Dianabol, as a bulking AAS, can lead to not only heavy muscle growth but also a bloating effect. This bloating effect is due to increased water retention. So, how do you avoid that? Here are some ways to find that solution. Are you looking for some practical tips, proper solutions, such as supplements and adjustments that will help you reduce water retention for the consumption of Dianabol? This guide will help you understand some of the most viable solutions.
Why Does Dianabol Cause Water Retention?
Dianabol, one of the best bulking steroids, is extremely anabolic. Therefore, it converts into oestrogen through aromatisation. This then leads to oestrogenic side effects, such as water retention. Dianabol is also known for high sodium retention.
This sodium retention, exacerbated by the lack of a clean diet or electrolyte balance monitoring, can lead to enhanced bloating, caused by glycogen-related water wet.
How to Differentiate Between Water Weight and Real Muscle Mass?
Water weight will essentially blur muscle definition and create a soft and puffy appearance. This is different from a more defined look that you get at a muscular state.
The main difference between the two is that the former is primarily excess water accumulated in your body, while the latter is primarily made from protein.
Therefore, you can easily differentiate between the two by appearance and touch. If it is firm to the touch, it is muscle mass. If it is puffy and soft to the touch, it is water retained bloat.
Here’s a simple chart for the identification differences between the two:
| Identification Tips | Water Weight | Muscle Mass |
| Touch | Soft and puffy | Firm |
| Composition | Primarily made of water, leading to a bloated appearance | Made of protein, leading to a more defined appearance |
| Nature | Storage of excess fluid, creating “looseness”. | Tissue |
Table: Water Weight vs. Muscle Mass identification
How Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs) Can Manage Water Retention
Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are medications that are used to treat hormone disruptions that are mainly related to increasing oestrogen content. They function by stopping the aromatisation of synthetic testosterone into oestrogen.
They work by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme, which is responsible for the conversion of testosterone into oestrogen.
Best AIs for Oestrogen Control
If you want to control water retention during your Dianabol cycle, AI’s can be the ideal tools. Two of the most preferred AIs that help control Oestrogen are Arimidex and Aromasin.
Therefore, for your on-cycle AI protocol, there are effective dosages you can consider for both Arimidex and Aromasin. The correct dosage examples for them are:
● Arimidex or Anastrozole: 0.25-0.5 mg every alternate day.
● Aromasin or Exemestane: 12.5 mg on alternate days.
Using Bloodwork to Monitor Oestrogen Levels
After you start with the stated doses for AIs, you will need to monitor your progress. In this context, progress monitoring would usually imply measuring changes in oestrogen levels.
Oestrogen levels can be measured with bloodwork that will track the amount of Estradiol (the most potent Oestrogen in the human body). The ideal Estradiol range would be 20-40 pg/ml. And based on this range, you’d need to adjust your AI dosage.
Adjusting Diet to Reduce Water Bloat
Another way to manage water bloat is to make some changes to your diet that can help manage water bloat. These diet adjustments can include:
Lowering Sodium Intake While Not Sacrificing Taste
Lowering sodium intake might make you think that you need to sacrifice taste . But that doesn’t generally need to be the situation. These are some of the steps you can take to eat low-sodium food, while ensuring that the taste is not sacrificed:
A variety of spices can help avoid the feeling of less salt in your meal.
Introducing acid from citrus, such as lemon, calcium, and vinegar. These may add range to the flavour.
Onions, garlic, or ginger can also be used as flavour enhancers to lessen the feeling of the absence of salt.
Potassium Content in Food for Fluid Balance
Potassium-rich meals can also support by regulating the sodium stability in the body. This way, your urine production increases, leading to you losing the gathered water weight. This can be an essential step in mitigating the water retention during your Dianabol cycle.
As the fluids in your body reach a balanced state, the water bloat caused by the excess liquid goes down, and a gradual loss of water weight can take place. It is gradual, but also sustainable. This is an unfortunate side effect of what’s otherwise one of the best bulking steroids.
Stay Well-hydrated to Flush Excess Water
Hydration, just like Potassium, can also be effective in balancing out the excess water by increasing urine levels. The increased urine level also reduces the excess water in your body and sodium levels in your system. Therefore, the water bloating can be managed.
Practising these three changes in your dietary habits can help with your water retention issues.
Summary Recap
Dianabol is a powerful bulking AAS. But it is also prone to causing water retention. So, taking remedial measures, such as taking aromatase inhibitors, or changing diet and lifestyle patterns, can be of great help.
Need Advice for a Smooth Dbol Cycle?
For a fast muscle-building experience, Dianabol can be the ideal AAS to start with. However, you need to take measures to avoid excess water bloating. So, speak to a physician, and based on their advice, go for AIs or dietary changes. And you’ll have a smooth Dbol cycle that helps you build strength while minimising bloating.
