• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Steroid Profiles
  • Steroid Articles
    • Contributors
  • Steroid Forum
MESO-Rx

MESO-Rx

Anabolic Steroids

  • Anabolic Steroids
    • Anadrol
    • Anavar
    • Deca Durabolin
    • Dianabol
    • Equipoise
    • Masteron
    • Oral Turinabol
    • Primobolan Depot
    • Sustanon 250
    • Testosterone
    • Trenbolone Acetate
    • Winstrol Depot
  • hGH & Peptides
    • CJC-1295
    • GHRP-6
    • hGH
    • hCG
    • IGF-1
    • Melanotan II
    • MGF
    • Mod GRF 1-29
    • TB-500
  • Anti-Estrogens
    • Arimidex
    • Aromasin
    • Clomid
    • Letrozole
    • Nolvadex
  • Fat Loss
    • AICAR
    • Albuterol
    • Clenbuterol
    • DNP
    • Ephedrine
    • T3
    • Telmisartan
You are here: Home / Steroid Articles / The 2-On, 4-Off Steroid Cycle: A Case Study – Week 6 of Jim’s Experiment

The 2-On, 4-Off Steroid Cycle: A Case Study – Week 6 of Jim’s Experiment

March 1, 1999 by Bill Roberts Leave a Comment

Front Lat Spread - Before and After - Week 1 (left) vs Week 3 (right)

Week 6 of Jim’s cycle has ended, but although he is very eager to start another cycle and experience some more gains, he needs to take a week or two off. In an effort to cut up, he foolishly played basketball for a couple of hours per day every day for some time during his off weeks, and injured his knees in the process. Besides this, he also came down with the flu in Week 5, and ran out of Adipokinetix. So he wants to delay his pictures and bodyfat measurement for another week so that he can be more cut, and delay the start of the next cycle until his knees are better. This should take about a week.

Since various readers wrote in and proclaimed his legs to be a Federal “disaster area,” Jim does not want to go into the cycle unable to do serious leg workouts. Furthermore he is going to get some more reasonable shorts so we can scrutinize improvements in the legs a little more closely.

On a serious note: actually, this bad-luck experience illustrates an advantage of the 2 on / 4 off cycle. All too often, in traditional cycles, an athlete feels he has too much invested in the cycle and has pinned so much hope on it that he cannot let an injury stop him. All too often, he will decide to “train through the pain,” and all too often will wind up with a lifetime nagging injury from this decision. It just isn’t too unusual for things to happen in life that mess up our plans. Since one only gains two weeks at a time in this system, it’s much more forgiving of problems such as this. A setback doesn’t “ruin everything” but only introduces a brief delay.

Next cycle, training will be similar to the first, except that weights will be about 10% heavier and shrugs will be added to the program. The drug program will be somewhat different also. Jim is thinking either of contributing to scientific knowledge by continuing to use 50 mg/day trenbolone acetate but substituting 100 mg/day testosterone propionate for the 50 mg/day Dianabol so that a direct comparison may be made; or he may just go for the gains, saying the heck with science, and keep the Dianabol in there while adding the testosterone propionate.

We also will probably have salivary tests tracking the recovery of testosterone production, to see if it is largely back at the end of week 3 and to see if it is even higher in week 5 than in week 4. These things were not tested last time.

About the author

Bill Roberts
Medicinal chemist

Bill Roberts is an internationally-recognized expert on anabolic steroids and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). He received a bachelor degree in Microbiology and Cell Science and completed the educational and research requirements for a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at a major American university.

Bill entered the nutritional supplement industry prior to completing his doctoral thesis but his education was invaluable so far as being able to design/improve nutritional supplement compounds, since it was in the field of designing drug molecules and secondarily some work in transdermal delivery.

His education was not specifically "geared" toward anabolic steroids other than expertise with pharmacological principles having broad applications. This has allowed Bill to provide unique insight into the field of anabolic pharmacology with knowledge of points which he would not have known otherwise.

Filed Under: Steroid Articles

No replies yet

Start the discussion →

Loading new replies...

