Ask Bill Roberts #6

Subject: Testosterone Half Lives

Dear Bill,

I am inquiring about he specific 1/2 life of testosterone enanthate. I’ve looked on MEDLINE and such but to no great avail. I vaguely remember reading a brief summary that compared test-E to test-cypionate and the study concluded that they were both out of the system by the 5th day.

Ed

The half life of testosterone enanthate is four or five days. That does not mean that it is out of the system in that time: but rather, by that time, half of it is out of the system. Given twice that time, 3/4 will be out of the system; given three times that time, 7/8 will be out of the system, etc.

The half life of cypionate is about a day longer than that of enanthate.

Subject: Looking Like an Underwear Model

Dear Bill,

I would like to ask your opinion regarding various anabolics. If someone was not a competitive bodybuilder, but wanted to attain the “Calvin Klein underwear model” build, which steriod or steroids would be best for this purpose?

I was thinking that Laurabolin or Equipoise would be well suited. Or perhaps, 1 Sustanon stacked with Equipoise. What is your opinion of Equipoise versus Laurabolin? How much are the proper dosages?

Really the only AAS that has a peculiar advantage for those particularly wishing to avoid side effects is nandrolone (e.g. Deca-Durabolin, Laurabolin.) This is because it becomes a weaker androgen if converted by the 5AR enzyme which is present in the skin, whereas in contrast testosterone becomes a more potent androgen (DHT) and many synthetics remain unchanged.

So hair loss is much less likely with Deca Durabolin.

Oxandrolone is another mild choice but is very expensive and hard to get. I don’t think it has any particular advantage regarding skin and hair for an equally effective dose. (It is thought by many to have especially low side effects, but they are not comparing doses of equivalent effectiveness.)

Subject: Comparing Equipoise, Winstrol & Deca

Dear Bill,

I made two cycles of Deca and Winstrol in the past. Both cycles were the same. I had much less gains in the second cycle. I intend to do another cycle soon. If I use Equipoise instead of Deca Durabolin, should I make more gains because this is a new substance I never had in my body? Of what I know, Deca Durabolin and Equipoise are similar drugs, aren’t they? (How would you compare them?) But then why is it that Deca Durabolin is injected once a week while Equipoise must be injected two or three times a week? Also, how do you think that Winstrol combines with those other two steroids?

Simply changing to a different but comparably effective steroid makes little if any difference.

I expect that the half life of Equipoise is comparable to that of Deca Durabolin. They are also similar in effect.

Winstrol gives great results for many users as part of a stack, but there are also some that complain that they got little from it. It is peculiar that way: I can think of no other steroid that gets such mixed reviews. Perhaps some people metabolize and eliminate the drug much faster than others, and thus have lower levels in their system. It would be interesting to test if that is so.

Subject: AAS and Cholesterol Levels

Dear Bill,

I think this question is of most importance. How do you protect your heart when using steroids? After my first cycle of Deca and Winstrol, my HDL cholesterol was way below limits and my LDL was too high. I have two questions:

1) Taking omega-3 fatty acids, doing aerobic exercise and eating enough vegetables can prevent cholesterol levels from being too abnormal while using AAS? Any other thing could help?

2) If my cholesterol levels are off limits for two or three months, could this have any long term effect in my heart’s health?

There is no evidence that a few months of bad cholesterol levels will have any large effect in the long term. After all, the relatively small loss of life expectancy seen with bad cholesterol levels is the product of decades of bad levels.

However, it is preferable to minimize the problem as you say.

Your dietary ideas are good, and should include keeping fat intake moderate.

Clomid is able to improve blood cholesterol levels, and this effect may be significant.

Subject: Andro-6 Sucks

Dear Bill,

I just purchased some Andro-6 made by EAS and I was wondering about side effects, if will give me acne, or hair loss. I am 15 years old and I don’t want to screw myself up later in life.

Somewhere on the Meso-Rx web site, there is an article “Andro-6 Equals Zero” by Pat Arnold. It sums it up quite well.

