Winstrol Results (Before and After Pictures)
Disclaimer: The following article is for educational purposes only and does not promote the use of illegal steroids. If you have any questions or concerns, Dr. Touliatos is currently available for consultation.
Winstrol (stanozolol) is one of the most potent cutting steroids available to bodybuilders. It promotes lean muscle tissue (1, 2) while simultaneously burning fat and enhancing muscle definition.
Winstrol is a diuretic, so it lowers the amount of water that is stored outside of cells, which dries out the muscles. This can make vascularity and striations stand out more. This makes Winstrol a particularly advantageous steroid pre-contest, where water and fat loss are a priority.
Winstrol is also used by athletes for superior muscular power and endurance due to its ability to increase strength (3) and muscle mass without excessive weight gain. Winstrol also enhances cardiovascular performance through erythrocytosis (increased red blood cells).
Below are several Winstrol before and after photos, giving potential users a better understanding of the effects this steroid has on body composition.
Winstrol Before and After
Zac Efron’s before and after transformation is a perfect example of how a user’s body changes after a cycle of Winstrol.
Body fat decreases while muscle hypertrophy increases, as well as muscle definition and vascularity.
In a typical Winstrol cycle, we find users gain approximately 10–15 pounds of lean muscle, with a significant reduction in body fat.
The scale may not be a reliable tool to track progress due to simultaneous muscle growth and fat loss.
Thus, taking before and after pictures can give users more insight into the results.
Furthermore, note how dry Zac’s physique is due to Winstrol flushing out extracellular water retention. This dry look is, however, only temporary, with normal fluid levels returning post-cycle.
However, Winstrol’s results in terms of fat loss and muscle gain are permanent, assuming the user continues lifting weights with the same frequency and intensity.
Our experience shows that a user can only lose Winstrol results if they stop training or start overeating after a cycle. However, should someone cease training, muscle memory can restore their previous muscle size once they return to lifting weights. This is possible through permanent changes to myonuclei from Winstrol, giving it a long-term or permanent effect.
One potential negative we see with Winstrol is reduced intracellular water retention (inside the muscle cells), which can sometimes cause a flat look to the muscles. However, this is somewhat insignificant when accounting for the extra muscle size gained.
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Winstrol (Males)
Intermediate steroid users commonly utilize the above cycle. This is due to Winstrol being a toxic steroid and thus not suitable for beginners. However, if novices are adamant about taking Winstrol, a cycle of 8–10 mg/day for 6 weeks notably reduces side effects in our patients.
Winstrol can also be stacked with other steroids for further results, such as:
However, such stacks will significantly exacerbate side effects.
Winstrol (Females)
We find that women who use anabolic steroids for cosmetic purposes will generally avoid Winstrol, as it can cause masculinization in moderate dosages.
However, competitive female bodybuilders regularly take Winstrol in an attempt to look more ripped than their rivals (happily risking virilization side effects).
The above Winstrol cycle is tailored for women wanting to avoid masculinization side effects, hence the very small dosage of 5 mg/day.
Doses as high as 15–20 mg/day can be taken by women who desire further gains at the risk of jeopardizing their femininity. In this case, it is inevitable for the voice to deepen, the clitoris to enlarge, and the breasts to shrink.
Adverse Effects
High Blood Pressure
Based on our lipid profile tests, Winstrol is among the least cardiovascular-friendly anabolic steroids.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol significantly rises, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol drops. This occurs due to Winstrol failing to aromatize, as well as stimulating hepatic lipase in the liver. Hepatic lipase is an enzyme that has a detrimental effect on blood lipids.
Consequently, the risk of arteriolosclerosis and myocardial infarction will increase on Winstrol, and thus users should take maximum precautions to minimize such damage. Regular checkups before, during, and after the cycle are advised, as is adding regular cardiovascular exercise to training splits, in a bid to reduce blood pressure while also stimulating further fat loss.
Research has shown that a small dose of Winstrol, 6 mg/day for 6 weeks, was enough for HDL levels to fall by 33% and LDL levels to increase by 29% (4). Considering bodybuilders can take 4x more than this dose, this demonstrates the level of cardiac toxicity with Winstrol.
Liver Toxicity
Winstrol is a C-17 alpha-alkylated steroid and thus passes through the liver before entering the bloodstream. As the workload of the liver increases, we see alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzymes rise, indicating stress and damage to the organ.
Although liver markers can rise notably on-cycle, for many users, this isn’t overly problematic, as they typically fall back into a normal range post-cycle.
However, users with compromised liver function or those planning on drinking alcohol or taking hepatotoxic medications in conjunction with Winstrol are at the highest risk of liver injury.
- We have found that supplementing with TUDCA (tauroursodeoxycholic acid) notably reduces hepatic strain.
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For the duration of the cycle, users may take 500 mg/day of TUDCA to minimize inflammation and damage (5).
Testosterone Suppression
Winstrol has a transient effect on testosterone levels, initially spiking and then dropping post-cycle. Thus, users will experience low testosterone for several weeks or months following Winstrol use.
The amount of time it takes for endogenous testosterone to recover will depend on the person’s level of steroid use, whether they take lengthy breaks from cycles, dosages, and if they run a PCT (post-cycle therapy).
How Long Does It Take to See Results From Winstrol?
How long it takes to see results depends on the type of Winstrol being administered.
Oral Winstrol is fast-acting, with a half-life of approximately 9 hours. Thus, we see noticeable results transpire in the first week of a cycle.
However, injectable Winstrol is slow-acting, with a half-life of approximately 24 hours. Therefore, users often need to be more patient for injectable Winstrol to kick in.
Whether using oral or injectable Winstrol, the results by the end of the cycle are virtually identical, as it’s the same compound.
Summary
Winstrol’s effectiveness is undeniable, based on users’ results and before and after pictures. It is among the most potent cutting steroids on the market for those looking to reduce subcutaneous body fat while simultaneously adding lean muscle.
However, we consider Winstrol’s side effects to be harsh, especially on the heart and liver. Thus, users need to take maximum precautions should they take this steroid.