We resolved a couple issues with our server setup that was making the site inaccessible for some, in addition our web server was crashing periodically, all this has been resolved. We can now get back to business, we have some new stuff that will be rolling out over the next couple of days.

1. Comments, are now active to allow user questions/comments/suggestions on articles.
2. Releasing completely new Halodrol article, new format, new information, etc.
3. Releasing a counter to our BOLD+HDROL stack, with this one being aimed towards summer.
4. We will be releasing a new article about a newer compound (tbd).
5. Site redesign, we will be creating a new banner, some modifications.
6. New site, we are working on a ‘sister’ site with several other people that will hopefully become the authoritative site for information.  Where as TunedSports.com is geared more towards novice/intermediate users, putting things into readable context.
7. With the launch of the new site, we are already taking advantage of many new features.  Mostly with site speed improvement, we have implemented tons of caching etc.

Hello internet, we have a bunch of new articles we are getting ready to publish that have been completed for sometime now.  We’ve hit a wall in terms of our current web hosting account for the site, before releasing the new articles we will be moving to a new server to give us more space and bandwidth.  We hope to have the move completed in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned for more

Introduction

We put this list together in order to provide our readers with a quick and simple break down of many popular compounds, this is a living article, we update it on a consistent basis by adding new clones when they become available and adding new information when it comes to light.

Note:  The half-life figures in a -few- cases are educated estimates based on information available at the time.

11-OXO (Adrenosterone)

Clones:  11-Sterone, 11-Test
Nomenclature:  Adrenosterone (Androst-4-ene-3,11,17-trione
Common Dosages:  300mg to 900 mg daily.
Common Cycle Length:  5-9 Weeks.
Methylated:  No
Half-Life:  Average (6-8 hours)
Possible Side effects:  11-OXO is very mild, libido changes possible, mild acne,  hair thinning, etcetera.
Notes:  Great cutter, excellent cortisol control, good stacker, not viable solo in anything but a cut, very costly to run properly.

Legality: Available (Currently Legal)

Orastan-A

Clones:  Furaguno, Furazadrol, Furuza-A, Winabol/Winadrol
Nomenclature:  5a-androstanol[2,3]furazan-17b-tetrahydropyranol
Common Dosages:  200mg to 300 mg daily.
Common Cycle Length:  5-6 Weeks.
Methylated:  No
Half-Life:  Short (5-6 hours)
Possible Side effects:  very mild, reduces good & bad cholesterol, increased anxiety, slightly increased blood Pressure, back pumps and etcetera.
Notes:  Great cutter, decent strength gains, lean and dry gains stacks well with other compounds.

Legality: Available (Currently Legal)

1,4 AD (BOLD)

Clones:  EQ-Plex, EQ-Jet, Bold
Nomenclature:  1,4-androstadiene-3b,17b-dione or androst-1,4-diene-3b,17b-dione
Common Dosages:  600mg to 1000 mg daily.
Common Cycle Length:  6-10 Weeks.
Methylated:  No
Half-Life:  Long (10-12 hours)
Possible Side effects:  BOLD is quite mild however can cause higher blood pressure, increased appetite, libido changes, acne, hair thinning, etcetera.
Notes:  Quite costly to run at effective dosages, solid as a bulking compound due to increased appetite, easy to maintain gains, great stacker.

Legality: Unavailable (Illegal/Banned)

Halodrol

Clones:  H-Drol, H-Roid
Nomenclature:  4-Chloro-17a-Methyl-Androst-1,4-Diene-3-17b-Diol
Common Dosages:  50mg to 100mg daily.
Common Cycle Length:  4-6 Weeks.
Methylated:  Yes
Half-Life:  Long (12 hours)
Possible Side effects:  Heptatoxicity (Liver), sore/dry joints, back/muscle pumps, decreased libido, acne, etcetera.
Notes:  Great multi-purpose compound, produces dry/lean muscle gains.

Legality: Available (Currently Legal)

Promagnon

Clones:  Promag, P-Mag
Nomenclature:  4-Chloro-17a-Methyl-Andro-4-Ene-3,17b-Diol
Common Dosages:  50mg to 100mg daily.
Common Cycle Length:  4-6 Weeks.
Methylated:  Yes
Half-Life:  Long (12 hours)
Possible Side effects:  Heptatoxicity (Liver), sore/dry joints, back/muscle pumps, decreased libido, acne, etcetera.
Notes:  Similar to Halodrol, Great multi-purpose compound, produces dry/lean muscle gains.  Slightly better bulker than Halodrol, begins working quicker as well.

