Think BIG Bodybuilding

Is Tren the Ultimate Budget Cycle? + Steroid Q&A \
Visit [https://thinkbigbodybuilding.com](https://thinkbigbodybuilding.com) for our research and pep affiliates and to support Think Big Bodybuilding. \
Is trenbolone really the ultimate compound for a budget cycle? Inspired by our recent It’s Just Bodybuilding discussion about bodybuilding costs, a listener asks whether Tren’s low price and potency make it the best value. Scott McNally, Skip Hill, and Andrew Berry discuss that argument, the tradeoffs, and another listener’s question: why not just use more testosterone? \
Plus, listener questions on acne after a cycle, planning a year of cycles and health phases, growth hormone and GH-releasing peptides, mini cuts, and training intensity for arms versus legs. We also discuss size in women’s bodybuilding, Lee Priest’s comments, and Thanksgiving as a bodybuilder. \
Thank you for listening and supporting Blood Sweat & Gear! Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review to help more listeners find the show. \
This discussion is for education only and is not medical advice or a recommendation to use PEDs. \
EPISODE CHAPTERS \
0:00 Welcome to Blood Sweat & Gear \
0:45 Testosterone & Trenbolone: The Ultimate Budget Cycle? \
2:30 How Do You Afford Bodybuilding? \
5:40 Why Not Just Use More Testosterone? \
8:30 How Popular Is Darc Sport? \
9:45 Growth Hormone & Excessive Muscle Pumps \
12:00 A Message from Scott to the Listeners \
12:55 First Cycle: Mini Cut into an Offseason \
16:20 Planning a Year of Cycles & Health Phases \
20:40 Listener Shout-Out \
25:00 Should Women’s Bodybuilding Reward More Size? \
30:40 Why Does Acne Get Worse After a Cycle? \
39:00 Lee Priest & the Women’s Bodybuilding Debate \
41:40 GH-Releasing Peptides & Growth Hormone: Is There Synergy? \
44:40 Thanksgiving as a Bodybuilder \
54:50 Training Intensity: Arms vs. Legs \
59:35 When Is It Time for a Mini Cut? \
1:06:00 Skip’s Word of the Day \
1:09:45 Behind the Scenes \

Nyle Nayga, the man behind the Trensparent Podcast, joins Ron Partlow, Dusty Hanshaw, and Scott McNally on It’s Just Bodybuilding. We get to know the guy asking the questions—who he learns from, how his role models have changed, and who he’d love to interview next.
We also discuss how long you can keep building muscle, growth hormone use among recreational lifters, dealing with hunger, and a listener’s question about a first offseason cycle. Plus, dopamine awareness, Nyle’s bodybuilding goals, and a round of Bodybuilding Court!
Technical problems meant cutting part of our recording. Scott explains what happened near the beginning before we pick up the conversation. Thanks to Nyle for rolling with it—we’d love to have him back for another round.
Who would you like to see Nyle interview on Trensparent? Send us your pick or join the conversation on our social pages.
EPISODE TIMESTAMPS
0:00 How Long Can You Keep Building Muscle?
1:00 Technical Issues: What Happened to the First Half
2:00 Losing YouTube Channels
6:30 Welcome Nyle Nayga to IJBB
8:00 Growth Hormone for Regular Gym Guys?
11:40 Struggling with Hunger
14:30 First Offseason Cycle: A Listener’s Question
19:45 Which Podcast Guest Has Nyle Learned the Most From?
24:30 Dopamine Awareness
29:15 How Nyle’s Bodybuilding Role Models Have Changed
31:00 What Content Does Nyle Watch?
33:30 Who Is Nyle’s Dream Podcast Guest?
36:20 Bodybuilding Court
43:40 Nyle’s Future Bodybuilding Goals
OFFICIAL SPONSOR
MUTANT® — Born Different. Born Hardcore!
Save with code: BIGRON or DUSTY
https://www.iammutant.com
FOLLOW THE HOSTS
Ron Partlow
https://www.instagram.com/rep300
Dusty Hanshaw
https://www.instagram.com/dustyhanshaw08
Scott McNally
https://www.instagram.com/scottmcnally1
TRAIN LIKE HELL APP
Ron’s official training app
https://www.trainlikehell.com
SUPPORT THINK BIG BODYBUILDING
Become a Patreon supporter—every $5 helps keep the shows going!
https://www.patreon.com/thinkbigbodybuilding
THINK BIG MERCH
https://think-big.printify.me/products
ADDITIONAL SPONSOR
TRUE NUTRITION
Save with code: THINK
https://www.truenutrition.com/THINK
3rd-party tested—trusted by bodybuilders
CANADIAN LISTENERS
Blowout deals on top supplement brands
https://www.supplementsource.ca
WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE
https://www.youtube.com/thinkbigbodybuildingmedia
Discussions of PEDs reflect personal experiences and opinions and are for educational purposes only. This content is not medical advice or a recommendation to use these substances.

