Copyright (c) Vigorous Steve 2020. All rights reserved.

The intellectual property rights of this eBook belong to Vigorous Steve.

No part of this eBook may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any
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Published on www.vigoroussteve.com

First Edition, 2020

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 Preface
Thank you for purchasing this eBook on The VigorousSteve.com Shop! Coach Steve has spent a
lot of time & effort to write this eBook to help bodybuilders, strength athletes & fitness
enthusiasts reach their goals while doing so in the healthiest way possible.

Coach Steve decided not to include references or studies to prove a point or confirm the
information provided in this eBook. Coach Steve doesn’t believe in “Cherry-Picking” studies as
evidence to support a claim. In most cases, some studies prove a particular point, while
opposing studies disprove it. Spending a significant amount of time on comparative analyses
of ALL published studies relevant to a specific subject discussed in this eBook would be
represented in a much higher sales price for the reader.

Coach Steve’s goal with this eBook is to provide quality information at an affordable price.
Providing you everything you need to know to make decisions that help you reach your goals
or solve problems related to your bodybuilding or fitness aspirations. Without going into
Medical Minutia & Mental Masturbation, which will most likely cause “Paralysis by Analysis”,
bringing your decision-making process to a complete standstill…

The contents of this eBook are based on Coach Steve’s 20+ years of personal experience in
bodybuilding, as well as 8+ years of Coaching (competitive) bodybuilders, (competitive)
strongmen or powerlifters, prescribed or self-prescribed users of Testosterone / Hormone
Replacement Therapy (TRT / HRT) as well as fitness enthusiasts, looking to improve their health
& quality of life!

In case you did not purchase this eBook yourself but found the information inside to be
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Purchasing this eBook yourself supports Coach Steve financially and allows him to produce
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also another way to show Gratitude & Appreciation for the information that contributed to your
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Purchase this eBook: www.vigoroussteve.com/shop/

If you bought this eBook from a 3rd Party, please contact Coach Steve directly for our Legal
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Contact Email: [email protected]

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 Medical Disclaimer
This eBook does not contain ANY medical advice. The author of this eBook, Coach Steve is NOT
a Doctor. The contents of this eBook, such as text, graphics, images, and other material, are
intended for entertainment, informational and educational purposes ONLY!

This eBook is not designed to render medical advice. The Contents of this eBook or The
VigorousSteve.com Website is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice,
diagnosis, or treatment.

Coach Steve takes great care to keep the medical & scientific information in this eBook &
website up to date. However, Coach Steve can’t guarantee that the information in this eBook
reflects the most recent research & medical consensus.

Always do additional research on any given topic mentioned in this eBook, on The Vigorous
Steve Website, Instagram Page, or YouTube Channel. Furthermore, consult with your physician
for medical advice and questions regarding a medical condition. Never disregard or delay
seeking professional medical advice or treatment because of something you have read in this
eBook, on The Vigorous Steve Website, Instagram Page, or YouTube Channel. Before taking any
Supplement, Herb, Drug, Prescribed or Over-the-Counter Medication, consult a physician for a
thorough evaluation of your current state of health.

This eBook does not endorse any particular vitamins, herbs, drugs, or medications, nor does it
condone the use of illegal drugs or prescription medication for off-label purposes. A qualified
physician should make a decision based on each person’s medical history and current
prescriptions. The medication summaries provided in this eBook do not contain all of the
critical information required by patients and should not be used as a substitute for professional
medical advice.

Please consult with your physician if you suspect you are ill. The information in this eBook is
not intended for medical advice. You should always discuss any medical treatment with your
health care provider.

NO LIABILITY WILL BE ASSUMED FOR THE USE OF THIS E-BOOK!!!

In case of a Medical Emergency, call 122, 911, or your local emergency telephone number
immediately! This eBook does not recommend or endorse any specific test, physician, product,
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This eBook is STRICTLY Informational & Educational!

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Table of Contents
Offseason Cycles with Bioidentical Hormones ........................................................... 7
Pharmaceutical Grade PEDs ....................................................................................... 8
Hormone Reference Ranges ....................................................................................... 8
Neuro-Steroids ...................................................................................................................... 9
Sex-Hormones....................................................................................................................... 9
Thyroid Hormones ............................................................................................................. 10
Peptide Hormones............................................................................................................. 10
Testosterone ................................................................................................................... 11
Testosterone Esters & Half-Lives ............................................................................ 12
Injection Frequency ................................................................................................... 13
Traditional TRT, HRT, Cruising or Bridging Protocols ......................................... 14
Offseason Testosterone Protocols ............................................................................. 15
Estrogen (Estradiol E2) & Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs) ............................................. 18
Estrogen & Phyto-Estrogen Metabolizing Supplements .................................. 19
Exemestane (Aromasin) & Anastrozole (Arimidex) ............................................. 20
DiHydroTestosterone (DHT) & 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors (5ARIs) ................. 22
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) ........................................................................ 22
Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) & Androgenetic Alopecia (AA) ............................ 23
Saw Palmetto & Pygeum ................................................................................................ 24
Finasteride (Proscar / Propecia) ................................................................................... 25
Dutasteride (Avodart) ....................................................................................................... 26
Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG) ...................................................................... 28
Declining SHBG Concentrations .............................................................................. 28
Maintaining SHBG Concentrations .......................................................................... 29
SHBG/SHBG-Receptor Complex ............................................................................... 29
Testicular Volume & Fertility on Exogenous Testosterone ................................... 31
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) ..................................................................... 32
Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (HMG) ............................................................... 33
Neuro-Steroid Supplementation ................................................................................. 35
DHEA & Pregnenolone .................................................................................................... 36
Growth Hormone (GH) .................................................................................................... 38
Maximizing Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) Production ......................... 39
Maximizing Fat Loss ......................................................................................................... 40
Maximizing Hyperplasia & Preventing Insulin Resistance .............................. 41
Insulin............................................................................................................................... 43
Blood Glucose Level Monitor (Glucometer) .......................................................... 44
Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) ........................................................................... 46
Insulin-like Growth Factor-1, Long Arginine 3 (IGF-1 LR3) ................................ 47
Pre-Workout IGF-1 LR3 Protocol .................................................................................. 48
Insulin-like Growth Factor Desamino 1,3 (IGF-1 DES) ......................................... 48

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 Post-Workout IGF-1 DES Protocol ............................................................................... 49
Thyroid Medication ........................................................................................................ 50
Growth Hormone (GH) & Thyroxine (T4) for Thyroid Conversion................... 51
Offseason Triiodothyronine (T3) for Nutrient Partitioning .............................. 52
Erythropoietin (EPO) ...................................................................................................... 53
Structuring the Offseason ............................................................................................. 54
Caloric Intake .............................................................................................................. 55
Ensuring Progression ................................................................................................ 56
Full-Blown Offseason Mode ..................................................................................... 56
Equal Caloric Distribution .............................................................................................. 57
Carbohydrate-Specific Caloric Distribution ............................................................ 57
Fat-Specific Caloric Distribution ................................................................................. 57
Bioidentical Hormone Cycle Adjustments ................................................................. 59
Synthetic Hormone Adjustments................................................................................. 64
Transitioning into a Body Recomposition Phase ..................................................... 65
Transitioning into a TRT, HRT, Cruising, or Bridging Protocol ............................... 68
Abbreviations .................................................................................................................. 70
Supplement Resources .................................................................................................. 73

Copyright (c) Vigorous Steve 2020 www.vigoroussteve.com Page 6 of 73

Offseason Cycles with Bioidentical
Hormones
The body produces several Bioidentical Hormones, which can be supplemented
or replaced to Supra-Physiological levels, allowing for much higher serum
concentrations beyond what’s naturally possible. The main reason
bodybuilders, strength athletes, or fitness enthusiasts chose to run Bioidentical
Hormones instead of synthesized or engineered Performance Enhancing Drugs
(PEDs) is because the body generally tends to accept them better at higher
dosages. Bioidentical Hormones don’t tend to cause the side-effects commonly
associated with synthesized or engineered PEDs. In this eBook, we’ll discuss
several Protocols for the Offseason, while limiting PED selection to Bioidentical
Hormones ONLY!

Depending on your personal preference and tolerance to other PEDs, you can
decide to incorporate them on top of your Bioidentical Hormones Cycle after
reading the corresponding PED Profile eBooks, which are available on The
VigorousSteve.com Shop: www.vigoroussteve.com/shop/

Bioidentical Hormones can be used safely for the majority of the year, resulting
in reasonably acceptable blood work & health markers, even at high dosages
for prolonged periods. Individual response still plays a determining factor in
how these Hormones affect your Blood Work, or contribute to side-effects like
Androgenetic Alopecia, Prostate enlargement, acne formation, Gynecomastia,
increased red blood cell production, erectile dysfunction, carpal tunnel, skewed
lipid levels, blood glucose fluctuations, blood pressure, or anger management
issues. You’ll have to find a balance between the maximum effective dose of
each Bioidentical Hormone you decide to incorporate into your Offseason
Protocol while weighing the results of your ability to control or tolerate their
side-effects!

The methods described in this eBook allow you to make tremendous

improvements in a single year without gaining too much body fat or ruining
your blood work markers. If you’re diligent with your adjustments, you might
even be able to recomp into each Bioidentical Hormone increment.

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Keep in mind that you need to live like a full-time bodybuilder; cook all your
meals and eat them on time, never miss a workout or injection, track every
workout & analyze the trend of strength progression before you make
adjustments. It’s not easy, but if you do it right, you can gain 10-15kg of solid
muscle in a year while staying relatively lean & healthy.

Coach Steve wrote this eBook under the assumption that you’re not prone to
suffering from severe side-effects related to Bioidentical Hormones. If you think
you’re susceptible to any of the side-effects mentioned above, this eBook might
not be suitable for you. However, we will discuss methods to prevent some of
these side-effects from occurring by reducing the conversion of Testosterone
into Estrogen or DiHydroTestosterone (DHT).

Pharmaceutical Grade PEDs

Ideally, you choose to go with Pharmaceutical Grade products for the
compounds in your Bioidentical Hormones Cycle, as you don’t have to worry
about dosing accuracy, sterility, and inflammation caused by the synthetic
carrier oils that some Under Ground Labs (UGL) tend to use. Dosages &
concentrations of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) within
Pharmaceutical Grade products are accurate until the labeled expiration date.
API might degrade slightly after reaching the expiration date, although the
Pharmaceutical Grade products are still sterile and don’t contain any
contaminants, which can’t be guaranteed for most UGL.

Pharmaceutical Grade products contain the correct API(s) as labeled, which are
suspended in a healthy organic carrier oil that complements the Half-Life of the
Esterified Steroid Hormone(s). Production under sterile Pharmaceutical
conditions ensures sterility without the possibility of an infection, Post-
Injection Pain (PIP), or (sterile) abscess post-administration.

Hormone Reference Ranges

During a Bioidentical Hormone Cycle, most of your Sex-Hormone markers will
be around the top or above the reference range. Neuro-Steroids should stay
around the middle-top of the reference range while optimizing the other
Bioidentical Hormones according to your goals.

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Below are general guidelines for blood work markers and their expected ranges,
while using exogenous Bioidentical Hormones (far) above supra-physiological
levels:

Neuro-Steroids

• Pregnenolone: middle-top of range; 13.0-208.0 ng/dL or 0.5-7.2 nmol/L

• Pregnenolone-Sulfate (PregS): middle-top of range; 2.7-7.9 μg/dL or 0.1-0.2

μmol/L

• DeHydroEpiAndrosterone (DHEA): middle-top of range; 63-778 ng/dL or 2.2-

27.0 nmol/L

• DeHydroEpiAndrosterone-Sulfate (DHEA-S): middle-top of range; 25-457 μg/dL

or 0.7-12.4 μmol/L

Sex-Hormones

• Total Testosterone: above 980.0 ng/dL or 34.0 nmol/L

• Free Testosterone: above 2.29-21.2 ng/dL or 0.7 nmol/L

• Free Testosterone (Percentage of Total Testosterone): between 2-2.9 %

• Bio-Available Testosterone: above 257.0 ng/dL or 8.9 nmol/L

• Serum DiHydroTestosterone (DHT): above 77.0 ng/dL or 2.7 nmol/L, unless

managed with 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors (5ARI)

• DiHydroTestosterone (DHT) (Percentage of Total Testosterone): 5-10 %

• Serum Estrogen / Estradiol E2: above 44 pg/mL or 161.5 pmol/L, unless

managed with Aromatase Inhibitors (AI).

• Total Testosterone (ng/dL) to Serum Estrogen (pg/mL) Ratio (TT:E): 13-18:1

• Sex Hormone–Binding Globulin (SHBG): bottom-middle of range; 1.1-6.7 μg/mL

or 10-60 nmol/L

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Thyroid Hormones

• Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone / Thyrotropin (TSH): middle of the range; 0.5-5.0

mIU/L

• Total Thyroxine (T4): middle-top of the range; 5.5-12.5 μg/dL or 94.02-213.68

nmol/L

• Free Thyroxine (T4): middle-top of the range; 0.8-1.8 ng/dL or 10.30-23.17

pmol/L

• Total Triiodothyronine (T3): middle-top of the range; 70-200 ng/dL or 1.08-3.08

nmol/L

• Free Triiodothyronine (T3): middle-top of the range; 2.3-4.2 pg/mL or 3.53-6.45

pmol/L

Peptide Hormones

• Growth Hormone (GH): middle-top of the range: 0.4-10 ng/mL or 18-44 pmol/L,
above the range within 4 hours of GH administrations.

• Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1): middle-top of the range: 53-640 ng/mL or

6.9-83.8 nmol/L, above the range within 36 hours of IGF-1 (LR3 or DES)
administrations.

• Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH): below the range: 1.0-13.0 mIU/mL

• Luteinizing Hormone (LH): below the range: 1.0-9.0 mIU/mL

Both LH & FSH levels will be below 1.0 mIU/mL when using exogenous
Testosterone, other Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids (AAS), or Selective Androgen
Receptor Modulators (SARMs). These levels should return to their reference
ranges when you discontinue ALL AAS or SARMs and do a Post-Cycle Therapy
(PCT) Correctly. PCT is Designed to restart your Hypothalamic-Pituitary-
Testes/Adrenal-Axis (HPAA/HPTA) and allow the Testes to produce Testosterone
& Semen again. For more information about Post-Cycle Therapy, consider
purchasing the “Comprehensive Guide to Post-Cycle Therapy (PCT)” eBook on
The VigorousSteve.com Shop: www.vigoroussteve.com/shop/

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Testosterone
When using exogenous Testosterone, keeping serum concentrations within the
reference range are considered a Traditional Testosterone or Hormone
Replacement Therapy (TRT / HRT). In contrast, Testosterone levels above the
reference range can be called “Super HRT”, Cruise, Bridge, or an ordinary Steroid
Cycle or Blast. Regardless of naming convention, the balance between Sex-
Hormones & Neuro-Steroids plays a determining role in libido & sense of well-
being. Testosterone levels shouldn’t be disproportionately higher compared to
other contributing hormones.

You should increase ALL Neuro-Steroids & Sex-Hormones alongside the supra-
physiological concentrations of Testosterone until one starts noticing
diminishing returns or uncontrollable side-effects, which are related to specific
hormones.

During the offseason, Testosterone dosage adjustments are based on strength

progression in relation to caloric intake. Caloric adjustments should always
come before PED adjustments, as food contributes to the majority of recovery
& anabolism while using PEDs to optimize the process between food intake &
synthesis of new muscle tissue. However, when strength stalls and body fat
levels increase due to high caloric intake, your weekly Testosterone dose can
increase with 125-250mg to facilitate more recovery & anabolism.

This ultimately results in additional strength for the same amount of food that
you’re consuming, as the biological processes between food intake & synthesis
of new muscle tissue, is further optimized with a larger PED budget.

