A Clenbuterol Cycle or Clen Cycle is one of the most preferred cycles for cutting and losing fat and almost every bodybuilder considers it at some time or the other.
But what exactly is Clenbuterol?
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What is Clenbuterol?
Clenbuterol is a drug that was first made to treat asthma in horses and interestingly enough it found its way into the big bad world of bodybuilding. It happens to be the most powerful fat burner on the scene, so much so that it is often considered in line with top-notch anabolic steroids.
The most appealing feature of Clenbuterol is that it works exceptionally well to burn body fat even when you are using steroids or not. Not just this, it also helps increase lean muscle in the body.
Now, which bodybuilder would not like to have ridiculously low levels of body-fat along with ultra-lean muscles?
And its not surprising that bodybuilders try to seek Clenbuterol even though it is illegal and carries the risk of certain dangerous side effects.
How Does Clenbuterol Work?
Thermogenesis is the basic mechanics behind how Clenbuterol works. It increases your body’s temperature to boost your metabolism so that it gets into overdrive to burn excess fat, converting it into energy in the process.
However, Clen is not a magic or miracle pill that can work on its own. It tends to work only when used with the right mix of a good workout and a healthy diet that is limited in calories. In any case, it is used during a cutting cycle and this is the time when you have to reduce your caloric intake so that your body is better able to burn fat.
One thing that is for sure is that Clen can be highly effective in making you lose fat from the most stubborn areas in your body. Love handles are a perfect example of such areas. This is what makes it so popular with physique competitors, models, and anybody else trying to get a perfectly ripped beach body!
Clenbuterol Benefits or Clen Effects
It is widely known that Clenbuterol is the ultimate fat burner and that it is exceptionally good for losing stubborn fat, what is it that makes it so good?
Before that, I would like to tell you that now it is possible to buy Clenbuterol in the US and the rest of the world legally.
Getting back to the real mechanism behind this fat-burning pill…
At its very core, Clenbuterol is a thermogenic booster. It simply generates excess heat in your body so as to raise its temperature. By doing this, it bears a direct impact on your metabolism. It increases your metabolic rate and enables your body to burn fat faster as well as breakdown fat quickly.
This is one of the lesser-known benefits of Clenbuterol. It can be a massive help in curbing your appetite. Most bodybuilders try to limit their calorie-intake just before the competition in order to burn excess fat and look as lean as possible and Clenbuterol seems like a perfect help in this regard since it can help them diet and consume lesser calories.
However, it should be noted that this is not a very common effect of Clenbuterol, and not everybody who consumes this pill actually experiences appetite suppression.
Yet another benefit of Clen is that it gives a boost to cardiovascular performance. Even though it is not a major effect, most people are delighted with the boost that they get.
What you need to keep in mind is that Clenbuterol is a drug that is used in the treatment of asthma and thus, it helps clear airways and assists in breathing even in the case of people who do not have any issues. Thus, it is quite normal for people to get better in terms of cardiovascular performance with this drug.
Clenbuterol Fat Loss
Clenbuterol was never meant to be a weight-loss drug. As a matter of fact, it was supposed to be a drug for treating asthma in horses but it found its way into the celebrity circles and was touted as the best weight loss pill to slim down. It wasn’t long that it was picked by bodybuilders to cut down their body fat so that they could get lean to the maximum.
Not just this, it is popularly known as the Size Zero Pill within the weight loss circles and is known to have been used by a whole lot of celebs to stay slim. One of the characteristic features of this pill is the gaunt look that has made it so popular with models and people in the fashion industry.
You can check out my post on Best Fat Burners by clicking here.
Even though many would like to believe that Clenbuterol is the miracle weight loss pill that can help them lose weight without any changes to their diet and exercise routine, the truth is actually far from this.
Clen is actually of no use to people who want to lose weight but are not putting in their effort when it comes to a good exercise routine. It is only when you combine it with diet and exercise that the real fat-loss benefit of Clen starts unfolding.
The underlying fact is that Clenbuterol is effective for losing that stubborn fat in your body which would not go off even after you have tried your best losing it with intense training and diet.
Thus, it is effective only and only when you are already on an intense training routine trying to bring down your body fat to dramatically low levels. No wonder, it has become highly popular among bodybuilders trying to achieve outrageously low levels of body fat just before a competition.
Clenbuterol Dosage
One of the most important things to consider about a Clenbuterol cycle is that you need to scale up the dosage slowly depending upon how your body reacts to it. More importantly, you need to increase the dose as your body gets accustomed to it.
