Everything else you need to know about steroids

[tribal]

Syringe/Needle/Injection FAQ

by tsingtao (much thanks goes to 46and2aheadofme, superchicken, and Dr. Nguyen)

For many of you, this is common knowledge, but I'm sure that some of you still have a few questions about this subject. If you are new to steroids, this FAQ should answer your injection questions. We will start from the very beginning.......

1cc = 1ml

Gauge: The smaller the gauge, the thicker the needle. An 18g is much thicker than a 22g.

Length: Generally 1.5" or 1" for our purposes.

And yes, you can mix water and oil-based steroids in the same syringe.

now we can proceed.......

What is an intramuscular (IM) injection?
A technique to deliver a medication into muscle tissue for it's eventual absorption into the systemic circulation. Steroids, both oil and water-based, are administered this way.


What is a subcutaneous (sub-q) injection?
A technique to deliver a medication into the soft tissue (fat) immediately underlying the skin. Insulin, HCG, and HGH are typically administered this way.


What is aspiration?
To aspirate is to withdraw fluid with a syringe. More specifically, after inserting the needle, pulling back on the plunger of the syringe for a few seconds to see if the needle is in a blood vessel. Rarely, this will be the case and a bit of blood will fill the syringe. If this happens the needle should be removed, replaced with a new one, and another injection site should be used. And yes, if there is a little blood in your syringe, it is ok to inject it along with your steroid once you have found a different spot..........it's your own blood isn't it?

When aspirating, nothing should come back into the syringe if you are in the right spot. Pulling back on the plunger will create a vacuum in your syringe. The oil cannot expand to fill that space, but any air bubbles in your syringe will. You may notice the tiny bubbles getting bigger and bigger as you pull back. They will return to normal size as you release the plunger. If the air bubbles do not disappear upon releasing the plunger, you have an air leak most likely caused by the needle not being screwed onto the syringe tightly enough, although on very rare occassions, the syringe or needle itself can be defective. Either way, purge the air bubbles out, put a new needle on and try it again.


Do I really need to aspirate?
Those who inject without aspirating are taking unnecessary chances. Sweating, nausea, dizziness, severe coughing, breathing difficulties, anaphylactic shock, coma or death can all result from not aspirating. Most of the time, steroid users experience dizziness and coughing fits when they inject into a blood vessel. But you need to be aware of the dangers of neglecting this simple technique that should take about 3-5 seconds of your time.


What exactly is an abscess?
Abscesses occur when an area of tissue becomes infected and the body is able to "wall off" the infection and keep it from spreading. White blood cells migrate through the walls of the blood vessels into the area of the infection and collect within the damaged tissue. During this process, pus forms (an accumulation of fluid, living and dead white blood cells, dead tissue, and bacteria or other foreign invaders or materials).

Abscesses can form in almost every part of the body and may be caused by bacteria, parasites, or foreign materials. Most of the time, it is caused by unsanitary injection techniques. On very rare occassions, it can be caused by foreign particles your gear (a greater chance of this occurs when using/making a homebrew). The abscesses that we are concerned about are usually reddish, raised, and painful.


How do they treat an abscess?
Antibiotics are often given to aid the cure of an abscess but the real cure is generally surgical. A doctor wouud open the thing up and allow the pus to drain, then the body would take care of the infection. Some have even gone so far as to "drain" their own abscesses by inserting a needle/syringe into the abscessed area and drawing out the accumulated pus, although this is not recommended.


Can I reuse the same needle?
Yes, but only if you are an idiot or cannot obtain anymore needles. There really is no need to explain why you shouldn't re-use a needle. Common sense should kick in here, but the bottom line of re-using needles is an INCREASED CHANCE OF INFECTION. If you have trouble obtaining needles in your area, try finding a different way of getting them. The hassle of finding a source is negligible compared to the hassle of the abscess in your ass that would most-likely require a doctor and a scalpel. There are methods to "sterilize" a needle for re-use, but I will not delve into them. If you are still considering re-using a needle, re-read the above two questions.


Can I inject with the same needle I draw with?
Yes, but it is preferrable to switch the needle out with a new one. The needle dulls significantly when pushed into the rubber stopper of your vial or scraped along the bottom of your amp. You may not notice the difference if you inject into your glute, but try injecting into an area that has more nerve endings such as a delt or bicep and you will notice immediately.


Does it matter if I push the needle in fast or slow?
I would recommend slowly, but this is personal preference. A lot of people will tell you to jab the needle in quickly. These people usually stop that practice after the first time they hit a nerve going in at full speed (usually quad shots). By going in slowly, you'll have more time to react if you hit a nerve.


Where exactly do I inject?
A picture is worth a thousand words.
target=_blank>www.spotinjections.com


What gauge needles should I use?
for drawing - 20g, 21g

18g needles are too big and they will eat up your stoppers in a hurry. A bigger hole means an increased chance of letting some little nasties into your sterile vial. Sometimes, the 18g will take out little chunks of rubber that fall nicely into your vial. That is not something you want. Imagine injecting that tiny piece of rubber into your muscle. I'll bet the doctor would have lots of fun digging into your rmuscle trying to find it and mutilating your muscle in the process.....

for injecting - 22g, 23g, 25g - for oil-based steroids, 27g, 29g - for insulin, HCG, HGH, and some water-based steroids. 21g-25g for some lower quality types of winny or suspension, higher quality versions can use a smaller needle generally.

22g and 23g are fine for glutes and quads. 25g is preferred for the smaller muscles such as delts, biceps, triceps, etc.


What length needles should I use?
Most people can get by with a 1" needle, but if you have a higher percentage of bodyfat or are just plain big you should use a 1.5" needle to insure that you get deep into the muscle. You should only use a 1.5" needle for glutes, or if you have huge quads. For smaller muscle groups, 1" is the most common, although some people like to use a 5/8".


How many ccs can I shoot in one place?
It depends on how big you are. A general guideline is 1cc for delts, 2cc for quads, and up to 3ccs for glutes. Some do more, some do less......it all depends. After a cycle or two, you will know what your body can handle. If you are injecting into other muscles such as biceps, triceps, or calves, it's best to start off with a small volume and work your way up.


Can I pre-load my syringes?
If at all possible, leave it in the vial or amp. If you need to pre-load, just keep in mind that the syringe must be stored safely. Nothing sucks more than having the plunger pushed in accidentally and losing some of your gear.


Which is the best brand of needle?
Terumo, B-D, and Monoject are the primary manufacturers of needles/syringes. Both Terumo and B-D have an ultra-thin wall design (the wall of the needle is thinner, so more fluid can pass through the same gauge of needle). From personal experience as well as opinions from many other steroid users, Terumo seems to be the sharpest.



Common "FREAK OUTS"

I can't get all the tiny air bubbles out of my syringe....
As long as you tap it and get most of the air out, you will be fine. A little air intramusculary won't hurt you. According to the USH2 by Dan Ducaine, it supposedly takes about 10ccs of air injected into a blood vessel to kill you. I wonder how the hell they figured that one out.

