Depotrone is probably one of the most popular anabolic steroids in use by the average bodybuilder in South Africa to build mass. This is probably due to the following:

1. It is a relatively cheap compound, usually selling on the black market for between  $25 and $40  for 10 200mg ampoules;
2. It is extremely effective for pure bulk and size;
3. It is fairly easy to find.

Depotrone (Testosterone Cypionate) is an injectable testosterone that is used medically to treat androgen deficiencies and hypogonadism. One shot of Depotrone will keep testosterone levels elevated for about two weeks, making it a fairly long acting compound. In fact, the cypionate ester is very similar to another well known anabolic – Testosterone Enanthate (Testoviron, Ropel enanthate etc).
As I’m sure most of you know, high testosterone levels generally equate to more muscle and greater strength (this is the main reason athletes turn to anabolic steroids) and, a substance like Depotrone gets full marks for increasing both factors. Testosterones have a high affinity for estrogen conversion, which can result in a high degree of water retention, excluding it from drug regimes that have the goal of definition or ‘cutting up’. As I said, Depotrone is for pure bulk, not for shaping up.
Side effects:

• Depotrone users may experience gynecomastia (‘bitch tits’), due to the high estrogen conversion rate
• Androgenic side effects, such as oily skin, balding, acne and body hair growth occur when testosterone converts to dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
• Mood changes, such as aggression
• Increased libido

Exogenous testosterone will generally have a pronounced effect on natural testosterone levels, which is why many users of high androgenic compounds, such as Depotrone, experience a ‘crash’ after discontinuance. How many guys have you seen in the gym that blow up (literally!) and then deflate? So it becomes important post cycle to make sure natural testosterone levels are normalised as quickly as possible. Drugs such as Pregnyl (HCG) and Clomid (Clomiphen Citrate) are used for this purpose, but that is a whole other article on post cycle therapy (PCT)!
Athletes report that weekly injections are most effective and report 200-800mg per week to be effective (although I know of some space cadets that are using that in a day!). More than that would be a case of diminishing returns.
Many people complain that Depotrone is ‘dirty’ or ‘cheap’ or ‘ineffective’, this may be true for some, but if used correctly and, more importantly, discontinued properly, Depotrone , bang for your buck, is one of the most effective bulking steroids available.

St. Patrick’s Day may have come and gone (although your headache may yet linger) but we’d like to suggest you consider keeping a green mindset, as a way of reaching your bodybuilding goals.

Green tea, and its active component epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), are both well known for their fat-burning effects. Those looking to drop body fat before a contest or just wanting to lean out often will rely on green-tea supplements. Now, research shows that green tea may be just as beneficial during a mass-building phase as it is during a cutting phase.

Green tea is derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, which also gives us black tea and oolong tea. The difference between the three teas is in the type of processing each undergoes. Unlike the others, green tea gets steamed before the leaves are dried, which preserves the natural green color and prevents the breakdown of its active components, resulting in a higher concentration of certain polyphenols, such as EGCG.

Bodybuilders started increasing their green-tea consumption in the late 1990s after a team of French and Swiss researchers published data on its metabolic effects. That study found that a supplement, standardized for caffeine and EGCG, increased calories burned over caffeine-only supplements. Even better, the caffeine/EGCG combo caused subjects to burn a higher percentage of calories from fat. Levels of the fat-burning neurotransmitter norepinephrine were increased by 40% in this study, which was due to EGCG’s ability to inhibit enzymes that would normally break down norepinephrine. Several further studies have been published confirming the metabolic effect of green tea on fat burning, making it a staple for guys looking to get ripped.

THE STUDY Researchers from Baylor University (Waco, Texas) decided to investigate whether green tea could improve recovery from heavy lifting. Initial lab studies had revealed that EGCG could protect the heart and other organs from damage through its antioxidant effects, leading the Baylor team to speculate that it may be beneficial for muscle, as well. The scientists gave college-aged males 1,200 milligrams of EGCG or placebo every day for two weeks. They then had the subjects perform an exhausting bout of negatives on a leg-extension machine at the end of the two-week trial.

THE RESULTS The group receiving the EGCG supplement had less muscle soreness when measured one, two and three days after exercise. There was also evidence that EGCG reduced apoptosis markers, which means there was less muscle cell destruction. Reducing soreness can help you get back in the gym quicker, and decreasing apoptosis can preserve hard-earned muscle, enabling you to pack on more mass in the long run.

DOSAGE Look for green-tea extract supplements that are standardized for EGCG. Take 1,000-1,200 mg of EGCG per day in two to four divided doses. For example, a supplement that provides 500 mg of green-tea extract per dose and is 50% EGCG delivers 250 mg of EGCG. Taking two doses twice a day provides 2,000 mg of green-tea extract and 1,000 mg of EGCG. Drinking green tea is always a smart thing to do, but don’t substitute the beverage for the green-tea extract supplements, as research shows the EGCG from the supplement form is absorbed by the body more readily than that from the tea.