The first anabolic steroid ever created, synthetic Testosterone is the most commonly used anabolic in all of medicine. Hormone replacement therapy and performance enhancement for all sports. It is without question that in powerlifting, Testosterone use as it has lent its role in hundreds of world records made throughout the 20th& 21st centuries.
Its original medical use was intended for treating patients with androgen deficiencies (namely, low natural testosterone production). The world soon found its use for boosting athletic performance by helping to develop an athlete’s muscularity, strength, speed, and explosiveness faster than ever accomplished by natural means.
Several physiological changes occur with high levels of testosterone in the system – namely, protein synthesis is greatly increased along with nitrogen retention. Simply put, with Testosterone, you can put on muscle, gain strength, and recover faster at a rate that is not achievable through normal or natural means.
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While Testosterone use (or any AAS use in general) isn’t the final deciding factor in whether you’ll be better than a non-drug-using lifter, it will make you a stronger lifter overall. This is indisputable, and there is a reason why every major athletic governing agency flags elevated Testosterone levels – you will make progress faster using Testosterone than if you were to stay drug-free. Testosterone is the ultimate anabolic steroid, and every cycle you run for powerlifting, Testosterone should include some form as your base.
There are 4 commonly used variations of injectable Testosterone, all of which involve the ester bonding attached to the compound. The ester base used in conjunction with Testosterone will dictate the gradual release of the hormone in the body until the drug is completely absorbed within a certain period.
Note that the ester used with Testosterone does not alter the drug's hormonal properties – there is no “best Testosterone” to use outside your choice of injection frequency.
The test tests. You will see the same benefits of using Testosterone throughout your cycle, regardless of which ester you use. The 4 esters, along with their half-lives, are:
1. Testosterone Cypionate – 12 Days
2. Testosterone Enanthate – 10.5 Days
3. Testosterone Propionate – 2-3 Days
4. Testosterone Suspension – Less than 24 Hours
There are many different opinions about how much Testosterone should be used for cycles and how much is “too much.” I have experience running Testosterone for Powerlifting from dosages of 250 mg weekly to a very stupid moment of my life where I was running 1,250 mg weekly for a meet (and I was not even that strong at the time). I know firsthand that more is not better for beginners & intermediates (aka, anyone below a 500 Wilks score); I hold a more conservative view of Testosterone dosages for most powerlifters.
I have lifted more weight, RUNNING NOTHING compared to when I ran 1.25 grams of Test a week. STEROIDS WILL NOT TRANSFORM YOU INTO A WORLD-CLASS LIFTER.
Hard work, persistence, a consistent diet plan, and time will make you stronger than any local level lifter running 2 grams of test trying to deadlift 545.
A first-time user will typically start their Testosterone protocol at 500 mg weekly, though it is also fine to run the Test at 250 mg & see great results from a lower dose. I would say that 750 mg is the ceiling where most people will not experience any serious side effects. And 1 gram is where complications can start to occur.
Regarding world-class lifters and their anabolic use, dosages will range from all over the board. You will find guys who are killing it and only running 500 – 750 mg of Test, and then, of course, we all have heard of some lifter running 3 grams of Test a week in addition to a whole cocktail of other compounds.
We will touch on what the best powerlifters are taking later on in this guide. Just know that the dosage amounts used and the relative strength of an individual aren’t necessarily related.
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Use Testosterone for at least ten weeks to obtain tangible results from your cycle. The beneficial effects take a few weeks to “kick in.” Your best gains are typically towards the end of your cycle. It is more common to run a cycle of Tests for 12 weeks. Though this can extend to 14-16 weeks with relatively little issue.
Just know that the longer your natural production of testosterone suppress. The harder it will be to restore it during post-cycle therapy and afterward. For this reason, a cycle of Tests shouldn’t extend beyond 20 weeks tops. And it would be safer overall to run it in 12-16 week durations.
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