A few months ago I began my journey through the world of anabolic steroid use amongst female bodybuilders and now it is time to follow it up with a series of articles featuring steroids commonly (and not so commonly) used by female athletes.
I have also enlisted the help of our very own Sister Steel to add her take on each drug at the end of each article. So, having said all that, let us begin with ANAVAR since it is probably the most frequently used drug used by female bodybuilders.
ANAVAR 101
Anavar is an extremely popular drug amongst female athletes who wish to avoid many of the side effects associated with anabolic steroid use. Its near legendary status is due to the fact that it causes a strong strength gain without increasing water retention. It does this by stimulating the creation of phosphocreatine in the muscle cell without depositing water in either the joints or the muscles...
Another notable bonus with Anavar use is that this compound does not aromatize at any level. This provides the athlete with many benefits since it allows for a very hard and ripped appearance to evolve - making it the number one pre-contest drug. Another asset pre-contest is the fact that many users have noticed a distinct suppression of appetite whilst on the drug. Athletes preparing for a contest who are interested in gaining quality muscle would be advised to combine Anavar with an injectable steroid such as Primabolan Depot...
It is important to point out that Anavar is a 17 alpha alkylated oral steroid - an alteration that does put extra stress on the liver. However, despite this fact, Anavar is usually very well tolerated and whilst an elevation in liver enzymes is generally noted during use, actual damage to the liver is not usually a problem. It appears that Anavar is not as extensively metabolized by the liver as other 17 alpha alkylated orals. However, this is not a green flag to take huge amounts of this drug... since side effects are always dose related.
SUGGESTED DOSAGES
Women usually take anywhere from 10 - 20mgs of Anavar a day with the tablets taken twice daily after a meal in order to ensure optimum absorption. This prevents the occurrence of gastrointestinal disturbances which have been reported by some individuals using this drug.
The nausea, bloating and diarrhea sometimes encountered with Anavar use is due to its effect on the activity of the gastrointestinal tract. If you suffer these effects you may wish to try administering the drug one to two hours after a meal.
ANAVAR....THE WOMEN SPEAK OUT
Having conducted research with individual women on their experiences with Anavar, it seems that most will testify to making great gains cycling 10, 15 and 20mg for up to 18 weeks. At this rate there seem to be relatively few sides. However, in susceptible individuals oily skin and a slight deepening of the voice may be experienced. Menstrual irregularities may also occur.
From a physique standpoint, whilst adhering to the above dosage, a reduction in abdominal fat, increased strength and lean gains of up to 8lbs have been experienced.
ANAVAR...THE SISTER STEEL EVALUATION
"Oxandrolone is a relatively mild, Class I, 17-alkylated anabolic steroid that has grown in popularity among female athletes as a beginner's drug. It does not aromatize nor convert to DHT and has a rather mild androgenic component that poses no threat to a woman's femininity at moderate to low dosages. It has proven to be very effective in the reduction of abdominal and visceral fat which makes it a far better choice on a cutting rather than bulking diet.
"Increases in strength, decreases in body fat and improved vascularity have all been reported by most Anavar users. Gains are typically solid and slow which makes them easy to maintain post cycle.
"Dosing Anavar, or any other anabolic androgenic steroid for that matter, is highly dependent on individual responses and of course, a woman's willingness to expose herself to the risks associated with AAS use. That said, female athletes have run Anavar anywhere from 10mg to 40mg/day with good results. Due to the 8 hour half life of the drug, a decent beginner's dosing regimen would typically consist of 10mg/ day, 5mg in the am and 5 mg in the p.m. I highly recommend exercising diligence with diet and training, and patience with allowing the drug adequate time to build up in the system prior to increasing the dosage. The high price tag, along with the hepatotoxic nature of Oxandrolone makes it a less favorable choice among the more seasoned female bodybuilders. There are far cheaper alternatives that yield far better strength and muscle gains for the experienced user. Personally, I limit my Anavar use to short 6-8 week bridges between cycles."
So there you have it, a look at Anavar from a woman's point of view. Next time around we are going to be taking a closer look at another compound favored by women...Primobolan. Don't miss it!
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