S STEFMAN Sep 02, 2011 #1

The 2 on 4 off idea I believe is very good to me
Weeks 1 & 2:
100mg each of test prop, mast prop, tren ace per 2 days
(frontload day 1, last injection day 11) (+ dianabol 30mg / d week 1-2 and 20mg for weeks 3-5)
arimidex as necessary

Week 3:
hgh 5iu / d 5 days on and 2 days off for weeks 3-6
300mg of clomid day 1, 50 mg days 2-7

Week 4:
Continue 50mg of clomid per day if necessary

Week 6:
Clean

My goal is after a few such cycles (4-6) to have some muscular pounds .. (12-18 ..)

Does my template make sense to you? Is my drug choice optimal considering my goals?

Thanks for your time

Reply Like

click to expand...
Avatar of Bill Roberts Bill Roberts Sep 02, 2011 #2

Apologies, I think what happened is that I read your post, got distracted and for some reason on returning opened another window, thought I'd replied but didn't.

I would adjust it in only this regard. No Dianabol in weeks 3 to 5. I used to advocate it years back and programs can work this way, true, but over time lab results from those using the low dose morning-only Dianabol in recovery showed slower recovery of natural T. Despite the fact that when a cycle hadn't been done previously, such use is low-suppressive.

Apparently, it's more of an issue when coming out of suppression.

Reply Like

click to expand...
S STEFMAN Sep 02, 2011 #3

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME
What do you recommend? THE WEEKS 3-6 CLEAN? WILL I HAVE RESULTS?

Reply Like

Avatar of Bill Roberts Bill Roberts Sep 02, 2011 #4

If planning on doing a number of cycles back to back, I'd make it two weeks or three weeks of Clomid use, on the principle of having some weeks of higher-than-usual LH production to counterbalance the two weeks of very low LH production.

Absolutely you should get good gains with good nutrition and training hard! Your dosages are sufficient. I'd consider increasing the Dianabol to 50 mg/day, but good results are certainly readily attainable just as you've written it.

Reply Like

click to expand...
s sdspeedracer Sep 27, 2011 #5

Hey, Bill. You first published the 2on/4off quick cycle study in 1999; any changes you would make now that a decade has passed? Any lessons learned that you would add, or does it continue to stand on its own? Thanks for the time.

Reply Like

Avatar of Bill Roberts Bill Roberts Sep 28, 2011 #6

Today I prefer an antiaromatase to SERM (Nolvadex or Clomid) use during the cycle as an antiestrogen.

I don't favor using low dose orals in the off weeks anymore. This was found to slow recovery somewhat.

That's about it!

Reply Like

Avatar of Millard Millard Sep 28, 2011 #7

Some more from Bill on this topic here:

View image at the forums


How Has Your Two-Week Steroid Cycle Protocol Changed?

Question: Mr Roberts, I've been reading for the last several years to learn about anabolic steroids, because I definitely plan to use them someday.

View image at the forums


thinksteroids.com

Reply Like

click to expand...
Avatar of Michael Scally MD Michael Scally MD Sep 28, 2011 #8

^^^^^^^^^^

I would second that. Any use of an androgen while off will negate HPTA return. Also, as I have said ad nauseum, without labs showing HPTA function, all bets are off.

Reply Like

s sdspeedracer Sep 28, 2011 #9

Thank you all very much. I appreciate your time.

Reply Like

Avatar of ED209 ED209 Oct 06, 2011 #10

Hey guys, I'm thinking about doing my first cycle in 12 years.

I found the 2 weeker from Bill Roberts.

I was thinking of doing Prop only since that's what I have right now. I figure I can get some decent results since it's my first in a long time. I'd be happy w/ keeping 5-7lbs.

34 y/o
218lbs
5'9''
17% bf

I was thinking of doing:

Day 1 Prop 200mg (can I get away w/ 200 or do I have to bump to 300?)
Day 2-12 Prop 150 EOD
Day 1-14 Aromasin 12.5 ED
Day 2, 6, 10, 14 HCG 250 IU

PCT 2 Weeks stating Day 15
Nolva 20/20
Clomid 50/25

Does this make sense? Would I waste any of my 1st timer clean receptors if I did this? Thanks for any info...

