My First Anavar Cycle – A Bodybuilder’s Honest Account: What You Really Need to Know Before Your First Course

The decision to start my first Anavar cycle – which I remember was my very first steroid cycle ever – wasn’t simple at all. For months I wavered about whether to cross that line, weighing the potential benefits and health risks.

My experience with my first Anavar cycle totally differed from what I’d read on forums or heard from people at the gym. I want to share an honest account – without sugar-coating the effects, but also without sweeping the difficult moments under the rug.

In this post, I’ll tell you about the entire process: from motivation and planning, through cycle implementation week by week, up to post-cycle therapy. You’ll find the truth about effects, side effects, and whether it was really worth it.

My Motivation and Path to the First Cycle

I didn’t decide on my first cycle overnight. I’d been working up to it for months, frustrated by stagnation and my own training plateau.

Why I decided on a cycle

After five years of intensive natural training, every gram of muscle came with enormous effort. My weight got stuck at 172 lbs at 5’9″ height.

I was training six times a week, and had my diet mapped out to the gram. Despite this, results were becoming less and less visible.

I watched gym buddies who achieved in a few months what I’d been grinding away at for years. Sure, I knew not all of them were natural.

I didn’t want to wait another few years for minimal changes. I’m 28 years old and feel like time is running out. I wanted to see what I’m truly capable of.

This wasn’t any sudden decision. I’d been considering it for over a year, analyzing every argument for and against.

Plateau and limitations in natural development

The latest measurements only confirmed the stagnation. For eight months, my biceps hadn’t moved a millimeter.

Main signs of plateau:

• No mass gain for 6 months
• Strength stagnation in main exercises
• Extended recovery time
• Declining training motivation

I tested various tricks to break through stagnation. I changed programs, experimented with diet, added cardio. Results? None lasting.

My trainer told me straight that I’d naturally squeezed out almost everything. Further progress would be minimal and slow.

That’s when it hit me that without pharmacological support, my goals simply weren’t realistic. That’s when I started seriously thinking about my first cycle.

Preparation process and knowledge acquisition

For three months, I intensively dove into the subject. I read scientific publications, forums, books on sports pharmacology.

What I planned before starting:

• Full blood work
• Consultation with a sports doctor
• Finding a trusted product source
• Preparing a PCT protocol

I asked people who’d already gone down this path. Not all were enthusiastic – some actually warned against the risks.

I chose Anavar because it’s considered a mild compound. It seemed safer than testosterone or stronger compounds, especially for the first time.

I developed a detailed plan for the cycle, diet and supplementation. I had every detail thought through in advance.

Why I Chose Anavar

After many weeks of research and conversations, I settled on Anavar because everywhere it was presented as a “mild” compound. But honestly, it’s not as simple as they say on forums.

Alternatives I considered

Before choosing Anavar, I analyzed other options. Testosterone Enanthate – the classic, everyone recommends it for starters.

But the mere thought of injections and all that PCT put me off. I’d never done injections before and was simply afraid of them.

Winstrol also had its advantages – it tempted with definition and strength. However, reading about its effect on joints, I started to waver.

My knees were already giving me trouble after years of training, so I didn’t want to risk it.

Steroid	Advantages	Disadvantages	Why I rejected it
Testosterone E	Proven, strong effects	Injections, PCT, aromatization	Fear of injections
Winstrol	Definition, strength	Joint problems	Existing knee problems
Dianabol	Rapid gains	Retention, liver problems	Too aggressive for start

Dianabol seemed too aggressive for a first cycle. Reports about water retention and mood swings strongly put me off.

My expectations and concerns before the cycle

I didn’t have unrealistic expectations regarding Anavar, which I now consider very sensible. I was counting on strength progress around 10-15% and better definition.

I wasn’t expecting huge mass gains. Anavar isn’t a “mass” compound in the classic sense.

I was most worried about the liver. Sure, Anavar is considered mild, but it’s still a 17-alpha alkylated steroid.

I planned liver tests every three weeks. Without that, I wouldn’t even have started the cycle.

I also had concerns about moods. Some wrote about greater confidence, others about irritation – I didn’t know where the truth lay.

I was a bit afraid whether it wouldn’t affect relationships at work or at home. Honestly, I had no idea how I’d react psychologically.