I saw blood in the syringe after I pulled out....
You passed through a blood vessel and a little bit of blood entered the syringe on the way out. No biggie.

I pulled the needle out and blood dripped/squirted out....
You passed through a blood vessel. Apply a little pressure with your alcohol swab. You'll live.

I pulled the needle out and oil was dribbling out....
You injected too much in one place or you didn't inject deep enough. No biggie. Try injecting slower or leaving the needle in you for 30 seconds after you have injected it all. This should give the oil some time to dissipate so very little, if any, should dribble out.

I injected into my quad, and my leg was twitching....
You grazed a nerve. Usually it's a good idea to pull out and try another spot.

I don't think I injected deep enough....
If you think you injected into a layer of fat, don't worry. It will just take longer for the steroid to dissipate than it would if you had injected into the muscle. Eventually it will be absorbed. Don't let anyone tell you that you wasted it because that is not true.

[tribal]

Spot Injection Techniques
by Sledge

I have noticed that there are a lot of posts about site injections that lack important information. After reading them and talking with a couple friends on this subject, I decided that an article might help to clear up a few things. Some common questions are: What gauge needle should on use on which muscle? How many mls should I start with? What areas can I shoot?, What do I do if I hit a vein? You might notice that some of the things that I say will be different then the advice you get from others. This won't be first time that I don't agree with the other experts and I am sure it isn't the last. I am not claiming that they are wrong and I am always right, but I do have a lot of experience when it comes to spot injections.

I would like to share with you the techniques that I have used.
Sterility should be your first concern because you don’t want to get an infection or an abscess. Most people feel hitting a nerve or a vein is the first thing to worry about, it isn’t. Although I will discuss what to do if you hit a vein or a nerve later, if you get an infection or abscess you need to see your doctor and get it drained, go on a course of antibiotics and depending on the size of the abscess get it drained and possibly cut off. You definitely don’t want an oozing lump of infection on top of your bicep. There are different procedures to use depending if you use a single dose amp or a multi-dose vial, I will discuss both of them. All amps of steroids contain some amount of benzyl alcohol (BA) to help keep the product free of most of bacteria; this doesn’t mean that they are all sterile. Mexican steroids usually contain less BA and have more bacteria so don’t assume your oil is perfectly clean.

Always make sure your hands are clean before you do any injecting as well as making sure you have all of your needles and alcohol swabs ready before you start.

Multi-use amp: First you will want to hold your amp under warm water from the sink, this helps kill some surface bacteria as well as heating the oil slightly which will make drawing it and shooting it much easier. You only want it to be warm water if the water is too hot you can actually burn your muscle if you inject oil that is too hot. Then you use rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol to clean the rubber stopper of the amp. Then using a 16g x 1.5 inch needle draw the amount of oil you are going to be injecting into the syringe. Now take the 16g needle off and switch to your shooting needle, the size will depend on what part you will be injecting into.
Single dose amp: These need to be cracked open, you can use an actual amp saw to score the top neck of the amp and then crack it off, the best way that I have found is use the top of a pen cap, place the pen cap over the top of the amp and snap it off. Using the same technique as above you will use a 16g needle and then switch to your shooting needle.
Ok, now the oil is in the syringe, you have your shooting needle on and you are ready to shoot, we will start with:

Traps: Use 23g x 1.5”needles. Start with 1.5cc work up to 3.5cc When shooting into the traps you need to be careful of the veins and nerves that run up the side of the neck to the head, also starting with to much oil in this spot can cause a lot of neck pain. So start small and work your way up as you will with all of these injections. Start with 1.5 cc per Trap. When site injecting whether its for growth or swelling (there is no real scientific evidence that site injecting causes actual growth of the muscle tissue, although I feel it does and my triceps have defiantly gotten bigger since I started site injecting.) you need to keep balance between the right muscle and the left muscle, so make sure the amounts injected is even to both sides. When looking in a mirror you want to inject mid way on your trap between your shoulder and your neck, and slightly to the back side of your body. When you inject, I go slow, I know a lot of people suggest going fast, it seems that most people tense too much when shooting so by going slowly you don’t tense and there is less bruising to the area. After breaking the skin and slowly pushing the needle in all the way, you pull back on the plunger to aspirate, you don’t need to pull all the way back till you have bubbles floating in the oil, you only need to have a slight vacuum. If there is a slight vacuum or a bubble you are ok, if you hit a vein blood will come into the syringe, it’s not a big deal pull the needle out and move to another spot. If you hit a nerve it feels like a tingle and you will see the nerve make the muscle twitch, it’s uncomfortable so just pull the needle out and again start in another spot. Don’t mistake the twitch of a muscle because you aren’t relaxing. You need to keep your muscles relaxed when you site inject especially if it is a new spot for you. Now slowly inject the oil into the trap, do a 1/4cc at a time then wait a few seconds and continue till it is all in. Now when pulling the needle out pull ¼ of it out wait a few seconds twist slightly and then pull another ¼ out wait a few seconds and continue till it is completely pulled out. By waiting a few seconds you give the oil a chance to fill the space of the needle and you should minimize the amount of oil or blood that will leak out of the injection site. This will be the same procedure for all muscle groups.

Deltoids: 25g x 1” or 23g x 1” Start with 1cc work up to 2.5cc. All three heads of the delts can be injected into, although you will need help for the rear delt, the side and front delt shouldn’t be a problem. When injecting into the front delt you need to be careful of the main vein that runs up the center of the arm from the bicep. You should be able to feel around on the delt and when you hit the vein you should actually see it pulse under the skin, obviously you want to be either to the right or left of the vein. Again follow the same procedure as above and pierce the skin slowly and push the needle in slowly, you shouldn’t hit any nerves but like I said the vein is possible so just take things slowly. For the side head there aren’t any surface veins to worry about, but you can inject two different ways, straight into the side of the head and down from the top. If you inject down from the top it looks more natural as the oil will push the muscle up, in from the side makes the side head actually stand out. Follow the same procedure for injecting.

Biceps: 25g x 1”, 25g x 5/8”, 23g x 1” Start with 1 cc work up to 2cc. The two heads of the biceps can be used although it is easier to shoot into the inside head, the procedure is slightly different for the bicep. What you do is flex and mark the spot of the peak of the bicep, now straighten your arm and relax the muscle, where you marked it is where you inject just to the inside or the outside of the main vein. Although it looks like you are injecting to high on the muscle you aren’t, you want to inject deep enough though to push the head of the muscle up not have the oil sit on the top of the muscle, which will look like a lump instead of a bigger muscle.

Triceps: 25g x 1”, 25g x 5/8”, 23g x 1” Start with 1 cc work up to 2 cc. Even though there are 3 heads of the triceps you will only be injecting into 2 of them, the inner and outer head, not the head nearest the elbow. For the outer head you can use the 5/8 inch needle, again you will want to flex the tricep and inject in the thickest part of the head, shooting when relaxed of course. For the back head you can inject in two different spots, the thick area where the arm touches the side of the lats or the upper most part of the tricep. For the back part you need to be careful of the nerves and veins that run through this area of the arm, again injecting slowly does help here. When going into the top part you will be on a slight angle and injecting actually behind the head, this will help give a more dramatic look as well as extra shape.

