Ex pro endurance athlete here

[RandallFlagg]

Money matters and respect to you for making it the hard way in sport. But when does the Burger King manager get to come home and say "Today I brought it all, I left it all and I did better than I have ever done". Most endurance athletes willingly took a pay cut just to live for this ambition.

Don't forget, there are guys taking PEDs just to like what they see in a mirror.

I see your point...but technically that Burger King manager COULD "bring it all, leave it all, and do better than they have ever done" ....today.

We're just not quantifying the level of effort in this scenario relative to an elite endurance athlete...lol.

I think PEDs as a class would go a lot further towards promoting longevity if they were allowed to be mainstream (in the general population)... would be kinda nice to decriminalize/reduce the stigma on some of this shit for every day people (kinda like weed....? Lol)

I totally get why there are restrictions in competitive sports but it someone is good enough,.I'm sure there will always be a doctor around to help find some shortcuts.

Fascinating (and obviously true) that the elite don't need this stuff..and the ones that are using things are doing it just to "make it" to the show so to speak (which is still waaaay more accomplished athletically than I'll ever be).

 

[Benf15harp]

Money matters and respect to you for making it the hard way in sport. But when does the Burger King manager get to come home and say "Today I brought it all, I left it all and I did better than I have ever done". Most endurance athletes willingly took a pay cut just to live for this ambition.

Don't forget, there are guys taking PEDs just to like what they see in a mirror.

If your happy, I’m happy. All the best.

 

[UncleBuns]

Sorry for the absence. I will try and answer each question with a brutally truthful answer and a safe alternative. I am firstly lucky. I am in recovery from IV opioid addiction and if I wast so fit and vascular due to my training, I would have lost limbs and easily my life. The addiction was not just down to sport. I used tramadol at a very low dose for years, but you can't always control things in your personal life.

TESTING AND CLEANING OUT

Firstly testosterone is mainly an off season drug. You can miss 3 tests before you have to explain. The testing budget is low. If you base yourself somewhere expensive and logistically difficult for testers, after attempt 1 you have 2-3 weeks minimum to clear out. Easy with prop and some HCG to bring the T:E ratio within limits. Test during peak performance will make you feel heavy and actually slow you down.

T4

Vital for use with HGH. Hard training causes thyroid shutdown. This means you can keep T4 high normal to metabolise as much energy as possible. Its legal and doesn't change HR like T3

CORTICOSTEROIDS

For a normal person, yes. Weight gain. When you train 20-30hrs a week it cannibalises any tissue into energy, and the artificial stress gives you that strength like in a flight or fight situation. By any tissue, I mean every tissue. Fat, muscle, bone, tendon. Weight drops while you feel stronger and chronically stressed 24/7. Your immune system shuts down. 2006-2020 when it was at its peak you'd see riders break bones very easily due to its abuse. Common colds became pneumonia, many injuries. Triamcinolone (kenalog) in deep IM would last a month and should only be used once per year but as you can imagine, more was sometimes used, like dexamethasone IM, short acting before a hard single day race. Ever see a race favourite have a shocker of a day? Usually down to this, and the cortisone not being ridden into the legs the day prior.

Smaller pro teams don't need pre approval for cortisone use. This can be retroactive IF the rider gets tested which is rare.

GLP-1

Power on the bike in watts is based on kilojoules. The body is about 25% efficient so 1000kj = 1000 calories. 280w for 1 hour is about 1000 calories. GLP-1 will inhibit calorie replacement and refuelling due to its mechanism of action. A pro rider will burn 1000 calories an hour as an average (68-72kg) training 20-30 hrs per week. With that energy expenditure, if you cant reach a good race weight then something is wrong. Unless you are a pure climber, body weight is less important now due to advancements in aerodynamics and rolling resistance. There have been some interesting articles of pros gaining 5-10kg and improving in all areas. The more carbs you can metabolise the better. Not to mention GI distress with GLP-1s.

PROVIRON

Detection is easy and unpredictable. Mast prop is one of my personal favourites in the off season. 150T, 150PV and 5000iu HCG/week.

HCG

This will prevent testosterone getting too low. Because it increases production through the body's pathway, epitestosterone will be 1:1. I will try and find the study where one of the byproducts in this process can help with fat loss. You will get the benefits of endurance HRT (mid-high normal) without the heavy feeling in the legs. As for water and glycogen, if you are trained to world class level your glycogen storage capacity will be maxed out in both muscle and liver. 5g creatine per day is great for hydration and having a bit more phosphate for pure strength at the start of a sprint (1-3s). High doses (25g / day for 7 days) have also shown positive results in cognition, concussion and head injury healing.

