I.   Injection Types.

II.   Injection Methods.

III.   Injection Techniques.

IV.   Aspiration: what is it and why is it important?

V.   Why are there so many kinds of syringes?

VI.   What kind of syringe should I use?

1:  Standard syringe specifications.

2:  Gauge numbers.

3:  Needle length.

4:   cc’s & ml’s.

VII.   Where do I Inject?

VIII.   How many cc’s can I inject into each muscle at one time?

IX.    Rotating injection sites.

X.   Sterilization.

XI.   Loading a syringe.

XII.   Disposal of used syringes.

XIII.   The injection.

XIV.   Subcutaneous AAS injections.

XV.   How often do I inject?

XVI.   Q & A Section.

I.  Injection Types

• AAS (androgenic-anabolic steroids)
• Peptides (GH, Insulin, IGF-1, etc)

There are two predominant classes of injectable drugs used for performance enhancement, which are steroids (AAS) and peptides.  Steroids are anabolic &androgenic compounds which have been synthesized by making modifications to the testosterone molecule, including testosterone itself.  Examples include drugs such as testosterone, Deca, Dianabol, and Winstrol.

Peptides include a vast array of different substances, responsible for inducing numerous different effects in the body.  Not all peptides used in sports performance are employed for muscle-building or strength increasing purposes.  Some examples of peptides include: GH, IGF-1, Insulin, Melanotan, etc.

In this reference guide, due to the large amount of information required to cover the injection practices of both AAS & the various peptides, we will be focusing solely on AAS in this volume.  The injections practices of peptides will be covered in their own reference guide.

II.  Injection Methods

• Intramuscular injection:  An injection into muscle tissue.
• Subcutaneous injection:  An injection into the region between the skin and the muscle, also known as a “Sub-Q” injection.

       AS far as performance enhancement is concerned, there are two primary injection methods.  These are the intramuscular injection method and the subcutaneous injection method.  An intramuscular injection is exactly as it sounds; it is an injection given directly into a muscle.  A subcutaneous injection is an injection which is placed between the skin and the muscle.  Which method is utilized will depend on the drug being administered and the goals & preferences of the user.

The overwhelming majority of individuals choose to administer their AAS by way of I.M. (intramuscular) injection, although they can be injected subcutaneously, if desired.

III.  Injection Techniques

• Z-track technique:  A technique utilized to prevent leakage of the injected substance post-injection. 
• Air bubble technique:  A technique utilized to prevent leakage of the injected substance post-injection.

The purpose of the above injection techniques is to seal the injected compound deep within the muscle, by allowing no exit path back into the subcutaneous area and skin.  While using these techniques is not essential to performing a proper injection, they will allow the user to minimize oil loss due to seepage.

The first technique we will look at is the Z-track method.  The Z-track method requires temporarily displacing the skin & subcutaneous tissue prior to injection and immediately releasing the tissue post-injection.  In order to perform the Z-track method, prepare your syringe and be ready to inject.  Once the syringe is in hand, use your free hand to pull the skin at the injection site ½-1 inch away from its original location.  While continuing to hold the skin in this stretched position, administer the injection into the original location.  Immediately after removing the syringe from the injection site, release the skin which was being held in place.  The Z-track method works best at locations where there is a greater amount of lose skin.  Utilizing locations with taught skin will be more difficult.

The air bubble technique involves injecting a small amount of air at the end of an injection.  In order to perform this technique prepare your syringe and be ready to inject.  When the syringe is in hand, pull ½ cc of air into the syringe.  Just prior to and throughout the injection, make sure the needle is pointing down, so that the air floats to the top of the barrel (near the plunger) and is the last thing to be injected into the muscle, as it is this small air bubble which will help to seal off the opening and prevent leakage.

IV.  Aspiration:  What is it and why is it important?

The act as aspirating is performed as safety measure, to prevent one from accidentally injecting directly into a blood vessel.  The act of aspiration should be performed before “every” I.M inject. In order to perform this simple procedure, one must have fully inserted the needle into the injection site.  Once the needle has been fully inserted, but before depressing the plunger, gently draw back on the plunger by a few millimeters.  If no blood enters the barrel, you are safe to proceed with the injection.  If blood pours back into the barrel, you have entered a blood vessel and need to relocate the syringe.

Seeing traces or specks of blood is not indicative that you have entered a blood vessel.  Typically, when a vein (blood vessel) has been threaded, blood will pour into the barrel when pulling back the plunger.   If you do thread a blood vessel, you do not necessarily have to completely remove the syringe and start over again.  First, try pulling the needle out 1/4-1/2 inch and then try aspirating again.  If blood does not pour into the barrel after this 2^nd attempt, then you have exited the blood vessel and are safe to proceed.  If blood does continue to enter the barrel, you will have to remove the needle and find a new injection site.

Aspiration is not necessary when doing subcutaneous injection, only I.M injections.

V.  Why are there so many kinds of syringes?

For a beginner, the many different types of syringes and their associated terminology can be confusing.  Let us look at these differences which define the various types of syringes.   Generally, syringes are defined by the following 3 things:  Gauge size, how many CC’s a syringe can hold, and needle length.  By learning what these things mean, you will have no problem selecting the appropriate syringe for your needs.

You may have heard of a syringe type known as an “insulin syringe”.  Regardless of whether a syringe is classified as an insulin syringe or not, ALL syringes, including insulin syringes, are categorized by the 3 variables listed above.  Insulin syringes are named as such due to the original purpose for which they were produced, which was to administer insulin to diabetics.  Because diabetics will often need to perform multiple daily injections into the Sub-Q region, a smaller & shorter needed was needed, in order to increase patient compliance through more tolerable and relatively painless injections.

Let’s look specifically at the 3 variables below:

• Gauge:  The gauge of the syringe refers only to the thickness of the needle itself.  The lower the gauge number, the thicker the needle.  The higher the gauge number, the thinner the needle.
• CC:  A CC refers only to how much volume a syringe can hold.  The average syringe will hold anywhere between 1-3 CC’s.  The more CC’s a syringe holds, the larger the barrel will be.
• Needle length:  Needle length refers to just that…the length of the needle.  This is not a measure of the entire syringe, but only the needle itself.  The average needle will measure between 5/16^th’s of an inch and 1.5 inches in length.

Typically, the syringes normally used for injecting AAS (non-insulin syringes) come individually wrapped and can be purchased one at a time.  Insulin syringes come in a clear plastic bag in packs of #10.

VI.  What kind of syringe should I use?

1:  Standard syringe specifications.

2:  Gauge numbers.

3:  Standard needle lengths for injection.

4:  CC’s & ML’s.

1:  “Standard Syringe Specifications”

Most common syringe specs for steroid injections:  23-25 gauge…1/2 to 1.5 inch needle length…3 cc syringe.

Most common syringe specs for peptide injections:  28-31 gauge…5/16^th to ½ inch needle length…1 cc syringe.

2:  “Gauge Numbers”

As an individual attempting to gain size and/or strength, you will likely only need to concern yourself with the injection of AAS and peptides.  Since AAS is the most basic category of performance enhancing drugs, we will begin there.

Most of the steroid products on the market are oil-based.  As an “oil-based” steroid, the steroid molecule has been suspended in oil, with the oil being used as a carrier.  Since AAS are measured in mg amounts and are a solid in their natural form, they require a carrier if they are to be effectively delivered into the body by injection.  Since oil is significantly more resistant to bacteria proliferation than water and is also inexpensive, it is a logical choice.  However, oil also has a higher viscosity than water, which means it will resist flow under applied force to a greater degree than water.  The higher the viscosity of an injectable product, the thicker the needle will need to be in order to be able push the fluid through the needle.

When talking about needle “thickness”, which one of the three previously mentioned variables am I referring to?  If you thought “gauge”, you thought correctly.  The “gauge” of a syringe pertains solely to the thickness of the needle.  Choosing the correct gauge is the most important factor in needle selection because if you choose a gauge number which is too high, the oil will not fit through…and if you choose a gauge number which is too low, you will be piercing your tissue with an unnecessarily thick needle.  The most basic rule to follow when it comes to gauge selection is to choose the highest gauge number possible, but which will still allow the oil to flow through the needle.  This will make the injection nominally invasive, while reducing discomfort and minimizing scar tissue build-up.  There is no machismo in using a needle which is thicker than necessary, only idiocy.

Today, almost all steroids will fit through a 25 gauge syringe, so this gauge size should be your automatic go-to choice when the viscosity of a steroid is unknown.  This gauge is relatively thin in comparison to the syringes used back in the day.  Not too long ago the viscosity of many oil-based steroids was much higher than it is today, requiring the use of 21-22 g. needle for basically every injection…and in some cases, such as when injecting crude forms of Testosterone suspension or injectable Winstrol, an 18 g. syringe would be required just to be able to fit the steroid crystals through the needle without clogging it.  For those of you who are trying to mentally picture an 18 g. needle without a reference point, it is more like a small nail than a needle.  Today, things are much easier.

While AAS as a whole are rather straightforward in their application and demonstrate uniformity within the class, peptides are a completely different story.  The word “peptide” is just a general term used to define numerous different categories of drugs, many of which often require different size syringes and injection methods.  For this reason, peptides will be given their own article.

3:  “Standard Needle Lengths for Injection”

Glutes:  1-1.5 inch.

Delts:  1 inch.

Quads:  1 inch (some individuals can use as small as a ½ inch needle when injecting into the quads, depending on how lean they are).

Biceps:  ½-1 inch.

Triceps:  ½-1 inch.

Calves:  ½ inch.

Traps:  ½- 1 inch

Lats:  1 inch.

The above recommendations are the “average” needle lengths used for each bodypart listed.  23-25 g. syringes can be purchased with needle lengths between ½ to 1.5 inches in length.  Simply choose whatever needle length you will need based on the bodypart(s) you will be injecting into.

4:  “CC’s & ML’s”

The term “cc” stands for cubic centimeters and is a unit of measurement for determining injection volume. It is important to note that the term “cc” and “ml” (milliliter) are identical and interchangeable with each other.  1 cc= 1 ml.

While syringes will indicate measurement in cc’s, steroid products (vials/bottles/ampules) will almost always use ml’s as their unit of measurement.  So, if your steroid product says it contains 10 ml per bottle at 250 mg/ml, you know it also contains 10 cc’s per bottle at 250 mg/cc.  Therefore, if you wanted to inject 500 mg of that steroid, you would need to inject 2cc’s (2 ml’s) of that product.

Most 23-25 g. syringes hold 3 cc’s, although some will occasionally hold less, so you when ordering you should always specify exactly what you want to purchase.  Since 3 cc syringes are no more costly than their smaller counterparts and being that many steroid users will often inject more than 1 cc at a time, it makes sense to strictly purchase 3 cc syringes for steroid injections.    

Note on water-based injectables:  Fewer and fewer steroids today use water as a carrier, due to water’s greater propensity to form bacteria compared to oil-based steroids.  Still, water-based injectables make up a small segment of the market, primarily in the form of various brands of Testosterone suspension and injectable Winstrol preparations.  While the variables of needle length and “cc” count transfer over from oil-based to water-based injectables, gauge number can be all over the place depending on brand.

