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Winstrol Cycle – The Ultimate Guide

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Disclaimer: The following article is for educational purposes only and NOT to promote the use of illegal steroids. If you have any questions or concerns, Dr. Touliatos is currently available for consultations.

Winstrol (Stanozolol), otherwise known as Winny, is a popular steroid in bodybuilding.

This is due to it being an oral steroid that produces powerful fat-burning and muscle-building effects.

Furthermore, its anabolic effects come without a huge surge in water weight, allowing lean and aesthetic gains; instead of bloated-looking muscles. Thus, Winstrol can be used in the summer to help users get shredded; or it can be used in the off-season to add lean muscle.

Due to its versatility, Winstrol is thought to be the second most popular oral steroid — behind Dianabol.

That’s no mean feat, considering the popularity of Anavar — a rival cutting steroid.

Below is a list of the most popular Winstrol cycles, that local gym rats or even pro bodybuilders take to get ripped.

Note: The following cycles (except the first) are NOT suitable for beginners, due to Winstrol’s high toxicity. An Anavar cycle is a better option for novices wanting to burn fat and build muscle.

If you are a woman interested in cycling Winstrol, read this article. 

Winstrol-Only Cycle

For Beginners

Although we don’t recommend Winstrol as a first steroid cycle, due to its tendency to cause harsh side effects, the following protocol is tailored for beginners (utilizing lower doses).

All Weeks:

PCT:

This Winstrol cycle was popular when it was initially released, with more conservative dosages being utilized. Based on what modern-day bodybuilders take now, this is considered a very ‘light’ cycle — perfect for a beginner.

Users can expect to gain notable amounts of lean muscle (up to 10lbs), whilst decreasing their body fat percentage considerably with this cycle.

Winstrol used to come in bottles made up of 2mg pills; however, 5mg and 10mg pills are more common today. Thus, in the case of the latter — 7.5mg may be a more feasible dose for the first 2 weeks (taking 1.5 x 5mg pills).

TUDCA is a liver support supplement, proven to reduce damage to the liver in clinical studies. Fish oil is used to manage cholesterol and blood pressure, helping to blunt an inevitable spike when taking Winstrol.

Nolvadex is a SERM, used to treat low testosterone levels post-cycle. This will help your hormones return back to normal levels within several weeks, which otherwise might take several months.

Legal Winstrol Alternative

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For Intermediates

The below Winstrol cycle is optimal for someone who’s already taken Winstrol, or milder steroids, such as testosterone or Anavar. This is due to the higher dosages being outlined below.

With this cycle, enhanced muscle gains and fat loss will be experienced; however side effects will also be more pronounced.

All weeks:

PCT:

This is a properly dosed bodybuilding cycle, capable of dramatically transforming a person’s body composition in a matter of weeks.

Testosterone levels will become more suppressed, cholesterol levels/blood pressure will spike higher; as well as liver values when running this intermediate cycle. These are the main side effects users need to manage when cycling Winstrol.

Winstrol and Testosterone Cycle

All weeks:

PCT:

The above cycle can be seen as a bulking or cutting one, as significant amounts of muscle will be gained; in combination with notable fat loss.

However, due to some likely water retention from the addition of Testosterone — it’s more favoured for bulking.

When Winstrol is stacked with Testosterone, strength and muscle gains will be significantly enhanced. It is a complimentary stack because Testosterone isn’t a harsh steroid, thus it won’t dramatically worsen Winstrol’s already toxic nature. However, gynecomastia is now a concern, as well as lower endogenous testosterone post-cycle. Users can combat high estrogen side effects, such as water retention and gyno by taking an anti-aromatase inhibitor or a SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulator). 

Anti-aromatase inhibitors (such as Anastrozole) block the conversion of testosterone into estrogen, thus reducing water retention and the risk of gyno. One downside to AI’s are that they can worsen blood pressure. This is why many steroid-users prefer to take a SERM, blocking estrogen activity directly in the breast tissue itself. However, water retention may still occur with a SERM, as estrogen levels remain circulating throughout the body.

