Anavar steroid is one of those versatile oral performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) that comes readily to mind if you are a bodybuilder looking to build muscle mass, shed body fat and enhance your athlete performance all at once.
As a matter of fact, Oxandrolone (Anavar) is highly favoured by both male and female bodybuilders alike not only for its dynamism, but also because of its mild side effects.
The question of how safe is Anavar steroid seldom arises amongst bodybuilders. Of course, this is provided bodybuilders keep to a safe cycle/dosage plan, maintain a steady training routine, eat clean, use supplements whenever necessary and adhere to a post-cycle therapy (PCT) protocol.
In this post, we reveal the functioning of Anavar, the cycle and dosage plan to build muscle mass, Anavar steroid benefits and effects of Anavar abuse.
The Functioning of Anavar Steroid
Before we begin with how Anavar steroid functions, it is important to note that this androgenic-anabolic steroid (AAS) has been around since 1962. In fact, by 1964 the pharmaceutical company, G.D Searles & Co. would first make Oxandrolone available to the American market following FDA approval.
Anavar was initial put to use by the medical field primarily for helping patients with catabolic disorders to build muscle mass. However, the medical use of Anavar did not escape the notice of the bodybuilding community.
For more than 50 years, this AAS has been a staple in many bodybuilders cycling and stacking routines because of its ability to solve the three bodybuilding goals of muscle and strength building, and fat shedding.
Oxandrolone is capable of boosting skeletal muscle growth by increasing nitrogen retention, Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and protein synthesis in muscle tissue.
Anavar will also improve your endurance levels by raising your red blood cells (RBC). Whenever your RBC levels rise, the amount of oxygen supplied to all parts of your body also increases. RBC is responsible for conveying oxygenated blood throughout your body including your muscle tissues.
With increased levels of oxygenated blood in your muscle tissues, you can train harder and longer, because of the slow build up of muscle fatigue causing lactic acid in your muscle tissues.
Whenever you run an Anavar cycle, your appetite drops while the boost in your Triiodothyronine (T3) hormone levels will increase your metabolic rate leading to lipolysis and the shedding of body fat.
How much Anavar should I take to build muscle?
The amount of Anavar steroid you should take to build muscle is subjective. Every individual will react differently to running an Anavar cycle and for different reasons. Our physiological make-up is different, so the way Anavar will react in one person will differ from how it would with another user.
Before you run any Anavar cycle or stack, you should consult with your doctor and/or bodybuilding coach. Your doctor would carry out a series of tests to ascertain your suitability for the cycle while your trainer will draw up a cycle/stack, training, dietary and PCT program that will help optimise your bodybuilding goals.
Typically, your ability to build skeletal muscle will be dependent on your age, sex, health status, training routine, diet, and so on. You may be tempted to think that the more Anavar you use, the greater your muscle building gains.
However, the reverse is actually the case in this instance, as what is more important in muscle building is not the volume of Anavar steroid you take, but your training, nutrition, and PCT protocol.
Even though Anavar has mild effects, it is necessary for you to maintain a safe Anavar cycle and dosage plan. This way, you can avoid exposing yourself to the possible health dangers associated with the misuse or abuse of Anavar.
Male and female bodybuilders can use Anavar, but their cycle and dosage plan would differ slightly.
For male bodybuilders, a daily Anavar dosage of 15mg to 25mg for a cycle of 6 to 8 weeks is considered very safe. But depending on your bodybuilding and AAS experience, you may want to run a daily Anavar dosage of between 20mg to 100mg over a 4 to 6 week cycle.
Beginner and intermediate level bodybuilders will hover around a low to mid-range dosage while advanced level bodybuilders will be at the higher dosage spectrum.
It is also worth noting that Anavar works well in a stack. For example, an Anavar and Dianabol stack is great for any bodybuilder looking to gain lean muscle mass with very little water retention concerns.
In the case of female bodybuilders, a safe Anavar cycle and dosage plan would be a 4 to 6 week Anavar cycle with a daily dosage of 5mg to 10mg.
It is important that when using Anavar or any AAS for that matter, you thread the path of caution to avoid health complications.
Benefits of Following Anavar Cycle
If you follow a recommended Anavar cycle supported by a decent strength training program, good clean nutrition, supplementation, and PCT, you should enjoy significant bodybuilding gains.
There are five main Anavar steroid benefits that you can take advantage of and they are:
#1. Mild Effects and Side Effects
One of the benefits of Anavar use by both male and female bodybuilders is the fact that the AAS has really mild effects and side effects. Anavar will promote muscle building, fat shedding and strength gains without exposing users to complicated side effects.
Provided you run a recommended cycle and dosage plan, you are less likely to experience harsh feminisation and masculinisation side effects.
#2. Muscle Building
Oxandrolone will promote muscle building by raising nitrogen retention, IGF-1, and protein synthesis in your skeletal muscle tissues. Anavar will promote lean muscle mass with little signs of water retention if stacked with Dianabol.
#3. Strength Building
The increased intracellular adenosine triphosphate or ATP and exogenous testosterone levels brought about by Anavar use, will promote strength gains.
#4. Fat Shedding
By increasing T3 levels in the body, your metabolic rate is also boosted which then leads to lipolysis and the shedding of both visceral and subcutaneous fat deposits.
#5. Enhanced Stamina
Anavar raises your RBC levels which in turn increases the supply of oxygen to your skeletal muscles. Increased RBC will reduce the rate of lactic acid buildup in skeletal muscle tissues. This will lead to reduced muscle fatigue and increased stamina during weight training.
Effects of Anavar Steroid Abuse
You can abuse Anavar steroid either by taking a higher than recommended daily dosage or running a longer than planned cycle. There are consequences to abusing AAS and Anavar steroid abuse is no different.
You could be putting your health at risk when you abuse Anavar, but the severity of your health problems would depend on several factors including the volume and length of your Anavar abuse.
Feminisation and masculinisation
The main effects of Anavar abuse would be an increased risk of feminisation or masculinisation side effects. These would include male pattern baldness, hair loss, and gynaecomastia in male bodybuilders.
Female bodybuilders would be exposed to side effects like breast atrophy, enlargement of the clitoris, a deepened voice, and so on.
Increased LDL Levels
Another health complication that you could be exposed to if you abuse Anavar is increased Low Density Lipoprotein or LDL levels.
The LDL is also known as “bad cholesterol” which is a major contributing factor behind strokes and other cardiovascular health issues.
Kidney concerns
Abusing Anavar will also take a toll on your kidneys, as this AAS is metabolised by your kidneys. Continuous abuse of Anavar could lead to kidney failure and even death.
Final Thoughts on Anavar Steroid
Without a doubt Anavar steroid is a preferred choice of bodybuilders in need of a mild acting, but potent AAS. Anavar covers all the bases of muscle building, strength building, fat shedding and performance enhancing.
Anavar can be used by both male and female bodybuilders of all levels of experience. Oxandrolone can also be stacked with other steroids for optimal bodybuilding gains.
The benefits of Anavar use include lean muscle mass, endurance and strength and building, and the shedding of both subcutaneous and visceral fat. Like any other drug, Anavar can also be abused. This is why it is important for you to consult with a qualified and experienced trainer before running an Anavar cycle.
If you want to chat with a qualified trainer, you can discuss your bodybuilding goals for free with our resident IFBB PRO trainer today.