Fortunately, most manufacturers today are moving towards ultra-micronized versions of these products.  When a water-based product is ultra-micronized, it means that the steroid particles within the water are very fine and can through a higher gauge number.  Products which are not ultra-micronized contain particles which are much thicker and therefore, they require a lower gauge number in order for the particles to fit through the needle.  Suspension products can require a gauge size which ranges anywhere from 18 g. (typically with very crude, older products; these don’t exist much today) to 25 g. or above.

VII.  Where do I inject?

Inevitably, one of the first questions many individuals will ask themselves shortly before their 1^st injection is “where do I inject?”  While there is no right or wrong answer, the most commonly injected muscles among first time users are the glutes and delts.  Both muscle groups are relatively painless (potentially), do not have any major veins/arteries near the surface, and contain a lower density of nerves.  Quads are another popular bodypart used for injections, although one does need to be a bit more careful when injecting in this area, as there are more nerves, veins, an arteries in the area.

Basically, any muscle can be injected into, although larger, thicker muscles are typically superior to small, shallow muscle groups.  An example of a bodypart which falls into the latter category would be the forearms.  This body part is rarely ever injected into and is a poor choice all the way around, so avoid them.  Never inject into the hands, feet, or neck

Just as important as what muscle you decide to inject into is the location chosen within that muscle.  In general, when deciding where to place your injection, gravitate towards the thickest, meatiest part of the target muscle.  However, this advice will not always lead you in the right direction, so here are some basic pointers for the most common muscle groups (delts, glutes, and quads).  When injecting into the delts, all 3 heads are suitable, although the side & rear heads are a bit more comfortable, on average.  Injecting anywhere on the glutes is fine, but avoid injecting too far out to the side of the glutes, as the sciatic nerve (a major nerve which runs all the way down the glute and leg) resides in that area.  When injecting into the quads it is a bit trickier.  Never inject into the inner-thighs…only inject into the actual quadriceps muscles themselves, particularly the vastus lateralis, and rectus femoris.   The vastus medialis (teardrop) can also be injected into, although it is not a preferred area for a beginner.

As you advance you will develop your own preferences regarding injection site selection and become more proficient at the entire process.

VIII.  How many cc’s can I inject into each muscle at one time?

Primary injection sites

Glutes:  3 cc limit 

Delts:  2 cc limit (3 cc’s is doable in the delts if using a 1 inch needle, but it’s preferable to use the quads or glutes for injection volumes above 2 cc’s).

Quads:  3 cc limit (when injecting more than 2 cc’s into the quads, you should use a 1 inch needle.  With injection volumes under 2 cc’s, a ½ inch needle is fine, assuming you are lean).

Secondary injection sites

Biceps:  1.5 cc limit.   

Triceps:  1.5 cc limit.

Calves:  1.5 cc limit.    

Traps:  2 cc limit.

Lats:  2 cc’s.

It is recommended that beginner’s stick with the primary injection sites until technique is developed and the user becomes proficient at the injection process.  Secondary injection sites have a higher margin of error (more nerves, more blood vessels, and sometimes smaller muscle bellies) and can be more painful, as well. 

Often times, advanced users will begin utilizing these secondary injection sites due to a frequent

Injection schedule and/or because they have previously administered a large amount of injection into the primary injection sites.  Frequently injecting into the same area(s) and/or having administered a large total number of injections into the same area(s) can cause excess scar tissue build-up.      

IX.  Rotating injection sites

One issue which may eventually arise if the individual continues injecting AAS long enough is the issue of scar tissue build-up.  Scar tissue is a dense, fibrous, connective tissue which forms over a wound or cut, either external or internal.  In the case of injection, the scar tissue formed is internal.  Scar tissue can impede contraction (make the muscle weaker), impair local muscle growth, decrease flexibility, and increase the possibility of re-injury.

Some scar tissue formation is unavoidable, as every time an injection is administered, scar tissue is formed.  The bottom line is that excess & problematic scar tissue is not something you want to have to deal with at any point.  Fortunately, we can take steps to minimize the appearance of scar tissue through rotating injection sites.  Scar tissue is much more likely to form to a greater degree if you repeatedly and frequently use the same injection site.  For this reason, it is a good idea to start a “rotation”, in which injections sites are routinely transferred from one site to the next in a systematic fashion.  Typically, the individual will select at least 3 body parts to include in this rotation, while also altering the sites within each bodypart, in order to decrease the number of times the same area is injected into per rotation.

The following is an example of an effective injection site rotation:

Injection #1:  Upper-left glute

Injection #2:  Upper-right glute

Injection #3:  Upper-right delt

Injection #4:  Upper-left delt

Injection#5:  Upper-right quad

Injection #6:  Upper-left quad.

Injection #7:  Lower-right glute.

Injection #8:  Lower-left glute.

Injection #9:  Lower-right delt.

Injection #10:  Lower-left delt.

Injection#11:  Lower-right quad.

Injection #12:  lower-left quad.

Injection #13:  Repeat.

This particular 12-site rotation utilizes several of the most common & safest injection sites.  This is just one example of how you might want to structure you injection rotation, depending on personal preference.  The number of potential injection sites is extremely large, as even small needle placement adjustments are effective for minimizing excess scar tissue build-up.  The type pattern followed is not what’s important.  What matters is that you change your injection sites frequently.

Aside from the previously mentioned consequences associated with excess scar tissue build up, repetitive injections into a singular location significantly increases the risk of abscess and infection.  In the event of a severe infection and/or abscess, surgery can become a potential requirement.  In cases where surgery is required, lean tissue removal may be necessary (the removal of infected muscle tissue).  This may result in external visual deformation of the muscle, permanently damaging its appearance.  The implementation of proper injection practices can drastically reduce the likelihood of these health problems occurring.

X.  Sterilization

Sterilization is a critically important part of the injection process, as unsanitary injection practices pose the greatest risk in terms of acquiring serious infections & abscesses.  As described above, these are health problems you want to avoid at all costs and investing a little extra time and consideration into this aspect of your program can go a long way towards ensuring you remain problem free.

There are 3 key components you have control over and which need to remain sterile at all times.  They are the needle(s) being used, the injection site(s), and the rubber stopper(s) of each vial you will be drawing from.  It is your job to make sure these components do not come in contact with anything other than the intended object.  When it comes to ensuring sterility, alcohol is your weapon of choice.  Alcohol kills more germs & bacteria safely, than any other household product.

Sterilizing an injection site or object is a simple process.  Prior to sterilization, clean the area of any debris so that it appears visually clean.  Afterwards, wet a cotton swab with alcohol and wipe the intended area.  After the area/object has been sterilized, it should not come in contact with any other unsterilized object.

According to the medical establishment, an injection site should be covered with an appropriate bandage post-injection.  While this will help further ensure that bacteria does not enter the injection site and cause infection, this practice is rarely employed among AAS users, typically with little to no negative consequences.

XI.  Loading a syringe

The term “loading a syringe” or “loading a pin” refers to filling the syringe with the steroid prior to injection.  In order to properly perform this part of the injection process correctly, it will require 2 different syringes or more specifically, two different needle heads.  One needle head will be required for drawing the steroid into the barrel, while the other needle head will be used to inject the steroid.

The primary reason for using two different needle heads is due to the delicacy of needles, in general. Pushing a needle through a rubber stopper or into muscle tissue just a single time will dull the needle considerably.  In fact, when viewing enhanced images of needles which have already pierced human muscle tissue, the viewer can clearly see that the tip of the needle has been bent.  The act of injecting is already an invasive process and in order to minimize both discomfort, as well as scar tissue build-up, a fresh needle head should be used every time when doing an I.M. injection.

A secondary reason for using one needle to draw with and another to inject is that it can take a long time to draw a few cc’s of oil through a 25g. syringe or smaller.  By using a lower gauge number to draw with (usually 21-.22g.), it cuts down on the amount of time required to draw the oil into the barrel.  The reason I recommend using no smaller than a 21-22 g. pin to draw with is because bigger pins can damage the rubber stopper after repeated uses, potentially allowing little pieces of rubber to break away from the rubber stopper and fall into the vial.  A 21-22g. pin is sufficient for quick drawing and will more thoroughly maintain the integrity of the rubber stopper.

So, in step by step order, here is how one would load their pin.  Begin by holding the vial in one hand in an upside down position, while holding the 21-22g. syringe in the other.  Directly inset the needle into the rubber stopper until it enters the oil.  While continuing to hold the vial and syringe in this position, draw back on the plunger until the predetermined amount of oil has filled the barrel.  At this point remove the needle from the vial, set the vial down on a flat surface, and replace the plastic needle cover back over the syringe in its original position.  While still holding the syringe upright, twist off the 21-22g. needle head and replace it with the needle you will use for injection.  Your syringe is now properly loaded and ready for injection.

A note on re-using the drawing needle:  While some may choose to use a new drawing and injection needle for each injection, if the drawing needle is kept sterile, it can be re-used multiple times before needing to be discarded.  Unlike the needle head used for injection, the drawing needle should not be coming in contact with human tissue or any unsterilized objects.  When proper loading procedures are adhered to, the drawing needle should never come in contact with any object other than the rubber stopper, which should be sterilized prior to each draw.  If you will be re-using the drawing pin, it would be wise to store in it in something such as a small plastic bag after each use, so that dust or other small remnants do not enter the bottom of the needle head while being stored.

XII.  Disposal of used syringes

When disposing of used syringes, it is of primary importance that the original protective covering be placed back on the syringe prior to discarding.  This will prevent anyone from accidentally coming in contact with the syringe and accidentally piercing their skin.  No one wants to be pulling a used needle out of their hand because the user was negligent in his responsibilities.

In addition, many individuals will place their used syringes in a bag or similar storage container designated only for syringes, in order to minimize the occurrence of someone coming into contact with a stray needle.  I have seen people use empty plastic milk containers, juice containers, etc, for disposal of their used syringes.  Regardless of which method you employ, consideration of others should be your guiding principle.

XIII.  The injection

The injection process itself is relatively straight forward.  Perhaps nothing causes more anxiety for AAS users than their 1^st injection.  This fear is far more psychological than physical, as the act of performing an injection, especially when utilizing proper technique and the correct pin size, can be relatively painless.  Some muscle groups are more prone to causing discomfort than others and the possibility of hitting a nerve, scar tissue, or a sore spot is a reality, but in general, an injection should not be considered a “painful” experience.  With the information presented in this document, you have been presented with everything you need to know in order to properly perform an injection.  For an abbreviated step by step walk through, see below.

After one has prepared for the injection by choosing the proper syringe, loading the pin, and completing the sterilization process, the individual is ready to begin.  Place the point of the needle on the center of the injection site and slowly press the needle straight down into the muscle.  Do not press the needle in at an angle.  After reaching the required depth, make sure to aspirate (see the section on aspiration above).  After aspirating, hold the needle steady and begin slowly depressing the plunger until all the contents of the barrel have entered the muscle.  Afterwards, slowly remove the needle from the injection site and replace the plastic protective covering back over the needle.