Progressive Overload doesn’t only apply to your workouts; it can also apply to
your food intake and lastly, your PED intake. Careful & calculated adjustments
to your Testosterone budget will ultimately increase metabolic rate & overall
muscularity, slowly turning the caloric surplus into caloric maintenance,
followed by a caloric deficit. At this point, food intake increases again to
facilitate strength progression, and the whole adjustment cycle starts over!

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Testosterone Esters & Half-Lives
Steroid Esterification is used to create a prodrug of the parent Steroid Molecule,
altering its chemical properties to improve metabolic stability, water solubility
(hydrophilicity), or fat solubility (lipophilicity). Esterification can enhance the
pharmacokinetics of Testosterone and other AAS by improving their
bioavailability and extending the duration of action.

Esterification adds fatty acids to the Steroid Molecule, extending its Half-Life &
Active-Life. Depending on the fatty acid chain's length and the number of
Carbon Atoms the Ester contains, the Half-Life duration broadens with days or
weeks. Fat metabolizing enzymes called Esterases cleave off the Ester's fatty
acids one by one until the parent Steroid Molecule remains. Once the Esterases
metabolize the entire fatty acid chain of the Ester, the Steroid becomes
bioavailable and can potentiate its effects on tissue.

Esters add weight to the Testosterone Molecule and comprise a portion of the
Pharmaceutical Ingredient in Testosterone Ester formulations. The Active
Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) is the portion of the product which is
biologically active. In this case, Testosterone without the Ester attachment is
the API.

The Half-Life & Active-Life of injectable Testosterone depends on many factors;

the Steroid Ester, injection site, carrier oil, dosing frequency, Liver & Kidney
health, and other factors, including; age, body composition, activity level &
metabolism of the individual.

Below are the milligram dosages of API (actual Testosterone), within commonly
used Ester formulations, in their corresponding concentrations as well as the
established Half-Lives of these Esters, suspended in Pharmaceutical Grade &
FDA Approved carrier oils, solvents & preservatives:

• Testosterone Base / Suspension: 100mg Testosterone per 100mg/1ml

formulation, Half-Life; 23 hours.

• Testosterone Acetate: around 83mg Testosterone per 100mg/1ml

formulation, Half-Life; 3 days.

• Testosterone Cypionate: around 138mg Testosterone per 200mg/1ml

formulation, Half-Life; 12 days.

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• Testosterone Decanoate: around 62mg Testosterone per 100mg/1ml
formulation, around 155mg Testosterone per 250mg/1ml formulation & 62mg
Testosterone per 100mg/0.4ml formulation (Sust250), Half-Life; 15-18 days.

• Testosterone Enanthate: around 175mg Testosterone per 250mg/1ml

formulation, Half-Life; 10.5-12 days.

• Testosterone Iso-Caproate: 43.2mg Testosterone per 60mg/0.24ml

formulation (Sust250), Half-Life; 9 days.

• Testosterone Phenyl-Propionate: around 66mg Testosterone per 100mg/1ml

formulation & 39.6mg Testosterone per 60mg/0.24ml formulation (Sust250),
Half-Life; 4.5 days.

• Testosterone Propionate: around 80mg Testosterone per 100mg/1ml

formulation & 24mg Testosterone per 30mg/0.12ml formulation (Sust250),
Half-Life; 2-4.5 days.

NOTE: Sustanon250, with 4 different Esters, yields exactly 206.8mg of

Testosterone per 250mg/1ml Formulation. Resulting in around 32-34mg more
bioavailable Testosterone, compared to 250mg/1ml Testosterone Enanthate or
250mg/1.25ml Testosterone Cypionate.

Injection Frequency
Besides choosing a specific Testosterone Ester, the injection frequency highly
depends on body fat levels, as aromatase enzymes are predominantly present
in adipose tissue. The leaner you are, the less Estrogen conversion you’ll see
from your exogenous Testosterone. While individuals with higher body fat
levels will see a higher degree of aromatization, resulting in higher Estrogen
levels for the same weekly dose of Testosterone. Frequent injections result in
more stable blood levels of Testosterone, which reduces aromatase activity and
helps to keep serum Estrogen levels controlled at higher body fat levels.

Individuals with reasonably low body fat levels (below 10%) often benefit from
less frequent injections of Testosterone Ester(s) with shorter Half-Lives, which
allows for sufficient Estrogen conversion due to peaking serum Testosterone
levels.

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Suppose you can’t manage your serum Estrogen levels by changing your
injection frequency or choice of Testosterone Ester(s) with a reasonably longer
Half-Life. You’ll either have to reduce your body fat levels below 10% with diet
& exercise or consider using Aromatase Inhibitors (AI) to reduce Testosterone's
conversion into Estrogen within adipose tissue.

If you desire to get the most stable blood levels of Testosterone possible, daily
micro-injections of Testosterone Enanthate, Cypionate, or Decanoate, into the
Sub-Cutaneous (SubQ) area are advisable. The SubQ area is the layer between
skin and muscle. Keep in mind that SubQ injections leave small oil deposits
underneath the skin for several days, as this area of the body has poor blood
circulation compared to (deep) Intra-Muscular (IM) injections. Depending on the
carrier oils used, these oily “marbles” can stay in the injection depot for up to
14-40 days. You can also administer your daily Testosterone micro-injections
through IM injections, which give comparable & stable blood levels as seen
with SubQ injections of Testosterone Esters with longer Half-Lives.

Traditional TRT, HRT, Cruising or Bridging Protocols

Weekly Testosterone dosages are as low as anywhere between 100-150mg per

week as part of a Traditional Testosterone or Hormone Replacement Therapy
(TRT / HRT) Protocol.

Recreational bodybuilders or fitness enthusiasts who follow a Blasting &

Cruising approach to Cycling often resort to a guideline of 1mg Testosterone
per 1lbs or 2mg Testosterone per 1kg of body weight at 10% body fat. Cruising
uses the lowest effective Testosterone dose, where Health Markers improve, but
strength & size are maintained or enhanced with a caloric surplus. During this
cruising period, body composition might worsen as caloric intake needs to
remain high, to facilitate adequate recovery for a limited PED budget.

Competitive bodybuilders or strength athletes often use a Bridge in between

Steroids Cycles to improve their health, with their weekly Testosterone dose
being another 25% higher compared to an acceptable Cruise dose. For more
information about Hormone Replacement Therapy, consider purchasing the
“Comprehensive Guide to HRT | Cruising | Bridging” eBooks on The
VigorousSteve.com Shop: www.vigoroussteve.com/shop/

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Offseason Testosterone Protocols

Bodybuilders, strength athletes, or fitness enthusiasts who follow a Blasting &

Cruising approach to Cycling can start their Bioidentical Hormone Cycle from
their Cruising or Bridging Protocol. As a general guideline for Cycling during the
offseason, the combined weekly dosage of Anabolic-Androgen Steroids (AAS)
shouldn’t exceed 5mg AAS per 1lbs or 10mg AAS per 1kg of body weight at 10%
body fat. Beyond these guidelines, most enhanced bodybuilders, strength
athletes, or fitness enthusiasts start to notice diminishing returns and side-
effects become unmanageable or even intolerable.

Considering these general guidelines, you can break down the weekly
Testosterone dosing protocol based on body weight in the following weight
categories:

• 150lbs / 69kg Body Weight: Cruising or Bridging; 140-195mg & Cycling or

Blasting; up to 700-750mg

• 175lbs / 80kg Body Weight: Cruising or Bridging; 160-225mg & Cycling or

Blasting; up to 800-875mg

• 200lbs / 91kg Body Weight: Cruising or Bridging; 180-250mg & Cycling or

Blasting; up to 900-1,000mg

• 225lbs / 102kg Body Weight: Cruising or Bridging; 200-285mg & Cycling or

Blasting; up to 1,000-1,125mg

• 250lbs / 113kg Body Weight: Cruising or Bridging; 230-315mg & Cycling or

Blasting; up to 1,150-1,250mg

• 275lbs / 125kg Body Weight: Cruising or Bridging; 250-345mg & Cycling or

Blasting; up to 1,250-1,375mg

• 300lbs / 136kg Body Weight: Cruising or Bridging; 275-375mg & Cycling or

Blasting; up to 1,375-1,500mg

NOTE: The Cycling or Blasting dosages are guidelines for the maximum effective
dosages during the offseason. In reality, most enhanced lifters would prefer to
spread this milligram budget out over several AAS to create synergy. Opting for
Testosterone only shouldn’t see a tremendous change in blood work markers,
as long as health supplementation is managed accordingly!

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The most crucial aspect of a Bioidentical Hormone Cycle is to slowly build up
Testosterone dosage as you grow & develop your physique. Whenever you
plateau in gaining strength & size and caloric adjustments only result in body
fat accumulation, you can safely increase your weekly Testosterone dose.
Similar to reaching your natural potential before deciding to start using PEDs,
where the growth-rate limiting factor is your natural Testosterone production
of approximately 5-7mg per day.

Removing your natural limit of Testosterone production by following a

Traditional Testosterone or Hormone Replacement Therapy (TRT / HRT),
Cruising, or Bridging Protocol allows for additional strength & size progression.
Once you’ve maximized your potential on these Protocols, you can transition
into a Bioidentical Hormone Cycle and increase the weekly Testosterone dose
as you continue to reach dose-dependent limits as you develop your physique.

At one point while Cruising or Bridging during the offseason, you’ll reach a
dose-dependent limit even if you’ve been in a consistent caloric surplus. You
maintained your bodyweight around 175lbs / 80kg with a weekly Testosterone
budget of around 160-225mg per week. Your blood work markers are all within
or close to the reference range, and you’re perfectly healthy to commit to
another Cycle or Blast; you’re now a candidate to raise your weekly
Testosterone dose further.

Adjustments to the weekly Testosterone dose can follow the guidelines laid
out for Cruising, where each increment is another Cruise dose on top of your
existing Cycle dose. However, this might be a bit difficult to calculate as you’re
gaining bodyweight in between each dose-dependent limit of Testosterone.
Suppose you’ve maxed out your progress at 175lbs / 80kg, you can increase with
another 1mg Testosterone per 1lbs or 2mg Testosterone per 1kg of your newly
acquired body weight.

Basically, doubling your weekly Testosterone dosage from 160-225mg

Testosterone while Cruising or Bridging, with a Cruise dose of 160-175mg
Testosterone, to 320-400mg Testosterone as the first increment of your
Bioidentical Hormone Cycle. This small increment is more than enough to gain
significant amounts of body weight, allowing you to progress beyond your
weight class slowly. Keep in mind that a few caloric adjustments need to occur
before adding another Cruise dose to your Cycle dose.

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In the meantime, you should gain respectable amounts of strength, muscle
mass & muscle maturity respective to the calculated caloric increases. Until you
reach the dose-dependent limit at 190lbs / 86kg for example, At which point
you can add 175-190mg Testosterone on top of the 320-400mg Testosterone
you were already using, as the second increment of your Bioidentical Hormone
Cycle. After the second increment, you’re using 495-590mg Testosterone per
week, far from the guidelines for the maximum effective dosages during the
offseason. In this example, 495-590mg Testosterone per week is probably
enough to push your body weight into the 200lbs / 91kg weight class. Once you
reach the top of this weight class, you should be able to maintain your size &
strength, Cruising or Bridging with 180-250mg Testosterone per week!

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Estrogen (Estradiol E2) & Aromatase
Inhibitors (AIs)
Estrogens play an essential role in lipid metabolism, bone mineral density,
protection of neurons & neuronal health, overall sense of well being, libido &
sex drive, and the production of Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG) in the
Liver. Estrogens also contribute to glucose homeostasis in Skeletal Muscle and
the Liver by modulating Insulin production in Pancreatic Beta Cells and
regulation of overall energy balance at the Hypothalamus.

Estrogens play a crucial role in Androgen Receptor sensitivity & increase the
binding affinity of ALL male Sex-Hormones & Neuro-Steroids. Testosterone and
other AAS or SARMS, DHEA & Pregnenolone all potentiate their effects through
the Androgen Receptors and the SHBG-Receptor Complex. Sufficient Estrogen
levels are just as essential to the success of supra-physiological levels of
Testosterone or other Anabolic Agents like Growth Hormone or Insulin.

Generally speaking, direct Estrogen supplementation isn’t required following a

Bioidentical Hormone Cycle, as exogenous Testosterone, DHEA & Pregnenolone
can convert into Estrogen by the Aromatase Enzyme in Adipose Tissue. Ideally,
you’ll adjust your Testosterone Ester, dosing frequency & body fat levels based
on your total intake of Testosterone, DHEA & Pregnenolone to get the desired
serum Estrogen levels.

To compliment a libido-favorable Sex-Hormone balance, you should allow

serum Estrogen levels to climb to around the top or slightly above the reference
range. It depends on which emphasis you place on your appearance as higher
serum Estrogen levels might cause additional SubQ water retention and might
contribute to slight acne formation if you’re prone to acne or aren’t controlling
your diet 100% 24/7!

While following a Bioidentical Hormone Cycle, it’s crucial to manage serum

Estrogen levels for its favorable effects mentioned above. Traditional TRT, HRT,
Cruising, or Bridging Protocols follow a 13-18:1 ratio between Total
Testosterone (ng/dL) to Estradiol E2 (pg/mL). However, when using
Testosterone at supra-physiological dosages, serum Estrogen levels might end
up well beyond the reference range or ideal range for anabolism.

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Depending on individual response to elevated serum Estrogen levels, a TT:E2
ratio of 13-18:1 might not be desired. Serum Estrogen levels below 100pg/mL,
should not cause significant side-effects, including; symptoms of
gynecomastia, acne, water retention, blood pressure issues, or mood changes.

Libido & sense of well-being usually increases alongside climbing serum

Estrogen levels. However, most individuals have an ideal range, where libido &
mood is fantastic, and there are no symptoms of gynecomastia or acne. At the
same time, water retention & blood pressure is manageable or acceptable.
Generally speaking, the ideal range for serum Estrogen levels lies somewhere
between up to 25-75pg/mL. Beyond 75-100pg/mL, an increasing amount of
people start to notice diminishing returns, and adjustments to Testosterone
Esters used, body fat levels, dosing frequency, or Aromatase Inhibitor dosage
are required to keep Estrogen in the libido-favorable ranges!

Estrogen & Phyto-Estrogen Metabolizing Supplements

Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a component of Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) found in

broccoli, kale & cauliflower. It is classified as a Phyto-Estrogen, which can aid
in detoxifying other Phyto-Estrogens through the Liver. DIM also has a potent
effect on Estrogen metabolism and helps to keep levels between different
Estrogens relatively balanced by preventing drastic increases or decreases in
serum concentrations of either Estrone (E1), Estradiol (E2), or Estriol (E3). In
supplemental amounts, DIM can both inhibit the aromatase enzyme and
prevent the conversion of Testosterone into Estradiol (E2).

Calcium D-Glucarate (CDG) supplies Glucarate for a detoxification process,

where a Glucuronide Molecule attaches to a hydrophobic molecule to make it
more water-soluble. Many toxins, Phyto-Estrogens & ALL Sex-Hormones, are
hydrophobic molecules. Glucuronidation facilitates the Kidneys to remove
these water-soluble molecules from the body, as Kidney filtration is highly
dependent on water & electrolyte flow. CDG aids in Estrogen & Phyto-Estrogen
metabolism & detoxification, effectively lowering serum Estrogen
concentrations.

Men looking to improve Estrogen metabolism & detoxification while reducing

Estrogen conversion during a Bioidentical Hormone Cycle can consider using
100mg DIM & 500mg CDG twice per day, with breakfast & dinner.