Money was also a problem. Anavar is one of the more expensive oral compounds, and on the black market, quality varies.

I was afraid I’d overpay for a fake or something of poor quality. That’s seriously frustrating in this whole process.

What Anavar Is and How It Works

Anavar, or oxandrolone, is an anabolic-androgenic steroid that gained popularity among bodybuilders through its mild profile. When I first had contact with it, I noticed it works completely differently than stronger compounds.

Basic information about Oxandrolone

Oxandrolone appeared in the 1960s when Searle company was looking for a way to support recovery after injuries and wasting diseases.

In my research, I learned it’s a derivative of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), with minor modifications.

When preparing for my first cycle, I discovered that Anavar doesn’t aromatize to estrogens. This was important to me because I didn’t want to deal with water retention or gynecomastia.

Oxandrolone only exists in oral form. My dose was 20mg daily, split into two portions – precisely because of its short half-life.

Why Anavar is called a “mild” steroid

From my observations, “mild” refers to the side effect profile, not the strength of action. Anavar produces fewer androgenic side effects than testosterone or nandrolone.

I didn’t experience typical problems associated with stronger steroids:

• No conversion to estrogens
• Minimal water retention
• Little effect on libido
• No hair loss (at least for me)

Comparison with other steroids:

Feature	Anavar	Testosterone	Dianabol
Aromatization	No	Yes	Yes
Liver toxicity	Moderate	Low	High
Water retention	Minimal	Medium	High
Strength increase	Medium	High	High

However, I don’t want anyone to think “mild” means “safe”. My cholesterol levels worsened somewhat and I had to watch my liver.

Mechanism of action in the body

Anavar binds to androgen receptors in muscles. Over time, observing my own body through 8 weeks, I better understood what was happening.

Main mechanisms of action:

• Protein synthesis – boosts muscle protein production
• Nitrogen retention – helps maintain positive nitrogen balance
• Increased creatine – gives a bit more power during training

I noticed that Anavar affected my metabolism quite specifically. Weight stayed in place, but physique changed – less fat, more muscle.

Oxandrolone also stimulates red blood cell production. Thanks to this, I had better endurance and caught my breath faster between sets.

Effect on hormones:

• Suppression of natural testosterone production (moderate in my case)
• Increased IGF-1 levels
• Lowered SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin)

In my blood work, testosterone dropped by about 40% in the sixth week. Honestly, I expected a worse scenario.

Planning My First Anavar Cycle

First, I had to establish a safe dose and cycle length. Equally important was preparing for blood tests and health monitoring.

Establishing dosage and cycle length

After extensive research, I chose 20mg daily to start. This dose appeared in most guides for beginners.

I seriously considered 15mg, but decided the difference in side effects would be negligible. Friends’ advice about 40-50mg I immediately rejected – for a rookie, that’s too much.

Cycle Length – Why 8 Weeks – here I had the biggest dilemma. I saw cycles of 6-12 weeks, but 8 weeks seemed a reasonable compromise.

With a shorter cycle, effects might be too small. A longer cycle means greater risk for testosterone and liver – I didn’t want to overdo it.

Blood test and health monitoring preparation

I scheduled blood work two weeks before starting. I checked complete blood count, lipid panel, liver enzymes (ALT, AST) and hormones.

I was most interested in testosterone, cholesterol and liver – I treated these results as a reference point.

I planned subsequent tests at week 4 of the cycle and 2 weeks after completion. Without this, I’d feel like I was flying blind.

I created a simple table for daily monitoring. I noted weight, well-being, sleep quality and any side effects.

I bought a proper scale and started taking progress photos. I wanted to see real changes, not rely solely on my own impression of “being bigger”.

Anavar Cycle Implementation — Week by Week

My first Anavar cycle brought many changes – from the first subtle effects, through peak form, to preparation for coming off the compound.

Each week surprised me with something different. Not everything went according to plan.

Impressions and first effects (weeks 1-4)

Weeks 1-2 I started with 20mg daily, split into two portions – morning and afternoon. The first days were mainly observation and a bit of uncertainty.

After just a few workouts, I felt an energy boost. It wasn’t some crazy increase, but endurance during exercises clearly improved.

