“ECA”, or a combination of ephedrine, caffeine, and aspirin is often viewed as the most effective & readily available fat burning compound stack for bodybuilders, fitness/figure athletes, and anyone else looking to attain their best shape ever. However, aside from the commonly prescribed dosage (200 mg caffeine, 25 mg ephedrine, and 325 mg aspirin), very little information is often dispersed regarding the many smaller nuances of using ECA. In particular, its timing for use, tapering on and off the stack, and potential troubles seen by users are often overlooked – until now! Read on to learn more about one of the most effective fat burning stacks man has every discovered.

Timing
You should take your first dose of ECA immediately upon rising in the morning. For one, it will will eliminate your need for that morning coffee or diet soda, as the 200 mg caffeine you enjoy from the ECA dose will get you up and moving faster than you can imagine. Your morning cardio should immediately follow your ECA dosage. About halfway through the workout, you may break a sudden sweat as your metabolism comes to life, with the compounds kicking in. Your second dose should be late morning or with lunch. Any dose taken later than 1 pm may interfere with your sleeping pattern. The use of ephedrine alone may disrupt your sleep. Using it late in the day means you will probably have a late night!

Tapering
When starting the use of ECA for the first time, many users are advised to begin with a ¼ to ½ dose for the first week so that their body can become used to the chemicals and avoid any maybe panic or anxiety caused by the drugs. Likewise and perhaps more importantly, the use of ECA should never be ended suddenly. Rather, one should slowly taper off use over a period of 1-2 weeks, using smaller and smaller doses each day until it’s just ¼ of the normal dose, and the user feels nothing when use stops. ECA can be addictive!

Troubles
ECA is fairly harmless when use is limited to twice per day, 5 days per week, for two months or less. Going above that will limit the effectiveness of ECA and perhaps render you likely to stop seeing any results at all! Normal ECA use may lead to panic, anxiety, sweating, and heart palpitations for some. However, these are harmless and temporary, and will usually subside after a few days of proper use.

ECA is a terrific stack that yields amazing results. Using it correctly will help to curb appetite, boost energy, burn fat, and raise your body’s overall metabolism. Use the advice offered here, along with your own sets of wisdom & experiences to plan your successful ECA use. Good luck!

If you ask any random person what they believe to be the biggest scam in the history of the sport of bodybuilding, your answers might vary. Let’s look at a few of the most commonly believed scams when it comes to the sport of moving iron in the pursuit of bigger muscles and greater strength.

You don’t need steroids to be a top bodybuilder
You don’t need steroids to build a bigger, better you. But you will need steroids if you ever want to step on the pro stage and make your mark among the best bodybuilders in the world. All the training discipline, nutritional wisdom, and smart supplementation in the world can’t trump a 12 week cycle of a gram of test a week. So while you should use bodybuilding as a way to grow stronger, look better, and be healthier, you should also work to do it with a realistic understanding of the chemical use prevalent at the highest levels of the sport.

Supplements
This one is tricky, because there are some supplements that are absolutely effective, whose worth has been proven by decades of studies and testimonials from tens of thousands of users. Creatine and Mesobolin come to mind as two supplements which most serious lifters agree, along with proper rest, exercise and diet, will lead to new muscle gains. However, there are always going to be new supplements arriving designed not to change the bodies of lifters, but to make their wallets lighter. Stick with supplements that have a reputation for helping lifters to see results. Sure, you never know when you’ll be there to ‘discover’ an amazing supplement. But if it’s that good, it will not stay a secret very long. You would be best served to let the other consumers make that determination, and save your money and time for supplements that have been PROVEN to deliver results.

Secret training protocols of the pros
This one might come as a surprise to many lifters, and just like supplements, it’s not completely a scam. You can toss a trainer like Charles Glass or Hany Rambod into a workout with any random trainer in the gym, and you are going to get better results. They know which angles of which movements will stimulate particular muscle fibers or muscle groups, leading to new growth. However, the “4×12” workouts you pin to your wall from a muscle magazines, the “HSFTS790X” workout (or whatever the flavor of the week) that can only be obtained from a DVD for just 3 easy payments of $39.95, is definitely not going to change your world. Rather, showing up to the gym, training using both compound and isolation movements for 8 to 12 repetitions for 12 to 15 sets is what is going to build up muscle. All the gimmicks in the world can’t topple what you’ll see from sensible moderate training, done on a consistent basis!

For many bodybuilders, the use of steroids is just part of the sport which they love so dearly. They begin by immersing themselves in tough training, intelligent dieting, and total study of all the things that make a bodybuilder great. They build a terrific physique and push their natural limits as far as possible. Then, they soon realize that if they want to reach their absolute maximum peak level of development, they are going to have to use steroids. They use them for years, and reach a level never thought possible with natural training alone.