The product will not screw you up later in life if used moderately, but won’t give much gains either. Some acne is possible. Hair loss would be possible only if you are prone to it anyway.

Subject: Does AndrosteDERM work?

Dear Bill,

Does this new product, AndrosteDERM, by MedLean really work? I don’t have much money to spend on supplements so before I try this one I would like an expert opinion as to if it’s worth trying. Thank you.

Ernie

It is a very new product and I am not aware of results from any users.

Some of the claims are dubious, and the biochemistry of the MD who sells it is appalling. However that does not mean that his product cannot work. If you can afford to do so and would like to do so, there is no reason not to try it.

Subject: Stacking Dianabol and Deca

Dear Mr. Roberts,

I hope that you have never obtained any question from a Polish guy and that for this reason I will be the lucky one to get the answer from you despite ‘high volume of email’. But to get to the point, I am considering taking Nerobol (Hungarian Dianabol) or methandrostenolone (Russian Dianabol) with Deca Durabolin. Unfortunately I don’t know how to stack these two because I don’t know the typical dosages used for these two.

Mark

Methandrostenolone (Nerobol, Dianabol) is commonly used from 25 to 50 mg total per day in divided doses, every four hours or so. However, some beginners have gotten significant results from just 10 mg/day.

Nandrolone (Deca Durabolin) is commonly used from 200 to 500 mg/week.

The two could be used in combination at the same doses described. The effectiveness of the nandrolone will be greatly increased by the Dianabol.

Subject: Needle Size for AAS

Bill,

I recently got Sustanon 250 and testosterone cypionate but no large needles except for 1/2 to 3/4 inch allergy shot points! Now can I use these smaller needles to inject myself with 1cc lets say in the tricep or outer thigh muscle?? And is Sustanon 250 and testosterone cypionate 1cc a week a good or bad stack???

Rick

Yes, half inch needles can be used on the delts, triceps, biceps, and on the thigh if bodyfat is reasonable. A little patience is needed but smaller needles, e.g. 29 gauge, work fine.

There is no particular reason to combine both Sustanon and testosterone cypionate, unless one just happens to have both, but 500 mg/week total is a reasonable and effective amount for most trainers.

Subject: Using Low Amounts of Dianabol

Dear Bill,

I Live in Indonesia. I just got Dianabol tablets to give it a try. My question is, is 5 mg/day enough for beginner bodybuilder like me? If say… I take it for 10 days, should I take some anti-estrogen (Nolvadex) as well as Clomid or HCG?

Irawan

5 mg per day is really below the minimum for effectiveness. I know some beginners who have done well on 9 mg/day (using an obscure product with 3 mg per tablet) but that is about the minimum.

At 9 or 10 mg/day, especially for a short period, use of an antiestrogen is not necessary but would not be a bad idea. It would help keep testosterone production up.

Subject: Gaining Mass with Testosterone & Deca

Dear Bill,

I wanted to do a cycle to increase mass. I’m 165 lbs., 5’8″, and sort of close to my genetic limit. I have 7 cc of testosterone (100mg) and about 20 cc of Deca Durabolin (50 mg). How would you use this to gain the most possible.

Richard

With only 700 mg of testosterone, and 1000 mg of Deca Durabolin, probably the most gains would be realized by using about 150 mg/week of testosterone and 200 mg/week Deca Durabolin for four and a half weeks. This will not be much of a cycle but will still do something.

I would add in Clomid 50 mg/day, or 100 mg/day if you can afford it.

Subject: How to Use Winstrol

Mr. Roberts,

I have a question about getting on a Winstrol cycle. I want to use the tabs. but I do not know how long of a cycle (4-6 weeks?), and how many tabs a day to take. Do I have to worry about gyno.? And, do I need to stack it with Clomid or Nolvadex, what about doses on these. I understand that Winstrol is mild, is it just a waste of time? I do not want to balloon up like on a d-bol cycle. Thanks.

A. M.

You would need at least 50 mg/day to be even moderately effective, and more like 100 mg/day to be anything substantial. I doubt this is cost effective.

