I am getting ready to compete in my first NPC national level bodybuilding contest. What is the best anabolic cycle for me to follow for the last six weeks prior to the contest? I have access to Winstrol depot, trenbolone, Sustanon, clenbuterol and Cytomel (T3). Conventional wisdom says to take 250 milligrams of Sustanon every other day (EOD), 50 milligrams trenbolone (EOD), and 50 milligrams Winstrol depot (EOD) on the anabolic end of the spectrum. On the fat burner front, take two clenbuterol per day (to start) and increase by one pill per day every two weeks (until no more than five pills per day are taken). Always spread out clenbuterol dosage throughout the day. Finally, take one pill (25mcg) Cytomel (T3) every day. Increase by half a pill (12.5mcg) per day every two weeks until no more than three Cytomel per day are taken.With regard to estrogen control, take either Arimidex, Femara or Aromasin starting around six to eight weeks out to ensure that you don’t hold water or retain lower body fat due to excessively high estrogen levels. I just finished reading an article about you in an older MD magazine back in October, 2003, called "Unconventional Arm Blasting." I was mostly interested in the fact that you said you had a problem years ago with your shoulder development. My front delts won't stop growing and my chest doesn't seem to grow enough. I was wondering if you had any suggestions. I've only been lifting for a couple of months now, so I was also wondering if you had any diet tips. How did you eat when you first started training? Right now, I'm taking a weight gainer— which do you recommend? Your form is probably not strict enough since your front deltoids are getting huge, yet your chest is not adequately growing. What this means is that you’re probably letting your shoulders "roll” forward while flat and incline bench pressing. Essentially, you are using your front deltoids rather than your pectoralis muscles to lift the weight. Try lowering the amount of weight you’re lifting and start using strict form. You need to re-teach yourself how to properly bench-press. Put your ego to rest for a few weeks until you master proper exercise form. When I first started working out, I found out rather quickly that the more protein I consumed, the bigger I grew. Novice weight trainers have really no idea how important it is to consume 30-50 grams of protein every two to three hours that you’re awake (and, sometimes, its not a bad idea to wake up during the night and sneak another protein shake down). When I first started training, my favorite way to gain weight was through the use of protein shakes. I tried all the “weight gainer” shakes on the market over the years— Weider’s Megamass 2000, TwinLab’s Gainer’s Fuel, and Perfert 1100. However, my new favorite is MHP Nutrition’s Up Your Mass. Not only do they use a high-quality, low- lactose protein source, they also utilize a low glycemic index carbohydrate source (whole grain oats), as opposed to the usual sugar-laden carbohydrates found in virtually every other company’s products. Sugar does nothing but get stored as fat. As bodybuilders, we need high-quality, complex carbohydrates to fuel our strenuous workouts in the gym.
I have been using Deca for four weeks. Recently, I started taking hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone for three days (not exceeding 250 milligrams) for a bodybuilding contest. In my first workout on the Monday following the show, on my first heavy set, I developed a pain in my head. It felt like a migraine headache. Today, I still had a slight pain in my head, but nothing like yesterday. My drug dosages came from the book Anabolics 2004. Also, I didn’t make any effort to replenish my electrolytes after the contest. Currently, I don’t eat more than 50 grams of carbohydrates per day. With your vast expertise, could you diagnose my situation?In a nutshell, I’d say you’re suffering from a good old-fashioned “hangover.” When an individual goes out drinking all night long and then wakes up the next morning with a terrific headache, he is essentially feeling the effects of dehydrating himself (especially his brain). When your brain becomes dehydrated, you are said to have a hangover. A dehydrated brain, just like a dehydrated muscle, does not function very efficiently. In the future, I would suggest not taking any diuretics until the day prior to the contest. Three days worth of Dyazide (hydrochlorothiazide) and Aldactone (spironolactone) are overkill. Additionally, immediately following your contest, you need to start balancing off your electrolytes. In the case of Dyazide and Aldactone, you desperately need to replace depleted sodium stores. Additionally, remember that those two diuretics will continue to function for 12-18 hours after the contest is over. Therefore, you need to remember to continually drink fluids and ingest sodium until the effects of the diuretics have worn off. Another smart move would be to take off from the gym until at least Tuesday evening. This strategy will ensure that your body has been sufficiently rehydrated and electrolytically rebalanced.
I did a cycle of Sustanon last year and developed a lump in my right nipple about the size of a quarter. I know it’s gynecomastia. I have been completely off all anabolics for eight months. I am planning on doing another cycle of about 750 milligrams per week for a 12-16-week period. I have Arimidex. At what point during the cycle (or after) should I start taking Arimidex to block the conversion of testosterone into estrogen? At what dosage and for how long do I take the Arimidex?
Once you get gynecomastia, you might be able to “contain” and “limit” it. However, you will never get it to fully disappear. This is probably due to the fact that in order for gynecomastia to flair up in the first place, there must be some genetic predisposition for glandular tissue growth. In other words, the glandular tissue was always there— probably from childhood. Once these small immature glands are exposed to high estrogen levels, the glands hypertrophy and become nodular and “lumpy” as you described.
The only way to curtail the enlargement of this breast tissue is to take Arimidex during the cycle, between cycles and on long off-cycles. In reality, once you start to notice nodular glandular development (gynecomastia), the only real, permanent solution is surgery by a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon. Dave, I saw that you have a new Spiritual Section of your website (www.DavePalumbo.com). What exactly is this all about? I was always aware of the fact that bodybuilding is not just about the body; it’s about the mind, as well. Most people fail in their quests to get huge or ripped because they just don’t have the mental discipline it takes to stick to such a rigid diet plan. Quite recently, I discovered that the mind and body are not the only factors that need to be addressed if one is to achieve bodybuilding success. The spirit must be equally nurtured if one is to achieve success, fulfillment and longevity in the sport. Over the next few months, check my website and look for new suggestions, new ideas and new mindsets with regard to the spiritual side of your life. I’ll teach you how to heal yourself from the inside, how to keep the energy circulation in your body at its peak, and unbeknown to you, you might just rediscover the real you!
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