In summary, there are various advantages that female anabolic steroid users hold over male users, and there are various advantages that male users hold over female users. There also exist disadvantages that are different pertaining to both genders. These must be understood first.

Assuming the majority of preliminary considerations for all users have been noted (listed in the introduction of this article), the preliminary considerations for female anabolic steroid users is for the most part very straightforward and short in its explanation.

All female anabolic steroid users must understand the base fundamentals of what they are doing with their bodies: Anabolic androgenic steroids are synthetic analogues and derivatives of the male hormone Testosterone (or simply Testosterone itself). As stated, this is the male sex hormone, and females engaging in anabolic steroid cycles are simply inserting Testosterone (or related analogues) into themselves  in an effort to increase muscle mass and reduce body fat levels. Using common sense, any female understanding this will realize the potential for the development of male secondary sex characteristics (properly known as virilization). Virilization effects can include the development of male secondary sex characteristics (deepening of the voice, growth of body and facial hair), clitoral enlargement, and menstrual irregularities. It is also strongly advised to abstain from anabolic steroid cycles during pregnancy, as this is a particularly important hormonal period for the development of a fetus, and the inclusion of supraphysiological levels of androgens have been linked to birth defects in newborn babies.

It is also necessary to gain a proper understanding of which anabolic steroids are suitable, which are less suitable, and which should be not used under any but the most essential circumstances. These details will be covered shortly.

Oral Steroids Misconceptions

The topic of oral steroids is perhaps the most popular topic among especially newcomers and prospective anabolic steroid users. There exists no greater attraction to those looking into using anabolic steroids for the first time than the attraction of the convenience of anabolic steroids in a very convenient easy to swallow pill or capsule format. It is very important to first clarify several misconceptions about oral anabolic steroids that seems to propagate the uneducated general public. They are the following:

 Misconception 1: Oral steroids are safer than injectables.
 Misconception 2: Oral steroids are less effective/strong or more effective/strong than injectables.
 Misconception 3: Oral steroids are easier to obtain.
 Misconception 4: Oral steroids are cheaper.

Misconception 1: Oral steroids are safer than injectables.
This is perhaps the largest misconception among oral anabolic steroids, and is perhaps the second overall largest misconception in regards to anabolic steroids in general (with the first largest misconception/myth/rumor being that anabolic steroids will generate massive muscles without any hard work, training, or diet). The real truth is that both injectable and oral steroids both contain various risky compounds in each category. There exist oral steroids that present a higher risk of various dangers to the body, while there are also injectable steroids that present higher risks as well. When it comes down to it, oral steroids are both harsher on the body’s subsystems than the majority of injectables, and although there are one or two ‘milder’ and ‘safer’ oral steroids, the majority of them present issues of hepatotoxicity (liver toxicity) and negative cholesterol alterations that are far more impacting than most injectables. This is not a problem present with the majority of injectables with the exception of a select one or two, as the majority of injectable compounds are well tolerated by the body. The specific details in regards to why this is the case will be explained shortly in this article.

Misconception 2: Oral steroids are less effective/strong or more effective/strong than injectables.
Oral steroids are not stronger than injectable steroids, nor are they weaker. The anabolic strength rating (the determined measurement of how effective an anabolic steroid is in terms of the promotion of muscle growth) of various oral anabolic steroids does indeed match or surpass the anabolic strength rating of many injectable compounds, while several oral anabolic steroids fall short when compared to injectable compounds as well.

Misconception 3: Oral steroids are easier to obtain.
Simply put, this is not true. There exists highly popular anabolic steroids in both categories that are very easy to obtain, but it just so happens to be that the most popular anabolic steroid of all time is an oral steroid (Dianabol, AKA Methandrostenolone). Aside from this, the next two most popular anabolic steroids of all time are both injectables: Nandrolone (Deca Durabolin) and Winstrol (Stanozolol). All anabolic steroid sources and vendors should carry all types of oral steroids and injectable steroids in equal amounts available for purchase.

Misconception 4: Oral steroids are cheaper.
This is also not true. Within both categories (oral and injectable), there are both more expensive compounds as well as less expensive compounds, all related to factors such as popularity of the compound, ease of manufacture, ease of access, and so on and so forth. The overall price of an anabolic steroid cycle will also normally end up being the same in general, as anabolic steroid cycles should ideally be pre-planned and all costs and dosages calculated prior to purchase. At the end of the day, the overall cost of the amount of oral steroids to run in any given cycle is often almost the same price as any other injectable compound, with the exception of various more expensive compounds as mentioned prior. However, when compared to many injectable compounds, simple cycles, for example, of an injectable format of Testosterone ends up being far more cost effective than oral steroid cycles.

Post Cycle Therapy for Female Steroid Users?

Even men are the most popular users of steroids, women also tend to use them, especially those women who are professional bodybuilders. There are more men than women in this sport so almost every research is based on men’s organism. But consequences that steroids can produce in a female body are bigger and more significant that one’s appearing with men. But, women, just like men, use steroids to gain body mass and strength faster than they would get it without using steroids.

How are steroids used?

Steroids are not used constantly, there are periods of usage and periods of resting. Your doctor should decide how long periods will be and how high dose you will take. There are no universal rules because there are no two same persons. One cycle can be 6-12 weeks long and it considers that you take steroids every day during those weeks. After each cycle you must make a brake, so your body won’t get used to steroids.
Post cycle therapy is something that started to be usual practice just recently. It’s very important not to avoid it if you are using or planning to use anabolic steroids. PCT is used to help you preserve effects you gained during the steroid usage period. Steroids have big effect on our endocrine system and it’s important to help him recover from such a big shock. When you suddenly stop using steroids your body will be in some sort of shock. In medicine it’s called hormonal crash or post cycle crash. PCT is different for a man and a woman.

