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1 - Chicken Thighs The bodybuilding and fitness communities love boneless and skinless chicken breasts because they are low in fat, high in protein, and inexpensive. Sadly, the other cuts of chicken receive far less attention than they deserve. If you?re tired of bland chicken breasts and have some extra wiggle room in your diet, then start eating chicken thighs. Thighs offer a combination of light and dark meat. One raw chicken thigh (193 grams) including the skin has 426 calories, 31.9 grams of protein, 32.1 grams of fat, and 0.5 grams of carbohydrates. [1] If you prefer the taste of chicken thighs but cannot afford to consume that much fat in one sitting then remove the skin. One raw chicken thigh with the skin removed (149 grams) offers 180 calories, 28.3 grams of protein, 6.1 grams of fat, and 0 grams of carbohydrates. [2] Removing the skin significantly lowers the fat content without drastically lowering the protein content. Chicken thighs are a good source of niacin as well as a decent source of phosphorus, vitamin B6, zinc, selenium, riboflavin, and pantothenic acid. [3] My favorite recipe is Rosemary Balsamic Chicken with White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes in the slow cooker. #2 - Whole Eggs Whole eggs might be the nature?s perfect food for building muscle and increasing strength. The protein found in eggs has a balanced and complete amino acid profile that digests at a medium speed compared to whey and casein proteins. Furthermore, eggs are extremely inexpensive ? sometimes as low at 99 cents for one dozen eggs. The nutritional profile of an egg depends on its size. One large (50 grams) egg provides 72 calories, 6.3 grams of protein, 4.8 grams of fat, and 0.4 grams of carbohydrates whereas one jumbo (63 grams) egg has 90 calories, 7.9 grams of protein, 6 grams of fat, and 0.5 grams of carbohydrates. [4] Eggs are a good source of riboflavin, vitamin B12, phosphorus, and selenium. [5] Unfortunately, eggs, also known as liquid chickens, have a bad reputation due to their cholesterol content. Depending on the size, one egg contains between 140 and 235 milligrams of cholesterol. [4] While this number sounds scary high, otherwise healthy individuals should not be concerned. The Mayo Clinic explicitly states that dietary cholesterol has little impact on total cholesterol levels compared to trans and saturated fats. Cholesterol is critical for normal hormonal function and testosterone production. [6]Omelets with cheese and vegetables are an excellent way to get healthy fats and micronutrients. Hard boiled eggs are a great on-the-go snack packed with nutrition and easy on the wallet. #3 - Avocados Millennials are obsessed with guacamole but you can't blame them - this heart-healthy fruit is packed with fiber, nutrients, and heart-healthy fatty acids. One cup of cubed avocado (150 grams) contains 240 calories, 3 grams of protein, 22 grams of fat, 12.8 grams of carbohydrates, and 10.1 grams of fiber. [7] For those consuming 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day just one avocado will meet 33 to 40% of your daily target. Avocados are the only fruit with such a high fat content but the majority is heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat. One cup provides 14.7 grams of monounsaturated fat, 3.2 grams of saturated fat, 2.7 grams of polyunsaturated fat, and zero grams of trans fat. [7] Avocados are also a good source of vitamins C, E, K, B6, folate, pantothenic acid, as well as the minerals potassium and copper. [8] I enjoy smashing up avocados to make guacamole, slicing up this fruit and placing it on my sandwiches, as well as hollowing out the center, adding an egg, and baking in the oven to make an ?eggocado?. #4 - Homemade Granola Granola is not just for free spirits and people who enjoy outdoor activities. it's an inexpensive, compact, and portable source of high quality calories, protein, carbohydrates, and fat. While store-bought pre-made granola sounds innocent enough, it's often packed with added oils, sugar, artificial colors, and flavors. Homemade granola is not only better for you but also less expensive. The most common recipe incorporates oats, raisins, raisins, sunflower seeds, almonds, wheat germ, honey, coconut, and a splash of canola oil. One cup of granola has 597 calories, 16.7 grams of protein, 29.7 grams of fat, 65.7 grams of carbohydrates, and 10.9 grams of fiber. [9] If you?re struggling to gain weight, then incorporate just one cup of granola in to your daily diet and you'll be well on your way to Gainzville. This homemade granola is not exactly low in sugar but most of it comes from the natural sugars in raisins and nutrient-rich honey. Granola made with these ingredients is an excellent source of vitamin E, thiamin, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, and manganese. it's also a good source of riboflavin, folate, pantothenic acid, iron, potassium, zinc, and copper. [10] I prefer to mix granola in my yogurt or eat it as a standalone snack. #5 - Unsweetened Coconut Flakes The consumption of coconut meat, oil, and water