09 May
Cutting Cycle: Explained
1. Introduction
It's likely that you've heard that there are steroids that help you gain muscle mass and other compounds that help lose fat. This is partially true, but there are indeed some of them that are more suitable for a fat loss environment.
Moreover, other compounds that can be added within the cycle itself may enhance the ability to lose fat even in the same energy status, as there are compounds that elevate basal metabolic rate and increase the release of fatty acids into the bloodstream.
This protocol is going to focus on creating a cycle for someone who wants to efficiently define and achieve a very aesthetic physique, preserving muscle mass to the maximum extent and even gaining lean mass during the process.
If you're still unsure whether you're ready to use pharmacological aids, I recommend reading our article on "Pharmacological Effects, How and Where to Start"
2. Objectives to Accomplish
There is a fundamental premise in this whole process, and that is being in a caloric deficit. Otherwise, fat loss is not possible, and even if we use anabolic steroids, this premise must be fulfilled.
Furthermore, one of the objectives during the process will also be to become more active, which greatly helps in being able to consume more calories, ideally from carbohydrates, keeping us satiated, energetic, and having good training sessions, which is crucial to properly exploit this phase.
Weight control will be crucial during this phase, as otherwise, simply by looking at photos, we will make 100% errors when applying caloric adjustments correctly, which will ultimately lead to achieving the targeted body fat percentage.
Also, one of the objectives is to preserve health during the process, so we will add some basic elements of prophylaxis during the use of steroids.
It's likely that you've heard that there are steroids that help you gain muscle mass and other compounds that help lose fat. This is partially true, but there are indeed some of them that are more suitable for a fat loss environment.
Moreover, other compounds that can be added within the cycle itself may enhance the ability to lose fat even in the same energy status, as there are compounds that elevate basal metabolic rate and increase the release of fatty acids into the bloodstream.
This protocol is going to focus on creating a cycle for someone who wants to efficiently define and achieve a very aesthetic physique, preserving muscle mass to the maximum extent and even gaining lean mass during the process.
If you're still unsure whether you're ready to use pharmacological aids, I recommend reading our article on "Pharmacological Effects, How and Where to Start"
3. Choice of Compounds
I'm going to divide the cycle itself into 3 ways to do it: standard, advanced, and pro, but the steroids that will be used will be very similar.
What is the criterion for choosing?
Primarily, we will choose by elimination, either because their safety profile is not ideal, because there are better options, because they cause water retention, or because there is no evidence in humans to support their safe use.
- We will avoid all nandrolones or derivatives thereof, whose metabolites are eliminated very slowly and will have a slow recovery, in addition to these compounds often being associated with water retention, except for Trenbolone.
- We will eliminate anabolic steroids whose safety profile is not adequate, meaning that the quantity and severity of adverse effects are not ideal and that there are better options with better beneficial effects. Therefore, we will eliminate Boldenone, Dihydroboldenone, and Trestolone.
- In general, we discard any compound that does not offer a high safety profile and that may unnecessarily retain fluids, as well as orally administered compounds that are unnecessarily hepatotoxic.
It should be noted that all anabolic steroids are entirely valid, but some are more suitable than others, and those are the ones we are considering.
The winners of this contest by elimination are:
- Testosterone, in its Cypionate or Enanthate ester form.
- Masteron, in its Enanthate or Propionate ester form.
- Primobolan, in its Enanthate ester form.
- As an oral, Oxandrolone.
As I have explained, there will be a standard, advanced, and pro version.
4. Diet, Calories, Macros, Adjustments
YOU CAN HAVE THE MOST PERFECT CYCLE IN THE WORLD, BUT WITHOUT THIS, YOU WILL NEVER BE LEAN.
4.1. Calories
To determine how many calories we should consume, I have previously provided the best formula for estimating energy expenditure in other articles, with the activity factor. I'll leave it here again:
https://fitgeneration.es/calculadora/harris-benedict/
Another way is to see how our weight fluctuates with our current calorie intake, and then make caloric restrictions from there.