HGH + INSULIN

HGH before bed 1-4iu is a game changer when you are training at your limit. It can add an extra day to a block, you'll recover better in a taper week but it needs to be cycled for a long time. Insulin post workout gets your recovery meal and any nutrition supplements into the damaged cells. Use a 24hr glucose monitor always. Dose and food are personal and the monitor will guide you.

TESTING

Testing for exotic or endogenous compounds is expensive. Some races at a very high level didn't test a single sample for EPO or rHGH. It's intel based. Ive done races where the teams have known whats being tested for prior. An amateur team who were all on epo and test were targeted for weeks. The caught 1 out of the 8 riders for.... masteron and primo. Taken for vanity reasons. A joke.

MODERN TRENDS

Since the tramadol ban, a stronger and cheaper version has taken over. Tapentadol. Oraly is 32% bioavalale and still blows tramadol out the water. Tramadol had limited recreation value whereas this one does. Tizanadine to relax constricted blood flow is common, plus baclofen and pain-o-soma at night to relax the muscle. This is actually really helpful after a crash since it stops twitching while asleep with heavy cuts and abrasions.

Injectable carnitine is popular now. Legal, safe and effective. It's the best thing for weight loss when risk/reward is added.

Oral AICAR during races. No one knows much apart from deep inside some teams. A dose is about $5000 per race.

Ketone esters. These have been around for a while but no one knew how to use them. The consensus now is a dose mixed with tart cherry extract immediately post race. Some evidence that this method can boost natural EPO production.

The sport is cleaner now at lower levels. A rider on a limited budget will gain more from aero testing, custom kit, wheel and tyre choice for the same price as a medical support.

MEASURMENTS AND AI

24hr glucose trackers while training is really helpful in nailing your carb and energy plan.

Taking a lactate finger prick test at set times during a training ride has become popular, I believe this technology will go the same way as the glucose monitors.

Haemoglobin monitors can be helpful if accurate enough.

Heat training. This is the next big thing in training and have seen the benefits myself. Currently the only sensor is a CORE but it's worth it. Blood plasma has some oxygen delivery capability. Not only will heat adaptation make a rider more resilient, it will create more plasma. More plasma means more oxygen and more fluid to dilute and remove metabolic waste.

Id recommend these over PEDs now. Suppliments work best on untrained people because the pathway is already maxed at world class level. Medicine is the opposite (apart from PPAR drugs). Bodybuilders who are very anaerobic and low aerobic describe GW like a 3rd lung. I have not heard any top athlete say it's done much. In fact its caused PPAR to be too dominant and take away capacity at high intensity/short duration (1-90 seconds)

A final note.

Doping is underwhelming. It's a 2-5% gain if everything else is perfect. For world class, this turns a finish into a result. Out of everything, the biggest difference I found was tramadol/tapentadol with paracetamol and caffeine. This will 99% chance of destroying your life.

Genetics

I was blessed with my genetics even though I was an average pro. My first piece of exercise after a year and a half estimated my FTP to be 3.8w/kg. I rode 160km the next day at 180w (70kg) and I feel fresh the next day. Im still vaping 20mg nicotine a day, but never drink alcohol. Be honest with yourself, go to a doctor and make your aim health. I would put money on it that this will give the best raw improvement. I drink kefir and pickled cabbage and beetroot daily and the change in gut health helped my mental health in a way I didn't think possible (serotonin is made in the gut). You don't have to be ripped to perform. Yes the top riders are lean, but many don't have that crazy body type. Its genetic.

Anymore questions, I will answer to the best of my knowledge. A bad crash and painkillers turned me from a paid athlete to spending 6 months in prison, 15 seizures needing intense care, and three cardiac events. My genetics saved my life.

Great info and very interesting. Thank you!

 

[rbc]

Money matters and respect to you for making it the hard way in sport. But when does the Burger King manager get to come home and say "Today I brought it all, I left it all and I did better than I have ever done". Most endurance athletes willingly took a pay cut just to live for this ambition.

Don't forget, there are guys taking PEDs just to like what they see in a mirror.

