There are a list of reasons to use PCT supplements. Some of the well known reasons are to prevent side effects like gyno, low testosterone, aggression…
Different Approaches To PCT Supplements
Old-school approaches to post-cycle therapy have been fairly successful in restoring hormone levels. This of course helps keep gains made during cycles. This is drug therapy and often includes Clomid, Nolvadex, and human chorionic-gonadotropin (hCG). This is in addition to various supplements. These drugs are only FDA approved for treating breast cancer and fertility problems. Therefore physicians are reluctant to prescribe them for PCT.
What Happens After A Cycle?
Post cycle your body is producing very little testosterone. You are likely figuring out what to do to avoid a nasty post-cycle crash. After all, that could potentially strip away some of your hard-earned muscle.
What option is best?
Choosing the right post cycle program can be quite confusing. You need an understanding of exactly what is going on in your body. Also, why certain compounds help to correct the situation. Post cycle therapy supplements are something that should be considered a part of the cycle. This is because if you ignore it you will have wasted the last few weeks.
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PCT Supplements – Cell Volumizing
Any PCT supplements arsenal should also include cell volumizers. There are a dozen or so “Creatine cocktail” products on the market for this purpose. One thing to note about using Creatine post-cycle. Low-dose brands may not be as effective during PCT as good old Creatine monohydrate. This is because the newer products don’t seem to cause as much inter-cellular water retention and bloating. Post-cycle, this is desirable in order to keep as much muscle as possible.
Keeping Your Vital Organs Healthy
Post-cycle blood work is very important. Indeed, PCT is a crucial time to baby your body by returning liver and kidney function and rebalancing blood lipids. Milk Thistle, at 500mg/day along with n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) at 1500-2500mg/day is a good starting point. This promotes liver and kidney repair. Essential Fatty Acid blends, a broad spectrum of EFAs from a variety of fat sources, are the best choice for lowering blood lipids. They also support general heart health, and should be used at 8-16g/day.
PCT Supplements And Nutrition
Post Cutting
It is quite common to put on muscle after cutting. Or, at least the appearance of it through glycogen re-compensation. Though short-lived, this effect comes in handy for the first two weeks of PCT. It aids in keeping up strength and workout intensity in the absence of anabolics. The best nutritional approach post cutting is an iso-caloric diet. This type of diet utilizes a 40/30/30 macronutrient ratio.
Post Bulking
Plan on losing between six and ten pounds of water if you’re all swollen up from aromatizing compounds. The supplements mentioned in this article will prevent water loss to some degree, but it will happen. A hyper-caloric diet is obviously a necessity here. Calorie increases along the lines of:
- 10-15% for endomorphs
- 15-20% for mesomorphs
- 25-30% for ectomorphs
This is a good starting point.
Dietary principles are pretty much the same for all phenotypes. This is true whether it’s after a bulking or cutting cycle. There are a few tricks that make preparing the requisite five-to-six meals a day easier. For example, cottage cheese and boiled eggs are easy to prepare ahead of time. They also have a decent shelf life. Finally, they make a convenient high-protein breakfast. Besides expediency, some foods can actually help with PCT in more ways than one. Avocado is loaded with phyto-nutrients shown to lower cholesterol and protect the prostate. It also reduces body weight and hepatic fat, thereby improving liver function.
PCT Supplements – Staying Motivated
Post-cycle motivation is perhaps the most difficult aspect of PCT training. Push yourself to workout when you don’t feel like it. Work out even when you feel tired. They see if you don’t leave the gym feeling 100% better.