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.

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.

In the modern world of designer steroids that are processed by the liver, it’s becoming increasingly important to understand the effects of these compounds on our livers and how to mitigate some of  these concerns by providing our liver with adequate protection.  In particular methylated compounds pose an increased risk to liver health, while there are many popular non-methylated compounds available, methylated compounds are generally considered more effective and thus their popularity has rapidly increased.

Compound Stacking

It’s absolutely critical, NOT, to stack two methylated compounds.  Doing so creates SIGNIFICANT liver risk that can result in heavily elevated liver functional values, liver failure or possibly even death.

Things To Avoid

While on a methylated steroid on pro-hormone it’s important to avoid using anything that is known to put strain on the liver, as our livers are already under significant strain on cycle imposing any additional strain may put your liver values over the safe threshold.  The following is a short list of some commonly used items that put additional undesired strain on our livers.

1. Alcohol (Beer, Liquor, Wine) any type of Alcoholic drink.
2. Acetaminophen (i.e Tylenol)
3. Painkillers (i.e Vicodin, Percocet) as most contain Acetaminophen
4. Cholesterol medications (i.e Statins, Niacin, etc)
5. Many common antibiotics as well.

In general while on cycle before taking any prescription medication, always consult with your doctor to check whether the medication elevates liver values as these are drugs we will want to avoid at all costs.  Before buying any over the counter medication please check the ingredients as Acetaminophen should be avoided at all costs and it’s commonly found in hundreds of over the counter medications, in general be cautious of everything.  If you’re in need of pain relief aspirin or ibuprofen are suitable replacements, but as always never exceed the recommended dosage.

One of the most common questions received is regarding drinking, if possible avoiding alcohol all-together is strongly recommended, not only due the increased liver risks but also as it’s known for increasing cortisol and estrogen levels which can hinder gains on cycle.  However IF Alcohol can’t be avoided, it’s acceptable to consume 1-2 alcoholic drinks (a light beer is heavily recommended) over a period of several hours, no more than once per week.

Covering The Basics.

If you’ve read of our designer steroid tutorials, you’ll notice that it’s heavily recommended to consume either Anabolic Innovations Cycle Support (powder) or Life Support (pills).  Both are well rounded “all-in-one” cycle protection products, however since this article focuses on the liver we will simply talk about that aspect.  So you may be wondering how these products provide the liver with defense, both products contain the following.

• Milk Thistle which has been shown to support healthy liver function.
• NAC (N-Acetyl-Cysteine) the antioxidant activity of NAC protects the liver from the adverse effects of exposure to toxic chemicals.
• Celery Seed Extract a powerful antioxidant has shown to provide liver benefit, albeit minor.

For most cycles, running Cycle Support or Life Support throughout the entire duration of the cycle will provide sufficient liver protection.

Additional Protection

For some cycles, additional protection should be included with your cycle, in general more advanced cycles such as those that are ran for extended periods of time or at dosages higher than typical, those using “harsher” compounds such as Superdrol should also consider additional protection.  In general, if you’re running a methylated compound and can afford to, it’s better to be safer and run additional liver protection.  Instead of talking about ingredients here, we will talk about several popular products commonly found in many users cycles.

1. Himalaya LiverCare (Liv.52) was introduced in the 1950s and has many studies supporting it’s effectiveness, this is a great affordable option to add to any cycle an entire cycle’s worth of Liv.52 can be purchased online for as little as $15.00.
2. Another option is adding SamE (S-Adenosyl L-Methionine) and or Alpha Lipoic Acid, both can be purchased relatively cheaply from reputable vendors such as NOW supplements.

In general, Himalaya LiverCare (Liv.52) is the recommended route based on the cost to effectiveness factor, it’s incredibly affordable and proven time and time again to be an effective liver aid.  Alternatively SamE (S-Adenosyl L-Methionine) and or Alpha Lipoic Acid are both well researched supplements that have shown to help detoxify the liver, they should be ran at their recommended dosages (as per bottle).

Troubling Signs

In some rare cases, some users may experience significantly elevated liver values and begin to experience negative side effects and possibly chart into dangerous territory.  This is a common result of family history of liver problems or users who prior to cycle had an existing liver condition that they may or may not have been aware of and this is certainly the case for users who forgo warning and don’t follow standard protocol (i.e no liver protection used etc).  Below are some common signs of potential liver hepatotoxicity.

• Painful/Swollen Abdomen
• Nausea or Loss of Appetite
• Fatigue, Weakness, Tiredness
• Mental Confusion/Disorientation
• Diarrhea
• Jaundice (Yellowing of Skin/Eyes)

Typically side effects can become onset unexpectedly or gradually, if you’re experience any unusual side effects including but not limited to those listed above, immediately consult with your physician or nearest hospital.

Disclaimer

We are not doctors, therefore before starting any supplement or training regiment you should consult with your doctor.

SERM: Formally known as “Selective estrogen receptor modulator”, a SERM is commonly used during the post cycle phase to regulate estrogen rebound and also normalize hormones.  SERMs are available by prescription or can be purchased online without a prescription from research chemical sites.

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.

HARSH: Strong compounds that have well documented sides are usually referred to as being harsh.

REBOUND: Most commonly used to refer to estrogen rebound effects during the PCT phase, rebound can cause side effects such as gyno.  Therefore a proper PCT regiment should always be followed to limit estrogen rebound effects.

CYCLE: In the most simplistic sense a cycle is a word used to describe the period of time in which you will be taking a particular designer steroid/pro-hormone.  The term Cycle is used here as designer steroid/pro-hormone users typically (as they should) methodically plan their “time-on”.

GYNO: Short for “Gynecomastia” is the development of abnormally large mammary glands in males resulting in breast enlargement.  Sometimes referred to as “man boobs” is a condition that can occur naturally (such as pubertal Gyno) however is also commonly associated with designer steroids/pro-hormones.  Gyno most often will happen during the  PCT phase due to estrogen rebound, however a properly designed cycle will provide adequate protection against gyno.

BACK PUMPS: One of the most common side effects of designer steroids/pro-hormones back pumps in simple terms is cramping/tightness in the back, typically not painful but can be uncomfortable for some.  Users on cycle often supplement with Taurine which works well to reduce back pump occurrence.

SIDES: The general term used for the wide variety of potential sides affects that can take place on cycle.

Half -Life: Refers to the length of time a compound remains in the system after taking a dosage.  Product half-life depends on the compound, for instance the popular designer steroid H-Drol has a long half life at around 12 hours.

Shelf-Life: Shelf life is the recommendation of time that products can be stored, during which the defined quality of a specified proportion of the goods remains acceptable under expected (or specified) conditions of distribution, storage and display.  Product shelf-life depends on the compound, for instance the popular designer steroid Epistane/Havoc has a very short shelf life and begins to lose effectiveness after six months of being stored.