As a rule, short cycles are followed by those athletes who are sensitive to steroid side effects and try to avoid any serious damage to the natural production of endogenous testosterone. Adhere to short cycles should also those athletes, who for a long period of time, plan to stay in a good shape close to competitive, also in case of different sport events that take place in a short interval of time, frequent photo sessions, promotions, exhibition performance, etc.
Finally, athletes whose daily doses of AAS may reach several grams and those who use the principle of «steroid overload» also prefer short cycles. Nevertheless, I would like to repeat what has been said many times before: usage of super-high doses may benefit from only those athletes whose experience is a few years, however it is desirable – at least 5-6, and who are far beyond their genetic potential.
The advantages of short cycles are obvious – following them, you do not completely suppress the production of endogenous testosterone, so are be able to endure a break from anabolic steroids quite smooth, without any damage to achieved results.
In addition, in this way you will always be able to increase achievements, and not to follow the formula “two steps forward – one step back – two steps forward.” Also to adapt your training program to short cycles is much easier. Another advantage of the short cycles is that does not occur any significant increase in globulin, sex hormone binding (GPSG), which means that the amount of free testosterone in the blood remains at a high level, as do not take place the down-regulation of specific receptors on the cell surface.
There are also quite a lot of disadvantages. First, the choice of drugs is sharply limited, and secondly, the cost of such steroid cycle is higher than the value of the standard 8-12 weeks cycle due to the usage of more expensive drugs. Thirdly, a few weeks is still not enough for impressive progress in muscle gains, although it is not an axiom.
There are several principles of planning the short cycles. The most well known is the principle of 2+4 (2/4), which means that the athlete two weeks takes necessary drugs and 4 weeks is the stage of recovery. From my point of view, the most reasonable short cycles are based on the principle of 3+3 (3/3), and further we will consider them. To be more precise, the period of the usage of androgens can last for 20-24 days, and the same time should last the recovery period.
Selection of drugs
The best choice for short steroid cycles are injectable anabolics with relatively short half-life, such as the suspension of testosterone, testosterone propionate, testosterone isobutyrate, drostanolone propionate, trenbolone acetate, injectable form of stanozolol. In addition to injectables for these purposes may be used almost all oral steroids: Methandrostenolone, oxymetholone, oxandrolone, stanozolol tablets, fluoxymesterone. With some reservations can be used Sustanon or Sustaxyl (mixture of testosterone esters), but their administration in short cycles is the lot of experienced users. Throughout the cycle can be used insulin-like growth factor and methenolone enanthate and oxandrolone (Anavar) – these drugs in reasonable dosages does not affect the production of the body’s own testosterone.
As you can see, we have not included in the list “short-lived” nandrolone phenylpropionate, it is all because of the fact that the use of nandrolone in short cycles is undesirable as this drug has pronounced progestogenic activity and strongly inhibits the production of endogenous testosterone.
Examples of short steroid cycles
Short Steroid Cycle #1
Combination of Testosterone Suspension, Trenbolone Acetate and Anavar. 3 weeks cycle with further recovery
As it has been already said Anavar in reasonable dosages does not suppress natural testosterone production, so its administration at recovery stage allows to avoid the phenomenon of rollback.
Short Steroid Cycle #2
Combination of Testosterone Propionate, Trenbolone Acetate and oral Stanozolol (WinstroL tablets). 3 weeks steroid cycle with further recovery.
Stanozolol in small doses and Clenbuterol usage during recovery stage also allows to keep away from the phenomenon of rollback and consolidate achievements gained on Testosterone Propionate + Trenbolone Acetate + Winstrol cycle.
Short Steroid Cycle #3
Combination of Anapolon (Anadrol) and oral Winstrol (Stanozolol). 3 weeks short steroid cycle, orals only.
Insulin can prevent from the destruction of muscle fibers, allows the body to replenish energy reserves, and in addition enhances the delivery of amino acids into the cell – this is its main attraction.
Short Steroid Cycle #4
Combination of Testosterone Suspension, Trenbolone Acetate and Dianabol. 3 weeks cycle with further recovery. 6 weeks of Insulin and DNP.
It is strongly adviced to combine DNP with Insulin. In this case 2,4-dinitrophenol helps to keep off the property of insulin to increase the layer of subcutaneous fat, and insulin helps to avoid the complete depletion of glycogen stores from the use of DNP.
Short Steroid Cycle #5
Combination of Testosterone Suspension, Trenbolone Acetate and Dianabol. 3 weeks cycle with further recovery. 6 weeks of Insulin-like growth factor 1 and Human Growth Hormone.
Post Cycle Therapy Plan
Tamoxifen instead of Clomid together with Proviron 50mg/day may be used for all listed cycles during recovery stage.
Clomid or Nolvadex should be taken in one dose, Proviron should be better divided twice per day (25 mg in the morning and 25 mg before bedtime).