Anavar (Oxandrolone)

Ask a first time AAS user what they expect from their virgin steroid cycle and the answers will bewilder you.

Most noobs to become as jacked as professional bodybuilders, with veins popping out of every inch of their bodies.

But instead, they gain maybe 5-6 lbs. of lean muscle mass and a boatload of water and fat.

That’s unless they are extremely diligent and careful about their diet, which most noobs are not.

The body ends up looking soft, if you’d like to call it that.

That’s where the appeal of steroids like Anavar stems from.

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Also known as ‘Var’ in bodybuilding circles, Anavar or Oxandrolone has for long been touted as a ‘gentle’ cutting steroid, known for providing ‘dry gains’.

That’s zero water retention gains folks.  

Moreover, it has a very low Androgenic rating.

So much so that it is Anavar is usually the first steroidal compound that’s used by women looking to dabble in AAS.

However, like any other steroidal drug, Anavar has its own share of pros, cons and myths associated with it.

We will aim to decipher most of them here today.

What is Anavar?

Oxandrolone (Brand name: Anavar) is a 17 alpha alkylated (C17–aa) steroid derived from dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

It was first created by ‘Searle’ in 1964 as a therapeutic aid for treating muscle wasting in terminally ill men.

However, it was during the HIV epidemic of the 1980s that the drug achieved mainstream focus.

Patients using Anavar were stronger and healed a lot faster than the ones who didn’t use it.

Eventually, it made its way into the world of competitive sports and since then, it has become one of the most widely used anabolic steroids, particularly by fitness models and bikini athletes.

That’s because it gives the body a ‘cosmetic’ appearance, particularly in the abdominal area. More on this later.

Anavar has an anabolic to androgenic ratio of 320:25.

This means that it is a lot more anabolic (Almost three to four times more anabolic than testosterone) than androgenic.

So the chances of causing estrogen and progesterone related sides are almost close to zilch.

How to use Anavar?

Anavar is an oral steroid and the recommended dose is 40-60 mg/day for men.

For women, even doses as low as 10mg/day suffices to provide excellent results.

Some women who have built a tolerance might increase the dose to 20mg/day. But that also increases the risk of sides.

It has a very short half-life of about 8-hours and is detectable in the blood for only three weeks. That makes it a very desirable compound for athletes looking to stay under the radar while using AAS.

So, most people who use the steroid split the dose into two. One in the morning and one in the evening.

Anavar is often taken with grapefruit as it helps prevent the drug from being metabolized in the intestines thereby increasing its bioavailability.

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What are the effects of Anavar?

If you have ever contemplated adding Anavar to your stack then it’s probably because you’ve read tons of literature that touts how it is one of the safest steroids out there that’s least likely to cause sides.

Well, that’s partly true. But that isn’t the fun part.

How does a compound that is five to six times more powerful than testosterone fit into your stack?

Here’s how.

Fat Loss:

It is clinically proven than Anavar helps reduce abdominal fat (that includes Sub-Q and Visceral fat) a lot better than Testosterone does. If there is any compound that will help you shred faster than Anavar then it’s probably Winstrol. But while Winstrol shines as an overall fat loss drug, Anavar outscores it when it comes to losing belly fat. That’s why it has a huge fan following among fitness athletes and models who aim for less than 10% of body fat year round. On Var, you will cut even when you are eating to gain.

Increased strength:

Another amazing effect of the compound is that it helps you gain tons of strength without an overall increase in muscle mass. So, let’s say you are a fitness model and you wish to break your previous bench press max record. Anavar will help you do it while allowing you to maintain your lean body composition. It does it by contracting your muscles more when you work out. This in turn, works to strengthen even the tiniest muscle fibers.

Preventing muscle loss:

The therapeutic use of Anavar is to prevent muscle wasting in bedridden and terminally ill patients. That translates into very little muscle loss while you are cutting. So, even if you are on a high calorie deficit diet, Var allows you to retain your hard earned muscle while amplifying fat loss.

The feel good steroid:

Like any other AAS hormonal drug, Anavar will make you feel superhuman. The oxygen supply to your muscles is amplified. More nutrients are being delivered. Your RBC count is skyrocketing. It’s no wonder that you feel great while you are on it.

What are the side effects of Anavar?

Without harping too much on the ‘safe steroid’ bit, here are some of the potential side effects that you might experience while you are on Anavar.

1. Shut down: Anavar will shut down your natural testosterone production. And you will need to follow a regular PCT when you are recovering.
2. Hepatotoxicity: Anavar is an oral steroid and like most orals, it isn’t liver friendly at all. You will have to use a liver supplement. Ideally with Milk Thistle, TUDCA and NAC are the primary ingredients to allow your liver to bounce back to normalcy.
3. Cholesterol levels: Anavar will also have a negative impact on your blood cholesterol levels. So, if you have a bad cholesterol profile to begin with, then look for better alternatives. But if you have a reasonably good cholesterol profile, then you can easily mitigate the effects by consuming a diet that’s rich in vegetables and Omega-3 fatty acids. Some desirable supplements include Niacin and coenzyme Q10.
4. No Estrogen related sides: On a positive note, it does not aromatize into Estrogen. So, you are less likely to experience gyno or go bald while you are on var. You might also be able to skip the AI while you are on it.

To sum it up

Anavar is a fantastic compound to stack with Testosterone for men while females can achieve remarkable results even with a standalone Anavar cycle.