Chest: 23g x 1”, 25g x 1” Start with 1cc work up to 3 cc. The chest can be a very scary area to inject into especially with all of the horror stories of Milos Sarcev almost dying from injecting Synthol into his chest. There are 3 main areas that can be injected into the chest, the upper pecs which are injected on an angle, the middle pecs which are injected straight into and the side of the chest. The upper and middle chest shots give more thickness to the pecs, while the side injection gives more width. For the upper chest shot the needle goes in on an angle, almost like you are saying the pledge of allegiance, for this shot I use the 25g x 1” needle, you need to go in deep enough to get the oil in the muscle but not so deep that you are near any veins. For the middle shot you can use either needle, it will go in the direct middle of the chest, straight in. These shots do take some practice and of course you still need to follow all outlined directions and of course stay relaxed.

Forearms: insulin needle. ¼-1/2 cc. For the forearm shots, I know you can use oil but I would suggest only using small amounts of either kynoselen or PGF2a, only because the muscle area is very small and you don’t want lumpy forearms. Since PGF2a and Kyno are both a thinner liquid much like insulin, it doesn’t require a bigger needle to be injected and the forearms are very sensitive so the smaller the better when it comes to these injections. You need to be careful of all of the veins that are running through your forearms, so having them pumped will make this a much easier process. There really is only 2 spots you can inject as far as I am concerned, either the top or the bottom of the forearm. Either spot requires you to be careful and slow going.

[tribal]

If you're ever in trouble for a steroid related offense....

Rick Collins, Esq.
Collins, McDonald & Gann, PC
One Old Country Road
Suite 250
Carle Place, NY 11514

Telephone: 516-294-0300

Facsimile: 516-294-0477

Web site: www.cmgesq.com

General email: info@cmgesq.com

Steroid-related web site: www.steroidlaw.com

[tribal]

Guide to buying gear on the internet

So you’ve decided to buy your gear on the Internet! After hanging out on steroid discussion boards, becoming trusted, and keeping your ear to the ground, you’ve finally arrived. Your contacts have trusted you with the e-mail addresses of several internet steroid sources. You’ve got the money to spend, and you’ve decided to avoid paying overinflated gym prices. But where do you go from here? E-mailing a source for a list is simple, but what do you do once you know what you want to buy, and who you want to deal with? What do you do when something goes wrong?

Setting up an email account

The first step in the whole process is to get a secure drop-box e-mail at either www.ziplip.com or www.cyber-rights.net. There are others out there too, but these two seem to be the most popular. Both of these services are free, like Hotmail and Yahoo!, but have security features that make them safer. Use this account STRICTLY for juice-related matters. Make sure your e-mail name has nothing to do with your real name, job, hobbies, etc. and change it up and abandon your account every couple months. Also delete lists that expire so you don’t get confused about which list(s) are current.

One useful tool to have is PGP (Pretty Good Privacy). I’m not sure exactly how it works, but PGP is a program used to encrypt your emails so they can’t be intercepted and read in transit. It’s always good to use PGP (you can download it for free on the Internet), and some sources have had policies in the past of giving a discount to customers who use it. There are resources out there that describe what PGP is and what it can do in depth, so run a google search to learn more.

Contrary to what you may have heard on the boards, buying/acquiring steroids for personal use in Canada is non-criminal (it's still not 100% legal, but you can't be criminally prosecuted for it). However, if you're buying a large amount you may be viewed in the eyes of the law as a TRAFFICKER, and this DOES carry a criminal penalty. If you're in doubt as to whether your purchase is small enough to be considered personal use, it probably isn't! To play it safe, log onto your juice e-mail account through a proxy server (you’ll find info on how to do this through an Internet search), or go to an Internet café. Internet cafes are the safest and easiest bet.

Getting lists

Once you’re set up with your account, use your account to e-mail each of the sources you know and ask for a list of products available from him. To stay safe, most of these guys only work through referral, so mention the moderator or board member who referred you or they’ll probably ignore you. On a related topic, guard your source's info at all times! Don't give his e-mail address out to just anyone, and avoid posting or discussing his name and reputation in public. The more attention you bring to your source, the greater the chance of getting law enforcement attention brought on him as well. This is bad for your source because he can get taken down, and bad for YOU because you'll then have to find another great source!

Ordering

Once they all get back to you, compare lists and decide who you want to order from. Canadian orders have almost zero risk of seizure, since the mail system is internal and doesn’t usually go through Customs. International orders, like from China or Eastern Europe, might be more attractive because of lower prices, but you have a higher risk of seizure. Also, be warned that although buying steroids is non-criminal in Canada, IMPORTING them into Canada from a foreign country IS a criminal offense. Bear this risk in mind when ordering internationally.

Also, be ready to LOSE all your money. Don’t spend more than you can afford to lose! Sometimes good sources get in a bad financial spot and take your money to pay off their debts to “organizations”. Sometimes the source leaves his house to go get and mail your gear, and gets arrested on his way to the post office. And sometimes someone may just decide one day to become a SCAMMER. Above all, AVOID flashy web sites like PharmaGroup.com, steroids.com and other websites with pictures etc that sell steroids. These are usually SCAMS, and even if they do really sell steroids their prices are crazy and seizures are high.

Once you’ve decided what you want and how much of it you need, send an email to the source stating that. He’ll get back to you with a total price and instructions on where and how to send money. You can try to bring this price down a bit through bargaining, but usually he won’t budge more than 10-15%. The markup vs. risk on steroid products over the internet is usually fairly low because of heavy competition in Canada and internationally (gym prices are another story!). Your source will also ask which address you want the gear sent to. Use your real address if you have to, but use only your first initial and change your last name a bit—if your name is Adam Gladstein, put “A. Goldstein” for example. This way you can claim your pack at the post office with ID if the mailman leaves a delivery notice card (you can say “I ordered these computer parts over the phone and it looks like they didn’t hear me well and butchered my name”). This way there’s still enough of an error there so that your lawyer could get you out of trouble if you ever have legal problems.

All Canadian transactions are usually done through cash only, sent by Xpresspost so it can be tracked. That way nobody screws anybody—if the money was sent it’ll show it was sent, and if the money was received it’ll show it was received. Also, Xpresspost carries a base amount of $100 insurance on a shipment in case it gets lost. Because you’re sending cash in the mail you need to disguise it too. 3 LAYERS of protection from prying eyes is a good guideline. You want to make sure that if the corner of your envelope gets torn, the postal worker won’t look in and see a bunch of $20 bills floating around inside. The best way to go is to put the money in an envelope, the envelope in the center of a paperback book (tape it closed), and the book in a yellow bubble envelope. That way if the tough bubble envelope gets torn, all anyone would see inside is some cheap book. You can do the same with CD cases or magazines. Don’t use magazines like MAXIM or a Musclemag with tits and ass on the cover, or the postal worker may just decide to open the pack to read it on his lunch break. Use something boring like CAA magazine or Better Homes and Gardens if you must use a magazine.