"there are guys" is an understatement - the core impetus for the existence of this and other similar forums is a beauty pageant (aka bodybuilding).
I don't regard the desire for athletic performance (or for a lifestyle or career centered on it) any differently than bodybuilding. I assume bodybuilders are chasing the experience of being in a perfect, shredded body, and its the same feeling untouchable feeling as being fast on the bike.
There is often a misunderstanding that PEDs in sport are always about winning. Obviously that is a motivation, as it is for bodybuilding, but I think what draws both groups here is the pursuit of the extremes of the human experience. The question answers itself - nothing else can compare to the experience itself. They are both monomaniacal, drug-addled means of meaning-making. It would be healthier if we could find meaning in managing a Burger King (an honorable profession), but none of us would be here if that were so.

 

[Pupil B]

Sorry for the absence. I will try and answer each question with a brutally truthful answer and a safe alternative. I am firstly lucky. I am in recovery from IV opioid addiction and if I wast so fit and vascular due to my training, I would have lost limbs and easily my life. The addiction was not just down to sport. I used tramadol at a very low dose for years, but you can't always control things in your personal life.

TESTING AND CLEANING OUT

Firstly testosterone is mainly an off season drug. You can miss 3 tests before you have to explain. The testing budget is low. If you base yourself somewhere expensive and logistically difficult for testers, after attempt 1 you have 2-3 weeks minimum to clear out. Easy with prop and some HCG to bring the T:E ratio within limits. Test during peak performance will make you feel heavy and actually slow you down.

T4

Vital for use with HGH. Hard training causes thyroid shutdown. This means you can keep T4 high normal to metabolise as much energy as possible. Its legal and doesn't change HR like T3

CORTICOSTEROIDS

For a normal person, yes. Weight gain. When you train 20-30hrs a week it cannibalises any tissue into energy, and the artificial stress gives you that strength like in a flight or fight situation. By any tissue, I mean every tissue. Fat, muscle, bone, tendon. Weight drops while you feel stronger and chronically stressed 24/7. Your immune system shuts down. 2006-2020 when it was at its peak you'd see riders break bones very easily due to its abuse. Common colds became pneumonia, many injuries. Triamcinolone (kenalog) in deep IM would last a month and should only be used once per year but as you can imagine, more was sometimes used, like dexamethasone IM, short acting before a hard single day race. Ever see a race favourite have a shocker of a day? Usually down to this, and the cortisone not being ridden into the legs the day prior.

Smaller pro teams don't need pre approval for cortisone use. This can be retroactive IF the rider gets tested which is rare.

GLP-1

Power on the bike in watts is based on kilojoules. The body is about 25% efficient so 1000kj = 1000 calories. 280w for 1 hour is about 1000 calories. GLP-1 will inhibit calorie replacement and refuelling due to its mechanism of action. A pro rider will burn 1000 calories an hour as an average (68-72kg) training 20-30 hrs per week. With that energy expenditure, if you cant reach a good race weight then something is wrong. Unless you are a pure climber, body weight is less important now due to advancements in aerodynamics and rolling resistance. There have been some interesting articles of pros gaining 5-10kg and improving in all areas. The more carbs you can metabolise the better. Not to mention GI distress with GLP-1s.

PROVIRON

Detection is easy and unpredictable. Mast prop is one of my personal favourites in the off season. 150T, 150PV and 5000iu HCG/week.

HCG

This will prevent testosterone getting too low. Because it increases production through the body's pathway, epitestosterone will be 1:1. I will try and find the study where one of the byproducts in this process can help with fat loss. You will get the benefits of endurance HRT (mid-high normal) without the heavy feeling in the legs. As for water and glycogen, if you are trained to world class level your glycogen storage capacity will be maxed out in both muscle and liver. 5g creatine per day is great for hydration and having a bit more phosphate for pure strength at the start of a sprint (1-3s). High doses (25g / day for 7 days) have also shown positive results in cognition, concussion and head injury healing.

HGH + INSULIN

HGH before bed 1-4iu is a game changer when you are training at your limit. It can add an extra day to a block, you'll recover better in a taper week but it needs to be cycled for a long time. Insulin post workout gets your recovery meal and any nutrition supplements into the damaged cells. Use a 24hr glucose monitor always. Dose and food are personal and the monitor will guide you.

TESTING

Testing for exotic or endogenous compounds is expensive. Some races at a very high level didn't test a single sample for EPO or rHGH. It's intel based. Ive done races where the teams have known whats being tested for prior. An amateur team who were all on epo and test were targeted for weeks. The caught 1 out of the 8 riders for.... masteron and primo. Taken for vanity reasons. A joke.

