so first off im a powerlifter so this might be a bit different than what most of you bodybuilders are used to but i figured i'd post here since the powerlifting sub is basically a ghost town lately
im curious if anyone has ever tried running dhb in the offseason or even during a cruise? my bloodwork usually stays pretty clean on it-no crazy issues with my kidneys liver or lipids or anything like that. the only thing that really gets me is the absolute crushing lethargy which i think is just from my blood sugar getting too low because of the insulin sensitivity or maybe just the cns being totally fried from always being "on" you know?
in the past i’ve had good luck with a 200/100 test and mast split but masteron is getting hard to find right now and i really dont want to dip into the stash i have saved for meet prep especially since mast always gives me those annoying low e2 symptoms anyway. i have to stay within my weight class so i cant really use anything that makes me blow up like a balloon and dhb seems like it has that perfect mix of keeping me strong and looking full without the crazy water weight. would love to hear what you guys think or if anyone has actually tried this before!
man dhb is basically liquid gold for strength but that lethargy is no joke, it literally feels like someone pulled the plug on your soul halfway through the day. if you’re already a powerlifter trying to stay in a weight class it’s a killer choice because it makes you look dense as hell without the sloppy water weight from something like deca or dbol.
dhb is a total beast for strength but man that lethargy is no joke it seriously feels like you're walking through chest deep water all day long. i totally get why you'd want to use it to stay in your weight class though because the muscle fullness and power it gives you without the watery dbol look is insane. if you're worried about the blood sugar thing maybe try throwing in some extra carbs around your training or just snack on fruit throughout the day to keep your energy from cratering too hard. honestly if you can handle the pip—because dhb can feel like a literal horse kicked you in the leg—it's a way better choice for a powerlifter than mast anyway. just watch your hair if you care about that because dhb can be pretty brutal on the scalp but for raw strength while staying lean it’s definitely one of the best compounds out there if you can survive the exhaustion turn
man dhb on a cruise is pure insanity lol i mean the strength gains are legendary but i couldnt imagine dealing with that soul crushing exhaustion when im supposed to be "recovering" between meets. if youre already hitting low blood sugar levels then your body is definitely screaming for a break or at least some more carbs to keep you from faceplanting during the day. honestly since youre a powerlifter and need to stay in your class id probably just stick to a low dose of test and maybe a tiny bit of primo if you can find it because dhb is just way too harsh for an offseason cruise especially with that pip—who wants to squat with a literal knot in their quad every week? just save the dhb for the actual peak so you can actually enjoy the strength without being a zombie for six months straight.
for your situation dhb actually makes more sense than it probably would for a lot of pure bodybuilding guys since weight class plus performance is a totally different balancing act. the dry strength and fullness can be awesome without the “why do i suddenly weigh 14 lbs more” problem, but man that fatigue side can absolutely become its own performance killer if your training starts feeling like moving through wet cement. kinda feels like one of those compounds where the pros are super specific but the cons can sneak up hard depending on how your body handles it.
for powerlifting specifically it sounds tempting cause no bloat and weight class friendly but if your CNS feels cooked all the time that can start leaking into training quality real fast. mast might’ve been smoother for your head even with the e2 annoyances. dhb seems more like a tradeoff compound than a clean upgrade.
kinda feels like one of those compounds where the body comp benefits can be awesome but if you’re dragging through training blocks or everyday life then the tradeoff gets way less sexy. clean labs are great but if your CNS feels like burnt toast half the time that still matters.
honestly dhb always felt like one of those compounds that looks amazing on paper for strength guys till the fatigue smacks you in the face lol. strength fullness and staying in class sounds awesome but that zombie mode can make training feel like dragging a truck. if you already know you tolerate it decent bloodwork wise it might be worth it just keep the dose sane because once that lethargy ramps up even heavy singles start feeling personal.
dhb always seemed like one of those love hate compounds where on paper its damn near perfect for staying strong without jumping classes but then the lethargy comes in and humbles the hell outta you. if youre already handling it better than most and bloods stay clean thats half the battle honestly. just sucks when the compound helping your total also makes you feel like taking a nap between warmups.
man running dhb during a cruise or offseason sounds brutal with that kind of lethargy hitting you like a truck. if your bloods are staying clean though it makes sense why you want to keep using it especially for keeping weight down while staying strong for powerlifting. but man if the lethargy is already messing with you just wait until the meet prep when your cns is fried anyway. i would personally just save the stuff for when you really need it and maybe look into something like primo or even just a bit more test if you can handle the water weight without blowing up. dealing with low blood sugar and crushed energy outside of prep just makes training feel like a chore every single day.
if your mast setup already worked for strength + weight class control, DHB tends to be more of a “trade one problem for another” situation rather than a straight upgrade. a lot of lifters end up missing how predictable mast feels once they switch away from it, even if DHB looks better on paper.
