Using steroids isn’t a case of one-size-fits-all—what may be the best steroids for building muscle aren’t always the same as those for shedding fat. Finding the best steroids and steroid cycles can be a challenge.
Now:
What with both the benefits and dangers of steroids, there’s so much to talk about, and it’s tricky to know exactly what to believe.
You’re with me on that, yeah?
The truth is, understanding how steroids work isn’t that difficult. Many of them work on very similar principles, with particular types targeting specific areas.
This article will make it all clear.
I have put together what I consider to be the best steroids and steroid cycles for both gaining muscle and shedding fat. I will explain how they work, the results you should expect and the shocking side effects they can cause.
If you’re serious about bodybuilding, this is one article you cannot afford to miss.
Table Of Contents:
Best Steroids
The word “steroids” often has negative connotations—cheating athletes and shortcut-seeking bodybuilders using them to enhance their performance—together with the dramatic side effects of heart attacks and shrinking balls.
But, is that the reality?
Firstly, it’s important to make clear that there are generally two types of steroid—corticosteroids and anabolic steroids.
Corticosteroids do little to nothing for the bodybuilder. They’re medications that have been developed to treat a variety of ailments—from allergic reactions and asthma, through to arthritis and cancer.
Anabolic steroids are what interest the muscle-gaining, fat-shedding gym-junkie. These synthetic compounds, usually a modified form of testosterone, have the ability to rapidly increase muscle mass, boost strength, shed fat, and elevate endurance.
Let me be honest.
The best steroids, such as Dianabol, Anadrol, Winstrol, and Trenbolone, work. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
The problem is, many of them can produce severe adverse reactions—some of which could affect you for life. In most countries, they’re also illegal without a prescription.
Let me take you through the most effective and best steroids used by bodybuilders—and give you the insane truth about these synthetics.
Best Steroids for Bulking
1. Dianabol
> Legal Dianabol Alternative: D-Bal [read review] <
Dianabol (also known as methandrostenolone and methandienone) is arguably the most popular anabolic steroid of all time.
Patented in the 1950s, apparently as a treatment for burn victims, there’s also plenty of evidence indicating it was actually formulated for use by the US Olympic team—desiring to level the playing field with their testosterone-laden competitors from the USSR and the GDR. It was banned in the US in 1990. 1 2 3 4
How Does Dianabol Work?
Derived from testosterone, it functions in much the same way. A synthetic alteration (it has an added double-carbon bond) boosts its nitrogen retaining properties and allows it to remain in the body longer than testosterone.
Dianabol increases muscle protein synthesis. In addition, its ability to keep nitrogen levels elevated ensures the body stays in an anabolic state. 5 6
What Is Dianabol Good For?
Fast and impressive large muscle mass gains, together with rapid increases in strength, are the key benefits of Dianabol. Users typically gain up to 20 pounds in a few weeks.
What Are the Side Effects of Dianabol?
While not the most dangerous steroid on the (black) market, it does have some possible serious side effects, including:
- Raising estrogen levels—leading to female traits.
- Acne 6
- Hair loss.
- Increasing LDL (bad) cholesterol.7
- Reducing natural testosterone production. 8
2. Sustanon
> Legal Sustanon Alternative: Testo-Max [read review] <
This steroid is a mixture of four different testosterone esters—testosterone propionate, testosterone phenylpropionate, testosterone isocaproate, and testosterone decanoate.
Originally, it was developed as testosterone replacement therapy for those suffering from hypogonadism.9
How Does Sustanon Work?
Like testosterone, Sustanon rapidly increases the rate of muscle protein synthesis, boosts nitrogen retention and elevates production of IGF-1—which can improve recovery times and stimulate muscle building.
However, it’s the combination of the 4 esters that make Sustanon appealing. These different forms of testosterone all have different life-spans—some are short-lived, others long-lasting. This ensures the body has a constant and sustained level of testosterone to maximize returns.
What Is Sustanon Good For?
One of the best steroids for boosting muscle growth while losing fat, leading to a ripped appearance. In addition, it’s a great endurance builder—due to its ability to increase the red blood cell count which, in turn, improves oxygenation.
What Are the Side Effects of Sustanon?
Common issues arising from Sustanon use include:
- Gynecomastia (man-boobs).
- Water retention.
- Reduced testosterone production.
- Prostate enlargement.
- Muscle pain. 10
3. Deca Durabolin
> Legal Deca Alternative: Decaduro [read review] <
Formulated from the steroid nandrolone with an additional ester, Deca Durabolin (nandrolone decanoate) first hit the market in 1960 and was principally a treatment for breast cancer and osteoporosis.
How Does Deca Durabolin Work?
