drtbear1967
Musclechemistry Board Certified Member
What is a post cycle therapy?
A post cycle therapy (PCT) is a tool utilized by steroid users to aid in recovery when coming off an anabolic steroid cycle. It is comprised of numerous techniques and supplements to help with the recovery process, both physically and mentally. Hence, the majority of steroid users who do not stay on cycle year round or go through Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) are highly encouraged to run a proper post cycle therapy.Why do I need a PCT?
When we use any anabolic steroid, regardless if it's an oral or injectable, the human body will sense this and stop its functions related to natural testosterone production. We mention testosterone primarily because it is the “Alpha Male” hormone in the male body, but numerous other hormones are also affected. During a steroid cycle it is suggested for most users to use a testosterone base; otherwise, testosterone levels in the body will drop, which can lead to the following:
Serious low Testosterone Symptoms
Now let’s say one does decide to run a testosterone base with their steroid cycle. Chances are, they won’t experience these side effects because they are taking in synthetic testosterone. Remember, when the body detects excess testosterone as well as other steroids, it will shut down natural testosterone production. Nonetheless, for most athletes, every steroid cycle comes to an end, which forces the athlete to get the body producing testosterone again in order to avoid the side effects listed above.
As stated in the introduction to the series, there are numerous other benefits to running a PCT. Along with restoring natural hormonal levels, the next critical factor of a PCT is to keep the gains made on cycle. To maximize the keeping of gains made on cycle, one must understand all the changes the body is going through when coming off cycle and during a post cycle.
Changes in the body during PCT
There are numerous changes occurring in the body during a post cycle, which can be divided in major categories: physical, psychological, and hormonal. Understanding the changes involved in these categories will allow for a better post cycle therapy, ultimately increasing the likelihood of a successful post-post cycle, aka the bridge period.
Physiological changes
Now that the user doesn’t have an excess amount of anabolic steroids (AAS) running through their body, we can expect some physical changes to occur. However, the individual has a great influence on the degree of these changes. Lets keep in mind that when we say physical changes, we are primarily talking about the muscle, which has numerous adjectives in bodybuilding. The most common muscle descriptions are: size, fullness, definition, vascularity, and hardness.
When the AAS is no longer in the system, we can certainly anticipate a loss in many of the above mentioned traits, but the extent of this loss is entirely up to the individual. This is likely to happen because when the steroids exit our system, the body potentially experiences the following:
By taking away those primary factors, it’s quite easy to see why changes in the musculature occur in a way we don’t exactly want them to happen. Aside from the muscle, there is also its counterpart - adipose tissue, aka fat. Gaining fat when coming off cycle happens with many, and although some of the above factors are the reasons why, an underrated reason is the mindset of the individual. (what's in your head?)
Mental & Psychological Changes
If you are not familiar with what a PCT layout incorporates, I encourage you to have a read here. This is the Perfect PCT, which is a post-cycle therapy designed to recover you from almost any cycle.
Generally, a PCT will consist of one or multiple SERMS (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators), whose primary function is to get the body producing testosterone again on its own. Two of the most commonly used SERMS are Clomid and Nolvadex, both of which do a great job of stimulating the body to produce testosterone. However, they also come with a few side effects, such as emotional fluctuations. Interestingly, this does not happen to all, but many report emotional side effects when using both Clomid and Nolvadex. Therefore, knowing this ahead of time and having the right mindset can really be a deal breaker in the percentage of gains kept. Knowledge is always power!When I refer to the term mindset, what I really mean is the mindset one has when going through a PCT. For instance, many users will have the mindset of “Well, now that I’m off cycle, I’ll just become lazy.” This mindset is often the reason why guys never come off a cycle, and we know that this can lead to serious health risks. It’s true that you don’t have the compounds giving you that “on” feeling, but if you go into and through PCT expecting to give up and fail, then you probably will.
This is just a part of the psychological adaptation one is going to have to accept, yet it does not by any means dictate the amount, or level of gains kept. A loss of overall drive is something natural during PCT, mainly because your HPTA (hypothalamic–pituitary–testicular axis) has been shut down. Luckily, a proper and thorough PCT will get your HPTA rolling again and will aid your recovery.
Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes tie into the two previous categories as nearly everything relates to reaching hormonal stability during a good PCT. Our main goals of a post cycle are to maximize the gains kept, and to reach/recover homeostasis – an internal balance in the body. Let’s use The Perfect Post Cycle Therapy as an example.We know that after a cycle the HPTA is shut down, and there is a decline in many anabolic activities, primarily a reduction in total testosterone levels. Remember, testosterone is that alpha hormone that gives that great sense of well being. Next, we have some potential mental changes occurring from the Nolvadex and Clomid use. If that wasn’t enough, we have this psychological factor of not being “on” anymore, which will have an impact on such key hormones as cortisol, dopamine, and estrogen.Cortisol
Cortisol is a hormone released from the adrenal gland in response to stress. It is known to be catabolic, so it triggers the process of muscles breaking down. In fact, it is the opposite process to anabolism, which is the building of the muscles. Unfortunately, cortisol levels are often increased when coming off cycle, and it has a negative impact on both testosterone, and growth hormone levels. What's more, high cortisol levels are also linked to an increase in abdominal fat. This is extremely relevant because with all the changes occurring, guys often become stressed out, which will increase cortisol levels. That is why there is such a correlation between steroids and depression. However, the individual has great control over this hormone if they choose to do so.
Fig 1. Function of Cortisol
Dopamine
Regarding dopamine, it is a neurotransmitter with numerous cerebral functions, and it is best known for its positive reinforcement effects. Dopamine release gives a great sense of accomplishment and well-being, and studies have shown that androgenic compounds can greatly increase dopamine levels in the body. It is obvious to see that dopamine levels can also decrease significantly if one allows them to. Hence, if you allow these hormones to get the best of you, it can potentially lead to a vicious circle of stress, depression, and other serious side effects.
Estrogen
Last, but not least, is the most infamous hormone to males – estrogen. This particular hormone is rather unique because it has both negative and positive impacts on males. Therefore, we want to keep estrogen in a specific range, just like on cycle. If it was properly controlled on cycle, estrogen should not be a concern in PCT. Furthermore, with the use of Nolvadex, estrogen becomes blocked from entering the Hypothalamus and later binding to its receptors. It is important to remember that the objective here is not to completely eliminate estrogen from the body, but to keep it in a range that's considered healthy.
Recap
Here are a few ways to limit the impact of cortisol, and to also keep dopamine levels high when coming off an anabolic cycle. Even though they are going to sound rather familiar to most athletes, I can ensure you that post cycle depression is an extremely devastating condition (in fact, here is a good read on it), so it is advisable to follow some simple ideas:
A post cycle therapy (PCT) is a tool utilized by steroid users to aid in recovery when coming off an anabolic steroid cycle. It is comprised of numerous techniques and supplements to help with the recovery process, both physically and mentally. Hence, the majority of steroid users who do not stay on cycle year round or go through Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) are highly encouraged to run a proper post cycle therapy.Why do I need a PCT?
When we use any anabolic steroid, regardless if it's an oral or injectable, the human body will sense this and stop its functions related to natural testosterone production. We mention testosterone primarily because it is the “Alpha Male” hormone in the male body, but numerous other hormones are also affected. During a steroid cycle it is suggested for most users to use a testosterone base; otherwise, testosterone levels in the body will drop, which can lead to the following:
Serious low Testosterone Symptoms
- Loss of Libido
- Loss of drive and energy
- Decrease self esteem / well being
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Infertility
- Lack of muscle mass development
Now let’s say one does decide to run a testosterone base with their steroid cycle. Chances are, they won’t experience these side effects because they are taking in synthetic testosterone. Remember, when the body detects excess testosterone as well as other steroids, it will shut down natural testosterone production. Nonetheless, for most athletes, every steroid cycle comes to an end, which forces the athlete to get the body producing testosterone again in order to avoid the side effects listed above.
As stated in the introduction to the series, there are numerous other benefits to running a PCT. Along with restoring natural hormonal levels, the next critical factor of a PCT is to keep the gains made on cycle. To maximize the keeping of gains made on cycle, one must understand all the changes the body is going through when coming off cycle and during a post cycle.
Changes in the body during PCT
There are numerous changes occurring in the body during a post cycle, which can be divided in major categories: physical, psychological, and hormonal. Understanding the changes involved in these categories will allow for a better post cycle therapy, ultimately increasing the likelihood of a successful post-post cycle, aka the bridge period.
Physiological changes
Now that the user doesn’t have an excess amount of anabolic steroids (AAS) running through their body, we can expect some physical changes to occur. However, the individual has a great influence on the degree of these changes. Lets keep in mind that when we say physical changes, we are primarily talking about the muscle, which has numerous adjectives in bodybuilding. The most common muscle descriptions are: size, fullness, definition, vascularity, and hardness.