PCT for women

Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) for Female Steroid Users?There are so many post cycle therapies and so many people take it on their own, without knowing consequences they can have in the end. If you take PCT without consulting your doctor, you can make more damage than good to your organism.

With women it’s really important to determine their age and stage of life. Pre-menopausal females who have used anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) can gradually decrease amount they are taking as they come close to end of a cycle. Because steroids affect hormones, the best way that shows to a woman that her treatment is going well is her period return. Anabolic-androgenic steroids cause some kind of menopausal side-effects. It’s recommended to decrease AAS use until period appears. Also, women can do blood tests to see if her hormone levels are getting back to normal.

What PCT is not recommended for women?

Highly inadvisable post cycle treatment for women is SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulators) or ALS (aromatize inhibitors). These two kinds of treatments cause intense menopausal symptoms, so even very young women can face with that problem. They are literally pushing women into menopause. And menopause symptoms are really hard and strenuous even for women who naturally experience it. With men this is different, but women should avoid this kind of post cycle therapy.

SERM medications like Nolvadex and Anastrozole (Arimidex) sometimes are use in breast cancer curing, so they have really large and massive effect on female body. A woman shouldn’t expose herself to so strong medications if she doesn’t have to.

What PCT women can use?

HPGA and HPTA are highly recommended for post cycle therapy for women. HPTA is the hypothalamic pituitary testicular axis and affects brain and helps your endocrine system to control production of testosterone, the male hormone. How your body will react of this treatment depends on:

    individual characteristics;
    anabolic-androgen steroids that you used;
    how long your cycle lasted.

Today everybody can find different types of recommendations for post cycle therapy on the internet, but you shouldn’t listen to them all. Many of those treatments are written for male users and that not even indicated in the text. It’s important to see how wrong post cycle therapy can have harmful consequences in a female organism and go and consult a doctor before deciding to apply some therapy on yourself.

Dianabol - The First Ever Anabolic Steroid

Dianabol was the first ever anabolic steroid that was a potent mixture of both anabolic and androgenic properties, and that's what made it one of the strongest and the most popular drugs of its time. Dianabol certainly is considered as one of the groundbreaking anabolic steroids. It was first produced by John Ziegler with collaboration with the Ciba Laboratories in 1956.

Dianabol was introduced in the United States in 1958. The anabolic steroid became extremely popular in the States. It virtually became the favorite supplement of bodybuilders and weightlifters. The drug is said to be the favorite of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Dianabol is known for its ultimate potential of improving muscle size with least fluid retention. It also helps in suppressing or choking up signals which keep your muscles intact. It is also known as D-Bol or methandrostenolone in the pharmaceutical field. It is referred to as a muscle growth hormone. It has a 17a methyl group formula which helps it to pass through the liver and slow down the rate of conversion to estrogen. The drug has the capability of water retention which further helps in gaining great muscle mass and strength. It also promotes protein synthesis, enhances glucogenolysis and stimulates strength in a very fast-acting way.

However, the drug has some serious kind of side effects, which really compelled the US FDA to ban it. Some of the side effects generally linked with Dianabol include - acne, hair loss, headache, masculinising effects in women, increased blood pressure, and strain on the liver.

Dianabol was scaling the peaks of popularity when the FDA banned it in the year 1990. People however continued to use this drug even after it was banned. The drug is not really prescribed for women, but for men its dose is 15-50mg/daily orally or 50-150mg/week by injection. Nowadays, the drug is being produced by the Mexican pharmaceutical companies and is sold under the name Reforvit - b. 

Testosterone Propionate

Testosterone Propionate is an esterified form of the base steroid testosterone, much like enanthate, cypionate and sustanon 250. It's a superlipophillic, oil-based injectable that slows the release of the steroid into the blood stream. But compared to enanthate and cypionate, testosterone propionate is a very short ester and is still released quite fast. As such more frequent injections are needed. Levels will peak after 24-36 hours and begin tapering from there on out, making the longest possible time-span between injections, at least or proper results, about 3 days. Most athletes will opt to inject 50-100 mg every day to every other day.

It's not the most user-friendly steroid of them all. Frequent injections can be painful to begin with, to a point where users will begin scouting for different locations to stick the needle, in order to not aggravate the same spots all the time. To make matters worse, its not that pleasant to inject either. The injection-site can become irritated and swell, and sometimes give incredible itches or soreness when touched. All these factors combined, you can see that this is the best form of testosterone to start off on for most beginners. And still. As discussed with enanthate and cypionate, a long-acting ester requires some skill with ancillary drugs and familiarity with post-cycle protocol since simple discontinuation will not put a halt to all problems. In that aspect, for those who do not master ancillaries and post-cycle therapy, propionate is perhaps a better product to start off with. Levels of androgens and estrogens will drop within 2-4 days of discontinuation, effectively halting or reducing any occurring side-effects. Nonetheless, this is a testosterone with a high risk of side-effects (the characteristics of testosterone do not change despite the ester, which is just a carrier) so the use of Nolvadex/proviron/Arimidex and so forth is highly advised if you plan to see a cycle through.

What is of note with propionate, is that users have successfully incorporated it into cutting cycles as well. Especially people who tend to lose a lot of mass normally during extreme diet phases find this useful. By injecting every two or three days and using only 50-75 mg each time, no notable water builds up (or at least none that can't be fixed with proviron, arimidex or winstrol) and no fat is deposited, thus allowing a user to stay relatively lean. So this type of testosterone can be used to keep gaining or retaining mass until 2-3 weeks out of contest time with relatively little difficulty. Although most will choose to add Proviron (50-100 mg/day) out of precaution. Its best use is of course still in bulking phases to pack on mass. Testosterone is not the king of the hill of all mass-builders for nothing.

On the American black market propionate is not an extremely available item, its most popular in Europe, where its use is more wide-spread than that of the long-acting esters. Its nonetheless a desired item almost anywhere in the world because it's a very controllable form of what is no doubt the most powerful steroid ever. The cost is quite high too, easily running 2 to 3 times more for a weekly dose than enanthate, cypionate or sustanon 250.