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Exemestane (Aromasin) & Anastrozole (Arimidex)

It’s generally advisable to manage serum Estrogen levels with an Aromatase

Inhibitor (AI) while following a Bioidentical Hormone Cycle at body fat levels
over 15-20%. However, in individuals with body fat levels below 6-8%,
significant inhibition of Aromatase Activity doesn’t need to occur, allowing for
relatively low dosages of Aromatase Inhibitors (AI).

During a Bioidentical Hormone Cycle, AI is usually the norm, even when

perfectly managing all the other variables that contribute to Estrogen
conversion. Preferably Aromasin as it doesn’t have a pronounced negative effect
on serum lipid levels compared to Arimidex. During a Traditional TRT, HRT,
Cruising, or Bridging Protocol, AI doesn’t affect lipid levels as much as it does
while following a Bioidentical Hormone Cycle, with relatively high Testosterone
dosages. High Testosterone usually requires additional AI to keep serum
Estrogen levels close to the desired range, making Aromasin preferred over
Arimidex.

Suppose you decide to use HCG, HMG, or DHEA & Pregnenolone during your
Bioidentical Hormone Cycle. You’ll most likely need to increase the Aromatase
Inhibitor dose, as these compounds are known to increase serum Estrogen
levels as well. Always keep track of your serum Estrogen levels with frequent
blood work analysis when incorporating any or a combination of these
compounds into your Protocol!

Letrozole (Femara) isn’t a preferred AI as it’s less potent compared to Arimidex

on a milligram for milligram basis, regarding Estrogen management, but
slightly worse on lipid levels. Femara is commonly produced in 2.5mg tablets,
a quarter tablet contains 0.625mg Femara, which might be useful to control
Estrogen conversion during a Bioidentical Hormone Cycle. Regardless, Coach
Steve doesn’t recommend the use of Femara for Estrogen management to
prevent Estrogen from crashing to the bottom or below the reference range.

It’s challenging to give a general recommendation for correct Aromasin or

Arimidex administration for each weekly budget of Testosterone. Body fat
levels, dosing frequency, Testosterone Ester(s) used, and individual response all
contribute to aromatase activity and serum Estrogen levels. You can consider
the following general guidelines for AI administration, according to your
weekly Testosterone dosage:

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• 100-250mg Testosterone per Week: generally, no need for AI or 100mg DIM &
500mg CDG once-twice per day.

• 250mg Testosterone per Week: 12.5mg Aromasin or 0.5mg Arimidex 2-3

times per week.

• 500mg Testosterone per Week: 12.5mg Aromasin or 0.5mg Arimidex 3-4

times per week.

• 750mg Testosterone per Week: 12.5mg Aromasin or 0.5mg Arimidex 5-6

times per week.

• 1,000mg Testosterone per Week: 12.5mg Aromasin or 0.5mg Arimidex 7 times

per week.

• 1,250mg Testosterone per Week: 25mg Aromasin or 1mg Arimidex 4-5 times
per week.

• 1,500mg Testosterone per Week: 25mg Aromasin or 1mg Arimidex 7 times

per week.

NOTE: Consider these protocols as VERY general guidelines! Always confirm

your serum Estrogen levels through blood work after 4 weeks on a particular
Testosterone & AI Protocol. Based on your blood work results, make informed
adjustments regarding your corresponding Aromatase Inhibitor dosage going
forward!

For more information about Estrogen management & Gynecomastia prevention,

as well as Acne management, consider purchasing the “Comprehensive Guide
to Estrogen | Progesterone | Prolactin and Related Side-Effects on Cycle” or
“Comprehensive Guide to Acne on Cycle” eBooks on The VigorousSteve.com
Shop: www.vigoroussteve.com/shop/

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DiHydroTestosterone (DHT) & 5-
Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors (5ARIs)
Although injection frequency contributes to the most stable blood levels of
Testosterone possible and reduces Aromatase Activity, it doesn’t Affect 5-Alpha-
Reductase activity, which is primarily involved in the conversion of
Testosterone into DiHydroTestosterone (DHT). 5-Alpha-Reductases, also known
as 3-oxo-5Alpha-Steroid-4-Dehydrogenase Enzymes, participate in several
metabolic pathways, including; bile acid biosynthesis in the Liver as well as
Androgen, Estrogen, Progesterone & Corticosteroid metabolism.

The 5-Alpha-Reductase Enzymes are present in many tissues, including; Gonads

(Testicles in men or Ovaries in women), Epididymis, Seminal Vesicles & Prostate
in men, Liver & Skin as well as the Central Nervous System (CNS) and in minute
concentrations in other organs. There are 3 different iso-enzymes of 5-Alpha-
Reductase; SRD5A1, SRD5A2 & SRD5A3. These iso-enzymes vary in
concentrations in various tissues and change with age.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

The function of the Prostate is to secrete a fluid that contributes to the volume
of the Semen. This prostatic fluid is slightly alkaline, milky, or white in
appearance and usually constitutes roughly 30% of Semen’s volume, with the
other 70% being spermatozoa & seminal vesicle fluid. The prostatic fluid expels
in the first part of ejaculate, together with most of the sperm. Compared with
the few spermatozoa expelled together with mainly seminal vesicular fluid,
those expelled in prostatic fluid have better motility, survive longer and protect
the genetic material to a greater extent.

To function correctly, the Prostate requires male Sex-Hormones (Androgens),

responsible for male sex characteristics. While Testosterone is the primary male
hormone, its metabolite DiHydroTestosterone (DHT) predominantly regulates
the Prostate. DHT causes the Prostate to enlarge over time slowly, usually until
the male is in his 40s. As men age, Testosterone production naturally declines,
and serum DHT levels decline alongside, reducing its overall effects on the
Prostate.

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Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) refers to the Prostate’s enlargement due to
non-malignant hyperplasia and is common among older men. It is often
identified when the Prostate has enlarged to the point where urination
becomes increasingly impaired. Symptoms include increased frequency of
urination or requiring more time to start urinating.

Men following a Bioidentical Hormone Cycle after 40 years of age keep their
serum Testosterone & DHT Levels over to the reference range artificially. DHT’s
effect with regards to Prostate Enlargement continues for as long as serum DHT
levels remain elevated.

Prolonged exposure to high DHT levels or use of DHT-derivatives in an

individual’s younger years can also increase the rate of (Benign) Prostate
Enlargement, which might result in larger Prostate size, representative of that
individual’s age.

Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) & Androgenetic

Alopecia (AA)
The easiest way to see if you’re susceptible to Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) is
to look at your elderly family members. Suppose anybody shows signs of MPB,
your father, uncle, grandfather, or even grandmother. In that case, exogenous
Testosterone use will likely speed up a genetic predisposition to hair loss, and
you’ll experience hair loss by following a Bioidentical Hormone Cycle. The
amount of hair loss you’ll get highly depends on your age, genetic
predispositions to MPB or Androgenetic Alopecia (AA), the compounds you’re
using, and the dosages of each compound.

There is a difference between the thinning of hair as you get older compared
to the balding of entire regions of the hair on your head. Thinning or greying of
the hair as you get older is part of the aging process and almost impossible to
prevent. This process is called Androgenetic Alopecia (AA), which causes the
miniaturization of Hair Follicles in the presence of Androgens like Testosterone
or DHT. Increasing Testosterone or DHT beyond natural levels will speed up the
miniaturization and cause increased thinning of the hair on your head & body.

Male Pattern Baldness is entirely due to genetic predisposition for hair loss.

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Men might get different baldness areas depending on which areas they are
prone to, as can be seen on elderly family members. Individual response to
Androgenetic Alopecia can cause all the Hair Follicles in a specific region on
the scalp to get miniaturized!

The miniaturization of the Hair Follicles & Shaft is the primary predictive
indicator of Androgenetic Alopecia caused by Testosterone or DHT. These male
Sex-Hormones attach to the Androgen Receptors on the different cell types that
produce hair on the scalp. The amount of miniaturization depends on how
much Testosterone & DHT you have in your body and how sensitive your Hair
Follicle cells are to Androgens. When using supra-physiological amounts of
exogenous Testosterone or other AAS or SARMs, this effect will be accelerated,
and the rate of Hair Follicle miniaturization will be more pronounced. Compared
to those who do not take Steroids or SARMs.

For more information about DHT management and the prevention of Benign
Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH), Male Pattern Baldness (MPB), or Androgenetic
Alopecia (AA), consider purchasing the “Comprehensive Guide to
DiHydroTestosterone (DHT) | Hair | Prostate and Related Side-Effects on Cycle”
eBook on The VigorousSteve.com Shop: www.vigoroussteve.com/shop/

Saw Palmetto & Pygeum

Saw Palmetto is derived from the fruit of the Serenoa Repens Plant found in the
subtropical part of the South-Eastern United States. The supplement extract
contains several fatty acids that can block the 5-Alpha-Reductase Enzymes and
prevent Testosterone’s conversion into DHT. Several studies performed by the
American Cancer Society have shown that Saw Palmetto does not prevent or
treat Prostate Cancer, nor was it shown to improve urinary flow or change
volume of the Prostate in men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).
However, anecdotal reports of men suffering from BPH or MPB indicate that Saw
Palmetto can reduce or even mitigate symptoms and stop shedding or hairs,
completely removing the need for 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors, which can also
negatively impact libido & erection quality.

General recommended dosages of Saw Palmetto are between 160-320mg per

day. It’s often combined with 50-100mg Pygeum in formulations that aim to
treat symptoms of BPH & MPB.

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Finasteride (Proscar / Propecia)

Finasteride is a medication mainly used to treat men suffering from an enlarged

Prostate or hair loss by reducing serum & cellular concentrations of DHT.
Finasteride is a 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor and reduces the formation of DHT
from its precursor Testosterone. As such, Finasteride is considered to have Anti-
Androgenic effects without blocking the Androgen Receptors directly!
Circulating DHT levels can be reduced by around 65-75% with 5mg Finasteride
per day, while cellular DHT levels in the Prostate Gland are reduced by up to 80-
90% using 1-5mg Finasteride per day.

By inhibiting 5-Alpha-Reductase with Finasteride, circulating Total & Free

Testosterone concentrations increase by approximately 10%. Cellular
concentrations of Testosterone in the Prostate Gland increase by 700% and
increase by around 27-53% in Hair Follicles. This increase of cellular
Testosterone means that the Hair Follicle miniaturization might still occur,
although Testosterone has a much less potent effect on AA or MPB compared
to DHT.

NOTE: These Statements are valid for PED-Free individuals who don’t use
exogenous Testosterone. It is unclear how circulating or cellular DHT levels are
affected in men who use 1-5mg Finasteride per day, as part of their Traditional
TRT, HRT, Cruising, Bridging Protocol, or Bioidentical Hormone Cycle.

Individuals who are worried or suffering from either Benign Prostate

Hyperplasia (BPH), Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) or Androgenetic Alopecia (AA),
or a combination of all 3 DHT related issues. Should carefully look at their serum
DHT levels and decide what they want to accomplish with Finasteride
treatment. You don’t want to reduce serum DHT levels to the bottom or below
the reference range with 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors. You’re merely aiming to
keep DHT towards the bottom-middle of the reference range, around 12-
44ng/dL. Medium DHT levels reduce BPH symptoms, MPB & AA, but prevent the
chance of sexual dysfunction as DHT also contributes to libido & overall sense
of well-being!

By lowering DHT to the bottom of the reference range, you’re minimizing the
effects on the miniaturization of Hair Follicles & Prostate Enlargement. Still,
you don’t completely prevent it from happening or progressing.

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To accomplish reduced cellular DHT concentrations, Ketoconazole Shampoo is
used daily on the scalp. Ketoconazole helps to block DHT from potentiating its
effects on Hair Follicle militarization. Simultaneously, using Alpha Blockers or
Alpha-1 Adrenergic Receptor Antagonist Medication in the treatment of BPH.

When controlling DHT concentrations in cases of BPH, MPB & AA, it’s advised to
keep dosing conservative at 0.33mg Finasteride 3x per week (1mg tablet divided
into 3 parts) or 0.25mg Finasteride 4x per week (1mg tablet divided into 4 parts).
Check your male Sex-Hormone levels through blood work, 2 weeks after
incorporating Finasteride, before increasing the dose further. Finasteride has a
relatively short Half-Life of approximately 5-8 hours, which makes daily
administration preferred. However, 1mg Finasteride tablets can’t be divided into
7 parts, which forces you to use 0.33mg 3x per week or 0.25mg 4x per week. If
blood works results show that DHT levels aren’t sufficiently reduced,
Finasteride dosing can increase to 0.5mg 3x per week, 0.5mg per day, 1mg per
day, etc.

Finasteride’s side effects are generally mild, though some men experience
sexual dysfunction, depression, anxiety, or breast enlargement. Finasteride
might also increase the risk of certain forms of Prostate Cancer.

While most sexual dysfunction cases are reported to be short-term and

disappear after discontinuation of Finasteride use, some men might have long-
term problems with their libido & sex drive or even erectile dysfunction &
impotence, which can’t be corrected with Cialis, Levitra, or Viagra. The reasons
for long-term sexual dysfunctions are currently unclear. For this Reason,
Finasteride should be considered to be the last resort in your attempt to prevent
or reduce Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH), Main Pattern Baldness (MPB),
Androgenic Alopecia (AA), Hair Follicle Miniaturization & Hair Loss!

Dutasteride (Avodart)

Dutasteride, just like Finasteride, is a medication primarily used to treat the

symptoms of an enlarged prostate & to prevent hair loss on the scalp. It’s also
a 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor and works by decreasing the conversion of
Testosterone into DHT. Unlike Finasteride, Dutasteride isn’t known to increase
serum Testosterone levels by inhibiting the 5-Alpha-Reductase Enzymes.

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Dutasteride has an extremely long elimination Half-Life of about 4-5 weeks; it
can be detected for up to 4-6 months (depending on the dose used). Finasteride
has a Relatively short Half-Life of only 5-8 hours. Therefore, Dutasteride should
only be considered when side-effects of Finasteride are well-tolerated, but
changes in serum Testosterone levels are unwanted as it’s contributing to Hair
Follicle miniaturization as well.

Dutasteride is 3 times more potent compared to Finasteride at inhibiting 5-

Alpha-Reductase Type-II (SRD5A2) Enzymes and more than 100 times more
potent at inhibiting 5-Alpha-Reductase Type-I (SRD5A1) Enzymes. Dutasteride
decreases serum DHT concentrations by up to 90%, while Finasteride only
reduces DHT by 70%. Conservative dosing is HIGHLY advised to prevent the
possibility of libido & sex drive issues. When switching from Finasteride to
Dutasteride, consider reducing the dose & administration frequency to 25% of
Finasteride. For example; if you were using 0.5mg Finasteride per day, you can
start with 0.25mg Dutasteride every other day.

If Finasteride isn’t available or you prefer to control DHT levels with Dutasteride
from the beginning of your Bioidentical Hormone Cycle, to manage BPH, MPB &
AA, without increasing serum Testosterone levels as an unwanted side-effect.
It’s advised to keep dosing HIGHLY conservative at 0.25mg Dutasteride 2x per
week (0.5mg tablet divided into 2 parts). Check your male Sex-Hormone levels
2 weeks after incorporating Dutasteride before increasing the dose further.
Dutasteride has an extremely long Half-Life of approximately 4-5 weeks, which
makes weekly or bi-weekly administration possible.

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Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin
(SHBG)
SHBG is a glycoprotein that binds ALL Androgens & Estrogens, albeit with
different affinities. Other Steroid Hormones such as Progesterone, Cortisol &
Cortico-Steroid derivatives are bound by Transcortin / Corticosteroid-Binding
Globulin (CBG), while Aldosterone is primarily bound to Albumin. Testosterone,
DHT & Estradiol (E2) circulate in the bloodstream, loosely bound to serum
Albumin (around 54%), and tightly bound to SHBG (approximately 44%), leaving
around 1-3% unbound or “Free” in serum.

