I'm currently on an lgd cycle and for pct I was going to just run clomid solo. curious how this will truely effect my gains assuming I keep up on my calories /macros. I'd rather just not use gw. How necessary is it to include gw with pct ?
GW and PCT
- Thread starter nicejoggersbro
- Start date
well, if you like to have cortisol increase, then don't run gw... cortisol will increase in pct... cortisol is termed the "gains killer" and that is because it not only puts you in a catabolic state which makes it next to impossible to add muscle, but it also adds slabs of unwanted fat... so if you dont think its necessary to address, then you can definitely not use but i certainly would not... its not just a part of the pct to have a "throw in" bro... there's a major reason why its there... you can definitely do whatever you like in pct but if you lose gains or have troubles, there wont be any confusion as to why
Pct is one of those things that is best to cover the right way, and to answer your question "do you have to use GW"....well, you don't "have to" use anything. You could just come off and not even pct if you wanted. Obviouosly that's not very ideal. We give you,the layout we do, because that is what is going to cover you the best, so anything you leave out will take away from giving you the best scenario post cycle.
Yeah, I understand, was truely just wondering how it would effect the gains I made on cycle , and if there is any other way to go besides gw
the only effect it will have on your gains is that it will give you the ability to maintain them and add to them.. that's the effect it will have and i would have to think that would be the desirable effect you would want...
What exactly is the reason you'd like to avoid gw, if I may ask?
(PM me for a price list for Biotech Labs and 10% discount)
Well I just would rather not take more things if they aren't needed , but sounds like it's pretty good for promoting good health , I don't need any more endurance ,I train harder then I probably should the way it is , the fat loss would be nice as would the cholesterol benefits nd of course .. cortisol. Of something else could help me with the cortisol , I'd just rather go that route , I dowt vitamin c truely does all that much , and what is it that makes my cortisol levels change the in a pct compared to my normal life without cycleing ? Here to learn
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Good Read On Cortisol
The Cortisol Factor
Most people have heard of cortisol and many know that its bad news. Unfortunately, they dont know the extent of damage this hormone can cause, especially when they are trying to get lean abs. This muscle-wasting hormone is literally eating away at their fat-loss potential.
Cortisol is the primary glucocorticoid, a natural hormone produced by the adrenal glands (located atop the kidneys). Although cortisols precise actions are not completely understood, we know that it is essential for life. It is necessary to maintain important processes (heart rate, blood pressure, adrenaline release) in times of stress. Most of its effects are not directly responsible for the initiation of metabolic or circulatory processes, but it is necessary for their full response.
Normal kidney function also requires cortisol. When there is an absence or deficiency of cortisol, water cannot be excreted rapidly, which can consequently lead to water retention (this may also occur with too much cortisol). Controlling cortisol levels and thus lowering excess body water is one of the ways you look leaner.
What Causes Excess Cortisol?
Any type of stress that occurs to the body signals the nervous system to relay this to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus then responds by initiating the stress hormone cascade, starting with corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), followed by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) release, and finally glucocorticoid production. Stress to the human body can include trauma, anxiety, infections, surgery, and even resistance training and aerobics.
Recent research has shown that elevated cortisol levels increased protein breakdown by 5-20 percent. Even mild elevations in blood cortisol can increase blood glucose concentration and protein catabolism (muscle breakdown) within a few hours in healthy individuals. Cortisol can also increase body fat levels, especially when it rises dramatically in the body.
Overtraining by athletes may cause higher cortisol levels, potentially leading to hypertension because cortisol causes sodium retention and potassium excretion. Excess cortisol causes insulin resistance by decreasing the rate at which insulin activates the glucose uptake system. Cortisol levels rise as you increase the amount of time devoted to intense exercise. In overtrained individuals, cortisol levels increase while testosteronelevels decrease. That is why one measure of overtraining is the testosterone-cortisol ratio. Overtraining is defined as an increase in training volume and/or intensity of exercise leading to a decrease in performance.
The Unhealthy Effects of Cortisol
Cortisol reduces the utilization of amino acids for protein formation in muscle cells. A cortisol excess can lead to a progressive loss of protein, muscle weakness and atrophy, and loss of bone mass through increased calcium excretion and less calcium absorption. The major catabolic effects of cortisol involve facilitating the conversion of protein in muscles and connective tissue into glucose and glycogen (cortisol may increase liver glycogen). This involves both the increased degradation of protein already formed and the decreased synthesis of new protein. Cortisol can also decrease the utilization of glucose by cells through directly inhibiting glucose transport into the cells. A cortisol excess can lead to a decrease in insulin sensitivity and adversely affect tendon health.
