Cycle Durations & Time Off

Let me start off by saying that time off usually equals time on plus 4 weeks at a minimum. So if you do a 12 week cycle, you will take 16 weeks off before starting your next cycle. That's the most widely used method out there for recreational users. Another method for determining time off is to get blood work done before and after your cycle. Once your blood levels are back to where they were before the cycle, it's safe to go back on. Others, like myself, throw some caution to the wind and don't even take an equal amount of time off for the amount of time we have been on. And some never come off. It all has to do with your goals and aspirations and how cautious you want or don't want to be.

There are many arguments as to how long you should stay on a steroid cycle before taking a break. Opinions range from cautious individuals, who are adamant about short cycles and long off-periods, to the seriously hard-core user, who suggests year round use for optimal results. It is very important to watch your intake duration when on stronger or more toxic substances. This includes all c17 alpha alkylated orals, or high-dose cycles of easily aromatized steroids. These compounds place the most stress on your organs, and should be utilized for only limited intervals (preferably less than 8 weeks). Afterwords a break of at least as much time (preferably more) should be taken to give the body ample time to rest/recover. For those who refuse to follow this advice, blood work and regular health checkups should be an absolute necessity.

If taking milder anabolics like Deca-Durabolin, Primobolan or Equipoise, you can take them for longer periods of time. This is due to the fact that these compounds do not act in an extremely dramatic manner.

I have been doing 17 weeks on, 8 weeks off for a while and it has worked great for me. My blood levels don't get exactly back to where they should be at the end of the 8 week off cycle, but they are close. I don't know why I have picked those exact numbers, but I did and it works great. The biggest thing to remember if running cycle durations like this is to get blood work and exams done on a regular basis. I have the equipment to do the exams myself, and my girlfriend happens to be a nurse so she can do most of it for me anyways. Refer to the Blood Work & Exams section for more details.

There are a few substances, even I wont run for long durations though. And most people I know have told me I'm nuts for doing the things I do and using the dosages I do, so if I figure I won't do it, and you are reading this to pick up some knowledge, you sure as hell shouldn't do it. I will run Anadrol at 150mg daily for 3 weeks at a time. If I go into the 4th week, my stomach area gets so jacked up I can hardly function (most likely due to liver toxicity). I won't run Tren Ace for any longer than 12 weeks and I won't run it any higher than 150mg per day as I still get the same results no matter how much higher I go. These may vary from person to person, but only by marginal amounts.

Any steroid forum or info site out there will have recommendations, and for the most part they are accurate, due to the fact they usually tend to have a more cautious approach. There is some leeway depending on the user and his experience. So don't feel nailed down to these guideline. They are guidelines, and nothing more.