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Thinking about boosting your gym gains with a steroid cycle, but unsure what's safe? We've all been there, and we've all had to worry about the potential side effects associated with steroids.
Go to your local gym and ask the largest bodybuilders what they take - chances are you’ll get different answers.
There's plenty of confusion about anabolics, not to mention all the misconceptions about taking steroids. At this point, what you'll need is a detailed guide about what to expect and how steroids work.
Whether you want to gain some mass, lean muscle, or just get ripped, there are a few good choices out there.
Before digging deeper, you should know that no steroid is 100% safe for your body, especially when you take such things without seeking medical advice first.
While most steroids will give you great results, the truth is some of them are specifically made for advanced bodybuilders - those whose bodies are used to anabolics and can take some extra stress.
Whether you're new or you simply want to prevent potential side effects, here are some of the safe steroids to enhance your gym experience.
Testosterone is the first steroid that was synthesized. It was used for medical purposes – suitable against depression. No one knew what it could cause to muscles and strength, though.
As a beginner with no experience, chances are you’ll get up to 20 pounds in weight within a single cycle. More cycles will give you even more gain.
Despite dominating the market for close to a century, testosterone is still the most popular steroid on the market – also used as a base when stacking steroids.
Generally speaking, testosterone helps bulking up, whether you use it by itself or you use it in a stack with other anabolics.
Based on how you use it, it will also boost muscular retention – in other words, you won’t lose your gains once you stop taking it.
Cycles vary widely based on what your body can take. If you’re new to steroids, you should start with small doses and follow what everyone does.
Being around for so long, testosterone has had its fair share of trial and error, so cycles are well defined these days. All in all, here’s the most basic cycle for novices.
The figures and doses stated on this page are for reference only. Each body is different and you should learn to know your body. The advise is to start slow and don't overdo it. Do your own due diligence, listen to your body and don't follow any of the on this page suggested products or doses blindly. This website will not be held responsible for any damage done to your body.
Week 1
Dosage: 200 mg
Week 2
Dosage: 200 mg
Week 3
Dosage: 300 mg
Week 4
Dosage: 300 mg
Week 5
Dosage: 300 mg
Week 6
Dosage: 350 mg
Week 7
Dosage: 350 mg
WEEK | DOSAGE |
---|---|
1 | 200 mg |
2 | 200 mg |
3 | 300 mg |
4 | 300 mg |
5 | 300 mg |
6 | 350 mg |
7 | 350 mg |
Since testosterone is mostly used to gain mass and muscle, this safe steroid cycle is clearly designed with bulking purposes in mind.
In terms of side effects, again, testosterone has been around for so long that it’s been intensively studied, so there are no surprises there.
From all the safe steroids out there, testosterone is considered the safest steroid, and for some good reasons – besides, it's been researched for ages.
Despite being the safest steroid for muscle building, testosterone may cause a slight increase in blood pressure because it will naturally boost the production of red blood cells.
The extra body weight will also add to the blood pressure, yet the rise will not be significant – plus, it will stabilize after a while.
The cholesterol is one of the reasons wherefore the tension will rise. After all, while it might be the safest steroid stack out there, but testosterone can lower the good cholesterol and increase the bad one.
The change is obvious in more advanced bodybuilders – those taking it over a seven-week cycle won't suffer too much. However, long cycles – up to 20 weeks – can show significant changes.
Extra cholesterol will cause plaque to deposit on the walls of the arteries, which may add to the blood pressure.
Whether you count the blood pressure or the cholesterol changes, these potential effects of testosterone are still lower compared to other safe steroids.
Such testosterone side effects are rare, but possible. After all, the steroid will also increase the levels of estrogen – the feminine sex hormone.
Too much estrogen can cause gynecomastia – breasts in men. These side effects can be prevented by mixing testosterone with aromatase inhibitors or SERM products.
Keep in mind that such products – especially aromatase inhibitors – will add to the blood pressure, so they may not always be recommended.
Some types of testosterone in your body can affect your hair. Heavy steroids are more likely to cause it, but testosterone could also go in this direction.
While you can take certain medications to prevent hair loss, they will also interact with the steroid potency, meaning your gains will be reduced.
Supplying your body with exogenous testosterone means the internal production of endogenous testosterone could be reduced.
The body will no longer need to produce that much testosterone due to the supplementation – once you stop the cycle, it will produce less.
While it’s rated the safest steroid for bulking and one of the steroids that don't aromatize, testosterone could still affect your natural production.
Unlike other safe steroids, testosterone will not put any pressure on your liver, so there will be no issues there.
Now, while all these side effects may seem scary, the truth is they won’t show up if you take testosterone without abusing it.
They won’t bother you if you take a break after your cycle. Such issues are more common in heavy duty steroids and especially in bodybuilders who abuse the consumption.