As with most anabolic steroids, Deca Durabolin boosts muscle protein synthesis and increases nitrogen retention. In this latter aspect, it’s one of the more powerful drugs—greatly increasing the anabolic ability of the body.
There’s more.
Deca Durabolin also inhibits the action of glucocorticoid (corticosteroid) hormones—resulting in proteins being broken down into smaller, faster-absorbing amino acids. 11
What Is Deca Durabolin Good For?
As one of the best tolerated of all steroids, Deca Durabolin is ideal for guys who react adversely to some of the other testosterone-based synthetics. Not only a powerful muscle builder, it also helps to boost collagen production and raise bone mineral content—making it a very useful recovery steroid. 12 13
What Are the Side Effects of Deca Durabolin?
Side effects with this steroid are quite rare unless the dosage exceeds 200mg per week. Doing so can result in:
- Aggression.14
- Gynecomastia.
- Raised blood pressure.
- Body hair growth.
- Elevated LDL cholesterol levels.
4. Anadrol
Commonly referred to as “A-bombs,” Anadrol (oxymetholone) has become known for two things—its ability to deliver phenomenal results in an incredibly short time—and, for wrecking your health.
Probably the most powerful and dangerous of all the steroids. 15
How Does Anadrol Work?
Anadrol is a modified form of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)—in that the 17th carbon position has been modified.
What does this mean?
Essentially, its potency is dramatically increased and can be swallowed instead of injected. Think of Anadrol as providing all the benefits of testosterone (raising protein synthesis, promoting mass gains, and increasing red blood cell count) but taken to the absolute max.
What Is Anadrol Good For?
If you want to become an absolute hulk, in the shortest possible time, Anadrol is the answer. It’s probably one of the best steroids for bulking.
Gains of 30 pounds plus are not unusual in just a few short weeks.
Additionally, this steroid is particularly popular with powerlifters, due to its ability to send strength and explosive power off the scale.
What Are the Side Effects of Anadrol?
The side effects of Anadrol use can be very serious. 16
They include:
- Leukemia.
- Vomiting.
- Gynecomastia
- Jaundice.
- Cancer.
- Cirrhosis of the liver.
- Shrinking balls.
- Impotence.
Best Steroids for Cutting
For cutting it is a slightly different approach and steroid users go for different kinds of steroids.
Bodybuilders don’t want to use steroids that retain water in the body before shows and use steroids with more fat burning potential.
Even though these steroids may work very well for bulking as well they are mostly used in a cutting cycle.
1. Winstrol
> Legal Winstrol Alternative: Winsol [buy now] <
One of the most widely known athletic performance enhancers—probably due to its use by the disgraced 100m sprinter, Ben Johnson. 17
How Does Winstrol Work?
Derived from DHT, its modification has led to it being most effective at reducing sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)—a protein which binds to testosterone.
While bound, testosterone cannot be used for anabolic functions—hence decreasing SHBG levels mean there’s more naturally produced testosterone available.18
What Is Winstrol Good For?
Winstrol (stanozolol) isn’t a bulking or mass gaining steroid. Instead, its ability to free up testosterone enables it to function as a muscle retainer rather than a builder. This makes it a good choice both for athletes and for guys going through a fat loss phase.
Additionally, it reduces water retention and increases vascularization—ideal for competition—making it one of the best steroids for cutting.
What Are the Side Effects of Winstrol?
Although Winstrol does not have estrogenic effects, such as gynecomastia or water retention, it does have some downsides, including:
- Reducing HDL (good) cholesterol.19
- Insomnia.
- Headaches.
2. Anavar
> Legal Anavar Alternative: Anvarol [read review] <
Being a mild steroid, Anavar (oxandrolone) has become one of the most popular synthetics—equally well tolerated by both guys and girls.
How Does Anavar Work?
In addition to its anabolic boosting properties, Anavar is one of the few true steroids that can help shed weight.
While some synthetics purely increase the metabolic rate—which in turn burns fat as fuel, Anavar actually boosts lipolysis (fat breakdown).
It’s assumed that this is due to its ability to inhibit the action of thyroid-binding globulin—with studies showing Anavar can dramatically reduce abdominal fat. 20 21
What Is Anavar Good For?
Anavar is the ideal steroid for cutting. Its powers to increase fat breakdown, combined with the anabolic effect of retaining muscle mass, makes it the steroid of choice for many bodybuilders.
Furthermore, this steroid is popular amongst athletes, due to its strength enhancement properties, while making little difference to overall mass.
What Are the Side Effects of Anavar?
While no steroid can be considered “safe,” Anavar has some of the fewest side effects of all steroids. On rare occasions, these can include:
- Hair loss.