Excess cortisol causes a redistribution of body fat to occur through an unknown mechanism. Basically, the extremities lose fat and muscle while the trunk and face become fatter. Several studies have verified that high cortisol levels are directly linked with increased abdominal fat and can even cause binge eating (especially sweets). One study published in Obesity Research Journal clearly showed that men with higher levels of cortisol had greater abdominal fat deposits. Another study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology suggested that women with high stress levels (which increases cortisol) ate more calories and consumed a greater amount of sweet foods. This study linked high cortisol levels to binge eating in women. The scientists conducting the study concluded that this pattern could adversely impact body weight and health over the long run. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, in another study published in Psychosomatic Medicine, stated that central fat distribution is related to greater psychological vulnerability to stress and cortisol reactivity. So, if you want to get lean, especially in the abdominal area, you have to control cortisol levels.
Cortisol inhibits growth hormone levels by stimulating the release of somatostatin, a growth hormone antagonist. It may also reduce igf-1 expression. IGF-1 is one of the most anabolic agents in the body and is the substance that is responsible for most of the positive effects of growth hormone.
Cortisol has other hormone-modifying effects. It can directly inhibit pituitary gonadotropin and TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). By doing so, cortisol can make the target tissues of sex steroids and growth factors resistant to these substances. It may also suppress an enzyme that converts the relatively inactive thyroid hormone T4 into the active form t3(triiodothyronine). This can decrease the metabolic rate and make it harder to lose body fat.
Cortisol seems to play a role in various disease states. It is found in higher levels in diseases ranging from AIDS and multiple sclerosis to Alzheimers. Prolonged high levels of cortisol can throw the immune system into chaos and ravage the human body. A growing number of researchers believe that many of the worst, and least understood, diseases will soon be identified as caused by high cortisol, and subsequently treated with cortisol-reducing drugs or supplements.
[/FONT]The Cortisol Factor
Most people have heard of cortisol and many know that its bad news. Unfortunately, they dont know the extent of damage this hormone can cause, especially when they are trying to get lean abs. This muscle-wasting hormone is literally eating away at their fat-loss potential.
Cortisol is the primary glucocorticoid, a natural hormone produced by the adrenal glands (located atop the kidneys). Although cortisols precise actions are not completely understood, we know that it is essential for life. It is necessary to maintain important processes (heart rate, blood pressure, adrenaline release) in times of stress. Most of its effects are not directly responsible for the initiation of metabolic or circulatory processes, but it is necessary for their full response.
Normal kidney function also requires cortisol. When there is an absence or deficiency of cortisol, water cannot be excreted rapidly, which can consequently lead to water retention (this may also occur with too much cortisol). Controlling cortisol levels and thus lowering excess body water is one of the ways you look leaner.
What Causes Excess Cortisol?
Any type of stress that occurs to the body signals the nervous system to relay this to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus then responds by initiating the stress hormone cascade, starting with corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), followed by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) release, and finally glucocorticoid production. Stress to the human body can include trauma, anxiety, infections, surgery, and even resistance training and aerobics.
Recent research has shown that elevated cortisol levels increased protein breakdown by 5-20 percent. Even mild elevations in blood cortisol can increase blood glucose concentration and protein catabolism (muscle breakdown) within a few hours in healthy individuals. Cortisol can also increase body fat levels, especially when it rises dramatically in the body.
Overtraining by athletes may cause higher cortisol levels, potentially leading to hypertension because cortisol causes sodium retention and potassium excretion. Excess cortisol causes insulin resistance by decreasing the rate at which insulin activates the glucose uptake system. Cortisol levels rise as you increase the amount of time devoted to intense exercise. In overtrained individuals, cortisol levels increase while testosteronelevels decrease. That is why one measure of overtraining is the testosterone-cortisol ratio. Overtraining is defined as an increase in training volume and/or intensity of exercise leading to a decrease in performance.
The Unhealthy Effects of Cortisol
Cortisol reduces the utilization of amino acids for protein formation in muscle cells. A cortisol excess can lead to a progressive loss of protein, muscle weakness and atrophy, and loss of bone mass through increased calcium excretion and less calcium absorption. The major catabolic effects of cortisol involve facilitating the conversion of protein in muscles and connective tissue into glucose and glycogen (cortisol may increase liver glycogen). This involves both the increased degradation of protein already formed and the decreased synthesis of new protein. Cortisol can also decrease the utilization of glucose by cells through directly inhibiting glucose transport into the cells. A cortisol excess can lead to a decrease in insulin sensitivity and adversely affect tendon health.