Sleep worsened – I woke up earlier, sometimes at 5:30 AM. Not many people mention this, but for me it was quite a noticeable side effect.

Parameter	Week 1	Week 2
Body weight	172 lbs	173 lbs
Bench strength	220 lbs x 8	220 lbs x 10
Energy (1-10)	7	8

Weeks 3-4 brought the first visible changes. Muscles started looking harder, especially shoulders and chest.

At the beginning of the third week, I increased the dose to 40mg daily. Blood work showed a slight increase in liver enzymes, but everything was within normal range.

Appetite dropped significantly. I had to force myself to eat full meals, which was frustrating, especially when I cared about mass.

Peak form and challenges (weeks 5-6)

This was the moment when I really felt Anavar’s action. My physique gained a dry quality I’d never managed to achieve naturally before.

Strength jumped by about 15% compared to the cycle start. Suddenly I could do more reps with the same weight that previously stopped me.

Libido problems appeared just then. The drop was noticeable, which somewhat surprised me, because Anavar is considered a mild compound.

Mood stabilized compared to the beginning. I had more confidence, but also got irritated more quickly under pressure.

Effect	Intensity (1-10)
Strength gain	8
Muscle definition	9
Sleep problems	6
Libido drop	7

Weight barely budged – only 3.3 lbs more, but the mass looked infinitely better than with natural training.

End phase and preparation for coming off (weeks 7-8)

The seventh week was already preparation for cycle end. I reduced the dose to 20mg daily and watched how my body behaved.

Visual form was then the best in my life. Definition was striking, though I knew much of it was the effect of slight dehydration.

I started PCT preparation in the eighth week. I ordered Clomid and sorted out my liver supplementation plan.

The last days of the cycle were a mixture of satisfaction and uncertainty. On one hand, I was proud of the effects, on the other – I was a bit afraid whether anything would remain.

Appetite started returning at the end of the eighth week. I took this as a good sign that my body was slowly returning to normal.

My final parameters:

• Body weight: 175 lbs (+3.3 lbs)
• Strength: 10-15% increase in main exercises
• Body fat: noticeable drop, especially on the abdomen

Cycle Effects — What I Actually Achieved

After ten weeks with Anavar, my body underwent visible changes, though they weren’t as spectacular as you might read in some places online. I gained lean mass, improved strength and muscles gained better definition.

Changes in body composition

Mass gain was moderate, but qualitatively completely different from natural bulking. I started at 172 lbs and finished at 180 lbs.

This might not look like a big difference, but everything changed in the mirror. Muscles became harder, fuller, especially in shoulders and chest.

Fat tissue reduction went hand in hand with mass increase. DEXA scan showed a drop from 12% to 9% fat.

Measurement	Before cycle	After cycle
Weight	172 lbs	180 lbs
Body fat	12%	9%
Chest circumference	40.2 in	41.3 in
Bicep circumference	15 in	15.6 in

Muscles were also better hydrated. Anavar doesn’t cause typical water retention, so the gain was truly clean. That’s probably what I appreciate most about Anavar.

Effect on strength and performance

Strength increase was most noticeable. Bench press went from 198 lbs to 231 lbs for 6 reps.

Maximum strength improved in every basic exercise. Squat rose from 265 lbs to 298 lbs, deadlift from 309 lbs to 342 lbs.

Interestingly, anaerobic performance also improved. I could easily do more reps with the same weight.

I recovered faster between sets. Previously I needed 2-3 minutes rest, but on Anavar, a minute and a half was enough.

Cardio training endurance also rose slightly. My 5K time dropped by 45 seconds, though I wasn’t training specifically for running.

Visual effects

The biggest change was muscle definition. Veins on my arms became visible even without flexing.

Skin looked thinner, which emphasized the cuts more. This was most visible on the abdomen – abs became clearer.

Muscle separation became much more pronounced. The border between triceps and biceps or between chest and shoulders was far more visible.

Pump during training was stronger and lasted much longer. Muscles stayed full even several hours after the gym.

My girlfriend was first to notice changes in the shoulders. She said they looked more “cut” and three-dimensional – such words were always the most motivating.