With international orders, there are usually more options available. You can send the money through Western Union, Moneygram, evocash (www.evocash.com), or using a blank money order, depending on the source's preferences. Sending cash through the mail to foreign countries is always a bad idea, so avoid it if you can.

Potential Problems

Damaged gear

Once your source has the money he’ll send your product to you, again by Xpresspost. If anything is broken or damaged, let him know right away through email. A good source will send you a replacement right away. Proper packaging to avoid damage to the goods is his responsibility. Also, if a dirty ampoule or vial full of “floaties” was sent by accident (it happens), again let him know right away. Your source doesn’t want you injecting unsterile crap into your body, because a bad experience with his gear (like an infection) means no repeat business from you.

Delays

Sometimes a source will be overzealous or just may have screwed up, and they’ll accept your money without actually having the product in stock. They THOUGHT by the time your money came they’d have it, but they were wrong. So you might end up waiting a few days or sometimes even weeks to get your stuff. In cases like this just wait it out, and of course don’t do business with that source again.

Seizures

If your International order never shows up, either you’ve been scammed or it’s probably been seized by Canada Customs (if the reputation of the source is good, Customs is almost always the culprit). If the order was sent Express or registered, then you can track it and see for sure. If the tracking shows that Canada Customs inspected it and the tracking details stop there, it’s been nailed. Often there’s no tracking on an international order because express/tracked shipping gets more attention from Customs, or because you didn't want to pay an additional $30 or more for express shipping. So if an order with no tracking number on it is never received, you’re pretty much screwed. The source has only your word to go on, and a lot of people try to scam him—why should he trust YOU? The exceptions are usually A) When you’ve been a good past customer of the source and/or B) When you’re a veteran ("vet") or Moderator on an Internet steroid discussion board, who’s trusted by the internet juice community. Sometimes a vet or Moderator can intervene for you and vouch for you on your behalf with the source, but it doesn’t guarantee anything.

Usually when you’re new and the source doesn’t know you, what you need for your case is a Seizure Notice from Canada Customs. A seizure notice is supposed to be sent when Customs grabs your non-legal-for-import goodies. Basically it’s a paper telling you what was seized and why it was seized. If you scan your seizure notice and e-mail it to your source, he’ll usually resend right away. There are two problems with seizure notices though: First, because of government bureaucracy they usually take a LONG time to get to you (months). Second, Customs is getting wise to the fact that Seizure Notice = Re-send from source. So now, in most cases where steroids are seized, they don’t send the Notice at all.

[tribal]

Blood Testing - A necessity in AAS usage

A Comprehensive Look at Lab Tests
by Cy Willson

You just had some blood work done, and the friggin' doctor or his nurses are guarding the results as if they're state secrets. However, after much cajoling and explaining that you'd like to at least be an informed partner in your own goshdarn health care, they begrudgingly give you a copy of your lab tests.

Trouble is, as much as you've been posturing about how you've had more than a smattering of medical education, you still can't figure out what half the tests are for and whether or not those abnormal values are anything to worry about.

Well, in the following article, I'm going to go over each of the most common tests. I'll include why it's performed, what it tells you, and what the typical ranges are for normal humans. That way, you'll have something more to go on in assessing your health other than your family doctor saying, "Well, these few values are a little worrisome, but you'll probably be okay."

One note, though, before I get started. The values I'll be listing are merely averages and the ranges may vary slightly from laboratory to laboratory. Also, if there's only one range given, it applies to both men and women.

Lipid Panel — Used to determine possible risk for coronary and vascular disease. In other words, heart disease.

HDL/LDL and Total Cholesterol

These lipoproteins should look rather familiar to most of you. HDL is simply the "good" lipoprotein that acts as a scavenger molecule and prevents a buildup of material. LDL is the "bad" lipoprotein which collects in arterial walls and causes blockage or a reduction in blood flow. The total cholesterol to HDL ratio is also important. I went in to detail about this particular subject — as well as how to improve your lipid profile — in my article "Bad Blood".

Nevertheless, a quick remonder: your HDL should be 35 or higher; LDL below 130; and total to HDL ratio should be below 3.5. Oh and don't forget VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) which can be extremely worrisome. You should have less than 30 mg/dl in order to not be considered at risk for heart disease.

On a side note, I'm sure some of you are wishing that you had abnormally low plasma cholesterol levels (as if it's something to brag about), but the fact is that having extremely low cholesterol levels is actually indicative of severe liver disease.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are simply a form of fat that exists in the bloodstream. They're transported by two other culprits, VLDL and LDL. A high level of triglycerides is also a risk factor for heart disease as well. Triglycerides levels can be increased if food or alcohol is consumed 12 to 24 hours prior to the blood draw and this is the reason why you're asked to fast for 12-14 hours from food and abstain from alcohol for 24 hours. Here are the normal ranges for healthy humans.

16-19 yr. old male
40-163 mg/dl

Adult Male
40-160 mg/dl

16-19 yr. old female
40-128 mg/dl

Adult Female
35-135 mg/dl

Homocysteine

Unfortunately, this test isn't always ordered by the doctor. It should be. Homocysteine is formed in the metabolism of the dietary amino acid methionine. The problem is that it's a strong risk factor for atherosclerosis. In other words, high levels may cause you to have a heart attack. A good number of lifters should be concerned with this value as homocysteine levels rise with anabolic steroid usage.

Luckily, taking folic acid (about 400-800 mcg.) as well as taking a good amount of all B vitamins in general will go a long way in terms of preventing a rise in levels of homocysteine.

Normal ranges:

Males and Females age 0-30
4.6-8.1 umol/L

Males age 30-59
6.3-11.2 umol/L

Females age 30-59
4.5-7.9 umol/L

>59 years of age
5.8-11.9 umol/L

The Hemo Profile

These are various tests that examine a number of components of your blood and look for any abnormalities that could be indicative of serious diseases that may result in you being an extra in the HBO show, "Six Feet Under."

WBC Total (White Blood Cell)

Also referred to as leukocytes, a fluctuation in the number of these types of cells can be an indicator of things like infections and disease states dealing with immunity, cancer, stress, etc.

Normal ranges:

4,500-11,000/mm3

Neutrophils

This is one type of white blood cell that's in circulation for only a very short time. Essentially their job is phagocytosis, which is the process of killing and digesting bacteria that cause infection. Both severe trauma and bacterial infections, as well as inflammatory or metabolic disorders and even stress, can cause an increase in the number of these cells. Having a low number of neutrophils can be indicative of a viral infection, a bacterial infection, or a rotten diet.