And then, they stop. Maybe they get married and decide to start a family. Maybe it’s a job where testing is involved. Perhaps it’s not financially viable anymore, or a ‘source’ dries up and the use must stop for legal reasons. Whatever the cause, steroid use inevitably stops for everyone at some point. Here are some ideas for what should happen AFTER you stop the cycle.

Get your T levels right
Initially, PCT, or post-cycle therapy should be used to help re-vamp your body’s natural testosterone production. Your hypothalamus has informed your testes that they can take the year off – and as a result, your body isn’t delivering testosterone anymore. You can fix that using a variety of compounds. This will be task one – get through that initial period where you have no energy, stamina, strength or sex drive as your testosterone levels try to suddenly crash once you put down the needle.

Keep exercising
One way to keep your testosterone levels up, while keeping much of the muscle mass you’ve built, is to keep going to the gym. You’ll lose weight and size, and you won’t be able to move as much iron as you could before. But at the same time, you will keep a lot of the muscle, and you won’t shrink back to your pre-gear days. Most bodybuilders who retire from steroid use but keep training will be bulkier, and not nearly as lean, but they’ll keep most of that muscle mass, as can you!

Accepting your new size
The mentality of being the biggest and baddest man in ever room is one that is easy to get used to. Shrinking down can be tough for many athletes, particularly those who lifted for the sole purpose of not being intimidated anymore. Accept that you had your run as one of the big guys, but that it’s time to get back to a healthy body weight.

Remove the evidence
Remember to throw out the old needles, vials of oil, and other paraphernalia that might be sitting around your house or locker room. You don’t want children, co-workers, family members, or anyone else finding them. If you must ‘save them for a rainy day’, bury it far enough away that if you don’t find it, no one else ever will either.

Looking ahead
Enjoy the memories of being big, reap some of the benefits of long term muscle gain, but accept the new opportunities life offers and enjoy every second of it!

Growth hormone is the big drug making lots of noise in the world of sports nutrition, anabolics, bodybuilding and lifestyle improvement. Many senior citizens are suddenly learning about growth hormone as a way to offset the effects of aging. People in their middle age are seeing it as a tool for reclaiming the vitality of youth, sexually, physically, and even mentally. Young men are discovering their performance and recovery ability is greatly improved with the use of growth hormone, making them more effective in their sport of choice as well as in performance in all areas of their life. Bodybuilders have learned that when used with other compounds, growth hormone allows them to restart some growth processes that halted years ago. Here are some commonly asked questions regarding the use of growth hormone.

What happens when you use too much growth hormone?

You wear bloat – a lot of it. There is certainly a ceiling to how much positive effects you will see from a cycle. More is not better – longer periods of use are better.

Does growth hormone start working immediately?

At the cellular level, it begins its work quickly. It will take several weeks until some of the effects will be manifested to the point where you’ll begin to notice them. If you begin GH use when you begin a cycle, you’ll feel and see the effects of the testosterone long before the growth hormone starts to kick in. However, the fat burning, muscle growing and vitality improvements you see over a period of months will be far greater than you would see with a simple test cycle alone.

What kind of doses are the guys using?

Many of the top bodybuilders you see on the state and national stages use 4 to 8 IU of growth hormone per day. At the professional level, some of the smaller athletes will stick with dosages like this. However, among the top guys in the sport, who regularly break the 280+ pound muscle mark (unheard of with the previous five decades of bodybuilder), the daily dosage of growth hormone has been reputed to reach 20 IU per day – or more. Obviously, this sort of information will be under-reported. No athlete is going to brag about how much he’s doing, if he admits it at all. Most bodybuilders work hard to downplay the importance of drugs, as well as how much they are actually using.

How does growth hormone work?

First off, growth hormone helps you to get more out of the food you are already eating. Its level of assistance with protein synthesis – using the protein in the food we eat – is even higher than that of testosterone. When used together, the body uses much, much more of the protein in our food. Diet suddenly matters greatly. Growth hormone also helps to speed up the fat processing capability of the body and keep it from being produced in the first place. Amino acids are used more effectively. The body recovers faster from workouts, and grows more muscle. Growth hormone isn’t a magic drug that will turn you into a champion bodybuilder – but its presence will be found with most guys who happen to be champion bodybuilders.

Are you looking for a fast-acting testosterone while is very gentle on the body? If so, you should check out Masteron. The gains are good, and the side effects are extremely minimal. Let’s check out a few fast facts about Masteron!