Testosterone is an injectable steroid, thus it isn’t an ideal cycle for those wanting to avoid needles.

A more aggressive PCT is needed with this cycle to kickstart natural testosterone production. The duo of Clomid and HCG has been used in research to treat hypogonadism by Dr. Michael Scally; with much success.

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Winstrol and Anadrol Cycle

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PCT:

Winstrol combined with Anadrol makes for a surprising stack for some, due to Winstrol being viewed as a cutting steroid, that can add lean mass without water retention. Meanwhile, Anadrol is classed as a bulking steroid, often resulting in significant fluid retention in the offseason.

However, some bodybuilders successfully cycle the two together just before a competition; in a bid to look ripped, dry and full.

The trick is to consume low amounts of sodium, which prevents the water-ballooning effect that Anadrol can cause. Anadrol is very estrogenic, thus cycling this steroid in conjunction with a high sodium diet is a recipe for water retention/smooth muscles.

However, when used diligently, Anadrol creates a huge and full look onstage, which can catch the judge’s eyes (when other competitors are glycogen depleted).

Even on low calories when cutting, bodybuilders can expect to burn fat and build muscle with this stack.

If a person is not cutting and uses this stack, mass and strength gains will be significant; given the powerful nature of Anadrol.

Side Effects

The downside to this cycle is that it contains two of the most toxic oral steroids on the market. This cycle is possibly one of the worst you can take for cholesterol levels, blood pressure and liver enzymes. Thus, it shouldn’t be run often and is only suitable for experienced steroid users.

Gynecomastia is a concern with the addition of Anadrol, thus a SERM such as Nolvadex is recommended to keep the accumulation of breast tissue at bay. An aromatase inhibitor will be ineffective at preventing gyno due to Anadrol not converting from testosterone to estrogen. Instead, Anadrol is thought to stimulate the estrogen receptors directly.

Testosterone levels will almost certainly be shut down post-cycle, needing a powerful PCT to get endogenous testosterone back to normal levels.

Due to the harshness of this cycle, it shouldn’t last beyond 6 weeks; to maintain optimal long-term health.

Winstrol and Trenbolone Cycle

A Winstrol and Trenbolone cycle should be thought of as highly toxic and only suitable for advanced steroid users.

In terms of gains, Winstrol and Trenbolone are two of the best steroids you can take for transforming your body in a short space of time (when used as a cutting or bulking cycle). Trenbolone, like Winstrol, has muscle-building and fat-burning attributes — with it also creating a dry and grainy look to the muscles.

All Weeks:

PCT:

When Winstrol/Trenbolone is used as a bulking stack, this is perhaps the most aesthetic steroid duo of all; with lean muscle gains, no water retention and users’ body fat decreasing.

The main difference between Winstrol and Trenbolone is that tren will pack on significantly more muscle, is harsher on the body and an injectable steroid. Thus, tren is branded more as a bulking steroid, due to its incredible anabolic effects.

This cycle is well dosed, appropriate for an experienced steroid user. However, the cycle is just 6 weeks to minimize damage to the body. If users tolerate this cycle well, they may extend the duration to 8 weeks for further gains.

The Trenbolone dose increases by 50% at week 5, to continue making significant gains for the last 2 weeks. However, if users are concerned about the side effects by week 4, they should not up the dose of tren.

This cycle will build similar amounts of lean muscle to the Winstrol/Testosterone cycle, but with less weight gain (water).

Side Effects

Users should expect high LDL cholesterol levels, resulting in a big spike in blood pressure. They should also be ready for testosterone levels to shut down post cycle. Androgenic side effects are also often common, such as oily skin, hair loss and acne (the extent of which is determined by a user’s genetics).

There is a possibility for progesterone-induced gynecomastia from Trenbolone. Progesterone acts similar to estrogen and thus can stimulate the mammary glands; however, Trenbolone’s ‘estrogen-like side effects‘ are more noticeable when stacked with steroids that aromatize.