MODERN TRENDS

Since the tramadol ban, a stronger and cheaper version has taken over. Tapentadol. Oraly is 32% bioavalale and still blows tramadol out the water. Tramadol had limited recreation value whereas this one does. Tizanadine to relax constricted blood flow is common, plus baclofen and pain-o-soma at night to relax the muscle. This is actually really helpful after a crash since it stops twitching while asleep with heavy cuts and abrasions.

Injectable carnitine is popular now. Legal, safe and effective. It's the best thing for weight loss when risk/reward is added.

Oral AICAR during races. No one knows much apart from deep inside some teams. A dose is about $5000 per race.

Ketone esters. These have been around for a while but no one knew how to use them. The consensus now is a dose mixed with tart cherry extract immediately post race. Some evidence that this method can boost natural EPO production.

The sport is cleaner now at lower levels. A rider on a limited budget will gain more from aero testing, custom kit, wheel and tyre choice for the same price as a medical support.

MEASURMENTS AND AI

24hr glucose trackers while training is really helpful in nailing your carb and energy plan.

Taking a lactate finger prick test at set times during a training ride has become popular, I believe this technology will go the same way as the glucose monitors.

Haemoglobin monitors can be helpful if accurate enough.

Heat training. This is the next big thing in training and have seen the benefits myself. Currently the only sensor is a CORE but it's worth it. Blood plasma has some oxygen delivery capability. Not only will heat adaptation make a rider more resilient, it will create more plasma. More plasma means more oxygen and more fluid to dilute and remove metabolic waste.

Id recommend these over PEDs now. Suppliments work best on untrained people because the pathway is already maxed at world class level. Medicine is the opposite (apart from PPAR drugs). Bodybuilders who are very anaerobic and low aerobic describe GW like a 3rd lung. I have not heard any top athlete say it's done much. In fact its caused PPAR to be too dominant and take away capacity at high intensity/short duration (1-90 seconds)

A final note.

Doping is underwhelming. It's a 2-5% gain if everything else is perfect. For world class, this turns a finish into a result. Out of everything, the biggest difference I found was tramadol/tapentadol with paracetamol and caffeine. This will 99% chance of destroying your life.

Genetics

I was blessed with my genetics even though I was an average pro. My first piece of exercise after a year and a half estimated my FTP to be 3.8w/kg. I rode 160km the next day at 180w (70kg) and I feel fresh the next day. Im still vaping 20mg nicotine a day, but never drink alcohol. Be honest with yourself, go to a doctor and make your aim health. I would put money on it that this will give the best raw improvement. I drink kefir and pickled cabbage and beetroot daily and the change in gut health helped my mental health in a way I didn't think possible (serotonin is made in the gut). You don't have to be ripped to perform. Yes the top riders are lean, but many don't have that crazy body type. Its genetic.

Anymore questions, I will answer to the best of my knowledge. A bad crash and painkillers turned me from a paid athlete to spending 6 months in prison, 15 seizures needing intense care, and three cardiac events. My genetics saved my life.

What doses of t4 are typically used? What's the highest youve seen and tried?

I have a ton of trouble adjusting my t4 dose which is why I'm asking. Your answer will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Gdubb184]

I’m an amateur. But I run marathons. Ran my first on gear last month. 110 mg test c and 17.5 mg var. I was able to PR at 3:03, down from 3:18. Was also taking 1.5-2 mg tirzepatide a week to keep weight down. Massive improvement.

 

[vulpes]

I’m an amateur. But I run marathons. Ran my first on gear last month. 110 mg test c and 17.5 mg var. I was able to PR at 3:03, down from 3:18. Was also taking 1.5-2 mg tirzepatide a week to keep weight down. Massive improvement.

Very interesting. Great improvement, congratulations. Can you give us any more detail? What made you settle on those doses? They look like doses that thought went into, not just a round 100mg test and 20mg var. How long was your cycle? What are you doing post cycle? Did you have any marked changes to bloods?

 

[MuscularMD]

Didn’t think var helped with endurance. That it may be counterproductive leading to more pumped muscles and cramping. Was going to try Cardarine, but concerned of the cancer risks, albeit that was in rats and much higher doses.

I’m an amateur. But I run marathons. Ran my first on gear last month. 110 mg test c and 17.5 mg var. I was able to PR at 3:03, down from 3:18. Was also taking 1.5-2 mg tirzepatide a week to keep weight down. Massive improvement.