When the AAS is no longer in the system, we can certainly anticipate a loss in many of the above mentioned traits, but the extent of this loss is entirely up to the individual. This is likely to happen because when the steroids exit our system, the body potentially experiences the following:
- Decrease in total testosterone levels
- Decrease in IGF-1 levels and Nitrogen retention
- Decrease in endurance and Red Blood Cell count / Volume
- Decrease in recovery rate and pumps
- Decrease in androgen levels
By taking away those primary factors, it’s quite easy to see why changes in the musculature occur in a way we don’t exactly want them to happen. Aside from the muscle, there is also its counterpart - adipose tissue, aka fat. Gaining fat when coming off cycle happens with many, and although some of the above factors are the reasons why, an underrated reason is the mindset of the individual. (what's in your head?)
Mental & Psychological Changes
If you are not familiar with what a PCT layout incorporates, I encourage you to have a read here. This is the Perfect PCT, which is a post-cycle therapy designed to recover you from almost any cycle.
Generally, a PCT will consist of one or multiple SERMS (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators), whose primary function is to get the body producing testosterone again on its own. Two of the most commonly used SERMS are Clomid and Nolvadex, both of which do a great job of stimulating the body to produce testosterone. However, they also come with a few side effects, such as emotional fluctuations. Interestingly, this does not happen to all, but many report emotional side effects when using both Clomid and Nolvadex. Therefore, knowing this ahead of time and having the right mindset can really be a deal breaker in the percentage of gains kept. Knowledge is always power!When I refer to the term mindset, what I really mean is the mindset one has when going through a PCT. For instance, many users will have the mindset of “Well, now that I’m off cycle, I’ll just become lazy.” This mindset is often the reason why guys never come off a cycle, and we know that this can lead to serious health risks. It’s true that you don’t have the compounds giving you that “on” feeling, but if you go into and through PCT expecting to give up and fail, then you probably will.
This is just a part of the psychological adaptation one is going to have to accept, yet it does not by any means dictate the amount, or level of gains kept. A loss of overall drive is something natural during PCT, mainly because your HPTA (hypothalamic–pituitary–testicular axis) has been shut down. Luckily, a proper and thorough PCT will get your HPTA rolling again and will aid your recovery.
Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes tie into the two previous categories as nearly everything relates to reaching hormonal stability during a good PCT. Our main goals of a post cycle are to maximize the gains kept, and to reach/recover homeostasis – an internal balance in the body. Let’s use The Perfect Post Cycle Therapy as an example.We know that after a cycle the HPTA is shut down, and there is a decline in many anabolic activities, primarily a reduction in total testosterone levels. Remember, testosterone is that alpha hormone that gives that great sense of well being. Next, we have some potential mental changes occurring from the Nolvadex and Clomid use. If that wasn’t enough, we have this psychological factor of not being “on” anymore, which will have an impact on such key hormones as cortisol, dopamine, and estrogen.Cortisol
Cortisol is a hormone released from the adrenal gland in response to stress. It is known to be catabolic, so it triggers the process of muscles breaking down. In fact, it is the opposite process to anabolism, which is the building of the muscles. Unfortunately, cortisol levels are often increased when coming off cycle, and it has a negative impact on both testosterone, and growth hormone levels. What's more, high cortisol levels are also linked to an increase in abdominal fat. This is extremely relevant because with all the changes occurring, guys often become stressed out, which will increase cortisol levels. That is why there is such a correlation between steroids and depression. However, the individual has great control over this hormone if they choose to do so.
Dopamine
Regarding dopamine, it is a neurotransmitter with numerous cerebral functions, and it is best known for its positive reinforcement effects. Dopamine release gives a great sense of accomplishment and well-being, and studies have shown that androgenic compounds can greatly increase dopamine levels in the body. It is obvious to see that dopamine levels can also decrease significantly if one allows them to. Hence, if you allow these hormones to get the best of you, it can potentially lead to a vicious circle of stress, depression, and other serious side effects.
Estrogen
Last, but not least, is the most infamous hormone to males – estrogen. This particular hormone is rather unique because it has both negative and positive impacts on males. Therefore, we want to keep estrogen in a specific range, just like on cycle. If it was properly controlled on cycle, estrogen should not be a concern in PCT. Furthermore, with the use of Nolvadex, estrogen becomes blocked from entering the Hypothalamus and later binding to its receptors. It is important to remember that the objective here is not to completely eliminate estrogen from the body, but to keep it in a range that's considered healthy.
Recap
Here are a few ways to limit the impact of cortisol, and to also keep dopamine levels high when coming off an anabolic cycle. Even though they are going to sound rather familiar to most athletes, I can ensure you that post cycle depression is an extremely devastating condition (in fact, here is a good read on it), so it is advisable to follow some simple ideas:
- Reduce all stressors by all means
- Continue to exercise regularly
- Continue to eat properly and to your need
- Give yourself some credit and stay positive
- Don’t be consumed by the mirror
- Find new motivation and explore new things
- Get more productive sleep
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