Legality: Available (Currently Legal)

Epistane

Clones:  E-Stane
Nomenclature:  2a,3a-epithio-17a-methyl-etioallocholan-17b-ol
Common Dosages:  30mg to 40mg daily.
Common Cycle Length:  4-5 Weeks.
Methylated:  Yes
Half-Life:  Average (6-8 hours)
Possible Side effects:  Heptatoxicity (Liver), sore/dry joints, puffy/sensitive nipples, back/calf pumps, decreased libido, acne, etcetera.
Notes:  Good multi-purpose compound, very lean dry gains,  good strength increases.  Some people don’t seem to respond to Epistane, so it’s a hit or miss compound.

Legality: Available (Currently Legal)

Superdrol

Clones:  M-Drol, Masterdrol, S-Drol
Nomenclature:  2a, 17a Dimethyl Etiocholan 3-One, 17b-Ol
Common Dosages:  10mg to 30mg daily.
Common Cycle Length:  3-4 Weeks.
Methylated:  Yes
Half-Life:  Average (6-10 hours)
Possible Side effects:  One of the harshest compounds around.  Heptatoxicity (Liver), poor lipid profiles, muscle pumps/cramps, lethargy, may aggravate gynecomastia and more.
Notes:  One of the strongest compounds on the market, produces rapid dry & lean muscle mass gains, great for bulking, side effects are common.

Legality: Available (Currently Legal)

Pheraplex

Clones:  Phera, P-Plex, Phera Flex
Nomenclature:  17a-Methyl-etioallocholan-2-ene-17b-ol
Common Dosages:  20mg to 40mg daily.
Common Cycle Length:  3-4 Weeks.
Methylated:  Yes
Half-Life:  Long (10-12 hours)
Possible Side effects:  One of the harshest compounds around.  Heptatoxicity (Liver), poor lipid profiles, muscle pumps/cramps, lethargy, may aggravate gynecomastia and more.
Notes:  One of the strongest compounds on the market, produces rapid wet mass gains, great for bulking, side effects are common.  Not suitable for cutting or recomp.

Legality: Unavailable (Illegal/Banned)

Introduction
In today’s sometimes overly stressful world many people are turning to medication, in a study performed in 2005 it showed that 27 million Americans were taking antidepressants, this represents roughly 10% of the population at the time, since then this number has certainly continued to rise as studies show antidepressant usage has been on a continual increase. Since our site caters to adult men, it should also be noted that usage continues to rise significantly among adult men as well.

But what this article is really about is users taking antidepressants and how they affect anabolic steroid/pro-hormone cycles, post cycle therapy, testosterone levels and in general building muscle. There are thousands of questions on popular internet message boards (such as prohormoneforum.com) regarding antidepressant usage and anabolic steroid cycles, we won’t go into detail about how these antidepressants effect depression and anxiety, only how they affect bodybuilding and steroid usage.

SSRI (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor)

Below are the five of the most common and popular SSRI products.

1. Lexapro
2. Celexa
3. Paxil
4. Zoloft
5. Prozac

SNRI (Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor)

Below are the three of the most common and popular SNRI products.

1. Effexor
2. Cymbalta
3. Pristiq

Testosterone Levels

Obviously as a bodybuilder, athlete or serious lifter you know how important testosterone is to the male body, there have been some recent studies that suggest SSRI’s in particular can cause reduced testosterone levels, unfortunately there haven’t been any extensive studies to prove or disprove this notion.  Most of the information we were able to find is mostly individual users starting an SSRI and getting blood work done to show the lowered values, it should be noted that there is extensive blood work to support the theory that SSRI’s lower testosterone levels in many users.

Having watched a friend lose his mother due to cancer he turned to an SSRI (Lexapro) to help cope with the depression, while it worked wonders for his mental state, he made little progress in the gym while on Lexapro for a year, several months ago he came off the medication and has begun to add muscle pretty quickly.  Nothing has changed in his routine or dietary habits to support the growth, everything is pointing back to the Lexapro.

Here is one study that was performed:  Antidepressant-Induced Low Serum Free Testosterone

So at this point it should be generalized that an SSRI can potentially affect testosterone levels.  It’s also possible SNRI’s could have similar results, however there is less information about this.

Post Cycle Therapy

This is where things get sticky, if you’re a smart anabolic steroid/pro-hormone user, you probably complete a PCT (post cycle therapy) after your cycle and if you’re a really smart user, you probably use a prescription grade PCT consisting of i.e Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate).

