So, it happened. You have spent a few years hitting the gym, watching your diet, and have finally plateaued. No matter how hard you try, your genetic peak is reached. The next reasonable step is to go beyond your natural max by incorporating steroid cycling. But where do you even start? What are the best steroids for beginners?

If you aren’t familiar with the fundamentals, you should read more about the basics of steroid cycling. You can’t start steroid administration without knowing what it is, why you need PCT, what an off-cycle period is, and so on. You should go in with a clear conscience and a full understanding of the process.

There’s no ultimate “best” cycle. For beginners, we recommend sticking to the KISS rule (Keep It Simple, Stupid). If you’re looking for insanely complex steroid cycles for your first run ― well, you might do more damage than good.

Let’s start with a top-tier list of the best steroids for beginners, and then discuss general rules, PCT, and common mistakes to avoid.

The best cycle for complete beginners: Testosterone-only cycle

We recommend starting with a Testosterone-solo cycle for a few reasons:

• It’s a hormone that’s already present in your body ― meaning it’s as safe and natural as it gets, it’s the baseline of how your body reacts to anabolic steroids;
• Testosterone doesn’t cause severe side effects ― there’s room for error in dosing protocol, and you always have an option to prolong your cycle;
• Testosterone acts as an anabolic base in most cycles ― all cycles (including beginner-friendly ones) include this compound to avoid extreme testosterone suppression. If you want to run Anavar or Deca Durabolin, you still have to start with Testosterone, as it will be present in your next cycle;
• Testosterone is a classic and effective compound ― there are experienced bodybuilders who prefer to run Testosterone solo cycles, even though they can use more advanced compounds. Honest to God, who wouldn’t want to gain 15 to 25 lbs throughout the cycle with minimal side effects?

What you need to understand is ― stacks aren’t made for COMPLETE beginners. If you don’t know how you will react to two different compounds, you can’t use both of them at the same time. Testosterone acts as an anabolic base in most cycles. 

Want to make progress? You need to start with Testosterone, and then you can stack it with other beginner-friendly compounds:

• Deca Durabolin;
• Anavar;
• Dianabol.

You can’t run Deca Durabolin or Anavar without a testosterone base ― you’ll put an extreme pressure on your HPTA axis, and it will result in longer recovery, low testosterone symptoms, and not-so-retainable muscle mass gains.

Testosterone Enanthate for beginners

Testosterone Enanthate is one of the most popular options for beginners. It’s a slow-acting Testosterone ester that needs to be injected every 3.5-5 days for more stable serum levels. Suitable alternatives would be:

• Sustanon 250 ― contains Testosterone Propionate, Phenylpropionate, Decanoate, Isocaproate, and needs to be injected at least 2 times per week;
• Test 400 ― features Testosterone Propionate, Cypionate, Enanthate, and needs to be injected at least 2 times a week.

Let’s take a closer look at the ester profile to understand why it’s recommended to use blends or opt for Testosterone Enanthate for your first cycle:

Steroid esters — general info and detailed comparison

Esters are — essentially — oils, or attached hydrocarbon chains, that slow down the release rate of the steroid. 

For example, you would need to inject pure Testosterone suspension every day to keep your blood levels on point ― that’s a lot of hassle (and PIP). With Testosterone Enanthate or Cypionate, you can inject 2-3 times per week and get better results.

As you can see, the ester is the defining factor in recommended injection frequency and the purpose of the usage. It’s quite hard to build a proper cycle with Testosterone suspension or Testosterone Undecanoate. 

Basically, you need to understand these core facts:

• Short-acting esters have shorter half-life ― so there’s a need for more frequent injections, but there’s also more raw steroids in the mix (higher content of pure compound);
• Long-acting esters have a longer active half-life ― you don’t need to inject often, but the hormone’s content per 100 mg is lower.

So, what does compound content per 100 mg have to do with cycle planning? Well, it reflects the steroid dosage you actually get. If you inject 100 mg of Testosterone Enanthate, you get 72 mg of raw Testosterone. 

