Cortisol and PCT?

mmorso

mmorso

Well-known member
After running 11kt for 8 weeks and doing a PCT, should I worry about amping cortisol levels if I continue to cut with natty sups? Or would it be better to start reverse dieting?

I'm planning on running Folli 2, Dermastrength UL, and Alphamax XT after 4 weeks of Nolvadex... I'm considering adding Ignit3.
 
NoAddedHmones said:
No worrying needed, this cort stigma on AM needs to die
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It does seem that people want to shut down cortisol too often, when just keeping it in check is really a better option in many cases. That's why I've always been a fan of adaptogens and similar ingredients that can reduce cortisol, but not completely shut it down. I like ashwagandha and tongkat ali for basic cortisol control(both found in AlphaMaxXT, as OP mentioned he had).
 
muscleupcrohn said:
It does seem that people want to shut down cortisol too often, when just keeping it in check is really a better option in many cases. That's why I've always been a fan of adaptogens and similar ingredients that can reduce cortisol, but not completely shut it down. I like ashwagandha and tongkat ali for basic cortisol control(both found in AlphaMaxXT, as OP mentioned he had).
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Cortisol has become the devil which destorys people muscles and must be eliminated at all costs, especially in PCT (cough cough, that one poster grrr)... The reality is Cortisol is a response hormone to get the body back to homoeostasis following a stressor, why people want to blunt cortisol in 9/10 circumstances is ridiculous.

I agree with you re adaptogens though, reducing the actual stressor and keeping cortisol in normal range is a good thing.
 
NoAddedHmones said:
Cortisol has become the devil which destorys people muscles and must be eliminated at all costs, especially in PCT (cough cough, that one poster grrr)... The reality is Cortisol is a response hormone to get the body back to homoeostasis following a stressor, why people want to blunt cortisol in 9/10 circumstances is ridiculous.

I agree with you re adaptogens though, reducing the actual stressor and keeping cortisol in normal range is a good thing.
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So in turn, when cortisol levels rise to above normal (or are left high from using anabolics), by your own words, isn't it a good idea to lower it to within normal range? I think a few weeks in pct is the IDEAL time to do this. Outside pct may be another topic, but this thread was directly related to cortisol in pct.

Now coming off of an 11-KT cycle is probably not the worst case scenario. In fact, probably not even a real concern anyways. But someone coming off a Tren cycle, or lengthy AAS cycle should be concerned with the elevated cortisol.

Ever ran a cycle where you got soft about 3-4 weeks after? Or how many have you ran that you didn't?
 
Dma378 said:
So in turn, when cortisol levels rise to above normal (or are left high from using anabolics), by your own words, isn't it a good idea to lower it to within normal range? I think a few weeks in pct is the IDEAL time to do this. Outside pct may be another topic, but this thread was directly related to cortisol in pct.

Now coming off of an 11-KT cycle is probably not the worst case scenario. In fact, probably not even a real concern anyways. But someone coming off a Tren cycle, or lengthy AAS cycle should be concerned with the rise in cortisol.

Ever ran a cycle where you got soft about 3-4 weeks after? Or how many have you ran that you didn't?
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Yeah man I messed up the wording a bit... I'm not concerned with cortisol rising from the 11kt but from going off it and maintaining a caloric deficit. My understanding is that the purpose of pct is to get your hormonal levels normalized.. My question is essentially whether I should just start to reverse diet during pct and keep maintenance cals while running natty anabolics (Folli/Laxo/Alphamax) after 4 wks of Nolva, or if I can just start using these natty anabolics and continue to cut, without worrying about getting rebound cortisol.
 
mmorso said:
Yeah man I messed up the wording a bit... I'm not concerned with cortisol rising from the 11kt but from going off it and maintaining a caloric deficit. My understanding is that the purpose of pct is to get your hormonal levels normalized.. My question is essentially whether I should just start to reverse diet during pct and keep maintenance cals while running natty anabolics (Folli/Laxo/Alphamax) after 4 wks of Nolva, or if I can just start using these natty anabolics and continue to cut, without worrying about getting rebound cortisol.
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Now this is a term that can die, because it has no basis in reality or scientific backing.

The 11-KT at the recommended dose is going to reduce your cortisol, unlike other anabolic steroids that increase it. So coming off of it cortisol levels should just return to normal. Well normal for the person who trains regularly (not the same as someone who doesn't, or at least by those means).

I'm not going to claim to know the relation between cortisol and reverse dieting, etc. and it's effect in pct. I do think you are overthinking this relationship slightly.
 
mmorso said:
Yeah man I messed up the wording a bit... I'm not concerned with cortisol rising from the 11kt but from going off it and maintaining a caloric deficit. My understanding is that the purpose of pct is to get your hormonal levels normalized.. My question is essentially whether I should just start to reverse diet during pct and keep maintenance cals while running natty anabolics (Folli/Laxo/Alphamax) after 4 wks of Nolva, or if I can just start using these natty anabolics and continue to cut, without worrying about getting rebound cortisol.
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This is something people will generally recommend in PCT, eating at maintenance or surplus. I wouldn't be too concerned about doing this post 11-kt. Just keep doing your routine as you were on cycle, minus the gear of course.
 
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