OTC supps during PCT and when off gear.

as title
 
interested to hear what OTC (over the counter) supps you guys use during p.c.t  and when off aas to keep/maintain gains.
 
do many of you use natural test boosters? if so which ones do you find best?
 
all help appreciated
 
 

FOOD!

I have tried tribulus and fenu greek. Didnt notice any difference to be honest but cant hurt.

As above the biggest factor is food :-)

Been honest mate like gala said

i am the same have tried tribulus/dymatise anabolic meth/isatori morph/all did naff all. Morph just made me hot

Go with food/decent protein/bit creatine maybe. Then once you have had a decent break go on a/s again when your ready

I don't know why people still seem to think trib is a test booster....it is NOT

Daari


I don't know why people still seem to think trib is a test booster....it is NOT

what is it then... thats what its sold as and bin around for ages !! ??

i agree with adam thats how it is marketed and you tend to find alot of products that claim to be test boosters have it in them

did naff all for me when i took it.

Thats the problem when it comes to people buying supplements, they will read the product description on the bottle which has been written by the manufacturer & you will find most of what is said is hype in an attement to make the product look more attractive.

When I buy supplements I dont take much notice of the marketing hype written on the bottle, I read the ingredients & nutrutional break down & base my choice on that.

Some of the things said on these products are just rediculous. If I look on the ingrediants label of a product & I dont know what one of the ingrediants are I will read up on it & look for studies to back up the manufaturers claims of effectiveness.

I do not beleive Tribulus is effective at boosting testosterone levels for the reasons stated in the artical:

T. terrestris is now being promoted as a booster for the purpose of increasing sex drive. Its use for this purpose originated in Eastern Europe in the 1970s. It was popularized in America by 1970s strongman Jeffrey Petermann. Independent studies  have suggested that Tribulus terrestris extract slightly increases hormone levels, though leaving them in the normal range.
The extract is claimed to increase the body's natural testosterone levels and thereby improve male sexual performance and help build muscle. T. terrestris has consistently failed to increase testosterone levels in controlled studies. It has also failed to demonstrate strength-enhancing properties.However, many supplement brands have sold products that combine various herbs with T. terrestris, with debatable effects.
 
Some body builders use T. terrestris as "PCT". After they have completed an anabolic-steroid cycle, they use it under the assumption that it will restore the body's natural testosterone levels.

On the other hand, one recent study found that T. terrestris caused no increase in testosterone or LH in young men,and another found that a commercial supplement containing androstenedioneand herbal extracts, including T. terrestris, was no more effective at raising testosterone levels than androstenedione alone.

I think the best thing after a cycle is to run a good PCT & use HCG throughout cycle, after PCT keep diet in check, keep training hard & I run the following supplements on & off cycle:

Amino Acids
Essental fatty acids
Multi vitamin
ZMA
Creatine
Good protein powders

Best to let the body return to normal naturaly & keep away from the claimed test boosters & pro hormones.

zma is "claimed test booster" 

adam_newby


zma is "claimed test booster" 

Exactly what I'm talking about, ZMA studies have shown this supplement to be ineffective at raising testoserone levels but supplement manufaturers package it in a way that sugests it dose just like trib.
 
I like ZMA as a supplement:
 
Zinc --- is involved in numerous aspects of cellular metabolism. It is required for the catalytic activity of approximately 100 enzymes and it plays a role in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis,cell division & growth. Zinc also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence [6–8] and is required for proper sense of taste and smell. A daily intake of zinc is required to maintain a steady state because the body has no specialized zinc storage system
 
Magnesium --- is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system, and keeps bones strong. Magnesium also helps regulate blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure, and is known to be involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis. There is an increased interest in the role of magnesium in preventing and managing disorders such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Dietary magnesium is absorbed in the small intestines. Magnesium is excreted through the kidneys.
 
Also ZMA supplements contain some amino acids & B vitamines.
 
Unfortunatly some people judge a book by its cover when it comes to choosing their supplements.

i supplement with 30-40g glutamine daily - 10 on waking, 10 pre workout, 10 post, 10 pre bed - the anti catabolic effects are what im looking for
i also use EAAs pre workout
creatine
protein powder
carb powder
activate xtreme - which seems to work great with me
no-xplode
and currently trying gaspari plasmajet

dnt get me wrong - i cant wait to get back on gear haha

If you want to see ZMA  do ANYTHING, then add 500mg of L-Tryptophan 20min before bed without the addition of other protein sources.
You will never witness a better nights sleep in your life!...Which, will, help GH levels and recovery, so in this respect, is a good addition as a PCT, or even cycled from time to time.

My belief is that most supplements promise much more than they really deliver. The supplements business is a marketing regime more than anything. Companies use "science" and jargon to get your attention and your money. Have you ever noticed how often they use the latin names of herbs? Once you look them up and get the common names, you wonder what the big deal is LOL. That being said, there are some supplements that have value after a cycle. As stated above, zinc, magnesium, anti-oxidants (resveratrol, olive leaf, for example), amino acids, possibly glutamine and even creatine. I would also take a good multi-vitamin. And, during PCT, probably an anti-e. Ergopharm had a good one with 6-oxo, I think it was (that's if you can't get letrozole or exemestane).