To put that into perspective, administering 500 mg/week of Testosterone Enanthate is the same as injecting 350 mg/week of Testosterone suspension. You need to keep that in mind when planning for your steroid cycle (if you’re — for some reason — not keen on pre-designed cycles).

Testosterone Enanthate beginner bulking cycle

You can adjust the dosage of Testosterone Enanthate between 200 and 800 mg/week, with a cycle length of 8-12 weeks. For your first cycle, you want to stay in the 200-500 mg/week range. 

Here’s what Testosterone Enanthate beginner cycle can look like:

You can also choose one of our ready-to-use cycles ― here’s a classic Testosterone cycle with FREE PCT, perfect for beginners. If you don’t want to stress about the dosage, suitable syringes and draw needles ― you can order everything you need for the cycle in one pack (including Nolvadex).

For those who have already run a Testosterone-solo cycle, we have more advanced options, such as Sustanon and Decabolin, or Testosterone Enanthate and Dianabol cycle.

Testosterone and Deca Durabolin cycle for beginners

There’s nothing better than a time-tested bulking cycle. This one is straight from the no-natty bodybuilding all-time Hall of Fame, featuring Testosterone and Deca Durabolin:

Deca’s estimated half-life is 7-14 days, therefore, an off-cycle gap should be 2 weeks. While you’re waiting for the esters to clear, you should use HCG to boost your testosterone production and make your transition to PCT a little easier.

We wouldn’t call it the safest option, but it’s extremely effective and can help you gain at least 15-22 lbs of muscle mass. Overall, if you already have some experience with Testosterone and don’t have any pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, you can benefit from this cycle massively.

Anavar and Testosterone cutting cycle for beginners

Even though it’s a cutting stack, you’ll need Testosterone to avoid excessive HPTA suppression. Anavar can look pretty and all, considering there’s no need for additional injections, but it is hepatotoxic and can do real damage to your Testosterone production when used solo. ALWAYS add Testosterone to orals.

Since Anavar is an oral compound, you can’t use it for too long, maybe to mid-cycle point max, but not for a full 10-12 weeks.

Here’s an example of a safe Anavar and Testosterone cycle for beginners:

Since Anavar is a DHT-derived steroid, and Testosterone Propionate is used in low dosages, there’s no need to add aromatase inhibitors. It’s a cycle with minimal estrogen-related side effects that will aid you in achieving a defined, chiseled look.

Dianabol cycle for beginners

Dianabol is an oral compound that has maintained its popularity throughout the ages. Some say that even Arnold Schwarzenegger administered Dianabol in the 70s.

Here’s a slightly adjusted classic stack back from the 70s, featuring Dbol and Testosterone. We’ve added a PCT protocol, as it didn't exist back then, and an aromatase inhibitor (Arimidex). Without post-cycle therapy, your testosterone production can be disrupted for months, even years, and you don’t want to risk that:

Since there weren’t many options for post-cycle therapy back in the days, it was a common practice to taper the dosage down. Nowadays, you can simply use Nolvadex.

You’ll need to have an aromatase inhibitor on hand to mitigate estrogenic side effects. Better yet, take it preemptively, starting from the 3rd week of the cycle. 

The Dorian Yates Dbol Cycle

Bodybuilding legend Dorian Yates is — well, at least we believe so, according to his interviews — is not quite the most natural athlete of all time. There are rumors that Dorian Yates has run Dianabol-solo cycles. 

“During the off-season, Dianabol was my favorite. If I had to choose a single fucking thing, that would be it. It’s funny — I heard Arnold said exactly the same thing,”

— Dorian Yates

Of course, we can’t recommend using an oral compound without a testosterone base. Here’s what we know about an off-season cycle that Dorian Yates has probably run:

• Testosterone (probably Enanthate or Cypionate) ― 1000 mg/week;
• Deca Durabolin ― 500 mg/week;
• Dianabol ― 20-40 mg/day (“some” Dbol);
• HGH ― 2-6 IU/day (“some” HGH), should be used at least for 6 months.