Nolvadex uses an enzyme ‘CYP2D6′ to convert itself into a more useful form that our bodies can use.  Unfortunately many antidepressants also use this same CYP2D6 enzyme, thus you have two medications competing for the same pathway.  The problem? Antidepressants have priority on the CYP2D6 enzyme therefore can render Nolvadex to be nearly useless, which could cause serious side effects during our PCT such as Gynecomastia.  If you’re on an antidepressant and intend on using Nolvadex as your PCT, it’s important for you to know which antidepressants will cause issue and if you’re on an antidepressant that will inhibit Nolvadex from being functional, we recommend going with Clomid or Fareston (Toremifene Citrate) instead for your PCT.  Below is a list provided by BreastCancer.org showing which SSRI & SNRI are strong to moderate inhibitors and those that are not.

 
We also did some research on another very popular (and newish) SNRI named Pristiq (Desvenlafaxine) it’s independent of CYP2D6 enzyme therefore shouldn’t negatively interact with Nolvadex.

Weight Gain
One of the largest issues in particular with some SSRI’s is unwelcomed weight gain, while some bodybuilders would welcome some additional help putting on weight, the majority of this weight comes in the form of fat particularly in the stomach, chest and back areas. The evidence is conclusive that the majority of SSRI’s can and will cause some form of weight gain, studies have shown that SSRI’s can/will reduce a users metabolism to some degree, however as to why SSRI’s slow down a bodies metabolism remains unknown. Even an active healthy adult that eats a balanced diet can experience weight gain. In some cases weight gain in upwards of 30+ lbs is experienced on longer term SSRI usage. SNRI’s on the other hand have a much less likely chance of causing unwelcomed weight gain, in the event SNRI’s cause weight gain it’s typically significantly less than with an SSRI.

Prolactin Levels
There is significant medical information that ‘some’ SSRI’s handily increase prolactin levels, prolactin is certainly something users want to keep under control especially on cycle as high prolactin levels can cause puffyness/swelling of breast tissue, lactating breasts (even in men), headaches, infertility, decreased sex drive and more. Users should run prolactin control supplements (i.e P-5-P, Vitex, L-Dopa) to keep prolactin levels at bay on cycle.

Sexual Side Effects
As you may know when doing an anabolic steroid/pro-hormone cycle, some users experience a lowered libido, or in rare cases impotence, which in most cases is certainly undesirable. Virtually all antidepressants aside from Wellbutrin (atypical antidepressant) have some risk of causing sexual dysfunction which can result in lowered libido, impotence or the inability to climax. Those taking an antidepressant and cycling have an increased risk as both can negatively impact a users libido or sexual function.

Fatigue / Lethargy
Another common side effect of Antidepressants is fatigue and lethargy, which also happens to be a quite a common issue on some anabolic steroid/pro-hormone cycles, in some cases lethargy and fatigue can prevent some cycles from being highly successful, so take this into consideration when cycling on an antidepressant the combination of lethargy/fatigue enhancing drugs can cripple a cycle.

Disclaimer
We are not doctors, therefore before starting any supplement or training regiment you should consult with your doctor. The information being provided is simply personal opinion.

With the steroid community currently in the spotlight due to recent FDA raids, it’s time to take these potential threats and risks into consideration. It’s common for users in the steroid communities to post pictures of their stashes, myself included, therefore we recommend playing it safe and uploading your illicit images to stashpic.com image hosting.

You may not be aware but when uploading to other image hosting sites, you can be traced back to a particular image rather easily, stashpic.com on the other hand doesn’t store ANY information about who uploads files to their site, they also don’t store any server level logs that can be used to trace uploads to particular users.

Stashpic was designed to cater to the steroid and pro-hormone communities along with other illicit communities such as marijuana grower forums where members often upload pictures of their grow areas, it’s not uncommon in those communities for people to get a knock on their door from the authorities after having their image uploads traced back to their location.

This is an entirely free & easy service that was created by one of the great minds in the steroid community so we happily support this great effort to create more security for all of the web communities potentially under federal scrutiny.

So please make sure you visit stashpic.com

Prelude

Welcome to the TunedSports Anabolic Steroid & Pro-hormone FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions), this FAQ is updated on a frequent basis as we continue to answer common questions.  If you have a question be sure to ask us the best questions will be placed in the FAQ.  Typically we answer many questions in our other articles such as our informative bibles, those questions won’t be posted here as well, so be sure to read our other content.

Questions & Answers

How old should I be, before trying a cycle?