- Acne.
- Reduction of HDL cholesterol and an increase in LDL cholesterol.22
3. Trenbolone
> Legal Tren Alternative: Trenorol [read review] <
A veterinary grade steroid, mostly used in cattle to boost muscle growth and promote weight gain. This steroid is considered by many to be the greatest synthetic for athletic performance. 23
How Does Trenbolone Work?
Through modification of nandrolone, Trenbolone binds itself to androgen receptors, which prevents it from promoting feminine features in the user.
As with most testosterone-based steroids, it’s powerfully anabolic, boosting muscle protein synthesis, increasing red blood cell count and raising nitrogen retention.24
What Is Trenbolone Good For?
Trenbolone is ideal for cutting in bodybuilders and for creating optimum body composition in aerobic athletes. It raises the metabolic rate to burn fat, while its anabolic qualities retain muscle tissue.
Of further interest to the bodybuilder is its ability to promote an appearance of definition, hardness, and vascularity.
What Are the Side Effects of Trenbolone?
Adverse effects include:
- Pancreatitis. 25
- Insomnia.
- Erectile dysfunction.
- Increased liver and kidney stress.
4. Clenbuterol
Technically, Clenbuterol isn’t a steroid. It’s a sympathomimetic amine mainly used under prescription to alleviate the symptoms of asthma—by opening up the lungs’ airways. However, due to its powerful fat-burning properties, it has become popular among the bodybuilding fraternity.26
How Does Clenbuterol Work?
First and foremost, this drug relaxes the smooth muscles within the lungs and thus acts as a bronchodilator. However, of more interest to the bodybuilder is its ability to dramatically increase the body’s basal metabolic rate (BMR). 27
What Is Clenbuterol Good For?
Despite many studies indicating that Clenbuterol promotes an anabolic state in animals, there’s no evidence that it provides the same effect in humans.
Therefore, Clenbuterol has two uses—shedding of fat and opening the airways.28
For the athlete, increased lung capacity raises oxygen uptake and can improve performance in sports that make large demands on the cardiovascular system.
In bodybuilding, Clenbuterol is often used for cutting. Its power to increase BMR means that fat is burned to fulfill the increase in energy demands made by the body.
What Are the Side Effects of Clenbuterol?
The main side effects associated with Clenbuterol are due to its action as a stimulant. These include: 29
- Tachycardia.
- The “jitters”.
- Insomnia.
- Tremors.
- Palpitations.
Best Steroid Cycles
Steroids work. However, there are a couple of important factors to take into account when using them.
Firstly, these synthetics have side effects—ranging from the mild, such as headaches, to the severe—enlargement of the heart ventricles, which can lead to death. Secondly, as with many drugs, constant use reduces their efficacy.
This is why, over the years, mainly through trial and error, steroid cycles have been developed. These dictate how long, and in what quantities, certain steroids should be used in order to achieve specific effects.
Depending on the anabolic drug being used, on average, these cycles last between six to twelve weeks. The idea being this is a safer way of taking the drugs and leads to the most beneficial results.
But that’s not all.
To increase potency, steroids are often stacked. That is, a combination of steroids taken at once during a cycle to achieve the largest gains. The steroids in a cycle may, or may not, be taken for the full duration.
Listen up.
I have put together below three examples of steroid cycles for differing bodybuilding targets—including the best steroid cycle for size, the best steroid cycle for lean mass and the best steroid cycle to lose fat and gain muscle.
Be warned.
Stacking steroids isn’t an exact science, despite what many guys will tell you. Always proceed with caution and follow the “time-on, time-off” rule.
The Best Steroid Cycle for Muscle Gain and Size
Deca Durabolin Weeks 1-12 400mg per week
Testosterone Cypionate Weeks 1-12 600mg per week
Anastrozole Weeks 1-12 0.5mg every other day
Dianabol Weeks 1-6 50mg per day
The Best Steroid Cycle for Losing Fat
Testosterone Cypionate Weeks 1-12 750mg per week
Anastrozole Weeks 1-12 0.25mg every other day
Trenbolone Weeks 5-12 100mg every other day
Winstrol Weeks 7-12 50mg every day
The Best Steroid Cycle for Losing Fat and Gaining Muscle
Testosterone Cypionate Weeks 1-12 400mg per week
Anastrozole Weeks 1-12 0.5mg per day
Dianabol Weeks 1-4 20mg every day
Equipoise Weeks 1-8 400mg per week
Anavar Weeks 7-12 50mg every day
Trenbolone Weeks 7-12 50mg every other day
Best Legal Steroids
As we have seen, steroids can give incredible results—and also horrific side effects. Wouldn’t it be phenomenal if you could achieve the gains that steroids provide—without damaging your heart, liver or balls?