Once the needle has been removed, the individual may or may not experience bleeding at the injection.  The quantity of blood expelled can be anywhere from a single small drop to a light stream which temporarily runs down the bodypart.  This is a normal part of the injection process.  Post-injection, it is optional whether or not one wishes to place a bandage over the injection site.

In this step by step walk-through, I did not include one of the injection techniques (Z-track, Air Bubble method, as explained in Section III), as they’re both optional and which one is employed is up to the personal preference of the individual.

XIV.  Subcutaneous AAS injections

While intramuscular injection is the most popular method of AAS administration, subcutaneous injection provides a viable alternative and in some limited cases, may even be the preferable method of administration.  Whether or not an individual is likely to find benefit in performing subcutaneous injections with AAS will depend on the half-live of the steroid being administered.

Long acting steroids, such as Testosterone cypionate, Nandrolone Decanoate, or Boldenone Undecyclenate are long acting steroids demanding only a twice weekly injection schedule, although they can be injected more frequently if desired.  These steroids are more suited to I.M. injections, as a twice weekly injection schedule necessitates a larger volume of oil per inject, in order for the user to deliver the full amount of steroid into the system each week.  Since the holding capacity of insulin syringes is limited to about 1 cc, these steroids would likely require a daily injection schedule in order to deliver the full weekly dose.  In addition, even if insulin syringes did hold more than 1 cc, injecting larger volumes of oil into the subcutaneous region can be uncomfortable and result in the formation of lumps.  Therefore, when using longer acting AAS most users choose the I.M. route of administration, rather than daily subcutaneous injections throughout the entire duration of the cycle.

In the case of short acting steroids, such as Trenbolone acetate, Testosterone base, or Winstrol suspension, these steroids have a much shorter half-life in the body, often times requiring a daily injection schedule if even blood levels are to be maintained.  This makes them more suitable for subcutaneous injection compared to their longer-acting counterparts.  Administering daily I.M injects can become irritating, to say the least, especially when stretching over the length of an entire cycle.  For this reason, few individuals will use these drugs long-term.  Since these short-acting steroids already require a daily injection schedule, regardless of injection method, the implementation of subcutaneous injections offers multiple benefits.  For one, scar tissue build-up is minimized.  Secondly, a subcutaneous injection is generally considered to be very mild in nature, making a daily injection schedule more tolerable and therefore, more likely to be adhered to a long-term basis.

Whether or not subcutaneous injections are utilized is purely up to the individual.  They are not an inferior form of delivering a steroid into the body and as shown above, can have tangible benefits under certain conditions.

XV.  How often should I inject?

How often a particular steroid should be administered will depend on a few factors, with injection frequency being governed primarily by the half-life of each steroid.  Obviously, longer-acting AAS will require a less frequent injection schedule, while the opposite holds true for shorter acting versions.  With injectable steroids, the length of time it will stay active in the body depends on the type of ester which has been attached to the steroid.  Esters are molecular modifications to a steroid hormone, which have been added solely to extend the life of the drug within the body.

So, when attempting to determine the injection frequency of a particular steroid, examine the ester and you will have your answer.  While there is some dispute regarding the proper injection frequency required among the various esters, the differences in opinion are minimal.

Below is a list of some of the used esters today, along with the most commonly recommended injection frequencies for each one:

• Acetate:  Daily to 3X weekly.
• Propionate:  EOD to 3X weekly.
• Phenylpropionate:  EOD to 3X weekly.
• Caproate:  3X weekly.
• Isocaproate:  3X weekly.
• Enanthate:  3Xx to 2X weekly.
• Cypionate:  3X to 2X weekly.
• Decanoate:  2X weekly.
• Undecanoate:  2X weekly.
• Undecyclenate:  2X weekly.

Some injectable AAS have no ester, such as the various suspensions & bases, such as Winstrol suspension or Testosterone base.  These drugs need to be injected on a daily basis in order to obtain best results.  While an EOD injection schedule can be utilized, it is not ideal and should be avoided.

It is important to note that there are some circumstances in which esterless steroids can be used at a reduced frequency or on an “as needed” basis.  The most common of these would be testosterone.  Testosterone in its suspension or base form is sometimes administered immediately prior to training, before a lifting competition, prior to a sanctioned fight, or at any other time a burst of testosterone might be found useful.

XVI.  Common Q & A Section

Q:  “How do I open ampules?”

A:    Ampules can be opened by scoring (some ampules come pre-scored), using an ampule opener, or by using the tape method.   Scoring is a process in which in a fine line is ground away around the neck of the ampule.  Scoring makes it much easier to snap the top of the ampule off without breaking the vial and spilling the oil.  Normally, a scoring tool is used for this process, although sometimes knives or other objects can be used.

An amp opener can also be used, which is the fastest and the least time consuming of the 3 methods.

Lastly, the tape-method can be employed, as well.  The tape method involves taping the entire vial all the way up to the neck line.  Several layers of tape should surround the vial, so that it is properly secured.  The point of taping the vial is two-fold.   One purpose is to prevent the contents of the ampule from spilling, should the ampule break somewhere other than the neckline.  The other purpose is to reinforce the ampule, so that it is more likely to break at the neckline.  One can combine both the tape method and the scoring method, which is the best way to ensure that the oil contained in the ampule will not be spilled.

Q:  “Is it dangerous if there are small air bubbles inside the syringe prior to injecting?”

A:  No, a small amount of air will do no harm.  Air bubbles injected into muscle tissue is of no concern.  Even if the individual were to thread a vein and inject the entire contents of the syringe into the vein, the small air bubbles contained within it would be the least of that person’s worries.  In reality, several cc’s of air would have to be injected directly into a vein all at once, in order to cause cardiac arrest.  Even injecting 2-3 cc’s of air directly into a muscle would be largely inconsequential.  Of course, such an action is not recommended, but you get the point.

Q:  “My gear crashed…how do I fix it?” 

A:  Gear can crash due to storing the product in colder than recommended temperatures…or because the ratio of AAS to oil is out of balance (this can be either a manufacturer error or a personal error if home brewing).  This does not damage the steroid.  In order to correct the problem, simply run the vial under warm water until the products reverts back to its normal state.

Q:  “My gear has particles floating in it…what should I do?”

A:   You can choose to either dispose of the product or you can re-filter it by using a Whatman filter.  While opinions will differ on this subject, I am of the opinion that re-filtering is a suitable solution in many cases, assuming the product is not badly polluted.  In cases where it is apparent that the product is very poor quality and contains a large amount of foreign material, it would be wise to dispose of the product.  This should not occur with reputable UGL’s and will never occur with Pharm-grade versions, although an occasional speck may occur with UGL products here and there and is usually not a big deal.

Q:  “Can I re-use syringes?”

A:  Absolutely not.  You should never take a needle which has entered the body and re-insert it back into a steroid product, as this can result in bacteria build-up and cause potential future infections.  It is possible to re-use your “drawing” pin, so long as that pin never penetrates the skin and is kept sterile.

Q:  “How fast should I inject the steroid into the injection site?”

A:  Until you are familiar with the brand & type of steroid you are injecting, depress the plunger slowly.  Some steroid products, depending on the carrier used, can cause varying degrees of pain while injecting…and the faster the oil/solvents enters the muscle, the more pain it can potentially cause.  Other steroid products are completely painless.  So, until you have experience injecting a particular brand & type of AAS, inject slowly.

Q:  “Is it normal to bleed after an injection?”

A:  Yes, it is common to occasionally nick a vein close to the surface of the injection site, which will cause blood to leak from the surface.  The amount of blood which can seep from an injection site can be anywhere from a drop or two, to a very light stream which slowly flows down that bodypart.  Even in the event a larger vein is hit when doing an injection, this type of bleeding is relatively easy to stop and will not pose any harm to the individual.

Fortunately there are no major arteries close to the surface at any of the common injection sites.  Even when taking into consideration the entire body, there are very few arteries close to the surface, so hitting an artery during an injection is very unlikely, especially when sticking to the recommended injection sites.

By:  Mike Arnold

IGF-1 Explored

By : Mike A.

IGF-1 LR3:

       IGF-1, otherwise known as Insulin-like Growth Factor, is a peptide displaying structural and functional similarities to insulin. It is produced in liver via growth hormone and demonstrates both direct & indirect anabolic activity through several distinct mechanisms, as well as anti-catabolic effects.  In addition, IGF-1 is what’s known as a cell differentiator.  Differentiation is the process of signaling an immature stem cell to become a specialized cell type and in the case of IGF-1, the cell type being created is that of muscle.  These newly formed muscle cells will remain muscle cells permanently and retain the ability to hypertrophy to the same degree as previously existing muscle cells. 

       The process of turning a stem cell into a muscle cell is known as hyperplasia.  Hyperplasia varies from muscle cell hypertrophy, in that hypertrophy is simply the growth of previously existing muscle cells, while hyperplasia leads to an actual increase in the number of muscle cells present.  IGF-1 works hand in hand with MGF, in order to carry out the process of hyperplasia.  MGF initiates this process through cell proliferation, which is the formation of new stem cells.   Once these new stem cells have been manufactured, IGF-1 can then perform its function of differentiation, completing the process of hyperplasia

       Due to IGF-1′s functional similarities to insulin, IGF-1 increases the rate and degree of nutrient transport into muscle cells, resulting in an increase in protein synthesis and a subsequent increase in muscle fullness.  IGF-1 also acts as an inhibitor of muscle cell apoptosis and is involved in the growth of multiple cell lines in the body. Higher levels of IGF-1 are correlated with increased amounts of lean muscle tissue and decreased fat mass, which is well documented in both human and animal study subjects.

       Today, IGF-1 is produced in multiple forms, such as standard IGF-1, IGF-1 LR3, and DES IGF-1.  The LR3 version mentioned in this article is the longest acting form of IGF-1 and is over twice as anabolic, per mcg, than regular IGF-1.  IGF-1 LR3 stays active in the body for roughly 24 hours, allowing for once daily dosing.  Of all the IGF-1′s available in the marketplace today, the LR3 version is generally preferred by those looking for a whole-body “recomp” and as such, has become one of the most popular forms of IGF-1 in the BB’ing community.

Common benefits of IGF-1 LR3 include:

* Increased muscle growth

* Decreased body fat

* Increased nutrient shuttling capacity

* Increased muscle pumps

* Increased muscle fullness

* The ability to cause muscle cell hyperplasia

* Regeneration of nerve tissue

Common side effects of IGF-1 include:

* Potential hypoglycemia at higher dosages (not typically a concern at normal dosages)

* There have not yet been any studies examining the long-term effects of IGF-1 in humans, as is the case with most performance enhancing drugs. In terms of real-world experience, the IGF-1 class of drugs appear to maintain a rather mild disposition, having demonstrated a low side effect profile in users. Aside from possible hypoglycemia at higher dosages (which is due to the positive nutrient shuttling effects of the drug and easily rectified through the consumption of any nutrient able to elevate blood glucose), IGF-1 LR3 has been largely absent of any outward negative side effects. At this juncture, it is not unreasonable to assume that the IGF-1 category of drugs is significantly more benign in nature than AAS.