Assuming you’re a healthy male with no existing medical condition, you should wait until you’re AT LEAST 21 years old.  First and foremost, young men can continue to grow and have other hormonal changes even up until 21 (and in some cases past 21), therefore to avoid potential health risk waiting to 21 is heavily advised.  In our opinion, we recommend waiting even after you’re 21 years old, give yourself adequate time to develop advanced knowledge of your body in it’s adult state and let yourself hit it’s natural peak before venturing into anabolic steroids or pro-hormones.

What is PCT?

Also known as “Post Cycle Therapy” this is the period of time immediately after the steroid/pro-hormone cycle has ended, during this time users will begin to take supplements or medication to help their body return to normal hormone production levels.

What is Gyno (Gynecomastia)?

Gyno is the development of abnormally large mammary glands in males which results in enlarged breast tissue or sometimes referred to as ‘man boobs’ or moobs.  Gyno can happen from puberty, improper designer steroid/pro-hormone usage along with other various somewhat uncommon causes.

How long should I wait in between cycles?

In general time on is equal to time off, therefore if the entire duration of your previous cycle, from start to finish (including PCT) is for example 10 weeks in length, before starting another cycle you should wait AT LEAST 10 weeks before starting another cycle.  However we recommend adding an additional 2 weeks to that figure, so in this case it would be a total of 12 weeks before starting another cycle.  It’s absolutely critical to not jump into another cycle too quickly, it can represent a wide variety of potential health risks.

How many cycles can I run per year?

For newer or moderately experienced users, two cycles per year should be the maximum.  For advanced users who have relatively extensive pro-hormone or designer steroid experience, three cycles per year should be the maximum.  In general artificially influenced gains are slightly harder to maintain than natural gains, anabolic steroids and pro-hormones should be used to supplement your gains, not be the sole source of them.

I’m getting drug tested, what should I do?

Your most common drug test (for Work/Rehab/etc) do *NOT* test for steroids or pro-hormones, testing for particular compounds in urine is very expensive and I’ve never heard of any company paying for them.  In order for companies to detect high or low testosterone/estrogen levels, a blood test would be required.  In general, the only drug testing you have to worry about is for bodybuilding or organized sports (especially at the upper levels i.e NCAA/Professional Sports).

Can women use steroids or pro-hormones?

No, and yes.  If you’re a professional woman’s bodybuilder and are aware of the risks associated with usage, then yes they are effective for women.  But keep in mind usage represents sharp rises in testosterone the primary male hormone and can result in ‘manly’ features such as hair growth, voice changes and a variety of other side effects.  Women also require different dosages and cycle regiments.

Will my libido drop on cycle?

It really depends on the compound and the user, it’s a fairly unique experience some users on some cycles report increased libido, others report no increase while others report decreased libido.  In general while on cycle be prepared for either a libido increase, decrease or no significant change at all.  If you’re worried about a possible decrease in libido, pickup some of NOW Sexual Virility Power and take 2-4 capsules per day which will help improve libido.

Who should avoid anabolic steroids and pro-hormones?

Anyone with a pre-existing medical condition, before starting any cycle make sure you get a check-up from your doctor to ensure you’ve got a clean bill of health.  Also if your family has a history of heart disease, liver disease and so on, you should consult with your doctor before starting any cycle.

How much will I gain on cycle?

This is an incredibly common question, unfortunately it’s also incredibly hard to answer because there are so many variables involved (age, experience, compound, diet, etc).  In general the better the diet, the more experience the lifter and the stronger the compound, the better the gains.  Gains on an oral based cycle can range anywhere from 1 Lbs to 20 Lbs of additional mass, keep in mind that some on cycle gains will be lost in PCT, though it can be minimal (1-2lbs lost) if PCT is executed properly and lifting remains intense throughout post cycle therapy.

How much water should I drink on cycle?

Water intake on cycle is important (it’s important even off cycle) keep your water intake high throughout your entire cycle, we recommend one to two gallons of water per day.

Can I take ECA while on cycle?

In general taking the popular Ephedrine and Caffeine (and in some cases Aspirin) cutting stack while on cycle isn’t recommended as the increased blood pressure from both the ephedrine/caffeine and designer steroid/pro-hormone may be too significant and create a significant health/life hazard. For those whom are very experienced and are running a mild compound such as 11-OXO you can run ECA in the beginning until the 11-OXO compound kicks into full gear and when it does kick into full gear, remove the ECA.

The Pro-hormone & Designer Steroid Chart.