Stacking and Use:

As a short-lived oil based injectable, most will want to opt for doses of 50-100 mg every day to every other day. Those of a lighter stature seeking to use it for cutting purposes may want to make that every 2nd or 3rd day, or add proviron as a precaution instead, 50-100 mg/day sufficing in most cases. The site of injection is best rotated each time, or problem can occur. The compound is irritative and the damage to the skin and underlying tissue can cause some cosmetic problems if it becomes repetitive. Subcutaneously , balls of fat or tissue can build up. In most cases these need to surgically removed. So rotating is wise.

For bulking purposes one is best to stack testosterone with a base compound such as Deca-durabolin (nandrolone) or Equipoise (boldenone), and can addition Dianabol (methandrostenolone) or Anadrol (oxymetholone) for 5-6 weeks, at the beginning, to kickstart the gains a bit. Most will choose for a more user-friendly, longer-acting testosterone for bulking purposes however. For cutting, the best and primary addition is that of Proviron, which will reduce if not stop estrogen build-up, increase muscle hardness and strength and allow for a higher free testosterone level. But naturally other compounds lend themselves quite well too. Base compounds such as Equipoise or Primobolan (methenolone) making a good match for longer stacks, and towards contest time steroids such as Anavar (oxandrolone), finaplix (Trenbolone) or Winstrol (Stanazolol) make the best matches, as they too will help increase muscle hardness and decrease body-fat, while maintaining lean muscle mass. With testosterone, most any combination is possible. Because testosterone is always the stronger compound in a stack.

In terms of ancillaries, the use of anti-estrogens is advised. For cutting puposes one will want to run Proviron alongside the testosterone for the length of the stack, which will rarely make the use of other anti-estrogens a necessity. If no Proviron or arimidex is used, you may want to keep some Nolvadex handy. Should problems arise starting on 20-40 mg of Nolvadex until a while after problems subside should be sufficient for all intents and purposes. Testosterone, being a heavily aromatizing compound, is also quite suppressive of natural testosterone (most so, safe for nandrolone) so a post-cycle therapy with Nolva/Clomid and HCG is necessary. Usually one will start HCG the last week or two weeks of a stack and run it about 4 weeks. HCG shots of 1500-3000 IU given every 5th or 6th day. That means during the end of a cycle, one shot of HCG is given per two shots of testosterone. A user should also opt to wait on using clomid or Nolvadex until the androgen is cleared. For longer esters that was 1.5 to 2 weeks, obviously that time-frame should be reduced to 1 week or even half a week for propionate. One will then start on either 40-50 mg of Nolvadex or 150 mg of Clomid per day for a period of two weeks, and then follow it up with 20-25 mg of Nolvadex or 100 mg of Clomid per day for another two weeks. Post-cycle therapy will facilitate the return of natural testosterone and make it more likely for the user to retain most of the mass he gained while on the cycle.

Common Steroid Pills: Types & Effects Of Use

Search Engines, what a luxury they are to Buy steroids! For they are a real comfort to those bootlegging myriad of extrajudicial poppin' pills, which frequently include Steroids! These pills are often based on various male sex hormones that lead to the development of secondary male sexual characteristics, for instance, testosterone. They are medically termed as Androgens & Anabolic Steroids, although on the street, they are better known as - juices, toners or candy!

As their name suggests, these steroids have both anabolic and androgenic effects. Through a combination of these effects, anabolic steroids stimulate muscle formation leading to increased muscle mass and strength. Some of the most commonly used steroids, both medicinally as well as otherwise, include, but are not limited to:

1. Prednisone: It is a dehydrogenated analogue of cortisol which is used as an anti-inflammatory drug in the treatment of arthritis and as an immunosuppressant. Thus, it is used in a wide range of autoimmune diseases such as severe asthma, allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, and to prevent and treat rejection in organ transplantation.

2. Nandrolone: It is an androgen (trade names: Durabolin or Kabolin) that is used to treat testosterone deficiency or breast cancer or osteoporosis. The positive effects of the drug include muscle growth, appetite stimulation, increased red blood cell production and increased bone density.

3. Equipoise: It is an anabolic steroid developed for veterinary use, mostly for treatment of horses. It has low androgenic activity and is often used by bodybuilders for adding strength and size because it increases the appetite. It is well known for increasing vasculature.

4. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA): It is the most abundant androgen secreted by the adrenal glands. Some reports are indicative of its role in the aging process as circulating levels of DHEA peak at age 25 and then steadily decline with age. DHEA deficiencies in older individuals have been associated with a number of medical conditions including breast cancer and cardiovascular disorders and thus it has been suspected for potent anti-ageing roles.

5. Anavar: It was designed as an extremely mild anabolic and has been extensively used for treatment of alcoholic hepatitis, Turner's syndrome, and weight loss caused by HIV. This steroid works well for the promotion of strength and duality muscle mass gains; although it's mild nature makes it less than ideal for bulking purposes.

6. Winstrol: The anabolic properties of Winstrol are mild in comparison to many other steroids and thus, it is stacked with other testosterone-based anabolic steroids. It increases strength without excess weight-gain, promotes vasculature and is thus pretty famous amongst body builders.

7. Steranobol: Chemically, steranobol has a chloro- group added at the 4-position of testosterone. It is an artificial, synthetic androgenic steroid with anabolic effects similar to testosterone. It is frequently used illegally to improve physical performance in sports and athletics and thus, is prohibited by many sports authorities, including the International Olympic Committee.

8. Testosterone: Testosterone itself has been taken externally to enhance muscle development, strength, and endurance. They do so directly by increasing the protein synthesis in muscle cells. As a result, muscle fibers become larger and repair faster than they do normally.

