The Facts on Anabolic Steroids Cycling!
Bodybuilders generally follow different cycles
than other athletes because of their goals. Bodybuilders
use steroids for two purposes, to increase muscle
mass and decrease bodyfat. Such other factors
as endurance, stamina, and strength are secondary
and while important for training purposes, play
no role on a bodybuilding stage.
Cycling means alternating periods of anabolic
steroids use with non-use. But bodybuilders competing
at the national and professional levels seldom
come off the drugs. For most of these people being
"off" the juice just means taking lower
amounts. There is rarely a point during the year
when the person's system is clear of the drugs.
Generally speaking they stay on heavy amounts
of steroids continuously.
Why Cycle?
The primary reason why bodybuilders cycle steroids
is to reduce the risk of side effects. It's well
known that the risk of side effects greatly increases
with the length of time the person is on the drugs.
A short 6 to 8 week cycle will probably not produce
any serious medical issues, but most bodybuilders
don't limit themselves to such short cycles. They
stay on for months, if not years at a time. It's
not surprising that many of these individuals
start suffering side effects.
A second reason for anabolic steroids cycling
is to beat drug tests. Bodybuilders and other
athletes got a free rise for the first 15 to 20
years of drug use, as a test for steroids wasn't
developed until the mid 1970's. The first tests
were easy to beat but it wasn't long before the
testers had closed the gap. By cycling the drugs
between long acting and short acting, bodybuilders
can often pass their drug test on contest day.
A third reason for cycling steroids is to increase
their effectiveness. Most users report that they
made their best gains on their first cycle. This
is because their systems were not used to the
drugs. But with each additional cycle their steroid
receptors become less responsive to the drugs.
This is why heavy users stay heavy users - small
amounts just don't produce significant results
anymore. This "down regulation" of steroid
receptors is one of the primary reasons why the
first cycle of steroids is usually the most effective.
The problem with Cycling.
Even though most intelligent bodybuilders realize
that cycling is the way to go, it's not foolproof.
Some individuals are very sensitive to the effects
of these drugs. Even by alternating periods of
usage with non-usage they may still develop medical
problems. No one knows exactly how a drug will
affect a person's body until he starts using it.
By then it may be too late.
Anabolic Steroids cycling is no longer a guaranteed
method for passing a drug test. Tests are becoming
more and more sophisticated and many steroids
can be traced as far back as 18 months from their
last usage. Even some of the short acting, fast
clearing oral drugs are being picked up in drug
tests. Even if an athlete cycled steroids to beat
a drug test and reduce the risk of side effects,
the bottom line is that as of 1991, steroid laws
have made anabolic steroids illegal substances.
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