Normal ranges:

2,500-8,000 cells per mm3

RBC (Red Blood Cell)

These blood cells also called erythrocytes and their primary function is to carry oxygen (via the hemoglobin contained in each RBC) to varioustissues as well as giving our blood that cool "red" color. Unlike WBC, RBC survive in peripheral blood circulation for approximately 120 days. A decrease in the number of these cells can result in anemia which could stem from dietary insufficiencies. An increase in number can occur when androgens are used. This is because androgens increase EPO (erythropoietin) production which in turn increases RBC count and thus elevates blood volume. This is essentially why some androgens are better than others at increasing "vascularity." Anyhow, the danger in this could be an increase in blood pressure or a stroke.

Androgen-using lifters who have high values should consider making modifications to their stack and/or immediately donating some blood.

Normal ranges:

Adult Male
4,700,000-6,100,000 cells/uL

Adult Female
4,200,000-5,400,000 cells/uL

Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is what serves as a carrier for both oxygen and carbon dioxide transportation. Molecules of this are found within each red blood cell. An increase in hemoglobin can be an indicator of congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure, sever burns, or dehydration. Being at high altitudes, or the use of androgens, can cause an increase as well. A decrease in number can be a sign of anemia, lymphoma, kidney disease, sever hemorrhage, cancer, sickle cell anemia, etc.

Normal ranges:

Males and females 6-18 years
10-15.5 g/dl

Adult Males
14-18 g/dl

Adult Females
12-16 g/dl

Hematocrit

The hematocrit is used to measure the percentage of the total blood volume that's made up of red blood cells. An increase in percentage may be indicative of congenital heart disease, dehydration, diarrhea, burns, etc. A decrease in levels may be indicative of anemia, hyperthyroidism, cirrhosis, hemorrhage, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, pregnancy, malnutrition, a sucking knife wound to the chest, etc.

Normal ranges:

Male and Females age 6-18 years
32-44%

Adult Men
42-52%

Adult Women
37-47%

MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume)

This is one of three red blood cell indices used to check for abnormalities. The MCV is the size or volume of the average red blood cell. A decrease in MCV would then indicate that the RBC's are abnormally large(or macrocytic), and this may be an indicator of iron deficiency anemia or thalassemia. When an increase is noted, that would indicate abnormally small RBC (microcytic), and this may be indicative of a vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency as well as liver disease.

Normal ranges:

Adult Male
80-100 fL

Adult Female
79-98 fL

12-18 year olds
78-100 fL

MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin)

The MCH is the weight of hemoglobin present in the average red blood cell. This is yet another way to assess whether some sort of anemia or deficiency is present.

Normal ranges:

12-18 year old
35-45 pg

Adult Male
26-34 pg

Adult Female
26-34 pg


MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration)

The MCHC is the measurement of the amount of hemoglobin present in the average red blood cell as compared to its size. A decrease in number is an indicator of iron deficiency, thalassemia, lead poisoning, etc. An increase is sometimes seen after androgen use.

Normal ranges:

12-18 year old
31-37 g/dl

Adult Male
31-37 g/dl

Adult Female
30-36 g/dl

RDW (Red Cell Distribution Width)

The RDW is an indicator of the variation in red blood cell size. It's used in order to help classify certain types of anemia, and to see if some of the red blood cells need their suits tailored. An increase in RDW can be indicative of iron deficiency anemia, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anemia, and diseases like sickle cell anemia.

Normal ranges:

Adult Mal
11.7-14.2%

Adult Female
11.7-14.2%

[tribal]

Blood Testing - A necessity in AAS usage - Part 2

Platelets

Platelets or thrombocytes are essential for your body's ability to form blood clots and thus stop bleeding. They're measured in order to assess the likelihood of certain disorders or diseases. An increase can be indicative of a malignant disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, iron deficiency anemia, etc. A decrease can be indicative of much more, including things like infection, various types of anemia, leukemia, etc.

On a side note for these ranges, anything above 1 million/mm3 would be considered a critical value and should warrant concern and/or giving second thoughts as to whether you should purchase a lifetime subscription to Muscle Media.

Normal ranges:

Child
150,000-400,000/mm3
(Most commonly displayed in SI units of 150-400 x 10(9th)/L

Adult
150,000-400,000/mm3
(Most commonly displayed in SI units of 150-400 x 10(9th)/L

ABS (Differential Count)

The differential count measures the percentage of each type of leukocyte or white blood cell present in the same specimen. Using this, they can determine whether there's a bacterial or parasitic infection, as well as immune reactions, etc.

Pt. 2

Neutrophils

As explained previously, severe trauma and bacterial infections, as well as inflammatory disorders, metabolic disorders, and even stress can cause an increase in the number of these cells. Also, on the other side of the spectrum, a low number of these cells can indicate a viral infection, a bacterial infection, or a deficient diet.

Percentile Range:

55-70%

Basophils

These cells, and in particular, eosinophils, are present in the event of an allergic reaction as well as when a parasite is present. These types of cells don't increase in response to viral or bacterial infections so if an increased count is noted, it can be deduced that either an allergic response has occurred or a parasite has taken up residence in your shorts.

Percentile Range:

Basophils
0.5-1%

Eosinophils
1-4%

Lymphocytes and Monocytes

Lymphocytes can be divided in to two different types of cells: T cells and B cells. T cells are involved in immune reactions and B cells are involved in antibody production. The main job of lymphocytes in general is to fight off — Bruce Lee style — bacterial and viral infections.

Monocytes are similar to neutrophils but are produced more rapidly and stay in the system for a longer period of time.

Percentile Range:

Lymphocytes
20-40%

Monocytes
2-8%

Selected Clinical Values

Sodium

This cation (an ion with a postive charge) is mainly found in extracellular spaces and is responsible for maintaining a balance of water in the body. When sodium in the blood rises, the kidneys will conserve water and when the sodium concentration is low, the kidneys conserve sodium and excrete water. Increased levels can result from excessive dietary intake, Cushing's syndrome, excessive sweating, burns, forgetting to drink for a week, etc. Decreased levels can result from a deficient diet, Addison's disease, diarrhea, vomiting, chronic renal insufficiency, excessive water intake, congestive heart failure, etc. Anabolic steroids will lead to an increased level of sodium as well.

Normal range:

Adults
136-145 mEq/L

Potassium

On the other side of the spectrum, you have the most important intracellular cation. Increased levels can be an indicator of excessive dietary intake, acute renal failure, aldosterone-inhibiting diuretics, a crushing injury to tissues, infection, acidosis, dehydration, etc. Decreased levels can be indicative of a deficient dietary intake, burns, diarrhea or vomiting, diuretics, Cushing's syndrome, licorice consumption, insulin use, cystic fibrosis, trauma, surgery, etc.

Normal range:

Adults
3.5-5 mEq/L

Chloride

This is the major extracellular anion (an ion carrying a negative charge). Its purpose it is to maintain electrical neutrality with sodium. It also serves as a buffer in order to maintain the pH balance of the blood. Chloride typically accompanies sodium and thus the causes for change are essentially the same.