There is no need to use Clomid or Nolvadex for protection against gyno or water retention, because Winstrol does not convert to estrogen. However, Clomid 50 mg/day will help keep natural testosterone up during the cycle.

Subject: Arimidex while on Trenbolone & Sustanon

Bill,

If someone were currently on a 5-week cycle of trenbolone, and wished to go on a trenbolone/Sustanon or Sustanon only cycle, how would you recommend that they use Arimidex during this cycle, as the only anti-estrogen compound? Should the athlete use it prior to using the Sustanon, for a period of two weeks or so, in order to achieve relatively high levels in the body? Or is there another, more effective dosing schedule?

Matt

Arimidex would be needed only while on the Sustanon and for say 4 weeks after the last injection. Roughly 1 mg/day per 500 mg/week Sustanon ought to do it, and maybe 1 mg/day per 1000 mg/week would be sufficient.

Loading is a good idea but is more efficiently done by taking six tablets the first day (divided doses.)

Subject: Two Week Cycles & Short-Acting Esters

Hi Bill,

Thanks for your response to my questions! You mention “two weeks on with short-acting esters and orals…”. Can you give me some examples of these compounds? Also, if a person were using, say, Sustanon or similar injectables, would the 2 week cycle still work? If so, what might a typical 2 week cycle look like in terms of dosages (milligrams/unit time)? And lastly, I assume by such things as Proviron and Nolvadex are the antiaromatase compounds you refer to? Thanks again for your input and time!

Short acting esters are acetates, propionates, and phenylpropionates.

With Sustanon, the concept will still work if the dose is moderate (say 500 mg/week) but to have off time for recovery of natural testosterone production, at least four weeks will be needed between cycles. Actually this is a good idea even with the short acting drugs.

Nolvadex is an estrogen receptor antagonist in breast tissue and in the hypothalamus, not an aromatase inhibitor. Proviron may be an aromatase inhibitor. Cytadren and Arimidex are aromatase inhibitors.

Subject: Primobolan Depot

Hey Bill. I was thinking of buying some Primobolan Depot and I was wondering what you thought of it, and what you think is a good dosage. I have never taken any steroids before and I am not sure if this would be a good starter. I would appreciate any information you can give me.

Thanks …Louis

Well, a gram a week is required for really substantial results, but someone who is only near or at their natural limit — in other words, an inexperienced steroid user — may get quite good results from 400 mg/week.

It is a nice steroid in that it does not require any other drugs to correct its side effects.

Subject: Norandrodiol and Saw Palmetto

Hello Mr. Roberts,

I enjoy your column and the whole Meso-Rx homepage, thanks to all for running this site. I have a question regarding 19-norandrostene4-diol. Would taking saw palmetto increase its anabolic effects, I remember reading that the 5-ar enzyme turns nandrolone into a weaker androgen.

Darius

This should not be significant, because relatively little of any steroid is converted by this enzyme. It is of importance locally, in the skin and in the prostate, but the conversion is a rather small percentage systemically.

Subject: Pyramiding Dosages

Dear Mr. Roberts,

I have a questions about dosage. I am currently on my third week of testosterone 250. My first week was just 250, my second was 500, my third week was 750, and on my fourth week I plan to take 1000. Then I will go back down the pyramid. Do you recommend this?

Christopher

No. I would recommend using the same dose every week, possibly using more on the first week. Dose only needs to be increased once quite a bit of muscle is added. E.g., someone who is 30 lb. more muscular than his natural limit needs more drug to make further gains than someone who is still 10 lb. under what he could be from natural training – the person under his natural limit, or not far above it, needs less drugs to make similarly fast gains.

…and what do you recommend Clomid to come off of this cycle?

Yes. With that much test and no antiaromatase, 100 mg/day while on the test would be good, and 50 mg/day beginning two weeks after the last injection, and continuing until at least four weeks after that injection, and not before it seemed certain that natural testosterone production was back to normal.

