Winstrol Only Cycle – Yes or No?
There are two groups of people in the world of bodybuilding and performance enhancement. The first group will recommend a Winstrol only cycle, and the second group will recommend avoiding it.
Winstrol was initially developed in the 1960s to help treat various diseases, including cancer and hereditary angioedema. Winstrol is a controlled substance. The drug, called Stanozolol, may be taken orally or by injection. The primary focus of stanozolol (chemical name 17α-alkylated anabolic steroid) is to bind androgen receptors.
These receptors are naturally present in bones and muscles, and they play a significant role when we talk about building muscle mass and triggering muscle growth. It has remarkable anabolic activity, which provides a high anabolic effect. The truth is that such a cycle has unique pros and cons, and it is up to you to decide what is best for your body and goals.
Benefits
- Improved Muscle Volume
- Lean Muscle Tissue
- Reduced Body Weight
- Nitrogen Retention
- Faster Recovery Times
- Increased Bone Mass
Why Avoid a Winstrol Only Cycle
Winstrol Depot refers to the injectable form. Winstrol allows you to take it as an oral tablet or by Depot injection. Capable of producing some reasonably severe androgenic side effects. The most commonly reported side effects among those using the product for performance enhancement include
- Liver toxicity
- Facial hair growth
- Menstrual irregularities
- Diuretic effects
- Oily skin
- Clitoral enlargement
- Pattern baldness
- Persistent erections
- Testicular atrophy
- Liver failure
- Abdominal pain
- Mild to severe joint pain
- Testosterone suppression
Advanced Steroid Users
It is a top-rated steroid, but this is true only when it is used as a component in a stack. Injectable Winstrol is more popular than the oral form. It’s an interesting compound because it stimulates protein synthesis and promotes fat burning within the body. Winstrol is beneficial because while it increases your body’s ability to burn fat, it doesn’t allow you to lose muscle mass while maintaining the lean muscle mass you’ve gained from your workout routines.
This particular anabolic steroid boosts the properties of others. Still, when it is used alone, the amount that athletes need to see gains is so high that the side effects are often severe and intolerable. New steroid users often use oral Winstrol because they want to avoid the painful injections of injectable steroids.
For this reason, most male bodybuilders and athletes recommend against using it alone. Due to its versatility and popularity, Winstrol is the second most common oral steroid after Dianabol.
| Experience Level | Maximum Recommended Dose | Maximum Cycle Length |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner Cycle | 50mg/Day | 8-12 Weeks |
| Intermediate | 75mg/Day | 6-8 Weeks |
| Advanced | 100mg/Day | 4-6 Weeks |
Avoid Side Effects With Testosterone
Men using Winstrol only cycles will quickly find that the testosterone suppression they experience causes some significant adverse effects. Not only will their moods change, but they will also experience hot flashes and night sweats, much like a woman going through menopause.
They may also experience a severe lack of libido, and some even experience impotence over time. Stacking with testosterone is a must in this case. To combat the effects of sore joints and liver toxicity, athletes stack with other steroids to get the desired results with a lower dose of both steroids and a shorter overall cycle time.
It’s not too strong, and if taken at a low dosage, you won’t likely experience any side effects. Some users may experience side effects such as Hair loss, Liver Stress, Acne, and High Blood Pressure.
Winstrol doesn’t cause water retention or cause estrogenic side effects that, which makes it a perfect steroid for lean mass gain. According to some scientific studies, Winstrol may be linked with an increase in LDL cholesterol while lowering HDL cholesterol levels.
Times when a Steroid Cycle is Preferable
According to experienced users, women should be the only athletes or bodybuilders using. Although the potential for liver damage and high cholesterol certainly exists, the truth is that the dose for women is so low that the benefits usually outweigh the risks.
A woman’s body responds much better to androgenic steroids than a man’s, which means that a woman may only need a dose of 10mg per day compared to a man’s 50mg to 100mg per day to achieve outstanding gains. Some women wonder about PCT following a cycle, but it is not truly necessary.