Users can take an AI (aromatase inhibitor), which is often successful in decreasing progesterone-related side effects. However, AI’s can further spike blood pressure; as estrogen plays a role in raising HDL (good cholesterol levels).

Thus, some people take SERMs like Nolvadex to try and combat progesterone-induced gyno from Trenbolone; however, some users report Nolvadex making gyno worse. The reason is not certain; however, there is research to suggest that Nolvadex can increase progesterone levels — at least in the short term. Therefore, it may be worth regularly monitoring your nipples during this cycle, to see if they become swollen. If you do experience enlargement of your breast tissue, Letrozole can be taken — an effective AI.

However, Letrozole should not be taken without first monitoring your blood pressure, as it’s likely to increase BP.

Winstrol and Clenbuterol Cycle

Clenbuterol isn’t a steroid; however, it’s often cycled with cutting steroids (like Winstrol); due to its powerful fat-burning effects.

It’s unknown how effective Clen is for building lean muscle in humans, with users experiencing different results (mostly mild to no muscle gains). However, in research horses have experienced significant increases in lean mass.

You’ll see a slightly lower dose of Winstrol in the cycle below (20mg instead of 25mg), because of the increased risk to the heart, due to the presence of Clenbuterol. Consequently, Winstrol may be taken for 8 weeks instead of 6 — however liver enzymes should be monitored. 

All Weeks:

PCT:

Users stacking Clen with Winstrol are set to experience rapid fat loss, due to their metabolism going through the roof.

Clenbuterol, being a beta2-agonist, typically acts differently to steroids. Thus, there is no risk of gyno, testosterone suppression, hair loss, acne, etc. However, heart rate and blood pressure levels can rise significantly, which users will need to be cautious of.

It is important to regularly monitor your BP during this cycle and only increase the clenbuterol dose as planned if your blood pressure is within normal levels. If blood pressure rises too high, do not increase the clenbuterol dose or immediately discontinue the cycle (if very high).

Winstrol and Anavar Cycle

Anavar is a very similar steroid to Winstrol, being an oral steroid used in cutting cycles. Both compounds have fat-burning and muscle-building properties.

The main difference between these two steroids is that Winstrol is more powerful, thus gains may be a little more noticeable, and side effects considerably more.

Winstrol is a lot more affordable, compared to Anavar; with the latter sometimes costing hundreds of dollars to run a cycle.

The only main advantage Anavar has over Winstrol, other than its safety profile; is that it’s more suitable for women to take. Anavar is low risk for causing virilization side effects in females — whereas Winstrol is much higher.

When cycled together, fat loss, muscle gains and strength will reach new levels (as opposed to running a Winstrol-only cycle). This is a powerful cutting cycle when trying to drop body fat levels quickly without losing muscle/strength.

One downside to Winstrol is that sometimes users can become depleted in their muscles, due to a loss of intracellular fluid. However, Anavar can counteract this temporary shrinkage, as it increases cellular volume; creating a full and pumped look to the muscles.

Side Effects

Anavar, despite being an oral steroid, will not greatly increase liver toxicity. This is due to the kidneys processing much of the compound and thus TUDCA should be sufficient for limiting strain to the organ.

Testosterone suppression is moderate when taking Anavar alone. Thus, Winstrol and Anavar will cause it to shut down, requiring a PCT.

Cholesterol levels will rise a little higher on this stack, as opposed to taking Winstrol alone.

Gynecomastia will not be an issue, as none of these steroids aromatize.

Summary

Winstrol is certainly a powerful cutting steroid, that produces impressive results; especially when stacked with other steroids.

However, Winstrol’s side effects are just as potent as the results it yields. Therefore, Winstrol should only be cycled in moderate doses by intermediate steroid-users (that tolerate them well).

Always consult a doctor before running a Winstrol cycle and be sure to take the recommended liver, heart and PCT supplements to keep your body as healthy as possible during and after a cycle.

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