9. Tetrahydrogestrinone: It is a structurally modified anabolic androgenic steroid that is prohibited in sports. It was developed to flim-flam the sports authorities via manipulation of another prohibited substance to illicitly enhance sports performance.

10. Clenbuterol: It is a widely used bronchodilator in many parts of the world. In animal studies, clenbuterol has shown to exhibit anabolic activity which is a highly attractive attribute for pixilated sportspersons. It is known to directly stimulate the adipose tissue and accelerate the breakdown of triglycerides to form free fatty acids. It is used as a pre-contest drug.

Anavar and Sustained Weight Loss

One of the steroids that fit women well, Anavar (oxandrolone) is a drug that is mild on all fronts: mildly anabolic, mildly androgenic, mildly affects the hypothalamic-testicular-pituitary-axis (HTPA), and most important, mildly toxic to the liver compared to other steroids. These properties make this a popular, albeit expensive, anabolic drug, especially for top-level female athletes.

Originally made by Searle in the US but was discontinued after too much negative publicity, this drug is manufactured by companies like British Dragon Thailand and La Pharma Anavar Italy. It is currently marketed under trade names Oxandrin and Oxanabol. Anavar (slang name: var) is a class 1 steroid as it binds well with androgen-receptors (under the arbitrary classification system that is based on AR interaction).

While it is a strong AR agonist, the lack of non-receptor mediated mechanisms such as protein synthesis makes oxandrolone a weak anabolic steroid. Thus, it requires rather large doses for it to be effective; combating muscle-wasting in AIDS, for example, requires administration of Anavar in 20-80mgs doses. It is no wonder that male bodybuilders don't favor this drug well, as it is quite expensive and doesn't give much in return.

Another characteristic of Anavar, which is considered good especially by women, is its poor androgenic properties. It doesn't raise estrogen levels so the common side effects associated with AAS gynecomastia and water retention- are unheard of when using this drug. However, it may increase low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol) and reduce high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol) which can cause blood pressure problems. For women, masculinizing effects such as body/facial hair growth and deepening of voice are minute and are therefore not a concern when using Anavar.

Unlike other 17-alkylated steroids, liver toxicity is considered insignificant when using Anavar, unless administered in very large doses and used for prolonged periods. It doesn't pose as much hepatotoxic effects as Dianabol (methandrostenolone), another testosterone derivative that is altered at the 17th carbon atom (this alteration is usually done for orally-administered drugs to be able to survive the pass through the liver).

Anavar also shows minimal effect on the HTPA, particularly on low doses. Oxandrolone does not aromatize to estrogen, and suppression of the serum testosterone, Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) is slight. Of course, like other anabolic steroids, the effect worsens as the dose increases..

One characteristic that sets Anavar apart is its unusual fat-burning ability. One study shows that the drug reduced abdominal and visceral fat on subjects with low/normal natural testosterone [1]. In another research, appendicular, total, and trunk lipids were lowered with 20mgs/day of Anavar, without any exercise [2]. In addition to its fat-burning properties, the drug also allows permanent muscle gains. The muscle you get when you use Anavar may not be much, but you got to keep it after you stop taking the drug, as shown by a study wherein the subjects maintained their weight six months after stopping Anavar medication.
With this mixture of interesting and exciting effects that impact health enthusiasts, it is no wonder that Anavar gained many adherents. This is especially true for women, as it seems that the drug suits them well in all aspects particularly with the relatively low dosage indicated for them. The fat-burning and weight-sustaining effects of Anavar are additional benefits that make the drug more attractive. 

HGH Injections

Somatotropin is the medical term for human growth hormone (HGH) and the HGH used for injection purposes is synthetic. HGH injection is a powder which has to be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water just before injection. It should also be refrigerated as it remains stable for only a short period of time after reconstitution.

Anabolic steroids are synthetic substances and they do not exist in nature and since HGH is produced naturally by the pituitary gland, it is not a steroid. The HGH injections that are gaining increasing popularity among athletes and weightlifters are one of the most expensive drugs. The cost usually ranges from $800 to $3000 per month. The HGH injections are becoming popular as easy ways to build strength and muscles. The HGH injections abuse is also on the rise as it cannot be detected in urine tests. There is ample research to prove that HGH injections can have dangerous side effects such as liver damage, painful joints, fluid retention, and the carpal tunnel syndrome.

Another important issue related to HGH injection is its dose. Recent studies prove that the real benefits can be obtained with smaller more frequent doses. The proper dose of HGH injection is important and as a rule older patients require smaller dose as compared to the younger ones. However, it is suggested that you should not take injections to get the benefits of HGH. It is also suggested that HGH injections are not the only ways to increase the HGH in the body. The underlying effort should always be to help the pituitary gland in releasing more of the natural HGH.

Recent recommendations talk of products other than HGH injections for proper hormonal balance in the body and it is being argued that synthetic injections must be used only as a last resort. HGH injections can have serious side effects and therefore should be used only when advised by a qualified physician. The HGH injection pumps the hormone into the body so the pituitary gland doesn't need to secrete its own HGH. This leads to the gland becoming lazy and failing on its own functions. The close association between HGH injections and cancer risk is also a moot topic under debate. Certain studies have confirmed that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with synthetic hormones can lead to an increased cancer risk. The long-term effects of HRT with HGH injections however, are still not known.

With HGH injections being so expensive many users are turning to natural HGH boosters. These are products that can help you produce more of your hgh by stimulating the pituitary gland in your brain. This method has been successful and many users are seeing good results. HGH spray and pills are affordable and have no side effects.

Why Athletes and Bodybuilders Use Clenbuterol

Clenbuterol is a decongestant and bronchodilator prescribed to those suffering from chronic breathing disorders, particularly asthma, to make breathing easier. It is available in salt form as Clenbuterol hydrochloride, as well as in 20mcg tablets, in syrup, and in injectable form. Clenbuterol belongs to the broad group of sympathomimetic drugs, affecting the sympathetic nervous system in various ways, mediated by the distribution of adrenoceptors.