Winstrol and testosterone cycles are the best combinations for building muscle mass. With these two steroids, a cycle usually lasts twelve weeks. Some hormonal changes will occur when a woman stops using it at the end of her cycle, leading to bloating and mood swings. To combat these, some women prefer tapering their dose by 2.5mg to 5mg each day at the end of their cycles to reduce the sudden hormone shift.
Advice for Men Using Single Steroid Cycles
Although there are some relatively harsh side effects, men who use it alone should always stack it with testosterone at the very least. Moreover, keeping the cycle length short – six weeks at most – is always a good idea, particularly when preventing liver damage.
One great way to make the most of your cycle is to use it for six weeks, take a six-week break, and then use another short cycle that combines with another popular anabolic steroid like Deca Durabolin. This helps reduce the risk of joint pain and other harsh side effects while still offering profound gains.
It has been identified as an effective way to reduce body fat while simultaneously boosting muscle gain when used with the right muscle-building and strength routines.
Reasons to Avoid a Winstrol Only Cycle
Just as there are a few good reasons why you might want to run a Winstrol only cycle, there are also some reasons you shouldn’t – especially for men.
These are relatively cut-and-dry.
- It may be a waste of your money. When used by itself, you may need to take more than is recommended to see any results. Bear in mind that failing to use testosterone (at the very least) may hinder its ability to help you reach your goals.
- Your joints may hurt. The steroid is incredibly drying and takes fluid away from your joints. Because of this, you are running a cycle without other compounds that may lead to joint pain. For some, Glucosamine supplements help, but this is not always the case.
- You may damage your liver. Again, because you will likely need a larger dose to get the same effects, this increases your liver’s stress. You should use milk thistle at the very least if you choose a cycle, especially if you want to use more than 25mg daily.
Post Cycle Therapy for Men
If you are new to anabolic steroids and want to try an oral cycle to see how your body reacts, you can do a few things to protect yourself and your body. It’s essential to realize that this steroid won’t aromatize, so you won’t need to use aromatase inhibitors.
However, it certainly will suppress your body’s ability to make its testosterone, and you’ll need to follow a Winstrol only cycle with a SERM like Clomid or Nolvadex for this very reason. The chart below shows recommended PCT. It would be best if you used either Clomid or Nolvadex and never both simultaneously.
They both serve the same purpose, so you can use whichever option is easier for you to obtain. Moreover, not all men will need to continue for the fifth and sixth weeks, so be sure to gauge your body and your symptoms, and stop after the 4th week if your testosterone production has returned to normal.
| Weeks | Daily Clomid Dose | Daily Nolvadex Dose |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | 150mg | 40mg |
| 3-4 | 75mg-100mg | 20mg |
| 5-6 | 25mg-50mg | 10mg |
Winstrol is non-aromatizing so you won’t have to worry too much about water retention or gyno.
Supplements for a More Effective Winstrol Cycle
Winstrol has many anabolic and androgenic effects that make it a potent anabolic steroid. Men and women who use an oral cycle with no other steroids may find that adding certain supplements can help them reach their goals.
For example, women who want to add bulk may find that creatine helps them achieve this goal. Men who want to lose body fat on a cycle could consider adding pre-workout supplements with caffeine, taurine, and other energy- and metabolism-enhancing ingredients.
These are not necessary, but in some cases, they can help you make the most of your cycle. A Winstrol only cycle can undoubtedly provide some significant gains that consist of sheer muscle rather than a combination of muscle and water weight, especially for women. Still, the truth is that this steroid is hard on your body and can cause serious side effects.
Winstrol can help you gain lean muscle mass when accompanied by a clean diet and a good training program. Because Winstrol isn’t a bulking or weight-gaining hormone, it’s especially suited for those who want to keep their body as lean as possible. Most men will do well to stack with another anabolic steroid; at the very least, using it in combination with testosterone is a must.
