Var at 50mg for 8 weeks, honest report on strength, keepable gains, and what the sides were

[Beantown Rick]

Just wrapped 8 weeks of anavar at 50mg per day alongside 400mg test e. Here is what actually happened. Strength went up consistently from week 2, about 10-15% on main lifts by week 6 and held there. Body composition improved noticeably, leaner and harder. Liver values at week 6 bloodwork showed ALT up from 28 to 67, still within lab range but clearly elevated. TUDCA 500mg per day throughout. Now 4 weeks post cycle, kept roughly 70% of the strength gains. The dry lean gains stuck, no water drop like you get coming off Dbol. Overall worth it for what I was trying to do.

[FLbodybuilder]

Good report. The strength retention post var is real and consistent with most peoples experience. I ran 40mg for 6 weeks as my first oral and kept about the same percentage you are describing. One thing worth adding: the strength gains on var are there even in a deficit, which is the actual selling point over something like Dbol. You can cut on it and still go up on your lifts. ALT of 67 is fine, liver handles var better than most orals. I have seen people run 80mg and get away with it on bloods but returns diminish sharply above 60mg in my experience.

[Davo]

The cutting in a deficit point is what sells it for me. Dbol is useless on a cut, you are just fighting water the whole time. Var at 50mg you can actually run a 500 calorie deficit and still progress on your lifts. Ran it last prep 6 weeks out and it made a noticeable difference to how I looked on stage. The liver numbers are real but manageable, TUDCA does its job. Hair is the only genuine concern for me on var long term, clearly DHT derived and the scalp knows it.

[BERLINER]

The keepable gain percentage is the key metric for orals and var wins easily on that compared to wet compounds. My only question is the Winstrol comparison. I have seen people stack var and winny together for a cutting phase. Have you tried winny? I hear the joint issues from winny are significant, something var does not give you, so for people with any existing joint problems var is the obvious choice. Considering running 40mg var myself for an upcoming cut.

[Jock]

Winny vs var on a cut: winny gives a harder dryer look closer to a show but the joint dryness is brutal. Knees and elbows feel like they need oiling after 4 weeks of winny. Fine for 4-6 weeks if you manage it but I would not run it longer. Var is the more comfortable run, similar end result if your diet is tight. Some guys stack both the last 4 weeks of prep at lower doses of each, 25mg var and 25mg winny, and report the best of both with less of the joint issue.