In other words, keeping things safe will prevent these problems. A cycle won't give you breasts, and your testosterone production won't really be affected – probably the safest oral steroid for bulking.
Anavar is probably the safest oral steroid out there, and for some good reasons. It's easy to take, suitable for both women and men, and with little to no side effects.
Now, Anavar can be considered among the least androgenic steroids. It is the safest steroid for muscle gain, yet most people use it for cutting purposes.
To keep it simple, it depends on how you take it. Bring in lots of healthy food, and you'll see a noticeable increase in muscular size – your strength will also skyrocket.
Anavar is known for stripping fat away. Take it in a cutting cycle with the right diet, and your muscle definition will be visible within a few weeks only.
Compared to testosterone, it has better cutting abilities, but it’s not as good in muscle building. It’s not great for massive gains, but for a bit of extra size and fat loss.
Anavar is often rated among the safe steroids for women – this is also why its side effects on men are almost nonexistent.
You’re less likely to experience water retention. With these ideas in mind, Anavar is common among both newbies and experienced gym goers who want extra definition for their bodies.
Anavar won’t put too much stress on the liver. Compared to testosterone, it is a bit more aggressive here, but a healthy liver will not experience any issues.
The figures and doses stated on this page are for reference only. Each body is different and you should learn to know your body. The advise is to start slow and don't overdo it. Do your own due diligence, listen to your body and don't follow any of the on this page suggested products or doses blindly. This website will not be held responsible for any damage done to your body.
Week 1
Dosage: 15mg/day
Week 2
Dosage: 15mg/day
Week 3
Dosage: 15mg/day
Week 4
Dosage: 20mg/day
Week 5
Dosage: 20mg/day
Week 6
Dosage: 20mg/day
WEEK | DOSAGE |
---|---|
1 | 15mg/day |
2 | 15mg/day |
3 | 15mg/day |
4 | 20mg/day |
5 | 20mg/day |
6 | 20mg/day |
The cycle is safe and straightforward. There are more varieties for novice cycles, and some of them may go up to eight weeks.
The above-mentioned cycle is for novice men. The steroid should be taken in a different dosage if you are a woman.
Week 1
Dosage: 5mg/day
Week 2
Dosage: 10mg/day
Week 3
Dosage: 10mg/day
Week 4
Dosage: 10mg/day
Week 5
Dosage: 10mg/day
WEEK | DOSAGE |
---|---|
1 | 5mg/day |
2 | 10mg/day |
3 | 10mg/day |
4 | 10mg/day |
5 | 10mg/day |
Anavar is one of the safe steroids for muscle growth, and it's most commonly used to reduce fat tissue. Its potential side effects are mild, and most people won't even notice them.
Anavar may slightly reduce the natural production of testosterone. Such effects are almost never noticeable, especially since the natural production will be back to normal within a couple of weeks.
Some steroids may require a different therapy after their cycles are over in order to bring the testosterone back to normal – Anavar doesn’t.
Unlike other safe steroids, Anavar has no negative effects on cholesterol. It does lower the good cholesterol, though, but it won't affect the bad one.
To prevent such a side effect, make sure you also take one or two cardio workouts per week – dietary fiber will also help.
Anavar will strip fat in more ways, and reducing the appetite is one of them. Like other oral steroids, Anavar must go through the gut first, and this is what could cause a bit of discomfort.
While a lower appetite is great if you’re trying to reduce fat, it won’t help too much if you want a bit of extra muscle too.
Just like other oral steroids, Anavar will go through the body and must be metabolized by your internal organs.
While most steroids are metabolized by the liver, Anavar is targeted by the kidneys. Such effects won’t be too intense, but you should stop if you experience any pains in your kidneys.
Deca Durabolin – often referred to as Deca only – can be described as the most dangerous safe steroid out there. Basically, it’s safe, but its potential side effects are more likely to be experienced.
Go to a gym and ask a few large guys – what is the safest steroid for building muscle? Most of them will point at Deca Durabolin.
This is the safest steroid for muscle growth and offers good value for money – or better said, good growth for the potential risks.
Like testosterone, this steroid is injectable. It is relatively slow in action and takes weeks before it builds up and starts showing results.
Deca Durabolin will most likely give you impressive amounts of muscle, as well as superior strength – you’ll be able to increase the weights from the first session.
With all these, its effects are not the best when taken alone. Sure, it will help, but you are limited. For maximum effectiveness, Deca is stacked with other similar steroids for bulking purposes.
Some of the most common options to stack Deca Durabolin include Anadrol, Dianabol, or the classic testosterone.
Deca Durabolin is also used in the medical industry. It's mostly prescribed to those dealing with anemia. It's also been used to treat osteoporosis or dwarfism.
It’s not an androgenic option, so it becomes one of the safest steroids for bulking if you don’t want hair loss or acne. It’s tolerated by both men and women.