Let me give you some good news.
You can. Legal steroids are 100% natural supplements which don’t cause any of the dangerous side effects associated with synthetics.
The best legal steroids contain ingredients proven to boost muscle, increase stamina and shed fat.
There’s more.
The most powerful of these supplements have been developed to individually mimic their steroid cousins—all the results, without the dangers.
The most effective ones I have encountered are those from CrazyBulk, who have put together both a bulking and cutting stack.
Legal Steroids For Bulking
For bulking there is available a bulking stack which consists of 4 different legal steroids and it’s designed to increase hypertrophy.
Guys have been getting great results using these natural supplements.
The bulking stack contains four supplements designed to build mega muscle mass—fast, equalling the power of the best steroid cycle for muscle gain. It includes:

- D-Bal—mimics Dianabol.
- Testo-Max—takes off Sustanon.
- DecaDuro—imitates Deca Durabolin.
- Trenorol—echoes Trenbolone.
Legal Steroids for cutting
Wanna get ripped and lose that fat that ruins your physique?
Of course dieting and training is crucial, but guys have been getting amazing results by using the cutting stack.
.
Their cutting stack is the safest way to shed fat in order to achieve nothing but lean and dry gains. It includes:

- Anvarol—mirrors Anavar.
- Testo-Max—acts like Sustanon.
- Winsol—impersonates Winstrol.
- Clenbutrol—replicates Clenbuterol.
This is truly the best way to achieve your bodybuilding targets without damaging your body or breaking the law.
Summary
The best steroids provide real, impressive results—but they’re illegal and can damage your body permanently.
If you’re serious about your bodybuilding regime and want to achieve maximum results, my advice is this.
Avoid steroids. Why take them when legal steroid supplements achieve the same results? Without any adverse effects.
The bottom line.
Whether you’re looking for a massive hulk type appearance, or a tight defined vascular ripped figure, head over to the Crazybulk website and check out their potent stacks. Your body will thank you.
FAQ
“Are Steroids Dangerous?”
Yes. Even the best steroids can have both short and long-term side effects—ranging from hair loss and acne through to heart attacks and liver damage.
“What Is the Safest Steroid?”
There’s no such thing as a safe steroid. It’s better to ask—what’s the least dangerous? If you’re looking for incredible training results, look to using a legal steroid, such as those from CrazyBulk.
“Do You Need PCT After Using Steroids?”
Usually, yes. Depending on which cycle you have been following, specific drugs will be required to restore your body back to a normal hormonal balance.
“What’s the Best Steroid for Beginners?”
Anavar is probably the least dangerous of all the steroids and therefore could be one of the best steroids for beginners. However, using 100 percent natural supplements, such as legal steroids, would be more beneficial.
“What Steroid Is Best for Muscle Gain?”
Anadrol provides the most dramatic results in the shortest time. It’s also the most dangerous.
“Are There Many Side Effects With Using Steroids?”
Yes. Hair loss, acne, raised cholesterol, tachycardia, heart-attack, aggression, shrinking balls, testosterone suppressant—that’s just a small sample.
“What Is the Best Steroid for Cutting?”
Winstrol—due to its ability to shed fat while retaining muscle.
“How Fast Do Steroids Work?”
It depends on the dosage, type of steroid and the results you are looking to achieve. Although they will start having an effect immediately, it will be 2-3 weeks before you see visible results.
“Are Steroids Illegal?”
In the majority of countries, steroids are illegal for non-prescription use.
“What Are Legal Steroids?”
Legal steroids mimic the incredible bodybuilding effects of the best illegal steroids—but without the side effects.
References
1. https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?CC=US&NR=2900398&KC=&FT=E&locale=en_EP
2. http://clinchem.aaccjnls.org/content/43/7/1262
3. https://www.congress.gov/bill/101st-congress/house-bill/4658
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7018798
5. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/methandrostenolone
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1923870/pdf/canmedaj01255-0023.pdf
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/793272
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24199455
9. https://www.nps.org.au/medical-info/medicine-finder/sustanon-250-injection
10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK13780/
11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8133796
12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4837307/
13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4462037/
15. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/11901482_Review_of_oxymetholone_A_17_alpha-alkylated_anabolic-androgenic_steroid
16. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/oxymetholone#section=Health-Hazard
17.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/oct/05/ben-johnson-drugs-olympics
18. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2723028
19. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2915439
20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8574271
21. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15472177
22. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7316782
23. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1885362
24. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11252818
25. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30101635
26. http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v38je02.htm
27. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7049586
28. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7476054
29. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23844963
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