Recommendations for use:

* IGF-1 LR3 is most commonly injected once per day, 7 days per week.

* The effective dosing range is typically between 50-150 mcg per day, although a small percentage of users will elect to exceed this dosage.  We do not yet know the dosing limit at which LR3 ceases to exert additional effects.

* Desensitization seems to occur after about 4 weeks of chronic usage, at which point the individual has the option of either discontinuing the peptide for a 2-4 week period (after which the individual can resume use), or the individual can elect to increase the dosage further, in order to over-ride the desensitization and continue experiencing its benefits. However, the process of desensitization will continue to occur at each ascending dosage.

DES [1-3] IGF-1:

       DES IGF-1 is an IGF-1 variant, and like IGF-1 LR3 mentioned above, it displays all the same characteristics as its cousin, such as the ability to cause muscle cell differentiation, the inhibition of muscle cell apoptosis, increased nutrient shuttling capacity, as well as anabolic & anti-catabolic effects.  Structurally, DES differentiates itself from standard IGF-1, in that has been molecularly modified by cleaving 3 molecules from the IGF-1 chain. This results in a truncated form of IGF-1, which is almost 5X more potent than IGF-1 LR3 and a full 10X more potent than standard IGF-1.

       That is not all. DES also has a very low affinity for binding proteins at only 1%, making DES an extremely usable form of IGF-1, while as much as 98% of standard IGF-1 will become bound to binding proteins and remain inactive, unavailable for use by skeletal muscle tissue. DES also has the ability to attach to lactic acid deformed receptor sites (during training, lactic acid build-up in muscle tissue can temporarily deform IGF-1 receptor sites, preventing IGF-1 from attaching to them during this period), allowing it to turn-on our muscle-building machinery during training.

       The down-side to DES is that it possesses a relatively short half-life of about 20 minutes in length, compared to IGF-1 LR3, which will stay active for about a day. Because of the differences between the LR3 and DES versions of IGF-1, they are often used in different ways and for different purposes. One use for which DES has proven effective is in the area of site enhancement. Due to DES’s short active-life, the hormone will only circulate systematically for a relatively short period of time before becoming inactive.  This means that the majority of DES’s active life will be spent at the injection site, affecting the target muscle to a greater degree in comparison to the rest of the body.  Through DES’s impressive ability to stimulate muscle cell hyperplasia and combined with its potent anabolic activity, many users have reported significant and long-term changes in the size & shape of the treated muscle with regular use. 

Common benefits of DES IGF-1 include:

* Increased muscle growth

* Decreased body fat

* Increased nutrient shuttling capacity

* Increased muscle pumps during training

* Increased muscle fullness

* The ability to cause muscle cell hyperplasia

* Regeneration of nerve tissue

* Site enhancement

Common side effects of DES IGF-1 include:

* Potential hypoglycemia at higher dosages (although unlikely at normal dosages).

* There have not yet been any studies examining the long-term effects of DES IGF-1 in humans, as is the case with most performance enhancing drugs. In terms of real-world experience, the IGF-1 class of drugs appears to maintain a rather mild disposition, having demonstrated a low side effect profile in users. Aside from possible hypoglycemia at higher dosages (which is due to the positive nutrient shuttling effects of the drug and easily rectified through the consumption of any nutrient able to elevate blood glucose), DES IGF-1 has been largely absent of any outward negative side effects. At this juncture, it is not unreasonable to assume that the IGF-1 category of drugs is significantly more benign in nature than AAS.

Recommendations for use:

* Dosing frequency is typically 1-2X per day, although DES can be administered as often as every 20 minutes if desired, although this is far from practical, not to mention costly. Today, there are multiple methods of administration, which an individual can choose from.  One method of use includes administering DES IGF-1 about 5-10 minutes prior to training, as this results in improved nutrient shuttling during training (which directly increases protein synthesis), greater pumps, mild strength increases, and the ability to attach to IGF-1 receptor sites during training, which have been deformed by lactic acid.  A second method of administration involves using PEG-MGF & DES IGF-1 in conjunction, with the goal of optimizing the process of hyperplasia in the target muscle.  With this method, PEG-MGF is administered alone for 1-4 weeks, followed by the administration of DES IGF-1 for an equal number of weeks.  It should be noted that we are still learning how to optimally use this drug(s), so adjustments to these protocols will likely be made as time goes by.

* The average dosing range is between 50-150 mcg per inject (dosage split bi-laterally).

* Unlike IGF-1 LR3, DES can be run for longer periods of time before incurring desensitization.  This is due to DES’s much shorter active life.  Because DES is active for such a short period of time and circulates throughout the body only briefly, desensitization is less likely to occur with even multiple daily injections, compared to a single injection of LR3.  In order to experience desensitization at a rate equal to LR3, one would likely have to inject DES many times per day.  Since few adhere to such a frequent injection schedule, rapid desensitization is extremely unlikely.  When using DES once per day (taking 1-2 days off per week), most can use DES permanently without noticing any significant decrease in effectiveness. 

MGF & PEG MGF:

       MGF & PEG MGF, also known as Mechano Growth Factor (or IGF-1 1Ec), is a locally expressed (within muscle tissue) splice variant of IGF-1. It is produced in response to muscular trauma/damage (training) and initiates the growth & recovery process.  The 1^st iso-form to be produced in response to training is known as IGF-1Ec (MGF) and it is easily the more potent of the two.  This variant will continue to be produced for about 2 hours post-workout.  After production of the 1^st variant has ceased, production of the 2^nd will begin.  This 2^nd iso-form will continue to be produced for roughly 24 hours, completing this initial step of the recovery-growth process.
       MGF plays a significant role in muscle hyperplasia.  More specifically, MGF acts as a cell proliferator, ordering the production of new stem cells in muscle tissue.  These stems cells, after being exposed to the actions of IGF-1 (differentiation), will become muscle cells.  However, standard MGF has a very brief active life within muscle tissue, necessitating a frequent injection schedule if one wishes to maintain active levels of the compound for even minimal periods of time. This dilemma led to the creation of a much longer lasting form of MGF called PEG MGF, or Pegylated Mechano Growth Factor. PEG MGF is a form of MGF that has been molecularly altered in order to substantially increase the compound’s active life within muscle tissue. This pegylation process does not change the effects of the MGF molecule itself, but only extends the life of the compound.

       MGF’s short lifespan is also problematic in that the molecule will become inactive prior to entering circulation.  In other words, MGF is completely absent of systematic benefits, affecting only the injected muscle.  With PEG-MGF, not only does it directly affect the injected muscle to a much greater degree than standard MGF, but it’s extremely long active life will allow the molecule to enter circulation and positively affect one’s entire musculature.

Common benefits of MGF & PEG MGF:

* Site Enhancement; Increased muscle growth of the treated area (with added systematic effects when using the PEG version)

* Increased muscle fullness and expedited recovery of the treated area (with added systematic effects when using the PEG version)

* The ability to cause muscle cell hyperplasia of the treated area (with added systematic effects when using the PEG version)

* Causes immature muscle cell nuclei to turn into fully functioning muscle fibers at the treated area (with added systematic effects when using the PEG version)

Common side effects of MGF & PEG MGF:

* There have not yet been any studies examining the long-term effects of exogenous MGF/PEG MGF use in humans, as is the case with most performance enhancing drugs. In terms of real-world experience, the MGF variants appear to be absent of any outwardly perceived side effects. At this juncture, it is not unreasonable to assume that the MGF’s are a relatively safe category of compounds, being endogenous to the human body and produced on a regular basis in response to training

Recommendations for use:

* Since MGF is used primarily as a proliferator, it makes sense to apply this hormone in a manner which allows it to properly perform its function.  If PEG-MGF is used alone, it can be administered 2-3 days per week, at a dosage of between 200-1,000 mcg per day.

* If PEG-MGF is used in conjunction with IGF-1 (which produces the best results), then the following method of administration has proven to be highly effective.  Keep in mind that in order to obtain one’s best results with the following program, a large number of weekly injects will be required. This protocol will demand the utmost in terms of dedication and commitment.  For those who desire to follow this program, but are unwilling to endure the suggested number of weekly injects, these individuals could reduce their total injection volume by about 50-75% and still experience significant results.

       The following short article not only explains how to properly implement this protocol into your BB’ing program, but it also delves into the reasoning behind the program set-up.  Some of this information may be repetitive (being previously stated above), although I felt that a fluid and comprehensive explanation, as it relates solely to this program, would be particularly beneficial for potential users.

Advanced PEG-MGF & IGF-1 LR3 Program Application:

Proliferation and Differentiation. What do these two words mean, how do these processes promote muscle growth, and how do we optimize them through the use of PEG-MGF and IGF-1? Please allow me to break this down into its most simple form. MGF is the hormone responsible for expanding our pool of stem cells. The expansion of these cells is what’s known as proliferation. Proliferation is the 1st step in the process of forming new muscle cells. Once these stems cells have received the message to proliferate through the actions of MGF, what type of cells they become, whether muscle or otherwise, depends on the message they later receive from other hormones.

IGF-1 is what’s known as a differentiator. Differentiation is the process responsible for turning immature stem cells into a defined cell type. When a stem cell is exposed to the actions of IGF-1, the cell type created is a muscle cell. However, it is very important to note that each of these processes must take place at the correct time. If one process is begun before the other has finished its work, either the entire process is short-circuited, or partial results are achieved. When a muscle(s) is exposed to stress (such as weight training), its first response is to produce localized MGF. MGF is produced only in the muscle, not in the liver like GH mediated IGF-1 production. After training, It is vital that MGF be allowed to fully perform its function of proliferation before IGF-1 is introduced into the system. Otherwise, the inhibitory actions IGF1 will immediately halt the proliferation process and reduce the total number of stem cells available for differentiation into muscle cells. In other words, introducing IGF-1 at the wrong time will limit our rate of muscle growth.

In the past, the typical manner of administering PEG MGF and IGF-1 would be to use 200-300 mg of PEG-MGF immediately post-workout 2X weekly, followed by an injection of IGF-1 the other 5 days per week. In principle this theory is sound, as the PEG-MGF will expand the number of available stem cells, which can then subsequently be differentiated by IGF-1 the following day. However, there are 3 significant problems with this method of use. For one, since PEG-MGF is typically injected only 2 X per week, the BB’r is usually going to choose to inject it after training the body parts he most wants to improve, but what happens if he also trains a body part on the days he administers IGF-1? Being that IGF-1 is typically administered on the days PEG-MGF isn’t (which is usually 5 days per week), it is highly likely that the BB’r is going to be training on at least some of the days he administers IGF-1. That means that on those days, the growth process involving these growth factors will be short-circuited, due to the inhibitory actions of exogenous IGF-1, and the end result will be less than optimal muscle growth.