 

[bigdaddyandfriends]

Didn’t think var helped with endurance. That it may be counterproductive leading to more pumped muscles and cramping. Was going to try Cardarine, but concerned of the cancer risks, albeit that was in rats and much higher doses.

I use 10mg cardarine per day long term as an injectable in combination with SR9009, at that dosage cancer risk is negligible. Some anti-cancer effects of cardarine are known too, in addition to the known cancer association you reference. I have found zero unwanted effects of SR9009, and take a total of 30mg/day; it's only drawback is poor oral bioavailability and short half life.

Besides the endurance benefits, cardarine is also is one of very few drugs that will raise actually HDL - which inevitably takes a hit when using test/AAS/SARMS, and oral DHT-derivates i.e. anavar and SARMs i.e. RAD140 seem to be the absolute worst offenders. Reta improves HDL too, but typically more in quality (particle size) than quantity. Test/AAS inherently raise LDL too, which can be negated with ezetimibe, rosuvastatin, retatrutide, cardarine, and SR9009. Test/AAS interesting decrease both ApoB and Lp(a) levels, which have the strongest association with development of cardiovascular disease.

As a physician. I believe managing blood pressure, systemic inflammation, lipids, and cardiac re-modeling, as well as maintaining healthy (upper normal) estradiol levels are the keys to safely using and benefitting from PEDs.

The only major cancer risk I see with PED use is uncontrolled estradiol, which is known to cause development of certain cancers, most importantly (in men) of the prostate. ERα sends a cell proliferation signal in reproductive tissues in men and women. Now once cancer does form, then all sorts of PEDs (androgens, estrogens, and GH/IGF1) can and will feed it.

My med specialty is reading PET/CTs, basically cancer imaging... so I am clinically experienced and well educated/read on this subject, and of course self educated on PEDs as doctors typically are completely ignorant on this topic.

Lipid effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ agonist GW501516 in subjects with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol: characteristics of metabolic syndrome - PubMed

GW501516 produced significant changes in HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, apoA1, and apoB. Fewer very LDL and larger LDL support a transition toward less atherogenic lipoprotein profiles. These data are consistent with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ being a potentially important...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Gdubb184]

Very interesting. Great improvement, congratulations. Can you give us any more detail? What made you settle on those doses? They look like doses that thought went into, not just a round 100mg test and 20mg var. How long was your cycle? What are you doing post cycle? Did you have any marked changes to bloods?

I’m on 100mg TRT “cruise” if you want to call it that. 100mg keeps my bloods at about 1100 ng/dl which is at the upper end of the range. My idea behind that dose, aside from TRT, was that I didn’t necessarily want to bulk at all—just the opposite. I wanted to lean out and maintain what I had while training 55-70 miles per week. As far as anavar, I got 70mg tabs from QSC a while back and could only safely divide them into quarters, hence the 17.5mg dosing. But anavar at that dose has been shown to enhance collagen synthesis and provides connective tissue support. Also has mild effect of increasing RBC. So used this over the last 6 weeks of the build to prevent fatigue that usually sets in at that point in training. It was very helpful I felt. Never had pump issues with it while running, tho sometimes felt them during off-day weightlifting sessions. I minimized them as best I could with pre workout taurine. But again, never once felt them during runs.

Would experiment next with low dose EQ to raise EPO levels but concerned with all the negative mental sides people rumor about while taking EQ. And am not willing to jump to EPO straight up since I’m just a “hobby jogger.”

 

[Feldy]

Ex pro endurance athlete here.

Replacing T even to mid level will be a boost, since the more you train the more hormones shut down (Test, gh, T4). Iv'e seen doping develop over the years. One thing about TRT for endurance is the body is only getting one exaggerated benefit. On T all long distance athletes will go slower, but can train harder so come race day you're clear and loose the water leading up. HCG is a must for an endurance athlete on TRT. In fact now HCG/HMG is most beneficial for an endurance athlete. You. will stop the depletion of natural T this way.

EPO was simple until the better tests. Now the only one is Zeta variant with daily macrodosing IV. Similar with GH. Its still almost undetectable but there is concern of non pharma brands getting contaminated with GHRP which is very easy to detect.

T4 isn't banned and is a great aid to an endurance athlete if they are training hard enough.

There is a big discrepancy between a pro and as a very fit working athlete. This next part is dangerous, commonly used. Remember this is their job.

