considering Anavar - need some advice

[figure_champ]

I have been training for about 7 years and recently started competing in figure competitions. I am considering Anavar to help build size and am hoping for some advice. I am 5'7 and presently about 128lbs.

For my last competition, I dropped approximately 15 pounds and was using clen. I have stopped all fat burners and am working to keep my diet relatively clean. One problem since the last competition (June), I went off birth control in late February and haven't seen a period since.

As for diet, I am trying to add more protein and a sample day would be as follows:

7am: Protein shake, 1/3 cup oatmeal

10am: Protein/low carb bar

1pm: chicken, brown rice, veggies

4pm: cottage cheese with fruit

6pm: Protein shake right after working out

7pm: chicken, veggies, yams

I realize that I need more protein but would appreciate some advice on where to add or what I need to change. I drink tons of water as well, plus the occasional cup of tea or Diet Coke.

For training, I currently have split my workouts as follows:

Monday: back/bi's
Tues: shoulders, traps
Wed: off
Thurs: quads, calves
Fri: chest, tri's
Sat: off
Sun: hams, calves
(abs every 2nd workout)

I usually do 3-4 sets, with a maximum of 10 reps, 3 to 4 different exercises. Am I overtraining??

I have been reading lots of posts on here about Anavar and believe it would beneficial since my main goals are to add some mass without too many side effect. I plan to compete in April, then again in July - when should I take it?

I would appreciate any advice or feedback from those who have taken Anavar.

[redsquirrel]

In order to calculate when you should schedule your cycle, you need to count backwards from your show date to the day you will start your contest diet. we are already almost into Dec., so in all honesty, you may not have enough time to get a mass cycle in. If my calculations are correct, you would pretty much only have about 4 weeks to squeeze in a decent cycle.

You need to change your workouts. Start doing 1 body part per day, once a week, for max weight for 8 reps. 1- Quads, 2- Back 3-off 4- Chest 5- Arms 6- Hams/ shoulders. 7- off.

If you do't have enough time to get a cycle in, you do have enough time to at least go on a natural mass cycle by just eating more.

For now, at your 4th meal, eat a shake with your current food. You can also add an egg white omelet as a 6th meal to accomodate your new training regimen

[figure_champ]

Thanks redsquirrel! The contest is April 23 so 5 months away.

I will add the shake to the 4th meal and work on getting more protein in. I just got so sick of chicken from before! I have gotten really good at making up recipes to mask tuna and cottage cheese . Should I be having something right before bed?

For training, I will try your suggestion - how many sets should I do? How many different exercises? What is your recommendation for cardio, if any?

[redsquirrel]

Originally posted by figure_champ
Thanks redsquirrel! The contest is April 23 so 5 months away.

I will add the shake to the 4th meal and work on getting more protein in. I just got so sick of chicken from before! I have gotten really good at making up recipes to mask tuna and cottage cheese . Should I be having something right before bed?

For training, I will try your suggestion - how many sets should I do? How many different exercises? What is your recommendation for cardio, if any?

So, you basically have about 8 weeks to run a cycle before you have to start you precontest diet....so if it's possible, you could run an 8 week cycle.

If you are sick of chicken, try turkey. I only ate turkey on my contest diet because I too was sick of chicken.

Don't worry about eating before bed. Your caloric intake at that meal is only about 150 cals, and it's main purpose is to keep your metabolism going. It's low in fat and a good protein source. Make sure your fasting time is at 10 hours. I would also add 3 oz of lean ground beef at your 1st meal. As for you PWO shake, if you are wanting to gain some mass, get a good mass gaining powder. Beverly has a good one, Mass Maker....3 scoops PWO.

Legs: 3 sets of squats, 3 sets of lunges/leg press, 2 sets of ext.
Back: 3 sets each of 2 lat movements, and 3 sets each of 2 rowing
Chest: 3 sets flat press, 3 incline, 2 pec
Arms: 3 sets of 3 diff bicep exercises, same for tri's
Hams/Sh: 3 sets SLDL, 3 sets curls, 2 sets lying. Sh: 3 sets press, 3 sets side raises, 3 sets bent over raises

Cardio: 30 min for 5 times a week.

[figure_champ]

Hi Red,
I've been using this workout plan since mid November and am gradually adding some size. I just started Anavar today and will take 5 mg per day, then eventually increase to 10 mg per day. Is there a specific time of day that it should be taken? My show is now 15 weeks away and I will start dieting at 12 weeks.

Also, do you recommend something like Novaldex closer to the show?

[redsquirrel]

Originally posted by figure_champ
Hi Red,
I've been using this workout plan since mid November and am gradually adding some size. I just started Anavar today and will take 5 mg per day, then eventually increase to 10 mg per day. Is there a specific time of day that it should be taken? My show is now 15 weeks away and I will start dieting at 12 weeks.

Also, do you recommend something like Novaldex closer to the show?

Good to hear!!! If you just started taking the Var, you really need to increase your protein intake by at least 2 oz per meal. You really only have about the next 4 weeks to put on some size because you will not be able to bulk while you diet. You are going to have to eat your face off to see some quick gains. You will put on weight. Some will be water weight. But most of the rest will be some decent muscle gains.