Normal range:

Adult
98-106 mEq/L

Carbon Dioxide

The CO2 content is used to evaluate the pH of the blood as well as aid in evaluation of electrolyte levels. Increased levels can be indicative of severe diarrhea, starvation, vomiting, emphysema, metabolic alkalosis, etc. Increased levels could also mean that you're a plant. Decreased levels can be indicative of kidney failure, metabolic acidosis, shock, and starvation.

Normal range:

Adults
23-30 mEq/L

Glucose

The amount of glucose in the blood after a prolonged period of fasting (12-14 hours) is used to determine whether a person is in a hypoglycemic (low blood glucose) or hyperglycemic (high blood glucose) state. Both can be indicators of serious conditions. Increased levels can be indicative of diabetes mellitus, acute stress, Cushing's syndrome, chronic renal failure, corticosteroid therapy, acromegaly, etc. Decreased levels could be indicative of hypothyroidism, insulinoma, liver disease, insulin overdose, and starvation.

Normal range:

Adult Male
65-120 mg/dl

Adult Female
65-120 mg/dl

BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)

This test measures the amount of urea nitrogen that's present in the blood. When protein is metabolized, the end product is urea which is formed in the liver and excreted from the bloodstream via the kidneys. This is why BUN is a good indicator of both liver and kidney function. Increased levels can stem from shock, burns, dehydration, congestive hear failure, myocardial infarction, excessive protein ingestion, excessive protein catabolism, starvation, sepsis, renal disease, renal failure, etc. Causes of a decrease in levels can be liver failure, overhydration, negative nitrogen balance via malnutrition, pregnancy, etc.

Normal range:

Adults
10-20 mg/dl

Creatinine

Creatinine is a byproduct of creatine phosphate, the chemical used in contraction of skeletal muscle. So, the more muscle mass you have, the higher the creatine levels and therefore the higher the levels of creatinine. Also, when you ingest large amounts of beef or other meats that have high levels of creatine in them, you can increase creatinine levels as well. Since creatinine levels are used to measure the functioning of the kidneys, this easily explains why creatine has been accused of causing kidney damage, since it naturally results in an increase in creatinine levels.

However, we need to remember that these tests are only indicators of functioning and thus outside drugs and supplements can influence them and give false results, as creatine may do. This is why creatine, while increasing creatinine levels, does not cause renal damage or impair function. Generally speaking, though, increased levels are indicative of urinary tract obstruction, acute tubular necrosis, reduced renal blood flow (stemming from shock, dehydration, congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis), as well as acromegaly. Decreased levels can be indicative of debilitation, and decreased muscle mass via disease or some other cause.

Normal range:

Adult Male
0.6-1.2 mg/dl

Adult Female
0.5-1.1 mg/dl

BUN/Creatinine Ratio

A high ratio may be found in states of shock, volume depletion, hypotension, dehydration, gastrointestinal bleeding, and in some cases, a catabolic state. A low ratio can be indicative of a low protein diet, malnutrition, pregnancy, severe liver disease, ketosis, etc. Keep in mind, though, that the term BUN, when used in the same sentence as hamburger or hotdog, usually means something else entirely. An important thing to note again is that with a high protein diet, you'll likely have a higher ratio and this is nothing to worry about.

Normal range:

Adult
6-25

Calcium

Calcium is measured in order to assess the function of the parathyroid and calcium metabolism. Increased levels can stem from hyperparathyroidism, metastatic tumor to the bone, prolonged immobilization, lymphoma, hyperthyroidism, acromegaly, etc. It's also important to note that anabolic steroids can also increase calcium levels. Decreased levels can stem from renal failure, rickets, vitamin D deficiency, malabsorption, pancreatitis, and alkalosis.

Normal range:

Adult
9-10.5 mg/dl

Liver Function

Total Protein

This measures the total level of albumin and globulin in the body. Albumin is synthesized by the liver and as such is used as an indicator of liver function. It functions to transport hormones, enzymes, drugs and other constituents of the blood.

Globulins are the building blocks of your body's antibodies. Measuring the levels of these two proteins is also an indicator of nutritional status. Increased albumin levels can result from dehydration, while decreased albumin levels can result from malnutrition, pregnancy, liver disease, overhydration, inflammatory diseases, etc. Increased globulin levels can result from inflammatory diseases, hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), iron deficiency anemia, as well as infections. Decreased globulin levels can result from hyperthyroidism, liver dysfunction, malnutrition, and immune deficiencies or disorders.

As another important side note, anabolic steroids, growth hormone, and insulin can all increase protein levels.

Normal range:

Adult
Total Protein: 6.4-8.3 g/dl
Albumin: 3.5-5 g/dl
Globulin: 2.3-3.4 g/dl

Albumin/Globulin Ratio:

Adult
0.8-2.0

[tribal]

Blood Testing - A necessity in AAS usage - Part 3

Bilirubin

Bilirubin is one of the many constituents of bile, which is formed in the liver. An increase in levels of bilirubin can be indicative of liver stress or damage/inflammation. Drugs that may increase bilirubin include oral anabolic steroids (17-AA), antibiotics, diuretics, morphine, codeine, contraceptives, etc. Drugs that may decrease levels are barbiturates and caffeine. Non-drug induced increased levels can be indicative of gallstones, extensive liver metastasis, and cholestasis from certain drugs, hepatitis, sepsis, sickle cell anemia, cirrhosis, etc.

Normal range:

Total Bilirubin for Adult
0.3-1.0 mg/dl

Alkaline Phosphatase

This enzyme is found in very high concentrations in the liver and for this reason is used as an indicator of liver stress or damage. Increased levels can stem from cirrhosis, liver tumor, pregnancy, healing fracture, normal bones of growing children, and rheumatoid arthritis. Decreased levels can stem from hypothyroidism, malnutrition, pernicious anemia, scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) and excess vitamin B ingestion. As a side note, antibiotics can cause an increase in the enzyme levels.

Normal range:

16-21 years
30-200 U/L

Adult
30-120 U/L

Pt. 3

AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase, previously known as SGOT)

This is yet another enzyme that's used to determine if there's damage or stress to the liver. It may also be used to see if heart disease is a possibility as well, but this isn't as accurate. When the liver is damaged or inflamed, AST levels can rise to a very high level (20 times the normal value). This happens because AST is released when the cells of that particular organ (liver) are lysed. The AST then enters blood circulation and an elevation can be seen. Increased levels can be indicative of heart disease, liver disease, skeletal muscle disease or injuries, as well as heat stroke. Decreased levels can be indicative of acute kidney disease, beriberi, diabetic ketoacidosis, pregnancy, and renal dialysis.

Normal range:

Adult
0-35 U/L (Females may have slightly lower levels)

ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase, previously known as SGPT)

This is yet another enzyme that is found in high levels within the liver. Injury or disease of the liver will result in an increase in levels of ALT. I should note however, that because lesser quantities are found in skeletal muscle, there could be a weight-training induced increase . Weight training causes damage to muscle tissue and thus could slightly elevate these levels, giving a false indicator for liver disease. Still, for the most part, it's a rather accurate diagnostic tool. Increased levels can be indicative of hepatitis, hepatic necrosis, cirrhosis, cholestasis, hepatic tumor, hepatotoxic drugs, and jaundice, as well as severe burns, trauma to striated muscle (via weight training), myocardial infarction, mononucleosis, and shock.

