Many bodybuilders often ask the question: is Sustanon for bulking or cutting?
Our usual answer to this question is yes and yes! Sustanon is such a versatile androgenic-anabolic steroid (AAS) that bodybuilders can conveniently run a Sustanon cycle for bulking and still expect to witness significant Sustanon cutting results at the same time.
In this post, we explain what Sustanon is, how Sustanon can aid your cutting program, amd when you should run a Sustanon cycle for bulking.
What is Sustanon?
Sustanon or simply Sust, is an AAS comprising of four distinct testosterone esters that together make Sust the closest thing to endogenous testosterone hormone.
Sust is available as an intramuscular injection with the oil-based solution appearing as a pale yellowish color.
Typically, each vial of Sust 250 would contain the following concentration of testosterone esters:
- Testosterone Propionate (30mg),
- Testosterone Isocaproate (60mg),
- Testosterone Phenylpropionate (60mg), and
- Testosterone Decanoate (100mg).
Sustanon is dapable of increasing the plasma testosterone levels of bodybuilders while actively intensively stimulating several hormones like the Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and Human Growth Hormone (HGH) in the body over a three week (21 day) period.
This is why Sust is widely recommended in the medical field for the Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) and the treatment of hypogonadism.
However, Sust is an effective AAS for bodybuilders looking to either run a bulking or cutting cycle. But not all the testosterone esters that make up Sustanon 250 have the same half-life.
As a matter of fact, the testosterone esters with the shortest half-life are Testosterone Propionate and Testosterone Phenylpropionate with a range of between 1 and 2.5 days respectively.
Due to these two testosterone esters having the shortest half-life of the four testosterone esters that make up Sustanon, they provide the body with quickest anabolic properties and effects.
The half-life of Testosterone Isocaproate is about 3.1 days which is moderate compared to Testosterone Decanoate.
Testosterone Decanoate is the ester in Sustanon 250 with the longest half-life of the four testosterone esters with a half-life of 15 days.
So while you will feel the effects of Testosterone Phenylpropionate and Testosterone Propionate quickly, it would take about two weeks before the anabolic properties of Testosterone Decanoate starts to kick-in during your Sustanon cycle.
Sustanon steroid and Cutting
You can run a cutting program with a moderate Sust dose of about 350 mg injected every week over a 6 to 8 week period or as recommended by our personal coach.
When you use Sustanon, your thyroid gland is stimulated to produce a greater amount of Triiodothyronine (T3) hormone which then boosts your rate of metabolism. With an increased metabolic rate, you will experience thermogenesis which is where your core body temperature rises.
When this happens, your body works hard to restore homeostasis which is a normal core body temperature by stimulating your sweat glands to produce more sweat than normal in order to cool your core body temperature.
The process of thermogenesis and homeostasis will lead to increased lipolysis or fat burning of both visceral and subcutaneous body fat.
However, it is important to note that you will not witness considerable Sustanon cutting results if you do not have a well structured training program, and nutrition plan designed to promote the shedding of body fat and weight loss.
How Often Do You Need to Inject Sustanon for a Bulking Cycle?
Your Sustanon cycle for bulking can take several forms depending on your preferred stack. However, regardless of your stack, Sust should normally be administered by intramuscular injection once per week. The tables below reveal two (2) Sust stacks for bulking with recommended cycle length and dosage plan.
Sustanon & Deca-Durabolin Cycle
| WEEK | SUSTANON | DECA-DURABOLIN |
| 1 | 600 mg | 300 mg |
| 2 | 600 mg | 300 mg |
| 3 | 600 mg | 300 mg |
| 4 | 600 mg | 300 mg |
| 5 | 600 mg | 300 mg |
| 6 | 600 mg | 300 mg |
| 7 | 600 mg | 300 mg |
| 8 | 600 mg | 300 mg |
| 9 | 600 mg | 300 mg |
| 10 | 600 mg | 300 mg |
Sustanon & Trenbolone Cycle
| WEEK | SUSTANON | TRENBOLONE |
| 1 | 600 mg | 150 mg |
| 2 | 600 mg | 150 mg |
| 3 | 600 mg | 150 mg |
| 4 | 600 mg | 150 mg |
| 5 | 600 mg | 150 mg |
| 6 | 600 mg | 150 mg |
| 7 | 600 mg | 150 mg |
| 8 | 600 mg | 150 mg |
| 9 | 600 mg | 150 mg |
| 10 | 600 mg | 150 mg |
for bulking for a ten (10) week period with a weekly Sust dosage plan.
When to take Sustanon:Bulking vs Cutting
As a bodybuilder, you should take Sustanon only after you have consulted with a qualified physician and your personal bodybuilding coach. It is important that you do not run a Sust cycle in ignorance, as you could be endangering your short and long-term health.
So make sure you get an all-clear from your doctor before you start a Sust cycle or any AAS cycle or stack for that matter.
If you want to run a Sustanon cycle for bulking, you can stack Sustanon with Deca-Durabolin or Sustanon with Trenbolone for optimal bulking gains. These stacks will promote several physiological changes in your body to stimulate skeletal muscle growth.
Using Sustanon with Deca or Tren while you engage in strength training and maintain a clean bulking diet will boost your HGH and IGF-1 hormones.
It will also increase your collagen production, and nitrogen retention to stimulate a rise in C4 and C1INH protein synthesis in your skeletal muscle tissues leading to quick and sustained muscle growth.
If you want to run a Sustanon cycle for cutting, you can stack Sust with an orally administered AAS in Anavar (Oxandrolone).
The table below showcases a typical Sust and Anavar cutting cycle and dosage plan for bodybuilders.
Sustanon & Anavar Cycle
| WEEK | SUSTANON | ANAVAR |
| 1 | 200 mg | 20 mg per Day |
| 2 | 400 mg | 20 mg per Day |
| 3 | 400 mg | 20 mg per Day |
| 4 | 400 mg | 20 mg per Day |
| 5 | 400 mg | 20 mg per Day |
| 6 | 500 mg | 20 mg per Day |
| 7 | 500 mg | 20 mg per Day |
| 8 | 500 mg | 20 mg per Day |
| 9 | 500 mg | |
| 10 | 200 mg |
It is important to note that whether you intend running a Sust for bulking or cutting cycle, you need to make provision for a post-cycle therapy (PCT) plan.
Deca and Tren are both potent bulking steroids with potential estrogenic side effects in male bodybuilders, as these AAS tend to aromatize when taken and convert to estrogen in the body.
High amounts of estrogen in the body can cause several estrogen-related side effects including bloating, gynecomastia, and water retention.
For the sust and Anavar cutting cycle, Anavar itself is known to have only mild side effects, but because it is an orally administered AAS that is metabolized by your kidneys, you are advised to avoid misusing or abusing your daily dosage in order to prevent organ damage or kidney failure.
If you suffer from underlying medical conditions, you might want to consult with your physician before you start any Sustanon cycle for bulking or cutting.
Final Thoughts
Sustanon is a very potent AAS and widely regarded as the closest thing to endogenous testosterone hormone. Sustanon is administered via intramuscular injection with each vial made up of four testosterone esters with varying half-life to optimize the bodybuilding gains of users all through the duration of their bulking or cutting cycle.
You should never attempt to run a Sust cycle without proper guidance and a thorough medical checkup beforehand. You can get mentoring from an IFBB PRO here today.