SHBG inhibits the function of Sex-Hormones until they’re either released from
SHBG or delivered to the SHBG-Receptor Complex on the cell membrane. Thus,
the direct bioavailability of Testosterone, DHT & Estrogens is influenced by the
serum concentration of SHBG. DihydroTestosterone (DHT) also binds to SHBG,
with about 5 times the affinity of that of Testosterone and about 20 times the
affinity of Estradiol. DeHydroEpiAndrosterone (DHEA) & Pregnenolone are
weakly bound to SHBG, but DHEA-Sulfate & Pregnenolone-Sulfate are not
bound to SHBG. Estrone (E1), Estrone-Sulfate & Estriol (E3) are poorly bound to
SHBG, and less than 1% of Progesterone is bound to SHBG.

The Liver predominantly produces SHBG, which releases into the bloodstream.
The Brain, Testes (in men), or Uterus & Placenta (in women) also produce SHBG
and release it into the bloodstream, albeit in far lower amounts compared to
the Liver.

SHBG levels are usually about twice as high in women compared to men.
Limiting the exposure to both Androgens & Estrogens and because Estrogen
can directly increase SHBG production in the Liver, compounding its effects.

Declining SHBG Concentrations

Men aiming to maintain optimal serum concentrations of Testosterone, DHT &
Estrogen often resort to a daily injection frequency, regardless of Testosterone
Ester(s) used. This method results in very stable blood levels of these Sex-
Hormones while minimizing Aromatization into Estrogen.

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Due to the frequent influx of exogenous Testosterone, stable DHT levels &
reduced potential for Aromatization, SHBG levels slowly decline over a few
weeks or months. While this increases Free Testosterone levels initially, if SHBG
continues to decline, it loses the ability to deliver Sex-Hormones to specific
tissues, negatively affecting anabolism, recovery, libido & sex drive!

DHT-derivates like Drostanolone (Masteron), Oxymetholone (Anadrol),

Methasterone / MethylDrostanolone (Superdrol), Methenolone (Primobolan),
Mesterolone (Proviron), Oxandrolone (Anavar) & Stanozolol (Winstrol) all have a
relatively high affinity for SHBG. They can subsequently displace other
endogenous steroids with lower affinity for SHBG, including Testosterone &
Estrogen.

Daily injection frequency, elevated DHT levels, use of DHT-derivates with high
SHBG affinity ultimately lower SHBG levels while inadvertently increasing Free
Testosterone levels over time! SHBG levels can also indirectly decrease in the
presence of elevated serum concentration of Insulin, Growth Hormone (GH),
Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), Prolactin & Transcortin / Corticosteroid-
Binding Globulin (CBG).

Maintaining SHBG Concentrations

Besides sufficiently elevated serum Estrogen levels, sufficiently elevated
Thyroid Hormones (Thyroxine (T4) & Triiodothyronine (T3)) levels can also
indirectly increase SHBG production in the Liver via Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor-
4alpha (HNF4). Long-term caloric restriction also increases SHBG levels, while
also lowering Free & Total Testosterone levels and serum Estrogen levels.
Proving that contest prep for drug-free bodybuilders or severely restrictive
“crash” diets can be detrimental to your hormone profile, overall sense of well-
being & health!

SHBG/SHBG-Receptor Complex
Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG) is thought to mainly function as a
transporter & reservoir for Testosterone, DHT & Estradiol (E2). Traditionally,
Androgens were thought to only potentiate their actions through either the
membrane Androgen Receptors (mARs) or nuclear Androgen Receptors (nARs).

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However, in recent years it has also been demonstrated that a specific SHBG-
Receptor Complex (SHBG-RC) is present on cell membranes and responds to
Sex-Hormones bound to SHBG. SHBG-Receptors are found on Sex-Hormone
receptive tissues, including; Skeletal Muscle, Liver, Prostate, Heart, Kidney &
Breast Tissue.

The SHBG-RC has not been completely characterized. It is currently unclear if

the Brain has a significant amount of SHBG-RC if any. The SHBG-RC could
explain why Free Testosterone levels positively correlate with libido & sex
drive. In contrast, extremely low SHBG levels seem to have a negative effect on
libido & anabolism.

It has also been suggested that the Estradiol bound to SHBG activates the SHBG-
Receptor Complex and can activate the membrane Androgen Receptors (mARs)
in the absence of Testosterone, DHT, or other Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids
(AAS).

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Testicular Volume & Fertility on
Exogenous Testosterone
While many Testosterone or Hormone Replacement Clinics recommend using
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) on Cycle to prevent Testicular shrinkage
and maintain fertility. Prolonged or chronic HCG use might lead to
desensitization of the Luteinizing Hormone / Chorio-Gonadotropin (LHCG)
Receptors on the Leydig Cells of the Testes, making the LGCG Receptor
unresponsive to naturally produced or recombinant Luteinizing Hormone (LH),
found in Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (HMG). Desensitization results in
Testicular shrinkage & impaired fertility, or complete infertility over time!
Desensitization also means that PCT might be ineffective as short-term
stimulation of the LHCG Receptors with HCG, HMG, Triptorelin, Nolvadex &
Clomid is part of the Post-Cycle Therapy (PCT) Protocol.

Frequent use of HCG or HMG results in constant activation of the LHCG

Receptors. When LH or HCG activates the LHCG receptors on the cell membrane,
G-Proteins release into the Leydig Cell’s interior (cytoplasm), which starts a
cascade of processes, eventually resulting in Testosterone & Semen
production. However, HCG & HMG have a Half-Life of approximately 23 hours
and are detectable for up to 3-4 days, causing constant activation of the LHCG
Receptors, which depletes LHCG Receptor G-Protein content. Over-activation
results in the LHCG Receptors to become desensitized to either HCG or naturally
pulsed LH. Prolonged exposure to HCG or HMG might result in the complete
downregulation of LHCG Receptors, where cell membranes lose LHCG Receptor
content over time. To prevent the downregulation of LHCG Receptors, HCG or
HMG should only be used for short-term periods to restore libido when hormone
balance is off. Or for the complete restoration of HPTA function & fertility by
following a Post-Cycle Therapy (PCT) correctly!

If you want to use HCG or HMG to improve fertility, it’s advised to use it 2-3
weeks before you’re trying to get your partner pregnant, AFTER you’ve been off
ALL AAS or SARMs completely, for at least 90 days to ensure healthy Semen
production. When using HMG after completing PCT, motility & volume will
increase alongside Semen count, as there’s no HPTA suppression from AAS or
SARMs!

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Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is a peptide hormone produced by cells

surrounding a growing Embryo, which eventually forms the Placenta after
implantation in the Uterus. HCG pregnancy strips test the presence of HCG in
the urine, indicating pregnancy. However, pregnancy strips are not 100%
accurate to determine pregnancy, as some cancerous tumors also produce HCG,
and counterfeit UGL Growth Hormone is sometimes relabeled HCG or GHRP-6.

HCG used to be extracted from pregnant women’s urine, as their urine contains
a relatively high HCG concentration. Nowadays, HCG is synthesized with
recombinant technology, allowing for pure HCG production, which is not
contaminated by other proteins present after urinary extraction.

HCG has structural similarities to LH, FSH & Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH),
and can activate the LCHG Receptors. Exogenous HCG acts similarly to
Luteinizing Hormone (LH), produced in the Pituitary Gland, and is used as a
temporary replacement for LH to recover HPTA & HPAA function, while LH
production is downregulated. HCG mimics LH’s action and signals the Testicles
to produce Testosterone & Semen again.

If you absolutely must use HCG on Cycle because you feel that you’ll maintain
fertility while using exogenous Testosterone or other AAS, then use the minimal
amount required to sustain Testicular size and Semen volume. The use of HCG
on Cycle can be as moderate as 100-125iu HCG 2-3x per week on Monday-Friday
and perhaps on Wednesday as well. Most enhanced bodybuilders, strength
athletes & fitness enthusiasts report close to pre-cycle Testicular size using
100-125iu pharmaceutical-grade HCG (Pregnyl) 2-3x per week. If needed, you
could increase HCG dosing to 150-250iu 3x per week, but it’s generally not
advised to administer over 750iu HCG per week for a prolonged period.

Several small-scale & short-term studies show promise in HCG use for normal
fertility levels while using exogenous Testosterone at Traditional TRT dosages.
HCG therapy on TRT is generally successful, although most studies were
performed in a time-resticted manner on younger men under 30 years of age.
Men who follow a TRT Protocol due to Androgen deficiency symptoms,
concurrent low-doses of HCG or SERMS may be a viable option to avoid the
Azoospermia induced by exogenous Testosterone.

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However, to establish HCG or SERMs treatment as reliable & productive, a more
prolonged study or a larger population is required than the reported studies.

Long term studies with HCG treatment were performed on elderly men suffering
from Androgen deficiency, to restore fertility levels and be able to conceive with
their partner. These elderly men were not following a TRT Protocol at the time
HCG treatment started. The short-term results of HCGor SERMs on TRT might not
apply to older men over 30 years of age, who didn’t induce HPTA
downregulation by taking Steroids for months to years on end.

Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (HMG)

Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (HMG) or Menotropin is a hormonally active

medication for treating fertility complications, consisting of FSH, LH, and
perhaps HCG. Menotropins used to be extracted from the urine of
postmenopausal women, as their urine contains a relatively high concentration
of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) & Luteinizing Hormone (LH). Human
Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) might also be present in extracted HMG
Formulations, albeit in much lower amounts compared to LH.

Over the last few years, fertility treatments have transitioned into the use of
recombinant gonadotropins, largely replacing extracted HMG. The recombinant
process allows for pure FSH & LH production, which are not contaminated by
other proteins present after urinary extraction. Traditional HMG Formulations
often contain FSH & LH at a 1:1 Ratio. In contrast, more recent recombinant
Menotropin medications have a much higher amount of FSH to LH ratio.

Daily HMG administration stimulates the ovaries to mature follicles and release
egg cells, making Women more fertile. Hypogonadal Men can use HMG daily to
stimulate Semen production. Please keep in mind that it takes 78 days for
Semen to mature in the Testicles and 10-12 days to travel to the Prostate &
Seminal Vesicles for ejaculation. HMG is more effective compared to HCG to
increase Spermatogenesis.

If you absolutely must use HMG on Cycle because you feel that you’ll maintain
fertility while using exogenous Testosterone or other AAS, then use the minimal
amount required to sustain Testicular size and Semen volume.

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The use of HMG on Cycle can be as moderate as 75-150iu HMG 2-3x per week
on Monday-Friday and perhaps on Wednesday as well. Most enhanced
bodybuilders, strength athletes & fitness enthusiasts report close to pre-cycle
Testicular size using 100-150iu pharmaceutical-grade HMG (Repronex) 2-3x per
week. If needed, you could increase HMG dosing to 75-150iu every day, but it’s
generally not advised to administer over 1,050iu HMG per week for a prolonged
period. When using 75-150iu HMG, we’re looking to utilize about 37.5-75iu of
FSH for Spermatogenesis, while the remainder of 37.5-75iu LH contributes to
Testosterone production in the Leydig Cells.

In the long-term, it’s better to use DHEA & Pregnenolone supplementation to

complement your hormone-balance while using exogenous Testosterone,
which keeps LHCG Receptors responsive to HCG in the case you want or need to
do PCT. In most cases, DHEA & Pregnenolone supplementation provides a
medium-high libido and improves Androgen Receptor Gene-Transcription, a
WIN-WIN scenario for any enhanced bodybuilder, strength athletes, or fitness
enthusiast!

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Neuro-Steroid Supplementation
If you’re concerned about LHCG Receptor downregulation and don’t mind
Testicular shrinkage, consider using supplemental DHEA & Pregnenolone. Both
Neuro-Steroids complement a healthy hormone balance while following an
HRT, Cruising, or Bridging Protocol. As seen in the elderly, the large majority of
individuals using any PED Protocol containing AAS or SARMs, have reduced
serum DHEA, DHEA-Sulfate, Pregnenolone & Pregnenolone-Sulfate levels,
especially when using AAS or SARMs for prolonged periods.

DeHydroEpiAndrosterone (DHEA) helps with energy levels, improves Rapid Eye-

Movement (REM) sleep, and is essential to reduce Adrenal Fatigue symptoms
during stressful situations. Pregnenolone mostly aids in cognition and elevates
your mood & sense of well-being. Both hormones possess several anti-aging
properties. However, these anti-aging benefits are noticed mainly by the
elderly, who are commonly deficient in both hormones.

DHEA is a Neuro-Steroid that metabolizes into Testosterone, Estrone (E1) &

Estradiol (E2), which aid in the regulation of libido. The direct involvement of
DHEA in the regulation of sexual function is unknown. However, treatment with
supplemental DHEA improves libido in individuals who are deficient in these
Neuro-Steroids & Sex-Hormones.

DHEA deficiency is common with individuals on a Traditional TRT or HRT

Protocol or follow a Blasting & Cruising approach to PED use. It is also seen in
people of advanced age, in which case Neuro-Steroids & Sex-Hormone
production declines naturally.

Pregnenolone is also a Neuro-Steroid that metabolizes into either Progesterone

or DHEA, subsequently converting into Testosterone & Estrogens. All 3
hormones aid in the regulation of libido. Treatment with supplemental
Pregnenolone improves libido in Pregnenolone & Pregnenolone-Sulfate
deficient individuals, as seen with DHEA supplementation for DHEA & DHEA-
Sulfate deficient individuals.

The Adrenal Glands predominantly produce DHEA & Pregnenolone, where

Luteinizing Hormone (LH) partially stimulates the synthesis of these Neuro-
Steroids. Like the Testes, the Adrenal Glands also contain LHCG Receptors,
which respond to LH & HCG.

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When the LHCG Receptors of the Adrenal Glands are activated, they signal
additional DHEA & Pregnenolone production as part of normal Hypothalamic-
Pituitary-Testes-Axis (HPTA) function.

High serum concentrations of Testosterone or other AAS & SARMs

downregulate HPTA function and minimize LH production, causing DHEA, DHEA-
Sulfate, Pregnenolone & Pregnenolone-Sulfate levels to decline. Production of
both Neuro-Steroids partially downregulates in the Adrenal Glands due to the
(complete) lack of LH serum concentrations.

While the Adrenal Glands are still able to produce sufficient amounts of DHEA,
DHEA-Sulfate, Pregnenolone & Pregnenolone-Sulfate, their serum
concentrations often fall to the bottom-middle of the reference range. This
alters the libido-favorable ratio between these Neuro-Steroids & Sex-
Hormones. Serum Testosterone, DHT & Estrogen levels are close to the top or
above the reference range, while DHEA, DHEA-Sulfate, Pregnenolone &
Pregnenolone-Sulfate levels are at the bottom-middle of the reference range.

Supplementing both Neuro-Steroids into your Protocol allows for high serum
concentrations of DHEA & Pregnenolone, Steroid Sulfatase (STS) then
metabolizes these compounds into DHEA-Sulfate & Pregnenolone-Sulfate as
needed.

