Winstrol
Along with Anavar, Winstrol is often touted to be a ‘mild' anabolic steroid on the internet. Anabolic steroids have been shown to improve athletic performance by increasing muscle strength and aggressiveness 1 Another motivation to take anabolic steroids is to improve physical appearance because these substances increase muscle size and reduce body fat.
Fat loss is somewhat noticeable on anavar, with research showing that a moderate dose of 20mg per day can result in 4lbs of fat loss, over the course of 12 weeks Winstrol ( 4 ). Thus research shows that anavar's anabolic effects outweigh its fat-burning properties, with participants in the same study gaining 7lbs of muscle.
There is increasing concern regarding possible serious health problems that are associated with the abuse of steroids, including both short-term and long-term side effects (see Appendix B). The short-term adverse physical effects of anabolic steroid abuse are fairly well known.
Finasteride (propecia) is an FDA approved medication, shown to be effective at blocking DHT levels in the body and reducing hair loss ( 19 ). It is available in pill form via a prescription, however studies show that roughly 52% of men report muscle loss when taking it ( 20 ). Thus taking finasteride may counteract the anabolic effects of anavar, causing bodybuilders to be unsatisfied with their results.
A study published in a 2019 issue of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that low-load resistance training (low weight and high repetitions) was actually more effective for increasing muscle mass than high-load resistance training (high weight and relatively low repetitions) in a group of young women.
It even boosts cognitive function as shown in multiple studies, including a 2016 study published in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging , which showed that strength training prompted an almost 20 percent increase in cognitive capacity for a group of elderly women.
There are no black and white effects on mood and mental health when it comes to Winstrol use, but the fact that it suppresses natural testosterone production puts guys at a higher risk of low mood including lack of focus, irritability and even depression.