Masteron acts quickly

The drug is only active in your body for sixty hours.

Masteron will dry you out

Water retention is not an issue for users of Masteron. In fact, most users report a hardening or leaning out of their body with use. This makes the drug a good choice for athletes in the pre-content phase looking to appear as dry as possible.

Masteron works in low dose

Most testosterones call for the use of 400 to 800 mg per week to see desired results. Users of Masteron will only require 300 to 500 mg per week to find these same results.

Masteron is rough on the skin

If you have a predisposition for acne, pockmarks, or any kind of skin rash or irritability, Masteron may not be for you. Users report frequent breakouts. The good news is that once your use halts, your skin should return to its former clear state, unless you have allowed scarring to occur.

Masteron is good for your cardiovascular system

Blood pressure elevation is a major concern with many drugs – but not with Masteron. Keep an eye on your levels, as the effects of anything you take with it (including the very popular ephedra, caffeine, aspirin stack) may be compounded thanks to your increased red blood cell count. Overall, however, Masteron is one of the safest testosterones for blood pressure maintenance.

Masteron is very liver-friendly

A fast-dissolving injectable such as Masteron is probably your best bet for those users highly concerned with interrupting their liver function. If you have any history of alcoholism, narcotic abuse, hepatitis, jaundice, or a family history of liver cancer, or any other factor which may lead to a compromised liver function, then Masteron might be a safe bet for you!

Masteron lets you keep your hair

Seeing as the drug is a DHT derivative, your fears of male pattern baldness don’t have a home here. If you have already started the degradation of your hairline thanks to past AAS usage, Masteron may actually help to halt the recession.

Masteron does not cause Gynecomastia

This drug does not aromatize. In fact, it is often classified as anti-estrogenic. Water retention, gyno, and spikes in the female hormone estrogen aren’t of major concern to users.

Masteron needs to be injected frequently

Despite all its great attributes listed above, Masteron does move through the body quickly. Small injections of200 to 300 mg need to take place 2 to 3 times per week in order to keep your blood levels elevated to the effective range. As with all testosterones, unfortunately, Masteron does severely impact your reproductive function from its very first use, facilitating the need for a dedicated post-cycle therapy (PCT) plan.

Masteron is great for stacking

If you are looking to make another drug better, use Masteron! Dianabol, Deca, and most other common choices become much more effective when used with Masteron.

Human growth hormone, or GH, is becoming more and more popular with middle-aged and elderly patients all over the world. This has caused the compound to become more readily available to bodybuilders looking for every possible edge in their very competitive sport. Here are a few reasons why bodybuilders will benefit tremendously from GH use.

Lean muscle mass increase

The main reason many young bodybuilders engage in the use of growth hormone is that it does lead to an increase in lean muscle mass. This causes the patient to become stronger in the gym, and able to complete more repetitions with the heavy weights formerly used for low repetition work. Users of GH who don’t lift weights will still see an increase in muscle mass and strength, but those users who do will see a much faster growth trend.

Reduction in body fat

Even with no modifications in diet, you will see a slow but steady reduction in body fat through the use of growth hormone. Obviously, if you are engaging in an actual dieting phase, an increase in cardiovascular exercise and a reduction in overall caloric intake should be used to facilitate greater change, along with perhaps a fat burning such as the ECA stack. Simple addition of GH will lead to several percentage points’ reduction in body fat over several months’ time.

Better cholesterol control

As you may already know, LDL cholesterol is the kind you should avoid, that leads to heart disease. HDL is the good kind, which strengthens cardiovascular system function. GH use elevates HDL levels in users with low levels. The return to desired range within two months and stay there, even with no diet modifications. Since bodybuilders consume so much meat and eggs, cholesterol control is a very real need.

Stamina boost

Growth hormone leads to an increase in oxygen in the bloodstream. Aside from the mental and organ function benefits this provides, there is also a significant boost in aerobic performance capacity that accompanies this boost. This leads to more repetitions being completed on every movement. It means we can train longer and harder when it comes to cardiovascular exercise. It means we don’t become winded as easily in all the things we do in life, including posing, a major breakdown point for many bodybuilders.

Mental Effects

Much of what we do in bodybuilding requires a strong mental acumen. Doling out food portions, showing up on the gym on days we don’t want to, and keeping that drive alive for years of the same monotonous training can be hard sometimes. Growth hormone delivers a mental focus and concentration that helps make performing these mundane tasks easier.

Remember that GH use doesn’t lead to fast results, but over time its results will be dependable and consistent. Bodybuilders do not “need” growth hormone, but they will see significant improvements in all areas of their diet and training should they choose to use it It’s a great tool, when used with healthy lifestyle elements such as diet and exercise, for prolonging length and quality of life.