Traimcinalone (corticoid) 40mg IM deep glute will strip fat, excess muscle off for 4 weeks into a key event. A. therapeutic use form can be given, or just stating you are using a topical product.

Real AICAR is very expensive but is commonplace, even orally. GWs are a no go because of the testing. GW will give the biggest gains to those who are not at a good level. PPAR activation is most likely at its maximum so there is no more room to move up.

Insulin post workout is used to replenish carbohydrates ASAP.

Narcotic painkillers are used, a lot. Some are not even banned whatsoever. The same with sleep medication.

Much like all sports off season training mode and race mode will look very different. Off season more GH is used with higher T especially since this is the time strength and conditioning training is part of the training cycle.

It must be noted that weekly blood tests at that level mean you are able to adjust or is causing a health issue later

How often can you use Triamcinolone? I tried 30 mgs and I felt like the bionic man. My legs never got tired...Happen to know any sources for EPO and tier two pain meds (Tramadol, Hydrocodone)?

 

[Lance93]

Hello. Does anyone know how long a wada can detect epo (epoetin alpha) in an urine? (Detected time epoetin alfa in urine). Thanx

 

[ThinBulk]

I’m on 100mg TRT “cruise” if you want to call it that. 100mg keeps my bloods at about 1100 ng/dl which is at the upper end of the range. My idea behind that dose, aside from TRT, was that I didn’t necessarily want to bulk at all—just the opposite. I wanted to lean out and maintain what I had while training 55-70 miles per week. As far as anavar, I got 70mg tabs from QSC a while back and could only safely divide them into quarters, hence the 17.5mg dosing. But anavar at that dose has been shown to enhance collagen synthesis and provides connective tissue support. Also has mild effect of increasing RBC. So used this over the last 6 weeks of the build to prevent fatigue that usually sets in at that point in training. It was very helpful I felt. Never had pump issues with it while running, tho sometimes felt them during off-day weightlifting sessions. I minimized them as best I could with pre workout taurine. But again, never once felt them during runs.

Would experiment next with low dose EQ to raise EPO levels but concerned with all the negative mental sides people rumor about while taking EQ. And am not willing to jump to EPO straight up since I’m just a “hobby jogger.”

I had some weird mental sides from EQ at high doses. Dropping down to 400mg/wk when running 600mg test stopped the sides. Endurance was great though for being on a gram of gear. I was running a lot at the time.

I actually recently got a new vial to run 100mg for a long time along with trt to see how low dose goes. I'm very confident there won't be sides from that dose.

 

[Feldy]

Hello. Does anyone know how long a wada can detect epo (epoetin alpha) in an urine? (Detected time epoetin alfa in urine). Thanx

Yes but only for a limited time (I read 1 week to be safe) even though the half life is relatively short. Unless you are a pro athlete or doing serious sanctioned events I would seriously be surprised if you got tested if you are racing with a bunch of amateurs/masters athletes.

 

[ThinBulk]

I use 10mg cardarine per day long term as an injectable in combination with SR9009, at that dosage cancer risk is negligible. Some anti-cancer effects of cardarine are known too, in addition to the known cancer association you reference. I have found zero unwanted effects of SR9009, and take a total of 30mg/day; it's only drawback is poor oral bioavailability and short half life.

Besides the endurance benefits, cardarine is also is one of very few drugs that will raise actually HDL - which inevitably takes a hit when using test/AAS/SARMS, and oral DHT-derivates i.e. anavar and SARMs i.e. RAD140 seem to be the absolute worst offenders. Reta improves HDL too, but typically more in quality (particle size) than quantity. Test/AAS inherently raise LDL too, which can be negated with ezetimibe, rosuvastatin, retatrutide, cardarine, and SR9009. Test/AAS interesting decrease both ApoB and Lp(a) levels, which have the strongest association with development of cardiovascular disease.

As a physician. I believe managing blood pressure, systemic inflammation, lipids, and cardiac re-modeling, as well as maintaining healthy (upper normal) estradiol levels are the keys to safely using and benefitting from PEDs.

The only major cancer risk I see with PED use is uncontrolled estradiol, which is known to cause development of certain cancers, most importantly (in men) of the prostate. ERα sends a cell proliferation signal in reproductive tissues in men and women. Now once cancer does form, then all sorts of PEDs (androgens, estrogens, and GH/IGF1) can and will feed it.

My med specialty is reading PET/CTs, basically cancer imaging... so I am clinically experienced and well educated/read on this subject, and of course self educated on PEDs as doctors typically are completely ignorant on this topic.

