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05/29/09
Any bodybuilder who has spent 5 minutes researching cutting compounds (beyond the weaker over-the-counter products seen in grocery stores) has no doubt heard about clenbuterol. It’s highly effective for helping bodybuilders to get lean and maintain energy levels, even in an environment where the trainer is running a caloric deficit and spending countless hours each week on the treadmill. The first fat-burning compound that most bodybuilders will look at is usually ECA. This is a combination of ephedrine (25 mg), caffeine (200 mg) and aspirin (200 mg). ECA is very good for bumping up the metabolism and burning up some body fat, but it does have negative side effects. Heart palpitations are the scariest, but long-term damage from hypertension and the ever-present possibility of caffeine addiction make ECA a risky option for some trainers. Clenbuterol has advantages over ECA in that it isn’t addictive, and it remains effective longer than ECA does. Additionally, the propensity for heart issues and other nervous ticks isn’t there with clenbuterol. For this reason, even though it is legal to obtain ECA and much easier as well, many serious bodybuilders do opt for the Clen option.
Clenbuterol is not perfect by any means. Some of the reported side effects of its use include severe cramping, sleeping problems, and ocular headaches. There are normal side effects, but nonetheless side effects which can sideline you in your lifting efforts. Standard dosing has been known to give these side effects, and bodybuilders have learned to just deal with them.
Alternate dosing methods do exist. Run clenbuterol for two days, and then take two days off. You may run this cycle for 3 to 4 months, which is much longer than you could with standard dosing of “2 week on, 2 week off” usage. Standard dosing is useful if you are a bodybuilder running standard cycles leading up to a show, and using clenbuterol only for a very short period of time. Longer use can lead to adrenal fatigue which will short-circuit your fat-loss efforts, and make your training much more ineffective.
Start very low on your dosing. Begin with 10 mgs per day, and use it as long as you feel the effects. Re-evaluate your progress every few days to determine if the Clenbuterol is still working. Once you begin feeling jittery and stop seeing the fat peel away, simply bump up the dosage by 10 mcgs. This will deliver a whole new level of positive effects, and your tolerance will continue to develop slowly. Many users short-circuit their gains from Clenbuterol by starting at the maximum 50 mgs dosage and then having nowhere to go once the body adapts.
If you are a recreational bodybuilder, a low dose of ECA might be more than adequate for helping you to reaching your fat-loss goals. If you are more advanced, then Clen use will probably eventually work its way into the equation. The keys to success are to alternate dosages every 2 days, and start with as low a dosage as possible. Good luck!