Other uses of Clenbuterol
Clenbuterol is a 2 adrenergic agonist with some similarities to ephedrine a sympathomimetic amine used as an appetite suppressant, stimulant, decongestant, concentration aid, and treatment for hypotension related to anesthesia but with more potent and longer-lasting effect as stimulant and as a thermogenic drug. Clenbuterol causes an increase in CNS stimulation, aerobic capacity, oxygen transportation, and blood pressure. It also increases the rate at with protein and fat is used up in the body and also helps slow down the storage of glycogen. Because of these effects, Clenbuterol is commonly used as a relaxant for smooth muscles, as well as an aid for weight loss. It is prescribed in dosages from 20-60 micrograms a day; a dose of more than 150 mg is not recommended.

Clenbuterol as a slimming aid
While Clenbuterol is approved for use in many countries as a broncholidator for asthma patients, the drug has been used as a weight loss drug or slimming aid. There are physical trainers who recommend Clenbuterol as a primary solution for achieving low body fat and better-looking cuts. In fact, it has become popular among bodybuilders and athletes.

How does it work?
Primarily a bronchodilator, Clenbuterol stimulates Beta-2 receptors, working selectively on the Beta-2-andrenergic receptors. Since it has minimal Beta-1 stimulating capability, Clenbuterol reduces airway obstruction without too much cardiovascular effect, making it a useful breathing aid for asthma patients. When Clenbuterol stimulates the Beta Receptors, it increases the body's temperature and heat production in the Mitochondria, thereby increasing the body's metabolic rate and decreasing a person's appetite. Beta-2 agonists increase lypolysis or fat loss and stimulate fat cells, making it an attractive slimming aid. Unfortunately, Beta-2 agents such as Clenbuterol can decrease insulin sensitivity and may cause high blood sugar or hyperglycemic reactions. Clenbuterol is an effective repartitioning agent, which is most often used in athletic circles. It increases the ratio of Fat Free Mass (FFM) to Fat Mass, by decreasing fat and possibly increasing FFM (3). It has a biphastic elimination and is thus reduced in the body in two different stages. Since it is a central nervous system stimulant, it acts like adrenaline and shares many of the side effects of other CNS stimulants like ephedrine. Side effects of Clenbuterol may include palpitations, tremor, restlessness, headache, insomnia, increased perspiration, and muscle spasms.

How Clenbuterol is used by athletes
Athletes usually use Clenbuterol after steroid treatment to balance the catabolic phase and obtain maximum muscle mass and strength. Clenbuterol can burn fat even without dieting because it slightly increases the body's temperature. This magnifies the effect of androgenic/anabolic steroids, thus some bodybuilders take these simultaneously. Clenbuterol is not approved by the FDA for medical use or as a fat loss supplement.

LEGS AT HOME

LEGS ARE THE HARDEST BODY PART to train at home. And there’s so much great equipment available at the gym — power racks, leg presses, hack squats, leg extensions . . . you get the idea. However, as this routine proves, training legs at home is far from impossible.
The front squat was included instead of the rear squat because if you’re a seasoned lifter, you can “clean” the barbell into place if you don’t have a rack. If this isn’t an option for you, replace this move with dumbbell squats, in which you hold a dumbbell at each side to do the exercise.

FRONT BARBELL SQUAT
START: In an upright, shoulder-width stance, take a barbell from a rack (or have a spotter help you), letting it rest along your upper chest. Grasp the bar with an Olympic-style grip, where you hold the bar in place with the ends of your fingers. This position can be stressful on your wrists, but stretching them out and slowly increasing the weight you use will help you adapt to this in due time. In addition to providing the most control over the bar, holding the bar in this manner also allows you to handle more weight and squeeze out more reps.
MOVE: Perform a basic squat, bending your knees and driving your hips back to lower yourself until your thighs are parallel to the floor or slightly beyond. (Look forward and maintain the natural arch in your back throughout the squat). Think of the movement like sitting back into a chair. From the bottom, drive back up through your heels to the start position.

DUMBBELL SPLIT JUMP
START: Grasp a dumbbell in each hand and step into a lunge position, one foot forward (that knee bent 90 degrees), the back leg nearly straight, toe down, knee
not touching the ground.
MOVE: Push explosively off the ground using both legs and switch foot position mid-air, landing with your other foot forward. Repeat for reps — one full rep is two jumps.

ONE-LEG DUMBBELL SQUAT
START: Stand on a bench set next to a stationary object you can hold onto. Grasp a dumbbell in your free hand, step to the side of the bench so one leg is in the air (with no bench beneath it, as shown).
MOVE: As in a two-leg squat, keep your head up and back arched as you bend at the knee to lower yourself, moving your hips backward until your working thigh reaches a point parallel with the floor. From there, drive up through your heel back to a standing position.
Move slowly and deliberately (especially in the deep position). Your non-exercising leg can be kept either in front of your body, which is better, or behind. To get the hang of
the movement, work without the dumbbell for your first few leg workouts.

SISSY SQUAT
START: Grasp a stationary object with both hands and lean back with your body straight and knees extended.
MOVE: Let your knees bend and extend out in front of you and lean back as your torso descends. Slight changes in body position, such as leaning back further, can make this movement much harder. As your knees come forward, your heels will come up off the ground. At the bottom, simultaneously push down through your feet and drive your hips forward and up.

The Difference Between Weight Loss vs. Fat Loss

For bodybuilding, having low body fat levels is essential if you want to display the muscles that you have worked so hard for. A big mistake however that many bodybuilders make is that when they want to get ripped, they focus too much on losing weight instead of just focusing on losing fat.

