Bodybuilders generally follow different cycles than other athletes because of their goals. Bodybuilders use steroids for two purposes, to increase muscle mass and decrease bodyfat. Such other factors as endurance, stamina, and strength are secondary and while important for training purposes, play no role on a bodybuilding stage.

Cycling means alternating periods of anabolic steroids use with non-use. But bodybuilders competing at the national and professional levels seldom come off the drugs. For most of these people being off the juice just means taking lower amounts. There is rarely a point during the year when the persons system is clear of the drugs. Generally speaking they stay on heavy amounts of steroids continuously.

Why Cycle?

The primary reason why bodybuilders cycle steroids is to reduce the risk of side effects. Its well known that the risk of side effects greatly increases with the length of time the person is on the drugs. A short 6 to 8 week cycle will probably not produce any serious medical issues, but most bodybuilders dont limit themselves to such short cycles. They stay on for months, if not years at a time. Its not surprising that many of these individuals start suffering side effects.

A second reason for anabolic steroids cycling is to beat drug tests. Bodybuilders and other athletes got a free rise for the first 15 to 20 years of drug use, as a test for steroids wasnt developed until the mid 1970s. The first tests were easy to beat but it wasnt long before the testers had closed the gap. By cycling the drugs between long acting and short acting, bodybuilders can often pass their drug test on contest day.

A third reason for cycling steroids is to increase their effectiveness. Most users report that they made their best gains on their first cycle. This is because their systems were not used to the drugs. But with each additional cycle their steroid receptors become less responsive to the drugs. This is why heavy users stay heavy users small amounts just dont produce significant results anymore. This down regulation of steroid receptors is one of the primary reasons why the first cycle of steroids is usually the most effective.

The problem with Cycling.

Even though most intelligent bodybuilders realize that cycling is the way to go, its not foolproof. Some individuals are very sensitive to the effects of these drugs. Even by alternating periods of usage with non-usage they may still develop medical problems. No one knows exactly how a drug will affect a persons body until he starts using it. By then it may be too late.

Anabolic Steroids cycling is no longer a guaranteed method for passing a drug test. Tests are becoming more and more sophisticated and many steroids can be traced as far back as 18 months from their last usage. Even some of the short acting, fast clearing oral drugs are being picked up in drug tests. Even if an athlete cycled steroids to beat a drug test and reduce the risk of side effects, the bottom line is that as of 1991, steroid laws have made anabolic steroids illegal substances.

Legal alternatives!

With all the risks associated with steroids, bodybuilders should check out the various legal steroid analogs that are available. Users report that many of these products are just as powerful and as effective at increasing muscle size as their illegal and potentially dangerous cousins.