DHEA & Pregnenolone

Supplementing with 25mg DHEA & 10mg Pregnenolone per day usually
completes a healthy ratio between Neuro-Steroids & Sex-Hormones. It brings
DHEA, DHEA-Sulfate, Pregnenolone & Pregnenolone-Sulfate levels to the
middle-top of the reference range while using exogenous Testosterone or other
AAS or SARMs. This ratio ultimately results in a better mood, overall sense of
well-being, libido & sex drive. Taking both hormones in a supplemental form
on top of your preferred Testosterone Protocol should bring serum
concentrations to the middle-top of their respective reference ranges:

• Pregnenolone: 110.0-208.0 ng/dL, (range; 13.0-208.0 ng/dL)

• Pregnenolone-Sulfate (PregS): 5.3-7.9 μg/dL, (range; 2.7-7.9 μg/dL)

• DeHydroEpiAndrosterone (DHEA): 421-778 ng/dL (range; 63-778 ng/dL)

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• DeHydroEpiAndrosterone-Sulfate (DHEA-S): 241-457 μg/dL (range; 25-457
μg/dL)

NOTE: If the serum concentrations of these Neuro-Steroids don’t increase to the

top of their respective reference ranges, you might have to double the dosage
to 50mg DHEA & 25mg Pregnenolone per day, to offset deficiency,
metabolization, or utilization of DHEA & Pregnenolone.

Pregnenolone can metabolize into DHEA, Progesterone, Corti-Costerone,

Cortisol, or Aldosterone. DHEA can metabolize into Androstenediol,
Testosterone, DiHydroTestosterone (DHT), Estrone (E1), Estradiol (E2), or Estriol
(E3). Adding a total of 245-525mg aromatizing hormones on top of your existing
weekly Testosterone dose will inadvertently increase serum Estrogen & DHT
levels. Depending on your individual rate of Aromatase or 5-Alpha-Reductase
Activity, you might require additional Aromatase & 5-Alpha-Reductase
Inhibitors to control Estrogen & DHT levels.

Comparing DHEA & Pregnenolone supplementation to HCG Treatment of 125iu

2-3x per week, you will most likely see a higher serum Estrogen levels while
using HCG as it stimulates the production of Estrogens directly in the Testicles.
AIs like Aromasin, Arimidex, or Letrozole can’t control this conversion as they’re
unable to enter the Testes to potentiate their action on the Aromatase Enzymes.
Unlike DHEA & Pregnenolone, HCG does improve Total Cholesterol & LDL levels
as it utilizes Cholesterol to produce Neuro-Steroids & Sex-Hormones!

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Growth Hormone (GH)
Human Growth Hormone (HGH) or Somatotropin is a peptide hormone that
stimulates growth, cell reproduction & cell regeneration and is very important
in human development. GH also stimulates the production of IGF-1 in the Liver,
and raises serum glucose concentrations as well as free fatty acids in the
bloodstream. GH is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is
synthesized, stored & secreted by Somatotropic Cells within the Anterior
Pituitary Gland’s lateral wings. Naturally, pulsed GH has a short biological Half-
Life of about 10 to 20 minutes, while exogenous GH administrations usually
have an Active-Life of 4-4.5 hours.

Exogenous Growth Hormone use directly correlates to your weekly

Testosterone dose. GH use increases incrementally alongside Testosterone,
whenever you decide to adjust your Bioidentical Hormone Cycle to improve
further. Generally speaking, each 250mg Testosterone per week allows for the
full utilization of 1iu Growth hormone per day. Using GH over these guidelines
results in diminishing returns, where GH turns into an expensive fat burner, as
Testosterone concentrations aren’t sufficient to promote recovery, anabolism
& cell proliferation in the presence of high GH levels.

General guidelines for Growth Hormone use as part of a Bioidentical Hormone

Cycle is 1iu GH daily, per 250mg of Testosterone or other AAS used weekly. You
can consider the following general guidelines for GH administrations, according
to your weekly Testosterone dosage:

• 100-250mg Testosterone per Week: 1-2iu GH per day

• 250mg Testosterone per Week: 1-2iu GH per day

• 500mg Testosterone per Week: 2iu GH per day

• 750mg Testosterone per Week: 3iu GH per day

• 1,000mg Testosterone per Week: 4iu GH per day

• 1,250mg Testosterone per Week: 5iu GH per day

• 1,500mg Testosterone per Week: 6iu GH per day

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Most bodybuilders, strength athletes, or fitness enthusiasts will also notice
diminishing returns when using 1,500mg Testosterone per week with 25-50mg
DHEA, 10-25mg Pregnenolone & 6iu GH per day. Serum Estrogen might be
managed around 75-100pg/ml while using Nolvadex to mitigate some of the
side-effects regarding water retention or gynecomastia, which will
inadvertently reduce serum IGF-1 levels. Individuals Blasting with this amount
of PEDs in a caloric surplus might experience Insulin resistance as their rate-
limiting factor, preventing them from making any significant progress.

Frequent GH administrations require you to monitor your blood glucose levels

carefully, as relatively high GH dosages in a caloric surplus can lead to Insulin
resistance and cause dangerously high blood glucose levels. Once your high
blood glucose readings reach over 130mg/dl or 7.8 mmol/l in between meals,
it’s crucial to make adjustments to your glycogen stores, carbohydrate intake &
GH Protocol!

This eBook doesn’t cover Growth Hormone Secretagogues like MK-677, GHRP-6,
or Ipamorelin. For more information about Growth Hormone and
Secretagogues, consider purchasing the “Comprehensive Guide to Growth
Hormone | Insulin-like Growth Factor-1” eBook on The VigorousSteve.com Shop:
www.vigoroussteve.com/shop/

Maximizing Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) Production

During a Bioidentical Hormone Cycle, you can consider using 1-2iu GH before
bed around 8-9 PM, as this usually results in the highest serum IGF-1 levels for
the following 24-36 hours after GH administrations!

Assuming you sleep according to your Circadian Rhythm, falling asleep between
10-11 PM and waking up around 6-7 AM, the highest natural GH pulse of the day
occurs somewhere between 1-3 AM when you’re in deep REM sleep. Those who
sleep outside of the regular Circadian Rhythm often see their night-time GH
pulse diminish as Cortisol levels fluctuate according to the day & night cycles.
Sunlight at dawn or dusk instructs the body to release Cortisol, to wake you
from sleep according to the Circadian Rhythm. Since it takes a few hours to
reach REM sleep, you might enter REM sleep at the time the sun is coming up,
and Cortisol slowly rises.

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Falling asleep after midnight means that Cortisol levels are relatively high
when you’re supposed to release GH, dramatically diminishing the natural GH
pulse, which cascades into marginal IGF-1 release.

Exogenous GH has a relatively short Active-Life of approximately 4-4.5 hours

when administered through Sub-Q or IM injections. Using GH between 8-9 PM
allows for a sufficient amount of time to complete metabolization of the
exogenous GH, without sending negative feedback to your night-time GH pulse.

However, elevated IGF-1 levels have negative feedback towards additional IGF-
1 production in the Liver, meaning that your night-time GH pulse will only
marginally increase IGF-1 output. As the evening GH administration already
elevated serum IGF-1 concentrations, blunting additional IGF-1 release. This
marginal increase still results in the highest possible IGF-1 levels upon waking,
making fasted cardio or morning workouts, Intermittent Fasting & Ketogenic
Diets, or other low Insulin states more effective.

Overall, when your GH budget is 1-2iu per day, serum IGF-1 levels will be higher
with evening administrations, compared to day-time administrations.

Maximizing Fat Loss

If you require additional fat loss during your Bioidentical Hormone Cycle, it’s
generally advised to use 1-2iu GH once per day before fasting cardio or workout.
GH causes lipolysis, and moderate-high intense activity helps burn the newly
liberated triglycerides from body fat stores, eventually resulting in body fat loss.
If you do not increase activity after a GH injection, these triglycerides might
migrate to other areas of the body; lower back, glutes, hamstring, etc. and make
fat loss from these stubborn areas more difficult.

If you’re not restricting calories or administering GH before activity, you’ll

slowly get leaner on limbs or face, while your stubborn fat areas remain exactly
the same. As long as you’re reducing calories and carefully controlling food
intake, you’ll gradually lose body fat evenly, even when you administer GH in
the evening. However, overall fat loss improves if you inject GH before activity,
which allows you to utilize body fat for energy production.

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You can combine GH administrations with 2,000mg oral L-Carnitine-L-Tartate or
500mg injectable L-Carnitine to optimize fat loss. Carnitine helps to absorb
medium & long-chain triglycerides into the Mitochondria for energy
production. Effectively bypassing the need to convert medium & long-chain
into short-chain triglycerides in the Liver, which are more readily absorbed.

Maximizing Hyperplasia & Preventing Insulin Resistance

The last Protocol you can try before symptoms of Insulin resistance becomes
apparent at 2iu GH 3-4x per day is taking your daily GH budget in a single dose.
Injected either pre- or post-workout, alongside 1-2iu fast-acting Insulin per 20g
carbohydrates contained in your pre- or post-workout meal. The main benefit
of injecting a single dose of GH, compared to several 1-2iu GH administration
per day, is to limit the duration while GH is present in the bloodstream. A single
GH injection results in peak serum concentrations for 4-4.5 hours per day at
maximum. In comparison, multiple 1-2iu GH injections might result in elevated
serum GH concentrations for up to 18 hours per day in total.

Although you’re taking a significant dose of 6-8iu GH in a single administration

before or after your workout, the subsequent increase in GLUT4 Receptors
should allow for a substantial amount of glucose to enter skeletal muscle,
without the need for pancreatic or exogenous Insulin. A relatively high dose of
GH causes an elevation of Hormone-Sensitive Lipase (HSL), which increases free
fatty acid & glycerol levels in the bloodstream. The Liver then subsequently
converts glycerol into glucose in a process called gluconeogenesis, which
contributes to a rise in blood glucose levels.

Fast-acting Insulin is used to promote glucose uptake, even though GH's high
serum concentration might inhibit Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 (IRS-1) activity
and reduce Insulin sensitivity. Since you’re continually using muscle glycogen
stores for energy production, stored glycogen depletes sufficiently during the
workout. Fast-acting Insulin pre-workout promotes glycogen storage during
the workout using the carbohydrates from the pre-workout meal, effectively
maintaining glycogen balance throughout, while keeping blood glucose levels
in range. Using fast-acting Insulin post-workout keeps blood glucose levels in
range after the workout while promoting glycogen storage using the
carbohydrates from the post-workout meal.

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You’ll have to measure your blood glucose levels 1 hour after using GH with
fast-acting Insulin to see if your protocol is sufficient to cover your pre- or post-
workout meal. As fast-acting Insulins generally reach peak serum
concentrations 1 hour after administration.

Taking 6-8iu GH with 1-2iu fast-acting Insulin per 20g carbohydrates shouldn’t
lower your intra- or post-workout blood glucose levels below 70mg/dl or
3.9mmol/l. At the same time, this Protocol should prevent your intra- or post-
workout blood glucose levels from rising above 90–130 mg/dl or 5.0–7.2
mmol/l.

NOTE: If you train early in the morning and only have a pre-workout shake, then
6-8iu GH & 1iu fast-acting Insulin per 20g carbohydrates should be sufficient to
cover the shake and prevent blood glucose levels from dropping below 70mg/dl
or 3.9mmol/L.

There is no way to predict how you will respond to this protocol as Insulin
sensitivity is dependent on many factors, including; sleep duration, meals
consumed during the day, meals consumed the night prior, supplementation,
Liver glycogen stores, skeletal muscle glycogen stores, digestion rate of pre- or
post-workout meal, training intensity, serum concentrations of Growth
Hormone, etc.

Always use a glucometer and keep a log of your blood glucose levels
concerning the number of carbohydrates & carbohydrate sources consumed, GH
dosages used, fast-acting Insulin dosages used, the timing of administrations
in relation to your workout, and body-part trained during the workout. Keep
track of all the variables so you can make informed decisions when you’re
aiming to perfect your personalized high dose GH & fast-acting Insulin
protocol!

NOTE: Using a fast-acting Insulin alongside a high dose of GH will also cause
additional IGF-1 production in the Liver, which helps to increase Insulin
sensitivity & recovery for the next 24-36 hours!

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Insulin
At some point during the offseason, you might have to incorporate Insulin (if
you haven’t already) to help with digestion & nutrient absorption into skeletal
muscle. Food intake will always be your bottleneck & rate-limiting factor during
offseason. Frequent and consistent eating will become increasingly difficult as
calories increase to facilitate strength progression, recovery & anabolism. Even
if your body is utilizing all the nutrients to grow new muscle tissue, the act of
eating and always having a full stomach makes progress slow down towards
the later stages of the offseason.

Insulin comes into play when you physically can’t eat any more food, regardless
of how many appetite enhancers you’re incorporating to speed up digestion &
gastric emptying. Insulin is initially used as a method to improve metabolism
to enhance the assimilation of nutrients, which allows for maximum transport
capability through the blood and turns nutrient delivery into a one-way high
way, from the intestinal tract to muscle tissue. You can either choose between
fast-acting or long-acting Insulins. Both versions are very beneficial in
improving nutrient uptake into skeletal muscle, given that Insulin sensitivity is
maintained throughout the offseason.

Short-acting Insulin helps to maintain glycogen balance throughout the

workout, where the rate of glycogen replenishment equals the rate of glycogen
used for energy production. Short-acting Insulin can also replenish glycogen
stores directly post-workout, shortening the duration of a catabolic state in
which you’re losing amino acids from stored muscle tissue. Once glycogen is
replenished sufficiently, the process of recovery, anabolism & hyperplasia can
start as soon as possible! General guidelines for pre- or post-workout short-
acting Insulin is up to 1iu per 20g carbohydrates contained in the pre- or post-
workout meal or shake, where Insulin is administered AFTER the entire meal or
shake has been consumed. Using these guidelines, a pre- or post-workout meal
or shake, containing 80g carbohydrates, can be complemented with 4iu fast-
acting insulin. This scenario doesn’t take Growth Hormone induced Insulin
resistance into the equation, in which case the dosages might need to be
adjusted based on blood glucose levels.

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Long-acting Insulin helps by improving digestion & gastric emptying while
keeping the muscle cells open and ready to receive the nutrients throughout
the day. General guidelines for long-acting Insulin is 1iu per 20g Carbohydrates
consumed during the day, where Insulin is administered in a single injection
upon waking.

Before you start incorporating Insulin into your Offseason Bioidentical

Hormone Cycle, make sure you take the responsible approach and buy a glucose
meter! When using Insulin, you also need to make sure you always have a
carbohydrate & electrolyte sports drink like Gatorade, Pedialyte, or coconut
water available, in case you overused Insulin and need to bring your blood
glucose level back into range!

Low blood glucose levels & hypoglycemia is not a rare occurrence for
bodybuilders, strength athletes & fitness enthusiasts. Unfortunately, the
overuse of Insulin is more common than you might think. It's essential to make
careful dosing adjustments based on the glycemic index & load of carbohydrate
sources while taking protein, fat & fiber content of the meal into consideration
as well. The activity levels post-injection also contribute, which can lower blood
glucose levels further than expected!

For more information about Responsible Insulin use while maintaining Insulin
Sensitivity during the offseason, consider purchasing the “Comprehensive
Guide to Responsible Insulin use” eBook on The VigorousSteve.com Shop:
www.vigoroussteve.com/shop/

Blood Glucose Level Monitor (Glucometer)

A glucometer is a medical device for determining the approximate
concentration of glucose in the blood. This device is commonly used by people
who suffer from Type 1 or 2 Diabetes to assess their blood glucose levels.
Glucometers are readily used by advanced bodybuilders, strength athletes &
fitness enthusiasts to see if they’re losing Insulin sensitivity during the
offseason. Loss of Insulin sensitivity could be caused by high carbohydrate
intake, continuous GH use, or by using Growth Hormone Secretagogues like MK-
677 or GHRP-6. Daily use of a Glucometer is essential when using fast-acting or
long-acting Insulins to assess accurate Insulin dosing.

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Below are very general guidelines of when you should take blood glucose
readings while using specific forms of Insulin:

• Fast-Acting Insulins: after fasted cardio, 2 hours after meals, post-workout

• Long-Acting Insulins: upon waking, 2 hours after meals, post-workout, before

bed

A glucometer requires a small drop of blood obtained by pricking the skin with
a lancet provided with the glucometer kit. The sample of blood is placed on a
disposable test strip that the meter reads and uses to calculate your blood
glucose level. The glucometer displays the level in units of mg/dl or mmol/l.