The second issue which arises due to the current pattern of use is that by using PEG-MGF on non-consecutive days 2X per week, the proliferation process will always be cut short due to the constant interloping of exogenous IGF-1. Because of this, the number of available stem cell will never grow very large and the potential for differentiation will remain limited. The 3rd issue is in regards to PEG-MGF dosing….it is too light. It is now proposed that using 2 mg per week is much closer to the ideal dosage than the commonly prescribed 400 mg per week. If we use prior research as a gauge for determining proper dosing, it would point to our current dosing guidelines as being inadequate. It is a certainty that higher dosages of PEG-MGF are necessary in order to maximize stem cell proliferation. Although user experiences in this dosing range are currently minimal, what has been witnessed does appear to confirm this. In addition, the proposal is scientifically sound.

Now that I have explained the logic for why the older methods of administration are believed to be flawed in their approach, I will go over how to implement the new method of administration. The PEG-MGF molecule is always used over standard MGF, as MGF has a very short active life, being only minutes in length, while PEG-MGF will stay active for days. This enables the PEG version to deliver a much more pronounced effect. It is also important to remember that the PEG attachment does not alter the effects of the MGF molecule. The PEG attachment acts purely to extend its duration of action. As for what form of IGF-1 should be chosen, I believe IGF-1 LR3 is the superior choice only because of its greatly extended active life, which is about 24 hours in length. DES IGF-1 is a very potent form of IGF-1, being about 4X as potent as IGF-1 LR3 on a mcg basis, but its active life is only about 20 minutes. So, unless one was willing and able to administer DES many times per day, LR3 remains the better option for whole-body growth. DES is superior for site enhancement and will also deliver systematic benefits, but when it comes to a single daily injection, DES cannot trump LR3 when it comes to its whole-body benefits.

In contrast to most other injectable drugs, PEG-MGF cannot be administered with a singular inject. Several micro-injects must be used because even though PEG-MGF is systematic in its effects, the injected muscle will still receive a greater amount of benefit. Why? While both steroid esters and the PEG attachment serve primarily to extend the active life of the steroid, there are critical differences between the two. With esterfied AAS, the ester must first be cleaved from the steroid before it is able to attach to the AR and cause muscle growth. This is why esterfied steroids do not cause site growth (although some users think they do due to the inflammation and subsequent swelling which occurs), as the steroid will already have entered circulation and become systematic prior to the ester being cleaved from the steroid molecule. However, unlike AAS, the PEG portion of the drug does not need to be cleaved off before it is able to attach to its receptor site and deliver its message. Also unlike AAS, the MGF molecule (whether it is MGF or PEG-MGF) communicates through cell to cell interaction. Once the PEG-MGF comes in contact with a muscle cell (such as during an injection), the affected muscle cell will relay the same signal to the adjoining muscle cells. More so, this signal will eventually stop being passed along to adjoining cells, making a single inject unsuitable for treating the entire muscle.

Another characteristic of PEG-MGF, which plays a role in the way it is administered, is the fact that it causes a disproportionate degree of muscle growth in the injected muscle, compared to the rest of the body. However, with PEG-MGF being systematic in nature, one might ask why this happens, being that the compound will eventually spread around to the entire body anyway. This is a question I would have to research, so I cannot answer it right now. Still, I speculate that there may be 3 reasons for this. For one, the injected muscle is directly exposed to the entire amount of the drug on a first come basis. Two, the compound will immediately begin attaching to receptor sites as soon as it is injected, likely using up a substantial portion of the drug before it has a chance to become systematic. Three, due to the micro-injection technique, which is explained below, the entire muscle is exposed to the actions of the drug in large quantities.

Below I will lay out the micro-injection technique. It is a pain in the ass to be sure, but due to the use of 30-31gauge insulin needles, this process is made much more tolerable. The micro-injection process involves injecting a small portion of the drug into multiple locations within the same muscle. In the case of smaller body parts, this can be as many as 14-16 injections, split bi-laterally. In larger body parts, 20 injections split bilaterally is more appropriate. Remember, MGF communicates its actions cell to cell, so this micro-injection technique must be incorporated into one’s protocol if optimal results are desired. Using a small amount of injections will drastically limit the amount of muscle cells which are exposed to the actions of the MGF…and a single injection will severely limit the drug’s ability to turn on stem cell proliferation. Now, before anyone is turned away by the sheer volume of injections, it should be noted that this only needs to be performed twice weekly. In addition, the use of a 30-31gauge 1/2 inch insulin pin reduces scar tissue build-up to less than what would be experienced with just a couple injections using a 22 g. needle. The pain factor is almost a non-issue, as it should be near painless. Lastly, this only needs to be performed for 4 weeks, after which point MGF injections cease and are then followed by a single sub-q IGF-1 LR3 injection per day for the next 4 weeks. It is up to the individual if they want to repeat the program after its completion.

Here is an example of how one might target their chest with this program:

Weeks 1-4
Day #1 (post-workout): Inject 1 mg of PEG-MGF into the pecs. Split this 1 mg up into twenty 50 mcg injections and place 10 injects on the right side of the chest, followed by 10 injects in the left side of the chest. Make sure each injection is placed fairly evenly apart. Use a 30-31gauge 1/2 inch syringe.

Day #2 (about 3-4 days after day 1): Same as above.

Weeks 5-8
Days 1-28: IGF-1 LR3 @ 100 mcg once daily.

*** It is important to note that this is a very advanced protocol and at the time of this writing, it is still very new, as well.  One does not need to use these drugs in this fashion in order to experience their benefits and observe results.  More traditional programs will yield benefits, while requiring a greatly reduced injection frequency. 

Testosterone Suspension and Testosterone Base by heavyiron

 

Testosterone is the undisputed king of steroids mainly because it is safe, elicits rapid mass and strength gains while maintaining libido, a sense of well being and energy. It’s not uncommon for a first time user to gain 15-20lbs of LBM in a standard Testosterone cycle. Pure Testosterone comes in a water based aqueous form (Suspension) and also in a solvent/oil based form (Test Base).

Suspensions have tiny particles that are visible with the naked eye. If left on the shelf for a few days many times the particles will sink to the bottom leaving the clear solvents and water on the top. Depending on the manufacturer, particle sizes vary meaning some Suspension preparations can clog a 22 gauge needle. Ultra micronized Suspension can pass through a 25 gauge needle making injections more comfortable. Shake the suspension preparation vigorously before injecting.

Testosterone suspension is the most potent form of testosterone because it does not possess an ester. Esters are calculated into the steroid weight therefore esterfied steroids are not a true mg for mg of free hormone. 100mg of suspension is 100mg of free hormone! Enanthate in a solution is only 72mg of free hormone per 100mg. You can see that Suspension is the true king steroid. However because there is no ester many users will inject suspension everyday or even multiple times per day. This is usually reason enough for most people to reject using suspension but it gets worse. Usually suspension is quite painful as well. Combine every day injections with significant pain and most users simply pass on trying suspension at all. Some new science now demonstrates that everyday and even every other day injections are not necessary with Testosterone Suspension.

 

What is the real half life of Testosterone Suspension?

There is no classic half life of aqueous Testosterone Suspension due to the nature of the various suspension particle sizes and the non existence of an ester. In other words we don’t see the same types of decay rates with blood androgen levels in non esterfied preparations that are seen in esterfied preparations. However in March of 2011 there was a pharmacokinetics study done in horses that reported a median terminal half-life of 39 hours with aqueous Testosterone Suspension.(1) The disposition of testosterone from this formulation was characterized by an initial, rapid absorption phase followed by a much more variable secondary absorption phase. There were at least two plasma testosterone concentration peaks. The first peak is almost immediate and the second peak is a whopping 7 days later on average according to the chart in the full study. The study indicates that the initial peak is from the Testosterone formulation solution and the following peak(s) from the solid material in the suspension.

 

Basically the solution almost immediately hits the blood stream when injected and then a few days later the solid particles are slowly absorbed by the body causing other peaks in testosterone blood androgen levels.

 

So how often should you administer Suspension?

Based on this science, injecting Suspension every other day or even every three days will maintain high blood androgen levels. The king of steroids has had a time release delay built into it all along and we have the data to prove it. 100mg every other day would be a good starting dose for newer male users. More advanced male users could easily double that dose for very rapid and pronounced LBM gains. Suspension is moderately estrogenic and that effect will be dose dependant. The more you administer the more likely aromatase activity will occur. I would use Nolvadex to lower estrogenic side effects or an aromatase inhibitor.

 

Sample 8 week Suspension cycle

Monday 150mg Suspension/20mg Nolvadex
Tuesday 20mg Nolvadex
Wednesday 150mg Suspension/20mg Nolvadex
Thursday 20mg Nolvadex
Friday 150mg Suspension/20mg Nolvadex
Saturday 20mg Nolvadex
Sunday 20mg Nolvadex

Nolvadex is used to keep lipids positively influenced for those concerned with cardiovascular health. I have opted for an injection schedule of only three times per week to allow for comfort and because a more frequent schedule is not needed.

This cycle should produce rapid increases in strength and mass. I would use this cycle during a bulking phase. A more adventuresome user could stack a strong oral like Dianabol or Anadrol with the above cycle at 50mg daily producing an amazing and rapid increase in size and strength if nutrition, training and recovery are dialed in.

 

Testosterone Base~Oil/Solvent Based

Testosterone Base is 100% pure testosterone similar to aqueous Testosterone Suspension however Test Base is technically a solution not a suspension. Test Base contains no visible Testosterone crystals because they are in an oil and solvent solution NOT water. There are no crystals to slowly absorb into the injection site. Therefore when you inject Test Base there is a very rapid increase in blood Testosterone levels that falls off faster than standard aqueous Testosterone suspension. Test Base packs a big instant wallop when injected and is arguably the fastest Testosterone product available today. Another advantage of Test Base is you may use very small gauge needles to inject it. There are no crystals in Test Base to clog the needle so administering with an insulin syringe is an option. Test Base is ideal pre training or for power lifting or strength sports. I recommend Test Base to be administered two hours pre-training to provide increased aggression and power

 

Reference
An interlaboratory study of the pharmacokinetics of testosterone following intramuscular administration to Thoroughbred horses.

So, you’ve been lifting for a few months with the same routine and the newbie gains are starting to stall, and you’re not sure of what to do from here. In this article I will explain why that’s happening to you, and what you can do to get back on track.

For example; you’ve been doing 3 sets 4-6 reps as heavy as you can, a typical mass workout. Things were great, but then your body started to make that rep and set range a habit. Habituation results in plateaus. When the habit kicks in, there is a gradual reduction of response coming from the body. The body stops responding. Of course the next step would be to do micro-loading and increase the weight on all of your lifts every week so you can progressively overload. But then we have to come back to the principle of accommodation.