Lipid effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ agonist GW501516 in subjects with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol: characteristics of metabolic syndrome - PubMed

GW501516 produced significant changes in HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, apoA1, and apoB. Fewer very LDL and larger LDL support a transition toward less atherogenic lipoprotein profiles. These data are consistent with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ being a potentially important...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How do you come by the conclusion that cardarine doesn't increase cancer risk? From the studies I found, about 40-50mg per day human equivalent dose caused lots more cancer. They didn't run it at the 10mg level, but every study looking for it showed increased cancer risk.

I recently ran 15mg and was wowed by the endurance gains. I'm very interested in your take on it.

 

[rbc]

I had some weird mental sides from EQ at high doses. Dropping down to 400mg/wk when running 600mg test stopped the sides. Endurance was great though for being on a gram of gear. I was running a lot at the time.

I actually recently got a new vial to run 100mg for a long time along with trt to see how low dose goes. I'm very confident there won't be sides from that dose.

Considering the same thing, it makes a lot of sense in principle, but there’s very little real experience available sharing impact on bloods long term and on hematocrit in the high volume endurance context.

 

[hawkberry04]

Sorry for the absence. I will try and answer each question with a brutally truthful answer and a safe alternative. I am firstly lucky. I am in recovery from IV opioid addiction and if I wast so fit and vascular due to my training, I would have lost limbs and easily my life. The addiction was not just down to sport. I used tramadol at a very low dose for years, but you can't always control things in your personal life.

TESTING AND CLEANING OUT

Firstly testosterone is mainly an off season drug. You can miss 3 tests before you have to explain. The testing budget is low. If you base yourself somewhere expensive and logistically difficult for testers, after attempt 1 you have 2-3 weeks minimum to clear out. Easy with prop and some HCG to bring the T:E ratio within limits. Test during peak performance will make you feel heavy and actually slow you down.

T4

Vital for use with HGH. Hard training causes thyroid shutdown. This means you can keep T4 high normal to metabolise as much energy as possible. Its legal and doesn't change HR like T3

CORTICOSTEROIDS

For a normal person, yes. Weight gain. When you train 20-30hrs a week it cannibalises any tissue into energy, and the artificial stress gives you that strength like in a flight or fight situation. By any tissue, I mean every tissue. Fat, muscle, bone, tendon. Weight drops while you feel stronger and chronically stressed 24/7. Your immune system shuts down. 2006-2020 when it was at its peak you'd see riders break bones very easily due to its abuse. Common colds became pneumonia, many injuries. Triamcinolone (kenalog) in deep IM would last a month and should only be used once per year but as you can imagine, more was sometimes used, like dexamethasone IM, short acting before a hard single day race. Ever see a race favourite have a shocker of a day? Usually down to this, and the cortisone not being ridden into the legs the day prior.

Smaller pro teams don't need pre approval for cortisone use. This can be retroactive IF the rider gets tested which is rare.

GLP-1

Power on the bike in watts is based on kilojoules. The body is about 25% efficient so 1000kj = 1000 calories. 280w for 1 hour is about 1000 calories. GLP-1 will inhibit calorie replacement and refuelling due to its mechanism of action. A pro rider will burn 1000 calories an hour as an average (68-72kg) training 20-30 hrs per week. With that energy expenditure, if you cant reach a good race weight then something is wrong. Unless you are a pure climber, body weight is less important now due to advancements in aerodynamics and rolling resistance. There have been some interesting articles of pros gaining 5-10kg and improving in all areas. The more carbs you can metabolise the better. Not to mention GI distress with GLP-1s.

PROVIRON

Detection is easy and unpredictable. Mast prop is one of my personal favourites in the off season. 150T, 150PV and 5000iu HCG/week.

HCG

This will prevent testosterone getting too low. Because it increases production through the body's pathway, epitestosterone will be 1:1. I will try and find the study where one of the byproducts in this process can help with fat loss. You will get the benefits of endurance HRT (mid-high normal) without the heavy feeling in the legs. As for water and glycogen, if you are trained to world class level your glycogen storage capacity will be maxed out in both muscle and liver. 5g creatine per day is great for hydration and having a bit more phosphate for pure strength at the start of a sprint (1-3s). High doses (25g / day for 7 days) have also shown positive results in cognition, concussion and head injury healing.