This chart is simply a listing of popular over the counter ‘legal’ designer steroids and pro-hormones, we have also put them into “classes” in regards to their strength.  When it comes to anabolic compounds that affect hormone levels there is progression that needs to be followed, novice users should start with weaker compounds, jumping immediately into stronger compounds can cause serious problems (including health hazards) for many.  It’s also important that you not jump too far ahead of yourself as once you arrive at the “stronger” compounds there’s no turning back to the weaker compounds, follow the different classes and phases, start with weaker compounds and gradually work yourself to the stronger compounds over a period of several years.

Class I | Stage 1 – Anabolic Compounds

These are compounds that are non-methylated (liver friendly), have low risk of side effects, easy to maintain gains and cycles that are easier to plan.  These also make for great ‘stackers’ for more experienced users.  An over the counter PCT will suffice for ‘class 1′ compounds.

Class II | Stage 2 – Anabolic Compounds

The following compounds are methylated therefore liver protection is required, side effect occurrence is typically greater than “stage 1″ compounds, however gains are often better with ‘stage 2′ compounds.  Prescription grade PCT regiments are recommended for ‘stage 2′ compounds, however in some cases over the counter will suffice.

Class III | Stage 3 – Anabolic Compounds

These compounds are for advanced users that have previously completed 2-3 successful cycles, side effects are more common than ‘stage 2′ compounds, gains at this level are harder to maintain post cycle and require prescription grade post cycle therapy regiments.  Cycles at this stage are also short in length due to the occurrence of side effects.

Class IV | Stage 4 – Anabolic Compounds

Compounds in this category will produce rapid gains, however come with significant risk of side effects, these compounds are for ADVANCED users only.

Prelude

One of the hottest topics the past few years has been over the counter (otc) post cycle therapy (pct), the debate continues to range on whether or not a completely natural herbal based over the counter pct is viable when compared with a SERM or prescription grade PCT.  TunedSports believes that a SERM or prescrtion grade PCT remains the most proven and effective post cycle therapy regiment available and should be the logical choice, however as new supplements come to market more and more users continue to experiment with over the counter cycle recovery methods.

We won’t get into the whole SERM vs OTC debate, this article makes the assumption that you’re already done the research to understand the differences between the two and have decided to go over the counter for your PCT regiment.

Understanding PCT

When providing your body with an abundance of testosterone through ingested prohormones or designer steroids, your body begins to halt it’s natural production, thus by the end of a cycle, many users testosterone production is shut down.  When a user stops their cycle and thus stopping extraneous testosterone supplementation their bodies endocrine system goes into a state of shock as it needs to begin resuming normal production from a halted state, this primarily, is why we have post cycle therapy.  By implementing a proper PCT we can “assist” our bodies with resuming normal function, balancing hormones (estrogen in particular) and help in some cases with some of the annoyances user experience during PCT (such as lethargy, lack of libido etc).  It should also be noted that neglecting to PCT or do so properly can result in several very undesirable results such as..

• Gynecomastia (or Man Boobs)
• Anxiety/Depression (Can range mild to severe)
• Body Aches/Pains (Can range mild to severe)
• Impotence and other sexual function side effects.
• Loss of gains made on cycle.

This is just a simple overview of WHY everyone should use a PCT, to really understand how prohormone usage and designer steroids affect your body please take sometime to do some research on google if you’re interested enough, as you should be.

Post Cycle Therapy – Goals

The overall goal for PCT is to help our body resume normal hormonal functions by accomplishing the following.

• Boost Natural Testosterone Production.
• Regulate Estrogen.
• Restore HPTA function.
• Reducing SHBG.
• Control Cortisol Effects.

Another benefit of utilizing a post cycle therapy regiment is it often helps maintain muscle gains post cycle and in many users will improve libido.

Choosing the Arsenal

Unfortunately when dealing with over the counter natural supplements there isn’t a single product available that will, on it’s own, be a consistently complete solution for our PCT, therefore we will use a combination of products to cover our bases.  Keep in mind that for some cycles an over the counter PCT will not suffice, in general anything considered a ‘strong’ compound will need a prescription grade PCT.  So without further ado here is the arsenal for our PCT.

1. Competitive Edge Labs – P.C.T Assist – An “all-in-one” product that contains several proven natural ingredients shown to increase testosterone levels while helping to regulate other hormonal levels (such as estrogen).
2. iForce Nutrition – Reversitol – Another product designed primarily for PCT usage, contains dual estrogen regulating compounds with ATD and 6-Bromo while also including testosterone boosting additives.
3. NOW Grape Seed Antioxidant – Perhaps natures best antioxidant a great addition to any OTC PCT which has also shown to improve brain and nerve tissue.

Now you’re probably thinking, how much is this going to cost? Well for all three one should pay no more than $100 if you shop online, if your health is not worth $100 then you probably shouldn’t be using pro-hormones or designer steroids to begin with.

