WarriorFX

It is a known reality that drug use exists in sports, as well as within the general non-competitive populace. Today, steroid use greatly involves three classes of people: those looking to boost athletic performance, those simply wishing to alter their body composition for a more muscular and lean physique and older men in search of youthful energy and quality of life. Other than the infinite protocols used for periods of testosterone replacement therapy in the later group, brief periods of anabolic-androgenic steroids are typically outlined for maximal muscle gain with minimal risks.

Androgens, like testosterone, have been researched and applied in clinical settings for over 50 years; however, steroid use for performance enhancement is a tabooed subject today. The Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990 added anabolic steroids to the federal schedule of controlled substances, thereby criminalizing their non-medical use by those seeking muscle growth for athletic or cosmetic enhancement. Under this act, steroids were placed in the same legal class as barbiturates and LSD. Since its conception, medical professionals have been worried about being labeled as common drug dealers when dispensing prescriptions for testosterone and its many derivatives.

One major reason for labeling them as a forbidden fruit was the threat to fair sports’ competition. Many feel that steroid use creates an unfair advantage with unreasonable health risks for athletes. However, the fine line of ethics is blurred when trying to define what is fair and not fair; access to top coaches, rare personal genetics, top-notch training facilities - all can be labeled unfair to those without equal admission. Many of the inflated health risks have been discarded through proper medical research; as well as personal use and documentation by athletes themselves. Used properly and within certain dose and duration guidelines, anabolic steroids have shown to present many desired affects with minimal risk. Conversely, many over-the-counter products have lead to more health dangers and instances of reckless abuse.

So how are athletes employing these powerful anabolic messengers, safely and effectively? The following are common steroid cycle planning methods used by those looking for a performance edge.

Pyramiding

Pyramiding refers to administering a steroid to create a gradual increase in androgen levels, followed by a gradual taper down. The taper up is generally consistent with normal administration of the commonly used heavy-ester (enanthate, cypionate, decanoate) steroids due to their pharmacological assimilation. They take time to build up plasma levels of the parent hormone. The taper down is from either spreading the dose intervals out or by administering less. These cycles typically range between eight to 12 weeks.

This method is not commonly accepted today. There is an understanding that the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis (endogenous production) can not fully recover until all exogenous administration stops; tapering only delays recovery of natural gonadal functioning. The use of productive post-cycle therapy drugs have also made this method less popular; instead of tapering off, drugs like Clomid are used to recover natural androgen levels quickly.

Flat Pyramiding

Flat pyramiding begins with a gradual increase in androgen levels; just as with pyramiding, the gradual taper up is consistent with normal administration. After even plasma levels are reached, subsequent administration is kept consistent. Once the cycle is over, all drug use is terminated with no taper down. After the last ester runs its course, post cycle therapy drugs are used with a goal for quick recovery of natural androgen production. Flat pyramids also tend to be used for eight to 12 weeks.

This is the most frequently discussed method for using anabolic-androgenic steroids today.

Short and Heavy

Short and heavy - sometimes called blast or blitz - cycles refer to the protocols that dramatically increase the total steroid burden on the body, but the duration is kept very short. This method can only be correctly and safely employed by advanced athletes and experienced steroid users. Doses typically reach more than double the weekly androgen use applied under more conservative, longer cycles. The cycle is short-lived, around 30 or 40 days, with a pre-cycle priming period to sensitize the body for a more productive and immediate growth spurt. The preparatory periods usually lasts much longer than the cycles themselves.

Again, this method is not for beginners or immature athletes. Those using this method should have a good understanding of what supraphysiological levels of androgens do to their system; as well as advanced nutritional and training variables. This is especially important when heavy, long esters are used, since high-dose front-loads are used to boost blood levels up right away.

This method has been around for awhile, but it hasn’t caught much mainstream attention. With a proper prime, lean weight gains are significant within very short periods. It simply takes some advanced knowledge about oneself to do it all correctly and most important: to maintain gains.

Staggered

Staggered cycles involve swapping out compounds and doses; normally quite frequently. This is typically a long cycle - constantly getting extended to help further gains when they become static. Many feel this is a very ineffective method unless you really know what you are doing, certainly not something for beginners.

Front-loading

Front loading refers to using the same compound with a short ester (acetate, propionate) or no ester (suspension) to get blood levels up right away. Front loading can also be accomplished with heavy esters by doubling the maintenance dose prior to the first half life.

Front loading has been around for awhile but is not commonly used. The idea is to get blood levels of the parent hormone up right away, so results can be obtained faster.

Some feel front loading is not necessary, nor productive; others use the method simply for steroids with heavy esters, to shorten the waiting period before gains are noticed from the drug program. Many use front loading to get a steroid cycle started and subsequently ended faster - with less HPTA impact.

Jump Starting

Jump starting refers to starting a cycle of heavy ester steroids with a compound that has either: a rapid releasing ester, a steroid without an ester or a quickly metabolized oral. This is an old and very common practice. Dianabol, an orally available steroid, is commonly used to jump a mass-building cycle; providing good localized blood flow within a trained muscle (pumps), general increase in disposition and quick weight gains.

Bridging

Bridging refers to the use of an anabolic steroid to fill a gap between steroid cycles. Bridging is typically only needed by those whom have exceeded a level of muscularity that their system can not naturally support. Bridging is often accomplished using drugs that either have minimal impact on endogenous androgen production or by using quickly metabolized compounds once per day, such as taking a single dose of Dianabol or testosterone suspension.

None of the above are endorsed by mainstream medical professionals or their reporting journals. These are simply methods that bodybuilders have developed through years of trial and error. It’s common for an athlete to become an evangelist to one method but keeping an open mind will lead to more productive training years supplemented with steroid use.