Your body accommodates to the overload and soon you’ll hit dead on into a plateau. The 4-6 rep range will not be effective anymore. And that’s why we must jump back to a different rep range for your body to get out of the rut and grow again. This explains why growth isn’t exactly a linear process all the time. It’s got it’s ups and downs for most of us.
Well I’ve taken the principle of accommodation, and the known facts that your body makes a habit of your routine, and made this 8 week training program that features:

* Different sets, and rep ranges every week.

* Every week the exercises are not completely the same, and the order is always different

* A mix of Muscle Overload Training and Volume Training.

All these minute details this program offers will ensure your body doesn’t create habituation. Promote growth you experienced when you first started body building, and of course if your like most of us, you’re in a plateau, this will break it and get you going strong again.

Now I bet you’re asking yourself, is this program for me? And my answer is YES! Weather you’re cutting and trying to gain and/or maintain lean muscle mass or you’re bulking and want size up. This will do the trick. After this 8 week program, you’re going to be saying goodbye to those nasty P-L-A-T-E-A-U-S., And hello to more S-O-L-I-D gains.

The instructions are simple:

On the 3 set 6-8 rep range weeks, you want to go heavy using the overloading principle. Make sure you have enough weight so you can do the minimum, but so much that you struggle to get the maximum.

On the 4 set 8-10 rep range weeks, you still want to go moderately heavy, but not so much to tier you’re self out, remember this week is all about VOLUME.

Week One

Monday Chest/Triceps
Chest:
Incline Bench Press- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Flat Bench Press- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Decline Bench Press- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
High Cable Crossovers- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Triceps:
Incline Scull Crushers – 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Rope Press downs- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Weighted Dips- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Tuesday Back/Biceps
Back:
Barbell Rows- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Wide-Grip Lat Pull downs- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Machine Rows- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Hyper-extensions- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Biceps:
Incline Dumbbell Curls- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Seated Dumbbell Hammer Curls- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Seated Concentration Curls- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Wednesday OFF!

Thursday Legs/Abs
Legs:
Squats- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Stiff Legged Dead lifts- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Calf Raises on Smith Machine- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Abs:
Weighted Leg Raises- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Weighted Crunches- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Friday-Shoulders/Traps
Shoulders:
Arnold Presses- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Seated Side Laterals- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Seated Rear Laterals- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Traps:
Dumbbell Shrugs- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Week Two

Monday Chest/Triceps
Chest:
Decline Dumbbell Presses- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Flat Dumbbell Presses- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Incline Dumbbell Presses- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Incline Dumbbell Flyes- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Triceps:
Weighted Dips- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Straight-bar Press Downs- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Skull Crushers- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Tuesday Back/Biceps
Back:
T-Bar Rows- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Wide-Grip Lat Pull downs – 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Weighted Wide Grip Pull-Ups- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Biceps:
Standing Dumbbell Curls- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Barbell Curls- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Standing Dumbbell Hammer Curls- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Wednesday OFF!

Thursday Legs/Abs
Legs:
Squats- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Leg press (40 Degree) – 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Lying leg curl- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Seated Calf Raises- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Abs:
Decline Sit-ups (Weighted) – 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Ab Machine- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Friday-Shoulders/Traps
Shoulders:
Seated Military Presses- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Standing Front Alternating Dumbbell Laterals- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Standing Dumbbell Side Lateral Raises- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Traps:
Barbell Shrugs- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Week Three!

Monday Chest/Triceps
Chest:
Flat Bench Press- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Incline Chest Press Machine- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Decline Dumbbell Flies-3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Low Cable Crossovers- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Triceps:
Two-arm overhead dumbbell extensions- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Rope Press Downs- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Skull Crushers- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Tuesday Back/Biceps
Back:
Machine Rows- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Weighted Wide-grip Pull-ups- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Behind the neck Lat Pull downs- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Biceps:
Standing EZ Bar Curls- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Seated Preacher Curls – 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Standing Cable Curls- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Wednesday OFF!

Thursday Legs/Abs
Legs:
Leg Extensions- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Dumbbell Lunges- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Stiff Legged Dead lifts- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Calf Presses on Leg Press- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Abs:
Weighted Leg Raises- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Weighted Crunches- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Friday-Shoulders/Traps
Shoulders:
Upright Barbell Rows (close-grip)- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Seated Dumbbell Presses- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Arnold Presses- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Traps:
Dumbbell Shrugs- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Week Four!

Monday Chest/Triceps
Chest:
Flat Bench Dumbbell Presses- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Incline Bench Press- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Decline Bench Press- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Pec Deck Machine- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Triceps:
Close-grip Bench Press- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Dumbbell Triceps Kickbacks- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Rope Press downs- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Tuesday Back/Biceps
Back:
Hyper-extensions- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
T-Bar Rows- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Wide-Grip Lat Pull downs- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Biceps:
Seated Alternating Dumbbell Curls- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Incline Dumbbell Curls- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Barbell Curls- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Wednesday OFF!

Thursday Legs/Abs
Legs:
Front Squats- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Leg Presses 40 (degree) – 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Lying leg curls- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Seated Calf Raises- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Abs:
Decline Sit-ups with a Plate- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Ab Machine- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Friday-Shoulders/Traps
Shoulders:
Upright Dumbbell Rows- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Standing Dumbbell Side Lateral Raises- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Seated Dumbbell Presses- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Traps:
Barbell Shrugs- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Week Five!

Monday Chest/Triceps
Chest:
Incline Bench Press- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Flat Bench Press- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Decline Bench Press- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
High Cable Crossovers- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Triceps:
Incline Scull Crushers – 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Rope Press downs- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Weighted Dips- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Tuesday Back/Biceps
[/b]B[/b]ack:
Barbell Rows- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Wide-Grip Lat Pull downs- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Machine Rows- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Hyper-extensions- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Biceps:
Incline Dumbbell Curls- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Seated Dumbbell Hammer Curls- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Seated Concentration Curls- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Wednesday OFF!

Thursday Legs/Abs
Legs:
Squats- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Stiff Legged Dead lifts- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Calf Raises on Smith Machine- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Abs:
Weighted Leg Raises- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Weighted Crunches- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Friday-Shoulders/Traps
Shoulders:
Arnold Presses- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Seated Side Laterals- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Seated Rear Laterals- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Traps:
Dumbbell Shrugs- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Week Six!

Monday Chest/Triceps
[b]Chest:
Decline Dumbbell Presses- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Flat Dumbbell Presses- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Incline Dumbbell Presses- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Incline Dumbbell Flyes- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Triceps:
Weighted Dips- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Straight-bar Press Downs- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Skull Crushers- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Tuesday Back/Biceps
Back:
T-Bar Rows- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Wide-Grip Lat Pull downs – 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Weighted Wide Grip Pull-Ups- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Biceps:
Standing Dumbbell Curls- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Barbell Curls- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Standing Dumbbell Hammer Curls- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Wednesday OFF!

Thursday Legs/Abs
Legs:
Squats- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Leg press (40 Degree) – 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Lying leg curls- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Seated Calf Raises- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Abs:
Decline Sit-ups (Weighted) – 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Ab Machine- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Friday-Shoulders/Traps
Shoulders:
Seated Military Presses- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Standing Front Alternating Dumbbell Laterals- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Standing Dumbbell Side Lateral Raises- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Traps:
Barbell Shrugs- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Week Seven!

Monday Chest/Triceps
Chest:
Flat Bench Press- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Incline Chest Press Machine- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Decline Dumbbell Flies-3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Low Cable Crossovers- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Triceps:
Two-arm overhead dumbbell extensions- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Rope Press Downs- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Skull Crushers- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Tuesday Back/Biceps
Back:
Machine Rows- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Weighted Wide-grip Pull-ups- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Behind the neck Lat Pull downs- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Biceps:
Standing EZ Bar Curls- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Seated Preacher Curls – 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Standing Cable Curls- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Wednesday OFF!

Thursday Legs/Abs
Legs:
Leg Extensions- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Dumbbell Lunges- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Stiff Legged Dead lifts- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Calf Presses on Leg Press- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Abs:
Weighted Leg Raises- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Weighted Crunches- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Friday-Shoulders/Traps
Shoulders:
Upright Barbell Rows (close-grip)- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Seated Dumbbell Presses- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps
Arnold Presses- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Traps:
Dumbbell Shrugs- 3 Sets 6-8 Reps

Week Eight!

Monday Chest/Triceps
Chest:
Flat Bench Dumbbell Presses- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Incline Bench Press- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Decline Bench Press- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Pec Deck Machine- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Triceps:
Close-grip Bench Press- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Dumbbell Triceps Kickbacks- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Rope Press downs- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Tuesday Back/Biceps
Back:
Hyper-extensions- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
T-Bar Rows- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Wide-Grip Lat Pull downs- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Biceps:
Seated Alternating Dumbbell Curls- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Incline Dumbbell Curls- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Barbell Curls- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Wednesday OFF!

Thursday Legs/Abs
Legs:
Front Squats- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Leg Presses 40 (degree) – 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Lying leg curls- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Seated Calf Raises- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Abs:
Decline Sit-ups with a Plate- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Ab Machine- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Friday-Shoulders/Traps
Shoulders:
Upright Dumbbell Rows- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Standing Dumbbell Side Lateral Raises- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps
Seated Dumbbell Presses- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Traps:
Barbell Shrugs- 4 Sets, 8-10 Reps

Background

Although still relatively new, peptides have recently become popular as performance enhancing drugs.  GHRP-6 is currently available from a few research companies.

Action

The major side effect accompanied by the use of GHRP-6 is a significant increase in appetite due to a stimulating the release of Ghrelin, a peptide which is released naturally in the lining of the stomach and increases hunger and gastric emptying.

GHRP-6 causes stimulation of the anterior pituitary gland which ultimately causes an increase in GH release.  Since GHRP-6 acts directly on the feedback loop which signals the inhibition of GH release, when natural GH secretion has been inhibited by long term synthetic use, GHRP-6 can be used to re-stimulate the natural production of GH.   GHRP-6 also affects the central nervous system, by protecting neurons as well as increasing strength in a way very similar to the way certain steroids in the Dihydrotestosterone family do.

Benefits of increased Growth Hormone levels through GHRP-6 stimulation include:  an increase in strength, muscle mass and body fat loss, rejuvenation and strengthening of joints, connective tissue and bone mass. Enhanced GH secretion also leads to the liver secreting more IGF-1 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1), which is thought to be the primary anabolic mechanism of action for Growth Hormone.

Background

It was first discovered in the muscle by Goldspink, et al. In human muscle, a 49-base insert changes the reading frame in mechano growth factor (MGF) as compared to IGF-1.

Action

When mechanical overload is introduced to a muscle (as by weight training), the IGF-1 gene released and is differentially spliced during the bodies response. Initially, it it is spliced to produce predominantly IGF-1Ec (called the MGF splice variant of IGF-1). This early splicing stimulates satellite cells into activation. Which in turn allows the activation of extra undamaged nuclei to grow new muscle fiber and tissue. The appearance of MGF also initiates the upregulation of new protein synthesis. After this initial splicing of IGF-1 into MGF, production then switches towards producing a systemic release of IGF-1Ea from the liver, which also upregulates protein synthesis as well. The expression of IGF-1 splice variants, over the course of the healing and regrowth phase of muscle repair is thought to be the primary anabolic mechanism by which the body produces new muscle. MGF is available as an injectable peptide, and it has been anecdotally shown that injecting it will cause a response in the area resulting in localized muscle growth.