Is there really a “safe” steroid cycle? Dave Crosland and Scott McNally compare old-school cycles—higher doses followed by time off—with today’s lower-dose, year-round approach. Which carries more risk, and are modern bodybuilding practices actually healthier?

Research and Peps Here : http://www.thinkbigbodybuilding.com

On this episode of Drugs n Stuff, we discuss testosterone-only cycles, Deca vs. Primobolan, Equipoise’s reputation as a “safer” compound, and the drawbacks of Primo. We also question whether combining testosterone with bioidentical hormones like HGH and insulin makes an approach safer.

Plus, listener questions on HMG, albuterol vs. clenbuterol, falling ferritin, NPP-related mood and energy changes, and planning after a big cut. Then Scott puts Dave through a British slang quiz—does he actually use these expressions?

Have a question for a future episode? Leave it on our latest Drugs n Stuff video on Think Big Bodybuilding’s YouTube channel.

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Are There Really “Safe” Steroid Cycles?
3:30 Higher Doses With Time Off vs. Low Doses Year-Round
9:00 Testosterone-Only Cycles: Are They Safer?
11:20 300mg vs. 500mg Testosterone: Risk vs. Gains
14:20 Testosterone, HGH & Insulin: Does Bioidentical Mean Safer?
16:35 Deca vs. Primobolan: Comparing Health Risks
19:10 Equipoise: Does It Deserve Its “Safer” Reputation?
23:00 Steroid User Mortality: Has It Changed Over Time?
26:30 Primobolan: Drawbacks Behind the Reputation
32:00 HMG: Discussing the Lowest Effective Dose
33:15 Albuterol vs. Clenbuterol
35:10 Falling Ferritin: Listener Question
38:00 NPP: Mood & Energy Changes
41:30 Planning the Next Cycle After a Big Cut
45:25 British Slang: Does Dave Actually Say These?
58:50 Switching From Equipoise to Primobolan

FOLLOW DAVE CROSLAND
https://www.instagram.com/davecrosland_/

FOLLOW SCOTT McNALLY
https://www.instagram.com/scottmcnally1

UK BLOOD WORK
Get your blood work assessed by Dave in the UK:
https://evalbloodanalysis.com/home/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Help keep Drugs n Stuff growing on Patreon. Even $5/month makes a difference.
https://www.patreon.com/thinkbigbodybuilding

SPONSORS
TRUE NUTRITION — Custom supplements for serious lifters. Use code THINK to save.
https://www.truenutrition.com/THINK

STROM SPORTS — Performance supplements trusted by athletes.
UK: https://tinyurl.com/ydmbfa54
US: https://stromsportsus.com

SUPPLEMENT SOURCE CANADA — Top brand supplements with fast shipping.
http://www.supplementsource.ca

OFFICIAL THINK BIG MERCH
Train, represent, and support the brand.
https://think-big.printify.me/products

For education and harm reduction only. No steroid cycle is risk-free. This discussion is not medical advice.

