An anabolic steroid cycle is the time duration one, when the steroid is being used. The time-frame is known as “on-cycle” and when the steroid is not being used it is called “off-cycle.” The performance enhancing athletes use these anabolic steroids for enhancing their physical performance, though they are not prescribed legally. During the initial years, there were not many studies that said how these anabolic steroids affected performance and enhancement. With the absence of the actual data, people developed their own dosages and cycles. However, with the change in time, many studies with actual dosages have been conducted in real-life to observe the effects of anabolic steroids on performance enhancement.
The dosages in a steroid cycle vary greatly. The dosages can either be taken daily or weekly and they also differ between male and female users. Regardless of the steroid, it is always recommended to begin with a small dose and increasing it gradually. Generally, there are four steroid cycles such as bulking, cutting, lean bulking and weight loss. Bulking cycles are usually shorter – for 4 to 6 weeks and are meant for muscle size increase. Cutting cycles are designed to retain the muscle gains of the bulking cycle and to lose fat at the same time. Often the users experience with a lean bulk cycle by stacking a bulking and a cutting steroid.
Safety tips for a steroid cycle
Some safety tips should be followed in a steroid cycle. An individual should start taking an anabolic steroid only after he reaches 25 years of age and uses it only if he is into weight-lifting for a minimum period of 5 years. The first cycle of the steroid should be only of testosterone and no other steroid. It can be repeated several times in off-cycle period too for great results. Testosterone is considered the safest anabolic steroid as the body also produces it. Do not stack multiple anabolics in a cycle because it is a dangerous practice. The results can be quite daunting if one has never used it before.
Always go for short steroid cycles as long cycles can create major problems. A steroid cycle must not be taken beyond 4 weeks, with 2-3 weeks being the preferred one. One should keep the cycles short as there are multiple side effects associated with long cycles. If the cycle is longer, the body shall take time to renew the natural production of testosterone. Always start with a low dosage. If the dosage is low, then the side effects are low too. Therefore, it is advisable to take a minimum effective dose which gives the desired result.
The steroid cycles
The bulking cycles are used for adding mass. It is difficult to maintain the gains because the bulk formed is the retained water. First-time users go for bulking cycles because the cycles are cheap and also run for a short duration. Cutting cycles are used to burn fat and give a defined look to the physique. With proper workout, it is possible to maintain the physical gains made during bulking. The lean-bulk cycles consist of cutting and bulking cycles and they are usually longer. The experienced users experience with a lean bulk cycle, who want one or two cycles a year.