Technical Data

In a rodent study, a single intramuscular injection into muscle resulted in a 25% increase in mean muscle fibre cross section area within three weeks.(2) Using a similar protocol, liver-derived IGF-1 took four months to produce a 15% increase.(3)

It would also appear that with regards to age, the young have a better ability to respond to MGF (4), and that the elderly experience a decreased response to MGF which results in a decreased ability to stimulate the growth of new muscle tissue.

In the words of the man known as the father of MGF research:

“MGF is… a prime candidate for gene doping for enhancement of athletic performance.”(1)

User Notes

I’ve personally used MGF several times and think it’s a really great product. Admittedly, I have only used it in conjunction with Lr3IGF-1, but many (myself included) feel that there’s probably quite a bit of synergy to be found between these two peptides.

I experienced muscle growth (localized) with MGF, but not really much of a strength increase over what I would have experienced with just the IGF. Most users find MGF to be very good for muscle growth and typically use a protocol of 100mcgs injected into each lagging muscle just after working it.

A further discussion of how to incorporate this compound can be found in my article “Peptides: The next frontier in hypertrophy”

PEGylation is the act of attaching a Polyethylene glycol (PEG) structure to another larger molecule (in this case, MGF). The PEG acts as a protective coating and the theory here is that this will allow the MGF to be carried through the blood stream without being broken down.

Background

I have to be honest here, and say that in my estimation, PEGylating MGF is basically something a research chemical company did to have a bit of a market with no competition for awhile. That’s not to say that it’s not a decent product, but honestly, in this particular case, I feel that marketing was in the drivers seat with the development of this version of MGF, and science was in the backseat asking “are we there yet?”.

Action

MGF is produced biologically when muscle fibers are broken down through resistance (weight training). It is a potent factor in muscle growth. MGF stimulates muscle growth, creates new muscle fibers, promotes nitrogen retention and increases protein synthesis. This compound is commonly used for overall growth of muscle and to promote growth in body parts that are not up to par with the rest of the user’s physique. Results usually depend on dosage. Fat loss and strength increases are not typically seen with MGF’s use (as they are in IGF-1 use).

The PEG itself is safe for use as it is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and does not react in the body. The PEG is not broken down in the body and excreted (intact) through urine or feces. Any risk associated PEGylated drugs is due to drug itself not the PEG per se.

Technical Data

In a study on older rodents, muscle fiber reduction in their older muscles was found to be attributed to decreased activity of satellite cells (1). After a certain size was reached, growth ceased. In the presence of MGF, satellite cells became activated and hypertrophy in mature muscles continued.

In experiments where MGF was administered intramuscularly, there was a 20% increase in the weight of the injected muscle fibers within 2 weeks (2). In further studies, it took 4 months for IGF to cause a 25% increase in muscle mass (3). MGF was found to be more potent than IGF-1Ea in rapid muscle growth (4).

[Note: This data is on “regular” MGF, not the Pegylated version….we can assume similar results, however]

User Notes

Although the science looks impressive on paper, in the real world, we see something totally different. While PEGMGF should have theoretically given the athletes who use it better results than regular MGF, it struggles to provide even the same results at a higher dosage (judging from the athletes I have personally spoken to).

So does that mean it’s useless?

No, not at all. Not entirely…

I think that the PEGylation is actually a potentially useful addition to MGF if properly used. If we assume that the PEGylation will extend the life of the MGF in the body somewhat, then we can use it in a very specific manner to help our gains. It is nowhere near as good as regular MGF though, and I wouldn’t use it unless I really had the disposable cash on hand.

I feel that, based on conversations with several athletes and bodybuilders, that PEGMGF is best used in conjunction with (not instead of) regular MGF (and IGF). I feel that if one were to use my Peptides protocol (to read about that in detail, check out the article “Peptides: The Next Frontier in Hypertrophy”), I think that PEGMGF is probably best used on off-days from training, to keep MGF levels elevated and get additional hypertrophy from the longer releasing PEGMGF.

So, along with regular MGF and Lr3IGF-1, if I felt it to be necessary, I might throw in some PEGMGF on off-days from training, to get additional growth (and again, if it were me, I’d probably recommend 400-500mcg of PEGMGF on off days, with a regular dose of 200mcg of regular MGF + 100mgs of Lr3IGF-1 on training days, as per my article).

For most athletes I’ve spoken to and worked with, this is what we’ve found to be optimal. Again, though…I’m not very fond of this product, and it’s best used (if at all), as a possible adjunct to an IGF + MGF cycle, and never in place of regular MGF. Unfortunately, it just didn’t pan out as people hoped it would, but it’s not a complete waste of money.

Melanotan I has not been sparking the interest of the public near as much as Melanotan II. See below as to why:

Melanotan II

Melanotan II has aphrodisiac properties. Palatin Technologies of New Jersey has developed another hormone targeted towards Sexual dysfunction based upon melanontan II which they call Bremelanotide (formerly called PT-141). Bremelanotide is a metabolite of melanotan II that lacks the C-terminal amide function. Bremelanotide is currently in clinical trials to treat erectile dysfunction and sexual arousal disorder.

How it works:

MT-2 is a chemical analogue of a something the body naturally produces
called alpha-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (a-MSH). A-MSH is what induces skin cells called melanocytes to produce melanin — the pigment that tans a person’s skin and is responsible for the various colors of skin around the world in humans.

MT-2 out competes a-MSH for binding to melanocyte receptors in humans and other mammals because it has a binding affinity over 1000x more potent than
a-MSH. Therefore only milligrams are needed to do what would normally take lots of a-MSH to do.

When you are exposed to UV radiation (whether tanning bed or sunshine) your body produces more a-MSH, hence the eventual tan. However, genetically pale people fall into one of two categories. They either do not sufficiently produce enough a-MSH, or their melanocytes have a weak affinity for a-MSH.

MT-2 overcomes both of these limitations. Users can get very dark with MT-2, it is matter of dosage – the more you take, the darker you will get. The tan is 100 % real, so it fades as slowly as a real tan once you stop using (3-4 weeks, maybe more).

The only people MT-2 will not work for are pure albinos — their melanocyte receptors have zero affinity, thus even MT-2 simply cannot bind and hence they have no skin pigmentation. MT-2 will work unequivocally for everyone else, even very pale redheads can get very dark.

How it is used:

You need to be properly informed in the storing and usage of peptides
– they denature if you mishandle them.

If you order 30 mg (which is a sufficient amount for a first-time beginner cycle) you will receive your 30 mg of “lyophilized” (it means
“freeze-dried”) MT-2.

Place vials in the fridge upon arrival. The peptide should last for a long time and is stable without being shipped on ice.

Then with the vial you are going to be using, reconstitute (mix with
bacteriostatic water).

To mix the vial with bact water, take one of the syringes (BD Ultrafine II 1cc or 1/3 cc are excellent and I recommend them) and grab your bacteriostatic water. If using a 1 cc syringe (100 units) use the syringe to withdraw 1 full ml (1cc) and inject that into the vial of MT-2 through the rubber. Be sure to aim the needle towards the glass, so that it will trickle down. Swirl the vial to thoroughly mix and let the peptide dissolve.

So now you have 100 units (1cc) of bacteriostatic water mixed with 10 mg of MT-2 in your vial.

Then inject roughly 100 units (1 cc) of air into the vial so that the vial is not a vacuum — otherwise withdrawing peptide will be tricky because of suction in the vial (not all vials have vacuum, so don’t worry). Don’t inject too much air into the vial; otherwise the air pressure will push too much air back into the syringe when you try to withdraw the peptide for injection. Around 100 units usually works fine — the “units” I’m using as a ref. for injecting are on the side of the syringes (100 unit = one full syringe).

Now, that the vial is mixed (reconstituted), when you withdraw 10 units of the substance, that equals 1 mg of MT-2. So 30 units would equal 3 mg, get the idea? (NOTE: this is just for example)

Now you’re ready for subcutaneous injection. If you’ve never performed sub-q injection before, it’s very simple, and if done right, you literally don’t feel anything. The needles used for sub-q injection are extremely small (8 mm) and you only go in 5 mm or so — just into fatty tissue beneath skin. NOT intravenous or intramuscular this is a bit more complicated. Certain diabetics perform sub-q injections with the same tiny needles you’ll be using two-three times a day.

You can use the same syringe you used to add the bacteriostatic water to the vial for your first injection. But never use the same syringe twice on yourself — this is a universal rule no matter what you’re injecting. Syringes and bacteriostatic water are extremely cheap and you can get them with ease.

You will store the reconstituted (mixed) vial in your fridge. You want the peptide to stay potent for as long as possible. It is very realistic for the peptide to be good for a couple months.

The recommended dose for the first timer is roughly .5mg after dinner. Dosing at night can help avoid any possible nausea. Ginger root, pepto, Rolaids, etc can also aid your stomach if you find you have troubles. Nausea typically goes away after the first couple doses. Listen to your body, it’s nothing to be alarmed about, it’s perfectly normal. Your body is simply finding a new homeostasis as it acclimates to the peptide in your blood. Your body adjusts within 2-4 days at the latest and you will never have any nausea again — unless you come off MT-2 for a long time (over 2 months) and then resume heavy dosing. So remember, the nausea is COMPLETELY normal and entirely goes away. The harder and more frequent erections as a side effect however will persist for as long as you are taking MT-2. MT-2 is more powerful than Viagra in this regard, and that is why we are interested in the analogue version of MT-2 called PT-141 to treat ED as well!

After a few days of .5mg (1/20th of a vial), work up to where you can take a dose around 1mg. Play with the dose until desired shade of tan is achieved. From there, maintenance dosing is minimal (ie: .5mg every 3-4 days). Any dosing chart stating that you should take higher than 1mg is outdated and potentially dangerous.

There is no magic pill or formula here. Trial and error are critical to learning and researching. Share your melanotan experience so that the community continues to prosper!

FAQ

“How long does the tan last?”
The tan is 100% real, and lasts as long as it would to another person naturally.

“I was wondering about the side effect of erections. Are they completely spontaneous, or a result of increased libido?”
The aphrodisiac side effects (or perks, depending how you look at it) are dose and timing dependant. Taking too much can make it hard to ignore. Taking the average 1mg dose seems to yield all the right feelings! See the Bremelanotide FAQ for more information on this subject.

“How much UV exposure (sun or bed) is needed for MT-II to work?”
On average, with a moderate tanning schedule, a ballpark # would be a month. This is always one of those near impossible questions to answer however.

“What would happen if someone used MT II and didn’t get any UV exposure? Would they still tan?”
You will develop a tan without sun exposure when using melanotan. However, the tan you could achieve with UV exposure would be much more natural looking and desirable. The tricky issue to consider is the balance between dosing melanotan and UV radiation. There are issues with pale skin, as there are with dark skin. Doing your research and reading user journals is a wonderful tool for preparation.