Does the use of steroids influence basal metabolic rate? It's true that it does, although not as much as one might think. The "anabolic" signals, so to speak, resulting from increased muscle mass and metabolic adaptations, help to consume more calories and continue to lose fat.
There is talk of a 10-15% increase in basal metabolic rate in the scientific literature, but this is very uncertain, due to the total mg of the cycle, use of stimulants, thyroid hormones, growth hormone, etc.
4.2. Macronutrients
And how should you distribute macronutrients to achieve the best definition?
There are many opinions on this matter, but undoubtedly what scientific evidence says is that training has a direct dependence on the amount of carbohydrates and that fats do not contribute much to satiety. Therefore, we will prioritize carbohydrates and protein.
Protein has indeed been highly praised in bodybuilding, with some even advocating for consumption of up to 4 grams per kilogram of body weight, which is excessive and unnecessary. However, evidence suggests that between 2-3 grams per kilogram of body weight is usually optimal for preserving muscle mass. A high-protein diet will mainly offer satiety.
So the distribution of macronutrients would be as follows:
- Protein: 2-3 grams per kilogram of body weight
- Fats: 0.3-0.7 grams per kilogram of body weight
- Carbohydrates: The rest
Consuming a little more or a little less protein will not make you lose less fat; there are simply no significant differences, and the main criterion should be satiety. Within the scientific community, there is no consensus on this issue, whether or not pharmacological aids are involved.
This way, we can consume a good amount of carbohydrates that allow us to perform well during training and be satiated by protein. We can reduce fats further if we want to consume more carbohydrates, which is something I personally like.
4.3. Adjustments
How many calories are we going to reduce once we know our maintenance calories (the number of calories we consume that do not make us gain or lose weight)?
We will reduce 10-15% of the calories from the aforementioned maintenance calories to begin the definition process. Depending on how aggressive we want the definition to be, my recommendation is 10%, because if we give too few calories, what will happen is that we will not allow for a small body recomposition that usually occurs with almost all anabolic steroid cycles.
When will we make adjustments and how?
The first thing we must establish is a trend criterion, that is, if we want to reach a low body fat percentage, we must reduce at least 0.5-0.7% of body weight weekly, which would be 500 grams for a man weighing 100 kg.
If the weekly downward trend is not met, and there are no digestive issues, low water consumption, recent diet changes, schedule changes, steroid dosage jumps, or any other factor that could skew the body weight measurement, then it's time to make adjustments.
It's quite normal that when there's a dose increase or a new compound is added, weight tends to rise by 1-2 kg, which then tends to decrease later on, so I recommend some patience.
Another way to assess it more effectively is to weigh yourself several times a week, 3-7 times, and take the arithmetic mean. This way, we'll have the trend, and if this 0.5% is met, then we may not need to adjust the diet and activity.
When making adjustments, there are three options:
- Reduce calories by 10%, coming from carbohydrates and fats.
- Increase daily steps by 2000-3000.
- A mix of both, more conservative (e.g., reduce kcal by 8% and add 1000 steps).
A weekly weight check with photos, under the same light, weighing at the same time, or using the weekly mean, taking into account what I mentioned earlier, is essential.
Also, photo monitoring is very important to assess a process comprehensively. While weight is crucial, we must also consider muscle folds, shapes, and proportions to make adjustments when necessary, rather than focusing solely on the numbers.
5. Cutting Cycle
The Cutting Cycle itself will be a cycle with a potency according to the user's level, selecting compounds based on the criteria I've mentioned previously. It will not be the same for an advanced user as it would be for a beginner.
Additionally, within the cycle, we'll add certain medications to help prevent adverse effects such as high blood pressure, cholesterol issues, and basic prevention.
It's important to note that the level of individualization won't be the same as what a 1-on-1 coaching service with blood test reviews would provide, but we'll include some basic elements for an anabolic steroid cycle that we fortunately have available at Deuspower.
5.1. Standard Cutting Cycle
LENGTH: 10-12 WEEKS
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COMMENTS/CLARIFICATIONS:
- This is a cycle for a novice/average user who has limited experience with anabolic steroids or for a more advanced user who simply wants to look good without incurring in higher expense/risks.
