Steroids Source Talk | Anabolic Steroid Forum - View Single Post - assistance with how long to use Prohormones

eazy · #2 (**permalink**) 08-20-2011, 10:36 AM

Availability of PCT Products
At some point, many a user has decided to commence a prohormone cycle and throw caution to the wind by failing to have any PCT products to hand. This article on post cycle treatment should be read for a fuller understanding of this subject.
Suffice it to say that the last thing an individual should do is run a cycle without appropriate use of PCT products at the conclusion. In fact, products such as estrogen blockers should be kept to hand DURING the cycle, especially if running products with the potential for causing gynecomastia such as Pheraplex clones or M1,4ADD. They can then be taken to prevent issues arising. For those people who fail to plan for PCT cycle length should certainly be cut down to no more than two weeks.
Injury Status
Something that is often overlooked by users who are healthy and physically fit is that prohormones can have an impact on injuries. In some cases they can accelerate recovery from injury especially in the case of muscle injuries making them an attractive option for athletes who need to get fit. In other cases, some prohormones, especially those which are very androgenic with an absence of estrogenic effects, can drive down cortisol levels which is usually a good thing and excellent for muscle gains and fat reduction. However, the flip side of lowered cortisol is that the joints become exposed to more stress and over time painful joint function can mean that cycle length should be kept shorter to prevent long term problems with joint function. Many an athlete has experienced irreparable damage to joints from non-aromoatizing (meaning they do not convert to estrogen) drugs such as Winstrol. The prudent user of non-aromatising prohormones such as Epistane/Havoc or Dymethazine, should not make the same mistake.
Benefit to Cost Ratio
One thing which is sometimes overlooked by users in the quest for maximum muscle and strength size is that there is a definite saturation point that is reached where further time on/increase in dosages does not produce a commensurate improvement in muscle and strength gains. Indeed it is commonly noted that as time spent on increases, gains come slower while side effects increase more quickly.
Increasing time on/increasing dose by 50% may produce a linear improvement at low doses but as time spent on increases gains tend to level off. This makes it a better idea to keep cycles short and then, after post cycle therapy is finished, to start again. That is far better than staying on for much longer with the last half of the cycle producing meagre gains and side effects outweighing gains.
Recommendations
What this article should hopefully highlight is that there is no requirement to spend too long on a course of prohormones. Instead, a user can capture the benefits of prohormones while keeping side effects to a minimum by keeping cycle lengths short and also keeping appropriate liver support and estrogen blocking supplements to hand. Although the length of cycles may need to fluctuate slightly depending on individual tolerance to side effects one of the following two approaches is recommended:
1.2 weeks on 2 weeks off 2 weeks on 4 weeks off
The 2 on-2 off approach was popularised by reknowned US writer Bill Roberts. By keeping cycle length to just two weeks, followed by two weeks of PCT, the chance of side effects is reduced significantly. Although gains will not be as high as the approach below, this approach has the advantage of allowing you to commence a cycle again after just two weeks off. At that that point you could go on for two further weeks followed by a full four weeks off (where you would use PCT products again). At that point many users will start over again.
The major advantage of this approach is it will produce steady gains over time, and because time off is reduced on this type of cycle, losses post cycle will be reduced or even eliminated making it very attractive psychologically, as nobody wants to run a cycle and get great gains, only to lose most of it during a long recovery period. By keeping time spent using prohormones to a minimum at any one time the chance of side effects is reduced massively. At the same time gains will not come all at once with the inevitable issue of suspicion being aroused in your associates. For individuals who are worried they will be stigmatised by their associates for being a steroid user due to seemingly overnight gains in muscle mass, this cycle approach is better as the gains are less sudden, coming more gradually over time.
The 2 on-2 off cycle is best for beginners, and those worried about side effects producing steady, consistent gains with a minimum of adverse effects.
2.4 weeks on. 4-6 weeks offThis approach is probably the most popular and best overall for size gains while keeping side effects lower compared to longer cycles. By staying on for four weeks, users don’t have to come off early and get to experience a considerable increase in muscle mass and strength. This cycle will produce great gains but users need to be more careful and pay attention to liver function while keeping anti estrogens to hand to combat any issues with gynecomastia. Although four weeks is not too long to stay on a prohormone cycle, it will mean that users need to run a full post cycle treatment course of upto four weeks and it is prudent to stay off for a further couple of weeks, making six weeks off in total.
The four week cycle is rightly popular with users and is about as long as is required. Any further gains during a longer cycle have to be set against the increased risk of side effects and longer time spent recovering post cycle which will cause muscle loss. By staying on for just four weeks, users maximise muscle gains while keeping side effects and losses in mass post cycle to a minimum.
Conclusion
Although there are many different approaches to running a prohormone cycle, users should err on the side of caution first and remember that these are powerful products. Used properly, with time spent on limited and appropriate use of liver support and post cycle anti estrogens and testosterone boosters, prohormones can generate a tremendous impact on your overall physique and strength levels.