has exploded in the United States over the past five years. Coconut water is low in calories and rich in potassium whereas coconut oil is low in carbohydrates but high in fat and calories. Coconut meat offers a hearty quantity of energy and hormone-supporting fats as well as a nice dose of fiber. Coconut flakes are produced by drying and then shredding the coconut meat. One ounce (28 grams) of dried and unsweetened coconut flakes provides 187 calories, 2.0 grams of protein, 18.3 grams of fat, 6.7 grams of carbohydrates, and 4.6 grams of fiber. [11] With just 2.3 grams of net carbohydrates, coconut flakes are an excellent low-carbohydrate treat. Of the 18.3 grams of fat, 16.2 are saturated which may seem alarming at first, but much of this fat is in the form of medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). [11] MCTs not only optimize normal hormonal function but also are prioritized and utilized like carbohydrates rather than fats. Medium chain triglycerides are an excellent fat source for providing quick energy without a sugar crash. Coconut flakes are also a good source of copper and manganese. [12] I prefer mixing coconut flakes in my yogurt, smoothies, oatmeal, and sludge made with chocolate protein powder. #6 - Lean Ground Beef (At least 85% lean and no more than 15% fat by weight) In my humble opinion, beef is the best-tasting and most-versatile protein source on the planet. Within the beef hierarchy I believe ground beef is second only to filet mignon. Ground beef comes in a variety of lean to fat ratios typically represented by putting the lean percentage first and the fat percentage second (e.g. 85/15) For those looking to add mass stick with lean ground beef that is at least 85% lean and no more than 15% fat by weight. I love a good burger made with 80/20 ground beef but the grams of fat often outnumber the grams of protein. Four ounces (113 grams) of raw ground beef that is 85% lean and 15% by weight contains 243 calories, 21.0 grams of protein, 17.0 grams of fat, and zero grams of carbohydrates. Four ounces (113 grams) of raw ground beef that is 90% lean and 10% by weight contains 198 calories, 22.6 grams of protein, 11.3 grams of fat, and zero grams of carbohydrates. [13] In my experience the price of ground beef increases exponentially from 80/20 to 90/10 so 85/15 is a nice balance between the two in terms of nutrition and cost. Ground beef is a good source of niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, zinc, phosphorus, and selenium. [14] I love using ground beef to make burgers, chili, sloppy joe?s, meatloaf, and tacos. You also can't go wrong by adding a little calcium and protein-rich cheese to any dish involving ground beef. #7 - Wild-Caught Salmon While weightlifting and cardiovascular exercise are necessary for building muscle, increasing strength, and improving heart-health, these activities are inflammatory to the body. While moderate, controlled amounts of inflammation are expected and required to build muscle, many weightlifters chronically consume foods that further inflame the body and slow recovery. Wild-caught salmon is a powerhouse food for fighting inflammation and kick-starting recovery due to high protein and Omega-3 fatty acid content. Six ounces (170 grams) of raw wild-caught Atlantic salmon contains 241 calories, 33.7 grams of protein, 10.8 grams of fat, and zero carbohydrates. [15] Of that 10.8 grams of fat, 3.4 grams are anti-inflammatory Omega-3 fatty acids and just 0.3 grams are Omega-6 fatty acids. [16] The standard American diet contains 15 to 17 times more Omega-6s than Omega-3s. Ideally, this ratio should be 1:1 and no more than 4:1. [17] Wild caught salmon is a great good for bringing that ratio down to where it should be. it's also a great source of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, and selenium. [16] Wild caught salmon tends to be one to two dollars per pound more expensive than farm-raised salmon but it has more Omega-3 fatty acids, lower levels of heavy metals, and a lower negative impact on the environment. If you don't like the taste of salmon but still want to get in your Omega-3s then consider supplementing with a high-quality fish oil supplement rich in EPA and DHA. #8 - Whole Milk Traditional Yogurt Greek yogurt has quickly replaced traditional yogurt as the preferred cow?s milk yogurt in the United States. While Greek yogurt offers considerably more protein and fewer carbohydrates, it typically contains less calories than traditional yogurt. While those on a fat-loss diet may benefit from swapping traditional yogurt for the Greek variety, those of us looking to add mass should hold steady and continue consuming traditional yogurt, preferably the whole milk variety. Eight ounces (227 grams) of plain yogurt made from whole milk provides 138 calories, 7.9 grams of protein, 7.4 grams of fat, 10.6 grams of carbohydrates, all of which are from natural milk sugars. [18] The fat content is critical for absorbing the fat-soluble vitamins vitamin A and D that are often added to dairy products. Traditional yogurt is a great good source of riboflavin, phosphorus, calcium, and gut-healthy