There’s a good chance you’ve seen plenty of those lists detailing common steroid myths in your day. The interesting thing about these lists is that they are usually designed for the non-user, with the intent of scaring any remaining undecided potential candidates for steroids into holding off on the drugs indefinitely. However, these exaggerative and often outright false ads often undermine the credibility of the anti-steroid point of view, and rightfully so. Alas, there are many bodybuilders who have already taken the plunge, who may still believe some commonly held misconceptions. Here is a list of common steroid myths for the reader who is already using anabolic steroids.

More is better

This is a commonly held practice among many new bodybuilders to run their first cycle, then attempt to double their results the next time around by doubling the amount of oil they inject each time. The truth is that there is very much a law of diminishing returns when it comes to anabolic steroids. Once you reach the point of optimal gains, your next move is into negative gains territory. Suddenly your body is working so hard to combat the negative side effects of these super high doses that growth cannot be attained nor sustained. The sad irony is that these same bodybuilders are risking health and wasting dosages when they could be making double the gains with half of the amount of steroids.

Some steroids don’t cause Gyno

The fact of the matter is that even though some steroids differ on the anabolic:androgenic ratio, they all have the ability to distort your body’s hormone function and hormonal balances. Sometimes immediately, and sometimes weeks after use is discontinued, you can suffer from a hormone bounce which can cause either a testosterone crash or an estrogen spike. Neither is desired if you don’t want nipple mass growing. Avoid these problems by using post-cycle therapy drugs and common sense dosing.

Some steroids don’t have any side effects

This is true, with one caveat. There is no such thing as a useful steroid without side effects. Sure, you can run mini-cycles of Anavar and maybe see a little bit of new hardness on your body without any noticeable side effects. But when it comes to real cycles delivering real results, dealing with real side effects is just part of the equation.

Law enforcement doesn’t care about small-time users

As evidenced by the rash of recent arrests across the southeastern United States, law enforcement agencies are indeed very interested in the activities of the small-time, small dose purchasers. Even though they may spend thousands of dollars in man hours to capture a single buyer with $180 worth of profit, there is a good chance the customer will identify their dealer and anyone else they know of who uses steroids to law enforcement as fast as humanly possible, if it means they get to stay out fo a jail cell. If you are ordering illegally to your home or place of business, you are breaking the law and putting yourself at a great deal of risk. This is never advisable.

In the annals of the steroid world, nothing comes close to testosterone. It’s the natural lifeblood of your own muscle building systems, and when used artificially, it delivers a shot in the arm like no other drug. Elevated testosterone levels lead to muscle gains, fat loss, and increases in strength that is unmatched by any other drug.

Second place in the list of steroid greats has usually been Nandrolone. It’s a very good drug, and when used in conjunction with testosterone, it’s a great drug. It results in spikes in testosterone levels and the subsequent gains in muscle size, strength, and fat loss, are very good. However there are some limitations with Nandrolone use which aren’t always discovered by novice users until they’re two months into their cycle. Let’s look at some of the side effects of Nandrolone use, particularly of the sexual nature.

Sexual Dysfunction

When taken alone, Nandrolone steroids often lead to an inability to attain or maintain an erection. Users may “crash” halfway through the act. Using testosterone with Nandrolone will help to blunt some of the negative sexual effects. For this reason, most steroid advisers will not let a client use Nandrolone without the use of testosterone as well. Self-administered cycles involving “whatever you can get your hands on” often include Nandrolone without testosterone, and this usually results in this negative side effect.

Testicular Atrophy

This is a side effect which has little effect on some users, and a highly traumatic impact on other users. Your body’s natural production of testosterone takes place in the testes, upon orders from the hypothalamus in the brain. When the body’s levels are elevated due to artificial injection, the brain senses the high levels and orders the testes to stop producing testosterone. They shrink significantly as a result. This is something that can be highly embarrassing to users, in the locker room or the bedroom. If this is an effect you cannot deal with, then Nandrolone (or testosterone for that matter) may not be for you.

Immediate Testosterone Production Freeze

From the first moment you inject Nandrolone, your testosterone levels are hampered. One shot will result in minimal natural production for at least a month. Continued use of Nandrolone for a series of twelve or more weeks could leave to a shutdown lasting six months or more. Your Nandrolone cycle should always be immediately followed with PCT (post-cycle therapy) to help restore the natural production of your body. This small “bridge” of chemicals will help to restart testosterone production and prevent a major hormonal crash in your system.