“I have been taking melanotan II for about 2 weeks, have seen great results already, just a little worried about these dark dots I am developing over my body, is it normal or should I be worried.”
The dark spots some get at certain stages of their melanotan use are referred to as hyper pigmentation. They seem to be areas of previous sun damage. Most of the time as the rest of your tan emerges; they will be less noticeable or not noticeable at all.

“Since I have been taking the drug I have noticed increased muscle mass from working out, does this drug have any benefits in building muscle or is it just in my mind?”
I too noticed an increase in muscle strength while I was on melanotan II and thought it was in my mind, but now that you mention it….

First off, let me start by saying MT-II has been nothing short of a miracle for me. I have NEVER had a good tan like i have had since using it…in my ENTIRE life. Tan Research has been phenomenal and they are the only company i trust.

Sides

Most commons sides that pose a problem tend to be: nausea, loss of appetite, headache, and indigestion

Other common not so problematic sides are: frequent erections, flushing on first couple doses, darkening of freckles and moles (does go away after use in most cases).

Dosing: Loading

Loading is important BUT do not overstep your limits. My first ever MT-II cycle i hopped right on at 1mg ed and had no problems. However, the last go around i did that and was sick with no appetite for a week. The key is, take it slow. I would work it like this:

Day 1: .25mg in the am, .25mg in the pm
Day 2: .25mg in the am, .25mg early afternoon, .25mg night
Day 3: .50mg in the am (if all goes well with this dose then->), .50mg in the pm (if first dose was too much, do .25mg two times after)
Day 4: .50mg in the am, .50mg in the pm
Day 5 thru Day 7-10: same as Day 4

DO NOT INJECT more than .5mg at a time. Its not worth it. I found my body reacts to smaller split up doses. 1mg at a time i am not eating for a couple hours and generally feel like crap.

Tanning

MT-II is meant for UV protection. Having said that, this is the mechanism in which it helps you tan. It stops you from burning (at all, or as much…very important note) which is anti-tan so to speak.

My advice for people who are hard-tanners.

1) Buy a package at a salon with a HIGH QUALITY low UVB bed/booth. This is most likely going to be the most expensive package but its worth it. UVB rays is what will burn you.

2) After about 5 days into the loading phase of MT-II i would begin tanning in the bed. Obviously use a high quality lotion and DO NOT GO FOR THE FULL TIME THE FIRST TIME! For example, the highest quality stand up is max 8 min. For your first time i would go for 5, then 3 days later 6, so on and so forth. If you burn, then do not go up until tanning at that time successfully with no burn.

3) Tanning on MT-II should be done at least once a week. In the beginning i recommend two sessions a week to build a tan. 3 times a week and you will get DARK.

4) There is no replacement for real sunlight BUT using MT-II does not mean you don’t need sunscreen. I tend to get my darkest while using MT-II when in the sun. It doesn’t take much either. I went from someone who had to wear SPF-30 and re-apply 5 times or so, to someone who wears Spf 6 Hawaiian Tropic tanning lotion and only applies it twice.

Dosing: Maintenance

There is a point you will reach where you will be dark enough. This is where the maintenance dose comes into play. I recommend 1mg every mon. and thurs. Once again, dosage each day is split in half every 12 hours (.5mg am, .5mg pm). In my case, I tan on Weds. in between the two doses, then in the weekend during the summer I am in the sun. It works great.

The insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) were originally discovered and purified from serum. They are considered to be important growth factors for industrial cell culture because:

• They are present in all animal and human sera at concentrations of 100 – 500 µg/L.

• The removal of IGFs from serum can abolish up to 90% of the cell growth-promoting activity.

• They stimulate nutrient uptake, cell growth, protein synthesis and inhibit apoptosis or programmed cell death in a wide range
of cell types.

• Almost all cells have type I IGF receptors, which mediate the biological action of IGFs.

Many industrially important cell types can be cultured in serum-free media that contain high concentrations of insulin (5 – 10 mg/L). This is about 1000-fold higher than the normal physiological concentration of insulin. Insulin only works in cell culture because it acts as a weak substitute for IGFs. Much lower levels of IGFs can replace insulin.

The insulin-like growth factors are structurally related to insulin. There are two forms, IGF-I and IGF-II, which are similar and have closely related actions on cell growth via the same receptor. IGF-I is considered to be the main post-natal growth-promoting factor and IGF-II has major effects during fetal development. IGF-I is a non-glycosylated, single chain polypeptide 70 amino acids in length.

Structure of IGF-I and Insulin
Insulin-like growth Factor-I Insulin

IGF-I is similar in structure to pro-insulin, the precursor of insulin. Pro-insulin is a single chain polypeptide, which is cleaved to remove the connecting C peptide, to form insulin. Insulin has two chains (A and B chain) connected by two disulphide bonds.

The receptors for IGF-I and insulin are also structurally related and both ligands interact with each other’s receptors with very low affinity. In cell culture, the potency of IGF-I is higher than insulin because the cellular responses required for biopharmaceutical production in animal cells are mediated via the type I IGF receptor, not the insulin receptor.

Another important feature is that a family of six IGF binding proteins regulates the biology of IGF peptides. These proteins are found in serum and are also produced by cells in culture. IGF binding proteins bind IGFs with high affinity and generally inhibit the actions of IGFs on cells. This has been exploited by making analogs of IGF peptides that do not bind to IGF binding proteins and are therefore superior to both IGF-I and insulin in cell culture. The most potent of these analogs for commercial cell culture purposes is LongR3 IGF-I.

LongR3 IGF-I
LongR3I GF-I has been specifically engineered and manufactured by GroPep Limited for use in serum-free cell culture media. Structurally it has two significant modifications — first, one amino acid in the IGF-I structure, the glutamic acid (E) at position 3 has been replaced with an arginine (R), which accounts for the R3 in the name; and second, because the molecule is made as a fusion protein, it has an N-terminal fusion partner which is 13 amino acids long. Thus the “LongTM” in the name.

Structure of LongR3 IGF-I

Replacing the glutamic acid (E) with arginine (R) at position 3 is important because this modification significantly reduces the binding of the growth factor to the IGF-I binding proteins, enabling LongR3 IGF-I to be so potent. The addition of the fusion partner also enhances refolding and facilitates high-yield production. The end result is a growth factor 10-fold more potent in cultured cells compared to native IGF-I and 200- to 1000-fold more potent than insulin.

A general comparison of properties related to potency in cell culture is provided in the following table.

LongR3I GF-I is manufactured in genetically engineered E. coli. The manufacturing process uses no animal sourced material, making it regulatory friendly for commercial biopharmaceutical production. The system of production is briefly outlined below:

1. Fermentation. E. coli containing the gene for LongR3 IGF-I are grown in a fermenter. GroPep
Limited’s patented expression system uses inclusion body technology.

2. Homogenization. Bacteria are lysed to release inclusion bodies that are harvested by differential
centrifugation.

3. Dissolution. The recombinant fusion protein is released into solution. It is not correctly folded
into its tertiary protein structure at this point.

4. Refolding. The LongR3 IGF-I protein is incubated under controlled conditions so that the
disulphide bonds can correctly form to allow the correct protein structure. The protein would
be biologically inactive or less active in an incorrectly folded form.

5. Purification. A four-step system is used to purify LongR3 IGF-I. This series of steps also incorporates accepted protocols for the removal of bacterial endotoxin.

6. Supply. The product is subjected to quality control assays and is available as a lyophilized
powder or can be manufactured as a liquid for delivery to customers.

It is important to be aware that insulin is acting in cell culture systems as a weak analog of IGF-I.
LongR3I GF-I will therefore work in any serum-free medium or cell culture system in which insulin is used. The potency compared to insulin is best illustrated by the data published by Morris, et al, 20001. They found that LongR3 IGF-I was superior to insulin in terms of recombinant protein production, primarily by increasing the number of viable Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells in a small production system. LongR3 IGF-I was used in the µg/L range compared to insulin in the mg/L concentration range.

Advantages of LongR3 IGF-I

There are several advantages to using LongR3 IGF-I in cell culture rather than insulin.
1. LongR3 IGF-I is Better Cell Science. Because LongR3 IGF-I acts directly on the type I IGF
receptor it is the right tool for the job. And since far less LongR3 IGF-I is required in media than
insulin it can make downstream processing easier and more efficient as well.

2. LongR3 IGF-I Outperforms Insulin. Published research has shown that LongR3 IGF-I leads to overall greater productivity by increasing cell viability and delaying programmed cell death.

3. LongR3 IGF-I is Readily Available and Regulatory Friendly. Since LongR3 IGF-I is a recombinant protein manufactured in a process without any animal-derived components it eliminates regulatory concerns. It is a proven cell culture product currently employed in the manufacturing process
of a number of FDA-approved biopharmaceuticals. A secure and ample manufacturing capacity
ensures a continual, ready supply for commercial production needs.

4. LongR3 IGF-I is Less Expensive than Insulin. Depending on the amount of LongTMR3IGF-I used to achieve cell growth, and the productivity enhancements one achieves, LongR3 IGF-I can be
significantly less expensive than insulin on a dollar/liter basis as shown on the chart below. Also,
over time, as LongR3 IGF-I usage increases, the cost of production will decrease – making it even
less expensive, while insulin costs have been steadily increasing.

Preparation and use of LongR3 IGF-I

LongR3 IGF-I is supplied as a freeze-dried formulation or as a liquid.

The freeze-dried formulation is packed in an atmosphere of nitrogen at a slight vacuum. To prepare a solution for cell culture, introduce an air filled syringe through the septum to equalize the pressure. Next, add sufficient 10 mM HCl or 100 mM acetic acid to the vial to achieve a peptide concentration of at least 0.1 mg/mL. Concentrations of 1 mg/mL or more are recommended. Mix the solution thoroughly to ensure the peptide is completely dissolved. The solution can then be filtered through a low-protein binding membrane before addition to cell culture medium or it can be added directly to the medium, which can subsequently be filtered.

The liquid product is formulated in acetic acid (100 mM) at a concentration of 5 – 7 g/L and is ready to dilute straight into cell culture medium to achieve a biologically active concentration of about 50 µg/L. The final dilution of 100,000-fold, means that there is no effect on pH or osmolality of the cell culture medium.

A titration for LongR3 IGF-I should be performed for each different application as the optimum concentration may vary slightly depending upon the cell type used and other components present in the medium. The recommended final concentration range of LongR3 IGF-I is 10 to 50 µg/L.

Because LongR3 IGF-I and insulin act through the same cell receptor, the effectiveness of LongR3 IGF-I will be masked if it is added in conjunction with commonly employed concentrations of insulin (~10 mg/L). However, inclusion of physiological levels of insulin (~5 µg/L) in cell culture medium containing the recommended levels of LongR3 IGF-I can result in beneficial synergistic effects in certain applications.