Subject: Training Chest Muscles

Mr. Roberts,

I must be maniac number ten million to ask you this, but, I work out in a gym where everybody is saying something else when it comes to pectoral training. What I want is just plain square-shaped fully developed pectoral muscles, in order to achieve this I start with working on the areas that are behind in development, in my case the lower portion of the pectoral muscles, and then I work the rest, middle and upper portions. What is the most effective pectoral training in your view?

Flat bench presses, incline bench presses, decline bench presses, and dips.

Subject: Finasteride and Hair Loss

Bill,

Could I please ask your opinion on the effectiveness of Proscar (finasteride) in reversing hair loss?

Stephen

Topically (on the scalp itself) it is of some effect in minimizing further loss. In combination with Nizoral and spironolactone (which smells awful, by the way) it can actually reverse loss moderately.

Oral use though will reduce DHT levels systemically, which may adversely affect training and sex drive.

Subject: Physique Transformation in 8 weeks

Dear Bill,

I plan to transform myself from a beginning lifter (with full knowledge of proper form, and etc.) to a very muscular and lean individual in about 8-10 weeks. [Ambitious drug program deleted.]

Bodybuilding requires years of effort and dedication. However, without any drugs, being a beginning lifter you can make some good gains in that time frame. But there cannot be any great transformation in that time frame.

Subject: AAS Cycles to Maximize Muscle Retention

Dear Bill,

My goal is to add 10-15 pounds of muscle and retain it. I have never used anabolic steroids before. I am planning on using Deca 400mg a week and Oxandrolone 20mg a day. Which cycle method will promote greater gains, 8 weeks straight, or 2 on 4 off?

John

Four cycles of 2 on, 4 off will produce similar gains to 8 weeks straight, but with less likelihood of losses, and avoidance of problems of testicular atrophy etc.

If one is going to have off weeks between cycles anyway, for the sake of health, or to lose fat gained while bulking, it is actually more convenient to say gain for 2 weeks, maintain for 2 weeks, and diet for 2 weeks, than to go for 8 weeks straight and then have to endure months of dieting to get the fat off.

Will the 8 weeks interrupt my endogenous testosterone production. And cause testicular atrophy, what about the 2 weeks?

The 8 weeks will, the 2 weeks will not if Clomid is used.

Also, will the Deca metabolites show up in a standard drug test that employers give before hiring? Or do they have to be tested for specifically.

They have to be tested specifically, and this is not done in employment blood tests.

Subject: More on the Short Cycle Theory

Hello Mr. Roberts,

Just wanted to let you know that I think you are right on with your short cycle theory. Recently I did 4-6 d-bol per day with 200mg Deca Durabolin for 4 weeks and gained 9 lbs. The beauty of it is that I kept all of it. How many short ( 2weeks on/4weeks off ) cycles in a row do you recommend. Also what are the best compounds to use on such cycle. Thank you.

J.M.

Basically, one can stay on that type of program for years. Best compounds are, for strong effects, testosterone propionate, Sustanon if only 500 mg at start of cycle, Dianabol, trenbolone acetate, Winstrol. For more moderate effects, Primo and Deca Durabolin, but I would not use the Deca unless hair loss is an important issue (in which case the Dianabol is out, and the program would have to be, just 500 mg Deca at the start of the cycle, and Clomid throughout).

Subject: Shorter AAS Cycles

Dear Mr. Roberts

With regard to the shorter cycles (2 weeks on, 4 weeks off) that you mentioned in the last update, on what day would the last injections be taken so that the compound is “out” by day 14? Or is day 14 the last injection day? Also, is it possible to increase the total dosage by the use of a single injection on day 1 of a longer acting compound of say 400mg Deca Durabolin and still avoid the systemic suppression as these shorter cycles are designed to.

Geoff

The timing of the loss of responsiveness to LHRH is not exact. Going to day 14 should be fine, as would ending by day 12 or 13.

You could inject a moderate dose of a longer acting compound, but Deca Durabolin would not be a particularly good choice. Sustanon would be better. 500 mg at the start of week one will surely enhance results.

Subject: Deca for Fat Loss?