Putting Together

You should begin your PCT immediately post cycle, begin roughly 24 hours after your final dosage of whatever designer steroid or pro-hormone you’re using.   Our PCT from start to finish will take about five weeks total in length, PCT regiments are most commonly four weeks however when going with an over the counter PCT it’s best to let it ride into a fifth week.

• Week 1 – PCT Assist (3 capsules, twice daily)…  NOW Grape Seed Antioxidant (3 capsules, split dosage am/pm)
• Week 2 - PCT Assist (3 capsules, twice daily)… iForce Reversitol (3 capsules, split dosage am/pm)… NOW Grape Seed Antioxidant (3 capsules, split dosage am/pm)
• Week 3 – PCT Assist (3 capsules, twice daily)… iForce Reversitol (2 capsules, split dosage am/pm)… NOW Grape Seed Antioxidant (3 capsules, split dosage am/pm)
• Week 4 – PCT Assist (3 capsules, twice daily)… iForce Reversitol (2 capsules, split dosage am/pm)… NOW Grape Seed Antioxidant (3 capsules, split dosage am/pm)
• Week 5 – iForce Reversitol (1 capsule)

It’s recommended that users who supplement with Cycle or Life support on cycle should continue it throughout the duration of PCT as well.

Conclusion

This is just one example of a sample over the counter PCT, there’s various opinions and post cycle regiments out there, however believe that the combination of products used within PCT offers perhaps the best over the counter PCT available as new products become available, we will continue to update this article.

Disclaimer

We are not doctors, therefore before starting any supplement or training regiment you should consult with your doctor.  The information being provided is simply personal opinion.

Introdocution

Since we’ve put together the concept behind TunedSports.com which is to provide free high quality articles regarding popular designer steroids and pro-hormones, we have been asked constantly about putting together a non-hormal stack that would come closest to the results one would typically see on a steroid/pro-hormone cycle.  While this is essentially an impossible task as a properly planned cycle with an appropriate diet will always deliver superior results, we can certainly put together a non-hormonal stack based on over the counter supplements that will deliver consistent results without ‘entirely’ breaking the bank.

Therefore we are pleased to introduce the TunedSports.com NON-Hormonal stack based strictly on over the counter supplements that can be purchased in stores and online.  Since we aim to be vendor neutral we will try to provide several different options for you as in the supplement industry they’re various products that are comparable or in some cases practically identical.

Prerequisites

First and foremost users should have past supplement experience and a couple years of lifting experience, certainly if you’re new to supplements starting with this stack is not advised as with supplements there’s some progression that needs to be followed, starting out with something as simple as creatine is recommended, in general don’t jump too far ahead when you haven’t reached enough of a natural plateau to do so.

Second this stack is NON-Hormonal therefore a Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) or Cycle Support Supplements are not required.

This article assumes you’re already taking staple supplements such as Multivitamins, Fish/Flax Oil, Creatine, Protein and possibly some form of BCAA/EAA.

Fourth and finally remember that results are dictated by proper lifting and DIET, diet alone is more important than any supplement or lifting program, if you’re not seeing results always check your diet first.  One thing that’s not being provided in this article is nutritional advice therefore please have your diet in order prior to starting ANY supplementation cycle regardless whether it’s hormonal or non-hormonal.

TunedSports.com NON-Hormonal Stack

Our stack is built around a relatively simple presence, we want to increase our testosterone levels, decrease estrogen levels and create more “free” testosterone which can be used for our desired goals (building muscle, enhancing workouts etc).  We also want to saturate our muscles with Arachidonic Acid which allows for greater workout endurance/strength and slow increases in muscle mass.  We have put together this example non-hormonal using some of the most popular and proven compounds on the market, properly dosing them, creating the ideal usage length and providing that information to you, so let’s begin.

Testosterone Boosters

Testosterone is one of our bodies primary hormones (in Males) it’s responsible for maintaining muscle mass, strength, fat distribution, bone mass, sperm production, sex drive and potency among others.  By increasing the natural Testosterone levels in our system, we will assisting our bodies in numerous ways but in particular for weight lifters, increase testosterone levels typically result in increases muscle mass, strength and in some cases reduced fat distribution, having higher testosterone levels will also assist in the gym in some cases resulting in more intense, effective and longer workouts.  Many newer popular natural testosterone boosting supplements also help “free-up” our testosterone making it more available for our desired tasks (creating muscle, increasing strength etc).

Therefore for the base of our non-hormonal stack we recommending using ONE of the two proven and effective testosterone boosters, both are solid products.