probiotics. [19] If you experience bowel movement irregularity, gas, or poor digestion then probiotic-rich yogurt should become a staple in your diet. I love mixing yogurt with whey protein and sliced bananas and blueberries. You can also incorporate it in to your smoothies, desserts, or consume as a standalone snack. If you don't like the taste of Greek yogurt but want less fat and want more protein, then choose yogurt made with low fat or skim milk. #9 - Bananas Bananas are a staple fruit and carbohydrate source, especially pre-and post-workout, for those in the weightlifting and fitness communities. They?re extremely inexpensive, taste great, and can be consumed in a variety of ways. One large 8 to 9-inch banana (136 grams) supplies 121 calories, 1.5 grams of protein, 0.5 grams of fat, 31.1 grams of carbohydrates, and 3.5 grams of fiber. [20] As you can see, bananas primarily offer carbohydrates which makes their consumption ideal during periods in which you will require or have just expended energy through physical activity. Bananas are a good source of the antioxidant vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, and manganese. [21] The recipes incorporating bananas are endless. Some of my favorites include banana bread, consuming them as a standalone snack, slicing up and placing in my yogurt, mixing in my smoothie, and mashing them up to make banana ice cream. To make dairy-free banana ice cream, peel and place one to two bananas in the freezer. Once they?re frozen slice them up and mash them using the kitchen tool of your choice. Add protein powder, fruit, or your favorite low-calorie syrup and enjoy! #10 - Whole Grain Pasta Carbohydrate-dense foods like pasta are not just for endurance athletes. After an intense weightlifting or high intensity interval training workout our carbohydrate stores in the form of glycogen are depleted. Whole grain pasta is an excellent source of high quality carbohydrates and fiber. One cup of uncooked spaghetti (91 grams) offers 320 calories, 12.6 grams of protein, 2.7 grams of fat, 66.8 grams of carbohydrates, 8.4 grams of fiber, and just 2.5 grams of sugar. [22] For those who go by cooked measurements, one cup packed of cooked spaghetti (151 grams) contains 225 calories, 9.0 grams of protein, 2.6 grams of fat, 45.4 grams of carbohydrates, 5.9 grams of fiber, and 1.1 grams of sugar. [23] Whole grain pasta is also a good source of manganese and selenium. [24] If you struggle to consume enough rice or potatoes then consider switching to pasta. Comparatively, I find it less-filling and more calorie-dense. One of my all-time favorite comfort meals is spaghetti with meatballs smothered in homemade red sauce and fresh parmesan cheese. If a few helpings of that doesn't add some meat to your bones, then I don't know what will! What foods do you like to eat to during a mass-building phase? Let me know in the comments below! References 1) "Basic Report: 05091, Chicken, broilers or fryers, thigh, meat and skin, raw." National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Release 28. United States Department of Agriculture, May 2016. Web. Feb. 2017. 2) "Basic Report: 05096, Chicken, broilers or fryers, dark meat, thigh, meat only, raw." National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Release 28. United States Department of Agriculture, May 2016. Web. Feb. 2017. 3) "Chicken, broilers or fryers, dark meat, meat only, raw." SELF Nutrition Data, Condé Nast, 2017, Accessed Feb. 2017. 4) "Basic Report: 01123, Egg, whole, raw, fresh." National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Release 28. United States Department of Agriculture, May 2016. Web. Feb. 2017. 5) "Egg, whole, raw, fresh." SELF Nutrition Data, Condé Nast, 2017, Accessed Feb. 2017. 6) Lopez-Jimenez, Francisco. "Eggs: Are They Good or Bad for My Cholesterol?" Mayo Clinic, 5 Dec. 2014, Accessed Feb. 2017. 7) "Basic Report: 09037, Avocados, raw, all commercial varieties." National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Release 28. United States Department of Agriculture, May 2016. Web. Feb. 2017. ? "Avocados, raw, all commercial varieties." SELF Nutrition Data, Condé Nast, 2017, Accessed Feb. 2017. 9) "Basic Report: 08037, Cereals ready-to-eat, granola, homemade." National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Release 28. United States Department of Agriculture, May 2016. Web. Feb. 2017. 10) "Cereals ready-to-eat, granola, homemade." SELF Nutrition Data, Condé Nast, 2017, Accessed Feb. 2017. 11) "Basic Report: 12108, Nuts, coconut meat, dried (desiccated), not sweetened." National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Release 28. United States Department of Agriculture, May 2016. Web. Feb. 2017. 12) "Nuts, coconut meat, dried (desiccated), not sweetened." SELF Nutrition Data, Condé Nast, 2017, Accessed Feb. 2017. 13) "Ground Beef Calculator ." National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Release 28. United States Department of Agriculture, May 2016. Web. Feb. 2017. 14) "Beef, ground, 85% lean meat / 15% fat, raw [hamburger]." SELF Nutrition Data, Condé Nast, 2017, Accessed Feb. 2017.