Here is what I suggest for 4 weeks:

Week 1-

Meal 1- add 3 oz of lean ground beef
Meal 2- that shake needs to be 2.5 scoops + 3 fish oil caps
Meal 3- increase you chicken to 7oz at that meal, eat yam here!
Meal 4- add 1 scoop of protein to that meal
Meal 5- need to add a gainer; 2 scoops gainer, 1.5 protein
Meal 6- no yam, increase protein to 7oz., 2 cups veggies
Meal 7- 6 egg white omelet

Fasting time: 10 hrs (last meal @ 9 or 10pm, 1st meal @ 8am)

Week 2: eat the same way, but eat 1/2 c. of peanuts thru the day
Week 3: add 2 tsp. heavy whipping cream to all shakes
Week 4: go back to eating the same way as week 1

As for the Var, it's best to take about an hour before you workout. Once you bump it to 10 mgs, take one in the morning, and one before you workout. Var has about a 10 hr half life. How long do you plan to run this cycle? IMHO, it is best for women to take some type of AAS while dieting for a contest. You WILL lose muscle, but depending on what you take while dieting, you may be able to spare some.

Nolvadex can be useful if you have a hard time getting those last few pounds of fat off. By your stats, it doesn't sound like you have a lot of problems with that. I would only use it if you desperately need to.

If you have plans to continue competing and want to take it to a higher level, I will say this: Based on your weight and height you really need to think about putting on some mass in the off-season. Potentially, at your height, you need to be about 135 on stage.

[figure_champ]

Thanks Red. I will add the additional protein as suggested and see how it goes. Fortunately I have been able to add a fair bit of mass and thickness without too much fat. I am around 135lbs now and hope to gain at least another 5lbs (or more if possible!) before the dieting starts. I lost a lot of muscle when dieting last year but have added a lot more mass since then and hope to come in a lot bigger.

I will see how the Var cycle goes to determine how long I run it. Would you recommend continuing until the show in April or is that too long?

[redsquirrel]

Originally posted by figure_champ
Thanks Red. I will add the additional protein as suggested and see how it goes. Fortunately I have been able to add a fair bit of mass and thickness without too much fat. I am around 135lbs now and hope to gain at least another 5lbs (or more if possible!) before the dieting starts. I lost a lot of muscle when dieting last year but have added a lot more mass since then and hope to come in a lot bigger.

I will see how the Var cycle goes to determine how long I run it. Would you recommend continuing until the show in April or is that too long?

IF you follow the diet I gave you, you should be able to put on about 8-10 lbs. keep in mind: just because you put on some mass this year, doesn't mean you can't lose it all again like last year. Your diet has to be dead on....and that means you will still lose muscle. How much you lose is strictly determined by your diet, and what foods you are/are not eating. It has absolutely nothing to do with the amount of mass you put on. If it's quality mass you've put on, you probably have put on about 6 lbs of lean mass. With the next cycle and diet, you should be able to add anouth 3-5 lbs. So, when you get to your show, you should only have lost about 12-17 lbs. You need to be at least 127-130 on stage.

As for the Var, what I would do is run it for the next 4 weeks. 5 mgs the 1st week, 10 the 2nd and MAYBE up to 15mgs the3rd, and back down to 5mgs week 4. I would then take 3-4 weeks completely off. That way you can give your body a little time to recouperate. You'll also only be about 4 weeks into the diet. The first 4 weeks aren't as critical as the latter part of the contest diet, so there is little chance you will lose any muscle. It will take the Var about 2 weeks to get out of your system, but your body will still be able to make some small gains. At which time I would start up the Var again at 5mgs for 2 weeks, and then increase it to 10-15mgs until the contest.

[vein69]

Originally Posted by redsquirrel

Good to hear!!! If you just started taking the Var, you really need to increase your protein intake by at least 2 oz per meal. You really only have about the next 4 weeks to put on some size because you will not be able to bulk while you diet. You are going to have to eat your face off to see some quick gains. You will put on weight. Some will be water weight. But most of the rest will be some decent muscle gains.

Here is what I suggest for 4 weeks:

Week 1-

Meal 1- add 3 oz of lean ground beef
Meal 2- that shake needs to be 2.5 scoops + 3 fish oil caps
Meal 3- increase you chicken to 7oz at that meal, eat yam here!
Meal 4- add 1 scoop of protein to that meal
Meal 5- need to add a gainer; 2 scoops gainer, 1.5 protein
Meal 6- no yam, increase protein to 7oz., 2 cups veggies
Meal 7- 6 egg white omelet

Fasting time: 10 hrs (last meal @ 9 or 10pm, 1st meal @ 8am)

Week 2: eat the same way, but eat 1/2 c. of peanuts thru the day
Week 3: add 2 tsp. heavy whipping cream to all shakes
Week 4: go back to eating the same way as week 1

As for the Var, it's best to take about an hour before you workout. Once you bump it to 10 mgs, take one in the morning, and one before you workout. Var has about a 10 hr half life. How long do you plan to run this cycle? IMHO, it is best for women to take some type of AAS while dieting for a contest. You WILL lose muscle, but depending on what you take while dieting, you may be able to spare some.

Nolvadex can be useful if you have a hard time getting those last few pounds of fat off. By your stats, it doesn't sound like you have a lot of problems with that. I would only use it if you desperately need to.

If you have plans to continue competing and want to take it to a higher level, I will say this: Based on your weight and height you really need to think about putting on some mass in the off-season. Potentially, at your height, you need to be about 135 on stage.

var is mainly for muscle hardness, i dont know too much if it builds size.

[Alin]

i've worked closely with many female athletes who do quite well on 5-10mg anavar daily.

[vein69]

Originally Posted by Alin

i've worked closely with many female athletes who do quite well on 5-10mg anavar daily.

whats it like for building size?