You see, weight loss and fat loss are not necessarily the same thing. Weight loss is very easy to accomplish actually. All you have to do is take in less calories than what your body burns on any given day. So if your body burns 2,500 calories, and you just take in 2,000 calories, weight loss will occur. The problem is that if those calories that you take in do not have the right amount of nutrients, the weight loss may come in the form of muscle tissue loss, water weight, and perhaps even some bone mass! With that being said, let's consider the three examples below:

Bodybuilding Diet Example #1

An example of a diet that can have a negative impact of this nature is a fad diet like eating just chocolate for example (let's call this "The Miraculous Chocolate Diet". In a case like this, because you are taking in less calories than what your body burns, you will lose weight. However, at least 50% of the weight loss will not come from fat. It will come instead from muscle tissue and bone tissue as a diet like this does not provide enough good nutrition to maintain (or slightly increase) muscle mass. The end results will be a smaller but still flabby version of yourself. Furthermore, your metabolism will be crippled by the fact that you have lost lean muscle which is one of the tissues that serves to maintain a high metabolism!

Bodybuilding Diet Example #2

In this example, the bodybuilder is a hardcore athlete who wants to work hard for his/her goals. This bodybuilder is willing to pay the price in order to achieve the bodybuilding goals. However because of his over-enthusiasm, logic is thrown out of the window and a bodybuilding diet consisting of 1500 calories, mostly coming from proteins and some good fats is implemented, in conjunction with an aggressive cardiovascular workout of twice a day 45 minute sessions and killer bodybuilding workouts.

While initially the body will respond well for about ten days, because the calories are so low and the stress on the body so high, cortisol levels will skyrocket, halt fat loss and start cannibalizing muscle tissue in order to cover the energy demand. In addition thyroid levels begin to shut down as well in order to lower the body's metabolism and halt weight loss.

So even though tons of weight will be lost from a program like this, again, the best you can hope for is a 50% split between muscle loss and fat loss (so if you lose 20 pounds, 10 pounds are from fat/water and 10 pounds are from muscle; not good). Thus, the end result will be a more defined but much smaller version of you with a crippled metabolism.

Bodybuilding Diet Example #3

Now imagine that you follow a diet that creates a slight caloric deficit. So if you burn 2500 calories every day, your diet will consist of 2300 (a 200 calorie deficit). Also, imagine that you are following a good nutrition program consisting of 40% good carbs, 40% proteins and 20% fats, and that once a week you consume slightly more calories than the other day (around 2700) in order to prevent a metabolic slowdown. Furthermore, you create an even bigger caloric deficit through your 45-60 minute bodybuilding routines and a cardiovascular program consisting of 30 minutes or so every day. In this case, bone and muscle tissue are preserved (or even improved upon) while fat loss and the release of extra water retention are maximized. This is obviously what we are trying to accomplish.

Conclusion

While any calorie restriction will bring about weight loss it is very important to distinguish between weight loss and fat loss. Regardless of whether a person is interested in bodybuilding competition or simply looking fit, this principle applies to everyone. So always remember, train and diet hard but also be smart. 

Women's Bodybuilding Training - Bodybuilding Fat Loss Tips for Women

Everyone knows what to do to lose fat, right? Then how come so few reach their goals and achieve that lean look if it's so damn easy to get ripped?

I could tell you the very same things as everybody else does, but I definitely won't. It's not only about the perfect diet plan and the right amount of exercise, the best supplements and so on; the most important part of a fat-loss strategy is your mental approach to it.

That's what I'm going to tell you about. Basically, what you've got to do is stick to your plan. Period.

First, let's suppose you do the following things already:

    You do at least 6 cardio workouts of 40-60 minutes per week, preferably pre-breakfast.

    You eat 5-8 small meals per day, emphasizing proteins, healthy fats and vegetables.

    You don't skip on the carbs post-workout. (Take in 0.5 gram per pound of bodyweight)

    You get at least 6 hours of sleep almost every night.

If those are in order, you can get better results using the following tips:

Fat Loss Tip #1: Getting Through The Hardest Of Times
Some days are tougher than others, especially when it's about dieting. I'm talking about those annoying moments when you ask yourself over and over again why you're doing all the cardio and for what?! You feel so sorry for yourself, thinking everyone else is better off, you're watching all 'normal' people eating ice cream every other hour, and you wish so much you were one of those lucky souls. What you must do is to motivate yourself to stick to your plan with whatever means you can use. The photo at the right is what motivates me.

Most chicks would kill for a gorgeous, fit body like this, but they believe a walk in the park will do the trick. Even if you told them it's a bit harder, they wouldn't believe you, since they don't want to face the truth.

Fat Loss Tip #2: You Never Diet, You Follow A Perfect Diet Plan
When I need to drop a couple of pounds, I never say I'm dieting; the mere word 'dieting' gives me the worst cravings imaginable! I just want to run to the supermarket, buying chocolate, fish sticks and other fattening stuff. I tell myself that I'm allowed to eat whatever I like, including ice cream and candy. And lots of it too. But, I must stand the consequences if I'm going to eat like a starving horse. I know that by falling for the temptation will make me fat and puts me farther away from my dream body. Then, I also take into account how satisfied I will be after eating the chocolate and fish sticks. I know it won't be for long, maybe only for a couple of hours before I start to regret it. And then it's already too late; I have just annihilated ten hours of cardio for what; a bit of chocolate?

Fat Loss Tip #3: Show It Off
There's nothing as pleasant as watching your muscles pump up during a workout session, so don't always wear your whole wardrobe at the same time; let yourself see the pay off in the gym's mirrors and you'll feel so much stronger.

Don't care about jealous people who blame you for just showing off. If they cannot stand perceiving a great physique, they probably have some major psychological problems to solve. You must get used to those pessimistic people who hate everybody who more resembles their ideal physique than they do themselves.

Fat Loss Tip #4: How To Get Through The Boring Cardio
Ok, there you go again...Sick and tired of the stairmaster already? Hey, you've only done it 40 times this month! Do a list on topics you can think about when working out. This is my list:

    First, I repeat to myself why I'm doing this boring chore. I mean, it's not always a lot of fun, mounting the step machine at 4:30 a.m., and I must not forget why it's of such great importance that I do it anyway.