Another great post from musclebeauty. Many of these foods have been staples of my diet for years. Especially chicken thighs. Chicken breast is so bland and often too dry for me. I prefer juicier meats and dark meat is usually better for that. There are many different recipe apps that allow you to choose the kind of diet you're on. For instance my wife has been using an app called "Mealime" lately. When you set up your meal plan you can choose from eating a keto diet to paleo, to full on no holds barred diets. Great reciepes, they're easy to make and taste great. Food doesn't have to be boring. get creative and enjoy the process. Makes sticking to it so much easier.

I’m sharing this excellent post on Tren. Originally posted by Sparkey on UK Muscle Bodybuilding Forum. All you need to know about Tren. I absolutely love tren, and have been using it for 5 years straight. Testosterone and trenbolone are the ONLY two anabolic steroids I ever use, and ever will use. So I figure that my experience and knowledge on it should lend to answering people’s questions and curiosity concerning it. This thread isn’t a trenbolone profile thread. It is more along the lines of how to use it practically in the real world, and what to expect out of it, and how you can make it a versatile compound. A ‘profile’ is merely an article that provides the raw data and statistics on a compound as opposed to actual into on real world practicality. I’d like to start off by pointing in the direction of the actual Tren profile for the purpose of familiarizing yourself with the compound first: I know that upon first glance tren seems to freak out and scares everyone (it did with me when I first read about it)… but then again, upon first glance didn’t everything in the AAS world scare you? As I mentioned, I’ve been running tren for 5 years in literally every single cycle consistently. I think I threw it into my 3rd or 4th ever cycle and I instantly became addicted. I’ve found it to be the best bang for your buck. It really is an incredible compound, my favorite by far. All other compounds aside from test (primo, anavar , deca , EQ, turinabol , and ESPECIALLY winny and pretty much every single other AAS out there) goes into the ‘useless pile of s**t bin’ for me. The only exception I make to that is Masteron (Drostanolone), but that’s about it. As I type this, I am currently on 800mg/week of Tren Ace, though I think this will be the only time I will ever run tren this high. I don’t think there’s any need to run stuff that high, especially tren, if you’re just doing this recreationally and not competing or whatever. I will explain this in more detail in a second. Trenbolone is extremely versatile compound that can be used for both cutting AND bulking. For some reason, for years people have been parroting around this line of junk about tren being good only for cutting/leaning out/hardness. This is absurd, and if someone is telling you this - they do not fully understand the capabilities of this compound. What you have to remember here is that trenbolone is a VERY strong compound (5x as strong as testosterone), it is the strongestconventional anabolic steroid out there. Trenbolone’s anabolic rating is 500. By comparison, Testosterone’s anabolic rating is 100 (testosterone is the standard by which all other anabolic steroids are measured against, being that it is the original anabolic steroid by which all others are essentially derived from). That means to get the effect of 100mg of tren, you would need 500mg of test. To get the same effect of 500mg of tren you’d need 2,500mg(!!!) of test, to get the same effect of 1,000mg of tren from testosterone, you’d need 5,000mg of test, etc. GET THE POINT? So, with that being said, I think that there is no need to be running tren at very high doses (especially if it is your first time running trenbolone), and the reason why a lot of people say “be careful, a lot of people can’t take the sides” is because these people are running tren at unnecessarily high dosages. They’re treating it like test, or any other much weaker compound. Tren is in a class all on its own! People need to realize this. The fact of the matter is that people pump out arbitrary numbers when it comes to doses. Why do people tell others to run ‘500mg of test’? Why 400mg of tren? Why 300 mg of this, and 250 mg of that? Why? Because they don’t know. Most of the time these numbers are arbitrarily made up. What I am presenting here is this: closely analyze the characteristics and stats of a particular compound (in this case we are looking at tren), and develop your cycle and dosing protocol based on the stats! There is no need to run 500mg of tren on your first tren cycle. The reason why I would reccomend far less than that is because when you look at trenbolone’s characteristics and see that it is 5x as anabolic as testosterone, you see that it is evident you don’t need very much to make dramatic physique changes. For a first-time tren run, I believe one should be able to garner some very great gains off of 100mg test prop and 250mg tren per week (remember, you’d need 1,250mg test to achieve what 250mg tren does). Hell, 300-400mg tren per week produces great results with still minimal undesireable sides. And there is absolutely no reason to increase tren dosages with every tren cycle you do. For example, if you do 250mg on your first tren cycle there is absolutely no need to think you’ll need to run 500mg on the next one, and then 750mg on your 3rd run, and so on and so forth. That’s just plain stupidity. Remember, this beautiful compound is so strongthat you don’t need huge doses to elicit great gains, and the lower your dose is, the less undesireable side effects for the most part. And the beauty with tren is that it is so strong on a mg for mg basis that if you run it at a low dose, you’re not losing out on your gains! You don’t need a whole lot. Tren is one of those compounds where a little goes a long way. That is my personal saying and rule for tren. Remember that. Now, trenbolone is a 19-nor steroid and as such belongs to the class of 19-nor steroids (along with nandrolone , AKA deca). This makes it a progestin, and it is unable to aromatize into estrogen, nor does it convert into DHT. What does this mean? No bloating, no risk of estrogen-related gyno, no blood pressure skyrocketing from water retention. You can expect very lean nice gains with tren. From week to week, with an immaculate diet and trenbolone in the mix, you will literally see your body change as the days go by. Unfortunately, due to its nature as a 19-nor progestin, it causes some undesireable potential side effects. First lets discuss what a progestin (AKA progestogen) is. A progestin is essentially a derivative of the steroid hormone progesterone, and as such it has progestogenic effects in the body. This is much like something that is a DHT derivative, and therefore has very strong DHT effects (think about DHT-derived AAS). Progesterone is a hormone involved in the female menstrual cycle and pregnancy, and is not something that should be found in men. One of progesterone’s purposes is so signal the pituitary gland to produce and secrete a protein hormone called prolactin. Prolactin is another