HGH + INSULIN

HGH before bed 1-4iu is a game changer when you are training at your limit. It can add an extra day to a block, you'll recover better in a taper week but it needs to be cycled for a long time. Insulin post workout gets your recovery meal and any nutrition supplements into the damaged cells. Use a 24hr glucose monitor always. Dose and food are personal and the monitor will guide you.

TESTING

Testing for exotic or endogenous compounds is expensive. Some races at a very high level didn't test a single sample for EPO or rHGH. It's intel based. Ive done races where the teams have known whats being tested for prior. An amateur team who were all on epo and test were targeted for weeks. The caught 1 out of the 8 riders for.... masteron and primo. Taken for vanity reasons. A joke.

MODERN TRENDS

Since the tramadol ban, a stronger and cheaper version has taken over. Tapentadol. Oraly is 32% bioavalale and still blows tramadol out the water. Tramadol had limited recreation value whereas this one does. Tizanadine to relax constricted blood flow is common, plus baclofen and pain-o-soma at night to relax the muscle. This is actually really helpful after a crash since it stops twitching while asleep with heavy cuts and abrasions.

Injectable carnitine is popular now. Legal, safe and effective. It's the best thing for weight loss when risk/reward is added.

Oral AICAR during races. No one knows much apart from deep inside some teams. A dose is about $5000 per race.

Ketone esters. These have been around for a while but no one knew how to use them. The consensus now is a dose mixed with tart cherry extract immediately post race. Some evidence that this method can boost natural EPO production.

The sport is cleaner now at lower levels. A rider on a limited budget will gain more from aero testing, custom kit, wheel and tyre choice for the same price as a medical support.

MEASURMENTS AND AI

24hr glucose trackers while training is really helpful in nailing your carb and energy plan.

Taking a lactate finger prick test at set times during a training ride has become popular, I believe this technology will go the same way as the glucose monitors.

Haemoglobin monitors can be helpful if accurate enough.

Heat training. This is the next big thing in training and have seen the benefits myself. Currently the only sensor is a CORE but it's worth it. Blood plasma has some oxygen delivery capability. Not only will heat adaptation make a rider more resilient, it will create more plasma. More plasma means more oxygen and more fluid to dilute and remove metabolic waste.

Id recommend these over PEDs now. Suppliments work best on untrained people because the pathway is already maxed at world class level. Medicine is the opposite (apart from PPAR drugs). Bodybuilders who are very anaerobic and low aerobic describe GW like a 3rd lung. I have not heard any top athlete say it's done much. In fact its caused PPAR to be too dominant and take away capacity at high intensity/short duration (1-90 seconds)

A final note.

Doping is underwhelming. It's a 2-5% gain if everything else is perfect. For world class, this turns a finish into a result. Out of everything, the biggest difference I found was tramadol/tapentadol with paracetamol and caffeine. This will 99% chance of destroying your life.

Genetics

I was blessed with my genetics even though I was an average pro. My first piece of exercise after a year and a half estimated my FTP to be 3.8w/kg. I rode 160km the next day at 180w (70kg) and I feel fresh the next day. Im still vaping 20mg nicotine a day, but never drink alcohol. Be honest with yourself, go to a doctor and make your aim health. I would put money on it that this will give the best raw improvement. I drink kefir and pickled cabbage and beetroot daily and the change in gut health helped my mental health in a way I didn't think possible (serotonin is made in the gut). You don't have to be ripped to perform. Yes the top riders are lean, but many don't have that crazy body type. Its genetic.

Anymore questions, I will answer to the best of my knowledge. A bad crash and painkillers turned me from a paid athlete to spending 6 months in prison, 15 seizures needing intense care, and three cardiac events. My genetics saved my life.

Great information. I’m always curious - what PED’s, if any, do you think the Tour de France riders are using DURING the tour?

 

[Matsauce6]

Why is the athlete on trt slower on longer runs? Just sheer muscle mass using oxygen more?

 

[Feldy]

Great information. I’m always curious - what PED’s, if any, do you think the Tour de France riders are using DURING the tour?

Great information. I’m always curious - what PED’s, if any, do you think the Tour de France riders are using DURING the tour?

What did Proviron do for you?

 

[bedrocked]

HCG is a must for an endurance athlete on TRT. In fact now HCG/HMG is most beneficial for an endurance athlete. You. will stop the depletion of natural T this way.

I actually don't understand this. Are you saying HCG is performance enhancing when on TRT? Because that's the first I've ever heard that before.