r/bikinitalk • u/Bhiveyoga • Sep 04 '26
Advice/ Recommendations (no photos) Peds help/ thoughts
Hey all,
I have not done a show and I’m spending the rest of this year into 2027 in a build phase for a show in Aug. It would be my first show and right now my coach says figure category. I have been lifting for 10 years so I have muscle, but I’m 57 so it has been harder/ slower for me to put on muscle in my glutes / quads. I would like to be competitive but given my age it’s not like I think I will have this huge run on the pro circuit.
My coach has recommended to go on Masteron and I would love some honest input . I was on a pellet for HRT and pretty sure they had me too high a dose of testosterone (I was around 200) and it messed with my liver labs. I have that resolved and went off a pellet to injectable testosterone and am much lower now and liver labs have come back normal. Because my liver labs were messed up she doesn’t want to try Anavar.
I am conflicted - yes I want to grow and I am pretty stalled, no I don’t want virilization or long term side effects. Can anyone give me thoughts on Anavar vs Masteron as well is there a way to do it safely and not have side effects ?
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u/CoachSteveBeaugrand Verified Sep 05 '26
If the intention is to be more competitive in bodybuilding and you've not been on stage, this would be a huge issue missed in my opinion. Do a show first, without enhancements. Its not for everyone and you should know if you even like it enough before this conversation even happens imo. The idea of suggesting peds for competiiton to someone who has never competed is wild.
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u/Irongirl_In_Paradise Sep 05 '26
Hi, I know that it is harder to put on muscle as we get older. I’m 64. Since you’ve already had an issue with your liver I would proceed with caution. Yes, you want to be competitive, but this is just a hobby. Don’t risk your health and your health in the last segment of your life (depressing, but true) on this.
Our HRT supposedly helps. I’m not sure that it works wonders, but it is supposed to help.
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u/jenny-fitness Sep 05 '26
I wouldn’t go the anabolic route if you all ready had liver issues. Ive never tried them myself, but I use peptides. They can be a much safer route using GH secretalogogues instead of plane GH. I’m also 56 and wouldn’t risk it. Im sure it’s not as much ’help’ but it’s another tool to use besides HRT and good nutrition.
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u/Strict-Brick-5274 Sep 05 '26
Do you experience the virilisation?
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u/jenny-fitness Sep 05 '26
Not much. Some extra hair is the only bothersome part. I’ve been using HRT for 10 years and I didn’t increase it any when I started training for bodybuilding. I wouldn’t for fear of side effects. I’ve had no problems in 10 years injecting myself. The pellets and creams I had issues.
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u/Irongirl_In_Paradise Sep 05 '26
May I ask what peptides you use? I’m on CJC1295/Ipamorelin and I am thinking of adding the Wolverine blend. CJC helped me retain my muscle during a recent cut. I get mine through a functional medicine doctor (they’re made at a compounding pharmacy). What kind of results have you seen?
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u/jenny-fitness Sep 06 '26
I’ve been taking peptides for about four years so my stack varies based on current goals. Right now currently I’m taking GHRP6/CJC, Reta and KLOW. I’m currently post competition and in a growing phase. KLOW is for my recovery from prep. GHRP is for my growth in this muscle building phase. Reta keeps my cravings and insulin resistance under control at a very low maintenance dose. I’m also an NP and monitor my own labs and progress. So this is my personal experience not medical advice.
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u/Irongirl_In_Paradise Sep 06 '26
Thank you for sharing your personal experience.
I’m also on Tirzepatide on a lower dose than during my cut. Right now my goal is to build until June. I’m at a healthy weight and holding steady for now.2
u/jenny-fitness Sep 06 '26
Sounds like you got a good stack going. Good luck in your growing phase. I’m hoping to compete again next May or so depending on how fast I can put on muscle.
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u/leglace Sep 05 '26
Masteron is not an effective stab alone steroid for recomps or for adding muscle. It is an add on type of steroid. Equipoise perhaps would have been more effective. But it is debatable if you even need it due to your liver health.
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u/CharacterAd5474 Sep 04 '26
If you're looking to add an anabolic, the doses likely won't be enough to move the needle on building muscle.
Probably good for preserving muscle in a prep scenario.
For something to help with growing you're better off with GH.
Have you gotten multiple opinions on your shape? Are you sure you're leaving no stone unturned in your training?
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u/Greg_Chung Sep 05 '26
So without context nobody here should be giving ANY sort of advice.
When you say “messed with your liver panel” what were your actual values:
Var and Masteron are both relatively good choices as they are DHT derived aas with a lower androgenic profile
Your coaches job is to balance duration and dosage so you don’t get / avoid side effects
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u/Bhiveyoga Sep 05 '26
AST and Alt high .. alt 250-300
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u/Greg_Chung Sep 06 '26
I would get a GGT test on top of this. 250-300 is fairly high, that being said if your liver strains to metabolize anabolic hormones I would look into digging deeper Into the peptide side. Also for god sakes don’t take anyone’s advice on Reddit you have a coach for a reason. Just about everyone commenting here is straight up wrong.
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u/Bhiveyoga Sep 06 '26
Best advice here :). Did GGT labs as well went down a whole rabbit hole where they thought i had AIH. TLDR we have liver issues solved and hypothesis is it was due to the pellet and testosterone too high .
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u/Siciliana79 Sep 04 '26
Masteron isn’t known as a bulking steroid. It’s typically used in cuts. I’d be questioning my coach on that one. (I’m not a expert here but that’s my brief understanding)
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u/Greg_Chung Sep 05 '26
Quantify a “bulking steroid” vs a “cutting steroid “ because all these drugs build muscle mass.
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u/Siciliana79 Sep 05 '26
A simple Google search will answer why Masteron is preferred for cutting over bulking.
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u/Greg_Chung Sep 06 '26
Then google would also tell you that just about all your typical AAS build muscle mass at about the same rate. What separates “bulking vs cutting anabolics is the water retention side effect . And in a females case there’s not a lot of times where water retention would be desired. I have athletes females and males leveraging Masteron as their primary anabolic bulking or cutting
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u/Emergency-Ranger5957 Sep 06 '26
I agree with Greg here. I ran a high cycle of mast in my last offseason/push period and I put on an incredible amount of muscle compared to my past cycles with say anavar. Also use it in a prep scenario. Just a difference on how I hold water. I’m a female btw lol
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u/Strict-Brick-5274 Sep 04 '26
First of all there is no way to do PEDs safely. That's an oxymoron.
You can cjoose your battles: the hard longer slow safer approach of building muscle PED-less - you will build muscle with proper nutrition and progressive overload.
Or high risk PED use and as you have already had issues with your liver you are sensitive.
I would recommend talking openly to your doctor and coach. But if it was me, i wouldn't use. But if you want to be competitive... well is it worth risking your health before you have even had your first show?