hormone which serves a purpose in pregnant women, and it binds to receptors in breast tissue to signal lactation. This presents a couple of problems for men, which leads to the side effects from tren that are progesterone-based. The first undesireable side effect commonly discussed is ‘tren-dick’. Basically, it is erectile dysfunction resulting from the use of trenbolone due to its progestogenic effects and prolactin secretion. Prolactin has an EXTREME suppressive effect on the libido. Related effects to this include anorgasmia (inability to achieve orgasm), which is again a direct result of increased prolactin levels in the body. The second undesireable side effect is gyno. Yes, gyno is a potential risk with trenbolone even though it does not aromatize into estrogen. This is once again due to prolactin. In addition to prolactin causing lactation, it can and will cause breast tissue to form. This is known as prolactin-related gyno (as opposed to estrogen-related gyno). In order to deal with these side effects, I highly reccomend the use of a prolactin antagonist. One of the three: Cabergoline (my favorite, and the one I use exclusively), Pramiprexole (a new prolactin antagonist on the market), and Bromocriptine. Vitamin B6 has also displayed strong anti-prolactin qualities. It is also well known that one can eliminate the risk of prolactin-related gyno by controlling estrogen levels and maintaining a low level. This is partially true, as estrogen has an upregulating effect on the progesterone receptor in breast tissue (in layman terms, it makes the receptors more excitable to progesterone). As a result, it is very possible that a very very high estrogen level may upregulate progesterone receptors to the point where even a very small amount of prolactin can set off prolactin-induced gyno. My personal preference: take Cabergoline (or one of the prolactin antagonizers) anyways. Although you may be able to eliminate prolactin-related gyno by keeping estrogen levels under control - it does NOT eliminate or prevent prolactin secretion from the pituitary. This is only a control for the gyno issue. A good prolactin antagonizer such as Prami or Caber run during a tren cycle will prevent any potential prolactin secretion in the first place by operating through dopaminergic pathways. I always run cabergoline at 1mg per week while using tren. No exceptions. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TRENBOLONE Q: I keep hearing that tren is a ‘harsh compound’. What does this mean and what can I do about it? A: Tren is often describe as a harsh compound because of its propensity to carry certain side effects not seen at all in any other compounds. These include: night sweats, insomnia, sleep disturbances, increased body heat associated with sweating, and diminished cardiovascular ability. The other reason is because it not only carries a strong anabolic rating, but it also carries a very strong androgenic rating. This means that there is the possibility of increased aggression and irritability. Though I have personally not experienced this, I would say that if you are a hot head when you’re not on anything, then you will most likely be affected in such a way when you use tren. If you plan on using it, make sure to keep a level head at all times and be aware of yourself and all of your actions. And most of all: maintain proper discipline and self control when necessary. Most of these side effects are dose dependant and everyone has different tolerances. As such, should you follow a moderate or low dosing protocol with tren as I outlined above, these side effects shouldn’t be a gigantic issue. Q: Tren diminishes your capacity for cardio? What can I do about it? Yes, it does and is a frequently reported side effect that seems largely dose-dependant (much like everything in this game). This is due to the prostaglandin F2Alpha increase that tren is responsible for. Prostaglandin increases as a result of trenbolone results in bronchial constriction. It is also speculated that this is the reason for the tren cough occasionally seen when injecting. Unfortunately there is nothing I know of that counteracts the reduced cardio effect from tren. But like I said, it is only prominent with high doses. I can only SPECULATE that perhaps a bronchodilator, such as clenbuterol or ephedrine, could assist in alleviating the bronchial constriction. The numbers I am about to give out are not to be taken as gospel, but it has occurred to me that anything under 300mg per week shouldn’t really see diminished cardiovascular ability. At the very least, at that dose it would be extremely minimal. Again, everyone reacts differently. Prior to this cycle i’m on now (800mg/week), I only ever used tren at no more than 300-400mg per week. And I did a full out 13 kilometer ruck march once (with no work-up training for it) with absolutely no problems and I was on a tren cycle at the time. As i’ve mentioned, I gather that the cardio suppressive effect from tren really only starts to manifest itself at higher doses. At 250mg per week of tren, you likely won’t notice a thing. At 900mg per week, you’ll probably get winded just going up a flight of stairs. The diminished cardiovascular ability does leave with the discontinuation of trenbolone. Q: Can I run tren alone? NO. Testosterone at least in some dose must be run with it in order to maintain proper normal bodily functions that testosterone is responsible for. Trenbolone is a very strong compound, and is highly suppressive on your natural testosterone production. Trenbolone, although a very strong anabolic and androgen, does not perform the same way testosterone does in other important areas in the body. Always run testosterone with anything you plan to use. Q: Can I run tren on my very first cycle? You can do anything you want, but I hightly advise AGAINST IT. I do know people who have used trenbolone on their first cycle with no problems, but they are the exception - not the rule. Trenbolone, as mentioned above, carries side effects that are not seen with any other anabolic steroid. When a first-time beginner user encounters some of the side effects from tren, it will be very difficult for him to understand what is happening and why, and how to deal with it. Ultimately, you will end up hurting yourself. Tren is a compound for the intermediate and experienced user ONLY. How many cycles in should you throw tren in, depends on you, your understanding, your education on the matter, and your experience. There is no general rule for how many cycles you require under your belt before running tren. I have seen some brilliant people who grasped the knowledge of AAS so well that they ran tren on their second cycle and coped quite well. Again: the exception - not the rule. It is ideal to run testosterone only for your first cycle, as testosterone is the basis by which all other anabolic steroids come from. It is THE original anabolic steroid. It only makes sense considering that your body ALREADY produces testosterone, and that you are merely putting more of something your body already produces inside you. Therefore it stands to reason that should you react adversely to testosterone, then chances are you will react worse to other