- Telmisartan is a basic component for preventing adverse effects. It inhibits the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone system cascade, so a dose of 40-60 mg will be sufficient for this androgen potency. If tolerated, 60mg is even better.
- The choice between Masteron or Primobolan is personal, economical, or perhaps due to Primobolan displacing estrogens more than Masteron. If you're prone to gynecomastia, Primobolan is a better choice. However, Primobolan does have some hepatic effects, something to consider, and I would use a minimum of 600 mg of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC). In terms of potency, they are similar.
- We add Pitavastatin at low doses for prevention. High cholesterol occurs in almost all preparations, and it's better to keep it low as a preventive method. When using a statin, we should supplement with Coenzyme Q10.
- We do not use thyroid hormones, clenbuterol, orals, or anything else, simply testosterone + DHT derivative. We will not use dynamic dosing but the same dose throughout, and the duration will be 10-12 weeks.
- The 10 mg of Tamoxifen is for prevention. For some people, it may not be necessary, and for others, it may even be too little, but with these doses, it's not strictly necessary on a frequent basis.
5.2. Advanced Cutting Cycle
LENGTH: 12-16 WEEKS
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COMMENTS/CLARIFICATIONS:
- Here we will introduce an oral, Oxandrolone, which has certain properties ideal for fat loss. We will also increase the doses and Clenbuterol with nebivolol as a cardiac protector.
- When using an oral, we will add TUDCA as a potent liver detoxifier.
- We will add a thyroid hormone supplement, ranging from 50 to 100 mcg, sufficient to make a small increase in energy expenditure. If there is a certain plateau, the dosage can be increased by an additional 50 mcg.
- Clenbuterol doses range from 40 mcg, which could be sufficient for some individuals, up to 120 mcg. This will depend on whether the person is hyper or hypo-metabolizing, so starting with the lowest dose and assessing sensations is important in deciding whether to increase the dosage.
- This cycle could be perfectly suitable for someone aiming for a more extreme point, has more experience with the use of aids, and/or intends to compete.
- There would be the possibility of strategically increasing the dosage at a plateau point, which would depend on the user and their preferences/objectives.
5.3. Pro Cutting Cycle
LENGTH: 12-16 WEEKS
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COMMENTS/CLARIFICATIONS:
- This cycle is intended for someone with more experience. If so, and the doses are not appropriate for their level, such as for a competitor, I recommend that they use their usual doses. However, as a writer, I cannot "recommend" a higher dose.
- We add 3-4 IU of Growth Hormone. The dosage will depend on the user's preferences, allowing us to burn more fat and maintain muscle mass with higher quality.
- Growth hormone induces some insulin resistance, so we will use an insulin sensitizer, which we have available in the store with a very interesting formulation.
- As a recommendation, if the user is very advanced and is going to use higher doses, it would be a nice idea to start with the lower dose and escalate the doses every 3-4 weeks with jumps of 100 mg.
6. To Conclude
My advice is always to be cautious with these aspects. Remember to get blood tests before, during, and after the cycle.
Regarding post-cycle recovery of the axis, that's another story, but as advice, I'll tell you to use at least 25 mg of Clomiphene for 6 weeks. A post-cycle is more complex, but that's the minimum you should do, in addition to stopping all steroids.
Remember that after finishing the cutting process, we must reintroduce calories slowly, without overdoing it, and especially carbohydrates.
It's not necessary to start eating like crazy; that would ruin the process in a few weeks. But enough to regain 0.5% of body weight per week, following the weight control criteria mentioned in the article.
Remember that these are not recommendations, the choice is in the hands of the user, and the writer is not directly or indirectly responsible for what the user does with the information expressed in the text.
Prophylaxis can be much more extensive, but as a general rule, for years, anabolic steroids have been used without control, without any drugs to prevent adverse effects. So, a protocol like this is a small step towards improving therapies in terms of health.
Remember that we are open to receiving content proposals for the blog and that suggestions will be heard. Until the next article, greetings.
Nutribuilder
Julio
PED and Health Educator and Bodybuilding Contest Prep Coach