Below are the ranges for blood glucose ranges, which are considered to be
healthy:

• Fasting Blood Glucose Level upon Waking: 70-100 mg/dl or 3.9-5.5 mmol/l

• Blood Glucose Level 2 hours after Meals: 90–130 mg/dl or 5.0–7.2 mmol/l

NOTE 1: Fasting hyperglycemia is diagnosed as a blood glucose level higher

than 130 mg/dl or 7.2 mmol/l after fasting (from calories, not water) for at least
8 hours.

NOTE 2: Post-prandial hyperglycemia is diagnosed as a blood glucose level

higher than 180 mg/dl or 9.9 mmol/l, 2 hours after eating a meal containing
carbohydrates. Healthy individuals without Diabetes rarely have blood glucose
level over 140 mg/dl after consuming a meal, unless the meal contained a large
amount of processed carbohydrates (cereal, popcorn, ice-cream, cake, etc.)

NOTE 3: Fasting & post-prandial hypoglycemia is diagnosed as a blood glucose

level lower than 70 mg/dl or 3.9 mmol/l after fasting (from calories, not water)
for at least 8 hours as well as in between meals.

The most popular & accurate blood glucose meter is the Accu-Chek (Guide-me)
produced by Roche. It can be bought online on most retail websites; Amazon,
Ladaza, E-bay, AliExpress, or Shopee.

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Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1)
Similar to Insulin, Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) or Somatomedin-C is also
able to promote glucose uptake into the Liver & skeletal muscle. The molecular
structure of IGF-1 is similar to Insulin and plays a vital role in childhood growth
and has anabolic effects in adults, especially when combined with Insulin &
Growth Hormone!

The Liver is the primary source of IGF-1 production, where Growth Hormone (GH)
directly stimulates its production & release into the bloodstream.
Undernutrition, caused by chronically reduced caloric intake or micro-nutrient
deficiencies, lowers GH production in the Pituitary Gland. Downregulation of
the GH Receptors on Liver cells (Hepatocytes) also decreases IGF-1 production.
In contrast, frequent protein intake increases serum IGF-1 concentrations, often
directly correlated to total caloric intake. Low Insulin levels and high Growth
Hormone levels, as seen with the Ketogenic & Carnivore diet, also increase
serum IGF-1 levels. However, natural IGF-1 production generally declines with
age as GH production declines. Stress is also known to reduce IGF-1 levels.

The Liver can only produce a limited amount of IGF-1, regardless of how much
Growth Hormone is present in the bloodstream at any given time. Most
bodybuilders, strength athletes, or fitness enthusiasts will see diminishing
returns from 6iu Growth Hormone per day or more. Beyond 6iu GH per day, IGF-
1 concentrations only increase marginally. It’s incredibly rare for an adult to see
serum IGF-1 levels over 500ng/mL unless using exogenous IGF-1 LR3 or DES.

Approximately 98% of IGF-1 is always bound to one of 6 Binding Proteins (IGF-

BP). IGFBP-3 is the most abundant protein and accounts for 80% of bound IGF-
1 in serum, while Insulin regulates IGFBP-1 concentrations.

IGF-1 stimulates systemic Growth in almost every cell of the body, especially in
Skeletal Muscle, Cartilage, Bone, Kidney, Nerves, Skin as well as Liver & Lung
Cells. IGF-1 also contributes to cellular DNA Synthesis, needed for cell
proliferation. Elevated IGF-1 levels are highly desired for muscle growth, but
definitely not desired when suffering from Cancers or Tumors. When Cancers or
Tumors are detected, serum IGF-1 levels are often reduced to single digits in an
attempt to prevent the progression of the diagnosed Cancer or Tumor.

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IGF-1 has structural similarities to Insulin & Pro-Insulin (ProHormone precursor
to Insulin), which directly enhances Insulin sensitivity. IGF-1 can bind to the
IGF-1, Insulin & Hybrid Insulin/IGF-1 Receptors and can enhance Insulin's
action regarding cellular glucose uptake. However, IGF-1 itself has a very low
binding affinity for the Insulin Receptor, with a comparable affinity of that of
Insulin for the IGF-1 Receptor.

Elevated levels of IGF-1 allow for increased glucose uptake in skeletal muscle,
reducing the need for Insulin from the Pancreatic Beta Cells or through
exogenous Insulin administrations. This diminished need for Insulin is further
enhanced by GLUT4 translocation post-workout. Improved glucose uptake,
without the need for Insulin, might cause moderate to severe hypoglycemia if
the individual did not consume adequate amounts of carbohydrates pre-
workout, needed to keep blood glucose levels elevated throughout and after
the workout. Improved glucose uptake is usually only seen with exogenous IGF-
1 administration, not from improved IGF-1 production in the Liver, induced by
exogenous GH. Elevated serum IGF-1 concentrations send negative feedback to
the Liver, halting additional IGF-1 production when serum concentrations reach
a certain threshold.

Although functionally related, IGF-1 LR3 and IGF DES 1,3 are two different
variations, which are similar to naturally produced IGF-1. Both compounds have
slightly different chemical structures and potentiate different degrees of
action. However, due to the small alterations of these Peptides, they are
technically not exact Bioidentical Hormones!

For more information about Insulin-like Growth Factor-1, consider purchasing

the “Comprehensive Guide to Growth Hormone | Insulin-like Growth Factor-1”
eBook on The VigorousSteve.com Shop: www.vigoroussteve.com/shop/

Insulin-like Growth Factor-1, Long Arginine 3 (IGF-1

LR3)
IGF-1 LR3 is an artificially produced version of naturally occurring IGF-1.
Structurally, IGF-1 LR3 differs from its parent compound due to the presence of
an Arginine Molecule in place of a Glutamic Acid at the third position of the IGF-
1 Amino Acid Sequence.

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At the N-Terminus of IGF-1, there are an additional 13 Amino Acids, which
loosely bind IGF-1 LR3 to the 3 Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Proteins (IGF-
BP). By binding to the IGF-BPs, the duration of action of IGF-1 LR3 extends
significantly, although it decreases the direct pharmacological activity after
administration. IGF-1 LR3 has a reported Half-Life of 20-30 hours, resembling a
similar duration of action as seen with naturally produced IGF-1 from the Liver.
This prolonged effect makes IGF-1 LR3 more suitable for recovery purposes.

Pre-Workout IGF-1 LR3 Protocol

General guidelines for exogenous IGF-1 LR-3 administrations go along with the
following Protocol; 50-100mcg IGF-1 LR3, injected bilaterally into each major
muscle group 1 hour before the workout, preferably with additional GH to
induce lipolysis pre-workout and promote hyperplasia post-workout. GLUT4
translocation improves Insulin sensitivity significantly post-workout, which
further enhances nutrient uptake. IGF-1 LR3 with GH pre-workout allows for
relatively large amounts of nutrients to enter the muscle cells to facilitate
recovery, growth & cell proliferation, given that glycogen & triglyceride stores
aren’t over-saturated!

Insulin-like Growth Factor Desamino 1,3 (IGF-1 DES)

IGF DES is extracted from Human Brain, Porcine Uterus, or Bovine Colostrum.
Although IGF DES is a biological variant of IGF-1, the compound lacks the first
3 Amino Acids located at the N-Terminus, which are present in naturally
occurring IGF-1. Unlike IGF-1 LR3, IGF-1 DES has a low binding affinity to the 3
IGF-BPs, thereby boosting its direct pharmacological actions. Although this
increases the rate at which IGF-1 DES is metabolized by the body and limits the
duration of action. IGF-1 DES has a relatively short Half-Life of only 20-30
minutes; administration around the workout is essential to get the most
benefits. This shortened effect makes IGF-1 DES more suitable for hyperplasia
purposes.

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Post-Workout IGF-1 DES Protocol

General guidelines for exogenous IGF-1 DES administrations go along with the
following Protocol; 50-100mcg IGF-1 DES, injected bilaterally into each major
muscle group, 30 minutes after finishing the post-workout meal. Due to its
relatively short Half-Life and its effect on cell proliferation, adequate nutrients
need to be present in the bloodstream for this labor-intensive process to be
optimal. Preferably with pre-workout GH to induce lipolysis and promote
hyperplasia post-workout. GLUT4 translocation improves Insulin sensitivity
significantly post-workout, which further enhances nutrient uptake. IGF-1 DES
post-workout with GH pre-workout allows for relatively large amounts of
nutrients to enter the muscle cells to facilitate recovery, growth & cell
proliferation, given that glycogen & triglyceride stores aren’t over-saturated!

If you have access to pharmaceutical-grade Increlex or Ipex, a reduced dose

between 10-25mcg injected bilaterally into each major muscle group, 1 hour
pre-workout is more than sufficient to get the desired effects. Chinese generics
of questionable quality might require you to increase the dose 10-fold and
resort to 100-250mcg bilateral injections to get the same effect as quality
peptides. A 1mg vial of IGF-1 will last only 2-5 workouts as you’re using
2x100mcg or even 2x250mcg.

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Thyroid Medication
Triiodothyronine (T3) & Thyroxine (T4) Thyroid hormones are produced &
released by the Thyroid Gland, located around the Larynx / Voice Box in the
Neck. Production is regulated by Thyroid-Stimulation Hormone (TSH), released
by the Pituitary Gland according to serum concentrations of Total & Free T4 &
T3. Both T4 & T3 are Tyrosine-based hormones that are primarily responsible
for regulating metabolism. They are partially composed of Iodine. An Iodine
deficiency leads to decreased production of T3 & T4, which can eventually
enlarge tissue of the Thyroid Gland and cause a disease known as Goiter.

These Thyroid Hormones act on nearly every cell in the body, where they
increase Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) & body temperature. Thyroid Hormones
also help to regulate bone growth (in synergy with Growth Hormone, Calcium,
Magnesium & Vitamin K) & neural maturation as well as increase sensitivity to
Catecholamines (Epinephrine / Adrenalin & Nor-Epinephrine). Thyroid
Hormones regulate protein, carbohydrate & fat metabolism, stimulate vitamin
metabolism, and affect how cells use energetic compounds. Numerous other
physiological & pathological stimuli are influenced by Thyroid Hormones and
their synthesis in the Thyroid Gland and tissue of the body!

The most predominant form of Thyroid Hormone in the bloodstream is

Thyroxine (T4), where T4:T3 concentrations are approximately 14:1. T4 is
converted into the active T3 within the cells by Deiodinase Enzymes.
Triiodothyronine (T3) is further processed by Decarboxylation & Deiodination
to produce Iodothyronamine (T1a) & Thyronamine (T0a). All 3 isoforms of the
deiodized Thyroxine are produced with enzymes containing Selenium. Thus
dietary or supplemental Selenium is essential for T3 (and T1s & T0a) production.

Thyroid Hormones are bound to binding proteins, including; Thyropexin /

Thyroxine-Binding Globulin (TBG), Thyroxine-Binding Pre-Albumin (TBPA) /
Trans-Thyretin (TTR) & Albumin. Several other serum proteins also bind T3 &
T4, in particular High-Density Lipo-Proteins (HDL), but their contribution to the
overall hormone transport is negligible. Binding proteins render both T4 & T3
inactive; only a tiny portion of Total T4 & Total T3 is unbound and considered
“free” in the bloodstream.

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Healthy individuals without metabolic issues should have a normal to high
metabolic rate in a caloric surplus, given their micro-nutrient intake is sufficient
for healthy Thyroid production & conversion.

When Thyroid levels are low, the Pituitary Gland produces more Thyroid
Stimulating Hormone (TSH) to secrete additional T4 for Deionization into T3. On
the opposite end, when Thyroid levels are high, the Pituitary Gland produces
less TSH, allowing Thyroid levels to return to baseline over time. A skewed
serum TSH Concentration, either above or below the reference range, indicates
the Thyroid Gland isn’t working correctly, and metabolism is either impaired or
upregulated beyond normal levels. Exogenous PEDs like GH, IGF-1 & Thyroid
medication, as well as elevated Prolactin or Vasopressin levels, can alter serum
Thyroid levels tremendously!

Growth Hormone (GH) & Thyroxine (T4) for Thyroid Conversion

Exogenous Growth Hormone use increases Thyroid conversion from Thyroxine

(T4) into Triiodothyronine (T3) within the cells of the body by Deiodinase
Enzymes. This increased conversion is seen at dosages as low as 1iu GH per day
and elevates with higher GH dosages. 1-2iu GH per day might boost Thyroid
conversion only slightly, allowing Total & Free T4 levels to replenish
themselves from the Thyroid Gland as it responds to Thyroid-Stimulating
Hormone (TSH) released from the Pituitary Gland. However, beyond 2iu GH per
day, supplementing with 100mcg T4 is generally advised to maintain adequate
serum T3 concentrations.

The generally accepted ratio of T4 to T3 conversion is 4:1, where 100mcg

inactive T4 yields about 25mcg active T3. In the majority of cases,
supplementing with 100mcg T4 alongside 1-2iu GH per day keeps serum T3
levels within the reference range! Supplementation beyond 100mcg T4 per day
doesn’t appear to increase serum T3 Levels any further, regardless of the
amount of GH used. Low body fat levels or reduced caloric intake might also
decrease the conversion from T4 into T3, even when using a significant amount
of Growth Hormone.

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NOTE: T4 supplementation on Bioidentical Hormone Cycle generally isn’t
required without Growth Hormone. Metabolic rate regulates through other
Pathways as well, including food intake. Maintenance or surplus of calories is
usually sufficient to maintain Thyroid levels within the reference range, given
micro-nutrient intake is carefully managed to prevent deficiencies!

Offseason Triiodothyronine (T3) for Nutrient Partitioning

Similar to the incorporation of short-acting or long-acting Insulins towards the

later stages of the offseason. Triiodothyronine (T3) can also be added when
food intake becomes the growth-rate limiting factor. T3 is used to optimize
metabolism and nutrient partitioning further when Growth Hormone, Insulin,
and perhaps IGF-1 are already incorporated to promote recovery, anabolism &
hyperplasia of muscle tissue.

Most bodybuilders, strength athletes, or fitness enthusiasts will not reach a

level of development & food intake where T3 becomes necessary. However, if
the metabolic rate isn’t adequate to process large amounts of food and the
individual is noticing they’re getting “flat” due to high workout capacity. A
replacement dose of 25mcg T3 is usually sufficient to improve nutrient
partitioning and improve recovery, fullness, and digestion to match the very
high food intake at the later stages of the offseason.

When opting for T3, T4 supplementation is no longer required, as the conversion

of T4 into T3 completely downregulates in the presence of high serum T3
concentrations. Deionization halts regardless of GH usage or carbohydrate
intake!

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Erythropoietin (EPO)
Coach Steve has no personal experience with Erythropoietin (EPO), besides AAS
that promotes Red Blood Cell (RBC) production; Anadrol, Boldenone &
Primobolan. However, these AAS aren’t part of a Bioidentical Hormone Cycle
designed to keep health into consideration during the offseason. Several micro-
nutrients contribute to RBC production; Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B9
(Folic Acid or Folate), Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) & Iron. Vitamin C helps indirectly
by promoting Iron absorption in the intestinal tract. Ensuring these micro-
nutrients are a staple in your diet or added in supplemental forms promotes
healthy RBC production in the presence of supra-physiological dosages of
Testosterone. Besides Testosterone & EPO, other Bioidentical Hormones aren’t
known to increase RBC production directly.