anabolics. We use testosterone as a baseline by which all other anabolic steroids are measured, and we use it to gauge our body’s natural reactions to it seeing as though it is the #1 anabolic steroid our bodies are already used to (after all, it is what our body already produces). After your first cycle or 2 (or 3 or more) of test-only, then you can branch out into other compounds and manipulate and test out different cycling techniques. Q: Can I run tren higher than test? Is this safe? Yes and yes. In fact, I very much prefer running the tren higher than test. Ideally, this is what you want to do! I used to run my tren cycles at 400/week of test prop with 300/week of tren. Then I eventually realized, why not just make tren the primary anabolic and leave test for purely maintaining normal bodily function? That way, you totally avoid the estrogen related sides. No risk of bloat, no gyno , no estrogen, no SHBG from high test levels (trenbolone does not have a high affinity for SHBG - nowhere near test). Just solid lean hard gains. I highly reccomend running tren higher than test, and keep test at TRT doses (100mg per week). There are some who are advising against this practice, but I find it funny that they provide no reason behind it. It is not as if the trenbolone acts like pac-man in your blood, eating up all of your testosterone. You will be fine, and this is the ideal method of running tren - not to say running test at a hefty dose isn’t a bad thing, however… if that is what you wish to do, then so be it. Q: Tren carries the risk of gyno as well? Is this true? What can I do about it? Yes, and this is explained above in the main body of this post. Please scroll up and read what can be done to prevent/eliminate it. Q: What are the different forms of tren? What is better? What should I use? Tren is primarily and most popularily found in these 3 formats: Trenbolone Acetate Trenbolone Enanthate Trenbolone Hexahydrobencylcarbonate The difference between the 3 are simply release times and half-lives. There is no solid answer I have on ‘what is better’ and which one you should use. These are things you must determine for yourself. Tren Ace is the most commonly used format. I can definitely say that the benefit to the Acetate variant is that due to its short half life, you can start and stop your cycle quicker in case you encounter any highly undesirable side effects, and as a result wish to halt immediately. With the Enanthate variant, it takes 2 weeks to fully clear your system. Decide accordingly Q: What’s this ‘tren cough’ I hear so much about? What can I do to stop/prevent it? Tren cough is the result of nicking a vein in the injection site and getting some of the oil in the vein. Now, you’ll get the cough from ANY compound when that happens - not just tren. However, tren causes a far worse cough than any others when this happens. Some theories postulated about what causes the cough are: The solvents (Benzyl Alcohol and Benzyl Benzoate) in the solution. This to me does not make sense, as every other injectable compound contains these solvents, and the coughing fits that may occur from other injectables are nowhere near as bad as the cough that results from trenbolone. It has been suggested that the binders in the trenbolone solution are a cause of the cough once the oil enters a vein. For those of you who do not know, in the chemistry world a binder is a material used to bind separate particles together, to give an appropriate consistency, or facilitate adhesion. This theory doesn’t hold very much weight to me considering nearly all drugs in solutions contain binders as well - not just trenbolone. It has been postulated that the cough is the result of the prostaglandin increasing effects of tren, but it is also largely a mystery. I am, however, more likely to believe that this is the more fitting theory. BUT, though the prostaglandin increase from trenbolone is a known fact, this mechanism is highly unlikely to occur immediately upon injection, as that is too fast a time scale for the proposed mechanism. Prostaglandin increases do not and can not occur within minutes to produce an acute severe cough. The prostaglandin increases from trenbolone result in the diminished cardiovascular ability i’ve already discussed, and this is a result of prostaglandin increases over days and weeks - it is not possible for this to cause tren-cough upon the very first injection of someone’s cycle. Thus, it must be the result of something unique to trenbolone compounds entering the blood stream and traveling to the lungs for the cough to be manifested that quickly and that harshly compared to when this happens with other compounds. My own personal theory? Personally, I believe it is the trenbolone molecule itself that when injected into a vein, causes the irritation in the lungs to a far greater degree than other compounds. Why is this and what is the attribute in the tren molecule that would give it this characteristic? I don’t know. This is just my own speculation based on deductive reasoning after looking at all of the other theories out there. To date, the tren-cough and why it is worse with tren compared to any other compound is still largely a mystery in the world. We still do not know with 100% certainty what the ultimate culprit is. Perhaps at some time in the future it will be discovered. All we know so far is that it is generally the result of the oil getting into a vein when injecting. The cough, depending on how much oil has seeped into a vein (i.e. nicked a vein, passed through a vein on the way into the muscle, or literally injected right into it), should last anywhere from a minute to 5 minutes. The severity of the cough can range from a mild little irritating dry-throat esque type of cough to a major coughing fit. I have had both. The cough typically feels like there is something itching in your throat/chest/lung area, and mich akin to a dry throat feeling and something in your lungs that must be expelled, you have the need to cough. This is your body (your lungs specifically) attempting to expel the substance out (because veins carry blood to the lungs; arteries to the heart). This is very much similar to a situation in which you inhale a toxic gas, as anyone can recall if they have ever been exposed to something such as CS gas or tear gas, etc.) What can you do about it? Not much. I can only reccomend injecting very slowly, as it seems like the cough and the severity of it is directly correlated to the speed by which the oil is being injected if there is a vein nearby that has been hit where the oil is seeping into. Some users claim it is possible to surpress the cough by immmidiately starting to inhale-exhale small amounts of air very rapidly through the mouth, much like you are hyperventilating or how pregnant women do it to surpress the contractions during labour. Q: I GOT THE TREN COUGH!!! HELP ME! AM I GOING TO DIE!? WILL I BE OKAY!? No, you are not going to die. Yes, you will be okay. The cough clears within a matter of minutes. The severity of the cough is dependant on two factors: how quickly you injected the oil, and how much of it entered your bloodstream and travelled to the lungs to be expelled. It can manifest as the notorious