Normal range:

Adult
4-36 U/L

Endocrine Function

Testosterone (Free and Total)

This is of course the hormone that you should all be extremely familiar with as it's the name of this here magazine! Anyhow, just as some background info, about 95% of the circulating Testosterone in a man's body is formed by the Leydig cells, which are found in the testicles. Women also have a small amount of Testosterone in their body as well. (Some more than others, which accounts for the bearded ladies you see at the circus, or hanging around with Chris Shugart.) This is from a very small amount of Testosterone secreted by the ovaries and the adrenal gland (in which the majority is made from the adrenal conversion of androstenedione to Testosterone via 17-beta HSD).

Nomal range, total Testosterone:

Male

Age 14
<1200 ng/dl

Age 15-16
100-1200 ng/dl

Age 17-18
300-1200 ng/dl

Age 19-40
300-950 ng/dl

Over 40
240-950 ng/dl

Female

Age 17-18
20-120 ng/dl

Over 18
20-80 ng/dl

Normal range, free Testosterone:

Male
50-210 pg/ml

LH (Luteinizing Hormone)

LH is a glycoprotein that's secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and is responsible for signaling the leydig cells to produce Testosterone. Measuring LH can be very useful in terms of determining whether a hypogonadic state (low Testosterone) is caused by the testicles not being responsive despite high or normal LH levels (primary), or whether it's the pituitary gland not secreting enough LH (secondary). Of course, the hypothalamus — which secretes LH-RH (luteinizing hormone releasing hormone) — could also be the culprit, as well as perhaps both the hypothalamus and the pituitary.

If it's a case of the testicles not being responsive to LH, then things like clomiphene and hCG really won't help. If the problem is secondary, then there's a better chance for improvement with drug therapy. Increased levels can be indicative of hypogonadism, precocious puberty, and pituitary adenoma. Decreased levels can be indicative of pituitary failure, hypothalamic failure, stress, and malnutrition.

Normal ranges:

Adult Male
1.24-7.8 IU/L

Adult Female
Follicular phase: 1.68-15 IU/L
Ovulatory phase: 21.9-56.6 IU/L
Luteal phase: 0.61-16.3 IU/L
Postmenopausal: 14.2-52.3 IU/L

Estradiol

With this being the most potent of the estrogens, I'm sure you're all aware that it can be responsible for things like water retention, hypertrophy of adipose tissue, gynecomastia, and perhaps even prostate hypertrophy and tumors. As a male it's very important to get your levels of this hormone checked for the above reasons. Also, it's the primary estrogen that's responsible for the negative feedback loop which suppresses endogenous Testosterone production. So, if your levels of estradiol are rather high, you can bet your ass that you'll be hypogonadal as well.

Increased estradiol levels can be indicative of a testicular tumor, adrenal tumor, hepatic cirrhosis, necrosis of the liver, hyperthyroidism, etc.

Normal ranges:

Adult Male
10-50 pg/ml

Adult Female
Follicular phase: 20-350 pg/ml
Midcycle peak: 150-750 pg/ml
Luteal phase: 30-450 pg/ml
Postmenopausal: 20 pg/ml or less

Thyroid (T3, T4 Total and Free, TSH)

T3 (Triiodothyronine)

T3 is the more metabolically active hormone out of T4 and T3. When levels are below normal it's generally safe to assume that the individual is suffering from hypothyroidism. Drugs that may increase T3 levels include estrogen and oral contraceptives. Drugs that may decrease T3 levels include anabolic steroids/androgens as well as propanolol (a beta adrenergic blocker) and high dosages of salicylates. Increased levels can be indicative of Graves disease, acute thyroiditis, pregnancy, hepatitis, etc. Decreased levels can be indicative of hypothyroidism, protein malnutrition, kidney failure, Cushing's syndrome, cirrhosis, and liver diseases.

Normal ranges:

16-20 years old
80-210 ng/dl

20-50 years
75-220 ng/dl or 1.2-3.4 nmol/L

Over 50
40-180 ng/dl or 0.6-2.8 nmol/L

T4 (Thyroxine)

T4 is just another indicator of whether or not someone is in a hypo or hyperthyroid state. It too is rather reliable but free thyroxine levels should be assessed as well. Drugs that increase of decrease T3 will, in most cases, do the same with T4. Increased levels are indicative of the same things as T3 and a decrease can be indicative of protein depleted states, iodine insufficiency, kidney failure, Cushing's syndrome, and cirrhosis.

Normal ranges:

Adult Male
4-12 ug/dl or 51-154 nmol/L

Adult Female
5-12 ug/dl or 64-154 nmol/L

Free T4 or Thyroxine

Since only 1-5% of the total amount of T4 is actually free and useable, this test is a far better indicator of the thyroid status of the patient. An increase indicates a hyperthyroid state and a decrease indicates a hypothyroid state. Drugs that increase free T4 are heparin, aspirin, danazol, and propanolol. Drugs that decrease it are furosemide, methadone, and rifampicin. Increased and decreased levels are indicative of the same possible diseases and states that are seen with T4 and T3.

Normal ranges:

0.8-2.8 ng/dl or 10-36 pmol/L

TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)

Measuring the level of TSH can be very helpful in terms of determining if the problem resides with the thyroid itself or the pituitary gland. If TSH levels are high, then it's merely the thyroid gland not responding for some reason but if TSH levels are low, it's the hypothalamus or pituitary gland that has something wrong with it. The problem could be a tumor, some type of trauma, or an infarction.

Drugs that can increase levels of TSH include lithium, potassium iodide and TSH itself. Drugs that may decrease TSH are aspirin, heparin, dopamine, T3, etc. Increased TSH is indicative of thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, and congenital cretinism. Decreased levels are indicative of hypothyroidism (pituitary dysfunction), hyperthyroidism, and pituitary hypofunction.

Normal ranges:

Adult
2-10 uU/ml or 2-10 mU/L

Knowing how to interpret these tests can be a very valuable tool in terms of health and your body building and athletic progress. Use your new knowledge wisely!

[tribal]

A Comprehensive Look at Modern AAS Cycling

by ANDY 13

If you are planning a 10 week cycle, the goal is to be at highest blood concentrations for as many of the 10 weeks as possible.

If you use a long ester such as deca at xmg/week, it will take you 4-5 weeks to build up to max blood concentrations possible for xmg/week. So half of your cycle is not wasted, but you are not maximizing efficiency.

When coming off a cycle, the waiting period before clomid therapy begins will vary depending on the type and dose of the AAS. If you ran 500mg/week of deca for 10 weeks, a month after your last shot, you will still have around 200mg of esterified deca in your system. This is more than enough to prevent recovery. This is the reason why recovery is more difficult with a deca (or another long acting ester).