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Structuring the Offseason
After a few months on a Traditional Testosterone or Hormone Replacement
Therapy (TRT / HRT), Cruising, or Bridging Protocol. Your blood work markers
should be within, or close to, the reference range. A solid state of health means
you have the (medical) green light to start a Bioidentical Hormone Cycle for the
offseason to progress your physique beyond your previous best!

Hopefully, you’ve slowly increased your caloric intake during the time you were
using moderate dosages of Testosterone, with a replacement dose of DHEA,
Pregnenolone, Growth hormone, and perhaps Insulin & IGF-1. Below are
general guidelines of PEDs & dosages before transitioning into the Offseason
Cycle with Bioidentical Hormones:

• Testosterone: 100-250mg per week, 50-125mg twice per week, 35-70mg

every other day, or 15-35mg per day.

• DeHydroEpiAndrosterone (DHEA): 25-50mg per day.

• Pregnenolone: 10-25mg per day.

• Aromatase Inhibitor: either 100mg DIM & 500mg CDG twice per day with
breakfast or dinner, or 12.5mg Aromasin twice per week or 0.5mg Arimidex
twice per week.

• 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor: highly dependent on the individual's balance

between desired hair loss prevention while maintaining libido & sex drive.

• Growth Hormone: 1-2iu per day; 1iu 1 hour before fasted cardio, workout, or
bed.

• Short-Acting Insulin Pre- or Post-Workout: up to 1iu per 20g carbohydrates

consumed with the pre- or post-workout meal or shake.

• Long-Acting Insulin upon Waking: up to 1iu per 20g carbs consumed daily.

• Pre-Workout IGF-1 LR3: highly dependent on caloric intake & workout

capacity, most individuals don’t need exogenous IGF-1 during their TRT, HRT,
Cruising, Bridging Procotol.

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• Post-Workout IGF-1 DES: highly dependent on caloric intake & workout
capacity, most individuals don’t need exogenous IGF-1 during their TRT, HRT,
Cruising, Bridging Procotol.

• Thyroxine (T4): up to 100mcg per day (only when using over 2iu GH per day)

• Triiodothyronine (T3): 25mcg if needed.

NOTE: Every individual will have a different PED protocol during the time they’re
trying to recover health while increasing food intake & metabolism in
preparation for their Offseason Cycle with Bioidentical Hormones!

Caloric Intake
Let’s assume you’re eating 4,000 calories at the start of your Offseason Cycle
with Bioidentical Hormones, but you’re not gaining any more strength or size
at this point, only gaining body fat. A reduction in caloric intake would result in
loss of strength, as you’re training with maximum workout capacity that you
can recover from with the Traditional Testosterone or Hormone Replacement
Therapy (TRT / HRT), Cruising, or Bridging Protocols mentioned before.
Hopefully, the number of repetitions & weights of the working sets are
comparable to where you were at the end of your last Steroid Cycle or Blast,
perhaps a few repetitions less or one weight increment below your previous
best.

Ideally, you keep increasing food intake until you reach the same level of
workout capacity you had on your previous Steroid Cycle or Blast. However, this
might cause some accumulation of body fat by the time you're ready for the
next Bioidentical Hormone Cycle. If you were able to keep your body fat levels
in check and found an excellent medium between body fat & strength gain,
now’s the time to increase your weekly dose of Testosterone and get 100% of
your strength back in a matter of a few short weeks!

The first increment in PED intake will only give you results for a certain amount
of time, it should at least bring your back to your maximum working weights &
repetitions, without changing calories at all. Meaning you were close to
maximum workout capacity with 160-225mg Testosterone per week & 4,000
calories per day, now you’ve progressed to 100% workout capacity or beyond,
on 320-400mg Testosterone per week & 4,000 calories per day.

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Ensuring Progression
Metabolic rate will automatically improve during the first adjustment,
switching from your Traditional Testosterone or Hormone Replacement
Therapy (TRT / HRT), Cruising, or Bridging Protocol, to a Bioidentical Hormone
Cycle. By improving strength while adding new muscle tissue and increasing
energy expenditure in the gym, moving heavier weight for more repetitions,
slowly turns your 4,000 caloric surplus into a 4,000 caloric maintenance, often
followed by a caloric deficit, even though food intake remained precisely the
same. However, body fat levels should go down eventually as you haven’t yet
maxed out your caloric dependent recovery capability. PED intake is now
sufficient to facilitate recovery as strength improves.

When you notice a reduction in body fat levels, as your Total Daily Energy
Expenditure (TDEE) increased beyond 4,000 calories per day, you can choose to
increase caloric intake. A small 10% adjustment to 4,400-4,500 calories per day
is more than enough to improve recovery and promote additional strength gain
and muscle growth. Or you can take this opportunity to continue with body
recomposition at 4,000 calories per day, until strength stalls or regresses
slightly! The golden rule with Progressive Overload during the offseason is that
calories have to go up when strength stalls, but you can recomp significantly if
strength remains respectable.

Full-Blown Offseason Mode

Individuals who want to progress with working weights & repetitions
continuously can simply adjust calories with 10% increments. Depending on
your digestion and ability to process large amounts of Protein, Carbohydrates,
and Fats, you’ll have to modify the ratio between these macros as calories go
up! When consuming 4,000 calories per day, without any macro-specific
digestive issues, consisting of 30% protein, 50% carbohydrates, and 20% fats,
with a breakdown of:

• 300g Protein: 1,200 calories (30% of total)

• 500g Carbohydrates: 2,000 calories (50% of total)

• 90g Fats: 800 calories (20% of total)

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Equal Caloric Distribution

An equal adjustment of all macros, from 4,000 to 4,400 calories per day, results
in a breakdown of:

• 330g Protein: 1,320 calories (30% of total)

• 550g Carbohydrates: 2,200 calories (50% of total)

• 98g Fats: 880 calories (20% of total)

Carbohydrate-Specific Caloric Distribution

If you’re unable to digest a large amount of protein and it’s causing distention,
bloating, or gastrointestinal upset, you can choose to lower your initial protein
intake by 10% while increasing carbohydrate intake to reach 4,400 calories per
day, resulting in a breakdown of:

• 270g Protein: 1,080 calories (25% of total)

• 605g Carbohydrates: 2,420 calories (55% of total)

• 98g Fats: 900 calories (20% of total)

Fat-Specific Caloric Distribution

If you’re unable to digest a large number of carbohydrates and it’s causing

distention, bloating, or gastrointestinal upset, you can choose to lower your
carbohydrate intake by 10% while increasing fat intake to reach 4,400 calories
per day, resulting in a breakdown of:

• 330g Protein: 1,320 calories (30% of total)

• 450g Carbohydrates: 1,800 calories (41% of total)

• 142g Fats: 1,280 calories (29% of total)

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This macro & caloric breakdowns completely disregard the individual’s body
weight, body composition, and need for carb-cycling to improve weaker body
parts by providing a higher caloric surplus to facilitate additional recovery &
growth on specific days!

Obviously, you’ll have to adjust your macros to match your individual rate of
digestion, food choices, energy expenditure, etc. Some people utilize more
protein compared to carbohydrates or fats for energy production and need to
increase their protein intake significantly when they stop making progress.

There is no need to increase protein intake beyond 2g per 1lbs / 4g per 1kg of
body weight and fats beyond 1g per 1lbs / 2g per 1kg of body weight. The large
majority of bodybuilders, strength athletes & fitness enthusiasts will
experience severely reduced gastric emptying with increasing food quantities.
Ideally, you restrict protein & fat intake far below these recommended
maximums and only increase carbohydrate intake to get more calories in your
diet to facilitate recovery & growth!

You can increase calories throughout the offseason as long as you keep gaining
strength & repetitions on your working sets, without gaining additional body
fat. Once you start gaining body fat and you’ve already done an entire deload
to give yourself an extra week of recovery (if applicable), only then are you
allowed to adjust the PED Protocol to facilitate additional recovery &
anabolism! Always make sure you get the most out of your Bioidentical
Hormone Cycle before upping the dose!

Generally speaking, you should increase calories at least 2-3 times before you
need to adjust the Bioidentical Hormone Cycle. Please remember that you’re
supposed to stay as healthy as possible during the offseason, save the
exorbitant PED (ab)use for a contest prep or cutting phase. During that period,
calories might be severely restricted and require double, triple, or quadruple
the amount of AAS to maintain size & strength, as food-induced anabolism is
reduced to adequate recovery at most!

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Bioidentical Hormone Cycle
Adjustments
Assuming you’re able to make 2 caloric adjustments during your first increment
switching from your Traditional Testosterone or Hormone Replacement
Therapy (TRT / HRT), Cruising, or Bridging Protocol, to a Bioidentical Hormone
Cycle. Food intake went from 4,000 at the start, to 4,400 and finally to 4,840
calories per day, allowing you to train well beyond your previous bests
regarding working weight & repetitions. You’re eating a mountain of food every
day, but you’re slowly gaining a bit of body fat, no longer gaining any significant
amount of strength on 4,840 calories per day. You’re now qualified to increase
the PED intake of your Bioidentical Hormone Cycle and turn this 4,840 caloric
surplus into maintenance, then into a deficit, all over again!

The following Bioidentical Hormones remain at the baseline similar to a

Traditional Testosterone or Hormone Replacement Therapy (TRT / HRT),
Cruising, or Bridging Protocol. You’re merely replacing or supplementing these
Hormones to keep serum concentration around the middle-top of the reference
range:

• DeHydroEpiAndrosterone (DHEA): 25-50mg per day.

• Pregnenolone: 10-25mg per day.

• Thyroxine (T4): up to 100mcg per day

• Triiodothyronine (T3): 25mcg if needed.

General guidelines for making Bioidentical Hormone Cycle adjustments during

the offseason, according to the most beneficial ratios between each Hormone,
can be made along with these increments:

• Testosterone: 250mg Enanthate or Cypionate per week or 220mg Propionate

per week, containing net. 175mg Testosterone without the Ester attached.

• Aromatase Inhibitor: 25mg Aromasin or 0.50mg Arimidex for each weekly

dose of 220-250mg Testosterone (including Ester).

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• 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor: highly dependent on the individual's balance
between desired hair loss prevention while maintaining libido & sex drive.

• Growth Hormone: 1iu per day for each weekly dose of 220-250mg
Testosterone (including Ester).

• Short-Acting Insulin Pre- or Post-Workout: up to 1iu per 20g carbohydrates

consumed with the pre- or post-workout meal or shake.

• Long-Acting Insulin upon Waking: up to 1iu per 20g carbs consumed daily.

• Pre-Workout IGF-1 LR3: 25-50mcg IGF-1 LR3, injected bilaterally into each
major muscle group, for each weekly dose of 220-250mg Testosterone
(including Ester). IGF-1 LR3 is used 1 Hour pre-workout and cycled at 3-4
weeks ON & 2-3 weeks OFF.

• Post-Workout IGF-1 DES: 25-50mcg IGF-1 DES, injected bilaterally into each
major muscle group, for each weekly dose of 220-250mg Testosterone
(including Ester). IGF-1 DES is used 30 minutes after finishing the post-
workout meal and cycled at 3-4 weeks ON & 2-3 weeks OFF.

Taking these general guidelines for the correct ratios between Hormones into
consideration. You can make adjustments to the Bioidentical Hormone Cycle
along with the following increments during the offseason:

TIER 1 (HRT, Cruising, or Bridging Protocol)

• 250mg Testosterone Enanthate or Cypionate, or 220mg Propionate per Week.

• 12.5mg Aromasin or 0.5mg Arimidex 2-3 times per week.

• 1iu Growth Hormone per day.

• 25mcg IGF-1 LR3 bilaterally per day or 25mcg IGF-1 DES bilaterally on workout
days.

TIER 2

• 500mg Testosterone Enanthate or Cypionate, or 450mg Propionate per Week.

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• 12.5mg Aromasin or 0.5mg Arimidex 3-4 times per week.

• 2iu Growth Hormone per day.

• 50mcg IGF-1 LR3 bilaterally per day or 50mcg IGF-1 DES bilaterally on workout
days.

TIER 3

• 750mg Testosterone Enanthate or Cypionate, or 650mg Propionate per Week.

• 12.5mg Aromasin or 0.5mg Arimidex 5-6 times per week.

• 3iu Growth Hormone per day.

• 75mcg IGF-1 LR3 bilaterally per day or 75mcg IGF-1 DES bilaterally on workout
days.

TIER 4

• 1,000mg Testosterone Enanthate or Cypionate, or 900mg Propionate per Week.

• 12.5mg Aromasin or 0.5mg Arimidex 7 times per week.

• 4iu Growth Hormone per day.

• 100mcg IGF-1 LR3 bilaterally per day or 100mcg IGF-1 DES bilaterally on
workout days.

TIER 5

• 1,250mg Testosterone Enanthate or Cypionate, or 1,100mg Propionate per

Week.

• 25mg Aromasin or 1mg Arimidex 4-5 times per week.

• 5iu Growth Hormone per day.

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• 125mcg IGF-1 LR3 bilaterally per day or 125mcg IGF-1 DES bilaterally on
workout days.

TIER 6

• 1,500mg Testosterone Enanthate or Cypionate, or 1,350mg Propionate per

Week.

• 25mg Aromasin or 1mg Arimidex 7 times per week.

• 6iu Growth Hormone per day.

• 150mcg IGF-1 LR3 bilaterally per day or 150mcg IGF-1 DES bilaterally on
workout days.

NOTE: 5-Alpha Reducate Inhibitors are not included in this Tier system as Coach
Steve has no personal experience with these compounds. Given the vast dosing
difference between his clients, who do use Finasteride or Dutasteride, he feels
it’s impossible to give an accurate dosing prediction based on Testosterone
increments.

Most bodybuilders, strength athletes, or fitness enthusiasts will notice

diminishing returns around TIER 5 or 6 unless you have acquired several years
of experience. From TIER 6 onwards, coaching becomes increasingly important
to help with the micro-managing of all aspects to keep you progressing into
the upper echelons of what’s physically possible, without breaking your organs
in the process!

TIER 7-10 allow for 1,750-2,500mg AAS in total, with up to 10iu GH and 250mcg
IGF-1 LR3 or DES. Reserve these dosages for contest prep, where excessive
amounts of PEDs might be required to reach 4-6% body fat levels while
maintaining all the acquired muscle mass in the process. Recreational
bodybuilders, strength athletes, or fitness enthusiasts shouldn’t attempt to
reach TIER 7-10 as they can severely detract from your health in the long-term.

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During the entire offseason, the supplemental Neuro-Steroids & Thyroid-
Hormones can stay the same. 25-50mg DHEA, 10-25mg Pregnenolone & 100mcg
Thyroxine (T4), or 25mcg Triiodothyronine (T3) per day should be sufficient to
optimize serum concentrations. At the same time, Aromatase Inhibitor & 5-
Alpha-Reductase dosage needs to be carefully adjusted based on blood work
results, 4 weeks after each Testosterone increment.

Insulin use is highly dependent on how much carbohydrates you consume daily,
your blood glucose levels while using high dosages of GH & IGF-1, and your
ability to maintain Insulin sensitivity in a caloric surplus! Consider purchasing
the “Comprehensive Guide to Responsible Insulin use” eBook for detailed
instructions on how to use Insulin correctly & safely! The VigorousSteve.com
Shop: www.vigoroussteve.com/shop/

All in All, you’ll have to adjust the dosages above to your personal goals, rate of
progression & blood work results. If you’re exclusively using pharmaceutical-
grade PEDs, then the ratios mentioned above are pretty close to what you’ll end
up using as you progress through the offseason. If you’re using UGLs you might
end up with entirely different dosages as the quality of UGL products varies
from brand to brand & batch to batch…

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Synthetic Hormone Adjustments
Once you reach the Tier you feel comfortable with but don’t want to increase
your weekly milligram budget of Testosterone, you can incorporate other AAS
into your Protocol by replacing an equal amount of Testosterone for other AAS.
This keeps your weekly milligram budget the same, allowing you to use the
synergy between the PEDs and their respective dosages on the same Tier, but
gain unique characteristics of the AAS you’ve added to your Protocol. In this
case, there are many AAS to choose from; Anavar, Winstrol, Masteron,
Primobolan, Boldenone, Trenbolone, Superdrol, etc. A combination of some of
these AAS can dramatically improve your cosmetic appearance, improve
strength, and body composition without making dietary adjustments. It’s up to
you to decide which compound you prefer to incorporate into your Cycle.

