Low-dose bridging, discussion

[casualbb]

We started getting into this on the training board, and I think it's worthy of discussion.

Here's my take on bridging, keep in mind I have no steroid experience so this is purely theoretical knowledge.

Just for reference, bridging is the practice of using small doses in between larger cycles as a way of somewhat recovering HPTA while maintaining gains, in theory.

eg, 10-week cycle -> 4-week var or dbol bridge -> 10-week cycle

I'm opposed to the idea. Physiologically, any gear that's enough to maintain your gains is enough to keep you suppressed. So your body "thinks" you're on for the entire time, including bridging. It's true that the greatly lessened dose for bridging will allow some HPTA recovery, but I'm thinking that if you're gonna recover, do it for real.

I'd rather see someone condense the bridged cycles into one and just have a real PCT at the end for full recovery.

let's talk about it. Who has bridged successfully, who has an opinion, etc

 

[Goodfellow]

I believe that Needsize had a successfull bridge with 20mg of var. Although I dont believe that you can fully recover your natty test levels, I word is still out on how much you actually can recover on a low dose of either dboll, var, or primo. I personally believe that a low dose of var wont totally inhibit recovery. In fact that is what I am going to do after my current cycle. I have yet to see anyone post blood results after doing a so called bridge but only time will tell.


Karma is always welcome!

 

[needsize]

My thoughts on bridging are that if you are not at a size where you cant maintain your mass without drugs, then you dont need to bridge. I see guys 6' tall and 190lbs talking about bridging, at that size you can maintain your size with proper post cycle therapy, so doing a bridge of any sort is just a crutch.

However, if you are an advanced enough bodybuilder that you cant maintain your size without some steroids, then bridging becomes very important. Thats the case with me, i am currently 250lbs, 5'8", and around 10% bf. When I come off everything, I cannot maintain my gains unless I am on at least a small amount of something.

I have tried the dbol bridge and found that it didnt help me maintain enough of my gains, but it left me feeling very shut down with no sex drive, which tells me my HPTA never recovered

In contrast, I have found bridging with anavar to be very effective in maintaining mass, and allowing my HPTA to recover. I have never had my test levels checked post cycle while bridging, so I dont know exact numbers, but I know my body well enough to know if I am still shut down or not. For example, if i am between cycles and bridging with var, but my sex drive is so high that I need sex every day, then I know my HPTA is not completely shut down, as when it is, i cant get it up if my life depended on it.

The most effective method I have found is to combine hcg, clomid, and anavar. I use the hcg at 500iu 2x weekly all through my cycle. At the end, I use it at 500iu every day for 7-10 days, timing it so my last shot of hcg is 3 days before starting clomid. I start clomid and var on the same day. I find the hcg very important, as otherwise you are trying to kickstart your nuts with clomid, at the same time you are starting the anavar, which doesnt work all that great. But taking hcg prior to that gets everything working again, so your nuts arent starting from a dead stop.

 

[Goodfellow]

Good post Needsize

 

[bigdho]

My thoughts on bridging are that if you are not at a size where you cant maintain your mass without drugs, then you dont need to bridge. I see guys 6' tall and 190lbs talking about bridging, at that size you can maintain your size with proper post cycle therapy, so doing a bridge of any sort is just a crutch.

However, if you are an advanced enough bodybuilder that you cant maintain your size without some steroids, then bridging becomes very important. Thats the case with me, i am currently 250lbs, 5'8", and around 10% bf. When I come off everything, I cannot maintain my gains unless I am on at least a small amount of something.

I have tried the dbol bridge and found that it didnt help me maintain enough of my gains, but it left me feeling very shut down with no sex drive, which tells me my HPTA never recovered

In contrast, I have found bridging with anavar to be very effective in maintaining mass, and allowing my HPTA to recover. I have never had my test levels checked post cycle while bridging, so I dont know exact numbers, but I know my body well enough to know if I am still shut down or not. For example, if i am between cycles and bridging with var, but my sex drive is so high that I need sex every day, then I know my HPTA is not completely shut down, as when it is, i cant get it up if my life depended on it.