1. Driven Sports – Activate Xtreme.
2. Biotivia – Bio Forge.

Aromatose Inhibitor

Estrogen is the primary hormone in Females, while also being present in Males in limited amounts.  Typically when increasing testosterone levels, Estrogen levels can also indirectly increase as well, increased estrogen levels can increase bodyfat, reduce muscle mass and strength among other side effects.  This is something we certainly want to avoid, but even with normal estrogen levels, by regulating these levels with an Aromatose Inhibitor we can effectively lower estrogen levels which will indirectly increase our testosterone levels, reduce water weight, increase strength and mass.  Therefore combining our Testosterone Booster with an Aromatose Inhibitor we effectively give our bodies a one two punch in reducing estrogen and increasing testosterone, therefore the second portion of our TunedSports.com non-hormonal stack is the addition of an Aromatose Inhibitor.

We recommend a 3,6,17-Androstenetrione (6-OXO) based AI as it’s one of the most proven and effective on the market.  Both products below contain Androstenetrione (6-OXO)

1. Shocker Nutrition – TS2 – Also includes tribulus which boosts libido and may also help raise testosterone levels.
2. PrimaForce - Androstenetrione

Arachidonic Acid

Arachidonic Acid is somewhat of a more “recent” invention in the bodybuilding world, it was brought to market several years ago by Molecular Nutrition as “X-factor”, it’s effectiveness at times has been questioned, but many users report excellent strength and muscle mass increases while using it at the appropriate dosage.  As per iForce Nutrition “By aggravating muscle fibers with additional AA, it sends a message to the rest of the body that extra repair/growth must be performed in order to properly recover from training. This helps build extra muscle and strength, as well as induce fat loss. This means greater post-workout soreness, rapid strength and lean body mass (LBM) gains, intense pumps, and increased lipolysis (fat loss)”.  The down side to Arachidonic Acid is that it takes time for it to saturate muscle tissue, therefore simply running one bottle won’t be sufficient, driving the cost up further.  However with that said, the final component of our non-hormonal stack is.

1. Molecular Nutrition – xFactor
2. iForce Nutrition – Max Out. – Also contains 25-R-diol, Icarrin and Narangin which may help enhance gains and assist increasing testosterone.

Putting it Together.

Now that we have laid out the natural supplements for this stack, we can begin to put it all together and discuss dosing regiments.  You can substitute in other products depending on your brand preference but we feel based on the ingredient profiles using Activate Xtreme as our test booster, TS2 as our estrogen regulator and iForce Max Out for our AA source would perhaps make the best combination.  Now let’s get down to dosages.

• iForce Nutrition – Max Out.  (Two Bottles Required).  Take 4 capsules per day for 50 days.
• Activate Xtreme.  (Two Bottles Required).  Take 5-6 capsules per day for 35 days.  (Start on day 15 of Max Out).
• Thermolife TS2.  (One bottle required).  Take 4 capsules per day for 30 days.  (Start on day 25 of Max Out).

Therefore our entire cycle would look something like this.

• Day 1 to Day 15:   Max Out 4 pills per day.
• Day 15 to Day 25:  Max Out 4 pills per day, Activate Xtreme 5-6 pills per day.
• Day 25 to Day 50:  Max Out 4 pills a day, Activate Xtreme 5-6 pills a day, TS2 4 pills a day.
• Day 50 to Day 55:  TS2 4 pills per day.

If you decide to go with another series of products from the options we provided, you can essentially interchange them easily without issue, just follow the manufacturers recommenced daily dosage, however the length of cycle and when to begin each compound type should remain the same as above.

Miscellaneous

Users with a solid lifting program and appropriate diet should expect muscle gains in the 5-15lb range over a 50 day cycle.

Users should consume 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight, therefore a person who weighs 200lbs should consume 200 grams of protein per day.

This is an article we will continue to progressively update, bookmark for future updates.

Users cycling any steroid or pro-hormone subject themselves to a wide range of possible side effects, however in most cases they’re preventable or curable during our cycles and in this article we will cover how to resolve some common side effects users may experience on cycle.  It’s fairly typical for every user to experience at least one of the side effects listed below, however they’re relatively minor and fixable, side effects are heavily user dependent as well.

Libido / Sexual Function

Libido alteration is probably the most common side effect while on cycle, some users report an increased libido (good) and some users report an decreased libido (bad).  Luckily it’s a relatively easily and affordable situation to remedy by using herbal based supplements.  In extreme cases users on cycle may not be able to perform sexually on cycle or not able to obtain an erection.