The choice to use anabolic steroids is a serious one. Even a small cycle lasting only two months can have short-term sexual effects, and long-term effects upon the HPTA system and testosterone production. If you haven’t thoroughly researched the side effects, you may not quite be ready for what is in store for you. Do your homework, and then make a decision as to whether or not the sexual side effects of Nandrolone use are acceptable to you.

Nearly everyone, at one time or another, has witnessed a muscular person displaying an emotional outburst in some situation, and murmured “Roid rage…” it’s commonly believed that steroids cause uncontrolled aggression and emotions in users. Is this true? Let’s look at the medical and real-life points of view regarding this occurrence.

Has “roid rage” been documented in medical circles, and in the legal sense? Yes and no. Increased testosterone levels do lead to increased aggression. In some cases, people who are on steroids will do things they wouldn’t normally do, since their aggression is chemically a bit higher. Now, has the term been medically documented? Does it exist to a certainty, as documented by the medical community? The answer is no. There is no absolute behavior that is elicited through the increase of testosterone in the body. Are people more likely to behave in a certain manner? Sure. However, no actual cause/effect model exists, and therefore the term ‘roid rage’ is a fallacy – in the medical sense.

In the real-world sense, we see roid rage every day. When bodybuilders and powerlifters throw around weights in the gym, start fights in traffic, and perform at a higher intensity than they ever could without the use of anabolic steroids, then yes, they are exhibiting a level of aggressiveness (read: rage) not possible without chemical assistance. However, this is controllable. We may possess greater urges and desires, but the choice to act upon them is still just that – a choice.

The answer to the question “Is roid rage real” is simply… “Sometimes.” If you already possess a dangerous level of rage and anger, then increasing testosterone levels may make these levels rise. The more testosterone you are using (particularly if you flirt with going above 1000 mg per week), the higher your chance of exceedingly aggressive behaviors. The actions of human beings are heavily influenced by the chemicals in our brains – and without a doubt, high doses of testosterone do change our brain chemicals. However, scientifically, there is no causation, and therefore it cannot be used as a defense for certain actions.

We all have bad days. People using artificial testosterone may reach their boiling point a tad faster than they normally would due to the levels of chemicals in their blood. However, they are also able to control their actions. There has never been a single proven case of an individual completely unable to control his or her behavior due to the use of anabolic steroids. Rather, individuals have chosen to act in a certain way, and then used their use of steroids as a defense for their actions, whether it be explaining to a police officer why they smashed another person’s car, or to their girlfriend why they shoved her. “Roid rage” exists in the sense that people are a bit more aggressive by nature with the presence of artificial hormones in their body. However, it is perpetuated by people who use it as a defense for their illegal or unacceptable actions.

Human growth hormone is taking the bodybuilding world by storm, but many people don’t know about all of its benefits. We’ll assume a simple sample cycle of 4 IU per day, at 12-hour intervals. Here are some fun facts about HGH!

Benefits

Many bodybuilders report an initial weight gain when starting the use of HGH, or human growth hormone. Hands and feet may experience slight swelling. You’ll appear leaner as vascularity will improve. You’ll need to keep protein at an absolute minimum of 300 grams per day, with 400 grams being preferable. Your face may look fuller from the water you’re holding. HGH affects your mentality. You’ll feel big as a house the first time you use it, typically within 3-5 days. Shoulders, thighs, chest, and other groups will be much fuller. You may see slight increase in aggression, but most users don’t report that. Usually it’s a smooth feeling of just being bigger and stronger.

Administration – Low or High Levels?

Dosage varies with growth hormone. Some bodybuilders prefer longer cycle of 1-2 IU daily, and some prefer shorter, more intense cycles of 3-6 IU daily. Six IU’s is very high – you should certainly not go above four unless you are experienced and it’s not your first cycle. Remember – long-term growth is the goal. HGH isn’t cumulative – you cannot double the gains by simply doubling the dose. You must use in moderation.

Splitting the Dose

Out of necessity, some bodybuilders take their dose once per day. However it is preferable to split the dose up between two shots. Your body uses it within a few hours, so the second dose does create a second growth ‘window’ each day. Circumstances might prevent this, but you should make every effort to split doses.

Recovery & Eating

You can eat everything on the menu while on growth hormone. You will recover faster and you will utilize just about every calorie you can get your hands on. Even if you’re dieting, you can significantly increase calories and still lose body fat, thanks to the wonderful fat-burning nature of growth hormone.

Bottom Line

Growth hormone is a great addition to a regular anabolic cycle for initiating additional growth and burning fat as well. Give it a shot if you’re ready! As always, do your research and be sure you understand all legal and medical ramifications of using growth hormones and anabolic steroids. HGH can be a wonderful addition to you bodybuilding repertoire.