Most bodybuilders begin with a low dose and increase it over a two-week cycle to get the best fat-burning results.
- Day 1-2 – 20 mcg
- Day 3-4 – 40 mcg
- Day 5-6 – 60 mcg
- Day 7-8 – 80 mcg
- Day 9-10 – 100 mcg
- Day 11-12 – 120 mcg
- Day 13-14 – 140 mcg
Clen Cycle
The main aim is to begin the cycle with the lowest possible dose and increasing it to the highest safe limit by the end of the cycle.
Most guys would go for a maximum dose in between the range of 120-160 mcg per day.
The basic idea behind this incremental strategy is that having Clenbuterol at a high dose in the first go is potentially dangerous for your body and poses a very high health risk. You need to evaluate how your body is responding to it before you scale up things.
Ideally, you must increase your dosage by 20 mcg on a regular basis before you stop at the max dose of 120-160 mcg.
For Women – Clenbuterol for women can start with a daily dose of 20 mcg and they should not go for a dose higher than 80-100 msc per day.
Typically, your Clenbuterol cycle may last for up to 2 weeks and after that, you must take a break of at least two weeks in case you decide to do another cycle.
Common Clenbuterol Cycles and Doses
As stated above, one of the most popular strategies is to begin the Clen cycle with a low dose, see how your body reacts to it and then gradually increase the dose as the body gets used to it.
Now, there could be three kinds of people doing a Clen cycle and these could include:
- people trying to lose fat
- bodybuilders trying to get rid of excess fat and to get ripped and shredded
- people trying to lose weight and trim down
Now, depending upon their goals, their cycles may also differ.
People who are trying clen just to lose weight or trim down may use it alone while bodybuilders doing a contest-prep may combine it with other steroids to achieve cutting and muscle definition along with an increase in their vascularity.
I have already listed what a typical standalone Clen cycle can look like. Here is an example of a Clen stack:
- Clenbuterol – 12o mcg daily
- Anavar – 80 mg daily
- Trenbolone – 200mg weekly
- Testosterone Proionate – 100 mg daily
This is a typical Cutting Cycle that bodybuilders may use for up to 8 weeks. It combines Clenbuterol with Anavar and Trenbolone. It also throws in Testosterone propionate for maximum cutting and strength enhancing effects.
You can check out Clenbuterol Cycle for beginners by clicking here.
Clenbuterol Results – What to Expect
One thing that is certain is that with Clenbuterol, you are likely to lose fat faster from your body than with any other fat-burner provided you combine it with a proper diet and an intense workout routine.
Even if you are not building muscle, Clen will make you look more muscular since it can help you get rid of fat over the muscles, revealing hard muscle underneath.
Almost a decade ago, Clenbuterol was touted as the ultimate weight loss drug and many celebs were known to have used it. It was also nicknamed the Size Zero Pill. The popular opinion was that it could help lose weight without any effort (without diet or exercise). However, we have a clearer picture and that rule is not the case. It is impossible for Clen to produce results without diet and exercise.
In order to get the best results from a Clenbuterol cycle or stacks, there are certain things that you should be aware of:
- You should already be quite lean – Yep! If this is confusing then let me explain. Clenbuterol is highly effective for getting rid of the last bit of fat that is really stubborn. So, if you are stuck with fat in some area that wouldn’t budge no matter how hard to train and diet, Clen can be a perfect fat-burner to help you achieve your goals.
- Diet plays a crucial role – Now, this holds true for all fat burners including Clenbuterol. No matter how powerful a fat burner is, it will work only when you eat sensibly. Your aim should be in a calorie deficit and thus, you should be consuming a diet that has lesser calories than what your body is burning.
- Exercise is Important – There’s no magic or miracle happening here. If you want to lose weight and get rid of excess body fat, then you need to sweat it out in the gym. Clenbuterol with only help in furthering the boost that you give to metabolism through exercise. If you don’t workout or train, Clen is likely to be useless.
Clenbuterol Side Effects
Till now, we have counted the many benefits of Clenbuterol. Like all other drugs, Clen also has its pros and cons. Let’s have a look at some of the side effects of Clenbuterol…
One of the most initial side effects of Clenbuterol is jitters or tremors that most users experience early on when on a Clen cycle. The noticeable thing here is that these jitters tend to wane off or subside as your body gets used to Clenbuterol. This is the main reason why you should begin a Clen cycle with a low dose and increase it slowly and gradually.
Since Clenbuterol is a stimulant, it works by heating up your body and you begin sweating in response. The cells in your body begin producing and releasing more heat and with this, your body’s temperature rises making you perspire. While some people perspire more others less.