Excess cortisol causes a redistribution of body fat to occur through an unknown mechanism. Basically, the extremities lose fat and muscle while the trunk and face become fatter. Several studies have verified that high cortisol levels are directly linked with increased abdominal fat and can even cause binge eating (especially sweets). One study published in Obesity Research Journal clearly showed that men with higher levels of cortisol had greater abdominal fat deposits. Another study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology suggested that women with high stress levels (which increases cortisol) ate more calories and consumed a greater amount of sweet foods. This study linked high cortisol levels to binge eating in women. The scientists conducting the study concluded that this pattern could adversely impact body weight and health over the long run. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, in another study published in Psychosomatic Medicine, stated that central fat distribution is related to greater psychological vulnerability to stress and cortisol reactivity. So, if you want to get lean, especially in the abdominal area, you have to control cortisol levels.
Cortisol inhibits growth hormone levels by stimulating the release of somatostatin, a growth hormone antagonist. It may also reduce igf-1 expression. IGF-1 is one of the most anabolic agents in the body and is the substance that is responsible for most of the positive effects of growth hormone.
Cortisol has other hormone-modifying effects. It can directly inhibit pituitary gonadotropin and TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). By doing so, cortisol can make the target tissues of sex steroids and growth factors resistant to these substances. It may also suppress an enzyme that converts the relatively inactive thyroid hormone T4 into the active form t3(triiodothyronine). This can decrease the metabolic rate and make it harder to lose body fat.
Cortisol seems to play a role in various disease states. It is found in higher levels in diseases ranging from AIDS and multiple sclerosis to Alzheimers. Prolonged high levels of cortisol can throw the immune system into chaos and ravage the human body. A growing number of researchers believe that many of the worst, and least understood, diseases will soon be identified as caused by high cortisol, and subsequently treated with cortisol-reducing drugs or supplements.
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[FONT="]A proper post cycle therapy should include the following 8 points.[/FONT]
- Testosterone Recovery: A right mixture of supplements that will be able to speed up the pituitary to make it send signals to start the production of testosterone.
- Estrogen Inhibition: This is linked to the recovery of testosterone, because the faster that is done, the less will be the estrogenic effects. Also, the aromatization of testosterone should also be stopped, as that produces estrogen in turn.
- Inhibiting Progesterone: Sometimes, just inhibiting the production of estrogen may not be fully effective in restoring the hormone balance in the body. The inhibition of progesterone should also be taken care of.
- Reducing Cortisol: High cortisol levels are the reason for the fat gain after a steroid cycle. This can effectively reverse all the gains that have been achieved during the cycle. This is why, it is imperative that cortisol levels after a cycle be reduced.
- Boosting Libido: Libido is generally associated with psychological well-being. But after a steroid cycle, it is often seen that the sex drive of the athlete falls. This is a sign that the body is not functioning properly in terms of hormones. Making sure that you have a healthy sex drive will ensure that the normal functions in your body have resumed.
- Restoring Health: Health is an obvious but often omitted factor in post cycle therapies. Due to the strain that an athlete puts his body through during a cycle, the body needs to get a swift recovery after the cycle. Otherwise, the weak body will not be able to retain the muscle mass gained. This is why it is important to restore health because a healthy body will recover faster. A nutritious diet full of vitamins and minerals like fish oils, ginseng, etc can help restore the body to health.
- Increasing Strength: Muscle mass should be a direct indicator of strength in athletes. If this is not happening, then care should be taken to maintain, if not increase, bodily strength after a cycle.
- Curtailing Fat-gain: Gaining fat is one of the biggest factors that will make an athlete quickly lose all the benefits gained during a cycle. Relying on stimulants to curb fat gain is not the best idea, since it may make the athlete eat too less. This will prevent him from getting enough nutrients to make his body heal quickly enough. On the other hand, it can also make the body release a lot of catecholamines (hormones like adrenaline) which could mean increased levels of stress. The diet of the athlete should be such that he does not gain fat, but ingests the necessary nutrients.
now, when it is a sarms cycle, clearly some of the key points do not apply but cortisol most certainly does... you don't have to do anything for it man but don't be upset or surprised when you have all of the high cortisol induced problems...
Great info right here. I always aim to gain strength after a cycle as It signals the body to maintain its newly developed muscle mass. I have found using lower weight higher reps on cycle and saving the heavier weight/lower reps for pct makes gaining strength much easier while transitioning to off cycle.
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Hmm that last question .. can anyone give me a straight forward answer on this , I will most likely be scoring some gw if I can , but i still want to no why cortisol is more of a problem after a cycle or during , and if there are any other suggestions for controlling it
cortisol spikes because you are able to workout more intensely on cycle than when off, obviously... Its already spiked when you are on cycle but its under control being in an anabolic state... When you are off everything and you continue to train hard, which you should or you are going to lose your gains, cortisol spikes, which can also ruin your gains... So you are in a catch 22... Clearly you want to keep your gains so you need to control cortisol in pct... You can run otc garbage that "can aide in helping cortisol" which means it does not do shit... So go ahead and give that a try but don't be upset or surprised if you have a fuck of a time holding on to gains.. Since you seem to be so opposed, try it without...
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