🔗 Visit https://thinkbigbodybuilding.com for our sponsors, affiliate links, and discount codes. Support the companies that support Think Big Bodybuilding!
T3 in Bodybuilding: Smarter Use, Then vs. Now + Steroid Q&A
How has our approach to T3 changed over the years? Scott McNally, Skip Hill, and Andrew Berry compare old-school bodybuilding practices with today’s understanding of thyroid hormone use on Blood Sweat & Gear.
We discuss T3 replacement, when it enters the contest prep conversation, and taking it once daily versus splitting doses. Hear what we used to do, what we’ve changed, and why our thinking has evolved.
Plus, listener questions on MENT (trestolone) side effects, Humalog injection routes, whether offseason oral steroids are worth the health cost, and whether 210 mg counts as a cycle. We also cover training with a pinched nerve, when to rest if you’re sick, posing advice, and missing oral steroids during prep.
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS
0:00 Welcome to Blood Sweat & Gear
0:45 T3 in Bodybuilding: The 2026 Discussion
1:30 Does Everyone Need T3 Replacement?
3:20 When Is T3 Added During Contest Prep?
5:30 T3 Use: Old-School Bodybuilding vs. Today
11:00 T3 Timing: Split Doses or Once Daily?
15:45 The Wild History of Over-the-Counter Supplements
22:00 Training With a Pinched Nerve
27:30 MENT (Trestolone): Ranking the Side Effects
32:15 Humalog: Intramuscular vs. Subcutaneous Injections
35:45 Offseason Oral Steroids: Worth the Health Cost?
37:00 Does 210 mg Count as a Steroid Cycle?
42:35 Where to Get Bodybuilding Posing Advice
47:30 Training When Sick: When Should You Rest?
52:00 Will Missing Oral Steroids Ruin Contest Prep?
56:45 Skip’s Word of the Day
57:30 What We’re Watching on TV
1:04:30 Rising Flight Costs
1:09:40 Behind the Scenes
Enjoy the show? Follow Blood Sweat & Gear and leave a rating or review to help more listeners find us.
Find our sponsors and ways to support the shows: https://thinkbigbodybuilding.com
Educational discussion only. This episode is not medical advice or a recommendation to use medications or performance-enhancing drugs. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about your health and medications.

Can you build an impressive physique when you’re broke? Ron Partlow, Dusty Hanshaw, and Scott McNally discuss what it really costs to build muscle on this episode of It’s Just Bodybuilding.

From food and supplements to gym memberships, we compare bodybuilding costs in 2010 and 2026 and debate where your money makes the biggest difference. Are you paying for better results or convenience? We weigh meal prep services against cooking at home, discuss organic food, and play “Keep It or Cut It?” with bodybuilding expenses.

We also discuss why you don’t need perfect conditions to make progress. Overthinking sleep, nutrition, and training “optimization” can become another reason to put things off.

Then court is in session! Play along with Bodybuilding Court as we deliver verdicts on questionable bodybuilding behavior. Plus, listener feedback, American gun culture, Thanksgiving, and the story behind Ron’s 1993 squat video.

What’s your best bodybuilding money-saving tip? Send us your ideas and questions for a future episode.

CHAPTERS
0:00 Welcome to It’s Just Bodybuilding
2:30 Bodybuilding on a Budget: Do You Need Time & Money?
8:00 How a Minimalist Approach Can Save You Money
10:50 Networking & Finding Bodybuilding Deals
13:30 Bodybuilding Costs: 2010 vs. 2026
15:00 Gym Membership Costs: Then vs. Now
16:00 Rising Prices or Paying for Convenience?
17:20 Meal Prep Services vs. Cooking Your Own Food
20:50 One Bodybuilding Expense You Shouldn’t Cut
22:45 Is Organic Food Worth the Extra Money?
24:30 Keep It or Cut It? Bodybuilding Expenses
33:00 You Don’t Need Perfect Conditions to Make Progress
48:20 Bodybuilding Court: Guilty or Not Guilty?
1:01:40 Listener Feedback on Our Last Episode
1:08:10 Pew Pew Culture in the United States
1:14:00 Skipping Thanksgiving?
1:16:20 Ron Partlow’s 1993 Squat Video

OFFICIAL SPONSOR: MUTANT®
Born Different. Born Hardcore!
Save with code BIGRON or DUSTY
https://www.iammutant.com

FOLLOW THE HOSTS

Ron Partlow
https://www.instagram.com/rep300

Dusty Hanshaw
https://www.instagram.com/dustyhanshaw08

Scott McNally
https://www.instagram.com/scottmcnally1

TRAIN LIKE HELL APP
Explore Ron’s official training app
https://www.trainlikehell.com

SUPPORT THINK BIG BODYBUILDING
Join our Patreon. Every $5 helps keep the shows going!
https://www.patreon.com/thinkbigbodybuilding

THINK BIG MERCH
https://think-big.printify.me/products

TRUE NUTRITION
Third-party tested. Trusted by bodybuilders.
Save with code THINK
https://www.truenutrition.com/THINK

CANADIAN LISTENERS: SUPPLEMENT SOURCE
Find blowout deals on top supplement brands
https://www.supplementsource.ca

FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON APPLE PODCASTS
Follow Think BIG Bodybuilding for more episodes, and leave a rating and review to support the shows.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/think-big-bodybuilding/id1561623662