If you’ve been researching steroid cycles and, in particular, cycle length, you’ve almost certainly come across massive quantities of information – not to mention a million different perspectives – on what the optimal cycle duration is for any given goal or type of steroid you’re using.
There are short and medium cycles, very long cycles that last many months, and cycles that are considered standard in the 12 week range. So how can you determine which is best for you?
It’s not a simple binary choice because there are other aspects to consider first:
- Which steroids do you employ?
- What is your degree of experience?
- How well do you deal with the adverse effects?
- What specific objectives do you hope to achieve from your cycle?
That’s simply to get started.
You must understand the benefits and drawbacks of each form of steroid cycle length, as well as who is most suited to particular types of cycles and which steroid compounds are best used for short, medium, and long cycles. There is no one-size-fits-all method, so what works for one guy may not work for you at all.
Author’s Note: This advice is based on my personal experience and does NOT advocate for the unlawful usage of steroids (PEDs). This supplement stack is now in use by me.
This article will cover who should and should not use particular sorts of cycles and cycle lengths, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of certain cycle scenarios.
Remember that even the most experienced veterans learned their trade by trial and error, so don’t be afraid to experiment and adapt until you find the cycle duration and structure that works best for where you daisy keech ab workout are now and where you want to go.
Long Steroid Cycles (3-9 Months)
This category of cycle duration ranges from a three-month cycle to longer periods lasting roughly nine months. This method is for advanced users who have a lot of experience and are ready to delve into a much more severe strategy where you’ll be utilizing steroids for extended periods of time.
What are the Downsides of Doing Long Steroid Cycles?
It should come as no surprise that the drawbacks of longer cycles would be magnified when compared to much shorter cycle durations when the body is able to fully recover with the steroids eliminated from the system in between cycles. That will not happen if your cycles run for months on end, therefore you must be prepared for the bad consequences that are practically guaranteed to follow.
Some people are exceptions to all norms, and some guys can absolutely show ongoing gains during a carefully designed and executed extended cycle. However, the diet and workout program commitment must be exact, and some guys will modify the cycle to include extra components such as peptides. Again, this is a sophisticated method that you should only consider if you have at least a couple of years of expertise.
Unless money is not an issue, you will have to consider the cost of a long cycle, which will rule it out for some guys. While not all compounds are prohibitively expensive, the cost of supplying months’ worth of almost any steroid, let alone stacking many compounds, will quickly add up and can possibly reach thousands of dollars.
Another big issue and disadvantage of doing a lengthy cycle is side effects. Simply put, any negative effects will get more severe over time, and you will need to be on guard for the duration of the cycle in order to mitigate the side effects. The shutdown of testosterone is a critical issue to address, and you will require maximum post cycle medication, including HCG, to increase testosterone again when the cycle concludes.
Primary Compounds for Long Cycles
For a long cycle or a continuous use cycle, there are very few compound choices. Most typically, Testosterone Enanthate or Testosterone Propionate is administered either alone or as the main ingredient throughout the full cycle. There are various reasons why testosterone should be your primary focus during an extended cycle:
- Because it is pure testosterone, it can be used to substitute natural testosterone. Because natural test will shut down during a long cycle, if you want to preserve normal testosterone health, such as libido, you should use synthetic testosterone as the main or only substance.
- Both of these testosterone esters have an extended half life when compared to other Test esters on the market. This implies injecting less frequently, occasionally as little as once per week and usually no more than twice each week. Furthermore, when compared to shorter acting esters, it will be easier to maintain optimal levels of the chemical.
- Finally, we know that testosterone has an anabolic to androgenic rating of 100 and 100, respectively, so you won’t be working with a molecule with extremely high values on either side.
- The advantages of this lengthy testosterone cycle include increased muscle gain through improved protein synthesis and nitrogen retention, as well as retaining existing muscle while reducing body fat. We know that testosterone simply works, and it works very well, therefore you can’t go wrong while using it in a long or continuous use cycle.
What about the dosage? If you’re in the cruising stage of the lengthy cycle, doses might range from 200mg weekly (primarily for hormone replacement) to 1000mg weekly (for sustained bodybuilding advantages).
Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)
PCT is required to restore normal testosterone function following suppression. If you’re conducting a continuous cycle, you won’t need PCT, but every other cycle does. There are two basic approaches to PCT:
- Test Taper: This allows you to return to normal functioning while maintaining exogenous testosterone at a basic level, after which you gradually reduce it to allow the body to acclimatize. As external tests begin to decline, natural production increases until it resumes normal operation.
- HCG/SERM: HCG is used to stimulate production, followed by a SERM to raise FSH and LH levels. HCG can be administered at maintenance levels during the cycle (about 250iu every 3-4 days). Or, in the final few cycle weeks, it can be administered at a larger dose in repeated shots about 5 days apart, starting at 3000iu on the first shot and decreasing to 1500iu at the end. You then use a SERM for 3 or 4 weeks to follow up. Clomid at a tapering dose of 200mg on day one, gradually reducing to 50mg in the last two weeks can be used. Alternatively, Nolvadex can be administered at 80mg on day one, 40mg for another week, and 20mg daily for the next several weeks.
Putting It All Together
Here are some instances of how a TRT and a very long cycle may appear. This is a basic guide that you can modify and expand upon as needed.
- Weeks 1-20 – Deca-Durabolin 200mg/e4d
- Weeks 1 – 36 – 500mg/e4d Test Cypionate
- Weeks 1 – 36 – 200mg/e4d Masteron Enanthate
- Weeks 1 – 39: 0.5mg/eod Arimidex (taped to 0.25mg/eod in the last two weeks)
- Weeks 1 – 52: 4iu/eod HGH, 40mcg/day IGF-1 (post workout)
PCT begins in weeks 37-42 with 50mg of Test Cypionate twice a week. In week 43, start reducing each shot by 5mg at a time until you reach zero.
Is A 20 Week Steroid Cycle Too Long?
The answer would depend on a lot of factors, but most of the time, a 20 week steroid cycle is not bad at all. As a matter of fact, a lot of steroid cycles last even longer than 20 weeks. This is because the human body is able to recover and adapt. As a wise man once said, “Take it one day at a time.” A long steroid cycle is mostly beneficial not only for recovery purposes, but also because it allows time for the body to build muscle.