hard and uncontrolable cough that starts right after or during injection, or a milder controllable one that is just irritating. Q: Prolactin antagonists like Prami and Caber help prevent gyno and tren-dick? How do I use them? Cabergoline can be used at 1mg per week, as it has a very long half life, approximately 7-14 days. Pramiprexole should be dosed at 0.5mg per day for the first few days, and then increase to 1mg thereafter. Nausea has been reported when increasing the dose too fast or too much. If you experience nausea, bring it down a notch. I think everyone will be different with the nausea effect. With that being said, 1-2mg per day is even considered a low dosage. Patients who are perscribed Prami are commonly perscribed 3 or 4mg per day too! Take prami before bed, as it apparently gives you excellent deep sleep and can make you drowsy and sleepy if taken during the day. Apparently it can knock you out cold. Prami is a very new compound, there is still data being collected on it. It seems to carry a couple side effects that Caber does not have. Nausea and drowsiness. I have personally not yet used Prami. Q: Is tren liver toxic? Tren doesn’t put a high amount stress on the liver - it is not C17AA and as an injectable it avoids the first pass. However, it is known that tren is ever so slightly liver toxic due it its ability to resist hepatic breakdown greater than many other anabolic steroids. I have had my liver values checked with bloodwork many times after my tren cycles and have had ZERO problems. All of my enzyme levels were pefectly healthy, which would signify that likely the liver-stressing effect of tren is extremely minimal at best. For safety, one could run a good liver protectant such as Liv 52 or TUDCA/UDCA (ORAL-TOXICITY!!) while on tren if one is extremely concerned. But I do not feel it is essential. Once again, proper bloodwork will tell you everything that is going on with yourself. Q: I’ve heard that tren is harsh on the kidneys and people report urinating very dark unrine when on tren? Is this a bad sign? Kidney damage has been a commonly touted effect of tren. I can say that tren is no harsher on the kidneys than most AAS. The origin of this rumor comes from the fact that often while on a tren cycle, you will find your urine becomes a very dark rusty color (this does certainly happen with me). It is not because your kidneys are being damaged. That dark rusty color are the metabolites of tren being excreted out of your body in your urine. Trenbolone seems to oxidize to a dark rust color very easily, even under refrigeration. The discolored urine tends to happen often, with no signs of renal toxicity. Also, trenbolone acetate is still widely used in animals for carcass weight increase. There seems to be no mention of kidney toxicity in animals, or with the few historical human trenbolone preparations. So basically, what some think is blood in the urine is actually just the metabolite of tren coloring the urine much darker. Tren itself before it is metabolized has a very amber color, hence why it is always amber in the vials it is contained in. Q: If tren lowers T3 output in the body, is it necessary to always run T3 while on a tren cycle? Not likely. If the goal is fat loss, it might be a bonus. I have run tren both with and without T3 before. 95% of my tren cycles are run without T3, and the cycles of tren without T3 were just fine. I didn’t notice any diminished fat loss or metabolic issues. It would be interesting to see bloodwork while on a tren cycle and look at TSH and T3 levels, though… But, my bloodwork post-tren cycle has always shown normal healthy levels of TSH. SO, either the tren did not shut down thyroid output or my output bounced back to normal almost instantly after the cycle ended. Q: Is HCG administration necessary on trenbolone? Not unless you find your body is extremely sensitive to HPTA shutdown and you have a very difficult time restoring it during the post-cycle weeks. I have not found it necessary for myself, due to running short cycles. If you wish to maintain testicular size and function while on cycle, HCG can be used. However, this is for the most part a personal preference among users. My personal opinion is that I see far too many people excessively relying on HCG in the first place. It is very easy to destroy your body’s endogenous LH secretion with it, and is one of the reasons why strongly advise against its constant use while on-cycle. IF it were to be used at all, I advise only during the first week or so of PCT to give the testes a jumpstart - that’s IT. Q: If Tren is highly androgenic, does that mean hair loss will occur with it? What can I do about it? First of all, hair loss is genetic. You must posess the hereditary trait for MPB in order to be susceptible to it. If you do posess the gene for MPB, trenbolone can aggrivate hair loss more than any other anabolic steroid. I want to note that taking ANY 5-alpha reductase inhibitors such as proscar or finasteride will not do a thing to reduce the risk of hair loss from trenbolone. What these compounds do is they inhibit the enzyme (5-Alpha Reductase) responsible for converting testosterone into the more potent androgen Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is then the hormone that triggers MPB in those who are prone. Trenbolone does not convert into DHT at all, but trenbolone itself is very, very androgenic . With that being said, I would reccomend looking into getting Nizoral 2% shampoo and use it on a regular basis. It acts as an androgen receptor antagonist in scalp tissue. Nizoral, through the ingredient Ketocozanole, blocks DHT from binding to receptors in your scalp, much like how nolvadex blocks estrogen from binding to receptor sites on breast tissue. Nizoral contains the active ingredient Ketocozanole. When applied topically, it acts as a DHT receptor antagonist at receptor sites in the scalp (or wherever you rub it on), effectively blocking the ability for DHT to bind to those receptors and activate the gene for hair loss. I’ll quote a paragraph an article I found here, which provides a reference: “Support for this comes from a study in 1998 that compared ketoconazole 2% to the proven hair loss drug minoxidil 2% in men with androgenic alopecia.[13] In a sample of 27 men, “Hair density and size and proportion of anagen follicles were improved almost similarly by both ketoconazole and minoxidil regimens.” The men washed with ketoconazole 2% shampoo once every 2–4 days, leaving the shampoo on the scalp for 3–5 minutes before rinsing (as with the treatment of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis).[13]” Q: What kind of PCT do I need to run after coming off a tren cycle? There is no solid answer to this. I have suggested many times that trenbolone is for the intermediate and advanced user, not for beginners… and there is good reason for this suggestion. By the time you are experienced enough consider trenbolone, you should already know what PCT protocol works best for you and you should already know what to be using for PCT. PCT compounds and protocols are not designed around the cycles they supercede, but they are more designed around the user and how that person recovers post-cycle.