Yet another side effect of Clenbuterol is that it can lead to insomnia, just like most stimulants do. Coffee is already infamous for keeping you awake at night if taken in the evening. Even supplements that have caffeine in them should be avoided late in the evening.
Clenbuterol is no different when it comes to insomnia. People who already have difficulty sleeping may find their condition worsen when on a Clen cycle. The half-life of Clen is 36 hours which means it is going to be in your system for this long. What it also means is that it is going to be in your system when you need to sleep.
Lower dosages of Clen can, however, alleviate severe insomnia, making your body used to it. This is another reason to begin your Clen cycle at a low dose.
One of the common problems associated with stimulants is that they can lead to headaches in some people. Now, those that are prone to getting headaches with coffee or caffeine are more susceptible to getting a headache with Clenbuterol, while those that are not so sensitive to caffeine might not experience this side effect at all.
The underlying cause of a headache occurring because of a stimulant is an increase in blood pressure.
Another common side effect of Clen is that it can lead to an increase in your blood pressure and this is more likely to happen during the initial stages of the cycle. People that are already prone to blood pressure issues are more likely to experience an increase in their blood pressure. Besides this, high blood pressure can lead to a lot of other health issues and problems.
Thus, it becomes imperative to monitor your blood pressure throughout the cycle.
Those that have a history of high blood pressure must refrain from using Clenbuterol.
Muscle cramps are also known to occur as a side effect of Clenbuterol and the main reason behind this is a drop in the levels of amino acid taurine in your body. Lack of this amino acid in your body prevents your muscles to relax as normal, resulting in cramps.
Thus, if you experience muscle cramps during a Clen cycle, it is better to have a taurine supplement so that taurine levels in your body can increase allowing your muscles to relax properly.
Nausea is a common side effect of many drugs. It can also result in vomiting and this is yet another reason to start a Clen cycle with a low dose.
Clenbuterol can also lead to mood changes. While some people might experience an improvement in their mood, others might experience anxiety.
Depression and anxiety are more common side effects to occur after the Clen cycle is over. Moreover, these are likely to happen when the dosage is high.
Some of the more severe side effects of a Clenbuterol cycle could include:
- Rapid increase in heart rate and irregular heartbeat
- Severe vomiting and diarrhea
- Very high blood pressure
- Strokes
If you experience any of these side effects, then Clenbuterol should be stopped immediately and this may require medical help.
Clenbuterol Post Cycle Therapy/ PCT
The main purpose of a PCT is to help your body produce hormones naturally and as normally as possible. Without a PCT there’s always a risk that your hormonal production may not get back to its normal self ever again.
But do you need a PCT for Clenbuterol?
The clear answer to this is NO!
If you are using Clenbuterol alone then you do not require PCT and this is because Clen is not a steroid and it does not affect your hormonal production.
Having said that, if you combine Clen with other steroids such as Anavar, Winstrol, or even Trenbolone, then you will need a PCT so as to negate the effects of these other steroids.
FAQs Related to Clenbuterol
Is Clenbuterol a Steroid?
There can not be two ways about it. Clenbuterol is not a steroid but a drug that was developed to treat asthma or breathing conditions. Since a lot of bodybuilders use it along with steroids, it is often considered to be in line with other steroids but the truth is far from that.
Even though Clen has shown to produce anabolic effects in animal studies, there is no specific proof to suggest the same effects among humans. It is not supposed to be a muscle-building drug like other anabolic steroids.
Is Clen Dangerous?
Clen is a drug that is a powerful bronchodilator and also an immensely strong stimulant. Therefore, it is important to start it with a low dose and a heavy dose such as 100mcg per day can produce severe side effects. Even though it can pose serious side effects at a sudden high dosage, it is not supposed to be dangerous.
As stated above, it is highly recommended to start a low dose of this drug within the range of 20-40 mcg per day and scale it up slowly.
Will Clenbuterol show up on a drug test?
Clenbuterol is an illegal substance in the US and in many countries across the world. It has not been approved by the FDA. Moreover, the World anti-doping agency considers it as a prohibited substance and if it shows in the results, then you might be disqualified from competitive sports and legal action could be taken against you.
So, if you in some kind of a competitive sport, it is best to avoid it.
Conclusion
Clenbuterol is a powerful stimulant that works by speed up the metabolism in your body and can help you lose excess fat, especially stubborn fat. It is great for cutting and can be combined with other steroids such as Anavar and Winstrol for faster results.
However, it is important to take its side effects into account before you begin a Clen cycle.