    I tell myself this is the very last workout I have to do for my whole life. If I get this one done, I will always look good, always be fit and happy. (Yes, I know it's a lie, but my psyche is so easily duped!)

    I promise myself that I can eat a whole chocolate bar (the biggest one of course!) for breakfast if I only do the cardio. This is a big lie once again, but it doesn't matter since when I'm done, it would be so unnecessary eating something that makes my efforts meaningless.

    I visualize my ripped physique, every comments on my lines and how impressed people will be once I enter the stage.

    Listen to the very best cardio music; Irish folk music! I promise you will get totally energized!

    Visualize what the perfect feature of you in a major muscle mag like Flex or MuscleMag would be like. What questions would they ask you? What kind of pictures? What would the article lead to concerning sponsors, feedback, and model contracts?


Why Is It Critical To Visualize Your Success?
Well, as you're the one who's in charge of your goals and dreams, you cannot let yourself wonder about whether you've got what it takes or not. Who's to judge that? Well, you and you only.

Don't listen to those telling you it's impossible. They don't know, they just think they do. Of course, hear people out, but be careful about what they tell you, and what you tell yourself. Remember, you are what you believe you are! 

Myths of Women's Weight Training and Female Bodybuilding

The myths about women's weight training and female bodybuilding do not ever seem to go away. With this article, I'd like to share the facts regarding weight training and female bodybuilding.

Women's Weight Training Myth #1 -Weight training makes you bulky and masculine.
Due to the fact that women do not, and cannot, naturally produce as much testosterone (one of the main hormones responsible for increasing muscle size) as males do, it is impossible for a woman to gain huge amounts of muscle mass by merely touching some weights. Unfortunately, the image that may come to your mind is that of professional female bodybuilders. Most of these women, unfortunately, use anabolic steroids (synthetic testosterone) along with other drugs in order to achieve that high degree of muscularity. In addition, most also have good genetics coupled with an unbelievable work ethic that enable them to gain muscle quickly when they spend hours in the gym lifting very heavy weights. Believe me when I say that they do not look like that by accident. Women who conduct weight training without the use of steroids get the firm and fit cellulite-free looking body that you see in most fitness/figure shows these days.

Women's Weight Training Myth #2 - Exercise increases your chest size.
Sorry girls. Women’s breasts are composed mostly of fatty tissue. Therefore, it is impossible to increase breast size through weight training. As a matter of fact, if you go below 12 percent body fat, your breast size will decrease. Weight training does increase the size of the back, so this misconception probably comes from confusing an increase in back size with an increase in cup size. The only way to increase your breast size is by gaining fat or getting breast implants.

Women's Weight Training Myth #3 - Weight training makes you stiff and musclebound.
If you perform all exercises through their full range of motion, flexibility will increase. Exercises like flyes, stiff-legged deadlifts, dumbbell presses, and chin-ups stretch the muscle in the bottom range of the movement. Therefore, by performing these exercises correctly, your stretching capabilities will increase.

Women's Weight Training Myth #4 - If you stop weight training your muscles turn into fat.
This is like saying that gold can turn into brass. Muscle and fat are two totally different types of tissue. What happens many times is that when people decide to go off their weight training programs they start losing muscle due to inactivity (use it or lose it) and they also usually drop the diet as well. Therefore bad eating habits combined with the fact that their metabolism is lower due to inactivity, and lower degrees of muscle mass, give the impression that the subject’s muscle is being turned into fat while in reality what is happening is that muscle is being lost and fat is being accumulated.

Women's Weight Training Myth #5 - Weight training turns fat into muscle.
More alchemy. This is the equivalent of saying that you can turn any metal into gold; don't we wish! The way a body transformation occurs is by gaining muscle through weight training and losing fat through aerobics and diet simultaneously. Again, muscle and fat are very different types of tissue. We cannot turn one into the other.

Women's Weight Training Myth #6 - As long as you exercise you can eat anything that you want.
How I wish this were true also! However, this could not be further from the truth. Our individual metabolism determines how many calories we burn at rest and while we exercise. If we eat more calories than we burn on a consistent basis, our bodies will accumulate these extra calories as fat regardless of the amount of exercise that we do. This myth may have been created by people with such high metabolic rates (hardgainers) that no matter how much they eat or what they eat, they rarely meet or exceed the amount of calories that they burn in one day unless they put their mind to doing so. Therefore, their weight either remains stable or goes down. If you are confused about nutrition, please read Nutrition Basics.

Women's Weight Training Myth #7 - Women only need to do cardio and if they decide to lift weights, they should be very light.
First of all, if you only did cardio then muscle and fat would be burned for fuel. One needs to do weights in order to get the muscle building machine going and thus prevent any loss of muscle tissue. Women that only concentrate on cardio will have a very hard time achieving the look that they want. As far as the lifting of very light weights, this is just more nonsense. Muscle responds to resistance and if the resistance is too light, then there will be no reason for the body to change.

Women Should Train Hard
I have trained with girls that train as hard as I do and they look nothing but feminine. If you want to look great, don't be afraid to pick up the weights and lift hard! 

Breaking The Female Myth: "If I Lift Heavy I’ll Look Like A Man"

Does lifting turn women into muscle bound freaks? Of course not! Find out the physiological and hormonal reasons why women can't get as big as men.

You hear it time and again from females in and out of the gym, when it is suggested to them that they either:

    a) Lift weights, or...
    b) Increase the weight that they are lifting.

“I don’t want to do that, because I don’t want to look like a man.”

Many people, males included, have come to believe that for a female to lift weights means that she will somehow transform into the stereotype image of the female bodybuilder. This is simply NOT the reality when it comes to females and resistance training.

Hormones

The primary reason that females cannot gain muscle mass as fast or to the extent as males is the difference in hormone status.