Let's calculate the amount accumulated in the body after 6 weeks of 500mg/deca. Let's say you inject it once a week and we'll give it a 1.5 week half life. Note that injection frequency makes a huge difference in blood concentration stability but no difference in amount of esterified in the system

E (greek letter "sigma") 500*e^(ln(1/2)n/1.5) from n=0 to n=6. So after 6 weeks, about 1300mg of esterified nandrolone remain in the body.

Now lets see how long, after the initial injection, it takes to reduce to a small enough amount that permits recovery.

1300*e^(ln(1/2)n/1.5) After 3 weeks, 325 mg of esterified remain

after 6 weeks, 81 mg of esterified remain.

After 8 weeks, 32mg of esterified remain.


Most guys go with "time on=time off." This will not work with long esters as I have demonstrated above. For at least a month after your last shot you are in what I call a "time in-effiency" period where you are no longer reaping the benefits of you AAS but you are not recovering either. The goal of the modern cycle is to minimize this wasted time.

The key components are:
1) Front end loading this cuts down on wasted time in the beginning of your cycle waiting for the doses to reach full theraputic levels. This concept has been used before but (as far as I know) I was the first one to quantify it mathmatically. Zyg has taken the math one step further with a graph showing, visually, the importance. Graph of eq loading

The use of orals in the beginning of a cycle is a popular component of a cycle. While I don't feel it is a nessecity, it too is a (different) type of front end load. For the advnaced BBer, dbol should be taken in the beginning of a cycle as well as loading the injectables since the anabolic response from dbol is alleged to be by a different mechanism than most injectables. If one had to chose between a dbol load and and injectable load, in most cases, the injectable load should be prefered over the dbol load.

2) Injection frequency This is crucial to obtaining even blood concentrations of androgens. Ideally, the more often injected, the better. An acceptable rule of thumb is "inject at half of the half life." For instance, if the half life of a steroid is 7 days, this should be injected at least twice weekly. For cycles that involve multiple injectables, the injections should be fractioned out and divided up based on the injectable with the shortest half life. For instance, if you were doing a test propionate and deca cycle, the old school way to do it would be to inject the prop EOD and the deca once a week. Both compounds should not be viewed as separate, but together with total androgen concentration taken into consideration. If you injected the deca only once a week, probably along with one of the propionate injections, that day will have a much larger spike on total blood androgen concentrations. Instead, the deca should be split up and taken with the propionate injections, EOD. This way there is no one day of the week that has a "spike" and even blood concentrations are maintained throughout the week.

3) Ending the cycle Switching to shorter esters toward the end of a cycle makes perfect sence however not too many guys incorporate this practice- perhaps because of the lack of variety of drugs. The modern cycle should include replacing long ester injectables with shorter ones so that recovery time is made more efficient. The necesity of switching to shorter esters toward the end of a cycle depends on the type of drugs used. Longer esters such as deca and eq should be replaced with shorter acting versions of these compounds no later than four weeks before the end of a cycle. Medium length esters such as t-enanthate and cypionate should be replaced no later than three weeks before the end of a cycle. A couple examples of appropriate replacements are: trenbolone acetate and testosterone propionate. There is no need to "load" these compounds in the middle of a cycle since 1) they are already "fast acting" and 2) blood androgen concentrations are already high.

4) Recovery With the replacement of the faster acting injectables toward the end of a cycle, the "wasted" time between the end of a cycle and beginning of clomid therapy is reduced. For instance, if 100mg TA is used ED, clomid therapy may begin in as little as 5 days after the last shot. This tremendously impoves time efficiency. Clomid therapy usually last for four weeks. An excellent thread posted by The Iron Game describes this in further detail Clomid FAQ's .

When the above recomendations are made, your cycle itself is made much more efficient and if recovery time is made more efficient as well, time "off" AAS may very well be reduced so that the overall efficiency of AAS use over time is tremendously improved.

[tribal]

Steroid Side Effects And How To Avoid Them

This chapter, along with the chapter on the proper use of ancillary medications, are two of the most important chapters in this book. Why? Because AAS have side effects, and long-term use of AAS can have a profound effect on longevity and overall quality of life in later years if preventative measures are not taken. Having used steroids myself for over 10 years now, I have suffered through virtually ever side effect listed in this chapter, and have consequently educated myself on how to avoid them.

Regardless of your age, it’s important to always bear in mind that the use of AAS for the purposes of gaining an edge in sport can be an inherently unhealthy endeavor. There is a distinct difference between the doses of hormones or drugs that are used in slowing the aging process through hormone replacement therapy (hereafter referred to as HRT, please see the chapter on HRT by Dr. Ramon Scruggs for further clarification) and those that are used to enhance performance. If one is to properly use performance enhancing drugs, it is vital that they know the potential side effects of drugs they are using, know how to combat these side effects, and most importantly, actually implement the knowledge they have. Time and time again I’ve seen a bodybuilder develop gynecomastia (commonly referred to as “***** tits” in the bodybuilding vernacular) despite the fact that the individual in question knew this was a possibility and also knew the preventative measures to take. One should not engage in the use of AAS or any other performance enhancing drug if the maintenance of proper health is not of primary concern.

Compounding the problem of treating the side effects of AAS is the hysteria surrounding their use in the first place. Many bodybuilders that use steroids find themselves to be social pariahs, muscular misfits if you will, and end up finding comfort in the company of others that engage in steroid use as well. Because a bodybuilder wears his sport, he’s branded a steroid user by many regardless of whether that’s the case or not. Often times, the shame one feels regarding their steroid use will cause them to suffer through the side effects associated with their use, rather than seeking competent medical help. Truth be told, it’s very difficult to find competent medical help to treat the side effects of steroids, as most doctors simply have no idea how to properly do so. More often than not, the physicians I worked with for most of my years on steroids were completely clueless as to how one might ameliorate the negative side effects of these drugs, and would simply tell me to “get off the steroids”. I say this not to dissuade those of you reading this from seeking out the advice of a doctor regarding the side effects of steroid use, just to prepare you for a probable response.

Most of the side effects related to steroids are cosmetic and will disappear when one discontinues their use. But those that aren’t are the most important to understand and treat as necessary. Most of these cannot be seen or felt, and all are related to issues of cardiovascular health. Steroids can adversely affect cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and hypertension, which over time can and will lead to an increase in heart disease. Always monitor your resting hear rate and blood pressure on a weekly basis when taking steroids and have your cholesterol and triglycerides checked every six months if you are using steroid consistently. These are not problems you can live with, ignore them and you may very well die much earlier than you would have otherwise. Ask yourself this question: “How much is every year of my life worth to me?” If you ignore the potential for an increased risk of heart disease when using anabolic steroids, you are essentially answering the question with, “Very little indeed.”

Before we begin a look at the actual side effects themselves and how to treat them, it’s important to note that not all AAS are created equal!! At times, for the sake of brevity, I will lump all AAS together, but the fact remains that some steroids will cause more negative side effects than others. One of the points of this book is to all