Reply Like

click to expand...
Avatar of Bill Roberts Bill Roberts Oct 06, 2011 #11

There isn't anything special about the receptors for the first cycle: there doesn't have to be a fear of ruining a golden opportunity. The opportunity will always be there.

The principal reasons that the increase in mass, compared to right before the cycle, is typically so much better for a first cycle is simply that the starting point is lower in mass.

But, back to your cycle:

For a 2 week cycle to be very effective, the dosage level needs I think to be at least 1000 mg/week, although in the special case of using trenbolone acetate and Dianabol it can be as low as 700 mg total (50 mg/day of each.)

I would revise the cycle to:

Day 1: TP 450 mg
Days 2-10 150 mg/day

OR:

Day 1: TP 600 mg
Days 3, 5, 7, and 9: 300 mg

As for HCG, for 2 week cycles I've never developed a system (meaning, used it myself many times and saw what it did for others many times). It really is not necessary for 2 on / 4 off. I would save it for a later occasion. Where it would have more use is with extended cycles of 2 on / 2 off or especially 2 on / 1 off.

I would have enough Clomid or Nolvadex on hand to be able to use it during the cycle in case nipple sensitivity appeared.

If combining Clomid and Nolvadex for PCT, my preferred method is:

Nolvadex: Day 1 60 mg in divided doses (for example 20 mg three times). After this, either 10 mg/day or 20 mg every other day.

Clomid: Day 1: 150 mg in divided doses. After this, either 25 mg/day or 50 mg every other day.

Reply Like

click to expand...
Avatar of ED209 ED209 Oct 06, 2011 #12

The Man, The Myth, The Legend Himself.. ha. Thank you for the reply. I do have enough clomid and nolva for whatever I need. When would you start it and at what dose ideally?

Nolvadex: Day 1 60 mg in divided doses (for example 20 mg three times). After this, either 10 mg/day or 20 mg every other day.

Clomid: Day 1: 150 mg in divided doses. After this, either 25 mg/day or 50 mg every other day.

Day 1 of the cycle start with:
Clomid 150 mg
Nolva 60 mg

Day 2 start:
Clomid week 1 - 25/week 2 - 25/week 3 - 25/week 4 - 25
Nolva week 1 - 20/week 2 - 20/week 3 - 20/week 4 - 20

Also, I'm kind of worried about the high dosage.. In your experience, do you think this or 150mg EOD of prop for 8 weeks is better for your body. Just asking;)

Also, for 450mg of Prop, would I use 2 sites for that? Seems like a lot to inject in to 1 site at 100mg/ml.. Thanks for any help. I really appreciate it..

Reply Like

click to expand...
Avatar of Bill Roberts Bill Roberts Oct 06, 2011 #13

Ah, that was not clear on the Clomid and Nolvadex. I apologize. I was meaning Day 1 of PCT, but there was absolutely no way to tell that.

When using an AI, 1000 mg/week of testosterone really is not an extreme dose.

But if you don't want to go that high, then I'd recommend 700 mg/week but for 8 weeks. 150 mg every other day is doable but is at the low end. It will work for some high responders but for most will not be anything to write home about.

It would be hard or impossible to quantitate or prove hardness on the body. The 2 on / 4 off at this dosage level seems found by all who have done it to seem a very reasonable choice with regards to health, including where (as should preferably be done) blood panels are taken. But, that isn't to say that seeming to all users to be perfectly fine doesn't mean that there might not be an undetected adverse effect.

As guesswork, my expectation is that long term cumulative adverse effect is probably related to total gram dosage of steroids used per year, and percentage of weeks per year that lab values are abnormal.

A gram per week only 1/3 of the weeks per year is pretty conservative, I believe. But let's say if wanting to meet the prioritiesof a life-extension, very "health-food" kind of guy who still wanted SOME benefit from anabolic steroids, I would recommend instead light supplementation (so to speak) with Masteron or Primobolan.