What can I stack with Deca Durabolin for cutting?

Brian

No steroid has particular magic properties with regard to fat loss. The only difference Between a cutting and a gaining cycle is how much you eat, and one will tend to use less drugs for a cutting cycle, unless cutting for a contest.

Subject: Norandrodiol vs. Deca

Hey Bill,

You say (in other words) that the minimal amount of Deca Durabolin to take to see gains is 200mg / week. I dont think there’s one person taking enough norandrostenedione (dione and/or diol) to covert to 200mg Deca Durabolin. So how the hell are people making gains on nor? I’m not trying to sound ignorant, I have zero experience with juice. But I was going to buy enough for a cycle of Norandrodiol (600mg a day) for 6 weeks straight. I then figured out that Deca Durabolin would not only save me hundreds but also produce more gains. Please clear this up for me…..

Jimmy

Deca Durabolin will save you hundreds and also produce more gains. If Deca were legal, there would be no market for the norandro products.

Perhaps the reason that people get some gains (not anabolic steroid like gains) from the andro or norandro products is that while relatively few total mg per week gets converted, there are brief times in which androgen levels are significantly elevated. In other words, 50 mg per week from an injection would be quite useless, never elevating levels significantly, but quick pulses of 2 mg at a time might have some value. That doesn’t occur with injections but does occur with orals, and even moreso for sublingual.

Subject: Breast Cancer, Arimidex. Nolvadex, & Raloxifene

Dear Mr. Roberts,

Since I participating in a clinical trial for Arimidex, I am trying to get as much understanding about Nolvadex and Arimidex. I am either getting Nolvadex and a placebo, Nolvadex and Arimidex, or Arimidex and a placebo. My breast tumor was estrogen receptive, luckily no nodes involved, chemotherapy and radiation completed. My first question after surgery, was what estrogen foods should I avoid before I even started these medications.

Mary

Although there are some dietary “estrogens” such as daidzen, I’m not aware that they are shown to aggravate breast cancer, and have been thought to be protective.

I have understood that Nolvadex blocks estrogen in breast tissue.

Yes. The exception is that if a particular mutation occurs in the gene for the estrogen receptor in the tumor, then Nolvadex does not work anymore. Luckily this is not very common but it does happen.

And if post menopausal women are still seeking cardiovascular and osteoporosis protection, would it be wise to also take Raloxifene?

Raloxifene is a better choice than Nolvadex. Unlike Nolvadex, it cannot promote uterine cancer.

I am also trying other things. Like more soy in my diet, until I read that if you are taking Nolvadex it might not be a good idea. How do these drugs act on phytoestrogens?

Arimidex has no effect. Tamoxifen would compete with them for binding to the receptor site.

Subject: Primobolan and Liver Damage

Dear Bill,

Could you please share your views on a cycle I am considering of Primobolan and either Nolvadex or Clomid. I am very concerned with side effects and would rather sacrifice gains for safety. Still, I want results for my money. What dosages should I be taking? (I am 5’10 200 lbs.) Would I be better off with an injectable such as Deca to avoid liver damage associated with orals?

George

Primobolan orals don’t cause liver disease. Unlike most orals, they are not 17-alpha alkylated. However, you’d need about 100 mg/day to have much effect.

Primobolan injectable at 400 mg/week or Deca Durabolin at that same dose would be other mild choices.

With the Primo, no Clomid or Nolvadex would be necessary, though Clomid would help keep natural testosterone production up. With Deca, Clomid would be a good idea.

Subject: Strength Gains without Mass

Dear Bill,

I am looking to gain strength without putting on a lot of mass. I am considering using Oxandrolone because it is regarded as one of the safer AS. Do you consider this a good choice, and could you briefly explain how it works? If I do it, I plan on doing 20 mg a day, will this be enough?

Dan

Oxandrolone has the advantage of not converting to estrogen.

The disadvantages are that it is expensive and hard to get, and a substantial dose is needed.

20 mg/day will give only very moderate results. Even 50 mg/day is only moderate in effect.