Testosterone is one of the androgenic hormones responsible for anabolism in the body. It is testosterone that is responsible for masculine traits (i.e. excess hair - especially facial, deepening of voice, increase in muscle mass). Both males and females produce testosterone, as it is necessary for hormonal balance and body function (Marieb, 2004). Males have much HIGHER levels of testosterone than females, with the ‘normal’ range of total testosterone (in the bloodstream) being 0.95-4.3 pg/dl, compared to the 0.7-3.6 pg/dl of females.

However, it is not so much the total amount of testosterone that an individual has that determines their potential/ability for muscle growth, since most of the testosterone in the body is bound to either sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) or other non-specific proteins such as albumin (Wheeler, 1995), but their levels of FREE testosterone (i.e. the amount of testosterone that is NOT bound in the body). In males 0.3-5% (with an average of 2%) of their total testosterone if free, with their free testosterone normal values being 270-1100 ng/dl, compared to only 6-86 ng/dl of free testosterone available to females.

The female ‘equivalent’ of testosterone is estrogen. Whilst estrogen may increase growth hormone (GH), it also increases,

    a) SHBG, which decreases the amount of free testosterone in the body.
    b) Cortisol, which reduces muscle mass.

Muscle Fibers and Types

There is a similar distribution of the percentage of Type I, Type IIa, and Type IIb muscle fibers in both males and females. However, females have ~60-80% of the muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and whole muscle anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSA) than that of males. Therefore, despite the potential for muscle hypertrophy in a relatively short period of time, similar percentage increases in either muscle mass or volume as a result of resistance training, results in smaller total overall gains in CSA and ACSA in females than in males.

Resistance Training and Hormonal Adaptations

Studies have shown that resistance training acutely increases total testosterone in males; whereas there is NO change in females. However, free testosterone HAS been shown to be elevated up to 25% in females after resistance training.

Yet, because females have less free testosterone than males at rest, any increase is not significant enough to allow for muscle hypertrophy to the extent of a male. Therefore, it has been suggested that other anabolic hormones, such as GH may be responsible for hypertrophy in females.

Role of Diet in Gaining Muscle

Diet is an important component of gaining muscle mass. To gain muscle mass one needs to be eating MORE than maintenance-level calories. Because females are generally smaller than males (i.e. smaller bone size and mass, less muscle mass, etc.), they usually require (and eat) LESS than males.

If a female ate the amount that a male ate to gain mass, they would most likely end up gaining a lot of unwanted bodyfat along with muscle hypertrophy. Females are also generally more prone to eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, etc. that are detrimental to muscle hypertrophy, and cause muscle loss.


Masculinization in females does not occur as a result of (heavy) weight training, but rather because of the excess of androgenic hormones (i.e. testosterone) coupled with the correct stimulus for muscle growth (i.e. chronic resistance training AND diet directed at muscle growth). The stereotype image of the female bodybuilder in the media is a result of said females chronically using androgenic compounds (i.e. steroids) in order to increase their muscle mass and size.

For the female who is NOT doing this, they can lift as hard and as heavy as they want, and will come nowhere close to “looking like a man”.

Women And Creatine Supplementation

Should women use creatine? What are the benefits for women, how much is needed, and what type is best? These questions and more answered...

Women And Creatine SupplementationCreatine is the most common muscle building supplement used. It is also the most tried and proven supplement. I believe that creatine should be a staple is one's supplement arsenal if they undertake anaerobic or resistance training.

In saying that, many individuals - especially training newbies and those looking at using creatine for the first time - ask a lot of very common questions on creatine usage. I have compiled a list of the seven questions that I see asked most often.

Creatine for Women - 7 Common Questions

#1 What type of creatine should I use?

There are so many types of creatine out there that it can be confusing deciding which one to use. If you're just starting out with creatine, stick to creatine monohydrate - the most tried and proven of the creatine types - and use a straight creatine product, as opposed to a product that includes creatine and has other properties.

#2 How long should I cycle creatine?

Creatine cycling is a personal preference option. Many individuals cycle creatine, using for 2-3 months before taking a month or so off. Others do not cycle it and use it all the time - I am one of those people, and the only time I have off creatine is if I have run out of my creatine/product containing creatine and are waiting on another.

If you are considering creatine cycling, be aware that your muscle creatine threshold levels return to baseline after three weeks of ceasing creatine usage.

#3 Is creatine loading necessary?

No, creatine loading is not necessary - like creatine cycling, loading is individual preference. The purpose of creatine loading is to reach the muscle creatine threshold faster - this is usually done by dosing ~20 grams of creatine daily for five days. However, using ~5 grams of creatine daily for three weeks will achieve the same result.

#4 How much creatine do I need?

Once your muscle creatine threshold has been reached, 2-3 grams of creatine daily is enough to keep them saturated. You will often see ~5 grams of creatine a day recommended - this is well over the necessary creatine required to maintain saturation and more than this is definitely not needed.

Once your body has reached its muscle creatine threshold (between 150-160 mmol/kg/dw for everyone), then using more than 3-5g of creatine daily is not going to saturate them any further, so there's no point in using more than that.

#5 When should I use creatine?

Creatine should be used daily. When you dose it is entirely up to you - there are several times that creatine can be dosed, including pre-training, post-training, and pre and post-training. If dosing pre-training I recommend doing it ~60 minutes pre-training, and if post-training, immediately after finishing training for best effects.

#6 Do I use creatine on non-training days?

Yes, you can use creatine on non-training days - this helps maintain creatine muscle saturation. I recommend dosing creatine on non-training days first thing in the morning. As far as dosage, 2-3 grams is adequate.

#7 Will using creatine make me bigger, faster, stronger?

Creatine is only an energy source of the body. Therefore, it will not directly make you bigger, faster, or stronger. However, it can indirectly aid in the achievement of these factors if your nutrition and training are targeted towards them.