Side Effects and Risk — My Honest Thoughts

During my first Anavar cycle, I experienced both mild and somewhat worrying side effects. Blood work showed concrete changes, and mentally I went through various phases – from euphoria to moments of doubt. Much of this was due to it being my first cycle.

My sensations during the cycle

For the first two weeks, I felt no negative effects. I even had the impression that Anavar really is a “mild” steroid.

In the third week, the first gentle warning signals appeared. In the evenings, especially after heavy training, light headaches started (I still don’t know for certain if this was Anavar’s fault, but I know these can be its side effects).

My main sensations:

• Night sweats appeared from week 4
• Sometimes I had trouble falling asleep
• Light feeling of tension in the liver area
• Libido plummeted in week 5

The drop in appetite in mid-cycle bothered me most. I had to watch myself to eat regularly and not neglect my diet.

Skin became more oily, but acne fortunately missed me. That was a pleasant surprise, because I’d read various stories on forums.

Changes in blood work

I did tests before, during and after the cycle. Results showed clear changes in several key health parameters.

Liver parameters took the biggest hit. ALT jumped from 22 U/L to 78 U/L in week 6, and AST from 19 U/L to 65 U/L.

Parameter	Before cycle	Week 6	After cycle (4 weeks)
ALT	22 U/L	78 U/L	45 U/L
AST	19 U/L	65 U/L	38 U/L
Testosterone	650 ng/dL	420 ng/dL	380 ng/dL

HDL cholesterol plummeted from 58 mg/dL to 35 mg/dL. This probably worried me most, because cardiovascular risk is then higher.

Endogenous testosterone dropped by about 35%. I expected this, but numbers can still be sobering.

Psychological aspects of use

Mental changes appeared gradually, much more subtly than physical ones. First, I felt increased confidence in the gym.

It wasn’t just about physical strength – my head was stronger too. Sometimes this confidence turned into surprising aggression during training.

Towards the end of the cycle, I started feeling health anxiety. Every stomach ache I treated as a signal that something bad was happening with my liver.

These were quite stressful weeks. What worried me most was the awareness that I was starting to become psychologically dependent.

I was planning the next cycle before the previous one finished. Thoughts about the end caused anxiety – I was afraid of losing mass and strength.

It’s hard to believe how quickly you can fall into a mental trap. Family relationships remained unchanged, but I noticed that in stressful situations I was more irritable.

My partner told me straight that I’d become impatient. Probably most of this was due to it being my first steroid cycle.

Post Cycle Therapy and Return to Balance

After an eight-week Anavar cycle, I knew post-cycle therapy was absolutely fundamental. I had to help my body return to normal testosterone production.

My PCT plan step by step

I planned a 4-week PCT, starting three days after the last dose. An endocrinologist helped me adjust the protocol to my hormonal situation.

Weeks 1-2:

• Clomid 50mg daily
• ZMA before bed
• Vitamin D3 4000 IU
• Ashwagandha 600mg

Weeks 3-4:

• Reduced Clomid to 25mg daily
• Rest unchanged

Daily I checked well-being and libido to assess return to balance. In the third week of PCT, I felt a clear energy increase.

At the end of the fourth week, I did follow-up blood work. That’s the only way to really check therapy effectiveness.

Natural testosterone production recovery

Restoring natural testosterone proved not as difficult as I expected. For the first two weeks, I had less energy and motivation for training.

Before the cycle, testosterone was 680 ng/dl. After four weeks of PCT, I had 590 ng/dl – not bad, but could have been better.

What helped in recovery:

• Sleep – at least 8 hours
• Diet with plenty of healthy fats (mainly fish in my case and OMEGA-3 supplementation)
• Less stress
• Regular strength training

For three weeks I added D-aspartic acid. Libido returned to normal only in the fifth week after the cycle.

After eight weeks, testosterone jumped to 645 ng/dl. Patience was really enough.

How I maintained effects after the cycle

The hardest thing was maintaining the mass and strength I’d built on cycle. I knew I’d lose something, but wanted to limit losses to a minimum.

I raised protein to 2.2g per kilogram of body weight. For four weeks of PCT, I ate with a slight caloric surplus.

Post-cycle training looked like this:

• Volume reduced by 20%
• Weights unchanged
• Focus on compound exercises
• Additional stretching (10 min)

After eight weeks, I managed to retain 85% of mass gain and about 90% of strength. Such a result was really a positive surprise for me.