The most effective method I have found is to combine hcg, clomid, and anavar. I use the hcg at 500iu 2x weekly all through my cycle. At the end, I use it at 500iu every day for 7-10 days, timing it so my last shot of hcg is 3 days before starting clomid. I start clomid and var on the same day. I find the hcg very important, as otherwise you are trying to kickstart your nuts with clomid, at the same time you are starting the anavar, which doesnt work all that great. But taking hcg prior to that gets everything working again, so your nuts arent starting from a dead stop.

I take it you end your cycles with a short ester anabolic like prop for test so the timing works out? Im very interested as I am in the same boat I am way beyond what my body can naturally handle.

Thanks agian for your help

 

[gregory]

I have tried the dbol bridge and found that it didnt help me maintain enough of my gains, but it left me feeling very shut down with no sex drive, which tells me my HPTA never recovered.

I agree with this, and to my suprise when someone else complained of this on the forum Utler told them is was caused by something else, other then the HPTA still being shut down, hmmm.

 

[needsize]

I take it you end your cycles with a short ester anabolic like prop for test so the timing works out? Im very interested as I am in the same boat I am way beyond what my body can naturally handle.

Thanks agian for your help

yup, I usually go with dbol again for the last few weeks till the longer esters taper out

 

[bigdho]

Thats what I was thinkin too. Thanks for your help

 

[wnt2bBeast]

Great post Needsize..real world examples!!

 

[casualbb]

interesting point about it being useful for advanced people.

I assumed really advanced guys just never came off. With bridging I suppose that's sort of true

 

[needsize]

interesting point about it being useful for advanced people.

I assumed really advanced guys just never came off. With bridging I suppose that's sort of true

I am pretty sure that really advanced bodybuilders dont ever come off, or at least rarely, but doing it this way allows your body to maintain the mass with a minimal amount of damage

 

[Texas Ranger]

My thoughts on bridging are that if you are not at a size where you cant maintain your mass without drugs, then you dont need to bridge. I see guys 6' tall and 190lbs talking about bridging, at that size you can maintain your size with proper post cycle therapy, so doing a bridge of any sort is just a crutch.

However, if you are an advanced enough bodybuilder that you cant maintain your size without some steroids, then bridging becomes very important. Thats the case with me, i am currently 250lbs, 5'8", and around 10% bf. When I come off everything, I cannot maintain my gains unless I am on at least a small amount of something.

I have tried the dbol bridge and found that it didnt help me maintain enough of my gains, but it left me feeling very shut down with no sex drive, which tells me my HPTA never recovered

In contrast, I have found bridging with anavar to be very effective in maintaining mass, and allowing my HPTA to recover. I have never had my test levels checked post cycle while bridging, so I dont know exact numbers, but I know my body well enough to know if I am still shut down or not. For example, if i am between cycles and bridging with var, but my sex drive is so high that I need sex every day, then I know my HPTA is not completely shut down, as when it is, i cant get it up if my life depended on it.

The most effective method I have found is to combine hcg, clomid, and anavar. I use the hcg at 500iu 2x weekly all through my cycle. At the end, I use it at 500iu every day for 7-10 days, timing it so my last shot of hcg is 3 days before starting clomid. I start clomid and var on the same day. I find the hcg very important, as otherwise you are trying to kickstart your nuts with clomid, at the same time you are starting the anavar, which doesnt work all that great. But taking hcg prior to that gets everything working again, so your nuts arent starting from a dead stop.

WOW! Thanks Needsize for sharing your recovery combo with us!!! Sounds like a winner!!! Karma to you!!!!

 

[needsize]

WOW! Thanks Needsize for sharing your recovery combo with us!!! Sounds like a winner!!! Karma to you!!!!

glad to help, it took a lot of trial and error to get something that worked this well for me

 

[Texas Ranger]

Needsize, just to be clear, you take Anavar with Clomid, right? Does 20mgs of Anavar ED with Clomid for 3-4 weeks sound about right?

 

[needsize]

Needsize, just to be clear, you take Anavar with Clomid, right? Does 20mgs of Anavar ED with Clomid for 3-4 weeks sound about right?

yup, that the way I do it

 

[Texas Ranger]

yup, that the way I do it

Yeah, I think BigAndy69 posted a study that showed Anavar significantly reduced Cortisol, which GREAT coming off a cycle.