You can adjust this cycle protocol and implement it into your routine if you have used Testosterone, Deca, and Dbol before:

HGH should be administered throughout and after the cycle, as it can’t provide sufficient results after 12 weeks. It can be useful for recovery or its anti-aging properties for 3-4 months, if it’s not possible to run it for longer. For bulking cycles, the minimal cycle length will be around 6 months.

Can you achieve the same physique as Arnold Schwarzenegger or Dorian Yates with those cycles?

No, you can’t. Unless you put in DECADES of hard work on top. Remember that your results depend on a multitude of factors: your training regimen, steroid cycle protocol, nutrition, experience, and genetics. There’s no guarantee that you’ll achieve the same physique.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has trained 6 days a week, some days ― even twice. It’s an incredible dedication. It’s not about copying JUST the steroid cycle protocol.

How to get the best results out of the steroid cycle

Now that you’ve chosen a suitable steroid cycle, does it mean that everything will go on smoothly from here on out? No, it doesn’t. To get the most out of your steroid cycle, you should adjust your training routine and nutrition accordingly.

Training intensity on a steroid cycle

When you’re on anabolic steroids, overtraining becomes mostly a myth. It doesn’t mean that you should spend 6-8 hours/day at the gym, but you 100% can:

• Switch to a split system to avoid overtraining: this way, you will increase training frequency and have the opportunity to target specific muscle groups. You can train 6-7 days a week, and your muscles will recover. Remember, your muscles are stimulated only 24-48 hours after the workout session;
• Trust your gut: if you feel like you can do one more set or want to train on your rest day ― you probably SHOULD. It’s called training to potential, and it will help you to get more bang for your buck;
• Sets to failure: the best way to grow is to do your sets in full force, providing the necessary stimulus to your muscles. It doesn’t mean that you should skip warming sets. However, if you can do more than 10 reps without breaking a sweat, it’s lighter than your working weight should be;
• Don’t rely on isolation exercises: if you train to become stronger, and not just to flex your muscles, you should go for compound exercises, such as squats, bench press, deadlifts, pull-ups, and barbell rows.

Without a proper training regimen, you won’t be able to dramatically increase your muscle mass. Want to make sure that every buck you have spent on gear was worth it? Here’s where you start.

Nutrition on a steroid cycle

Make sure that your calorie intake aligns with the goal of your cycle:

• You want to increase your muscle mass ― then you need to eat in a surplus, at least 200-300 calories above your TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure);
• You want to get a lean and defined look ― you’ll need to go on a cutting cycle and reduce your body fat percentage, meaning that you should eat below your maintenance level;
• You want to gain muscles and lose fat at the same time ― since you’re a beginner, it can be possible. Try to eat slightly below your TEE level and watch your protein intake closely (it should be at least 0.5-1 g/lb).

If you’re on a bulking cycle, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t eat clean. There are dirty bulks and clean bulks. If you’re watching your macronutrients, you can get a leaner look, as you won’t increase your fat content significantly.

Conclusion & Summary

There are several mistakes a beginner can make when it comes to steroid cycling:

1. Diving in blindly, lacking knowledge on suitable compounds, side effects, or the basics of cycling in general;
2. Choosing hardcore compounds for the first cycle (such as Trenbolone, Halotestin, or Superdrol);
3. Exceeding the recommended dosages in the hope of a better result;
4. Skipping PCT;
5. Not putting in the work and relying solely on steroids.

One thing that you need to do during your first cycle is to introduce the compound, monitor the symptoms (if there are any), and adhere to guidelines concerning Aromatase Inhibitors usage, PCT protocol, dosage, or cycle length.

The point is TO NOT SCREW UP YOUR HEALTH, so you could run a second cycle, and safely progress further.

What makes us experts, eligible to provide such advice? More than 15 years of experience, +60K satisfied customers, and a responsible approach to PED administration.

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