There is a pervasive myth in bodybuilding that "more is better." If 500mg of testosterone works, surely 2000mg will make you a monster, right? Dr. Mike Israetel believed this too, until he put it to the test.
After a competitive season peaking at nearly 2000mg of total androgens per week, Dr. Mike spent the next year on a fraction of that dose, eventually peaking again at just 750mg. The results were shocking: his strength was identical, his health was vastly improved, and he realized that the "extra muscle" from high doses was mostly just water.
TL;DR: Key Takeaways
- Diminishing Returns: Going from 750mg to 2000mg yields very little actual muscle tissue. Most of the weight gain is temporary water retention.
- Strength Maintained: Despite dropping his dose by nearly 65%, Dr. Mike's upper body strength remained the same or even improved.
- Health Transformation: Lower doses combined with GLP-1 agonists (like Tirzepatide) completely eliminated his visceral fat and improved his bone density.
- The "Start Low" Rule: If you choose to use PEDs, titrating slowly (e.g., adding 100mg every 3 months) is far superior to blasting high doses immediately.
The Experiment: 2000mg vs. 750mg
In the summer of 2024, Dr. Mike peaked for a show using a "kitchen sink" approach: roughly 2000mg of total androgens per week (Testosterone, Primobolan, Anavar, and Trenbolone). A year later, after surgery and a reset, he peaked again using only about 750mg. Here is the DEXA comparison:
- 2024 (High Dose): 233 lbs, 6.3% body fat, 0.4 lbs visceral fat.
- 2025 (Low Dose): 222 lbs, 6.0% body fat, 0.0 lbs visceral fat.
On paper, he lost about 10 lbs of Lean Body Mass (LBM). However, Dr. Mike explains that this wasn't actually muscle tissue lost due to low drugs. The loss came from two specific factors: intentionally stopping leg training for a year to balance his physique, and the loss of systemic water retention caused by high-dose androgens.
The Water Weight Illusion
One of the biggest lies high-dose steroids tell you is on the scale. When you rapidly increase your dose, you gain a massive amount of weight. But as Dr. Mike notes, "almost all of it will be body water."
Androgens cause water retention both inside the muscle (which looks good) and outside the muscle (which causes bloating and high blood pressure). When Dr. Mike dropped his dose, that water vanished. The fact that his upper body strength is currently higher than it was at 2000mg proves that the contractile tissue—the actual muscle—is still there.
Health & Psychology: Night and Day
Beyond the physique updates, the internal changes were profound. At 2000mg, Dr. Mike dealt with the typical side effects of high androgen load: anxiety, aggression, and "clouded judgment."
At 750mg, he reports feeling like a "completely different person." His anxiety is down, his patience is up, and his blood markers are significantly healthier. Additionally, by using GLP-1 agonists during his prep, he was able to reduce his visceral adipose tissue (the dangerous fat around organs) to undetectable levels.
A Smarter Way to Cycle
If you are going to use PEDs (which Dr. Mike advises against if you haven't started yet), he suggests a "slow and low" approach rather than a reckless blast.
The Protocol Example:
- Start Low: Begin with ~150mg total (TRT levels).
- Titrate Slowly: If blood work is good after 3 months, increase by only 100mg (e.g., to 250mg).
- Repeat: Continue this stair-step approach (350mg, 450mg) only if health markers remain stable.
This allows you to milk every milligram for actual tissue growth rather than just bloating up with water and stressing your organs.
The Future: Non-Androgenic Anabolics
Dr. Mike predicts a "second renaissance" of muscle building is just a few years away: Non-Androgenic Anabolics. These emerging drugs promise to build muscle without the hormonal side effects of testosterone derivatives.
Because of this, his advice to young lifters is simple: Wait. If you start damaging your health with heavy gear now, you will feel foolish in 5 years when safe alternatives are available that offer the same gains with none of the risks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did you lose muscle dropping from 2000mg to 750mg?
Technically, lean body mass dropped by 10 lbs, but Dr. Mike attributes this to water weight loss and intentionally not training his legs for a year. His upper body strength maintained or increased, proving actual muscle tissue was preserved.
Is it worth taking high doses of steroids?
According to Dr. Mike, no. The curve of diminishing returns hits hard after ~1000mg. Anything above that mostly increases water retention and toxicity, with very little additional muscle growth.
How did you lose visceral fat?
Dr. Mike credits the use of GLP-1 agonists (like Tirzepatide) and a strict diet for reducing his visceral fat from 0.4 lbs to undetectable levels.
What is the safest way to start steroids?
The safest way is not to start. However, if you do, Dr. Mike recommends starting at a TRT dose (150mg) and only increasing by 100mg increments every 3-6 months, provided blood work remains perfect.