The key? Consistency in diet and training. I didn’t allow myself to slack off just because the cycle was ending.

Reflections and Assessment — Was It Worth It?

A few months after the cycle, I can clearly see what I did well and what I could have handled differently. Anavar taught me many lessons – not all were easy. In any case, I think it was worth it. Anavar really is a mild compound, especially for beginners, that forgives many mistakes.

What I wouldn’t repeat

Too rapid dose increase – that was definitely the biggest mistake. I started with 20mg, but after just three weeks or so, raised it to 40mg daily.

I wanted quick effects, which proved foolish. I learned during my career that as long as minimal doses bring positive results, it’s not worth increasing them.

The liver started giving warning signals in the fifth week. ALT jumped from 25 to 67 U/L. If I’d stayed at a lower dose, I probably would have avoided problems.

During the cycle, LDL shot up from 95 to 145 mg/dl. I had no idea about predispositions to cholesterol problems.

Do I recommend Anavar to beginners?

Yes, but with great reservation. Anavar is considered mild, but still carries risk.

From my experience, with proper knowledge it can be used relatively safely. Most important – start with minimal dose, max 10-20mg daily. This and every other compound should always be started with the smallest doses – I learned this during my career. It’s not worth increasing the dose if the minimal one brings desired results.

What needs to be met in my opinion:

• Minimum 2-3 years of regular training – before this and every other compound
• Diet and training plan must be stable – this was always my most important aspect
• Blood work every 3-4 weeks – with every cycle, it’s simply necessity
• Access to someone with experience – if you don’t have anyone? Contact us! We’ll gladly help and advise

I don’t recommend Anavar to anyone under 20. In younger people, the hormonal system is still developing.

Biggest advantages for beginners:

• Few androgenic side effects
• No aromatization to estrogen
• Short half-life

Bear in mind – every steroid can affect your testosterone production, it’s unavoidable and you need to account for this.

My plans and thoughts for the future

I’m planning the next cycle in 12-14 months. This time I’ll take a longer break for my body to regenerate. In the meantime, I’m planning another cycle I’ll tell you about soon.

About 12 weeks after cycle completion, testosterone returned to normal. I want to be sure all results are stable.

What I’ll change:

• Maximum 30mg daily
• Shorter cycle – 6 weeks
• Blood work every two weeks
• NAC for liver protection

Maybe next time I’ll try combining Anavar with a small testosterone dose and see how such a cycle affects my results.

Long-term goal? Slowly build mass without losing health. Anavar taught me it’s better to take small, thoughtful steps than charge ahead.

I treat each cycle a bit like an experiment. I write everything down in my training and health journal – seriously, it helps a lot. I’ll continue sharing my observations on various cycles and topics related to bodybuilding, specifically compounds I used during my career.

Practical Advice and Safety for Beginners

Safety with a first Anavar cycle requires a really sensible approach. From my experience, preparation and monitoring are fundamental if you want to minimize risk.

Most important safety rules

Pre-cycle testing is absolutely necessary. I did full blood work 2 weeks before starting – complete blood count, liver tests (ALT, AST), lipid panel and testosterone.

This cost me about $150, but gave me peace of mind about my baseline state. Without this, I wouldn’t have proceeded.

Dosing for beginners shouldn’t exceed 20-30mg daily. I started with 20mg for the first two weeks.

Later I raised it to 25mg. Many friends tried to talk me into 40-50mg, but seriously – it’s not worth risking at the start.

Follow-up tests after 4 weeks of cycle are mandatory. I particularly checked liver tests and lipid panel.

AST jumped from 28 to 45 U/L for me. Still within normal range, but it worried me a bit.

Parameter	Before cycle	After 4 weeks	Normal range
ALT	32 U/L	48 U/L	<40 U/L
AST	28 U/L	45 U/L	<40 U/L
HDL cholesterol	52 mg/dl	38 mg/dl	>40 mg/dl

Liver support supplementation is crucial. I took milk thistle 500mg daily and NAC 600mg.

Plus minimum 3 liters of water daily – without this, don’t even start. I don’t know how anyone can underestimate hydration.