'Cycling' Supplements

[needingalift Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close needingalift]

I keep reading that even if you're fortunate enough to find a supplement that produces the required effect, you shouldn't take it every day or your body will become soon accustomed to it and it will cease to work. It's therefore recommended to cycle it, but I'm just wondering (as a newcomer to all of this) how to proceed??

There seem to be various suggestions out there, depending on where you look. They range from simply taking a few days' break every now and then to more complex solutions such as finding 7 products that all work and using each of them once a week. I don't see this being an option for me though; apart from the expense, finding just one is proving difficult enough!

My problem is that I want to boost my testosterone levels and am hoping to do it with some ZMA pills, but will the initial success wear off after a while if I don't cycle? It would be devastating if so and I obviously want to avoid this scenario, so any advice would be welcome.

Thanks in advance!

[epoch Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close epoch]

TLS - Try using D-Aspartic Acid (DAA) to boost test. Take 3.5 grams once daily for up to 6 weeks, and then take 6 weeks off. Repeat. There is a lot of evidence that DAA actually works to boost testosterone levels, but not much data to support many other supposed "test boosters". Note that DAA will also slightly increase prolactin levels, you may or may not see any effect from this. As always, if you notice any unwanted side effects, stop taking the supp immediately. DAA supposedly boosts test by up to 40%.

Another thing that works to boost test levels is an aromatase inhibitor (AI), but most of these are prescription or gray market drugs/chemicals. People have cycled these with DAA (6 weeks DAA followed by 6 weeks AI) to maintain higher test levels. AI's can boost test by up to a factor of 4. Note that AI's work by preventing testosterone from being converted to estrogen in your body, so when they are used your estrogen levels will plummet. You NEED adequate estrogen for important body processes, so use of AI's can be DANGEROUS.

DAA is a pretty simple and straightforward supp, and the label instructions are probably fine to keep you safe if you cycle properly and use common sense to stay in tune with possible side effects. If you decide to consider AI's, I recommend you do a LOT of RESEARCH before you start - for your own safety.

Good luck!

[needingalift Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close needingalift]

Thank you for the information, epoch, and I'm already checking out that DAA stuff you mention

Most of the ads are recommending about 3g a day with a few weeks on / a few weeks off, which this ties in with what you are saying so my next question is ... could I use it with the ZMA and follow a similar routine with this, using it when I'm not taking the DAA and vice versa?

I ask because during the 'off' periods wouldn't your T levels just go flat again after a while? Or are they somehow maintained even when you're not taking anything?

[epoch Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close epoch]

TLS - IMHO, ZMA is not going to boost test levels unless you have a zinc deficiency. If you do have a zinc deficiency, you can remedy it by eating the right foods. So, ZMA isn't something I'd recommend. Save your money.

DAA takes about 14 days to reach peak effectiveness at the 3.5 gram daily dose. When you stop taking it, your test levels will gradually decline. It is an old maxim among bodybuilders cycling, uh.. "supplements", that "Days On = Days Off". I think this is a good idea. Your body will begin to adapt to the supplement over time, making it less effective. You need some time for your body to get back to its normal state, and then start the supplement again. Any cycling that doesn't include a return to "unsupplemented normal" for a period of time probably isn't smart. For example, if you take supplement A for 6 weeks, then supplement B for 6 weeks, you'd want at least 6 (or 12) weeks of no supplement to let your body re-equilibrate and return to normal.

[needingalift Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close needingalift]

Okay, I think I've got that!

However, if you have to let your testosterone levels decline (during the periods of abstinence) to where they were before then surely this is self-defeating? Unless I've misunderstood, it seems like this method will just create a lot of peaks and troughs - is there no way of keeping levels permanently topped up?

[JonPop Retired Sr. Administrator PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close JonPop]

Androgel. Use everyday. Keeps your Testosterone levels balanced.

[MikeShlort Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MikeShlort]

Androgel. Use everyday. Keeps your Testosterone levels balanced.

You should never use any testosterone booster for more than 6 weeks at a time. Then go 6 weeks off and start again. Your body adapts to supplements very quickly and you want to force your body to always be creating it's own hormones. I went to that website and the stuff looks like a very low dose, but I would still not use it for more than 6 weeks without cycling off. Also, that product is for older men.

[JonPop Retired Sr. Administrator PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close JonPop]

AndroGel is by prescription only. The Gel is only 1% and is part of HRT, using 4 pumps from the dispenser per day, when the body doesn't produce enough Testosterone on it's own.
This is determined by a simple blood test by your Dr. and AndroGel is prescribed. I have been on AndroGel for more than 8 years.
needingalift, make an appointment, don't mess around with all of the stuff out there on the net. Listen to me. (jP

[epoch Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close epoch]

Mike and JP are both right. If you suspect low test levels, you can determine this easily with a blood test.If your test is low (about 300 ng/dl or less) your Doc may prescribe testosterone replacement therapy (eg Androgel, Axiron, etc..). These gels that contain testosterone and are used to replace your body's own testosterone. When you take them (or any other androgenic steoid) your body will gradually stop making its own testosterone, because it senses that there is already enough testosterone in your system from the replacement test you are applying. They are not "additional" testosterone. SOme Docs will now prescribe something called HCG to help prevent total shutdown of your bodys own test production. You may want to look into this if you are starting testosterone replacement... a lot of Docs are not familiar with it as it is a newer adjunctive therapy.

Bodybuilders take test boosters/supplements (eg, DAA) to elevate already normal test levels. This test boost is done to increase the effects of training and grow additional muscle mass more quickly. In theory, if cycled continuously, you could have an elevated test level 50% of the time which is a significant advantage over not having an elevated level at all. Supps are cycled for safety. They exert a stress on your digestive, endocrine and metabolic systems and processes. Elevated test levels may cause some degree of normal testosterone suppression. Cellular receptors become acclimated to the supplement and do not respond as well, making the supp less effective. An "Off" cycle allows these systems and processes to return to their normal states, thus making the next "On" cycle effective and safe.

I guess my thinking is that in reality there are professional bodybuilders... and they take HGH, testosterone and other steroids. They don't bother with "supplements". Supps just can't do what steroids will do, and lots of money and prestige is at stake. And then there are "Gym Rats"... regular guys who lift and take supps for the minimal advantage they may provide in building muscle mass. And then there are guys with low testosterone who are looking to improve their drive, libido, etc.. These guys NEED testosterone replacement therapy.

Hope this helps.

[austfred Member Find all posts View Profile Close austfred]

I have ED and got some benefits from Kingpole's 5G supplements and took his advice on cycling (eg 5 days on and two off) I also take some so called testosterone boosters (eg HGW, Tribulus, MACA over the last few days Tongkat Ali).

I just read at Testosterone Booster! Natural Male Hormone Replacement! that you should also cycle these but on a one day on 6 day off with a different one each day. He is in the game of selling supplements and recommends the following 7 with a different one each day:

Catuaba Bark
Mucuna Pruriens
Tribulus Terrestris
Rhodiola Rosea
Horny Goat Weed
Tongkat Ali Extract
And finally....
Passion RX which is Yohimbe

I assume you could substitute different ones such as MACA.

What are member’s thought’s on this and has anyone tried it? My apologies for the bolding, I cannot seem to get rid of it.