Reply Like

click to expand...
d dfein Oct 06, 2011 #14

What is the rationale behind a 2 week cycle? That you would be less suppressed than an 8 week cycle? Is there even any data that says anything less than 8 weeks is less suppressive? I can't even understand how 2 weeks could make any sort of legitimate gains in mass. It would probably be all water weight which would disappear upon stopping. Even 500mg of T at 8 weeks won't drastically change someone. My understanding is that it takes multiple cycles to get a true change in body composition.

Reply Like

click to expand...
Avatar of Bill Roberts Bill Roberts Oct 07, 2011 #15

Well, there's an article on the site with measured data and a very large number of people who have done it with results different than you're saying.

But as to "even 500 mg of T," if you mean weekly, then yes, a dosage such as 500 mg/week of testosterone for two weeks would give a near-worthless two-week cycle little or no better than you are saying.

Reply Like

m meatmeat Oct 08, 2011 #16

I've been reading these forums and various articles written by Bill for some time and have decided to do a cycle - my first. I would appreciate any opinions on it.

23yrs old
5'10"
~195lbs
~ 12% bf

By the time I start the cycle I hope to be nearer the 10%bf mark.

concept is 3 mass phases followed by at least one cutting/hardening phase.
Prop during each phase.
Prop only (2on/20ff) - weeks 1-4
prop + dbol (20n/2off) - 30-40mg / day - weeks 5-8
prop + dbol (2on/2off) - 30-40mg / day - weeks 9-12
prop + var (2on/4off) - 60mg / day - weeks 13-16

prop is front loaded at 300mg then 100mg ED. stop on day 11 and commence pct on day 15 with 100mg Nolva front loaded then 20mg/day until day 28.
Then start prop + dbol. dbol taken until day before pct.
etc

Letro will be taken throughout ~ 0.75mg/day

Reply Like

click to expand...

Join the full discussion at the MESO-Rx →

Primary Sidebar

Sponsors

Popular Articles

Anabolic Steroids and Aggression

The following is a brief synopsis of a talk given at the 115th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association (APA) in San Francisco, CA on August 19, 2007. Existing research on substance use has had … [Read More...] about Anabolic Steroids and Aggression

Testosterone propionate (Kalpa Pharma)

The Perfect Testosterone Cycle – Best Choices of Ancillaries and Steroids to Include

Q: “I plan to base my anabolic steroid cycle around injectable testosterone. What are my best choices of steroids and ancillaries to combine with testosterone? Obviously there are a lot of choices but I want to … [Read More...] about The Perfect Testosterone Cycle – Best Choices of Ancillaries and Steroids to Include

Male bodybuilders on Instagram

Bodybuilders on Instagram: How Do Men Navigate Masculinity While Showing Off Their Bodies

In the digital age, Instagram has become a popular platform for bodybuilders to display their physiques. But it raises the question of how they maintain their masculinity while engaging in such performative … [Read More...] about Bodybuilders on Instagram: How Do Men Navigate Masculinity While Showing Off Their Bodies

Rugby

Ask Charles Staley #15

Gaining Weight for Rugby Charles, I am an amateur Rugby Player in Australia. Just recently my coach told me, it was time to change position. I am 24 years old and at 209 pounds and standing at 6ft, he felt I … [Read More...] about Ask Charles Staley #15

JAMA

None So Blind: The JAMA Study On Androstenedione

In the June 2, 1999 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, an article1 by Dr Douglas S. King and colleagues was published reporting the results of a clinical investigation of the effects of … [Read More...] about None So Blind: The JAMA Study On Androstenedione

Footer

MESO-Rx International

MESO-Rx articles are also available in the following languages:

Deutsch, English, Español, Français, Português, Русский

Questions? Comments?

Use the following link to send us an e-mail. We will respond as soon as we can.

Contact us.

Search

Copyright © 1997–2025 MESO-Rx. All rights reserved. Disclaimer.