Needless to say, when you’re transitioning straight into a contest prep at the
start of offseason, the compounds used are no longer Bioidentical Hormones.
When there’s a Trophy to win and Pro-Card on the line, health usually takes a
backseat to attain the most competitive physique possible. However, a simple
body recomposition phase doesn’t require synthetic AAS besides Primobolan &
Anavar, which yield dramatic cosmetic changes at sub 10% body fat levels at
moderate dosages, without severely impacting blood work markers negatively!

Reducing Testosterone from 1,500mg to 700mg per week and replacing the
remainder with 700mg Primobolan per week, or 500mg Primobolan & 175mg
Anavar per week, keeps you in TIER 6, but yields very pleasing cosmetic results.
You don’t have to replace Testosterone with another compound at the same
amount of milligrams. Keep the Anabolic-Androgenic Ratio into consideration
as well. Each AAS contains a different Anabolic & Androgenic “potency” per
milligram, which you can easily assess from it’s A:A Ratio.

AAS with a favorable A:A Ratio should give you a significant boost in nitrogen,
glycogen & electrolyte retention as well as metabolic rate, allowing for
additional strength & muscle mass gain even though you’re still in a (severe)
caloric deficit. You could even reduce Testosterone down to replacement
dosages (100-250mg per week) and use several Androgenic compounds
together to keep strength progression going. Only you can decide which
approach is best for you. Make sure to outweigh your (temporary) goals against
your (short & long-term) health before deciding to add certain compounds!

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Transitioning into a Body
Recomposition Phase
Assuming you’ve maximized your offseason on TIER 4, using 1,000mg
Testosterone Enanthate per week, with 12.5mg Aromasin, 25mg DHEA, 10mg
Pregnenolone, 100mcg T4, 4iu Growth hormone & 100mcg IGF-1 bilaterally per
day, and perhaps Finasteride or Dutasteride as needed. At the same time, you’ve
done everything in your power to increase food intake to 6,000 calories per day.
To transition into a body recomposition or cutting phase, you can slowly taper
calories down with 10% reductions.

However, most offseason bodybuilders, strength athletes, or fitness enthusiasts

won’t reach 6,000 calories per day. Realistically speaking, the majority will end
up somewhere between 4,000-5,000 calories, with a select few being able to
handle 6,000 calories consistently on a daily basis. There are several reasons
why bodybuilders, strength athletes, or fitness enthusiasts didn’t reach the
desired amount of calories during the offseason. Either because they weren’t
consistent, got too muscular, got too fat, started snoring, got sleep apnea in the
process, or simply can’t physically handle the insane amount of food anymore.

Below are 3 examples of the macronutrient breakdown, when consistent food

intake turns into a full-time job at the end of offseason. These examples take
body weight of the individual and the protein-sparing effects of high
carbohydrate intake into consideration.

4,000 Calories per Day:

• 300g Protein: 1,200 calories (30% of total)

• 500g Carbohydrates: 2,000 calories (50% of total)

• 89g Fats: 800 calories (20% of total)

5,000 Calories per Day:

• 275g Protein: 1,100 calories (22% of total)

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• 750g Carbohydrates: 3,000 calories (60% of total)

• 100g Fats: 900 calories (18% of total)

6,000 Calories per Day:

• 250g Protein: 1,000 calories (17% of total)

• 1,000g Carbohydrates: 4,000 calories (67% of total)

• 111g Fats: 1,000 calories (17% of total)

Once you’ve reached the end of the offseason, whether at 4,000, 5,000, or 6,000
calories per day, slowly start to taper calories with 10% reductions until you
begin to lose body fat. During the steps that calories taper down, the
Bioidentical Hormone Cycle will probably remain on the same Tier, to ensure
strength & muscle mass remains respectable in this slight caloric deficit.

Eventually, you will notice some sort of a performance reduction in either

strength, rep ranges, or overall workout capacity. During a body recomposition
phase, you’re no longer able to adjust calories upwards. Instead, you’ll slowly
remove calories with 10% reductions to improve fat loss as your metabolism
adapts. Reduced caloric intake means that you’re desperately trying to maintain
strength & rep ranges with your maximum working weights achieved during
the offseason. Once the caloric deficit becomes too dramatic to provide
adequate recovery and overall strength starts to decline, the Bioidentical
Hormone Cycle advances to the next Tier. Increasing PED intake will ultimately
facilitate more recovery & growth for the same amount of food intake.

Depending on individual response to hormones and where you are in your

training phase, you might even be able to improve strength & rep ranges for a
while, until caloric adjustments need to take place to prevent metabolic
adaptation. However, you might’ve built a significant amount of muscle
consuming 4,400 calories per day on TIER 2 at the start of the offseason. By
increasing strength, workout capacity, muscle mass, metabolic rate, and Total
Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE), you might need 2-3x the amount of PEDs to
maintain your newly acquired baseline on the way down.

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It is important to mention that an HRT or Cruising Protocol can maintain this
new baseline with 1mg Testosterone per 1lbs or 2mg Testosterone per 1kg of
body weight, if, and only if, calories remain the same!

Assuming you ended the offseason on TIER 4, with 6,000 calories per day, then
you’ll probably progress into TIER 5 from the 2nd caloric reduction onwards.
Initializing the Body Recomposition phase with 5,400 calories and later
reducing food intake to 4,850 calories per day. 4,850 calories per day is only 80%
of the calories you were eating at the peak of offseason. Most bodybuilders or
fitness enthusiasts will notice a reduction in workout capacity, while strength
athletes typically already feel a decline in performance after the 1st caloric
adjustment.

An experienced coach, competitive bodybuilder, or strength athlete might make

adjustments to the Bioidentical Hormone Cycle before the 3rd caloric reduction,
in anticipation of performance loss, effectively preventing strength & rep
ranges from declining. These adjustments are based on Testosterone Esters
with longer Half-Lives, assuring peak serum concentrations at time of the 3rd
caloric reduction.

Over the course of a body recomposition phase, a 100kg bodybuilder or strength

athlete probably started on TIER 4 with 6,000 calories and ends at TIER 6 with
3,200 calories after 6 consecutive 10% caloric reductions (2 reductions per Tier).
At 1,500mg Testosterone per Week, with 6iu GH, 150mcg IGF-1 LR3, or DES per
day, it’s probably advisable to replace part of the Testosterone allowance for
more Androgenic compounds. Progressing into a TIER 7 or 8, with a 1,750-
2,000mg AAS budget, signals the end of a Bioidentical Hormone Cycle,
transitioning into a contest prep or cutting phase with synthetic Anabolic-
Androgenic Steroids (AAS).

SPECIAL NOTE: Honestly, there’s no real way of knowing where the individual
might end up at as many factors contribute to a successful body recomposition
phase, including; stress, food quality, sleep quality, PED quality, injuries,
additional recovery techniques like deep tissue massage therapy or
cryotherapy, etc.

Copyright (c) Vigorous Steve 2020 www.vigoroussteve.com Page 67 of 73

Transitioning into a TRT, HRT,
Cruising, or Bridging Protocol
During a Testosterone or Hormone Replacement Therapy (TRT / HRT), you’re
aiming to keep ALL of the Neuro-Steroids & Sex-Hormones around the top, or
slightly above the reference range. In most cases, simple Testosterone
Replacement isn’t enough to maintain serum concentrations of these
hormones, close to the top of their respective reference ranges.

Traditional TRT usually turns into complete Hormone Replacement, when

DHEA, Pregnenolone, Growth Hormone, and perhaps Thyroxine (T4) are also
supplemented on top of Testosterone Replacement to reach the desired serum
concentrations for most bio-identical hormones.

During a Cruising or Bridging Protocol, bodybuilders, strength athletes, or

fitness enthusiasts limit Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) to Bioidentical
Hormones ONLY! Although they might still administer them at supra-
physiological levels. A Cruise or Bridge is designed to remove all enhancing
compounds, with potentially adverse effects on overall health. Bioidentical
Hormones are adequate to maintain size & strength until the body is entirely
or sufficiently healthy for another Steroid Cycle or Blast to acquire additional
muscle mass.

Transitioning from a TIER 4 Bioidentical Hormone Cycle to an HRT, Cruising, or

Bridging Protocols is relatively simple. Since Testosterone Esters with
reasonably long Half-Lives are self-tapering, bodybuilders, strength athletes, or
fitness enthusiasts can easily switch to a reduced Protocol, from one week to
another. Previous injections of Testosterone Enanthate, Cypionate, or
Decanoate will slowly metabolize from the injection depot over 2-4 weeks.
Giving you adequate time to adjust to gradually tapering serum concentrations
until you’ve reached serum Testosterone levels, representative of a HRT,
Cruising, or Bridging Protocol.

If you ended on a TIER 4 Bioidentical Hormone Cycle, using short-acting

Testosterone Esters like Propionate or Acetate, it’s advised to taper dosages by
yourself over 2-4 weeks.

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For example; tapering from 1,000mg Testosterone Propionate / Acetate per
week to 750mg the next week, then 500mg the week after, 250mg the week
after that, eventually ending at your desired HRT, Cruising, or Bridging dose.

Keep in mind that these Testosterone guidelines for HRT, Cruising, or Bridging
Protocols are basically the LOWEST effective dosages, with which you should
be able to completely maintain the size & strength you’ve attained during your
Bioidentical Hormone Cycle prior. Maintaining size & strength is also under the
assumption that you’re in a caloric surplus to facilitate adequate recovery &
sustain energy levels. At the same time, reducing the weekly Testosterone
dosage to the bare minimum required. Body composition might slowly worsen
throughout this HRT, Cruising, or Bridging Period in between Steroid Cycles or
Blasts. At the same time, blood work markers should improve over time, as long
as lifestyle & health supplementation is managed accordingly!

Dosages for Aromatase Inhibitors, 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors, Growth

Hormone, IGF-1, Insulin & T4 should be adjusted based on the tapering
Testosterone dosages. AI & 5ARI adjustments often require blood work to
validate if the serum Estrogen & DHT levels remained in their desired ranges
while serum Testosterone levels decline. Growth Hormone can be reduced to 1-
2iu per day, but IGF-1 can be removed altogether. Both T4 & Insulin can remain
the same because their dosages are dependent on GH use, Carbohydrate intake,
and overall metabolism. T4 & Insulin don’t have to taper according to
Testosterone dosages.

During this period, caloric intake remains precisely the same. You’ve built your
strength in a certain amount of food; you need the same amount of food to
maintain it. However, training volume might go down from a 5-day split, to a
Push-Pull-Legs Routine. You are essentially increasing workout frequency while
reducing workout volume, although intensity should remain at an all-time high
to preserve strength and muscle mass. You can find more information about
training splits on VigorousSteve.com: www.vigoroussteve.com

For more information about Traditional Testosterone or Hormone Replacement

Therapy (TRT / HRT), Cruising, or Bridging Protocols, consider purchasing the
“Comprehensive Guide to HRT | Cruising | Bridging” eBook on The
VigorousSteve.com Shop: www.vigoroussteve.com/shop/

Copyright (c) Vigorous Steve 2020 www.vigoroussteve.com Page 69 of 73

Abbreviations
Below is a list of frequently used abbreviations found in this eBook, and their
full meaning:

5ARI: 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor

AA: Androgenetic Alopecia

AAS: Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Hormones

ACV: Apple Cider Vinegar

AI: Aromatase Inhibitor

API: Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient

AR: Androgen Receptor

BPH: Benign Prostate Hyperplasia

CDG: Calcium D-Glucarate

cGMP: cyclic Guanosine Mono-Phosphate

DHT: DiHydroTestosterone

DIM: Diindolylmethane

ED: Erectile Dysfunction

FSH: Follicle-Stimulating Hormone

GERD: GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease

GH: Growth Hormone

GLUT4 Receptor: GLUcose Transporter Type-4 Receptor

HCG: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

HDL: High-Density Lipo-Proteins

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HMG: Human Menopausal Gonadotropin

HPTA/HPAA: Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testes/Adrenal-Axis

HRT: Hormone Replacement Therapy

HSL: Hormone-Sensitive Lipase

IGF-1: Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1

IGF-BP: Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Binding Proteins

IGFBP-1: Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Binding Protein Type I

IGFBP-3: Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Binding Protein Type III

IRS-1: Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 (IRS-1)

LDL: Low-Density Lipo-Protein

LH: Luteinizing Hormone

LHCGR: Luteinizing Hormone / Chorio-Gonadotropin Receptor

mARs: membrane Androgen Receptors

MPB: Male Pattern Baldness

nARs: nuclear Androgen Receptors

NO: Nitric Oxide

PAH: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

PCT: Post-Cycle Therapy

PED5: cGMP-Specific PhosphoDiEsterase Type 5 (PDE5)

PIP: Post-Injection Pain

REM: Rapid Eye-Movement

SARMs: Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators

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SERMs: Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators

SHBG: Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin

SHBG-RC: Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin Receptor Complex

SRD5A1: Steroid 5-Alpha-Reductase Type-I Enzymes

SRD5A2: Steroid 5-Alpha-Reductase Type-II Enzymes

SRD5A3: Steroid 5-Alpha-Reductase Type-III Enzymes

T0a: Thyronamine

T1a: Iodothyronamine

T3: Triiodothyronine

T4: Thyroxine

TBG: Thyropexin / Thyroxine-Binding Globulin

TBPA: Thyroxine-Binding Pre-Albumin

TDEE: Total Daily Energy Expenditure

TRT: Testosterone Replacement Therapy

TTR: Trans-Thyretin

UGL: Under Ground Labs

vLDL: very Low-Density Lipo-Protein

Copyright (c) Vigorous Steve 2020 www.vigoroussteve.com Page 72 of 73

Supplement Resources
You can purchase the supplements mentioned in this eBook on iHerb, using
Coach Steve’s 5% Discount Code. If you see a better deal elsewhere, by all
means, save yourself some money in the process. The Bioidentical Hormones
used during the Offseason are expensive enough!

iHerb 5% Discount Code: DTV967

Boron: https://www.iherb.com/pr/Now-Foods-Boron-3-mg-250-Capsules/428

Vitamin D, K1, K2 MK4 & K2 MK-7 with Sea-Iodine:

https://www.iherb.com/pr/Life-Extension-Vitamins-D-and-K-with-Sea-Iodine-
60-Capsules/78779

Diindolylmethane: https://www.iherb.com/pr/Source-Naturals-DIM-
Diindolylmethane-100-mg-180-Tablets/53958

Calcium D-Glucarate: https://www.iherb.com/pr/Source-Naturals-Calcium-D-

Glucarate-500-mg-120-Tablets/1090

Saw Palmetto & Pygeum: https://www.iherb.com/pr/Now-Foods-Pygeum-Saw-

Palmetto-120-Softgels/756

Pregnenolone 10mg: https://www.iherb.com/pr/Source-Naturals-

Pregnenolone-10-mg-120-Tablets/1353

Pregnenolone 25mg: https://www.iherb.com/pr/Source-Naturals-

Pregnenolone-25-mg-120-Tablets/1351

DHEA 25mg: https://www.iherb.com/pr/Natrol-DHEA-25-mg-300-Tablets/2287

Copyright (c) Vigorous Steve 2020 www.vigoroussteve.com Page 73 of 73