The figures and doses stated on this page are for reference only. Each body is different and you should learn to know your body. The advise is to start slow and don't overdo it. Do your own due diligence, listen to your body and don't follow any of the on this page suggested products or doses blindly. This website will not be held responsible for any damage done to your body.
Week 1
Dosage: 100mg/week
Week 2
Dosage: 200mg/week
Week 3
Dosage: 300mg/week
Week 4
Dosage: 300mg/week
Week 5
Dosage: 300mg/week
Week 6
Dosage: 300mg/week
Week 7
Dosage: 300mg/week
Week 8
Dosage: 300mg/week
Week 9
Dosage: 300mg/week
Week 10
Dosage: 300mg/week
Week 11
Dosage: 300mg/week
Week 12
Dosage: 300mg/week
WEEK | DOSAGE |
---|---|
1 | 100mg/week |
2 | 200mg/week |
3 | 300mg/week |
4 | 300mg/week |
5 | 300mg/week |
6 | 300mg/week |
7 | 300mg/week |
8 | 300mg/week |
9 | 300mg/week |
10 | 300mg/week |
11 | 300mg/week |
12 | 300mg/week |
If you’ve never taken Deca Durabolin before, the starting dosage is 100mg for the first week – more won’t necessarily help, but may cause side effects.
Once you reach the 300mg dosage, keep it for about three weeks. Some of the effects should be noticeable – if you do see effects, stick to this dosage.
If you can’t see anything, you can increase the weekly dosage to 400mg. However, don’t do it if some of the effects are visible. Under no circumstances should you exceed this dose.
The first cycle can last for up to 12 weeks, yet some bodybuilders – including novices – go for 16 weeks, but without exceeding 300mg per week.
Keep in mind that Deca Durabolin takes a while to stack up inside the body, so it may take over five weeks to see any results.
Despite being considered among the safe steroids for bodybuilding, Deca Durabolin does come with potential side effects too.
The aromatization effects are insignificant and almost null. But then, new users with no experience may still experience some estrogen related effects.
The most common effect? Extra breast tissues. Constant abuse and long cycles may lead to gynecomastia – otherwise, there's nothing to be concerned about.
Deca can change the proportions of good and bad cholesterol in the body. Basically, you will have less good cholesterol and more bad cholesterol instead.
To reduce this effect, you should change your diet and opt for foods that will help keep the cholesterol under control.
Too much bad cholesterol in the body will inevitably lead to another potential side effect – higher blood pressure. This effect isn’t noticeable and won’t really bother you.
On the same note, it’s worth noting that Deca will increase the water retention in the body – again, it has an effect over the blood pressure.
There are a few easy ways to keep these issues under control – adopt a healthy diet and make sure you do lots of cardio.
Deca may cause testosterone suppression – in fact, from all the potential side effects out there, this is probably the most common one.
This is one of the reasons wherefore Deca is stacked with testosterone – plus, you may need a post-therapy to bring the testosterone back to normal.
This effect is likely to show up if you abuse the steroid and extend the cycles. It may cause erection related problem – even while having sex.
The water retention in the body and the extra blood pressure will inevitably add to such adverse reactions – again, they’re not going to disturb you if you use the steroid safely.
Still unsure about the safest peds for bodybuilding?
What is the safest steroid to build muscle?Testosterone is probably the safest option out there. Sure, you can also use Deca, but potential side effects are more common. On the other hand, Anavar can give you muscle, but it’s mostly used in cutting.
Anavar is safe and easy to take – there won’t be any issues whatsoever, especially since it also comes in small tablets that anyone can swallow.
Mostly recommended to women, Anavar is mild, yet effective. When taken by men, it will have similar effects, while the potential side reactions are almost nonexistent.
Testosterone is a classic. Introduced around 1935, it's been used for different medical purposes throughout the past decades.
It’s been a prolific steroid used by professional bodybuilders for years – including some of the golden names of bodybuilding.
While definitely not the only option out there, the relatively mild side effects – if any – make testosterone an excellent choice for both newbies and advanced bodybuilders.
As a short final conclusion, safe steroids go in more directions and what works for some people will not work for everyone else – no doubts about it.
The above-mentioned names are considered the safest options out there. Despite having potential side effects, respecting cycles and dosages religiously won’t harm at all.
In fact, most users out there won’t report or experience any problems at all – such things occur when abusing the dosage or extending cycles.
Whether you are interested in bulking, gaining muscle mass, or just stripping fat, there's something for everyone out there – just make sure you start this venture as a novice and stick to the basics only.
Written by Lee Jackson
Last edited: April 28th 2022 | Reviewed by J. Stone M.D.
I'm Lee, a bodybuilding fanatic with tons of experience. In this blog I share with you how to get results ASAP.
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