Hey all, To be upfront, i'm no shill or have any stake in CMS. I just thought i'd share with the community a great customer service story (because mostly customer service has gone to shit these days). A couple weeks ago i made an order from CMS, the bulk being supplements. In that order was three cases of a certain protein bar. Upon receiving my items, i noticed that the three cases of bars were different than the ones i ordered. I inquired to Chad at CMS and he responded the next business day with the response of (paraphrased), "We messed up your order, please keep the ones we sent in error, the ones you ordered are on their way". Not more than two minutes later after the first email, i got a can post notification of shipment! Props out to Chad at CMS for making things right, because of it, he's got a customer for life in me. Out.

ajdos, Jan 8, 2012

I think its a common misconception that we need to give our receptors a break, androgen receptors have been shown with additional stimuli to have a multiplication effect and increase in our body. HOWEVER, I would judge on when to pull back training/gear usage based on how your recovery and progress has been. I've spoken to many high end coaches that have produced many pro's and depending on how hardcore you want to be there are several different routes you can choose. Without going into too much detail like I would with a client here's an overview of things I may consider: 1. Don't plan a certain time for your blast or your cruise. Get bloodwork, make notes on how your recovery is going. What's the sign that you need a rest? If you don't know, how will you know when you're ready to go again? I like to chart this all out with my clients - eliminates wasted time. 2. Timing of meals will really depend on what your day to day is like and when you train. These should be your primary focus in designing timing of meals. 3. Foods you should be eating should be easily digestible, again surrounding important times of the day (ie training), should vary depending on what you're training and what type of training stimulus you're using, will depend on your recovery and what type of gear you're on. 4. I'm a HUGE advocate of increased fat intake, for many reasons I won't get into as this post is getting long enough lol So you have 8 months to build more than 25 pounds? I don't know if taking 3 months or so off would be in your best interest, and I'd also advise don't get obsessed with the scale a sharp 235 will look much better coming into a prep than a sloppy 250. You'd have to diet much harder to get in shape and risk losing more muscle mass.

our next experiment would be a mast e and eq. exciting combo for shredding season

Do these guys ship domestic, or are we rolling the dice with CBSA?

You can't go wrong doing it that way. There are so many ways to run it considering how many esthers are in it. Guys run it for the duration of their whole cycle. Guys like me like to use it as a kicker at the beginning. So it's a versatile product. You can't go wrong either way actually.

A pound a day doesn't sound healthy at all. Not eating is also not good at all. Also you drop weight that fast you'll end up with skin flaps and folds all over the place. Look for more gradual and healthier weight loss. 1-2 pounds a week should be a responsible aim. Sounds like as soon as as she's off this drug she'll rebound hard and regain all she lost.

It's not an easy journey and I have mad respect for those who take the challenge seriously. You're doing it right too. Not some quick 12 week flash in the pan fad. But a long term commitment. I know 12 weeks is doable, but it much more manageable and enjoyable when you take a little more time and not be extreme in your approach. You have a better chance of maintaining your physique too. Keep up the good work.

Hey guys and gals, this time of year should be very important to Canadians. Our veterans made the ultimate sacrifice to keep this country free and safe. Veterans didn’t end at ww2, we have many more recent veterans that most Canadians forget about. So this time of year please do your part buy a poppy thank a veteran and appreciate what they have done for us and other people around the world. I wish that half these stores that constantly ask for donations after your bill would join in helping raise funds for the legion. How many times have you been to Walmart, Canadian tire, Home Depot and get asked oh do you want to donate to this or that? Why can’t they do this for our veterans? So many people don’t carry cash anymore. Friends I have in the legion have told me donations have been declining. This is why they came out with the new digital poppy. To any veteran on this forum thank you for your service, and thank you to all of you that take time to donate!

Normally an ass man.I did have one long time gf who was 37-25-37,could not have been fuller in any way.Life was good.

I have a close female friend who had 4 kids and wanted a lift. She has enough volume but like some women she wasn't happy with how her breasts sat after the kids. She went through with the lift and is very happy with the outcome. Her husband and I are good friends and after a few beers he told me that he was "never so happy another man touched my wife's tits". He was referring to the surgeon of course. She has mentioned she enjoys wearing tighter tops again as a result and feels more confident. At the end of the day whether it be augmentation or a lift, how the women ends up feeling is the important thing.

My husband wants me to post in this log so bare with me lol I've never done this before. I tend to ramble lol I've been on Victoza for 3 days and the side effects are brutal but the results are worth it. The nausea is constant, makes eating anything a struggle. But its important to push past it and eat small amounts throughout the day. The dizziness subsided after day 2 and I feel exhausted all the time.But I've dropped 4lbs in 2 days. To me this injectable medication is a miracle. With the gym 1hour a day 5 days a week, the healthy diet and this medication the weight should FINALLY melt off. I'm excited to add the Var my husband has told me about. Since the Victoza a full day of eating looks like this: Breakfast: Coffee , 1peice of toast or a banana ( used to be a protein shake but not since the medication) Gym : 1 hour lunch: half an apple.or an egg snack: 4 cashews dinner: 4 ounces of chicken breast or 4 oz of steak and some sort of veggie ( carrots, broccoli etc, no potatoes) Not a lot I know, but with this medication I have no appetite. I'm hoping with time the side effects will go away and I'll be able to add more food. I hope I didnt ramble too much lol

Wifey is considering a "breast lift" as opposed to implants. She is already blessed in the size department, just unhappy with how our kids have sucked the life out of them. We both agree with the lift, and there's no risk of ruptured implants or other complications/ maintenance down the road. She just wants them to sit a little higher. What do you guys think? ....and yes i got her permission to post her pic.

Way to go eazy57 - you look great and also very happy! ? OD

Not in the pic, but Lee Priest probably.