NOW Men’s Virility Power – This is an all-in-one product that contains tribulus, maca and horney goat weed perhaps the three most popular herbs for sexual function health, also contains other ingredients shown to improve sexual function.  Can be purchased online or in popular vitamin stores for $10-20 and comes with 120 capsules, for best results consume 3-4 capsules per day with a split dosage (morning/night).

Puffy / Sensitive Nipples

Some nipple sensitivity or swelling is very common on cycle, this is related to offset prolactin levels that comes with hormonal changes in our body.  While there isn’t really a treatment for nipple sensitivities, we can help control prolactin levels which should reduce some puffyness or swelling, however without interaction it should resolve itself post cycle.

Supplementing with P-5-P or L-dopa along with Vitex Extract will help control prolactin levels for most and reduce puffyness, may take in upwards of one week to begin working.  Cabergoline is also known to work well however is a bit on the expensive side.

Hair Shedding / Thinning

Some hair shedding on cycle is very common, however users susceptible to male pattern baldness (especially those with family history of baldness) may want to supplement to help prevent over-shedding.  Those on cycle whom are experience high shedding levels may also want to take action as well.  We will only cover some basic over the counter products and supplements.

Throughout your cycle ensure calcium and protein intake remains high.  Using the shampoo Nizoral has also shown to help with preventing hair loss.  A Minoxidil based product is FDA approved for hair loss treatment however takes several months to begin working.

Also many other products exist that will help reduce shedding please see http://www.Folica.com for some examples.

Acne (Facial/Body)

Oily skin on cycle can be quite common, oily skin also can cause skin acne (on cycle acne is typically common on back and or arms).  This typically goes away after cycle so taking drastic measures isn’t recommended, simply using a quality soap for oily skin such as neutrogena will help prevent on cycle acne along with oily skin.  Supplementing with Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) at 2-4 grams per day will help prevent oil production in the glands responsible for acne, usually takes one one week to begin working.  Users who want to take preventive measures should pre-load Pantothenic Acid two weeks prior to starting cycle and run it throughout the duration of the cycle at 2-4 grams per day.

Prostate Pain / Swelling

Prostate discomfort can affect some users on cycle, if you’re following the TunedSports recommendation of using Life or Cycle support throughout your cycle, you’ll be getting some prostate protection, as it contains Saw Palmetto.  However for those not using an “all-in-one” cycle support product, if you’re experiencing prostate discomfort supplementing with Saw Palmetto is recommended due to it’s ease of accessibility and affordability and should be dosed in the 300-500mg range.

Back Pumps / Muscle Fatigue

Possibly the most common side effect and just about most on cycle will experience some mildly painful “muscle pumps” commonly in the lower back region, but can happen in any muscle that’s getting direct or indirect work.  These are so common that it’s best to prevent these from taking place by supplementing with Taurine throughout the cycle as on-cycle muscle pumps can bring a workout to a halt if painful.  Taurine can be purchased very cheaply in stores or online and comes in pill or powder form, it’s recommended consuming 4-7 grams 30-45 minutes before working out.  Those who sip “intra-workout” drinks such as Xtend or Purple Wraath can also add taurine to sip on throughout their workouts.

Joint Pain / Aches

The heavier workout loads on cycle can put stress on the joints as they fall behind to address the sudden increase of weight and workload.  Super low estrogen levels on some cycles are common and you may be thinking that’s a good thing, for building muscle it certainly is, but very low estrogen levels are known to cause “dry-joints” which will cause some mild discomfort on the joints while on cycle.  Luckily it’s a fixable issue through proper supplementation, it’s recommended that users supplement with Fish Oil daily at the recommended dosage as fish Oil has shown to lubricate joints.

Universal Animal Flex – Perhaps the most popular joint support supplement on the market contains MSM, Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate among other popular ingredients.  Contains 44 servings and can be purchased in stores or online for between $20-30.

NOW Glucosamine & Chondroitin With MSM - For those on a budget this is a suitable replacement for Animal Flex, however most likely not as effective.  Can be purchased in stores or online for $10-20

Flushed Skin / Redness

Many users report experiencing flushing of the face, redness of skin and so on, this is typically related to blood pressure increases that are common on cycle or can be hormonal related (due to our bodys changing on cycle).  In most cases this can be ignored however for those who would like to reduce occurrence supplementing with quality Celery Seed Extract will help, also another “all-in-one” product to consider.

NOW Celery Circulatory – Contains celery seed extract which studies have proven to improve circulatory function along with other herbs known to support this cause, can be purchased in popular vitamin stores or online for around $10-15.